Vatche Arabian

Website Moved

2009-01-22T09:36:00.001-05:00

all posts are on my new website, http://www.vatchearabian.com

Thanks!

Kreating Karloff Now Available on DVD

2008-09-27T16:47:00.000-04:00

I gotta say, its pretty exciting to see something you’ve made for sale on the internet via a distributor. So for those of you who’ve been looking to buy a copy of Kreating Karloff, I’m proud to say that day has come!

The film will be available on DVD with a load of special features (including my proud short “Booth”) November 19th through a wide array of distributors, but currently is available for preorder at Oldies.com for the low price of $7.95.

Hope you guys like the film!

Happy 2008

2008-01-01T14:12:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone had a great New Years Eve, I had just a few people over for movies and scene it, I think we all had a blast.

2007 was definitely a strange year, if you had asked me in December of 2006 how 2007 was going to be, I would have never guessed. I would have never guessed I would have lived in New York, and when I was IN New York, I never would have guessed I'd move back. I surprise myself sometimes.

I think moving to New York was very important for my own professional growth, and I'm definitely a different person now that I'm back in MA then I was when I left. I learned a lot about myself, and I'm glad I did it. I do miss New York terribly.

New Year Resolutions:

-Get back into my podcasting: I've got a dozen ideas, both news, and narrative related. Need to start things back up!
-Launch the sites that I have waiting in the wings: I've been amassing all these domain names for quite a while, both blog, and podcast related. Quit wasting time, launch these sites!
-Join a Gym: This wouldn't be a New Year's Resolution list if this wasn't on there. I think some sort of regular exercise other then sitting and typing at a keyboard would be beneficial. Though, I will wait till after January, and all the other people who put this on their list will have quit going to the gym. Maybe I'll ride my bike every morning once the weather gets nicer, I'd much rather do that then sit in a gym.
-Visit New York once a month: Who knows if this'll happen, but, I'd like to go down and see my New York friends.
-Take a vacation somewhere.
-Save: I gotta quit wasting money. Please Steve Jobs, don't release another amazing device that I'll wanna get at Macworld in the next two weeks.

Happy New Year everyone!

T'was the Night Before Christmas

2007-12-24T22:56:00.000-05:00

How many blogs you think are starting with that headline this evening?

I'm gonna be shifting over to a wordpress blog hosted on my servers soon, not that there is anything wrong with Blogger, I just feel like there will be more control. I'm starting a few multi-user blog sites (one of my many in-progress developing ideas), and I figure that'd be a good time to shift my personal blog to my site.

Unfortunately, I don't believe there's a way to migrate the content from blogger to the new blog without making it a manual transition, but, such is life.

I hope everyone is having a good holiday, it's all very stressful, but, thankfully, we've got a year to recover from this before we go through it all again.

Strange Dream

2007-12-17T11:01:00.000-05:00

I had a very odd dream last night.

I was living in a nice area in Iraq, and was out grocery shopping. They didn't have Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast, but the turkey breast they had was only 99 cents a pound.

Try figuring out the meaning of that dream Freud...

Somehow, my Call of Duty 4 may be mixing with my weekly Grocery Shopping trip.

I filled up on gas this weekend, cost me $49.33. My monthly subway pass in New York was 76 bucks! I'll probably have to fill up at least every two weeks. sigh.

Greetings from Santa's Elf

2007-12-11T11:35:00.000-05:00

The new job is going well, once again, commuting to work via car. The whole time in New York was almost surreal, almost like I studied abroad for a bit, and now I'm back to work.

I like what I'm doing on a day-to-day basis, I really like the hours, and the benefits that'll be kicking in can't be beat. It's funny, I'd get home around 8/8:30 if I left straight from work in New York. Now the commute is 15-20 minutes, so now I've got all this extra time I don't know what to do with it. I'll put it towards some of these new projects I've been percolating for months.

Conor came up on Sunday to talk about some things, Luke yesterday, and Thursday I'm meeting with Brandin. All my various collaborators, its good seeing all of them. The gears are grinding. I'm just waiting for things to settle and slowly start feeling normal again.

I got a car, it was a painful few weeks, but, I'm officially driving again, like I said before, it's like I was on an extended trip and now I'm back.

And yes, you can find me at the Santa Claus photo booth on the weekends (it wouldn't be the Holiday season if I wasn't there).

productive days off

2007-11-15T18:20:00.000-05:00

so, I'm getting set back up here in Watertown!

I'm looking at some "lost" episodes of hello the podcast, things I'd shot just before moving to New York. I'm gonna be cutting those and posting them, continuing Season 3 almost 9 months after it was "announced."

Also, redesigned the arabian productions website. Feel free to check it out!

exciting exciting!

2007-11-04T22:33:00.001-05:00

So, I've made the decision to take the job offer in Massachusetts. It was a really amazing almost 8 months here in New York, I definitely would have liked to stay for much longer then that, but, alas, I've got to follow the opportunities life lays before me.

I learned a lot about myself living in New York, it may sound silly, but in a pretty short amount of time, I've grown, though I'm still seeking a direction, this whole moving back thing has me extremely motivated to create some projects. I'm not sure what it was about New York, though, I was inspired by a lot of things. However, I couldn't bring myself to doing any projects down here. It's a tiring life down here, the hours are long, and I feel like I spend two hours of my day in a train. The 20 minute commute to work in MA is welcomed.

I've now got THREE new internet based projects I'm developing. Two of them will start production almost immediately. I'm moving mid/late next week. Got a lot to do to readjust to life back in Watertown. But, strangely, I'm looking forward to it.

Happy Halloween/I am Groucho

2007-10-31T17:42:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween!

The last time I wanted to be Groucho Marx, I had been Groucho Marx at the "Falconfest" parade, and my "date," said it woulda been lame to be Groucho again. And I was suckered into a joint costume as a vampire.

Last time I ever agreed to a theme costume with a date. That was a low point in my history of Halloween. I felt like one of those weirdo couples that both wear red sweaters to a Christmas party.

This year, vindication, I am Groucho, and I'm marching in the New York City Halloween Parade!

Anxious Choices

2007-10-28T23:14:00.000-04:00

It seems like the past few years, there have been many choices laid in my path, and most time, I have no idea which path is the right one.

In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if there is a right choice.

This weekend was interesting, halloween parties, late night trips to the airport, Halo 3 with Gregg, drinks in Astoria, crazy biker dudes coming to my door and threatening me (in the end I think he was mistaken), the Red Sox, and Leopard.

Will tomorrow be just a day, like all the rest?

Humidity? 85º in October?

2007-10-09T10:44:00.000-04:00

It's been a bit ridiculous the last few days as far as the Weather goes. It's so humid out it's driving me nuts. I've had to sleep with the AC on two days in a row just because its so unbearable in the apartment.

I had a great weekend. Met up with some old co-workers on Friday night, my buddy Phil and his fiancée Steph came down on Saturday and spent the night.

This upcoming weekend, I'll be heading up to Boston for a few nights. Just to relax and recharge. It'll be nice to see Jeff & Razmig, and some other folks if I have time.

I saw "The Assassination of Jesse James by Coward Robert Ford" this weekend, probably one of the most convincing period films I've seen a great while. The cinematography was amazing, and Casey Affleck was excellent. Highly recommend it.

creatively antsy

2007-10-03T22:53:00.000-04:00

I'm definitely feeling an itch to do something creative. I think I've been in the city long enough now that I feel adjusted enough to start working on creating some new content. Perhaps starting up Hello the Podcast now, but of course, gotta find some new talent/stars for the show!

I'm looking to write a feature too, just working the amount of hours I do tends to wear down on me. So it's finding that balance of obsessing over one's own work, while still giving 110% at the office that I'm working on now.

In 2004, at this New Age store in Encinitas, I picked up this book on meditation. It's been collecting dust on the bookshelf until yesterday. I started going through the lessons, I mean, my mind is going in a million different directions, perhaps this'll help bring some focus and direction to my thoughts! It works for David Lynch, sorta, Inland Empire was a little out there.

Oktoberfest

2007-09-29T15:08:00.000-04:00

Happy Oktoberfest!

