as camera phone technology continues to improve, more and more of my photos are being taken w/ my iPhone. the pictures I take are very much a representation of where I’ve been and what I’ve found interesting. sure there’s a few sunset photos in there – but for the most part I try and capture the little details that make each experience unique. here are some of my favorites from 2011 (in roughly the order they were taken).
you can see all 40+ of my favorites in the Flickr set. just scroll look for the ones at towards the bottom here.
and in the next couple weeks, look for a new interview with my good friend and fellow director Chris Louie!!
back in January, I travelled up to the small mountain town of Idyllwild for their International Festival of Cinema. I really enjoy these sorts of festivals. the locals are so friendly, and unlike LA where going to film festivals feels almost like a chore for the audience, these events are a BIG DEAL in the communities. people love to come out and meet filmmakers, they want to know about the films and filmmaking processes.
the Rustic Theatre
John, Rebecca, and Luke during Q&A
we had one of our best Q&A’s of all time at this festival. so many great questions about how we made it, what it was like looking for locations, working with the actors, and more. it was really nice to have an audience that was so engaged.
plus the town was super lovely. all sorts of rocky mountain views, cute little shops, and interesting wood carvings.
heh, I heard that Idyllwild is a “get away for people from Palm Springs” which is funny since Palm Springs is a “get away for people from Los Angeles.” it was also interesting that it was a mountain town with out any skiing. not sure if that’s because of the forest services rules for that area – or if they just don’t have the correct terrain.
I got to see a bunch of great short films, a couple of my favorites were BUTTONS ON THE GROUND and MOVING DAY. here is the trailer for BUTTONS.
the awards ceremony was pretty exciting. we had been nominated for quite a few awards (sound, score, cinematography, acting, and directing)…but then didn’t win any of them! I was pretty sure we had been skunked. and then they announced that there was a ‘Best Short’ award…and all films were eligible. and before I knew it, they were announcing that CERTIFIED had won! needless to say I was very surprised.
here are some pics from the awards show.
thanks to Carlo, John, Lola, and Michelle for contributing pictures!
-Luke
p.s. also, happy to announce that CERTIFIED will be screening in Cleveland at the Cinema Wasteland Film Festival in March/April.
this week I wanted to bring you some what of a “flashback” blog. instead of posting pics from a recent trip, we are going all the way back to the summer of 1999.
*doodily doodily doodily doo* (that’s supposed to be the flashback sound from WAYNE’S WORLD haha)
it was the summer after my first year away from home, and this trip would be the first time that anyone in my family had gone overseas. my Dad had been to Mexico…all of us had been to Canada, but that was it!
we were going to visit a few places. first we’d be headed to Nice, then take a ferry boat to the Island of Corsica. after that, Mom, Dad, and Teal would go up through France and to Germany – while I took the train to Northern Italy. we would meet up in Prague send some time there and then head back to the States. it’s funny, once you go overseas you get to call “America” “the States.” heh
it was a really amazing trip. I remember being endlessly delighted with the new places, the new sounds, and the new people. there are a few moments that really stand out to me.
• meeting our Corsican relatives for the first time
• having Happy Birthday sung to me by the “regulars” in the Pozzio De Nazza bar
• summer thunderstorms
• that Venice lived up to the hype
• skateboarding in Prague
• the really really huge escalators in Prague
• the sausage shop in Corte, Corsica
• my Dad driving the foreign roads like a boss!
• the ferry boat to Corsica
• hanging w/ my childhood penpal
• going to a harp concert
• almost missing the train in Munich
• realizing why the Riviera is THE RIVIERA
each one of those could be it’s one separate story, but let me just say this. taking the train from Nice through Monaco and into Northern Italy on a sunny summer day…as the sun is setting.
wow.
talk about gorgeous. it’s pretty remarkable when the things you have heard about are so readily illustrated for you. sadly I don’t have pics OR video from that train ride…I guess I must have been so taken by the view that I forgot!
here are some pictures from the trip. (click pics for larger view)
and as a special treat for you (and as an AVID training exercise for me) here is a video that I shot on that trip in glorious Hi8 !!!
it’s fun to compare that video with the travelogue I shot in Chile 10 years later. there are definitely some similarities in the shots… but man, my shooting has REALLY improved.
well, good news – Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow! that means 10000000 more weeks of winter, right?? sadly, in SoCal winter has yet to arrive. it’s 70ºF in Los Angeles today, which a lot of people would love – but me…I’m longing for some cold, dreary, and rain filled days.
but the good news is the internet has all sorts of snow sports vids to help tide me over until the snow hits (which will be any day…pleeeeease)
last week I saw one of the best SKIING videos I’ve ever viewed. there are several things I really like about it. it is shot beautifully. it is expertly composed with interesting angles, colors, and movements. it is edited extraordinarily well. the rhythm and pacing works perfectly with the song and has a fantastic build up. and last, but not least it is the most like skateboarding I’ve ever seen skiing.
in fact, this is more like skateboarding than most “street” snowboarding. JP’s lines through the town are so creative and playful. he takes what exists in the environment and then skis it. it doesn’t matter what it is. and he puts together LINES (i.e. groups of tricks/stunts/jumps). to me, the ability to assemble an interesting and creative line has always been the mark of a truly great street skater.
enough talk, see for yourself.
