Unplugged

I'm at work this morning. I got here at 8:45. All because my computer busted and I had nothing else to do.

It's bizarre being uplugged from the Matrix. When I woke up, I was like oh I should check the weather. Couldn't do that. Oh what time do the Wizards play tonight? Couldn't check that. Oh I wonder if there is any news on this this and this? Nope.

And when you start to think about how much time you spend online, it kind of freaks you out. I would probably have arrived here at 10:00. I would have putzed around. I personally kind of like not having the computer around, but my life is tapped into it that I could never get rid of it; it would be easier to get rid of my cell phone. My life and work are so caught up with technology I had to start doing yoga to feel human, and help my lower back from sitting at the desk! As a community, it brings us closer, but it pushes us further away. There will come a time when we will all get together in the same room, but instead of talking we'll be iChatting and surfing the net. I sometimes think my computer might be my best friend. It's kind of why I don't want an iPhone. Are we that far away from the "Demolition Man" and making love through the headsets, or have no idea how to even touch intimately, like Neo and Trinity in the "Matrix Reloaded"; I don't know.

It's slightly disturbing, but I guess that's where we're heading, anyway I have some more websites to look up while my editing projects imports some graphics.

Another R.I.P.?

Hello friends,

So this morning, I went to work and my computer it was acting a little wonky... you know... programs were stuttering... little things... I had just done a few software upgrades the night before, so I thought perhaps I just needed to restart it. Well, it never came back. It went to the dreaded gray screen. The Gray Screen! I put in the old install disc to see if I could do an archive intstall... but the hard drive it's not showing up... and I'm getting everyone's favorite Box with a Question mark in it.

I'm sorry, but FOR REAL! Did my hard drive die again! Now, on a new computer! I haven't even dropped this one! And I have to take it into the damn mac store and see if they know what's wrong with it and of course I'll probably lose some shit. I think Mac sent out random bad programs to scare people into getting their new Timemachine doohickee. I swear if I could I would go back to pen and paper!

Oh, by the way, I watched a bootlegged X-Files 2 movie online today and it was awesome!

R.I.P Internship

On Friday, March 28, 2008. At 3:37 PM.

My Internship died, murdered by my duties as the family patriarch.

It was a good internship. It was a hard internship. It taught me many lessons about Hollywood that I will need to know in the future. Like you have to have a really thick skin to survive and you need to write in complete sentences, but you can't actually say complete sentences and that when you just say fuck it and not worry about things it becomes much easier.. of course you also know they can't fire you.

The Herzog & his Amazing Friends sabbatical is over and now we can return to our regularly schedules program.

Note 2

I'm too old for this shit...

A Note

Being an intern sucks!

A Hectic Week and a Writing Update

Um.. did I spell hectic right? I don't even know anymore.

So after I posted about not getting the internship, the next day I did indeed get the internship and I started the next day, which was Wednesday. It was indeed a very hard day, and I did not want to let you all really know just in case I did not make it past the first day. I did make it through the first day, but I learned that I have a problem thinking in complete thoughts and writing in complete sentences. I wonder why?

Anyway, the internship is at "Film Rites" a production company in Bev Hills. They get material from agents and writers, read it and decide if they would be interested in turning that material into a film or at least think about it. I am mostly reading scripts and writing summaries and making notes. There is a lot to learn and if you do have a thinking problem I recommend reading "The Elements of Style" by Strunk & White. It is solid and powerful.

I have also been working at Herzog here and there too, trying to finish some longstanding projects and assist in some other projects in development.

I'm off!

Random Conversations #003

It was Wednesday morning. I had on my sunglasses. I had my music blaring and windows were down.
I was cruising through Hollywood, turning onto La Cienega from Sunset when it happened.
I stopped at a red light and this bizarre looking girl ran up to my window. We shall call her Girl.
She was a round faced girl wearing round glasses. Her brown curly hair was cut low. She was wearing a brown fuzzy jacket, the
kind of thing you expect to see at a liberal arts college in December or any hostel around the world.
She knocked on my window.

GIRL: Hey do you think you could give me a ride down to Wilshire? (five blocks away)
WILL: Uh, okay.

The Girl gets into my car. She settles in. She didn't put on her seat belt and started looking at me all curious like. For a second I thought she was new age hippie granola chick that liked to pick up rides just to meet people and go on adventures. I wasn't in the mood for an adventure and I sure don't like being looked at like I'm under a microscope and she was doing exactly that.

