This Is What Death Feels Like!

Due to devastating news, for the first time in almost 11 years, I will be taking a hiatus from this blog. Indefinitely. 

The Future of Nothing!

Week 571: Rescheduling In Favor of Favor (Updated in the Worst Way)

Weekly Written Review

Update: 9/22/21

This blog was posted hours before this week actually ended which is very rare. Little did I know, I would receive a phone call on Saturday night, forever changing the course of my life.  

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My energy has been on the lower spectrum for the past couple of weeks. Disappointing results from my grant applications didn't help. The outcome led to embracing that I'm not going to be able to shoot my film in October. Two main reasons. 1. Covid Delta surge. 2. Nothing enough funds. At first, I referred to this situation as a postponement. Joston, a filmmaking colleague said to call it a reschedule. I agree. October was highly ambitious to begin with. I knew that when I set the goal. Now I'm aiming for early 2021 which was my original date. More time to plan. More time to build. More time for favor. 

Regardless, I'm still moving forward as if we're shooting in October. I want to have most of my producing work done by that time frame. Next on my list is acquiring a crew. This week I started reaching out to cinematographers. I composed a professionally crafted email to 8 cinematographers all referred by Tehana Weeks. One of them I worked with previously, What is School For? Almost a week later, not one reply. Nothing. That's Hollywood for you. Since I'm not a Hollywood type, I don't attract those kinds anyway. Oddly enough, shortly after sending those emails, on the way to an event, a cinematographer on Bumble Biz connected with me showing immediate interest. We actually have a coffee meeting set on Sunday. I've been on Bumble Biz for at least a couple years now and this will be the first time I'm meeting with someone in person. All of my previous connections have not been meaningful until now. It just so happens to be when I'm specifically looking for a cinematographer. It's a mysterious blessing of favor. More is certainly on the way. 

Sunday, August 22, 2021

* Errands...

* Talking to Rodney...

* Small Brawlhalla gaming session...

* Watching Pacific Rim 2 - Uprising

* An article about Shaq's stocks boosted my energy a little and brought forth some future hope...


Monday, August 23, 2021

* Tennis...

* El Segundo rental car favor...

* Message to locations about film shoot change of date...


Tuesday, August 24, 2021

* LA River Studios Open House event. Lots of fun. Open bar.

* Cinematographer search. Sending out emails. 

* Bumble Biz cinematographer connection...

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

* Return home...

* Food 4 Less. Water pick up. Surprised Barbara with some milk

* Lazy day...


Thursday, August 26, 2021

* Sending/ returning emails...

* Gaming...

Friday, August 27, 2021

* Tennis...

* Night bus trip to Atarah's

* Gaming...

Saturday, August 28, 2021

* Setting up my AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 software...

* Blogging...

* Watching Jurassic Hunt...

Update: 

* While watching the movie with Atarah and her aunt I got a phone call. I paused the movie excused myself. After hearing what happened, I resumed the movie for them to watch, went to the restroom and sat in darkness. I made a call for more details. The next call I received broke me. In anguish, I screamed yelled, cried, packed my belongings and journeyed to the bus stop. On the way, I canceled a couple next-day appointments and when I arrived at my garage I began searching for a plane ticket then cried myself to sleep. It was the beginning of the end of my life. 

As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Week 570: Music Plunge - No Turning Back Now

Weekly Written Review 

After weeks of snooping around, my curiosity took control of me. I'm now the owner of an AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3. This means I've taken the plunge and decided to learn how to make my own music. I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm also not in a rush. Somehow, someway, I'll figure it out. 

Sunday,  August 15, 2021

* Walk to the park. Watched people play basketball. Considering making a return to outdoor basketball. 

* The Late Night Experiment is live on Tubi...

* Talking to Moeheat...


Monday, August 16, 2021

* Tennis...

* Designing the Late Night Experiment flier...

* Backing up files...


Tuesday, August 17, 2021

* The Late Night Experiment trailer...

* Ordered an MPK mini keyboard. Lowly but surely embracing the life of making music. 

* Backing up files...

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

* A journey to find an avocado less than $2.00. Ended up at Food 4 Less. They were priced the same but I picked up a few other items I needed. 

* Purchased the Midi soundtrack pack, $27.00...

* Backing up files...


Thursday, August 19, 2021

* Walk to post office to vote. That recall stuff. 

* Trip to the bank and Asian supermarket for Mangos...

* Blogging...

* Upload trailer...


Friday, August 20, 2021

* Tennis...

* Lazy evening...

* Watching Ozarks...

Saturday, August 21, 2021

* Weekend pick-up...

* Food 4 Less...

* Watching Masters of The Universe and Batman VS The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...

As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Week 569: Rest In Peace Mike Oates - COVID has no right!

Weekly Written Review

This week weighed heavy on my heart. I found out on Wednesday via Facebook that my high school friend/neighborhood balling crew partner, Mike Oates passed away from Covid. He left behind young twin boys. He had so much life to live. It's disheartening. We haven't been in touch over the years but he was apart of my childhood, now he's gone. 

"It was me, Troy, Mike and Joel. Sometimes lookout for tall Tyrone. It was like that cause we was a crew. But once in a while it was two on two." 

Those are the lyrics to a song I wrote after graduating from high school. I woke up the next morning reciting those lyrics. 

Mike was a good guy. Competitive. Loved to laugh. He got along with everybody. No one deserves to die from Covid. Mike was certainly did not deserve this. 

My spirit is hurt because a part of me is missing. The thought of him gone is simply depressing. Sending love, peace and strength to Mike's family. 

