Shikow

Reel Bad Arabs

2012-01-29T13:45:00.001-08:00

SFAA Shirts!!

2012-01-26T20:46:00.001-08:00

All out of shirts! Got to buy more soon!!

Noah Cicero's Relevance

2012-01-12T20:36:00.000-08:00

Latest Thoughts

2011-12-29T19:05:00.000-08:00

I've been off for a week, so I did get a chance to see the new Borrowers animated film by Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli, which is also known as THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY. It was cute in the way all his films effect you with a sense of purity for things that are childlike and innocent. It wasn't as imaginative in style or animation as some of his other films. My guess is that kids will be mildly interested. It would have been better if the love story between Arrietty and Sho was more intense and the villainous Haru was more diabolical. But don't take my word for it, the film was a huge hit in Japan and has been seriously praised for its music and animation. I thought these last two were consistent with the other films, but the story just wasn't that interesting. My guess is that Miyazaki is just another material object of consumer celebrity that needs to be washed down like gelatinous breakfast cereal to match his worldwide success with PONYO. Anyway, I'm not fooled. It's a mediocre film without the powerful effect you would get from SPIRIITED AWAY or PRINCESS MONONOKE.

Speaking of watered down breakfast cereal, my brother did get me another Murakami book for Christmas this year--the ever-popular 1Q84. Like Miyazaki, I believe Murakami is now the "in-thing" to read by people who want to pretend they are avid readers because he has received so much high praise--much in the same way people carry a David Foster Wallace book around or have it on their shelves. It's strange to me that such strange writers would generate so much interest. Both writers are a bit too conventional in their literary posturing for me to be captivated longer than a few pages, but it seems like lots of people like these types of super author books. I would rather read something more aligned with popular culture, like a James Bond book--or flip it and reverse it and get a poetry book like SLEEPING WITH THE DICTIONARY--but it may be that the super author is the key to the literary market. If we look at trends in Hollywood--where stars end up receiving a higher value for their artistic work because of a history in the public eye, such as George Clooney--his work in THE DESCENDANTS will be rewarded with a politically correct Oscar--it makes sense that Murakami, Miyazaki, and even David Foster Wallace, would have their works filtered by the kind and steady gaze that accompanies fame.

Literary branding, like star branding, is a business, and it will be done to dupe the masses. This is not to say that the writers or directors I've mentioned are not talented, or that their books are not appealing. I am simply singling out the lack of appeal for myself, and that a large part of the reader or viewership for these artists is created by the public's interest in creating icons. And, finally, and I suppose this is becoming the theme of this post, the fact that something is popular or famous intones with it a sense of hungry consumerism for more of the original, so consumers can either claim an identity by association or simply "pass"--as in "passing"--with the deemed appropriate products: cue a mental picture of a 1950s American suburb for historical reference.

The new millennia seems to be about how one can brand themselves and create a user friendly identity that is digestible, but does not go down as blandly as some of the commercial music of the 80's might have. Artists need to maintain a certain "hipness"--or replace this for any other term: rebelliousness, otherness, etc.--that instills a sense that the buyer is not being "sold" a mass product. Likewise, the trendy consumer must also navigate a world of commercial products and choose to acquire products based on occupation, or the likelihood that association with such products will help the consumer improve his or her occupation, or that the consumer will simply afford more financial freedom to buy more products--and this is the clincher--attain the true desire of any commercial association for the consumer: getting laid, either physically, financially, or spiritually, so that one is "laid out" or has become the recipient of some uber-minded false reality of completeness, like how enlightenment--as if there was such a thing--or a touchdown bring a state of repose momentarily for our consumer consciousness.

A film that reflects this circle of incompleteness rather well is Abbas Kiarostami's CERTIFIED COPY. Although the film begins with a premise on whether a certified copy is as good as an original from an art/commerce perspective, it shifts this concept onto how a relationship could or could not meet this ideal. Like Kiarostami's earlier films that play with the idea of reality, we are never given a clear line in which to digest the film. We are simply offered the possibility that the couple who interact in the film could potentially be or not be acting as a married couple, or that they are simply acting in this fashion to "act out" the ideas they discuss about originality--or that the film could be an intense meta-play on relationships and reflect the director's idea that his art of using Juliet Binoche and William Shimell to pretend to be a married couple is as good as if it really happened. The latter is my guess, but it really doesn't make the film any easier to understand, and, in all, it is an intellectual head game intentionally missing a few pages to activate participation into the question of its purpose and make the audience question reality and the fragility of relationships. The point is made elegantly, but this is not a film for people to watch and expect a satisfying experience at the cinema. This is for people who like to be fed a cinema that is artistically experimental for the sake of being experimental without being offered any answers but more confusion. But don't take my word for it, this film has had positive accolade from the jurors at the Cannes movie festival!!

So with shittier and shittier things being picked up by the populace, it makes me wonder whether things that are given an intellectual spin by the branding machine are, in fact, popular because they offer consumers an opportunity to be seen as intellectual themselves, or is it a different idea altogether: could commercial products that have an intellectual spin be spun as more intellectual in an effort by the governing bodies of discretion--the Cannes jurors, the New York Times, etc.--out of a fear that if we identify things as popular that are seen as less than intellectually sound that this would drive down the value of the governing bodies to tell consumers what is appealing from the onset? Could it be that if we actually lined up consumer sales with what was both mildly interesting and popular, that our critics would be discussing the latest romance novel or a good horror film, rather than paying so much attention to pseudo-intellectual art?

I wonder if that's why something like Mr. Brainwash is even more relevant in today's artistic culture and to our discussion. Here we have an artist who commercially produces a digestible art that is even more digestible given the success of his documentary EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP. His pieces are created by a team of designers who construct to order Mr. Brainwash's fancies. One of his more recent pieces at ART SHOW 2011 in Los Angeles includes a portrait of Benjamin Franklin with headphones on, while a real stereo is placed on a table in front of the portrait. This is a simple arrangement, and upon close examination, the painting is not done with any specific skill. The art lies in the arrangement and defacement of what is not thought to be "hip." Historical figures would never listen to music, so isn't that otherworldly to see such a spectacle. And that's at the heart of this artist: each of his pieces reflect a more digestible version of the truth purveyed by other artist's of the 20th Century, and they are then remixed to ownership and as a product by Mr. Brainwash.

The truth of the matter is that Mr. Brainwash has very little artistic talent. His concepts are creative manipulations similar to a tee shirt salesman coming up with designs that will look good on a tee shirt, but which are presented in a large scale and on display from the guise of his fame and association/manipulation in his work of other artists, such as Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat. In fact, much of his current work is a large bite off the other artists depicted in EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP, such as Banksy and Shepard Fairey. In truth, his five minutes our due to be up any moment now. The only question will be if the media machine will spin him long enough in a dryer to create an icon, or will he just be an outdated Shrinky-dink in the next decade. My bet is on the latter, but don't take my word for it--his art show in Los Angeles was a huge success!!

So what is going on? Why all this shit for sale? When will we have a legitimate artist again? Will it continue like this?

Unfortunately, the ideas of fame and art have become intertwined and muddied in our reality driven era. It will be difficult to tell what holds merit or is simply being offered up as a "product" in the future. That is part of the appeal of Mr. Brainwash--everything he does is about offering the product. Everything is a concept. He doesn't need to paint a perfect picture or show other measures of talent. His talents are dictated by how effectively he is able to remix other works and market himself simultaneously. Such is the reality of today's art world. Which offers up the year's final questions: What will be the new art? Where will it be sold? What will be its effect? And will anyone care?

Kenneth Godsmith's "Uncreative Writing" delves into some of these questions. I will discuss his book, Momus (videos below), and fame--my favorite topic--in a bit.

Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs: 251-260

2011-12-28T05:48:00.000-08:00

251.

252.

253.

254.

255.

256.

257.

258.

259.

260.

Jazz Dance Steps

2011-12-22T20:22:00.001-08:00

Meow-Meow Lives!

2011-12-08T23:15:00.000-08:00

SHOPLIFTING: Film Festival Update

2011-11-10T21:35:00.000-08:00

We have now submitted SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL to seven movie festivals.

Then that will be it for this year. We might do a couple international ones, but we need to wait and see how we do with these.

Still Alive

2011-11-05T17:27:00.000-07:00

I am still alive.

The SHOPLIFTING film will be officially complete tomorrow. The only thing I'll do with it from here on out is submit it to a festival or sell it for distribution.

THE HUMAN WAR is still not complete. I wish it were done, but I have no idea how long that one will take.

The BRAD WARNER documentary will be done by next year. It just needs to be edited now.

That means this next year is just a recovery period of sorts. I've already started trying to get healthier and resting more. Next week we're off to Thailand, so we'll see if I can close my eyes and rest medicine.

I'm not sure what will happen in this next year. I have thought about putting some short films together. It'll depend on how much free time I have this summer. Who knows? Maybe it'll all work out.

PK

2011-10-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

You can pre-order Jim Goar's new poetry book The Louisiana Purchase at Rose Metal Press.

Here is a quote from Jim on how to view the site:

When you get there, if you are still not sure, read the blurbs and an excerpt. Then buy it. Then buy it again for your other bag. Then buy it again for your desk, your cat, your western facing window. All will be thankful.

I believe Jim's book would be a perfect addition to Meow-Meow's library. We've discussed it and she agrees. Any book written by Goar can make her purr at least once before she puts it down.

Dr. Nakamats!

2011-10-12T16:27:00.001-07:00

I am interested in Dr. Nakamats. Sohee will be buying me some of his spring-geared shoes. I told her I would get his Love Jet - a perfume that eliminates foreplay - for her.