I'll be heading over to wonderful Bohemian Hall in celebration of the Harvest season. I wish I had lederhosen to really be in the spirit, but I honestly have no clue where you'd buy a pair.

iPhone update came out this week, the browser seems to be running much faster, but other then that, I'm a bit disappointed in the lack of iChat and MMS. But, I predict some more updates to the phone with the release of leopard, and all the controversy over its continued lack of support for 3rd party applications.

Halo 3 came out this week, so the constant frustration of losing to 10-year olds is back. The game itself is all right, there is a lot of hype around it. It's a good game, but I'm not blown away by it by any means.

So I'm gonna play some Halo 3, and be ready to have some fun at Oktoberfest!

dang tape backups

2007-09-22T15:07:00.001-04:00

Went into the office today to do some work, I'm a bit frustrated at this current challenge, this Netvault software isn't recognizing our hardware. Getting all these systems up and going during the week is tough, just because we can't have any down time on the servers during the week. So here I am on a weekend, but, I feel my efforts are going to come up empty handed once again, as I'm in major need of tech support. So unfortunately, it'll have to wait till Monday!

let it happen

2007-09-20T00:15:00.000-04:00

"Talk, talking a lot, but it's still talk
Gotta love how it's somehow all on me
All the petty scenes
And all the pretty things
Say whatever you want
'Cause I can laugh it off.
I can laugh it off."

I seriously can't wait for this album to come out.
chase this light october 16th

hello september, my old friend

2007-09-16T22:57:00.000-04:00

I celebrated my 24th birthday this past week, my boss was gracious enough to take me out! It was a nice small little get together with some people from work and some old friends who live in the city. I have a year before I've lived a quarter century, so a year before I start to have another life-crisis of sorts.

My parents were here for my birthday since Wednesday, they did some site seeing, we spent some time together, had dinner, and they helped me finally set me apartment up to something that resembles a home. Now its beginning to look a little inhabited rather then a room with a bed and desk. The lava lamp is going, that's how you know I've set up shop.

This weekend also marks my fifth month here in New York City. It's a bit unbelievable how fast things move, but here I am. I absolutely love the weather of the past few days, I'd like to actually have a fall this year, okay mother nature?

I need a haircut. Bad.

traffic sucks

2007-08-31T18:23:00.000-04:00

so, I guess I can't completely blame this on the MBTA, it was half the MBTAs fault.

I was in Brookline helping Lacey set up her room (she just moved up from New York), and was on my way back to Watertown. I literally waited 40 minutes for the bus to come from the stop before mine to mine, in the span of this 40 minutes. Two other buses drove right by our stop, one was half full, and the other out of service. When the bus FINALLY came, it was full to the brim. Then, it braked every three feet because of the traffic.

To top it all off, I forgot my iPod headphones at home.

It took me, TWO hours to get from Brookline to Watertown, thats HALF the time it took me to come from New York to Boston on Wednesday night.

Lacey was just saying she feels bad because she keeps comparing Boston to New York, and I hate to say it, but the whole time this was all happening, I couldn't help compare it to New York. Any deficiencies I thought the New York Transit system were totally put into perspective by my little travel experience this afternoon.

/endrant

your new aesthetic

2007-08-31T09:42:00.000-04:00

For your time its written out.
Work means nothing by itself.
These days are numbered, I can tell.
Until the crash I'll write you down.
Selection kills the old.
Selection breathes on its own.
Sing while you can.
Now, while you can.

Watertown

2007-08-30T01:11:00.001-04:00

It's nice to be home for a few days.

October in August

2007-08-21T22:45:00.000-04:00

It's crazy out, it was literally like October out there today. But strangely enough, I liked it, I've been craving that for some reason. I love the Fall, and I'm oddly enough looking forward to the Winter. Though ask me again, I highly doubt by February I'll be feeling the same way seeing as though I have to walk every where, but, I'll have to invest in some warm winter clothes and boots, then all will be well.

Also, I came to the conclusion today that Golf Umbrella's are the Pedestrian version of obnoxiously large SUVs. A) Because their unnecessarily huge, B) The people who use them tend to be obnoxious and oblivious of their size (This is a gross generalization, as not all SUV drivers are obnoxious). Like seriously, I got hit in the face a dozen times today, totally uncalled for people.

I picked up Bioshock today, I've been playing it for almost 2 hours, though linear in gameplay, its very very fun. It'll hold me over till Halo 3 comes out...I think....I haven't bought a new game in months, and I was craving some sort of relaxing distraction. So thank you 2k Games for this well built FPS.

carry you

2007-08-17T00:21:00.000-04:00

check out a live bootleg from Jimmy Eat World's recent show in Mesa, AZ!

http://www.fishyrecordings.com/jimmyeatworld/2007.08.03_-_Mesa,_AZ/

"Carry you" rocks, if you download just one song get that, I can't wait till Chase this Light comes out October 16th!!!!!!

"I could never be the one that you want
Don't ask
Well heres to living in the moment
Because it passed"

Do unto others

2007-08-16T01:54:00.000-04:00

as you would have them do unto you, a wise man said once. I tell ya, he was onto something.

The weekend was really fun, Friday night, hung out with Dan, Andy, and Lacey, went out, it was all good! Saturday, Andy and I met up in the park, walked around, then came back and went to the Beer Garden in Astoria. Dynamite place! And I ended the weekend by seeing Ted Leo, The Thermals, and Birds of Avalon by myself at the Mccarren Pool.

Monday, Diggnation Party, which was a lot less nerdier then you might thing (actually, probably not), but it was definitely worth while because I met quite a few coders/engineers, who knows, those are good people to know!

Tuesday night, brought an amazing surprise, I fell into two Yankees tickets, box seats, two seats behind the Orioles bullpen. I went with Lacey, and had an amazing time, I mean, Yankees lost (not that it matters right, I am from Boston!) but it was still REALLY fun, and I needed a night like that.

I saw Tania this evening at her last night of The Tempest, which was ironically the second time I've seen her in that play (first time we were in High School, she was at the Wheelock Theater, Jeff and I saw her), they did a really great job. Ended the night seeing Reggae with Cassandra.

It's weird, I went through this phase of not doing anything, now everday since last Friday I've been doing stuff! You move in an out of being social I guess, spurts.

However, my netflix still sits unwatched...poor netflix.

Anyways, to go back to what I started the post with, I've been seeing a lot of stuff going on, and I'd rather not go into details, but, I was brought up to treat people the way I'd like to be treated. I think the reason they say to treat people the way you'd like to be treated is because if you don't, they end up treating you the way you treat them, and in the end, you've just got one really long sentence with the word "treat," in it sixteen times. So, be excellent to each other.

And party on dudes.

Gotta Love the MTA

2007-08-08T16:09:00.000-04:00

So the last two days at work, I've needed to be in the office to open up since Patty was going to be out, and two days in a row, the N train got stuck at the same stop (36 Ave) in Astoria.

The best part about living on the Last Stop off the N is the fact that no matter what day it is, I've never had to stand on the subway on my way into work. Ever. There's always a seat. So, getting stuck on the train for 30 minutes yesterday, and almost 90 minutes today because of apparent tunnel flooding and the impending apocalypse could have been worse, I could have been standing.

Got this cool Matrox MXO box at work that enables us to record full motion video from a computer. It'll make recording on screen demonstrations a lot easier, however, the way we're set up, we'll need to rent a deck to record in HD. Which I'd rather be doing...

I hope the MTA got its act together for the ride home, I fear the winter.

Superbad = Superawesome

2007-08-02T13:45:00.000-04:00

Joel, a buddy of mine who I met through The Departed, took me to see a Preview/Press screening of Superbad, which has been a film I've wanted to see for a few months now. I'm happy to say I loved the movie, Judd Apatow's movies (whether he produced them or directed them), always have an endearing quality, which was definitely felt through out, despite its slapstick antics. I highly recommend Superbad.

