Musings From Austin, Texas

Missing Items

2008-09-28T23:31:00.001-05:00

I lost your mixtape
Can you make me a new one?
Don’t act like times have changed
Cause that might make you change the order
I like the songs the way they were
Just hit the copy button
And forget what I did

I lost my watch
Time is important to me
My dad gave it to me
It’s sentimental
Even though I don’t really like my dad
Just mail it to me
And forget what I did

I lost my Swiss Army Knife
It’s got a screwdriver
You really don’t need a screwdriver do you?
I got it in Switzerland
Boy, those mountains were beautiful
Just give it to our mutual friend
And forget what I did

I lost my confidence
Did I leave it at your place?
Check under the mountain of regrets I always leave behind
Silly me
Just, you know, hand it over
And forget what I did

What makes a romantic hopeless?

2008-04-08T05:15:00.001-05:00

I think these two videos say EXACTLY what I want to say, without saying it.

One day...

2008-03-03T00:05:00.001-06:00

I think it would be nice to drop some baggage. Emotional, physical, you name it.
The problem isn't that we have baggage, it's that we buy bigger suitcases all the time.

I wish

2008-02-25T00:11:00.001-06:00

I wish I could see her, just for one day.
I wish I could find out, is she the one?
I wish I could touch her, does she still remind me of the sunlight?
I wish I could believe, that she is my soulmate.
I wish I could find out, is she the one?
I wish I could drive tonight, to find the courage to drive thunder road.
I wish I could.
I wish.
I should.

No More Facebook Feeds, We're Off The Grid

2007-10-28T07:38:00.001-05:00

You're already the voice inside my head

And have been for years.

:)

Angel... indeed

2007-07-14T23:38:00.001-05:00

I'm feeling multiple waves of feelings right now and I thought I try to share some of them.

Angel Pedraza, one of my three roommates in my freshman year, passed away. This by itself would be shocking and heartbreaking. What adds to this is that he passed in March of this year. And I found out today.

I don't know how to react. Of course there is feelings of sadness, feelings of loss. Angel was a fellow RTF major and I always thought we'd patch things up and work on a project together down the line. You would like everything to nicely wrapped up when you lose someone but Angel and I were quite distant last year, and now I feel regret that we couldn't patch things up. We were all very different people in that dorm room, and we were all adapting to college life.

And then there's shock. Shock that the word never reached me. That I had to learn off of the Austin Film Society website when trying to apply for an internship. I can't believe that with the number of mutual friends that we made over freshman year that not one would contact me. I didn't read about it in the news, I didn't hear any notice of it through UT. You think the University would inform former roommates if an enrolled student passed away. I'm really upset that I had to learn this way. I'm partly to blame, I'll admit, having not keeping in touch with him, but I still wish I had known sooner.

Life, as you learn over and over again, is a fragile thing. If I ask one thing from you, is to find someone who you may have fallen out with, and see how they are doing, you don't always get the chance to.

R.I.P Angel, I will miss you.

Two posts for the price of one.

2007-07-12T12:08:00.001-05:00

For some reason the last post I did never made it on facebook. No bother, this one should be short and sweet.

I just took a look at the wedding photos from Travis and Amy's wedding and I just gotta say that it looked amazing. Thanks Vivi for taking such great shots, you all looked fantastic and I just love seeing the whole gang together looking super snazzy. I really need to stop leaving Austin for the summer because you guys go out and do plays and get married and I'm stuck washing fig stains out of my factory outfit. I should be back in about 40-50 days give or take and I can't wait to see you all again.

On a similar note getting Mario back in the fall is like having your favorite character of a TV show leave and then come back a few seasons later. I miss the fella and I can't wait to go back, lose ten bucks a week, and return to the ballroom. I truly believe this upcoming semester will be my best 4 months of my life, that's my goal at least.

In other news.

E3 is back, and it's much much smaller. But that hasn't stopped my heart from getting caught in my throat after all the announcements. I won't go into detail here but let me just give you a quick top five list.

5. GTA IV
I first got my grnadmother to buy GTA III and I've been addicted ever since.
4. Halo 3
Do I have to say anything.
3. WiiFit
Should go well with the diet cola and diet pills I'll be taking in the fall
2. Super Smash Brothers Wii
You haven't lived til you've played a 99 life match
1. ROCK BAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111111111ZOMG
Downloadable Songs, Who's Next, Drums and a Mic, this game may just own my soul.

Expect a bigger post this weekend. I got a surprise for you.

A Quick One While He's Away (Facebook Link)

Sleep, it's optional

2007-07-09T00:14:00.001-05:00

I can't really seem to hit the sack right now so I thought I would talk to you folks a little bit about dating.

It seems to me that I should have fully moved on by now and have at least made a passing attempt at starting a relationship. I've been single since January of 06'. Making this probably the longest stretch since middle school that I haven't been dating. I think 18 months is long enough to start getting back into the game huh?

I realize that the fact that I've had confidence issues has turned a quite a few people off. I understand being a guy who is prone to instances of both extreme self-doubt and delusions of grandeur is not in any way an attractive quality. However, I am confident that I am fixing these problems. Come next fall it will be interesting to see how I handle trying to get back on the market.

I often wonder about the mistakes I made in past relationships. I've probably monday-morning quarterbacked every single one, trying to find an answer to a question that has eluded people far smarter than me. Fear plays a part, fear of intimacy, fear of controlling or being controlled. I think it may all come down to the simple fact that if you don't have your act together, how are you supposed to handle the weight of two becoming one?

Mimi, in RENT, said that she was "looking for baggage that goes with mine." When you can find someone who can begin to understand where you are coming from, it makes the future journey so much easier. I think next time, I'll start by looking for matching baggage.

Love Heals (Facebook Link)

Do you care? Do you think you care?

2007-07-07T23:29:00.001-05:00

Live 8
Live Aid
Farm Aid
Live Earth
Live Farm the 8 Earth's Aid

I don't mean to dismiss the contributions to society that these mega-concerts do but it does say something about our culture that we consider the best way to discuss global warming is to wrap the message around massive concerts. Even the future of our planet has to have some entertainment damnit!

I finally am encourage by my generation. We got this massive influx of technology at a very young age and now we're finally starting the baby step towards using it for good and not just porn and music downloads. We're starting the inevitable war against our parents' generation and we really have only one person to thank for our increasing awareness.

George W. Bush

I used to defend Bush. Back in high school I was of the opinion that he was unfairly picked on and he was stuck in a situation that no one could have done better in. Now, I honestly think anyone in the SEC office could run the country better than him. Along with Mr. "What Branch Am I Again?" Cheney he has managed to unite almost the whole country AGAINST him. I thought it would take a draft to unite the youth movement, but all he needed to do was put MY friends and many other people's friends, neighbors, and siblings in harm's way for no clear goal and no positive outcome. When I read about those we lose in war it makes me want to work hard to make sure the rest of them get home safe. Thank you Mr. Bush, for proving me wrong and getting gen Y to work.

In other news...

The counseling is going amazing well. We're getting to the core issues and I'm already starting to see improvements in how I deal in crowds. The next few sessions should continue to show progress and I'm really hopeful that I will not have the problems I had last year pop back up again.

The script is now in it's third revision (currently 2nd Draft 2nd Revision.) I think we should have the script locked by August 1st so I can send out feelers for casting before I even reach Austin. My plan is to start shooting at the SEC office almost right out of the gate so we can build momentum for the harder shooting later on. Other than that no real tidbits on that project. Though don't be surprised if you see a new YouTube video before leaving Ohio.

Write on my Honesty Box folks. It might brighten up a bad day, you never know.

Sunny Hours (Facebook Link)

When the mind is fractured,

2007-06-30T09:09:00.001-05:00

It's time for...

Bits and Pieces

Thursday I had my first visit with my counselor here in Ohio. The meeting, even as a first step "evaluation", was very helpful in looking at a few things. I can't really predict what we're going to work on but I will say that we talked a lot about the fact that there is almost two Michael's. Before 7th grade there was only the shy, introspective Michael, and then afterwards came the outgoing, very loud and dramatic Michael. I've been thinking about this for a couple of years but I still don't understand why it is. I just hope we don't kill the dramatic Michael just before Madrigal. :)

The script for "Musings from Austin, Texas" is now on it's second draft. I let my mom read through the first draft and she gave a few suggestions, one of which was to completely re-vamp half the script. So that's what I'm doing, completely rewriting the second act, removing a character, and trying to freshen up some of the others. I may finish it up on Sunday but I'm expecting to use some of my July 4th vacation time to do so. I'm also thinking about calling up some friends of the female persuasion to help rewrite some lines. I'll be honest, I can't write women, I suck at it.

Piracy is a hobby of mine. Having two modded consoles and access to some primo download sites lets me save some money on games. But piracy ain't free folks. Modchips, installation, blank media and other accessories add up. So when I discovered that my stack on blank DVD's wasn't burning my Wii games right I was ticked. I went down to Best Buy and got me an amazing deal. Verbatim 25-pack of DVD+R for $8.99. Right next to that was Verbatim 50-packs for $29.99. So I bought two of the 25's for a little under 20 and went home and did some testing. Sure enough, they burn the Wii games just fine. Now I just have to pray I don't get banned from Xbox Live before Halo 3.

Die-Hard 4. See it with your brain turned off and disregard 1-3 and you'll get a kick out of it. I'll give it 2.5 stars out of 4.

Who's That Guy? (Facebook Link)

The Alamo Drafthouse Blog-a-Thon: Nilbog is Goblin Spelled Backwards!

2007-06-24T22:02:00.001-05:00

When the word came out that Jette Kernion (the go-to Austin guy at Cinematical.com) was asking for Alamo Drafthouse memories in honor of the closing of the Alamo downtown, I thought about what one moment defined the Alamo experience to me.

Was it seeing my girlfriend at the time woo a crowd of rollergirls to a stunning rendition of hopelessly devoted to you?

Was it playing Halo 2 on the massive screen and yelling obscenities without one complaint?

Was it any of those amazing moments while volunteering at SXSW like when I got on the "This Film is Not Yet Rated" DVD?

Nah. None of those come close to the moment last fall when me and a group of amazing friends went to a midnight screening of Troll 2.

I had first watched Troll 2 when I was around 8 or 9. I was channel surfing one Saturday morning when I came upon Cinemax. I started watching it and I couldn't really tell that the movie was bad until the young boy defeated the goblins by eating a double-decker sandwich. Even at 9, I could tell that killing goblins with bologna was not exactly the most cinematic of ideas.

Fast foward 10 years and I'm at a Weird Wednesday with my good friend Sierra. We're all walking out after the movie when the host that night says "Oh! We're playing Troll 2 soon!"

My jaw hit the floor.

I hadn't seen that movie in 10 years and yet the title still was stuck in my head just because of its pure badness. I told everyone I could that they should prepare for Troll 2. The day of the screening comes and I'm thinking it's going to be a regular Terror Thursday. I check the website and my jaw drops again. Now by this time I am looking at a) a swollen jaw and b) a sold out screening because they are bringing cast members!

THE CAST OF TROLL 2 EXISTS!?!

