Moving to TBTK blog

I can BARELY keep up with one blog...let alone two.:-) Head over to:

http://www.thebraveandthekind.com/diary/


This will be where I'll post all news, film and otherwise, for a while.:-)


cheers
John

Shows...shows...and more shows

Sorry for the delay in updating this blog. Lots going on with TBTK shooting I simply forgot. I also forgot that all three shows I submitted work to back in March were all running within a week of themselves. SO...If your in the capitol region area check out these shows...

Fence Select Show
The Arts Center of the Capitol Region
Troy, NY
Pack Forest Series

UAG Reflections Show
Albany, NY
Self Motion Portrait

Balston Spa Film Festival : Experimental Showcase
Balston Spa, NY
Motion Portrait

You could see the motion portrait film and then it's counterpart...The Self Motion Portrait film within driving distance of one another.:-)

Cheers
John

PS "old school doug" get a fucking life.

free downloads back

After a small hiatus, the free online downloads are back...all you have to do is sign up for the newsletter. BUT, if you want to see it in the living room and not on the computer, OR you want a sick commentary track to listen to, head over to IndiePix and pick yourself up a DVD copy. See where it all began.;-)

cheers
John

PS make sure to check out all the goings on over at The Brave and the Kind site.

downloads, TV shows, and papers...oh my

Things have been pretty insane around here lately. It feels like everything that was put into motion months ago now needs immediate and equal attention. TBTK is off and running. Sean comes up tonight and we tech scout the entire weekend...finalizing EVERYTHING. PLUS, tonight, EGTTR and it's designer, Raeanne Wright go to the Nori's...lets hope we win them all.:-) I was recently asked to be in the Times Union's "Best of 2008" Film competition. Check out the other entries here. If you're in the area...check out the insert, Kurt and I have a nice little spread.

Amongst all these goings on and excitement I was asked to be a part of the maiden season of TVFilm on our local PBS. Thanks to Brandon Bethmann, Dan Swinton, and all the great people down at WMHT for the hard work, it's a wonderful addition to the local film community! You can see it every Thursday night at 10:30 on WMHT. It starts June 12th and my episode should be the third one...roughly.:-)

And in indiepix news, we're promoting EGTTR as a download with a 20% off sale. We've recently taken the free download down for a bit and hope to have it up soon, but in the meantime you can get the film here www.indiepixfilms.com/download and at a discount!

The Apocalypse: This time it's personal

The many world tragedies of late have me wondering more about what "the end of the world" really means. I drive home everyday through a neighborhood of smiling happy millionaires on North Broadway and wonder what would the end be for them. Is it life without good service, or food, or clothing. Where does one person's everyday survival become another person's apocalypse? EGTTR in a way explores that. The film is about three friends trying to stay together in a time, that to them, feels like the end. We find out later that it wass a very localized thing when Randall walks out of the woods. That one person's arctic hell was something that was perhaps watched on another person's television like it was an A&E television event. Katrina was that way, the Tsunami was that way. These tragedies are so far away from us, so far removed from North Broadway that it's no wonder people don't understand as much as they should. Why people like Sharon Stone can make tasteless little karma jokes about it in the sunny South of France without understanding the real face, and feel, and smell of what must have truly felt like the end of the world to the people living in that area of China. (and was the end for many) Will it take people starving in the streets to bring about change and reaction? Will people watch it in awe somewhere when our way of life falls apart, or natural disaster strikes. Will we have the courage as people to help one another out, or will we use it as an excuse to loot, steal, and cheat one another out of what little is left? Will the very people who's disregard for everyone else, be pulled from their homes on all the North Broadways everywhere and "dealt" with? I don't know. I really don't.


Cheers
John

The Brave and the Kind is live

TBTK is live and we've hit the ground running. Check out the website and drop us a line on our facebook or myspace. ALSO, check us out later next week with our first video post/project that you can participate in.

