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03-02-02 "Beating A Dead Horse?!!!"

I've been spending quite a few long hours at school working on various projects including "The Making Of The Hunt" (which has a lot of interesting and humorous parts). I also can't shake the feeling that I need to get onto other things! Is "The Hunt" a dead horse? I've got many wonderful ideas that need to be fleshed out for possible future projects! "The Hunt" is just our first project of many, at least for me! I plan on working hard on any and all project that come my way and hopefully getting bigger and better with each successive story.

I talk about "The Hunt" and all my projects like they're some kind of product, and I guess they really are but I look at them more as stories that NEED to be told. I have a strong, unrelenting passion for these stories as it very well may be driven from a lack of self-esteem (if you want to get psychological with it). I can't completely describe what drives me; I just have to accept it.

This year the kids at school has become much more demanding and it leaves me drained of any creative energies! This has to change! I love these kids but I also love my stories, can't a happy medium be found?

One of my new goals is to shoot some kind of short story each month. It can be funny or serious, no limitations have been placed other than the fact that I need to get one made (or at least shot)! This will keep me on the ball as far as my storytelling abilities!

Another goal is to get more written! So many ideas fly past and unless I somehow record them, these little ideas just drift away!

03-08-02 "The Great Fish Tales Bender!!!"

We've been playing a lot of Cribbage and Smear here lately and this weekend was no exception. For some reason unknown to me I started sipping a little brandy while I was playing. Before I knew it a significant amount had disappeared from the bottle! The gang then ventured down town to sing the hits at the local haunt! I tagged along! Former students and their parents started buying for old Mr. Knitt! The brandy started chumming with some whiskey, German beer, Gold Shlager, Yagermeister and then came Tequila to get into a fight! It feels like forever since I allowed myself to cut loose and I sure let things unwind last night! I even got into a verbal battle with some lost drunken woman at the bar. She started bashing teachers... look out! I can usually defuse almost any situation but my words weren't very well chosen and it was just better that I retreat as the bar was closing and this woman wouldn't even remember what we were talking about when the following morning greeted her. Surprisingly I felt pretty good this morning; my head wasn't even tilted at all!

03-10-02 "Yet Another Rejection!!!"

We weren't even notified that we didn't make the cut with the Black Point Film Festival. They just posted it on their web site and figured we could find it ourselves if we were interested. While I'm disappointed we were turned down yet again; I'm not nearly as upset as I was when we were rejected from the Wisconsin Film Festival. That was the one I was really shooting for!

One thing that I'd really like to suggest to the judges though is some form of critique. As of now we really don't know what the heck we did wrong. It's all speculation! Did we make too many homosexual slams? Were there not enough close-ups? Was the story just too weak? Now rather than having a definite direction to pinpoint improvements we are stuck with a project that should be revamped from start to finish! One thing I do know is this... we have a lot of weak spots in the film. There are some definite pacing problems but there are also a lot of rather unique parts. Parts that are well done and deserve recognition!

I'm looking at cutting some of the movie out to improve the pacing a bit. For example, in the end of the movie there is about seven minutes of the characters interacting with Gary in their own unique ways. This slows the movie to a crawl and isn't needed for the story. I'm yanking it! It'll be far better in the "Deleted Scenes" portion of the upcoming DVD!! I'm also thinking about cutting a chunk out in the beginning of the movie where I give a bit of background on each character. While this is entertaining, it also slows the movie down a bit too much. Unfortunately, if I cut that part it'll probably make the movie less than an hour in length and our marketability goes down the crapper.

Marketability? Ya! We actually hope to sell it somewhere down the line. Heck I'm even considering selling it to a foreign market that'll almost certainly screw us but will at least get our movie out there. I guess they're looking for English speaking movies in South Africa and "The Hunt" would be right up their alley for it'd represent a slice of culture they're totally oblivious to.

03-13-02 "Indie Club's First Project!!"

Carlie at the Indie Club has come up with our first group project and guess who she wants to direct it? That's right... me! Guess who she wants to play the main character? That's right again... me!! Its called "DVR Diner" and it's about a group of people working at a government-subsidized restaurant because they couldn't work at any real place. We're looking at a diner in Baraboo or close to it for the shoot which should take a few hours. I hope it doesn't turn out to be like our shoots where all of a sudden you realize there's no way on God's green earth you'll ever get in the can what was planned for the day. Somehow I always managed to plan for more footage than we could get shot. That's better than not enough though I guess?!

