To Other Worlds

Occasionally we’re given unique opportunities which are cloaked in a veil of fear and uncertainty. This year was definitely one of those situations. When we were given the stay at home order we were scared and worried, quite frankly still are a little. However, it gave us a unique opportunity to spend an extraordinary amount of time with our children. Which meant we could be creative with them. Share with them their sense of imagination and my medium of artistic creation.

We came up with a concept and plan to shoot and create this film together. We spent a few weeks working on it and really getting things right. It was fun, and what we created together I’ll remember forever. I hope they’ll cherish it long after I’m gone.

The Skyview Motel

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For years my travels have taken me up and down California State highway 101. Having driven past the Hotel on the hill in Los Alamos hundreds of times I’d always wondered. “What is that place like?”

Then one day on a drive past I noticed that it was being remodeled. Which typically means that they’re making it nicer, more accommodating, and much more luxurious.

Now years later my wife and I found time to stop and stay for a night. The two sets of motel style rooms are split by a beautiful garden area with fire pit’s and water features strewn throughout. Next to the restaurant is the pool with it’s outside bar.

Our room was spacious and comfortable, with a secluded outside patio which faced the hills away from the highway. We had a private gas fireplace and outdoor shower (which for whatever reason was only hooked up to the cold water).

Either way this may have quickly become one of our “getaway” spots.
When we just need a 24-hour reset and silence.

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To The Moon

Occasionally I’ll find myself with enough time to both enjoy playing with my children while also making a piece of work that I can really get excited about. From the middle towards the end of last year I really only had time for one or the other. That really means that there’s only enough time to spend playing with my boys.

During the holiday break, after all large scale projects for 2019 had wrapped up and I was really beginning to take a breath of the new year. I found myself with the opportunity to make a piece of work that I can really be proud of while also making something that my kids can have a good laugh at.

As I was working on this my oldest came into my studio space and said. “I heard something in here, it sounded like a movie… Like the beginning of The Grinch or something.”

I kind of laughed to myself and told him that I was making a surprise film for him and his brother. He smiled so wide and asked when we got to watch. I told him probably this evening.

When the year rolls over a lot of people talk about making changes in the new one. Even I fall victim to thinking that “this year will be different”. Well, I’m definitely going to try and put on a new face for 2020. Let’s see if it makes my brain work any better.

Flour, Water and Yeast

I was working my way through hard drives. Cleaning out old projects, consolidating and organizing and I came across this project I had shelved a few years back. In 2016 I went down to Brea to chat with my buddy Brad Kohler about his career and passion.

During that same weekend I shot two other documentaries. “This is Not a Nice Sport” and “A Simple Story” and for whatever reason this one took a back seat. Likely for a wide range of reasons which included the audible hum from the heavy machinery in the bakery. To the oddly lit room which was more green or yellow than it was bright and white.


That being said I tried to put all of that to the side in order to be able to put something into the world rather than let it die on a hard drive.

As a plus, Brad has moved onto bigger and better things. He’s up Portland way now and he’s working at a place he loves, creating some of the most amazing breads and pastries I’ve ever seen. If you want to feel a dose of dough envy.

Take a peek at his Instagram

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Terror "In Spite Of These Times"

I had the opportunity to work on a music video for one of my favorite hardcore bands. Terror asked me to help them conceptualize and realize an idea. It was a ton of work and there were a lot of creative parameters to work around. We didn’t have much time with the band and spent a bulk of that time doing the very end of the video which is a little teaser clip.

It’s my favorite part of the entire piece. Not only because I think it looks really mean and it’s cut frenetically. But it also allows you to see the band which helps create a connection between the viewer and the performer. Something that the hardcore scene has always prided itself on.

I’m stoked to be a part of the process and had fun and the end result looks like I had seen it in my head. Which is always a positive.

Staying Sharp

Recently I had the opportunity to direct a small app explainer commercial job.  We had a nice tight crew of about eight people.  My DP introduced me to our grip who was a real great guy.

We got to talking during the shoot and he decided to waive his fee if I could help him edit and fix a short documentary he shot on a hand made knife maker.  I'm always looking to tell a good story so I said why the hell not.

A few months later we got the drive over to the studio.  He told me his tales of trying to get this film out into the world and I let him know we could make it happen. 

So here's the story of a world class hand made knife maker who's dealt with cancer for over twenty years.  He used his life's obstacles to direct him on a path towards doing something he loves.

This is Staying Sharp.

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Berthold City "Walls Of Hate"

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Finished up a quick music video for Berthold City.  We shot it over the course of about 6 hours in a studio space in the valley.  Why do traditionally trained Editors make for great Directors?  They can move quickly from shot to shot editing the piece in their brain.  They can see what they'll need.  What sync issues might come up, and best of all. The know when they've got it.  Which is why we were able to shoot this under such time constraints in a limited amount of space with a bare bones crew.  Enjoy.

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Thanks For Riding L.A. Metro

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Over the last couple of months this Father has been doing the things Fathers and Mother's do for their children.  Making sure they provide their kids with all of the resources they can so that they become successful in life.  Most recently that has meant taking our oldest into Santa Monica twice a week to attend speech class.  Typically this is about a three hour event.  Takes about 35-45 minutes to get there.  It's an hour long class, and then takes about 90 minutes to get home.  