In other news:

I will be in the Times Union June 5th along with other talented members of the Capital Region Film community. Check out the video I made for the NYS Museum.

Stay tuned for info on me and my senior film "Johnny" on PBS!

Cheers
John

TBTK is a go! PLUS, INTERVIEW!

So it's official, The Brave and the Kind is a go! This personal film about my family will begin shooting this summer and be available from IndiePix sometime late Fall. This is the first film completely funded and supported by IndiePix Studios; a new branch of their fabulous company. I thank Bob for green lighting it, Jason for getting behind it, and the entire IndiePix crew for the support. Stay tuned to the IndiePix site and www.braveandthekind.com for exclusive footage of us making this puppy.:-)

Also on the IndiePix website is an interview with yours truly. I discuss some of the in's and out's of production on EGTTR, as well as some of my views on filmmaking. Check it out!

Cheers
John

Thanks to all that came...TBTK

Wednesday was a great night of film, fun and friends. Thanks to all that came out to support us and the other films. If you were there you know the big news. IndiePix is producing my next film ...The Brave and the Kind. Stay tuned to IndiePix and www.thebraveandthekind.com for details in the coming weeks. Launch date is Monday May 19th!

In other news...EGTTR and John Yost is featured on the IndiePix website with a brand new artist interview...great job guys!

Cheers
John

Join us in NYC tomorrow!

Just a quick reminder to all those in the big apple. Tomorrow EGTTR will screen for the first time in NYC at the Anthology Film Archives as part of their NewFilmmakers Series. The festivities kick off around 6PM with a killer doc, a really nice collects of shorts, and finally EGTTR at 9ish. It's only 5 bucks and it helps support some true "indie" filmmaking. IndiePix will be there in support of EGTTR and Deployment Strategy...a new short film by Mark Cheng. Afterwards we'll be having a little Q&A, PLUS an announcement by the EGTTR filmmakers and IndiePix...so you'll want to be there to hear first hand. Once the screening is over it's out for a few drinks and good times. Hope to see you there for a night of film and fun!!!:-)

Cheers as always
John

EGTTR Premiere in NYC!

So Wed. April 30th, EGTTR will have it's NYC premiere at the Anthology Film Archives. Please join us for film, fun, and ANNOUNCEMENTS. IndiePix will be on hand to deliver the goods and to tell you all about the next step for them and me.:-)

cheers
John

PS
Here is Toonces kid sister. (not really, but holy crap what a resemblance.)

Radiohead contest entry that wasn't meant to be

Recently Radiohead had an animation contest for their next music video. I saw the posting and thought...I should give it a shot. THEN I thought, I'm not an animator...so I stopped there. This morning I found that Robert of Flight 404.com found a way to make what I think is a perfect fit to "Weird Fishes".


Weird Fishes: Arpeggi from flight404 on Vimeo.

If what is said on the blog is true...this video is made entirely with code. Very cool and kudos to Robert. He didn't end up submitting it to the contest...I ask why not!? What do you gots to loose.

Cheers
John

EGTTR WEBSITE NOMINATED FOR A NORI

The talented and lovely Ms. Raeanne Wright...our (and my) everything designer is up for a Nori Award (The listing is on page 3 of the nominees.) Wish her luck June 6th when she goes up against other fine-art/website/multimedia/functionality/design people. I may be biased, but I would give her the award without hesitation. I'm proud of you sweetie!


Cheers
John

Since you've been gone

So since you last abandoned the EGTTR blog, things have been busy. We have our NYC premiere at the Anthology Film Archives Wed April 30th at 9PM...come on out and drink bar drinks afterwards...oh yeah and the movie. IndiePix will also be there supporting a fellow IndiePixer...DEPLOYMENT STRATEGY!

