My friend Kam who shares the same birthday as me has been ‘missing in action’ for the best part of a year. Yesterday, I found out why.
He was in Barcelona to celebrate his birthday and stayed up late to send me an email (which I never received). He’d just gone to bed when someone yelled, “fire!” The flames caught on so fast, there wasn’t time to put on clothes. Stark naked on the street, Kam watched the building burn to the ground within minutes.
He believes that if he hadn’t stayed up to send me that email, he would have died asleep in bed.
That’s just the beginning of his story… shortly thereafter he got an infection in his spine and was in a coma then paralyzed for months. Now it’s as if he’s a baby, relearning how to walk, talk… basic human functions. There’s a name for his condition, but he couldn’t quite recall with his slightly thick tongue and wandering mind. The prognosis is uncertain; he may be wobbly on a cane for the rest of his life, though knowing his spirit I doubt it.
When Kam was in San Francisco, his favorite place to eat was Café Gratitude. Where he is now, in Nottingham, England, there is nothing remotely like it.
“While you may not have a café,” I said, “you surely must still have plenty of gratitude,” to which he replied, “most definitely. I am still alive.”
For years I struggled with life, always seeking to know my dharma. I am so thankful to not have that struggle any more. I am a filmmaker and for that each day I am grateful. No-one can rain on my parade – meter maids, car vandals, angry neighbors – because I am making a movie! Nobody pays me to do it. I do it because it’s my passion and I’m grateful to have found others who share that passion.
So this little essay is my way of sending energy into the universe to help Kam regain his vitality so that he can get back to San Francisco, where I can take him to a certain small café and partake in a repast of gratitude.
And, if you’re so inclined to contribute even a small amount to the launch of MISMO, you will have my undying gratitude.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Forgot to Mention that ~
OF COURSE all contributors will be listed on the credits ~ just think ~ a few bucks and you get to see your name on the big screen! Come on, ChipIn and spread the word!
And, naturally, you will be invited to the bash to see the trailer and mingle with our fabulous cast, a couple of whom have been compared to Sean Penn and Zooey Deschanel, among others.
And, that's just the beginning...
Gino and I are already working on our next script...
Coen brothers ~ get ready to move over:)
And, naturally, you will be invited to the bash to see the trailer and mingle with our fabulous cast, a couple of whom have been compared to Sean Penn and Zooey Deschanel, among others.
And, that's just the beginning...
Gino and I are already working on our next script...
Coen brothers ~ get ready to move over:)
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Support Indie Film!
So, we've managed to shoot an incredible film with a talented cast, high production values and a great story! We are in post production and we have an amazing composer working on a score and original soundtrack, as well as a gifted editor who is going to cut the movie and design all the visual effects. We're well on our way for a submission to Sundance at the end of the year and for next year's Cannes -- all on next to nothing $$. What we now need is an event to thank our cast, crew, et al, and to debut our trailer and website to kick off our marketing/pr campaign. We also have a seasoned pr pro donating her skills and talent (thanks CT). We have a great location, courtesy of Inga Fischer, California Modern Art Gallery, and simply need help with food and beverages -- hence the widget on your right. One hundred contributions of $20 and we'll have one heck of a party! Please help spread the word and support your independent filmmaker. For all you know, we might be next year's Juno!
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Coming up for air!
I can't believe my last post was December. Just proves how time flies when you're having a good time... or an indie filmmaker! So an update is in order ~
We wrapped production in December and went immediately to work on creating a trailer, which is a ton of work in of itself. Happy to report that is looks fab and will soon have fab music to accompany it courtesy of the very talented Mitchell Covington. Vijay is working hard on our website so that the launch will coincide very nicely with our wrap party that I've been promising for months. My challenge is to throw a party on a shoestring budget! Hey, I can produce a feature film on practically zero $$ but a party for a hundred plus people is another ball game entirely (I'm sure there must be a more appropriate metaphor, but you get the gist).
In addition, Gino and I are hard at work editing the film... or at least getting it to a rough cut so that a whiz editor can do their magic. I'm meeting with an editor tomorrow to review their work/our process. Hopefully, that will result in him coming on board... I cannot wait to see MISMO on the big screen ~ it's going to rock!
