Have returned from my most brief of Auckland excursions after witnessing the fitness of Dylan Moran. Absolute hell getting up there on a Friday night though and finding parking in the inner city was a hell and made a tad late to the start of the show and made me wish cancer on several parked car owner’s future children and probably cancer on their cancer… just to be sure. But yes, the man was most funny and and I touched myself in comedic delight through it all.

Meanwhile, to reinforce my everlasting love of Bruce Willis, who just recently took up to posting on the AICN talkback boards about a whole bunch of stuff on Die Hard 4 and answering questions on his opinions about his films, an amusing time of him trying prove he was the real deal and best of all, this bit about Michael Bay…

“I would rather eat a live baby in front of my grandma than have Michael Bay direct a DIE HARD movie. I would rather go hunting with Dick Cheney than let that car engine in a human skin leave his satanic fingerprints on John McClane. In fact, this new PG-13 thing is the only part of ruining modern action movies that Michael Bay is not personally responsible for. The rest of it is all him. Don’t even fucking say those words in the same sentence, you’re only gonna give them ideas for part 5. It’s like saying Candyman in front of a mirror, that motherfucker will show up and snort John McClane’s soul right in front of you and then piss it out on your shoes,” wrote Willis. “Would have ruined DH4. Few people will work with him now, and I know I will never work with him again.”

I totally gave myself the bad touch reading that over and over again and now scientists are now baffled as to how Bruce Willis’ awesomeness just keeps getting bigger.

The week still keeps churning on. 12 hour day today of teach and work and not working and working again. Tomorrow morning is more work with not enough sleep to be had, and then up to Auckland for a few hours to watch Dylan Moran (yayness) and then back down again as there is more work to be had on the Saturday morning. Which, hopefully afterwards, reserves the weekend for some 48 hour planning, drinking and more planning.

Not much else, except for this awesome article curtsey of Robbie which I will just requote here…

ORLANDO, FL (AP) — A man dressed like a ninja broke into an Orlando home, smashed furniture, attacked two people and then vanished without a trace.

Three people were inside the home watching a movie Sunday afternoon when the ninja ran in, punched one man in the mouth and then kicked another man.

The victims — who did not want to be identified — reported that the costumed man slammed the DVD player and VCR into a dresser. Then he pulled out a knife and started waiving it around. The victims say the intruder didn’t steal anything from the house but took several pictures with his cell phone camera.

When it was time for the ninja to make his escape, he didn’t disappear in a cloud of smoke. The victims say the man ran down the street to a black BMW and drove off.

Which is just great, cause as I’ve said in the past, it’s scientifically proven that anything with a ninja in it is 150% cooler.

This also reminds me of an earlier article I read a couple of years ago and have lauded many times ever since. I can’t find the direct link for it anymore as it has probably been taken down from the CNN site, but thanks to the bloggers is available to be reposted here…

A 6-foot-tall, 275-pound bearded man crashed a children’s birthday party in Oak Forest, identified himself as “vengeance,” then helped himself to a piece of cake, police said.

The incident occurred earlier this month at a home in the 14800 block of South Landings Lane in the south suburb, Deputy Police Chief Nick Sparacino said.

When the owner of the home asked the man who he was, the intruder replied, “I am vengeance. I am the knight. I am Batman.” Then the man went into the kitchen, cut a piece of birthday cake, took it into the living room and ate it.

After continued questioning by the homeowner, the man left the house and drove off in a red 1988 Cadillac.

Hooray for such oddness and fun to be discovered in the world.

Tired. The last few weeks have been busy as hell. At the start of this weekend, I thought I’d do my shifts and finally have a day or two off, but straight into it afterwards, I’ve just been keeping myself busy with uni preps, student shoots, Pictures of You stuff and 48 Hour planning.

Of course, I’ve had quiet moments, but not moments where I’m just blobbing out and not really doing anything. Time for relaxation will come eventually. Friday I’m hoping. Until then there will be video store work, uni teachings, more student shoots and a lot more 48 Hour planning. Which I’m very much focusing and looking forward to.

Slowly, I’m assembling our team awesome for the 48 and with Ross, going through scripts to make sure that come the weekend of the competition, we can go “yep, we’ve got this genre covered, we can adapt this script with these required elements and yes, we’ve got these actors and props and locations and whatnots ready… lets shoot this fucker.”

