Post!

Friend of mine, Jessika Taylor-Nunez, were talking awhile back about the good old band days. She brought something to my attention - there's something about hanging out with someone into the late night and being there in the early morning... Maybe it's just me, but I feel there's something about that experience that kind of binds people - some bonding time, you know, being there when the sun rises and the birds chirps.

I found myself reliving that moment with my 24 Hour Film Dash film crew. It was exciting - staying up 24 hours, with friends - several new.

Yeah, I have to admit our movie is absolutely cheesy. But it was fun, and exciting making it. And I feel we have quite the film crew with us - several of us have good acting experience, a couple of us great editing/filming skills, and a pair of great writers. Only problem were the restrictions that the competition gave us - but I'm pretty sure once we get a couple scripts going and exercise our creative freedom, we can make some great works.

As for our movie - once it's up, I'll let you guys know. Despite the fact that I hate seeing/hearing myself on stage/screen.

I haven't written in here for awhile. What can I say? Been busy. But here I am again.

Odd thing happened to me today. I was walking with the Caucasian (Tristan) to grab a caffeinated cold drink when we came across a turtle. Grazing on the grass. Eating. In the middle of UCI. It was just chilling there, eating. I found it highly entertaining. I looked around for a manhole, and pondered upon the possibility of finding radioactive sludge... But then I remembered how John Cusack turned out in the end of Fat Man and Little Boy (absolutely terrible movie, by the way) and decided against it.

You know, I've realized how close I've gotten to the people in my hall. Figure it was bound to happen, after living with each other for this long. But I just realized how comfortable I was around these guys. Honestly, I initially wanted back home or wanted to live in Middle Earth (the other housing complex for freshmen at UCI, and yes, it is name after the Tolkien setting) because the former I feel less like a social retard and the latter I feel my nerdiness could get me further there. But then again, I would not be hanging out with some of the pretty rad people living in this hall, Viento.

I've been listening to Tally Hall again. And apparently, their online internet series have been posted on their website (Google it up, I'm too lazy). A friend of mine (here's looking at you, Perdomo) would call me gay for liking them, but hell, I can't help it. They've got amazing harmony, genius instrumentation, their upbeat songs put me in my happy place - and looking through their online video series, I declare them a favorite band of mine.

I mean, watch this:


I feel like I could mesh with these gentlemen quite well. In fact, they've kind of inspired me to find a ukelele and pick up a song or two of theirs. But unfortunately, I'm not so sure if I got the time for that...

I've found myself remarkably busy as of late. I think the 24 Hour Film Dash did something to me. I don't know what, but I feel like something good. And I think it correlates with my business all of a sudden.

I've been listening to a lot of jazz lately. More so than usual. I can't help it. I think jazz is classy, and I like to consider myself a man of class. I'd like to declare Charlie Parker my jass favortie saxophonist, Dave Brubeck my favorite jass pianist and Glen Miller my favorite when it comes to big band/swing. As for trumpets, I still need to explore that - as well as trombone. Don't know why, but I feel I need to venture back into jazz. It was one of the only things I would look forward to in high school after marching season was over...

I seem to keep on reverting back to my desire to relive high school, huh? I can't help it. High school I really enjoyed. But college isn't anything that I hoped for. I don't know, I guess I had this idea that soon as I came out here, I'd be able to find a hip, happening crowd that's well-verse and cultured in music, movies, theatre, and pop culture and stuff, and I'd be able to hang out with them in coffee shops and just find ourselves deep in discussion, and I'd be up to date with the latest alternative fashion/subculture. Like a beatnik of the early 21st century or something...

And look where I am now. Granted, I feel college is growing more and more on me. I'm just having a hard time finding people with the same things in common with me. Maybe I just need to put myself out more... And stop being so cooped up in my room.

I'm sorry if the post seems a bit scatter-brained - I've been meaning to write for a week, and I have yet to put anything up.

I figure anything would work. I wonder if any of you still read this...

Hey, do me a favor. I'm just wondering, but for those of you guys who actually read these posts - leave a comment? Just this one time. I want to know who actually reads my online ramblings.

... Oh God I just realized how emo this post sounds. Forgive me! I'll try not to sound like a whiny bitch in the future!

Crap. It's 4:14 AM. I got class in less than 5 hours. Well, least I got a post up.

Up. Up. And away!

Poking my head out of the hole...

I was supposed to write something last weekend. I forgot to. Or rather, I got lazy.