In January, I also produced a short film that we're aiming to pitch to a local tech company as an advertising concept. That was fun... we had a cast of 15 talented actors (there's so much talent in San Francisco!) and did a night shoot at Farley's on Portrero Hill. My partner on that, Donna, is off to Toronto with our footage to get it edited by her award-winning editor friend.
Last week, I hit day of distribution at Cinequest -- picked up a couple of biz cards that may come in handy down the road, but overall I'm unimpressed with traditional distribution channels, so watch this space, Facebook, mismothemovie.com, et al for social networking buzz. We're brimful with ideas for promotion!!
Have also been dining and drinking well... will post reviews when I have a minute.
Also, hats off the the makers of OUTSOURCED, an independent flick. They sent me a DVD for review at the end of the year, right when my player died (RIP)... Finally purchased a new one (who has time to watch movies when you're making one?!) and watched the film. Really enjoyable, very well done... I recommend it over many of the films that were up for Academy Awards!
Speaking of... wasn't that the most boring Oscars ever? Other than Javier Bardem, of course ~ isn't he yummy? Personally, I was thrilled to see Tilda Swinton win and just learned that she's Scottish! Go girl! Here's another Scot aiming to be on that platform making a speech... the bet is for 2010
We wrapped production in December and went immediately to work on creating a trailer, which is a ton of work in of itself. Happy to report that is looks fab and will soon have fab music to accompany it courtesy of the very talented Mitchell Covington. Vijay is working hard on our website so that the launch will coincide very nicely with our wrap party that I've been promising for months. My challenge is to throw a party on a shoestring budget! Hey, I can produce a feature film on practically zero $$ but a party for a hundred plus people is another ball game entirely (I'm sure there must be a more appropriate metaphor, but you get the gist).
In addition, Gino and I are hard at work editing the film... or at least getting it to a rough cut so that a whiz editor can do their magic. I'm meeting with an editor tomorrow to review their work/our process. Hopefully, that will result in him coming on board... I cannot wait to see MISMO on the big screen ~ it's going to rock!
In January, I also produced a short film that we're aiming to pitch to a local tech company as an advertising concept. That was fun... we had a cast of 15 talented actors (there's so much talent in San Francisco!) and did a night shoot at Farley's on Portrero Hill. My partner on that, Donna, is off to Toronto with our footage to get it edited by her award-winning editor friend.
Last week, I hit day of distribution at Cinequest -- picked up a couple of biz cards that may come in handy down the road, but overall I'm unimpressed with traditional distribution channels, so watch this space, Facebook, mismothemovie.com, et al for social networking buzz. We're brimful with ideas for promotion!!
Have also been dining and drinking well... will post reviews when I have a minute.
Also, hats off the the makers of OUTSOURCED, an independent flick. They sent me a DVD for review at the end of the year, right when my player died (RIP)... Finally purchased a new one (who has time to watch movies when you're making one?!) and watched the film. Really enjoyable, very well done... I recommend it over many of the films that were up for Academy Awards!
Speaking of... wasn't that the most boring Oscars ever? Other than Javier Bardem, of course ~ isn't he yummy? Personally, I was thrilled to see Tilda Swinton win and just learned that she's Scottish! Go girl! Here's another Scot aiming to be on that platform making a speech... the bet is for 2010
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
MERRY XMAS TO ONE AND ALL!
I'm hitting the road tomorrow. Destination Oklahoma City!
Consider this your Christmas Card (you know I usually don't send them)! xoxoxo
Consider this your Christmas Card (you know I usually don't send them)! xoxoxo
MISMO -- IT'S A WRAP!
The filming of Mismo wrapped on Sunday, December 16th with the final shot being Bella’s (Diane Rooney) blood curdling scream. Diane told us she’d been practicing, but we still weren’t prepared for the sheer volume that meant we had to do a second take and sent San Rafael residents blocks away to their phones to report bloody murder! The cops pulled up just as we were popping the bubbly. Thankfully, they didn’t bust us for drinking in public.
Production of Mismo began on May 5th on location at Jim Heron’s studio, which was where our art gallery owner Rene (Larry Feurzeig) became intrigued with our aspiring artist Mitch’s (Jeffery Davis) “nudes...” This gives Larry the dubious honor of being the only cast member to have been on both the first and last day of filming.