WILL: So where are you from?
GIRL: I'm from West Hollywood?

And then I knew we had a problem.

GIRL: Where are you from?
WILL: I'm from Virginia.
GIRL: Oh my brother's been to West Virginia.
WILL: That's cool.
GIRL: So where are you going?
WILL: I have a meeting in Beverly Hills.
GIRL: Oh yeah, what for? What do yo do?
WILL: I'm a DVD producer and we're going to talk about some pitches and stuff.
GIRL: Cool. I love DVDS.
WILL: So uh, what do you do?
GIRL: I sleep with people for money.
WILL: Oh, right on.
GIRL: Yeah, I use the whole "catch a ride" to avoid the cops. It just looks like I'm hitchhiking.
WILL: That works. Really?
GIRL: Yeah, it's great!
WILL: I can't believe that... And you do well?
GIRL: Yeah, I do great.
WILL: ....
GIRL: You know, I've had the chance to do a lot of drugs, a lot of hard core drugs, but right now, you know I'm just sticking to marijuana.
WILL: Well, that's good.
GIRL: Yeah. So do yo want A TEN-DOLLAR-FUCK?
WILL: Naw...
GIRL: Are you gay?
WILL: Naw...
GIRL: Do you have a girlfriend?
WIll: Nope... I'm just not into it.
GIRL: Ok?
WILL:...
GIRL: So where's you're meeting?
WILL: Down Wilshire.
GIRL: Cool.

The conversation begins to linger. I think about pulling over and kicking her out; she's exuding all kinds of nasty energy, and I want nothing to do with. But no, I'm a man of my word, I'll take her to Wilshire. She helps me make a slightly dangerous driving maneuver and I come to a stop on Wilshire.

GIRL: Sure you don't want to fuck?
WILL: Yeah, I'm sure.

The Girl opens up the door.

GIRL: Later.
WILL: Good luck.

The Girl leaves. I see her make a move towards a pick up truck and then I drive away. I look up at God and shake my fist. He was fucking with me, again, and he was having a good laugh about it.

This was all true.

X-Files: The Journey Begins Anew

The X-files premiered In the fall of 1993, when I was just starting eighth grade. That was a big year for me. It was my third year living in Virginia and I had a solid group of friends. Well, one of the things we used to like to do was get together and watch the X-Files.

And this show scared the bejesus out of us. I mean seriously. Every week it was another nightmare from the minds of Chris Carter and his other excellent writers. It showed us a world of unknown, where really anything was possible. It also showed us a world where the upper hierarchy could not be trusted, and as teenagers we could relate. Oh yeah, and Gillian Anderson was kind of hot, and David Duchovny was cool, but dorky.

Back in those days, we used to love the night, just being outside. It was Northern Virginia, suburbs and strip malls, but at that time there were still forests and places where you could really feel outside. We used to sneak out and run crazy. Well, when you watched the X-files and had big imaginations, when you looked up in the sky, you could seriously seriously freak yourself out, and I remember this one time where we really thought there was a light following us, and we totally freaked out and ran like crazy back to my house. There were some nights where everyone would share their own personal ghost stories and we would scare each other to death. Personally, I have never seen a ghost, well there was this one time when I was driving my brother and his friends through the middle of the night, we see some fat guy in the middle of the road with a brief case and he might have been a ghost, but it's not confirmed in my mind, and well that fat guy was staring at us, and I don't feel very safe right now. But I do know that I've seen some weird shit, and lost time and whatever.

So as the years went on friends became not friends and interests changed from TV shows to girls and partying and movies, I kind of lost touch with the X-Files and scaring myself to death through television. But all that changed last night when I popped in Disc 1 of Season 1 of the X-Files. And guess what, it's still scary and it still scares the bejesus out of me.

I can't wait to go through this Television Series. I think I've only seen most of the first 5 seasons. Maybe some of the 6th. And I know that it had it's rough patches in it's later seasons, but well, so what. I'm going to try to watch as much X-Files as I can, because in a few short months, Mulder and Scully will be back. That's right, for all you non-movie industry, fan boy types, the Second X-Files movie is coming out this summer. And that's it. That's all i got. I have no more time to write because I have a lot of X-Files to watch.

High School Reunion Poll

Hey Friends I'd like to throw this question up to everyone who reads this blog.

SHOULD I GO TO MY 10 YEAR HIGH SCHOOL REUNION?

It's a little expensive to go, but I can probably find the money somewhere, but I'm not sure if I really want to, but I kind of want to, and I'm curious to know what ya'll think or what you might do.

