The Horror...The Horror...

"It comes with very little plan or order, and if you are sometimes reminded of a hunting dog with a substandard nose casting back and forth and following any trace of interesting scent it happens to come across, that is fine with me.

But it's not a hunt. It's a dance. And sometimes they turn off the lights in this ballroom.

But we'll dance anyway, you and I. Even in the dark. Especially in the dark.

May I have the pleasure?" - Stephen King

Contemporary horror films (when ORIGINAL horror films actually do come out) have completely missed the target as of late. I understand the concepts of sex and death, but there's a way to marry these two concepts that doesn't turn the film into a collage of soft porn (hard core in some cases). Also, it seems that women have been subjected to nothing more than set pieces...waiting to be mutilated and, well, fucked. It's hard (not really) to judge the "new" horror films because they're either sequels or American remakes of overseas films. Is there not an original horror filmmaker left? I'd like to think there is. I'd settle for some adaptations right about now. Poe and King seem to be favorites of the industry (well, not at the moment, but at one time they were). Maybe the best of the horror film days are behind us. I like to think there's hope though.

I'd recommend Stephen King's "Danse Macabre" to all the horror aficionados out there. It's a great book that details the best the horror genre has to offer from comics and novels to films and radio broadcasts. The master storyteller even includes a few chilling lines of his own in the mix.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danse_Macabre_%28book%29

As an aside, AMC has a new series premiering on Sunday, "Walking Dead." I'm excited. Hopefully there won't be any running zombies. I AM NOT A FAN OF RUNNING ZOMBIES! The fact that something that's been in the ground for several decades, years, days (seconds :) ), can get up and run down living flesh with a 4.4 40 yard dash (yeah, the speed of the undead is incredible) kills it for me every time. I like the slow zombie. Slow and unstoppable. Chilling.

Check out the website (link posted below) and be sure to tune in Sunday night at 10 for the feast of flesh.

http://www.amctv.com/originals/The-Walking-Dead/

The Undeveloped Adult

"We have tears in our eyes

As we wave our goodbyes,

We so loved being with you, we three.

So do please now and then

Come and see us again,

The Giraffe and the Pelly and me.

"All you do is to look

At a page in this book

Because that’s where we always will be.

No book ever ends

When it’s full of your friends

The Giraffe and the Pelly and me."

-Roald Dahl

Great Interview with Werner Herzog

Five Rules From Jim Jarmusch

Rule #1: There are no rules. There are as many ways to make a film as there are potential filmmakers. It’s an open form. Anyway, I would personally never presume to tell anyone else what to do or how to do anything. To me that’s like telling someone else what their religious beliefs should be. Fuck that. That’s against my personal philosophy—more of a code than a set of “rules.” Therefore, disregard the “rules” you are presently reading, and instead consider them to be merely notes to myself. One should make one’s own “notes” because there is no one way to do anything. If anyone tells you there is only one way, their way, get as far away from them as possible, both physically and philosophically.

Rule #2: Don’t let the fuckers get ya. They can either help you, or not help you, but they can’t stop you. People who finance films, distribute films, promote films and exhibit films are not filmmakers. They are not interested in letting filmmakers define and dictate the way they do their business, so filmmakers should have no interest in allowing them to dictate the way a film is made. Carry a gun if necessary.

Also, avoid sycophants at all costs. There are always people around who only want to be involved in filmmaking to get rich, get famous, or get laid. Generally, they know as much about filmmaking as George W. Bush knows about hand-to-hand combat.

Rule #3: The production is there to serve the film. The film is not there to serve the production. Unfortunately, in the world of filmmaking this is almost universally backwards. The film is not being made to serve the budget, the schedule, or the resumes of those involved. Filmmakers who don’t understand this should be hung from their ankles and asked why the sky appears to be upside down.

Rule #4: Filmmaking is a collaborative process. You get the chance to work with others whose minds and ideas may be stronger than your own. Make sure they remain focused on their own function and not someone else’s job, or you’ll have a big mess. But treat all collaborators as equals and with respect. A production assistant who is holding back traffic so the crew can get a shot is no less important than the actors in the scene, the director of photography, the production designer or the director. Hierarchy is for those whose egos are inflated or out of control, or for people in the military. Those with whom you choose to collaborate, if you make good choices, can elevate the quality and content of your film to a much higher plane than any one mind could imagine on its own. If you don’t want to work with other people, go paint a painting or write a book. (And if you want to be a fucking dictator, I guess these days you just have to go into politics...).