In other news, I recently got asked to direct (along with tons of other fabulous local filmmakers) a small short for the Times Union Best of 2008 contest. Due to it's long length it will not be in the contest, however it will still be on their site and mentioned a whole bunch. The June 4th issue is when it will be profiled in the paer along with other local filmmakers who were asked to lens something...pretty cool. Thanks to Kurt Warner, my new partner in steadi-cam for the assist. THE FILM is my father and I leaving his office at the Museum and meeting my mother downstairs...she also works for the Museum. Being from a family of two Museum employees...this is a pretty fond and consistent memory...hanging out with the fam after hours...hope you like it.

Next time I'll have more than just updates...a rant for sure. Don't worry Brandon...I'm working up a good one sweets.

Cheers
John

I must have done something wrong

With our recent spike in hits here at the site comes international exposure. With exposure you get a larger audience, and in that larger audience you have a better chance of running into someone not so nice. I recently received my first reviews at imdb and most of them were positive. The few who commented felt the film was flawed, but showed a great effort from a first time director with the resources available. One even complemented me by saying it reminded him of Gus Van Sant...a hero of mine...all good...right? Well it really wouldn't be the internet without hearing from the insanely angry jerk and my review page on imdb is no exception.

Here is the review: (I'm posting it because you need a login to see it at imdb...and not everyone has a log in.)

"This was probably done by first year Film College nerds as a vacation project. It is painfull and a complete waste of space. Nothing happens at all in the first 20 minutes but, like an idiot, I kept watching to see if there was any laughs in seeing how low it could go. It didn't disappoint. I checked the so called director's credentials and guess what? Right, he's done nothing. It should have stayed that way. Sadly there's no sign of any hidden talent, he should reconsider his hobby options. For instance, somehow he got the notion being vague was cool. All it does here is confuse an already confusing script. Avoid this at all cost. In fact, all copies of the video should be rounded up and burned for the crime of media pollution."

This reads like I've personally offended him. I feel that this kind of anger is reserved for people who have wronged me personally. Yeah one more thing...HE WATCHED THE WHOLE THING!:-) No one put a gun to his head...I didn't come over and slap his mother in the face...it's just a film bub...relax.
With this review I've gone on to contemplate the internet and it's effectiveness to communicate. On one hand it creates communities across borders and aligns those looking to help a cause, or organize movements. Overall..it's a very useful tool. However, in the hands of those who use it as a soapbox or a way to chastise others behind a veil of anonymity it becomes a cheap joke. The best thing to do is to ignore this type of angry ignorance, and I will. I put this film out there for free so everyone could see it, talk about it, comment on it, and share it; I cannot be offended when someone doesn't like it. My only advise to the person who posted this is that they should just relax and take a break from the internet for a while; come back to the table when he's simmered down a bit...we would all appreciate that.

Cheers
John

PS I've read a few of this persons other reviews and it reads like a rant from Comic Book Guy on the Simpsons...worst episode ever.;-)

many thanks and the truth

So lately we've been experiencing a large volume of traffic due to postings on torrent sites and blogs. All I can say is thanks! It's nice to see the film get out there, and the idea behind the free download finally come to some fruition. If this thing we call the internet is a community, and this crazy sub culture called "Indie" is real; then the way things are happening for EGTTR is exactly as it should be. I can't say thanks enough...feel free to drop me a line with feedback...always love to hear it.

That leads me to the truth part. I spent this past weekend with friends outside of Syracuse. (The previous post was from this trip and a stab at humor...drunk, late night humor.) We ate, drank, and had an overall merry time. However. This friend of mine pointed out that I am incredibly negative sometimes and affected by other people almost to a fault. She's right. My wife also confronted me about me having a drinking problem. She's right. When you spend a large chunk of time couped up in a terrible climate, drinking to be social, and obsessing about a script that describes how the death of everything might go down...you get a bit blindsided. The best thing to do is just be honest with yourself and admit that the problems exist. Previous posts have seen me screaming about the "posers" of the indie world. Previous months have seen me drink to be happy, despite the amount and level of work I'm constantly trying to produce. I will not dwell on this, nor will I make the bold assumption that I will ever completely quit drinking. I will not fool myself into thinking I will one day never find a "poser" completely annoying and uncalled for. I can, however, promise to always be truthful to myself, my friends, and my family. I will always take steps to move in a positive, forward direction in what ever endeavor I chose. I will always, eventually, shut out the idiots and focus on the wonderful people that still do exist in this world. The worse thing I could ever do is ever start thinking I have it completely figured out.

