progress report - "the AP project"

I'll give in a little to what I've been so distracted with lately. I can't give too many details because I keep hearing similar ideas on TV that have come and gone. Long story short, it's a sitcom about my experiences and adventures at SUNY Purchase. I'm pretty sure I can mine 2 seasons out of the 2 semesters I spent there if I had the chance. I wrote plot lines for 24 episodes, and I just finished mapping out the characters. Sunday I started outlining the pilot episode, but after all the blog reading I've been doing, I think I might freestyle it. It's not like I don't have an idea already of what I want to happen in the first episode. It's mostly an introductory. It's a pilot episode. So I'm not necessarily limited to 22 minutes. But that's my goal. Besides, I only need a rough draft to get me going. I can devote January to editing or something.

I won't reveal the title for my college sitcom. I'm not even going to discuss how I want it to be shot. But I will say that if you know a few of my favorite shows, you may have an idea. One of them is actually the first show that discouraged me from even continuing the project by the name of Undeclared. Awesome show and it's too bad it was cancelled. I could seriously relate to it and so could my sitcom, BUT I don't want mine to feel like a carbon copy. I don't think it will, except for one storyline involving locked doors and "Do Not Enter" signals between roommates, but that's fine. Arrested Development is another one that I have a serious love for. I enjoy writing while having that play in the background. I'm also going to cite Seinfeld for the mere fact that when Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld started the show, they didn't really know how to write a sitcom. I don't either, but that's not going to stop me from putting the story on paper in script form.

Also, I haven't had coffee for the past 2 weeks. My friend was sick and all she wanted was tea, and I hadn't had tea in a while so I felt like drinking tea too. I told her no coffee until she felt better. Guess what happened. Go on guess! Too late, I'll tell you, I got sick, so all I've been drinking is lemon tea or honey tea (when I'm home). What the stank is wrong with Dunkin Donuts that they can't make honey tea??? It's delicious and soothing for wounded throats. Sorry, but that upsets me. That should probably be my next poll question. Which tea do you better, honey or lemon? Or honey and lemon? (Don't knock it 'til you try it.) I'll pass on the green tea, thanks. (Tried it, didn't like it.) And Tree will pass on all kinds of tea, it just wants water from now on. I know that was my fault, but hey, it sounded like a good idea at the time.


Hang in there Tree.

summer cinema blockbusters = winter home entertainment

It took me a few years to realize it, but that tends to be how summer movies work. I say this only because I just came home from Hollywood Video with my new Tuesday releases Wall-e and Tropic Thunder. I also picked up Kung Fu Panda, a movie that came out a week or so ago but I forgot about. I managed to miss all of these (and a few others) when they were in theaters. Shame on me, I know. But I got to see the mega hits like Iron Man, Indiana Jones, Wanted and The Dark Knight, so that's all that matters (not really).

As the weather starts to turn into it's typical New Englandy cool-down (and lately it's been struggling to get there with stubborn spring-like temps every other day), I once again reminisce about my Purchase days and the theory--or philosophy--my buddy Ryder shared with me about the opposite sex that lived on campus. This actually could translate to other places besides college, like maybe the mall, but basically once it gets cold, all the pretty girls tend to stay inside. (This doesn't mean they never come out, since we still need to get to class. And it doesn't mean we are excluding less attractive women either. We weren't that shallow. But we had our preferences.) The trick is to get friendly with these hibernating ladies before the snow falls so they are snuggling up with you somewhere warm in a dorm room or house or something. Even though I was at Purchase for a year, this theory seemed to be true. There really weren't as many girls roaming the courts when it was cold and snowy unless it was necessary. The dorms were all connected with underground tunnels that also went to the dining hall, so that was a popular option for everyone, even if the food was... blah? But 'twas another chance to find more cuddle buddies.

