Wrapping up the year!

Well I hope I'll get a chance to post at least one more time before the official end of the year, but judging by my recent or not so recent posts that may not happen, so on this rare day off from the paying gig I decided to get one more entry in. (By the way today's picture... my new Panivision App... it's kind of cool and free!)

The good news is that despite how long it has taken for me to get to the end, the end is near for the DVD for "3 days..." It just has taken a lot longer than I had hoped, but all of the stuff in it should be worth a lot of the wait. I hope folks like it when it comes out next year.

It's been a big year for us here at TSP. I mean starting with the move across country being the biggest change for the year. Personally I spent a lot of time writing this past year and no doubt will again next, but I am closer and closer to starting something... a new project and I just have to make sure it's the right one and all my ducks are in a row. I don't want to start something and then not deliver.

Anyway, I need to get some more work done here as I wrap up 2010. Thanks for spending at least part of the year with us and I hope 2011 is even more productive... I know I'll be pushing for it to be!

Peace, love and happy holidays!

Knocking Out Some Editing

Spending some time inside this weekend knocking out some editing for, "3 days..." I need to just power through this.

I'm near the end and have some good stuff, I just have to really buckle down and lock it up. Most of the elements are in house it's just that last fine tuning that seems to take so much to get right. I'm not going to predict when it will be done anymore just going to hope it's soon!

Not a lot to post here today because I need to get shit done! Peace out my friends!

Dating For Dummies With TSP!

Here is a new contest that I think you'll all enjoy and it's for a chance to win a great film... check it out!"Had a bad date in the past? Have advice for others? Well here's your chance to share your wisdom and enter a contest for a chance to win the hit film from Triple Sticks Productions, "Slow Down... You're Dating Too Fast!" The hilarious comedy about five people trying to find love through speed dating!

All you have to do is log onto Facebook, become a fan of Triple Sticks Productions by hitting the "Like" button then post a piece of dating advice on the main wall and that's it... you're entered to win!

We'll select three winners who've become a friend and posted dating advice at random to win a DVD copy of, "Slow Down... You're Dating Too Fast!" and ship it to you! All entries must be posted by November 30th and we'll announce the winners on December 1st! (One entry per person)

Share your great dating advice and win a great film all at once!!!"

Am I Becoming a Regular?

OK I don't get as much time as I'd like to spend at my mobile office downtown, but I don't find it very interesting that every time I'm here I do see the same core group of folks... mostly smoking outside since you can't smoke in or right outside of the place... thank goodness. I wonder if they notice me or is it me just noticing them?

So it was supposed to rain and the plan was to stay inside and edit all day, well since it didn't do that... still chilly... I put on my shorts and sweatshirt and headed out to get some work done BEFORE I settle in for some editing.

Today is just one of those days when I have a million and one things to do and I know I don't have enough time for all of them. The good thing is that for those who follow Triple Sticks Productions, most of them pertain to you!

First there is the editing... still wrapping up the doc for "3 days..." and that is finally nearing the end.

Second... getting ready for a couple of announcements this next month so I have to lock in some stuff regarding that today.

Third... tons of web, TSP on Twitter, and TSP on Facebook stuff.

And fourth... writing and more. I'm not sure how I'll knock it all down, except going at it one little project at a time. That being said, this part is done for now. You've been caught up on what's going on for today and the upcoming month a bit. I hope to have more for you soon, but thanks for following Triple Sticks Productions!

Where Do The Days Go?

Here I am at my mobile office in Salinas and I'm thinking... where did another week go? It seems like I was just here, but really it was a week ago. I had so many plans, but paying the bills doing something else means not as much time spending on Triple Sticks Productions and that my friends HAS to change.

I do have plans coming and I'll get some good work done today, but I want to try to figure out a way to get some more work done during the week so that I don't have to pile it all in on Saturday's... you know what I'm talking about?

And that leads me to another thought... how many of you are actually following and reading this blog? You know there is a comment box attached with every post and you know I rarely hear from anyone. How about showing some love with this week's post and let me know what you think.