Rule #5: Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery—celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to.” MM

Wise words from a Great American Filmmaker.

Antonio Di Robinson

A Choice

Life is about making a choice..."a choice of who you wanna be before the worms get you and your soul fly's away."

-Cornel West

Dr. Cornel West

Feature Film Project

Good day guys and ghouls. I realize it's been awhile since I myself have blogged about anything pertaining to my life. I've been writing my first screenplay for my first feature length film. I'm proud to say that after months of agonizing (and at times it became excruciatingly difficult...try writing cold turkey if you don't believe me) over the script, I'm finally finished. Well, sort of. I've done the necessary revisions and need to apply them to the actual script, but the hard part (as it pertains to the writing anyways) is finished. THANK GOD!

The working title is "Her Gates of Death." Not going to go into much detail, but the film, at its foundation, is about the subconscious evil in both men and women as it pertains to relationships.

As this will be my first feature film, I realize the hardships that lie ahead, but I welcome them with open arms. It's been a few months since I've shot anything meaningful (or anything at all for that matter) so the opportunity to step behind the camera once again is one that I revel in. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL I SAY!

I'll be shooting the film in Charleston, SC. It's been awhile since I've been down in the Holy City so the opportunity to get back is one that I'm excited about as well. I wrote the script from memory of the various locations I've visited in Charleston. My visual memory is a lot sharper than I knew. Everything was pretty clear in my mind and I only stumbled once or twice in terms of visualizing locations.

Before shooting is to commence there are a few (more than a few really) tasks that I'll need to get to: Casting, location scouting, securing locations, crew, equipment. All necessities in making one's film a reality. I have a few contacts so I'll be hitting up a few of them, but I'll be relying heavily on myself with most of the things I need to come by. I think for my first feature film it's better to rely more on myself for the experience if nothing else. I'm not going to be getting crazy though. I do KNOW I'll need help. Hopefully I don't run into to much strife when it comes to the locations I need. That's my biggest worry right now.

I have received some helpful advice from a friend (Jesse Berger) of mine who has a film debuting at this year's Charleston International Film Festival. If you would like to keep tabs on the film "Republic of Pete" (if I'm not mistaken, he'll be posting a trailer soon), his blog is: http://gawdygawdygah.blogspot.com/

I'll try to keep you posted on the coming events and struggles in shooting the film. Until then, Que Sera Sera.

Antonio Di Robinson

P.S. - I'll blog about the film's budget as time progresses.

Tim Burton's First Short Film

"And my soul from out that shadow
that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted -- nevermore. "

-Edgar Allan Poe

"The Great God Pan"

"Very good. I can fancy what you saw. Yes; it is
horrible enough; but after all, it is an old story, an old
mystery played in our day, and in dim London streets instead of
amidst the vineyards and the olive gardens. We know what
happened to those who chanced to meet the Great God Pan, and
those who are wise know that all symbols are symbols of
something, not of nothing. It was, indeed, an exquisite symbol
beneath which men long ago veiled their knowledge of the most
awful, most secret forces which lie at the heart of all things;
forces before which the souls of men must wither and die and
blacken, as their bodies blacken under the electric current.
Such forces cannot be named, cannot be spoken, cannot be
imagined except under a veil and a symbol, a symbol to the most
of us appearing a quaint, poetic fancy, to some a foolish tale.
But you and I, at all events, have known something of the
terror that may dwell in the secret place of life, manifested
under human flesh; that which is without form taking to itself
a form. Oh, Austin, how can it be? How is it that the very
sunlight does not turn to blackness before this thing, the hard
earth melt and boil beneath such a burden?"

ADDICTION

ADDICTION from Antonio Di Robinson on Vimeo.

The Body

The Body from Antonio Di Robinson on Vimeo.

Here's the trailer for a film shot in class called "The Body."

Di Rob

Working on a new script.  This one is proving to be rather interesting.  Not going to give too much away at this point, but technology is the underlying theme of the film.  Already have a main actor and actress to star in the piece.  I'll have to tighten the screws once the script is done, but I'm excited to be back to work on a project of my own.  I've been in semi-cruise control since I shot "JOURNEY".  But, now that that chapter is done, it's time to begin anew.  I'll be sure to keep you posted on the progress of the film.  