This weekend was a lot of fun, I went out to Rockaway Beach with Gregg, Andy, Regina, and her friend Meaghan. I haven't been to a beach all summer, and I'm not really taking a vacation this year. I completely unplugged, leaving my cell phone at home, and taking the ride out there. The weather was amazing, the water was warm, and the waves were excellent. Very glad I made that trek. I've been working a lot, both at Howcast and outside of Howcast. A lot of my time for my own personal projects (itsmyremote.com, Hello the Podcast, etc) has been sacrificed to just as I kinda get used to my new life down here in NYC.

This week is looking good, friends coming back into the city, Beastie Boys Concert, and steak on the menu tonight.

Life is good.

can you still feel the butterflies?

2007-07-19T00:05:00.000-04:00

can you still hear the last goodnight?

Astoria

2007-07-06T17:48:00.000-04:00

I haven't been home in a few weeks, since Ben & Ashlie's wedding. There's just so much going on down here, that I can't seem to get away from it. Astoria is finally feeling like home, I still need some more furnishings in the place other then an AC, a bed, and a desk, but, all-in-all it feels like home.

The best proof of Astoria being my new home is that I actually find myself getting offended when people make fun of it. Yeah, its a little out of the way, but so is Brooklyn, but for some reason Astoria has a bad rep. A girl the other day said to me, Astoria? Why live in New York? I was seriously offended by that! Maybe I like having something bigger then a closet thats under a 1,000 bucks, whereas, your place is 1500, and smaller. People are silly. So, in short, Astoria is home.

This week/weekend wasn't bad, I definitely am a little burnt out. The office was closed M-W but I came in and worked on stuff. I am thinking a break somewhere down the road will be much needed.

The iPhone is taking the world by storm, I've been playing with them quite a bit, and I must say, I am a big fan. It just feels like a very solid, very nice device, with quite a bit of room to grow (Flash support anyone?).

So in short, good week! Good month! Good times!

do you remember when?

2007-06-22T09:50:00.000-04:00

Work. Work. Work. New York City. Long Hours. Long Days. Little Sleep.

They call it the city that never sleeps because you work crazy hours, that by the time you need to go to bed, you have to wake up to go to work the next morning. But, I wouldn't have it any other day, I don't think I've worked so much in my entire life, but I gotta admit, I love it.

The place in Astoria is great, the area is much like Watertown in that its a fairly cultural neighborhood (mostly Greek). My local grocery store is 24 hours, and sells Lahmajun, which is pretty much all I need to survive.

Commuting to work takes around 30-40 minutes, the most painful part being the 15 minute walk to the subway, but, that only sucks at the end of the day when you're exhausted (ask me again in the winter).

The apartment itself is coming along now that I've got all my stuff down here. On one of my next trips up I'm going to start bringing down some posters, pictures, etc. Just to decorate the place.

This weekend is gonna be fun, Tony is coming down with his friends band and spending the night Saturday.

A friend of mine, Joe, from work separated from his girlfriend last weekend, and drove home to Alabama. I offered a place at my house for him to crash until he got back up on his feet. I just hope someone would do that for me if I needed it!

anyways, thats whats going on!

Hello Astoria

2007-06-01T08:57:00.000-04:00

So I've moved from lovely Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn to Astoria in Queens! I left my older, strange roommate behind for a great studio in the upper Ditmars.

The area is extremely suburban, and, not far from an excellent 24-hour grocery store. Which, I must say I'm a very big fan of. I went late last night to pick up a few things, to my surprise, there was some good ol' syrian bread, definitely missed that.

light pollution

2007-05-22T19:56:00.001-04:00

Things are going pretty well here in New York City, I'm really enjoying my job, though I've definitely got a variety of job descriptions, which, I don't mind whatsoever! I enjoy the responsibility!

I've been handling much of the video tech stuff while we've been shooting, as well as coordinating IT stuff within the office. As well as other more producing/coordinating aspects of the office. Stuff I can't really discuss in full detail, but it all has me very excited.

As soon as my home life becomes a bit more stable, I'm planning a brand new podcast to launch very soon. I'm hoping to get that going by July, it's something that I haven't seen before, that I'm extremely excited about. So, keep your eyes out for that one, I'll throw up some sort of teaser as soon as I've worked out a title.

New York City.

2007-04-22T23:34:00.000-04:00

It's officially been a week since I moved to New York City, and thanks to Gregg, I had a roof over my head before I found a place to live. I'm living in Brooklyn, on the border of Bed-Stuy and Clinton Hill. The Neighborhood is predominantly made up of brown stones, and is a short 25-30 minute train ride to work.

My first week of work went extremely well, it consisted of auditions and test shoots in preparation for the shoots that will be begin May 15th. Work day lasts till 6:30 or 7. I'm certainly going to have to get into the groove of things as far as making myself food. I went out to eat all but one night last week, which, is not a good idea!

My apartment is nice, its on the ground floor, windows to the street, very bright, clean, and new. Gregg showed a lot of things to me, and I'm slowly getting an understanding of the layout of the neighborhood.

There are a lot of adjustments to be made here, everything from where I get my groceries, to living with a roommate. I've never been one whose easily adjustable, I'd have trouble going to a different Shaws back in Watertown. But, I suppose I've made the adjustment well. The thing is, a change like this was a necessity, I needed to stir things up in my life, and start moving in the direction that I've wanted to for a long time. This is the beginning of a new chapter of my life, and I honestly feel like I've finally begun my true post-graduate life after college.

I <3 NYC

Destination: Manhattan

2007-04-05T09:21:00.000-04:00

In an effort to continue to grow as a person, I've finally set things in motion for a huge life change. In less then two weeks, I'll be moving to New York City for a new job.

A move like this has been inevitable, the question always was when, and where. I went back and forth between Los Angeles and New York, and my motto was, I'll go where I'm able to find an opportunity.

I'll write more about what I'll be doing down there, but right now, I just wanted to announce where I'd be going, and when. I start work April 16th, and unfortunately, there won't be any break between my work at Extech and my new job. No sense slowly getting into the pool, might as well dive right in!

I'll miss my coworkers from the job here. I'll miss my parents, Razmig, Chrissy, Jeff, and my other friends. But I'm fortunate that I'm only a four hour bus ride from home. And of course, I've got friends down in NYC that'll obviously help my transition.

more to come later!

do you?

2007-04-03T09:16:00.001-04:00

Spinning and spinning.
Dancing in plastic, shake-up snow.
Do you believe in what you want?

thursday afternoon reflection...

2007-03-29T15:11:00.000-04:00

Do you think that somewhere in the world, fish catch humans and keep them in a human tank?

Excellent Quote

2007-03-27T09:10:00.000-04:00

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
-- Theodore Roosevelt

easter bunny

2007-03-26T12:15:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again, the Easter Bunny descends onto the Watertown Mall. I've been working for the Mall for quite a long time in these seasonal photographer positions. It's [sort of] a fun time, and it doesn't quite feel right if I'm not doing it. So that's what went on this weekend.

I'm making a lot of big decisions lately, one of which is the decision to shift my focus from Hello into a new endeavor, using a lot of what I learned on that project in this new pursuit. Through Hello I learned much about the viral nature of online video, the power of social websites like myspace, digg, and facebook. I also learned how involved an audience can get into an experiment like hello. Hello will still exist, as a way to take some of the storylines that don't work in this new show, hello will transition to almost a strange story based sketch show. Not sure yet, as you can see, the kinks are still being worked out.

In other news, my R6:Vegas addiction remains, and my Flash cart for the DS rules.

Hope you enjoyed this update as much as I enjoyed writing it...

quotes

2007-03-17T00:11:00.000-04:00

"will tomorrow be just a day, like all the rest?"

"times they are a-changin'"

"If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life."

"Having dreams is what makes life tolerable."

Random, two from songs, two from movies, I just felt like posting a few poignant quotes before heading to bed. If you can name what their from, leave a comment! No prize on this one, but hey, it's a challenege. Albeit, not sudoku, but, that could be next weeks puzzler.

goodnight!

Best Picture: The Departed

2007-02-26T08:03:00.000-05:00

Just as it was an amazing experience to work on The Departed, it was equally an amazing experience watching them win. I never miss the Academy Awards, people make fun of me because its a lot like my "superbowl." But this was the first time that when the winners thanked people, I actually knew personally who they were talking about. To echo what I wrote on my definitive Departed post back in September of 2005, it was an amazing learning experience, and I was so grateful to be a part of it.

