Day 94: Moving In

Today marks the final day of summer and the conclusion of this project. It's crazy how quickly the summer went by, but it gives me comfort to say that I remember ever single day of it consecutively due to these photos. I look forward to a new year full of success and happiness. The final stage of this project will be to create a short film with these photos to conclude my thoughts on this project and the summer as a whole.

If you've been following me this summer, thank you for your time.

Day 93: The Last Night

Tonight was the last night of summer. Disappointing as it was, it was a night I don't think I'll forget for a long time. I will not provide any explanation for this photo.

Day 92: Wired

Today the rest of my family left for florida and I left to begin packing up my things for my departure Sunday morning. This is my obscene collection of cables and wires that I will not leave my house without.

Now it's time to go hopping around friends' houses until I can return to school.

Day 91: A Party?

This is what remains from shooting a party scene for one of the films. It was a good time.

Day 90: Time

Today I got my watch back today. It's always annoying looking down at my wrist, expecting to discover the time of day and finding nothing but a tan line. I would say my time was well spent today.

Day 89: Lost

Today was lost. No photo's were taken today, and as far as I can recall, all I did was work, and for that reason, I can hardly remember it. I'm now realizing the power of this project, how by simply neglecting to record one day and it can be lost; discarded from my memory forever. However, with that kind of mentality, life will be wasted. Find a piece of usefulness or happiness in each day and regret nothing.

Day 88: The Sun After The Storm

Today was surprisingly a beautiful day. I had a lot of summer reading to catch up, and instead of reading it in the dark, powerless house, I decided to lay out on the grass where it was much more pleasant. When I would periodically look up from my book, this was the view I was granted.

Day 87: The Morning After...

This is the extent of the damage on the property from the hurricane. The chimney was smashed, but overall the damage was minimal and we were quiet lucky compared to most people in the area.

Day 86: And The Editing Begins...

Today we two quick scenes shot for Lindsey before the Hurricane hit. Later that evening I got right into editing as hurricane Irene manifested over my house.

Day 85: Lindsey

Today we shot the majority of Lindsey. I can honestly say that it was one of the most successful shoots I've ever been on. From the talent we had the opportunity to work with, to the amazing weather, there are very few things that could have gone better. All I can say is that we were very lucky and that I will associate this film with very good memories.

This photo was taken in Center Island just after we dropped one of our actors at a friends house. I just love how untamed and beautiful this looks.

Day 84: Sunset Over Laurel Hollow

Today was a day off from production as we are transitioning from working on The Scratch to working on Lindsay. That being said, it was in no way a day off. From the moment I dropped my friend Max off at his train, the day began to slip away as I desperately tried to get as much done as possible in conclusion for the previous shoot and in preparation for the shoot tomorrow morning at sunrise.

This was a quick test shot taken on location before Matt and I settled in for the night to do some last minute preparations.

Day 83: Insert Shots

This morning was a lot more relaxing for actors were not on location and instead I was joined by my friend's and crew members Max and Matt to get insert shots.

Day 82: Blood... Everywhere.

Today was yet again, another chaotic shoot full of problems and anxiety. This is Alex who is played bartender just after the special effect rig successfully activated.

Day 81: Principle Photography Begins

I was seriously tested as a Director today. From the moment I woke up, Murphy's law took control and I found myself scrambling to fix various problems from lost actors, to miscommunications with script changes. However, I can say that a lot of great moments were captured today and I look positively towards the second day of production.

Day 80: First Day

As soon as I got off the plane I throw myself right into the preparation of tomorrow's shoot. After purchasing wardrobe at JCPenny, Matt and I proceeded to plan out step by step the blocking of the film. What you are currently looking at is position one of the scene.

Day 79: Last Day on Nantucket

Today was my last day on Nantucket for the summer, going to miss it. As soon as I return, I hit the ground running and go right into production, there's still a good amount of preparation to do before Monday morning, but all manageable. All should go well, as long as don't run into that jerk, Murphy.

