VCC Christmas Show Teasers

This year The Christmas Show at the Vineyard will unwrap the nativity story on stage and screen. Six characters in six different art forms and styles that will work together to give you a fresh perspective on the nativity story. A mix of humor, drama, dance, original music and perhaps a couple streamer-launching cannons...turns out the Nativity Wise Men are a little miffed they were overlooked in the casting process this year...

















Reserve your seats at tix.vineyardcincinnati.com

Defying The Odds... Part 2

I really enjoy sociological research, but I don't like to read lengthy studies. Therefore, the studies yahoo posts on their front page are perfect for me.
So, a couple weeks ago I shared that the area I grew up in was the 3rd "Smokiest Area" in the country. Nearly 28% of the people in the area are current smokers, and the same area contains the nation's fattest city, the most dangerous stretch of interstate, and one of the highest cancer rates.
Keep in mind, I grew up in the Tri-State of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio. Today, I read that after a study conducted to guage the overall happiness of our country, out of 50 states, Ohio was 47th, Kentucky 49th, and West Virginia 50th. Wow.

Storytelling From God's Heart

So over the last 2 years I've been on this journey of falling in love with filmmaking and with stories that reflect the heart of God. I'm not necessarily talking about "Christian films," but more so, stories that reflect and question the essence of redemption, purpose, love, sacrifice, etc. During this journey I've become aware of others who have a similar stirring- some who work directly along side me everyday, some who work in the Greater Cincinnati area, and others who are currently fleshing out these concepts in Hollywood. Ralph Winter, producer of "X-Men", "Fantastic Four", and soon, "The Screw Tape Letters" and "Same Kind Of Different As Me", is one of those guys telling redemptive stories via Hollywood.
Below is part 1 of a three part youtube video I posted of Ralph speaking about storytelling and God.

Defying The Odds...

I just saw a report on Yahoo that lists my hometown as the 3rd "Smokiest Area" in the country. Nearly 28% of the people in the area are current smokers. In addition, the same area contains the nation's fattest city, the most dangerous stretch of interstate, and one of the highest cancer rates. I never realized it growing up, but I was an at risk youth. I wonder if I could get a check from the government? Nonetheless, like Chuck Woolery, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Joe Boyd, I too will rise above the hazardous circumstance of my youth to success.

Pre-Turkey Improv

Join the QCPers for some comedic improvisation to prepare you for your not-so-smile-enducing thanksgiving trip to the in-laws.

* Friday, November 20th 9pm $5
at Taza Coffeehouse
2900 Jefferson Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45219
www.taza.cc


* Sunday, November 22nd 5pm show and 7pm show
Flavors Eatery - 8374 Princeton Glendale Rd West Chester, Ohio 45069
Tix are $15, which include dinner, drink and show

For more info look us up on Facebook "Q City Players" or checkout our blog.

Hitting The Nuts

Here's the fruit of much labor...

Nothing Says Happy Anniversary Like....

So Jenny and I celebrated two years of marriage this past week. On Wednesday we received two anniversary cards in the mail from Jenny's great aunts. One with a nice little note inside, the other with a nice little note and a Jehovah's Witness track inside.

The Gospel According to the Blues Brothers

Through out the Bible, God calls out the rejects, misfits, and outcasts of society to be used for his purposes.
Orphaned criminals, Jake and Elwood, are given a mission.

His purposes often involve delivering an oppressed group or tribe from a tyrant, from the evils of society, and/or from their own self-destruction; not to mention a specific recognition to the importance of caring for orphaned, widowed, and elderly.
The mission is to save an orphanage. An orphanage taking care of orphans, ran mostly by older single females, which will be shut down by the government/bank, unless they are able to pay a significant amount of money.

