Wednesday, November 11, 2009

More Big News...

Yesterday marked the release of my boss Big Kenny's new solo album The Quiet Times of a Rock and Roll Farmboy. It might not sound like a very big deal, but for me it's kind of cool because I've been here since January watching the songs take shape and traveling with Kenny on what I can only describe as a wild ride. When I first came to Nashville I had no idea I would be doing the things I've done. I mean, I try to stay down to earth when a project comes up, but there are times when I've had to just sit back and say "How did I get here?".

Like riding out onto the field of a major baseball team in a covered golf cart and waving at the fans in the stands, or waking up at two in the morning on a tour bus in Tampa, Florida to eat a frisco melt with a country star at steak'n'shake. Or shooting two music videos (one of which has aired on national cable television) in two days on a beautiful farm in Virginia and being treated like family by someone I once saw on tv and never thought I would even meet. And all this while I still have a year of film school to go. It seems crazy, but I know how lucky I am to be doing this. The experiences I've had here in the near year that I've been working for BK have been varied and surprising and challenging and beyond fun. And I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

That said, I want to bring a couple of things to your attention.

First, the album, which you can buy on iTunes (click the link at the bottom of this post), is really good. Those of you that know me well know that I like my country music old school. It pretty much died for me in the early 90's, but I think it's worth noting that Kenny's album is about much more than country music. I'll say this about the man. He can write hit songs. I don't know how he does it, and it's something I think music fans take for granted a lot, but every song on this album sounds like a hit to me. I've been hearing these songs for almost a year straight and they still get stuck in my head because they're that catchy and memorable. One song, "Go Your Own Way" really struck me on a personal level and I didn't expect that at first. I was going through a pretty rough time and I had a chance to talk about it with Kenny on the bus. He gave me some insight that over time helped change my point of view a lot, and I thank him for it. Another cool thing is that being here at the studio so much, I've been in on several recording sessions and watched the album get made. Having grown up loving music, seeing that process work from behind the scenes was a very special thing for me. I was also given the chance to hang out with some very cool people, including Bob Ezrin, the man who produced Deftones' Saturday Night Wrist and Pink Floyd's The Wall, one of my favorite albums of all time. And of course, having my name in the liner notes of a major record is pretty awesome.

Second, I've done two more videos since Long After I'm Gone that you can now view online. CMT is hosting BK's entire album in video form for your streaming pleasure. I did the videos for Long After I'm Gone, Go Your Own Way, and most recently Be Back Home. Needless to say I'm pretty proud of the work I've done, and it would mean a lot to me if you moseyed over there and checked it out.

Finally, I'm stoked to say that tonight I'll be gettined gussied up and shooting video on the red carpet at the CMA awards. I'll be documenting BK's arrival in a decked out party bus, and then heading over to Cadillac Ranch to shoot him performing The Quiet Times of a Rock and Roll Farmboy in its entirety at the CMA afterparty. Again, I think it goes without saying that I'm pretty excited. And there will probably be moments where I have to once again ask myself, "How did I get here?". And I hope it doesn't sound like bragging when I say this, but I think I can safely say that it's my talent and my hard work that got me here, along with a pretty big dose of good luck, and that's something that I am truly thankful for.

Real quick I wanted to say a couple of things about BLOODHONEY. The first rough cut of the film is done and I'm pleased to tell you that it looks awesome. The visuals are almost exactly what I pictured in my head and the performances have been spot on so far. I can't wait for the screenings so that I can finally show all of you where my mind, heart and soul have been the last nine months. I'm going to try and put together a teaser trailer for Friday the 13th as well, so stay tuned for that.

I'm also pretty excited that my sister is coming down tonight for a visit. I haven't seen her in a while and we seem to get along a lot better now than we used to. I guess age does that to you. Anyway, looking forward to showing her some of the nice spots I've found around the city.

If you're in the Nashville area, come on down to the Ranch tonight and say "hi". It starts at 10pm and you can RSVP right here. I'm sure that once the show is over there will be much drinking rejoicing.

See you at the rock show.

--Blake out.

Buy Big Kenny's solo album at the link below!

Big Kenny - The Quiet Times of a Rock and Roll Farm Boy

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

"i'm not really fallin' asleep i'm fadin' to black..."

Sunday, November 01, 2009

"it's too late to talk to you..."