Because of the appointment's close proximity to the Metro station I decided one Spring break afternoon to give the train a try.  We love it.  First off, it's fast.  Fast as hell, and I don't have to worry about driving on highway 405.  Second, it's reasonably priced.  $3.50 roundtrip for the adult passenger.  Lastly, I find it super important for my boys to get exposed to public transportation.  As a child I rode Bart frequently with my parents and I strongly believe that much of my outlook on life has to do with experiencing all that comes with public transportation. 

The boys and I take the Metro into Santa Monica once a week.  While we haven't yet convinced Gaelyn of it's benefits.  We are working on her to step out of her comfort zone and take the train with the boys to class.  Let's give her some positive affirmation!  You can do it G!

(Scroll to the bottom for a little family video I did on the trip).

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Missing The Beach

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Missing The Beach

This has been the longest we've spent out of the tiny beach town just south of Santa Barbara. As the days grow longer and warmer, we usually start making trips up the coast once or twice a month.  However, due to an awfully long Winter coupled with the natural disasters that hit the area.  We've been sort of stuck in a holding pattern as Summer approaches.  

The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck

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“Our culture today confuses great attention and great success, assuming them to be the same thing. But they are not”
— The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck

I've recently come to the determination that listening to the news Los Angeles traffic has done very little for my psychological well being.  Instead, I've once again turned to the world of the audiobook, and the first one on my list was one called "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck" by Mark Mason.  

It was a perfect personal compliment and affirmation about how I've started to perceive my life and the world around me.  I've had similar experiences and realizations to that of the author and will probably continue to quote the book for some time.

“Don’t just sit there. Do something. The answers will follow.”
— -The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck

In the book there's a whole chapter dedicated to the "Do Something" principle.  It talks about when the author finally quit his day job and became a self-employed entrepreneur.  Without realizing it, this was something that I also stepped into in May of 2011.

On May 30th, 2011 my wife and I had moved out of our large two bedroom apartment on the West Side of San Francisco, packed up our lives into the back of a U-Haul and moved across the State to try a new start in Los Angeles.

We didn't have jobs, or many prospects at all.  We just needed to make a change and have a swing at it.  There were so many barriers to entry, so many obstacles to overcome.  Yet, I kept telling myself.  Just do something.  Just make something.  Little did I know at the time that this big change for my wife and I would be a pivotal moment in my life.  It would change our trajectory profoundly and led to us ending up where we are today.

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“Life is about not knowing, and then doing something anyway.”
— The Subtle art of Not Giving a Fuck

Four Barrel Coffee Roasters

I hadn't been to Four Barrel coffee roasters in a few years.  In fact, I hadn't been to the Bay Area in over a year and in February of 2018 I got two go twice.  Which meant a stop in at the old Four Barrel stomping grounds.  We popped in an hour before closing and BOY were they inhospitable.  That didn't bother me though.  I walked away with a cappuccino and two bags of beans to enjoy at home.  Plus they'd changed their packaging which is beautiful on the shelf and showcases different artists on different bags.

I didn't realize that their bags were biodegradable too.  You can pop them in your own personal compost pile.  (If you follow the instructions on the bottom of the bag).  Nice touch!

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Four Barrel Coffee
375 Valencia St,
San Francisco, CA 94103

Temple Coffee Roasters

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This was from our Parents Day Out trip in Sacramento.  We stopped into Temple Coffee Roasters to get a bag of their "Three Pillars" blend.  It's a great place to stop if you're in Sacramento.  Shout out to the TSA agent who had to pull me aside to check my bag and knew by the shape of this bag that it was Temple Coffee Beans.  Ha ha.  Epic!

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1010 9th St,
Sacramento, CA 95814

https://templecoffee.com/

Spearhead Coffee Roasters

I always try and stop in at the General Store when I'm rolling through Paso Robles.  They don't necessarily have a café in the spot.  However, they're always carrying some pretty interesting goods.  The most recent stop in yielded this epic bag of Spearhead Coffee.  Roasted specifically for the General Store in Paso Robles California. 

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841 12th Street
Paso Robles, CA · 93446
(805) 226 5757
http://www.generalstorepr.com/

Berthold City

Photo: Dan Patrick

Photo: Dan Patrick

I'm not quite sure what possessed me to do such a thing.  But, I have joined a new hardcore punk outfit called Berthold City.  Honestly, it's quite a bit of fun.  My good friend Dennis reached out to me in the later half of last year and said that he was joining a band in Los Angeles and he wanted me to play too.  I said, "Sure, but I want to play bass." In an attempt to have this band be as low impact on my life as I could.  Fortunately, the group that we put together makes it quite fun.  Plus, Andrew the singer spends quite a deal of time writing, recording, and preparing for us to play.  Making this situation pretty much ideal for this time in my life.  Plus I get to get back on a stage, act a fool and release a type of creative energy that I haven't been able to tap into for a few years.

You may wonder, "What's with that name?"  Yah, I did the same thing.  It's the name of the font that was used by all of the 80's Youth Crew and Straight Edge bands.  Making it a pretty meta name, especially if you're into design as well as punk rock and hardcore.  Either way, we're having a good time playing.  We're releasing a new record at the end of this month and we'll be playing four shows on the East coast early in April.  Let me know if you want to come catch us play and say hello.

Buy Merch and Records at: War-Rec.com

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BUY THE RECORD

MOMENT OF TRUTH

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