About 3 years ago, I worked on a small indie film for five hot summer weeks in Gonzales, TX. That indie, entitled "August Evening" is now being released in theaters nationwide. Please support Texas independent films - go see this movie (and brush up on your Spanish). If you slow down to read the subtitles, you'll miss out on the excellent, award-winning cinematography, some of which is mine.

So far the release dates are as follows:

8/20/08 - New York, NY - Magno Screening Room
9/5/08 - New York, NY - Village East Cinemas
9/19/08 - San Antonio, TX - Santikos Bijou Theater
9/26/08 - West Hollywood, CA - Sunset 5
10/10/08 - Austin, TX - Arbor Cinemas at Great Hills
10/31/08 - Portland, OR - Hollywood Theatre

I swear that I'm going to use this space for sharing news about what I am doing with creative projects. The rants will be removed tonight.

I had the pleasure of working with Dallas-area model Robyn Talley a few weeks ago. One of her in one of the un-poses struck an art director friend of mine as needing some marionette strings, like this:

Over the last few weeks I've done a lot of complaining, with not much room or energy left over to be reflective or creative. Many times I have written that I didn't want for my blog to be overladen with negative. Even so, I have had a difficult time fulfilling this goal. Today my wife and kids are traveling, and so I hope to spend time at this keyboard working on a remedy.
Earlier this summer I sold my Toyota and purchased a Honda scooter in an effort to save on gas. The scooter does a good job getting me to the office and around the small suburb where I live. I am pleased with the performance, and just performed my first oil change last night -- 0.6 litre of 10W30.
Even though we're in the midst of a heat wave here, riding the scooter is a lot of fun in the morning and around sunset. In fact, on days that I am unable to ride due to cargo-carrying requirements and travel needs, I find myself suffering from a touch of withdrawal. Going for an errand on the scooter right away dismisses the withdrawal symptoms. Funny.
A couple of weeks ago I scooted to dinner with friends while my wife was traveling. When I left the restaurant and headed for home there was practically no traffic. For most of the four-mile ride I was alone on the road. For those few minutes I felt as if the world had been given over to me. The sun was low. The upper atmosphere was alive and full of energy, as evidenced by the clouds that were transformed into massive brush strokes that turned from white to orange to purple and grey in front of the sun. The air temperature was just below body temperature, but patches of it were considerably hotter and cooler. Cool, damp patches of air lingered in lower-lying spots of topography. In addition to variations in air temperature, the air was flavored with its contents. I could smell the train tracks before crossing them. I could tell when large commercial production facilities were near, because there would be a break in the natural scents of earth and vegetation. I was amazed at how many of these sensations are unavailable to the operator of car or truck, or at least when I am driving the car or minivan how I am unable to perceive more of the tastes and sensations of the environment.