1. 16 May


    INSPIRATIONS #1: BLACK FLAG

    It seems a bit silly to give a single band so much credit, but there’s so much I admire about Black Flag that I actually felt the need to sit here and write something about it. So for the next few entires I’ve decided to begin a little mini series of writing bits that basically discuss the importance of certain bands (to me, and probably many others). Hopefully you’ll read on and see why.

    With the rise of the internet and the constant regurgitation of agreeable forms of rebellion, I always turn to the birthing years of punk for inspiration, particularly with bands like Black Flag, Crass, Devo, etc - the groups that had a strong sense of identity not only in musical style and sound, but in attitude and aesthetics. The bands that brought me the most inspiration were the the ones that lived beyond the music as a entity, or force to be reckoned with.

    What stands out the most with a lot of groups was the DIY (do it yourself) belief. For many of these unknown groups it was the sole pillar that made it possible for these crazy young people to follow through with their radical and unprecedented ideas. Black Flag was no exception, in fact, they were probably one of the strongest proponents of this approach, mainly out of necessity. 

    It may be difficult to understand the power of their sound without thinking about them in the context of their time. Hardcore wasn’t really a thing back then, and punk was probably, at the most, 3 or 4 years old when Black Flag emerged as a true force. There were hard rock groups of course, but none that played a stripped down, angst-ridden sonic assault the way Black Flag did. Greg Ginn’s guitar sound was rooted in the dissonance of Ornette Coleman, Robo’s drum beats were almost Latin based, and Chuck Dukowski’s bass was a monstrous barrage of distorted bombs. The lyrics tapped into the darkest corners of the young man’s psyche - conflicted, angry, fed up and full of bitterness. The vocal deliveries were just as intense as they were unnerving, infuriated, and full of uncontainable energy. These elements combined made for a unique and extremely powerful sound.

    And to top it off, they had the work ethic and the perfect blend of imagery to strengthen their presence. Raymond Pettibon’s flier/album artwork was a match made in heaven. The crude, mostly black and white drawings of unsettling imagery gave a face to the music. The ominous black bars were simple, striking and bold - a useful propaganda tactic that a lot successful punk bands of the time caught on to. The guys in the band would post up fliers and book shows all on their own, despite heavy police resistance, despite having no money, and despite a growing reputation associated with violence. You have to admire the resilience.

    I could write more, but I’ll let the music speak for itself. Here is one of my favorite Black Flag songs from one of my favorite albums entitled “Damaged”. I named one of my short films after this album because it encapsulates a certain experience/feeling/mood that, for me, is unmatched. It was my salute and ode to a great album.

    “What I See”

    This feeling haunts me 

    Behind these eyes 

    The shell seems so empty 

    That I wonder does anything live inside? 

    I want to live

    I wish I was dead

    My heart aches to believe

    And I’m cheated for what I see

    Freedom holds a double edge for me

    I look in your eyes and see

    I want to live 

    I wish I was dead 

    I don’t even want to think 

    I’m stuck here and I know it 

    I don’t want to see 

    Make me close my eyes 

    I want to live 

    I wish I was dead 

    Life’s cold

    And it reaches inside

    I need to feel and turn my mind off

    The desperation begins

    From the start I see the end

    Not right, I’m not right, you’re not right

    I’ve got to close my eyes

    I look in your eyes 

    And see it’s always this way 

    Live the lie and take a dive 

    Just to make it die 

    I want to live

    I wish I was dead

    I’ve just got to close my eyes 

    I’ve got to close my eyes 

    I’ve got to close my eyes



     

