A Typical Day At Work

There are times when you're at work, that you must do not-work. It doesn't complete a project, but it helps the human soul some how.

I enjoy doing this not-work.

Bear Wooo

Sometimes I get really antsy and have to make something, however ridiculous it might be. For March 24th, 2008, it's an animation called What I Wanna Do.

Other times you just have to climb a big wooden bear, as the photo illustrates. I wasn't really antsy--tipsy is the better word.

Kid Show Poster

Jessica, my amazing wife, helped me make this great poster for Kid Show when it screens at AFI, and any other festival after. She's such a good designer.

I painted today for the first time in a while. It was a good process. I forgot how good it feels to experience the back and forth of frustration and joy when I paint. When I'm done, I'm exhausted, but I feel peaceful, like I've added a new chunk to the pile of clay in my head. I also appreciated the freedom of how a painting can develop. I wove in and out of meaningful forms and abstract whatever. The painting is about sitting outside and feeling great about the mountains and flowers. I sound so flowery. All this talk about feeling good and great and joyful, and painting.

The ghost of accident past has come upon me and I am experiencing strange pain in my knee. It's unusual, because it hurts below my kneecap and on the side--not anywhere at the actual joint. I think I'm going to go to the doctor soon, as long as I can figure out who my doctor is!

Also, I will be seeing one of my favorite musicians next month, Daniel Johnston. Jess and I are really pumped.

Current Events

This photo is of Jessica and I enjoying beverages at the Wexley Quantum Leap Year Grand Opening Party. How nice.

Kid Show is going to screen March 30th and April 1st at AFI Dallas, which is the American Film Institute Film Festival held in Dallas. If you're in or around Dallas, and you're thinking of coming, give me a shout.

I have to go eat food and wine.

Imagining Feelings

Here is an AIM conversion converted to motion picture film script:

TOM
For two seconds I felt how it would
feel to know there was absolute proof
that aliens existed.

JESSICA
(laughing) Why?

TOM
I was looking at a stupid picture of doctors
and nurses surrounding an alien on a stretcher.
It looked so fake and dumb, but then I
imagined if an alien was actually found,
and how it'd be on major news and out in the open,
and how I'd call my mom and be like "How about that."

TOM (Cont'd)
And I actually knew how it'd be to feel
that fear and excitement,
but it's gone now and I can't
imagine it anymore.

Cowboy Salvation

There was an incident, or nearly and incident last night. Here's what I wrote about it in my sketchbook:

I almost fought a man tonight. He was yelling at a woman. He threw his bike at her. She screamed, and I started to run towards them while screaming "Hey!" I told him to stop. He turned and yelled and came towards me. He was very evil and blind. I backed away a little. I thought to myself, "Wow, I'm about to fight this guy... I don't know if I can beat him." I felt the fear of underwater dreams and slow-motion punches. I spoke softly, waving a verbal white flag and he lost interest in me and started after the girl again.

I looked over and noticed that another man had appeared--a cowboy. He wore a black cowboy hat, boots, and had a cigarette in his mouth. He looked badass, like a guy from a movie. The angry man walked by the cowboy and had an exchange similar to mine, except the cowboy didn't cower. At that point, I felt as if we could handle this situation together. The punk seemed to realize this as well and he retreated to his bicycle. He looked as if he was planning to go around the block and find the girl again, so the cowboy hopped in his truck and said he was going to follow the girl and make sure she gets where she needs to go. I called the police.

I was scared, but I knew I had to do something. I wish I had the sense of authority that the cowboy seemed to possess. I guess it doesn't matter though, because I'll obey God and my instincts and He'll give me what I need. I'm just a skinny kid, but I know I could do anything if God willed it. It's either David and Goliath or getting beat down, but either way, through obedience, God is glorified.

Oh Smack

This video was shot on a bus ride from Centralia to Seattle. We'd just finished the holiday party and had 2 hours to hang out, so I yanked out my camera and started improvising a film. I love spontaneous projects like these... and it helps having a captive group of potential actors.