Jason's Blog http://influencefilms.com/jasonsblog.cfm Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:50:00 GMT http://bandzoogle.com IN THE WORKS... http://influencefilms.com/jasonsblog.cfm?feature=471880&postid=481065  Working on something really exciting and really geektastic.  All I will say for now is....this new project is very exciting and a big responsibility.  Oh and if anyone asks, the new costume is for Halloween, I swear. responsibility.  Oh and if anyone asks, the new costume is for Halloween, I swear.


]]> Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:50:00 GMT 6C8BA4726E88837A57EB56F12E1434F3 The Deaths of Spider-Man and Michael Jackson http://influencefilms.com/jasonsblog.cfm?feature=471880&postid=89872 <a target="_new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPu20rQ1Lkg&amp;feature=channel_page">&quot;The Death of Spider-Man&quot;&nbsp;was filmed on May 23rd, 2009. It was a video shoot like the other Influence Films video shoots of the past. It was a fun experience with friends and captivating to watch one of my favorite childhood heroes come to life: Spider-Man. &nbsp; Once&nbsp;<a target="_new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPu20rQ1Lkg&amp;feature=channel_page">&quot;The Death of Spider-Man&quot;&nbsp;was filmed, I put the footage away and planned to edit it in the middle of June and have it released by August. Before June 25, 2009, besides my pet fish and a few distant relatives, I didn't have that much experience with death. Then on June 25, 2009, one of my favorite childhood heroes died: Michael Jackson. &nbsp; I will never forget where I was when I heard the news. I was watching TV, surfing the Internet and preparing to leave my home. Then I heard that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital. From that point until I heard the King of Pop had passed away, I was glued to the TV and Internet. My plans of leaving for the day were suddenly changed. I wanted to cry when I first saw on the TV that he had died, but I couldn't. I was just frozen. In the next few days and weeks, I remained the same way. I couldn't believe it. When I was a kid, I had posters of four people on my walls: Batman, the Flash, Spider-Man and Michael Jackson. To say Michael Jackson was important in my world, then and now, would be an understatement.&nbsp; &nbsp; In August, I&nbsp;&nbsp;finally began editing the footage from,&nbsp;<a target="_new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPu20rQ1Lkg&amp;feature=channel_page">&quot;The Death of Spider-Man.&quot;&nbsp;At first it was literally hard to watch. &nbsp;I couldn't take my mind off Michael Jackson's death. The footage of Spider-Man falling to the ground was the most difficult part to watch and edit. Around that same time, I was reading the re-released edition of J. Randy Taraborrelli's Michael Jackson biography:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_new" href="http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Jackson-Magic-Madness-1958-2009/dp/0446564745/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1254456081&amp;sr=8-2">&quot;Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;J. Randy Taraborrelli is my favorite author and his new edition of the book was a beautiful tribute to the complex life Michael Jackson lived. Reading Taraborrelli's words and editing&nbsp;<a target="_new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPu20rQ1Lkg&amp;feature=channel_page">&quot;The Death of Spider-Man&quot;&nbsp;are all I can remember doing in August and September. As I write this blog tonight, those two things along with talking to some friends, helped me take my mind off the huge loss I was feeling.&nbsp;&nbsp;I suppose one of the things that made the loss so tough was that childhood heroes aren't supposed to die.