I just finished J.D. Salinger's
I just finished J.D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey and absolutely loved it. To the best of my knowledge that's a reaction to this book that's typical of people my age but oh well.
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June 29, 2004
I'm currently writing from work
I'm currently writing from work where I just upgraded the computer. We've recently also had a dsl line installed here so the internet is much faster than before.
The psycho guy failed to show up yesterday but apparently he once appeared over the weekend and just stormed around the store without a word, stared down the employees, then stormed off. Uh...
Business is a little slow today but it's a Tuesday so that's to be expected.
I realized that my dad tricked me. By teaching me all the book keeping and managerial stuff such as emptying the safes, refilling the ATM machine, changing gas prices, etc. He's made it so that he doesn't have to go to work anymore! He can just send me! GAHHH! All he does now is golf while I do all the work... If he wasn't paying my tuition I would say something about it but oh well...
Yesterday I worked for ten and a half hours then came home and took a run with my brother. I'm not able to run over twice as far as I could when I first started a couple weeks ago. That pleased me very much.
The weather here is absolutely beautiful. It's in the mid seventies with perfectly clear skies and it's expected to remain that way for at least the next week. The past week ranged anywhere from the 60s to the 80s. I don't even remember the last time it rained here. To everybody who thinks the weather in Seattle sucks: you suck.
I haven't watched a movie in awhile and that's bothering me. Tonight I'll either watch A Woman Under the Influence or go out and possibly see Farenheit 911. If not either of those, I'll find something to watch.
I got my new lens yesterday and look forward to going out and snapping some photos sometime soon.
This weekend is going to suck. Fourth of July is one of the busiest times of the year for keg sales so I get to spend the weekend lugging big barrels of beer around. Wooha!
Because Lollapalooza was canceled, Sonic Youth just released new tour dates and they're going to be playing in Seattle on July 14th. I'm look forward to that very much. Unfortunatly Modest Mouses' tour dates they just released are nowhere near Seattle. *crosses fingers hoping Wilco comes to Seattle*
The Pixies released east coast tour dates recently and are still not playing in NY. I might see them in either Washington D.C. or Philadelphia. Sheesh.
Wilco's latest album, A Ghost is Born, is really good. Jeff Tweedy is kind of steering towards long drawn out guitar solos which is unfortunate since he's such a talented lyricist but it's still okay with me since I enjoy his playing style.
Gas prices are dropping slowly...
For all you stupid people out there... gas stations don't dictate the price of gasoline. We hardly even make any money off of gas sales. Most of it comes from stuff we sell inside the store. So stop complaining to us. That especially applies to the stupid radio station in Seattle that tried to organize a "Don't Buy Gas Day."
Buy a bike, it's better for the environment and better for your health. Just please stop complaining to me.
Also, don't make the following jokes:
"I suppose you want my money now?"
"Five dollars in lottery tickets please and be sure to include the winning one in there."
Either of these or the countless other jokes that people ALWAYS tell are always just going to be received with a fake laugh and a disusted look at you while you walk out.
Hmmm. That's all for now. Time to do some more work around the store... although I don't think there's anything left for me to do.
June 28, 2004
The psycho guy came in
The psycho guy came in again on Saturday just to yell at us... wtf...
Tomorrow is the day that he said he'd be back to take us to court... so excited for work...
June 26, 2004
Work yesterday was crazy. There
Work yesterday was crazy.
There was a guy who was incredibly upset about something one of our employees (who is subsequently going to be fired) did. I won't go into the details but the guy did a lot of yelling, threw a bucket of pennies all over the store and nearly backed his car in through our window. I actually thought he was physically going to harm someone. We called 911. It was interesting. The guy had left before police arrived so he's still lurking out there pissed off at us. I can't wait to go to work again... *eyes shift nervously...*
As if that wasn't bad enough our store got robbed earlier this week. Two guys somehow managed to climb up on our roof, which is so high you can't even get up there with a ladder, and cut the phone lines so that our alarm system was pretty much rendered useless. They then broke in through a back door snuck in and ran off with a safe. Luckily it was a decoy safe that we don't really use but still... They were in and out in two minutes lugging a really heavy safe. I was rather impressed and annoyed. Needless to say, we've beefed up security and added a cell phone thingy to the alarm system.
