Mobile Facebook

I don't know if I've just been too busy, or if I've been too lazy, or just too addicted to my Iphone, but lately, I've just been snapping pictures on my phone and uploading them to my "Mobile Uploads" album on my Facebook page, rather than blogging.

It's just so easy, I see something interesting, I snap a shot and I press upload. Boom -- blogged. It's like a running stream of consciousness of the various things I'm experiencing at the moment.

Hopefully, I'll write some more traditional and substantive posts soon, but until then, enjoy my Mobile Uploads Facebook Album.

Proof I'm Working, ok?

What? Am I getting paid? - No. - So?





All of the images were taken from the Team Tiger Awesome's Tumblr blog, follow the story here!

Team Tiger Awesome, Now More Awesome With Anton

Working for these guys this weekend:
It's such a guilty pleasure of mine. If you wanna get a little taste for what they're all about, you can check out the first installment of Pizza Robot. Just to warn you, things are going to get weird.

Pizza Robot from Team Tiger Awesome on Vimeo.

Jesus Saves, I Spend

This video incorporates so many of my favorite things, I just don't know what to do with myself - kids, St. Vincent, Jesus, VIMEO videos, they're all there!

St. Vincent "Jesus Saves, I Spend" from Marc Ritzema.

This is a creative concept through and through. The video holds up with a beginning middle and end, a rarity these days. I think I like this Marc Ritzema fellow.

New Music to These New Ears

First of all, my good friend Kyle has been writing some seriously legit posts about music under the title New Ears, you really should check them out. Here's number one, two and three. His blog is called the Foggiest, I suggest you plug it into your RSS reader.

I've been hearing music differently over the last few days, John Vanderslice, The Band, Peter Gabriel, The Dissociatives, independent stuff, old stuff, I've just been feeling euphoric while listening to music lately, I'm not sure where it's coming from.

These three songs are really doing it for me:

1. The first one is a song called "Sitting" by the band White Denim. I really don't know much about the band but I believe they're from Texas. This song in particular is very different from the rest of their stuff that I've heard, but it's really good. You may only want to listen until 2:17, because it gets kind of weird after that.

2. A 15 and 17 year old girl from Sweden who call themselves First Aid Kit, have a cover of a Fleet Foxes Song called "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" and it is beautiful.


3. For this one, you're going to have to go over to The Foggiest and download the playlist that Kyle has made. The Peter Gabriel song "Solsbury Hill" is just doing it for me right now. Just click on the Music Monday link and the download will start automatically.

Enjoy good music.

Low Vs. Diamond

My best friend Ben, (link is a myspace page, but it's got some of Ben's videos on it) is pitching a music video to this band. Today, the band released this video, which just so happens to be one of the best music videos I've seen in a long time. Ben, you've got your work cut out for you.

New High-Tops

I actually haven't bought a pair of casual shoes in 2 years. Ok, I got a pair of shoes as a gift last year, but I woke up yesterday with a craving for some high-tops and after finding the most incredible sneaker boutique on Melrose Ave., these are what I came home with.

No matter how good the shoes look to anyone else, the most important view for me is the birds-eye look over the top. Because I wear the same shoes day in and day out, this view has to be aesthetically pleasing to my eyes. What do you think? Daddy needs affirmation.

Keeping It Holy

My running schedule worked out perfectly this week. I ran about 5 miles on Tuesday, then about 6 miles on Thursday and was in the perfect condition to do about 10 miles today. I love running. When I run for over an hour I get the most intense runner's high. Endorphins flow through my brain, serotonin courses, dopamine flows, I don't know, something great happens and I feel like I can fly. If running made you feel that way would you not go out of your way to do it too?

Today I Googled "The best spots to run in L.A." and the first thing I found was the Hollywood Reservoir. I of course got lost driving there, taking Mullholand, the most windy, dangerous, poorly maintained, famous stretch of road in Hollywood.

I ran through neighborhoods, on trails and finally up a long, windy, paved stretch of road, reserved only for work vehicles and then blam, I was on top of the Hollywood sign. As I came down, there were two Argentine girls excitedly snapping photographs, a group of German men and a Lincoln Town Car, with a driver, full of Japanese tourists. I felt a little cool about the fact that these people had traveled half way around the world to take photographs of the place I go jogging.

But that's not the point of the story. The moral is this:

I can run up a mountain without stopping, run back down, pass my car and keep going because I'm in incredible athletic shape. I can't wait to sign up for some races and win them.

From Where I Sit

One would think, with a beautiful house at my disposal, wifi, food, a pretty view, peace and quiet, that I would be able to do my work diligently. But looking out over this view, just imagining the life and chaos taking place in Hollywood beneath me, my mind wanders.

Can't say that I mind though. If there was a massive earthquake right now, this house might slide down the hill. But as long as the earth is solid, I'm really enjoying the view.

So Content Right Now

As you very well know, I have a stack of editing projects waiting on the back-burner, my cousin's wedding (2 yrs), Como Neighborhood Project (8 mnths), Oink Videos, The Lonely Planet Saigon video and Around the World in 30 Days.

Well, after months of financial struggle, mind-bending business and camera jobs, I'm finally here, at my editing station in the Hollywood Hills. I'm barefoot, the doors are open, it's peaceful and I have groceries in the fridge. I'm very content today.

What I Was Up To Last Week

I arrived in L.A. about a week and a half ago and immediately moved into an ostentatious mansion that the artist formerly known as Prince used to own. I stayed there for about 4 days before heading to Las Vegas for one night and then flying to Cabo San Lucas, all while filming a reality TV show.

I have lots of funny stories and pictures, but I have been asked not to post any material that might give away anything from the show. Below are a few generic stills to give you an idea of some of the things I experienced last week.

Cabo Adventures

I'm typing this from my iPhone in Mexico and paying ridiculous roaming fees, so forgive the brevity.

Today I shot two packages for the current show I'm working on, one where the girls swam with dolphins and the second where they rode jet skis. After a long day of filming we arrived back at our hotel and waiting for us was the camera we had shipped from Dallas specifically for underwater videography. So I didn't get to use it and I didn't get to swim with the dolphins. I did however get knee deep and get some great shots with my HVX-200. The dolphin also swam up to me and I got to pet it so all was not lost. It was a good day. I'm getting a tan.

My 'Special' Friends

Aren't they precious?
I've got something special out here. I think I'll stay.

Current Accomodations

This is my work station at a nice little house in the Hollywood Hills that my boss let me borrow for the weekend. It's a great view and you can't hear the traffic (one of my biggest pet-peeves), so it's quite peaceful. But the drive to get up here is nothing short of harrowing. As if L.A. traffic isn't bad enough, after a long day you have to wind your way up narrow, pot-holed streets with hair-pin turns galore. But it's a nice view, especially at night. The picture doesn't quite capture it.