Please friendly readers comment. I know that comments can be kind of scary, but we're all friends and I'd like your opinions.

Thanks!

Writing Update

Hey Guys!

Just wanted to update everyone on my "Will Attacks Hollywood" Plan.

Here's a recap.

1. Keep Writing
2. Network
3. Work For Free
4. Classes (Network & Learn Something)
5. Seminars (Hear rich people talk)
6. Get Business Cards (to give to Rich People to hear you talk)


On 1. I'm still very much writing. I've begun work on that second screenplay (like my 9th overall, don't worry like only 4 are readable) and that is going very well.

On 2. Networking... Hmmm... well I tried to get that internship and it's still a no go. So no bueno.

On 3. Yeah no internship. Maybe in the fall.

On 4. I JUST SIGNED UP FOR A CLASS!!! So I'm going to do something right. 2 out of 4 so far ain't bad.

On 5. I keep magically missing these seminars I want to go to. It's like how I kept magically missing my SATs in high school.

On 6. Yes. I did get business cards, but I have not gotten rich to get one to hear me talk.

So that is that.

It's March and 3 out of 6 is pretty good. I'm batting 50%. I can live with that.

Later!

w

Yo this $#&! is WHACK #001

OH MY GOD! This is so whack! I have to send ya'll to it.

It's called "My Medicine" off of Snoop Dogg's new CD Ego Trippin'.

I'm not even sure what the most absurd thing about it is, but you know the more dedicated, the more medicated.

Please check this out... and pay attention to the words.

Not a nightmare?

Is it a nightmare?

Was it a bad dream?

Another bad DVD from netflix?

Another really expensive car bill?

Another internship come and gone?

No, it was the Wizards playing the Cavaliers. And with a nine point and 5 minutes left, they stopped making shots, and only had free throws. And with a four point lead and 13 seconds left, Damon Jones hit a wide open three point shot. And with 9 seconds left, Antonio Daniels only made 1 of 2 free throws. So with 7. something seconds left, and a two point lead, Damon Jones inbound the ball to Lebron James who held the ball. He held the ball until three seconds left and then made his move. Every wizards fan in the world, yelled "FUCK!" It was this nightmare. Deshawn Stevenson jumped up, he didn't block the shot, from behind it looked perfect, but, but because it was not a nightmare the ball didn't go in. GAME OVER! Wait. The WIZARDS WON. Holy Shit. I think everyone on TNT was like Holy Shit. The bench players and Gilbert Arenas locked elbows like a chain, they were like just hold on. Just Hold On. And they did. It was a dream, but they get the win too.

Random Quotes #06

"Going to Pepboy's is like going to Tijuana for a heart transplant."  ~Shaun the Armenia-Italian owner of Super Automotive Repair.

Here We Go Again!

well.. um... so... eh...uh..mannn....

Ok. Fine. I'm doing it again. But it's different. See I'm older now. I have a different view of the film industry. I've cut my teeth on a few things. I've had studio interaction. I've watched internal politics play out to good and bad consequences. I can totally handle this and I have a time line. i can only do it for like 2 months. Maybe less. Try something different. But I need to do it. I need to prove to myself that I'm not a little bitch. That I can do something different. That I can try to put up a few different street signs in my road of life. I'm tired of only having Road to Herzog or Road to Home. I want more signs. More choices. More adventure.

Yes, I know the last one only lasted 1 day. 1 Frigging day. But gosh darn it, I need to do an internship. And lord only knows how long I'll make it through this one.

The Bush Legacy

So i like to bring the funny, but you know there is a little part of me that just doesn't want to stop thinking about America and Politics and stuff. I know I'm in the Entertainment Industry and all, and I have what I'd probably consider a limited understanding of things and the oh so important greater picture, but dammit BUSH makes me think about this stuff. I was going to write a REVIEW OF JANET JACKSON'S NEW CD, but BUT, now I gots to write about all sneaky stuff that Bush is going to try slide under the American Rug while all eyes are on the Election.

So what is that's gotten Will Gong screaming from the top of the hill? Well, the thing that scares me the most is his overwhelming desire to solidify all the presidential powers he received or took after 9/11 and turn them into absolute law, unbinding, and immune to any congressional action. And I know I have read plenty of science fiction and whatnot, so I could be deluded, but it's those kinds of actions, that kind of culture of thought that leads us into those dark and murky places of science fiction.

