Tough Yet True Love

Track conditioning has started right when musical is heating up. The school year has reached that limbo period when winter activities blend with spring activities in order to create a month without sleep.

In the midst of the excitement, I hope to still find time to blog on the weekends. Tonight, I am staying up late in order to accomplish a few things - one of which is quite daring.

I am currently uploading a photo album of embarrassing Ryan pictures to Facebook. You see, as much as I love Adam and Ryan, they've been acting like two gossiping bitter old women lately. In addition, Ryan has initiated a number of small attacks on me throughout the year. I've warned him countless times that I was going to get my revenge.

The day has come. Although really, I don't believe in revenge, and I don't see this action as such. In reality, I simply find the pictures hilarious and believe that they need to be shared with the world. It's about time everyone met the real, not-so-innocent Ryan.

I'm sorry Ryan, but it had to be done. You will gain more fans in the long run thanks to this. And although we often fight and lunge at each others' throats, we will always love each other. I might actually miss you in college... just a little bit.

In other parts of the world, Alaina and I had a wonderful Pittsburgh trip on Saturday. I'm looking forward to another fun weekend because our good friend Christina is coming to Johnstown from Philadelphia. Her birthday is tomorrow. Happy birthday EM! We're in for an extravaganza.

I'll write about that as well as Pittsburgh soon.

One last thing, thank you to Alaina for introducing me to this song.

I Miss the Sun

First of all, do I sound like a girl? Back in the day, whenever someone called the house, and I answered the phone, they always thought I was my mom. I hated it.

Then the magic of puberty happened and my voice changed. However, people still think that I'm my mom on the phone. Usually the person on the other end will say, "Mrs. King?" When I tell them I'm actually a man (well getting there), they burst into a fit of apology.


Except the lady who called the other night... she wanted to talk to Ryan about the Discovery Kids magazines he subscribes to. She thought I was his mom. When I explained that I was actually his brother, there was a short pause. And then she started to crack up with giggling! Ugh.

Short update on my life: I was accepted to Loyola Marymount University - my backup California school. So that's exciting. And my notification letter from Chapman is in the mail. Good or bad? The anticipation is killing me.


Oh, there's no school yet again today. Ice storm. By the time I graduate from high school, I'll have to leave for college the next day. At least we finished midterms yesterday.

I might actually try to do something today - maybe read. But I'm actually in a "I don't know what to do with myself period." So I might have a mini movie marathon. Catfish came from Netflix today.


I'm also on this Baz Luhrmann kick. I finally watched Moulin Rouge the other night, and I surprisingly really liked it.


Finally, here's a bit of movie magic. I always thought the elevator scene in Romeo + Juliet was super sexy. Now laugh as you watch how they did it.

Blue Skies are Calling

Whoa. I need to stop and breathe for a second. I am sort of shocked that it's Thursday already. I have only 4 days left of a glorious break.

I've been having fun. I had a couple parties with the family around Christmas, much like every year. Then, the cousins from LA came to visit, and we talked for three hours. I spent the past two days tromping around Johnstown with my cousin McKenzie. We were also joined by Alaina, Ryan, and Adam. What a crew! We ate a lot of good food and watched half a dozen movies.

Now, McKenzie has suddenly returned to Virginia because homework and projects were calling her name. I guess I should start working on stuff too. But first, I have to find a suit. Being awkwardly long and skinny isn't always easy. I haven't found a nice suit yet. The Winter Formal is over two weeks away. So, I still have time. A road trip might be in order.

As 2010 ends, I am excited for what lies ahead. It was another fun year. 2010 leaves me with hope.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

So it's Christmas Eve. Feels weird, doesn't it?

Last night, Ryan, Adam, and I helped decorate our cathedral. Setting up the trees and the nativity scenewas difficult but fun. Then we joined Alaina and her brother to hit up Dunkin Donuts and Coney Island.

Oh yeah. I also saw Black Swan yesterday. It was crazy but very good. It was a sort of film that I have not seen before - very dark and artsy. The whole movie had a dancing movement to it, and you can't help but get completely lost in it. Definitely check it out.



