Late Two-O'-Nine-Chronicle

How do I summarize another post-modern-loving year when the center of attention has been a conspiracy-stated-false 'Global Warming Crisis' a 'Global-Continuously-Collapsing' Economy, a question marked 'Nobel Peace Prize Winner' currently leader of a country in war with two countries and a scare of a new world pandemic that in April was told to possibly wipe out the entire world but only killed 6.567 people and infected half a million people?

Well stated enough, 'Swine-Flu' was left for others than me to care about, 2012 was well marketed over the highly polluted freeways of LA asking all the not-so-well-public-transporters 'How It will End', well obviosly the people has lost faith in themselves, so why care about them when you can care about what means the world to you.

Pictures from left; Cabo (Mexico), Gotland (Sweden), Santa Monica (Los Angeles, USA), Oskarshamn (Sweden), Ocean Park (Los Angeles, USA), Cabo (Mexico)

To me, what meant the world, this year was amazing homecomings, sittings at homes of the people I care of in all different shapes and different adventures. For me it was an amazing, traditional Midsummer among friends in the Swedish skerries and a weekend on the medieval-kept-and-restored Gotland with Matilda and her family. It was sharing Christmas with my family and drinking a couple of beer with the people I wanted there on the 23rd of December as well as on the 25th.

It was also a Thanksgiving in Santa Cruz and chatting with the cast of 'Shining City' at the 'Fountain Theatre' in downtown Los Angeles. It was kissing Matilda at our crosswalk again and maybe hanging up-side-down at Giggling Marlin's in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was adding yet another year to a relationship and it was finding my writing again. It was drinking a breakfast whiskey at a casino bar in Vegas and a walk home from my friends at Raymond Street with Eric and Johan during their Spring Break in Los Angeles and so on... Many memories might shape a year and the true meaning to many of them I want to keep for myself and the ones precent. But in general 2009, was a great year of personal experience, thanks to love, friends and family.

When it comes to film and music that i]I care somewhat more about than pandemics and a global crisis was the finding of James Dean that gave one of my biggest impressions, 'Rebel Without A Cause' at a tuesday morning was honest and very meaningful to me. Getting deeper into the Kaufman messy head and philosophies happened during a spring morning and 'Synecdoche New York'.

The Films released in 2009 that also decides to blow my minds was;

'Avatar', 'Where The Wild Things Are', 'District 9', 'Inglorious Basterds' and 'The Lovley Bones'

The Music released in 2009 that also decided to be golden to my ears and mind was;

The Derek Truck's Band - 'Already Free', Phoenix - 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix', Anthony & The Johnsons - 'The Crying Light', Mew - 'No More Stores...(a way to long title)' & Animal Collective's - 'Merriwheather Post Pavillion'

This will be my short, but yet complete review of a great 2009, one step closer to a global and financial collapse, almost new passed taxes for breathing and personally an amazing experience in life, in ways of love, friendship and family.

Have a great Two-O'-Ten.

The times may be dark but greatness

will arise if we all want to,

so stay positive, stay true.

Douches de Français

I don't know many who are listen-to-music-while-taking a shower people. Well I am and the recent past weeks the magnificent french singer Edith Piaf's music has been the start of my morning and the start of my days. That and the mandatory, crucial but yet so great cup of columbian roast from Trader Joe's.

Beau Jour!

Gnarly F**kin' Movie!!

Anti Christ (2009) with Willem Dafoe & Charlotta Gainsbourg.

Lars Von Trier used Charlotta and Willem to scare me, petrify me, make my body ache and still I would like to recommend you to see it, gather up a safe-group and watch it, discuss it and feel the exact way I felt after that I had been watching it, my conclusion was and is; 'Gnarly Fucking Movie'.

Good Afternoon, Good Evening & Goodnight

My apologies Mr. Brando!