If we get to make DEATH TO ALL MONSTERS in Japan, I will ask Dr Nakamats to be in the film.

Fall Update

2011-10-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

I am finally down to two jobs and movie making. That means I have more time to take long walks, run, and do some writing. This week I am writing another screenplay for the next movie. I am curious what will happen. Everyday I've gotten up to write and I've been consumed with Hayao Miyazaki films. I've watched about five films in the past ten hours. They usually have the same theme of man vs. nature. Typically, there's a strong female heroine who stands up to some evil and finds herself. They are powerful films.

I would like to make an animated film as good as the ones Miyazaki is putting out. Maybe I will. Who knows?

Now it's late at night. It's just me and Meow-Meow up. She's curled up on the desk behind a portrait of my great grandmother.

I might watch another Miyazaki film. I might just turn into a forest spirit and listen to the wind.

Long Beach, CA

2011-09-25T00:49:00.000-07:00

Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs 241-250

2011-09-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

241.

242.

243.

244.

245.

246.

247.

248.

249.

250.

SFAA: Film Festival Update

2011-09-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

Our film has been submitted to Sundance and Slamdance. We will find out the result in November. Meanwhile, I am looking to see what other festivals to enter.

Meow-Meow

2011-09-08T20:01:00.001-07:00

Movie is done being edited. I really like it. We'll have a sound mix in the next couple weeks. Then we'll be submitting to a bunch more festivals.

Other than that, I got a cat.

We call her Meow-Meow.

Ultimate SFAA Trailer!

2011-08-21T20:10:00.001-07:00

Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs: 231-240

2011-08-10T04:54:00.001-07:00

231.

232.

233.

234.

235.

236. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sISWPzEqHLQ

237.

238.

239.

240.

Swell Season at Amoeba

2011-08-05T13:31:00.000-07:00

My Favorie Dance

2011-07-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

AMDA Flash Mob

2011-07-19T23:47:00.000-07:00

A lot of my students at AMDA were part of this flash mob at a Target in Hollywood. I told them to do more of these. I want to dance in the next one, too.

Become a Persian Trainer

2011-07-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

If someone asks if you are from Iran, say you are Persian. Then explain the historical difference of Persia versus Iran in relation to Arianism with a complete disregard that being part of the Aryan people is not something that matters to anyone except "Ich liebe dick" Hitler.

Do not think that you can make rules up out of thin air. They have been around for millennia. Simply refer to your favorite books on the subject: "The Bible for Dummies" and M. Scott Peck's "Paths to Highly Effective Bowel Movements."

If someone says they thought Iran was Iraq, then punch them in the face. Afterward, explain that they're two different countries, while rolling your eyes and thinking silently to yourself, "Americans are so stupid," without realizing that you are in the same outfit as the person you are criticizing, and drinking the same "Cold Flu Fighter" from Jamba Juice off the corner of Sepulveda and Santa Monica Boulevard.

Now go eat four bowls of Basmati rice with saffron. When they ask you if you want tadigh, or the fried rice from the bottom of a pot of rise, say, "I am watching my figure." Then order two more dishes, including kashk e-badamjoon, some koo koo e-sabzi, and ask the waitress if she knows Farsi.

Festival Submission Calendar

2011-07-09T21:22:00.001-07:00

This is our calendar for submitting the SHOPLIFTING movie. We will be missing a lot of festivals because we aren't done the film yet. We're going to try and make these deadlines in September though.

Mr. Oizo

2011-07-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

WHERE'S THE MONEY GEORGE ? from oizo mr on Vimeo.

Saint Lucia

2011-07-09T16:12:00.000-07:00

The volcanic island
northeast of the island of Saint Vincent
named after Saint Lucy of Syracuse by the French
has a drive-in volcano.

Arawaks, its first known inhabitants,
might have called it something else.
The English definitely wanted to,
fighting over the island with France 14 times
until the country declared its independence
from them both in 1979.

Tourism is still vital to its economy
of previously enslaved Africans and Caribs alike
who are overworked and maltreated by European replacements
to man sulphur springs and other vacation destinations
that will help the market for bananas to become more competitive.

Hello

2011-07-09T16:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I drive through Beverly Hills and wonder if I'll see Lionel Richie.

American Samoa

2011-07-09T03:19:00.000-07:00

north of Tonga, and some 300 miles (500 km) south of Tokelau

Roggeveen happened upon the islands in 1722
and traded a few nails for coconuts

La Perouse did not offer nails or coconuts
and 11 Frenchmen were killed

Now dubbed savages
John Williams brought Christianity in 1830

No one told him the French shot a Samoan attempting to steal an iron bolt
He didn't need to know

Warfare as an instrument of political change was discarded, as was polygamy, abortion, "indecent" dances, and certain common articles of clothing (such as the titi, a skirt made from Cordyline terminalis leaves)

Later, other papalagi (foreigners) visited Samoa for its proximity to whaling grounds and the harbor of Pago Pago

Coconut milk, fresh fish, breadfruit, and tinned or fresh meat were dropped in favor of Western foods, a sedentary life, and higher risks of obesity and diabetes

People stopped fishing and the USA took control of its allotted region on June 7, 1900 with the Deed of Cession

Now Samoa is known to have only two distinct seasons: the hot and rainy season and the cooler evenings from May to November

Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs: 221-230

2011-07-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

221.

222.

223.

224.

225.

226. Rod, Rod

227.

228.

229.

230.

New Teaser & Fundraiser!

2011-07-01T01:40:00.001-07:00

Shoplifting from American Apparel in NYC and Ohio: Film Stills & Commentary

2011-06-24T17:23:00.001-07:00

(Above: cast and crew peak around the corner for our pre-shoplifting scene "Three Stooges" stylee.)

I didn't get to post too much during our filming of SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL these last two weeks, so I'll just do a monster posting now with brief commentary.

I scream an improv song with friends.

We shot a scene where Brad and Jordan are drawing graffiti with chalk on some walls in Brooklyn. The NYPD showed up, so we had to clean up our mess pretty fast.

Drew asked if he could get a shot of the cops. I wanted it, but I didn't want to be so blatant. Luckily, Aaron ignored me when I said, "Don't film them!"

We did a reading/filming at Melville House. It was pretty fun, but, man, was I tired. The whole crew was ready to kill me. The night before Derek, our AD, said I was micromanaging way too much. I'm just glad this was the last night. I needed maybe three days of sleep. But I didn't kill anyone. That's a good thing. And no one killed me, so we survived.

We shot an impromptu performance with some people from Ohio. They managed to make a gripping scene in under an hour. I didn't even expect to get this scene, because we didn't have any actors for it. But these guys rocked it.

Mark Parsia (DRUNK GUY) and Daniel Genalo (SKINNY HISPANIC) square off in our first jail scene.

We came up with an additional bonus scene of flipping back and forth between Jordan Castro and Mallory Whitten playing two roles, and then putting in Brad Warner and Joan Wolkoff. I have no idea if this will work, but Steph, our editor, said she was excited about the idea.

Jordan Castro reads some of his poems at Melville House.

Brad Warner and Joan Wolkoff discuss stuffed animals in the bedroom scene.

The cast is in full gear here, taking threats from our DRUNK GUY. Officer O'Grady of the Boardman Police Department was kind enough to offer his services during the shoot. He gave tips on how the scene would go, and even gave our DRUNK GUY (Mark Parsia) a nice bruise for his acting chops.

Afterwards, Officer O'Grady apologized and said, "I just went into gear."

That's a testament to Mark's performance.

Jennifer Bishop did a fun bonus scene with us in Brooklyn, where her character meets the "real" Brad Warner outside of shooting. Basically, we had their relationship come to a halt when Brad finds that one of our camera crew has gotten cozy with the leading lady - yes, it's all part of our faux documentary, etc. Of course, we have lots of real documentary elements in the film as well, so it might be tough to tell the difference.

Erin McCarson reads tarot cards as Tasha in of our apartment party scenes. She did this great improv in the picture above, where she tells some of our extras they are going to not make it as a couple, and have "difficult" children. I can't even say what she really said because it's so politically incorrect, but let's just say it was some funny shit.

Daniel Genalo contemplates how to get rid of the DRUNK GUY during the jail scene.

Daniel Genalo and Alfred Rutherford square off during the jail scene.

(The actual character names in the script for the two of them was taken directly from the book. Alfred [pictured right] was playing the BALD CAUCASIAN, and Daniel [pictured opposite] was playing the SKINNY HISPANIC. Obviously, I don't care much about ethnicity when it comes to roles, but Alfred was really excited for his credit to read "Bald Caucasian.")

Joanie and Brad observe the tarot reading during the party scene in Brad's apartment. Well, Joanie's character observes slightly.

Brad confronts me after I make him go into American Apparel with a helmet cam and he gets thrown out. He threatens to leave the film.

Brad going into American Apparel and getting kicked out by the manager.

Officer O'Grady and Chief Nichols were kind enough to let us film the squad cars during the jail scene. We got some nice exteriors, and some cool dialogue between Officer O'Grady and Brad.

Alfred Rutherford and Brad Warner await the jail scene to start filming. Actually, I think they are in the middle of the scene. Yeah, I think I can see Mark swaying along in the reflection of their irises.

Brad Warner reads from Sex, Sin and Zen at the Melville House reading on our last day of shooting.

I have a million pictures, but that's all I'll post for now. We'll have a new trailer up once we start our fundraiser for post-production (editing and color correction, etc.) on IndieGoGo.