So far today, my family and I have been busy preparing - cleaning the house and baking cookies. The holidays always end up being stressful, and we started the day with an argument. After everyone had their say and cooled down, we sat in the living room with our heads in our hands. Now things are better, and I'm looking forward to break.

For some reason, I really missed my grandparents today. My church had a mass dedicated to them this morning at 7:00 am but none of us made it. I hope they're somewhere warm.

Well, wishing you all the best! Less than 24 hours until Christmas!

I Want to Dance

I just had the urge to dance. Like fun dancing. Goofy, awkward, flinging arms everywhere dancing. And I want to laugh.

Last night, Ryan and I watched The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I read about the movie online. It received good reviews and everyone was talking about how much they liked it. Despite it's 2.5 hour running time, I was assured that it was thrilling.

I have to disagree. Ryan and I were bored. While the girl who plays Lisbeth (the girl with the dragon tattoo) was cool, it was hard to stay interested. I realize that converting a story from book form to movie form is really difficult. So, I don't usually try to compare the two. I hate it when people label a Harry Potter film as awful because it left out a half of a page of the book. I don't even care if the movie has plot changes. At the end of the day, the film has to stand on its own as a good piece of art.

But the changes made to the film version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo were weird and awkward. Unlike the book, I thought the movie was flat. It never got more thrilling or climaxed.

And finally, it pushed the whole feminist thing way too much. The book dealt with the issue of female abuse in a cool way that befitted the story. On the other hand, the movie included an extended rape scene (that was awkward to watch with Ryan) and numerous murder pictures. When the long movie should have been ending, Lisbeth had a long conversation with her mom about the abuse she suffered from her father. I think this is a plot development from the second novel. It didn't need to be in the first movie. Last, an important character from the book wad dead in the movie. Why. Here's the exact line: "Anita had a successful career before tragically dying of breast cancer." Why not? Let's throw breast cancer awareness in there too. The line sounded ridiculous even is Swedish.

Sorry for complaining. I know you don't care. The experience wasn't totally awful.The film's un-American sex scenes sparked interesting conversation between Ryan and me. And in the scene where Lisbeth removes her shirt to reveal armpit hair, Ryan did a double take. I forgot Swedish girls rolled like that. Hot.

Before going to bed, we watched a little bit of the documentary This Film is Not Yet Rated for a good laugh.



As I worked on stuff today, I've been listening to Conditions by the Temper Trap. It's really good. Why haven't I bought that album yet?


11 days until Christmas!

I know it's not a Christmas song, but here's Love Lost by the Temper Trap.

The kids are not alright because they're not kids. They're freaking adults!

Sigh. So I wasn't sure what to blog about tonight. But there was one recent event that has stuck in my mind.

Lately, Ryan and I have been driving around town on adventures together. We usually do around Christmas.

One night while we were at Wal-Mart, I wanted to buy The Kids Are Alright. I've been wanting to see it since it came out in the summer. But of course, Johnstown doesn't get the good, limited release movies. Isn't there something terribly exciting about buying movies you haven't seen yet?

We were getting a bunch of groceries that had to be purchased with a credit card. But I wanted to pay for the movie with cash. So, I gave the money and the movie to Ryan. Red flag! Siren! Alarm!

I forgot that The Kids Are Alright was rated R. "I'll need to see an ID," said the cashier lady. I reached into my pocket to pull out my driver's license. "I can't do that! I can't do that!" She needed a parent's permission. A parent!

Apparently, the lady believed that if I purchased the movie, I was just going to give it to Ryan on the way out. Explaining that I was buying it for myself was no use. If Ryan had a heart attack watching a dirty movie, excuse her, a scary movie, then it would be Wal-Mart's fault. What a weird world we live in today.

I just gave up. Everyone behind us was already giving us funny looks. Like we were trying to buy a porno. Wal-Mart doesn't even sell "dirty" movies.

Life will go on. But I'm eighteen. I'm an adult. I want to be treated like one. Although I don't want to be called one because that's weird.

