Zen Films

Now Banned from Facebook!

So now the MindFlesh trailer has been banned from the Facebook group!

Good grief, what is it with people and naked women? Why does this absurd puritanical bias against nudity still exist? First we get banned on YouTube and now we're banned on Facebook.

So let's look at all the shite that's on Facebook: videos of under age drinking, stealing, antisocial behaviour... but that's all ok. It's annoying because the group is still in its infancy and although about 50 people had watched the video and chosen not to complain, 1 person has an issue with it and it's pulled. What on earth did this person expect to see when the film is called MindFLESH... like the title gives a little hint as to what might be in the trailer, right?

It's very disappointing.

iPhoned yesterday, today iEmail

I finally bit the bullet and got a permanent mobile (cellphone) number. I had to have Helen hold my hand of course because my social security number hasn’t come through yet plus without a US credit history it’s impossible to do just about most things… unless of course you can afford a hefty deposit… which you wouldn’t be able to afford if you were credit worthy… so.. anyway, like everywhere in the world poor people pay more. And right now without a credit history we’re in that camp.

So on Saturday we took out a family plan (one deposit fits two) with AT&T and bought two iPhones. I was surprised that the cost of the iPhone isn’t subsidised by AT&T even though we took out a 2 year plan.. which I would never have done in the UK.

I've not yet given up my beautiful Nokia 6500 though... oh.. now this phone feels like class and behaves like it too. Possibly the best mobile I've had.

I'll admit that the iPhone is pretty cool - i like being able to check the next bus time and check my email of course. But of the few things that really are disappointing is the lack of photomessaging.. that’s MMS. Sure it has a camera (but not video) and you can email the photo but you can’t text it to anyone. I checked out all the iPhone forums and found lots of debate raging about why email is better than texting! Ho ho... dudes wake up, one is not a replacement for the other, I need both. Apple, please get your arse in gear and sort this out. And I want it available as a software update. If Apple brings out a new iPhone and tells me to buy new hardware after I’ve just bought this one… well… it’d be just like Apple wouldn’t it? And possibly the last bit of Apple kit I’ll ever be buying.

I checked out the forums to find a photomessaging solution for the iPhone but I haven't found anything satisfactory. For those readers interested in some workarounds, I'd check out this advice.

And one other software update I'd like is to be able to text with one hand! Seriously, the small qwerty keypad requires me to use two hands - one to hold the phone and the other to press straight down my finger. I'd like to be able to text with my thumb. Try it on the iPhone and it'll be one of the most frustrating things you'll ever attempt. Maybe Apple could allow me to switch the keypad from qwerty to regular alphanumeric with proper predictive texting. The predictive texting on the iPhone very weak.. in fact close to pointless.. I guess it's more like a spell checker.. kinda?

The truth is, the iPhone is not a phone, it’s a data terminal with voice capability. It ought to be called iBlackberry or iDataDevice or iDoWhatMyiPodDoesButiStillDontDoWhatMyNokiaDid10yearsAgo.

The Week That Was

The past caught up with me in many ways last week.

Firstly our furniture arrived from the UK and I was finally about to setup the new Zen HQ. It's a pretty sweet suite :) Most satisfying was the move of our old 52" plasma TV from the Pratten living room to the office where it now works as a huge monitor, operating on my regular dual-screen Dell PC.

Secondly, I started work on a showreel - hence started selecting cool shots and my favourite scenes from London Voodoo and MindFlesh.

Thirdly, there was a bomb scare at the local school and they shut off the street. Wow, made me feel like I was back in London.

Great start to the year

I know it's only day 2 of 2008 but I have a hunch that this year is going to be a good one.

My New Year's resolution was to get back into "recreational" creative stuff rather than doing everything solely for the film biz. I think I picked up the top tip at Accidental Creative (which is an interesting podcast I can recommend for anyone in the creative industries). So, first off I've been making cut-out Dr Who models :) Yeah, I know it's a bit geeky but it's pretty relaxing and kinda meditative... and it was a Christmas present from my mum. For those that really care about Dr. Who modeling, here's a link to Blue Peter's Tardis interior :)

In other news, I've now booked my place at the World Horror Convention in Salt Lake City and used TripIt for the first time (what a fantastic little application it is).

And, in the coming month, I'm hoping to announce a few new projects I'm collaborating on with writers. These are film projects to go with my long-held passion, Xeno25. Xeno25 is Cronenberg-type genetic thriller that explores Man's relationship with animals. It's an entertaining horror-thriller but it also highlights lots of "issues" about genetic enhancement and our obsession immortality. I may in fact start an additional blog that presents and discusses the issues as a way of promoting public involvement in the issues and the film. For those interested in genetic engineering and model making, here's a cut-out and build 3D model of DNA's double helix! :) Oh, and if you need them, here's the assembly instructions.

Happy New Year!

Helen and I would like to wish everyone a lot of luck, love and happiness for 2008.