No doubt, the actual weekend of the shoot won’t go exactly like that, but if we plan it well and truely enough, it won’t be as bad. Here’s hoping we’ll do well though. According to the 48 website, because of having too many entries in the Auckland region, some of their teams will be competing in the Hamilton heats and that’s unwanted competition. And competition is good (looking at you guys, you know who you are), but them Auckland people better watch themselves. But yeah, core team is in place. Assembling more stand-bys. Rock and Roll.

And now for something completely different… 18000 naked people in Mexico City.

And thus I return to the warm glow of the internet.

Got a phone call on Tuesday that I was needed in Auckland on that day as opposed to the late evening Wednesday as originally planned and thus, moving with lightning speed to organise my stuff and things in my absence, I shot up to a swanky hotel room with my computer in tow and got nice and drunk.

Unfortunately I was kept nicely busy working, but also had very limited internet access and no time to catch up with friends as originally planned. Also wanted to finally watch Sunshine while up there, but everytime, there was something else that needed to be done.

The show itself went really well and it was a little tense at first during the pack in where it seemed like everyone was going mental and at their breaking points and there was very little sleep to be gotten at 2 o’clock in the morning the night before, with a 6am wake up call time in the morning, but everything pulled itself through on the day and there was much less stress during the show from what I observed and a very well rewarded beer at the end.

And it’s all good as I’ll be getting quite a nice paycheck from it, and the mad rush back this morning got me home just in time to tutor another class, which turned out pretty cool. It was hot and indoors and stuff in the classroom, so we went outside instead to learn and plan their short films which are starting to shape up better as things have been a little disorganised over the past few weeks for them.

But onto getting some rest now as I’m working the late shifts this weekend and I’ve still got a few emails to send out, overdue stuff to mark and some sleep to be gotten.

Come Monday I’m looking forward to a little bit of time off, though not much really. Got to supervise some shoots and make sure students aren’t doing too much of what we used to do back then and I’m also very privilaged to tinker around at Wintec and demonstrate and play with their new High Definition camera, which ironically, is exactly the same one I was pushing to get for the Pictures of You set, which by the way, is still being edited, with some rather dramatic cuts being made and all going well.

Right, onto more work before work. Shall post silly stuff soon.

Been so busy for the last few days, I’ve been ignoring calls and messages and locking myself away from society getting work done. Actually, it’s not really that dramatic, but I have definitely been busy and this week looks to be a lot worse. Video for the event I’m gonna be at on Thursday is almost done, or at least done enough to be satisfied with. I’ve got to head up to Auckland probably tomorrow night as the organisers want me on hand earlier than planned, which means I’ll probably have to skip out on teaching a few classes and juggling a few shifts at work this week. I should be back Friday for at least one class and to work the graveyard shifts at the video store. Hopefully about that time wheels will finally go into motion for the 48 hour, which has been in a kind of stasis at the moment considering my hectic lifestyle. But that should work itself out, and I’m feeling pretty confident that our group is going to fare quite well in the competition. Also been slowly planning at least one short film to DP on, which I’m looking forward to. Another film maker guy is considering me to do his one as well, which makes things very interesting for me to be looked out for like that. Anyway, I’m so freaking tired, I’ll have to wake up in about three hours to get the rest of my week sorted out so this has been a rather random jotting down of points that are just coming into my head as I type them and I know that there is a hundred other things that I’ve totally neglected to mention here, but that should all, fingers crossed, be covered in another post sometime. Oh and just a note to those that have been trying to contact me, yeah, I’ll be getting back to you soon.

Ah yes and Bel, if your reading this… you meeting Brian K Vaughan… I hate you.

Bit of a good day today… Yesterday was just an absolute shit of a day were I was working at the video store and like some magical spark plug, just the right combination of customers put me in a really dark mood for the rest of the day. And it was only midday at that point. But today… today was absolute sunshine in comparison, and pretty sunny too. Actually, speaking of which, I meant to go see Sunshine on that Wednesday night, but it turns out the damn thing has already done its Hamilton run, that was a real downer for the rest of that crappy day, but yeah. Today. Good.