Marlon Brando (t.r), Steve McQueen (c) and Marilyn Monroe (t.l)

I've just been getting on some truly amazing classics in the recent past weeks, as I started through my inspiring James Dean adventure with 'Rebel Without A Cause' and 'East of Eden' I am now before 'On The Waterfront', 'Some Like It Hot', 'Bullit', 'The Last Escape', 'Papillon' and more to come, we got Hitchcock, Wilder, Allen, Goddard, Kurosawa and list just goes on and on.

Unfortunately though Mr. Brando, Mr. McQueen and Ms. Monroe, got to get my head into Math, not because I'd rather do it, but because I have to.

Good Night and Good Luck

Yeah! Well, I have to get back to you on that!

Well at least I was told that I was a good student, doesn't really help me finishing my degree because a billion dollar bail-out couldn't cover the educational sector.

Well. I will know tomorrow but the fact that I discovered this one day before enrolling, scares me slightly.

Good Night & Good Luck

Double Double!

John Mayer - Battle Studies & Norah Jones - The Fall

Sometimes you just get two presents in one, epic release for my private like in music.

And by that notation my return to the world of blogger is official.

Hello, Goodbye

Stefan Henriksson

Flying Airplanes and Getting Frustrated Over Structure

I'm sitting here in the middle of the Los Angeles night trying to figure out the story of Rocky Racoon ain visual images for my midterm in Storyboarding.

To get my mind onto something else I rewind my thoughts and frustration to this past Saturday's experience. I was flying home with my two roomates and my girlfriend from Los Cabos and on the plane from New Mexico to Los Angeles it struck me. The feeling and sense of emotion that goes through you when flying in over a major city at night. There's a hidden sense of thoughts when flying in over Los Angeles.

There's always an expectation when flying in over a thousand lights at night. Maybe it doesn't occur from within you or the one's you travel with but rather in the atmosphere of the cabin. Spectators who are still awake in the early night watches out their airplane windows either in expectation or despair. It is though so that the power and creation of human beings is what amazes us at night rather than the skies and starts in above us do since there is a greatness to the size of Los Angeles that people can relate to. Universe is to big and even though it fasinates us it's not ever an end to a journey like a big city like Los Angeles.

What hits me is that it is the forth time flying in over Los Angeles at night and that I am kind of passive to the amazement the thousand or millions of lights have done to me. It might have numbed me from the thrill and greatness I saw two years ago. And instead of being amazed I take the time of preparing for arrival to breath in the calm of the lit out airplane. I am still concerned that time will never be on my side. Protesting night after night that a day is to short when being counted in 24 hours. I always get over my head, I want so much and feel so great potential in my ideas that I rarely find time to embrace them and finish them.

So I use the moment of peace, flying in over La-La Land for myself gathering my thoughts to regain focus and attention needed to create and create over and over again for the purpose of upholding my dreams which point beyond the lights of the Los Angeles night and up to the invisible stars that still amazes me and that I recollected as being the true thing that I miss in Homewood.

Guten Nacht.

Splendid or To Good To Be True

Of course we can look forward to what we all should look forward to but when coming across this trailer of 'Where The Wild Things Are' based on Maurice Sendak's book with the same title I recall not only my childhood but the imagionation I once possessed. A splendid and fantastic story in the hands of the visionary film maker Spike Jonze.

Art of Telling Stories or The Day Mr. Keeshen Remembered my Name.

When I, If I ever become somewhat a filmmaker, my storyboarding teacher made it clear that he demands 10%, not only from me but all of his students. His name is Mr. Keeshen and he is somewhat someone you either love or not, his humor is not always understood and that doesn't make him stop, he can be rather sadistic and really put students into a bad position that they dislike, but he is probably the most important teacher 

'Trip To The Moon' (1902) A Perfect Example of Great Storytelling.

I have always meet and this Thursday, he finally remembered my name, after eight months. He has already given me an 'A' in one of the most important classes of my career that's why he deserves those 10%. Not because of the 'A' but the simplicities and the realization he put me through in order to fully understand that concept of film and motion pictures that I have always witnessed but never believed in.