Hope you all are enjoying a few scares as it is the month of October.  Home of "All Hallows Eve" muah ha ha ha (yeah, that didn't come out right, but hey...i'm a director).  Me, I just finished watching Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining".  Even though I've seen it before, the film still manages to give me goosebumps.  The part in particular is when Jack Nicholson is in the bathroom talking to the old caretaker, Grady.  Grady is the one who offed his whole family with an ax and then put a double barrel to his head.  Something about talking to a dead guy creeps me out.   Another part that gave me the chills is the part with those damn twins.  It's when Danny is on his bike.  He strolls down the hallway and sees the two girls standing in front of him (as if this wasn't creepy enough).  They stare at one another and then flashes of their dead, butchered corpses flash as the scene cuts back and forth between the live and dead versions of the twins.  Creeps.  

I'm trying to watch at least a horror movie a week in honor of the month.  You should do the same.  Catch up on some of the fright flicks of the 70's and 80's or put on some plastic and watch some of the gore fests of the 90's and 00's.  Anyways, I gotta get to bed ladies and ghouls.  All aboard the Train To Midnight.

Antonio Di Robinson 

Journey

JOURNEY from Antonio Di Robinson on Vimeo.

I've finally gotten around to posting the finished product of my film. Hopefully the wait has caused an increased sense of anticipation. Not much else to say except, enjoy :)

Di Rob

Scene Three

I just burned a copy of the entire film onto a DVD.  I'm going to be taking it home to watch it on an actual television to get a feel for how well it's going to look.  I experienced a renewed enthusiasm for the film today while editing the credits.  It becomes hard to maintain enthusiasm for a project after having spent such an extended amount of time with it (literally day and night), but, as the project wraps, your enthusiasm and fire will return.  My second wind (as they say in basketball) has refueled my drive and I'm now geared up for a strong finish.  Excitement BABY!!! (in my best Dick Vitale voice).  In my filmmaking career, thus far, this film is definitely my magnum opus.  

As a side note, I finally figured out a name for the film.  I've decided to called it "Journey."  It came to me as I searched aimlessly for a title.  Short, simple, and sweet.  My kinda name.  I'm excited about having the opportunity to show others the film.  The nervousness has not fully set in yet.  Probably because I've been so focused on completing my film that I haven't really had the opportunity to contemplate how it will be received.  That's probably a good thing.  Having too many voices in one's head only leads to disaster in the long run.  Besides, although I've made this film for others, ultimately this film has helped me cope with my own personal issues and for better or worse I love her for that (yes, my films are my wives).  Film is my art and we shall grow and mature, together.

Hopefully we too shall grow and mature together reader.  I thank you for joining me on my journey.  Your presence is not taken for granted.  Hopefully, my films are able to teach you something about yourselves and/or cause you to look at life with a rejuvenated sense of purpose.

Alright.  The conductor has called for the last of the passengers.  Do not be afraid now.  Take my hand.  We've been together this long, why should we part ways now?  The journey is not yet over.  The darkness has not yet been lifted.  But, if you trust me, we shall break free to the light, together.  All aboard the Train to Midnight. 

Di Rob

Scene Two

As promised, this is the second post update on my film.  Still haven't figured out a name that suits the film, but it's looking better and better the more time I'm spending on it.  I just got the bright idea to separate each scene into trials.  Almost novel style.  It seems as though I've given an acknowledged nod to filmmaker Lars Von Trier with this move.  Hats off to you then friend.  I wasn't initially going to do this, but the more and more I replayed the scene transitions, the more it looked like a totally different film.  Not different, but it seemed as though the film were starting over.  The idea might crash and burn, but for now, it seems to be a pretty good alternative.  I have roughly two and a half weeks to tighten the screws on the film so I'll be spending day and night working out the kinks.  The joys of editing (no sarcasm, lol).  

I received the track I've been waiting on to cut the second and third scenes today as well.  Ben Beiny, London composer, really came through on this one.  I gave a special request as to an ambient sound in the score and he fit it in quite well.  I'm very pleased with how well both of his compositions go with the film.  It's pretty much up to me to get the most out of these gems.  I got it.  

That's pretty much all for now, but I'll continue to update you as I make strides in completing the film.  All aboard the Train To Midnight.