I should also never forget that I'm part Noreen Yost, and part John E. Yost Jr. and I will forever be the most optimistic realist in the room...
or the most layed back person to ever plan every moment of everyday...
or the person who hates talking on the phone so much, it takes 10 minutes to say goodbye to friends.


In The Brave and the Kind News...we're making a movie. Shooting is this June/July. I need to cast two people asap. Things are going to get out of hand. Check here for updates...wish I could say more, but we're all trying to stay real secretive...you know...for fun, it's fun to be secretive.

If you have a chance, check out my wife's (our in house marketing web designer) latest fun website...toonces TV...I know...a site about our cat...we really do enjoy her that much.;-)

Cheers
John

God Bless America

Honing my craft since the age of 19

Lately I've been reading lots of blogs and newspaper articles on independent artists, filmmakers, and photographers. (local and national) I have to say it seems that I've started way too late. Most of these people, according to their bios and interviews, have been "Honing their crafts since the age of 3". Wow, I am way behind the curve. Who would have thought that the camera little Colin got when he was 8 would lead to all this. How could we have conceived that little Erin's brush with brushes at the age of three would lead to this illustrious career as a painter. I'm here to tell you that's a load of horse shit. EVERYONE WAS EXPOSED TO THE ARTS AS A KID! Everyone had someone in their life (especially if your a middle class white kid from upstate NY) that exposed them to some form of art. Hell any musician could say that, "ever since they heard their first song on the radio at the age of 2 months they've been a budding musician". Don't believe everything you read, that young artist ideal is just a way for artists and newspapers to sell you what they're doing. As if by some miracle you're going to be so much more impressed with the persons talents because they've been doing it since before they could walk. I believe anything done before the age of 20 was a write off, an experiment in adolescence and social interaction. Sure some of what you do early on become the building blocks of your personality and character later in life. But any serious artist does not start making important work until they've been properly trained and have gone through years of rigorous rejection and almost ignorant persistence. Picking up a camera at the age of 5 doesn't mean you know anything about photography. Copying comic book characters in middle school does not give you the right to call yourself an artist...your work does. Perhaps that's why I don't consider myself an artist yet...I got started way to late.

Cheers
John

Speaking the truth

I just saw Into the Wild last night. The new film by Sean Penn that tells the tale of Chris McCandless's jouney to Alaska to find truth. The story itself was great, but the film and it's editing left something to be desired. The one thing that stuck with me was when he quoted Thoreau, "Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth." It has been a long few weeks writing my own truth into the new film I'm making, and I find myself "spicing it up" from time to time with nuggets of fiction. I do this simply because I know that an audience (as with films) don't often want the truth, they want the fantastical. But I must stick to my guns, so I'm keeping it as close to home as possible; bending truths to be what might happen, instead of what has happened. It's funny what begins inside of you when you do this. You're not as close to the story any longer. There are pieces of you in it, but you can work on it without knowing you're completely invested in it...body and soul. I think that's what's happening to our world. It's too hard to bear having the truth so close. It's too much to be reminded daily of what's wrong and what changes need to be made. It's easier to omit a few truths and keep it at a distance, than it is to embrace the mess and deal with it.