  2. 25 Apr


    WE DON’T STOP ‘TIL THE SCREAMING STARTS, YA DIG? Every creative project I’ve committed my time to I’ve worked very hard at. Sometimes it may not seem that way, and the final product may not showcase the fruits of that labor, but it’s there. It’s not easy choosing a life in the arts and, god forbid, try to make a career out of it. Some people are extremely talented, others grind it out with hard work and a select few get really lucky and get big. I’ve tried forming bands, I’ve tried photography, and I’ve tried filmmaking. In this day and age you can do all three fairly easily. You’ve got recording software and macbooks that could make your shitty songs sound amazing, you’ve got fancy cameras you can take a million pictures with and find one that looks professional, and you’ve got all this new technology to make filmmaking super quick and accessible. Basically, anybody can do the shit you do. So, I’ve tried to separate myself from the pack by doing things old school - recording songs without fancy plugins and serato, shooting on film and fucking up all kinds of rolls, and writing stories that tap into some really personal parts of my life. But when you put yourself out on the line like that, you have to be ready. You have to be ready to spend hours upon hours trying to make a great song only to have people scoff at it and dismiss it. Those lyrics probably mean the world to you, but people aren’t going to understand them unless other people tell them how great those lyrics are. You can spend hours upon hours in a darkroom trying to get the right shade of gray while some pimply photoshop wizard fixes that shit in two clicks of a mouse. And good luck trying to make a film about something real when you’re dunked in a pool of a billion cat, fart and fail videos. That’s just how it is. Things are always going to suck, there’s gonna be someone better than you, and you’re not going to be able to do things the way you want to every time. But you know what? You do it because you love it. My main thrust always comes down to filmmaking. It’s all encompassing because it is sound, visual and story all together. I never saw myself having the extroverted personality to make it big in Hollywood. I’m a shy weirdo that still listens to punk and doesn’t like socializing with most groups of people, but I don’t give a fuck. I’ll keep making whatever it is I make because it’s my calling. People may not know it, people may not see it at first, but there are those out there who need art. They need something to make sense of the world and feel connected - I know because I’ve felt that way many times. I NEED the arts, it’s important to people. If I had never known my favorite books, music, films, etc., I might as well be dead. The pictures above are from 3 of my films: 1.) Sleep Paralysis. A girl wakes up from a nightmare. 2.) Damaged. A guy regrets killing his best friend for a girl. 3.) Going Nowhere. A boy runs away from home. I think I’m going to write a comedy with dancing in it next. Seriously.

    WE DON’T STOP ‘TIL THE SCREAMING STARTS, YA DIG?

    Every creative project I’ve committed my time to I’ve worked very hard at. Sometimes it may not seem that way, and the final product may not showcase the fruits of that labor, but it’s there. It’s not easy choosing a life in the arts and, god forbid, try to make a career out of it. Some people are extremely talented, others grind it out with hard work and a select few get really lucky and get big.

    I’ve tried forming bands, I’ve tried photography, and I’ve tried filmmaking. In this day and age you can do all three fairly easily. You’ve got recording software and macbooks that could make your shitty songs sound amazing, you’ve got fancy cameras you can take a million pictures with and find one that looks professional, and you’ve got all this new technology to make filmmaking super quick and accessible. Basically, anybody can do the shit you do.

    So, I’ve tried to separate myself from the pack by doing things old school - recording songs without fancy plugins and serato, shooting on film and fucking up all kinds of rolls, and writing stories that tap into some really personal parts of my life.

    But when you put yourself out on the line like that, you have to be ready. You have to be ready to spend hours upon hours trying to make a great song only to have people scoff at it and dismiss it. Those lyrics probably mean the world to you, but people aren’t going to understand them unless other people tell them how great those lyrics are. You can spend hours upon hours in a darkroom trying to get the right shade of gray while some pimply photoshop wizard fixes that shit in two clicks of a mouse. And good luck trying to make a film about something real when you’re dunked in a pool of a billion cat, fart and fail videos. That’s just how it is. Things are always going to suck, there’s gonna be someone better than you, and you’re not going to be able to do things the way you want to every time. But you know what? You do it because you love it.