And what better way to pass the snuggle time than with a warm summer blockbuster now on DVD? Well, actually watching old classics or TV shows on DVD worked just fine, sometimes better. What else may go on during these cuddly snuggly times I don't think I need to discuss, this is a college atmosphere I'm describing. As eccentric as the Purchase is, it's still college. But the great thing about that place is how movies of all kinds, old and new, domestic and foreign, would bring people together. Well, until Christmas break.

Reviews of the movies above will be (or have been) posted on my MySpace, per usual once the film has been viewed and I feel like writing about it.

disc jockeying

Would you like to travel with me to another official Purchase College memory? Of course you would! I'll make it brief and not too un-relatable.

Basically I'm longing for my days of being on the radio. Even a college run radio station (which is nice to hone in on a craft). I think having this Indoob blog is the next best thing I have until I start podcasting (who knows when that will be). Or when I get the nerve to do my own Internet radio station broadcast (once I remember what website has that). But I remember my... hmmm... 4-5 shows I had in the beginning of '05... My, those were good college times. I even had the perfect schedule where I only schooled 3 days a week. But that had nothing to do with the radio.

It'd be no shocker I played the heaviest metal I could find, and being a liberal arts college station, they didn't care much about censorship. Okay... so I lied. Not about the censorship, but most Indoobians would know by now my brand of music. The only thing I seem to detest these days is country music UNLESS certain terms are met. Usually Shania Twain had to be involved. But that's another story.

I ran into New Eden Radio tonight by way of someone I once talked to online some time ago. I doubt if she remembers me, but if she does, plus points for her! Anyway, it turns out she's now a DJ for the station, so I checked out the live stream. Not bad. She goes by DJ Blue Eyes. (I'm going to guess the "Eyes" is spelt with a "z" cuz that's how all the kewl kidz do it 2day. (And yes it hurts to purposely misspell those words.)) So by checking out this site and giving her show some ratings, I would recommend this to a few people because of the music she plays. Not my favorite cup of tea, but it's tea I can drink and even suggest to others. I'm in it more for how the DJ communicates with the audience. I like banter. Good banter is hard to find. (This coming from the guy who rarely listens to the radio since he works at home and always listens to an iPod he named iSaac.)

But back to my memory story! I never liked being alone on my show. So my most favorite and popular guest co-host was DrugFree. He actually had his own show which he hosted with someone else (but had me as a special guest a couple of nights and we'd take turns plugging each other's shows). I must say that it's so much more fun having someone else on the air to talk to. I tried talking to the person on the other side of the glass, the "producer," but they were never listening. Anyway, my buddy (Rich was his real name) and I would talk about random but relevent things going on at the time, or campus life. At times it ended up becoming a comedy routine and I think I ended up playing the straight man, chock full of sarcasm. But it worked. My parents surprised me one night, calling me during my show to tell me they were listening to the Internet stream (they were about an hour away at home). They remarked on the conversation we had about eating potato chips on the air, and if we should've been eating them at all while being on the air or even in the booth. Needless to say, you had to be there. I wish I could've gotten recorded copies of our shows... but alas, that wasn't possible. Both our shows had a small fan base. DrugFree's show ended up going to TV while I moved back to Connecticut and discovered filmmaking (which was partially introduced thanks to my major in broadcast communications). Soul Sundays with Sterling Silver would've been a great show... if I stayed.

The moral of this story is that my dream of being a radio DJ/personality is not dead. Sterling Silver with rock the airwaves once more. I'm a fan of morning shows, since they have fun people up. I mean it's only like a 4 hour block, right? Then I can spend the rest of the day doing whatever I want. Like filmmaking. But my show would be awesome! It would be mighty! And of course I'd have fun people on the show with me, even if some of those people weren't "real" ...meaning, characters I've made up that would be great exclusively for radio... such as Jamal Jamal. Wouldn't you love to know about that guy? Sure... but not tonight.