We're actually kicking editing, etc. into high gear because a lot of our post production crew seem to think the film has a chance to make some big film festivals. I have no idea. I heard the word "Sundance" thrown around. That made me go: Hmmm. I don't know about that. Still, I believe in all the people involved with the film. I also know it's possible to have a great film because of the great job Andrew Crighton did as a Director Of Photography, and all the great performances from Brad Warner, Mark Parsia, Jordan Castro, and all the rest of our cast.

Who knows? I have no idea. Maybe we can make a big film festival. Maybe not. I kind of don't care though. I've sort of given up on that kind of stuff. I just want to make a good movie for all of us to see. You guys who read this blog, and all my friends and family.

At the same time, if everyone wants to give it a shot, I'll throw it out there. Who knows? Maybe some other people will like this movie too.

All I know is that I'm glad to have worked with so many talented people to make this movie.

Now I'm off to sleep and eat for two days before I go back to work to pay off all my credit card bills.

Complaints and Reparations for Melville House Reading

2011-06-19T10:56:00.001-07:00

I read on Brad's blog comments about the late start at the Melville House filming, lack of free swag, and feelings that we were inconsiderate to the audience. I apologize for all things. I will be sure to offer a free DVD and tee shirt to all those who attended. I also apologize if you had thought the Melville House filming was a performance exclusively, and not a filmed event where you would have to sign releases.

I think an exclusive event that would showcase the writers staring in the film would be a good thing. I will try and set that up in the coming months. I will also be sure not to have any cameras there.

If you would like to receive a free tee shirt today, and were at the reading, please contact me via e-mail at piroozkalayeh@gmail.com.

Final Day of Shooting!

2011-06-17T23:29:00.001-07:00

We will be filming the final shoot for SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL at Melville House on 145 Plymouth Street, Brooklyn, NY from 8-10 p.m. on Saturday, June 18. All are welcome to come.

Shoplifting Crew Now in New York City!

2011-06-16T08:01:00.000-07:00

The SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL film crew is now in New York City. We rocked out Akron, Youngstown, and Solon.

Thanks go out to REVIVAL, Alesci's, Jeorgine's, Accent Media, the Boardman Police Department, StaXX, Officer O'Grady, the Castro family, Matt, American Apparel on Coventry, and everyone else who helped us out.

This movie is getting really good. That's all I have to say. I'll post some pics later today. For now, you can see live shots taken by WKBN and The Vindicator.

Brad Warner also blogged about his experience here.

I'll write more in a minute.

SFAA: Ohio Shoot Days 1-2

2011-06-11T06:31:00.000-07:00

This is a film still from the film SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL. We are currently shooting in Ohio. We will be in New York City soon.

This is a picture of THE SHOPLIFTING BAND playing a song. It's a shot of their guitars. Now I will write a letter to my wife. Then I will show more pictures.

*****

Dear Sohee,

I hope life is good in Seoul. I am shooting the movie in Ohio. Things are pretty good. Jordan's family is really nice. His dad made steaks yesterday. I also ate corn. The corn was my favorite.

After dinner, Panauh challenged me to a ping pong match. I said I would beat him and everything. I didn't think anything of it. I was just joking. Afterwards, Sonny told me everyone has been commenting that I'm being a dick to Panauh.

Most of the times people don't realize everything that's going on. Then I thought, "They don't have to." I thought about how they said I should treat him not like my brother, but like everyone else. Then I was like, "Okay, I can do that."

That was yesterday.

The movie is going pretty good. Some moments are better than others. I like everything I watch. Even if it's not particularly good in one way, it's like like so bad it's good. Does that make sense?

I got a chance to think about you yesterday. I was like, "Man, life will be lonely for two months by myself." Then I stopped thinking about that. I watched Animal Planet for a while. It was 4:00 a.m.

This is a bit of a strange letter. I woke up this morning with a charlie horse in my calf muscle. Panauh helped massage it out for me. Then an hour later, he woke up and needed help with his back. I showed him how to do yoga poses for a while. I massaged his lower back, and then he fell asleep in the exercise room.

I guess that's the funny thing. People say to treat someone a certain way. I can only be myself. I guess I am a dick sometimes, but what can you do? I guess not be a dick, right?

Anyway, here are some pics from what we shot the last couple days.

Love,

Pirooz

*****

Here is THE SHOPLIFTING BAND. Sonny and Jordan wrote a song. We choreographed this little music video for the end of the movie. It's pretty funny. The song's lyrics are made of gmail chats between Jordan and Tao.

They are a really good band. I enjoyed watching them perform. All they needed was a little choreography. Then they were like KISS.

On the first day, we shot with the MAGIC CAM/CASSAVETES CAM. Everyone wore the bike helmet with the camera on it to pay homage to John Cassavetes. Then we played camera operating freeze tag. Jordan and Noah were the funniest. That's probably what we'll use in the movie. Noah chased Jordan for like a good minute. The camera is bouncing and everything. It's pretty funny.

The first day was the documentary beach scene. I just asked them about writing and success. Sonny was playing his guitar in the background.

Noah got really funny in take eight. He started talking about being miserable, and how that was the answer for anyone who wanted to be a writer. Then he changed his mind, and said he wanted to be like Norman Mailer, and have two ghost writers and wine coolers.

Last night we filmed the final singalong in the movie. I lead them in something that was supposed to be like the Beatles "All You Need Is Love." It turned out really peculiar because it was improv. I guess you could call it Gospel 20's Swing. I don't know. I just know that when we finished Jordan said: "That was the weirdest experience of my life."

Today we shoot the poetry reading scene at Mac's Books in Cleveland Heights.

Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs: 211-220

2011-06-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

211.

212.

213.

214.

215.

216.

217.

218.

219.

220.

SFAA: Hollywood Shoot, Part Two

2011-05-19T21:01:00.000-07:00

Our Hollywood shoot is officially over. We had some great moments with our cast and crew. Here are some film stills from the last two days.

(Brad Warner, Bebe Zeva, and Travis McFarland)

In one of the scenes in the film, we have SAM reading at Skylight Books in Los Angeles. Two fans, AUDREY and JEFFREY meet him at the reading and they go hang out afterward. Here is a shot of our actors in the audience before the reading.

(Christi Columbo, Bebe Zeva, Travis McFarland, and Brad Warner)

After the reading, some other fans ask for autographs.

(Bebe Zeva, Travis McFarland, and Brad Warner)

Then the three main characters walk around what is supposed to be Florida and have random conversations about STAR FUCKING HIPSTERS and what foods they like to eat.
(OJ)

While at the park, they start throwing around an orange juice drink and it bursts after a bad throw from SAM.
(Bebe Zeva, Brad Warner, and Travis McFarland)

The threesome look down at the spilling orange juice. SAM offers to buy JEFFREY another.

(Drew Crighton, Ivan Cano, and Pirooz Kalayeh)

For our behind the scenes shots, we made use of the great acting pool in L.A. by asking random strangers to be in our film. Ivan Cano volunteered to help us, and provided some of the funniest scenes in the bookstore. I improvised with him about why he thought he was part of the fucked generation.

(Ivan Cano, Pirooz Kalayeh, Travis McFarland, and Bebe Zeva)

Then we all saluted his performance by doing a group hug and making our thumbs kiss.

(SFAA Cast, Noah Cicero and Jordan Castro in "The Body Slam")

In another behind the scenes shot, Noah body slammed Jordan. I was unsure about this, but Noah said, "Come on! It'll be funny." Then he did it. I laughed for a while.

(James Roehl)

In our last day of shooting in Hollywood, James Roehl had to play both actor and associate producer, asking one of his neighbors to stop power sawing long enough to get the goodbye scene at the end of the film.

(Bebe Zeva and Brad Warner)

I was afraid for how everything would look. Did we get the shot? Did I do well? I'm pleased to say that everything looks great thus far. Bebe, Travis, Brad, James, and Jen did a fantastic job. I couldn't ask for a better cast or crew. We are having fun, and hopefully that shows in the film as well. Onto Ohio and NYC in two weeks.

Hollywood Shoot: SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL

2011-05-15T01:45:00.000-07:00

(Drew Crighton and June during SFAA Hollywood Shoot, Cassavetes Cam)

Life has been busy. We are now officially shooting the Hollywood scenes for SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL. Things have been going well. Aside from the lack of sleep from working three jobs while simultaneously making a feature, I have absolutely zero complaints. Everyone is doing an excellent job, including chicken nuggets and Hollywood Boulevard.

(Jordan Castro and Noah Cicero)

Here are Jordan Castro and Noah Cicero putting chicken nuggets on James Dean's star on Hollywood Boulevard. Believe it or not, Jordan did not know who James Dean was. Noah and I were flabbergasted. Then we quizzed him on who he did know. Apparently, Jordan knows who Tom Cruise is, but he doesn't know the guy lead in Twilight's real name. We continued to school Jordan about Hollywood stars. We decided to stick with James Dean though. Marlon Brando's star was too scuffed up.

(Brad Warner, Pirooz Kalayeh, Jordan Castro, Noah Cicero, and tourists)

We weren't sure if we would get this shot in front of the Chinese Theater, but we did it without having any issues. In fact, we even got shots of the some of the cast putting their feet into the cement molds of C3PO, R2D2, and Darth Vader's feet. From behind, there was also an American Apparel store directly across from us. Very serendipitous.

(Brad Warner and Jennifer Bishop)

On our first day of shooting in Hollywood, Jennifer Bishop flew in from New York City to play the character of SHELLY. Jen really made everyone fall in love with her. Ahem, I mean her character. In all seriousness, these are some of my favorite scenes in the film thus far. Like the novella, we have SHELLY and SAM discuss what they would rather be, "a vacuum cleaner or suitcase?"

