Humanity with unconditional love was shown in a family who adopted orphans from other countries. The special part of the adoption came from the children who were severely disabled from wars. Henry Winkler from the Happy Days television series, narrated and produced the documentary. The film crew lived and filmed their daily lives for two and a half years.
The children either were missing limbs, blind, and other abnormalities. As I sit here writing about this documentary, I viewed a recorded segment which was powerful and impactful.
Today, I watched an online streaming interview with Zelda Williams, the daughter of the late Robin Williams, on the Today Show. She talked about Williams' charitable work especially in the Paralympics. He always shown his love and time with people besides his comedy work. He would encourage people who lost their limbs to race next year. She emphasized his passion for helping people in need and how she will continue with a foundation.
I found both in the documentary and the interview quite remarkable how humans forego their egos and worldly ambitions and take the time to help others. I saw the strength of the couple who give all their love and time to the children to make a better life for them. I am realizing how important and pertinent charity work must exist in our society. Williams and the family are great humans who we strive to become vital, outstanding citizens of the world.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Academy Awards 2015 Inspiration and Achievement
This past weekend, the Academy Awards took placed at Dolby Theatre. Even though, I wasn't in the crimson red seating and seeing the golden curtains and statues. Perhaps one day, I will be there if my art is accepted and flourished with growth. I was able to visit the theater many times over during the preparations. The film Citizenfour won the 2015 award. I saw the film at Sundance Sunset Cinema and listened to the director at Santa Barbara Film Festival. There was one film which epitomizes my history - Last Days in Vietnam; it was nominated. This nomination strengthen my drive to become a filmmaker.
Personally, my life has changed since I took a break from blogging in August 2014. But I continued watching the films. I am proud to say that I watched 20 Feet from Stardom; in return, finished my goal of watching every documentary film that won an Academy Award in Best Documentary Feature. Granted, I had to skip over a few which I will go back and watch them in the next month. I couldn't find some films especially the Dr. Seuss and Robert Frost ones. Now - I am making the time to blog about the films since I stopped.
In good fortune, these films have shaped and tunneled my future towards filmmaking. To my surprise, I was able to partake in the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. I had a dream that I was going to the festival. As I was browsing the web about the event, I didn't see a trip to Park City, Utah as a possibility and forego the idea.
Months later, I made the trip happen. I was able to view fantastic films, made great contacts, and further my mind into the world of filmmaking. Before the festival, I came across many great contacts via Q and A sessions, attended the Palm Springs Film Festival (great films and contacts), having contact references from my previous screenwriting class, concerts, online platforms, and mere rare encounters. I also attended the Santa Barbara Film Festival where I was able to connect with others through a guest speaker at my previous class. I was impressed that a well-known director walked me back to my car.
The week following the SBIFF, I was able to direct with Arri cameras. Everyone asked me if I went to film school. They complimented me that I am a natural director.
I have a whole stack of contacts after my experiences. I am completely impressed about their experiences as I am slowly contacting them. Many of them attended American Film Institute Conservatory, USC, UCLA, NYU, London Film School, and Stanford. They felt very comfortable and impressed by me.
Many times, I do not realize that someone in importance is standing before me. A conversation strikes; then I made a contact with a successful person in the industry. One person kept on kicking my seat as I was watching a foreign film. After the credits, I basically told him that he needs to read my writing because he was kicking my seat throughout the film and I know who he is. Side note - He is definitely a kicker in his films.
He chuckled. He read and gave me his business contact information. I was able to meet him and his crew at Sundance. I also ran into a famous rapper at 1 a.m. at Winchell's Donut Shop which in return I met two directors at Sundance as well. We were waiting to be serviced. A couple took twenty minutes to pick out their donuts. He and I started to make jingles and raps on the colors and flavors of the donuts. It was fun. I left after I got my donut. I was sitting in the car and chopping down my treat. He gets in his car. Then he rolls down his window. I look over - he is smiling. Then he asked me if I know who he is. I said, "Yes, the man who I jingled with in the donut shop." He laughed. We talked. I received his contact information. Then he texted a director about me later that night. He introduced me to one of them because I told him about one of my screenplays and asked him if he would like to make a song for a scene. He said, "Yes because you're pretty." I was blushing.
I had another meeting with the same director and a casting agent about my screenplays. Then in return, I was able to meet agents and a well-known actress at a very prestige casting agency for over four hours about my screenplays.
There are two favorites among the group of directors and the casting agency. One is based on my hometown and South L.A. The second one is an inspired one after I met Bill Macy and Martin Landau in one night. I will see what happens. I have another screenplay based on Alfred Bester's The Demolished Man with a modern twist - a recently nominated director loves this one. Exciting things are happening right now. I am truly grateful and happy about my luck.