Anyway, time to get some serious work done, so I bid you all adieu!

Where In The World Is MDL3??? lol

Wow! I went a whole month without a blog entry... that cannot happen again! My apologies to everyone who follows this blog.

So let me at least get you caught up on some things here at TSP:

1. Still working on finishing up "3 days..." It's in pretty good shape, just waiting on one last interview and then some final tweaking and I am hoping, hoping to get this done now by the end of the year.

2. We closed our Triple Sticks Productions group on Facebook, we now have a Triple Sticks Productions "Fan page" on Facebook, so please find it, click like and follow us there.

3. In November there are two big events happening. We're going to have a special Facebook contest so watch out for details on that.

And we will be announcing details of a new project! Yep, we're gearing up for a new... well let me keep my mouth shut and not even get into it yet... let's just say it WILL be something dynamic!

So while I didn't get a chance to post much in September I hope this makes up for it a bit. As I sit here at my mobile office I'm working away on several things that will hopefully make the end of 2010 another big success for our little film company that could!

The Switch is On!

So we've made the switch over on Facebook from a group page to the TSP Fan Page. Hopefully the change will be a good one. We'll shut down the group page September 1st, so make sure you mark that down on your calendars!

A buddy of mine who you've seen in a couple of films, Bevan Bell is starting up his own website. (www.bevanbell.com) It's in the beginning stages, but when you get a chance bookmark it and check it out some time. He has a cool take on a lot of things and is a great shooter, so you no doubt his website will be an interesting one.

And speaking of Bevan and films he's been in... Have you "Blown Up Netflix" this month yet? There's still time! Log onto our website at: www.triplestickspro.com for more details on how you can help send a message... a nice one... to Netflix!

Become a Fan on Facebook!!!

We have a new "Fan Page" on Facebook! Come on over, join it and keep up to date on all things "Triple Sticks Productions!"

Just click on the picture and become a fan and remember August is "Blowing Up Netflix" month... have you done your part yet???

The Push Is On!

It's August 1st and we're asking YOU to help support independent film by checking out our hit film, "Dog Me: Potluck" on Netflix. Our push is to, "Blow Up Netflix" and send them a message by getting as many people to watch our film and post something about it on Netflix.

It's an award winning comedy about a couple hosting a potluck dinner with some of their wild and wacky friends to see where their own marriage stacks up. Great performances, awesome DVD extras and we think you'll enjoy it.

So help us out... get the word out and let's do it up right... let's blow up Netflix!

TSP NEEDS YOUR HELP... YOU READY???

We're sending a message to Neflix this month that independent film is important! We've seen Hollywood call some films with budgets of close to $25,000,000 "Independent Films," and I don't think that really counts!

So help us if you can... we're asking all of you who have Netflix accounts to tell your family and friends to rent our film in August and we're asking you to do the same... even if you've seen it already.

Just put it in your queue, watch a funny, interesting, award winning film and then before you send it back, drop a note in Netflix about the film. If we can get a lot of fans of the film and indie film in general to do it, I think it will show Netflix and Hollywood that small films do count!

Won't you help???

Far Too Long!

Wow! I looked up and boom realized I hadn't updated this in nearly a month! That has got to change, I need to get back into the swing of things and but quick!

OK before I get into TSP stuff, let me introduce you to JoAnne Perez Robinson. She's a local artist from Gilroy and in my day job to pay the bills, we're working with her on a story. I met her today at the "32nd Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival."

She's got a great vibe and energy about her, so I wanted to pass along her name to you in case you're ever in the area and looking for some of her work. Check out this piece.
One of the cool things about her, yep just like me she's been watching Bravo's, "Work of Art/The Next Great Artist." It was interesting to hear her take on the show and it turns out we are pulling for some of the same artist as well! If I find her website, I'll post a link here so you can see more of her work.

