HP You on You: I'm a Nick

Hello all! I recently discovered this YouTube contest being put on by Hewlett-Packard. I made a video and entered the contest. Basically I had to describe who I am in sixty seconds without showing my face. This made me question myself: Who am I? The result is here:




I put a lot of time into the video and I am very proud of it. But I need your help, dear reader.

If you like my video, it would be greatly appreciated if you went to YouTube and rated my video 5 stars. You see, the finalists and winners are in large part decided by the community votes. So please, if you like my video, head on down and rate it here!

Thank you so much!

First Sample of my Work

So i've been blogging for quite a while now and I feel it's about the right time to post some samples of my writing. I've been taking a Screenwriting class over at scriptforsale.com called BizofScreenwriting. The samples I am posting are the first three assignments that we were given. I posted three scenes from the same script. I am posting them in chronological order, but they were not written that way. There is some vulgar language so if you're offended by bad words, I suggest probably not reading.

FADE IN--

EXT. GAS STATION - DAY - A FEW WEEKS LATER

A small station wagon is parked outside of a gas station. The
engine is running.

INT. CAR - DAY - CONTINUOUS

Three men sit in the car. BILL is sitting in the drivers seat. He is
fiddling with the radio. He will listen to one station for a
few seconds while looking around the parking lot, and then
change it. He does this over and over again.

In the passenger seat, CURLY (mid-40s, messy hair, casually
dressed) rolls his eyes.

CURLY
Jesus Christ man shut that fuckin'
thing off!

Bill turns off the radio.

BILL
(Quietly.)
Sorry.

CURLY
Okay, are we ready?

Bill starts to pace in his seat nervously. His hands begin to
tap the steering wheel impatiently.

BILL
(Keeping his lips sealed.)
Mhmm.

Curly notices his nervous twitches.

CURLY
Oh you're not gonna get cold feet
on me are you? Look man, if you
fuckin' bolt while I'm in there--

BILL
I'm fine.

CURLY
You don't look fine. You're
sweatin' like a pig.

Bill takes a handkerchief out of his breast pocket and wipes
the sweat off of his forehead.

BILL
It's hot, that's all.

CURLY
You've got the fuckin' air
conditioning on full blast!

BILL
Look I'm fine.

CURLY
You said you needed this.

BILL
I do.

CURLY
Okay, so let's go over it again.

In the backseat, SCAR (50s, short hair, long scar down the
side of his face, big build) sits calmly looking out the
window at the gas station.

BILL
(Impatiently.)
You go in...(he swallows with
difficulty) do your thing... you
get back in the car and I drive
away.

CURLY
Right.

Curly goes to open the door.

BILL
But what's this guy here for?

Bill motions to the back of the car.

CURLY
Scar here's got some talents that
might come in handy.

Curly smiles and leaves the vehicle. When the door closes, a
tense silence sets in. Bill wipes the sweat off of his
forehead again and goes back to tapping on the steering
wheel. Scar continues to look out the window calmly.

Bill looks at Scar in the rearview mirror.

BILL
So what's this special talent that
you've got?

Silence.

BILL
Not a talker huh?

Silence. Bill rolls his eyes. He reaches to turn on the
radio.

SCAR
Don't.

Bill stops and takes his hand away.

BILL
Sorry.

Silence. Bill is so restless that he can't stop moving. His
nerves are getting worse.

BILL
I'm not actually a thief.

He checks both of his side mirrors and then looks again in
the rearview.

BILL
I just lost my job and--you know-
gotta pay those bills!

He laughs nervously. No reaction from Scar.

Suddenly Curly is urgently knocking on the passenger side's
window. Bill unlocks the door and Curly jumps in.

CURLY
DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE!

Bill can't move. He is panick-stricken.

BILL
Why!? What's wrong!?

CURLY
THE SONOFABITCH HAS A SHOTGUN!
DRIVE! GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!

