Here we are- 5 years later.
The birdhouse was an unused miniature I made as Production Designer for the film @boundthemovie in which I also designed and built a full size 16 ft. tall treehouse set with the help of @chrisocerg & @n_ate_
The full size treehouse took time from concept to it's completions (as we used it both in the air and on the ground since I made it to have removable walls for camera) but it did not induce the table destroying glue meltdown that the miniature did so, here it is for all to enjoy along with me- the prophecy is fufilled...
Thanks again to @cheholloway5 for the interview.
#film
#production
#newyork
#newjersey
#productiondesigner
#specialeffects
#pyrotechnics
#miniature
#prophecy
#boom
Back to last year on the Proof Of Concept shoot for "The Chain" where we did some simulated bullet hits.
I gave an additional Weapons Safety & Specieal Effect Choreography meeting as I worked with the team for this sequence. We set it up in a way where the dust hits are fired on to a different plane than the plane the Actors are on so its not possible for them to get hit. In this case the talent was an actual Police Officer who had been in a shootout while on duty so it meant extra to her how safe the atmosphere was by our procedure of following protocols for the gag.
I was using Sweeney Dust Hits which are similar to a paintball but are in a hard plastic shell so they produce some debris after contact which could be damaging to skin or worse if landed in the eye. As things move along and camera setups change, people come into closer range of the effect and a perfect example of "see something, say something"- my dude @videog.rafi pointed out that it was time to wear goggles so we stopped everything for a moment until that was met when my awesome assistant Scott Johnson got em over to us from the table just outside of the circle of crew seen in the footage.
There's always time to stop and look at what we are doing when working with Weapons Props and doing Stunts & Special Effects. Anyone can speak up or ask questions at anytime.
#weaponsafety
#safesets
#film
#specialeffects
#dusthits
#props
#buffalo
12 years alcohol free. 12.5 years cigarette free.
The actual anniversary date was yesterday (the 3rd) but it is less relevant, the more time that goes by.
#work
Photoshoot today with @inzombiea_studios
My legs were/are toast so I got some poppy seeds.
All the photos were shot by Gino
I edited the video
Music by Skinny Puppy
Im not monetizing, I just brainfart.
#skatekata
Its at the point where I need to start working on jumping to catch with both feet again. The board is huge, heavy, spins & flips slow so it takes a lot of extra effort with these blown out knees, bolted together ankle & 40 years on this rock but today, I put my foot down...
#skatekata
#adultfullonsetrickets
Travelog: Kona Classic 2
17 hrs all in from Buffalo to Jacksonville when you include stopping for gas/potty/stretchy/eats (usually 4 of these all in one stops).
This was another mission on a crunch timeline but thats what makes it possible. After working everyday for prob like 30 days straight and fighting a sinus infection for nearly a week leading in, there was a 13 hr sleep with two 2hr naps on the first day off I got which led into the trip. I planned it as leave at 130am Friday morning from Buffalo to get to Jacksonville by 7pm Friday night as the contest for my division was Saturday morning so, I got a hotel for Friday night with plan of maybe taking a 2 hr nap before going to get dinner but instead I used the time to have a 10 hr sleep before going to the contest the next morning. Spent all of Saturday out in the sunny 82 degrees, skating the rollers & flat @konaskatepark between hanging out & my runs.
A trip to @alientacojax with some of the Freestyle gang was my night cap because I made the mistake of sitting too long so I couldnt rejoin the group for the night session back at Kona (its incredible to ride the rollers under the night sky & lights- must do). So, i did another 10 hr sleep and then hit the road back home on Sunday around noon after stopping at the farmers market. Was back to Buffalo around 6am Monday and went to work at 1pm. Then I was back on the board, training switch after work bc we had a nice 60 degree day before plummeting back into Nebular Ravens Winter for the foreseeable future.
Already talking about Kona Classic 3 for next year which will also be the 50th Anniversary of the park. Really excited to get back on the board as soon as possible and looking forward to the upcoming Freestyle meetups & contests this year.
The difference between "can't" & "won't" is conviction.
