Reform

As the swirling reaction to the landmark health care reform ensues and the country continues to divide itself, it's nice to know that we've knowledge from behind to keep hope for ahead:

"I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions. I think moderate imperfections had better be borne with; because, when once known, we accommodate ourselves to them, and find practical means of correcting their ill effects. But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the same coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

-- Th. Jefferson to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1810

Photography

I've wanted for ages to buy a still camera. When Canon came out with the 7D, a beautiful hybrid of still and motion photo possibility, I set my sights on that. Now with the release of the Rebel T2i, a slightly less intricate, but altogether almost-equivalent camera, I'm seeing my fantasy coming closer to reality. I've already started saving. In the mean time, I think it's wise to share some of my favorite photography bits and pieces...

Arsonist Photography | I first met Christian, founder of Arsonist, when I first met my lovely boyfriend. He was getting his headshots redone and the three of us ventured into East LA to have a photo shoot. I tagged along as a "stylist" - pretending to pick at T's messy hair or fix his shirt collar - when really I was there to flirt with my soon-to-be-boyfriend. That aside, Christian does wonderful work - fresh and clean - while bringing out the most wonderful and unique aspects of his subjects and their portraits.

http://www.arsonistphotography.com

Lens, NY Times | The photo blog from the New York Times features the most current photo-journalistic ventures. With my apt love for documentary filmmaking comes a similarly keen interest in photo journalism. Both require risk and commitment while never guaranteeing that the moment will actually be captured. The liveliness of the photo journalist is something which I aspire to in staged photographs, whilst the determined beauty that can be had from a staged photograph needs to be seen in the moments that fleet away in front of a war correspondent or photographer hiking through jungle canyons.

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/

Pete Souza | I've always had a love of the American presidency. I've often said that I would want to be President only to live in the house and ride on the jet. My ambition is surely for all the wrong reasons, but I've always found a fascination with the rich history, traditions, customs and oddities that have come from the stories of our presidents. I've researched the White House, its builders, its renovations, its rooms and their stories. The homes of presidents, particularly one Th. Jefferson, and have fallen in love with the objects and establishments that have seen the events of our country unfold. My current attachment to this story is through the White House Photographer, Pete Souza. During the Bush years, I hardly saw photos of the President working or living. With this administration and its openness, I have seen things about the day-to-day presidency that I find fascinating and never thought I would have seen.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewhitehouse

Troy Paiva | A wonderful photographer who has set out to document Old America by night--the passing fad fading into the oblivion of its own aspiration. Or at least that's what I take from his vibrant, saturated images of broken down cars and ghost towns. Check out the full gallery set here:

http://www.lostamerica.com/

Boston Response

So here's the thing. I've been away for a very long time. And I say that as if a screaming mass of thousands has been clamoring since June 15 of last year to hear my next utterance. Well I'd like to think they have...

It seems that I could make another excuse for why I was gone so long. Following that, I'd promise to stay loyal to the blog. Again. But I've realized that the reason why it has been so long since I last posted is because I didn't really have anything to keep me accountable. Ya know?

Since my last post, however, I think I've found a number of things to keep me accountable. First and foremost is a change in attitude and the commitment to developing this space as a venue for the professional, creative, social, productive and downright playful facets of my life to take shape and cultivate.

I went to Boston at the beginning of this year, hoping to take a large step in my career. I was to work on a project which would not only pay well and provide a wealth of experience, but which could very well have set me on the fast track to the kinds of projects that people straight out of college hope for.

That project fell through. With its demise came a wealth of knowledge to protect my career in the future, some amazing contacts in the industry, wonderful new friends on an East Coast which had until now remained a mystery in my wholly Western-raised mind, and a wonderful experience in a brand new city!

