Let Them Sleep. . .

"Those who don't feel this Love pulling
them like a river, those who don't drink dawn like a cup of spring water or take
in sunset like a supper, those who don't want to change, let them sleep."

- Rumi.

Muslim FBI Guy

So I think I mentioned in a previous post that I've been asked to help write a script about a suicide bomber. So Joe set up a meeting with some undercover FBI Agents. So cool; Way cool. I mean the thing that I love about writing, well, I think Anais Nin said it best, "we write to taste life twice." Putting yourself into a character, real or imagined, that is so very different from you and your own experiences is quite a thrill, it's my on personal duby.

So we met with these guys last week. I won't mention any names, of course, but one of them is the first Muslim FBI Undercover Agent and what an amazing man. I mean you wouldn't pick him out of a crowd as being anything unique or unusual or dangerous - being that he was an average-looking, middle-aged man with the requisite ponch, but talking to him was like being hypnotized or sucked into some kind of Muslim vortex. He was fascinating, with his dark intense eyes and melodic accent. We talked for maybe three hours about the history of Islam and terrorist motivations and of course political tangents. In fact, they told us the gov't did find WMD's in Iraq. Really? Evidently it's not widely known because of the liberal (god bless them) press. We talked about Bush's real motivation for going to war - revenge against Saddam for his assassination attempt on Papa Bush when he was in Kuwait. What?! I wasn't much into politics back then so I didn't know about the incident but I've heard a lot of speculation about Bush Jr.'s motivation for going to war and I've never heard that.

To top it off, I didn't know that Muslims actually believe in J.C. - although instead of believing he's the son of god, they believe he's just another prophet like their own, Muhammad. "Peace Be Upon Him," our informant said. Interesting. I did not know that, of course, I really knew very little about their religion. I tried to take religious studies in college but it was full... so I got stuck in Black Studies, which wasn't a bad thing... that's where I met my pillaresque basketball buddies - Iceman (because he's cold as ice. yes, he actually said this) and ... I can't remember the other one's name... oh wait, Kemo. And I did have a friend from Oman in college but we never talked about religion.

Anyway, it was an eye-opener, the entire experience. The script is going to be exponentially better because of their contribution. Thanks FBI Guys! You have served your country well!

Back to Basics

So I've decided to get back to the grassroots of blog4reel... enough of chasing celebrities and glossy mags. I realized I was spreading myself too thin lately, which is not easy to do when you're a chubby chick. What's important here are the blogs and the stories... the rest will come, as Kevin Costner knew before his career 'danced w/ sharks'. I don't know if that makes sense or if it's funny. Chalk it up to verbal experimentation.

To be honest, it's a relief. I think I've been so focused on the need for success that I've been stressing myself out about everything. Not only am I not having fun, I'm getting in my own way of attracting what I want because I'm surrounded by a big ball of negativity (i.e. stress). I noticed the other day how angry I was when I cussed out the slow-going, blue-haired driver in front of me in a string of expletives that would have embarrassed, um, someone who cusses a whole hell of a lot. Can't think of anyone at the moment. Was going to say Hitler - but although he was a genocidal killer, he may have had lovely manners. Who knows.

So obviously I was projecting and have some pent up emotion so my goal right now is to do everything with ease and joy... no matter what it is. And you know, it's really silly to get worked up about anything... when ultimately who we are in the now is ok, is loved and lovable, and worthy and all that, no matter what we do or don't do in our lives. We're the one's judging and comparing ourselves. If we all stopped doing it, maybe others would too, so I'm getting off the wheel. Americans are crazy. We are. Achieve and Acquire, that's all we care about. Well I'm over it. And the first step to changing that is admitting it! So what next? Find bloggers. And then I'm taking a page from my gamer bf's book and going home and Raiding some Tombs as every man/woman's fantasy, Lara Croft.