Happy Valentines Day/The Omelette Wrapped

2007-02-14T22:26:00.000-05:00

So I finally have finished "The Omelette," the little short I made for submission. Who knows if anything will come of it, but I know I would have regretted not sending anything in. It was fun to make the Omelette, for a lot of reasons. I got to work with the old' crew from school, and it was something other then Hello the Podcast.

I've been lax bringing Hello back from hiatus, just because I've been so focused on The Omelette. I've never worked longer on something so short before, but everything on it looks so polished. Gregg did an amazing job on Sound as usual, Andy's title cards rock, it's just a well put together package.

I'm gonna start Hello up again this weekend, I've got to write the scripts tomorrow night. I helped Razmig with his new video, which Gregg is doing sound work on. That'll be up before the weekend as well. So its been a pretty busy week! Plus this snow is pretty out of control, I hate snow, especially icy frozen snow.

ugh

2007-02-08T09:23:00.000-05:00

Dear Streptococcus pyogenes,

I hate you.

Sincerely,

Vatche's throat.

Goodbye Sky Harbor Again!

2007-01-14T13:08:00.000-05:00

I'm on my way back from Los Angeles, and I'm at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, my second time here on this trip.

Just a funny observation....

vatchearabian.com/Happy 2nd week of the New Year

2007-01-08T23:34:00.000-05:00

I realized just recently, despite all these domain names I owned, the one site I didn't have was vatchearabian.com, so I registered it. Then I realized, I didn't really have anything to link it to. So I linked it to my blogger account. I don't really write much, but there's a lot of crazy things going on, most of which I'm not ready to talk about.

So, when you take the fact that I can't talk about anything out, that leaves me with absolutely nothing to talk about! I've got one pre-shot episode of Hello the Podcast left to cut, after that, we're going on a mid-season-hiatus. Give me some time to figure out new episodes, and maybe shoot something else. Who knows! I bought a convertor for my camera that gives me some XLR inputs on that TRV-950 of mine. Worthwhile investment, considering I won't be buying a camera for a little bit now, still got my new used car to pay off.

All-in-all things are good, holidays, anniversary, and new years came and went, and its a new year, 2007! I feel pretty good, and I smell some fun changes in the air! New Challenges, New beginnings!

Enough of that, I'm going to go play some xbox...

Guess whose comin' to town?

2006-12-21T08:11:00.000-05:00

Things I've noticed in the last two weeks:

-More People at the Mall (this is like saying birds fly, and better analogy can be submitted via the comment link below this post)
-Horrible Driving (Yesterday is particularly of note)
-Higher personal stress level
-No money

I attribute all of the above to the further the proof that this is indeed the month of December, as well as the Holiday season.

I'm still doing the weekends at the Santa booth, mostly because it doesn't quite feel like Christmas if I'm not working at the Santa Claus Stand at the Watertown Mall. Feel free to come by to find me 10-2 and 3-7 on Saturday, 10-2 3-5 on Sunday.

I saw Inland Empire, not sure how to feel about the film, other then I don't think I liked it, although maybe I did. Like the film, that is up to your own interpretation.

i love my 360

2006-12-10T23:37:00.000-05:00

Just thought I'd do a nice lil' update of the ol' blog here!

Lot's of exciting things going on right now, between itsmyremote.com and the podcast, things are quite busy. I just did a recut for Conor of Kreating Karloff, and I'm going to be doing another one so he can start shopping it around for distribution. I'm working on some other stuff with Conor as well, but can't really talk about that.

I picked up an Xbox 360 back in August and have only in the last two months really begun to use it to the point of addiction. I'm fairly good though, I finish everything else I have to do before picking up that controller. I'm addicted to Oblivion and Call of Duty 2, constantly playing that on Xbox Live.

I also have picked up the PSP again, while camping out for a PS3, I got Medal of Honor: Heroes. Now its not as good as console versions, but its actually pretty decent for a handheld game. Not to mention the full featured online play, 32 players! It makes for a very enjoyable lunch break.

Also, the EyeTV thing I bought for my mac on tax free day, one of the best purchases ever. Now I'm not stuck to a weekly TV watching schedule, its like a Tivo, I start watching it 10 minutes in, skip the commercial, life is good. And if I miss it, boom, encode to iPod or burn to DVD, and done! It's great!

So all in all things are good!

goodbye sky harbor

2006-11-08T23:53:00.000-05:00

"Is tomorrow just a day like all the rest."
How could you know just what you did?
So full of faith yet so full of doubt I ask.
Time and time again you said don't be afraid.
"If you believe you can do it."
The only voice I want to hear is yours.
And again.
I shall ask you this once again.
And again.
He said:
" I am but one small instrument."
Do you remember that?
So here I am above palm trees so straight and tall.
You are smaller, getting smaller.
But I still see you.

Jimmy Eat World
"Goodbye Sky Harbor"
Clarity

itsmyremote.com

2006-10-06T07:39:00.000-04:00

for the past year, as many of you who follow my work know, I've been performing an experiment in IPTV (internet protocol television), so far, things have been going well. The way things are developing, it is clear that the current model of home entertainment is going to stay the same for very long. Everything is turning into on-demand content via broadband.

The biggest problem with IPTV is current US bandwith speeds, unlike most of the world, we are still limited as far as download speed goes. But this is rapidly changing, Verizon is attempting to bring fiber to the curb, albeit slowly. But this is currently of little importance, as my own model with itsmyremote.com is "build-it and they will come."

itsmyremote.com is a site that is somewhere in the middle of youtube.com and a television network. It will be a site that will host various podcasts, most of which will be on a weekly release schedule. With a blog like front page presenting the latest updated podcasts, people can tune in and download our latest original content.

Not all the content will be produced by Arabian Productions or Palfrey Hill Pictures, we are going to scout talent, and bring them into the itsmyremote.com catalog. Eventually expanding to host a wide variety of FREE, sponsor-based content.

itsmyremote.com will be launching October 12th with around four to five shows, including, "hello the podcast," a new action-horror podcast by John Macdonnell, an audio/video podcast by Phil Healy, a video podcast by Rob Liscombe, and maybe even more!

It is an exciting time, and we are just hanging on the wave! The blog for itsmyremote.com will be at itsmyremote.blogger.com, and the site itself will be at http://www.itsmyremote.com

Kreating Karloff

2006-08-04T17:13:00.000-04:00

I'm comin' 'round the bend with "Kreating Karloff," I'd love another month but I just don't have it! It's been quite the process taking twelve hours of interviews/b-roll and cut together a coherent interesting story. So much is on the floor but you can't have an attachment to anything, because the only thing that is important is the flow of the story.

I mean obviously it'd be great to include some stuff, and I have no doubt in my mind some of the people involved are going to be bummed, but there was so much to cram into under an hour that there was really no choice in what I did.

I'm cutting together the Karloff biography this weekend, and then adding the "sweeteners," cutaways and archival footage in the sections that require it, but I'm more or less on the last turn here.

Conor, whose brainchild this documentary was, is going to be coming down next week to take a look at the final cut and offer his input. Unfortunately, he has it screening at conventions starting the week of August 21st, offering little to no opportunity for revision, but I'm very confident in my work. There is never enough time to do everything that needs to be done, but thats just how it works!

After Kreating Karloff is over, my idle mind will shift to the second season of Hello the Podcast, where many many changes are going to take place.

scientology

2006-06-26T01:32:00.000-04:00

Scientology...the choice is yours

One more week

2006-06-19T15:04:00.000-04:00

Only one more week before Chrissy is back from her month in Italy, its been quite a while.

I realize I hadn't updated this thing in months, thought I might write something, but its funny, I can't think of anything I want to write. I'm really excited about the Summer, no matter how how or uncomfortably humid it is, I've always had more of a problem with the winter then the summer. What's easier, getting warm or getting cold?

Well, I'm alive. Watch hello simon (www.hellosimon.com)...thats really it.

