Hey good people of Uranium and beyond.  I'm sure you've heard Rock Hero Ep 3 was released this week, if you haven't seen it yet, please...please check it out.  Upon its release Joni had asked if I'd be down to blog about my experience.  See for me Ep 3 is really special and not because of my cameo, oh you didn't know...of course I'm in it.(shameless self promotion) Nor the fact that my best friends and my greatest love are involved, but more of the fact that I was lucky enough to even be on set for that last shoot. 

      I've been in LA most of this past year working with a group of devious musicians who

call themselves Fat City Reprise(more shameless self promotion fatcityreprise.net  myspace.com/fatcityreprise) In that time Joni and the  Uranium team have been putting every drop of energy  into the production of Rock Hero and the birth of this amazing site that allows me to type these very words. To hear the progression of things over the phone was exciting but the experience was cheapened... at least for me. I wanted to see it, I wanted to be there, I was tired of hearing about these extradionary things second hand.  When we were finally on the same coast Joni had invited me to the set the last day of filming, she even had a small part for me. Now I've been asked to work on various film projects in the past and hands down this was the most professional environment I had ever walked into.  From the integrity of the script, location scouting, set design, the amazing and talented crew, the talented and dedicated actors, the overall comradery and respect for each other. The first part of the shoot was spent in our boy Shaun's apartment in Brooklyn. I'd never been to the BK and I loved it, the mega city feel of New York mixed with the quaintness of South Philly. The shoot went great, the whole apartment was flipped into a film set, and a very good one at that.  Lighting, sound, director, DP, at first it was actually overwhelming for me. Coming from a promotional /marketing background a lot of my work is done pre production, and few people see my face, which I like.  Being on a film set, the behind the scenes is essentially still in front of a crew of 25, everyone has to be on point right then and there, if there's a lack of motivation you can't go back and do it later, you better find your mojo. The crew treated my novice mind with patience; I helped them as much I could, moving furniture and equipment, helping with wiring, and my first time slating, if that's the proper term. We wrapped up the shoot, gave Shaun his living space back, jumped in the car and drove almost an hour to locatation 2 in Connecticut, another first destination for me, well I drove by a couple times but that doesn't really count.  The set for the afternoon was in a posh bar/ lounge, I was going to be in the 2nd half of the shoot where the bar was transformed into an office setting.

       I'd heard about it over numerous conversations and now I was living it.  That day will always stay with me.  It's one thing to believe in something, some would call it faith.  It's another to witness something with your own eyes; most would call that undeniable truth.  That day there was an undeniable truth that what was going on was special. With time deadlines to meet and financial caps abound, this team has made a timeless, priceless project.  It was a complete honor to be there and see how the project was run, it was a complete honor to see Joan at work, and it was a complete honor to be accepted by a crew who with the exception of a select and special few was relatively unknown to me.  Everyone involved in this completely maxed out themselves and their resources. The old barter system in true manifestation. Each person bringing what they have to offer and sharing with those with different talents/resources.  This is a microcosm of how the world should work.  If everyone expressed, shared, and built upon ideas in this fashion, mountains can be moved.  The uranium team has exemplified what friendship,teamwork,community and countless hours of hard work can build.  The crazy thing is this is only the beginning and I'm more than excited for future projects, and more than willing to lend help in any way possible. Thanks to everyone who lent to this amazing on set experience for me.

Special Thanks:

Tina, Jackie, and Steven- thank you so much for the love and respect. You guys are like Christ...the truth, the way and the light haha.(sorry, felt this blog needed a dash of humor)

Joni-  I'm so proud of you! This stupid font could hardly express. Thanks for going through this crazy life with a crazy person.  It hasn't been easy living away for awhile, but easy is weak. What we've been through has built up an enormous amount of strength that will last till death.  Hopefully I die first, life would be shitty without you.(sorry, a lil more off color humor)

Love you.