A short sketch I wrote called "iPad: Weather Control" won "Best Other Script, Skit, or Commercial" at the 2012 Las Vegas Comedy Festival. I had no idea they had announced the winners until my friend and AD on my short "Do Over" Derek Franzese texted me congratulations. Thank you, Derek!
By the way - check out Reticent Pictures, the home for Derek and his team's comedy shorts.
As for "iPad: Weather Control," it's a spoof on iPad apps and Apple fanatics (and don't get me wrong - I do all my work on Apple products; it's just some friendly spoofing). Don't know if I'll be able to shoot it as it involves some complex special effects, but maybe someone out there will see this award and think, "I should give this guy some money to make this. I want to see this 'other' script made right away!"
The short film I made at the University of Texas at Austin, "Test Day," has been generating a bit more activity than usual in the last week or so. An educator in Los Angeles posted it to her facebook page, I received an email message via YouTube asking me where I fall on the issues the film explores (if that sender happens to read this post, I apologize for having yet to respond - I will!) , and now assistant professor Gabriel T. Saxton-Ruiz of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has posted it to his blog. Hmm... is something in the air? "Test Day" has always sparked debate and discussion, but aside from placing it on my website, I haven't ever let it out there on the internets for whatever reason. Maybe that should change.
If you're curious: "Test Day" played numerous film festivals from 2005 to 2008 and won prizes at festivals such as the 8th Cine Las Americas, the 1st Flatland Film Festival, the 2008 Phoenix Film Festival, and the 2005 Sidewalk Moving Picture Film Festival. I have included it at the bottom of this post. Hope you enjoy!
The Texas Independent Film Network was founded a few years ago by friends Louis Black and Ryan Long: "TIFN has built a circuit throughout the State of Texas, including population centers like Austin, Dallas and Houston. This is a chance for audiences across the state to see amazing films that might otherwise not appear in their cities, all the while supporting indigenous filmmaking right here in Texas."
For the month of April, TIFN will be showcasing AN ORDINARY FAMILY, a feature dramedy I edited for Mike Akel. If you live in Texas and want to see if it will be playing in or near your city, CLICK HERE.