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Michael Jackson wasn't supposed to die. Except Michael Jackson did die. Unlike Batman, the Flash, and Spider-Man, Michael Jackson was both my childhood hero and a REAL human being. I suppose somewhere along the way that fact got lost on me.&nbsp;&nbsp;I dedicated the finished project to Michael Jackson's memory, and while I'm sure his legacy will live on, it will never&nbsp;&nbsp;be quite the same as knowing he is alive. Childhood heroes aren't supposed die. Hence why in&nbsp;<a target="_new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPu20rQ1Lkg&amp;feature=channel_page">&quot;The Death of Spider-Man,&quot;&nbsp;Spider-Man didn't REALLY die. &nbsp; By the time I finished editing,&nbsp;<a target="_new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPu20rQ1Lkg&amp;feature=channel_page">&quot;The Death of Spider-Man,&quot;&nbsp;complete with Mike Vaughn's amazing voice cameo, I had also finished re-reading,&nbsp;<a target="_new" href="http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Jackson-Magic-Madness-1958-2009/dp/0446564745/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1254456081&amp;sr=8-2">&quot;Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story.&quot;&nbsp;After doing both of those things, it felt like I had somehow (without realizing it) grieved the loss of one of my childhood heroes. Maybe it was knowing that in,&nbsp;<a target="_new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPu20rQ1Lkg&amp;feature=channel_page">&quot;The Death of Spider-Man,&quot;&nbsp;Spider-Man lived. Maybe it was feeling like re-reading Taraborrelli's biography made Michael Jackson live on. However, the pain wasn't as present as it was a few months ago. While I don't think any of Michael Jackson's biggest fans will ever &quot;get over&quot; his loss, I think certain things will make it easier to cope.&nbsp;&nbsp;For me, those things made it easier.&nbsp; &nbsp; While according to some reports Michael Jackson's record sales after his death broke several records, there is only one record (for me) that stands out, that his death broke. He was the first and only one of my childhood heroes to die. However, the same way throughout the world Batman, the Flash and Spider-Man live forever inside comic books and films, Michael Jackson will live forever all over the world inside his music and short-films. With that being said, the same way, the last shot of&nbsp;<a target="_new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPu20rQ1Lkg&amp;feature=channel_page">&quot;The Death of Spider-Man&quot;&nbsp;shows Spider-Man stepping into the shot and emerging to be alive and well, I keep wishing&nbsp;&nbsp;Michael Jackson with his black loafer shoes and rhinestone covered socks would emerge once again to somehow still be alive and well.&nbsp; &nbsp;For months now, I kept waiting for the day to come when I would &quot;get over&quot; Michael Jackson's death. I'm starting to realize now that will probably never fully happen. I don't believe the death of a childhood hero, or the death of anyone important to a person, should be something that is &quot;gotten over.&quot; Instead, the loss should be something that impacts you, changes you, and adds awareness and appreciation for &nbsp;what that person meant to you. The bottom line is I will never &quot;get over&quot; Michael Jackson's death, in the same way I would never get over the death of anyone else important to me. And that is okay.&nbsp; R.I.P.&nbsp;Michael Joseph Jackson&nbsp; August 29, 1958 &ndash; June 25, 2009 My Hero. Forever. "The Death of Spider-Man" was filmed on May 23rd, 2009. It was a video shoot like the other Influence Films video shoots of the past. It was a fun experience with friends and captivating to watch one of my favorite childhood heroes come to life: Spider-Man.