I ate great food and drank great wine and beer. I connected with a city whose history is far richer and deeper than any other place I've been, aside from my brief trip to Europe in high school. For someone with an almost absurd love of history, and specifically, American history, this opportunity to explore sites and stories about our country's founding was an opportunity I'm glad to have had. Cruising the streets seemed more like a trip to Disneyland at first, mostly because the architecture seemed to be in caricature. What was so fascinating was that this place had existed so long ago, still exists, and continues to evolve with a connection to its rich past, while maintaining a vibrant modern existence.

Growing up in Colorado and living in Los Angeles, my perception of the East Coast has always been a fuzzy impression made by acquaintances from the region. Aside from friends, New England existed in my middle school text book as a product of the 16 and 1700's and the brief trips to New York I've experienced over the years.

The rich brick of Beacon Hill, the Boston Common and the central burial ground (not a "cemetery") host the homes, promenades and graves of individuals who founded our country, fought our Revolution, and experienced the presidency of my personal favorite, Thomas Jefferson. On one of my first days in the city, I grabbed a chai latte and wandered in front of the Statehouse (what a beautiful gold dome, reminiscent of Colorado's) and weaved my way through the graves of this tiny piece of Revolutionary America.

A lunch at Petite Robert Bistro produced a moderately entertaining croque monsieur and good conversation with a new friend. Wandering through what is the "gayborhood," I discovered another wonderful part of the city. Unlike LA, where West Hollywood is the concentrated center of gay life, or San Francisco's Castro, the city of Boston hosts the gays everywhere. A sophisticated, less showy and more subtle gay presence was not a bad thing, rather proof that Boston is a wonderfully gay city and doesn't need to flash, superficiality and glitz that LA uses to advertise its own specific gayborhood. Two words: quaint and sophisticated.

The North End, with streets so narrow and pitched it's a wonder the city has been able to host the car, a rich Italian presence gave way to the Old North Church where Paul Revere was signaled as to the British method of advance on the city. His home, also a relic to be enjoyed, had me wishing I was born into the earliest generation of our nation.

My two weeks in the city and out--a day trip to the North Shore was a wonderful, sunny experience--gave me a fresh perspective on myself and my career. The inspiration that I draw from for my own creative enterprises has been broadened. And it just takes a trip outside one's ordinary.

Great food, wonderful people, decent weather. Ok, the rain was too much, but it reminded me of home and not the monotony of Los Angeles sunshine. So yes, great food, wonderful people, great wine, decent weather and new experiences. Thank you Boston!

----

If this post doesn't make up for some of my absence, then nothing will. Boston was a blast, I can't wait to return, and the mindset/experience it gave me gives me more to be committed to as I venture forth in this thing called vie.

Yeah, I gotcha w that one. "Vie" you say. Yes, vie.

Now for some of my favorites. The list below is mostly for me to remember when I visit Boston next, but be sure enjoy it as well...

HIGHLIGHTS
{roughly ordered FOOD, then DRINKS, then OTHER}

Toro | can anyone say wonderful tapas and $5 grenache? the tuna belly was amazing (unlike the only unfortunate thing about T.W. Food--the tuna) and the packed house was full of energy

T.W. Food | they took our jackets at the door. they took our jackets at the door. find me one place in LA that does that. (and the genuine service, cozy, ten-table atmosphere, paired with simple, yet fantastic flavors and a bottle of good wine made this splurge a "schplürage." [see: http://gourmanderie.blogspot.com/2010/03/tw-food-review.html]

Espresso Royale Cafe | a wonderful college coffee and sandwich shop of the BU variety

Coppa | i had a wild boar ragu over fettucini. yes, you read that right. boar. and also made the awesome discovery that Red Sripe comes in cans?!?! yes, it does.

Border Cafe | i owe Carolyn for this treat - great margaritas, awesome Mexican food and good company

Grendel's Den | (my fave by far) tucked underground, a host of college kids, working types, and bartenders who know their beer (or at least the one guy did), a nice little jaunt

Torey Row | newer, attempting to be classy w the Cambridge crew. nice enough. ;-)

Charlie's | oh Charlie's, I still don't know how I feel about you...

