My game is that....I have no game.

So its 11:39 in the evening and I just finished watching this movie called Elegy with Ben Kingsley and Penelope Cruz. If you haven't seen if I suggest that you go out and rent it.

In the movie, Kingsley plays a middle aged teacher who is just worried about everything, he thinks to much. He starts seeing a student of his who is about 30 yrs. younger than he is.  He worries so much about what he is doing and about losing her that in a way he does. 

For a moment while watching this movie, I completely related to his thoughts and courses of action. It's amazing to see that age is nothing but a number and that even at an older age, men and possibly women still have the same panicky thoughts of a 22yr. old.  These feelings of panic will be with us till they day we die. And why is it that we realize what we have right at the moment that it is going to be taken away from us forever? Human nature I guess. 

I personally am a straight shooter. Here is my mentality; I meet a girl and off the bat I don't care what anyone says, looks are everything. I mean an initial physical attraction is there somewhere.  Usually there is something that captures my attention about a certain individual. The way she carries herself, her smile, her interests, etc. Its all in the conversation to me, a conversation can hold so much in what starts out as just a conversation....still with me?

So the convo starts, things are good. You find out that you both have similar interests and that each of you like each other, almost in a way that reminds you of that black and white painting where two kids are kissing each other on the lips. Its harmless, exciting, a beautiful thing to behold when it happens. Cliche I know, but you are literally on cloud 9, naw fuck it, I'm going to cloud 11 on that one. 

Everything is perfect right? yes? no? Its only when things get blurry that this "digital fairytale" starts to crumble. By blurry I mean, that someone stops. No reason just "brick wall". Is it fear? Panic? There is that word again. I don't know. I like somebody, I tell em simply as that. I've learned that you can't waste time. So much time is wasting on playing the "game" or "spitting game"that what ever was there in the beginning is now lost. But then again this is only my outlook on things. I'm not saying TIME is a bad thing, I just like to strike while the iron is hot. 

Now if you have game, more power to you. But I go on the notion that my game is that I have no game. I don't have line or anything like that, if it happens then it happens. When it does happen I think that those people are the one's who truly deserve your dedication, your time. 

I've had this happen three times. This third time, I'm still trying to figure it out. Is it too much? coming on too strong? I guess If I'm asking those questions to myself, my answer is already there.

It is pretty crazy the thoughts and emotions that movies can bring out in you. Even before and after this movie I'll be thinking about this stuff. WE all will, I mean again human nature. 

Well I hope I can instill some sort of thought or conversation with this bit of insight. If you can call it that. Have a good night I'm heading to bed. 

-StuntmanBob 

 

3rd Short Film: WHITEWASH

So I am in the middle of pre-production on my next short film called: WHITEWASH. The story is about urban social equality and acceptance. It involves two best friends Rob and Jimmy,  who have been absent from their lives for the past two years, Jimmy sees that Rob has taken on characteristics of White people: Whitewash.  Jimmy has a hard time trying to accept this new side of Rob, while Rob is trying to avoid the obvious fact that he has changed. 

Producer: Monique DeVasquez 

Director: Roberto E. Navia (me)

Director of Photography: Michael Bartello

Sound Team: Dan Macias, Kieran Dennis, Dan Newman, Brian Shields 

Editor: Adam Wiebe

The rest of the team rounds out our P.A.'s who I am grateful for having on set. 

Amanda see, Nicole Oliverio, Ron Runanphae, Ryan Howard, Justin Jackola. 

We have all of our locations in place, the actors are chosen and we should be having rehearsals this week in preparation for our shooting dates coming up in two weeks.  Keep a look out for pics and other updates and production continues. 

-StuntmanBob

Explanation of the 5 sec. movie rant

In anything I watch I can always find something good in it. Seriously! At the risk of turning you off to reading anything on this blog, I even liked some sequences in the movie Twilight. But aside from that it was still a bad movie.  Bad movies are just as much of my "education" as good movies.  They show what not too do, or in my case I think of how can I improve on the script or what actors might have been better in those chosen roles. 

My 5 sec. movie rant will hopefully give you a quick and precise outlook on what movies I have seen whether they are in the theaters or not. If you like my rants leave some comments and I'll hit you back. If not well, then, apparently I read into movies just a little more than you do. 

Anyway hope you enjoy! 

love, peace and chicken grease! 

-StuntmanBob

5 Sec. Movie Rants YO!

So I decided to post some quick rants about some recent movies I've seen. enjoy.

TAKEN= Liam Neeson can do more with just a Lightsaber, suck George Lucas. Neeson is badass once again!

WHAT JUST HAPPENED= Robert DeNiro flick about being a producer in Hollywood! A little depressing, but realistic I take it. Check it out.

SWING VOTE- So sue me, I get a kick out of Kevin Costner, while entertaining. Spend the money or downloading space watching Open Range.

W. = I'm glad i didn't pay for it at the theater. But Josh Brolin did a good creepy job as Bush.

ROCK N' ROLLA= Guy Ritchie has redeemed himself and is back. Super good. Keep it coming Gerard Butler.

NOTORIOUS= Glad I only paid $5 bucks for at the theater, but the guy who played biggie was very impressive. Wait for cable or Netflix.

MILK= was the best outta all of em. Sean Penn is the man! Very inspirational and definitely makes you wanna stand up for what you most believe in.! see it!

NEXT AVENGERS: HEROES OF TOMORROW= Another Solid Animated effort by Marvel, real entertaining, but I say go and watch Hulk vs. Wolverine.

speaking of...