    My main thrust always comes down to filmmaking. It’s all encompassing because it is sound, visual and story all together. I never saw myself having the extroverted personality to make it big in Hollywood. I’m a shy weirdo that still listens to punk and doesn’t like socializing with most groups of people, but I don’t give a fuck. I’ll keep making whatever it is I make because it’s my calling. People may not know it, people may not see it at first, but there are those out there who need art. They need something to make sense of the world and feel connected - I know because I’ve felt that way many times. I NEED the arts, it’s important to people. If I had never known my favorite books, music, films, etc., I might as well be dead.

    The pictures above are from 3 of my films:

    1.) Sleep Paralysis. A girl wakes up from a nightmare.

    2.) Damaged. A guy regrets killing his best friend for a girl.

    3.) Going Nowhere. A boy runs away from home.

    I think I’m going to write a comedy with dancing in it next. Seriously.

     

  3. 25 Apr


    BEHIND THE SCENES

     

  4. 15 Apr


    MY LATEST FILM Yesterday we completed a short film that I wrote, produced and directed. It seemed like a lot of work but with the help of an extremely talented group of people, I think we come out with a really awesome film. I can’t wait to jump into the post-production and complete the most terrifying piece of work imaginable.

    MY LATEST FILM

    Yesterday we completed a short film that I wrote, produced and directed. It seemed like a lot of work but with the help of an extremely talented group of people, I think we come out with a really awesome film. I can’t wait to jump into the post-production and complete the most terrifying piece of work imaginable.

     

  5. 11 Apr


    EMERGED PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS: PORTALS 2013

    Rosalie’s art collective put on an art show this past March. Here is the video I shot and edited for them.

     

  6. 9 Apr


    A LESSON FROM A SMALL CHIHUAHUA NAMED PRECIOUS My dog Precious begs for treats everyday. She gets her regular food, but she always wants that extra treat. It doesn’t matter if it’s a piece of lettuce or a peanut butter chewy stick (for dogs), she’ll beg every time. I normally don’t like to spoil her with anything, but when we’re alone and I’m eating an apple or something, I’ll occasionally cut her slice. Whether it’s her resilience, persistence or whatever you want to call it, she has a talent for catching me at my most compassionate and sympathetic moments. (This is the part where I get deep.) We sometimes complain about the way our lives our going, but we alone are responsible for the quality of our existence. Misfortunes are a part of our daily lives and they’re nearly inescapable, but how we react to them is a choice. Precious knows that she’s not going to get a treat from me, but she keeps trying. She’s never discouraged. She does everything in her power to get that piece of my apple, and sometimes she does.  I sat there staring at her for a moment and she just stared right back. We locked eyes and just kept staring at each other, trying to figure each other out. I couldn’t imagine what this small dog was thinking, but there was a fierce determination in her that somehow inspired me. Sure, she can be a lazy bum, and so can I, but when she has her eye on something, there is nothing that will get in her way. Nothing. So when you bitch and moan about how this or that is so hard, fuck you. If a little white chihuahua can do it, so can you. So stop being a little bitch because you’re making real little bitches look bad. The end.

    A LESSON FROM A SMALL CHIHUAHUA NAMED PRECIOUS

    My dog Precious begs for treats everyday. She gets her regular food, but she always wants that extra treat. It doesn’t matter if it’s a piece of lettuce or a peanut butter chewy stick (for dogs), she’ll beg every time.

    I normally don’t like to spoil her with anything, but when we’re alone and I’m eating an apple or something, I’ll occasionally cut her slice. Whether it’s her resilience, persistence or whatever you want to call it, she has a talent for catching me at my most compassionate and sympathetic moments.

    (This is the part where I get deep.)

    We sometimes complain about the way our lives our going, but we alone are responsible for the quality of our existence. Misfortunes are a part of our daily lives and they’re nearly inescapable, but how we react to them is a choice. Precious knows that she’s not going to get a treat from me, but she keeps trying. She’s never discouraged. She does everything in her power to get that piece of my apple, and sometimes she does. 

