Now rested from a fun, but exhausting weekend. Spent the most of Friday recovering from a lovely hangover and made my way up to Auckland in the evening for a dinner and drinks and eventually meeting a friend in town where, going from one lousy bar to another, I ran into some Hamilton friends also up for the night on completely different reasons, but all of us probably going to the same bar. Freaky.

Saturday was planned for hanging out with people during the day, but that got cut short by a badly punctured tyre that resulted in me looking like mad for, at first, a decent garage/tyre guy and then, realising I was in Auckland, just trying to find one that was open for fucking, fucks sake. Finally found one on the arse end of Otahuhu and they were great and cheap. But I had to sacrifice a lot of catch up time with certain people. But still managed to squeeze in some drinks with some others.

Woke up Sunday very tired and only slightly hungover to come back down to Hamilton at about seven in the morning (the most ungodly hour of the day) to film our intro and interviews for the televised screening of the 48 Finals, which will be on C4, 8.30pm 3rd of July. Exciting stuff I’m sure.

Here’s a picture of me from the shoot.

Ladies…

Okay, I’ve mostly recovered from my hangover.

48 Hamilton Finals were last night and there were some really good fun films played. I was pretty drunk. I can never handle these things sober. Well… never tried anyway.

But anyway, to cut it short awards were announced and we won for Best Music (yay), Best Use of Prop, Best Cinematography and Best Film. Fuck.

The music were like, yay, that was awesome and I kinda saw that happening, but cinematography and film? The best? Really? Its totally mental and I’m absolutely honored, but was a bit overwhelmed last night to talk (that or just drunk), but this is cool, but retarded at the same time. I’m stoked to have gotten this far and look forward to getting my arse handed to me in the national competition. Still keeping up the pessimism tradition.

Just watched Frank Darabont’s The Mist. I’ve never read a Stephen King story, nor hardly watched any of his other adaptations, but I’m starting to suspect I should. The Mist obviously isn’t a Shawshank or a Green Mile, being in a different genre and all, but damn, is it pretty good for what it is, human study in one screwed up situation. Or so I’d like to think. Or trying to think now. I really liked this film and recommend it to people to check out if they’re interested, but only to those really. If your not keen, this isn’t one of those films where I’ll be berating you to watch lest the devil come get you in the night. Actually, I do recommend watching it on one particular point, it has one of “those endings” that is pretty damn incredible and no doubt some fucker is going to ruin it for you, so better be him (or her) to it.

And in other news, about 15 hours to go till the 48 finals. Now I’ve stated earlier that I didn’t care if we win anything (except for music) and I still stand by that principal. But goddamn it, I just want to get this thing over and done with and not have to second guess anything or shrug off many people’s very kind words, which I’m very great full for, but man, do I hate surprises and all this sudden build up to the finals is starting to nag at me with mass tension and optimism. Been mostly balancing it off with some sweet pessimism. I’m actually hoping we get no where near the top, even in the wildcard pool, cause then that would just mean feeling the same anxious crap over again. Shit, there I go, starting to think optimistically again. Bad man. You’ll probably loose.

God its gonna be great to be drunk tonight.

Had a post half written and saved as a draft, but its slightly too old to finish off.

So anyway, a few days gap, only because I’ve been ridiculously busy almost, nearly, but not quite non-stop since Thursday, where my schedule went from teaching to working, to transporting, to filming, to working, to more filming, then editing, then working, then filming, then resting a bit and then more filming and working and editing and working. Which brings us up to about now where I just cooked a full pot of spaghetti bolognese at three in the morning. Delicious.

But now I should hopefully be a bit richer and working with Sash, we both have some sweet funny introductions for our 48 films to be played on Thursday at the finals. We were given the option to make a video introduction to our films where we just gave a bit of background, talked about the competition and our thoughts, blah, blah, blah… but instead, we’ve just kinda, sorta, made another short film to accompany our respective entries.

How will this go down with audience members? Only time will tell, that and if you are to come along to the finals too. This Thursday night, 8.30pm at Chartwell Cinemas in Hamilton! Tickets are $15.50 which makes me sick to my stomach, and probably why I haven’t gotten a ticket yet and probably should before it gets sold out or something ironiclly retarded like that.

Also have drinks planned beforehand so I can be in my favourite state for these kind of screenings. Drunk and a drink and degree away from tipping over in shame. Can’t wait for the photos.

Turns out the flu wasn’t as bad as I planned it to be. Was only a light one that lasted about two days total, at it’s worst. Still a little sniffly, raspy, but not as bad. Probably cause I jammed a lot of pills, herbal teas, soups and other voodoo magic remedies down my throat the moment I realised I was getting sick. That… or I just lifted some weights and the flu got scared and decided to lead a life as my bitch instead. Take that.

But still in the middle of one quite busy period. Teaching, working. Dropped flatmate off in Auckland this afternoon cause he needed a lift up there for his work and me? I crave Fatimas like no other can crave. Seriously, that place, it’s pita meals, so… freaking… amazing. Just blogging about it makes me want to go back up and get some more.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to stick around and catch up with some people I’ve been meaning to catch up with, but all in good time. If all goes to plan, I should be back up next weekend. Hooray!

But filming stuff for freelance tonight and plan to film more stuff for fun this weekend. My body clock is so out of whack right now, I can’t even remember how much sleep I’ve been getting. Ah well. Tough like the ukelele.

Man, this post has been sparatic. Going the hell to bed.

Oh wait… heh… ninjas.

Turns out we can all literally see into the future and now know how optical illusions work. Sorta.

And magnetic movie is a totally awesome freaky cool vid. Article. Website. Sweet. This video isn’t the full one though, but hell, it’s still cool.