Within these situations, God’s chosen one(s) face impossible circumstances, yet through His divine, and sometimes rather odd, intervention the impossible becomes possible.
Tens if not hundreds of police cars, a SWAT team, Illinois Nazis, violent country western musicians, and an illegally armed princess Leia attempt to stop and/or kill the Blues Brothers. Our heroes avoid doom by leaping bridges, driving through malls, flashing eyebrows, disrupting dinner at an expensive restaurant, and spontaneously executing a crowd-pleasing country and western musical set.

It’s not uncommon for the chosen one(s) to make terrible mistakes or selfish decisions along the way, but those actions don’t go uncorrected.
Elwood’s apartment is blown up, they are beaten by a nun, they pay back money they owed, and they return to prison.

And despite the overwhelmingly human characteristics and limitations of the reject(s), misfit(s), and outcast(s), God’s purpose is served through them.
They collect enough money to save the orphanage and restore hope for a vulnerable people.

Movies Movies

So I'm currently engulfed, absorbed, and preoccupied with filmmaking.
Soon, I will be teaching a class about that exact process. If you want to know more about the film, click on this link... Hitting The Nuts.
If you want to know more about the process, sign up for my digital filmmaking class by clicking on this link... Digital Filmmaking 101.

Eventful Early Summer

Well blog, it's been a while. A lot has happened since I last wrote you.

I now have purchased a house and a lawn mower.


I have begun Officially Funded PreProduction of a Digital Feature Film.


And I interviewed the residence of a homeless tent village community.

Why not?

Combinations, mergers, and mash-ups can be magical, amazing, and sometimes horrific.

Peanut Butter and Jelly, especially Jif and Smuckers Grape Jam, is a personal favorite combo.

I think the AFL and NFL generating the SuperBowl, is pretty magical.

Mike Sr. & Charlotte Ditka creating, Michael Keller Ditka is amazing.

Magic Johnson and late-night television was close to horrific.

This evening I decided to get creative with some random remaining groceries, draw from my Appalachian upbringing, and add to it my appreciation of Mexican cuisine. My efforts culminated with the debut of the Bologna Quesadilla.... I give it a B-.

Man vs. Dog

While waiting on media to render and transfer, I'm a little irritated by the amount of attention and level of concern the public and media have given to Michael Vick.
I think Michael Vick did some pretty bad stuff. I don't want dogs tortured and/or killed. I love dogs. I hope to have another within the next year or two. And I will name him Kevin.
But why do we place Michael Vick so high on the list of terrible people for abusing dogs? Why isn't this level of attention given to professional athletes who abuse their wife or persuade their teenage baby sitter to sleep with them?
If a grown man was going to either hurt my dog, sleep my 15 year-old daughter, or abuse my wife, I think I would let them hurt my dog.
I think what I'm getting at here, is saving the whales, saving the rain forest, and saving dogs is great; but can we focus on saving people first?

The Good Stuff

Going to bed so sore you can’t fall asleep after a very productive day
A cold drink and fresh peanuts at the stadium on a warm day
Participating in something larger than yourself
Lazy Sunday mornings with Jenny
Uncontrollable laughter
Making a child smile
The first grilled burger of the spring
Experiencing the extinction of the impossible
Wearing a sweatshirt while attending a football game in mid October
Happy accidents while editing
Newly acquired knowledge
Spending time with my family with no agenda or schedule
Visiting new places
The internal peace after serving someone
Creative surges
Recliners
Jenny laughing hysterically at my mediocre jokes
Teaching
The last bite of a burrito
Witnessing someone’s increase in confidence
Randomly meeting a lady who has 3 pet miniature donkeys

A Word From A Favorite Writer

I screamed to God out of frustration
After another day of waking and hating the fact
That I’m still where I’m at
What’s the point of all of this
Cuz I’m not seeming to find it
Is it meaningless? I search the reason behind it
Because these moments seem to drag on forever
And these years on end seem to have never been this
Desperation has formed repetition within
Too insecure to pretend and I’m too weak to defend
Here it comes again all in my world again
Left with no direction no beginning no end
The days blend together and the weather never changes
Numb to the outcome but yet not quite painless
Aimless to whether or not I made a mistake
And if so how far is too far before it’s too late
Should I wait but then what would be too long
To reverse the effects if I was wrong

