Could be.

Today I started eating healthy.  I even drank water.  I’ve let my weight and health get out of control the past year and it’s time to get that control back.  That started today.

Tonight is the first class in the 120 day workout program I’ve joined.  I’m nervous.  I don’t like to exercise, I don’t like to wear clothes that make noises when they rub together.  The attitude changes… now.  I love to workout. I love to workout. I love to workout.

This week a new brand for Inked Digital will be launched.  The unbelievable growth of Inked has been ridiculous and I had no idea of what to expect.  I wanted it to grow…it has.

Thursday I fly to Colorado for 4 days to experience the Wild At Heart bootcamp.  For those that know me (and if you don’t, see above about exercise) you know I’m not an “outdoorsman”.  We will be way up in the middle of no where in the Rocky mountains.  Of course I’m anxious but I’m also excited.  I have no clue what to expect and most will tell you that I didn’t even know where I was going until a few days ago.

So, yeah, this week could change a lot in my life.  One week for big changes… sounds fun, right?

You have two options.  Help or Don’t Help.  I’ve seen so many options to help the people of Haiti and many folks want to help but aren’t sure who the “best” is.  I’m not sure there is a best…  all are helping in different ways.  Here are some of the organizations that are helping.

• Compassion Int’l : Compassion is a great group and trusted throughout the world.  A great option & they have offices in Haiti.  Also, have a Texting campaign: Text “Haiti” or Text “disaster” to 90999 to give $10 to Compassion International’s disaster relief fund.
• American Red Cross : Having already sent over $1 Million in aid, they have options to where your money goes to help.
• World Vision : Another trusted group that is on the ground and already working-  also offices in Haiti.
• CARE : On the ground now as well…
• UNICEF : Long standing group that supports and helps children
• Yele Haiti : Founded by Wyclef Jean to bring awareness to Haiti
• Conduit Mission : Church with a $25 challenge that is raising money fast on Twitter/Facebook and other social networks.

I realize there are many more-  If I’ve left one off please let me know and I’ll get it added asap.

Wanted to share some cool new indie music that I’ve ran across lately.  Download.  Enjoy.  Support Indie Music.  Simple right?

First up is Amy Millan of Broken Social Scene fame… this is her second full length and rides the folk/alternative roads. Very cool voice and easy to enjoy.

Amy Millan
“Bruised Ghosts” (mp3)
from “Masters of the Burial”
(Arts & Crafts)

Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

Just to stay in the same folk/alt genre I give you Sharon Lang. She has the shy girl voice that reminds of early Juliana Hatfield. Very innocent but with plenty of depth. Cool, simple track.

Sharon Lang
“Name In A Color” (mp3)
from “Lovers and Thieves”
(Per Capita Records)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

From the first note played you know Late Night Condition is all about the punk-pop scene. Simple pop rock is all you need sometimes…

Late Night Condition
“Saviour” (mp3)
from “Give & Take”
(Deep Elm)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

The Kentucky Nightmare is a great little AAA/Alt Country band that I just like. Simple, right?

Kentucky Nightmare
“Caroline & I” (mp3)
from “Take Her Favour”
(Standard Recording Company)

Buy at Standard Recording Company Store
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon MP3
More On This Album

Got some music I need to hear? Let me know!

Merry Christmas!

Well, this is part of my identity.  I like to cook and my grandmother was one of those southern grandma’s that could have ran circles around those folks on the food network.  Of course I’m biased she was my grandma and I call her nanny.

My nanny passed on a few years back and I miss her a lot and like many folks we miss those that have passed more during the holidays…  what I really miss is just hanging out and chatting with her.  I would give just about anything for her to be able to know my kids and see how awesome they are and for them to see how awesome she was.

So now that I’ve gone all sentimental on you I’ll shift gears and give you an early Christmas present.  My nanny’s infamous chocolate pie.  It’s going to look easy to make but I promise you it’s not.  It may take a try or two to perfect but once you do you can come back here and thank me!

I’m shutting up now.  The recipe begins…  now.

Ingredients:

• 2 & 1/2 cups of sugar
• 6 tbs of flour
• 9 tbs of cocoa
• 4 eggs
• 1 can of sweet milk
• 1 tbs vanilla
• 1 stick of margarine
• 2 cooked pie shells

Combine the first 5 ingredients and cook on the stove until it boils.  It’s important to stir the entire time until it boils.  Remove from stove once it boils.  The add vanilla and margarine.  Put back on stove on low heat and stir until creamy.  You do NOT want it thick, just creamy.  Once creamy, pour into two cooked pie shells and let stand in the fridge.

Seems simple, right?  For the most part it is, but getting the part between creamy and thick is tough…  too thick and you’ll have sticky fudge pie.

Let It Snow Plugin

Merry Christmas All!