 

Once "The Death of Spider-Man" was filmed, I put the footage away and planned to edit it in the middle of June and have it released by August. Before June 25, 2009, besides my pet fish and a few distant relatives, I didn't have that much experience with death. Then on June 25, 2009, one of my favorite childhood heroes died: Michael Jackson.

 

I will never forget where I was when I heard the news. I was watching TV, surfing the Internet and preparing to leave my home. Then I heard that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital. From that point until I heard the King of Pop had passed away, I was glued to the TV and Internet. My plans of leaving for the day were suddenly changed. I wanted to cry when I first saw on the TV that he had died, but I couldn't. I was just frozen. In the next few days and weeks, I remained the same way. I couldn't believe it. When I was a kid, I had posters of four people on my walls: Batman, the Flash, Spider-Man and Michael Jackson. To say Michael Jackson was important in my world, then and now, would be an understatement. 

 

In August, I  finally began editing the footage from, "The Death of Spider-Man." At first it was literally hard to watch.  I couldn't take my mind off Michael Jackson's death. The footage of Spider-Man falling to the ground was the most difficult part to watch and edit. Around that same time, I was reading the re-released edition of J. Randy Taraborrelli's Michael Jackson biography:  "Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story."  J. Randy Taraborrelli is my favorite author and his new edition of the book was a beautiful tribute to the complex life Michael Jackson lived. Reading Taraborrelli's words and editing "The Death of Spider-Man" are all I can remember doing in August and September. As I write this blog tonight, those two things along with talking to some friends, helped me take my mind off the huge loss I was feeling.  I suppose one of the things that made the loss so tough was that childhood heroes aren't supposed to die.   Michael Jackson wasn't supposed to die. Except Michael Jackson did die. Unlike Batman, the Flash, and Spider-Man, Michael Jackson was both my childhood hero and a REAL human being. I suppose somewhere along the way that fact got lost on me.  I dedicated the finished project to Michael Jackson's memory, and while I'm sure his legacy will live on, it will never  be quite the same as knowing he is alive. Childhood heroes aren't supposed die. Hence why in "The Death of Spider-Man," Spider-Man didn't REALLY die.

 

By the time I finished editing, "The Death of Spider-Man," complete with Mike Vaughn's amazing voice cameo, I had also finished re-reading, "Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story." After doing both of those things, it felt like I had somehow (without realizing it) grieved the loss of one of my childhood heroes. Maybe it was knowing that in, "The Death of Spider-Man," Spider-Man lived. Maybe it was feeling like re-reading Taraborrelli's biography made Michael Jackson live on. However, the pain wasn't as present as it was a few months ago. While I don't think any of Michael Jackson's biggest fans will ever "get over" his loss, I think certain things will make it easier to cope.  For me, those things made it easier. 

 

While according to some reports Michael Jackson's record sales after his death broke several records, there is only one record (for me) that stands out, that his death broke. He was the first and only one of my childhood heroes to die. However, the same way throughout the world Batman, the Flash and Spider-Man live forever inside comic books and films, Michael Jackson will live forever all over the world inside his music and short-films. With that being said, the same way, the last shot of "The Death of Spider-Man" shows Spider-Man stepping into the shot and emerging to be alive and well, I keep wishing  Michael Jackson with his black loafer shoes and rhinestone covered socks would emerge once again to somehow still be alive and well. 

 For months now, I kept waiting for the day to come when I would "get over" Michael Jackson's death. I'm starting to realize now that will probably never fully happen. I don't believe the death of a childhood hero, or the death of anyone important to a person, should be something that is "gotten over." Instead, the loss should be something that impacts you, changes you, and adds awareness and appreciation for  what that person meant to you. The bottom line is I will never "get over" Michael Jackson's death, in the same way I would never get over the death of anyone else important to me. And that is okay. 

R.I.P. Michael Joseph Jackson 
August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009
My Hero. Forever.

]]> Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:30:00 GMT 7BD96BC80088AE2F92D252033BBCC46D Mortal Kombat: The Tobias Diamond is here...AT LAST!! http://influencefilms.com/jasonsblog.cfm?feature=471880&postid=40298 &nbsp;  ]]> Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:55:11 GMT B791A4407C627F79B88E6DD683244486 MORTAL KOMBAT BLOG...PART II http://influencefilms.com/jasonsblog.cfm?feature=471880&postid=39451 Just about finished with editing the Mortal Kombat fan film, &quot;The Tobias Diamond.&quot; I have a few more things to touch up and then ending credits to throw on it, except I'm willing to bet I'll add more to this small list as I go.&nbsp; Did I mention that Harley Quinn will soon be going on a blind date with Pee-Wee Herman? Incase you missed it when the guys at <a target="_new" href="http://fanfilmpodcast.mypodcast.com/2009/04/Fan_Film_Podcast_Episode_42-198704.html">Fan Film Podcast interviewed <a target="_new" href="http://fanfilmpodcast.mypodcast.com/2009/04/Fan_Film_Podcast_Episode_42-198704.html">ME, that is the next project that is coming up. It will be a nice change of pace to work on a comedy. I have to give lots of credit to my friend, Ryan for writing the script. (It is a very unique skill to bring together these 2 characters, make it funny and true to the source material....,oh and under 10 minutes!) However, he pulled it off. &nbsp;More on that soon. Back to editing the Mortal Kombat film, so it can make it's April release date/timeline. (April isn't over yet.) One more thing, is blogging procrastinating? &nbsp;I hope not.
Did I mention that Harley Quinn will soon be going on a blind date with Pee-Wee Herman? Incase you missed it when the guys at Fan Film Podcast interviewed ME, that is the next project that is coming up. It will be a nice change of pace to work on a comedy. I have to give lots of credit to my friend, Ryan for writing the script. (It is a very unique skill to bring together these 2 characters, make it funny and true to the source material....,oh and under 10 minutes!) However, he pulled it off.  More on that soon.