These people are human? Get outta town. With the acting I had saw I would have assumed incomplete robots. I start letting even more of my friends know about the screening, trying to get a posse to see this because I know it will blow them away. Finally, I think we got about 10 people to come to the Alamo. We're waiting in line when the dad from the movie comes out to talk to the people in the line. There's a camera behind him and we later find out, as we're signing the releases, that they are working on a doc about the cult following. The guy is truly a nice fellow and I enjoy telling him that this movie has already scarred me for life.

The screening was pure Alamo. Midnight, school night, packed house, free cookies and milk, Q&A. All the little things that make the drafthouse the best theater I've ever been to. I get to ask the cast a question, got some goblin masks, but most importantly, share this amazing movie and this amazing screening with a big group of friends. When I look at that night I see why I love living in Austin, and why I love my friends.

I'll miss the downtown location, but as long as I can take the 1 or the 5 to the Ritz, and as long as they keep showing the movies that nobody else will touch, then I will continue to be there as much as possible.

100 Posts, A Million Memories

2007-06-18T22:05:00.001-05:00

Sunday was a historic day. A fantastic day.

And it was also father's day. Call your dad(s) if you haven't.

This is a two part post. Part one is about the newest project from Five Donkey Films. Part two is about the future of the blog and the future for me.

So I can finally reveal a few things about the script. The official title, and the one that will most likely stick this time, is "Musings From Austin, Texas"

Yeah, I named it after the blog. The reason being that the script really reflects that kind of spirit that the blog represents, a mixture of heartfelt emotion and overwhelming ideas about life. The script is a simple story about Ameer and I, on the last day of finals in May 2008. It's about friendship, it's about courage, it's about finding it in yourself to do the impossible. It's also funny.

When the script started coming together over this past month I decided that since the script is over 20 pages it's right around the size of a festival short, actually it's a bit longer, but still inside the length limits. This means that I am considering sending it out to local and regional film festivals to see if we are progressing. In order to do this though I had to sacrifice my massive music collection for the soundtrack and seek out music that was cleared for use. That means using stuff like creative commons and public domain music, but I'm not too keen on that stuff, so I called up some friends.

The following artists are allowing their music to be used for FREE in "Musings From Austin, Texas"
Kaare Egedahl
People Machine
0 for 7

That gives me over two albums worth of music to choose from. Brett from 0 for 7 also told me that other acts may be interested so this list may grow much larger before we get ready to put together the soundtrack. All three acts are friends of mine so it's nice that even the music is keeping in theme of friendship. In the case of Kaare, I've known the guy since I was TWO, I think my mom has some adorable pictures of him from my third birthday party at McDonald's.

The script was completed Sunday morning, at least the first draft. Meaning we can start shooting as soon as I can get my cast together. I will be doing auditions for the character of Liz, who is the major female character and probably the most important piece of casting I will do in college. I'll be e-mailing several actresses from both Gigglepants and Madrigal to ask them to come on in and read with Ameer.

The pieces are coming together in pre-production. Now Quoc and I have to tear apart the script and see how the hell we're going to shoot this with no money and only weekends to spare. The excitement is building folks, stay tuned for more info.

And now to talk about the future...

I blog for both myself and my friends. There is also however a third audience. That audience is in fact history. I looked back at the previous 99 posts before writing this one, and it told the history of my sophomore year in college. From the last days in Cedar Point, to my brief infatuation with cast mates, to project after project after project, to success, to failure, and finally to hitting bottom. 11 months, 100 posts, all telling a story both intensely private and immediately public.

The next 100 posts will continue to be honest, introspective, and hopefully funny. The blog will be therapy, practice, and a sounding board for my thoughts. The great thing is I have no idea how many readers I have, either on facebook notes, or on the blog itself. That helps, not having to please anyone with what I write here.

I promise you to keep writing what I have always written, my life. No more, no less. Stay tuned, the next 100 are going to be fun.

SBTB "Friends Forever" (Facebook Link)

The 99th Post

2007-06-15T02:13:00.001-05:00

From sub-urban Ohio.
Land of green grasses.
Where the neighbors water each others plants.
Comes...

Bits and Pieces
Chunky Edition

So I had been planning on writing this before LAST weekend, but I've been a little flustered with writing in general so I took some time off and worked on leveling up my World of Warcraft character. He's now a level 51 out of 70 and I should be ready to do some of the larger content in the game by the end of the summer, which was my goal.

Whenever I write a script I usually have a large break between the first half and the second half of writing. I run out of creative steam around the mid-point and I have to rethink things. I should be getting back to work real soon though and getting the first draft done. I plan on doing some rewrites before the summer is done and hopefully start shooting with a second draft script around September.

As for the untitled movie I will be announcing some MAJOR information about it on the 100th post. I've been talking to people over the past week, getting things in place, and I can say already we have stuff planned that is significantly larger than anything Quoc and I have done.

I've been home alone right now for about 11 days. The parents decided to enjoy a trip to Italy and I've been left with some food money and a daily list of things to do. Some days have been better than others. Like today I was feeling light headed for most of the day so I had to take an extra nap. I've also been trying to get a therapist set up here but they have been hard as hell to get them on the phone to set up an appointment. So right now the mental health situation is solid but not improving much.

Let me be more in depth. I'm feeling much more confident about how I am going to do next year when it comes to school and all that. I just wish I could continue the progress I made on identifying my core issues. I'm not a wreck folks, I'm just hoping to understand some things better. Why I do things, how I can do them better, that's all.

OH! Big important information! I have a new cell phone number, I'll put this on a separate note later but my new number is 419-619-6061. Please update your address books, or add it if you never bothered to call me ever. Also, and this is not a requirement but a request, I put up an honesty box on my facebook profile and nobody has put anything on mine yet. I pour my heart out for you folks, let's see a little payback.

Piracy! It's a good thing. The Xbox 360 may be banned from online play (not sure, don't want to find out) but the backups still work and the Wii just got a new modchip today! All is golden. I've been adding some new movies as well and with that 5.1 surround system I won I can play those downloaded movies on my TV finally. I've been also thinking about a movie night when I get back, how does this sound?

SCARY ASS SEQUEL NIGHT!
1) Hostel: Part 2 (Bootleged off of a Workprint copy)
2) Troll 2
3) Grease 2!!!!!!!

100th post this weekend. 1 Year Anniversary next month. The next post will be about my plans for life in the future. The 1 year anniversary will be about the past and history of my writing. Expect a gift in July.

And a final note. A political bits and pieces.

Harry Reid, I'm asking you to grow a pair. I know it may be hard, you are a career politician, but the people who gave you power told you pretty clearly why they gave you that power, to bring my friends home. Now, Mr. Reid, you should pay attention and start shaking things up. The people will support you if you decide to take the White House on so don't worry. Bring them home.

Musings From Austin Texas is not endorsing any presidential candidate right now, but we encourage whoever wins the nomination to add Bill Richardson as the Vice Presidential nominee. He has the most qualification of any candidate on either side of the race and he'd make the most powerful diplomat in a time in which we need to rediscover diplomacy. Obama/Richardson or Clinton/Richardson either way, we need that kind of experience in the White House.

That is all...

Free Bird (Link for Facebook Readers)

#98 is about the weight

2007-06-01T10:25:00.001-05:00

288 Pounds

288 POUNDS!?!

This is horrible. I've spent almost two weeks at the biscuit factory sweating my butt off and I'm at 288. Which means I was probably close to 300 when I left college last month. No wonder some of my shirts were starting to not fit.

Folks, if you've ever wondered what hitting bottom looks like, keep reading this blog.

I have to rebuild so much in this next year. I have to rebuild my whole system of living, what I eat, how I study, how I deal with relationships and friendships. All these things need to be better because towards the end last semester they all started falling apart. I mean, here is what it comes down to. If I can't find a way to make myself happy, how in the world am I supposed to keep moving at this pace that I've set?

My mom and I (and my stepdad and my sister...) talked about how basically I've been relying on external praise and support almost solely. It's the "Actor's Drug" the need to feel loved by everyone at every time. It kinda makes since now looking back at how often I hogged the mic at film committee screenings. The approval of a crowd, it's the ultimate high. But I'm starting to realize that the external confidence started to replace the confidence I had inside of me. Now, there is very little left, and I'm stuck trying to getting more and more of it, stretching me to the limits.

Am I rambling yet?

Madrigal Night Live 2. I co-produced, I directed some shorts, I wrote some scripts, I acted in over half the sketches. I used to say that like it was a badge of honor, now I realize that I was trying to grab as much spotlight as I could get my hands on, my skin only felt warm underneath the glow of stage lighting. Jeez, writing this I realize how zealous I turned out to be.

I have to learn to love myself. I'll repeat. I have to learn to love myself.

AND I'VE GOT TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT :)

The 97th Post is about... The Woes of Biscuits

2007-05-22T10:34:00.001-05:00

There are so many things I could be blogging about right now with summer starting up. But before I get into all of those and before I start planning the 100th post celebration. I thought I should talk about the current issue facing me.

My current job sucks.

It took a whole week to go through the hiring process and then when I arrived my first day they kept me in the break room for over an hour before sending me home. Apparently the job I signed up for is part of a temp agency and I'm starting to seriously doubt that I'll be able to make a 40hr/week job out of this. Therefore I sent in an application to a Blockbuster here in town and I'm hoping I can get hired by them real soon before my mom and I have a fist-fight.

The biscuit factory is cool and all and they have a nice shift and break schedule, but if I can't work for them full time then it's a waste of time. And lets face it, a film major with three years of customer service experience would fit MUCH better at a blockbuster than at a factory. Some of those people are creeeeepy.

In other news...

The untitled script now has a title and about five pages written. I'm now guessing the final script to be around 20 pages or so, probably less because I'm condensing a lot of the action writing and they'll end up being much larger on screen than on the page. I'm saving the title for the 100th post and I haven't e-mailed any pages because I want to finish the first act before I start giving it out. I also have the whole cast down in my head and I just need to lock them up. Including Ameer's love interest! That was by far the hardest casting I had to think of.

Get ready for more updates as soon as I hear from Blockbuster.

I'm such a tease.

2007-05-11T07:43:00.001-05:00

What features a chase scene in a library...
A TA whose only goal is destruction...
A party scene shot using the state-of-the-art "Q" Cam...
And much much more?

You'll find out in 08'

"20-21" ( Temporary Title)
Starring Ameer Mobarak and Michael Domangue

The 95th Blog Post is About Nebraska

2007-05-08T07:07:00.000-05:00

I just checked my stats and it looks like I am five posts away from 100. That one will be a doozy I promise you.

Now onto the meat.

In less than an hour I will be finally checked out of dobie and on my way towards I-35. The goal today is to make the 12-13 hour trip to Nebraska. If my car had a flux capaciter it would only increase the irony that yes, I am going back to the future.

Two years ago my only goal was escape, as quickly as possible. Now, on the verge of my return, my only goal is to see what fragments of my past are still there for me to witness. Most of my old friends will not see me, either by choice, by distance, or by inability to do so. So the landmarks will do most of the talking.

Maybe I'll see Spidey 3 at the theatre.
Maybe I'll stop by Sun Mart for the chicken strips.
Maybe I'll drive by AHS and thank Falter, Weiss, and Ms J.
Maybe I'll sit in the park, reminding myself of the No You concert that kicked off an amazing summer so many years ago

Can one, by returning to a place of both pain and pleasure find something in himself that he lost, or forgot? Whereas my days in Louisiana are but sugared memories, my memories of the midwest are still somewhat raw, still clouded by passions. Is there anything left in that town of 3,000 that can answer the question "Am I better now for having once been here?"

