Digging Up the Dirt

An outtake mountain cult ep 4. Available on youtube.

I’ve been developing a plan following my crises yesterday. The fun part about being completed with the episode is that I don’t have to showcase my best possible work with the shorts. I think this plan has evolved from a better understanding of the purpose behind my actions.

The purpose of the youtube shorts is to generate clicks. That’s it. It doesn’t have to be detailed, extraordinary, or anything special. It only needs to be topically relevant and funny.

I am rapidly discovering the importance of incorporating current issues into the comics. By including hashtags that are trending the amount of views each comic receives increases substantially.

The big problem with choosing current events is the risk of becoming controversial. For a long time now I have kept this blog clean of any of my personal political viewpoints. It is with great regret that I now see no clear road ahead without risking controversy. Featuring a political leaning will undoubtedly cause me to lose followers, but it also presents the oppurtunity of engaging new ones. I will continue to try and keep this blog free from any politics, as I much prefer discussing the craft of anything artistic, but accept the reality that engaging an audience of non-artistic consumers will require me to speak of more topical events.

My goal is to complete the short today and possibly release it tomorrow. I may hold onto it in order to do a batch release of shorts. I’ve got to admit, however, that I am well beyond exhausted at creating media that has yet to be viewed or complimented by anyone.

Hope your week is still going strong and you know what you are looking for. If you don’t then you will never find it.

Filmmaking Process – Day 5

Watch “Doctor with the Red Houseware” on Tubi!

Today I’ve post the 5th and final installment of the behind the scenes process of creating “Doctor with the Red Houseware.” I discuss the specific challenges of this day that included prop design, time management, and acting in a scene when you are feeling delirious.

Doctor with the Red Houseware is available for free streaming on TUBI!

Live on TUBI!!

Watch Doctor with the Red Houseware (2022) – Free Movies | Tubi (tubitv.com)

https://tubitv.com/movies/675327/doctor-with-the-red-houseware

I’m beyond ecstatic to announce “Doctor with the Red Houseware” is live and available for viewing on Tubi. Tubi is a free streaming platform available on all devices. If you’d like to support my work, please click the link above and give it a “thumbs up” when prompted.

Today was a good day.

A Hierarchy of Objectives

new logo for “TMW Productions” that I made yesterday

I have been tirelessly editing 5 separate youtube videos that briefly summarize the work that went into the production of “Doctor with the Red Houseware” – a 32 minute film that has now been picked up by Xumo, Tubi, Box Brazil Play, and Lookhu.

It seems counter-intuitive, but the reality is that artwork dies as an unknown soldier if it is merely brought into existence. In other words, I have discovered that the least inspiring actions are often the most important. Similar to people and society.

For example, gaining acceptance from filmhub required a 2 week effort to create a new poster, render the film according to new specifications, and capture stills in 16:9, rather than the 1:35 aspect ratio that the film was mastered in.

One of the best practices of any modern artist/entepreneur/pipe-dreamer is to sit down and identify exactly what they seek to accomplish. Each and every day we have time to work. But simply working is no guarantee that you are moving anywhere.

Off the top of my head, I can think of a numerous “to-do” list – email a singer a track, re-record the roulette wheel sounds, add to my film financing notes, identify an accessible film market, record narration for youtube videos, read the 3 writing books I purchased, etc.

Only 1 or 2 of these objectives can make a fat impact on my filmmaking journey. Shaking hands with professionals at a filmmaking marketplace would be by far the most beneficial to me, but promoting a film that I’ve already completed is a necessary final step in its production.

I must be diligent with time. I love writing on wordpress (though adding photographs or italics makes me want to punch a wall…it wasn’t always this way), but it is time. Every task requires time, yet every task is necessary. So how can a nobody like me get anywhere?

Deadlines. I’ve begun requiring production of myself regardless of how unprepared or overwhelmed I feel at the onset of an uncomfortable undertaking. Attacking with a blunt axe-head to escape a whimsical dungeon.

By tomorrow I will have 5 youtube videos ready to go. I will release each video separately in order to promote the film’s release. I will simultaneously market the film through Instagram. I can than put “Doctor with the Red Houseware” behind me and focus single-mindedly on the writing and financing of a feature length story.

