81. %

So I made it through last night. This week, even. And I made it while being productive. I'd say almost 90% of this week's tasks got done. I don't know what 9 out of 11 is. That's pretty good for a procrastinator. Here's the list, in order.:

1. Finished subtitling my short film.
2. Took delivery of these T-shirts a buddy of mine and I made.
3. Delivered CDs and a billing statement.
4. Attended to business permits, municipal requirements, etc.
5. Sold some shirts.
6. Printed my folio and dropped it off.
7. Delivered some of the shirts to a bar who is consigning.
8. Got tickets to The Final Set.
9. Got the oil in my car changed.

I was supposed to have it tuned up, thinking it was scheduled for it. But I checked my receipts and the last tune up was just five months ago. It's got a lot of mileage on it, but I think I'll live with just the oil change for now.

Anyway the last two on the list are:
10. Research the requirements for film fest submissions.
11. Record my receipts for the last six weeks.

I hate doing 11. I hate it.

+++

I'm liking the The Submarines a lot. They even have a cute back story.

the grind

Working for 2009 officially begins tomorrow. And today, while I sit and do nothing while waiting to attend the wedding of close friends, I can't help but feel antsy about the things I have to do. It's the feeling I get when I know I've procrastinated, even if i haven't. This is like advance guilt. When you think about it (or when I think about it, just to feel better) the holiday hiatus was even productive. I mean, at least I got my archiving done. Last year it took me 'til middle of last year to archive 2007.

Anyway, while I sit here and wait, I might as well make a list of things I want done (or have to do) in the first two working weeks of January. You know, just to get into the right frame of mind.

1. Subtitle Training.

2. Make a list of film festivals, of their requirements, and start sending out subtitled Training.

3. Upgrade my equipment. I'm one year behind on this and the money I put aside for this upgrade went to the short film already. Haha.

4. Redesign my website so I can push my work (see #8). I actually got in touch with the designer before the holidays, and we're set to resume talking about it... around now.

5. Get started on Gray Area stuff. Somebody bought the building and we're not renewing our lease. We have a couple of prospects for a location to move to, including a possible partnership with another studio. I got to set up that meeting and talk to our studio manager about meager months ahead while we're in transition.

6. Talk to my accountant about lowering her fee. I agreed to her high professional fee because I needed help straightening out my tax stuff from 2006-2007. Now that that's done, mostly, I need to keep my own overheads down.

7. Get my own space.

8. Send the folio out and get higher paying jobs to offset everything.

You know, this is why they say that most men live lives of quiet despair.

credits

I began this blog over a year ago because I had a then untitled short film I wanted to make. Well, I got it done: I wrote it, directed it, and screened it for friends and family, and somewhere in that time line, I figured out a title.

TRAINING, along with some trips and a certain reunion concert, was a highlight of 2008. I'm so thankful I got it done. I loved the experience of making it and the people I made it with are a big part of my life. Thanks, all of you.

The transition from 2008 to 2009 wasn't as smooth as I wanted. I've come to have mixed feelings about some of my relationships. In the garish lights of the holidays, the inadequacies are ever more glaring. Maybe it's just the holiday blues, but things are always a changing and in some things, I better be changing myself. I'll work it out, no worries.

More seriously, in the past couple of days, I've learned that bad things happened or are happening to people I love. I don't really know what to say about these things. This too, I'm still working out. But I want to say that I love you all, and I just want you to be all right. Somehow I don't say that enough, and I'm changing that.

I'm here now. New obsessions or not, throughout all the adventure and the uncertainty, in the euphoria of pleasure or in the depths of sorrow, I want to keep going. I owned you, 2008. 2009, you're next.

shout out!

That was really cool of all of you to come. A big thanks to everyone!

You know, I wanted to be many things growing up. I went from wanting to be a taho vendor, to being in the army, to being a painter, to having my own burger joint, to wanting to be scientist, to being writer, and all that. Then I discovered film in high school (Cinema Paradiso!) but I got sidetracked by this whole photography thing.

I love photography, I’ll never stop taking pictures, and I believe in the power of the single, still image. It’s like my own version of poetry (since I never got literal poetry anyway). Yet, I’ve always felt that making a movie would be like writing and telling story. Quite a different thing from the little visual poetry I already try to do. So I never forgot that I wanted to do the whole story telling thing too.

So I went to workshops and all that. Came up with a story, discarded it, then sat down again to finally get it done. Got a great bunch of really cool and great people together, became friends, and made the damn short film.

It was great doing it. I’m glad I did it. I learned a lot. Just today, while writing this little note, I realized that my title is also quite apt for the whole experience of making this short.
So. Sa madaling salita, I’m finally screening my short film, “TRAINING” for friends and family. (Email me for details.)

Salamat sa lahat nag sabing, “sige gawin mo yan!,” sa mga kaibigang nagbasa, sa mga astig na taong tumulong sa akin sa pag gawa! Kita kits tayo dun!