A LOUD BANG is heard and the backseat window SHATTERS as a
bullet goes through it. The two men in the front seat put
their heads between their knees.

BILL
SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!

In the backseat, Scar reaches for the door handle.

EXT. CAR - DAY - CONTINUOUS

Scar exits the vehicle and pulls a handgun out of his jacket.
He points it over the car at the GAS STATION EMPLOYEE and
fires once. The bullet goes right through the man's forehead
and he falls to the ground.

INT. CAR - DAY - CONTINUOUS

Scar re-enters the car and closes the door. There is a
silence. Bill is afraid to move.

SCAR
Drive!

Bill puts the car in "Drive" and pulls out of the gas
station.


FADE OUT.



EDIT: I realized that my post was TOO long, so I edited it to just include one of the scenes.

Rewatch: "The Sixth Sense"

I recently watched The Sixth Sense again, longing for the days when M. Night Shyamalan wrote good movies. And I must say, what a good movie he wrote!

I hadn't seen the movie in almost ten years (since it first came out) and all I remembered from it was its infamous twist ending so I was in dire need of this rewatch.

The script was amazing. The subtle signs and foreshadowing that are given to the viewer leave one in awe. Structurally, the script is perfect. He gives the right pieces of information at the right time and strings the viewer along this way. Just when the last interesting thing was over, BAM! You're hit with something new. For example, we know something's wrong with Cole right from the start. He's a strange, strange kid and we see this through many events (his episode in the class room: "Stuttering Stanley!", the birthday party, etc.). But just as we are getting tired of seeing all of his weird antics, we're hit with the problem ("I see dead people"). Some writers string the viewer along for too long, losing their interest; and others don't do it for long enough, failing to grasp the interest of the viewer. But Shyamalan gives us just the right dose to keep us in it.

Secondly, the movie could almost be split into 2 separate films. The first half of the film is a character piece about both Cole and Malcolm. We find out Cole's secret, Malcolm abandons him, and the film could have ended right there. Not too satisfying of an ending but I've seen much worse. The second half of the film is Cole dealing with his problem. He starts to help the ghosts that come to him. Notice that from the beginning to the end, the story, and the goal of the protagonist, has changed. This is how you keep an audience's attention. If you spend an hour and a half on one thing (in this case it would be Cole's secret), the audience gets bored. By changing the direction in which the film is going, and throwing unexpected twists at the audience (Malcolm deciding to help Cole, Cole taking Malcom's advice), the writer was able to keep their attention the whole time.

Now let's move on to the twist ending. What amazes me most is that there are signs throughout the whole film that indicate Malcom's fate and the viewer just never catches on. Look closely: whenever there is a ghost around, the color red is present. Everytime Malcolm is onscreen (and I watched for this), something red is in the area. The doorknob to his basement office is red for christ sakes. Once we find out Cole's secret, it is almost obvious Malcolm is dead...if you know what to look for. The only person who looks at Malcolm is Cole. In his many encounters with his wife, never once does she look at him. Sitting in the living room with Cole's mom, they were not speaking and she wasn't looking at him. If you look closely after the shooting, Malcolm doesn't wear his wedding ring. There are many shots of his naked left hand, which is an indication that he is no longer with his wife. The brilliance in the script is that Shyamalan was able to cover this all up with the rest of the film. It's deception. He had the audience's attention on Cole the whole time when the really interesting bit was Malcolm. When you don't know where to look, you wouldn't believe how much you miss.

The acting in this film was excellent. Genuine, to say the least. Little Haley Joel Osment was terrifying and is probably the reason why quiet little kids scare me these days. Bruce Willis delivered probably the best dramatic performance of his career. And even the supporting cast did a great job (Toni Collette as Lynn Sear, Cole's mother, and Olivia Williams as Anna Crowe, Malcolm's wife). One of the cast members said they didn't know the film was a horror until they saw the final product so during shooting, they treated it as a drama. Perhaps that's one of the reasons the performances felt so real. Generally, acting for horror films is very over-the-top and cheesy (see any Horror flick of the 21st century).

