Arrrrrr Eyeliner.

So, Today I did my part as an extra on the set of Go Girls Season 4, Playing 'Pirate Pete'. Very strange/wonderful/enjoyable experience. The cast and crew were all very polite, warm and caring and it was nice to be in their company for the afternoon. I was amazed at how they introduced themselves to me, the 'stars' were all very human and kind, it was inspiring. Wardrobe had organized an awesome costume last week for me and today I wore it on screen. We did so many takes as The Go girls crew took shots with more camera angles and affecting lights, props, etc. Was pretty fun watching it all happen. Also another day where I had to hold a fake bottle of beer for an hour or so that I'm dying to drink just cos It's in my hand and smells real. And by coincidence or design, I met another extra who I might end up casting in Chase as it turns out she has a black belt in Taekwondo and is interested in starring in my film :)

The Day finished later than I expected so I went straight to JKD practice after the shoot wrapped for the day. Anyway, as promised, I asked one of the costume ladies if she could take my picture before I finished for the day and fortunately she said yes, so here is me in full gear! (thanks Miss!)



Needless to say, When I turned up to JKD practice an hour late with black nail polish and remnants of black eyeliner I was questioned with smiles and jokes. Just practiced knuckle jab and one inch punch today so worth going, plus I also got the sparring video from Sifu where I fought Matt UK but I won't post that on you tube. It was good but neither of us did anything that would interest a non martial artist so next time I will try put on more of a show so I can post the video.

Anyway, School again tomorrow, Have got to finish this commercial! Due on Saturday, and I still don't know what I'm doing yet. I'm thinking of Apples. lol. See you in a week or so ;)

Batman: "Freeze! " MF: "that's 'Mister' Freeze!"

Hey guys/girls :)

Been watching batman cartoons lately, The Bruce Timm ones, not all these new age ones -the true dark original ones, really awesome, miss this sort of cartoon, ahead of it's time really. Growing up it influenced me alot so now that I'm older and can appreciate it more I tracked down a copy of the DVD and am reliving the claps, laughs and good times :) Batman's voice (bruce timm) and The Joker and his voice haven't been equaled since, in either cartoons or the movies. Just throwing that out there. I been a big batman film since I could talk lol. And still am, Bring on The Dark Knight rises next year :) Also Expendables 2 is gathering momentum, Jason Statham vs Scott adkins? (Fantastic, big fans of both)and Donnie yen vs Jetl i? (again, always cool -OATIC2 and Hero) Just hope they shoot the fights so you can see all the techniques and drama clearly, looks great, and since Chuck norris is in there, I wonder if there will be any chuck norris jokes? lol Love action movies soo much :)

In other news that probably relates more to this blog, This is the latest Sparring video from August when we tried out wrestling in the ring for the first time. Considering there is no 'give' in the floor, I think me and Richard were just running on adrenaline, needless to say, lots of bumps and bruises the next day :) Sort of damaged my confidence a bit, but I fought Matt last week and by second round back to my mobile ghosting self, will post that video when i get Wednesday night if Sifu remembers ;) Also shot a short film for the club, testing out some techniques, I just have to add sound effects for punches/kicks/nunchuks etc and i will upload that too :)

Above is the finished music Video that Nazim and I shot for a school assessment. For the 2 hour shoot time and edited during the week before the due date, I think we did pretty well. Anyway, i will blog more next time, about the long lasting Street fighter project (school work and our schedules making getting together and shooting this more difficult than we anticipated), Go girls, and your first look at Chase (the script I will finish tonight, then i get to play dress up to test out different looks for the main character ;) haha)

Anyway, Life is going good and all sorts of opportunities and challenges await :) Keep following, I'm sharing my Blue print :) Yeah, good or bad, smile and enjoy it, live for the moment. There's a reason for everything if you widen your perspectives....a couple favorite quotes....

"A smile confuses an approaching frown." and "So many languages in the world, and a smile speaks them all" and lastly ;

"A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give." ~Author Unknown

Our class 3D assignment, "Magicians Duel". Check it out ;)

In the story of 2 magicians with a score to settle, ones old-school, one's a new school street magician, who will win? The class wrote, filmed and edited the first minute or so then we each had to design our own 5 second minimum ending with a 3d element. Spoiler alert for most of their endings - Me or Keanu Die (not good for our self esteem guys lol), but not in mine, or Keanu's lol.