Winter has officially come along and for the last several years, every year, bar one, I get really sick during a season change. Don’t matter which season change, it just happens. The rest of the year, I’m immune to all flu and sickness that could possibly afflict me, which isn’t so much a boast, but more of a strange fact that I’ve come to appreciate and anticipate.

Woke up in the morning with a raspy dry throat. Figured it had something to do with pushing a goddamn car uphill for nearly half a kilometre. But over the day it got worse till near the end of work, I had a headache, rising temperature and sniffly nose (which is now blocked). Reckon I’m getting sick? I think so.

And this once again proves that karma, God, Jebus, Greyskull and the hobo down the street have such a wicked sense of humor about my life that I’m being struck down by that damn flu at a suddenly busy point in my year. Aside from work and teaching, I’ve got a couple of filming gigs to do, have to make some short mock-PSAs, mark some soon to be overdue assignments, attend a birthday party and do other various little things which I know I have to do really soon, but can’t recall off the top of my head cause my brain is spinning and this screen is starting to give me an eye-sore.

So thanks a lot karma, God, Jebus, Greyskull and the hobo down the street. I just love a challenge.

Hilarious comedy from the MTV movie awards. Another pointless ceremony, but there’s the occasional awesome moments like Robert Downey Jr kicking Jack Black in the nuts. link.

Bo Diddley has died. That sucks. But his sweet music lives on and I must familiarize myself more with it.

And finally, The Stripper Candle. “It’s a candle and an alibi all in one! You don’t smell like a stripper. You smell like a candle.” Genius.

Okay, I think its time to leave the internet alone for a while now.

48 Finalists have been posted. Looks like we’re on the list.

HAMILTON
BlindVision – Post Mortem – Drama
Bob – Just a Brush Stroke Away – Adventure
Bwod – True Bromance – Romance
Down there for 10 Years – I am Simon – Animal
Guerrilla Monkeys – Sum of all Parts -Horror
Hold Your Breath – Fresh Start -Time Travel
R.O.R.P – Hamilgone -Time Travel
Roving Eye Digital – Post Perfection – Crime
Spin Productions – One Way Ticket -Time Travel
The 18th Floor – Sweet Tooth – Mystery
The Western Periscope Institute – Le Belle Corne de Brume – Romance
Y’s Guys – An eye for an eye – Action

It’s a very interesting finalists list, some on there I didn’t think would make it, others that totally are and that’s awesome. It’s such an interesting list this year, I have no idea who’s gonna win what or whatever, but I sure am looking forward to it.

The finals screening is next Thursday at Chartwell cinemas. 8.30pm onwards. Come and support some sweet films. Tickets available now. Do eeeet.

On the way back from work tonight, I came across two very tired fellows and a run down car. A very heavy run down car.

Making sure all was okay (their gear box had given out), I offered to help them push their car to where they were going, not thinking twice about the fact I was helping them push it over 400 metres uphill.

Very exhausted now, but got plenty of rest when a couple of cops came around after getting reports that there were these guys that looked like they were stealing a car.

Well anyway, my leg muscles feel torn to shreds and I’m gonna have me a refreshing beverage that better damn well taste satisfying after tonight’s acts of kindness.

*update*: It sure did.

Less than 12 hours to go until the regional finalists are announced for the 48 Filmmaking Competition. As noted before, I’m not huge on thinking we’re grand ultimate winners or a huge awards sweep etc. All I care about at best is we make it to the DVD and that at least Ben gets big ups recognition for his musical contribution, which simply rocks.

The previous post was written in a very hungover haze and Sunday seemed to be a total write off. I’m still reeling from the fact its now Monday, when it feels like, well… not Monday.

But to recap Saturday properly… I spent the evening with some good old mates playing poker, having a fun time, winning some decent rounds, losing a couple, and eventually, the night and game boiled down to being between me and Scott. This happens often. Only this time I was a full bottle in, had the shorter stack and the clock counting down my eventual Circle Jerk appearance. It didn’t help I was being txt’d to my whereabouts, which caused me to rush my game and I still maintain that that was my sole downfall and in any other situation, I’d have kicked Scott’s arse. Well, anyway, he won (bastard) and I had to rush into town.

Now at this point, I had drunken a whole bottle of Southern Comfort during the game. This wasn’t intentional. This was simply a strong observation made as I poured a drink during the game and someone noted that the bottle was already below the halfway mark. Ah well. I got two of them for 60 bucks. A deal like that puts you or anyone in a good mood to drink and be merry right from the get go.

So, I’m now in town, still standing amazingly and getting more drinks at the bar waiting to go on. Now, I’m not really a person for the stage, not always and definitely not often. This was a musical performance and aside from the lame high school orchestra bollocks, I’ve not been in this type of situation before. Highly drunk and nervous for multiple reasons, this was not a good state to be in. Neither was dropping the candy I was given at the last minute upon first walking onstage.

Oh man, even now recalling it, I’m so embarrassed, I can hardly blog anymore about it. Well, not so much embarrassed, but more of a “what the hell was I doing?” overflow of thinking. I’m assured it was alright, but as I recall, I was throwing candy at people. I’m not that good of a thrower, even when sober, so drunk as I was, I’m pretty sure I remember some pissed off people being pissed off at having a drunk man in a mask, throwing lollipops right at them. So I’m gonna just pretend the night didn’t happen or I was totally awesome.

But I’m definitely sticking to filmmaking. Call that one night, where I drunkenly stood on stage, yelled some bollocks at people through a megaphone and suggestively humped a bag of sweets (or so I’m told I did), my one and only public venture into the music industry. I hope.