Hindsight is a beautiful thing
When you can look back and see what patience and time can bring

Is it a must that I’m here is it a must that I stay
In order to look forward must I look away
We're moving towards a new day
Unsure of what tomorrow will bring our way
I’m not even quite sure of what this day holds
I say we travel the unknown and watch it unfold
Hold today close while still reaching for tomorrow
Through the test of time I’ve seen joy overcome sorrow
So with every trial I endure
With hopes to mature into what I was created for
More than life itself I want life itself
Press past the present until forever is felt
And take hold of the hidden mystery
Wide eyed and open I now see differently
If it’s to be then give me the strength to be content
And find peace in knowing one day it will all make sense

Learning to accept the unexpected
Because the unknown wasn’t here for me to correct it
So I let it go and stopped trying to control the impossible
Simply put tossed in the shuffle
At a young age just like everyone else
So I don’t feel sorry for you or for myself
Love is bigger than that and I’m not below or above
The way it moves even though the things it does
To my train of thought can bring about doubt and uncertainty
Patience tends to not agree with my psyche
That’s more than likely just some pride in me
Fighting expectations of where I think my life should be
Selfishly I forget so quickly
Let me never forget Lord break me in humility
Some sort of amazing grace on me
As I look back upon my life and where You’ve taken me

Hear the call peace fall
From trial to triumph I want your hand in it all
Allow me to know where to stand in it all
Life Giver

Improv All Night Long or until about 10pm

The Q-City Players will be performing improvisationally in comedic fashion this Friday.
Comedy is funny and hopefully so is Q-City.

Friday, April 3rd
8-10 pm
(doors open at 7:30, come early for the best seats)

Ballet Tech Cincinnati
6543 Montgomery Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45213
513-841-2822

$5 per person at the door

Good Day

Things I like that I experienced today…

Sleeping in

Seeing my Michigan State prediction was correct

Doritos dipped in bean dip

Pre-Production for a feature film

Cooking without a time constraint

Meaningless jokes with my wife

Listening to my 10 month old niece on the phone

A new Jim Gaffigan special

Saving 10 cents a gallon on Gas with my Kroger card

Flipping back and forth between New episodes of King of the Hill and The Simpsons with classic episodes of WKRP and Newhart

It was a pretty good day.

i am beau

Beau approaches me after school at the end of the first grading term of our senior year of high school with a peculiar grin.

He hands me his report card and shares, “Mr. Sylvester gave me an ‘A’ in Art.”

I counter, “So, it’s Art.”

“Yeah but I don’t do anything. I never turn in my work, except for a couple sheets of paper with random stuff scribbled on it,” he says. “The only person I talk to is Bobby. And most of the time I just lay down my head and sleep.”

Bobby was a kid who lived in our neighborhood and reported to the special classrooms for most of his day. Outside of being nice to Bobby and saying hi each day, Beau didn’t like people and didn’t talk to who he didn’t like.
Beau proceeds to explain that some of the kids from the special classes who have been integrated into traditional elective classes have been placed in his art class.

So now I’m starting to put it together. He sleeps a lot in class. The only art he has turned in, are scribbles. He doesn’t talk to anyone except to one of the special integrated students.

As I’m processing the data, he smiles again and proclaims, “Mr. Sylvester thinks I’m retarded. He gives me an A and don’t have to do anything. This is awesome.”

I never experienced someone being so proud, so excited about being incorrectly labeled as mentally retarded. But then there’s Beau.

Beau milks this error in judgment for the next two grading terms, receiving an ‘A’ for each. The fourth quarter rolls around and Beau approaches me, with disappointment, and report card in hand.
“So how’d you do?” I ask.
“Mr. Sylvester gave me a ‘C’ in Art.” He explains, “I realized James Ellison wasn’t so bad and he brought Magic cards to school so I started playing with him. Sylvester saw me playing Magic in class and figured out I not retarded.”

