Today is an Amazing Day

I'm finding tons of great things online and David, Arielle, Chase, and Elizabeth are coming into town.

Saul Bass, the grandfather of motion graphics and modern opening titles for movies. Here's a 35 min video of him explaining why he did what he did.

Charity Water

The September Campaign Trailer from charity: water on Vimeo.

Don and Obama

via. Noel Heikkinen's blog

This wasn't the correspondence I was expecting when Donald Miller began his first post with this:

I want to share with you a correspondence that has taken place between myself and Senator Obama. People have asked whether I know the Senator and whether we’ve met. Barack Obama and I have had an ongoing e-mail correspondence for several months, the bulk of which I have posted as a first entry to my blog.

It all started when I attended a rally here in Portland at which more than 75,000 people showed to support the Senator. Somehow, I managed to get a spot close to the stage and during his speech the Senator pointed at me and told me Yes, I could, something I think he might have stolen from the Black Eyed Pea’s, but oh well. Anyway, I was moved by the speech, but I had questions. I can do what? At the time, I was trying to pick paint colors for the living room, but was frozen between Icelandic Blue and Mossy Rock Green.

To my amazement, Barack e-mailed me shortly thereafter. I don’t know if it is appropriate to share our personal correspondence, but I offer it to you anyway. On my blog, I’ve posted Barack’s e-mails followed by my responses.

Don only just started this blog and already over 100 people have left comments. Donald Miller is an exceptional writer and the author of several books including "Blue Like Jazz," which I still have yet to read. Go read his post now!

Welcome to the Future

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/d90/en/d-movie/

The Hardest Thing I've Had to Do

I've had the past few days off with no work so I've been watching movies and trolling around IMDB to see what movies are in pre-production so I can send my resume in. It's been boring... mostly because I haven't been able to interact with people.

Anyway, the hardest thing that I've had to do is cold call these production companies and ask where I can submit my resume. It sounds really easy, but when you don't know what to say or how production companies work it is extremely difficult to dial the number and push call. I've spent 10min just looking at my phone with the number already entered. Of course it's not bad once you're talking to someone but you still know that they know you don't have a chance. Earlier today I called a Steven Spielberg production and I flat out asked the production secretary how many people get hired via faxing in their resumes and he said, "Do want me to be honest?" HA Then he said no one he knows has gotten hired that way on a project as big as the one I called on but sometimes smaller projects do hire that way. I kinda knew that but I had nothing to loose.

The coolest thing that happened today was I got to speak to Drew Goddard, the writer of "Cloverfield" among other things, but I didn't realize it till I hung up the phone. He answered with his name but I didn't put it together until after I hung up, usually a secretary picks up. He was nice and said it would be best to call back later and submit my resume then. I thanked him and then told him it sounded like a great production with some talented people attached to it, "good luck." He sounded very pleased to hear that and thanked me. Then I hung up and realized that I was talking about him to him. HA, I've got to pay closer attention to who picks up the phone.

Grew Myself a Beard

I was going to make a short where I grew a beard--I know, the magic of movies--but I didn't plan too well for the sfx and I wasn't happy with the result so here is a still. Despite all my griping I think God was looking out for my best interest.

Olympics

Since we don't have a TV I haven't really been following the Olympics and in my opinion the NBC website isn't all that nicely laid out or updated. Yesterday I wanted to see Bolt's record setting 200m run and I couldn't find the video after nearly two hours of playing around. However, via one of the blogs I follow, I forget which one, I found this amazing blog by a Newsweek photographer covering the Olympics. It is definitely worth reading if you enjoy photography any bit. Vincent Laforet, the photographer and blogger, is completely unpretentious and tells great stories that make you appreciate his photographs more.

The image above was made with a fisheye lens. It's a shot I thought of making early in the morning before I left the hotel because I knew how unusual it seemed to me to have such an important contest fought in such adverse conditions. Hey--its' BEACH volleyball!!! I set the lens to f22 and used the hyperfocal to get the drops in focus as much as possible... one Italian photographer just didn't understand that I was purposely allowing the waterdrops to fall on my lens... he kept screaming at me to cover the front element of my lens with my towel... that was actually the last thing I wanted to do.

Really! Check them all out.