Anyway, Carlie likes our comic timing and as long as she keeps flattering us like that I'll be sure to help out! Tom's riding my butt about getting her a tape of our Out Of Whack stuff from the old show. I'm working on it. I'd like to make a "Best Of" tape that represents our potential. That way I could dump all the stuff that makes us look bad and keep the three minutes of good old wholesome fun! Actually I jest, we have a lot of funny stuff from that old show and it was a key element in our development. We still have a ways to go but that show actually taught us a lot!!

The next group project Carlie's working on involves a school so maybe I'll get a chance to direct that one also and we can shoot it here in wonderful little Marion, Wisconsin!

03-18-02 "A Trip Northward!!!"

A great weekend was had by all in the beautiful north woods of Wisconsin! My main goal for the weekend was to get some shots of Cousin Joe for the intro and conclusion of "The Making Of The Hunt" which I hope is wrapped up soon as I'd like to get started with some new ideas! I also got a chance to relax in the hot tub as the frigid northern winds whipped past! It was quite refreshing! Cousin Shawn's little darling "Boo Boo Kitty" seems to be a great gal, hope all works out for him.

Plenty of laughs with Weasel, Big Les, Barncat, Traveler, Schmootie, Lumpy, Al, and Mr. Knitt! Far too many quotes from "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back!" (the latest movie to strike back at our juvenile interests!) A little shuffleboard at the Thirsty Whale does a body good!

I'm working on an unnamed short film at school right now. It's a bit "Mr. Bean"ish as I don't say much of anything. The story is told with expression and humor. Universal.

03-23-02 "Meeting The Guy And The CWFF!!!"

Tom and I met at Cheyenne's in beautiful downtown Appleton today (actually downtown Appleton looks like it was hit by a bomb right now with all the road work they're doing!). We're trying to meet up with this guy he met at work and see if we can make any connections as far as filmmaking is concerned. Well his guy never showed so we'll have to try again later. We did manage to get some serious planning done as far as the Central Wisconsin Film Festival. For those of you who haven't heard of the CWFF don't fear, you are not alone as it doesn't exist yet! We are hoping to get it planned and into motion very soon so it can actually take place late Mat or early June. I've got a bunch of director pals that would probably allow thier movies a little show time. We're looking at having an afternoon of movies made by people from the area. Details will follow.

Tom made a funny little video with his kids and lately he seems to be taking an interest in animation. Where this will lead no one can yet say!!

03-24-02 "Comedy City Mini Film Festival!!!"

Today was good for my soul! I went up to Green Bay and helped Darby edit quite a bit of "One Unselfish Thing". We still have a few sound issues but that whole project is coming to a nice close. I'm pretty proud of some of the things I helped with! At about 4:30 we wrapped our final edit for the day and headed over to Gary and Nancy's house for the big Oscar party. Gary and Nancy are members of Comedy City and are two wonderfully funny people. Everyone at the party was beging to get a little impatient as the Film Festival was to start at much closer to 4:00. They were all relieved when we finally got there.

The first movies on the agenda were Gary's movies. He did a great little short about a guy who sends packages to himself because he digs the delivery girl. There were also movies by other Comedy City performers such as Dan, Ken, Brian, and Peggy. I entered four short pieces including one I made especially for this event "Crunchie Munchies". Ken's movie was particularily well done. He made a serious horror movie that had some funky flashback scenes. I hope to work with him on a project someday.

When "Crunchie Munchies" began playing the audience reacted and it felt great!! I sat back in my corner and sucked it all in! I've played it for my kids at school but they just didn't really respond very much at all. Here I had a living room full of people laughing out loud at my work. It was just what the doctor ordered. Darn it, after being rejected from two festivals now, it feels good to finally get some reassurance that I'm not grasping at straws. Top it off "Crunchie Munchies" walked away with the Comedy City Best Picture Award for 2002!!! I am a very happy boy!!

03-25-02 "Motivating The Student Who Doesn't Care!!!"

