A New Year: 2010, Resolutions and Life Changes

Well, it's a new year....

Personally, I am so glad. So happy that 2009 is behind me, that I survived another year, that I have my health and am alive.

Now, it's time to make some major life changes.

I've been waking up this morning, drinking coffee, read the paper, lining the day out, and just filmed a New Year's filmmaker video blog for footage of our documentary feature film THE OLD STRIPPER. Got a busy day lined up...gonna leave the apartment here in a few minutes, take the city bus to meet Mother, then take her out to eat at Sweet Tomatoes for our New Year's Day vegan meal. Then get some things done this evening. Got a lot to do over the weekend.

Last night was fun. I took Mother to the Palace Station to bring in New Year's here in Vegas with her New Year's Eve bingo. We went out of the casino a little before midnite and rang the new year in by watching the fireworks display off all of the casino roofs at the Las Vegas strip from the Palace Station parking lot. That was fun.

Gotta be quick here....running out of time before having to catch the bus. But to put it simply, I'm making some major life changes beginning this new year. Here are my new year's resolutions:

1: No more drinking. Period. No liquor. That's it. Simple. No booze in 2010.

2: Focus on working a good job this year, and making money. Putting that as a priority this year over my art. I'm not getting any younger. And I don't want to be a senior citizen before I blink my eyes, wondering where my rent money's coming from next week. Primary focus on working, making money, paying off the Missouri property this year, and putting all of my art secondary as a part time hobby. Major life change here.

3: Sell Mother's new STRIPPER book worldwide and get her comedy act started here in Vegas. This will be a part time, in my spare time resolution. We got her book printed and available for sale on the internet worldwide thru Lulu. Now, this year, I have to find a way to let the world know about the book online, sell it, and tie it in with her comedy act. And start her going to open mics here in Vegas to get the local community here to know about her.

4: Make a feature film here in Las Vegas this year, have the first season of our underground Las Vegas Film Festival, start a filmmaking class here and sell our short films. These are the artistic things I want to accomplish as a filmmaker here in Las Vegas this year. But these will be part time projects, done in my spare time when I'm not working my regular job. These things will have to begin to take a back seat to my regular life I'm about to begin.

I'm looking forward to these life changes. A new year as a filmmaker, in Las Vegas, with new resolutions....life is good....

Buy Mother's new inspirational book THOUGHTS OF A STRIPPER: A Mother's Story only at Lulu at:

http://lulu.com/dixiepublishing

Watch the new Book Trailer for STRIPPER at:

The Lonely Life of a Filmmaker....

Being a filmmaker is a lonely life.

Take it from me. I'm living proof. When you're a middle aged guy in your 40's, liberal, independent, weird in most people's eyes, and very set in your ways, it's pretty hard to be close to many people. Take it from me. It's a lonely life.

Here's an example: in my lifetime, I've had a full life. Been in the entertainment business for over 25 years. Won hundreds of awards as an artist, speaker, and entertainer. Lived all over the country. Lived my life my way, done what I want. And have entertained and taught people all over America.

And this pit stop....for now, is Las Vegas. Living life here right now, chipping away at my art, while making a living.

I love my life. But I will be honest. It's a lonely life. But to live a life like this, you have to be content with yourself, love yourself and put your goals, dreams and thoughts before everything. That isn't for everyone. I'm lucky. I'm one of the fortunate ones. I only have to worry about myself, and no one else. It may sound selfish. And when I die, there may not be many people around that even know I'm dead. But that's okay. I have to do and get done what I need to get done in this life. If if means being alone, then so be it. Sure, I'd love to meet someone I'd like to spend the rest of my life with. But I've been around for 44 years; and haven't met that kind of person yet. The older I get, the more set in my ways I get too....

It's great to have a life where you can do whatever you want; go where you want; live where you want; work where you want; film what you want; be healthy, and a vegan, liberal and independent in your way of living; but there are sacrifices. Working jobs with high turnovers. No financial security. No companion or social life. Living a life similar to a hermit. There are tradeoffs. But for me, it's worth it.

I love being independent, and living my life my way. I would'nt trade it for anything. Sure, I could have a great job and have worked it the last 25 years; be a Grandpa now, have nice material things, lived in one town my whole life, be fat and bald....but I prefer to be broke, independent, getting by, living life, doing my art, and opening people's eyes.

It makes it all worth it.

It's a lonely life....being a filmmaker....but it is a real life....really living life....

Working, Filming, and Living in Sin City.....

Not much time to write these blogs....

This has been my first one in a few weeks. You'd think it wouldn't take much time to just write a few sentences here and there every few days.....but....

Times are busy and crazy here in Las Vegas; I've been working my job 6 days a week; filming footage for our new documentary film THE OLD STRIPPER quite a bit; trying to work and promote Mother's new STRIPPER book whenever I get a chance; and trying to keep a handle on all these projects.

Life is busy right now...and crazy.

And it keeps ticking along.....

The life of an independent filmmaker....

Life as a Filmmaker in Sin City...

Well....

It's been a few weeks since I've written a blog. Simply put, I just haven't had time. You'd wonder, how hard is it to just take a few minutes here and there to write a quick blog? Well....I'm finding out, the older I get, and the more I'm trying to just get by and make a living...the less time I have to be on the internet. It's refreshing, to have a few minutes here on a Sunday night in Vegas to finally write another blog.

I'm sitting here in my living room, in my apartment just off the Las Vegas Strip. I like this little one bedroom apartment. It's nothing like my little spread back in Milford; but it's nice, having a nice little place to vegetate after a hard day's work in this city that never sleeps.

My new job is going good. Been working it here in Vegas for about 2 months now. Not much money, but enough to pay the bills out here and get by. All my time and energy these last couple of months have been put into my job. No focus on making movies and being a filmmaker at this moment. I need to find some time to get back to that. Hard to do right now, while being civilized and making a living.

