It's Been A While

I forgot I had a blog....

Anyway, for those of you who actually give a shit about what I do, here it is.

I've now been at Full Sail for over a year. In my time here, I've worked on numerous projects. I've had a blast working on films and music videos, and I'm now deciding where to go after school (more on that later). I've learned a lot over the last fourteen months or so, and will continue to learn more everyday. 

My directing portfolio is starting to shape up nicely. Since at Full Sail, I've written and directed, "Amore", "5-27-08", "The Big Blind", "Enema Strikes Back", and "Ladies' Night". "Enema", was co-written by Lamar Williams, and "5-27-08" was co-written and directed by, Candi Reeder, Lamar Williams, Justin Slover, and Matt Schmid.

"Ladies' Night" has been chosen for consideration for the Los Angeles Film Festival, which I'm very happy about. The cast and crew on the film were phenomenal. We all had a blast making it. 

"The Big Blind" has been chosen for consideration for the Ohio Independent Film Festival. "The Big Blind" was a fun project for me, because I was able to shoot a movie that was inspired by some of my favorite mafia films growing up.

I've had some amazing experiences the last fourteen months. When I say amazing, I mean good AND bad. Thankfully the good outweighs the bad... All of these experiences have helped me grow as a writer, a director and overall human being.

Lately I've been writing some jokes for a stand up routine I'm working on. I'll be going to open mic nights soon, but more on that at another time.

Hopefully I will have some time to update this more often. Not that anyone really cares.

Peace,

D.R.

Writer's Guild Strike

Hey, everyone. I just want to give a shout out to all the writers who are striking. I support your cause 100%. I think everyone should band together, and support the Writers! Without writers there'd be no movies, sitcoms, dramas, late night talk shows. I hope that the writers are given what they deserve.

For those who don't know what the writers are striking for, here's a quick rundown. They are striking for profits, that come about from "new media". Say you go online, and watch full episodes of your favorite TV show like LOST, or The Office. NBC, and ABC, run ads during the episode which generate money. The only people that see that money are the studios, NOT the writers. They wrote the damn show, they should be getting money from it being shown online, or wherever it may be show.

For updates on the Writer's Guild of America's strike go to: http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/

Also sign the petition for the writers here: http://www.petitiononline.com/WGA/petition.html

Best of luck to the writers!

Las Vegas

I just got back from Las Vegas yesterday. I flew into Ontario California on Thursday, stayed all night at my friend Endel's house, and the next morning we ate breakfast and drove to Vegas. It was a nice 3.5 hour drive from Rancho Cucumunga to Vegas. We arrived in Vegas around 4ish. Got to the hotel (the Wyndam Hotel) and checked in. Went up to the room, which was very nice, and got ready for the event Friday night.

We drove to the event, which was held at the Venetian Hotel. We got there about an hour early, and waited in line. Got into the event, and went directly to the buffet, and ate. After we ate, we split up and got all our cigars, and then went back to the booths, to talk more indepth with the cigar makers. I had a blast at the event, and got to talk to a lot of cigar manufacturers.

After the event, we drove over to Caesar's Forum Shops, and hung out at Casa Fuente, Fuente Cigars' Vegas store. It has a bar, and its the only place you can get their Casa Fuente Cigars. We got there, got our cigars, and Endel and I went to the bar to get a drink. My dad just wanted water, and Endel, Mario, and I got McCallen 25 Year Old Scotch. Very good scotch. We drank, then met Carlito Fuente, who helps run Arturo Fuente cigars. After we met him we left, and went back to the hotel, and fell asleep.

Saturday morning we woke up around 7, and had to check out of our room, and check into another room. Then we ate breakfast at The Peppermill (which is Penn Jillete's (of Penn and Teller) favorite restaurant in Vegas) After that, Dad, Endel, and myself went to the morning seminars of the Big Smoke. Some of the guest speakers were, Carlito Fuente, George Padron (of Padron Cigars), and Charlie Torano (of Torano Cigars). I learned a lot from the seminars. After the seminars were over, there was a lunch, where you sat at a table with one of the reps from the cigar companies. At our table was George Sosa, from Alec Bradley Cigars, and Alan Rueben who runs Alec Bradley Cigars. Both of them were very nice, and also at our table was Greg Mottola
, who is the tasting coordinater for Cigar Aficionado, and also writes for Cigar Insider. All of them were very interesting to talk to, and I learned a lot from them.

We met Mario afterwards (who went to a sales lecture in order to get us coupons for $75 worth of food.) We hung out at the room for a bit, then drove to the Rio and had dinner at All American Bar and Grille. Good food. After coupons we just had to pay close to $50 bucks, which for Vegas isn't really a lot. Afterwards, we went to the room, and Zorbed ourselves. (Zorb is like Febreeze). Afterwards we went to the Mirage, to see Jay Leno, who was doing stand up there. I've never laughed harder in my life. After, we went back to the room, and slept.

We woke up Sunday morning, and Dad, Endel, and I went to the Charlie Palmer breakfast seminar, as part of the Big Smoke. Smoked Salmon, poached eggs, and potatoes was the breakfast of choice. Charlie Palmer was great. He's a nice guy. After, we went to the roll your own cigar seminar, and I rolled my first cigar, which came out like shit. We hung out there, and then Mario switched Endel, and Mario went to the scotch tasting. (He did the planning at the last minute, so he couldn't go to the day events, that's why Endel switched him). The scotch tasting was very interesting, and the scotch was excellent. We went to Peppermill for lunch, and then we chilled back at the room for a while, then went out for dinner at Batista's Hole in the Wall. Great Italian food, and they were nice enough to take Mario's Nicaraguan Express Card. We drove around for a bit, because we couldn't find a good place to drink and smoke in New York, New York. We went to bed early Sunday night.

Monday morning, we wake up, check out, and go to Paris for their breakfest buffet. Amazing food. Afterwards, we went to See's Candy, and then we went to In-N-Out, and got some merch there. We dropped Mario off at the airport, then Endel, and my dad and I, drove to the Harley Davidson shop, and got Endel's brother a t-shirt from there. Then Endel dropped us off at the airport.

We flew out of Vegas at 3:10. Landed in Cleveland around 10:15. I didn't fall asleep until 2:30 in the morning, cause I was still on West Coast Time.