Back to editing the Mortal Kombat film, so it can make it's April release date/timeline. (April isn't over yet.) One more thing, is blogging procrastinating?  I hope not.
]]> Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:00:00 GMT C7BD3F5AED15B2DA9995719407544139 New Mortal Kombat Fan Film & More http://influencefilms.com/jasonsblog.cfm?feature=471880&postid=35712 I'm sorry for the blogging down-time, but right after filming wrapped on, &quot;The Flash: Crossover.&quot; I wanted some downtime before putting it all together. Then after the short-film was totally edited, it hit YouTube and I turned into a shameless promo guy plugging the short-film everywhere except my own blog! Ha! So anyway just wanted to let you know that there's another fan film on the way. This one will be based on some characters from the popular video game series, Mortal Kombat. The script is really solid and the costumes look AMAZING. Also, there is some other cool stuff happening later this month - but I promise I will keep you updated better this time around. As for what I'm doing at this point in time, I am finishing up some pre-production stuff for the Mortal Kombat short, that we are FILMING THIS SATURDAY...YIKES. I'm out.
So anyway just wanted to let you know that there's another fan film on the way. This one will be based on some characters from the popular video game series, Mortal Kombat. The script is really solid and the costumes look AMAZING. Also, there is some other cool stuff happening later this month - but I promise I will keep you updated better this time around.

As for what I'm doing at this point in time, I am finishing up some pre-production stuff for the Mortal Kombat
short, that we are FILMING THIS SATURDAY...YIKES. I'm out.
]]> Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:02:50 GMT CA4D5BAF12B5F6131E4438BA02B904B2 New FREE song, "The Joker" now available for download... http://influencefilms.com/jasonsblog.cfm?feature=471880&postid=31285 A song I recorded with Adam back in 2006 is being released to download for free. Why now? Well given the title and the theme of the song, I figured the timing was perfect. With, &quot;The Flash: Crossover&quot; about to be released online in December (or January - notice how I slipped that in?), you might be able to see why. Originally, the song wasn't going to be about everyone's favorite evil clown. I just had this chorus in my head that went, &quot;YEAAAAAH!&quot; Then it just kind of fell into place as the track progressed. Adam helped a lot with making the samples of Jack's Joker flow in the song perfectly.&nbsp; The song is available to download for a Depression 2008/2009 discount. <a href="./home.cfm">Click Here to be taken to the main page to download it. Enjoy! notice how I slipped that in?), you might be able to see why. Originally, the song wasn't going to be about everyone's favorite evil clown. I just had this chorus in my head that went, "YEAAAAAH!" Then it just kind of fell into place as the track progressed. Adam helped a lot with making the samples of Jack's Joker flow in the song perfectly.  The song is available to download for a Depression 2008/2009 discount.

Click Here to be taken to the main page to download it.