This day will bring a range of emotions. But if you see me around the streets of Auburn, Nebraska on Wednesday, understand I do not come to bury Bobby Bouche, I come here to praise him.

The digital middle finger

2007-05-01T20:16:00.001-05:00

09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

These magic hex numbers are the key to disabling DRM on HD-DVD's. Sites all around the internet are being forced to take down this number. Why is a number illegal?

09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

Spread the magic.
Fight the MPAA.

Going back

2007-04-29T13:52:00.001-05:00

I'm not going to lie. The fact that I am giddy to return to Nebraska shocks me.

Positively giddy.

I get two chances a year to truly be free. Once in May, and once in August. Those times I pack up my car with all my important belongings and I drive. I drive by myself, with no concerns, no worries, no self-doubt, no thoughts about life outside the stretch of pavement ahead of me. These trips cleanse my soul, they are that good.

This year, having two past road trips go really well, I decided to plan something a little different. I'm taking four days this year. In these four days I travel from Austin to Lincoln, NE. From Lincoln to somewhere in Illinois. And from Illinois to Findlay, OH. It's a giant inverted L of a trip and it gives me a rare opportunity.

Reflection.

I haven't been in Lafayette more than an hour or two since December of 2001. That to me is one of my biggest regrets. Not being able to look back at my roots and see the spots that made me who I am. Now, for 24 hours, I get to go back to the state that changed my life forever. More importantly, I get to see the friends who I treasure. These guys were with me when I was snatching gold medals, and when I went through my darker days. Their support was key to me being able to last four years there.

Auburn High School

I am burning DVDs today with some of my favorite RTF shorts. I'm considering passing them out to some of my old AHS teachers. Falter would definitely be the first to get one. I'm even wanting to talk to Ms. Fuller. Just to say hi and maybe even apologize for some of my earlier missteps.

I even want some Cotty's burgers.

Politics

2007-04-26T14:12:00.001-05:00

There was a time, back when I created this blog, when I thought that if I used this space to discuss things that weren't focused squarely on me, then I was doing the blog a disservice and would be going back to the fiery Michael of old. The Michael who ranted too much. But frankly I no longer feel content sitting on the sidelines of politics anymore. I spent four years worth of weekends talking about politics to whoever was unfortunate enough to get saddled with an extemp judge position. After those four years and an unpleasant experience with the Nebraska Young Democrats on the road in South Dakota, I decided to stay away from such issues.

That time of retreat is over. The time to feign ignorance or claim apathy is finished.

My generation, you have yet to take back the flag of resistance that your parents dropped when they began to purchase imported silk ties. Take a look at the situation around you. Our president is now at about a 37% approval rating. That means that all he has left is the hardcore of the hardcore. Nobody is acting like we are protecting America anymore. All we are doing in Iraq is proving to ourselves that nobody likes to read history. And I'm here to warn you folks, even Nixon ran on a "disengagement" platform.

The leaders of this country understand that as long as the draft is not on the table that we as a generation will not have the willpower to fight them. Nothing makes someone say "Cut and Run" faster than a kid who just found out that he may not get the chance to flip burgers five miles from his mom's house.

I am going to include three videos here. Two are from a McCain interview on The Daily Show that was quite disheartening to watch and the other is a link to a video from MSNBC about fear mongering.

Click here for the MSNBC clip

Click here for the Daily Show Interview

Blogging On A Budget

2007-04-23T20:16:00.001-05:00

When you can't afford those damn full size blog posts...

BITS AND PIECES

I'm listening to "Jungleland" by The Boss right now and I have to say, nobody sings and epic like Bruce Springsteen sings an epic. Damn!

I'm deciding that I need one more solid semester here at UT before I think I can turn the corner. By turn the corner I mean reach a place where I can begin to fix some problems that have been bugging me for over a decade and I didn't even realize it. I've got so much baggage I don't even know where's the best place to unpack it.

Would you like to hear a bombshell?

I went in for counseling last week. I had spent a whole day on my bed last week and I realized I was hitting some sort of psychological bottom and I needed to change some things. I went in on Friday and after talking for about an hour I realize that at the core of all of my problems right now is a massive case of self-doubt. I think I can trace all my issues to the fact that I am my own worst critic, that the person who I've been thinking of conspiracy theories about is me. I'm going to work on a several-stage routine to try and break down some issues and work on rebuilding my self-esteem. I'm not promising a "New Michael" come this fall. I'm promising a work-in-progress.

I got an amazing letter today from a good friend from my middle school days. She wrote about a couple of things but she also mentioned an appreciation for my writings and it really gave me the boost to do some fiction writing today.

So I normally announce projects before I start working on them but today I have the fortune to announce a project after writing 25% of it!

"The Last Days in Georgia" is a short story with three chapters and a prologue. It deals with a powerful man and the regrets he faces in the last days of his life. I'm trying to keep things vague and the prologue will not explain one lick of the rest of the story but I beg you to stick with it and continue to read the blog as I release the story in bits here and there when I have them ready. The prologue will go up later tonight if I can get one person to read it first.

The YouTube video will show one influence on the story, it by no means is a hint on the content.

A somber tone...

2007-04-17T23:32:00.001-05:00

April 20th, 1999
September 11th, 2001
April 16th 2007

I remember these days. They are burned in my head as much as they are in the people in my same age range. I remember where I was, what I did, the locations are vivid, the aftermath clear. These are not days that I want to mark in the mental diary that I keep, but I must, I must hold on to those memories, if only to remind me of the precious nature of life, the fragility, and to understand the unpredictability of our road to the future.

My heart goes out deeply to all of those who have been affected by these events. My heart goes out even more to those my age, whose life is forever altered because of three hellish hours.

***************

The mourning must not be interrupted by those who seek to try and find a "Cause." A cause to these people is simply something to blame. Let people bury the dead, treat the wounded, reflect, and then, and only then, should you start looking at how this can happen. Don't let this become another columbine where the 24-hour media decided that music, movies, and video games caused a massacre.

***************

I heard people asking why, how can somebody do this? The answer is not easy to hear but we must accept the fact that people get left behind. People who have problems, who lose the ability to ask for help, who get lost in the shuffle, and who get caught in a cycle of hatred and detachment and then begin to believe that they do not have the problem, the world around them is the problem. This is a truly catastrophic combination of circumstances. It doesn't happen often, and it isn't easy to see, and frankly I wouldn't begin to offer a solution to this problem. But we must understand that inside of a human lies the ability to do great good, and great evil.

***************
I would like to lighten the mood with a YouTube video, but I can't. What I am going to do is show an example of context. On Saturday, this video was funny.

Today, it's not. The context of comedy is so fickle.

I feel like George Bush

2007-04-07T21:17:00.001-05:00

I don't get the American people.

The box office numbers just came in for Grindhouse on Friday and they are bad.

Like "Hey Hey You You I Don't Like Your Girlfriend" bad.

$5 Million on Friday means that Grindhouse is now officially the biggest bomb for these two directors since "Four Rooms." And I don't get it. Don't you people like explosions and violence and cars and women? Weren't these movies designed for MASS POPCORN CONSUMPTION? And yet outside of Austin, NYC, LA, and other metros this movie probably died a quick death. And it boggles my mind.

Grindhouse is a Texas movie. If this movie had a belt buckle it would be the size of my head. Seeing Shiner and the Alamo Drafthouse on the big screen brought a smile to my face. This double feature was a damn fine three hours and now I feel like I'm going to have to pitch this movie in ten years instead of sharing quotes from it. It's disheartening. Catch it on sunday folks, encourage good Austin cinema or you won't have it anymore.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!1111

2007-04-01T12:45:00.001-05:00

Jeez, folks. So, Like get this

i was reading some my girlz myspaces and like, these ho's dont know NEthing. talking bout MM (thast modest mouse for all you noods out their) and they think float on was the best song EVER!!

bullshite teeheeheehee

float on is so mainstream it mights as wel wear extensions. LIke I was a MM fan BEFORE float on was on MTV, back when it played on FUSE. FUSE FTW! these biches actg all hardcore but they need to shut their traps and get in line, maybe get a xanga LOLROFTLOMG!

anywho, does anyone wanna chill out at the hot topic??????!!!!! i am like soooo needing a nirvana T right now its not EVEn funny!!!

Hey Sis! And In Other Words...

2007-03-30T23:15:00.001-05:00

It's time for everyone's favorite variety of bite-sized blogging goodness.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present...

Bits and Motherf'in Pieces

My blogging software got an unexpected upgrade when I rebooted Firefox today. Its parent company got axed so it changed from Performancing to ScribeFire. Oooohhh... ScribeFire. I like it!

The vacation has been refreshing so far. I've gotten plenty of good advice from a range of people and I think I know where I went wrong and where I want to improve if given the chance to interview for the film chair position again. I no longer believe I was purposefully humbled, but it did anyway. I'm actually typing up my concepts for ideas to move the committee forwards.

Hey Sis! Thanks for reading the blog but I'm not upset.

Two post-MNL projects lined up right now. Me and Quoc will be working on concepts for a music video and I am prepping concepts for a project that I will only call "The Ohio Project."

"The Ohio Project" is an interesting idea that I've been toying around with for awhile but the actual plot of the project just came to me a few days ago. In order for it to work I'm going to have to master a type of shot that Quoc and I have never even attempted. The story is simple, but as well, I've never written anything like this before. The whole point of this project is to get out of my comfort zone.

When I do some proof of concept shots I'll release them as a teaser for the complete project but I think I would like to write some of the script down before I go yapping about it anymore.

That's all for today. Here's a solo in dedication to my new favorite video game. The Godfather for Wii

Decisions...

2007-03-28T20:08:00.001-05:00

I fight for what I love.

If one thing stays constant in my life it is the above statement. That part of me never changes, no matter how "mature" or "responsible" I become. I fight for the things that I love.

I had a talk today with the president-elect of the SEC. I did not talk to Ameer sadly. Ameer was not allowed to talk, so instead I was told by the president-elect that I was not chosen because the decision makers did not want to fill the position. There are a million ways to take this statement and if I wanted to I could choose to form a conspiracy theory that would make all those area 51 and WTC 7 guys look like suits. But here is how I am going to take it...

I was humbled today.

I was brought down a notch because for the past year I believed a chair position was waiting for me. Most people around me would agree that my position all along was not if I was going to be chair but what chair would I run for. This assumption of mine was never questioned. It was questioned today.

So now I go back to the drawing board. Tonight I am going to watch Big Fish, but not as a member of the film committee. I'm going to wait in line and flash my student ID because for the next week I am not going to be a part of the SEC. There is no other way to put this, this is 50% whiny-boy protest and 50% head-cleaning time. I can't separate the two from each other. When I return next Thursday I will apply, once more, for the position of film chair. To all of you reading this, I would appreciate if more film committee members with strong ideas run for the chair position. There's a good four or five of you who have the ability there to be a great chair.

I told the president-elect that today I felt like I was dumped. I still have that feeling. I haven't had a dry eye all day and it's starting to hurt. But, in spite of it all, I love film, I love the film committee, I love the people who make up the SEC, and because of that love, I'm going to fight to keep it.

While I'm on the subject of love...

I rarely do this, and I really should do more of it in case she forgets.

I declare my love for you Megan, and I declare my intent to keep on fighting for that love.