RESET God

Right before the RESET Jesus journey began I was reading through the book of Exodus and developed a few questions about the story and about God's logic/motivation during situations of that period. During my wonder, I realized, I should just ask God, maybe he will answer my quiries. Then I further realized something that my intellect knew, but that my heart had not quite connected with... The God I communicate with is the same God who communicated with Moses. He was there. He's the same one. He never retired. He was never replaced. Though this might seem pretty obvious to most who have any awareness of the God worshiped by Jews and Christians, its a concept that is radically different once it goes beyond our minds and reaches our heart. I find it very empowering.
A few weeks ago, I watched a documentary about bowhead whales recently killed, who still had harpoons in their bodies from the 1790s, which,indicated they have a maximum life span, so far, of at least 211 years. The researchers commented how amazing it would be if we could hear the stories these whales could share. Though I would be fascinated by a talking 200 year old whale, we don't really need one.
We have access to the creator and witness of all history.

By the way, do you think when Moses's staff turned into a snake and ate the snakes surrounding it and then turned back into a staff, the staff was larger than it's original size?

The Source of Creativity

I have nothing to add to what this video already communicates...

Sarah or Sarah

So last night I came across Sarah McLachlan on Austin City Limits and decide that listening to her televised acoustic concert was a great way to unwind my mind after hours of deep thought and discussion. This proved to be a pretty good decision. But before totally unwinding and retiring to bed I had one last thought. Sarah seems to be the type who can either appear very stunning or not so stunning with little change.

Its kind of interesting how different see can look based upon environment and a few minor tweeks (make up and hair). But then again, most of who are not in the public eye frequently, probably have just as differing appearances each day. We're jus not as aware of the difference. Each of our appearances aren't recorded.

My new Sarah McLachlan thought also reminded me, that based upon my environment and a few minor tweeks (frustration and a lack of patience) I think most people would view me differently than they currently do. Most would consider me less than stunning. This is when I realize my wife is pretty great to love me no matter what I look/act like during those less than stunning moments.

Valentines Day Eve

Nothing says I Love You like steak and improv comedy.

Join Q City Players at Riley's Restaurant in Springdale on

February 13th.
Guests will be treated to dinner (steak, chicken or salmon with all the fixings) followed by an improv comedy show provided by Q City.

Two shows to choose from: 6:00 pm - 8:15 pm or 7:15 pm - 9:30 pm

Tickets are $25 per person to be paid at the door.
Reservation required.

Tickets include dinner, non-alcoholic beverage, show, tax and gratuity.

Please call Riley's Restaurant (513-771-3361) to make reservations. Ask for the Manager on Duty. Please have ready your name(s), choice of show time, and choice of entree(s).

Dreaming of Dreams

I find myself dreaming again for the first time in over a year. Ironically enough, I’m dreaming so much that I find it hard to fall asleep at night. Most often we associate dreaming with sleep. So for clarity I will just refer to it as meditating on aspirations.It’s kind of a bad place to be in when we stop aspiring; when we settle for mediocrity. When we stop dreaming, I think it’s evidence that we lack hope. And an absence of hope is never good. 2008 possessed only a small reserve of hope for me. I wasn’t extremely depressed. I wasn’t even terribly unhappy. I was just dissatisfied without the energy or inspiration to hope. Now I am beginning to be reintroduced to my previously dreamful ambitious self. I like that version of me. And I think my wife definitely prefers that version of me; except when I keep her too from sleeping due to sharing my dreams.So here’s to a dream filled 2009. Right now I believe just about anything is possible… outside of winning the Gold in 2012 for Singles Figure Skating.

Beau Stories

Anyone who has known me for more than a year has been told a “Beau” story. And now I’m compelled to start putting my “Beau” stories in writing.