New rotation of students in VP1 and this time they were actually enthusiastic about film making, engaged in learning about some editing and responsive to discussions, which is just great and actually gave me a little hope for the future.

There were also some surreal moments seeing old friends around uni again. Craziest was (and Tanya you’ll dig this) seeing Kelly Williams at the grind cafe. She took off into the blue somewhere down south and wasn’t actually gone for long and came back. She’s just started managing the grind, so mucho coffee drinking shall be had there now.

And then talking to a friend in the carpark, I get a phone call from a Marie where, at first I thought it was a Marie that was giving me instructions on my filming job for next week, but instead talked about clients and deals and what nots to be done in Dunedin and Christchurch and stuff and it took me ages to click that this Marie has got the wrong number. And after much awkward silences and uh-huhs just trying to figure out how to break this to her, its like, we both just stop and go ‘hang on… who is this?’. Turns out it was a different Marie, but one I knew and she’d gotten mixed up and stuff, but we had a lovely catch up and all and it turns out she may have some video work for me soon. Which I’m just a whore for at the moment and loving it.

Even work was good and had some really nice customers and even the more annoying ones just didn’t seem to get to me. I have no idea why this was happening the whole day, but it was like nothing was really getting me down and I’m all about being down. And awesome.

Anyway, finished work late tonight and have picked up a class to take in the morning so sleep I must soon. Also realised a distinct lack of links and videos being posted recently, but that can wait til the next one.

Back from Auckland… something about driving back and forth from Auckland to Hamilton always has me playing Tom Waits albums. Totally nothing wrong with it, I just find it a really strange reoccurance.

Long day of filming today that started out quite hungover, progressing to mindsplitting nausea, to numb headache, to nap, to all good and followed by another nap and then sweet as. But really, don’t get me too wrong, it wasn’t that bad today and there was some very good stuff shot for this promo/intro video. Which I’m so not looking forward to putting together considering the amount of work I’ve got coming up in the week.

Last night I got to catch up with a whole bunch of people from South Seas and yabber the night away about what we’ve all been doing since escaping. Of course, the people with proper jobs and all weren’t really there or showing up, but surprisingly enough, there was a lot less people there then I under-expected, which is saying quite a bit considering. But it was still a decent enough night seeing people, plus I got to drink at another student screening thing, which is always good in my books. I’m just thinking what to do for the University’s screening at the end of this year and how to make it really ‘worth going to’.

Also got to sneak a listen of the Gin (not the drink, but just as awesome musician) recordings, which sound great. It’s odd to hear it all being playing and tinkered around with in the rehearsal period and then to suddenly hear it recorded, mixed and attached with purple midgets (or whatever the music industry does when making albums). But it’s all looking really good and my favourite of the bunch from the rehearsals, which I can’t name here (because I don’t actually know the title of it) is sassy cool and I’m just looking forward to receiving a copy of the master next week…. I’m secretly thinking up concepts of videos and stuff, but don’t tell.

Also got to catch up with a whole bunch of people and cheers to Tanya for holding onto and looking after my jazzy scarf for me since her birthday last year. And hey, I finally, though briefly, got to meet her elusively mysterious man, which everyone will be happy to know is most definitely human and not a shadow lurking zombie Kodiac Bear sent back from the alternate future to hunt down fish… which not all had assumed except for… well, me and the homeless guy that lives in my garden… yeah, okay, me. But really, he’s cool and me and Dr.Hobo are quite pleased.

Its ANZAC day and all tomorrow and I’ve got to work in the morning and I’m pretty tired right now (can you tell from this rather erratic post?) There’s an English bloke sleeping in the spare room and… no, that’s all I’ve got about that really. This has been a tired, exhausted post that makes less sense read, compared to being written, but hey… yeah… ping pong balls.

Its four in the afternoon and I’m waiting to rush out the door to get to Auckland tonight for a South Seas screening. A producer to my right is talking on the phone trying to find me a lapel mic. Amusingly, I’m just bored and typing this to pass the time as he talks from one person to person trying to organise one for me and I’m just writing this as a brain waster. Oh excellent he’s now found one for me and it’s gonna be a bit of a run around to get one out of hours and a whole city away. Tomorrow morning will be some crazy run around the city filming which I’m looking forward to and tonight shall be much drinking and catching up with people post film school. Right, he’s just about finished talking so I’m gonna log off in a moment. Man, I’m tired. Gonna get my drink on. Oh great, he’s talking on the phone to another person. Always on the phone like a producer. I’ve so gotta get going now. It’s ten past and I’m really hating this haircut I got last week. Stupid hair cut. I said a trim and keep the length and right now its really really short and not as cool. Stupid hair.

