Keen observations...

Tagged!

OK - I have been blogged tagged - here are the rules, 1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog; 2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird; 3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs; 4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog:

1. My tagger: http://www.letitfly.typepad.com

2. 7 facts about myself:

1. When I'm home I dance and sing all the time - love to sing & dance - not sure if my partner and roommate like my singing & dancing,

2. I have weird habit of repeating what people say - rude, I know - gets worse, I try to mimic their voice when I repeat what they just said - I don't do it all the time, its rare and when it happens its pretty funny. Please know I'm not making fun of them, usually when I do it, I actually like how they said it and I'm tyring to remember it - honestly!

3. I own a 130 pound dog named Scout - she is the love of my life.

4. I collect antique cameras and film projectors.

5. I'm a bad guitar player, real bad, but it does not stop me from playing :) - I think this ties into #1.

6. I love biking and ripping apart old bikes and rebuilding them - in the process now of restoring an old Raleigh that I like to call my Cadilac.

7. I cook a really, really, really good turkey chili.

Really cool blogs:

http://www.letitfly.typepad.com

http://therules-theseries.blogspot.com

http://www.artesprit.blogspot.com

http://www.soulemama.typepad.com/soulemama

I don't know many blogs ... the above are my favorites that I have been introduced to thus far and enjoy checking in on...

A long time...

Blog readers it has been a long time, sorry. What is new? Has '08 started the way you envisioned it to?  Lots to report here, some expected, others a surprise, overall such is life and all is good.

Started February off by heading to New York to an interview for a film about a photographer named Norma Holt. An amazing woman, with a rich history of world travels, amazing encounters, and wisdom - now in her late 80's and health issues comprising her vision - my partner Roxanne wanted to do a film about her before blindness settled in. Though hard, we are honored to be a part of Norma's life and story.

The paying job front has been exhausting. We merged with another company and with change comes the expected and unexpected losses. The biggie for me was the "letting go" of my creative director while we were in the beginning stages of a commercial for the city of Miami. In the end it worked out to be okay - I was able to finish the spot, keep the clients sanity intact and in the end delivered a good to great spot - but the stress was exhausting - not sure the new regime understood the toll it took on me and the client - that's the unfortunate part, lots of decisions being made with "human" factor the first to be dismissed - business I suppose. Another lessen to chock up - keep 'em logged for future "know's".

Writing, writing, writing - here is where the recent changes at my job have taken its biggest toll. I have not typed or revised a word in my plays in the last month! I've been working so much - crazy hours to keep my job - jumpin' through hoops to hold onto what?  I've been asking myself that quite a bit lately - "what am I doing?" - I gotta' get the balance back.

11 days, 23 hours, 8 minutes...

I ended my last blog telling you all that I would be right back - eleven days, twenty-three hours and eight minutes later I'm back - don't ask. Well here I am, late on a Sunday evening, quiet and warm, gathering my thoughts before I lose them to another work week.   

Two really neat things happen to me recently - both involve my Mom and Dad. You all know from my blog that I have been working through some creative stuff and trying to figure out what to do next with my career, whether to stay safely tucked in this corporate world or break out on my own. This decision has caused a bit of uncertainty - I'm usually  fearless when it comes to my work/creativity but recently - well, I felt unsure. Its moments like this when I wish my Dad were still alive. He was my biggest fan, he understood me better than I knew myself, and more importantly he believed in me when I needed that push.

Among all this doubt, neat thing number one happened, I was rearranging my office and clearing out some clutter. In the process, going through old documents and folders, flipping through one folder I came across a letter from my Dad ... it has to be 25+ years old ... on the now yellow, aged construction paper, his distinct script read, "Karen, you are doing fine. Keep up the good work. Love, Daddy". I could not have found this note at a better time, my eyes filled and at that moment I stopped doubting myself. How cool is that?

The second, just happened last night, I was out with my Mom (a.k.a my second biggest fan & the love of my life :)) - we were out put-zing around, shopping, talking about life, children, dreams & change. Our conversations are great, we have become wonderful friends and I admire her greatly. She is one of the smartest people I know and by far the kindest. As we settled into dinner she paused for a moment and out of nowhere said "I keep waiting for the moment I am in a movie theater and I see your name roll by me in the credits... when is that going to happen?" I smiled and reassured her it will happen soon, I may be a starving artist but it will happen soon. How cool is that?