This is india on the beach wearing her new sunglasses. Twas a beautiful day...

Day 78: Nantucket Panoramic

Today I made a first attempt to shoot a panoramic photo. Didn't have a tripod so a lot of height was lost, but I think it came out fine.

Day 77: Smores on The Beach

This afternoon dinner was had on the beach with family and friends. We used this tiny disposable grill to burn our mashmallos for an authentic, waterside desert of smores.

 

Day 76: Packing Up

This photo was taken at the beach with my family just as we were packing up and getting ready to leave. At this moment, the car was completely packed with the exception of the umbrella.

Day 75: Class Schedule

Today I looked over my class schedule with my sisters who are coming to school with me next year.

Okay... so I didn't take any actual pictures today; I deserve your criticism.

Day 74: Burning Through The Rain

First rained out day on Nantucket. Got a good amount of work done, but took break to go out to lunch. I've always found it fascinating what drops of water can do to light.

Day 73: Late Dinner

Tonight I had a late dinner with my parents. Had an interesting asian Nantucket burger.

Day 72: Self Service Air

Stopping at the gas station to fill up on "free" air after driving on Nobadeer beach.

Day 71: Goodnight

No more thinking, no more speaking, just sleep.

Day 70: Return to Nantucket

Today I returned to Nantucket for the second time this summer to enjoy some last moments of relaxation, and to start getting back in shape before production starts and finally I return to school.

Day 69: SAG

After dropping my girlfriend off at the train station, I spent the afternoon furiously getting last minute work accomplished for the film before I head back to Nantucket. The most urgent task I had was properly filling out the screen actor's guild production contract. As soon as I return, the two films will be in production, so there's no time to waste.

Day 68: Mud

It rained today, but I made the best of it with my girlfriend Mandy by playing in the mud. She took this picture of me just as we were heading inside.

Day 67: Toku with Mandy

Tonight I had dinner with Mandy at a "modern asian" restaurant called Toku; some seriously good asian food.

Day 66: A Game of Pool with Mandy

Tonight, I played pool with my girlfriend Mandy, who is visiting again for a few days. Although she may get frustrated, she's actually pretty good.

Day 65: Construction

This afternoon was spent building equipment and various rigs for the films in late august. The projects included extending and improving the dolly, building a ceiling grid to mount lights on and finally the pressurized blood shooter. Still a good amount of work to do, but progress has been made.

Day 64: The Final Day of Columbia

Today was a sad day, as it was the closing of my time at Columbia. After screening our final films, I said my goodbyes, got in the car, and headed home. This is Max and I just before I left. Max, you're definitely one of the coolest guys I've ever met, and I we're going to hang out soon, don't worry.

Day 63: Final Sound Mix for Stranded

Over the past week, I have personally been slicing away at what was hands down, the most difficult piece I've ever edited. This is the final sound mix in all it's glory. At last, the film is complete. One film down, two more to go. I'm realizing now, that I will have quiet a portfolio by the time I return to school.

Day 62: Aldous Snow

Tonight, I stayed up till 3 rewatching Get Him to The Greek with some kids from my hall. I must say, when he starts singing I'm going up... just beautiful. If you're curious as to why this photo looks so strange, it's because the colors are inverted.

Day 61: The Highline with Lila

This late afternoon I walked the Highline in downtown NYC with my friend Lila. It is such a peaceful and interesting place. The infusion of vegetation in an urban enviroment is just a beautiful combination. I can say I was almost a little shocked to hear crickets again after spending almost three weeks in the city. If you're downtown at some point, I would highly recommend checking it out if you haven't seen it already.

I would like to mention Matthew Gutierrez, who first brought this place to my attention, you were right Matt.

I would also like to thank Lila who is featured in this photo for inviting me. A night well spent, Lila.

Day 60: RadioShack Speakers

Tonight I was coaxed into DJing for a party and I have absolutely no equipment and half a setlist. So what I've decided to do was run down to the radioshack down the street and purchase some 50 watt desktop speakers. It was an interesting experience to say the least.