Today I was fortunate enough to attend a seminar in Green Bay that will, hopefully, help make the end of the year better for everyone involved at our school. Much of the seminar was common sense stuff but it felt good having an 'expert' reassure you as to your methods. My methods of management for my classroom have been very successful all my previous years of teaching but it is getting a bit more difficult with this latest batch of students. I've done a lot of self-evaluation and while some of my student's lack of motivation may be my fault, the majority I place on their shoulders. They just don't care and the saddest part is... they don't know any better! The seminar was a bit revitalizing for me and I'll certainly be using some of the suggestions I've learned! Hopefully the teacher part of me will be a little less stressed now. I haven't been able to get much creating in this year as I'm too exhausted with other needs!

03-28-02 "An All Around Crappy Day?!"

Hi gang, today we had the day off... unfortunately, Mr. Knitt had to go down to Oshkosh to pick up student artwork. No big deal actually but I was a little disappointed that "High School Art Day" was scheduled on our free day as I look forward to taking my Advanced Art kids each year. We usually stop at the Paine Art Center after the show to see what's new. Not this year though!

Anyway, I woke up at about 8:30 and staggered downstairs to use the facilities. As I walked past the window I was struck by the sight of beautiful heavy snowflakes dropping from the sky! Now, most folks who were planning an hour drive wouldn't look forward to this snow at all. I had other ideas. I needed to get a shot of myself shoveling the sidewalk for an upcoming video short. This snow was perfect and it looked like it was going to be dropping on us for the rest of the morning!! I headed back to bed to rest a bit longer and figure out what shots I wanted to get. An hour and a half later, when I woke again, the snow had come to a sudden stop. Crud!! It would have made such a great shot! I did manage to get some shots on myself. Overall it'll work fine... but it won't be as magical as it could have been had I gotten my lazy caboose out of bed!!

Now I'm running a bit behind schedule as I'd like to actually see the art show before they take the work down. I'll easily make that time up on the highway. Great, what's this ahead? Road closed? Whatever, I can make it through!! Ten minutes later I discover a new sign... "Bridge Out". Well there's no way around this one! After swearing I head back to the nearest side road that'll get me back on track. Fifteen minutes later I'm tooling down some back road I've never been on before. This doesn't bother me at all for I'm a big fan of "The Road Less Traveled". I actually enjoy taking an alternate route once in a while but usually never when I'm running late! Back roads are fun as they always have something new for your eye and these roads were no exception All I needed to do was travel south east and I'd be fine. Twenty minutes into this new adventure, the southeast option was no longer. I had to take another alternative route as there was more "Road Destruction"! Now I'm driving down 'The Road Even Lesser Traveled" and all is fine and good as I'm heading in the right direction. I'm actually surprised at some of the beautiful homes hidden away on these forgotten trails.

Another twenty minutes sneaks by before I came to my third and final "Road Construction" area. This time some fat kid (boy or girl, I can't offhand say as they were dressed for far colder weather than we had) climbs out of a parked car to hold up a stop sign so I won't drive out into the giant Skidders that are flying past. Don't worry kid, I've got a feeling they've got me beat by a long shot! I smile politely as the little Eskimo flips the sign and lets me through. Just a few miles from this sight I could see more orange signs but they turned out to be a surveying crew so my growing anger could subside a bit.

Needless to say I was late. The show was over and students hurried to get the gallery ready for another show. A stressed out little Hindu lady rushed over and told me to take all of Marion's art work and get it out of the gallery. "This'll take more than one trip," I said. "Well, get it out of this space right now!"

"Ok!"... It wasn't easy.

There, that's done! Now I have the whole rest of the day (actually until 5:00 when I meet Tom and his filmmaking friend at Cheyenne's in Appleton. I'm not even sure why we're meeting him in the first plkace but the guy has some interest in filmmaking so let's keep out connections flowing). I have plenty of time to go to the comic shop...no, I did that last night before Comedy City practice. I could get something to eat... no, we'll probably do that at Cheyenne's. Well, let's go see a movie! Yay!! I can always count on a good movie changing my attitude! Should I see it in Oshkosh or head to Appleton? I decided Appleton would be far more convenient so off I go!

Holy crud! There's no one in the theatre parking lot? Oh ya Einstein! It's Thursday! The movies don't start until 3:45. Well that shoots that idea in the kiester! Darn it! I'd have liked to see Blade II! Actually I really want to see "The Brotherhood Of The Wolf" but I can't find where it's playing!