Interesting Article to say the least...

2006-04-02T23:19:00.000-04:00

The Cihan News Agency of Istanbul covered a story this weekend about a crowd that gathered to argue against allegations of the Armenian Genocide with the "intention of remembering the mass killings of Azerbaijanis in Karabagh."

Clearly there is a large story here dealing with Azerbaijan, Armenia, and a piece of land known as Nagorno-Karabagh. The hostility dates back to times of the Soviet Union, where borders were drawn as the USSR saw fit. When the USSR fell, this piece of land immediately became a war zone, currently, Karabagh is an unrecognized independent nation, with clear close ties to Armenia, since most of its population is (and historically has been) Armenian.

In this article, it reports that the crowds chanted "Karabagh will belong to the Turks, and it will be a graveyard for the Armenians."

Hold on a minute...

If you are:
A) Condeming an alleged Azeri Genocide perpetrated by the Armenians....
B) Condeming the recognition of an Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Turks...

Then how does your situation look when you condemn the entire Armenian population of Karabagh to their deaths? Coincidentally, that sounds like another Genocide in itself.

I wrote a paper discussing the Nagorno-Karabagh Conflict a few years ago, and if you are interested in learning more about the subject, let me know and I'll provide you the information. But, I just felt mentioning this humorous observation.

Longbaugh Film Festival

2006-03-17T12:41:00.000-05:00

Booth is screening at the Longbaugh Film Festival in Portland, OR thanks to Film Baby.com. Its sorta funny because we've never really sold anything off of Film Baby, Conor submitted it just so it be out there. Film Baby has a featured showcase at the festival, and out of no where, they selected our film out of all the short films on Film Baby.com to screen before their feature length screening.

Either way, I'm psyched and I want to go out there.

Longbaugh Film Festival

Quite a Long Time

2006-01-28T16:01:00.000-05:00

It has been quite a long time since my last "blog," much has happened since then. The Holiday's came and went, and I got a full time job, working in Marketing. It's not bad, its fun, and it pays the bills.

The Departed I hear is half way along, and "Stiffs," is the latest feature in town, starring Danny Aiello and apparently shooting many scenes in Watertown, though the film takes place in the North End.

I'm working on some big things with Conor Timmis, nothing that I can talk about openly, as the subject is quite confidential, but I assure you, it will be awesome.

Three Intolerances, a short I shot a few months ago will be done in a month or so.

Other then that, Chrissy and I are great! The job is great! Besides the cold, life is good.

Zyzzyx Road

2005-11-29T20:40:00.000-05:00

I preface this criticism of Hollywood with a short background. The year was 1998, and we were on the annual Arabian family vacation. This particular trip brought us to Southern California, for the first time since I’d been in the second grade. It was a spectacular vacation, we were out west for almost an entire month, we visited my uncle, spent sometime down in San Diego, and, for the first time, made the trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

On our way to Las Vegas, which I will say is quite a boring drive through an empty desert, we saw many interesting sights. Joshua Trees, dirt, rocks, and a lone exit for a road, Zyzzyx Road, disbelievers, I urge you to Google this road, it does indeed exist. As a fourteen year old, I found this to be one of the funniest things I’d ever seen. Can you imagine being the fellow who named this road? He sat there and thought, this will get people to buy my land, if I called it “Zyzzyx Road.”

Where could I possibly be going with this story? I just received my copy of the American Film Market Guide from the Hollywood Reporter, about a month late. I won’t use this forum to complain about their unreliability in receiving their magazine on time, or in one piece, though this may be the fault of the ever reliable United States Postal Service, rain, snow, or shine, I’ll still find a puddle to put your mail in on your front porch.

The American Film Market is a trade show of sorts that brings buyers from around the world, purchasing international distribution rights for films as notable as Soderbergh’s new low-budget outing “Bubble,” and as unknown as the new Tom Sizemore vehicle, Zyzzyx Road, any thriller with a title as great as that, and a tagline like “Dead Ahead,” gets me out of my seat.

As I saw the advertisement for this film, available from Regent Entertainment, I thought to myself, where does an idea like this come from. It was followed by a short bout of depression, why didn’t I have this amazing idea? I looked disapprovingly in the mirror, and the magazine slid from my hands. I played out the scene in my head. I’m a down and out producer, living in LA, scrounging for a chance to prove that I’m the next David O. Selznick. I decide, I need to relax, I’m working too hard. So I hop in my 1987 Datsun (It’s a classic, ignore the rust), and I drive out for a weekend in Vegas. Who knows, maybe that’s where my success story could come from, I take my last few hundreds from under my mattress (Who needs a bank, I sleep 13 hours out of every day so its safe under there) and I leave for Vegas. I’m driving along the empty free way, my mind filled with idle thought, what was the name of the movie with Cher and Bob Hoskins, oh yes, Mermaids, that was a cute movie, wasn’t it? Why is it called Mermaids, were there Mermaids in it? I can’t remember.

I’m speeding along, I’ve got the Psycho soundtrack playing in my tape deck, I’m pretending I’m Janet Leigh, running away having just stolen money from my boss. I look in the review mirror and I realize I’m not blonde, I’m not even a woman. What if I was supposed to be born a woman? Suddenly, the world starts moving in slow motion, and not because of my sudden doubts of my sexuality. A green exit sign is coming towards me, it reads, Zyzzyx Road, next exit. I pull off to the side of the road, a green Jetta beeps their horn angrily, but I don’t care. I’m having an epiphany here!

There is a story on Zyzzyx Road, a story that will haunt my dreams until I can find the right screenwriter, the right director, the right star! Here in the middle of nowhere, there is death on Zyzzyx Road, a story that must make it to the big screen. This is the greatest idea I’ve ever had. I scribble furiously in my Moleskin® notebook. I need a star for this picture…who else but Tom Sizemore, he’s hot now right?

And so it goes, the life of a Hollywood B-movie producer may or may not be something like that, I don’t know, I don’t live in LA, and I certainly had nothing to do with the production of Zyzzyx Road. Take my comments with a grain of salt, I can’t even tell you what this (possibly amazing) motion picture may or may not be about, but I can tell you one thing…it stars Tom Sizemore, and that in itself screams a little thing I like to call “good buzz.”

I’ll see you opening night, you think Tom Sizemore will be there? He can't have anything better to do.

Killing with Kindness

2005-11-16T20:32:00.000-05:00

As he removed the knife from her existential side, blood in the guise of kind words spurted up. The knife fell from his hand as he let out a sigh of relief. The nightmare that was the simple existance of this human in his life was over.

She haunted him, but not directly. She twirled above his aura, left behind long ago. A pointless effort, by a retarded spirit.

He never thought of her again. However, if they ever were to cross paths again, he won't remember the definition of kind words.

Problem with Google

2005-10-28T14:22:00.000-04:00

Between 2:15 and 2:20, for some reason I was unable to get to Gmail, anytime I'd try to go to www.gmail.com I'd be forwarded to the following address:

https://cwoo52:9970/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=mail&passive=true&rm=false&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2F%3Fui%3Dhtml%26zy%3Dl<mpl=wsad<mplcache=2

Which would then forward me to a google keyword search of cwoo52.

Now, what is even more peculiar, when you change the number after cwoo, it'll take you to random sites, I tried 25 and getting rid of the number completely. It forwards you to actual websites

What is going on? Anyone know? Find anything funny when you change the number? Why would this have come up?

Happy Halloween

2005-10-28T11:42:00.000-04:00

I enjoyed this.

Jimmy Eat World - Just Watch the Fireworks

2005-10-18T11:29:00.000-04:00

Here you can be anything.
I think that scares you.
I've been here before but only by myself.
What giving up gives you and where giving up takes you.
I've had and I've been.
Here in center frame, there's only air.
Just enough space to fit.
I said it out loud over and over but what do I know.
I said it out loud but it did not help.
I'll stop now.
Just so I can hear you I stay up as late as it takes, as long as it takes.
I promised I'd see it again.
I promised I'd see this with you now.

Syriana Trailer

2005-10-14T17:01:00.000-04:00

Does anyone else think this movie looks awesome?