I've really got to work on my laziness. It's seriously biting me back in the ass. I'm weeks behind on my reading - and anybody who's been around me for the last couple weeks knows I've been repeating that for awhile.

Last weekend would've been the two year mark. Those of you know what I'm talking if you were there in high school with me. For those of you who weren't - the ex-gf and I would've been going out for two years. On Valentine's Day.

And oddly enough, I carried myself quite well. I was worried that I was going to reduce myself to a bumbling fool, but nay! That day really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be in retrospect. Granted, yes, it could be better, but hey, I'm fine with what's life thrown at me. Had my first Lion Dance gig that day, too. Stage fright got the best of me - in the sense that I didn't perform as well as I hope I would. But hey, least I got a performance underneath my belt.

Quite recently, I've found jazz again. And Monica, my harmonica - I left her back in Diamond Bar and I was feeling empty without her. Over the weekend, I got a hold of some Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Dave Brubeck albums. God, how I miss Jazz- I feel like jazz gives people a certain amount of respectable, mature class that's missing in my generation. I also cracked open the old trumpet I had in my closet. The buttons are a bit rusty, but I've got at trumpet... Hey, maybe I'll pick that up over the summer. That, and the piano. I need music back in my life.

My iPod's - Bruce Campbell Moan, or Bruce, or BCM, or just BC for short - has been doing a good job of that. I can understand why people carry around iPods. It adds a soundtrack to an already boring and uneventful life. And considering the rainy weather, its appropriate when my shuffle goes to The Postal Service songs.

I need to get back into acting. Music. The liberal arts - I need to use my left brain a bit more. Speaking of which, I have been, actually - with 24 Hour Film Dash coming up, my minds been reeling with ideas and shots and random snippets of scenes that I can put into films. I'm excited - and nervous. My eyes are getting too big for my stomach with the ideas that are in my head, so I'm pretty sure I'm setting myself up for disappointment. I usually do. I gotta bring myself down to Earth.

Still, it's nice to do a little scriptwriting again. I've read through a couple books of scriptwriting and understand the craft better than before. I'm trying to put it into practice, but it's kind of hard doing that with five minute scripts. Nevertheless, a creative epiphany hit me. I just need to put it down on paper.

I should really catch up on my reading.

But then again, I've been saying that for weeks.

Oh, and Levni Yilmaz from Tales of Mere Existence made a new video. Take a look:

OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD

... I... I just... _______

I need a cigarette.

Ragtime is my coffee

Seriously. I'm trying to stay awake, procrastinating (which I NEED TO SERIOUSLY STOP DOING) and somehow I ended up listening to Youtube videos on ragtime.

Oh yeah, I remember how. I was looking through 24 Hour Film Dash videos, looking for the type of genres to expect, and I saw Silent Film was one of them. I thought to myself, "Hey, if we were to do a silent film, I'd like it to be very vaudevillian! You know, the silent films with the paid ragtime piano players!"

And thence, my search for ragtime music. Its really upbeat, and really energetic - which is probably why I'm still able to stay up. But I really got to get going on homework...

Here's some ragtime for you.

Radiohead + USC Marching Band =

You wanna hear Bruce Campbell moan?

Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance
Uploaded by IgnitionVM

I wish I had this kind of artistic creativity...

Putting that aside, I just recently got myself a Sixth Generation iPod Classic. 120 Gigabytes of pure, black beauty. I call it - "Bruce Campbell Moan." I know, weird name. But for a good reason. For instance, take the title of this post. And imagine the fun I can have with the name!

"What're you doing?"
"I'm just listening to Bruce Campbell Moan."

"What're you watching?"
"Bruce Campbell Moan."

(in the event I can't find him)
"Have you guys seen Bruce Campbell Moan?"

"I listen to Bruce Campbell Moan while I sleep."

As Bruce Campbell himself would say,

Groovy.

Dammit, fine I bite. 25 things you don't need to know about me.

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to “Notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

1. I am a proud geek - clogged sinuses, nasally voice and all. Comic books, sci-fi, video games and everything that the internet has to offer.

2. I have just recently discovered contemporary pop culture in high school, and trying to catch up on it. Queen, John Hughes, the Godfather, Citizen Kane, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Tim Burton, The Kinks, Pulp Fiction, Hair, Hairspray, Johnny B. Goode, and everything that Billy Joel said in "We Didn't Start the Fire" and then some. Over 70 years of American pop culture I need to consume... God that's a mouthful.

That's what she said.

3. I can't seem to get away from music; for some reason why I'm magnetically attracted to musicians - either they still be practicing musicians or at least they were in high school. I seem to hit it off with them better than other folks.