As for my work, I have to admit I need a kick in the pants right now. Since moving from the East to the West, it's been hard to adjust to everything. I have about 3 or 4 things I need to work on, including finishing up the 10th Anniversary Special Edition of "3 days..." and I'd like to get that done before it turns into the 11th anniversary edition. I'll use today's run in with a "real artist" as some motivation. lol

I am putting together a little surprise for August that I'll need your help with. More on that in the next couple of days. In the mean time, I'm working at new "Mobile Office," a cool place right in downtown Salinas... Old Town if you will and so far... I like the vibe. We'll have to see how much it motivates me to work a little harder.

That said, let me sign off and get to work! Ciao, Ciao!

Getting in Touch with My Artistic Side...

Spending some time today getting in touch with my artistic side. Going through some photos to build a portfolio as well as sending out a couple of emails to get some final bits and pieces for the "3 days..." Special Edition documentary.

Just wrapped up seeing the HBO Documentary, "Smash His Camera," a film about Ron Galella. Interesting subject and piece. He's probably one of THE most well know paparazzi photographers out there and while you may not agree with what he does, he does have some amazing shots.

So, kind of a slow day here, but some times that's OK.

It's Been Awhile My Friends... But I'm Back!

OK it's been awhile since I've had a chance to post anything here on our blog, but that will be changing!

The major change that happened this year of course was relocating from Silver Spring to the Left Coast and Salinas, California! And while some of the office is now up and running, we're still setting some things up so it still will be a little while before everything is back running smoothly, so please hang in there with me as the adjustments continue.

Just so you know the plan is still to have our Special Edition DVD of, "3 days... 3 hours... 3 minutes... 3 seconds... " ready for release this summer. There are still some things we're working on to make this one of the best releases ever from TSP. I have to tell you, knowing what's on it right now... you're going to WANT this film for your library. In addition to the film itself on DVD there are so many extras that will make this film an instant classic and one you'll watch over and over again! That's all I'll say for now... but look for more news coming.

Although I haven't written in awhile there are a couple of projects ready to go and once things settle down, I'll let you all know more about what our next piece will be.

In the mean time, it's back to getting things settled here on the Left Coast and thanks for checking us out! We'll see you in the movies!

Setting up shop on the Left Coast!

So Triple Sticks Productions is now on the Left Coast! We're setting up shop in Salinas California. Over the next several weeks you'll start to see more updates regarding what's going on.

The first major event we have lined up is finishing off the 10th anniversary DVD for "3 days..."

Stay with us and look for all of the exciting new news as it happens!

Big Changes for TSP

Triple Sticks Productions is relocating to the Left Coast! More to come on the big move... stay tuned!

September... Not a Bad Month at All!

OK, so I just saw, "The September Issue" the other day... the documentary film about Anna Wintour and the September edition of "Vogue" magazine their biggest every year and I loved it! I love most films about creative people and how they do what they do and this one is no exception.

Anna Wintour, who runs everything is a hoot and a half to watch. I love her attitude, work style and just overall driven ability to see and get her vision of fashion onto the pages of Vogue... she IS "Vogue." Some think she's a hard ass and yes she is, but there is something about that, that I just get off on.

Now she's not the only one putting things down and taking names... Grace Coddington is her right hand person and creative director at "Vogue" and together they're like "Batman and Robin," kicking butt and taking names.

You look for inspiration every where to keep you going in this business. I have about 4 or 5 films when I'm in that funk I just turn to and have to shut out the world, watch and get hyped and motivated again.

When I see films like this one, it gets my pumped! Sure it's not the same business... it's not the same level... but I think the core inside of a driven person is really the same no matter what the level is.

One day when I hit it big... someone will do a 60 Minutes story or film and they'll talk about what kept me going all of these years and the drive and passion it takes and I'll bet you'll be able to see a lot of Anna Wintour in me!

Awww Buddy... Back At It!

Yes... coffee at my mobile office, my laptop, Pandora Radio on and work to get done... even though it's butt ass cold and gloomy outside, things are getting right with the world again! Now if I can only get some sun and heat and we'll be alright!