Plastic Surgery Sign of Progress

2005-10-10T13:17:00.000-04:00

On NPR this morning I heard an interesting tidbit of news. Available now to the Middle Class in Iraq are the wonders of plastic surgery. Once a luxury only reserved for the Wealth of Iraq, once a dream for all those who dared to change what genetics gave them, a dream now realized as a reality.

The Plastic Surgeon they interviewed stated quite "matter-a-factly," that it was his feeling the plastic surgery is a sign of progress. Progress = Unhappiness with physical features now fully able to be altered.

What do you think?

Not Much to Say

2005-10-08T22:50:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Ashlie, thanks for having me up!

Thank you for Eggs and Bacon in the morning Chrissy Liscombe!

Thank you for all the rain Mother Nature, there is some sense of security in a cool rain shower, off-set with some hot tea.

Too bad Fall doesn't last long enough, meaning one thing, ice cold is right around the corner.

Paradise

2005-09-29T13:09:00.000-04:00

When God expelled Adam and Eve from paradise, guilt ridden, he hid the confines of Eden within the Mint Milano cookie.

Paradise is semi-sweet, minty fresh, and delightful.

Thank you, for the Milano Cookie.

Definitive: The Departed

2005-09-20T20:10:00.000-04:00

I just got back from my trip to New York City, it was a great weekend with some great times with New York's newest resident, Michael Conti. I wanted to take this opportunity to post an essay/journal entry on the last five months. With full intention, I avoided talking about any details regarding my work on The Departed, any day-to-day report would have cheapened such a special experience. I took the time to write essentially a summary of my last five months on the film.

__________________________

There is a time in everyone’s life where a series of events brings them to an epiphany. This realization soon causes an individual to set their life course, to decide on a final goal with no apprehension and move forth, until it is realized.

I spent the last five months on an internship I’d dreamt about for quite some time. I was introduced to Martin Scorsese’s films initially by 1999’s “Bringing Out the Dead” with Nicholas Cage, not the best way to introduce a legend, but a start. The reason I hadn’t seen any other films by Scorsese prior to this first viewing was unlike the other “brand-name” filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg and Alfred Hitchcock, Scorsese was much more real, much more violent, content appropriately censored for my young and impressionable eyes. Arriving at Fitchburg State College, I was urged by Ben Swicker to view more films by Scorsese, and screened “Goodfellas,” this was prior to Scorsese’s 2002 release of “Gangs of New York.” If Marty and his films were a disease, it was the latter that gave it to me.

Within “Gangs,” I found a filmmaker I could relate to on a completely different level. “Gangs of New York” was a labor of love for Martin Scorsese, having first announced the film in 1979, it wasn’t until the late 90s, the film would find its money. I had a few scripts at that point, one of them I knew would be on its way to that similar labor of love, the dream project, “Gangs” despite its alleged flaws (I however do not agree with supposed “flaws”) was a personal achievement for Scorsese, and officially began my obsession. From then on, it was an occasional daydream, to be working for his production company, to meet him, perhaps speak with him.

Fast forward to December 2004, I learn of the announcement that Martin Scorsese will be shooting his next film, “The Departed,” in Boston, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. There was something peculiar at work here. My favorite director was going to be coming to my hometown to shoot his next film, just when I needed to go on my internship to complete my degree requirements.

The next few months were spent pursuing this internship. Beginning with the hire of Boston’s production office coordinator in March, I was emailing Meg Jarrett every two weeks until April. May arrived, and I had run out of non-intrusive opportunities to “touch-base.” With no other options, I flew to Los Angeles to run down a few prospects.

In Los Angeles, if you are nobody, you really are nobody. In fact, an intern is even less then a nobody, you’re not even a stain on a wall. They don’t care about your background, you’re free expendable labor, especially in the positions I was seeking employment. In one last attempt, I gave Meg one last try. I heard back instantly, “Come on in next week.” It was as simple as that. I attended three meetings while out in Los Angeles, and was hired at all three. I was hired right after my interview with Meg, I couldn’t believe it. I called back my sites in California, and told them an opportunity had risen in Boston like no other.

I began the job prepared to never get an inch close to set, to never interact or talk to any of the folks that I’d admired now for so long. This changed quickly.

I became responsible for coordinating all things related to the editing space and screening room. I greeted and introduced Thelma Schoonmaker (Marty’s editor on every film since 1980) to the city surrounding her. I worked over at the editing space assisting Joel and Dan, the assistant editors, from things as trivial as running down to get coffee, to organizing script notes. All the while interacting and learning from Thelma. Thelma introduced me to her late-husbands work, Michael Powell, a tremendous influence to many filmmakers, especially Scorsese.

During all of this, I also became responsible in greeting and escorting Marty as he came to watch his dailies with Thelma. Though I never talked to Marty, I didn’t need to. There is nothing Martin Scorsese could tell me that I didn’t already know, he lays the pieces of the puzzle in his work. Who am I to stop his process so that he can trivially respond to a budding filmmaker like myself? Dan Hoffman, one of the assistant editors gave me one of the best pieces of advice on the job, “You don’t need to meet the man, just look at his work.” He’s absolutely right. From day one, I approached Marty as an equal. I was one less person he needed to take the time to politely listen. My job was to keep him happy and get him from point-a, to point-b.

I helped Joel out in changing the tapes in the projection booth, which also exposed me to what they were shooting on a day to day basis. There were three major things I learned in the screening room. I learned of the type of coverage Marty gets, how precise and technically masterful his cinematography is, and I learned how he covers everything he’s shot with a fine-toothed comb.

After going over-budget, and ten days past its finishing schedule, the wrap party took place in New York, a fancy Italian restaurant in SoHo. It had been at times a hellish shoot and the general consensus at this party was anywhere between happy and very happy (Marty looking the latter, I’d never seen him so calm). I looked around the room trying to think back and what and who I had learned from: Thelma, Joel, and Dan, Patty Willett the Boston production manager, and Martin Scorsese.

The night following the wrap party was the premiere of Martin Scorsese’s documentary on Bob Dylan, “No Direction Home.” I attended the premiere with Joel and Dan, and found myself again, looking around the room at the after-party. I saw Jim Jarmusch, standing by the bar. I worked my way over, not entirely sure what I was going to say to him, knowing it would have to do with another inspiration of mine, Samuel Fuller. I gathered the courage, and introduced myself, I shall now attempt to recreate our conversation.

“Hello there, my name is Vatche Arabian, I just wanted to introduce myself”
“Hello!”
“I wanted to thank you for all the work you did with Samuel Fuller, the man is tremendous inspiration to me.”
“He was a wonderful man.”
“I just finished school in Massachusetts.”
“A new filmmaker?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Good man, we need new blood.”
“Everyone moves to New York or Los Angeles, I don’t think that’s right for me though, I’m going to stay in Boston.”
“Remember in the film? Everyone was asking Dylan what and why, none of that shit matters, just make sure you do it for you. Fuck everyone else, and just do it.”
“Thank you. It was nice to meet you Jim.”
“What was your name again?”
“Vatche Arabian.”
“Good luck Vatche.”

The conversation with Jim Jarmusch essentially was a fitting end to a summer that had given me so much, his statement, affirmed a mantra I’d been using for years. To hear it from him though, strengthened it that much more.

With this momentum I’ve earned, I now move forward, to the next chapter of my life, I’ve got a scary few months ahead of me, but a pocketful of advice and inspiration to fuel me.

The Big 2-2

2005-09-11T15:25:00.000-04:00

I'm sitting here listening to Jimmy Eat World's CD "Clarity," a CD I've probably mentioned prior as being my all-time favorite album ever. I am ashamed to admit that I actually never owned the CD, and of course, Chrissy being the all-time best girlfriend, purchased it for my birthday.

It was a good birthday party, it turned into a mini-reunion among my friends, old and new! Nayad and Jeff came, and friends from school, Ben, Jason, Bri, Andy, Gregg, and Regina. We met at my house, then walked over to Not Your Average Joe's (which turned out to be much better then I thought it would be).