The Sixth Sense got six well-deserved Oscar nominations in 1999 including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and Best Writing - Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. It is one of only four horror films to get a nomination for best picture. It didn't win any Oscars, but that could be because it was up against American Beauty that year. No other film had any chance.

And as for you M. Night Shyamalan, you're trying too hard now. I believe after the Sixth Sense, his next attempt at a horror with a twist was The Village and I think the world would be better off if that film hadn't been made. Since then it's just been one bad movie after another. My suggestion? Take a break and stop trying so hard. I find that even with my writing, if I'm trying to write something a certain way, I fail every time. You just have to write what comes out of you and stop trying to tell yourself to write a certain way.

What drives me nuts about this guy is that it feels like he's making movies just for the sake of making them now. There is no meaning to them and they're boring. Make something meaningful to you, who cares if it's not a horror or doesn't have a twist ending. Movies aren't (or shouldn't be..who am I kidding we all know they totally are) about money. And audiences can tell when it's meaningless.

Anywho, great movie. Watch it again if you haven't seen it in ten years and appreciate the writing! I'd give it an 8.5 out of 10.

Alive in Joburg: A Short Film by Neill Blomkamp

Just as a follow up to my District 9 review, I thought I'd post the short film on which it is based. Blomkamp made this in 2005. It is called "Alive in Joburg". Enjoy!

Film Review: District 9

Just when you thought sci-fi has run its course, a film like District 9 hits theaters. Sci-fi thrillers about aliens have been done. And then they were done again. And again. And again. And we've had some real gems through them all (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T.: The Extraterrestrial, Independance Day, etc.) but for the most part, and especially recently, alien flicks have become cheesy and repetitive.

Up and coming filmmakers must think to themselves: "How can I break this pattern? What can I do that will set my film apart from the rest?"

Neil Blomkamp has answered those questions and the result is a fantastically written, captivating story called District 9.

In the film, a massive alien ship enters Earths atmosphere and hovers calmly over the city of Johannesburg. It sits there for three months before humans decide that something must be done and they force their way in. Inside, they find rotting extraterrestrials. So the humans set up a ghetto-like camp in the city of Johannesburg where these aliens reside for a little over twenty years. Throughout this time, tension rises in the city as the extraterrestrials and humans clash. Riots break out. People die (alien and human). The human population decides that the aliens must be moved outside of the city. MNU (Multi-National United), a private international company, was contracted with the eviction of the aliens to a location outside of the city.

Wikus Van De Merwe, our protagonist, is put in charge of the operation. He is soon thrust into an incredible situation where (without giving too much away) he has to help the aliens escape as MNU is performing terrible experiments on them.

Blomkamp created an amazing universe here. And the most amazing thing about it is that it's so much like our own. Born in South Africa, his inspiration for the film was drawn from his experience growing up through the end of apartheid and the toll it took on the country.

Newcomer Sharlto Coply played the part of Wikus flawlessly. From the comedy to the dramatic, he didn't miss a beat. The confused Wikus often doesn't know which side he's on or who to relate to. Before, he believed what he was told to believe and you really feel the indecision in the character right to the final battle.

The film was told documentary style and just the right amount of information was given to the audience at just the right times. There's some forshadowing to pick up on and there's also a lot of irony which gave the script a lot of depth.

The aliens themselves are completely CGI but Blomkamp does such a great job personifying them that you don't even notice. Through the documentary footage at the beginning of the film, the aliens are portrayed as wild, evil creatures. The humans called them "prawns", a derogatory term that was picked up because of their shellfish look. However, as the film progresses, we see a race much like our own, just trying to get by on what they can. They are confused as to why they are being moved. We become familiar with a father who is looking after his son. He treats his son much like a human father would: with compassion. He is trying to keep him safe at all costs. I've read some reviews where the reviewer says that it is hard to relate to these aliens because of their tentacles and overall disgusting body. This is not true. They have big eyes that portray a lot of emotion. All you have to do is look in there and you can relate.