*edit* upon watching again I was reminded that the sound design is also FANTASTIC.
this last New Year’s I was fortunate enough to go to New York City and visit my good friends Troy & Daisy (you may remember her from this interview). earlier this year they left Hollywood and headed to the “Big City” and this was my first visit at their new home.
it was still very much the Holidays in NYC. there were lights and decorations up all over. I especially enjoyed the Christmas Trees that some residents of Brooklyn had made. it’s not visible in this picture, but there’s an extension cord running from an upper story window to the top of the tree.
it’s a really gigantic city and in some ways feels bigger than LA. I suppose that’s a bit of what the VERTICAL nature of it imparts. we rode a LOT of different subways around the city. Troy knew the routes quite well, which was good because there are so many ups & downs, different platforms & different train lines it could get quite confusing! the subway system really wonderful and amazing. so easy to get from one place to another…and I’m sure you know how much I enjoy a good public transit system.
one thing I especially enjoyed was the art work in the subways. there were sculptures, mosaics, stained glass, and even a few un commissioned pieces.
we did a lot of walking as well. the weather really cooperated with that. on only one day did it got down to below 30 degrees. and for the most part it was sunny. the idea of the City covered in snow is compelling, but at the same time – not freezing at all times was pleasant as well.
of course, no trip to a new city would be complete for me without sampling the local cuisine. we had pizza, mexican (go figure), street dogs, cannoli, pastrami, egg creme, and an amazing dinner at the restaurant Marlow & Sons. it’s one of those places that is constantly changing up their menu as they secure new, fresh ingredients. it was remarkable food. we all ordered different dishes and each was amazing. I imagine it’s quite fun to be a chef at a place like that.
Egg Creme Soda (no egg included)
the museums were also incredible. I think one could easily spend a week doing nothing put exploring them and STILL not see everything they have to offer. the MET had an incredible collection of Impressionist works. and an amazing amount of Monet’s…since that is my favorite movement AND my favorite artist I was in heaven. I can’t wait to go back and spend more time with their collection.
here is one of my favorites.
however, I can’t say the same for this kid – who was content to play a game on his iPad, surrounded by one of the most impressive collections of art I’ve ever seen.
KIDS THESE DAYS!!! (amiright???)
it was a really great trip. so much fun to explore a new city and spend time with my good friends. I can’t wait to go back.
last month, I was walking around Hollywood and saw something unusual. now that in itself isn’t that unusual because I see odd things all the time. but it’s not often you see an eyeless orange stuffed lion…
I posted the picture on facebook and encouraged my friends to help write the story with me. two people responded – Vanessa [V] and Lola [Lo]. below is our story, plus some pictures that Vanessa found. as usual, I’m [LG].
anyone want to continue the story here in the comments?
-Luke
[LG] The Lonely Lion sat down on the curb and leaned against the street lamp. As the sun began to set on Hollywood he thought about the events that lead him here. It wasn’t long ago that…
[V] ….it wasn’t so long ago that he was a featured performer in the Des Moines Circus, eight shows a week for Iowans of all ages.
[Lo] …he had fallen deeply in love with the aerialist and elephant trainer, Miss Moines, a bonnie lass. But there love affair quickly fell apart when suddenly the shame of their interspecies relations came down upon her and she left him for a slack-jawed clown of mediocre talents. His heart burned for her but he threw himself into his work…
[LG] which by and large had to do with letting various things be put into his mouth. sometimes he was to bite, sometimes not. occasionally there was a balancing act that involved a very cantankerous seal named Abernathy – but that is a tale for another day. so the Lonely Lion poured his heart and and soul into not biting people’s heads. and all was well, the crowds would roar* for him and it became his reason for living. then one day the Circus Master, Cyrus B. McGillicuty decided to take the troupe on the road…
[V] ….McGillicuty assembled the troupe inside the tent to announce his plans. The performers sat where their audiences had sat for the past four years, on bales of hay with peanut shells at their feet. Miss Moines’s heart leapt at the news — she’d been working on an edgier act and longed to perform in a bigger city. She held her breath waiting for MCgillicuty to say “Chicago,” and sighed dejectedly when he announced they would instead head southwest to Topeka. Slacky the Clown loosened his bow tie and cleared his throat, imagining all the extra work that would be required of a traveling troupe — running about honking his nose, tumbling out of a prop car with 18 other clowns PLUS breaking down and setting up the tent in each different town? Wooing Miss Moines had already taken so much energy. As the performers dispersed to pack their things, Lion stood behind Dainty the elephant’s leg and watched Miss Moines move slowly back to her trailer, and he wished she was still his to comfort….