I realized I forgot to mention the wonderful person I met last week at the Adalente Film Forum in San Antonio - Chachi Senior with City Lights Media Group. He's a super clever individual with a lot of experience in web development. He took a liking to Blog4Reel and offered to help out if he could. Who knows where it will lead but he was a pleasure to talk to. It made me hyper-aware of what I'm missing out on in San Antonio. I love this city but let's face it.. those of you who live here know what I'm talking about.. when it comes to being serious about film, SA is not the place to be, but still.. I have hope! On a side note, I pitched my brilliant new vampire script premise to him and he seemed to quite like it. I still can't believe I told him! You'll understand what I mean by that someday.

Runaway Trains

Sometimes you wonder how life just got so off track. But perhaps it's on track, right on time, just not the time you wanted, the time you expected. Whoever thought I would end up in Texas - land of armadillos, cactus, and cowboys? Whoever thought my delicate Washington skin would be sweltering in 100-degree heat all summer long. Not me. Definitely not me. Yet here I am. A million roads not taken, why this one? Is it anything special or is just day to day to day. Morning Noon Night. Sleep then Wake then Sleep. Although insomnia makes that one a bit difficult. My 87-year-old gma got rushed to the emergency room last night. I wondered if it was the end. There's no doubt she wishes it was. But they found nothing wrong. Which is good for us that love her but not so good for her, I think. She's ready to move on, has been for years, probably since my grandpa died b4 I was born. But she's cursed to be strong as an ox. I have this ability to put myself in other people's skin and her skin scares me. It scares me because I don't want to get to a point where my life does not bring me joy and it seems I laugh less lately. This is no one's fault of course. It's mine. I try so hard; I stress too much and time passes and what of it? I believe the only purpose of life is to be joyful, but I am surely not practicing what I preach. And I think that needs to change. But how do you stop a runaway train? How do you jump tracks mid-stream?

I guess it's time I put my neon-pink labcoat on and get to work. I will figure this out although I think the most important thing for me to do right now is just stop. Stop and Breathe. Maybe it's just time to trust that everything's going to be okay; I don't have to control it all. I've never really done that.

If you wanna bake your noodle, check out this article sent to me by the Wonderful Tyler Rutherford (Blog4Reel's Lawyer) on time/space and the holographic universe. It goes to show you that anything really is possible and that is a very encouraging thought:

http://www.nature.com/news/2008/081110/full/news.2008.1217.html?s=news_rss

YAY!

Apples, Islam & Elections!

Well, it's finally here - the big election day for the States. I can't say it's been that exciting of a day for me but I'm very much looking forward to the results, as is the whole world, so it seems. I was just reading an article about world politics and how many nations are in support of Obama. If he wins, Kampala, for example, plans to march the streets in celebration and have a big party that lasts the whole night through. What can I say, we don't march in San Antonio, we eat enchiladas. We celebrate with saturated fats. That's our homage. But it won't be mine, unfortunately. I will be celebrating with lots and lots of apples and then maybe top that off with some deelish organic applesauce with cinnamon. No, I'm not crazy. I'm just on a ridiculous apple cleanse for the next three days. Blame Susan Seydler and Edgar Cayce.

I met with Joe, the actor from The Theory of Everything film, over the weekend. He's asked me to assist him in writing a short script he's wanting to produce.. I won't reveal too much except for that some of the characters are Muslim so I'm getting to research the Islamic beliefs, which is interesting, and frankly not that dissimilar from Christian origin, I think, but that's at first glance. I'll let you know what I discover.

So, I suppose you may be wondering what's going on with the sites. I've been busy looking for a web developer who can really take us to the next level. If you're out there, contact me at info@blog4reel.com. I strongly believe the universe will bring the right person to us. In fact, I'm talking to two gentleman who seem pretty interested and talented, so am very excited about that.

Also started sending out information on the competitions to colleges. The students are where it's at - creative, open minds... interesting lives and not afraid to tell it like it is. Where are all the vloggers? I hope vlog4reel is not ahead of its time. No matter. We will wait.

In good news, The Jade Channel's "Ennis Does Southtown" film won Best Comedy at the Sequin Film Festival recently. We're very excited about it. Ennis is going worldwide soon. Watch! We just shot our next episode, "Ennis Does Halloween" at Miss Alexis Meridian's Masquerade Ball in San Antonio which raised money for the SA AIDS Foundation and the Douglas Carter Scholarship Fund. It was an amazing experience. This pic is just a taste!