You will find yourself rooting for the alien species. The film does not portray the humans in a good light, but a true one. Because of their difference, we isolate these beings and take what we can from them. We steal their powerful weapons (which can only be operated by one with the alien DNA), we experiment on their bodies and their technology, and we cage them off from the rest of the world. Sure, one could call it a defense mechanism but I see it as more taking advantage of a weaker species. Selfish, I suppose, would be the best way to describe it.

I told my friend on the way home that if you took out the aliens and replaced them with humans, the film would make just as much sense. It is about accepting difference no matter colour or race. It's about equality and compassion. This movie is packed full of meaning that there is no way it could be analyzed after one viewing. I look forward to seeing it again. And keep an eye out for that Neil Blomkamp. I guarantee that he will make a huge impact on the film industry.

If you haven't seen this movie, I urge you to go to the theatre and see it! It is a unique experience (one that I'm sure won't be recognised by the Academy) and you won't regret it. By far, the best film this summer.

10 out of 10.

Les Paul dies at 94

Les Paul, guitar legend and inventor, died yesterday at the age of 94 from problems with pneumonia. Paul was famous for inventing the solid body electric guitar, a famous guitar which was used by many famous guitar heroes such as Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin and Pete Townshend of the Who. He also had a hand in developing multi-track recording, which enables artists to record different instruments at different times, sing harmony with themselves, and then carefully balance the tracks in the finished recording (source).






Pictured here is the Gibson Les Paul. The sound is just amazing from this guitar. No wonder the rock stars took a liking to it. It is no cheap piece of equipment either, selling at about $3,500US. After his death, I would not be surprised if Gibson boosted that price another thousand dollars or so.


Paul was also a pioneer of guitar amplification. So all of you parents who are kicking yourselves for buying your kid that amp for his electric guitar because he keeps making that extremely loud fuzzy noise which doesn't sound like music at all, you can thank Les Paul for inventing both of those pieces of equipment.

In 2005, at the age of 90, Les Paul released a new album titled Les Paul & Friends: American Made, World Played, which was his first album with original material since 1977 and his first official rock CD. The album featured great guitarists such as Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton. The album won a couple Grammys. Now hold on a minute, he put out a grammy-winning rock album at the age of 90!?! That, my friends, is an accomplishment. To top it off too, he was crippled by arthritis in his left hand many years ago so he can't play the crazy fast riffs that he used to but still - HE PUT OUT A ROCK ALBUM AT THE AGE OF 90!

All of his inventions contributed to the rise of rock n' roll starting in the 50s. So for that, Mr. Paul, I thank you. Thank you for giving Jimmy Page the tools he needed to create Stairway to Heaven. Thank you for giving musicians a new way to express themselves. Thank you for sharing your love and passion for music. You will be missed. Rest in Peace.

But since when does a guitar legend live to be 94!? Shouldn't he have died from a heroine overdose like 50 years ago!?

'Scar Tissue' to become HBO Mini Series

Hi readers!

Sorry I've been gone for so long - been super busy (preparing a massive post about my four day vacation to NYC!)

I just came across this on the interwebz:

"Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis is developing a series for HBO based on his unconventional, rock 'n' roll childhood.

Kiedis has partnered with Catapult 360 partners Marc Abrams and Michael Benson to create the series, tentatively titled 'Scar Tissue.'

Abrams and Benson are scouting for a writer to pen the script, which will center on Kiedis' relationship with his father, Spider, who sold drugs and mingled with rock stars on the Sunset Strip, all while aspiring to get into showbiz.

The show will begin with young Kiedis moving from Grand Rapids, Mich., to West Hollywood to live with his dad. But Kiedis' father, having been raised in a tyrannical household, decided to go to the other extreme." (source)

This is exciting (and apparently old) news! One thing not included in this article is that they did find a writer in John Sayles who penned scripts such as "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and "Sunshine State".