(Brad Warner, Pirooz Kalayeh, Jordan Castro, and Noah Cicero)

With my belly protruding with a lack of sleep and exercise, I managed to have one good shot in the film thus far - when I smile. Here we all are outside the Chinese Theater again. I believe this is when we discussed money, fame, and what Noah called, "The Society of Attention."

(Noah Cicero and Jordan Castro)

Noah Cicero and Jordan Castro put more chicken nuggets on James Dean's Hollywood star. People passing by asked: "Are you on drugs?"

I'll post some more pics from the Hollywood shoot tomorrow if I wake up. Also, if you haven't donated to the film, or would like a tee shirt, etc., please visit our IndieGoGo campaign.

Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs: 201-210

2011-05-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

It's always a good day when we get a list of Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs. Like all great poet-DJ's, he has a knack of making songs communicate with one another, while being diverse, classic, and contemporary all at once.

I'll have to say that THE SPINNERS track was my favorite of these ten. Sogee even came out of her room to sing along and do a little jig. I was impressed she knew the tune.

"Do you know how I know it?" she asked.

"How?" I said.

"Boyzone," she said.

For those of you that don't know, Boyzone is a boy band that was popular in England in the 1990s. Sogee belonged to the fan club and everything. It's also my inspiration for wanting to make a movie about some girls following a boy band in Korea. I think that would be really cute and hilarious at the same time.

Now without further tickling of the Lilly...

LOREN GOODMAN'S TOP 500 SONGS: 201-210

201.

202.

203.

204.

205.

206.

207.

208.

209.

210.

Documentary on Religious Extremists in Florida

2011-04-24T10:47:00.000-07:00

Video link was passed on via Joanie. Here is her full note:

"Below you'll find a link to Sofian Khan's 20 minute stand-alone short on Islam and the radicalism existing on both sides of the fence. I've worked for Sofian a few times since moving to New York and think he's an exceedingly talented documentarian."

"If the piece speaks to you, please help to get the link out. If you know anyone in the broadcast news world-- a producer, correspondent or anyone with
ties to a network-- it would be especially wonderful of you to send the link to them!"

http://vimeo.com/18926640

Shoplifting Film Almost Fully Capitalized!

2011-04-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL is getting ready to be shot very shortly. Right now we’ve raised about 7K of the 10K we need. That means we still need help to get to our final goal on IndieGoGo. If you haven’t made a donation, viewed the updated trailer, or passed on the link to fellow indie film lovers, we need your help.

How can I help exactly?

Take a look at our trailer, order an advanced DVD or tee shirt, or share the following trailer link (here or directly below) on your Facebook page, Tumblr, etc. Any type of word of mouth from you will make a huge difference in bringing the film it into being.

Trailer Link: http://www.indiegogo.com/Shoplifting-from-American-Apparel-Movie

Someone said you might need actors in Hollywood? When will that be?

We might need extras and some speaking roles for a shoot on May 16th. We’re still working out details, but audition notices will be posted on the Sangha Films website and on the AMDA bulletin board.

What is the latest with THE HUMAN WAR?

We placed third in the Appalachia Film Festival. Right now Mark Parsia is currently putting the film through a second edit, and we will hit the film festival circuit in full force once we have a polished film.

Here is the trailer for THE HUMAN WAR.

You’ve gotten a lot of press for SHOPLIFTING?

That’s right. If you’d like to read the press the film has already generated, I’ve listed a bunch of interviews with various magazines that have already gone to print.

Nth Word Interview by Ryan O’Conner

Buzzlegoose Interview by Alexa Santoro

Indiewire Feature

Impose Magazine Interview by Josh Spilker

Bark Mentions SFAA by Amaris Ketcham

Thank you to everyone for your help in spreading the word these last couple months. This film wouldn’t be possible without all of you who have helped thus far.

Best,

Pirooz

Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs: 191-200

2011-04-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

191.

192.

193.

194. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVKsd8z6scw

195.

196.

197.

198.

199.

200.

What Is Left?

2011-04-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

I am going running today. I have to run the whole weekend. I don't have much time with the new job that I'm working during the week. I have to wake up at 5:30 a.m. everyday to drive into Los Angeles. That takes a lot out of me, so by the time I get home, I don't feel like doing anything. That's why I have to run on the weekends. I also need to try and exercise during the week, but that's going to be hard. I'll try though.

Aside from the need to exercise, I have to start getting things ready for the film shoot in June. That means I'll have to secure all the locations, and make sure I have enough actors for every scene. That's a stressful job, but I'll probably have to start on that this week. We are almost at 7K in the fundraising on IndieGoGo. That's much less than we need, but I'm hoping more will come through in the next month.

Yesterday, I called Urban Outfitters to see if we could film there. They said that no one is allowed to film in their stores. That is strange because the manager of the store I went to in Los Angeles said that it's been done before. I'm not going to push it though. I think I'm going to try and find a store in Long Beach. People seem more agreeable there.

What is left to shoot?

1. Jail Scene
2. Shoplifting Scene
3. Long Beach Orange Julius Scene
4. Hollywood Boulevard Chicken Nugget Scene
5. Hollywood Boulevard Love Scene
6. APT Jam Session
7. Poetry Reading Scene Part I
8. Poetry Reading Scene Part II
9. Beach Scene

The Jail and Shoplifting Scene are the most difficult. I will have to wait for Drew to figure out if we can shoot on a sound stage that he knows about. Then I'll have to cast some actors for the jail scene. That means I have to do auditions this month. This'll be interesting.

I'll formulate more thoughts tomorrow.

SFAA Movie Fundraiser Surpasses $6K in Donations in a Week!

2011-03-30T06:02:00.000-07:00

The SHOPLIFTING (movie) fundraiser has now raised $6K in a week. That's incredible! We still have a ways to go though. We want to raise at least 20K to make the film in Los Angeles in June. If you want to get a tee shirt, the DVD, or other great merchandise, please visit and share the link below to make a donation and pass the word.

LINK: http://www.indiegogo.com/Shoplifting-from-American-Apparel-Movie

SFAA on IdieGoGo!

2011-03-20T20:55:00.000-07:00

We have switched our fundraiser from Kickstarter to IndieGoGo. We have a new featurette up, and have included a tee shirt with any $20 donation and above. For those of you that need to re-donate, please be aware that any who donate again will receive a free additional tee shirt for donations over $20.

Noah Cicero Releases "Best Behavior"

2011-03-08T12:26:00.000-08:00

Noah Cicero's Best Behavior is now for sale.

SFAA Movie Trailer on Kickstarter!

2011-03-02T04:13:00.001-08:00

SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL trailer is now live on Kickstarter

LINK: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/322702815/shoplifting-from-american-apparel-movie

Please donate and share the link with friends and family.

Human War @Appalachian Film Festival This Friday

2011-02-23T08:17:00.000-08:00

The Human War will be playing this Friday, Feb. 25 at the Keith Albee Theater, 825 4th Avenue, Huntington, WV at 8pm.

SLACKLUST #2

2011-02-17T23:59:00.001-08:00

Stacy's SLACKLUST.

Pics from Shoplifting from American Apparel & Brad Warner Documentary

2011-02-15T22:17:00.000-08:00

(All photos by Geoffrey Hauschild)

We first shot in Akron for the Brad Warner documentary. Noah Cicero and Jordan Castro met up for the Zero Defex show. I showed them a rough trailer for THE HUMAN WA R.

Randy Blythe from LAMB OF GOD came out to support ZERO DEFEX during the show. He even got up to sing a few songs.

After shooting in Akron, we went to Solon, Ohio to begin filming a trailer for SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL (SFAA). Here is a shot of Andrew Crighton and TJ Hellmuth inspecting a camera before shooting one of the opening scenes for the trailer.

James Roehl and Brad Warner contemplate the screen as we shoot one of the first scenes in SFAA.

Noah Cicero lays out his lines on the table in front of him to help him get through the scene.

After several days of shooting, we began to watch dailies at night. As you can see, we were all pretty exhausted. I don't even think Jordan is awake in these pictures.

Andrew Crighton (Director of Photography) adjusts lighting for a scene in SFAA.

James Roehl and Andrew Crighton during an opening scene in SFAA. James found a ukulele lying around.

(More pics in the coming days. We'll have the trailer up on Kickstarter for donations by March 1, 2011.)

Off to Ohio!

2011-02-07T16:23:00.000-08:00

The adventure begins...

We will shoot a trailer for SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL (SFAA) from 2/10-2/12.

We will also film an interview with LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe for BRAD WARNER: THE ENLIGHTENIZER, and then also film ZERO DEFEX performing at THE MATINEE in Akron at 10 p.m. on 2/9.

Here is a bit of the storyboard for SFAA. Donate in March to see the movie come to life.

SHOPLIFTING TRAILER in February!

2011-02-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

We are making progress towards filming SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL.

Jeffrey Brown (cartoonist) has sent the uncolored poster for SFAA. It's pretty fabulous. He has also volunteered to send original drawings of the animated images to be auctioned for funds.

Steven Andrew has gotten up the new refurbished Sangha Films website.

If we keep plowing forward, and make a solid push at this virtual fundraising campaign in March, we will have a full-fledged movie on our hands come June.

February Shooting Schedule will be hectic, but lots of fun. I'll be posting pics and tweets, etc. in the coming week.

____________________

THE HUMAN WAR continues to do well. For the latest updates and film festival news please visit the THW Blog or SFW.

We will be filming Zero Defex for BRAD WARNER: THE ENLIGHTENIZER on February 9, 2011 at 10:00 p.m. at THE MATINEE in Akron, Ohio for anyone who would like to join us.

____________________

February Shooting Schedule

2/9 - Shoot Brad talking about his life in Akron and film the rock show at THE MATINEE with Zero Defex for BRAD WARNER: THE ENLIGHTENIZER.