Taking a vacation

2007-03-28T12:38:00.001-05:00

I'm just letting all of you know that I will be taking a one week break from my SEC duties starting immediately. The reason for this is probably already spreading around so I find no need to bring it up here. I will be back in the office next Thursday and at that point I will have a decision on my future with the organization.

It brings me no happiness to say these things, it brings no relief as well. I've been holding back tears for two hours right now and I just need to take some well-deserved time off to figure things out.

A war with one man, and no enemy

2007-03-22T23:23:00.001-05:00

So I had a post planned full of ranting and raving about how the SEC was trampling my first amendment rights.

I deleted that crap five minutes ago.

What actually occurred today was that I managed to pout for a good half a day and the SEC took a small step towards forming new policy about artistic speech. Notice how I didn't say student speech? This is partially about that, but more importantly it's about focusing on having a set of standards for content across the SEC.

The current policy about controversial content is simple. If the adviser thinks it may be offensive, then the content is not cleared. I do not know if this is written policy, but it's what I've faced over the semester. This policy is basically de facto censorship. But after talking to advisers, chairs, friends, and myself, I would like to announce a new draft policy that I will be bringing up next week.

1) Content in SEC events can only be prohibited if it does not meet the "community standards" of the attendees of the event and the members (staff and students) of the SEC. (This protects first amendment rights with regard to obscenity laws.)
2) If the content of the event may be considered offensive (as decided by the adviser) then a disclaimer must be attached to every printed advertisement of the event as well as signs placed in front of the event entrance.
3) If the content of the event does not reflect the views of the SEC, the Texas Union, the University of Texas, or the specific location of the event, a notice of such must be placed in front of the event and all print materials handed out during the event.

These three points should help with allowing more controversial content into artistic events and provide protection from complaints.

What this all comes down to is the future. The future for Madrigal Night Live is in making great sketch comedy. Great comedy sometimes confronts society with itself. In order to do that you have to have the freedom to say thing everyone won't agree with. I really think that we can grow into this future and I believe that with good communication and setting new policy we can do it.

Loving SXSW

2007-03-14T12:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks for all the birthday wishes folks, you brightened my already great day. Here's a video for you.

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My Wii is about to be SUPERCHARGED

2007-03-08T10:17:00.001-06:00

Normally my videos are at the end of the post but is so AMAZINGLY funny that it needs to go on top.

Three days...

Wow. I can't wait to no longer be a teenager. Talk about 7 years you don't want to repeat.

SXSW bag stuffing is tonight and then after that spring break truly begins because my Wii is getting modded by a man who introduced the external modchip wii mod to the world. He lives in west campus and he's going to help me install an open-source wii modchip that should play any backups I want. I'm really hoping it goes well and after finding out he posted the exact mod I wanted, I'm even more excited.

Modchip impressions will be coming late tonight.

Damn Man! You Guys Rock!

2007-03-05T23:21:00.001-06:00

http://www.myspace.com/peoplemachinemusic
http://www.myspace.com/kaarerocks

You know that moment when you feel like your the first to discover something great? You pass it around to all your friends saying "HERE! THIS IS THE FUTURE! AND YOUR AN IDIOT IF YOU DON'T GET IT!"

I'm in the middle of that moment.

Kaare Egedahl, a man I've known since we were TWO, sent me a facebook invite to showcase the reforming of a band, or at least that's how I read it. Now, I haven't spoken to Kaare since the last day of middle school and since I last viewed his facebook profile when I added him, it seemed that he grew up well, with a bit more facial hair then I remember when he was 13. But when he linked his band's profile...

Shock...
Awe...
Beauty...

The shock came from the realization that not one, but three middle school friends of mine where in this band.
The awe came from the the first few notes, this was not the music I remember Kaare being into when I last knew him. I had to remind myself, he introduced me to Korn when I was addicted to VH1, indirectly leading to me becoming a music lover.
The beauty came from the music. Lyrics, they were an instrument, not a device. The music was a wave of audio, this was far more mature than the music that had come out of SE Nebraska when I was up there.

I immediately wrote up Kaare and told him that it was awesome and he should play SXSW if he ever gets the chance. The though of there being a future where three Paul Breaux alumni where in a band and one Paul Breaux alumni was introducing a film at the same festival is just too cool for words.

Check out both profiles. Hear good music.

One Week Left

2007-03-04T02:06:00.001-06:00

Till I become a twenty-something.

Scary.

This whole identity-crisis funk I've had this semester is I think in part because of this concern over the switch from a teenager to something, older. It's the classic issue I've faced over how much to rebel and how much to go with it. I think I'm starting to reach a point where I can look at myself and go "Damn, I can actually grow up to be a leader."

One day last year, during my first Madrigal Dinner, Travis interviewed me about a leadership project he was working on and the one thing I can remember telling him is that I didn't have any desire to be a leader, as long as I didn't have to be a follower. It was the truth at the time, but times change, and with it visions of the future.

I really want to get this film chair position. I really want to bring to film a closer connection to the bloodstream of Austin film, something that I've only observed in these 2 years but where I hope to eventually end up in. I want to continue to get bigger and better with my projects. I have to continue to write material, in the hopes that sooner or later, I can catch a break on something.

This is the crossroads folks, growing up is hard, even harder when you think that part of who you are should be immune to growth. I've created this persona of being the eccentric fat kid who wants to rebel against it all and be "himself." But as all person's are, it's 50% truth and 50% bullshit.

In twenty years, the 39 year old Michael Domangue is going to look back on the 19 year old Michael Domangue and wonder why the hell he took this turn when he did, and he'll hate the 19 year old. But you know what...

Screw the 39 year old.

I have a life to live now. And I'm going to love it.

Thanks to Katherine for the amazing CD she sent as a birthday present. It helped a lot today.

Meet the new profile pic

2007-03-02T13:25:00.000-06:00

So... just posting this up here to add to my Blogger profile. Got tired of the picasso pic. Thanks to Chris again for these AMA-zing shots.

I believe...

2007-02-27T08:19:00.001-06:00

A Statement of Beliefs,
By Michael Domangue

I believe in me,
In my existence, and in my desires

I believe in god,
Though I also believe we've gotten really good at invoking him only when it suits ourselves

I believe in freedom,
But if you don't fight for it, it won't come to you

I believe in love,
But it's not easy, you have to wait, and wait, and wait, and then, you hold on

I believe in art,
It's the difference between humanity and very smart robots

I believe in beatles,
Despite what john lennon said in a sad point in his life

I believe in discovery,
On the way through life, you must be challenged

AND ABOVE ALL

I believe in change,
Therefore I will not be in the way of it, no matter how much I wish I could stop it

The longer the break....

2007-02-23T08:58:00.000-06:00

THE MORE BITS AND PIECES YOU GET!

That's right ladies, gentlemen, and web surfing nerds! It's time for

Bits and Pieces

While a lot has been going on in my life lately I haven't blogged much of it because I couldn't think of a way to write it all down. Hopefully I can start writing some more posts in the near future.

Am I talentless?

I ask because these days it seems as if I'm either A)Two steps behind these brilliant visual RTF'ers or B)Content with the no-budget no-movement cast friends only style I do. It worries the crap out of me sometimes to think that maybe I'm not going to evolve much in film and I will not have the eye to direct or the voice to write. The bigger problem lies in the fact that by having all this self-doubt that has really taken hold this semester, it actually stunts my creativity in the process. I mean, I still have manic moments when I can go from idea to short script in an hour, but they come farther and father apart now. There's nothing I've written or done that is good enough for people to take notice to what I'm doing. Nothing original, nothing ground-breaking, nothing that applies to my concept of "chronicling our generation" that I used to preach about in high school.

These things are weighing me down right now. If I've seemed depressed, prone to mood swings, or just out of it, it's because of this monkey. I want so badly to make something that says "I'm Michael Domangue" but I just don't have it yet.

SXSW is on the horizon and I have an awesome plan lined up. I figure I should see over a dozen movies throughout the week while I'm volunteering. If your staying in down you should head downtown for spring break, enjoy the vibe if nothing else.

At my current rate of spending I should be able to possibly travel to Louisiana in April. No promises.

IF, big if, I can convince my parents to let me take a four-day trip through America to get to Ohio, you may see a shaggy college student stop off in Auburn come Mid-May.

16 days left of being a teenager... so weird.

The New MNL Ad

2007-02-12T22:27:00.001-06:00

Just a Random Thought

2007-02-09T07:40:00.001-06:00

This isn't really a full post but I really thought I should bring it up.

Have you ever heard of a love triangle and though...

"Yeah, that's odd, and destructive, and hella unusual."

I'm definitely not trying to add to the drama pile here but it almost makes me happy knowing that I'm not in dating mode right now in Texas. I'm just observing this and remembering my love triangle that almost ended up in me fighting one of my best high school friends.

Maybe I should extend this post.

EXTENDED
EXTENDED!

Her name was Cathryn. We all called her Cathy.

She was cute when I met her and a mess when I last saw her. Typical of a lot of the Outsider caste I was friends with in high school. For a year we were friends and then she dated one of my best friends Donkey. They made out EVERYWHERE!

EVERYWHERE!

Maybe I am at least remembering it that way but they were a close couple. But I still had a large large crush on her so during one of their make-up break-up moments I asked her out. What followed were six days of star-crossed high school hormonal... you get the picture.

She dumped me at the end of the six days and went back to Donkey. Then dumped him, then met this dude in high school who already had a kid and started having "relations" with him.

Needless to say that this story, due to it's drama content alone, has stayed firmly in my mind for several years.

The last time I spoke to her I told her to never talk to me again, that was junior year of high school and we have not spoken since. That may be a big regret of mine, not letting myself forgive her.

END FLASHBACK

You see folks, love triangles between friends end badly, it ends in drama and transforms CS majors into screenwriters.

Here's some hole.

For you know who....

2007-02-01T00:09:00.001-06:00

Hope you're cheering up!

11 Days Later...

2007-01-23T00:28:00.001-06:00

So much to do, so much to see...

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!

Bits and Pieces

So folks, the Saints lost. Life goes on, we all look forward to the draft and next season. I'm happy to think for once we earned a low draft spot because be played good and didn't make a stupid pick trade. Oh well. GO COLTS!

Sierra and I have formed the greatest writing partnership I have had thus far. I've never been really good with writing with other people (Case in point: The lost script "Woodstock or BUST" which as far as I know, no copies exist of anymore.) but working with the manic Miss Granger proved to make a script that I can take pride in it's insanity. It went around the SEC office and only Justin really didn't like it, which is fine by me. I think some changes need to happen to one or two of the jokes but I really don't know what to replace them with. It was just so nice to write something funny for once without a since of bitterness attached to it. Most of my comedy is too angry, this is just crazy.

Which I guess leads to my next point. MNL is back! I'm so happy to have the show coming back for a second year and not only to have it back, but to have it even stronger this year. Four scripts before auditions??? Cast excited to audition??? All paperwork on time and filled???

AMAZING!

MNL is my baby, even more so than Improv Lite which I host. You see, in my eyes I am the Jay Leno of Improv Lite. I may reach the point of being good, but the guy before me was the master. MNL started with Mario, Ameer, and I deciding to try something new and now in it's second year we are seeing it grow right in front of us. It makes me proud to see that seed from last year grow into a tree.

