waltmink

Project Fleischwolf. - July 8, 2009 - Update #59

Relative insanity.

Spoke on cam yesterday with Pitchfork's Ryan Schreiber and, later, with Katherine D. Both in BK.

P2 card / Mac incompatibility issues, trips to B&H, tech headaches. Working with Alex M. to pull clips and post them online. Packing up the apartment, emailing peoples and on and on.

Looks like a final NYC shoot on Friday and then it's off to Pontiac, MI.

Too much to do. Pissed at myself for not being better prepared. Oh well! It's still better than working!

More soon...

Project Fleischwolf. - July 3, 2009 - Update #58

Last night, Rob Featherstone (cinematographer extraordinnaire) and I met up with Matt Q. to talk on-camera.

This morning, we raided B&H and binged on gear for the road - an expenditure that has my stomach turning, not only because of the expenditure itself but also because it's a commitment of resources to a course of action - and that course of action means leaving NYC, getting on the road, meeting up, shooting, arriving in LA (where I will remain) to cut. And, you know, the great unknown etc etc.

Big stuff.

(written on the side of the road, via iPhone, on rt 9D just south of Beacon, trying not to hyperventilate.)

Heading home to continue packing, emailing, and otherwise readying myself.

Project Fleischwolf. ~ July 2, 2009 ~ Update #57

Update:

* Four interviews (+1 very special secret thing) going down in NYC this week and next, in advance of departure. MQ, KD, DH & RS.

*Tons of logistics and To-do items still in process - everything from advancing road interviews to moving out of my apartment, to saying my farewells...

* I'm Leaving NYC for Pontiac, MI on July 9th - one week from today.

* After Pontiac, the first leg of the USA trek takes us through downstate Illinois, then up to Chicago, through Milwaukee and Madison, then on to Minneapolis/St. Paul. Meeting up with many people during each of these stops and will make contact with others still (after the 9th).

* From there, stops will include the Southwest and both northern and southern California. More on those legs of the trip later.

* Updates from the road will be available here, on Twitter, Tumblr, (to a lesser extent) Facebook -- and of course Flickr and Vimeo.

More soon.
-Butler

Update #56 - A Green Light, Project Fleischwolf and The Cannonball Run!

WE HAVE A GREEN LIGHT:

It’s worth stating for the record that this project is officially green-lit for finishing. I am at last out of hibernation, the money is in place and I am [ VERY ] busy moving, packing, writing, planning and otherwise just generally getting ready to be up & out of this piece, on my way west, and getting psyched as all Hell to cut this thing into a movie – AT LONG LAST. I am green-lit. We are go.

Since leaving Nickelodeon, I’ve undergone a little bit of a cerebral detox, shaking off 8 years’ worth (or 10 years’ worth, depending how you count) of habits and behaviors - and a pretty entrenched general POV. Admittedly, it’s taken a little while for me to adjust to a life outside Viacom and its attendant routines; but I’m doing my best to switch over to a day-to-day that’s entirely devoted to this TOTALLY FUCKING AWESOME NEW SITUATION. What an incredible opportunity this is. I’m thrilled to see what I make of it.

My endless Thanks go out to Elvis, my other LLC members and everyone else who’s supported me in this crazy undertaking.

PROJECT FLEISCHWOLF:

Until this movie has a title, I am referring to it as Project Fleischwolf. Why? Because it’s German for MEATGRINDER and sounds pimp, and deathrock, and placeholder-y, and I endorse the Corporate Law Firm practice of assigning ridiculous project names to their high-stakes deals. [This is a fleischwolf.]

This is something I promised a long time ago – and I will try to make good on it over the coming weeks – I’m going to try sending out individual emails everyone and otherwise reconnecting as I re-energize myself and the project and get everything rolling. Hopefully, I will be able to send person emails (as well as sms, photo and video updates to Twitter, Vimeo, etc.) from the road as we head off on our own version of -

THE CANNONBALL RUN:

I will embark on a meandering westward journey to LA, driving in my totally sick 2006 Volkswagen GLI, hitting key cities and linking up with some really great people, all in service of the final push on the film. As of today, departure from NYC is set for the week of July 5. Those of you on the meet-up list have likely already heard from me, but some of you will be receiving an email in the coming days.