2/10 - Shoot opening scene (YouTubeClip) and LOTR debate scene at Jordon's house in Solon. Afterwards in the late evening, we can film some improvs dealing with the "fundraising" portion of our extended trailer.

2/11 - Shoot gmail chat sequences with Brad at Jordan's house or a house in Youngstown that could pass as a NYC apartment.

2/12 - Shoot James in gmail chat sequence at Noah's house, and then shoot Noah doing a Q&A outside; possibly shoot at abandoned factory.

Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs: 181-190

2011-01-27T00:30:00.000-08:00

181.

182.

183.

184.

185.

186.

187.

188.

189.

190.

We Made Our First Festival!

2011-01-17T13:51:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

I hope things are going well for you in the New Year. We've had our first good news of the year. We got into Appalachian Film Festival today. Since many of you have helped this result come into being, we wanted you to be the first to know, and join us in following the progress of THW as the festival season continues. As it stands now, we've entered about 18 festivals, with plans to enter ten or so more. We find out about most other festivals in mid-March and April. Hopefully, Appalachian is a sign of more good tidings in the weeks to come. We have our fingers crossed that we will also be making Tribeca and others in March. : )

LINK: http://www.appyfilmfest.com/pages/media-center.htm

These last three weeks have been extremely busy. We are hustling to get websites updated and a trailer out for THE HUMAN WAR. It's just Tom and I at this point, so we're slow moving, but working hard. With a little luck, we will have a trailer link and refurbished website in the next couple weeks. I will try and keep updating our website with new festival info, so you can come to the one that is closest to you.

Thank you for your support and help to make the first leg of our festival journey start out well. We look forward to celebrating more good news in the coming months. Who knows? We might win one of these. ; )

Chat Soon,

Pirooz Kalayeh
Director/Producer, Sangha Films
http://www.sanghafilms.com

_________________________

MAKING DONATIONS, INVESTING, OR OFFERING A HELPING HAND

As it stands, we'll be finishing the final shots of our documentary on Zen master, Brad Warner in February. Our hope is to release the documentary next year. If you'd like to make an investment or donation to Brad Warner: The Enlightenizer, SFAA, THE HUMAN WAR, or any other Sangha Films project, I've put a link below. Any little bit helps. That means that even a dollar would be appreciated. We're not a big company, but we've got a lot of heart and some extraordinary film and television professionals who have donated their expertise, time, and energy to helping this little company come into being. We'd like to keep making film projects for many years to come. If you've enjoyed the journey, and would like to see us make more films, please donate, invest, or pass on this link through your e-mail and social media outlets.

For those of you want to help with any of the shoots, please respond to this e-mail and let me know what film you'd like to help with and how. At this point, we will be shooting in Akron and Solon, Ohio from 2/9 -2/13. Our next shoot will potentially by in Los Angeles from 6/6-6/20.

A Paypal Donation button is below. To make a donation just click the button and follow the directions on the screen. Any sized donation is welcome.

NOTE: If you do not have a Paypal account, you can make donations by clicking "Continue" in the middle of the page under the title heading "Don't Have a Paypal Account."
NOTE: If you do not have a Paypal account, you can make donations by clicking "Continue" in the middle of the page under the title heading "Don't Have a Paypal Account."

Thank you for helping our film come into being.

PK

Help for Our Summer Feature

2011-01-12T12:48:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

We will be shooting the opening to our feature film, SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL from 2/9-2/13 in Akron and Solon, Ohio.

SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL is a feature film that explores Internet culture, consumerism, reality, fame, relationships, and cinema. The film is based on the novella by Tao Lin.

The idea is that creating a trailer will help us generate further donations through friends, family, and investors. (We will premiere the trailer on Kickstarter and other sites on March 1, 2011.)

At present, we need to raise $2,000 to make our trailer.

A Paypal Donation button is below. To make a donation just click the button and follow the directions on the screen. Any sized donation is welcome.

NOTE: If you do not have a Paypal account, you can make donations by clicking "Continue" in the middle of the page under the title heading "Don't Have a Paypal Account."

Please help our film come into being.

To see clips of our previous work please go here or here.

Best,

Pirooz Kalayeh
Director/Producer
http://www.sanghafilms.com
http://www.piroozkalayeh.com

Robert Kim Likes THE HUMAN WAR

2010-12-31T21:33:00.000-08:00

Robert Kim Reviews THE HUMAN WAR from Pirooz Kalayeh on Vimeo.

I spent New Year's night talking to my friend Robert Kim about what he thought of a screening of THE HUMAN WAR. I recorded him right after we finished watching the film together on a video chat.

Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs: 161-170

2010-12-29T19:24:00.000-08:00

161.

162.

163.

164.

165.

166.

167.

168.

169.

170. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkRIbUT6u7Q&feature=related

Brad Warner: The Enlightenizer - NYC Shoot

2010-12-23T09:37:00.000-08:00

We continued our shoot of Brad Warner: The Enlightenizer this past weekend in New York City. It was a really pleasant shoot. We talked about snake oil charmer spiritual salesmen, artistry and Zen, and favorite places to get french fries.

Our second day of shooting took place in Washington Square Park. Well, at least it started there. I wanted a backdrop of the city and Washington Square has always been one of my favorite places to sit alone when I've visited. I also like the "Arch de Triumphe" action. For me, the "Arch" immediately lets me know I'm in the city and that McDonald's golden arches would be much cooler if they looked like this.

Mark Parsia was our producer and camera operator this time around. We used a Panasonic HVX200 and a couple Senheiser wireless lavaliers. The set-up was simple and easy. No lights were used since we were shooting outside. And, aside from lugging the equipment around the city and how cold it was, everything moved along effortlessly.

Grace Jung came out to help on both days. She even guested as an interviewer and drove Brad and I around as we listened to her John Lennon box set. That was a nice way to spend an afternoon. She only almost crashed twice.

Lancelot Bourne was visiting from South Korea for an art gallery show he had created. He called me the night before to see if he could come and help out. He needed some rest time between takes, but, of course, he was a rock star and made a very early morning shoot after being up all night on a flight.

On the second day, we walked around the city. It was bitter cold. We took a break at midday and went to a diner. Brad found this sign interesting.

"The 134 is painted," he said.

I like these kinds of signs, so I figured I'd take a picture. Maybe it could be a painting in the future.

We went to the East Village on the last day to mimic the Bob Dylan record on Jones Street. I took a pic. I don't know if I got the angle right. Hopefully, Finn took a better picture.

Hmmm...I would say the documentary is turning out really good. We shoot in Akron in a month. I'm excited to rock it.

(The picture above is the new thinking man - Sohee in drag!)

Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs: 151-160

2010-12-10T12:30:00.000-08:00

151.

152. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iiryJwvDtc&feature=fvsr

153. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHFbhhi_XVc

154.

155.

156.

157.

158.

159.

160.

That Guy and 50 Cent

2010-12-07T23:37:00.000-08:00

Film Updates

2010-11-24T10:34:00.000-08:00

THE HUMAN WAR

We are weeks away from a final cut of the film. We have submitted works in progress to several film festivals already, including Sundance, Slamdance, and Ashland Film Festival. We will be submitting to dozens of other festivals in the coming months.

A theatrical trailer and updated Sangha Films website with relevant content will be up by the end of December. We will have two premieres for the film in Ohio and NYC in March/April. We will have exact dates as the months come closer.

BRAD WARNER: THE ENLIGHTENIZER

Things went well for our shoots for our documentary on Zen Buddhist teacher Brad Warner. We will shoot later this month in NYC. Then we'll try and do an Akron shoot in January. (Anyone want to help in Akron for the shoot?)

LATEST - Brad and I are working on 4-6 faux commercials for "Enlightenizer!" that will appear periodically throughout the documentary. We will potentially film the brunt of this in LA, but film Brad's segments as the over-the-top spiritual teacher (Gumbo Roshi style) in NYC to save on costs. Of course, we are still probably two months away from shooting the commercials. Still, we may be able to finish shooting for the doc by February.

FUTURE SHOOTS for BW:

LA - shooting B-roll of Hollywood Blvd with Josh - Nov. 30th - 9am
NYC - walk & talk; interview with Moby - Dec 17-20, 2010.
Akron, OH - Zero Defex Show and walk & talk near childhood home - TBA???
Commercials - LA ???

SHOPLIFTING & WEBSITES

Shikow Productions and iLikeNirvana Films are slowly coming to life.

Once the websites are fully complete, I will begin taking investments for Shoplifting from everyone who wants to contribute. Right now I'm just dealing with friends and donations.

Investments raised thus far: $7,800.00
Goal: $30,000.00

My guesstimate is that we will be filming in Los Angeles from June 6 - June 20th. We will have a clearer picture of exact dates by March.

Chat more after Thanksgiving!

PK

Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs: 141-150

2010-11-17T16:42:00.000-08:00

141.

142.

143.

144.

145.

146.

147.

148.

149.

150.

Hollywood Shoot with Brad Warner Complete

2010-11-15T16:53:00.001-08:00

We are all done with the Hollywood shoot with Brad Warner. Last night we filmed at the Bodhi Tree Bookstore on Melrose. We got some interesting interviews and discussions about sin and Buddhism. Then we went to a taping of the Suicide Girls Radio Show. Brad, Sam, and Nicole talked about Tibetan Buddhism, sin, and Tommy Lee.

We will shoot again at the end of December or beginning of January in New York City and Akron, Ohio. Then we'll have a documentary on our hands. I'll give you more details once I figure out specific dates. Who knows? Maybe you could come help us film, or volunteer to donate to the adventure. I'll be giving more details in the coming weeks.