For the record, I don't have the patience, passion or drive to do 3D or After effects work ,and though I did it for this assignment and the many more to come, I do it with the knowledge one day I will be in the position to pay to have someone do it for me :) My respect goes to those who do these jobs and do them well, mine was only a small effort but drove me to the brink :) All those buttons, co-ordinates, variables and keyframes. Anyway, to watch my version click on the link below :)

In other news, I have written 3002 words now for my 1500 word essay (up from the 2,200 i had before watching Mission Impossible 2 again for the 5th time, still love it :D), I plan on asking my lecturer what bits to cut out, as i might have spread the net too wide for the question. Also, the Music Videos finished, now just doing the coloring and effects, and have just started training for the SF project so i can pull off my written choreography in October after that 'job' I hinted about for October, I go for a fitting on Tuesday, hopefully I will learn more about the part then. :) Til then, I'll leave you with a quote and Keep making those positive decisions!


Winner's Blueprint for Achievement;

BELIEVE while others are doubting.
PLAN while others are playing.
STUDY while others are sleeping.
DECIDE while others are delaying.
PREPARE while others are daydreaming.
BEGIN while others are procrastinating.
WORK while others are wishing.
SAVE while others are wasting.
LISTEN while others are talking.
SMILE while others are frowning.
COMMEND while others are criticizing.
PERSIST while others are quitting."

-William Arthur Ward

Inspirational Stuff

Dear Reader, I am always looking for inspiration, in the faintest of smiles, empowering other's dreams, in the weather of any particular day...but sometimes no matter what I do, I get a little down...I imagine others can get like this too, but we have to realize we are what we think, so read a couple of these poems I have around the place and see if you don't feel like our future is limitless :)

(Handed in my 3d assignment today, and I am half way through my Essay and my Music video, I should be happy, but I missed JKD this week and still without wifey in Aux, and it's those 2 things which really complete me, anyway, the poems, lol :P)

I Resign
Unknown

I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult.
I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of an 8-year-old again.
I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant.
I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make ripples with rocks.
I want to think M&Ms are better than money because you can eat them.
I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer day.
I want to return to a time when life was simple.
When all you knew were colors, multiplication tables, and nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care.

All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should make you worried or upset.
I want to think the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good.
I want to believe that anything is possible.
I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things again.
I want to live simple again.
I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip,illness, and loss of loved ones.

I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind, and making angels in the snow.

So...here's my checkbook and my car keys, my credit cards and all my responsibility.

I am officially resigning from adulthood. And if you want to discuss this further, you'll have to catch me first, 'cause,

"Tag! You're it."

Sometimes it's easy to get lost in the world of bills, self made worries, family drama, friendships, lovers quarrels, job promotions/applications, traffic, but put things in perspective, and enjoy what you are experiencing, because you never know the day that comes that ends it, and you will wish you had.

Back when I worked in GKR I remember one of the regional managers shared this story with us, I still remember it, Now i have found the actual words;

The Bank

Imagine for a moment that there is a bank that credits your account each morning with
$86,400.
It carries over no balance from day to day.
Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use
during the day. What would you do? Draw out ALL OF IT, of course!!

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is TIME.
Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.
Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to
invest to good purpose.
It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft.

Each day it opens a new account for you.
Each night it burns the remains of the day.
If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.

There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow."
You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get
from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success!
The clock is running. Make the most of today.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.

To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a
premature baby.

To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to
meet.

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train.

To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an
accident.

To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver
medal in the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you
shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time.

And remember that time waits for no one.
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present!!!

The next story is basic, but if you 'get' it, and actually 'apply it' it will work for you, It's been said millions of times, but how many curses do you utter a day? If you attempt to be kind, smile, be patient, eventually it will become a habit, you will BE kind etc, you will feel more relaxed and be a lot happier knowing you are living your life, not others. Accept them for who they are, Accept yourself for who you are, and the world will be a much brighter, bigger place to live in :)

The Legend of Echo

A son and his father were walking on the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he hears a voice repeating: "AAAhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"
Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"
He looks at his father and asks: "What's going on?"

The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."
And the father screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"
Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.

Then the father explains: "People call this an ECHO, but really this is LIFE.
It gives you back everything you say or do.
Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world,
Create more love in your heart.
If you want more competence in your team,
Improve your competence.
This relationship applies to everything in all aspects of life.
Life will give you back everything you have given to it.

Your life is not a coincidence. It's a reflection of you!

This Last one is a poem I picked in High School before I had even heard of it, while looking through a random poetry book for an English Assignment. To this day, I think of it time to time and how I am living it.