In a city of less than 30,000 people there is a short list of ways to kill time. So when the 7:30 showing of Jim Carrey’s “The Grinch” was sold out, my friends and I grabbed tickets to the 9:30 and proceeded over to the Ashland Town Center Mall to hang at the Wal-Mart. Now you must understand, my group of friends were not just your typical teenage males- picture Freaks and Geeks and then some. And Beau, the lead character in most of my childhood stories, is especially different. At this point in time I think it’s fair to describe him as John Goodman (during the Roseanne days) with bushy hair, a Hartford Whalers hat, a barn jacket, a Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts, black socks, and black work shoes; an ensemble to turn heads even in Ashland, KY. We were purusing the value-filled isles while watching for following prices, when Beau spotted one of his many odd fascinations – cheap toy rifles. I’m talking the rifles that are strapped to cardboard by bread ties and have the clicking level to simulate cocking the gun. Whenever he saw one loose, he required 5 minutes of cheap toy gun entertainment. And in this particular instance, there were two detached from their cardboard homes. The guns were quickly snatched up and armed both of Beau’s hands. Immediately there was pathetic attempts at army field maneuvers being performed and elbow crawling through the toy section and into the school supplies. Charlie was not safe. Not safe in housewares. Not safe in automotive. And soon the enemy camp would have been taken captive, if it were not for the upset mother approaching with a little girl’s hand tightly grasped in hers’. The bewildered women narrowed her eyes and said to Beau, “it’s because of people like you that I won’t allow my daughter to walk around alone.” She turned quickly without time for a response and left. Beau then turned to me and explained, “I was going to shoot her, but I thought it would have been a bit much.” And so is the way of Beau.

New Years Day and Spring Training

The NFL is approaching its climax for the season - the divisional playoffs. But I'm really not completely excited. This just means in a few weeks professional football, along with college football after today, will go into hibernation. And I will still have a whole month before I can redevelop an interest in the Reds during Spring Training and even longer to wait for March Madness. You see, when you're in school (especially K-12), it's really difficult to enjoy New Years Day, because all you can think about is, tomorrow you have to go back. There's no more sleeping in. No more Super Nintendo with a bowl of cereal at 1pm. No more USA Network Midday line up of Major Dad, American Gladiators, Wings, and Just the Ten of Us. It will soon be that time of year to trade in the NFL and late morning/early afternoon Captain Crunch for the mildly interesting NCAA hoops and algebra homework....and the Reds still need a right handed power hitter. 

Peace Out 2008

So I know it’s a little late to be delivering a Best of 2008 list, but I’m going to anyway. I suppose it’s a good way to introduce myself to the world of blogging. Sorry Brad Wise for taking your idea, but I decided to prepare a list several weeks ago. Here’s a collection (in no particular order) of things that made my world go round in 2008.

Studying Improv (thank you Missy and Joe)

The Dark Knight (it’s kind of scary how much I loved the Joker)

Eli Manning avoiding a sack and David Tyree catching Eli’s pass on his helmet during Superbowl XLII.

The {re}gifter – I was thrilled to be a part of it and amazed by what God did with our efforts.

Meeting and playing with my niece Ali Kate

Buffalo Chicken Dip (just discovered it during the holiday season and my mouth can’t get enough of it)

Beginning a new job and being surround at work by several cool talented people.

The Zone winning Best Music Television Program

Experiencing Dov SS Simens’ DVD Film School. He yells a lot and is quick to remind that the film industry is not about art, it’s a business.

My 2nd Annual Birthday Kickball Game. I lost all 3 games last year, but I’m already training for 2009.

Seeing Johnny Cueto’s major league debut from 9 rows behind home plate. That kid is the next Jose Rijo. His stats don't reflect how well he did last year for a 22 year old and his ceiling is way high.

And most importantly, Jenny’s patience and support during a trying and eventful year.

Peace Out 2008