We hung out at my place for a bit, and then we called it a night. Thank you for everyone who came, and thank you Chrissy for being the best and coming up with the idea of getting everyone together.

Age is but a number?

2005-09-08T02:36:00.000-04:00

Random food for though, the oldest woman to have ever lived was Jean Calment, who died at the young age of 122.5, meaning she was born in 1875. Now follow me here in a brief list of things she witnessed:

-The creation and evolution of a new art form - film from no sound, to sound, to color.
-Horse and buggy to motor carriage to cars with air condition and cruise control.
-An idea that flying like a bird would be cool, crude WWI air planes, WWII fighter planes, jet engine, rocket engine, nuclear bomb - landing on the moon. Just think about how fast we were in space, FIFTY years, that in itself is mindboggling.

Imagine what we'll see in our lifetime, the only lame thing I can think of is Pong to Doom to Halo. Let's make this a discussion, what have YOU seen in our lifetime that you think people will look back and go, wow. I think a cure for AIDS/Cancer will be amazing.

John C. Devorack

2005-09-03T21:36:00.000-04:00

So within one week from listening to "This Week in Tech" Episode 20, I became victim of Blog Spam! I don't know why a robot would bother wasting their time on my Blog, only my Mom and girlfriend read it.

But Devorack (from TWiT) said to put in the whole "identify" you're a human security protection think where you've got to type in a series of random letters in order to post. I one upped him, no more anonymous posts either!

"I get no Spam!"
-John C. Devorack.

I love TWiT.

Furthermore...I believe Jeff Gonzalez should write about this phenomenon in his own blog, "Jeffrey's Tech Blog," since this is not really my chosen domain.

2005-09-03T20:15:00.000-04:00

Meet Groucho and Harpo, my Zebra Finches!

The Return!

2005-09-02T00:42:00.000-04:00

I have been vindicated from Best Buy, after all the troubles, which I failed to summarize in this blog (and don't care to talk about in detail), my computer was fixed, and I got a complimentary DVD and store credit, as well as an apology from the store and the corporate office.

So the lesson here, be careful, and don't take anything Best Buy says to heart, they don't always know what their talking about, and some even lie.

I hate liars. Especially ones that like about where your computer is at that very moment...in my case, when it was said to be at the service center, when actually, it was still in the backroom (for almost three weeks.)

Netflix and Friends

2005-08-29T11:16:00.000-04:00

I'm very happy with Netflix and I can't believe I lived so long without it. Every single movie I could ever want (almost) is on Netflix, and they have a fast turn around time. Blockbuster is a thing of the past, the market changed, and flew right by them.

I saw The Bicycle Thief this weekend finally and I loved it, there's a bunch of movies on Marty's documentary "My Voyage to Italy," that I'm dying to see, half you can't even find on DVD. The whole first half of the documentary they talk about all these films by Rossellini, one of them I really wanted to see, Paisan, but Netflix does not have it.

Chrissy Liscombe moved back to Fitchburg for Orientation this weekend. It is so weird not doing it for once. The whole timeline of things is messed up, you get used to School two semesters, then summer vacation. Now, I'm on track to work for the rest of my life.

Jason and Gregg are going on internship, Andy is moving to Brookline, and Ben is up in Fitchburgb. I've been trying to make it out to Ben and Ashlie but it has just been the craziest Summer ever.

Good times ahead.

The Departed and Best Buy

2005-08-18T12:57:00.000-04:00

My computer, a Toshiba Satellite laptop has been at the Best Buy service center (I'm assuming located in some unknown third-world country) for the last 3 weeks. The diagnosis was that my hard drive was sufferring from bad sectors, and it was losing data. Requiring the hard drive to be completely replaced, as well as the LCD for dead pixels. Seeing as though my Toshiba laptop already had the entire cover replaced due to lack of grounding, as well as the motherboard. There isn't much left on the computer left to replace, save for the keys.

Well, either way. My computer isn't ready yet, and I'm gonna lose it.

The Departed is going well, its very fun, Thelma is back and I've been back and forth between here and editorial!

This weekend: Movies with Razmig, Chrissy, and Jeff!

A little get together

2005-08-14T18:38:00.000-04:00

Chrissy, Mike, and Nayad came over yesterday for a little get together. We hung out, had some pizza and divine mozzarella sticks and had a marathon of my movies since High School. It was so weird watching stuff I hadn't watched in such a long time. Nayad was interviewed for A Look Through Our Eyes which she'd never seen before, so I was glad she finally got to watch it.

It was a good time, Chrissy got me some house warming presents! A towel dispenser, a little dishwashin soap thingie, and a really sweet picture of us!

Friday after work I went up to Framingham to meet Chrissy's grandmother who is up visiting from Florida. She was a very nice lady and I had a very good time!

The editors are back tomorrow, so I'm psyched about that, and the movie moves back completely on Tuesday. The future is still up in the air, but its slowly becoming a little bit clearer, for once.

OH! Arabian Productions.com is back up and running and better then ever, check it out! It's completely revamped, all new, with new content, and uniform design. http://www.arabianproductions.com

Coffee on Crotch

2005-08-04T11:34:00.000-04:00

It's 8:34AM and I just noticed I spilled coffee on my crotch. Now it looks like a nice pee stain.

Enough to ruin anyone's day? Perhaps.

Citizen's Here and Abroad - Appearances

2005-07-30T15:00:00.000-04:00

Where has honesty
Gotten me lately
Late into the night
A car alarm
I'm not putting on
A face for anyone
Late into the night
A car alarm

I'll get it right this time. It happens all of the time in California.
I'll get it off my mind. It happens all of the time in California.

And you'll go away just like you did yesterday.
But tomorrow I'll still call you home.

I'll get it right this time. It happens all of the time in California.
I'll get it off my mind. It happens all of the time in California.

Where has honesty
Gotten me lately
Late into the night
A car alarm
I'm not putting on
A face for anyone
Late into the night
A car alarm

http://www.citizenshereandabroad.com/

Hopefully this cd will come in the mail soon.

Movie Blog

2005-07-25T10:40:00.000-04:00

I don't know who really reads this blog, but FYI, I've created a movie blog, where I will review movies (new and old), http://vmovie.blogspot.com!

Movies and a funtime with CML

2005-07-24T23:22:00.000-04:00

After working at Extech yesterday I went to see The Island with Jeff and Razmig, I liked the flick.

CML and I went for some fun in Boston today given our canceled beach outing thanks to some raw sewage being dumped in the ocean. But the day was not lost! We went down to the Maparium at the Christian Science center, which if you've never been is quite neat, but I'm not sure if the price of admission (No conversion required, just $4 with your student ID) is quite worth it, but its definitely pretty cool. The echo in this glass map room is crazy!

Our next stop was Fanuel Hall, where we witnessed various jugglers mid-act, a crazy woman frozen (who kissed Chrissy's hand after I made her give the lady a quarter), and some other random things. I love whats become of the waterfront now that I-93 doesn't rush over head. We walked over and admired the North End.

Chrissy's 25 cents made it possible for me to fulfill a lifelong dream. To use the Public Toilet in front of the Boston Public Library. These fancy devices clean themselves! As soon as you exit, it fills with water like a dishwasher and gives everything a clean! It's amazing. 25 cents buys you 25 minutes in a nice futuristic bathroom, and with MOOD music. It is in my humble opinion that one of these works of art stand on every street corner in every major city across the globe. New York had them briefly, but they disappeared, I'm not quite sure why.

Good times Chrissy Liscombe, thanks (for the day, not just to witness me using the futuristic toilet)!!

2005-07-22T21:37:00.000-04:00

Chrissy and I.

Goodbye to "The Departed," hello the beach!

2005-07-17T22:25:00.000-04:00

The Departed has come and gone, and I'm sad to see it go, though I must admit I am looking forward to a little break from it. There are only so many 80 hour weeks you can take right? So the production office is open for another week as we wrap out, and then we're on a two week skeleton crew, which means I'm gonna help out at Extech during that downtime, and develop this new project I'll be shooting in a few weeks, and I'm gonna focus on submissions for Booth. The Departed will return in just four weeks.