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been one of my favorite bands since I read Kiedis' autobiography 'Scar Tissue':

This book was captivating. Not only did it let us peek into the life of a recovering drug addict, it also gave us a breakdown of what it's like coming up in the rock n' roll world. It spent time as #1 on the New York Times Bestsellers List and let's us into Keidis' life. And not just the bad boy rocker, but the man himself, who struggled with heroine for many years and shared friendships with some of the great icons of the 90s (such as Kurt Cobaine and Cher).

This miniseries sounds like it's going to be fantastic! Thank God it's on HBO where they censor less and give us a more realistic portrayal of Keidis' childhood. It will concentrate more on Keidis' years growing up with his father and less on his rock n' roll adulthood. I'm totally cool with that. Considering his father dealt drugs to The Who and Led Zeppelin, this should make for some pretty good TV!

If you haven't read the book, read it! It's just fantastic!

-------------------------------------

EDIT: I just read on Ultimate Guitar that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are ending their two year hiatus! They plan to reconvene in October and begin work on a new album. What a great day for Chili Pepper news! Whatta yall think?

Album Review: Our Lady Peace's "Burn, Burn"

Recently, Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace released their seventh studio album titled "Burn, Burn":



So I bought the album a couple of weeks ago and I've held off writing a review because I wanted to listen to it through several times and get a real feel for the album before judging it.

Our Lady Peace has always been one of my favorite bands. So it was really tough for me seeing their last studio album ("Healthy in Paranoid Times") take such a toll on them. Without going into too much detail on why that album was so bad, let's just say that "Burn, Burn" is a step up.

In the months leading up to the album release, the band kept insisting that this album was their return to the "Clumsy" and "Naveed" days:

"We've come full circle and the music is just stripped down, full of raw energy. It feels like a proper rock record again" -Raine Maida (source)

...Ah, those were the days. The album, however, is no "Clumsy". When the band compares it to their previous albums, I feel like they are making reference to the way it was made: just five guys in a room playing music. It was self produced (Producing credits went to "Raine Maida and Our Lady Peace") and was completely recorded and mixed in Raine's personal studio in his home. Their last two albums, the most mainstream and shallow of all seven, were produced by rock producer Bob Rock who helped OLP reach mainstream status with their hit "Somewhere Out There" off of their album "Gravity". I have to say, ditching the big time producer was a good move on the band's part.

The album kicks off with the first single and the somewhat poppy "All You Did Was Save My Life". This song is not a song that would have found itself on "Clumsy". It reminds me more of their later days stuff. But even though it seems like a simple song about a relationship, something tells me there is more to it than that. It's packed full of symbolism and is actually pretty catchy. To be honest, the whole album is packed full of symbolism.

The profound "Dreamland" and the paranoid "Monkey Brains" are heavier and more OLP-ish than their last album ever was. The bass line and lyrics in "Money Brains" give the listener a tingle down their spine as the song creates an uncomfortable atmosphere. "The End is Where We Begin" and "White Flags" are upbeat, catchy, and seemingly more optimistic.

The anchor of the album, however, is the final song "Paper Moon". This is the song that reminds me the most of the "Clumsy" days. It is without a doubt my favourite song on the album, with a simple guitar riff (but complex solo), heavy drumbeat, captivating lyrics, and Raine's amazing vocals.

Overall, I like the album. I've been reading a lot of bad reviews and people calling it "mediocre". It will not be in the mainstream but when was Our Lady Peace ever in the mainstream? Especially in the new millenium? Their golden era was in the 90s when "Superman's Dead" and "Clumsy" were circulating on the airwaves.

I give it 3 out of 4 stars. The band has changed since "Clumsy". The music has changed with them. There are still hints of the old Our Lady Peace in the new music which is nice to see but I don't think we'll ever have another album out of them like "Clumsy". I'm satisfied with this though, as long as we don't get another "Healthy in Paranoid Times"!