Saturday, December 29, 2012

Trajectories, Filmed & Updates!

Blast from several weeks ago -- a filmed version of Trajectories in Chicago. Thought it was pretty damn good. Great job all around. Imagine it with a bigger budget...

On another note, standby for Part II -- I'll be collaborating with an Iraqi writer who witnessed the war first-hand, albeit with a different lens than I. Should prove very, very interesting.


Friday, December 14, 2012

America, the Violent

Ugly day today.
One of many.
And sure, limit "assault" weapons. beef up gun control.
But you're fooling yourself to think there isn't a bigger, uglier, systematic problem going on here.
It's in our modern DNA -- America 2012.
10-plus years of brutal warfare.
Just as brutal  -- even more graphic -- movies, video games, television shows.
A "sport," called MMA which we watch -- all shits and giggles as a young man is battered unconscious by another young man's elbow -- just like our grandparents spied a friendly baseball game so many moons ago.
But the money flows, grows.
And we sit back, wonder why?
Why this shit happens?
These truths, in part, are tactics employed by our military in order to get men to kill men.
And it works.
And right now, this very moment, there's a kid sitting Indian-style, flat-screen cast blue, eyes-wide, eating this shit up,
waiting his turn...




Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Chicago Production Pix: Trajectories

borrowed from EVET Arts, a few snazzy production pix from our play, Trajectories, which showed in Chicago a few weeks back. pretty cool, i must say.

@ the rifle range

our protagonist, Alex

dad, the Vietnam Vet

the 'Dougie'

an Iraqi, lady-type

the boxing match

and our recruiter...

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Trajectories Pix in Chicago

So I've heard things are going great over in Chi-Town w/Trajectories. Awesome to hear. Check out the rehearsal pix, care of set-designer Jason E. Weber.

















Tuesday, October 30, 2012

4 Scorpions

in the past month and a half. Seems no one has ever heard of these little bastards residing in San Pedro, CA. And unfortunately they're deadly to dogs...

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Trajectories Featured in National Veterans' Art Museum

Just in, care of Hannah J. Barth and EVET Arts -- my play Trajectories is "being featured as part of the National Veterans' Art Museum's month-long IN WAR Exhibit. Check out the show November 8-11 and then the Welcome Home Exhibition opening @ their new location."


Friday, October 26, 2012

Figured it was about time...

to get a shadow box for the ole pad. Simple. Financially...frugal. And pretty sure it's on the ball. Only wish I coulda hit the 500 mark on the range. Nevertheless, I believe this is what the old NCOs called "salty."

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Boston: Trajectories, Workshop & Rehearsals

so i was shipped off to Boston earlier this week in preparation for Trajectories' premiere.
had a great time (should of taken more pix).
lotsa history.
lotsa work.
and lotsa awesome people.
it's great to work with actors who just...get it.
plus we found out the play has been invited to a discussion panel @ Tufts University!
many thanks to EVET Arts, Hannah Barth, Meron Langsner, and our outstanding cast: Rob Najarian, James Milord; Jordan Sobel & Cassandra Meyer.

little display on how to hold an M-16

 Rob Najarian & Jordan Mildord doing there thing



 cool old church on the way to the Red Line

 old library

w/Hannah

Sunday, September 30, 2012

a sad state of affairs

it's not political.
it's not mean-spirited.
it's not unhinged negativity.
or irascible mumblings of disgruntled bottom-feeders.

no.

it's about Americans, Veterans.
and how they're treated by the very government which they served.
something's broken.
don't know what exactly.
but i suspect a disconnect in D.C.
the policy makers locked into self-aggrandizing mission statements.
spiced with an air of elitism and tempered by spats of good luck -- a bubble shielding higher-ups from the struggle average Veterans face on the daily.

(don't get me wrong, I've encountered many earnest, caring, and admirable-types @ the VA, Long Beach and Los Angeles)

but i could be wrong.
could be out of my element.
precise scientific measurements fast-balled by the VA could probably spin it differently.
rhetoric is a mighty weapon.
but for the dozen of so former Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen that chat with me on the regular, have shared their stories with me for documentaries, stage plays, and the like, it's a struggle for these young men to keep their heads above water.
nevertheless, i suppose the VA is trying.
is pushing to get better.
good on them.
but @ this point in the game, fatigue is not acceptable.

you can read more here: http://ht.ly/e4wAc




Thursday, September 27, 2012

Monday, September 24, 2012

what we found @ the beach today:

calf, gray whale-type
just a body -- long since expired.
i wonder how it happened.
the story...

and yep, it stunk.
and yep, the pooches went ape.
and yep, i swore i saw a fin flash above the waves nearby.


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Trajectories - the Kickstarter Project!

times are tough, but if you could spare some $$$ we would DEEPLY appreciate it. 
Meron Langsnerand yours truly, wrote it! really just an all-around great project. the brainchild of Hannah J Barth and EVET Arts. just click the video link to learn more and the DONATE button to...well, donate. thank you very much!





TO DONATE

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Trajectories Part I: Transformations

pretty cool. EVET Arts made up a poster for our production. if you're in the area, check it out!


Tuesday, September 11, 2012

WGA's Veterans Writing Workshop

thanks to Andy for finding this.
apparently i'm in it...for a millisecond, lol.
take a peek.
the Writers Guild Foundation es muy bueno.


The 0.45% T-Shirt

not sure i'd wear this...but the numbers are pretty interesting.

The 0.45% T-Shirt