I’ve spoken much about distinguishing between actions that move you toward your ultimate goals and those that provide minimal return. I consider instagram, wordpress, and youtube as minor annoyances that I could enthusiastically abandon. I will not however, as a consistent effort in these self-promotional activities builds an audience, a brand, and a community.

I created The Riverside Film Network (a Meetup group) because I didn’t have any local network of filmmakers to communicate with. That group now has 200 members, a consistent conversation on its own discord server, and weekly discussions. The group includes producers, actors, agents, and writers. This wordpress blog has over 1000 followers, and my youtube channel has 70 or so (lol).

Consistently releasing material over time, regardless of its quality, is more beneficial than spending years crafting an imaginary plan for success.

General Update

I know I began a short story last week, and I intend to continue that as soon as possible. But today I just wanted to provide a brief update.

I’ve spoken here often about improving my own time management. I am constantly working on something, but different projects require different amounts of time. For instance, editing a film, mastering a song, or molding a story are tasks that can be done in a day or a year. A great example that demonstrates this trend is the song that I’ve been working on for the past month. No matter how much I try to recreate the emotion through synthetic instruments on Ableton it has not matched the emotional impact it provided when I first played it on acoustic. I have to practice the song on a real guitar, stay true to the tempo, and learn the same chord progression in the key of Bb major. All the work I’ve put in through Ableton has been wasted, though I have created some unique synthesizers in the process.

Regardless of your aim in the world of creativity, a simple step back allows you to view the reality of accomplishing your goals. I fundamentally disagree with the longing to “get discovered”. Carving out a sustainable career is a result of a relentless effort to master the skills required for a specific profession. Eminem constantly references Dr. Dre for discovering him and exploding his career. Though he no doubt became a breakthrough artist thanks to Dr. Dre, Eminem was the one honed the skills that unlocked his meteoric rise. He needed a platform for what he was selling – but the product was already top quality.

I am trying to quantify the steps that I must take to produce a feature length film that will prove a profitable undertaking. Whether that means making more short films, knocking on doors, or building a large online following, I am game. I am certain I must have a completed script before I can be taken seriously in any avenue. Before that is completed, however, I am attempting to identify daily habits that will continuously bring me closer to my goal.

The two most obvious are daily writing/research specific to the story I am developing. The second obvious step is to educate myself on film financing.

I love wordpress and the audience that I can reach. It is the one task I can complete while I am at work. I also intend to return to creating youtube videos, but I need a more regimented system. Oftentimes I will write a script in a day, film it the following day, then require 2 weeks to edit all of the footage and music together. I’m considering creating videos where the focus is scene analysis on films that I’ve enjoyed. I feel I can come out with one of these each week. The most important aspect of creating youtube videos would be to dedicate no more than 30 minutes each day over the course of a week to create the video.

I am still waiting to find my film “Doctor with the Red Houseware” on Xumo. Once it is featured I will be happy to advertise it. As it stands, I have not released the film for free viewing on youtube. This week I am going to take steps to market the film again and set up for a free release online. I can do this by posting regularly to instagram and creating videos detailing the struggles encountered throughout the production process.

Anyways, hope all is well and to write again tomorrow. I do intend on further exploring the short story I began. It is a story I loved and one that I would consider producing. Because I have many ideas that I love I realize in my lifetime I will be unable to tell them all unless I sacrifice a little of the production quality in order to simply tell them. Have a good day.

Lofty Goals and Loose Plans

Still from Mountain Cult – Doctor with the Red Houseware

After speaking with a competent and knowledgeable filmmaker, I am beginning work toward my next project. “Mountain Cult – Doctor with the Red Houseware” has yet to be released but I intend to make it widely available by the end of the month. I uploaded it to filmhub a couple days ago, but it failed quality control due to poster image & subtitle issues. I would like to provide my film to a marketplace distributor with the high-end goal of selling it before making it free to view. Lofty goal but shooters shoot.

So this competent filmmaker has consistently worked on other projects and takes his craft very seriously. I am excited about the opportunity to work with someone who knows what they are doing and recognizes the value in preparation.

Thought yesterday we made loose plans for rushing a script and filming a type of “practice” short relatively soon, I am now second guessing that idea in favor of my loftier goal for 2022. I would like to write a scene for a “sizzle reel” – a short scene that encompasses the tone, characters and premise of a feature film. If you want to secure funding for a film, the best way is to complete a visceral sizzle reel and use it to leverage your product’s merit with people who have the money to make it come to life. It is also wise to secure distribution before funding.

