Computer Frustrations

I think we've all been there more times than we care to recall, but computer trouble has plagued the last couple of days for me. At the end of April I took it upon myself to buy a new PC to provide more space for projects, replace a dvd drive that didn't work, and to generally just improve my computer experience. Fast forward 4 months and after a weekend of a corruptive virus, a messed up hard drive, and a relatively new monitor literally just shutting off and not turning on again . . . that system is toast.

I was away at a wedding this weekend, also acting as videographer, and the thought of having to deal with my computer when getting back into town was a thorn in my side. Getting back and realizing that none of the anti-virus software had worked, mixed with the monitor just dying led me to scratch the whole system and act on my frustrations impulsively.

So here I sit at another new computer in just months, although I have to say it is beautiful and thanks to Back-to-School sales it was a steal. A few more bucks and someday I'll invest in a Mac strictly as an edit studio, and a PC for the rest. In all I was only without my computer for about 3 days, but it's a wake up call as to how dependent I am on it. It's not just a personal computer, but it's also a neccesity for my day job to edit and review productions I'm working on. I instantly fall out of the loop when email, msn and facebook aren't an option, and not having my blog or youtube account sends me into creative withdrawl. It's the problem with having a machine that performs so many functions, as soon as it doesn't work you're lost. Had I not been a kid playing with toys at the time, I might be more curious as to how people got by without the internet.

Oh well, everything is getting back to normal now. The new computer has 80GB more space than the previous one, I upgraded to a newer version of my editing software, and rebuilding my iTunes library is actually kind of fun. Yes, I am searching for the glass half full side of this experience.

A Summer of Shorts

Indeed it has been a beautiful summer, perfect short wearing weather, perfect making film shorts weather, but too short all the same. With the bad jokes out of the way, allow me to get down to the task at hand.

With as often as I'm discussing one of my random projects, I'm not sure if you've had a chance to see the variety of things that I've posted here on my blog, on youtube, or on my facebook group this summer so I thought a recap of the last few months was in order.

I find myself trying to stay in touch with so many people on so many different online accounts that it's tough to remember what I've shared and with who. What I've posted on this blog, what I've talked about, and so on and so forth is kind of a part-time job in itself, but the goal is to find an audience: people just like you! So, I apologize if you've seen some of these already, but even if you have why not check them out again, it's only a couple minutes. Hey, you might even like something (which would be nice to know)!

I've included a brief description of each project and a link to the video on my youtube account. For the best playback click the 'watch in high quality' link beneath the video on the youtube site. As always I appreciate any of your comments or ratings on youtube, any comments here on this blog, as well as any personal comments through facebook or email.

I want to thank all of you who pass by this blog and lend a little of your time just to see some of the shorts I've come up with, or share your thoughts on something I want to talk about. It's been a great experience thus far, and your continued interest only fuels my motivation and inspires me to create new things and push myself further. Thank you! I can only hope that what I'm putting out there in return meets your expectations.

Without further delay, the 2008 Summer of Shorts recap:

I'm Luke, I'm Fandrix
The one year blogiversary video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GJwpqjBDUY


Chico Bandito: The Series
Inspired by a marionette that I found in the laundry room, Chico Bandito is a series about the marionette's planned and hopeful escape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNyysiq-PDM

Day Dream Day
My most recent edit about a thinking place and my personal outlook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziigkAI1bsQ


Space Drama!
A found footage project I put together using footage from a 1950's sci-fi show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZlP1sXLCcU


Siblings
A tale of sibling rivalry at a playground.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaEtZt-USjo

Car Kaleidoscope
My submission to the Toronto Urban Film Fest, showing urban life in an experimental short.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBfx0phSr3M


Rushmore & South Dakota Recap
A recap within the recap, this edit was made this summer to sum up the road trip to Mount Rushmore I went on in 2007.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpMBPlci9bU

Split Wash
A technical exercise I made using a split frame of the same image while washing my car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI9F-T4WLIo


Educated Detours Trailer
A promo for the short film I made with my friend Paul several summers ago in 2006.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IDT6WFprzU


Give it Time (2008 Version)
My submission in the Youngcuts International festival in Montreal this year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdUTty3yEPM


For more of my work/writing/edits/etc. you can visit my youtube channel, and facebook group:
www.youtube.com/fandrix
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9504646625


It's always enjoyable to share what I've got going on, and I look forward to a whole new series of projects to debut in the coming months. I can't believe the fall is just around the corner, but here's to what has been a great summer!

Day Dream Day

Everyone has a thinking place.

Day Dream Day (2008) Written & Directed by Luke Fandrich

Perched on the roof with the street at a glance,
An afternoon devoted to pondering chance.

The neighbourhood's silent, the possibility's there,
But you think to yourself, and you shift and you stare.

It's nice to be free, it's nice to be young,
Your potential, you reason, is so out strung.

You glance at the windows, the roofs, and ground,
It's a long way up, when the there's just pavement around.

The world is my oyster, the future my now,
So many questions, but most of them how.

I want to be seen, and I want to be heard,
But so high up, I think, there's only the birds.

So I'll get back to the ground, get my head from the clouds,
I'll shuffle and mingle, shake hands with the crowds.

I'll do what it takes, and I'll work the late hours,
I'll sacrifice some sleep, some meals, some showers.

I'm just another dreamer, another guy with some hope,
Just a man on a leash, tugged by someone else's rope.

But from here things look fine, with camera in hand,
I'll shoot what I'll see, I'll edit and I'll land.

All at once I won't do, cause I don't wanna fall,
I'll just ease myself back, while admiring it all.

But maybe not yet, not just for this minute,
I want to dream a bit more, and find myself lost in it.