Bart Millard - Hymned Again

I started listening to this album via Phil Wickham's blog, and I really enjoy it. It's a solo album by the lead singer of Mercy Me, now I can't say I'm a big fan of Mercy Me but this is a great album if you like old hymns and a New Orleans sound. I've enjoyed the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for a few years now and this has a very similar sound on some tracks. Give it a listen if you can... I've been enjoying it on Rhapsody.

You can listen to 30sec of each song on his website: http://www.bartmillard.org/music.html
Just click "Listen" at the top.

Oktapodi

Here is a cute little animated short I found via Ticklebooth.

Official Website

Santa Monica with the Davalas

Yesterday we got a call from some friends who were in town and wanted to hangout so we met them for coffee at the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. It was great fun with some live music playing in the background.

Dan and Melody Davala are in the middle of a month long road trip across the USA, fueled by a desire to travel together and go fly fishing. How awesome is that? They've got a blog up to share the journey with friends.

We met the Davalas about two years ago through the Lunsfords and I find them to be one of the most genuine couples that we have ever met. Dan was Mike Lunsford's best man at their wedding and is a large reason that Mike is a Christian today. What is striking about Dan and Melody is that, one, they're a great fit, and two, they live simply... almost in contrast to our culture. As such, their values appear very clear to me. In order I'd say Dan's are God, family, friends, fly fishing, and work. Now, really we've only met about five times so I may be off, but I find it comforting to know where someone stands and it delights me to be around them. Plus, they carry a great conversation and Dan has a beard that I'm envious over.

I wonder if my values are clear to others. Anyway, something to think about. Check out their blog, supposedly we'll be on there soon.

Only in LA pt2

Today I worked for Clean House again and drove some furniture down to San Diego, but the interesting part is that I got to drive down with this guy named Wolfgang. Wolfgang is like 3 or 4 generations deep here in LA and has a lot of interesting stories from living here. He also has great and an eclectic taste in music. On the drive we listened to some old school reggae, ELO - Out of the Blue, old school funk, remixed bollywood stuff, Pavement, and some Stevie Wonder. I had a great time talking to him about working with Ben Harper before he put out his first album, recommending to Quinten Tarinino a song that ended up in Kill Bill, and about just getting back from Vietnam where he worked on Miss Universe for two months. It was a great time and would have never met him otherwise probably.

Also... I don't want to get my hopes up but he knows some one who works on Apatow movies and said he'd recommend me for PA work. That would be amazing! Exactly the work I'm looking for, and I coming to find out can only be got by knowing someone.

The sad part is meeting all these people that you'd enjoy hanging out with and not really knowing if you'll ever get the chance to hangout again. Only God knows at this point.

Only in LA

The other day I and a coworker did a favor for someone at work who is pretty up there and ended up dropping an old school arcade game at his house. He invited us in for something to drink and to see the house... I couldn't pass this up because it was by far the nicest neighborhood and house I'd been in since moving to LA. It was a beautiful little house with a large out door pool and deck for parties that overlooked La Brea St in the Hollywood Hills.

Standing on the porch we got the tour of the neighborhood--there is the house that got blowing up in "Die Hard," that's Selma Hayek's house, and Tyler Perry's, oh and this house we bought from Matthew Perry.

Amazing, and he said he'd invite us to a pool party sometime.

Update: Mother GOD!?!

Not many people leave comments on my posts. However, tonight "Raquel NYC" left a comment on my past post, "Mother God!?!," that evens things out a little. Seven paragraphs! Thanks! It's an interesting read, just thought I'd share it with you all.

Turns out that their beliefs are crazier that I had imagined, it's a wonder that they even attempt to convert people.

Make Me Over - Lifehouse

That's the music video I helped make today. Got to step back and work closer with the AD's. It was great. It was also the first time it worked on a Film set, 35mm.

At the end I got to have a lengthy conversation with both the producer and the 1st AD. Good times, continue to learn a lot. Tomorrow James is again bringing me onto another set, this time it is a thesis film by a USC student.

Neighbors are Friends pt 2

Just in: I'm going to be working on a Lifehouse music video tomorrow. Still no money but a great learning experience!! Way better than going to school.

