End of September Status

So, here we are at the end of September, and I am still standing on the shore, waiting for the boat that will take me across the ocean to the promised land. So much has been going wrong, money problems, car problems, creative blocks, fitness problems, relationship challenges...It just seems like when it rains it pours, but I am a positive guy, and I try to implement Dale Carnegies dealing with worrying method (pretty much imaging the worst outcome and working backwards) which generally works for me, but it doesn't keep the banks/partners/and self disappointment at bay....but God helps those who helps themselves so I have the calls out ;)

There has been some filmwork offered from the agency to its members but I haven't been tall/big/available enough for any roles I've submitted for. I've also looked at student stuff and industry opportunities but sadly in Auckland alot of the work is unpaid or requires heaps of experience which doesn't suit me as I need money to fund the vehicle to get to these places and the film course I did is practically worthless as a qualification, the thing I got from SAE is some time to plan and practice films. 

Anyway, Job hunting for a real wage job has been fun (sic) I was about to do an interview last week at the airport when of all the days it could have happened, that was the day my car broke down. It's blown the head gasket and needs several changes and replacements. Overheating, it looks like how I feel. Crippled again by my lack of cheap reliable transport I figure now is a good time to make the most of the free time, But the 6th rewrite of Chase keeps stalling and I can't train as I don't have a car to get the gym in town (half a city away) without my club it's a little hard to self motivate, I try to go to the gym here but just end up punching the heavy bag, and doing some basic weights, skipping rope and chin ups which doesn't really help my sanda chances. Fighting empty shadows, its like dry land swimming as Bruce lee said..I need real training partners, The car is supposed to be fixed this week, so I'm on the mark, waiting for the gunfire. Plus sifu has mats now so I'm super excited to practice wrestling!

It's amazing that throughout the day you can come up with a million ideas but when faced with a blank page and a deadline, the ballpark is empty. The reason I have rewrote Chase again and again is because I need stakes. Like every good movie ,believe it or not, the success of your enjoying the film comes down to the character, his/her journey, the obstacles, the resolution and the whole execution of it all (casting, shot types, coherency etc). 

My character Chase, is a middle aged guy who moved to Auckland several years ago to become an action star, he holds down a part time security guard job to pay the bills and isn't sure where he stands with his ex-girlfriend. When a rival actor takes a role that was supposed to be his, Chase decides it's now or never and takes drastic measures to get the role. So, basically I have te first act completed. I have the ending climax location and 20 minute group fight scene in mind, it's just filling in the blanks and making sure all characters grow good or bad throughout the film, and that you, as an audience, care about Chase.  Anyway, in brighter news I saw myself on TV again, remember that day I said we shot in the Italian restaurant for Shortland St? Well It finally aired. Basically Unseenable but at least it wasn't cut :) I'm in the blue shirt eating imaginary food (actually I had a cake and lettuce on my plate which made no sense but so far away from camera it wasn't important lol)

Oh well, thats it from me for this post, I don't want to come across as depressed cos I'm not, but if my life were a movie I'm counting on the next couple weeks being the time where all things start to go right for the hero :) Thanks for reading and I'll see you soon :) And for inspiration check out Arnold below saying what the goal for any of us should be :) And what I came to Auckland to do....I came to Conquer!!!