Upstairs on the Square? Common? | Chris, help me out w this one. campy as hell, but wonderfully cozy w a fireplace and attentive team

Sam Adams Brewery | duh!

People's Republic | started one of our crawls, not a fantastic setup and rather deserted on Valentine's Day (:-), but worth a shot

Good Harbor Beach | my first touch of the Atlantic

the Liberty Hotel | where I stayed, the old city jail redone into a four-star hotel

South End Formaggio | wonderful, wonderful cheese and charcuterie - will be a return visit when I go back! [268 Shawmut Avenue]

Museum of Fine Arts | more John Singer Sargents than you can shake a stick at!

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery | the graves of Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa Alcott are all within ten paces of one another

Rockport and its little harbor | so damn adorable, see photo

Tuscanini's | the equivalent of 21 Choices here in LA, where flavors are original, unexpected and of the taste-bud-bursting variety

...and last, but not least

Diesel | hipster coffee shop where I'd love to sit with a book for a day. just to people watch.

Weekend Update

It's been a few days, but things are going wonderfully! On Friday, I met with some folks from the wonderful offices of BLT Recruiting, Rock Paper Scissors, and A52 -- companies working in collaboration editing commercials. Very interesting and amazing people, beautiful workspace, and clearly a high level of motivation! I look forward to talking with them some more about what they do and how I can get involved!

Saturday night, Trav and I worked the premiere of the ACME Comedy Theater's ACME Saturday Night, a sketch and comedy variety show that was performed live for an audience of one hundred and streamed online to an audience of over four hundred viewers. We worked a three camera setup in the theatre with a live cut during the performance for the feed and the potential for further editing for future showings of the first episode.

The feeling was amazing! Not only was I back running a camera for a live broadcast (took me back to the Trojan Vision days), but I was doing it alongside my beautiful man, with so many amazing people on stage and in the booth, and an electrifying audience. It was damn funny too! The show being a success and Dan Kane (the executive producer) being happy, I am pumped for next Saturday. Catch the live stream for the show at 8pm on acmecomedy.com

Then Sunday was PRIDE! Great parade, the adventures of learning to line dance in the Country Pavilion with Travis, and walking around the festival. Check out some of our photos on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RobertWWood. All-in-all, a great weekend with lots of energy to carry me through another productive week out here in L.A. :-)

R

Dear Mr. President...

Tonight, I'm sending a letter to the President. It has been sitting on my desk since the beginning of May and I lost track of getting it out to him. This is the first time that I've felt like I could actually send my thoughts to one of my leaders and have them be recognized. Every kid in America, not to mention, every twenty-two year old in America, should always feel as though their thoughts can and will be heard by those who lead our great nation. So tonight, I'm sending President Obama a piece of my mind...

Check it out below.

[inspiring. my man and our dog]

Photo by Catherine Loya. 2009.

Now is Eventually

So here's a concept.

"Now is eventually."

Travis said this tonight when we are on our way to see Up. Although he was referencing changing lanes on the highway, I realized how freaking awesome these words are.

The last few weeks, I've run myself into a rut. The post-graduation calm that came with less responsibility and no job has made me realize that despite having the opportunity to do a lot for myself, I've lost sight of what I need to be doing right now. Yes, I've managed to get myself to the gym and enjoy working out, after having failed to motivate myself to do the same over the last four years--especially when I lived right across from the one on campus.

The sleeping in has been nice too. Cups of coffee at two in the afternoon, followed by a hike up Runyon Canyon and a trip to the market for dinner supplies has been a fun little break.

But holy hell (excuse the language, religionados), I need to get myself a job. Seeing Up tonight and taking from it the amazing motivation that life is quick and you should do what you love, when you love it means that if I'm going to be making a name for myself in film anytime soon, I need to get my ass in gear.

I've made procrastination a hobby throughout my time and the word 'eventually' is common in my vocabulary. But to say that I'm going to do something now--how bout a whole host of things now--how about doing everything that I can possibly do and want to do now. How about that.