SXSW updates will be coming soon. Hope to see what movies I'll be working and what movies I'll be running to this year. Gotta break last year's mark of 18 movies. That should be interesting.

Tonight's YouTube video will be one of the songs I plan to feature on the MNL pre-show, which I hope to be the funniest Powerpoint project ever written.

Hold on Folks!

2007-01-12T23:40:00.000-06:00

I arrive tomorrow. Just in time for the Saints game.

GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!!!

It feels really weird going into a playoff game with the Saints favored to win. That's kinda like going into a bar at 16 and knowing your going to get hammered.

I wanna go home guys. I want to be back in Austin, enjoying the company of my friends and continuing to strive for something, right now I just feel in neutral. I want to go back to my little Dobie dorm room and find a way to pay for the next meal.

I'm going to call up Quoc, Ameer and the boys and get a Saints viewing party set up somewhere.

I want to give a profound rant right now but really can't. So here's some Cowboy Mouth.

In the wee hours of the night...

2007-01-08T00:07:00.000-06:00

Coming at you from the depths of the delta.

BITS AND PIECES

Across the galaxy to the web browser of your choosing here are some new tibits about the life of Michael A. Domangue

Re-Registration begins for me tomorrow morning. I am removing Spanish (which was never registered to begin with) and replacing it with an Advertising course and The History of Rock Music. Ameer says it's hard but I should be suited for it.

I am still working on the script and should have some new pages done tommorow.

I'm ready to go back to Texas folks. I've picked up my toys and spent time with the parents. Now let's move on.

I'm about 60% set on moving in with Ameer at the end of the summer. He's my best bud and I shouldn't pass up the opportunity to have a good place to live with a good friend.

I miss Lauren Perdue. I miss talking to her. I wish she would let me talk to her.

(Note: Took a two-hour break after writing that sentence)

Lots of things to work on next semester. The most important of which is continuing to make sure I find out what is most important. This is a circular sentence but it basically sums up the problem. What is most important in my life? My Art? My Love for others? My Love for Myself? My Schoolwork? My Financial Stability? It's hard to just BE when so many want you to be something else. Everyone wants to make me better, including myself. But what is better?

Two videos from this post. Brother Danielson on the first.

and A Bob Dylan Classic

Remember the last performance night?

Behind Schedule and Proud of it!

2007-01-05T19:02:00.000-06:00

So folks I'm happy to say that the first scene of A Finite Amount is written!

But two pages in three days!!!!!!!!!

Jeez I'm not happy about that.

Sitting at this desk is quite uncomfortable. The chair does not go up or down and is angled exactly where it needs to be to cause the most back pain. My chest congestion is also starting to flare up and basically it all adds up to distraction. Add to that my internet and WoW addiction and I've basically been unable to focus.

I'm going to try and finish another scene before I go to bed. At the rate of pages to scenes this could be less than the 30 pages I envisioned but the fun part of this whole project is that I don't have restrictions. If I want 20 pages I get it.

I'd host the pages on the site but I can't find a service for it. Quoc and Ameer will be getting them soon so e-mail them if you want a copy or IM if you are desperate.

Light a candle and watch this...

2007-01-02T14:49:00.001-06:00

2007? But I liked 2006!

2007-01-02T08:24:00.000-06:00

Ladies and Gentlemen!
Boys and Girls!
The Rajun Cajun!
The Bayou Beau!
The only film major to not like German cinema!

Michael Domangue is back!

Albeit in a PC-Not-Mac and Mississippi-not-Louisiana form.

Yeah folks, I'm in the deep south with a functioning internet account and my WoW discs planning to have some fun and maybe finish a script as well.

What's Happened to Finite Michael?

I'm glad you asked Italics man. Finite has morphed into A Finite Amount. What does this mean? It means we now have one 30 minute story with two leads instead of 5 10 minute stories with five leads. As much as I like the concept of small stories combined I started to realize as I was plotting out the stories that only two of them really figured into the equation of the theme. The theme being "What makes us human is how we react to other humans."

I find this theme is so important in these days when people try to say that the internet is creating a generation of zombies. Does this post sound like it was typed by a zom.... BRAINS!!!

But seriously, our generation uses technology to connect to people just like the last generation used the telephone and snail mail. The television is not an interactive medium, at least not without the help of expensive accessories like my Wii. The internet, technology itself is only used when the people decide that they want to use it.

Why do my two stories not feature one computer then? Because the human interaction I'm showing is of the very basic nature. Man and Woman, Man and Nature, Man and the Universe. The two characters are polar opposites connected together by chance and circumstance but in the two threads we both see a disconnect.

Enough about that.

How was everyone's New Years? Congrats to Dana and Josh for getting engaged and congrats to my Dad for getting engaged to miss Tracy Pierce. She's a very nice lady and I'll be happy to call her Step-Mom.

I'm sick right now with some sort of cyclical flu. I'm fine in the morning and feel like crap at night. Even now I'm starting to get some back aches and it's 8:30.

Feel free to leave me an IM at MDomangueA on AIM. I'll leave it on today and reply when possible.

Enjoy the rest of your break everyone. I've got 3 more hours of patching till WoW is ready so I'm going to enjoy my new Simpson's set.

Happy Birthday Megan Berry!

2006-12-20T04:08:00.001-06:00

3:49 AM
Wednesday Morning
3 Hours From Departure

Holed up in my dorm room, listening to Lou Reed while my roommate is AWOL. I realize that I promised Megan a birthday present. Well, here it is.

.....

10 Years.

I've known Megan for a decade. Which means in terms of pure dates makes her the longest friend that I've ever had. She's been my friend when I was an awkward kid who lived in Lafayette. She was my friend when I decided to ignore all my LA friends and move to Nebraska. She was my friend through the good times, the bad times, and the really ugly times (I can remember my bald cut and my Screech cut!)

She was my girlfriend once. True fact. I never put her on my list of ex-girlfriends because in my book that is not a good list, she's always been more than just an ex-girlfriend to me. She's been a tireless supporter of me, even when I didn't support her. You see, I've been a jerk to her many many times, and yet whenever I make an ass out of myself, she's there to forgive me. She understands that I am a beast of hormones as well as a gentle soul, it's that kind of patience that is so rare to find these days, if I could rate her best trait it would be that forgiveness. That and her amazing talent (don't think I haven't forgotten about when you sang Joplin, it was awesome.)

I said earlier this year, on some of the earliest blog posts, that I was in love with Megan. I've never retracted those statements. I don't intend to ever retract that statement. It took me 10 years to fall in love with her, and it would take something far greater than an 8 hour distance to not have her holding my heart. Though I may date once or twice, I could never keep her too far from my thoughts.

So here is my present.

Megan? When can we have our first date?

You set the weekend, next semester, I'll gas up the car and drive out there. I'll wear my snazziest attire and my nice shoes. I'll spend the day trying to make up for the countless days I've been away. Because Megan, as stupid as I've been and as stupid as I will be in the future, know that the smartest decision I've made in life was keeping in touch with you.

You're no longer a teenager, and I'm no longer blind.

Happy Birthday!

"Finite" The YouTube MixTape

2006-12-18T17:00:00.001-06:00

Well folks I was going through the five stories and I wanted to give my potential leads some ideas as to what the theme of each story is. So in the spirit of that I have found five YouTube videos to demonstrate what I am going for for each video. This will take the record for most YouTube videos in a post for the blog but I think it's still a nice touch to give everyone an idea of where I'm going.

Dead Day
Everybody Hurts - REM

He Called Back
It's Oh So Quiet - Bjork

Every Day Needs A Party
Finding Out True Love is Blind - Louis XIV (Listen to the lyrics!)

Driving
Does He Love You - Rilo Kiley

Finite
Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen (This is stretching it but I couldn't find a better song yet)

Six Months? SIX MONTHS?

2006-12-16T09:19:00.001-06:00

That's right folks. I have managed to keep this hunk of web space breathing for half a year now and I'm damn happy about it.

There's been some close calls (the recent drought due to World of Warcraft and Madrigal) but I remain convinced of the usefulness of this blog and I hope that one day it will spread like wildfire and make me a huge star, or at least a spot on a panel show.

Anyway I'm setting aside today to focus on finishing Kevin's ad's for the Resource Center and then I will start studying for my last final. Here's a video to celebrate.

Thought I had died?

2006-12-14T18:16:00.000-06:00

Ok folks, I'll have an actual post after the final tonight but I have to share the following outline I wrote up today.

We're making a movie!

"Finite"

An Outline for a Five Fingers Production

What makes us human?

Biology?
Intelligence?
Complexity?

What makes us human is how we relate to other humans. All of our core emotions, the primal base of which we have laid eons of useless layers on top of, are based off human interaction. Love, fear, acceptance. It takes two to tangle folks.

We are Generation Y. Not by choice, most of us hate that term. We are considered to be the sequel to Generation X. We are post-modern, we are mobile, we are obsessed with technology. OBSESSED! YouTube, Google, Myspace, Facebook, Yahoo, E-mail, E-commerce, E-life. We are the thing sci-fi writers dreamed of. Cyborgs, human life that could not live without the assistance of electronic tools.

We have used this technology in amazing ways but if you take a close look, a real look at what Generation Y is doing, you'll notice a pattern. They are trying to reach out to more people. To connect with humanity is what makes us human.

Four weeks every year millions of college students pour over billions and billions of pages of text, online and off, trying to get that grade they are looking for. It's called finals week and its sole purpose is to test the will of young people.

That is where we find humanity in five normal students who go to the University of Texas at Austin. Five people, five days, five stories. Trying to stay above water. In this time we see sides of humanity normally reserved or glossed over.

The stories so far...
(All stories are tenitive prior to shooting. This list may not reflect the final film)
Dead Day- He has nothing to do, and nobody to share that with.
He Called Back- Excitement abounds after a voice-mail check.
Every Day Needs A Party- Moderation? This is college!
Driving- Long-Distance-Not-Quite-A-Relationship
The Last Test- A senior only needs to finish this test. If only she had gone to class.

Caught in the Pink Triangle (FINAL CUT)

2006-11-30T08:51:00.001-06:00

I'm really sorry for the lack of updates folks. With Madrigal Week in full swing it has just been plain insane around here. I promise to have more posting right after the show is done but now I would like to make the blog premier of

CAUGHT IN THE PINK TRIANGLE!

Caught in the Pink Triangle

2006-11-28T17:00:00.001-06:00

Here's an extended take from my upcoming RTF 318 project.

Stanley's Cup... and Bits and Pieces

2006-11-17T23:12:00.001-06:00

Here's the full episode. Ameer pointed me to a site that hosts whole South Park episodes so I decided to share this tidbit.

BITS AND PIECES

I wish I could give you a massive post full of things going on but really. There isn't much to talk about right now. The good news is finally there is a stasis in my relationship status. That takes a monkey off my back.

The Wii comes out on Sunday and I CAN'T WAIT! I'm excited to play the new Zelda and some Wii Tennis. I'm hoping to also get the wireless here in Dobie to be wii-compatible. That would be nice.

I have the following events this weekend. Tech Rehersal, Tony's Party (I hope!), Rocky Horror, and Wii launch. Yeah, I won't be sleeping.