Day 59: Cut to The Chase

Today was another exhausting day of shooting. I acted in three different movies, first playing a young successful business man, then a Jock/henchmen in a chase scene and finally a drunk high school student who is tricking into committing murder. It has been true insanity and I am somewhat relieved that the shooting is finally over. At this point, I just want to cut the chase and start editing, but I'd be lying if I said the past two days weren't exciting.

In this photo you see the director and cameraman of the film with chase scene called tunnel vision just as we were prepping to shoot the beginning of the chase.

Day 58: Stranded

Today was the first full day of shooting for the film Stranded. I can honestly say that I have reached my limit of sleep deprivation after today, but I do believe the shoot went well.

What you are looking at are wind chimes that were hanging in the apartment we shot in. They created a very eerie sound that we recorded that may actually be included in the film.

Day 57: Action Hero

Today, after the rain cleared up, I attempted to go see Captain America with some friends, but because the Theater's server was down, we could not purchase tickets in time for the movie, and were forced to return to campus without seeing anything...

This is Max wearing his action hero shirt across the street. I really tried to get a lot of digital noise when I took this with my phone by zooming in way too far. I figured, if I'm going to take a bad picture, might as well make it as bad as possible. I do like how it came out though, very glitch art-esk.

Day 56: Emergen c

This past week I have been seriously sleep deprived as I'm working on these films not-stop. Starting to feel a cold coming on so I quickly picked up some Emergen in a last ditch effort to avoid getting sick.

Day 55: Museum of Moving Image

Today I visited the Museum of Moving Image. It had everything from the evolution of the motion picture camera to famous props and costumes. I can honestly say that I think I've fallen in love with filmmaking all over again. This is paul Schrader's original copy of Taxi Driver. 

Day 54: Lunch at The Gazebo

I don't consider myself a picky person, but today during lunch I got fed up with my crappy grilled cheese sandwich, ran to the closest deli and got myself a good roast beef sandwich and enjoyed it in this relaxing setting you see here.

Day 53: Low Library Steps

Between noon and 2 is my lunch break at Columbia, this afternoon it was spent sitting on the steps of the old Low Library. In this photo are my friends Max and Elise.

Day 52: The B'z

Tonight I came back to my room to find my Japanese roommate streaming a show from in LA featuring a band called the B'z on my laptop. He looks calm here, but believe me, he went crazy for them.

Day 51: Hearing Loss

This morning I woke up with ringing ears, slightly muffled hearing, and some pain when experiencing sounds that are even slightly loud. I value my hearing a lot, even above my vision, so this was very scary to me. What I decided to do is try to spend the day in as much silence as possible. To achieve this, I took out these old, broken, Bose headphones to use as a sub-par replacement for ear plugs.

Day 50: THE GLITCH MOB

Tonight I went to the most incredible concert I have ever been to. The Glitch Mob have the best stage presence of any performer I have ever seen. When I talked to edIT after the show, he explained that they're not making any money on this tour because all of that money is being poured back into equipment for their live performances.

Here is a quick picture of myself, my friend matt, and edIT after the show. Truly one of the most amazing nights of my life, however, I may have suffered some hearing damage...

49: Alice in The Subway Terminal

As I was heading down onto the subway on 42nd street, I stopped to admire this stone tile piece on the wall depicting characters from Alice in Wonderland.

Day 48: Dorm Room

This is the view outside my dorm room window as the morning summer light of the city crept through the shade.

Day 47: Schermerhorn

Schermerhorn is the building in which I meet for the film class. This morning I took a quick photo before heading inside for the first day of classes.

Day 46: Lion

Today I moved into one of Columbia's freshmen dorms for three weeks to study film. I'm exhausted, but I anticipate good times ahead.

I passed this lion as I explored the campus in search of the fitness center.

Day 45: Storyboards

This afternoon Matt and I worked on storyboards till we were sick. This concludes the end of 4 brutal days of non-stop work on these films.