I can't and won't let my two biggest fans down.

animated course for life...

I have had little time recently to focus on my screenplay and updating my site. My day job has taken a bit of time and energy in the last two weeks. Its alright - argh!

How do you do it? Work two, three jobs and keep your dreams in sight? Huh? I think what's shaking out here is that I have been going full steam for so long! When I'm pooped I find myself wondering the following: Does working for "the man" eventually win?  How long does one stay on the path of their dream? Are dreams like the game of golf, 20% skill/talent, 80% luck? Hmmmm, I am pretty good at golf ;). Enough griping, its gets us nowhere!

Above is keenfilm's logo for the site. My good friend and great graphic/web designer Jay Drury designed the logo and the site. We are currently updating keenfilm to get more of my work out there, to create more of a showcase - Kind of an odd experience for an artist who prefers to be behind a camera quietly observing or safely tucked away in a dark edit suite.

It will include the two films I am producing/directing on the side, some of my writing and a quicktime of my corporate & non fiction work.  The cool thing about building a site of your own is that you see all the neat stuff you have accomplished and been involved in. I like to call it my "animated course for life", a process that forces me to take stock and display in a stylish, immediate, compact way what I've achieved.

Wait ... my dog Scout is calling me for a walk... I will finish this blog when I get back ... the griping and "animated course of life" will all tie in nicely ... just you wait...

A blog I want to brag about...

Hey there is a blog out there that I would like to bring to your attention: letitfly.typepad.com.

It is a great, insightful, inspirational (inspired me to start a blog!) blog created by my sister-in-law Andrea. She is a super talented artist who does it all, acrylics, printmaking, watercolors, oils, etchings, stitchings, prints, sketches, charcoal, writing, etc...

Please give the blog a look, her art and insightful words will inspire you to get creative and appreciate the beauty around you.

Here is a sample of Andrea's art. It is an acrylic of her sister's dog CASH...

Busy, busy, busy...

Well the New Year has started and I have hit the ground running. Crazy busy at work, producing a commercial, and a video program all in the next month. In between it all I'm going to try and escape to Miami next week for quick holiday. My partner bought me the ticket which I am thankful for but it is coming at a crazy time.

I did not forget about log 3. It is coming. I am having a bugger of a time! I am so close, see below for a sample. Beyond the eight words I have a pile of paper at my feet. Par for the course it will come to me when I least expect it, on the bus, riding my bike, walking Scout, when I quiet my mind it will hit me. But for now my head is busy, busy busy.

Thank you to all  who commented about logs 1 & 2. Currently log 1 is ahead by 13 points in the Watertown, MA - Well, actually the School Lane caucus (Is that how you spell it? Such an odd sounding word, for such a big preliminary event).

Anyways to keep me grounded in the mist of my chaotic schedule I am finding myself dreaming back to my New Year hike. It was out on the fire road in Provincetown, I was with my partner, two dear friends and our dogs (see below).

It was a magical, quiet, crisp, cold, clear, peaceful, perfect, beautiful, vibrant, funny,  wonderful day that I will hold and wish I could be/feel that way forever :). A great way to start the new year. I find myself agreeing with last week's chant of the lit, cheerful, poetic party goers staggering up and down Commercial Street "2008, it's going to be great!". 

A piece of Log Line 3: By letting go Kate allowed herself to be free...

Log one, two & three...

Woman its cold! 7 freakin' degrees outside. It is the first reeeeeally cold day here in New England. If you are standing in the sun its bearable. If you are out of the sun's rays the nasal crystals form. You folks who live in cold areas know exactly what I'm talking about. For the folks who have no idea, its an odd sensation, you have to experience at least once! Its similar to a thin layer of black ice but it forms in your nasal passage, from the tip of your nose to juuuust behind your eye balls. Its a such an odd feeling, would give the old muffin' man a run for his money! That is another story for another day.

OK, spent today working from home with a head cold. Yes, I had plenty of crystals, thank you. In between work stuff (the time I actually get paid by a company) I tweaked the log line. I feel good enough to post and have narrowed it down to three. Please review and let me know which one intrigues you the most.

Log #1: Writer Cheryl Zine's latest assignment takes her to a small New England fishing community. Here she find herself blending with the community and sharing an unexpected moment with a lost and touching soul. Their encounter will change their lives forever.

Log #2: When love finds you the letting go can begin. 'Let Go' is a touching story about a woman who came into Kate's life for a reason, unexpected and brief she changed her life forever.