Have been doing a lot of editing on the new "3 Days..." dvd which WILL come out some time this year... hopefully sooner rather than later in the year. Still waiting on at least two more interviews from folks who have promised me that they will happen soon, so I'll keep my fingers crossed and hold off really finishing it until I get something locked in from them. In the meantime there are a lot of other things I can do on the dvd, so I'll be staying busy.

I have another new script that I finished a couple of weeks ago. It's not 100% ready to work on yet, still need to do some tweaking, but I did send it to a script competition "As-Is," and right now it's been getting some great feedback! I'll share more news about it next week and let you know how things go. The big prize in the end would be a production deal for it.

And then still another script is in a "Spec-Script" competition, "Scriptapolza." So we'll see what happens. My theory is and will always be... throw enough darts at the board and you're bound to get one of them to stick one of these days.

So that's it for now, stuff to do so I'll sign off from here for now... peace!

A New Way To Watch, "1-900"

"1-900" is the first feature film I ever made. It has done well screening in festival and being sold in several markets overseas and here in the United States as well!

The film is about a female serial killer who uses "1-900" lines to stalk her prey and the two detectives bent on trying to catch her. It's a low budget thriller we shot back in 1995 and has been describe as, "A cross between, "Basic Instinct" and "9 1/2 Weeks," with a little "Pulp Fiction" thrown in as well."

You can buy the film at: www.triplestickspro.com and now I just learned you can stream it to your computer and watch it, simply by going to SRS Cinema.com

It's a film I'm very proud of because it's the first, but also because so many people worked really hard to make this one. Check it out if you get a chance and let me know what you think!

Snowmegeddon 2... the Blizzard!

So in case you haven't heard, we're getting pounding out here on the East Coast... the DC area... Silver Spring to be exact with snow and snow and more snow! It's been horrible over the last several days and not sure when it will all end.

The good news though is I have my edit system up and running and have been getting some really good work done cutting our special anniversary DVD for, "3 days... 3 hours... 3 minutes... 3 seconds..."

And I got some good news yesterday... an interview I need for the DVD should be coming very soon!

All in all that means, hopefully the DVD will get complete soon and you'll all get a chance to see what I've been so excited about for months!

The Final New Ad of the Week!

Melissa Wilson is the focus of our final new ad of the week for "Slow Down... You're Dating Too Fast!"

Pick up a copy of our DVD at a brand new price at www.triplestickspro.com I hope you enjoyed all 5 of the ads and send folks to our web site and help support indie filmmaking!

Thursday is Here and so is a New Ad!

So in this version of our new ad, Drew Smith, one of the stars of the film helps to hawk a couple of DVD's at our brand new price! Check it out and order one just in time for Valentines Day at www.triplestickspro.com

Wednesday's ad... hope you like it!

Shouting out to everyone from Memphis to San Jose to Peoria! Hope you like today's new ad featuring Mandy Lane and I hope you're letting folks know about the great new price on our hit film, "Slow Down... You're Dating Too Fast!"

Pick up a copy today at www.triplestickspro.com!

And the Oscar/Independent Spirit Award Goes to???

I've mentioned this before, growing up I really wanted to win an Academy Award. There was something about watching the show on the East Coast in Brookline where I grew up and dreaming about being a filmmaker and being called up to the stage to accept the statuette and to try to say something kind of funny and touching that folks would remember forever.

Before my daughter, I always promised my Mom I would take her to the ceremony. I was young and innocent and movies were pure magic and I loved the whole idea of everything about them.

I still feel that way to a certain extent, but now lean more towards really wanting to win an Independent Spirit Award... dressing in something cool, yet casual and bringing my teenage daughter to the event so we can rub elbows with a clever mix of the old and new cool Hollywood... I know they claim to be indie, but there is still a ton of Hollywood involved. I mean when a small indie film is considered $17 Million dollars... it's still pretty Hollywood if you ask me.

