Relevance

In case you didn't think that the subject was relevant to you, here are some statistics dug up by the talented and hard-working Erica McGrath:

"More than 80 percent of U.S. communities
depend solely on trucking for delivery of their
goods and commodities."

"There are 3.46 million truck drivers in the
United States. Total industry employment is 8.9
million, or one of every 15 people working in
the United States."

-The American Trucking Associations

Post is in full swing. We're lucky to have the dedicated and brilliant Mathew Dougherty on board as editor. Keep an eye on his upcoming documentary.

We're working out of an amazing studio in midtown, graciously provided for by Daniel Marracino.

Everything is logged. Assembly is slated to start in one week. Matt and I are currently screening and organizing everything.

I'll start posting teasers on the blog in the near future. Stay tuned!

Production is over. I'm back in New York City and about to embark on post. I have to log and digitize 125 hours (I've already digitized 60 hours in the first wave of post). At 40 hours a week, it will take 3 weeks to digitize, and another 3 to log. Luckily, I won't have to sync cameras this time around. That was a nuisance in the first phase of filming because timecode on the DVX100B would often drift when the camera was powered down, and when you're filming drug addicts and prostitutes engaging in illegal activities, you can't exactly call a time-out to sync up cameras. Overall, I think one camera was a much better formula considering the nature of the subject matter. It's hard enough ignoring one 6'2 dude with an imposing machine strapped to his arm.

In any case, we're looking at six weeks before I make a single cut, assuming a 40 hour work week, which might prove difficult when juggled with freelancing and possibly a part-time job. A dedicated digitizer/logger could cut that down to three weeks if we work together, which might be worth the 1500 to 2000 it would cost. Then again, the more I watch and rewatch the footage, the better. So yeah, I'm kind of on the fence about it.

I'm thinking of picking up a part time job to support myself and preserve my sanity. Ideally, it would entail helping people, sunlight, and physical labor. Daniel suggested working for the census bureau. I'm going to look into that today. My friend, Keegan, might be able to get me a gig selling fish at the farmer's market. Being a Director/Fishmonger is a performance art piece in it of itself. I could also canvas and/or do construction. My friend Teddy might also be able to get me a gig at a dog-walking company.

I've been so obsessed with film and video these last few years that the thought of a working a job out of the industry is kind of exciting. Breaking into the industry is such a rat race that it's easy to become obsessed to the point that you lose perspective. Marc Singer, the director of Dark Days, one of the inspirations for my film, was working construction in Florida last I heard. The guy is brilliant and a complete bad-ass in his own right. When I heard he was working construction, I was shocked. He should be making movies, I thought. I can't believe how far I've come since then.

In a nutshell: status does not make you happy. We get these odd ambitions and sacrifice everything in pursuit of them. Being labeled "Director" doesn't make a person happy. The things that really make us happy are a lot simpler than that: good company, good deeds, and personal growth. My strongest motivation in making this film is helping those less fortunate and teaching the fortunate to appreciate their blessings. I have to remind myself of this on a regular basis though, because its a form of giving that will take a very long time to reach fruition. I have to be patient and keep my eye on the prize.

Just watched Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa. I like how it embraced the raptures of anarchy. I think I'm going to incorporate that rebellious tone in my film, since many of the characters are driven by it.

Everyone should check out Grooveshark. It's the future of music.

If you live in NYC and own a bike or are thinking about getting one, go here for the time of your life.

And if you're looking to do some environmental volunteering, check out ioby.

When we receive an offer to serialize the film, and we will, I have a good formula, host, and modest budget proposal that will blow taxi cab confessions out of the water.

"I was playing hide-and-go-seek with M. and found mommy's pot in the closet." -- J.'s 10 year old daughter.

I am humbled by the spectacle of creation.

"If all consciousness is subject to essential laws in a manner similar to that in which spatial reality is subject to mathematical laws, then these essential laws will be of most fertile significance in investigating facts of the conscious life of human and brute animals."
-Edmund Husserl

Like a flashlight in a dark room, consciousness can only illuminate a small area at any given time. We rarely stop to question where the flashlight points and why, or what the effects of it pointing in one direction as opposed to another are. I would argue that the effects are profound. A number of seemingly distinct psychic struggles find a common origin in misplaced focus.

Happiness is focusing on what you have as opposed to what you don't have. Self-esteem is focusing on what you like about yourself as opposed to what you don't like. Enthusiasm is focusing on what you like about an endeavor as opposed to what you don't like.

Darkness is palpable in the wake of firecrackers that splutter across an empty sky. We want to throw caution to the wind but convention restrains us.