Well, Halloween actually turned out better than I was expecting. I'd say one in ten people recognized my costume, and those that did were...um...enthusiastic, which was nice. Though people started asking me about the smoke monster after that and I really didn't know what to tell them. The Halloweast Pub Crawl was pretty awesome, though it was pretty damn crowded too. I was about to give up on getting a drink when I ran into an old friend and her ninja turtle friends. We managed to get a table at batter'd and fried and had a few drinks. Overall a pretty fun evening. Some of the costumes were really great. As I was leaving red door I ran into a guy dressed as Richie Tenenbaum and I went "Baumer!...alriiiiight!" It was fun.

Anyway, here's my costume.



















My telecine is scheduled for this coming Friday and I'm pretty excited about it. It will be the first time I've seen the film we shot for BLOODHONEY and I suspect it will look very good. In class we've been watching rough cuts of everybody else's movies and I finally see what all the fuss is about with 16mm film. It's so organic. Hopefully that quality will serve my story and make for a film that leaves an impression. God knows making it has certainly left one on me.

After telecine I'll be diving in to the editing process. I got permission to use the song I wanted, and it didn't break the bank, so that's nice. The finished film will show at the Regal Green Hills Cinema on December 16th. I don't have a time yet but I'll post it when I do. I'm thinking about asking the old gang back home to come down for the premiere. Could be pretty fun.

Oh yeah. I had a few people tell me I look like Jim Halpert recently. I don't really see the resemblance, but in honor of the man, I thought I'd share this.



--Blake out.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

"I'm servin' time...all for a crime I didn't commit..."

Here we go...

...again.

--Blake out.

Friday, October 16, 2009

"it's all about where you put the horizon..."

Day two went just as well. In fact we finished ahead of schedule. It was a grueling ten hour shoot that started at 6am, but we're moving one scene from Saturday to a pickup shoot on the 27th so we don't have to be on set Saturday until 1pm. Now, sleeeeeeeeeeeeeep...

UPDATE: I've decided to take the stills down so as not to give away too much of the story.

"she cooked it medium well, then proceeded to swallow it whole..."

First day of shooting BLOODHONEY is over. In four hours we start day two. No time to explain. Here's some stills from the shoot. More to come tomorrow. :D

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

"I laugh more often now..."

Man...I've been pretty lazy about this thing, huh? Well I've been busy! Here's a quick run-down of what's new.

--I shoot my next film, BLOODHONEY, in October, on 16mm film. It's going to be better than anything I've ever done. Trust me.
--I'm a huge LOST fan now, and kind of surprised about it.
--I've sampled life on the road (went on tour with Big and Rich for a while) and it's kind of like the movies portray it to be, and yes, it's a shitload of fun being treated like a VIP and living on a tour bus.
--Finally re-arranged my room and it feels much better with all the posters up again, though this is my last semester at the dorms, and I'm stoked about having an apartment again.
--I've met a lot of new people.
--I bought a cyclotrainer so I can ride my bike and watch movies at the same time. Righteous.
--I bought Snow Leopard the day it came out like a total nerd.
--I'm dj'ing more than I used to. (Come out and see me on Oct. 10th!)
--I've retired my green sandals. (single tear...)
--I've stayed true to my schedule of weight-lifting, yoga, and cycling (except that week when I had a cold) and people have actually mentioned seeing a difference. Kinda nice.
--Thinking of going back to contacts. I've had these fucking glasses for almost a decade and I'm starting to think people see the glasses more than they see me. Meh...
--Thanks to Netflix I'm watching more movies than ever, faster.
--I'm this close to getting my next tattoo. I'm really excited about it.
--I'm to the point now where I can pick out songs on a piano. I can actually play now and not sound like shit. It's crazy.
--I'm becoming a fixture of midnight shows at the Belcourt. They're so much fun here.
--I drink more than I used to, but never to excess. Guinness is now a good friend.
--I'm 26 now.
--Most importantly though...

I am more me.

To quote a dear friend, "It's good to be alive."

--Blake out.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

"four...three...two...one...I'm letting you go..."

Ay, but to die and go we know not where!
To lie in cold obstruction and to rot
This sensible warm motion to become a kneaded clod
And the delighted spirit to bathe in fiery floods
Or to resign in thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice
To be imprisoned in the viewless winds and blown with restless violence
Round about the pendant world

Or to be worse than worst of those that lawless and incertain thought imagine howling
'Tis too horrible!
The weariest and most loathed worldly life that age, ache, penury and imprisonment can lay on nature
is a paradise to what we fear of death...


"And the book says, we may be through with the past, but the past ain't through with us..."

Long overdue update coming soon.

--B