Di Rob 

New Project

WORKING ON A NEW PROJECT!!!  I'm super excited because I haven't gotten the chance to work on any serious projects of my own in some time.  The above image is a still from the film.  Just wanted to give you guys a taste.  Not sure of the title yet, but the theme of the film is suicide.  I'm using suicide as a metaphor for freedom.  Not freedom in the physical though.  Moreso, freedom in the mental and spiritual aspects of oneself.  It's taken me a minute to get a cut of the first scene, but I finally have something worth mentioning.  The score is going to be a pain to get right, but I have it well enough for now to get a feel for the scene.  Just for a quick plug.  I used London composer Ben Beiny for my film score.  He is an AMAZING up and coming composer.  I'll be speaking of him in posts to come.  I'll make sure to keep you all (if anyone actually reads my blog, lol) posted on the progress of my film.  All aboard the Train To Midnight.

Di Rob

Flashing Lights

I'm sitting in front of an apple computer screen typing out the fact that I have absolutely no idea what I want to blog about.  In all honesty, the only true reason I even feel the need to blog is because of a certain intonation deep within me that thinks that it is my duty to use the site since I'm a member.  Not that I don't have anything to say, I just feel that individuals that want people to know their every move are in a sense narcissistic.  To me, it's a cry for not only attention but also help.  They want your sympathy and your pity (I'm sure they mean the same thing, you know synonyms).  Funny thing is, you might as well chalk my name on that board (though I'm slowly starting to etch it out).  Moreso than anything I think that it's a societal problem.  Everybody wants to be Mr. Big Dick nowadays.  Everybody wants to "outshine" the next man.  You all know what I mean, it's the "anything you can do, I can do better" type ordeal.  I've found myself up many a nights pondering the reason behind this and I have yet to come up with an answer.  Think about the alternative.  Do you tell someone not to be all they have been called to be because there are too many people doing it?  Do you say to someone that a life in mediocrity is fine as long as you stay true to yourself.  Really?  True to mediocrity?  Who in their right (or left) mind thinks that being true to themselves is remaining in mediocrity.  Honestly, who wakes up in the morning, looks in the mirror and says, "I will not achieve my full potential...but it's who I am and I'm comfortable with that"?  That sentence reads ridiculous so picture how much worse it'd be coming out of someone's mouth.

I just had an epiphany.  Maybe, just maybe, seeking fame is the problem.  Think about it.  Why do we seek fame?  Because, of course, we want to be recognized.  We want to stand out among our peers or maybe we just like the idea of everyone looking up to us as god (there goes that pesky narcissism again).  I've noticed that nowadays people seek fame for all the wrong reasons.  They don't want to be famous because they have something IMPORTANT (I capitalize that because everyone has something to say, I just don't find that everyone has something important to say) to say, but just because they like the idea of fame and what it presents.  The classic example would be rap music.  The classic Biggie Smalls line, "Money, hoes, and clothes.." is just one representation of this idea.  Just to clarify, I'm an avid Biggie Smalls fan, I find that his music, as well as countless musicians, have hidden or subliminal messages tied to the lyrics.

But, you know something, I'm going to leave that situation out of this argument.  I think you'll find that it's a trickle down effect though.  Fame is not and should not only be established as a word that means a person's economic status within society.  Fame, and I'm sure it does, means ANY situation where a person is overexerting his or herself in trying to gain the attention of others.  Coming up, I saw a whole bunch of these types of people.  From the cheerleaders, to the athletes, to the thugs, and on and on.  Everyone remembers the scene in high school.  The sole purpose in high school was to outshine everyone...BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!!!  (sorry, I had to throw in Malcolm X)  It's the popularity contest.  That's fame as well.  To see who had the most friends, or went to the most parties, or drank alcohol every weekend, or had gotten into the most fights before graduation, or fucked the most individuals...that's fame.  Everybody knows or knows of at least one individual that falls in this category.  And this my friends is the society in which we are growing up in.  One in which we have been in competition with one another from the very beginning.  

1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.   - Matthew 6:1

I'll be ending this blog soon as I think this quote pretty much sums up my argument.  Do not feed into the idea that in order for you to be somebody you have to be known by everybody.  As my film teacher would say, "that's rubbish."  Never forget that whatever lies in store for you in your life will come with time.  Be patient and do not rush the process.  We have enough wealthy people who have become either angry at society or suicidal without the slightest inclination as to why.  Fame, in the traditional, is not all it's cracked up to be.  Not the way the world wants to give it to you.  Trust yourself, trust your gift, and trust in God. 

-Train

Where to begin?