All this comes from Bush's 9th veto, a veto on a congressional bill that would limit the C.I.A's interrogation tactics to be less physical, to cut down on torture. The simple math around it is Terrorism is bad. Interrogation is good, and we keep America safe with it. And only the C.I.A can do it. These tactics are banned in combat, banned for the F.B.I. These are the same tactics that are used in the movies when the BAD GUYS INTERROGATE THE GOOD GUYS. It's only in Bush's world. He says that Advanced Interrogation Tactics (is there a class?) has helped keep America safe and provided intelligence to stop the Terrorists, the Senator Rockefellor of West Virginia, chairman of the Intelligence Committee, is like, "Uh I haven't seen any of this information."

And THIS VETO is really only part of his greater scheme to solidify his executive powers to do whatever the FRAK he wants when it comes to Prosecuting War. If somebody, like Congress or the President or Karl Rove and that guy that works down at Subway declare War on a country, then it's like free reign for the President. He basically becomes a Dictator. (If am misinformed on anything please let me know, so i can revise my statements and my head.)

So I guess, the thing that I think that what bothers me the most is that in my concept of good and bad, and my concept of America, I don't want the U.S.A. to be the bad guys and too often recently has this seemed like the case. It's like America is the Titanic and Bush is throwing ice at the side of the ship hoping it will go down faster. And maybe just maybe if Bush had been a little smarter a little more charismatic, we may not have seen this, he may have been able to hide what his administration had been planning. And maybe in retrospect we will change our minds. But what I do know is that all Writers, creators, thinkers ought to be thinking about the events in our nation during this time and be putting those to good use, because tomorrow's Americans are going to need some perspective on today's events, some didactic thought, and are going to need a fictional place to see where these atrocities can lead (hopefully won't lead, but can) and learn from all of this.

Random Quotes #005

Or Destiny's new Boobs.

Kelly Rowland from the defunct Destiny's Child on going from an A cup to B cup.

"I was sick of not fitting into my tops," she says. "There was this one really hot House of Dereon top... I just wanted to fill that out!" Now with the Implants - "I put it on and I looked so good! I'm so happy. I feel complete."

And there it is. It's not about having men stare at your chest, or raising your self-esteem. Nope, its about fitting into your shirts. Kelly Rowland I salute you.

Post-Drillbit Taylor

Hey Friends,

I've been a little AWOL on blogging recently. So here's what I've ben up to.

- I've been up to my ears in "Drillbit Taylor" online. "Crap with a shit sandwich!"
- I've been writing. Finishing up "Hot Teen Lifeguards" again! And working on "Don't Kill the Quarterback".
- I've been trying to do a little partying, you know taking shots and stuff (which as a 27 year old I have a responsibility to do.)
- I got an IRA and an ING savings account. About time I start looking to the future. I was doing a lot of I can't sleep so I will read about Mutual Funds.
- I did my taxes. And I learned that if I had a traditional IRA I could've gotten a much higher refund. Case in point, listen to your friends, don't listen to your soul when it's telling you to get that new car or even health insurance. NO. Get and IRA.
-I've really been working hard at getting into shape. Being the perfect in between size to not fit into your bigger or smaller swimsuit is just no fun.
- I tried to go to Church, but found out that my Church service was cancelled. Dammit!
- I'm really happy for March to be here. GO MARCH!

That's it. I think. If anybody remembers something big about life that I have forgotten please let me know and I'll add it to the post.

Anyway, here's some upcoming Blogs to look forward to --

POP LIFE: Janet Jackson and Discipline.
POP LIFE: The Shania-Bot

And if i ya'll can think of anything that you might be interested in me reviewing or writing about let me know and I'll think about it.

Super Tuesday Redux

Thoughts on Super Tuesday again.

You know, I've got nothing against Obama. The man can speak. I appreciate that, but it's just that he doesn't seem to say a whole lot when he does. Now maybe he's just being inspirational to show the difference between himself and Hillary, because they really do have similar policies. That's cool, but I think to a certain point he's going to have to get into some policy if he wants to win the nomination, because inspiration can only take you so far.

As for Hillary, I can say good work in winning Ohio & Texas. She's just going to keep doing her thing until Obama figures out how to end her run.

But it won't happen for a while now, and until that day happens and one of them goes onto face the Republicans' John McCain, my only word of advice (other then "Keep on Trucking") is that with all that effort spent trying to eliminate each other, please please, "Save some gas for the real race."

The New National Anthem

Yes We Can!



Good luck America!