In my opinion, Keeshen is a brilliant teacher and a really cool guy. A guy at my class told me: 'Some people may say bad stuff about Keeshen, but they're all wrong, he's one of the best'. I totally agree, he knows storytelling and in that first class called 'Storytelling' and those cozy Monday night with Mr. Keeshen and 45 eagerly storytellers of tomorrow we all got know the basics in which I possess the power to write any story I possess. 

'Casablanca' (1942) also a terrific story told.

It's easy, it's 'Establishment', 'Conflict' and 'Resolution', broken down in '12 Steps Of the Main Character's Journey'. It's basic, its simplicity but most of all it taught me to get out! Get out of that pattern of believing that storytelling, as well as movies is art, art where rules are broken and yes they are. Sometimes, but in order to break rules, the content needs to follow a pattern understood by the writer or artist in order break it and make sense out of that art. 

Mr. Keeshen also told me this, that movies often get to long which I disagreed with in the beginning. And sometimes I still do it. But to shorten down and give a story quality rather that quantity is the power few posses and that counts in with some of the greatest directors, writers and producers on this earth. Stories are not made to be created for the purpose of entertaining to long, directors fall in love with their work so badly that they don't no when to cut, some stories demand the width but most don't. 

'La Maison En Petits Cubes' (2008), one of few Oscar nominated films this 

year where the story was told with greatness.

That's why we so often fast forward the dvd or the downloaded avi file, cause that's what we do. We download it, like it or dislike it, the we throw it away or keep it. Most stories are unfortunately thrown away and we only keep few and that's where storytelling in movies has gone wrong and someone finally made me understand that.

On the other hand I have serious problems with my 'Act II' for Mert Meneri, the beginning of my conflict or middle or what ever we choose call it, has so much importance and demand width. But I don't want to lose the reader on the 10th page, seems so frustrating. 

Good Night and Good Luck!

Revised Storyboard and Finding My Story

It seems to as I have either grown up or lost confidence in art, but as argued in every single class I've taken since I started at Santa Monica College, the screenwriting segment every teacher expresses him or herself in is about storystructure, especially in my Digital Media classes, and yes when reading 'Inglorious Bastards' last week, I see, that even Quentin Tarantino uses rules, even though if he brakes them. Syd Fields book 'A Screenwriters Workshop' is actuallt pretty legit, he goes into the process and that book, my neighbor who is taught by Syd Field and Eli Roth's 'The Curios Case of Benjamin Button' is currently helping me with the structure of writing my first Feature Film screenplay. 

The Story is simple, it's about a guy called Mert, coming to the US, succeeding in selling a screenplay and reaches maximum fame. Conflict, he's held back by his father and Death's friends and in order to process his career he demands full creation freedom, and yes it sounds cheesy, but I haven't presented the narration yet or the climax of the story which has somewhat a powerful approach in this screenplay. Of course 'Story' is king, and I respect that.

I am just so hard on myself, I just finished the first 13 pages and I erased them. My Professor in Storyboarding Jim Keeshen said to me that you should never under any circumstances fall in love with you're work and that is not the case with me. I think it through so much and criticise it to hard to ever reach a progress. As leaving from my class with Mr. Keeshen I find out that there is so little of my music library that suits the uncomfortability of riding the buses expect from one album, 'Skebokvarnsvagen 209' by Joakim Thastrom, that inspired this day so much that I wrote somewhat an article on him (Music, Truth & Tunes). 

So what did I learn today? Always something new and I'll share it with you. I learned that Animatics is king in Animation, that my story is not an animation but rather a story that need a lot of fixing and some kinds of motif's, just like Eli Roth, because he's wise and writes extremely well. Watching the Oscars this Sunday you should get inspired, but since this story of Mert Meneri is rather 'anti-Oscar' I don't really know. School takes up time and so does this and MT&T, but that is a funding source in order to live better, so would a sold screenplay for 40 000$ be, but in order to get there I need to learn how to sell.

