Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays. Here is my 2023 Christmas Card. Ho, ho, hope this finds everyone having a great holiday.
However you celebrate – just be a good person to others (and yourself).
2023 has been difficult for SO many of my friends, but I’ve been incredibly lucky in being able to navigate the Entertainment Business strikes.
Move
As most of you know, I recently moved back home to Louisville, KY, after living in LA/Las Vegas for the past 25 years. I’m SO glad to be back home with friends and family. I drive up to see my Mom in Northern KY every week or 2. I am grateful for whatever time we have left together.
Video Production
You can see my most recent work examples by clicking here. I write a post on every project I do. On the right side of that page, you can click on a Category and narrow down whatever type of examples you want to see.
DIT/Media Manager
This past year, the majority of my work has been DIT/Media Manager. A few years ago, I took a step back from Editing/Motion Graphics. I didn’t like the stress. Working as a DIT allows me to have one foot on set and one foot in Post Production. Often times, I’m the go-between the Director on set and the Post House in LA. All the camera, audio, stills people bring me their storage cards and my job is to make copies of all the data onto 3 different hard drives. That way, if one of the drives gets corrupted, we still have 2 other copies of data. Once you reformat those storage cards, that data is gone. I make less money, but much happier. Sometimes, I have to treat/color correct the footage, cut it up into scenes, export timelines and post online for Producers to look at. You can see my recent work as DIT/Media Manager here.
End Credits
I’m excited to getting back to creating End Credits – the scrolling video that plays after a film/tv show ends and shows who all worked on it. They are a pain in the butt to create, but necessary. I think of it like housekeeping; not very sexy, but it has got to be done. I started doing them several years ago and got away from it. This is one more service I can provide for when Film/TV projects shoot in KY and the Producers will be able to get a portion of that money back thru the state Film Incentives program. KY has one of the highest film incentives program in the country; 30-35% depending on where they shoot. Here is a link to some older examples, but I will be updating with more recent work soon.
A couple of months ago, I bought a huge inflatable screen (16 feet wide x 9 feet height) and projector. Amazon had a crazy 1 Day Only Sale where they were half off. If Production hires me at start of the shoot, I can work on the End Credits and project them onto it at the Wrap Party. That is always a huge morale booster.
2024
I’ve already got 4 definite “Maybes” for work lined up in January 2024 (Georgia and California). Now that the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike has been settled (thank God), I anticipate the coming year to be very busy here at home. Around 30 projects have already been approved for their KY Film Incentives! I’ve been networking my butt off to meet all the local Film/TV production people. Most of my work has been out of town. I know very few Locals who work in the Entertainment Business. I’ve been gone for 30 years.
I get most of my work thru StaffMeUp website. Here is my profile. They recently interviewed me, due to my success using their website. You can read it by clicking here.
Acting
I was Santa Claus at several events this past month. The biggest one was for a friend who owns Three Dog Bakery here in Lou. His regulars brought their dogs in to have pictures with Santa (me). At the link below, be sure to see photo of the Elf that one of the kids drew and gave to me. On the last day, I went straight from work to a Film/TV Industry party and then an After Party. A friend also asked me to play Santa to her grandkids this weekend. All those photos are (or soon will be) here.
I haven’t done any acting in front of the camera this past year. There are only 24 hours in a day and I’ve been getting pretty consistent work behind the camera. I’m excited to get back into Acting in the coming year. Here is my Actor website.
Screenwriting
I’m pretty close to finishing my latest screenplay, Alan Smithee and the Tricked Out Cadillac. I have a professional writer friend that gave me some suggestions. I’m just about done putting them into the script and will send it to him for another pass. For the past couple of months, I was taking another online screenwriting class. We just finished last Saturday. I’m using that class to develop another screenplay idea. My goal is to finish the Treatment (short 2-3 page synopsis) and then pitch them both together at the same time.
I’m passionate about building the infrastructure here in KY. In 2024, I plan to teach classes on Creating Websites for your Entertainment Career, Pitch Decks/Pitching, DIT, Craft Services, Screenwriting and Acting. I’ll run all that thru CraftYada.
Health
I picked up some weight during COVID (like most people) and I’ve been working so much, I haven’t been able to get to the gym as much as I usually do. And the older you get, the slower your metabolism becomes. I can’t wait to get back to the gym and drop some of this weight. It was a lot easier putting on than taking off!
Family
I was glad to reconnect with many of my cousins on recent working trips in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida. We were all close growing up, but then everybody gets older, has families of their own, etc. It wasn’t anyone’s conscious decision, its just Life. I encourage you to find some time to call some of your family members or good college friend or an old Army buddy that you used to be close to, but have drifted away. It did my heart good.
I was flipping thru channels the other night and watched Scrooged. I can just look at Bill Murray and start laughing. He was my favorite on SNL. I’ve always liked this updated version. Even though it is a comedy, there are some honest, touching moments. I’ve always meant to work up that monologue at the very end where he realizes he screwed up and vows to make amends. “…That feeling. You love it. And you want it – every day.” I recently read that wasn’t originally in the script and he improvised the whole ending. They just kept the camera rolling. Amazing.
You?
How are you? Doing anything cool? Let me know what’s up with you. Please email me back or call me. I want to hear from you.
Excited for 2024
I am so grateful for all the Blessings/Work in the past year. Excited for 2024. I couldn’t do it without all the love/support from my Friends and Family. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays – however you celebrate. Just be a good person to others (and yourself).
