Classic gen-x slacker who didn't know what he wanted to do. Went to college. On the seven-year plan (one year on, one year off, etc.).
Decided I wanted to be a professor, but wanted to take a year off, before applying to grad school. Solid grades, kick-ass recommendations, and solid GRE scores. But I didn't know what I wanted to do, and that's bad, when applying to grad school, especially when you're applying to some of the most competitive programs in the nation. Three applications; three rejections.
Taught at the high school level for two years, before going nuts one Summer, recording an album's-worth of music in my home "studio" (PC, keyboard and crappy mic). Decided I wanted to be a music engineer. Moved to Memphis to enroll in UM's music recording program. Took a year off in order to get in-state-tuition. Are we noticing a pattern?
During that year, needed to take a pre-req to the music program -- Intro to filmmaking/video. Thing is, though, I looked through the syllabus, and saw that I alread knew everything in that class, as I had gained some videography skills while working on my BA in anthropology. I asked permissin of the professor to allow me to take Intermediate filmmaking/video, instead. Permission granted.
I had SO much fun in that class, and did really well in it. Decided that music was the wrong path -- filmmaking is my passion. Started practicing and learning as much as I could, filmmaking-wise, enlisting the help of friends to play every part.
But then I got side-tracked again. Offered a promotion at work, from kick-ass bartender, to sucker-ass manager. Promotion required relocation, to Richmond, VA. I thought, hey, I'm really good at this restaurant thing, maybe this is the career for me -- I should at least give it a try.
Absolutely hated it. Every minute of it. Couldn't wait to quit. Everyone, my boss included, knew that it was only a matter of time before I turned in my two-week-notice; it was public-knowledge. That job absolutely crippled any thought of artistic endeavors.
Not soon enough, we parted ways, so now I can get back to filmmaking pursuits. Problem is, at this point, I'm in a new city, and starting from scratch building contacts, etc. It's been a slow build, but build it has.
So there I am. Right now, I feel fortunate to have been able to network and work with some rather talented indie filmmakers and actors in Richmond, a city that has a surprisingly active filmmaking community, for it's size. However, I can't bartend for the rest of my life.
And that is why I'm making "Antihero". This movie is to be my calling card, my audition to the big leagues. I don't expect to just instantly be signed on to make the next "Star Trek" sequel, but I need to see
some kind of progress --
something to make me think my work has been going towards more than just entertaining friends (and having fun, while doing so). If, a year from now, I'm in the exact same position I am now (bartending, with no real prospects of doing this professionally), I'm officially re-categorizing filmmaking into the "hobby" category, and going back to teaching high school.
And the last thing this world needs is me warping your fragile little childrens' minds, so it's in everyone's best interest to help me turn pro.
