Article One live in Port Huron, MI

Article One – “Say it Again”

Amazing show. Definitely one of the better final products working on my own.

If nothing else, check out the ridiculous Violin solo by Matt Piche in the first 30 seconds.

As usual, clicking on the “Personal Projects” Category link or searching “Video Post” in my tags will take you to previously posted videos (with a little behind the scenes information.) You can also take a mouse cursor drag over to the right column to find a direct link to my Vimeo.

Filed under: Personal Projects , Article One, Concert, Hillside Wesleyan, Live Show, Michigan, Port Huron, Video, Video Post

Triumph of the Will

I wasn’t sure what day it was until about 15 minutes ago when I logged onto my computer. I’ve been working 16 and 11 hour days on a sweet film crew this week. Sleep becomes so necessary in these times. I don’t remember falling into slumber the night before though. It’s almost like being in a coma. Time just kind of passed while I was gone. While that sounds depressing, (or maybe it sounds like sleep) it’s actually a killer deal. Making movies and telling stories is enough.

I teared up the other day just thinking about all the joy breathing, life sparking, and heart warming people I’ll be leaving behind in less than 2 weeks. Orlando has been such a huge segment of my life. These 2 years have molded, shaped, trimmed, and severed.

I’m leaving with a better understanding of my life as a whole. I’m cherishing the quiet times. (If you don’t take at least and hour away from technology, then re-evaluate.) I saw what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and who I want to be as a man. I wussed out of confrontation and decision making time and time again, and I manned up and stood tall more than I ever have before.

I’m coming back into the arms of my woman, my heartbeat, the person who can’t even be described in a dream because she’s so vivid. I will marry her, and I will sustain her, and I will revere her, and I will value her, and I will get all of those things wrong so many times, and I will come back even harder the next time in hopes of honoring and respecting her.

I’m coming back to stay with my parents for a week or two before I move to the west side of Michigan. I’m going on a road trip with my Mom. Maybe a semi-truck outing with my Dad. Then I’m off to a new beginning. My sister lives in Grand Rapids now, and it feels good to know I can be there for her to call when she needs a spider evacuated or an appliance figured out.

If I stand still long enough in fear, I’ll have missed the point. If I stand still long enough in reverence, I won’t be able to hide the smile the leaks out what my heart is saying: I’ve lived a fortunate life that I don’t deserve.

Filed under: Life , Stephanie, Florida, Michigan, Dad, Mom, Life, Orlando, Moving, Grand Rapids, Nikki, Sister, Wife, Sleep, Working hard, Comatose, Revelry, Reverence, Romance

Here’s to next week.

For some reason G.K. Chesterton has been coming up in my life a lot lately. I have his book “Orthodoxy” chillin’ on my shelf. Guess it’s going to move up my read list faster.

Filled in spirit, and Broken in spirit. Burdened by emotions, and Freed by emotions. The opposites are coming together in the most beautiful ways.

Was in Michigan for a second. I didn’t even have to eat or sleep over my 38 hour stay. I was sustained by this beauty:

I’m sorry I’m more prideful and selfish than humble and compassionate. Every step forward is followed by a scared and uncertain retraction back to the beginning. It’s like walking a tightrope. And I’ve never been well balanced.

Filed under: Life , Balance, Broken, Burdened, Emotions, Filled, G.K.Chesterton, Humble, Michigan, Orthodoxy, Stephanie

I wish my basketball nickname was Vanilla Sky

Bittersweet to be back in Orlando. Back to school and doing what I love, but without Stephanie here.

I would have been back sooner, but none of the 3 of us coming back from Michigan were up for driving through the night, so we snagged a shady hotel for the evening.

I’m a terrible night driver. My will to sleep always overpowers my will to live. I try to give myself extra little scares by swerving to get my adrenaline pumping, but I must be pumping a stronger chemical that is promoting my slumber.

Polaroids, Fireworks, Bros, Family, Lady, Asics, Zucchini bread, Love.

All had last week. All cherished.

I would have this look in my eyes on the court as well.

Filed under: Life, Movies , Asics, Bros, Florida, Love, Michigan, Night Driving, Polaroids, Stephanie, Tom Cruise, Vanilla Sky, Zucchini Bread

1 full stomach + 8 hours is not equal to a good nights sleep

Last night I attempted to fall sleep around midnight. The falling asleep part was successful, but it was a battle to stay that way.

The culprit: A stomach still digesting a Moe’s burrito, 5 pieces of pizza, 4 scoops of ice cream and a banana. What would ensue would be an epic battle of the mental and the physical, and me just a guilty bystander.

I had 3 dreams. and little sleep.

Dream #1:

My friend Brandon informs me that I did such a bad job filming with our producer friend last month that the producer has vowed never to work with me again.

I scan my mind to remember what it was I filmed, and I remember that it was a percussion and color guard high school competition, which did happen in real life. I accepted the producers decision. Upon my consent of his judgment, I woke up.

(This one is really the only dream that has a chance of actually coming true.)

Dream #2:

I got a new job here in Florida. It was at a no name grocery store. My cousin Marklyn who lives in Michigan worked there for some reason.

It was her job to teach me how to run a cash register and how to comb the broccoli to make it look more appetizing. This was a supermarket secret I never knew.

Dream #3:

I was asked to volunteer to be part of a non-profit organization’s video production as an actor. It was never clear what the organization stood for.

It reminded me of those Truth cigarette commercials, making a good point about a serious subject using humorous ways to get peoples attention.

The lady who was in charge of it was actually the lab assistant in my Make-up class.

She came over to me and told me my job in the film, which was to be dancing in a music video with 4 other guys, but the thing that made me stand out was that I would be wearing no pants, and would be dancing backwards and revealing my butt cheeks the entire time.

I thought about it for a second, and said “Yeah, why not. It’s for a good cause”. (A cause I couldn’t remember).

I woke up, curious about my snap decision to appear slightly nude in a video.

Maybe next week I will be a gluton again, eat the exact same menu and amount, and see if I can continue on in each of these dreams.

Filed under: Life, Whatever , Acting, Brandon, Broccoli, Combing Broccoli, Dancer, Dreams, Florida, Gluton, Marklyn, Michigan, Moe's, Naked, No Pants