This is how it happened. It all begins with working on "Neighbors are Friends" (talked about in the last post). The AD, Assistant Director, was a guy by the name of James. He also lived in Virginia and he went to Thomas Jefferson High School. He did a good job and is quite a bit younger than I am so I wrote him an email today thanking and congratulating him, and then asked if he wouldn't mind showing me the basics of being an AD. He called me back within 10 min and very graciously thanked me and offered to get together when he was done with this project... But then asked if I was free tomorrow and might I rather come work with him and aid him as a 2nd 2nd AD. Of course!

And that's how it's done apparently, connections, nice people, and not being afraid to ask.

P.S. This guy James must be tired because we didn't wrap until 4:30am last night and he had a 7am call time for this shoot. Ridiculous!

P.P.S. I love that I had no clue what I was going to do tomorrow until 7pm tonight and it's better than I could have imagined.

P.P.P.S. I know Danielle is going to miss me because it'll be another 14hour day and for some reason she can't get enough of me! ;) Oh well, she'll understand. I brought her back a prop from the short we shot, a dozen roses. FYI - I pick her up tonight at 11pm.

Neighbors are Friends

Last week I made a tough decision. "Clean House" was going down to San Diego for two weeks and the choice was given to go down with them and get two weeks of paid work or stay here in LA and look for other work. Personally, I knew what I had to do, here is why I stayed in LA. I've found since working on "Clean House" that as it's a reality show I make connections in reality TV but not in features. Since I have no desire to stay in reality and every desire to work on features I'm forced to change things up and work on productions where I can meet people with the right connections. The problem as eluded to earlier is that I go back to finding jobs and the pay is not as consistent or even to be expected in some cases.

This weekend, for instance I worked 26 hours for no pay on a SAG short entitled, "Neighbors are Friends," directed by Ariam Mogos, about a paranoid house wife that turns out to be... well, right. It was, however, a wonderful experience! Work is hardly work when you enjoy what you do and work with people you enjoy. It's a great dynamic on set, each person has their own task but everyone is working towards the same goal. It is so different from a 9 to 5 in that everyday is different and every production a separate adventure with new challenges to face and new people to meet. One actor said in conversation, "I've met the nicest people I've ever met on set and the meanest." I've got to agree with the first part, even after only two days it was hard to say goodbye to people.

Another great thing about about this weekend's shoot was the actors. I can't believe how actors manage to bring out some of the emotions they do. There was one scene where the wife was mad at her husband and yelled at him then cried when he tried to comfort her... wow. I felt like I was listening into a real fight, and it felt really awkward. Although I knew it was an act my brain still had trouble distinguishing, I wouldn't want to play poker against any of them. The main actress was Tammin Sursok who apparently was pretty big on a teen series in Australia before moving to LA and even had an music album there. She is now on "Young and the Restless," and recently shot the movie, "Spectacular" and "Crossing Over," which has a whole host of great actors. Her husband, in the short, was actor Peter O'Meara, who was Lt. Norman Dike in "Band of Brothers." They were both gracious and friendly which is not always the case.

I was most impressed by the DP and his lighting. He had a great eye and I learned a lot about light placement. I also worked with a dolly for the first time and now know how to set one up. I came on as a PA but worked as a Grip the second day. Still not sure what part of production I want to focus on but I don't think I want to do grip, although I seem to get along with them well and I have the physical strength required. I'm glad to have the physical strength but I want a job where it's not required and I'm in charge of more. I could do camera but I'm not sold on it yet.

Incomplete... but something (which is fitting)

Do Something Series: #3 from James Kanka on Vimeo.

Ukulele and a Saw

I stumbled upon this just now and it reminded me of our response to God a lot of times.

FREE! Philly Wick Album

Random night, after dropping Danielle off at LAX I came home, checked my Reader and saw that Phil Wickham had posted. He set up a chat room for people to chat with him and each other while they waited for his free album to be released. It was fun and everyone was pretty stoked to download it at 12 midnight. So now I can say that I'm one of the first to hear it, and it is amazing.

Good on Phil and his producer for putting this together!

Grab it ASAP at http://philwickham.com/singalong

FYI: Philly Wick was his screen name in the chat room.

Do Something Series: #2

Do Something Series: #2 from James Kanka on Vimeo.

The only thing good about this video is the music I stole from MIA, but I did something.

In Case You Missed It

MIA, from Sri Lanka, is the most original and talented music artist I've heard in a while. I know I'm not first to this because they have been playing "Paper Planes" all over the radio, but I did find this...