Matt Lauer, The Bully

2010-11-12T22:16:00.000-08:00

I wonder what Matt Lauer's intention was when he put Kanye under the coals for his past outbursts on live television. Did he think he would get more ratings? That President Bush and America would congratulate him for it? Was it a bad taco the night before? A personal vendetta?

It just seems strange to me.

I wouldn't have made it so difficult for Kanye. I would have made it easier for him to talk.

I think Kanye picked the wrong venue. It would have been better to go on Oprah.

It just may have been better to not do a public interview at all.

Brad Warner Documentary Update

2010-11-11T23:02:00.000-08:00

(Brad Warner & Nina Hartley on Documentary Shoot, 2010)

The documentary is going well. Brad is a real nice person. Some people have said working with a Zen master would be hard, but it's been really refreshing. I've enjoyed interviewing him on Hollywood Boulevard, and listening to him and Nina Hartley talk about Buddhism and sex.

On Sunday, we'll be filming at Bodhi Tree Bookstore on Melrose. Then we'll head out and film a radio show about sex with the Suicide Girls.

I told Brad tonight that this documentary is filled with sex.

"Yeah," Brad said.

"We're going to have to have you talk about your past a bit."

"I can do that," Brad said.

We're going to shoot another day in Hollywood. Then we'll shoot some more stuff in Manhattan and Akron. We're hoping that we can make the documentary fresh and different. There's talk of some animation, SKYPE chats, and visiting a clothing store for women where CBGB's used to be.

I'll post more later.

2010-11-10T00:09:00.000-08:00

I want to be a nun and get better Bibles.

I want to be Jesus and carry a heavier cross.

I want to be John Lennon and have more bed-ins.

I want to be Howard Stern and cause more controversy.

I want to be a math problem and get more solutions.

I want to a banker and get more investments.

I want to be a hipster and get more jaded.

I want to be fellatio and get more Hershey's Hard Shell.

I want to be Denny's and get more coffee.

I want to be Tao Lin and get more MDMA.

I want to be Dan Quayle and spell more potatos.

I want to be Kim Jong Il and have more communists.

I want to be Joan Rivers and get more plastic surgery.

I want to be a Zen priest and practice more meditation.

I want to be Allen Ginsberg and get more dick.

I want to be the Giving Tree and to have more branches.

I want to be the boy from the Giving Tree and turn into the boy from Back to the Future.

I want to be a kaleidoscope and turn one more time.

I want to be a protein that bonds to another protein.

I want to be Charles Bukoski and find more booze.

I want to be a vacuum cleaner and suck more dust.

I want to be dust and imagine I was a rainbow.

I want to be a rainbow and turn into gold.

(I wrote this in response to one of Noah's many inspiring posts.)

Happy

2010-11-07T21:28:00.001-08:00

Busy Days

2010-11-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have definitely been busy. I am now working four jobs. It's not that bad because all of them are part time, so they equal out to me working one full time job. At least that's the way Sogee puts it.

"You are working a 9 to 5 basically," she says.

I appreciate her putting things in perspective. I would rather be working the one job though. Of course, I know that's not possible. I have to work this way to create the right amount of freedom for making and finishing the films on the horizon.

As it stands now, THE HUMAN WAR will be completed within the month. We are literally weeks away from submitting the film to get color correction and sound mastering completed. Once we get those final elements, we will be able to concentrate more fully on what festivals we'll be submitting to in the next couple months, and how we can potentially create some premieres in Ohio, NYC, and Los Angeles.

The other day when I was watching a cut with Tom, I felt overwhelmed about bringing this film into being. I think I might have even cried a little if I let myself go there.

"Looks good," I said to Tom.

"What?" Tom asked.

"The movie is looking good."

"Yeah, it's getting there."

I kept talking after that and making myself a little more overwhelmed. Then my mind wandered to the next movies on the horizon. I will be shooting footage for a documentary about Brad Warner in November and January. This will be my first time making a documentary. I am fairly nervous and not really nervous at the same time. I guess it's the rush before going to film that I'm feeling. I never know how these things will turn out. Sometimes it goes nice and easy. At other times, it can be really hectic.

I am hoping for nice and easy. I am also hoping that the progression to see SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL the movie come into being is the same way. As it stands now, I've finished the screenplay and I'm now starting to form the LLC and get investments going. I am hoping to raise between 40-50k. That would see me through filming and post-production.

We'll see if I can raise the funds for a summer shoot. In all honesty, it may take longer to raise all the money. I've got a deadline though. March 20, 2011. If I don't raise at least 25k by then, then I'll postpone filming until the winter. I'm hoping to get it all squared away now though. I think it's possible. I have friends and family. I have a good script. I will also have a couple TV stars in this film. It just might all work out. Who knows? Time will tell.

On a completely different front, I'm going to be even busier in the next couple weeks making my PhD submissions to University of Denver and USC. I will only be applying to two schools this year. Sogee is still in grad school at CalState, so that limits my mobility. I also don't have an interest in too many other schools because they simply don't have a digital media studies program that leans on creation rather than scholarship exclusively.

It looks like Denver may be able to accommodate a joint venture between the English and Media Studies program. In contrast, USC already has a media studies program that is right in line with my goals.

Ahem...goals...

As most of you know, I have been interested in combining comics, film, animation, and text into panels that would be made available as interactive web-based content or in an e-book format. By doing either of these programs, I would be able to continue to pursue my interests in technology, media, and writing. It seems like the right move forward because I'm more interested in exploring the effects of media along with the actual knowledge and creation of artistic projects simultaneously. This mode forward also allows me to continue to make films, music, artwork, and write. We'll see if I am successful with my application. I have not had much like with PhD programs in the past, but maybe USC and Denver will open their doors.

Day in Santa Monica

2010-11-01T00:04:00.000-07:00

Sohee and I have spent the day walking on the Promenade. We didn't expect to wait 7 hours for the car to be ready. I looked for Elijah Wood. I couldn't find him. Sohee counted the steps she walked with her mathematical brain. 12,746.

Interpol Concert & Hopes for Shoplifting

2010-10-24T16:04:00.000-07:00

I saw Interpol with my brother the other night. I had not ever listened to the band. They had some great bass lines. I really liked the rhythm section. I didn't think much of the sparse, delay-soaked guitars. The vocals were also poor. The lead singer's range was two notes and his delivery was dependent on the bpm of the track. The lack of variety and fairly muted performance - other than the guitar player hopping on one leg occasionally in his best imitation of James Brown on acid and Mike Tyson swaying before a knock down - would make a person think that the band was absolutely horrid; however, the salvaging point for the group is the consistency in fashion and musical aesthetic that go together nicely and help forge a certain attitude, rather than a definite sense of musicianship (most songs were made of tasty bass lines with two textured guitars repeating similar chord structures from one song to the next). The consistency and aesthetic being sold was definitely admirable from a marketing perspective; it also creates a strong urge for me as an audience member to suddenly wear a tie and pull-over cardigan (not really, but you get the point). I would call this group a fashion designer's band. They will be a band that holds sonic dependency for people who listened to them at a certain age, and thus, need to return to those emotional pathways in the brain in later years when their early 20's are long gone. I suppose that's why it was no wonder that Chloe Sevigny was in line to get tickets in front of us.

"They're going to steal your identity," she told my brother when he hesitated to sign for his tickets.

Later, as we were walking into the Greek Theater, my brother told us more about the exchange.

"She seemed cool. Fairly down to earth. She talked to me, right?"

"Sounds like she was hitting on you," I said.

"Maybe she was."

I looked at her legs as she walked by us. She had nice legs. I would put her in a movie for those legs. I also like her in BIG LOVE. I think she's a talented actress and I like her choices.

"I like her fashion sense," Sogee told me later.

A Will I. Am song was playing in the car as we were driving to Garden Grove the next morning after the concert.

"Did you hear that Will I. Am is producing the Korean pop group, 21?"

"Okay," I said.

"He said that he likes Korea because it's exotic. You go to Europe and it's the same alphabet. You go to Korea and you can't read anything."

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. He must be retarded."

"I'm just telling you what he said."

"I'm not putting you down or Will I. Am. I like some of his songs. I just don't want to hear him talk about anything. That just seems stupid."

"Yeah, I know. That's what I was saying too."

"I guess we speak the same exotic language."

I have no interest in hearing about how stars view the world. I just want to watch or hear what they do. End of story. I also have no interest in meeting movie or television stars except for Haley Joel Osment and Elijah Wood. I want to see if they'd be interested in doing some acting for SHOPLIFTING... It'd be better to talk to them in person about doing the movie rather than going through an agent. I'll take a walk around Venice Beach. I heard Elijah Wood lives in the area. Maybe I'll run into him. We can talk about Frodo. Maybe we can shoplift...

The Swell Season Covers Neutral Milk Hotel

2010-10-19T22:41:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed watching this. Those of you in Asia can watch things in America if you use strongvpn.com.

Latest Updates

2010-10-16T13:47:00.000-07:00

Movie Updates:

1. I have finished the first draft of SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APARREL. It is an enjoyable script. We are hoping to raise funds to film in Summer 2011.

2. Our documentary on Brad Warner has begun. Mark Parsia filmed in NYC last night. We will be filming in LA in November, and then again in NYC later in the year.

Ushi!

2010-10-14T21:43:00.001-07:00

I admire this actress.

Possible Cover for Jim Goar's New Book

2010-10-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

I told Jim I didn't have time to do a cover last night, but I couldn't help myself. I kept messing with the image for three hours. Messing with the fonts was the most fun. I hope this is something Jim's publishers will consider. I think it's hot shit.