#skatekata
So, ive been working myself to death since, idk, last year sometime like April? Well, my math's has mathed where I have the days off (no events happening for me to be booked on, that I know of) and I've had extra gigs come in on top of what I was figuring on so, im pulling the trigger and making the trip back down to @konaskatepark to "compete" in the contest with my friends who I usually only get to see like twice a year, at contests.
Drive a day, hotel, skate for a day, hotel and then drive home the next day. Toby Wildcat is coming with me- my kind of vacation!
I anticipate that this year is going to be pretty nuts with work as its the 250 year anniversary of the USA so, ill be setting it off with Fireworks somewhere for sure and the event calenders are filling up with all the other stuff, who knows I might even work on a movie again!
Like I say all the time, thank you to the people who get me gigs so I can continue this crazy life of mine.
#skatekata
Comparing cars I've had or just tested, recently. I drive through all seasons & terrains of the east coast of the US with a bunch of tools.
Had recently:
Kia Soul 2.0 litre 4 cyl 2015- great 5+ years. FWD. Climbed hills, accelerated fast, handled great, lots of cargo space, comfortable, pulled a trailer with it to another state while it was also full of tools (tows 2k lbs). Loved it.
Hyundai Kona N Line 1.2 litre Turbo 4 cyl 2022- I call these Zipper Skippers; Deer Park Ave teens with Civics & GTI's racing for pinks. FWD. Real easy to light up the tires by gasing it too fast from a stop, it wants to go 90 mph, less storage than the Kia Soul, handles well, pretty comfortable but terrible in thick snow/icy mess. Can tow like 1200 lbs but didnt test it.
Tested: Spoiler alert- all Jeeps w/ 4WD variations
Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 2022 3.6 litre 6 cyl- reminded me of my 1998 GC but I wound up not liking the adjustable suspension because it made the boaty feeling (fine be me) feel worse and I dont need that kind of off road capability. Everything else was great. Tows 6k lbs or 10k w/v8.
Grand Cherokee Summit 2022 3.6 litre 6 cyl- Had it all for features & feel. Would get a Summit Reserve if i need more cargo in future. New ones are 4 cyl Turbos so, idk about the climb power. Same as above for tow rating.
Cherokee Limited 3.2 litre 6 cyl 2019- these feel like a bigger version of the Kia Soul. Tight handling, good on gas, good acceleration. Love it for a smaller version of Grand Cherokee. 5700 lb tow.
My second ever car was a 1987 Cherokee (steel tank w/straight 6) so that set the standard for me with an SUV type build. After having a 76 Pontiac Ventura, I was back in a Jeep 98 Grand Cherokee that I loved.
Now, I got the word that my loan is finalized for my 2020 Cherokee High Altitude (Premium trim built on the Limited, feels like Lexus interior. Most comfortable seats ever). I never used 4WD growing up on Long Island; here in Buffalo, game changer on the icey snow mess. Bet its great on light trails or beach too. Drove it through snow covered mountain in -7° in middle of night, was never let down. Very happy. Im always in my car so, it matters.
#jeep
You guys remember that time when I was the "owner" of TWO $40k (Orig price when they came out like 5 yrs ago) cars and I said "hey, let's drive em down to Florida!" So I drove down to immediately turn around to drive back within a total time of 3.5 days?
There's a phase of your auto loan where it isn't "finalized" yet BUT you made it far enough in the process that you can drive off the lot bc you have insurance. Well, I had a situation where the loan wouldnt be finalized bc it was filed based on information for my family's house (FL) not my residence (NY) so, the car had to be returned and when I found out that my money would be returned, it meant that I would also be returned to get it, in person. Basically it was a FREE rental car for a month which justified some spending for a mission.
Luckily, my venture buddy @velvetbethanyrecords was available for the mission (we've driven to/helped people move to numerous states) so, instead of putting money into a rental car to drive back/around locally, I put some other money I had, into financing another car so we drove em down, ditched the one and had a skate quest on the way back- Gulf/Atlantic beaches & 3 world class skateparks while pacing it out by staying at hotels/Airbnb for a few hours each zone, to aslo help me figure out how I can better do these Florida trips I make, multiple times per year.