Recently the French actress Marion Cotillard was lambasted by the US media for saying that 9/11 might not have happened exactly as we think it did. I'm no conspiracy theorist myself, but I've seen enough of what this administration has done to know I'm not getting the whole truth. I'm pretty sure there was more to the story than we'll ever know...OR really want to know. Isn't that the reason that those who lost family in the tragedy were calling for her head. Isn't it funny that when it's so close to us we cannot even seek the truth...let alone see it. I saw Marion's speech on Oscar night and I'm sure she wasn't as crass as the papers made her out to be. I'm also sure it's quite hard to have a family member lost in the 9/11 tragedy. I'm not, nor would I ever, downplay their loss or any other useless loss of human life. However, we need to stop being so offended at the thought that our government isn't telling the truth and perhaps start asking questions. We need to rally together, mourn our losses, and demand answers.

All of this reminds me of the song by Immortal Technique with Mos Def. It's a bit harsh, but there is a message in it. Thanks Chris for turning me on to it.
This one's for you Marion.

Arin Crumley is a poser

And so is Susan Buice. Don't let these people fool you, they are not filmmakers, they are opportunists. I wasn't going to say anything but with this morning's announcement about their new venture From Here To Awesome (I know I'm giving them links here, but you need the video as reference) I just couldn't keep quiet. AND seeing as how this is the only real space I have on the internet to voice my opinion...seemed like a good place and time.

Why are they opportunists and not filmmakers? Watch the video and you'll see. Not only are they extremely untalented actors (moping and talking in a monotone voice isn't acting guys...being your hipster self isn't groundbreaking.) But they were just a group of kids that got together and said, "hey...we can make a film, too." They then spent WAY too much money, pissed off a lot of people by being neurotic douche-bags (I'm going on info I've seen in their podcasts about making the film), and all-around brats when their film only made it into Slamdance!? Let me make this clear...you are lucky to have been noticed AT ALL. Here's a little advice: don't complain openly that you're disappointed your little hipster relationship film made it to SLAMDANCE...my god. There are people who work ten times as hard as you, put 20 times more thought into their films, that have 30 times more interesting subject matter that are NEVER SEEN.

I know this From Here to Awesome thing looks like their answer to this problem, but it's not. The video boasts it has the answers to the problems plaguing indie filmmaking, but it doesn't... because IT'S STILL A FESTIVAL. It's still only going to accept 2 percent of what's sent to it. No one is going to make profits like their film did.

Why are they posers? Why are they opportunists? Because the only reason they're doing this is to proclaim themselves Indie Film pioneers. You notice that they're doing this instead of making another film... because they are not filmmakers...nor were they ever. I agree that there are many problems with Indie Filmmaking right now. I also agree that the internet is the next distribution platform. Sites like IndiePix and Truly Indie are leading the way and taking chances. But an online festival run by people who just want to be famous and cash in is not the answer. I say do it yourself, don't help the posers of this world steal the glory off your hard work.


Cheers
John

NYC premiere

Oscars aside, EGTTR will have it's NYC premiere on April 30th at The New Filmmakers. More details to come, in the meantime check out a recent review of the film here.

Also if you're in need of a chuckle check this blog out:

Stuff White People Like

Cheers
John

The Oscars are obsolete

Well...maybe not the Oscars themselves. The awards give us something to strive for each year. The golden carrot of excellence dangled in front of those who might not normally produce good films. Producers and studio heads who, in the absence of the Oscars, would look else where for profit increasing benchmarks. Imagine if instead of the Oscars we had the, "Made-it-for-nothing-put-no-effort-into-it-and-still-made-a-shitload-of-money" awards. A scary world indeed. When I say they are obsolete I mean the awards ceremony in itself is obsolete...all of them. If anything this writer strike has taught us it's the world still keeps spinning even if the stars don't pack themselves into expensive bullshit and walk down a carpet to congratulate one another. In this Youtube/IMDB age there is no need to sit through a 4 hour circle jerk. I can now look up the winners and see their exceptence speeches online...the good parts. And nothing against Jon Stewart, a very tasteful, funny hosting job, but condense it down and you have what I can watch every night in 30 minutes...it's called the Daily Show. I also don't need to watch a popularity contest where a spoiled, white, suburban, boring, former stripper who can't write, receives an Oscar. I thought this was the night we honored the best of our industry, not just gave out awards to people for being on Oprah, or for making up hipster bullshit phrases like "what the blog". More like what the fuck. If we're going to start giving Oscars to people like that we should simply just hand the ballots out to 4th graders and ask them how many Hannah Montana songs we should nominate. All pandering to the popular vote does is cheapen the whole thing and make a mockery of those who have devoted they're entire lives to making cinema.

