The Black Parade

Went to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was crazy to see people flooding Times Square and midtown in every direction. I read that this was the first year they had a Smurf balloon, which many people were excited about.

Meanwhile, the FBI released information that Al Queda had at one point been planning attacks on the NYC transit system during the holiday weekend; sending suicide bombers on the subways or hooking up remote control explosives in the train stations. According to the New York Times article, there was no indication that these plans moved into the implementation stage. There are police officers everywhere though, and I've seen MTA crew down in the tracks with flashlights searching for suspicious devices and packages. Mayor Bloomberg assures that there's nothing to be alarmed about. Better safe than sorry. In any case, way to rain on our parade, Al Queda.

A Desaturized Short

Experimental in shot selection. Experimental in theory. Made in December 2007. I wrote this short film and did the camera work. If you don't understand the message the first time through, don't feel bad, you're not the only one.

What A Tease

This is the trailer that I designed for my thesis film What Goes Around. I also did all the camera work, art direction, and wrote the script for the actual film.

Change The Conversation

I edited this video for the Women's Media Center's Progressive Women's Voices program. It's a compilation of the PWVer's appearances on major media outlets throughout 2008. Check it out on the WMC website too.

You Go, Charlie Kaufman

Saw the new Charlie Kaufman film Synecdoche, New York. It was just as brilliantly complicated and surreal as the others he's written (Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). Pretty impressive for his directorial debut, however I did think the ending could have come sooner. Considering the plot, though, I can see how finding a place to end was probably difficult. Also, bravo to Philip Seymour Hoffman for another outstanding performance. I think he has really proven himself to be a versatile actor. He not only can play a lead role and carry a film, but he's done some really tremendous supporting roles as well (Almost Famous, Charlie Wilson's War). And I'll watch anything with Michelle Williams, who has a little film called Wendy and Lucy coming out next month that I can't wait to see, especially since it was directed by awesome independent filmmaker Kelly Reichardt.

Hating On Hate Crimes

November has been an intense month. While some danced in the street, others lost civil rights. Some embraced change and possibility, and others resisted it at all costs. History has been made, but it's certainly not smooth sailing from here on out.

Syracuse man was killed for being gay, police say

Teens' Hate Spree Led To Murder

Teen charged with murder as hate crime in immigrant's death

Hate crimes surge after Obama election

My first question is: really, New York? My second question is: are you prepared to handle this, President Obama?

On a more positive note, last Saturday was Join the Impact's national Prop 8 protest. I went to the one in NYC, where about 5,000 people turned out. And not one single person was arrested for getting out of hand. Some 10,000 in San Francisco showed; 8,000 in LA; a few thousand in Chicago; and many hundreds in cities all over the country. Way to go, Gays!