Keenan Cahill

2010-10-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

Shoplifting Update & Subway Brawl

2010-10-09T23:11:00.000-07:00

I am almost done writing Shoplifting. At least a rough draft of it. I really like it. I read some of it to Grace and Ken. They didn't seem to really like it. Or maybe they liked it, but couldn't seem to make out what was going on. It's definitely a different kind of movie. We'll see what happens as a finish. Only a couple more days.

This is a YouTube movie Ken sent me. It's of a girl getting a beat down in Korea. I can't understand what anyone is saying. If you know someone who is Korean ask them to translate. If not, pretend this is what they say:

"Give me your seat!"

"No!"

"I'll teach you a lesson then!"

I don't know what to make of the suicide or what you would call this next video. Please don't watch if you get easily squeamish.

Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs: 131-140

2010-10-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

131.

132.

133.

134.

135.

136.

137.

138.

139.

140.

Brad Warner, Spiritual Celebrity

2010-10-02T00:13:00.000-07:00

I had a funny conversation with Nishijima Roshi on the eve of the publication of Hardcore Zen. I said, "Once this book comes out, if it sells well I'll become famous. Doesn't that go against what Dogen says about not seeking fame and profit?"

He said something like, "Dogen was talking about seeking fame and profit. You didn't write the book with the objective of becoming rich and famous. Sometimes you do something sincere and people like it, then fame and money come. In that case you deal with the real situation as it comes up."

Tao Lin Reading in Los Angeles

2010-10-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

Michael helped with the filming of this video. It was shot in HD on a Flip cam my brother got me for my birthday. I filmed some other stuff on another camera. That camera didn't shake too much. This one shakes at times, but I like the video quality better.

Tao and I talked about the SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPARELL MOVIE before the reading. He sounded excited about the concept for how we would do it. He also handed me a mini-keg of Heineken and walked in circles in a supermarket while I followed him and talked about it. Then we went to dinner after the reading and I chatted with Sandy and another of Tao's friends.

I also got to meet Ken Baumann for the first time. He was a nice person. I hope we can hang in the coming weeks. I'd love to have him act in SHOPLIFTING.

Now I'm grading essays until I get tired.

Experiments: One Page at a Time - 3

2010-09-28T21:04:00.000-07:00

I WILL BE POSTING A PAGE A DAY OF SOME EXPERIMENTS I'VE WRITTEN IN THE FUTURE.

Janet thought that she would have gotten up by now.

She was still sitting on the ugly brown couch with her cell phone in her lap. Her tube-socked legs were crossed and propped on the ash-blonde coffee table. They were shaking slightly to an internal rhythm of Nirvana’s “Scentless Apprentice,” which was on a perpetual loop in her mind whenever she contemplated what to do with her life, or if she would ever get a job worth doing if she ever found out what she was good at in the first place.

“Chocolate,” she thought. "I like chocolate."

The dishes from yesterday were still in the sink. The remaining blotches of brown and black from the German chocolate cake she had served for dessert from Bing’s was now partially dried out and moderately wet in the two inches of water that had been poured on the top plates but not any of the others. Cleaning the dishes could have potentially been an excuse to show her overly nosy mother and herself that she was good at something besides the absolute uselessness she currently felt about another uneventful day searching Internet sites for a job making more than $12.16 an hour.

Phil had been with Janet since the first divorce was finalized. He hadn’t been a permanent fixture in the house, until recently when his roommates had banded together real-world-style to confront him about several lively parties and an improper use of the vegan-only-fridge. “WTF?” was the only response that Phil had offered to his roommates via text during the intervention. Then he grabbed some clothes and headed out. He didn’t even bother to pack the rest of his things. He called a moving service the next day and moved in with Janet.

It was now Tuesday. It had been six weeks since his self-administered banishment. He was half-dressed on the bed with the comforter pulled underneath him and the remote control cradled between both his hands as he watched the evening news.

“Stocks in Blockbuster have plummeted after executives announced a closing of all 300 retail stores later this month. Moving out of physical DVD sales, it is Blockbuster’s hope to bring its competitive edge to the market of video on demand..."

Phil had been in the bedroom during the whole conversation. Had he heard Janet’s gasps he might have gone out to see what had happened. He was not as insensitive a person as his vegan roommates had made him out to be.

"You've got some good qualities," Antonio had said flirtatiously.

"Yes, some," Gary agreed, nodding towards Phil's crotch. "But your love for Philly cheese steaks and Korean BBQ doesn’t give you free reign to pollute the refrigerator with the death of animals."

"That's true," Antonio said. "We agreed before you moved in that we would put meat products in a separate fridge. We didn't say we'd mix. That's not okay."

"We definitely didn't say mixing was okay," Gary said.

Gary and Antonio had given Phil an intervention and a lecture about animal products. Phil's response aside from the text was only slightly obscene. He didn't consider it insensitive.

"Kicking a guy out of an apartment for eating a cheese steak and throwing a party that's insensitive."

What do you call throwing tobacco spit on their cars?" Janet had asked.

Last week, Phil had saved the swill from his first experiment chewing tobacco for a neighborly gesture and poured out the contents of the blackish grit onto the front windshields of his ex-roommates’ cars.

"Do unto others," Phil said.

Janet had found Phil’s act to be childish. She had challenged him to go back and clean it up or move out after he told her about the whole affair, but she chickened out when Phil actually began to pack his bags.

"What are you doing?"

"Leaving!"

"Are you serious?"

"Very."

"Just because I don't agree with you throwing spit on people's cars?"

"That's right."

Janet wanted to tell him about the phone call. She thought about how she would bring it up. She could write a note and bring it to him with breakfast. She could smack him in the face and scream at him. She could even let him threaten to leave again. Those were all possibilities. But somehow it was easier to envision herself doing house chores and tabulating the big life questions she had yet to accomplish because the ugly brown couch and talking to her mother had sucked her into a time warp of nothingness yet again.

Eileen Is Reading This Friday in NYC!

2010-09-28T21:01:00.000-07:00

Eileen Myles and Douglas Martin at Poet's House, NYC
Location:Poet's House, River Terrace New York, 10282
Time:7:00PM Thursday, September 30th

Experiments: One Page at a Time - 2

2010-09-27T23:38:00.000-07:00

I WILL BE POSTING A PAGE A DAY OF SOME EXPERIMENTS I'VE WRITTEN IN THE FUTURE.

     Samir looked down at his Blackberry. 10:31 p.m. His cousin and wife were supposed to meet at 10:00 p.m. They were officially beyond being fashionably late. He had warned Rohit that if he were late for his birthday, he would officially fire him from existence.
     “What does that mean?” Rohit asked.
     “It means be on time.”
     Samir enjoyed humor that was often times preposterous. He would join completely disparate elements together in adsurdist impromptu off-key torch songs, or better yet, respond to someone’s quizzical stare with his favorite catch phrase to disguise his humor’s ineffectual punch lines with a rather loud and knowing shout of “It’s cubism!”
     “On time for what?” Rohit asked.
     “My birthday, asshole.”
     “I have to pick up Lotti. Then we’ll be there.”
     Samir was now texting on his Blackberry. He had finished the “are” in “Where are you?” when Rohit and Lotti arrived behind him.
     “Haaappy Birthday, Saaamiir!” Rohit cooed in an overly sentimental way.
     “Fuck you.”
     “Samir!” Lotti said with a frown of dissatisfaction. “We got stuck in traffic for godasakes.”
     “You could have texted,” Samir said and held up his phone above his head.
     “I was driving,” Rohit said, and narrowed his eyes at the phone in his cousin’s hand. “I cant’ text and drive.”
     “Why can’t you–”
     “I told him not to,” Lotti said, and pulled her husband away from Rohit towards the front of the line at the club. They walked a few steps before one of the bouncers with a black Kangol hat, stopped them by putting his hand up. The bouncer put his other hand to his ear. He tilted his head down to whisper into a microphone in his collar. He looked back up at Samir and Lotti. He then motioned to the two of them to come forward.
     “ID,” the bouncer said.
     Samir and Lotti pulled out their ID’s. They were frisked by another bouncer and then lead into the club, where another bouncer took a ticket, and then another bouncer stood a few feet in the club and said, “Have a goodnight.” All the bouncers were dressed in black and over 220 pounds.
     “It’s like a military base,” Lotti joked.
     “Yeah,” Samir said, and looked at yet another bouncer within the club.

The Slipshod Swingers: Tootsie Pop (Rough)

2010-09-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

I promised a version of "Tootsie Pop" by The Slipshod Swingers. Here is a rough version. Panauh made me re-record the guitar and vocals yesterday. He says we need to listen to it for a week and then come back to it. That means he's going to listen to it for a week. I know how I like things. I like having UFO sounds and kids screaming, but Panauh says things like "I can't sell this thing with morse code at the beginning. It's too cheesy." This is a case where you have a person with an absolutely different creative vision than yourself. In collaboration, sometimes it's better to concede than to start arguing. I am also aware that "selling this" is not the top priority on my to do list. Like Cush from JERRY MAGUIRE, "I just want to play [music]."

The Slipshod Swingers Back in Full Force!

2010-09-27T01:12:00.000-07:00

I have started work on the new Slipshod Swingers album. The first song is being edited now. It's called "Tootsie Pop." I think it sounds okay so far. It might get better with age.

I will put up a version tomorrow.

Working on this album has been okay so far. Panauh is producing. I just write the songs and he tells me to keep playing or stop or try it again or says things like, "Yo! That was pitchy!" and that makes me feel like I'm on American Idol, so I'm cool with that.