Posted via web from This Is Pro-Posterous!

Mamma…. mamma… ha! Love Love Love it.

Posted via web from This Is Pro-Posterous!

Paul is one of my best friends and has been for many years. He’s incredibly talented and just an awesome dude.  Great interview!

Rock. It.

Interview With Paul Morrell on Oversold, Starring Crissy Moran

Director, editor and motion graphic artist Paul Morrell – right image
drawn by Paul’s five year old especially for this interview!

Paul Morrell is a freelance director, editor and motion graphic artist in Los Angeles. His portfolio includes movie trailers, music videos, commercials, infomercials, TV shows and short films. In 2007, Morrell was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Movie Spoof, for a film titled Texas Chainsaw Musical. He am currently in post-production on a good, old-fashioned teenage slasher film titled Filth To Ashes. You can view Paul Morrell’s online portfolio on his website.Christian-Movie.com: What audience did you have in mind when you wrote Oversold, a modern adaptation of Hosea’s story – about a pastor who falls in love with a stripper?

Paul Morrell: I love telling a story where two worlds that do NOT belong together are slammed into each other, falling apart and then ultimately surviving. Originally, Oversold was a mainstream feature film script. But as everything fell into place (budget, talent, etc.), the scope changed and we honed down who the audience is: the church. Out came a Bible study film, and not just a film.

However, we do still hope to produce Oversold (the feature) some day.

Oversold: A pastor marries a stripper in a modern-day
adaptation of the biblical story of Hosea

Christian-Movie.com: How did former pornography star, Crissy Moran, get involved in this project?

Morrell: We asked, a lot. It took a bit of persistence, but after a few months we got a meeting, pitched the project and she came on board. We initially approached Crissy to be a consultant for the adult business side of the story (for the feature). Once we really got into the thick of it, we realized she would be perfect for the role.

With her testimony being so close to the story, combined with the teaching aspect of the film, it makes for a one-two punch that is incredibly powerful.

“With [Crissy's] testimony being so close to the story…it makes for a one-two punch that is incredibly powerful.”

Christian-Movie.com: How has Oversold been received in Christian circles? Have you received any backlash for handling a topic that many Christian filmmakers avoid, or for working with Crissy? What about the response from secular audiences?

Morrell: That’s a touchy subject. We have had a rollercoaster ride with soooooo many people on this. From people not wanting to be a part of the project and walking off set because Crissy was in it, to literal hate mail from “believers,” the reception has completely blown my mind.

“The reception has completely blown my mind.”

When we did a rough cut screening to 50 pastors around the country, the feedback had nothing to do with who was in it, or about the stripper scene. It was all about how the church in the story didn’t accept the stripper and “that was too close reality,” or “you guys shouldn’t be exposing that underbelly of the church.”

I will tell you why it is too close to reality. It is because that scene was not invented by a writer. That dialog was pulled directly from conversations I had with other Christians who didn’t want to be involved in the film because of “who was in it.” That scene was an afterthought, due to all the responses we were receiving.

Oversold lead actress, Crissy Moran

We submitted to the Gideon Film Festival. I was super stoked about this festival. My father is a minister and I grew up going to Ridgecrest every summer for conferences, and the thought of spending a week in the mountains with other filmmakers was riveting.

After submitting the trailer, the Gideon Festival’s immediate response was “we would love to show the film during the film festival part of our conference,” and we began the process of getting the film over to them. But then suddenly, our contact with the Gideon Festival became MIA. After a couple emails, I finally got the response that because of who Crissy was, and because she was in the film, they could not show the film at the festival. Keep in mind: THEY NEVER WATCHED THE FILM. They completely judged the film by the past sins of our lead actress! I responded to the Gideon representative with the request that they at least watch the film before making their decision, and I got NO response.

On the other side of the fence, we were greeted with open arms by nearly every “secular” media organization we approached: The Today Show, Extra, Reelz Channel and we were even featured in a documentary that was funded by a major cable network (not supposed to say which yet). Actually, our crew was made up of mostly non-believers. The majority of my Christian friends would have nothing to do with it (family and a few close friends, on the other hand, were VERY supportive).

Paul Morrell directs Crissy Moran and Stephen Zimpel

“All that to say, a huge chunk of the people that judged our project before seeing it have apologized since watching it, saying that the film made them think about how they really see people outside their Christian circle.”

Christian-Movie.com: Oversold’s production quality is impressively high. How did you round up the production crew, including DP Royce Allen Dudley? What is Royce’s background?

Morrell: Wow, thank you. That is awesome of you to say. I am BIG on production value. I will push my budgets to the limit. I put EVERYTHING I have onto the screen. Royce has shot 35 feature films, from $15K features to million dollar features. He is the best that I could find on my budget to do the job.