A six part video, by none other than Spike Jonze, following MIA to a poor part of London and asking her about her new album. They both seem so approachable to me, and I love the way that MIA is always ready to dance and sing to her own music. I recommend watching them all or at the very least part 4... then 5.

Check out the craziness on her myspace page.
http://www.myspace.com/mia

Day 2 of $140/hour

Unbelievable! Two days in a row I made $140 for one hour of work.

I just finished shaving, which many of you realize is uncommon enough due to my lack of facial hair, when I saw that I missed a call from Eddie, my boss. The message said he had another run for me like yesterday and that he'd give me first dibs, I had 30 min to call back. Sweet! It only took me 5 mins.

Anyhow, that's worth a praise. Thanks Lord. Keep me guessing.

$140/1hour = $140/hour

Immediately after I posted the video I got a call from Eddie, my boss at Clean House, and he asked me to do him a "big favor." He said I'd get paid the full day rate which is $140 for a 12 hour day. Turns out all I had to do was drive 10 min to pick up some lights and then drive another 15 to drop them off somewhere. With everything totaled up I was done in 1 hour. That never happens, but yesterday I worked 6 hours and got $140, not bad either.

Thanks Lord.

I'm Done with Soda... for now

do something series #1 from James Kanka on Vimeo.

This morning I put it together that I'm a good worker for other people and that I'm a good manager of other people. The problem I run into though is that I'm laid back and when I'm left alone to manage myself I don't push myself because I don't worry about things getting done for myself. If the task is for someone other than myself then I have no trouble getting motivated, but when the task is something I created for myself I know I won't care too much if it's not done. Sad.

So today I decided to be my own manager, and made a list of things I would like someone like me to accomplish. And then I worked for myself as if I was working for someone else. I'm strange and complex.

One of the things I have been meaning to do is shoot myself, with a camera, doing something so that I can get practice and experiment. So today I started the "do something series" where I just put something together so I can break the ice of doing nothing. So I picked an object and did something with it. And that's the story of this video.

True Love

I love stories and I love music, I think they are powerful and can move the human spirit. This song by Phil Wickham tells one of my favorite stories very simply but powerfully none the less. Here is a video of him playing it.

Come close listen to the story

About a love more faithful than the morning

The Father gave his only son just to save us

The earth was shaking in the dark

All creation felt the Father's broken heart

Tears were filling heaven's eyes

The day that true love died, the day that true love died

When blood and water hit the ground

Walls we couldn't move came crashing down

We were free and made alive

The day that true love died, the day that true love died

Search your heart, you know you can't deny it

Come on, lose your life just so you can find it

The Father gave his only son just to save us

The earth was shaking in the dark

All creation felt the father's broken heart

Tears were filling heaven's eyes

The day that true love died, the day that true love died

When blood and water hit the ground

Walls we couldn't move came crashing down

We were free and made alive

The day that true love died, the day that true love died

Now Jesus is alive

Jesus is alive

Jesus is alive

Jesus is alive

Jesus is alive

oh He is alive

He rose again

When blood and water hit the ground

Walls we couldn't move came crashing down

We were free and made alive

The day that true love died, the day that true love died

Come close listen to the story

For your info this song is a favorite of the people at Mosaic here in LA. I think for the same reason it's a favorite of mine, it tells the greatest story of Love mankind has ever known and it doesn't take a theologian to figure it out. It also has beautiful imagery that is not uniquely Christian. Anyway, before I forget, Wickham is giving out a new singalong album on 8-8-08. Also as a bonus check out his cover of Hallelujah below!

Pretty sweet, uh? He too has a blog, which is pretty well done. Sometimes wish that I was a musician, playing guitars and singing. Too bad most people are picky about singing on key.

Dad, Danielle, and Diego... San Diego That Is

I love seeing something for the first time and this Saturday I got to see San Diego for the first time and it was beautiful! I also love seeing some people over and over again and of course my dad is one of those people! To combine my better half and those two things made for a great Saturday... and some great pictures. Danielle beat me to the punch and has posted the pictures on her blog. Here however are two of my favorites.

Point Loma: National Cemetary Pacific Side - Dad (James Kanka)

Balboa Park - Dad and James (Danielle Kanka)