But still, it would be great to be there... and like my Oscar speech, I've honed my Indie Spirit Award speech as well and if it doesn't get me in all of the clips of the night... it will definitely get me a date and a job out of winning! lol

As the Oscar nominations were unveiled today, the Indie Spirit nominations awhile back I still get that special feeling inside that I had as a little kid. That sense of excitement, like I can't wait until Santa arrives on Christmas eve. And at the same time, I am reminded that I don't make films because I want to win awards. I make films because I love the magic of it all. I make movies because I truly love to do it. I hope, maybe one day someone will see one of my films and use that as inspiration to go on and make their own film... to say to themselves, "Yes I can make films."

I wish all of the nominees all of the luck in the world, it IS an honor to be nominated... but to all of those out there making films who weren't nominated for anything and who make films because you love them and love the process... Congratulations... It's a honor to be a part of your fraternity!

Tuesday's Ad Featuring Shaun Green

Here's a look at Tuesday's ad for, "Slow Down... You're Dating Too Fast!" featuring Shaun Green who does an amazing job in the film, along with the rest of a great cast!

Help support independent film and pick up your copy of the film at a brand new price by heading over to www.triplestickspro.com

Brand New Price... It's a Steal!

We've got a new price for our hit film, "Slow Down... You're Dating Too Fast!" and new ads debuting today and running all week long!

Five new ads to promote a great film and give you a chance to help support indie filmmaking. Each day this week, we'll post one of the new ads here! And if you would like to help support indie filmmaking, pick up your own copy of the film by simply heading to www.triplestickspro.com

"Slow Down... You're Dating Too Fast!" a great date film, just in time for Valentines Day!

Post a comment about our new ad and let us know what you think!

Cheers

At Least I'm Trying...

So, working at a relatively new "Mobile Office," one I've only been to once before and I do like this place and would probably make it a regular stop if it were only closer. In the spirit of trying new things, I decided to try a "Cinnamon Dolce Latte," which Starbucks claims is only 90 calories... good right? Wrong! It was entirely too sweet and really didn't taste too good, which is bad since I do really like Cinnamon. So it's back to the Extra hot mocha.

Got some things done yesterday, need to power through some stuff here today. New announcement coming on February 1st, so lots to do to get ready for that. Hopefully today, which has started off a little slow, will turn into something good... I need a little good for a change.

:)

A Kick in the Butt CAN be Good!

Had coffee today in downtown Silver Spring with fellow filmmaker/blogger/distributor/everything Sujewa Ekanayake, down from Brooklyn NYC. When it comes to ultra low budget filmmaking in just about every aspect, he's your man. I have his site listed on the side of this blog, "DIY Filmmaker Sujewa"a site, you should check out whenever you get a chance.

We first met when he was living in the area a couple of years ago and have stayed in touch ever since. Every time I meet with him, I get pumped up about the small, truly independent filmmaker/business.

He's got a lot of great ideas and just some good insight into making this level of filmmaking work. It's great to bounce ideas back and forth and he always makes me feel like, "Damn... I know I do a lot already, but I have to do more!"

So that in mind, keep a look out here and at, Triple Sticks Productions for some news over the next week or so. I've felt the kick in the butt, now I'm going to do some major work!

Kind of Funky... And Not in a Good Way...

Just kind of a weird vibe today. I HAD to be out of my apartment early today because they're doing some work on the pipes, oh by the way thanks to the guy busting out the Jackhammer early this morning right outside of my window!

So I hit a mobile office to do some work, but still feel like somethings missing today. It's a gray, slightly wet day. It just has one of those "funky" day feels about it. Nonetheless I'm going to try to turn it into something positive!

That starts with taking some time to go back and start working on the second draft of my new script. Tweaking is the order of the day, trying to make sure everything I initially wrote really makes sense and sounds a good a second time around as it did the first time coming out of my head. I think I have a good feel for dialogue, it flows quickly at times, but I just have to make sure it really holds up draft after draft. I also like to allow the actors to get a hold of their lines and really work on making their character their own, so some things may change if I end up being the one shooting this.