I picked a hangnail and it got infected so it looked like it would explode but then I took care of it, so it drained. Sorry that was lackluster.
All it took to make this possible was nearly dying in a car accident that destroyed my car, to give me a little boost with the Total Loss payout (reimburse of cars market value), on top of breaking my back endlessly.
Was booked out for the next week by 3 different dispatchers before I even got half way home and was back to work within 12 hrs of completing my 18 hr drive home. We'll see if this loan "finalizes".
#skatekata
Back when I worked on movies doing Crew positions (been a year now since the last one), I was a Department Head/Key as a one person Prop Team for this Feature as the Propmaster.
It was tough work but it was a great experience with a lot of people Cast & Crew wise with a lot of friends that I've been making movies with here in Buffalo for 5-10 years now. The Director Michael Mailer was awesome as i spent every minute at the monitor with him when not running around to make it happen for Props. William Fichtner (Armageddon, Blades Of Glory), JJ Abrahams (Meet The Parents, Scary Movie), Chris Noth (Sex and The City) and the rest of the Actors were great to work with as we had some extra care Props you find in gritty crime thriller stories so im very grateful that everyone paid attention to that, to make it safe on set by following the guidelines I/we lay out in Safety Meetings.
The pacing involved of shooting an Indy like its a Major is demanding but thats what we are all used to here, is delivering. This one has production value for days!
I have to give my most thanks to Leadman Jim Kerr who acted as my Props Assist on set whenever he was available because there were tons of times that it was full on demand- weapons, food/drinks, cars, phones, keys, backpacks/purses, cigarettes etc etc within individual scenes so it helped to have a runner for the pulls while cooking food and doing Graphics/Printing & Fabricating out of a van to make it all exist. Huge thanks to Brian Netzel the Set Decorator for helping with Floral needs and our Production Designer David Butler made some great drawings to fill out some Personal Prop books for a character as well as pitched in with shopping while I was on set. So, though unofficial in Screen Credits, I did have a team when I needed it most because the saying exists for a reason "not enough hours in a day". Matt Fleck rules as 1st AD.
With this one I found a great workflow for LISTS, Shopping, Accounting, Graphics/Printing & Fabricating wether it be "after hours" or during on set- its rare that youre waiting for me, no matter how stacked the demand is. Looking forward to doing it again someday.
#propmaster
#films
#buffalo
I still have unanswereds from 2025 so I was waiting to do a ReCrap of the year but since Toby is so happy with his cat tree, ill call out some highlights.
"Atleast you didnt die!" is the reaction I got from many regarding two situations that happened within 3 weeks of December where I was nearly killed or severely injured by people operating machinery they obviously have no fucking clue how to use. On the bright side, I've now had about half dozen medical professionals tell me that im Wolverine from X-Men because I walked out of my car wreck (like I literally shouldn't be able to walk) and im told my lungs are looking sexy in my xray- i have totally reversed any damage I did by smoking cigarettes for like 14 yrs (over 12 yrs cessation now) but there was a giant gas bubble where my ribs hurt & some silly looking poopy in my guts.
Monday seems to be the final end of the old car when I sign some papers and get a check for what they think it was worth as a Total Loss (only been like 3 weeks now, across 2 states) but sure enough, there is a new can of worms because I started financing a new car in Florida so I have to do a whole process of switching all the paperwork over to New York and you can guess that people arent answering phone calls while other calls/emails with demands are coming in which could threaten the loan terms.
Pretty much have multiple matters going at once where 8 different parties are channeling me to aggregate information that they need from each other so, my headspace is pretty expanded but im feeling sharp which is a good indicator that I dont have brain damage.
Back to positive, as it has been for a few years now- my eternal gratitude goes to IATSE Local 121 & 10, Fireworks By Grucci, RPM Productions and anyone that has put my name out there to get work on projects. Cheers to my friends at Casting Buffalo for all they are doing for local talent including getting me another chance to be a SAG Featured BG Actor (more on that soon).
Im in town until around May, as far as I can see. I say yes to everything that lands on a day i dont yet have marked on my calender- anything Film & Event Production- let me know.
#alive
