Will Be Back Soon

I will be back soon with more posts. I'm going to be reading for a film festival and it will take up the majority of my time . Check back in periodically.
Until then,
V

Triggerstreet

I attended a Triggerstreet get together in Hollywood this weekend. For those of you that are interested in film making at any level, this website is for you. Not only does it have a screenplay section, but it has a book, short films, short stories, and a play section.

Dana Brunetti & I

Dana Brunetti and Kevin Spacey are the founders of Triggerstreet. I took this quote off his bio on the site.

"Using the internet for which it was created: a mode of communication - No longer do you need to "know somebody" to get a foot in Hollywood's door. We offer the chance of exposure and access for filmmakers and writers alike, to showcase their talent from anywhere, while at the same time giving everyone the ability to view and judge the work submitted. It's an opportunity for talent and great ideas to be discovered by all."

Part of the Triggerstreet community on Hollywood Blvd.

Not only have I made some great connections on the site, but I've made some great friends. It is a place to get feedback, exposure, and plenty of opportunities. The message board is a great meeting place for all filmmakers. Triggerstreet also puts out a podcast on Itunes to keep you updated on all things Hollywood. I asked Dana a couple of questions at the get together.

What do you know now that you wished you had known when you first started?

To not be too ambitious.

What kind of advice could you pass along to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

Perseverance.

Not only is Dana the founder of Triggerstreet.com but he's a producer of such movies as 21, Columbus Day, Fanboys, and Bernard and Doris to name a few. 21 opens nationwide on March 28th.

To find out more about Triggerstreet, go to www.triggerstreet.com.

21 @ SXSW

21 was the opening film for South by Southwest Film Festival. The Paramount was filled to capacity. It was a great kickoff to the festival.

The film definitely delivered. Solid cast and script. With the producing team of Dana Brunetti and Mike Deluca, what else would you expect. It made me laugh and sit at the edge of my seat to see what was going to happen next. Judging by the audibles in the audience, I wasn't the only one.

Ben Mezrich, author of "Bringing Down the House."

Ben Mezrich was asked if he was a writer on the script. Ben said, "Books and scripts are two different genres. I consulted on the script." Dana Brunetti found an article in "Wired Magazine", and contacted him about his book. Ben thought it was MIT students playing a joke on him when he received the phone call from Kevin Spacey.

Robert Luketic introduced the film. The director said, "I wanted to show that I could do more than just movies that had dresses in it. It was kind of like starting all over again."

Dana Brunetti, producer of 21.

No spoilers here. If you have a chance to go see it, it's worth it! 21 opens in theaters on March 28th.

"Chasing the Dream"

I had a chance to catch up with Angelo Mei, the director / producer of "Chasing the Dream." He grew up and currently lives in Los Angeles. He studied all aspects of film making at the Art Institute of Los Angeles. His passion lies with the directing side of film making.

Angelo became interested in film making and surfing in his early twenties when he bought his first camcorder and started filming surfers. He is someone who is very comfortable in his station in life. Angelo is doing what he loves and he loves who he's with. When asked about his personal life he said, "I'm in a very happy, healthy relationship and it feels good!"

Angelo and John Milius at the Austin Film Festival

"Chasing the Dream" has definitely left it's mark on the festival circuit. It has been and official selection in Santa Barbara, San Luis Abispo, Jackson Hole, Newport Beach, and Austin Film Festivals. At the Newport Beach Film Festival it won the Outstanding Achievement in Film Making and the Perrier "Bubbling Under" Award. The Sidney Film Festival heard of this documentary and asked for a copy for consideration.

Angelo is no stranger to awards. His short film called "Howie" won and Audience Award, Best Editing, and Best comedy at the LA Digi Fest. Not resting on his laurels, he is aggressively networking and taking meetings for his upcoming documentaries and possible music video. I asked him a few questions.

Who would you like to meet and why?
I'd like to meet Larry Clark so I could give him a copy of "Chasing the Dream" and give him John Philbin's (co-producer of "Chasing the Dream") script called, " Grom." I would love for him to be the Executive Producer.

What are you most proud of?
Being an honest person.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Having a happy healthy lifestyle with a few more films under my belt.

What are your hobbies and interests outside of film making?
Surfing, reading, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

What is your favorite film?
He couldn't decide on one, so he gave me a few.
"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf"
"The King of Comedy"
"The Passenger"
"Murder Ball"
"Mad Hot Ballroom"
"The Devil and Daniel Johnston"
"Superbad"

What is your favorite song?
"Hotter Than Hell," by Kiss.

Any regrets?
I have no regrets, even the negative experiences give you and education.

Do you have any pointers that you could share with someone who would like to follow in your footsteps?
Listen to everyone, even if they are younger. You can always learn something from them.

Photo by John Sartin

"Chasing the Dream," is now on dvd. Gary Busey was the narrator on this documentary and was very excited when Angelo dropped him off a copy. If you would like to find out more about Angelo or "Chasing the Dream," check out:
http://www.angelomei.com/

www.myspace.com/angelomei

http://www.chasingthedreamfilm.com/

I'm sure there will be more to come from Angelo. I for one am looking forward to it.

Flash Boys

I had a chance to catch a great show at Sam's Burger Joint in San Antonio on Saturday. The Flash Boys are an up and coming band from Austin. They are named after a line from The Dead Boys song "Warzone." Even though this band has only been together for two years, they have such great chemistry.

Frankie Nowhere-Vocals, Jamey Simms-Guitar
Mark Douglas-Bass , & Mike Dempsey-Drums

These boys really know how to put on a show. One of their loyal fans said, "This is tame compared to what they normally do." Well if that's the case, I need to catch another show. If you haven't seen a Flash Boys show these guys are definitely worth the cover charge! I had a chance to talk to them before the show and ask a few questions.

Who are your influences and what was your first album purchase?
Frankie- I would have to say The Stooges, and my first album was "I Love Rock and Roll."

Jamey- Keith Richards and Johnny Thunders, and my first album I ever bought was the 45 single "Satisfaction" by The Stones.

What's your favorite venue that you have played?
Room 710 and Beerland in Austin.
What would be your all time venue to play?
Frankie - The Whisky.
Jamey - Marquee Club in London.

Who would you like to meet and why?
Frankie - Alice Cooper and Iggy. I think they'd be cool to hang with and maybe some of it will rub off on me.

Jamey- Iggy is a big influence on me, his style and savage rock and roll, and I am inspired by Alice Coooper's intelligence and personal recovery from alcoholism. I love the original Alice Cooper band.

What is your favorite song from your album?
Frankie - All Night Long.
Jamey - Losing My Mind.


Any funny stories you'd like to share?
Frankie - I tore down some lights at a venue we were playing at and we were banned from playing there. I had to go back and repair what I had torn up. When I was fixing the light I almost shocked myself and I blew out all the lights.

They allowed us to come back after I fixed the place, but on our first gig back I tore more shit up and got banned for good!

What got you into music?
Frankie - I want to leave my mark.
Jamey - My parents record collection.


Where do you see yourself in five years?
Frankie - In a stable place. I've been in trouble in the past and I've hit rock bottom. The only way to go is up.
Jamey - Clean, musically productive, and satisfied that I haven't wasted any more time being strung out.

What's up next for you?
Writing new material and a European tour in the summer.
January 26 at Room 710 in Austin.
February 2 House of Rock in Corpus Christi.
February 9 Room 710 in Austin.
March 11 Room 710 Pre SXSW kick-off in Austin.

Check out their myspace page Flash Boys for all concert listings and to purchase their debut album.

All their songs are written from first hand experience. So if your into punk, this band is definitely worth a listen!