So much drama at work this week. I'm going to enjoy the weekend. I'm supposed to meet my friends to go paintballing in an hour so that'll be nice. I will take out all my frustrations on my friends...
The end.
June 23, 2004
Today I saw one of
Today I saw one of those rotating billboards that had a public service announcement on one side that said something like "Your baby needs your breasts milk." I watched the sign rotate and on the either side was Dr. Phil with a milk moustache smiling back at me asking me if I had milk. It really made me think... true story.
You are Maureen Dowd! You
You are Maureen Dowd! You like to give people silly
nicknames and write in really short, non
sequitur paragraphs. You're the most playful of
the columnists and a rock-ribbed liberal, but
are often accused of being too flamboyant and
frivolous. You tend to focus on style over
substance, personality over politics. But your
heart is in the right place. Plus, you are a
total fox.
Which New York Times Op-Ed Columnist Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Finished Gangs of New York.
Finished Gangs of New York. The ending fell flat. Overall the film was all right... not as bad as I was told it would be but definitely not good. As is to be expected with a Scorsese film there were lots of interesting filmmaking techniques that were utilized and for that aspect it was fun to watch.
I started watching 24 today because it had been recommended to me so many times. The verdict so far: the writing is pretty bad, the acting is pretty bad at times, it's a bit gimmicky, Keifer Sutherland is damn cool, his voice is badass, and although it's not the greatest show ever I'll probably end up watching the entire series very quickly.
Work today was aiiight. We're getting DSL installed in the store but there's lots of drama because there might be problems with it interfering with the ATM machine, the Lotto machine, the fax line, and the alarm system. One the dsl is activated tomorrow we'll find out if anything goes crazy or explodes.
Today I had a long talk with somebody and came out fearing for my future. Being a film major sounds like such a stupid idea that's just destined for failure or disappointment but damnit, if I don't give it a shot I think I'd be more disappointed with myself. I need an idea, script or concept for the project I have to shoot in the fall. I need to have it before school starts though and I can't think of anything. Anytime I try to write something I just keep telling myself it's stupid as I'm writing and usually will end up erasing it by the time I'm done writing. In the rare cases that I feel I've written something decent or maybe even good I realize I'm wrong when I read it over the next day. Must keep thinking... I have a folder on my computer full of ideas that will someday either bear fruit or rot away... like your teeth if you eat too much candy... or so my parents would tell me...
Work again tomorrow. I think I might install Final Draft on the computer at work so I can write while I'm there... that would be a good idea.
Paintballing on Saturday. I'm going to shoot somebody in the face. That'll be a good end to the week.
June 21, 2004
I've been given an actual
I've been given an actual schedule by my dad for working now. Finally. Being on call 7 days a week 24 hours a day is really lame and annoying. I'm working Monday - Wednesday and Friday, Saturday from 10am-6pm so that's 40 hours a week. Fun stuff.
I need to get an iPod so I can control the music at work, my brother and I did that with his, by using a tape adapter, on Saturday and it made the day much more bearable.
Saturday was the Fremont fair which runs down the street right next to my dad's store. The weather was really nice too so it was insanely busy. I saw about a hundred naked people on bikes ride by the store. I got distracted and my dad yelled at me because a line was building up while I was staring out the window. One of the guys was painted as a zebra and it was really cool...
Yesterday, I watched Rabbit Proof Fence. Great cinematography (of course... Christopher Doyle is the man...) and a great story. There were some really powerful scenes and overall the film was just damn good. I enjoyed it a lot.
That is all for now.
June 19, 2004
I've recently watched two documentaries
I've recently watched two documentaries that were both very very different.