In case news has spread, I did have to cancel all my late friday activities due to some health issues. I had just had a very stressful revelation regarding finaces and I started to feel some strange sensations in my legs. I feared it could be heart related so after getting the finance situation taken care of I decided to take the day off. I know the hardcore SEC'ers don't like to hear me complain about stress but it does sometimes get to me. That was just an extreme example and hopefully it won't happen again.

Big plans for the blog in December. It will be the 6-month anniversary of the launch of the site and I hope to have some stuff up celebrating that. Maybe even some of those tech ideas I wanted to launch the site with but never got around to.

My ZR90 is getting a free repair. All hail Canon not being a careless carcass!

Listen to Pet Sounds folks.

This Onion does not make me cry

2006-11-13T09:19:00.000-06:00

So Austin just started getting the print version of the Onion in the past few weeks so I decided to pick one up on the way to work today and I could not resist linking to this article.

Sexual Tension Unberable Between 15-Year-Old, Rest Of World

Ahhhh memories.

With great power...

2006-11-11T23:13:00.001-06:00

Where is your jaw now?

Sometimes, you want to scream, but you don't. Because silence doesn't anger the neighbors.

2006-11-11T22:23:00.001-06:00

I'm watching Thumbsucker right now. It's an amazing movie with Lou Pucci and a soundtrack from The Polyphonic Spree. It basically sums up my senior year of high school quite nicely. Replace NYC with Austin and a pretty girl with... you get the picture.

I'm watching it because I just hung up on my sister and I'm none too happy about it. You see, my sister and I have a very unique relationship with each other. We both care for each other but can't really stand to be with each other for too long. After about 2-3 days of continued contact we always have a fight. It's like clockwork. I wish it didn't work that way but it seems like we bring out the worst in each other.

I'll be frank. My sister treated me like crap for many many years. She abused my innocence and shyness for a large portion of my early childhood and was basically like a bully. Even if she wished to counter this claim it doesn't change the fact that in my mind those years are not remembered fondly by me.

Because of this I've had a large chip on my shoulder. I don't give her a lot of leeway on some things because she tends to drive me batty. When I am quiet, she is loud, when I am loud, she is louder. I love her unconditionally, this much is true, but it's hard sometimes. Very hard.

She often calls for computer advice, mostly of the piracy kind (how to use dvd burning software, morpheus, etc) and when I have these talks it never makes me happy because I'm basically her encyclopedia of computer knowledge. I just want to, I don't know, have a private life and be able to just enjoy the company of my sister.

I don't have an answer to this problem. I don't think it's answerable. Too much of my youth was spent locked up in my room afraid of her to ever be fully comfortable. I want to not get angry at her, it upsets me to have to yell at her or make a big deal out of nothing just because I have a grudge.

Sorry for the ramble. I think I'm not alone here though. Anyone want to share there thoughts in the comment section???

P.S Really folks, why does nobody comment on this site?

What would you do if I sang out of tune?

2006-11-08T13:27:00.001-06:00

Last night may have been one of the greatest failures that Improv Lite had ever seen. At 9:58 there was nobody there but Carly, Amy, and Peter. Quoc and Ameer were there to help set up but there was NO AUDIENCE. I had decided to cancel the show and was basically in full breakdown mode with Carly trying to console me. Quoc was literally coiling the cables when I did a quick head count and suddenly realized that with just my friends here I had seven people who could preform, which is basically the bare minimum I need to get a show working. So I told Quoc to reconnect the mic and we started the show. Ten minutes in a LARGE crowd of exchange students came in and decided to join in on the fun. In the end Ameer estimated a crowd of 20 people saw the show.

I just want to say how amazing my friends are. I was literally a crying mess and my friends didn't give up on me. This one event I think just cements in one "Disney" moment how important friends are. In honor of the greatest act of kindness I've had in a long time I would like to present a clip that is very near and dear to me.

Interesting.....

2006-11-07T01:19:00.001-06:00

Ok folks this is a quick one before I go to bed tonight.

Something happened in my dorm room tonight and it easily ranks as a top ten candidate for the "WTF of 2006" award.

I'm not going to say what it is, but it was interesting, it was fasinating, and I don't know what the heck, if anything, it means. It means nothing in the long run I'm sure. But still... a man can hope even after defeat.

I only have one major update and that is the new titles for the four new installments of "Nebraska" The following outline includes the Nebraska Trilogy and the new titles for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday

Sunday- The Merry Pranksters
Monday- Breaking Up is Easy When You're Insensitive
Tuesday- Interrogating the Innocent
Wednesday- Kelly: A Nebraska Love Story
Thursday- The Mentor Gives His Last Tidbit
Friday- Are you worried?
Saturday- The Last Party of Nick Jones

No outlines with the titles yet. Working on them.

THE PIRATE STRIKES AGAIN!

2006-11-01T19:17:00.001-06:00

Okay folks. I've been feeling like crap all day so I've locked myself up here in my room as to keep this ugly flu-ish thing from spreading to my friends. I stopped by my french class for about 10 minutes to fail a quiz so I did get some school work done.

But the reason I'm posting today, besides the fact that I can celebrate my FIFTH month posting to Musings, is the fact that I have discovered something today on Demonoid.

DEMONOID? IS THAT SOME SATANIC CULT?

Nope. It's my main bittorrent tracker that I use to find my games nowadays. You see, ever since I spent 80 dollars modding my PS2 I no longer have to buy games. I download them and transfer them to my PS2 through a Ethernet cable.

Today, I discovered that Guitar Hero 2 (RETAIL) is on the net. That is six days before street. Normally getting a game about a week before street is above average. Getting a game a MONTH early, like I did with FFXII, is amazing.

This is not going to sound good but I consider Piracy to be sort of a fun hobby. The U.S Goverment would not like to hear this coming from me but in reality since I'm not a "Big Fish" I don't worry much. I enjoy getting my hands on new software a music a little early and a lot cheaper. Ethicaly? I'm damned for all time. But as a college student it's easy and keeps my out of control spending a bit lower.

BUT I GET GUITAR HERO 2 EARLY!!!! WHOOHOOO.

Free Bird man, Free Bird. I should have the whole game downloaded by sometime tomorrow. Good times.

To celebrate the fifth month of Musings I have decided to include one of my favorite YouTube postings for an encore performance.

If Oscars were handed out for "Best Wit"...

2006-10-31T23:29:00.001-06:00

Free laptop fun! (And other fun facts from the past week)

2006-10-30T14:38:00.001-06:00

Greetings from the SEC office and one of the very few blog posts to not be composed on my lovely iMac G5. I've checked out a laptop from the FAC and I've loaded up my blogging extension. It even keeps my spell checker so I'm good to go.

Alright folks, we have a lot to talk about and some things that need to be discussed.

Here's a set list.

1) Parents Weekend

2) Money

3) New Shoes

4) Wooing?

5) 2nd Date

1) Parents Weekend

I had a great time with my Dad, Carrie, and Tracy. It was great to have some family around, even if only for a few days. Dad and I got to talk about a few things and I finally got to see the bats under the bridge on congress st. All in all I had a good weekend. Much better than this past week. The Halloween party sucked however! Those two subjects for later in the post.

2) Money

Would anyone like to know why I didn't have a costume for the party? Maybe it's because I'm broke. Dead broke, living off of UFCU's line of credit. Just got the account info. $14 to my name and $150 in debt to the bank. I'm praying that I won't face complete money collapse. My dad though has agreed to help with the last bit of housing so I have a place to stay for the spring. Guys, the situation is really really bad folks. No money.

3) New Shoes

So I got sent home on Thursday from work because I stank. My shoes had degraded so much from wear and tear and water that it started to stink real bad. I felt so ashamed by the situation that I decided to splurge and get me some real shoes. I went over to Tyler's and bought some nice black Vans. When I went to Madrigal rehersal last night I found out that my shoes also qualify as slippers for the show so in the long run I made a good deal. I think my old shoes were giving me so many issues that it led partially to the crappy week.

4) Wooing?

I've decided that my official dating status is "Actively wooing a girl with periodic dating." That's right folks, I'm not in a relationship, I'm not "Dating" I am simply trying to woo a girl. This is a new situation for me because I usually date girls after a very brief wooing period and I normally enter the friend zone after a long wooing. I'm going to keep my wooing post to a minimum for the time being until I have a better grasp of where I stand.

5) 2nd date

Ok folks. I'm going to settle this issue once and for all. I am planning on having a 2nd date, I just have no idea when. Maybe when I have both the financial situation fixed and when I can think of a good date that differs from dinner and a movie.

Ok folks, that was a long long post that needed to be written to get you and I up to speed. So I guess I need to add a long video to compliment it.

That video was SO directed at somebody.

2006-10-25T00:37:00.001-05:00

Ok folks, I lied. That video was directed at Carly.

TeeHeeHee

But in other news...

BITS AND PIECES! (More Bits, Less Pieces)

My first Improv Lite show as sole-host was a ROUSING success. I really enjoyed myself on that stage for the first time. I'm actually looking foward to the next show for once!

My stress level has decreased a little but I haven't heard back from my dad about the money issues. That worries me just a bit. I have moments folks, sorry about the F bomb but I promise to refrain from posting when stressed.

Carly was really concerned about me tonight. It was nice to know she cared about how I was feeling.

Second Date?

I don't see a timetable for that. I know that I do but I have to take it VERY SLOWLY. Not only do I have to woo her, but I think that I may have to convince the friends that I'm not a bad guy. No problem. To give up now, to admit defeat without being told that I lost, would just prove that I can't handle women. I would revert to the hopeless romantic Michael. She made me open up, and I don't think it's time already to crawl back in my shell.

And so with that in mind, I include this video.

Seriously folks, post some request comments.

This video is NOT directed at anybody.

2006-10-24T11:18:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to make that clear. My stress level is at an all time high right now so I'm trying to relax myself. Sadly, I don't even have the time to relax anymore. I'm going into the Mental Health center tomorrow to try out some relaxation techniques. There's just way too much going on in my life right now and I have no idea where I draw the line.

1) Dating
2) Money
3) Madrigal
4) Film
5) Gigglepants
6) Class
7) Me Time

This list is not complete or in order but these are most of the thoughts that go through my head at any given time. I don't want to think about 7 things at once. It's not fun. Notice I can't even put family in there? I'm completely ignoring my family right now and I'm not proud about it.

Ahhh fuck it. Here's your video.

A Perfect Sonnet- The NEW cut

2006-10-22T01:50:00.001-05:00

Ok folks, I've been trying like mad to get this video up today but YouTube has been giving me issues so I've switched to Google Video for this one. Hope it works.

UPDATE: Google Video won't embed right. The YouTube version will be embedded below and a link to the Google Video version (Which loads fast on their site) will be below that.

Click HERE for the Google Video version

The First Date (Worry, Worry)

2006-10-21T01:30:00.001-05:00

Alas, the first date is over.

How did I do?

Ok?

I mean, I think it went well and I am fairly sure she enjoyed herself I still have this lingering doubt, actually call it a concern, that she's not nearly as into me and I am into her. I think that is situation #1 right now. And that problem will take the longest to address.

In terms of any date disasters? None really. I probably stayed too long over at her place but that's just because I was unsure as to what to do at that point. The dinner went very well and the movie was very good. I could tell she enjoyed those aspects of the date.

It's just.... god, is this girl beautiful or what? Seriously folks, look down a post and tell me this isn't the loveliest girl I've ever dated. She's talented, cute, insane (a trait I ADORE folks) and most importantly, a nice person.