My point and my purpose of my A.A Degree in Digital Media is to gain all knowledge required to be a project manager in film, a.k.a a Producer, and to be a producer you are to know every field. That's where I wanna get and this screenplay is just a dream thing, that helps me practise. But I will write it, and I'll make it unpredictable and good,

Enough with the nonsense/Becoming a Filmmaker

Forget about the nonsense, I won't post un personal posts again, it's out of my character to do so. What the underlined purpose of this blog was to tell you, who read this that it is a blog of my life 20 minutes away from the Hollywood Sign and my process of becoming a filmmaker of course with association to what happens in my life. Some people claim that un personal blogs are not of interest, but of course they are and if you don't agree, I've got that side covered with my second blog Music, Truth and Tunes which I hopefully will squeeze some living money out on. 

So let's get down to business, my path to 'becoming' a film maker.

- 'Well, aren't you a film maker when you say so?'.

- 'Well, no, not exactly. Some People may argue that, but I don't. I simply, 'Wants To Become' one.

- 'Ed Wood, was a filmmaker even if he didn't know anything.

- 'Yes, he was, but on the other hand he was also the worst film maker of all time and yes there's a difference, he actually made movies. I've only made a school project short film.

So that's what I am going to argue. Enough with 'YouTube' nonsense unless it doesn't really mean anything.

The Sense of Everything Coming Together

As I entered school for my first day I did it with somewhat hate and pain, towards the world as it is financially and especially with a look on what's happening to the Swedish economy, it not a downturn it is simply a disaster.

Entering my first class, Color Theory in Digital Entertainment I shortly started to see how everything I've been learning so far comes together. The creation of advertisments, how they appeal to us as learned in my Communication 1 classes. I leave the class in shock over the prices for supplies in the class, thinking about one thing; 'This class should be a 4 Unit Class for all the money I spend on it'. I start my second class and in Film Studies 1 we get to break down movies as how the appeal to us. In a historical sense and how the business model works like as well as the elements of story which contains three classes I have taken; Storytelling, Race and Gender History in the US and Communications 1. All these elements come hand in hand and also help in the process of knowing the basics in a production which was learned in Broadcasting Production. Non of these classes but Color Theory and Storytelling is included in my major, many of them just taught to me from personal interest and manditory 'G-E' requirements but I sense the inspiration of knowledge that has been given to me and I like the second day of school with Mr. Keeshen in Storyboarding, simply because its fun.

This is a strange event or feeling for me, for the first time in my life I really enjoy going to school.

It starts with an F and ends with a K.

I have no clue what will happen now.

The Swedish Krona has dropped down huge during the last 24 hours.

As it is right now the one American Dollar costs us, 8.7 Swedish Crowns.

When I moved here I payed 6.5 for it. Talking about losing the sense of touch.

Tomorrow I am paying my student tuition, it's going to cost me 400$ more than planned.

That's news that does not only sucks, they put me in a very difficult position for the upcoming 4 months.

What's up with Joaquin Phoenix?

The Tensions of 'Finals Day'

It is strange, how the tension on the day of finals seem to reflect my past of 'emotional experiences'. Walking across campus at a day like 'finals day' the cool wind blow through a day when most students walk through it. I reminds me of my first days of elementary school every year. How there lies a tension in the air, a wind or a breeze of calm and tension that floats through the air. It feels in the Cafeteria or in every hallway, it is around us, in the library and everywere.

It's the calm before the storm and if reflects a semester as it has come to its end, as all knowledge gained is to be used for proving that we are enough. That we have obtained the quotas we have to obtain. We normally don't reflect the end of something like a semester, but as this winter semester approaches its end I do reflect back what I have learned and I sense my tension as I hope for the best. It is also not about this moment, but about the reason that we all come here for. For our future and the knowledge we need to succeed forward with our life and the future of ours. I feel nervousity, hope and reliability on that I will succeed as we all should feel.