HULK VS. WOLVERINE= BADASSSSS! That's all I really have to say.


There is more to come! stay tuned

Love peace and chicken grease, gangsta's !

7 weeks left

7 weeks left of school and man! are we all feeling it. Alot of us after coming back from spring break have "checked out" its embarrasing to be saying that but i'll be the first one to tell you that alot of the things going on right now at school are making me happy that summer is around the corner.

Lately alot of us, including myself at school have been down in the dumps because of how classes are being run and the crazy ass schedules we got for school. I understand that its a whole time management thing, but its getting to be overkill. Today I was in the computer lab, for once seriously trying to put together a trailer for my film Dreamer's Ball. A january start comes into the classroom and is expressing that he is not happy with things in the school either. You have only been here 3 months I told him! Now I could have joined him and totally raged on the school but it was the first time that I really put things in to perspective.

Just from his words; "not caring", "waste of time", "regretting"... I could tell this kid was feeling it pretty heavy.

I stopped my editing and sat down with him told him just to vent to me. After about a 10 min. venting process I began to tell him that everyone will sooner or later feel like he is. Most of us are. But what makes you a better person is how you handle yourself in that situation or dilemma. NO ONE! NO ONE! handed us pieces of paper that said " your first year is going to be perfect, magical, and you will have absolutely no problems". The school is in its first year, of course there will be problems, its all part of the growing process of making the school what its mission is. I can only hope that when future classes come through its not the same old problems.
You have to roll with alot of punches in this industry and at the end of this year, that is what I'm beginning to learn the most.

IN CLOSING (LOL) ;)

I let him know that if he ever needed to talk, get away, or need help with an editing software(which seemed to be his primary concern) to come to me or anyone of us in the film class wether they be january or sept. start. WE are all there to help each other and its the bond we share as film students, collegues, friends, to get each other through the hard times that we have. For the first time I felt like a mentor. I hope that if any January kids are reading this you all look to me as someone you can trust and someone that will listen to you, straight up!

Who knows your experiences could make a great short or feature film one day, Keep ya head up!
-stuntman_bob

Confession Friday

Hello true believers ( sorry i was channeling Stan Lee, for a moment) I know I have to keep up with this blog, not that people are knocking at my door for writing material but for those of you who check in from time to time. Thank you. 

So "Confession Friday", your probably thinking, "what the hell?" Well this past friday my sister made her Confirmation and my family and I went to church to witness the event take place.  

I haven't been to church since my grandpa died which was this past summer in August and before then I hadn't been for very long time. Now I have faith, I believe in God and I believe that all the good things that have befallen me have been because of him.  But sometimes I question my faith.  Totally contradicted myself, but hey I'm human, relax.   Anyway, as I sat in the church and listened to the Bishop's Homily, I could not help but take it personal.  He began by relating of course to all of us, then laying down the rules of what it meant to be confirmed.  Paraphrasing here he said that if the children there, were not going to give one day to come and celebrate the Lord and "do the whole church thing" that we could have an early night.  He also went on to say that if they went through this and still didn't go to church and stuff, that they and we ( the congregation) are all phoney's, and nobody likes a phoney. 

I almost got up and walked out of church. I came to church to be called a phoney! don't think so. As my friend Danny would say, my Machismo kicked in.   I didn't like his tone and it really hit me.  So I guess he did his job right?  I haven't gone to church because to me it got really boring.  I felt as though I was mourning as opposed to celebrating, and no one really was speaking my language (no Danny, not spanish) Sometimes  I look at the priests and it looks like they don't even want to be there.  So maybe it'll hit me one day, that bolt of lighting. We'll See 

-Stuntman_Bob 

JUMPER REVIEW

Hey all, today I had the day off, so I thought I would go and check out a movie. ON the list tonight was JUMPER, here's what I gotta say. 

I'm a big fan of the classic "popcorn movie", the genuine action flick!  Jumper came out on Feb. 14th.  The basic plot of the story pans out like this, a boy discovers that he has the ability to teleport and lives his life kind of taking advantage of his new found gift. However when he becomes an adult he discovers that an organization who call themselves Paladins are hunting them, believing that "only God should have the power to be anywhere at anytime".  Action ensues and this leads us into my thoughts about it. 

I have to admit I really enjoyed this movie, its stars Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson, from yes! the Star Wars prequels.  Don't get it twisted now even though Hayden was wooden in the SW films he can act! He does come off as a bit of a newbie in this film but when he is introduced to Griffith ( actor Jamie Bell) he starts to discover what he is capable of.  Hayden played a good part he was very believable and like able.  Samuel L. Jackson plays Roland, who seems to be the head of the Paladins and he is good!  He really is a no holds barred villain, who seems hell-bent on ridding the world of Jumpers.  

This film is set in todays world and the one good thing about it, its believable.  What I really liked was the weapons used by the Paladins, they don't look corny or cheesy.  With the movie clocking in at only 88min. the film moves along and doesn't keep you bored with a long overdrawn out plot.  The action is there and everything keeps you in the story. 

The movie is directed by Doug Liman who directed movies like Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the first Bourne movie.  I believe him to be the perfect guy to do this movie, the plot itself feels like a graphic novel, i remember reading an article where he said that this is his "comic book movie' and he does a fine job at it.

So i know this isn't as long as a review as professionals but hey again I'm working on building those skills up, I definitely recommend seeing this one in the theaters, 

enjoy! peace!