Back in LA (not Louisiana)

Oh, boy howdy. My big plans to form a musical comedy duo ran into some snags. Criston, who should have already gotten famous for his music, voice, and looks, was somewhat open to the idea, but then he went on got motorcycle wrecked into getting his jaws wired shut. I asked my other friend Jake, but he could not fathom doing creative work while he spends his days doing manual labor. He dislikes the manual labor, and it is negatively affecting his physical health, but it is so occupying that it is a never ending venture. What stinks is that he is one of the most naturally gifted improvisers, one of the accidentally funniest people I know. And like Criston, he knows music far more in-depth than I do.

I really should write to catch up on things, because a lot did happen. I flew to Dallas, left my mom's Prius in street parking that would go on to become a temporary tow-away zone. This would cost me much stress and money upon my return to LA. While in Dallas, I met the SFX MUA who would be working with me on this short film. After we got a mold of my fingies, I drove to Arkansas. Fun time there, always feels like a vacation. It helps that they sell cannabis products at the border with Missouri half an hour north. I of course was happy to simply chomp one from my friend's neighbor.

Then upon my return to the Dallas area, we did a test shoot with the prosthetics. This is when it starts to feel crazy, because for this test shoot, I wore $500 of prosthetics. Then later, at the actual shoot, I wore that same amount of prosthetics again. We did not get the shots the first night, so I voluntarily stayed in makeup while I slept, then we shot my stuff late the next day just before a thunderstorm stopped us from shooting more. Now they have that footage, but have rewritten the script to avoid requiring me when they reshoot it, since I am typically out of state.

Then I bought a used iPhone 12 mini via fb marketplace for $150. Game changer. I can now film in 4K, and I already have good professional dynamic mics, so suddenly, my usual posts can be in high quality, and I can start considering making short films and content on my own.

Then that SFX MUA agreed to do a life casting of my face, which is something I had wanted for a year. And she also wanted me to act in a short film she was making. So I got a free haircut a life casting, and 4K footage of the latter, along with some creature contortionist moves from both films. And I was able to connect those artists with my buddies in LA who are more experienced/knowledgeable.

So today, back in LA, I sent a clip to a local buddy who is great at improv and, as he put it, "plays basically every musical instrument." He is a chubby, bald, bearded latino guy. I love his sense of humor, and I think we could work great together, but I just have not known him for that long. I have known him for a year, but have only sat down to chat over a meal once. This is in part because I have a crush on his close friend and collaborator. Very distracting.

And I also finally went jogging yesterday. It reprograms my brain. Right now, I feel driven, performative, like I want to make stuff rather than settle in with writing. But this state is also a more distracted one. Something I realized I strongly dislike is the fact that when my work ethic is up, edibles are less effective. The brain-wrecking power of an edible is not as potent against my horrifying level of focus. Still hyperfocused, just not aimed well at the moment.