This coming Sunday I'm supposed to do something with this song I wrote a couple months ago. Panauh said he liked only one portion of the song and I'm supposed to write a song with only that portion. I liked the whole thing, but you can't argue with Panauh. He's too cute.

The song we work on next week is called "Shanghai Cowboy." Here is the rough draft. Panauh likes from 2:33 onwards.

Experiments: One Page at a Time - 1

2010-09-26T15:37:00.000-07:00

I WILL BE POSTING A PAGE A DAY OF SOME EXPERIMENTS I'VE WRITTEN IN THE FUTURE.

Some people can write without thinking about it. Other people need to stare a long time at a blank canvas. I have to make it a performance. I imagine a stage. My words appear on a screen.

I can see imaginary friends in the audience I talked to when I envisioned myself as a winter fly dead in a cupboard of a Jack Kerouac haiku. Old chums with tacky names like Gupta, Sven, and Roger. That is one possibility.

If science fiction that dealt with robots and time machines was doing better these days, I would probably invite a man named Gupven (photosynthesis) who had a robotic brain to come and discuss the finer points of quarks and other pseudo scientific topics without any firm basis in theoretical physics because I have no background in science and I’m too lazy to find out the inner workings of Stephen or Gupven or whatever’s digital mainframe.

Without getting too meta on the data, or dodo on the DADA, or dido on the doo-doo, let me say that while I stood on this stage of the mind, I motioned to a young maiden who compelled me to speak to her from a shared perception of the world as a constant distribution scale dictating how much any variable or human being might desire or want me and how my life depended on this approval or attention because of my insecurity and jaded hipster or post Generation X lifestyle.

The devastating truth of the matter is that my conversation with this woman I often envisioned as being on a stage in my mind was not actually a figment of my imagination, but a real live American housewife of 36-7 years old with a love for Lindsay Lohan, and a slight distrust in me as a narrator, since I would be telling our story – and notice I say our – when, in fact, I am not the narrator of the story, but a character who is speaking through the narrator in a very confusing manner.

To bring this horrendous opening to a close and offer the first segue into a reality readers can accept, let me offer a few specific details to help ground us in the X, Y, and Z of our American housewife and the main character of our story.

My name is Glen. I am a script doctor for Hollywood movies. I don’t live in the past or the present. That means it could be the future by now, but how am I supposed to know when you’re reading this, or if you’re in some movie theater, and some jack-off hack of a writer has decided to use voice over done by some droning asshole with a voice like Christian Slater, and you’ve got me getting to the punch-line and I say something stupid like “Greeting and salutations” in that bad cop movie he did. Jesus, that was a bad movie. Anyway, I’m Glen. This isn’t some crazy story or anything. It’s just some bullshit that happened when I got my heart broken by an American housewife. It’s reality, you know? Every once in a while I’ll try and make things more interesting and get you all confused with some fancy footwork about how I’m not me and you’re not you and blah, blah, blah, and who is Glen, and who is Veronica really, and we’ll all feel a little bit smarter or more confused based on how smart or confused we already are. So, Veronica...

Blockbuster Bankrupt!

2010-09-24T02:46:00.000-07:00

I should have gotten mores shares in Netflix.

Iranian President Ahmadinejad Tries to Manipulate Press and Elicit Negative Reactions for Political Power in an Iran That Was Over Him Yesterday

2010-09-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

I am really happy with the stupidity of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. If he continues this hard line approach, and the U.S. and other countries continue to bring sanctions against Iran, the country's government will crumble internally.

Will President Obama be pressured to respond angrily to Ahmadinejad's rhetoric, and therefore make the Iranian President a martyr, or will he be smart and continue to pressure the country with kindness, justice, and sanctions?

The Iranian government is due for a huge unravelling in these next few months. It will either be catalyzed by more sanctions and lead to the removal of Ahmadinejad, or the United States will have to take a more extreme approach and encourage other countries to boycott Iran. The latter is more likely before the country implodes.

Tough negotiation on the world stage! I hope President Obama continues to make wise choices on how to handle this delicate situation and it does not lead to war.

Film Festivals Here We Come!

2010-09-23T06:37:00.000-07:00

We just finished a 24-hour session - well, more like three-week marathon and a 24-hour session - to get our still work-in-progress film of THE HUMAN WAR passable for a Sundance and Slamdance submission.

Tom and I were chatting on SKYPE and iChat until about 4 a.m. my time. I am not sure what happened after that. I remember putting together a rough press kit and dragging the Adobe Illustrator file to an e-mail. The rest is a bit of a mystery.

I am now here on my living room floor. It is 6:41 a.m.. I feel a sense of elation. I am excited to see what will come of the final edits (including a new ending!) in the coming month as we prepare to go to color correction and an audio mix - the final stages for a feature film.

At this point, I would like to give a special shout out to Gabriel Cassia, our Editor, who sat with me for 11 hours straight yesterday, and did the same a day before with Tom. We truly appreciate your hard work, willingness to sing songs with your three-word Persian vocabulary (in an Italian accent), and bring such a strong ending ("Goodbye Mickey Mouse!") and moody pacing to a film that would only come from such a unique and talented human being.

I would also like to thank Daniel Brothers, our Post Production Supervisor, who not only helped edit when we had no editor, and then helped again while Gabriel was working Fashion Week, but also for all the hard work downloading the huge files, setting up an FTP site and all the other 1,001 roles besides his own during the pre-production, production, and post-production of this film. (Tom only told me how fantastic you were before I met you two years ago. Now as our work on this first feature is coming to a close, I can truly say I am glad to see the brilliance Tom spoke of, and bear witness as you embark on your first feature.) Thank you for your hard work, generosity, and creative spirit.

Another expression of gratitude goes out to Sonny Mishra, our Composer, who was willing to put up with Tom and I as we jumped back and forth between different song choices. You were able to point us towards a possibility, and guide us gently. That gift, along with all the amazing material you have given this film, has made working with you a true joy. Thank you for the encouragement, patience, and hard work. We look forward to the sonic palette you will create on the next film.

It is a little early for Tom and I to thank everyone in the world. We still have a couple months to go before we're officially done. In two months time, we anticipate a unique film that will reflect the wit, terror, melancholy, and bewilderment at play on the day of March 20, 2003 when the Iraq War was declared and Noah Cicero's fantastic novella began. We are under no illusions about the competitive nature of the film festival circuit, and we understand that chances our slim to major festivals, but we are both happy to have had this opportunity to work with so many talented people, succeed and fail at bringing our visions forward, and watch as our ideas become reality.

Now I will try and sleep a bit. Who knows? I might just watch the 20th version of our movie

Elif Shafak

2010-09-19T00:05:00.000-07:00

I got this via Ron.

Comic Movies

2010-09-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to come up with a new way to view literature, film, and comics. I just need to learn how to insert videos into something like this. I think that would be the new way books could possibly proceed.

Jim Goar's Seoul Bus Poems

2010-09-10T18:36:00.000-07:00

I just got a copy of Jim Goar's Seoul Bus Poems. I feel like I have friends close to me with these words in my mouth and under my eyes.

Still Editing!

2010-09-09T14:38:00.000-07:00

We are still editing the movie for Sundance. We are at it everyday.

After next week, I'll probably have to get another job. I also need to start raising money for SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL, the movie. I guess I need to write the adaptation first.

Sogee is in school.

I got hemmoroids. Supposedly it happens from sitting too much. I have been sitting a lot. Now I am trying to battle it with leafy vegetables and lots of water and fiber. I feel almost a 1,000 years old, but not quite.

Aside from anal pain, I feel fine. I am reading Charles Yu's books. I'll start interviewing him next week. I think that'll be fun. He's an amazing writer with a lot of humor in his work. It reminds me of the past and the future simultaneously.

What else?

Nothing. I am alive. I would put pictures of my trip to NYC and hanging out with people, but I didn't take a single picture. I thought about it, but then I was like, "What's the point?"

I think I need a camera that excites me a little more than the point and click digital thing I have. You don't really have that many options.

I did get a digital tablet though. I thought I could do comics or drawings on it. It's really hard to use. I will draw a comic now though. I will post it with this message. It'll probably suck though. Drawing on paper and a tablet are two different things.

Richard Yates by Tao Lin

2010-09-07T11:35:00.000-07:00

Tao has won. I believe this book will make Tao a bestselling author. The video game is over.

The Job

2010-09-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

I got this via Sonny.

Fires in Boulder

2010-09-07T00:56:00.000-07:00

I hope people are safe after the fires.

Loren Goodman's Top 500 Songs: 120-130

2010-09-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

121. The Archies - "Sugar, Sugar"

122.

123.

124.

125.

126.

127.

128.

129.

130.

Let's Not Do That!

2010-09-03T00:59:00.000-07:00

"Let's not do that," she says to me and ruffles my hair.

I look up at her. I feel overwhelmed.

"Okay," I say.

It's two weeks to the Sundance deadline. I hope we can make it.

Fake Radio Show for Film

2010-08-30T14:50:00.001-07:00

Arranging a fake radio show for THE HUMAN WAR. Anyone want to be a fake radio caller to the program and give your opinion on the impending war on March 23, 2003. You'd have to be time sensitive. Just email me at piroozkalayeh[at]gmail.com.

Better

2010-08-28T20:07:00.003-07:00

I spent the week in NYC. It was nice. Now I'm back in California. I like it here better.

Terry Gilliam & Arcade Fire Skit

2010-08-24T04:16:00.000-07:00

I am not an Arcade Fire fan, but I do love Terry Gilliam.

Facelifts!

2010-08-23T05:44:00.001-07:00

I am in NYC. Editing has begun. It is dark. Things are happening. Major facelifts. Exciting.