[Lo] Topeka seemed a cruel city when they arrived in the fall of 1924. The Iowan cheers turned to jeers of unsatisfied revelers, drunk on bath gin, and bootlegged bottles of booze. No act seemed spectacular enough for the crowds. Leo Tanner “the Lonely Lion”‘s act was the exception, the blood thirsty crowds went wild for him. And one day Leo attracted the attention of a slight, hairless and serious fellow, who said to him “Hello Leo, I’m Sam, Sam Goldvyn, I vant you to come with me to Hollyvood, I vant you to be my lion.”
[LG] Leo was conflicted… would he take Mr. Goldvyn’s offer and travel to Tinseltown finding fame but abandoning the object of his adoration? Quickly he bounded to Miss Moines tent – he must consult with her! But when, upon throwing open the door he saw his Beloved in the midst of a “carnal embrace” with the Slack Jawed Clown…he knew what he must do. His roar equal parts pain and fury said one thing clearer than all – “Yes Mister Goldvyn…I will be your lion.” Soon he was on the train to Los Angeles (first Class of course). As they steamed across the plains, Leo sat in the dining car – lapping at a saucer of milk. It was just then the door to the dining car opened and…
[V] in wafted the scent of Chanel No. 5 over the Beef Bourguignon and Pall Malls. Every man and most women in the dining car stopped with their forks in midair and eyed the woman who’d not only appeared in the doorway, but seemed to have taken ownership of it. She rested there a few moments, coolly roving her eyes up and down the aisles as if she had allllll the time in the world. Several men dining alone sat up taller and straightened their ties, but her look of recognition was not for them. When she finally saw who she’d been looking for, a smile lifted one corner of her mouth and she sauntered over to Leo. “Is this seat taken?” she asked in a half-whisper, indicating the spot opposite him. Leo blinked, milk in his whiskers. “No,” he sputtered, “No.” He swiveled around and saw that yes, there were plenty of other empty seats available. The woman slid cozily into the seat and introduced herself. “I’m Jezebel. Sammy — I mean, Mr. Goldwyn — asked me to check in on you.”
hope the new year is off to a smashing start for you. I’m on the tail end of a work trip that took me from Pheonix to New Orleans. I was hoping we’d end up somewhere colder, but hey I can’t complain about going to New Orleans. I really love LOVE this city and have gotten to eat some amazing food.
here’s my “edit suite” in the Big Easy….
it’s time for my yearly “Top 10.” in case you’re new to my blog, I like to do a random sort of collection for a top 10. there will be music, projects, food, films, travel, and so on…here’s 2010 and 2009. in this list there will be a LOT of links, including many to past blogs where I go more in depth…so feel free to click through for longer stories and more pictures.
honorable mention: SHERLOCK
my good friend Micah recommended this BBC mini-series to me and it sat in my netflix queue for FAR too long. when I finally got around to watching it I was astounded. I love everything about it; the music, the way it was shot, the pacing, the cast, the story, the acting, the and marvelous modernization of the story.
if you have netflix, you MUST watch it. here’s a little taste – the first meeting between Sherlock & Dr. Watson.
10.) Apache – Milky Way
I really don’t watch a lot of music videos anymore, but this one has stuck in my head all year. there’s something really amazing about it’s simplicity and playfulness…yet it goes deeper than that. I get goosebumps when I watch it. and for some reason, it makes me think of traveling east to live in NYC.
9.) Continuing the Lunch Tradition
after going freelance one of things I missed the most were my lunches with my fellow editor Bruce and our client Davis. it’s a little harder for us to schedule now, but we’ve kept meeting up for lunches. one of our favorites has been Sri Siam in North Hollywood. they have a crispy rice salad that is spicy, sweet, salty, and sour. it’s soft, crunchy, and fresh. probably one of the most amazing dishes I’ve ever had.
8.) DRIVE
this was THE movie of the year. much like INCEPTION last year – it was the film that everyone in my peer group was obsessed with. we talked about it, we listened to the soundtrack, we visited the locations…and I often found myself driving around with a toothpick.
(side note: the location where he pulls behind the truck and turns off his lights is in my Sing It Loud video.)