OK, well time to get to work, enough babbling here... I hope wherever you are, your day isn't as "funky" as this one has started out!

Wow... What a Change!

So at a new mobile office... probably not one that I'll go to too often because it's out the rotation area, but I really dig it. In addition to a ton of space, in the middle of it all are these long family style tables with tons of outlets so everyone can sit down and use there computers. It's kind of a cool way to do work!

Good news, wrapped up the first draft on the new project. It took about a week to hammer it out and I like it... at least right now lol. What will happen next is I'll take about a day or two away from it so I have a fresh set of eyes to look at it and then I'll go through and start editing, tweaking and making it a really strong project. Don't know how many drafts I'll have to go through... I'll knock out as many as I feel it needs until it's ready to go into production. This is a project that I will probably do myself. It's small enough and will allow me to get my hands dirty if you will.

Got a bite this weekend from an agent who wanted to see some writing, so I fired off the spec script for "Hung" that I wrote. It's pretty funny and I think it's a good representation of my writing. It also is a hot show right now, so maybe that will make me more interesting to him. This is the first time, after sending out hundreds of emails, that I've had an agent go past the typical, "Thanks but no thanks," letter, so while I'm not getting my hopes up, I am keeping my fingers crossed.

OK, time to get some more work done... hopefully I'll have some more news for you all later this week!

OK, so I'm at one of my mobile office's knocking out some writing and more. While it's been a busy week, I need to keep pushing and get some more writing done this weekend.

It's funny a lot of people ask me where my mobile office is and to them I say, "That's why they're mobile, so I don't have any one in particular!" lol

I don't want to be so predictable... I like the idea of hitting on the run... one day it might be here... the next another place. All of the offices in the rotation right now, have different energy and depending on what I'm working on or what the day is like usually depends on which one I'll be hacking at.

So today, it's about doing some blogging, sending out some emails and some work on my new project, which over the next couple of months I'll be able to get into a little more.

Anyway so I don't just let my coffee get cold and my ideas grow stale, it's time to settle in and do some good work... until next time my friends... Ciao!

Location, Location, Location...

Day two of working on my new project and getting a lot done. Yesterday was a really good day writing, hoping for more of the same today.

Started out with a good workout... little healthy breakfast... hairs cut and then changing up my writing location for today, let's see how this place does in terms of giving me that energy I love when I write.

Have a cup of coffee with me. Listening to a little George Michael on "Pandora Internet Radio," deep in thought all day long... hopefully all of this will help inspire.

:)

Sleepless in Silver Spring!

So as usual, I came up with what I believe is a pretty great concept for a project just as I was trying to drift of to sleep... which didn't happen!

Restless hours, lying in bed thinking and thinking about this idea. It may not have been great for my physical health, but mentally it was pretty stimulating.

It's led to furious work today... which means down the line... something big for TSP!

Back to the grind... although in the case of this idea... it doesn't feel like a grind at all! Remember my theory... when you have something to write, write it and let it flow, because you never know when you'll have that idea and energy again.

Ciao

Really... Season's Greetings?

OK, the first blog post of the year and I'm already in a "Ba-Humbug" kind of a mode! lol I went to one of my mobile offices and it was closed down... then had to stand in line at the pharmacy and argue with them for a bit... then when I finally get to my new mobile office, I stare up and see the "Season's Greetings" banner. It's butt ass cold, nasty-dirty snow everywhere, I can't write at a decent table today and you get the drift.

But this is going to be a more positive year than last, more exciting things coming our way here at Triple Sticks Productions, so I'm going to throw out all today's early hiccups and get excited... about something... anything!

OK, maybe I need another cup of coffee before that... bottom line, this will be a great year... today... not the best, but alas it IS still early!

P.S. Did I mention I spent 5 and half hours on the phone the other day with tech support for two minor issues that in the end took all of three minutes to take care of? Wait... positive... positive!