I could go on and on but folks. I'll end it with this. I'm going to work hard to make this work. I want to take it step by step and make sure that we are on the same wavelength. I think this date went well enough that I have not lost the battle. Not by a long shot. This girl is too good to give up on.

The following video has been requested by Carly Stevens (AKA BLANK). Would you like to request a video? Write a comment to any post and your video will end up on the next post.

And now, an important message from Michael D.

2006-10-19T00:28:00.001-05:00

This is Carly Stevens....

This is BLANK.

Glad I got that over with. :)

Now I have some advice for you.

I'm not going to cry.

2006-10-17T18:07:00.001-05:00

I REFUSE TO BE BUMMED!

I REFUSE TO GO BACK IN MY SHELL!

I REFUSE TO GIVE UP HOPE!

I REFUSE TO ADMIT DEFEAT!

I REFUSE TO BLAME OTHERS!

I REFUSE TO BLAME!

I REFUSE TO CRY!

How do things like this happen? Miscommunication. That's how things like this happen. The male ear is not designed to pick up subtle hints. I have just been told by BLANK that she doesn't want a relationship now, but dating is okay.

I'm fine with that. It just means that she needs time. Cool by me, I've been in those situations before where I needed time by myself, where dating was out of the question. Why is this not extremely bad news?

I asked her if the door on relationships was closed for now or closed for good. She responded with the former which means one thing to me.

No friend zone.

Here's what concerned me. If she didn't want a relationship now (which isn't what I was shooting for now, just dating) maybe that meant that she didn't want a relationship with me ever. That means I've entered the friend zone. Which would have killed me.

I've gotten into that zone too many times. Stuck talking to a girl years after confessing to her I had feelings, the deep awkwardness, the sadness that comes with knowing you want to hold someone and knowing they didn't feel the same in return.

I don't think I'm in that same boat here. I think there IS a chance later on that we will have a relationship, and that we can still talk now knowing that the door hasn't been locked so I can still be comfortable around her and not be uber-depressed.

Friday's date is still on and I think this subject might come up again but I feel as if I am not destroyed by this update. If anything, it tells me right up front that she needs time and I WANT to give her time.

But I'm not giving up on her.

I WILL CONTINUE TO YEARN!

I WILL CONTINUE TO PRAISE!

I WILL CONTINUE TO HOPE!

I WILL CONTINUE TO POST SAPPY YOUTUBE VIDEOS!

I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT!

Until BLANK is ready.

SHE SAID YES!!!!

2006-10-16T21:34:00.001-05:00

Ok folks, it is now official.

The first date has been set!

This Friday BLANK and I will have dinner and a movie. The ultimate first date setup. I'm not known for my original dating schemes but I don't think there's any problem with D

Who's Blank?

When I asked her out she even offered her hand and said "Hi, I'm Blank."

Guess that means she reads the blog a lot.

I am hours away from releasing the name. Not like it's a big expose. If you read this blog then you're probably a close friend of mine and have figured it out by now. But I will have a great weight lifted off of me when I can say that I have a date with one of the nicest cutest girls I've known. I want to have her complete permission before I say anything though.

I am so excited.

Ok folks, no more info until I speak to her again.

In Your Eyes

2006-10-15T22:10:00.001-05:00

What to say... what to say?

OK FOLKS! IT'S TIME FOR....

Bits and Pieces

I'm continuing to fall hard for BLANK. I spent a lot of this weekend around her and I really can not seem to get her out of my head. The video at the bottom is dedicated to her. Eventually I'm going to have to ask her on a date but seriously, I have no free time for a date. Maybe this Friday, if there is no gigglepants. I wish it was easier to plan this stuff but I'm just signed on for too much.

Why do I continue to call her BLANK. Two reasons.

1) It's not OFFICIAL. As in we are not officially an item but I think we are but she may not and she may not want me talking about her on a public website.

2) SHE READS THIS BLOG! That's right, BLANK will read this post, and I want her to know that I respect her privacy when it comes to this stuff.

#1 thing I want to do with BLANK? Snuggle :) I'm a big fan of snuggling.

I just bought World of Warcraft yesterday. I'm already a level 7 Night Elf! It's so much fun but I guess I'm going to have to give in to the addiction.

Pre-ordered the Wii. Now I just have to wait.

Wii Pre-Game Special

2006-10-13T07:51:00.001-05:00

Just thought this could brighten your day.

WII time starts in 10 minutes.

It's Wii time!

2006-10-12T22:28:00.001-05:00

In just a few hours Stewart and I will be waiting outside a EB (or Gamestop) in Austin. Our goal?

TO GET A WII!!!

Yeah folks, pre-orders start this Friday for the most anticipated system I have ever gotten. I'm more excited for this system than even my glorious PS2 because I'm paying for it myself. I'm excited because with this I am fully embracing the nerd side of me.

I might bring my camcorder with me so expect some footage to pop up on the site later from my latest adventures.

Now, in honor of this historic moment, I'm bringing back one of my favorite blog videos from when I launched this site.

How True... How True Indeed

2006-10-11T10:39:00.000-05:00

I got this off of ESPN's Tuesday Morning Quarterback.

Obscure College Score of the Week No. 3: Nebraska Wesleyan 19, Doane 0. Reader Barbara Grunwald of Clovis, Calif., a Nebraska Wesleyan grad, notes her school boasts of being "Ranked the number one liberal arts college in Nebraska by U.S. News." She adds, "Of course, we won't discuss how many liberal arts colleges there are in Nebraska."

In My Life....

2006-10-10T09:58:00.001-05:00

I'm calling it the obvious unspeakable.

It is the thing in life I am currently going through that gives me lots of happiness.

It is that which makes me smile every night.

It is one of the more fortunate things to happen to me this semester.

But it's too early to talk about it.

I wish I could scream it to the mountains but I want to take it slowly, make sure it will work, make sure I'm not rushing again. I mean, if this does work, then I think I've hit pay dirt.

I wish I could talk about "BLANK"

But for right now I'd like to tease you all with information you probably have figured out but are still not sure about. I think in a few weeks I can talk about "BLANK" more. But for right now, know that your Michael is happy and hopeful for the future.

Was that enough of a hint?

A Perfect Sonnet- WORLD PREMIER (Oh yeah, it's a work in progress)

2006-10-07T19:24:00.001-05:00

So I got the jump on Carly's blog. Here's the video.

A Perfect Sonnet

2006-10-07T00:24:00.001-05:00

I don't know how to feel right now about this project. In less than 12 hours I start shooting on what is arguably my first real narrative video. I've done comedy shorts, I've done commercials but nothing that required me to tell a story, to tell actors how to preform, to edit for clarity, to shoot multiple setups, and to do continous shooting for four hours. To tell you the truth, this is something I've been wanting to do for four years now and finally I get the chance.

I love my cast. Seriously folks, I'm blessed to have friends with actual acting talent. And while I hate to pick out a favorite I would have to choose Micha on this one. In terms of the quanity of quality work that he has done and my admiration for what appears to be effortless comedic timing, I can't find an equal. But let me not shortsight Carly and Ameer, two people who I find to be amazing people and talented, dedicated actors. Between my three actors I have decades of experiance to rely on and for a first narritive short, you can't really beat that.

I have a tendancy to want to shoot comedic actors in dramatic scenes. I find in comedic actors the sort of life backgrounds that lend to restrained performances if you push them the right way. I've written the script to be very subtle with how the two leads motion to each other, it will be amazing to watch these two insane people do very simple, "cute" motions with each other.

There is so much more I can say about this project, but I'd rather check the camera equipment. More stories after I shoot the damn thing.

OH! Here's the song I based the script off of

I can remember

2006-10-04T14:43:00.000-05:00

So I finished the script for my RTF project four hours after coming up with the idea for it. I consider that to be a record for me but I'm not sure if it really is. My first RTF project got a 78, partly due to having a TA who knows NOTHING about poker. Tis a shame.

I will appeal.

No other news to talk about. Maybe after rehersal.

Here's Bowie.

I Wanna Go Back!

2006-10-02T00:16:00.001-05:00

I upped this myself.

That is all...

NOT!

I just finished the silent script for my RTF project. I actually think it should look cool. Now I just have to incorporate the visual cues into the script. Bummer.

Party too hard? Try a blog post!

2006-10-01T03:42:00.001-05:00

So I believe I am firmly partied out after two incredibly long parties. Between these two parties I had two beers and I threw up once, but that was due to a stomach bug and doesn't count. I'm doing good right now, enjoying what can only be described as a healthy social life. I'm even going to try this thing called "dating" if I decide to grow some balls.

There should be a longer post later today.

Speechless

2006-09-25T00:10:00.001-05:00

THIS.... is punk

2006-09-24T00:36:00.001-05:00

SNL clips are very hard to find on YouTube. So after Megan and I finished talking about how badly SNL has declined I wanted to search for a "Classic" clip. Here's the best music performance ever on SNL.

A whole post dedicated to...

2006-09-18T23:32:00.001-05:00

BITS AND PIECES

I talked to Travis and Ameer, and I'm now 100% sure that they DON'T want a Lou 2.0. So that means I am fully behind Madrigal Dinner for another year.

Read the script. Like the lines. Want to see the song that I have to sing.

Cell phone was possibly found, will have it back hopefully on Thursday.

THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON COMING TO THE FILM COMMITTEE! So excited, I want to get three people for a Q&A and I think with a little work we can get two of them. Video at the bottom.

Improv Lite tomorrow. Be there or die. Also check out the sneak preview as well. It's got Billy Bob for crying out loud.

"True love will find you in the end, you'll find out just who is your friend."
-Daniel Johnston

The Kitchen Sink

2006-09-17T23:10:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody! I'm sorry for a week of no posts but so much has been going on and I just could not fit it onto one post. I finished my first RTF project which you can view on the Facebook profile and I did my first gigglepants show as well. Both went really well and I'm excited about all the different things that I'm working on right now.

What About Madrigal?

Sore subject right now. I should hopefully get to meet with Travis on Monday, but until then I don't feel like making anything public out of respect to him. Needless to say I am not 100% sure what I will be doing for Madrigal Dinner this semester.

Bits and Pieces

Got to buy Shock Treatment and the new DVD of Empire Strikes Back. Very excited about having both and I've been checking out the video quality today.

Missing the cell phone, don't know where it is, hopefully Thai does...

Hope to see you all at Improv Lite on tuesday. It should be AWESOME!

Got the free season finale of Grey's off of iTunes, just another reason why I love that show.

Below you will find some shots from the RTF project that couldn't be included for space and pacing, still love them.

Just for fun...

9/11

2006-09-11T10:03:00.000-05:00

I claim to be a writer, so I should have something profound to say, here on the fifth anniversary of the most devestating event in my young life. But I am speechless. 9/11 is not about expression, it's about rememberance. With that in mind, I am showing the only video that does this event justice. When I first saw this, I cried. I cry now because of it.

God Bless America
God Bless The World

The only thing certain in life is there will be someone to hate and someone to love. Marry the latter.

2006-09-11T00:32:00.001-05:00

For you Megan, the love of my life

Damn Facebook

2006-09-10T22:53:00.001-05:00

If you are reading this on facebook, than DAMN YOU!

These posts were written for Musings From Austin, Texas and are syndicated on the Facebook profile. However, facebook does a much better job of promoting my posts than I do so people read them on Facebook and don't comment on the real blog.