Our brand new mockumentary short film PAYDAY LOAN will be starting the film festival circuit soon. Should know by Thanksgiving if it got accepted to Sundance or Slamdance in Park City. Got a good feeling that film will start out with a bang in Park City. It's mind blowing, and very relevant to the current times. Getting ready to start submitting PAYDAY LOAN to other fests too....

Our new hit short film FUCKIN' OLD BITCH is rockin'....this month, it rocked Birmingham's Sidewalk Film Festival. Just haven't had the time to focus on festivals these last couple of months....

Gotta lot to do here in Vegas over these next 6 months. Getting ready to continue production of our feature documentary THE OLD STRIPPER; planning on shooting a new short here in Vegas in the next couple of months; and this winter, shooting my first pilot here on the West Coast. Lot's going on!

Until next time.....another day as a filmmaker in Sin City, making a living and getting by....

Filmmaking in Vegas...and Living Life

Whew....

It's been 3 weeks since I've written a blog. Man...I can tell I'm getting old. I've been working my job hard here in Vegas this last month...and putting all my time, mind and energy in this job. By the end of the day, I'm drained; and just feel like being at the apartment here and not working on anything else. So all this online stuff, and filmmaking stuff has been on hold these last few weeks.....

In fact...to be honest...this is kind of refreshing. It feels good to be living a regualar life for change. Making a living. Working a job. Making a buck. It feels good.

I really want to get a lot done while I'm here in Vegas. Really need to start marketing Mother's new STRIPPER book. I know we're sitting on a gold mine here. I've just got to find time in the evenings to spend an hour or two each night online to promote and work the book. It's online on Lulu to sell; and if people just knew about it, we would be set financially. Gotta work it....

Trying to get the early stages set for our new film festival here in Vegas too. I know an underground film festival will go over here in town. Gotta find time to work on this...

Film wise, a lot's going on. Our new hit short film FUCKIN' OLD BITCH continues to rock the fest circuit worldwide. The film played Birmingham's Sidewalk Film Festival last week; and has played over 20 festivals worldwide this year since premiering in Orlando in March. Hopefully, it'll play Sundance or Slamdance in January!

As well, my brand new short film PAYDAY LOAN is submitted to Sundance and Slamdance. Want it to premiere at one of those fests. Should know the results by Thanksgiving. And then start submitting to festivals.

Later this year, I'll be shooting our next short film THE TRICK here in Vegas; and this winter, shoot our new tv pilot here in Vegas. Lots going on.

I just need to find time and energy outside of work to start working other things. It'll come....

I love being a filmmaker.....

Buy Mother's new STRIPPER book only at Lulu at: http://www.lulu.com/dixiepublishing

One Busy Week in Sin City.....

Well....

My second week in Las Vegas has come and gone. And, to be honest, I'm wiped out at the end of every day.

I've been here 2 weeks. Got a new place; enough food to last me through September; a new job that I just finished my first full week; got the final great proof here this week for Mother's new STRIPPER book; filmed footage this week of Opal here in Vegas for our upcoming feature documentary THE OLD STRIPPER before she drives back to Missouri this week; and more. It's just a job trying to get by each day right now, get settled in Vegas and things started out here.

This coming week's gonna be another busy one. I'm trying to get my new job down good these next few weeks, and getting money coming in before I start focusing back on my film projects. I'm not looking forward to Mother heading back home. It'll be lonely out here without her. I know she could do well here in Vegas with her book, films and trying to get an act out here for her. But she'll be back out here soon enough. Also, this week, I'll have to start taking public transportation to get around. So that'll make things a little tougher. But I'm used to that. Been there, done that in Chicago and L.A.

Lots going on....and more to come....

I love being a filmmaker....truly independent....

One Busy, Rockin' Week as a Filmmaker....

Sometimes, life is, simply put, just....great.

This has been one awesome week. Busy; non-stop; draining; restless; but very satisfying as an independent filmmaker, and as a free spirit.

I'm now in Las Vegas. Will be for at least the next 6-8 months. I've got 3 film projects lined up here in Sin City over the fall and winter; and have a lot more going on as well.

Opal took the drive out here with me; and will be here for the next week before she heads back to Missouri. We'll be shooting footage of her here in Vegas while she's here for our upcoming feature documentary THE OLD STRIPPER. So some good filmmaking lined up here over this next week....

Our short films are rockin' the festival circuit right now. Too much is going on. This week, our new hit comedy short film FUCKIN' OLD BITCH is playing the Atlanta Underground Film Festival; next week, our award-winning cult comedy short PHONE SEX GRANDMA has its Australia premiere at the Sydney Underground Film Festival; and this morning, I just got word that FUCKIN' OLD BITCH will have its Alabama premiere next month at Birmingham's Sidewalk Film Festival! Whew....plus, before I headed out here to Vegas last week, I got our submissions sent off for Park City 2010....sent FOB and our brand new comedy short PAYDAY LOAN to Slamdance; and submitted PAYDAY LOAN to Sundance. So we'll know by Thanksgiving (right around the corner) which ones make the Park City cut for January. I'm really crossing my fingers, and hoping that we'll have one short at each fest this time around. It would be a blast to have a film at both Sundance and Slamdance the same week! Anything's possible....

All this, plus trying to do some edits for Mother's new STRIPPER book that's available on Lulu. Over these next 6 months, there's going to be some major book expos, adult expos and conventions here in Vegas and Los Angeles. And I think it'll be a perfect opportunity to market and promote Mother's new STRIPPER book to the book and adult entertainment industry. And at the same time, we'll be able to promote our hit shorts and upcoming documentary THE OLD STRIPPER. Exciting times coming...I'm feeling really good about things.

Life is good....