elithevideoguy-blog

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#2 - Film, Dialogue, Music

There’s too much talking in movies nowadays. The main character or the hero (or whoever) keeps telling the audience what’s gonna happen before it happens. Or they go on and on explaining the story and how we are supposed to connect all the tiny little dots planted throughout the film and somehow respond with a genuine reaction like we figured it out ourselves.

It’s disappointing. It’s borderline offensive being talked down to that way. 

(Now, I will be first to admit, I do enjoy a little guilty pleasure films on occasion. “Jumper” anyone?)

Anyway, with that being said, I really love, and am pleasantly surprised, when I go see a film and there is this unexpected beautiful symphony of imagery, dialogue, and music all cut together in a seemingly random order but when looked back upon weave a personal, intricate story and breath life into my soul. Did that come out right?

I recently watched the film “Steve Jobs” with a close buddy of mine. (No, not the pathetic excuse for a film “Jobs” starring Ashton Kutcher.) It is the perfect example of what I am trying to get across. The writing is sharp. The music is majestic. The imagery is pleasing to the eye, and the mind. Its hits the trifecta of what a film should be. After all, we are watching something, not reading a book, or listening to a record.

As a filmmaker, when I watch a film like “Steve Jobs” it inspires me to create. To dream. To give another soul this same ‘goosebumps-inducing’ experience.

It was one of my favorite films from 2015. Just behind “Room.” For those of you who haven’t seen it. Do yourself a favor.

P.S. I write this little post as I listen to the score for “Lion.” One of my favorite films of 2016. Dare I say, it made my eyes (specifically my ‘right’ eye for some reason) leak something resembling tears. The score is beautiful. And inspiring. Hence, why I am writing.

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Writing Prompt #1 - Go Cubs Go

I made it my unofficial official NY Resolution for 2017 to write more. Not only write more, but also finish a few shorts that I have already begun to write. Included in my resolution, are prompts I am going to use to write anything. About anything. At anytime. Hopefully around once a day. 

For my first post, I have decided to write about the best part of last year. For those of you who know me, there is no need to further explain, but for those of you (which is most likely nobody reading this) that haven't met me and are reading this blog let me give you some clarity to what the “best moment of 2016″ was.

108 years in the making, the Chicago Cubs finally won the World Series.

It’s been just over two months now since the Cubs won it all that fateful night in Cleveland. As someone who truly admires the game of baseball, especially the North Siders, I still find it odd that those words, specifically arranged in that sentence, can roll off the tip of my tongue.

The Cubs won the World Series.

What?!?

But at last, it is true my dear!

There aren’t many things that get me emotional in life. Again, those who know me find this to be true. But baseball is something that has always moved me. I grew up watching the game with my dad and he taught me mostly everything I know about it. Of course I wanted to play ball with him every time I got the chance. (Other than playing ridiculous amounts of video games as a kid, these were some of the moments I cherished, and still do to this day, the most). 

So naturally, after relocating to Chicago, IL on account of my dad getting a job with United Airlines, I became a Cubs fan at the tender age of seven years old. Too young to be given such a burden, if you ask me. 

For the next seventeen years I would experience great joy (though rarely) and come to expect disappointment (mostly) as a young Cubs fan. Daytime baseball, the 7th inning stretch, the sights and sounds of Wrigley Field, and even in the midst of 100+ loss seasons, I couldn’t get enough of my Cubbies. Every October when playoff baseball began and the Cubs were nowhere to be found, I began to count the days (I still do) until the pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training in February and Chicago would be back in the swing of things talking baseball. One of my favorite quotes of all time says - “There are only two seasons - winter and baseball” - Bill Veeck. I can not refute this claim.

Fast foward to 2016. It’s a Wednesday night in November. Cold, but not cold enough to stop any normal Chicagoan to stop moving. The Chicago Cubs are tied 6-6 with the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 and are about to head to extra innings to fight it out for one last time to crown the champion of this wild wild World Series. (If I were to sit here and explain the rest of the Series or even the beginning of this game 7, it would be awhile). My wife, myself, and a few friends are anxiously awaiting extra innings on the steps of my neighborhood bar. The game has gone to rain delay. 

