Birthday Video

"Have another swing at it boy!"

Hey everyone, I've been really busy with recovering from my birthday, celebrating other birthdays and trying to find a Halloween costume.

I have a video from my party that you can conveniently watch by clicking here.

I gotta run because I have to go get dressed in my Halloween costume. Happy Halloween!

Video Project Pictures Continued....

Sorry for the delay, but here are the remaining pictures from the video shoot:

(THE LAST PHOTO IS WORTH THE WAIT...)

^My sleeping arrangement^

Take notice to the open-air-ed-ness.
No windows or screens, just weird walls.

^Set-up for the outside shoot^

^Getting into character^

During one of our afternoon breaks we went to Tully Gorge. The river flowing through the gorge is commonly used by whitewater rafters.

^Little Beach^

^Notice the rainforest on the banks^

^Someone asked, "Which way to the rainforest?"^
So...I showed them.

Okay, now for the final picture... First, you'll need me to set the scene.

On the morning we were leaving, we were about ready to go, and it was around 11:00AM. We had all eaten breakfast (I ate toast with guacamole on it, I guess it's an Australian thing, and it wasn't too bad.). Everyone had done their part to help clean up, and we had experienced a few morning rain showers... after all it was the rainforest.

Tali had just gotten out of the shower, and she went to her drawer to get some clothes. When she opened the drawer this is what she saw:

^Australian Brown Tree Snake^

As could be expected, she came running and screaming out of the bedroom, and as soon as she let out the first scream, the first word that popped into my head was "SNAKE!" Sure enough, there was a snake in one of her drawers.

We later identified the snake as a Brown Tree Snake. Which is venomous, but their fangs are in the back of their mouth. I'm not sure if that is supposed to make me feel better. If so, it didn't work. I actually didn't even see the snake. Tali took the picture of it.

It was a good thing we were leaving that morning, because I don't think I would have been able to sleep on the floor anymore.

Paul said that they were going to deal with the snake once everyone left. Tali told me in class the following Tuesday they got a neighbor to come take care of the snake, so no worries.

Last weekend I went to Magnetic Island, and I have some pictures from that little trip that I will put up here as soon as I get some time. If you want to read up on ole' Maggie Island, you can by clicking here.

Post Production

"That's a wrap!"

Well I got back from Tully on Tuesday, and overall I feel good about the video shoot. I didn't do very much directing because I was in character all the time... I did give my expert opinion every now and then.

Tully was really interesting. It was covered in sugar cane and banana trees. Apparently Tully is the UFO capital of Australia. I didn't see any UFOs though. :-(

If you want to read more about Tully, click here.

Now, for a little bit about the video project:

• The class is Video Production.
• There are 5 people in the group. Me, Kristen, Kayleigh, Maria, and Tali. I'm the only guy.
  
• We are to create a 5 minute short video.
• Tali wrote a script and had it take place at her weekend getaway in Tully. It is only about 210 km (3 1/2 - 4 hours North of Townsville), and the weather is much more humid. It is pretty much in the rainforest.
  
• The video is called "Dingo Pocket," it is a psychological thriller, and that's all the information you get. :-)
• Tali and Paul's place has the nickname, "Hekarwe" pronounced "Heck-are-we" which comes from "Where the heck are we?"
  

Now, here are some pictures from the video shoot:

^Front/Side Door to the house at Hekarwe^

^Side/Front Door of the house at Hekarwe^

^Looks a little bit like the ground in Georgia eh?^

^Banana trees in Tully^

^Cane Train on its way to the cane mill^

^Battling with Karen (co-star)^

^Tali and Kayleigh^

^Paul, AKA: Tali's Husband, Cook, and "the Creepy guy in the ute"^

^"The Shower Scene"^

^Kayleigh and Karen showing their evil side^
after deflating my air-matress....
while I was sleeping on it....:-(

To be continued...

I'm George Clooney!

"Ready......and........ACTION!"

I am very short on time right now, so I apologize for the briefness of this post. I am getting ready to go on about a 3 hour road trip up to a small town called Tully to film a video project for my Video Production class. I am starring and directing, so that makes me George Clooney, or Clint Eastwood......or Kevin Costner. I am going to be among the few who can say they have directed themselves in a movie. Apparently there is no electricity where we are going, but there is wireless internet via Satellite. I'm not sure how that is supposed to work, but I'm sure I'll find out. Hopefully the internet there will allow me to post on the blog, and I may be able to post some production pictures....we'll see.

-Mike

PS - And if I don't get to tell you on Saturday..... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! I LOVE YOU!!!