Back in May, we knew we were going to shoot a feature film but Gino and I thought we’d do it deconstructive style i.e. shoot a series of shorts that we would re-cut to tell parallel storylines in a full-length film (and this from a woman who’s been writing screenplays for over 10 years). We quickly realized this approach was not going to work (funny how actors want to read a script!) and sat down to write the screenplay, which must be a record in of itself. On June 17th, exactly six months ago yesterday, we had a full cast table reading.
Since then we have shot in 43 locations including Café Flavia, Forbes Island Restaurant, Ginger Rubio Hair Salon, Plumpjack Wine Store, the Inner Mission Beer Parlor, Borderlands Books, and, possibly our most notorious, the privately owned Culebra Terrace (courtesy of Pierre Bleuse) where the neighbors were convinced we were shooting porn. What with the stranger from the bar’s pants around his knees (played by Frank Vera) and Toni’s legs (Lee Kuhn) hanging out the door, you can’t really blame them.
We have scorched under the Tracy sun while trying to get a gag at the side of the freeway where Rachel (Samantha Warnick) gets splashed by coffee thrown from a passing car; almost frozen atop the lighthouse at Forbes Island where Toni and Mitch take in the 360 degree panorama of the San Francisco Bay under a brilliant full moon; gotten extremely damp on a Chinatown Rooftop that was scripted to be a glorious sunny day; and, of course, raced against the fading sun as ex-con Diego (Ramon Bustos) fled from the scene, blood on his hands, towards his ironic fate (no spoilers here!).
We have borrowed from the best with Jorge (Peter Black) quoting Shakespeare and channeling Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee William’s Pulitzer winning play, A Streetcar Named Desire, opposite Rachel’s (Samantha Warnick) Blanche Dubois.
We have been moved by our cast’s -- Jeffery Davis, Lee Kuhn, Caroline Kuntz, Peter Black, Samantha Warnick, Diane Rooney, Ramon Bustos, Glen Caspillo, Marcos Monzon, Larry Feurzeig — amazing talents and braveness to simply ‘get real’. Our supporting cast is just as stellar with special thanks to Anthony Lymon, Sky Tallone, Michele Weber, Scott Free, Skip Emerson, Robert Love, Michael Petrie, Reno Ursal, Robbie Evans, Florentino Gonzales, Hattie Mullaly, Frank Vera, (and now I feel like I’m at the Academy Awards, terrified I’m forgetting someone!). Thanks also to our extras who added richness and color to our backgrounds. As they say, we’ve laughed, we’ve cried. When this movie hits your local theater, be ready for one heck of a rollercoaster ride!
Thanks to our brilliant crew and loyal and dedicated P.A.s and all of you who came through with locations, without which there would be no Mismo.
Now, we’re off into the editing suite. A trailer will be forthcoming as well as the wrap party in February, so stay tuned and don’t forget to spread the word and have everyone you know sign up at www.mismothemovie.com for updates (a full website is also in the works).
Production of Mismo began on May 5th on location at Jim Heron’s studio, which was where our art gallery owner Rene (Larry Feurzeig) became intrigued with our aspiring artist Mitch’s (Jeffery Davis) “nudes...” This gives Larry the dubious honor of being the only cast member to have been on both the first and last day of filming.
Back in May, we knew we were going to shoot a feature film but Gino and I thought we’d do it deconstructive style i.e. shoot a series of shorts that we would re-cut to tell parallel storylines in a full-length film (and this from a woman who’s been writing screenplays for over 10 years). We quickly realized this approach was not going to work (funny how actors want to read a script!) and sat down to write the screenplay, which must be a record in of itself. On June 17th, exactly six months ago yesterday, we had a full cast table reading.
Since then we have shot in 43 locations including Café Flavia, Forbes Island Restaurant, Ginger Rubio Hair Salon, Plumpjack Wine Store, the Inner Mission Beer Parlor, Borderlands Books, and, possibly our most notorious, the privately owned Culebra Terrace (courtesy of Pierre Bleuse) where the neighbors were convinced we were shooting porn. What with the stranger from the bar’s pants around his knees (played by Frank Vera) and Toni’s legs (Lee Kuhn) hanging out the door, you can’t really blame them.
