My Friend Treanch

I love to talking to Treanch because he has a perspective of Black male America I would never understand. Recently, a manager of our quit. This guy made Treanch's life Hell. I told him that he should report it to human resources. The manager was a middle aged White guy. He got on my nerves too...but he set out to get rid of Treanch. At first, I'd chalked it up to racism. I'm pretty sure this guy didn't like any Black person. I'd test the waters by suggesting him some "Black themed movies" I'd just seen. And I'd see his expression change. It was my entertainment. Anyway...he'd get on my nerves a lot...to a point where I'd talk shit to him. Like...borderline firing offensive. To which he'd wave me off and walk away. We had too much dirt on each other.
So, asking Treanch why he never fought back...he told me a simple thing that still resonates with me..."see, sounds like you got stuff already lined up. I had some real shit jobs, and to get into it with him would just make it easier for them to fire me, and I don't got shit that I can get as easy and not the same."

Okay...he was implying the reason I can talk shit is because...I didn't need the company and any company would hire me (totally not true). But therein lies the subjugation of Black males . The idea that something can be taken away and they had no other option. Fascinating. My dumb hothead ass never thought this way because...he's right. With my background and ethnicity...it wouldn't be a comfortable shift, but I did have an infrastructure of friends to continue if need be. His friends were telling him the same thing. I was floored by this simple yet poignant fact of maturity that men his color and age do not see. And that's when pride overtakes common sense. He had tons of people in his ear about this situation. He shared with me his philosophy of why he didn't retaliate. A fear of...society. a paranoia that he will always be painted the assailant. I've always told him when shot went down, I'd be in his corner...and I meant it. Not because of color, but because you can tell good people from bad.

Treanch had opened my mind to the idea that maturity should trump pride, ego and sometimes...your own entitlement.

Drunks

Do not be mistaken. I have no issues with power drinkers. People I grew up with are still heavy boozers. But that's their choice. I woulf hate to think I'm one of those former boozers who admonishes people who can maintain. It's up to you to decide, ultimately.
Also...drinking is fun, but...making movies gives you purpose. Or other things that fulfill your life. I'm merely suggesting that drinking yourself into a stupor wasn't what I expected. Might be what's holding you back too.

Your Stupid Movie Idea Sucks

I've said this a lot. To people who gave up after hearing their idea wouldn't work. Though I rarely say it like that...they take it like that.

Here's the deal MY ideas suck shit. Serious cowshit suck. I'm somewhat depressed watching garbage I've made in the past. So what? I still make my project. Scratch that, I write it and film it. And I'm so unbelievably proud of that.

Here's the colossal fucking shitbag I hate...the moron who doesn't read a script and proceeds to give opinions and then whines when they're not implemented. Or that we don't see him/her as the cinema genius. I'm dealing with that dude now. I shit you not. This guy believes his ideas should be taken seriously...when he didn't even read the script. Are you laughing yet? Then holds a grudge. And more than likely is spreading his version of how the present project sucks because his ideas weren't done (which they were, he's a dumbfuck film school graduate relying on book learning and not practical knowledge. Also, the director took him seriously...because she seems to think he knows what he's talking about. EVERY single project I've shot...I don't inject my ideas unless I read the script. Nor have I ever guided the project towards my vision. It is NOT my movie. If you are drowning I will help. Otherwise...I ask questions or just there for support.

This idiot is so clueless. So, here's what I tell him "make your own movie. It's not as easy as you think outside of school." Haven't heard from him since.

That...people is why this business sucks. When people like this can have any say is beyond me.

"Texas Chainsaw Massacre" A Cautionary Story

Lawyers and movies. Talent and contracts. None of it meant shit.
When this movie came out, it was practically an instant classic. It made tens of millions, and since the sequels, tie-in merchandise, and licensing easily over 100 million dollars. What did the people who created it get?

Next to nothing. Why? The distribution company made a deal with a shady company which essentially gave points to the points of shares from the company. Meaning residual checks to the talent were under $50. Yes...fifty dollars.

How this isn't a crime is beyond me or any other person who has a brain in their head...aside from...lawyers and shady distributors.

It is no longer a secret distro companies do this creative accounting. "Forrest Gump" is still in the red. Net points gives you nothing. What is heartbreaking are the actors that saw box office climb expecting a nice windfall and getting the shock of getting nothing. How do you not share the success of something this small? Big city folk (gangsters) stole their money, then claimed they were bankrupt.

I'm not sure the message to be mined from this, other than faceless monsters who come out from the dark don't necessarily just carry chainsaws.

I Will Make A Feature Film

I have a lot of film in my fridge. Enough to make a movie. The film is a massive mix of color and black and white from very old to very new. Yet...I do nothing. Worse...I spin my wheels on other people's movies.

I'm embarassed that I haven't made a feature yet. More that I allow my own bullshit to stunt me on it. Insecurity...uncertainty...inflexibility...I have the infrastructure, the skill, the resources.

Let's fucking do it. I have no opinion until I do.

Writer's Strike Movie To Watch

Thank God the strike was averted. Writer's deserve everything. Intellectual property. Everyone thinks ideas and writing is easy. Even people who work in the business. There are a millions of terrible ideas before a good one comes along. If I fund my own movies, I can implement all my shitty ideas. Why not?

I just watched a talking-head documentary about screenwriters called "Tales From The Script."

What it basically boils down to is this...NO ONE gives a flying shit what you did and who you are. Ever.

I've logged in countless hours on set. Directed a few things, wrote a few things, been involved in a lot of projects. Guess what? The newbie in town has as much of a valid opinion as I do. NO ONE...gives a flying fuck. Why? I couldn't tell you. Other than, they most likely see me as a cautionary tale. Okay, cool. Don't listen to the guy. If that's the case. Most likely, everyone has their way of doing things and can chalk it up to different strokes for different folks. That's fine. But there are still some common sense. I value and trust a lot of people's opinions. At the same time though, I also discount a lot of good ideas. Since I'm not successful in it, I naturally assume people don't take what I have to say seriously. I thought it was just me. Nope. Frank Darabont...yes the man who wrote AND directed "The Shawshank Redemption" STILL has to validate himself. That is fucking retarded. AND, painful, because then...what are we working towards? IF experience and effort and history don't give you a platform to being the center of the advice universe...why even bother? I really don't know at this point, other than...head down and keep making movies your way.

It's frustrating because I'm constantly doing battle with people who've never made a damn film and believing their opinion trumps my own. I'm cool with that...NOW go fucking write it and prove it.

Crickets.

Obamacare Repealed?

Trump clearly hates the Obama administration if he's willing to gamble the lives of Americans.

The hate is palpable.

You know what I hate about this whole ordeal? None of this is necessary if we respected our fellow American. That's right AMERICAN. That means citizen. That means get your fucking citizenship. This blowback is as a result of too many assholes taking advantage of the system. Conservatives found the crack to which to end all you asshole who have 10 kids and no job. Will it force them into common sense? Absolutely not. But those will eventually go away, and what you have are contributors to America.

What's been eating at people the entire time, is something unspoken...which is...you need to take the dangled carrot away from the dead horse. You can't (Obama) force people into doing the right thing. They have to believe in the right thing. Which starts with informing people of that.

This repeal still hasn't happened so, who knows...everyone seems to want to claim victory for shit that hasn't happened.