Now falls onto the time-line of life within eventuality's domain, but the implications of making now, eventually make quite the difference.

I just walked Dot around the block in my overalls and slippers. In my hand, a cold Coors Light and over my head, a full moon.

I hope that image stays in your head tonight! :-P

Down Under Mixtape

Props go out to Mr. Brian Holst, currently residing in Australia, for his seamlessly constructed new mix of goodness. Brian, a DJ, put together this Down Under Mixtape, downloadable for our listening pleasure and I must say, it's rather motivating. I took the mix with me on my latest run up Runyon Canyon here in the hills and enjoyed the beats and sounds.

Check the mix out and download it here: http://files.me.com/brianholst/fc0vrs.mp3

Here's what you're listening to.

1) Basement Jaxx / Raindrops
2) Yuksek / Tonight
3) Lykke Li / Little Bit (Villains Remix)
4) Miami Horror / Make You Mine
5) Annie / Anthonio
6) My Morning Jacket / Highly Suspicious (VHS or Beta Dee Jays Remix)
7) Pnau feat. Ladyhawke / Embrace
8) Tough Alliance / Neo Violence (Shazam Remix)
9) Röyksopp feat. Robyn / The Girl and the Robot
10) The Potbelleez / Don't Hold Back
11) Empire of the Sun / Walking On A Dream (Treasure Fingers Remix)
12) The Ian Carey Project / Get Shakey
13) Datarock / Give It Up (Kissy Sell Out's 4x4 Cello Mix)
14) Editors / Camera (SebastiAn Remix)
15) Miike Snow / Animal (Punks Jump Up Remix)
16) Cazals / Poor Innocent Boys (The Shoes Remix)
17) Munk / Down In L.A. (Shazam Vocal Remix)
18) Sia / Buttons (CSS Remix)
19) Coldplay / Viva La Vida (Thin White Duke Remix)

Kudos, Brian!

Paying the Rent

It’s three in the afternoon and I’m just starting my beautiful day. This morning (read: afternoon) I woke up to Travis’ alarm, signaling the thirteenth snooze command that meant we’d over slept the eleven o’clock mark by two hours. I really don’t have any problem with this right now. I’m enjoying life without a permanent job—at the moment at least.

The breakfast that might have happened at eight this morning—some pumpkin toast and apple cinnamon preserves, whilst thumbing through the appropriately contrasting Instinct and Pottery Barn—brought with it some comfort and a new perspective on life as it has become. As I wrote out the first rent check for our new West Hollywood apartment, I remember back to the time when I thought I would never say I was going to ever live here. For me, West Hollywood was always a cliché plastic place where I could get my rocks off on a Thursday night and then venture back to school. Now, that cliché is home.

I’m finding the presupposed and the new in this place. While it might be obvious to say that my boyfriend and I, sitting around lazily, reading through home furnishing magazines and queer rags, thinking about a run up Runyon Canyon later this afternoon with our dog, Dot, is something this town has seen before, I’ve been pleasantly surprised that we are making a unique space for ourselves.

NPR is on and apparently Chrystler is selling out to Fiat sometime this week. We had a wonderful group of friends to our place for a house-warming party that still has me glowing. Travis will be riding his bike to work later today and I’ll probably go for my run up Runyon. In all of this, this place is ours and will continue to become ours. Our neighborhood is not just stereotypically full of plastic queers and boys running around in underwear. Our neighbor, Jane, an elderly Russian woman greets us every morning as we get up to walk the dog and tells us, in broken English, how cute Dot is. We’re making a home for ourselves in a town that I always looked at as slightly unsophisticated and tragically superficial.

Honestly, I’m pleasantly surprised and a little disappointed in myself for making such assumptions. I’m learning about home as I make it in Los Angeles. I’m beginning to open up to the possibilities in store myself, my boyfriend, and our new life in WeHo. And that starts with going to drop off the rent.