ILikeFilms Daily Photoblog

Editing my recent video for Alena Koch's YouTube Channel

Last night I finished uploading a new video for my girlfriend Alena Koch’s YouTube channel. Due to some unforeseen problems I had to upload it 3 times and it finally posted to her YouTube site in the wee hours of my Birthday, January 2nd. Working on a film project at the beginning of a new Birthday year made me very happy. I wish filmmaking was the only thing I had to do as a job, but like most beginning filmmakers we make do with the time we have outside of our normal 9 to 5 occupations.

This put me to thinking. As I get older, I need to make opportunities happen and not just think about them. Pipe dreams are just that…pipe dreams, unless you take a hold of them in your most Mario-plumber fashion and create something tangible. I have a lot of things I need to change about myself. I have a lot of things I need to force myself to do that I might not like doing, but in the long run it’s the best for me and my future.

That’s why instead of making the normal New Year’s Resolutions that most people make this year, I’m making new Birthday resolutions. (Considering my birthday is the second day of the month, it’s practically the same thing, but for fecal matter and giggles and because getting a year older puts things in more of a perspective, I think it’s a cooler and more special thing to do.)

On top of that I’m going to post a picture and thoughts every day for the rest of the year on this photoblog, so please check back to solve the mystery of what I’ll post and talk about next.

As to the resolutions thingy I mentioned earlier, here are the things I want to achieve, change and embrace throughout this new Birthday year.

1) Lose Weight – After seeing a recent picture of me in one of the ComedyWorx shows, I realize that 1) it’s still a fact that the ComedyWorx outfits are fashion suicide and 2) I’ve gained too much poundage in the last year or so. Therefore, I need to start exercising again and hopefully with the help of my lovely girlfriend, I can make this happen.

2) Make More Films(or Make Moore Films if you love the puns) – I’ve made some cool YouTube projects here and there, but I’m itching to make some films that have been simmering in my brain for several years. 2010 will be the year I put my nose to the grindstone and I’ll actually have a crew of people helping me make it happen. I’ve already recruited Todd Tinkham to help me shoot my next film in March(which will be revealed soon) and I hope to work on a few projects the rest of the year based on my own ideas and the ideas of others.

3) Watch More Films(Pun doesn’t apply, because that would be egotistical) – I’ve fallen off the movie wagon with my movie watching and the best way to be a good filmmaker is to observe the best filmmaker products out there. Therefore, I need to make time to watch a few films every week.

4) Be On Time – Lateness seems to be integral to the creation of my DNA, but I won’t allow my biological defects to stop me from being on time for stuff. I need to be better for showing up on time to things and I think in the new Birthday year, I’m going to do my best to make it happen more often.

5) Write More – I have so many ideas but they stay within the brain cubicles of my mind, therefore, in the new Birthday year I plan on trying to dedicate some time every week to writing screenplays. This year I plan on trying to complete the ScriptFrenzy challenge for the first time without bowing out in the first few weeks like I always do. I also have an idea for a stage show that I’d like to produce, so we’ll see how that pans out.

6) Update My Sites – I need to do a better job of updating my sites. With the creation of the new sites www.ilikestarwars.com and www.cinemaparody.com, I haven’t been staying on top of posting stuff to them as frequently as I should.

7) Stay in Touch with Family and Friends – I’ve done a pretty bad job of keeping in touch with some friends and family in the past year and I realize that I need to be a better friend and family member by keeping tabs on people and not being as much of a hermit. This past year has been pretty busy and stressful and it’s made retreat into my turtle shell but I promise that in 2010 I’ll be a little more responsive and present in the lives of my friends and family.

8 ) Sleep – I need more sleep. As I get older, I need more rest, because my memory is bad enough as it is. Therefore, I need to organize my days better, so that I can get to bed in a decent hour.

9) Expand Improv – Ever since Big, Fat and Stealthy disbanded, I feel like my improv has become a little stagnant. I need to expand my skillset. I’m in the process of creating a new longform team and with the addition of a new pianist, my musical improv team is having to challenge itself once again. Plus, I’m looking to study up on character-work, so I can explore more on the creation of characters and possibly teach workshops on it. I’m excited about what 2010 has to offer improv-wise.

10) Income opportunities – I need to work towards making more income than my current job, so I need to look for other opportunies to add some moolah to my bank account. If I want to make the types of films I want to make and also have a stable financial foundation for having a family at some point, I’ve got to make things happen. I’ve already created a website to promote my wedding videography(www.yourwedddingascinema.com) and I’d love to figure out a way to start my own video production company. In 2010 I’m going to expand the opportunities to put more cash in the coffer.

These are a few things I need to work on in the new Birthday year. I’ll probably post a few more, when they come to mind. Thanks for reading this and I hope you look forward to seeing more posts from me everyday for the rest of the year through January 2nd, 2011 and maybe beyond.