We have scorched under the Tracy sun while trying to get a gag at the side of the freeway where Rachel (Samantha Warnick) gets splashed by coffee thrown from a passing car; almost frozen atop the lighthouse at Forbes Island where Toni and Mitch take in the 360 degree panorama of the San Francisco Bay under a brilliant full moon; gotten extremely damp on a Chinatown Rooftop that was scripted to be a glorious sunny day; and, of course, raced against the fading sun as ex-con Diego (Ramon Bustos) fled from the scene, blood on his hands, towards his ironic fate (no spoilers here!).
We have borrowed from the best with Jorge (Peter Black) quoting Shakespeare and channeling Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee William’s Pulitzer winning play, A Streetcar Named Desire, opposite Rachel’s (Samantha Warnick) Blanche Dubois.
We have been moved by our cast’s -- Jeffery Davis, Lee Kuhn, Caroline Kuntz, Peter Black, Samantha Warnick, Diane Rooney, Ramon Bustos, Glen Caspillo, Marcos Monzon, Larry Feurzeig — amazing talents and braveness to simply ‘get real’. Our supporting cast is just as stellar with special thanks to Anthony Lymon, Sky Tallone, Michele Weber, Scott Free, Skip Emerson, Robert Love, Michael Petrie, Reno Ursal, Robbie Evans, Florentino Gonzales, Hattie Mullaly, Frank Vera, (and now I feel like I’m at the Academy Awards, terrified I’m forgetting someone!). Thanks also to our extras who added richness and color to our backgrounds. As they say, we’ve laughed, we’ve cried. When this movie hits your local theater, be ready for one heck of a rollercoaster ride!
Thanks to our brilliant crew and loyal and dedicated P.A.s and all of you who came through with locations, without which there would be no Mismo.
Now, we’re off into the editing suite. A trailer will be forthcoming as well as the wrap party in February, so stay tuned and don’t forget to spread the word and have everyone you know sign up at www.mismothemovie.com for updates (a full website is also in the works).
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Scotland vs. Italy
Ugh... it's playing at my local sportsbar, Kezar at 10:00 am and I won't be able to watch the game because I'll be in Pt. Richmond filming... GO SCOTLAND!!!
Thursday, November 01, 2007
GLAMOUR FOR KARMA
Don't miss the most glamorous event ramping up to the holiday season ~ on National Philanthropy Day, no less.
For full details click on over to http://www.calmodern.com/glamour.html and give your karma a boost!
For full details click on over to http://www.calmodern.com/glamour.html and give your karma a boost!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The Moorings... Aberdeen, Scotland
This one's for Steve... in memory of all the good times:)
Can't believe the place hasn't changed in, oh, ummmm, 33 years?!!!
xoxo
Can't believe the place hasn't changed in, oh, ummmm, 33 years?!!!
xoxo
Monday, September 17, 2007
3:10 to Yuma
I've heard critics say the cinematography ruined this film, but I couldn't see a damn thing wrong with it other than there wasn't enough Russ screen time. Sure, he was the bad boy, but so charismatic we wanted to see more of him, especially without the hat shading his eyes! Seems to me though that the real star is Christian Bale, who is brilliant and I'm sure will be up for an AA. Ben Foster was the eponymous bad guy -- who you wanted to see get his comeuppance -- he'll get a nod from the Academy too, but that might be stolen by Logan Lerman. What can I say, every supporting character was fabulous... This is a great yarn (naturally, it is Elmore Leonard afterall) and I'll be watching it again and again... Screw those naysayers!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Craig Ferguson...
I was on the phone with Miss Hattie Belle yesterday afternoon and casually clicking online when I saw that Craig was playing at Cobb's Comedy Club on September 14th i.e. that night. Since Hattie had intended to take me to see him for my b'dy and he canceled his shows, she jumped on the phone and voila... two tix to see the Scotsman at the late night performance... We got great seats and the warm up comedian (sorry I don't recall his name) had us in stitches... My god he was hilarious, which is more than I can say for Craig. I couldn't believe that he was still cracking the same jokes from two years ago... wasn't funny then, and it wasn't funny last night. Okay, not to be totally mean... there were a few moments. Sorry Craig, still love you on tv but you have to get new material... and stop reminding us how big your dick is... despite what you say, it's really no excuse for the slovenly attire.