I first watched Errol Morris' Fog of War which is compelling subject matter wise and, as is to be expected of Morris' work, incredible stylistically and structurally.
I just now finished watching Spellbound which was entertaining but left a lot to be desired filmmaking wise.
Both film I enjoyed a lot but the problem I had with Spellbound was that it wasn't that much more interesting than just watching an actual spelling bee on ESPN.
Fog of War was a much more satisfying watch. The film is basically an interview with former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. McNamara is very candid in this interview when you compare him with the people running the government today. He's obviously learned a lot from the situations he was involved in and has had time to think over the decisions he's made and although he won't delve too deep into some issues he's pretty open about a lot of things. It's an interesting look at the Cold War and Vietnam from someone who was involved in calling the shots but seems to have been able to distance himself enough now that he can comment on what occurred.
Stylistically, Errol Morris still rocks. The way he combines interviews, stock footage, documentary footage, and music is so unique. He's one of few filmmakers whose style stems more from the way they structure and edit their work rather than the writing, stories, or visual look and it's remarkable work is so unique yet it relies on filmmaking tools that typically go unnoticed.
Spellbound was pretty entertaining. I laughed out loud a couple times and a couple of the kids were pretty endearing but as I saw earlier the filmmaking left a lot to be desired. It was basically footage of the kids shot at a level just above home video footage combined with interviews. There are some very funny moments though and is definitely worth a watch.
I recently got Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America and I'm excited to watch that. I also rented the first couple episodes of the TV show 24... Everybody that I know who has watched this has become obsessed with it... We'll see what happens...
June 18, 2004
Pictures from last year by
I don't know if I've
I don't know if I've written about this but I got a new digital slr. It's a Nikon D70 and I love the thing to death. Right now I'm just using the two manual focus lenses I have for my FE2 but those don't offer in camera metering so I have to guess the exposures. Oh well, I'm getting better at it so it isn't so bad.
BUT
Having a nice digital camera I figured I should invest a little bit in an autofocus lens that's going to meter properly with an aperture I can adjust with the camera instead of by hand. SO, I bought a new lens today. it's a 70-300mm f4-5.6 Nikon lens. It's not the fastest lens in the world but it'll do. With the 1.5x focal length factor thingy that the D70 has my 300mm will be equivalent to 450mm. Bad. Ass. I can't wait for the thing to arrive. I've had enough fun with the camera as it is, when this thing arrives I'll be running around snapping photos everywhere...
June 16, 2004
Whew, I just got back
Whew, I just got back from running with my brother and I'm still in terrible shape. Not as bad I was but still bad.
In other news, I got the new Sonic Youth CD, Sonic Nurse, today and am currently listening to it. Vadim warned me I'd love it since I loved Murray Street and so far he's correct.
June 15, 2004
Stephen Fry (an actor) did
Stephen Fry (an actor) did a little presentation thingy at SIFF and in it he described filmmaking as "where all those things that excite one about life and being human come together."
I like that.
Lee was here for the
Lee was here for the past week so that's why I haven't been posting. Although I haven't been posting that often anyway...
We had a good time.
We saw Last Life In the Universe which was shot by Christopher Doyle and had the guy from Ichi The Killer in it (albeit a VERY different role). The film was very deliberately paced and incredibly confidently directed. I was really impressed and enjoyed the film a lot too.
We saw Memories of Murder at the cinerama which was very cool. I love that film...
The documentary with Werner Herzog in it: Incident at Loch Ness was REALLY good. The filmmaker came out afterwards and asked us not to reveal too much about it on the internet so I won't say too much here because it would be doing you a disservice. All I have to say is: SEE IT.
Lots of other non film related stuff was done as well.
One day I had lots of chocolate at Dilettante (sp?) and I literally could feel my heart beating. I thought I was about to have a heart attack. Chocolate drink + Chocolate Decadence = Death.