A rain delay? Extra innings? Game 7 of the World Series?

The Cubs haven’t won it all for 108 years, been to the Series in 71 years, and we all have to wait even longer for a rain delay?

I believe in God, but after this rain delay I think I started to believe in the ever famous baseball gods...

To get to the point, and to keep things short, the Chicago Cubs, with a whole city just aching (and I mean HEART-aching) for a championship, scored two runs in the top of the inning, held off a late comeback (again...) from Cleveland to win the World Series.

I know I said this already, but I simply still don’t believe I can type those words.

2016 was an interesting year. But there were a lot of positives. 

I know this may seem more like a vomiting of words on a screen, and it probably is lacking in coherent thoughts (it’s 3 AM), but I could go on and on about this.

THE CHICAGO CUBS WON THE WORLD SERIES. It happened. The burden is lifted. A city can rejoice. Generations of fans young and old can bask in the glory of a curse broken. 

I would like to write more but I am getting tired. Cheers to 2017. Go Cubs Go.

[elithevideoguy-blog]

Top Films of 2016 in no particular order:

Lion

La La Land

The Handmaiden

Arrival

Manchester by the Sea

Moonlight

Jackie

Captain Fantastic

Silence

Neruda

Certain Women

The Lobster

Zootopia

Hacksaw Ridge

Nocturnal Animals (love/hate)

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New Years Resolutions...again?

So I look back at the last few posts here on Tumblr. All three of them that is. One of them was my New Year’s Resolution for 2016. I think I posted the following two a few days after that and now here I am (one full year later) posting my fourth post in roughly 365 days. 

Interesting how my goal for 2016 was: Be productive. At all costs.

...

AT ALL COSTS?

Well. That worked out well. After a year of...interesting occurrences, I lay here in my bed, typing away, trying to be productive. At some cost. 

Once again I have decided to make somewhat of a New Year’s Resolution. (As I write this I’ll modify it slightly.)

2017: Be intentional in all that I do. At all costs. (And “continue” being productive.) 

I’ll lay it out here: I want to write. I need to write. I want to make films. I want to inspire, challenge, and instill a sense of urgency through a beautiful and universal language. But for that to begin, I must write. I must organize the ideas zipping around my head into digital file cabinets for referencing later on down the road. 

Let me not keep ranting over and over. I might be the only person reading this, but that’s okay. It’ll pay off. (hopefully.)

Also. The Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 2016. Life mostly complete.

[elithevideoguy-blog]

My Favorite Movies of 2015 I Saw ‘In Theaters’

Going to the theater will always win. The size, the sound, the seats. Popcorn! (Love it or hate it). There is no comparison. Here is a list of my favorite movies of the year I saw in theaters - and the best part about each. 

1. Steve Jobs - Danny Boyle is one of a kind. Visually stunning as always. 

2. Inside Out - Pixar’s best movie yet. Oh, Bing Bong.

3. Room - Somebody get Jacob Tremblay an Oscar, please. 

4. Macbeth - Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, and the atmosphere around them. Gorgeous.

5. Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Oh, goodness. No need for an explanation here.

6. Hateful Eight - Quentin Tarantino, 70 mm, Roadshow style.

7. Mad Max: Fury Road - One of the best examples of a “blockbuster” ever.

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Sneak peek - “The Runner and The Wall” (2015)

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Pen to Paper

As I begin to write the first post of my first official blog, I’m watching Dustin Hoffman ride off into the distance with the love of his life he just won back from hands of sure defeat in “The Graduate.” I admit, it is only my first viewing of this classic, but without shame I enjoyed every moment of it. (The joys of Netflix!) 

With that being said, it brings me to the reason why I am here. As of some time in the early months of 2015, I finally made a conscious decision to pursue writing and directing as a career. This blog will be an avenue to purge all the thoughts and emotions I let build up inside of me. Nothing is off-limits. (Well, my amazing ideas for films are off-limits).

So, keeping it short and simple, cheers to a new year, new movies, new screenplays, and new beginnings. 

2016 New Years Resolutions:

1. Be productive. At all costs.