Horrorflix - Holy fuck up.

Little harsh maybe.

I finally managed to upload the final cut of Horrorflix version 2.0. I've been getting exceedingly frustrated with the fact that my movies look like shit. Not necessarily from my film making ability, but rather the quality. They're pixelated like nothing else. I've been doing all manner of things to try and get the quality up, but to no avail. No, considering I've spent nearly $4000 or so on top notch equipment and software, this is something I was really shitty about.

I was going through the instructions for both my camera and software, and I think I may have found the solution. Only thing is, it may mean I have to completely re cut the film. No a prospect I'm looking forward to.

I did a quick cut of something else we started working on a while back that just wasn't working. It's still being uploaded, so I'll stick it up later, but below is the final cut of Horrorflix. Lucy - my song maiden - is going to try a redo of the sound, so I'm half tempted to go through and fix the video myself, which is going to be a lot of work, but hopefully it'll be worth it.

Anyway, let me know what you think. This damn flick has been floating around for ever.

Back to the Bunny

So I finally worked out the remaining few pages on Robotoon 3. I had the first 15 and the last 9 figured out, but I was stuck in the middle. There was a whole sequence I had planned on including, but if I did it the way I wanted to, it would have required another 8 pages in the middle, at least. Considering I have three months to get this finished in time for Supanova, I needed to try and find a way around that.

So tonight, Finally, I figured out the last two pages. It still works, and I can just save the sequence for another story. It was one joke, which just extended the story. It'll float around in the cesspool of consciousness until I can work it into something else.

I've got a large amount of the pages photocopied and transferred onto the final art board, and I've gotten into the inking. Since I've finally relented and abandoned the brush and ink, things seem to be moving a lot faster, I hate to admit. So, a few months work and I'll have another chapter in this continuing saga.

The Long Hard Goodbye.

I've got this strange affliction that seems to hit with an alarming regularity.

I was a really lonely kid. Never had many friends throughout the last couple years of primary school and all throughout High School. Never really knew why. Maybe I was just an obnoxious little shit. Who can really judge their personality at that age?

After leaving High School and going to college, I started being able to make friends. But I started noticing a nasty trend. Every time I became good friends with someone, they'd leave. No jokes please. I can tell better ones than you.

It was this strange coincidence that my friends would suddenly need to move, or change state, or go inland or whatever. Being paranoid? My best mate from college moved to the Philippines. My friends from Camp are in Perth, England, and the US. The parents of my god children packed up and went to the US. David and Eliza went to England, Chris and Amie went to Wagga, Joy went to England, Mel moved to Melbourne, Glen and Ted are packing up and moving to Mudgee. . . The list goes on.

And now, my best mate Tony is moving up to Gosford.

The worst thing about this is that, thanks to modern technology, you get to see photos of these people and how their lives are going. That's not a bad thing. All of them seem to be thriving, which is what I would hope for them all. But the overwhelming feeling you get is that you're missing out. All these people whose lives are so important to you, and you feel like you don't get to share in their lives. This may sound like selfishness, and maybe it is. But on the flip side, they don't get to share in your life either.

I was trying to think of someone who could come with me to this film festival if my girlfriend didn't want to come. I couldn't think of anybody.

It's a horrible feeling when you feel like you're losing all your friends.

Weddings, Weeks off, Film festivals and Ghost of Girlfriends past.

Why are my headings longer than most people's blogs?

Anyway. It seems I moved into my new home just long enough to disappear for a week. I had my first 'holiday' in possibly about 7 or 8 years. It essentially consisted of me jumping in a car and driving for 6 days.

I planned it to so my time off work coincided with my friends Chris and Amie's wedding. Considering that half of the people who read this blog ARE Chris and Amie, this news may be slightly redundant. Tony and I headed up on the Friday before the wedding, and made it in time to pick up my suit and hang out with the happy couple before heading to the Rehearsal. We were delayed by a stop in Gundagai, which why there hasn't been a horror movie set in that town, I don't know. Anyway, from the rehearsal, we went to Chris's best friend and Best man Ben's place for a BBQ. So we could find the place, Chris arranged to ride in my car and direct us. After which, he promptly got into a DIFFERENT car and forgot all about us.

This is why we love Chris. The fact he remembered he was getting married still slightly bewilders me.