We had dinner at Wild Ginger yesterday and saw the guy from Blink 182 there. Not the lead singer or the drummer but that other guy. He was incredibly tall and really really funny. He didn't say or do anything to be funny he just was. He just made me laugh when I saw him. Poor guy... Oh yeah, the food there is really good. I'm going to have to coax my parents into taking me...
Quote of the week:
"That's a nice tree, why don't you rub your ass on it."
-Some guy on "The 5th Wheel"
A trip to Bellingham was also made. Andrew lives right down the street from a Taco truck that was amazing. If I had to choose between that truck and Gorditos... I think I might choose the truck...
Boggle, Upwards, Fun, it was nice seeing them again.
Did a bunch of other stuff too... the new library is awesome... saw a bunch of Van Gogh paintings... etc etc etc
That's all, I'm not going to go into all the details.
June 5, 2004
Yesterday I saw a Masters
Yesterday I saw a Masters Class that was taught by Christopher Doyle. He's the cinematographer of In The Mood for Love, Chungking Express, Rabbit Proof Fence, and a bunch of other beautiful films. The guy is the man when it comes to making pretty images.
Before the class while some friends and I were waiting outside we saw him walking in and if one wasn't familiar with what he looked like one would never recognize him. He looked drunk, homeless, and had really nasty hair. He was also carrying some Heineken and Sierra Nevada. When we got his attention he just turned to us, smiled, then said "Seeya in L.A... It's all bullshit anyway!" None of us had any idea what that meant but it was funny.
The class was great, he wasn't drunk so he was able to to talk for about two hours and he showed us lots of clips as well. The moderator was a woman from American Cinematographer but he talked so much she hardly did anything. I think the most interesting thing he talked about was when someone asked about how a location effects a shoot and he said that when he goes into a location he doesn't go in there with a plan on what it's going to look like and how it's going to be shot. Instead, he lets the location dictate how he's going to go about things and that how one goes about solving the problems a location throws at you is where ones style comes from. Basically, style is how you solve the problems or obstacles you're faced with when doing you art. Hmmm...
He showed some brief clips from 2046 which was very cool and he said he wouldn't be surprised if Wong Kar Wai's next film took three weeks to make after the years of waiting for 2046.
Afterwards I bought a gorgeous poster that he designed for the festival and got him to sign in. Some of my friends who were there (the people I was with had flown in from Chicago, Minneapolis (I think) and driven from Vancouver to see Mr. Doyle) got a photo with him holding a sign for the website wkw.net.
On a side note, I saw the new Seattle Library today and it looks awesome. Its awesomeness balances out the awfulness of the Experience Music Project. Hopefully I'll get a chance to go in sometime soon.
June 1, 2004
I watched Vincent Gallo's Buffalo
I watched Vincent Gallo's Buffalo '66 and have some really mixed feelings about it. Right from the title sequence I could see a bit of a French New Wave influence (the title cards were very Godard) and that was cool. There was also a semibrilliant dinner scene that just screamed Ozu so stylistically the film was interesting and enjoyable to watch.
Story wise it was less enjoyable. Although the first scene had be instantly hooked the moment Billy opened his mouth and started talking I was annoyed and almost stopped the movie. But, when he gets on the phone and starts lying to his parents about being in a really nice hotel, etc. I was hooked again. But then he was being an asshole again and I hated the movie again, etc.
Some questionable decisions are made by Christina Ricci's character that also bothered me. As enjoyable as she is to watch her character was either really really stupid or had some sort of mental illness.
Random and extended sequences of people singing and tap dancing were weird yet effective.
Overall, lots of things about the film bothered me and made me want to stop watching because I just hated the main character so much but just as I was about to press stop he'd do or say something that would get me back into it again. The ending of the film was a bit typical but played out in a manner that was very well executed and effective. Gallo's performance is really good and his directing was skilled as well. I'm kind of curious now to see The Brown Bunny after all the terrible things that I've heard about it...