"It can't rain all the time." That my friends is a line from a movie called The Crow. Have you seen it? I felt it right to start off with that line since that's what I've been trying to tell myself since I've been home. It has literally rained everyday, at some point in the day, since I've been back in Georgetown. Can't say I'm complaining though. The rain serves as a nice combatant for the heat.

The summer has been long thus far (especially being at home without a job), but it has been a productive one nonetheless. I've watched so many films it's borderline ridiculous. That and I've been able to watch a few of the television series that come on t.v. One that I like in particular is Burn Notice. I'm not going to run through the plot but if you haven't seen it, I'd advise you to check it out. It comes on every Thursday at 9 on USA (and the Season 2 just started last week so you haven't missed much. Go online to burnnotice.usa.com to catch up). Another show that I dig is House. After being asked what I've been watching by my friend (who is a House fanatic) I decided to catch a few episodes of the marathon that was on yesterday on USA and found the show to be quite enjoyable. I might pick it up. Haunted and Ghost Hunters are two shows that I watch(ed) on the Sci-Fi channel. Again, I'm not going to run through the plots, but log onto Sci-Fi.com to check out a few episodes online or read a synopsis of the shows.

I've even been working on a few scripts of my own. My labtop is out of commission so I've had to write them long hand, but I don't mind, that much. I'm working on this piece on infidelity that's proving to be quite interesting. I'll just that hell isn't always what you expect it to be. On top of that, I've been brainstorming a few spec scripts for some of the television series that I've watched (along with a few of my own series...maybe in the future). All in all, I've obtained good practice on the art of writing scripts and writing in general. Tedious but worth it. One thing that has helped in my writing is that I've read a fair amount of books since I've been home. Two that I'm working on now are "Woody Allen" and the other "What Color was Jesus?" They are both remarkable books. Needless to say, no synopsis will be given here, but check them out for yourselves if you're curious. I'll probably be doing a write-up for "What Color was Jesus?" so look out for that. Not soon, but sometime. I think you'll be intrigued. Alright, I think that's enough about me and my summer, until next time.

Love

Je Ne Sais Pas...

I don't know? Requiem for my dream. That's as honest as I can be. I don't know. I would be remissed if I did not tell you what I don't know. Women. I have no idea how to respond to you. Not in the sense that I don't know how to speak to you, but once it's reached that awkward "in between" where we're not really friends but we're not dating phase. And then, as many things tend to do, when everything collapses on itself and then I'm left with nothing. Something happened earlier that annoyed the heck out of me, but it's my own fault because, again, I don't know how to respond to you. The dominance and independence in me says that I should let it go, but the romantic side of me says that I've experienced, yet again, a love lost. What I'm not saying is that I was in love, but I was susceptible to it. I hate that feeling (actually, I try my best to steer clear of it) because it leaves me, more often than not, staring up at the ceiling at 3a.m. wondering why I put myself into the predicaments that I do. I'm a hopeless romantic. That might seem strange coming from a male but I don't care, it's just me. The funny thing about that is that I try to so hard to suppress those feelings because I know what they lead to. Case in point, I'm writing this blog. I'm awkward, point blank period. There's no way around it. When I'm around someone I have feelings for (until things settle in a bit) I often become shy, dry-mouthed, and at a lost for words, sometimes. This also happens when I'm in a situation where there is no understood...anything. It's hard when you start off with someone not as friends, but as "talking" because when stuff hits the fan everything usually goes downhill because you were never anything to begin with. I'm actually an alpha male who is confident (often times to the point of arrogance, I'll admit it. But humble nonetheless) about myself and what I want out of life. That does not mean that I'm immune from love and the sour taste it often leaves in the mouth of those that taste it's ever abundant fruit. Antonio you are a basket case. As people we often say "I'm independent, I don't need anyone," but this is a visage (not visade as usually pronounced) that we use in order to hide our true feelings. A mask if you will. I wear the same mask. But my situation as a filmmaker helps me to wear this mask. Being with someone makes you obligated to places. I don't want to be held back. Because of this, I'm able to distance myself from people because I know what consequences befall those that fall into that trap. See how I rationalize my actions. This is one of those things that I might never get a grip on, but who cares, right? Does it matter that you don't fall in love if people know your name? Is being alone a necessary sacrifice for greatness? Is the love of another, a true intimate love, a necessity to live a full life? Je ne sais pas...