"the night we ruled the world"

'Tis a new week. I feel good. I feel pumped. Perhaps this is the week I'm back on my game destroying these files and ranking in the high numbers. Taking back my imaginary invisible crown I pretend I don't like to wear. I wouldn't wear it either, I'd just hang it somewhere so no one would even know I have it. I like to let my work stand out. But I desire some BK French toast sticks first.

In completely non-office related news, I had a long discussion with an old friend, er, brother from Purchase on Friday night... or Saturday morning. It inspired me, no, propelled me to publish a poem I had written but never typed. Due to where it's published, I'm not going to display it here on the blog and I'll make you use the link to read it. It's on Behance, since it's such an awesome site and all, I like to plug where credit is due.

Anyway, I actually wrote this poem while I was at work one day (still in the office at the time) and had Coldplay's Viva la Vida on repeat for who knows how long. But the song was motivation for the inspiration of this poem about my friend, who I reigned as an outlaw king with, on a starry night on campus. (If you've never heard the song, give it a listen, and if you can help it, listen to it while you read the poem.) There's lot of metaphors galore and surrealistic images about in the poem and tells an abstract true story. It's a poem that's really meant for him, but appeals or relates to those who went to Purchase too. I could imagine a lot of my friends having a similar experience to what I portray. One friend has already revealed they truly felt the message I delivered. But I can completely understand if you have no idea about this college, or the relationship my friend and I had, and this one kinda goes over your head. This is just my disclaimer in saying, this one might not be for you. But if you "get it" and enjoy it, then that's awesome! Welcome to a slice of Purchase life. And even if you don't really get it, at least enjoy the imagery I paint. Without further adieu, I present The Night We Ruled the World.

Special shout outs to the Dagger and Magz.

paris strikes again

I think I neglected to mention that I wrote not 1, but 2 scripts inspired by Paris, Je T'aime. Yeah, that movie really had an impact on me.

In slightly related news, I idly seeked acting schools for a friend when I happened upon the New York Film Acadamy, which I actually have heard of several times. Most of the time, from my beloved IMDb.com ads, but I never really looked into it. Well, only once.

Anyway, I'm definitely interested in going there some day. Looks like it'll be a new focus since I discovered The Second City is no longer in New York City. I'd educate you on what The Second City is if you don't already know, but I'd suggest you look up half of the SNL alumni and you'll find out what it is and why I want to go. But I can't let that get me down. There's still L.A. which I'm presently not interested in. Or I can goto the hometown itself, Chi-town. It's a thought. But NY is still my focus. It's really where I want to be.

In the meantime, I will continue my local schooling here in CT, and continue my writings, and perhaps I can get some decent school and work established before I make my move to the City. Sigh... dreams.

Some very important DVDs should be arriving within the next few days, or so I hope. From Paris to a super Marx Bros. collection. I'm so excited. I wish a buncho of my film buddies were here, I'd throw a Marx Brothers marathon. Sad to say, I don't think my circle of friends here know much about them nor would appreciate them. Well, ya know never know. But I have my doubts.

Kathy is telepathic... She texted me just as I typed "circle of friends" because she's one of those people. It's scary in a good way. She also is interested in this much raved about Paris movie. Well, I hope she will fall in love with it too.

remembering the bricks

It's a bit irritating how I keep forgetting my password to this thing. Sigh.

Anyway, I'm feeling a bit nostalgic. I don't know how exactly, but I found myself at Purchase's page at Wikipedia. Reading about things I knew first hand, and some things I had forgotten or never knew. It all brought back memories that now feel like I had been in a foreign film.

I tell people all the time that it was a great year and I learned a lot. Most of it taking place outside of class. In fact, I remember very little about any of the classes I took other than my poetry class, and two classes that were best thought of as history classes. It wasn't so much the subject I was interested in, moreso the teachers. Very animated. And also a bit pretentious... but in a good way... like they had the right to be. And I didn't really care, I was engaged in what they had to say... most of the time.