7.) Wood & Vine
I’ve never really had a local spot until this place…it quickly became my “Cheers.” (you know, everyone knows my name.) great food, delicious drinks, and an amazing staff. I really love hanging out there.
6.) Snowboarding in June
the winter of 2010/11 was a great one. I had SO many good days on the hill…at least by weekend-warrior status. one of the most memorable was from a June trip to Mammoth Mountain. I was expecting warm sunny days – t-shirt weather, but instead we got fresh snow. it was really remarkable.
5.) Film Critic HULK
earlier this year I read a tweet from @mrbeaks about how everyone should read this essay about editing action movies. since I’m interested in editing & action movies started in on the essay. little did I know that it would be 120 pages of ALL CAPS HULK SPEAK.
for example:
SO WHAT MAKES ACTION WORK?
THE BEST PHRASE TO NARROW IT DOWN = AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION.
THE AUDIENCE DOES NOT SIMPLY “WATCH” ACTION. EVERY SINGLE BEAT SHOULD IDEALLY WORK AS A 4 PART PROCESS: AN AUDIENCE MUST FIRST ANTICIPATE THE ACTION, THEN THE AUDIENCE MUST UNDERSTAND THE ACTION (WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SEEING), THEN THE AUDIENCE MUST FEEL THE ACTION, AND ULTIMATELY REACT TO THE ACTION. AND WHEN YOU DO THAT? THE ACTION BEAT WILL WORK LIKE FREAKIN’ GANGBUSTERS.(1)
that’s correct, the author writes in the voice of the Marvel character The Hulk. and quite simply, Hulk’s writings have had a profound effect on my creative process. they were extremely instrumental as I wrote a new screenplay at the end of the year…
if you like film and care about making better stories, you NEED to read Hulk’s work. anycrap, don’t just take my word for it, find out for yourself here.
4.) Trips Home & Carpentry
another advantage of freelance is the ability to go home more often and for longer. I spent more time in WA this year than…well probably since I first moved to LA. it was great getting to spend more time with my family and help with their remodel. I also got to spend more time with my Grandparents.
this was my reward after spending a day painting their deck in the hot summer sun.
keeping with the whole manual labor thing, I went to our place in Sheep Ranch and did some work on the house there. it was the largest project I’ve undertaken absent my Dad or Grandpa… and while I was working on it I also started a new screenplay. more about that trip here.
3.) Writing a Screenplay
with each screenplay that I write I feel like I learn so much. each time it becomes a little less of a mystery. or maybe I just realize how much of a mystery the last one was? heh. at any rate, this year was the first time I was able to REALLY focus and write something. all my other writing been done after work, on the weekends, etc. this time I was able to focus soley writing. aside from the aforementioned carpentry, all I did was work on NIGHT HAUL. I didn’t know what it would be like writing for 4+ hours a day when I was used to just writing for about 1. would I be able to maintain creativity & focus for that long each day? I have to say, I was beyond stoked to find out that I could. I wrote the first draft, 117 pages in 15 days.
2.) touring with CERTIFIED
last year was all about making the film, this year was about getting it out there. I was very fortunate to get to travel all around with it. this past year I went to Atlanta (GE), Bend (OR), Eerie (PA), Big Bear Lake (CA), as well as a few festivals and screenings in the Los Angeles area. the most incredible place I travelled was definitely Cannes, France. what an amazing experience that was. it was so busy, so glamorous, and gave me so much to strive for. aside from the film stuff, I became better friends with the cinematographer of CERTIFIED, John Matysiak. and I got the chance to visit my cousins.
1.) Visiting My French Relatives
my Corsican relatives moved to the United States in the early 1900′s. and thankfully, they kept in touch with the “old world.” when our family went to Europe in 1999 we were able to meet some of the relatives who still lived in Corsica. since then my Dad has been writing letters and emailing with several other relatives who live on the mainland of France. one such family lives just outside of Montpellier in the South of France. well, I was going to be going to the South of France. it seemed silly to travel halfway around the world and then not go the last 300km to visit them.
I am SO glad we did. it’s almost hard to put into words how welcoming the Casanovas were to us. we aren’t the closest relations, but they treated us like we were as close of family as you could be. it was amazing. I was reminded what it truly meant to be “welcomed with open arms.” here I was with people that I’d never met, in a different country, that had a separate life – but yet we were FAMILY. that made the world feel a little smaller. it made me feel connected to something larger than my own day-to-day existence and that my friends was really awesome.
sorry for the lack of posts recently. I’ve been celebrating & traveling around the country. should have some fun stuff for your in a couple of weeks, including a new “Top 10″ list!
but until then, I hope this great claymation video will tide you over.