Anthony & The Johnsons

As a conclusionn I would like to wish all students good luck as a nice gesture and I praise the mythic atmosphere of our chance and hopes to maintain our dreams alive.

Today we listen to Anthony & The Johnsons new album 'The Crying Light' (Review on Music, Truth and Tunes later today)

It Struck Me...

It struck me as a ligthning. 

The realizing of my upcoming days.

In this week of finals, I have so much,

and I mean so much of homework and studies 

to do.

I tell myself good luck and take a deep breath.

And I start. Yeah it's really that much.

Caught on the Lincoln Line

I sit on the bus, longing for it to get to my stop at Broadway/California from Pico Blvd. when I catch a discussion between an old man in old clothes, beard and a typical bum-fashionable way (if I get the permission to stereotype) and an old upper classy kind of way lady. The man had paintings with him, very beautiful indeed but the thing about the conversation was that this man and the old lady were talking about how she was a collector and he was an artist that had sold his work to artists and celebrities such as Madonna, Paris Hilton and Barbara Streisand. 

She replied with triumphs of her life as well such as having a daughter that was an actress starring in a Madonna-Movie and that she now was a make-up artist for very famous people.

I ask my self, bitterly cold (since I am only wearing flip-flops); 'Why on earth are they riding the low-class-of-society buses in the city of cars and freeways when he sells paintings to the Hollywood elite and she has a daughter of high class entertainment with a salary I could only dream of?

The man closes the discussion as we approaches Rose Ave. by saying 'You never know how you gonna meet on the bus, that's what I love about LA'. With my Swedish sentiment I would to reconstruct the sentence by saying 'You never know how's going to bullshit you in LA' even though that the credibility is higher here than in any other city.

A Side Note: I would like to correct the last sentence from my previous blog today by saying 'a cold because colder temperatures increase the risk of receiving germs or viruses that get you sick' instead of saying '...get the flu' 

Good Days, Bad Days

A Negative Effect of Optimism in 'Sunny' California

It is obviously not summer going on right outside now. Heavy winds and pouring rain has left me out, the weather has bailed on my presence to the day, today. Wearing nothing but a long sleeve, jeans and some flipflops and of course my sunglasses. I was fooled by the morning sunshine that struck by and in the middle of this messy and terrible California weather I have one good news, my Comm 1 classes are cancelled until Thursday.

Always appreaciate what you get, days of, recovered sleep and of course last but not least, a very high possibility to get the flu.

Reaching Full Writing Mode and sharing Oscar Reflections

Approaching the always so terrible 'Final Exam' week I am finally reaching back to the first progress of re-inventing myself for better purposes. I have started writing my first full length film script and I have started to find leading main ideas for a short film which I will try to shoot myself.

And as the world present itself for being the main problem I also find inspiration to write emotional, meaningful small stories that unfortunately maybe won't be considered astonishing and highly originally creating but according to me quite necessary to write. Not to consider myself a prophet but rather an inspired human that likes good stories and most of all wants to write those not-yet-created to make sure to at least try to make them done (Seriously one of the longest sentences I have written, dot). 

Not much but a thing-piece.

As approaching to my favorite event of the year, 'The Oscars' I am making my early predictions. They will probably change as we reach 'the Day' but so far my predictions are;

Actor in Supp. Role: Heath Ledger for the Dark Knight, Actress in Supp. Role: Viola Davis or Amy Adams for 'Doubt', Actor in Lead. Role: Mickey Rourke for 'The Wrestler', Actress in Lead. Role: Kate Winslet for 'The Reader'. Directing: Danny Boyle for 'Slumdog Millionaire', Original Screenplay: 'Happy-Go-Lucky', Adapted Screenplay: 'Slumdog Millionaire' or 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' and the Picture will be 'Slumdog Millionaire'

 

Strange Wilderness? I grew up with moose around me!

Good thing to know!