    I sat there staring at her for a moment and she just stared right back. We locked eyes and just kept staring at each other, trying to figure each other out. I couldn’t imagine what this small dog was thinking, but there was a fierce determination in her that somehow inspired me. Sure, she can be a lazy bum, and so can I, but when she has her eye on something, there is nothing that will get in her way. Nothing. So when you bitch and moan about how this or that is so hard, fuck you. If a little white chihuahua can do it, so can you. So stop being a little bitch because you’re making real little bitches look bad.

    The end.

     

  7. 25 Mar



    ASIAN CRAVINGS

    I was at an event that had lots of food trucks, one being “Asian Cravings”. I said out loud, without thinking or being aware of the people around me, “Asian Cravings? Is that a truck for white guys?”. A white guy near by shot me a dirty look. I felt him staring as I was laughing. I felt bad for a minute but then I didn’t.

    I just blurted out some reverse racist shit, which was wrong and I probably shouldn’t have done, but at the same time what if I called him out on his yellow fever? It must suck to be a white male and to have to live with that stereotype, but then again it must really suck to be a young asian woman fetishized and perceived as a subservient plaything, so fuck him. You got enough privilege to lick your wounds.

     

  8. 11 Mar



    I HEARD MATTHEW MODINE FART

    This past week I did assistant camera work on a film that featured Matthew Modine. He’s best known for his role as Private J.T. “Joker” Davis in the Stanley Kubrick film Full Metal Jacket. The film also featured Rico Rodriguez, the little Mexican kid on the television series Modern Family.

    It was great working with professional actors of that caliber. They were really nice, very disciplined and extremely helpful and informative. I could go on and on about their professionalism but I don’t want to hype them up to the point of celebrity worship. They’re really just normal ass people.

    But what I did want to share was that during a take, Matthew Modine had to cough a lot since he played a terminally ill character, and in that take he let out a little fart. I tried my best not to laugh out loud and it seemed like no one else heard it except for me and someone from the art department. That was shit was mad funny. It was a super long take too and I was shuddering and biting my lip in an attempt to suppress my laughter. I had to think about really sad and depressing things so I wouldn’t ruin the take because, fart aside, it was a really fantastic performance.

    That moment, along with so many others, were so much fun. At one point, Modine got an oxygen tank mask, removed the hose from the tank, ran the end of that hose near his butt and started breathing heavily while the mask was attached to his face. I nearly fell to knees laughing, this guy was fucking hilarious.

    So that’s my story about Matthew Modine. Oh yeah, and Rico Rodriguez was pretty dope too. He’s such a cute kid and hilarious in his own G-rated kind of way. I loved working with them both.

     

  9. 3 Mar



    IMAGINARY FRIEND SONGS

    Hey! Check out my Soundcloud. You’ll hear all the songs I’ve composed and recorded.

     

  10. 27 Feb


    TOKYO DRIVE 35mm b&w film

    TOKYO DRIVE

    35mm b&w film

     

  11. 27 Feb


    THE SHERIFF’S IN TOWN 35mm b&w film

    THE SHERIFF’S IN TOWN

    35mm b&w film

     

  12. 27 Feb


    CHINESE NEW YEAR 2013 35mm b&w film

    CHINESE NEW YEAR 2013

    35mm b&w film

     

  13. 27 Feb



    Imaginary Friend - Villains

    IMAGINARY FRIEND - VILLAINS

    I’m coming up on that age where life will start to throw some serious misfortunes your way. I’m not talking about breaking up with a girl or getting yelled at at work. I’m talking about your friends and people you know passing away.

    Dark feelings are the villains of life, and I won’t let them get me down.

     

  14. 25 Feb


    AxRxM - Memorial and Benefit Show for Sergio Galvan

    Members from AxRxM do Scholastic Deth covers for Sergio.

     

  15. 25 Feb


    BASTARDASS perform for Sergio Galvan’s Memorial and Benefit Show

    Bastardass return for their final show. Here is the last half of their set. Check out Himself the Majestic (Shadowrunners) on guitar and members of Syntax playing some Eastside classics.