Next year I'm going to take my four hours and invest them into something that moves my life forward. Read a book, take a walk, write a poem, anything else but sit on that fucking couch.I can get all the Oscar news I need in 5 minutes the next day on yotube. I wonder how many more millions of dollars the "independent" film Juno is going to make now.

Congrats to Daniel Day Lewis and all the other classy, brilliant actors and craftsmen/women who worked so hard this year to bring us great films. I think we should all strive to make work that good. And hey, my new philosophy is..."If Diablo Cody can win an Oscar...I totally have a shot!" I might just put it on a T-shirt.


cheers
John

The Brave and the Kind enters script stage

Had a great weekend in NYC working with Randall and meeting at IndiePix. Jason of IndiePix also interviewed me for the site and disc. I lost my train of thought a few times, but overall I think I did good.;-) A great group of people at IndiePix; Matt and Adam...great disc and menu design! Over the weekend I also got some props from my Glens Falls fan club Trampoline Design. Thanks guys for the support, lets hope this next one is even better...and that my wife wins that award.:-) Randall and I now have a solid outline and story structure...now just to fill it with that pesky dialoge. Also learned this weekend that I need to step back just a tad and let this story be the parrellel universe it's suppose to. I've lived it long enough and I'm sure I will do a great job telling the story...time to move on personally. We'll keep you up to date with any developments and news...in the meantime go grab the disk at IndiePix and check out the teaser site for The Brave and the Kind!

Cheers
John



This is where I've spent the last 72 hours...well worth it!:-)

Randall's Famous

So it's off to NYC today to write for 5 days. Randall and I are hoping to finish the rough draft of the film for drop off by Monday. Once that is finished I can start thinking locations and cast. Went to IndiePix today and found that the first banner is a great design/image with Randall on it...we're just moments away of taking over the world! :-)



remember to link us, or go to IndiePix and get the download...we need to show them the next one is well worth it! :-)

Speaking of the next film here is the site for The Brave and the Kind...up and running with a teaser. Enjoy!

Cheers
John

Thank goodness for Xiu Xiu

So I'm now in full swing of production and writing for the next film due out November 2008 and I'm trying to get in touch with artists I admire for help. I recently got in touch with Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu and asked if he was interested in making the entire soundtrack. Jamie is great at getting back to people via email and so far it looks like the interest is being returned. (nothing set in stone yet though...we'll see.) If you haven't hear Xiu Xiu's music, or heard of them period...educate yourself here. XIU XIU Womaen as Lovers. Not only is that the title of their most recent release, but a pretty cool website that invites you to participate in the making of music and poetry. The album is a piece of indie music genius and I think fits beyond well with the subject matter of TBTK. I sent my image with my recent album purchase and got this pretty sweet haiku written about me. Pretty dead on Jaime...thanks! Hope to work with you guys on the soundtrack!


cheers
John

IT'S HERE!

The IndiePix Download of EGTTR

relax John...it's just a movie

After a pretty nasty scare this weekend I find myself leaving through website after website of self distribution models and Sundance Film Festival images. After all that, I have to say...it's only a film. From me taking things too seriously, to these images of people congratulating themselves like they just put a man in space I have to really start putting things into perspective. In the interest of discovering isolation and true depravity I've taken the research just a step too far and need to pull back on the stick...I'm sure I can understand sorrow without making it an everyday experience. I also think that these new self-proclamed lords of indie-filmmaking need to take it down a notch...you've just made a movie about 20 somethings relationships...you didn't find the cure for cancer and you don't have the answer to all things indie. (By the way is anyone really all that interested in the relationships of 20 something hipsters? really?)