Last week was already rough. This week disclosed the inevitable. I had ambitious intentions to begin production for my feature film in October. That reality of that became unreal after getting delined for another grant on Monday. I'm still going to find a way to make my film but most likely not in 2021. I'm now aiming for early 2022. I'm detered by the lack of grants and Covid Delta rising. The timing just isn't right. I'm also coming to terms with my project being low budget. I might not even be able to pay some actors. I hope not. Now that I'm shooting at a later date, I have more time to figure how to increase the budget. Lottery? Stocks? Robbing a bank? I honestly don't now. 

On the brighter side of things, I finally discovered a show to watch. In recent days, I've spent a good portion of my nights looking for a new show and found no success. I considered Ozarks in the past but this week I finally gave it a try. I like it. It's good to have a show to look forward to. Having a show to end my work day is helpful. I watch several shows with Atarah but I haven't had one for myself in a while. I'm reinvigorated. 

Sunday, August 8, 2021

* Tennis doubles. My partner and I were leading 5 to 2. We lost in the tie break. He got tired and the other team gained an advantage with breaks. Terrible. 

* Korean BBQ after tennis with Kent...

* Head pressure. Nothing to watch.

Monday, August 9, 2021

* Tennis...

* Passion Fund contest declined...

* Casting development...

* Discovered Ozarks... Pretty good. 

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

* Watching Ozarks...

* Casting development complete...

* Post Office...


Wednesday, August 11, 2021

* Mango pick up...

* RIP Mike Oates

Thursday, August 12, 2021

* Tennis...

* Watching Ozarks...

* Low-spirited day. Thinking of Mike.

Friday, August 13, 2021

* Tennis. A total of 3 showed up today. 

* Watching Ozarks...


Saturday, August 14, 2021

* Watching Ozarks...

* Subway pickup for Barb...


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Week 568: August Is Here

Weekly Written Review

August arrived like a punch in the gut. The end of Week 567 took a lot out of me and it carried over to this week. This month looms the results of all the grants I've been applying for. Wednesday yielded my first decline and the reality of being able to produce my film in October is collapsing. Decisions are pending. My head is throbbing. I can't find a show to watch... On the bright side, I decided to start doing push-ups twice a day now.

 

Sunday, August 1, 2021

* Errands with Atarah...

* Watching A Quiet Place 2... My thoughts? Meh. 

* Watching Masters of The Universe

Monday, August 2, 2021

* Emails...

* Tennis...

* Watching World War Z

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

* Wrap Book Zoom meeting. Wasn't impressed. They rushed me off the phone. 

* Watching Army of The Dead...

* Props researching...

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

* Screencraft Film Fund results. Declined. Did not advance. 

* Sleeping a lot...

* Returned home...

Thursday, August 5, 2021

* Wells Fargo meeting...

* Washing clothes...

* Relaxing...

* Echoes of a Dream research...

* Gaming...

Friday, August 6, 2021

* No tennis... No RSVPs

* Echoes of a Dream remastering. 

* Watching Olympic Men's Basketball. Gold medal. 

* Cat photos for Barb.

* Gaming...


Saturday, August 7, 2021

* Cleaning... mixing cement...

* Mango pick-ups

* New controller gift arrived...

* Pressure in my head. Nothing to watch...


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Week 567: Music On My Mind

Weekly Written Review 

If I wasn't producing a film I would be investing my time in learning how to make music and remastering my old songs. I'm become intrigued by that creative realm but I have to remain focused on my movie(s). The time will eventually come for me to make beats and spits tracks. 

Shout out to my Switch Lite. I began using it more to play games lately.  

Sunday, July 25, 2021

* Tennis with Kent...

* 8th production meeting...

* Script breakdown development 


Monday, July 26, 2021

* Script breakdown work...

* Watching Masters of The Universe...

* Turned down an opportunity to be a part of Hank's new movie. My fans want to see my face not wearing a mask and body doubling. 


Tuesday, July 27, 2021

* Return home. Lazy day...

* Eric, a homeless guy in our driveway is gone. I'm kind of the reason. I didn't intend of getting him kicked out but he put it on himself. 

* Mario Golf: Super Rush delivered

* Bumblzing...

* UPS Joycon drop off. Post Office drop off for At...

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

* The A-Team reunited against roaches...

* Script breakdown...

* Script revisions...

* EDD success. Finally got through and fixed the problem with my 3 payments on hold...

* Purchased Streets of Rage 4 digital...

Thursday, July 29, 2021

* Walking errands: Wellsfaro, Dollar Store, Ralphs, Asian Supermarket, Food 4 Less

Friday, July 30, 2021

* Tennis. I really sucked today...

* Watched half of Justice League. 

* Not a great day over. Kind of tense and uneasy. 


Saturday, July 31, 2021

* Lazy day...

* Weekend pick up...

* Trader Joe's...

* Watching Masters of the Universe & Cobra Kai...

As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Week 566: Make It Stop!!

Weekly Written Review

A frivolous argument knocks me out for 2-4 days. I go from being highly productive to unproductive in seconds. It tears down my spirit and I can only repair it with, time isolation, and sleep. Human, please make it stop. 

Sunday, July 18, 2021

* 7th production meeting/argument...

* Gaming, head pressures, resting...


Monday, July 19, 2021

* Tried to list my place Peerspace for my Landlady. The submission was declined.

* Sending emails. Aaron's House confirmation letters and more... 

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

* Phone call with Dawnmarie...

* Lazy day...


Wednesday, July 21, 2021

* Lazy day...

* Helping MaTown with printing and stuff...

* Found out Papa went to the ER...

Thursday, July 22, 2021

* Aaron's House meeting 

* Mango pick-ups...

* Script revisions...

* Bumble Bizing...


Friday, July 23, 2021

* Tennis...

* 1$Wiser course. Helping MaTown with computer stuff.


Saturday, July 24, 2021

* Walking to Ross. New sneakers...

* Picking up water...


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice