Seq-Preq-Prolouge: Another Studio Summer

Yep, so it's like X-Men, but younger. I mean everyone has had a second hangover, or even a third (oh, but the possibilities are endless!).Maybe the kids would like another superhero movie, another crowd-pleasing buffer - it's the perfect distraction. People are tired of "art films" anyway, and they never really make any money. Take Paramount Vantage as the prime example - whoever thought distributing 2007's best pictures would keep you afloat? Shoot, not this guy.

Or, maybe I really want to see Tree of Life, and because you won't wide-release it on a scale that matches Thor, I have to wait an eon to even catch a glimpse. Maybe I'm tired of watching you nepotists and soul-salesmen make money on old ideas and propoganda - don't you see the rest of us moving forward?

But I guess being critical is all we can really do - I mean it's not like there's a free and open platform for distributing content (hah, what a crazy dream!), that allows you build a specific and targeted audience that (given the quality of your content) will sustain you enought to live and continue to create. I mean it's not like that exists...

So I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the pre-made cake, because honestly who wants to go through the trouble of actually doing anything? I read comic books too - I know who Thor is! And when Avatar 2 hits the screens you can bet I'll be there with my 3D glasses already on (I saved them from Drive Angry).

Besides, isn't the world ending anyway?

But let's turn away from those heavy subjects and concentrate on something a little more fun. I always knew I was going to be able to say "I knew Mattie when," but I didn't expect her to get famous this fast! You'd be doing the world a disservace if you learned how to draw sandy cheeks from anyone else - and her makeup videos are pretty awesome too. Come back soon Mattie - we'll miss you!

Oh, and I forgot some of the coolest news - shout out to @matematicario for submitting the first response (all the way from Brazil - freakin' awesome:

And the original video for all you who think there's a different answer ;)

Peace.

 

Welcome to the New Studio

It's unofficial, it's unreleased, but it's a start.  Check out the new home of Trifold Productions:

Don't worry, I don't plan on loosing too much of my life in this little cave... I hope.  This is going to be a fun summer.

Meanwhile, while you're getting funky, check this cool vid from the Mahalo Gamin Team:

 

Damn I'm ready to make movies.

You won't believe...

What these video gamers are up to at Mahalo!  Check out this cool vid:

And if you haven't seen the original, you (might) love it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-tNUur2YoU

Hello, Terrence

If I had one dream, it would be to win the Palm d'Or. To be included among the likes of Barton Fink, Apocalypse Now, and Elephant (just to name a few), is recognition that any true filmmaker would die for. With that said, hats off to Terrence Malick for winning with Tree of Life. I can't wait to see it.

My friend Maarouf went to the festival with a short he worked on... Freaking awesome!

Some shots were fired in my neighboorhood tonight - supposedly a rampage rapist on the loose. A helicopter was flying over the house for 4 hours... welcome to Hollywood.

I think there are some cool things going on at Mahalo these days, many of which I would love to be a part of:

We need to step up our game, and I'm on board to help.

Check out my creative dwindlings on this new blog, but be warned, it's probably going to get weird. 

 

 

 

 

Future Predictions: Microsoft vs. Apple

OK, so with the tech wars at a head and everybody scrambling to get their hands in the new media distribution/advertizing game, I think it's fair to say that no one really knows quite what kind of pot they could be sitting on. That's a godsend for startup companies like Mahalo, who can use that ambiguity to raise their own sort of socio-political status as an actual company dedicated to acting in this new space, thereby attracting the attention and investment of an ever-growing pool of suitors.  

The internet IS the future of media and has been for nearly two decades; it's just taking some time for us to adjust to it. The unfortunate part for everyone else is that if you aren't on the train already, it moves at light speed and is very difficult to catch.  

Now I know all you apple lovers out there are going to hate this, but I think Microsoft is coming back in a big way.  After the release of an impressively stable operating system (Windows 7), a plethora of Bing-related advertisments and favorable reviews (especially in light of google's recent algorithm change), and not to mention they just bought skype, which if used in the right way, could serve as the future of telephones if they (here's looking at you, Bill) have the balls to release the Skype phone in the US, Microsoft is looking more like the reliable, forward-looking company that we all don't remember from the 90s.

Plus their CEO just keeps giving his money away, which puts him in pretty good favor with, well, most everybody. 

Don't get me wrong, apple innovation is at the heart of the tech revolution, but their penchant for over pricing and under powering is going to bite them in the ass hard in the next few years. Unless they can continue to create new and exciting products that every consumer must have, which is practically their only draw at the moment, then the company fails.

Another factor? I had the original iPod, and guess what, it had a firewire port. Wtf happened, apple?

Any way you look at it, I'd rather be looking into a Window than an Apple, cause at least if the glass is dirty I can clean it; how do you clean an apple?

This has implications that are broader reaching than the companies themselves, though there are no better figureheads than the aforementioned to hog all the spotlight and blame.  Oh, no wait, now google wants a piece. 

I've been mulling over all of this since building my own computer, which seems like a geeky thing to do until you realize the the computer is to this generation as the canvas was to 19th century Europe.  I can't create art without my machine, and as crippling as it may seem, that's the future we are faced with.  

However, and it's an important one, through my machine, my window, I have the audience of the world. If the content is inspiring and the will to create is constant and prolific, there is nothing stopping me from success.  Me, you, the next-door neighboor, the kid you've never met who has your eyes but lives in India; the opportunity to express yourself has NEVER been this open.  All you have to do is build a machine and let it become an extension of yourself and your work. 

Between PC and Mac, I guess the real point of the matter is that if you're a builder, there's no other (legal) choice. But I swear that's not why I switched sides. I mean shoot, I have an iPhone too.

AND THE REST:

I need your help!  Which is a better way to learn, #1 or #2?

Leave me a comment so I know which to keep doing.

Peace & Love.

Old news for some, cool news for others.

OK, so check this out.

You all know Tarentino, right? Well, have you also heard of the flick he penned that was directed by Tony Scott, True Romance? Supposedly, Scott had originally shot and cut the film the way that it was written, but then got cold feet over the 'answers first, questions later' style that Tarentino is famous for. He thus edited it chronologically, which some believe ruined the film. No other (legal) cut exists.

There's a discussion to be had here over who has the true authorship of a film, the writer or director, but we'll save that for another time (as a writer, I might be biased).

While researching for a project, I stumbled upon a torrent proclaiming to be the "Tarentino-Cut of True Romance".  This, of course, piqued my interest.  

As it turns out, the person who uploaded this new cut was also responsible for editing it.  It is then, a fan-cut version of the film, using the original screenplay as a guide.  The guy even went into the DVD extras and reinserted scenes that Tony Scott had taken out.  Talk about dedication.

I haven't seen it yet, but that's only because it has not finished downloading.  I'll tell you how it compares soon.

Again I have to praise the internet for allowing this kind of thing to happen.  If, as it proclaims to be, this is a comprehensive re-cut of the film, then power has clearly shifted into the hands of the people.  If you are unsatisfied with a film, fix it yourself!  Granted, you can't exactly change the way they shot it, but editing is just as crucial a component, if not more so.  The sky is the limit!

Though I imagine this guy will be hunted down by IP lawyers, I have to congratulate his passion and ingenuity.  These are the kinds of doors being opened to our generation.  

I'm excited, aren't you?

Peace.

Born today? Immortal tomorrow.

Why is no one talking about this?

I was thinking, having just recently built my own computer, that if someone 1000 years from now were to take a slice of my life (in this instance, my room specifically) and put it on display in a history museum, the single most important thing in the room would be the little black box full of wires:  

"And that's how they progressed into the future Sally, when the net was something you had to access remotely and pay for.  That primitive human built his computer by hand!"

I personally hope Sally would be more impressed by the colorful clothing hanging in the corner, or the hats I have on the wall, or maybe even the books, movies and scripts that litter the tables and floor, but I know better.  Shoot, those last three have evaporated into "the cloud" already anyway.

Machines are, by their very design, built to outlast, out-process and out-perform us.  Think about it: every machine that is built today is the sum of everything that has come before it, not only in design but in intelligence, which is something I'm not sure we can say for ourselves.  Plus, at the current rate of technological development, we're likely to see machines doing more for us than we could ever dream a lot sooner than we think. 

I'm now running a four-core, 3.1GHz processor, which is effectively like running at 12.4GHz (at least that's what I'll assume until someone corrects me) - and this comp is top of the line.  The future?  Diamond processors that can run one core at 81GHz.  

Not plausible until you realize all the industry is doing is waiting for this company to go public.

People my age were born on the cusp, when privacy was still a reasonable (dare I say rational?) dream, but ours were the first cookies to be tracked.  Born today?  I feel sorry for you.  From the minute you log in they have you, but hey, at least everybody's doing it.  

I like that people are still surprised when things like this happen.

The web is a lot like another planet; the ultimate escape for a new generation of distressed youngsters.  I still feel relatively safe because I can remember a time before torrents and chat rooms, but what about the kids that can't?  I think we're yet to see the true nature of this beast.

THE REST

If someone has an awesome idea for a math-related design, I'd love to put it into action here.  The page is in need of some help, big-time. 

Happy Spring! 

Peace.