Tomorrow is 3:10 to Yuma... let's see how our man Russ does on the big screen.
Tomorrow is 3:10 to Yuma... let's see how our man Russ does on the big screen.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Song of the Day...
This one is for Stevie M in London... xoxoxo
You have to click for the surprise
xoxoxo
You have to click for the surprise
xoxoxo
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Back on the scene!
With Gino and Danny out of town, I have a minute to come up for air and resume some semblance of a personal life, and now that the French man is out of the picture, it’s out on the town again!!
Tuesday night was the Madrone catching up with Kish and that was fun, though I don't think think there was anyone older than 30 there other than myself.
Last night was a 7x7 restaurant opening. Certain that it was going to be a mob scene of 20 somethings, CT and I decided to take our time getting there by walking ~ at least we’d have gotten some exercise if the rest of the night was a bomb… not so!
Palmetto, on Union Street, is fabulous! They had a good looking group of people loaded with age appropriate men… and, naturally, some not so age appropriate, but I don’t play with those any more. First, the restaurant: elegant space with a spacious bar, tended by handsome bartenders pouring some yummy cherry cosmo concoction. The food, passed around, was plentiful and delicious. My favorites were the dates wrapped in bacon, sinful but delicious! Then they had a whole load of other nibbles, every one of which was yummy. The crowd was never a mob scene and because it was older than the average 7x7 freebie, people actually talked to one another! CT was on exceptional form, chatting up a storm and though we never moved from our spot a bevy of eligible bachelors swam our way… and so the night swam by… We left with two adorable, funny guys and, having had lots to whet our appetites, we went to Betel Nut (one of my all-time faves) for dinner.
After dinner, which was about midnight by then (on a school night!), we realized that no one had driven so it was up the hill we went… and not a groan to be heard! Well, that was last night. Today, my head hurts… Tonight it’s the movies with Hattie…
p.s. I highly recommend Palmetto!
Tuesday night was the Madrone catching up with Kish and that was fun, though I don't think think there was anyone older than 30 there other than myself.
Last night was a 7x7 restaurant opening. Certain that it was going to be a mob scene of 20 somethings, CT and I decided to take our time getting there by walking ~ at least we’d have gotten some exercise if the rest of the night was a bomb… not so!
Palmetto, on Union Street, is fabulous! They had a good looking group of people loaded with age appropriate men… and, naturally, some not so age appropriate, but I don’t play with those any more. First, the restaurant: elegant space with a spacious bar, tended by handsome bartenders pouring some yummy cherry cosmo concoction. The food, passed around, was plentiful and delicious. My favorites were the dates wrapped in bacon, sinful but delicious! Then they had a whole load of other nibbles, every one of which was yummy. The crowd was never a mob scene and because it was older than the average 7x7 freebie, people actually talked to one another! CT was on exceptional form, chatting up a storm and though we never moved from our spot a bevy of eligible bachelors swam our way… and so the night swam by… We left with two adorable, funny guys and, having had lots to whet our appetites, we went to Betel Nut (one of my all-time faves) for dinner.
After dinner, which was about midnight by then (on a school night!), we realized that no one had driven so it was up the hill we went… and not a groan to be heard! Well, that was last night. Today, my head hurts… Tonight it’s the movies with Hattie…
p.s. I highly recommend Palmetto!
Monday, August 27, 2007
David Bowie-labyrinth: dance magic video
I've loved David Bowie for going on 40 years. I saw him live at the town hall in my home town, Aberdeen, Scotland, when I was 15... who could ever forget Ziggy Stardust seen from the second front row? He's as awesome as ever...
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
F**k...
has always been my favorite word... listen to this and you'll learn why ~
Hi-f**king-larious!
Hi-f**king-larious!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Phillipine Prison Inmates do "Thriller"
Sheer brilliance... The prisons in the Philippines are more humane than what we have in this supposed 'Free World'!
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