I met up with Chrissy Liscombe yesterday after a real painful two hours at Extech fixing my messed up computer. We went on an adventure to Nahant Beach, we used to go to Revere/Nahant a lot when we were younger, we'd have a little picnic in Nahant and go swimming in the ocean, a little of that came back, simpler, funner times. We had fun though, we wrote in the sand, I splashed Chrissy pretty good, then she got us a Ninja Turtle Ice Cream bar, which I enjoyably ate off the sand since mine fell, I still got the gumball eyes though.

After we went to the Galleria Mall, had an appetizer at Cheesecake Factory (officially my favorite restuarant), and then I bought a present for my house, a new crazy digital coffee machine since our old one broke.

Then, I waved goodbye to Chrissy Liscombe, and fell asleep in my bed, sleeping in, officially, with nothing hanging over me. I woke up, nice and early, watched a movie, then played Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas till 5:45pm. Yes, I didn't move once, maybe once to take a shower and get water. I feel relaxed...chillaxed even. Now to finish my night, I pop in The Red Shoes by Michael Powell, then Family Guy, and that'll be the end of a great weekend.

A Rarity, a New Post!

2005-07-11T12:28:00.000-04:00

I loaded this up yesterday, in hopes that I'd actually get the opportunity to write something in it, but I wrote a sentence, then closed it. Instead, I found myself deeply involved in a game of Yahoo Pool with Chrissy Liscombe, scanning archival photos from the Michael Powell estate, and watching The Bourne Identity.

I had a good weekend. Saturday was finally my graduation party. We had it at the Chateau, a nice family Italian restaurant in Waltham. Everyone showed up, including Chrissy Liscombe! It was quite fun, I enjoyed my Chicken Parm.

Things are good at the Production Office, they wrap this leg in Boston by Friday. They move back to New York City for the next three weeks, and then are returning to wrap up here in Boston at the end of August.

MacWorld is this week, Jeff and I got our exhibition passes, so hopefully we'll be able to go down and get free things...I enjoy free things, like I need more clutter/junk in my room.

Summarize life.

2005-06-28T00:48:00.000-04:00

Let us see.

Alkaline Trio at the Avalon: Good, not amazing, but good. Thank you Jason.

East of Eden at the Brattle with Chrissy: A great film! Book better by far, but if I hadn't read the book, it is an amazing film. Good job Elia Kazan.

Ashes & Diamonds: Reccomended by Thelma Schoonmaker, a great polish film, containing a few shots that Martin Scorsese is definitely inspired by.

The Get Up Kids Last concert at the Palladium: I'm glad to see the Palladium remains in my opinion as the worst club in existance. But it was a great farewell show for The Get Up Kids, they shall be missed.

Six Month Anniversary with Chrissy - All around Boston Proper: Nothing beats spending a day with Chrissy Liscombe.

I havent updated because I've been working 12-15 hour days for The Departed, its pretty much all I do and I can't talk about it publically, so I don't have much to say. I hope the update holds you over.

Internship Update!

2005-06-16T07:01:00.000-04:00

Lotta amazing things are happening at my internship, but I'm afraid I can't talk about them! Let's just say things are going very well, and I'm extremely busy, I don't get home till 9:30 or 10pm.

So it begins...

2005-06-13T06:56:00.000-04:00

Today will be the craziest, most important day of my life. First impressions are the most important.

Chrissy Liscombe and Martin Scorsese

2005-06-08T22:56:00.000-04:00

I can't describe in words how much I truly love my internship, it is honestly one of the better things to happen to me. Everyone there is treating it like a job, I see it as much more, I see it as when I was in second grade, all I wanted to do, all I was consumed with was to work on movies. It's like 9-10 hours of play every day.

I'm too tired to post more! Chrissy is going to LA tomorrow and I shall miss her! But it is now her turn to call me 9pm PST (12 EST).

The Best Part of my Day

2005-06-06T16:36:00.000-04:00

One of the best parts of my daily life are the morning chocolate croissants from Au Bon Pan. Thank you Warner Brothers.

Cinderella Man

2005-06-05T20:42:00.000-04:00

Cinderella Man, the latest offerring from Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Avika Goldsman, and Russell Crowe is a cliched, yet inspiring story of James J. Braddock, depression era boxer. Honestly, this film has been made hundreds of times before, but this one is done so well that you can't shrug it off.

Both Crowe and Renee Zelwegger turn in top notch performances here, and as many critics have claimed, the first "Oscar-Worthy" performances of the season.

Howard himself compared this film to his previous Apollo 13, overcoming an extraoridinary challenge despite everyones fears. James J. Braddock lost everything in the depression, and as portrayed by the film, had one determination, to make well for his family. To take them out of poverty, to not give his kids away and potentially die penniless with his wife.

A performance I'm sure will go unnoticed (unfortunately) is that of Paul Giamatti, back in his typical co-starring role, rather then leading man, portrays Joe Gould, Braddock's manager. Giamatti has gone unnoticed far enough, with American Splendor and Sideways under his belt, he'll break through eventually.

Though I don't believe Cinderella Man will make two Oscar winning Boxer movies in a row, it is certainly a summer film worth viewing. Though projected to only make #4 in the box office its opening weekend, Braddock will prove triumphant, its a film that will appeal to the older demographic, and hold strong legs for the weeks to come.

2005-06-05T19:59:00.000-04:00

Chrissy Liscombe looking at me funny! Isn't she cute?

The Departed

2005-06-04T11:56:00.000-04:00

I can't tell you how much I love working for this production office, it is the best time! Just exciting things happening left and right, from arranging the set up of Jack Nicholson's TIVO to researching Plasma TV rental's for Martin Scorsese's hotel room. The day just has a little more glam then the day to day activities at Extech Instruments.

Yesterday I answered the phone, it was Thelma calling for the Production manager Patty. Thelma being the academy award winning editor. I also helped with Extras Casting with their Open Union Call, saw a few familiar faces, a few actors I'd tested for The Gift of Winter, a girl who worked on an indie project called Freedom Park, starring an actor from Mike and Court's movie, Midnight.

I'm so happy that I got this internship, and I'm at home. Speaking of home! I get to see Chrissy Liscombe tomorrow, hopefully we'll be hanging out, and goin to the movies!

Latte Art

2005-03-27T20:18:00.000-05:00

Making a cup of coffee is an art, and to make art, you need the proper tools. Till April 12th at a Starbucks near you is the Home Coffee Sale thing-a-majiggy. I purchased a Espresso Kit usually priced at 40 dollars for a modest 19.99.

For the longest time I thought my problem was my old Krups Espresso maker, the milk never steamed high enough, hot enough. No. The problem was the lack of a proper, steel carafe, the steel conducting the heat to the milk. Today, my lack of proper equipment was mended, thank you Starbucks and your sale.

Awake is the New Sleep

2005-03-26T23:03:00.000-05:00

Worked for the bunny today, parents stress themselves out for the dumbest things, I guess that's life right? Note to self, if my kid cries in his lap, understand that a 9 foot tall rabbit is something to cry over, tell the photographer, snap the picture, and paste it in the scrapbook. Life moves on.

PS: Ben Lee "Awake is the New Sleep" is my new favorite CD of the month

Melinda and Melinda

2005-03-26T12:22:00.000-05:00

Being the 39th film, perhaps reality has set into Woody Allen...wait, what the heck am I talking about, reality does not apply to Woody Allen, he's always done what he's wanted, everything is his way, his terms. If any other filmmaker had produced his last four movies, probably would not keep making movies, but to my delight, this time Fox Searchlight gave him the opportunity to weave his latest tale, Melinda and Melinda.

It is the story of a pitch essentially, and the telling of the same story as a tragedy, or comedy, delivers terrific performances by Rahda Mitchell (of Pitch Black, Man on Fire fame), and Chiwetel Ejiofor, an actor I absoloutly loved in Dirty Pretty Things. Allen's greatest triumph are his creative, high concept stories, though they don't always deliver (i.e. Hollywood Endings blind director), I for some reason still almost always enjoy them.

Today.

2005-03-25T16:26:00.000-05:00

It's the first day of the rest day of my life.