You people are missing half the post. I often include YouTube videos at the bottom of posts and if you read the Facebook versions then you miss the video. I had two friends of mine comment on the facebook notes and I doubt they got to see the awesome Dylan video I had looked for. It's a bummer.

I'm cool with you reading my posts on facebook, but afterwards check out the blog on TxMusings.blogspot.com and leave a comment on there, you'll be glad you did :)

The Day After

2006-09-10T14:56:00.000-05:00

I'm not sad.

I feel a little under the weather right now though. I have a slight cough and I feel weak, not really sure why. But I doubt this came from the results of yesterday.

I'm not upset.

We won the national championship last year, something that very few of my favorite teams have ever done. As a die-hard saints fan, having your college win it all is something you will never forget, so what if we might not repeat, it is certainly far from the end of the world. I would even wager that we'll still end up in a BCS game by the time the season is through, no great loss.

I'm excited.

I get to see Phantom of the Paradise at the alamo in a few hours with PAUL WILLIAMS. I know nobody knows who he is but if you've seen the flick than you know how funny this may end up being.

You should be excited too.

I'm still on a two-week Bob Dylan kick right now so for you're enjoyment I've posted this AMAZING clip of Dylan in the 70's doing a 60's classic.

The New Facebook OR How I became a Jedi

2006-09-05T21:37:00.001-05:00

Yeah, I'm a Jedi Knight now. That's what my facebook profile says. I admit, this is not a original joke, read about it. But it just goes to show that when you alter one of the most popular web sites on the internet, people tend to get up in arms about it.

I've been hearing "Facebook SUCKS!" all day today after the changes took place but frankly, I'm just fine about it. The layout is getting close to cluttered but I don't think it's gotten there yet and I will be looking into seeing if I can remove certain things on the main profile page. But before you get too upset about the changes just remember how crappy MySpace looks these days.

MySpace reminds me of the web publishing boom of the mid-90's when geocities was king. Everyone with base understanding of HTML 4 or Netscape Composer would create these crappy pages with blinking text and "Under Construction" photos that never changed, leaving wastelands of half-done crappy sites. Heck, I wrote many of them myself. MySpace profile changers give people the ability to customize the site to their hearts at the expense of being APPEALING!!!!

I don't want to see horrid backgrounds with transparent text with some emo band blaring at me. Have some design sense when working on customizing your web presence. That is why this blog is so minimalist, less clutter, more focus on the content.

Anywho, I'm getting the Madrigal table ready in the morning and I could really use some 10:30-10:45 help. I'm also bummed that I have to tell my boss at 8 that I'm leaving at 9, but that's life.

I post only because I love

2006-08-31T08:48:00.000-05:00

This man has to be insane... insanely brilliant!

The first day of school was more stress than anything else. I've gotten myself into some pretty hard classes and I'm starting to wonder if I'm going to be able to conquer French. The next two years of college will feature LOTS AND LOTS of french so I'm hoping that yesterday's "hit the ground running because we want half the class to drop" class is not going to be like every day there. If it is, you will see the mental breakdowns start to appear around October.

RTF seems like it's going to be a fun challenge. I haven't gotten to see 317 yet but 318 is about actually making stuff and learning how to make it. It's the class I've been wanting since I heard the term "coverage" on my first DVD so many years ago.

Astronomy.... the teacher wrote the friggin book and it looks like it'll be a breeze.

Oh, this will be my only plug on the blog but if you are reading this and NOT going to Improv Lite at 5:30 today, then you are no longer my friend :)

Quick Updates from the front line of dorm room living

2006-08-27T22:49:00.001-05:00

The Nebraska Trilogy.pdf

This is an updated link, which is in fact the same farther down the page. I just wanted to repost the link because I've updated the file with a proper title page and, at the suggestion of my Uncle Marc, removed the introduction.

Uncle Marc, Connie and I went to see "The Oh in Ohio" tonight and I had a great time hanging out with them. It's always nice when you have such supportive family members nearby during college. The whole outline for the trilogy was in fact written at their house. We talked a little bit about the scripts and I anxiously await what he has to say about it because if their is one thing Uncle Marc does well, it's talking frankly.

If you wanna catch me Monday, stop on by the SEC office. I'll be there chilling with my DS Lite.

The story of the day is that there is no story

2006-08-27T13:27:00.001-05:00

Well, the moving in is complete and my new roommate has arrived (good man, I don't forsee screaming matches like last year) and I plan on meeting with my Uncle Marc and Connie later today to see The Oh in Ohio.

Life is good.

I am so bored though. There is not much to do and I have yet to see a SINGLE friend in Austin yet. I may be a bit early but yeesh people, get back to school so I can hang out. I've got a few tasks to do on Monday concerning loans, possible parking problems, and checking on the SEC so you may see me around campus a lot on Monday. And now for the fastest updates in my life in...

Bits and Pieces

The Dobie Dorm will help with weight loss, living on the sixth floor is just low enough to be climbable in a pinch.

Filesharing, hell piracy period, will be very difficult with this crappy internet connection. No limits on downloading, just uploading, making bittorent prohibitive.

I sent a facebook message to Thai, telling him I would like to join Gigglepants. Cross your fingers folks.

Jed Brown is still the man, he'll be getting an e-mail after this with a status update.

I have to play all of my PS2 games in MONO now because of the crappy A/V hookups with the new cheap TV.

I have a coffee machine, coffee, sugar, creme, but no measuring spoon.

Yay for open-source!

2006-08-26T18:26:00.001-05:00

Jed Brown.... You're my hero.

Jed Brown is the main, possibly sole, programmer for Performancing for Firefox. He just sent a new beta version of his software that works with Blogger Beta.

If you see this post, then he has worked his programming voodoo into a workable extension.

I've now gotten 85% of my stuff into place at the dorm room. I still haven't unpacked my clothes but all of the electronics are in place, which is the most important aspect. The roomie hasn't come in yet so I got the prime locations in the room. It's not like I've controlled the room but I do have the better half. The one with the view.

Oooooh. The view!

Maybe I should say more

2006-08-25T08:21:00.000-05:00

The link below you is for the entire first draft of the Nebraska Trilogy. Three short screenplays written over the summer by yours truly. This represents the largest writing project I have ever completed, school or otherwise. Comments, suggestions, heck, even flames are welcomed. All I ask is that you read the whole piece before you make an opinion.

To say that having this piece finished is relieving is an understatement. It was very ambitious of me to say I could finish the whole project in a summer, but I managed to pull it off and the result is what I consider to be the best material I have ever written. That's not saying it's a masterwork, I'm saying it's the best stuff I've done, a big difference.

Please enjoy!

Need I Say More? Click the link!

2006-08-25T08:19:00.001-05:00

The Nebraska Trilogy.pdf

Can You Picture That?

2006-08-17T21:04:00.000-05:00

Ok folks, if you don't like the constant YouTubing of the site, just tell me so. But until then I have a great clip from the ultimate children's movie. Folks, it's Muppet Time!

The Nut Shot- Madrigal Night Live Behind The Scenes #2

2006-08-17T11:26:00.000-05:00

Late. Can't Sleep. Must.... Blog

2006-08-17T01:40:00.000-05:00

I don't really have much to say tonight (or morning.) My facebook friend activity has been very high today for some reason. I think all my Cedar Point co-workers got fired today and started adding me. I also had to delete some wall posts because while some people find random sexual comments and crude jokes amusing on Facebook walls, I don't. That was one aspect of Nebraska humor I never really enjoyed engaging in.

It should only be a matter of days before my firefox extension (known as Performancing Firefox) should be updated to blogger beta. As far as the layout goes, I'm fine with the new changes but until I can edit the raw HTML code I'm not going to be 100% happy. I like being able to add content wherever I like to the site. And while drag and drop is easier, it enables less freedom. If you don't know a damn thing about what I'm talking about head on over to google news and search blogger beta.

NOTE: Just lost my train of thought here

MNL News. The next behind the scenes clip should come up later today. I'm thinking this will be a short compilation of the best scene I shot all last year. Including a long take that I loved but made no sense to include in the final cut.

I Wish I Could Go Back To College

2006-08-16T19:30:00.001-05:00

Never have I been so damn excited to go back to school! I miss you guys!

It's the beginning of a new age

2006-08-16T05:28:00.000-05:00

So I have now officially switched over to Blogger's new beta service. Some features (like my ad) are now gone for a short time while they work out the kinks. I am basically adding this post as a test to see if my lovely Firefox extension, which is my main blogging program, can update to the site now. That being said I am enjoying adding all these little knick-knacks to my blog like the new facebook badge on the left side. I hope to continue to customize the site before heading back to Austin, but right now I want to see if switching to Blogger Beta was a good idea or not.

here's a new YouTube spot to make it worthwhile.

NOTE: After originally posting this entry my firefox extension could NOT update to the new site. This means that some posting may slow until an update. I doubt it however.

New Bright Eyes Album- Color me happy

2006-08-14T22:43:00.000-05:00

I am NOT EMO!

That being said, I love Bright Eyes. I love them like fat boys love cake and skinny girls love blow. Does the fact that I just bought shirts from Hot Topic alter my first statement?

I swear I'm not emo.

But this October Bright Eyes will come out with a rarities comp and I will be buying that sucker on vinyl. Why vinyl? Because Bright Eyes, like many indie bands, likes to make some songs rare on purpose by going out of print real easily and then rerelease the songs to make an extra buck.

It’s Cool, We Can Still Be Friends is one of my favorite rare Bright Eyes tracks and I only have a crappy MP3 of it. Well the only version of the disc that has this song is the vinyl version of the comp. Damn you Saddle Creek!

In other news...

I purchased about $300 dollars worth of school supplies and clothes today across Findlay and the internet. I should have enough jeans to last me this year unlike last year where the jeans would run out by Wednesday and the shirts would last til next Tuesday. I also got a cool 512MB USB Key since I keep losing my 128MB one. I figure I'll attach this one to the keychain like you should.

On www.youtube.com/group/MNL you'll be able to find a new cut of the first MNL ad. I've decided to recut some footage on iMovie to increase the quality, I'm also going back to the original DV tapes for footage, something that should help keep quality up. Behind the scenes footage should come about twice a month from now on, depending on time issues.

On a very imporant note, I will not be releasing MNL on DVD like I've been promising since Feburary. After looking over the footage again I realize it's just too crappy to be shown on television. Not the quality of the show, just the recording of the show. It constantly loses it's auto-focus and I just feel it would be a waste. However, because of this decision that means that the whole show, skit by skit, will be released on YouTube over the course of the semester. Thus making the show available for the whole world, for free. I'm sorry if you've been looking foward to the DVD but I think this solution will be the best for the show.

Besides that, just remember I will be leaving for Austin in 10 days! And I promise to come back with a splash, in fact, the blog will be updated from the road in a very special way. Keep checking back with the site for more updates on lots of stuff.

Inspiring Posters... from the 24th Century

2006-08-13T12:17:00.000-05:00

If you are in any way a nerd, this speaks to your heart.

2006-08-12T12:35:00.000-05:00

PS3 vs. Wii - Apple Style!

I LOVE THIS VIDEO!

The Raw Feed

2006-08-11T15:21:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! Welcome to the now official launch of Musings from Austin, Texas. Here is the first ORIGINAL production from the site.