I have a few ideas floating around that vary in genre and budget requirements. The one thing I have learned through experience is that no matter what idea I pursue, I will inevitably fall in love with it and devote much more time and effort than I had initially planned. It is for this reason that I have decided against a practice shoot.

In other news, I have been updating an instagram account and facebook page for the film regularly. I hate doing it but it doesn’t take much time. I don’t quite understand how facebook business pages are supposed to attract followers when you cannot friend request them. I’ve built a good amount of “friends” on my personal page and use that one primarily to market the film. Because I click on random people each day to add as friends I inevitably have friends from regions of the world that don’t use English. I guess I have much to learn about marketing.

Anyways, that’s today’s update. Hope you have a great day.

Aleister Crowley and the Aeon of Horus

A Thelemite belief is that humanity can be divided into a series of Aeons that was accompanied by its own forms of magical and religious expression. The Aeon of Isis, the Aeon of Osiris, and the Aeon of Horus. Crowley believed that Magick was a bridge between art and science with the involvement of mystic forces.

Isis

Isis was the Egyption Goddess of fertility. The Aeon of Isis was characterized by maternal values such as the pagan worship of mother nature and pagan worship. This Aeon took place during the pre-Christ era.

Osiris

The Egyption God Osiris was the God of the underworld. He symbolized death and resurrection. This era was marked by self sacrifice and submission. These values are reflected in Christianity and Islam, the dominant world religions during this period.

Horus

Aleister Crowley believed he ushered in the Aeon of Horus, where individuality and the exploration of self will are the dominant belief systems. I find it intriguing that commercialism, psychology, and secular societies encourage core elements present in the basic premise of Crowley’s book of the law – or “Do what thou wilt.”

Crowley’s second most important book was “The Vision and the Voice.” He believed that along the journey to self discovery the individual could find harmony with the universe and develop the ability to openly communicate with higher powers. Through meditation, concentration, and discipline an outer body experience could be achieved. I feel the techniques Crowley developed were the foundation for current belief systems that provide a methodology to astral projection exploration in the modern age. In the 1970s, the CIA embarked on a mission to study the possibilities of psychic powers and the existence of a sixth sense. Crowley’s rituals and techniques added a learnable methodology to ancient mystic beliefs that influenced humanity’s pursuit for discovering a connection between spirituality and science.

1. “Thelemic Mysticism.” Wikipedia, 31 Dec. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelemic_mysticism.
2. “The Vision and the Voice.” Wikipedia, 17 Oct. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vision_and_the_Voice. Accessed 1 Jan. 2022.
3. “Aeon (Thelema).” Wikipedia, 24 Dec. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeon_(Thelema). Accessed 1 Jan. 2022.
4. The Legends of History. “Aleister Crowley: The Father of the Occult (Occult History Explained).” YouTube, 17 June 2020, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV1CaWJxD6Y. Accessed 22 Apr. 2021.
5. “ISIS Goddess | Goddess of Fertility| Egypt Goddesses – AskAladdin.” Egypt Travel Experts, ask-aladdin.com/egypt-gods/isis/.

My upcoming short film, Mountain Cult, incorporates themes of Astral Projection and occultism. You can view the trailer below.

Series Recap & Wasted Time

A week ago I set out to submit my kickstarter campaign for review. I wanted to have a link to the pre-launch page as soon as possible. I thought it would be a good idea to use a “series recap” video so that potential backers could rapidly familiarize themselves with the show’s core concepts.

I figured I better make a new series recap video that includes portions of episode 4. But then I realized that I talk about how I make all the music myself on the campaign info page… so I needed to make a new song as well.

From there I realized that ableton live was pretty limited in the synths they offer. I initially hoped to make a sort of dubstep beat. But to do that I would need a plug-in to create my own synths… so I researched then purchased one.

Next I had to figure out how to use the plug in to create satisfying sounds. I wound up creating a pluck and synth that I’m ok with. I’m very excited to learn more about the plug-in soon.

Long story short, I just wasted a week making a song for a new series recap video all because of that nagging idea I needed a one. I’m pretty disappointed with myself since I’ve been determined to improve my time efficiency. Anyways, the stupid video is below if you’d like to see a visual & audio representation of pissing days away.