This is just my release. Writing is how I deal with those feelings. This is my suppression. By writing about it I'm able to overtake those feelings and begin anew the journey of love (although, in reality, I don't really think that I want to be in love, I just want a woman to talk to). Let me take the time out to apologize to every woman that I've ever done wrong to. I'm truly sorry. I'm not saying that I won't mess up in the future, but for the time being, it is with a clear conscious that I say that I am truly sorry, I know I've made my mistakes and I accept that. I love you all. Each and every one of you have taught me something and have helped mold me into who I am becoming. I wish you all the best life has to offer.

Don't strive to live in the moment, strive to live in history,

Antonio

God and Society

Hey peeps. Hope all is well within your realm of living (or existing). I was watching a video on Youtube earlier today (My Life by The Game ft. Lil' Wayne) and the images in the video really struck a chord in me. In particular, the image of the Angel tombstone in the scenes where Game and Wayne are at the cemetery. I'm not going to do a summary of the video, but I'll post it at the end of this note for those that would like to have a visual reference point to go on. To be honest, I'm not 100% positive where I'm going with this, but I ask that you all please keep an open mind and a willingness to understand my thought process. Walk with me.

God and Society. The two seem to coexist right? After all, in essence, God is society. Without Him, there is no society because society is made up of the individual and the individual is God manifested in flesh and blood. But why...why has society been operating without the God which created it. I say this because we as humans have done what we are prone to do; taken God and molded him to fit our own personal situations. The depiction of the Angel in the cemetery is one telling sign of this. Folks, it is imperative that you remember that the earth, in its' current state, is not God's kingdom. Yes, America, "In God We Trust," but this is not His kingdom. It belongs to Satan.

"But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!" (Revelation 12:12 RSV)

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 RSV)

I've included these two scriptures as points of reference to help you better understand what I'm saying. Read your Bible for further information. What I'm saying is that in the video "My Life" the hate, death, and life of turmoil they experience has not been brought upon them and their people by God, but themselves. Lil Wayne's line "Dear Lord you done took so many of my people, I'm just wondering why you haven't taken my life," is false. False because he's not asking the right god that question. God has not taken anyone away through crime. They've cut themselves off. The wages of sin is death, period. Everything has a consequence. It's the natural order of things. You can't do wrong and hope to receive good. The reason I'm approaching this issue is because I operate within the realm of media and I fully understand the influence it has on its' consumers. People in ghettos, slums, projects, and neighborhoods everywhere that have heard this song has probably uttered the same words "Dear Lord you done took so many of my people, I'm just wondering why you haven't taken my life." They have become jaded into thinking that God is the source of their problems. God is not death, but He understands, as should you, that death is necessary to return to Him. But His gift to you through death is eternal life, but what He does not want for you to do is struggle while living on earth (which in all respects is a veritable hell). Problem is, we have gotten so caught up in the "struggle" and hustling and our neverending pursuit for the dollar that we have forgotten the scriptures:

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: For they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

"And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: For the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

Matthew 6:24-34

We've forgotten that Jesus spoke in parables or stories so we could relate to what he was saying. He saw the troubles we would experience before we knew earth and answered our questions before we thought of them. But, we have allowed popular culture to tell us what we want and what we should have in order to coexist with the rest of society. We have become a consumer people and when we can't have what we want we blame God. But when we get what we want, we thank Satan. "Is not the body more than raiment?" When you leave this earth what will be your legacy? I read on Brittany Ashley's blog (who, may I add, is an up and coming writer to be reckoned with) the words, "Do not let the universe regret you." Enough said.

God and what He represents is no longer apart of this world. God and Society, for now, are two separate entities. The people are to blame. Society is made up of the individual. The individual shapes society. The society decides the media. The media tells the consumer...you get the picture. It's a never ending cycle. To bring my argument back to center, the images in the video "My Life" though rather powerful, are false in the context in which they are used and because of this, they are falsely shaping the minds of the youth and adults alike. It'd be good to learn to decipher images for yourselves. It helps one determine what is being falsely represented and it helps one educate those around them about the falsehoods. This could lead people to stop falsely blaming and claiming God.

To everyone who walked with me, thanks. Take my message in stride and learn from it, that's all I ask. If you would like to respond in a note of your own, I encourage it. Tag me please. I think this is an important issue that I'll be dealing with in upcoming films and articles in the present and future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mFQdXFfnb0&feature=channel_page

Don't strive to live in the moment, strive to live in history,
Antonio