On Saturday, we headed out to their place, found out Amie was getting her hair done, so, with my video camera in tow, we headed out. After talking and filming the girls briefly - which I forgot to change the mic input on, so there's no sound - we headed for Ben's place to talk to Chris. Where Tony and I had a blast playing with Steve's Nerf gun collection. The comparison between the Bride's pre-wedding preparation and the Grooms still staggers and amuses me.

Amie entrusted me with picking up the cake and delivering it to the reception room. I don't think bomb disposal crews are as careful moving things as we were. Getting to the reception room early - which looked great - gave me a chance to go over things with the Matre De there as to how to work things, considering I was one of the Groomsmen and also the MC. We sorted it out, I checked the mic, tried a joke with Tony that did NOT work and took off. During the rest of the day, I ran from one place to another, checking in on things, making as many jokes as I could to keep people as relaxed as possible. Hopefully this worked. I enjoyed it, cause it made me feel like I was contributing more than just showing up.

We made it to the park where the wedding was going to be an hour early, as requested. It was warm, but not too bad. The spot Chris and Amie picked was really lovely, right by a small duck pond with a little alcove. We set up the table for the wedding certificate and the flowers and such - wrong, apparently - and waited. Amie was only about 10 minutes late - she's so punctual, I think even honouring this tradition was a little much for her. She looked absolutely beautiful in her dress, with her grandfather walking her down the aisle. The wedding went off without a hitch. Amie got a little choked up a few times while reciting her vows, but it was rather sweet.

Afterwards, we got photos taken and headed into the reception area. We got in, sat down, got fed, talked, laughed and hung out while I became exceedingly freaked out, waiting for my big moment. Being MC. Just before starting, I went and got a beer from the bar, just to get a little dutch courage in me. Usually, I have no problems talking in front of crowds, but as I've said before, Chris and Amie are both really important to me, and I wanted to give them a good show. I started by getting the crowd to sing Happy birthday to Steve, who turned thirty - That's 30! - on the same day as the wedding. I then got into my speech, which I mostly winged, and introduced the other speakers. I made some jokes, told some stories, poured my heart out and people seemed to enjoy themselves and laugh at all the right places. I did find out later, however that I inadvertently mentioned a couple things that Amie wished I hadn't. Which gutted me. The fact that she hadn't enjoyed the whole of my time with the Mic, which was what I truly was hoping for, completely floored me. I'm still a little regretful about it. Although I did love her comment of "I'm going to be mad at you for the next 45 minutes, then I'll forgive you, but I'll NEVER FORGET!"

The rest of the night was great. We danced and drank and generally just had a good night. I had a really good time, except for one little thing. My Ex, who was also a brides maid. I had been extraordinarily mad at her ever since we broke up about 18 or so months ago. I was aware of this, but not quite how much, as this was the first time I'd seen her or had to spend any elongated amount of time with her since. I was trying very hard to be nice, but it was really difficult.

The next day, we all hung out at the house the Richmond crew was renting while they were up there for a BBQ. I'd had enough of how bad I was feeling around Paula, so I straight away went and found her and we had a little chat. No, we had quite a large chat. I poured it all out. How angry I was, how much she had pissed me off, some of the stupid stuff she had pulled when we were together. She had a few things of her own to say, and it all came out as well. We weren't nasty about it, although I did say a few things through clenched teeth. And a really unexpected thing happened. It all went away. All the anger and resentment and hurt and whatever else was churning around inside me just left. We were actually getting along for the rest of the night, which I think everyone else appreciated. One person told me the frostiness between us could snap freeze a charging rhinoceros. I haven't forgiven her completely just yet. But I am forgiving her.

So, we finally left on the Monday, after getting Chris and Amie home safely and headed for Thurrioul, which is just north of Wollongong. I just wanted some time away from the world for a while, and there was a beach there. Ness came up and met up with us, and we had a good time. We spent one day at the Buddhist temple on the other side of Wollongong, which is freaking huge!

While we were in Thurrioul though, we got a call from Tony's new lady love, asking about our entries in a film festival. Long story short - which I'm sure you're hoping for by now - I'm shortlisted. My film The Lot is being screened. I'm going to post some details up here later.

Came home, was knackered, cleaned up my house, went to sleep.

The end.