Ok! Let's go buy a new suit coat! I'm looking for one similar to the one I already have. Dark, almost black with some touches of natural green and gold. La la la! Off I go to Burlington Coat Factory... nothing! I check the mall. Sears... nothing. Yonkers... nothing. Penny's... nothing. Finally the lady tells me that the summer colors are all that everyone has out right now. Winter colors are the dark ones. Summer colors are all lighter. What the heck is this all about?! Winter colors and Summer colors?!! "Try shopping in July" she tells me which makes me smile.

Alrighty, screw the jacket search. Obviously I'm not going to finds anything until summer, when I won't really need the jacket anymore. Let's go get something to eat!! There's a new sushi place on the other side of town called Koreas or something like that. That'll bring some light into your day! Sushi!! Yummy yummy! Into my van again and across town. I'll give you one guess as to what restaurant was closed on Thursdays. Hee hee! No yummy yummy for me!! I could already taste it too, know what I mean?!

Damn! Let's just go to Cheyenne's and get a burger! Only have a dime for the meter so I go to the mall to buy a bag of candy for Easter and for change. I also finally dropped off Lori's book (remember her?) at the Appleton library. They can take it to Neenah for me, thanks! I park in a new spot closer to the bar and go inside.

Nice quiet place. Get me a black and tan, bartender! I ordered and drank and calmed. Wait a minute... how much money do I have left? Damn, I've only got about ten bucks to my name! Where did all my cash go? Oh ya, I bought fricking candy for Easter and for the change! A little over ten bucks worth of candy! Man, I hope these guys take checks... thank god, they do!

There, I've got a full belly and it's only 3:00. I've got a little time before Tom shows at 5:00. I'll do some planning. I quickly fill two notebook pages with ideas before I take a break at the golf game beckoning me from behind. I fill three more before I realize it's almost 5:00 and Tom's nowhere to be seen. What if the guy that's going to meet with us shows up before Tom? He doesn't know me and I don't know him. How'll we ever be able to find each other. Come on Tom! Don't leave me here, by myself, with this mysterious stranger?! Ok, this's getting a bit weird! I watch as the place begins to fill. Each new face that enters could be the guy! This had better be worth it!

5:15... I need to refill the meter outside but if I walk out now the bartender is gonna think I'm stiffing him! What's with the woman by the window! She couldn't be staring any harder at me if she wanted to! Oops, her boyfriend's coming back. Her staring stops. He leaves again and she's glued on me like a lion eyeballing its prey! While I find it a little flattering, I also find it discomforting! I smile at her politely. Oh... wait a second... she's watching the TV next to me...hee hee. It's 5:45, here's Tom! Finally!

"He's not showing!" he tells me.

We shoot the breeze a bit before I head back home for some much needed relax time. The day seemed to take a bit of a toll on me. I did manage to see some new country and I also managed to get five pages of ideas worked out and some footage in the can so it wasn't at all a wasted day. Actually, it wouldn't make for a bad short?!

03-30-02 "Let's Play A Little Catch-Up!!!"

Wow! What a day I've had so far!! The highlight of which has been finally getting my Barbarian to level 56 in Diablo II. That's right, today is devoted to lounging and I'm a mad captain at it!! What's with these words flowing from my finger tips? "Mad Captain"? Where have I ever heard that before? Anyway, here I sit, totally enjoying my break from school. Things there maintain their tensions and it's all I can do to remain positive. Just allow me to throw one kid out the window and all the rest will get the point. Which one though? One on one I love them all but as a mass they are exhausting!!

I've wanted to catch up on my journal for some time now so here goes nothing!! I've been busy as a fool so don't think I'm ignoring my journalizing duties to play Diablo. Truth be told I haven't played it since probably August or September! Cripes, no wonder those worlds are teaming over with monsters!!

In the center of my chest I still feel a small boiling of acids and sometimes when I cough it causes a bit of pain in my left temple. The reason I bring this up is because I've got high blood pressure and a history of heart troubles on my dad's side of the family. This way if I all of a sudden drop over dead or have a stroke you can all say, "I told you so!" Actually, I guess, this is my way of chewing myself out as I need, need, NEED to get more exersise in my life. BORING!! Maybe I should throw on some wrist weights while I type?!

** A quick side note with some newly learned information... I've been reading Stephen King's latest collection of short stories and completely loving them. This is, however, the most involved 'reading' I've done in quite some time. Ironically, this 'reading' is giving me a lot of enthusiasm for 'writing'! 'Reading' and 'Writing', weird how they go together, huh?!

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