On an up note the film will be out on Indiepix January 29th. IndiePix has been great through the whole process and I hope to be working with them on the next project, The Brave and The Kind. Keep posted for more details. PLUS on January 29th Xiu Xiu's new album Women as Lovers comes out. EGTTR officially endorses The Xiu Xiu crew!

Cheers
John

Isolation!...the musical

Well...it's official. Once the final release/push happens Tuesday the 29th at indiepix I will be embarking on the next film. With only casting, writing, and scheduling to do I'm already in great shape. Almost all the people that worked on EGTTR are coming back to help or act in The Brave and The Kind. Rae and I are also looking to brand and revamp the nameinuse production sites. (EGTTR, The new movie site, and the soon to be portfolio/book site) Now comes the hard part however, immersing myself into a film where the message is to become part of the world and not let isolation get the best of you. Here comes a year where all I do is think of isolation and it's effect on society...which I'm sure is going to have some sort of effect on me. With EGTTR it was a great year of trying to figure out what it will look like if and when society came falling apart. I've been asked by people if I really think we're doomed and if people are destined to rip themselves apart. I actually think there is so much potential in humans. I think we are one step away from figuring things out. So when we chose the easy road, or shut the world out, or think only of ourselves I tend to become quite sad and detached. I know we can do wonderful things and that's why I want to make a film that encourages people to do wonderful things. That WAS the point of EGTTR...but now I need to learn how to convey that better, to get my point across and not leave the audience asking "now what". It's so very easy to allow things like advertising, religion, politics, and ego to separate us. Isolation isn't just physical...that's one thing living in New York City taught me...it's the loneliest city in the world. I also think isolation from one another is keeping us from becoming united against some of the true evils of this world. I think or attitude of "I will get mine, and hunker down with my family, and forget everyone else" keeps us from understanding how others might be coping or struggling with life. I think that isolation is one of the core factors keeping us from getting together and revamping our education system, or health care system, or infrastructure. We are terrified of one another and too stubborn to look past our own self made bubble...our "Army of one" if you will.

It's going to be a fun year. ;-)

cheers
John

Working hard towards the next thing

So after a wonderful holiday and great start to the new year I find myself thinking about what's next. Raeanne and I have both agreed to work hard to learn marketable skills so that we can move on to the next thing. One idea is Grad school for me here at Skidmore College. A MALS (Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies) in "Math and Music as a written language". This of course would line me up for a future PhD at which point I would change my name to DR. John Yost...insisting that everyone call me as such. (just kidding...about the DR. thing...still want the PhD though) Thanks to Jack and Mr. Finn who wrote the recommendations. Raeanne is working hard on Advanced CSS and Java Script stuff while absorbing as much as she can through Lynda.com...an amazing training site.

Recent correspondence with close friends of ours have gotten us extremely interested in Denver CO as a future spot. 300+ days of sun, golf all year round, and a cost of living EQUAL to Glens Falls...we'd be stupid not too. However, there are many things to do before then, and bills to pay off. If 2009-2010 sounds like it's too far off for this change you're wrong...plenty of things to do here for now. Like make two more feature films...one of my own, and one for Brandon Bethmann my producer. You hear that Brandon...I'm sticking around for you.;-) The next film is coming along great. Randall will be up in a week or so to help me get the script rolling. I'm in the process of writing a bit of a proposal to get financial interest, (not too much needed...you know how I roll...fast and cheap.) as well as contacting artists that I admire to contribute...musicians and crew...I'll let you know how it goes.

As for EGTTR we are a few weeks away from the distribution date through IndiePix. A fan of the film has been telling those who are fighting for the TV show Jericho all about us...thanks Dan. AND, I finally got onto IMDB...although the budget is listed as 30,000 and Holland is the only mentioned character/crew member...either they stopped halfway through the update, OR I really screwed up. Hopefully it's fixed soon.