Before departing, I will post here again, including a rough itinerary (as it is likely to change and shift around) as well as info on the best way to follow everything, should you be so inclined. We will be posting dailies and other video from the road to Vimeo, and I’ll b updating Flickr, Tumblr etc. - as well as this site - as we progress.

As exciting as this opportunity to drive cross country and reconnect with people is, and as great as it will be to retrace my earliest steps and film these final sequences, I'm most looking forward to editing in California.

Stay tuned.
-Butler

.: http://zsumoz.com
.: http://twitter.com/zsumoz
.: http://www.vimeo.com/zsumoz
.: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zsumoz

Update #55

Very successful day yesterday.

Thanks to Alison Walsh , Rob Featherstone, Chris Verene & Scott Norton for their patience and help yesterday.

Looming departure date of July 5 for setting out on the road.

More to come.

-Butler

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.: http://zsumoz.com

Update #54 - Departure email

To all of my esteemed colleagues and dear friends at Nickelodeon,

Today is my last day with Nick.com.

In the coming weeks, I will embark on a meandering cross-country adventure, the production of a hit motion picture and will temporarily relocate to sunny Los Angeles, California – USA!

May your talent, dedication and hard work continue to carry you far. I will miss you.

- Dr. Butler

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keep in touch (if you dare).

[e] christopherbutla@mac.com
[p] 646.242.7793
[web] http://zsumoz.com

P.S. For those of you who are curious, I’m working on the sequel to this:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa7ck5mcd1o

P.P.S. That’s not true.

California

Update #53 - MAY DAY. I Quit My Job. Roof Party. MAYDAY!

Yesterday, May 1, I left my job. May 15 will be my last day. Time to get to work.

Here's the party invite I'm sending around to people this weekend:

--------------------------------------

Mein Freunds,

After nine years of service, I have resigned my position with Nickelodeon Online. 

Circumstances and resources have aligned, enabling me to emerge from hibernation on my ass-kicking rock & roll film project, so I’m setting forth on its completion ASAP. Which means:

(1) I’m driving across The United States of America to Los Angeles, California,* where I will do some work. Which, in turn, means:

(2) I’m throwing my last great, big, springtimey, all-afternoon, all-night-long roof party in Brooklyn to celebrate & kick things off, and (C)** I’m going to take the largest group portrait in the history of the roof (with an enormous, fancy old-timey camera) so would you please be so kind as to:

•    Attend.
•    Deliver yourself to 82 Green Street, Apt. #4 on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
•    Arrive by 7:00 PM, latest. Sunset is 8:06 PM, so we will be photographing before then.
•    RSVP.
•    Tell your friends. Cools only.
•    Bring your best pair of sunglasses. Wear something crazy, fancy or nothing at all. What I’m saying is, it’s picture day. Dress accordingly.

Hope to see you there,
Chris

* Los Angeles is temporary. (I know, I know - everyone says this. Then, you blink your eyes, and before you know it it’s 2023 and you’ve got leather skin, calf implants and you’re running your own colonic joint.)

**C is the new 3.

Update #52 - The Ultimate Road Trip, Photography & Movie Making Adventure USA!! [?]

A first thought for what would be, for me, The Ultimate Road Trip, Photography & Movie Making Adventure USA!!:

• New York City to Detroit, MI. (First stop, friends.)
• Detroit, MI to Chicago, IL.
• Chicago, IL to Minneapolis, MN.
• Minneapolis, MN straight south to Austin, TX.
• Austin, TX to Albuquerque, NM.
• Albuquerque, NM to Tucson, AZ.
• Tucson, AZ to Phoenix, AZ.
• Phoenix, AZ to Las Vegas, NV.
• Las Vegas, NV to sort of like the Grand Canyon or whatever.
• Grand Canyon and general mind-blowing vastness to Yellowstone.
• Yellowstone to Portland, OR via some fast fast fast highways in Montana.
• Portland, OR. to San Francisco, CA.
• San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA, via PCH.
• "You have reached your destination."

Update #51 - Please Stand By

Please stand by for important announcements in the coming weeks. Thank you for your patience.

- Christopher