Step by step, I am becoming a person who the film world wants in. I made a goal to make a film by my birthday - August 10. How in the world am I going to do this? Somehow, I will survive through the filmmaking process and produce one. Sundance Film Festival really propelled me to make a film this year. I admit - my path is scary yet challenging. What in the world am I thinking? Am I insane? Laughs.
I will be persistent and follow through all of the steps even it almost kills me. I will take deep breaths and go forward. I should not worry and expect that I may have a film by August, get a contract from a motion picture company, or being in the television industry. It was recommended and requested that I write two t.v. pilots within two weeks. I am curious how my life will turn out in the next six months. I will try to be ready and smile...and write like hell. Or I will write eloquently. Either way, my destined Emerald Castle harbors storytelling, creativity, and cameras if I love the idea or not. I originally thought that I was going to be an urban planner or a scientist who studies ferns or a history of photography professor. What happened?
Personally, my life has changed since I took a break from blogging in August 2014. But I continued watching the films. I am proud to say that I watched 20 Feet from Stardom; in return, finished my goal of watching every documentary film that won an Academy Award in Best Documentary Feature. Granted, I had to skip over a few which I will go back and watch them in the next month. I couldn't find some films especially the Dr. Seuss and Robert Frost ones. Now - I am making the time to blog about the films since I stopped.
In good fortune, these films have shaped and tunneled my future towards filmmaking. To my surprise, I was able to partake in the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. I had a dream that I was going to the festival. As I was browsing the web about the event, I didn't see a trip to Park City, Utah as a possibility and forego the idea.
Months later, I made the trip happen. I was able to view fantastic films, made great contacts, and further my mind into the world of filmmaking. Before the festival, I came across many great contacts via Q and A sessions, attended the Palm Springs Film Festival (great films and contacts), having contact references from my previous screenwriting class, concerts, online platforms, and mere rare encounters. I also attended the Santa Barbara Film Festival where I was able to connect with others through a guest speaker at my previous class. I was impressed that a well-known director walked me back to my car.
The week following the SBIFF, I was able to direct with Arri cameras. Everyone asked me if I went to film school. They complimented me that I am a natural director.
I have a whole stack of contacts after my experiences. I am completely impressed about their experiences as I am slowly contacting them. Many of them attended American Film Institute Conservatory, USC, UCLA, NYU, London Film School, and Stanford. They felt very comfortable and impressed by me.
Many times, I do not realize that someone in importance is standing before me. A conversation strikes; then I made a contact with a successful person in the industry. One person kept on kicking my seat as I was watching a foreign film. After the credits, I basically told him that he needs to read my writing because he was kicking my seat throughout the film and I know who he is. Side note - He is definitely a kicker in his films.
He chuckled. He read and gave me his business contact information. I was able to meet him and his crew at Sundance. I also ran into a famous rapper at 1 a.m. at Winchell's Donut Shop which in return I met two directors at Sundance as well. We were waiting to be serviced. A couple took twenty minutes to pick out their donuts. He and I started to make jingles and raps on the colors and flavors of the donuts. It was fun. I left after I got my donut. I was sitting in the car and chopping down my treat. He gets in his car. Then he rolls down his window. I look over - he is smiling. Then he asked me if I know who he is. I said, "Yes, the man who I jingled with in the donut shop." He laughed. We talked. I received his contact information. Then he texted a director about me later that night. He introduced me to one of them because I told him about one of my screenplays and asked him if he would like to make a song for a scene. He said, "Yes because you're pretty." I was blushing.
I had another meeting with the same director and a casting agent about my screenplays. Then in return, I was able to meet agents and a well-known actress at a very prestige casting agency for over four hours about my screenplays.
There are two favorites among the group of directors and the casting agency. One is based on my hometown and South L.A. The second one is an inspired one after I met Bill Macy and Martin Landau in one night. I will see what happens. I have another screenplay based on Alfred Bester's The Demolished Man with a modern twist - a recently nominated director loves this one. Exciting things are happening right now. I am truly grateful and happy about my luck.
Step by step, I am becoming a person who the film world wants in. I made a goal to make a film by my birthday - August 10. How in the world am I going to do this? Somehow, I will survive through the filmmaking process and produce one. Sundance Film Festival really propelled me to make a film this year. I admit - my path is scary yet challenging. What in the world am I thinking? Am I insane? Laughs.
I will be persistent and follow through all of the steps even it almost kills me. I will take deep breaths and go forward. I should not worry and expect that I may have a film by August, get a contract from a motion picture company, or being in the television industry. It was recommended and requested that I write two t.v. pilots within two weeks. I am curious how my life will turn out in the next six months. I will try to be ready and smile...and write like hell. Or I will write eloquently. Either way, my destined Emerald Castle harbors storytelling, creativity, and cameras if I love the idea or not. I originally thought that I was going to be an urban planner or a scientist who studies ferns or a history of photography professor. What happened?
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