“Always surround yourself with people
that are better at what they do, than you are at what you do.”

Which brings me to one of the most important things I can say to aspiring filmmakers (and it took me a long time to realize this): Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you can do it all yourself. I was told by a college professor one time that you should always surround yourself with people that are better at what they do, than you are at what you do. It will make you better.

Director Paul Morrell (center) in Oversold’s Coffee Shop Scene

YOU HAVE TO HIRE PROFESSIONALS if you want it to look like a professional did it. I know that sounds obvious, but in this “DV” age, people think they can literally wear all the hats. Sometimes they can…but 99% of the time that they do, the production quality suffers or just isn’t up to where it could be.

I hired a DP to shoot and light my film. It made all the difference in the world. And don’t be afraid of the old guys, they just want to work. Because of their experience, chances are they are going to bring a lot more to the film than their talent. You will get wisdom, advice and plus they usually have incredible stories to tell! And believe it or not, you CAN afford them. Their rates are very competitive.

“YOU HAVE TO HIRE PROFESSIONALS if you want it to look like a professional did it.”

The ironic thing is that Royce was one of the FEW crew I hired. Due to budget constraints, most of my crew ended up being family members who I flew out to LA and gave filmmaking crash courses to as we went along. Key department heads – DP, Grip, Audio and Makeup – were hired; everyone else were family member volunteers.

Christian-Movie.com: If your viewers took only one message away from Oversold, what would you want that message to be?

Morrell: Christ loves us. He wants us as we are. I think so many times we forget that, without Christ, we are unworthy of anything God has to offer. We can’t clean up to come to Him. He cleans us up. We are broken people and HE heals us. We have to stop judging other broken people; that is God’s job. We are to just love those “unlovable people” and spread the good news.

“Christ loves us. He wants us as we are.”

Christian-Movie.com: What is the most meaningful comment anyone has made to you about Oversold?

Morrell: The most meaningful thing for me has not been comments (although there have been many), but the relationships I have forged with some of my crew. If you are familiar with my portfolio at all, you know that I am not your typical “Christian Filmmaker,” and making this film has opened doors for conversations that I would have never been able to have otherwise. Opportunities for me to share my faith with people that normally wouldn’t listen.

Crissy Moran and Stephen Zimpel

Christian-Movie.com: What are the top three things you wish you had known before you started?

Morrell:

1. Make sure everyone knows what they are getting into before you start. We lost an entire group of “extras” for the dinner scene (notice there is no one else in the cafe), once they realized Crissy was in the film.
2. Vegas was an unnecessarily expensive place to shoot. We could have saved thousands of dollars doing it here in LA, and taking a smaller crew to Vegas for exteriors.
3. Unless you have the money to pay for it… don’t try to get Label-owned music. There are thousands of bands and musicians out there that are willing to give you a needle drop for no charge. The Label side of the music business will charge you an arm and a leg for a song, plus an ongoing royalty. At least they did to us. We had to remaster the entire project once we sold to distribution, as the royalty to one record label for one song was more than I was making. And I fronted the money for the production.

Christian-Movie.com: What was the biggest hurdle that you faced during the filmmaking process, and how did you overcome it?

Morrell: The biggest hurdle has got to be the lack of support from the Christian community. How did we overcome it…don’t know that we did; we are still battling it.

“The biggest hurdle has got to be the lack of support from the Christian community.”

Christian-Movie.com: What was the most significant lesson that God taught you, from a personal standpoint, during the making of Oversold?

Morrell: In the midst of how our project was received, God revealed to me that this is exactly how I have always been. It was time to start loving the unlovable.

Christian-Movie.com: What’s next?

Morrell: We are currently in fundraising mode for Wailin’ Jones – an almost-modern retelling of Jonah and the Whale.

Christian-Movie.com: How may Oversold be purchased?

Morrell: We currently have distribution through Heritage HM for Australia/New Zealand and through Osmango Distribution for the U.S. and the rest of the world. Osmango is expecting to have DVDs on Christian Retailer shelves by the holidays. In the meantime, though, you can get it from our website.

Christian-Movie.com: Any closing thoughts?

Morrell: Rock it.

Posted via web from This Is Pro-Posterous!

I got a goodie bag last week from them and by far my favorite is the Drumstick Pencils. I’m not a drummer but what kid hasn’t beat the crap out of some desk with their pencil.. These make it official, right?

And to show my age…  in high school we all made mixtapes.  Take your favorite songs and compile them onto one big cassette and rock out… or give it away.  There is a new way… Basically a USB stick with a cassette holder for your mix title and song list (very important part!)

And one other favorite is the keychain bottle opener…  basic but rocking!  It’s small enough to carry around and thankfully it’s strong enough to actually work.

My friend and fellow Twit @ktchn hooked me up with these amazing toys!