Since the last post I shot off to Te Aroha to check out/hang out/help out on Marama’s new film being shot with a whole bunch of kids with a very sexy camera. It was a fun random spur of the moment action and more so when I woke up in the morning in an old country style hotel room in a sleepy quiet town and Tanya knocking on the door outside slowly saying coffee. It was so Twin Peaks I loved it. Good fun hanging out on their film too. Though location shooting and tracking so much equipment and props and stuff over a 10 minute reserve walk wasn’t as much fun.

But then, the next day, it was a shoot off to Auckland where there was much hanging out with old friends and drinking and talks, till Tuesday where I was privy to watch/film a rehearsal session of this upcoming singer/songwriter artist named Gin. Totally cool fun just to watch a whole bunch of really talented musicians in a garage playing and occasionally improvising music to her songs and just sitting there in total awe of how brilliant and precise they are with their craft. They recorded songs for the EP later on this week and if they are even anything like what I heard in that tiny garage, it’ll be a great listen. Something to look forward to.

Oh and then the night was topped off by going to finally see Pan’s Labyrinth, which totally kicked arse and is now one of my all time favourites, and even blowing nearly all other favourites of last year away. Watch it. Everyone.

Wednesday was also most amusing when I visited some friends working at ALT TV and suddenly found myself standing in front of the camera on this really weird show with this insane, uber femme Asian guy whom I couldn’t understand a word he was saying and had to role-play as a director film-maker guy and him being some girl wanting the lead role and totally acting up the femme persona to get it. Totally weird and random. Felt like Bill Murray in Lost in Translation, except for the giggles and laughter I think I could hear coming from my friends in the studio booth.

And then the night was topped off with being at a New Zealand on Air conference thingee, where there were lots of high-ups and producers and suits and stuff, plus free food and free booze which I took full advantage of. Got to rub some shoulders when I wasn’t stuffing my face, but didn’t really try much. Cool people though. I could really get into that scene of eating free food and drinking wine and talking a lot of shit for a living.

Meanwhile, plans for the 48 hour film competition is getting underway. Soon enough my dream team is gonna be assembled for it and we are so gonna win. By skills of course, not because I rigged everyone else’s toilet seats to explode.

And since coming back, haven’t been up to much. Long post again. Here is an amusing self defence video.

Weekend of drinking began Friday with going away drinks from Maree from work. Funny to get on the piss at your boss’ house, but yeah. That went on for a bit before hitting the Cock and Bull bar and filming a band playing there. I dunno why, but I was there, filming, helping and stuff for some amateur video being put together which is cool, cause I got to play with camera and get pretty, pretty shots. Problem was I was so focused on getting the pretty shots, I failed to realise I spent a good portion of the night standing in front of a very large speaker and it wasn’t until after the show and more importantly, the next day, I discovered I’d temporarily lost quite a bit of hearing in my right ear.

So then Saturday was spent not doing much, hungover and eventually there was more drinking to be had at a friend’s place which was on the other side of town from where I live, which isn’t a problem, except we suddenly took a cab, ditching my car to the other side of town, which was just a few blocks from where I live, original drinking people took off from there and I was left with a new crowd of drinkers, but by then I was pretty sober and feeling the need for more. So I decided to go with my original plan to go to Auckland for the night to party it up there, but at this point, my car was on the other side of the city and people there were having too much fun to give me a lift.

Eventually I did get across town to my car, drove all the way back to my house and by the time I was on the highway, just past Huntly, I get word that the party was dispersing pretty rapidly and my presence there would almost be absurdly unnecessary. Note that this is about 1:30 in the morning.

So I about faced and met up with some people in town, but that was dying down too, so finally I get home to watch a movie (“The Jacket”) to much disappointment and eventual sleep.

Now I’m doing another spur of the moment thing and going to Te Aroha for the night to help out on a film and then it’ll be Auckland tomorrow night to film recording studio stuff. Fun times.