Log #3: Sometimes, at band camp, when love finds you - This is not serious. I am having a hard time with number three. Thinking short and concise is turning out to be an interesting and difficult task for me.

Stay tuned ...

© 2008 keen observations blog entry January 3, 2008.

The New Year Approaches...

Christmas has passed and the New Year approaches, time to reflect and get the resolution in order ... yikes!

I have one. To do what I love, write, make films, direct and be creative. I am doing it all to an extent now but playing it safe, nuzzled in the corporate world getting other folks ideas on paper, video, and screen. Now it is time to get my stuff out there. I started the process and it feels real good. My gut tells me the timing is right, creativity is screaming, writing is strong, focus and humor are present, head spitting out the ideas, vision is sharp. It all feels great!

To keep the momentum going I'm sending my ideas out for review. The feedback has been positive, gotta' keep working at the dialog tho'. The stories are weaved very well but the dialog needs to be crafted a bit. I'm taking the feedback and squeezing it out onto the page, it has been a lot of fun.

I'm reading everything! Currently reading Michael Ondaatje's book "The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film" it is fantastic. Wonderful for film fans and folks who are visual story- tellers.

Murch says a great thing that I want to share, "As I've gone through life, I've found that your chances for happiness are increased if you wind up doing something that is reflection of what you loved most when you were somewhere between nine and eleven years old."

That's my resolution: to be forever eleven, happy, healthy, creative, studying films, writing screenplays, acting/performing them out with people I trust, admire, have fun with and appreciate.

I'm working on the log line for my screenplay called "Let Go". I gotta' say its freakin' hard!

I know the story inside and out. I lived it for weeks,now I have to sum it up in three sentences or less.  Its kind of like a first date, you want to look good, say all the right things, blow yourself up bigger than you appear but in the end its best to leave the bullshit at home and be yourself. That's my approach for my log line (aka first date) and in a cool way how I approach life, and I guess, if the other doesn't see the "goods" then it wasn't meant to be.

You just got a peek at the Buddha in me ... shanti, shanti.

p.s. No worries, when it is set, I will publish the log line. Would love to hear your thoughts...

The other day I had a visit from "What am I thinking?". You know her, right? She's related to self doubt and fear.

Here these may ring your noggin': "What am I thinking, I am not a writer." Sound familiar? Or, how about: "What am I thinking? I can't make a living writing/working for TV and film..."

You gotta' know her!

Yeeesh, she had me inches away from packing my experience, creativity, ideas, humor, drive, determination and heading south to safe.

Then something really cool happened. I got up the next day, planted my feet on the floor, headed to a location for a shoot I'm producing/directing. Once I walked on to the set I knew yesterday's visit was just that, a brief, humbling, visit. I hope she comes again, she reminded me why I love what I do and why I have to take chances. Know determination, heart, eagerness to be creative, are my other house guests. They will keep "What am I thinking?" future visits to a minimum.

Log lines & dating...

I'm working on the log line for my screenplay called "Let Go". I gotta' say its freakin' hard!

I know the story inside and out. I lived it for weeks,now I have to sum it up in three sentences or less.  Its kind of like a first date, you want to look good, say all the right things, blow yourself up bigger than you appear but in the end its best to leave the bullshit at home and be yourself. That's my approach for my log line (aka first date) and in a cool way how I approach life, and I guess, if the other doesn't see the "goods" then it wasn't meant to be.

You just got a peek at the Buddha in me ... shanti, shanti.

p.s. No worries, when it is set, I will publish the log line. Would love to hear your thoughts...

An unexpected visit...

The other day I had a visit from "What am I thinking?". You know her, right? She's related to self doubt and fear.

Here these may ring your noggin': "What am I thinking, I am not a writer." Sound familiar? Or, how about: "What am I thinking? I can't make a living writing/working for TV and film..."

You gotta' know her!

Yeeesh, she had me inches away from packing my experience, creativity, ideas, humor, drive, determination and heading south to safe.

Then something really cool happened. I got up the next day, planted my feet on the floor, headed to a location for a shoot I'm producing/directing. Once I walked on to the set I knew yesterday's visit was just that, a brief, humbling, visit. I hope she comes again, she reminded me why I love what I do and why I have to take chances. Know determination, heart, eagerness to be creative, are my other house guests. They will keep "What am I thinking?" future visits to a minimum.