I'll leave you with this video of Charlie Brooker of the BBC talking about the biggest cocks in advertising...I can't watch this without laughing my ass off.

here's to topping all the best of lists.

First off, Happy New Year...the only holiday I truly like. It's not too commercial, (unless you count liquor and beer ads) it signals new beginnings, and doesn't hump tradition into the ground. For example...read Raeanne's blog about our NYC festivities this year. So what if we were in the streets when the ball dropped. It was amazing; it was the first time we were in the streets in my entire life when midnight hit. It was a blast...I felt like I was George Bailey and instead of Merry X-Mas I was shouting Happy New Year to everyone. I'm hooked, from now on no more watching it all happen on TV...no longer watching someone else do it, I will be come part of this world.

As for the film commentary we recorded for IndiePix...you are going to want to check that out. Rae, Randall, Holland, and I all sat down with a couple of beers and gave up all the inside scoops to making the film. a few "shout outs" and tips on how to make a movie this fabulous were also leaked. It will be out for download-to-own on January 29th and soon after you can download it straight to DVD. The new disk will have the new trailer (which is on our site now) the commentary and a few other things. (like a proper menu.:-)

In other movie news, IMDB is still harder to get into than Fort Knox for some reason. I've been submitting the film for almost a year now and it still comes up rejected. The reason this time? The original 2007 release date had expired because of the roll over to 2008. No shit...like I said...it's been a year for them to take us seriously. Now armed with multiple articles and a DISTRIBUTION DEAL I hope to become a member of the apparently elite group known as people who are listed on IMDB. Why do I want to be on there? Simply because they are now the standard of established, and every little bit helps...plus I'll be bonafied then...right?

On the festival side of things 2008 started off great. I got rejected from SXSW and completely lost my taste for film festivals. As I sat reading the rejection EMAIL that urged me to come to the festival even though my film will not be in the fest, AND act quick because the discount passes are almost gone; I realized something. What were my goals when making this film? To tell a story I wanted to tell...my way. (check) Get as many people to see it as possible. (check) Get other people interested in helping me make the next one. (check) Festivals are simply a way to get noticed and then get distribution...but guess what...I already have distribution through a great company...IndiePix.net. I set out to make a unique film, distribute it uniquely, and make the next one...and I have accomplished all of that. Film festivals in a way are becoming obsolete (and lucrative to every small town that dreams one up) It's time to plow through to the future and shape the way we make, distribute, and celebrate filmmaking. Not hump the dead horse of 90's independent film ideas. I saw an article damning Sundance as too Hollywood, and Robert Redford defending that Sundance is still as "indie" as it always has been. Straight up bull shit...sorry Robert I don't know what else to tell ya...straight up bullshit.

As for the next film, it will be called The Brave and the Kind. I've already started an outline and hope to be shooting Summer 2008. This weekends trip to NYC found me collecting a crew and interest from Indiepix. I will keep you updated on all that changes and develops. Now it's off to apply to DIY and Independent Boston...okay so the taste isn't completely gone. Just a few more and I swear I'll quit...besides it would be nice to go to just one.;-) Congrats to Radiohead for topping everyone's list of best album...it is...you should listen to it...the whole thing...Disk 1 AND Disk 2...which is the best one...fuck you pitchforkmedia...get a clue. And to all the critics that put M.I.A. on their list anywhere above the number 1000 mark I say what is the world coming to.

Here is a picture of holiday toonces...a thousand times crankyer than the original.


Thanks to all my friends and family for a wonderful life and great year to come. Thanks to all the people who helped make this film a reality and are still willing to help me out on the next one. Thank you to Jason and the Indiepix crew for running a great site and for looking into new ways to do things...you guys rock! Thanks to my wife that puts up with all my shit and suports me all the way.XOXO

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!Make it a good one.