4. I've played the trombone for seven years, and before that the trumpet for three. During that time, I also played the piano for five before I quit. I was never any good at any of them.

5. My best years were in high school. Those were my glory days, and I miss them.

6. I would like to be part of a Barbershop Quartet before I graduate from college.

3. I want to be in the entertainment business. Acting, directing, screenwriting, producing - I'll take any of those jobs. I just enjoy the movie making process.

4. I thrive off an audience and laughter.

5. Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs was a life-changing movie for me. It honestly changed my perspective on what a quality movie is. It also was a gateway to contemporary pop culture for me. Thanks Catie :D

6. Oh, and as a result of number 1, I'm not very athletic. OMG SHOCKER I KNOW.

7. I'm deaf. Not literally. However, I do find ironic the fact that I know some sign language. I think being in band and listening to terrible music at max volume with my headphones on throughout middle school is possibly the cause of my hearing problems. And my tinnitus.

8. My time in college has taught me something - the whole partying scene? So not for me.

9. I'm a sucker for a pretty face.

10. I like to consider myself a Jack of All Trades when it comes to my geekisms. I've dabbled in everything, but not exactly an expert at a specific subject.

11. Jazz = Love. Favorite subgenre = Bebop, Big Band, & Ragtime. Hated subgenres = Jazz fusion & Soft Jazz. Well, aside from the Jazz Odyssey.

12. I actually like musicals. I just don't go out and watch a lot of them because well... they cost quite a pretty penny. So I'm limited to college productions, amateur productions, and film musicals.

13. I was raised on cartoons; from Felix the Cat of the 1930s to the Simpsons of the 1990s. If its animated, I would watch it. Looking back at what I watched... I understand what people mean when they say "Kids'll watch anything."

14. I think Heroes is terribly written. It's cliche, ripped out of the pages of comic books (and not even the goods ones) and a lot of the characters are very two dimensional. And the writing - God, it's looser than Paris Hilton!

15. Heroes is a guilty pleasure for me. So are Michael Bay movies (minus Pearl Harbor) and Dan Brown books.

16. I have scarlet fever.

17. I like the Victorian, Vaudevillian lifestyle - which is why a top hat, cane, tuxedo jacket with coattails, and a monocle still remain on my wishlist. And it's also why I like steampunk.

18. I also fancy the Prohibition era of the 1920s - jazz, flappers, the Charleston, speakeasies synonymous with drunken debauchery. It was America at its most cultural - most likely due to its seclusion from the world after of World War I.

19. You know, I feel like I have a knack for teaching. I think I get it from my dad - he was a math teacher. I get a kick out of teaching random people the random stuff I know or things I learned from class; but I don't think I can ever have enough patience to teach.

20. I'm not outgrowing designer/vinyl toys, comic books, video games or cartoons anytime soon. In fact, I'm watching old episodes of Animaniacs as we speak.

21. People think I'm weird. I think I'd rather be weird than boring, uninteresting, and generic.

22. I plan on picking up the piano, a brass instrument, and doing some vocal training one of these days. At least before I turn 30. Oh God, but seeing how my plans never seem to turn out the way I want... I can only hope I get around to doing any of that.

23. I'm terribly lazy. And have a hard time being motivated. It's a wonder how I get anything done. Or how I am where I am today. Does not bode well for my plans on number 22.

24. I kind of enjoy street culture. Graffiti, alternative hip-hop (mostly from the Bay/San Francisco area), low-brow artistic movement, designer/vinyl toys, Banksy, Joe Ledbetter, Garey Baseman. I'm not exactly a part of it, but I do enjoy it.

25. I get a kick out of the vulgar, lewd, explicit, taboo, awkward, offensive and shocking. However, I won't laugh at dicks being drawn all over the place, or terrible jokes out of movies like Date Movie. There has to be some taste in the distaste. And for some reason, I find gratuitous full-frontal male nudity hilarious - like Borat and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Marxism a College Cliche?

I've always got a kick out of the image of old geriatrics ranting about the "liberal, Marxist, hippie bullshit" that they're teaching us in college. I bring this up because guess what I'm learning about in Humanities Core out here?

Half of you are smart, I'll let you guys decide for yourself.

But by all means, it isn't bullshit - it's just a whole bunch of socialism that I actually enjoy learning. Mind you, enjoy learning. Not enjoy practicing. Because Communism only works in theory.

I am not, nor have I ever been, a member of the Communist party. I swear.

Shut up, Carlos.