Walking Faster

Part of my research into filmmaking financing and distribution has educated me on the ideal expenses of a legitimate production. Jeff Deverett, an experienced filmmaker with a background in distribution, suggested that the marketing for a film should equal 60-100% of the overall budget. This is a much greater percentage than I ever would have guessed. Other estimates give marketing a much smaller figure. Given Deverett’s experience and knowledge of the film market, I trust his opinion more.

I don’t, however, have the income to match my marketing expenses with the budget my short film costs to produce. Working on such a small scale means that I’m already only spending a buck when it’s absolutely necessary. Though I may not be able to match that percentage financially, I may be able to compete when it comes to time and effort.

I’ve been putting in work this week to research topics that are discussed in my short film. That’s why you’ve seen posts about Alaister Crowley, Uri Gellar, and the Ganzfeld experiment. In truth, I’ve greatly enjoyed the research. I would like to further my understanding of parapsychological history to create short documentaries for my youtube channel. My theory is that this will attract an audience for the subject matter my film contains.

I plan to launch my kickstarter campaign in January. I was hoping to submit the campaign for review already, but I recently concluded Episode 5 could really use a series recap that covers the major events in episodes 1-4. I’ve been editing that video the past 2 days.

Move fast and break things.

That’s the premise of the marketing plan I would like to implement. It essentially suggests “throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks.” I don’t think I could ever publish writings or videos that I am not proud of – but I did spend 2 hours yesterday remastering 1 scene of dialogue from Episode 4. All those changes make a difference, but there will be a music track playing over that conversation during the series recap anyway.

I’ve got to improve at time management. By setting aside 30 minutes a day to simply publish updates across social media platforms I feel I may begin to reach a more sizable audience. Pissing away time hunched behind a computer screen tweaking the velocity an animated arm moves at is a comparatively wasteful undertaking.

I plan to release 5 “behind the scenes” videos from the making of Mountain Cult in January and 3 short documentaries. I’ve wasted so much time figuring out how to move ‘X’ just to get started on ‘Y’ it’s embarrassing. I’ve got to accept the pangs of building a youtube audience – despite having no desire to be a fucking youtuber. I don’t think many people do. But by building an audience there I can make great strides towards securing finance and distribution for the types of movies I do want to make.

If you haven’t seen the trailer for my upcoming short film, feel free to check it out below.

Uri Geller – CIA Psychic or Conman?

Uri Geller

In the 1970’s the American government received word that Russia was investing heavily in the research and development of para-psychological phenomena. Not only that, but their intelligence – which was likely intended to mislead them – suggested that they were increasing their budget from an already whopping 60 million rubles. Keep in mind, these were Cold War times, so the U.S. was determined to beat Russia at everything.

The United States government began funding CIA projects to invest in ESP testing and uncover paranormal abilities. They launched a program called “Scannate” at Stanford University where they brought in well known psychics and tested their claims.

One of the most popular psychics was rocketing to stardom – his name was Uri Geller, a soft-spoken Israel who invoked the help of God to perform his stunts.

The common feats Uri performed involved bending spoons and visualizing images that a subject known as a “sender” concentrated on. In a 2017 interview with Good Morning Britain, Geller claimed that the CIA had requested him to investigate a Russian embassy using remote viewing and solve the mystery of JFK’s assassination.

The most infamous moment of Uri Geller’s career, however, occurred during his appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Unknown to Geller, Carson had contacted former magician and skeptic James Randi.

Carson himself had experience with magic and doubted Geller’s psychic claims. He contacted James Randi and asked for instruction on how to keep Geller honest. James Randi insisted that Johnny provide the instruments for the tricks and keep Geller and his crew away from them prior to his performance. Randi believed Geller was performing cheap magic – and the spoons were already bent before he went on stage.

Johnny Carson’s control of the objects prior to Geller’s appearance seemed to pay off – Geller was unable to demonstrate a single telepathic ability during his 20 minutes of onscreen time. It was unforgettably awkward and put the brakes on Geller’s exploding popularity. Nonetheless, Uri Geller continues to be known worldwide as a legitimate psychic and convince many of his paranormal abilities.

My short film “Doctor with the Red Houseware” involves a cult that employs the use of astral projection for communication with an otherworldly being. Feel free to check out the trailer below if that’s of interest to you.