Enjoy!
]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:05:00 GMT EA65B1DCF38F5CDDBA55B028623F91DF Happy Thanksgiving! http://influencefilms.com/jasonsblog.cfm?feature=471880&postid=31232 So just a quick post to say Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. As for me, I'm spending Thanksgiving with my family and then reading the classic, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Man-Tor-Classics/dp/0812504674/ref=pd_bbs_sr_7?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1227819007&amp;sr=8-7" target="_new">&quot;The Invisible Man&quot; by H.G. Wells. Here is to wishing you a Happy (or in my case a Happy and slightly eccentric) Thanksgiving! Enjoy the company and good food. And one more thing...Next Halloween..it's on! All I'm sayin! "The Invisible Man" by H.G. Wells.

Here is to wishing you a Happy (or in my case a Happy and slightly eccentric) Thanksgiving!

Enjoy the company and good food.



And one more thing...Next Halloween..it's on! All I'm sayin!
]]> Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:10:00 GMT BEE3F95EAF7A850EF55D8628AB881CA8 A Change Is Gonna Come http://influencefilms.com/jasonsblog.cfm?feature=471880&postid=30153 November 4th is finally here.&nbsp; I already voted for Barack Obama a few days ago. (Voting early is good for you!) Some of the people I truly admire are making the same choice I am. Wade. Chris. Elle. They are the ultimate down to earth musicians in the world - and if they believe Barack Obama can bring a good change to America, I'll gladly give the guy a chance. I also spent time looking into issues, and while I wouldn't say I'm a full-blood Democrat,&nbsp;<a target="_new" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-begala/the-mccain-palin-lies-and_b_125240.html">Paul Begala&nbsp;almost converted me into one this political go-round. (For anyone who cares, I lean fully left on social&nbsp;issues and moderately left on issues dealing with the economy. That being said, I have a soft spot for&nbsp;how conservatives handle homeland security issues.) Whoa, that last sentence didn't sound fully right! Ha! Anyway, a picture is worth a thousand words. Wade put up this picture of Barack Obama on his blog months ago, and just looking at it - inspired me. It made me realize how far our country has come. More importantly, it made me give Barack Obama a second look. With that being said, I figured I would post the same picture - and maybe it would inspire the people who are going to vote today (and happen to see this). Maybe they will get the thousand words I didn't post here by looking at the same picture. The same way I did. The future&nbsp;is now... &nbsp; &nbsp; Oh yeah, and, Sarah Palin's views on social issues horrify me.&nbsp;If a 23 (almost 24) year old didn't make&nbsp;his (my) arguments for Obama clear enough,&nbsp;maybe this little girl can. &nbsp; November 4th is finally here.  I already voted for Barack Obama a few days ago. (Voting early is good for you!) Some of the people I truly admire are making the same choice I am. Wade. Chris. Elle. They are the ultimate down to earth musicians in the world - and if they believe Barack Obama can bring a good change to America, I'll gladly give the guy a chance.

I also spent time looking into issues, and while I wouldn't say I'm a full-blood Democrat, Paul Begala almost converted me into one this political go-round. (For anyone who cares, I lean fully left on social issues and moderately left on issues dealing with the economy. That being said, I have a soft spot for how conservatives handle homeland security issues.) Whoa, that last sentence didn't sound fully right! Ha!

Anyway, a picture is worth a thousand words. Wade put up this picture of Barack Obama on his blog months ago, and just looking at it - inspired me. It made me realize how far our country has come. More importantly, it made me give Barack Obama a second look. With that being said, I figured I would post the same picture - and maybe it would inspire the people who are going to vote today (and happen to see this). Maybe they will get the thousand words I didn't post here by looking at the same picture. The same way I did.

The future is now...
 
 


Oh yeah, and, Sarah Palin's views on social issues horrify me. If a 23 (almost 24) year old didn't make his (my) arguments for Obama clear enough, maybe this little girl can.
 
]]> Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:15:00 GMT 7A5F8C2F8A6AD5EB4139F5D7D3CE872F