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Mondays

Mondays is Finished. also joined by the 3d Project at the end of this week. then editing the music video assignment. Whoa, so much time in front of a computer screen. But I am training when I can, and writing when I can. Like I said at the start of this year. 2011 is the year to make things happen, and I am :)

Below is the link for Monday's. My short Action Film I shot last month out of opportunity and the chance to practice/learn muzzle flashes, blood etc. The film took under 3 hours to shoot and choreograph, yet editing and doing the effects was so damn time consuming and now I can see why people hire others when they helm movies, which is what I plan to do later when i shoot Chase later this year.

Anyway enjoy the short gritty detective action film I have concocted with the help of fellow SAE students Keanu Clyde (left) and Fergus Candy (right) who did awesome and probably helped because they got sucked into my enthusiasm for it, let me know what you think :)

World Cup, Music Video, Bday. What a Weekend :)

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Shortland Street, Christchurch and the mutating assignments

Hi! :) It's Been a while since my last entry but I haven't had any new footage available to share recently. I will have some new stuff for you next week so I will just spend this quick moment sharing what steps I have taken since my last blog on my chase for fame, fortune and respect.



First professional Job Late last month (and today, My second :D) as a Shortland Street Extra! :) Shortland Street is New Zealand's leading Drama. (soap) A Hospital Drama which screens 5 nights a week for 15 years and still going strong. With viewings in Britain, Australia, Fiji etc It is arguably our most successful local TV production. And I, finally, had the stars align themselves in order to get selected. (I am stoked with my talent agency right now)

As an Extra you are pretty much background talent, making the scene with the actors more believable. For example, A scene in a bar between a guy and girl wouldn't be as realistic without the crowd behind them, notice how none of passing crowd look at the camera like you see in your live reports on the evening news? That's because they are paid (or unpaid in student cases) to be there because like it or not, subconsciously as a viewer you notice these things, and the idea of film and television is to immerse you in their world and the more you can relate the easier the transition.

I can't share too much of how the crew works but what I can tell you is that it was eye opening and I am quite excited/scared of trying to get into this industry, with all the organized chaos and intimidating equipment I'm not sure I have the confidence yet to direct something of that magnitude. I'm a trigger happy guy who just aims his camera and shoots shit. I can't imagine sitting in the directors chair while camera machines glide around you, boom mics and lights swing above you, assistant directors and producers surround you and actors and actresses ask you questions all the while keeping your composure and trying to get all the magic shots before the deadline, *deep breath* well, The team sure work for their art that's for sure ;) The more I work the more my confidence will grow.

The Hospital scenes I did background work in was a)being pushed in a wheelchair, and b) Walking from one end to another through the doors holding flowers, then today (If you will opportunities into existence, they will come) We shot in the Bar, talking with other extras over drinks and overall learning heaps. My confidence is growing, especially since being around established actors and not acting like a puppy dog though these guys are local stars (in my head I'm like holy of holies wow, I have the biggest crush on that girl and she's here? In front of me? She's even more beautiful in person!!! on the outside? I'm playing it cool like it's just another day at the office- not easy) :) I mean, When I told my mom I got work on Shortland St (her Favorite favorite show) She was excited too, though you can imagine my expression when she asked if I played the drug addict last night, I told her they shoot 6-8 weeks in advance So no, but keep your eyes open in 6 weeks for me :).

In More good news, I might get a part in another NZ show but this time not as an extra, my wife is excited for me and supports me but for this one I'm actually quite scared but like the saying goes (well, the book) Feel the fear and do it anyway! so more news WHEN that test screening turns out OK in October :) (Positive things happen to those who attract it with positive thoughts)

Went to Christchurch for My nieces 3rd birthday party, Caught up with the whole family and wife and relaxed, also caught up with my music business partner. Was a really great weekend, was a little sad on the flight back to Aux but as the wife says, no guts, no glory. The next 4 weeks are going to be a pressure cooker, but with pressure comes diamonds ;)

I have (in order) the following assignments to complete; my 3d production, Music Video, Tv Commercial, Film Essay, News production and the assignments keep coming!!!! So yeah, that's what I'm fighting with over the coming month.

Also on the personal project side I have to finish editing 'Mondays' (my gun test short film) and start work on the street fighter production as my hair is almost the right length now...

And to finish up with, JKD is going awesome at the moment, Learning wrestling over the last couple of Sundays which has been great and I'm all over Little Idea (Siu lim tao- Wing Chun's first form) like a rash, Been watching alot of fights lately too so can't wait to get on the dance-floor again and kick it, anyway, It's been real, see you in a week or so ;)

Don't forget you can waste time all you want but you can't buy any more of it, so make every moment count and achieve something of importance to your goals and dreams once a day, routine is a cancer so do something once a day that helps you grow as a person ;) And Just in case you forgot what a KO looks like....

Take control of your circumstances, Don't let them control you :) Kick them in the face! :P