But really, what I remember and love most, are the people and relationships with those people I had. And pretty much every experience I had there. It's all bittersweet because I loved it there but I know I could never go back to having things the way they were. Sure I could go back there, but it won't be the same. I could always create new memories, but it won't be the same. Sort've like a so-so sequel. I think if I were to have a sequel to follow up Purcahse, it would have to be another school entirely. And to think, that was about 4 years ago.

Indeed, it is time for me to return to a campus and learn more about the arts, people, and especially myself. I can only learn so much by watching movies back-to-back. I need the hands on experience.

So I may not make it to Virginia Beach this summer, and it doesn't look like I'll be in anymore plays this year, I should focus my energies in getting back into Middlesex. I really want something much more than a degree. I'm guessing and supposing I won't get what I really want without one. But I really don't know what life will bring me. I need to expect to surprised. I think that's how that last line of Dan In Real Life went.

My room is a mess...

girls in the winter

Ryder, a good friend and Purchase classmate of mine, once shared an amusing yet seemingly true relevation to me about girls in the winter time on campus. He said that they pretty much all of a sudden "hibernate" for the winter, staying indoors, in their dorm rooms, or just invisible altogether. Because we, specifically Ryder and myself, found this to be true and a little discouraging since we were both single and semi-lonely. However, how he knew this before it happened was beyond me. His plan was to cozy up with a girl before the cold hit, so when the girls moved indoors for the winter, they'd cozy up with him, since they were scarce in the barren wasteland of the bricked campus in the middle of New Yorkian forrests that was Purchase.

We found the theory to be correct, and to some degree we used it to our advantage having know a few female friends to cuddle up with to "stay warm" in our central heated dorms. I had the semi-enjoyable experience having two attractive female friends sleep in my bed one night. A twin bed was not emant for 3 people. I wasn't comfortable. I did not sleep. THEY slept. I did not. I wanted to sleep. But I needed to moved a leg or two. But I could not because someone's body weight kept me from doing so. So I slept after they woke up and went to their room in the morning. I was so tired. Sure I felt like "the man," but it cost me physical pain, sleep, and even some boredom.

Anyway, the theory of the hibernating girls seemed to in fact be true. Yet we saw a few females wandering about in the snow, msot of them weren't to be seen. We wondered how they got to and from class when we never saw them outside. Purchase does have tunnels, but the dorms didn't connect to the campus. And the campus tunnels were off limits to students unless you had authorization and access like I did. Even still, no girls were there. This goes into my own theory of "girl wonders" I'll get into another time. It's not like we didn't know where these girls were. Well, the girls we actually knew, we knew where THEY were. But the one's we didn't know, we couldn't find them. I must admit, I wasn't really looking for them. But in case I was, I didn't know where to look. Our only chances were seeing them at the food courts, other people's rooms, classes, hallways or the parties we rarely attended.

But alas, as the springtime came, the girls reappeared. From wandering the campus grounds, to just hanging out and talking outside. Nature... what a thing.

Turns out that happens at the work force. When I started here in September, there were some pretty faces here and there, seemingly around my age. But being a new kid on the block, I'm not the type to introduce myself to strangers until I get a feel for the place first. It's my thing. Anyway, the winter months came and anytime I'm outside, no one is outside. Not that I blame girls or people in general... I was barely outside. It was cold! What makes it relevant to the above story is a lot of the pretty faces that are rumored to be about this building, didn't start appearing until recently. This is besides the ones I already know, like the ones working in my department. But this is a pretty big place with a lot of people. And I saw very little of them. Okay, okay... a majority of the time I'm at my desk. But STILL! When out and about, there weren't many people around, much less the pretty faces.

So here it is now the middle of May, and they are all over the place! Well, not like swarms... but more than enough to know there's a strong female presence at this work force. And I don't mean just walking in the hallways or the cafeteria... they're all around outside too. And I can't just limit to attractive females, but its everyone. I'm seeing a lot more people that I've never seen before. And it's everyday. A new variety and change everyday. And you know what? I still don't talk to anyone. Go fig.