I remember thinking that seniors in high school were so old whenever I was younger. Now I'm a senior, and I still feel like a kid. Which might be sort of good in a way. I don't know.

In other news, most of our running around today involved gearing up for Alaina's birthday. I wanted to celebrate her passage into adulthood tomorrow. However, she came over to bake cookies tonight and most of the surprises are already ruined thanks to my family. Not to mention, I think I have ringworm (I'm clean I swear!). Life is wonderful.

Bonjour Fall.

So... I'm up later than I wanted to be tonight.

But I'm sick of not getting stuff done. It's only the second week of school, yet as I lie in bed each night, I have mini brain freakouts. How am I going to get this short film finished? How in the world will I get all of my applications completed on time? If things don't work out, I won't land my dream career, I won't have a cool pregnant wife, and I won't have a beard.

And then I'll have to gouge my eyes out like Oedipus (which I took a test on today - yuck). Oh well. I am trusting that things will fall into place somehow.

Fall is officially here. Today was cold - cold as in my cross country hoodie isn't enough, I need a freaking blanket cold.

I sort of like it.

After having a fun Labor Day weekend, I was reluctant to start school again. But this week has been pretty cool. It wasn't nearly as rough as the first week of school. After having AP Chem last year, I decided not to take a science course this year. I wanted to squeeze in some creative classes that would help me with film. That means that I get to start my day with Acting and Art. I love it!

Yesterday, the XC team experienced our first meet of the season. It wasn't a bad start. The boys won the meet, but we still have work to do. Like a dumbo, I forgot that my spikes give me blisters the first time I wear them each season. Now I have to deal with having holes of absent skin on my ankles. We have an Invitational on Saturday morning, so hopefully I can come up with a comfortable solution by then.

Yesterday was also Ryan's birthday. We had some family members over and feasted on some amazing ice cream cake from the creamery. My family is now entering "Birthday Time." Addison turned ten last week. Countdown to my birthday/adult time = five days. Holy crap. (Tyler is the late one. He won't turn twelve until October.)

Today I celebrated a new birthday. The Great Pine Street Adventure turned one year old. GPSA is my first movie (I need nerd glasses). We premiered it on September 9th last year, so today will always hold a special place in my heart. I don't have a baby yet (and won't for a long time), so for now my movies will be my children. It seems like only yesterday when he was just a tiny storyboard... Sniffle. Sniffle.

Haha! Looking at this poster, I realized that the special date was September 5th - not the 9th. Oh well. It's the thought that counts.

Anyway, to celebrate I wanted to post some "teaser posters" from the long awaited short film. Ryan and I cheesed them up earlier. I haven't actually started editing yet. I'm considering locking myself in my house after the race on Saturday. This movie needs to start coming together!


Good night!

Remember Me?

Remember me? Chad?

I've been out living.

Last week quickly transformed into crunch time as I rushed around like a mad man trying to get my short film actually filmed. Luckily, I have a great crew of supporters and friends. Together, we gathered equipment, went costume shopping, and created shot lists. I drafted my brother Ryan to act in the film. He hesitantly agreed. (I eventually made him dye his hair and even kiss a girl... gasp!). Finally, the one thing that hanged in the balance was a location.

Originally, I had always planned to film on Main Street by Central Park in downtown Johnstown. I wrote a nice letter of request and delivered it to the city manager like I was instructed to do. However, the city manager chick never called me back. For two days, my mom and I pounded her with phone calls and messages.

On Friday - shooting day - Ryan and I marched to city hall and waited outside her office until she returned from lunch... only she never did. She must have taken a four hour lunch break. And she still didn't call me back.

I was pretty ticked. I love Johnstown most of the time, and I can't understand why my city wouldn't help me out. Dear City Manager, why do you have to be such a rude biznatch?

Never willing to give up, I called my high school - Bishop McCort Catholic High School. We were allowed to film in the courtyard for three nights. The first night was hectic, but Saturday and Sunday went beautifully.

I couldn't have asked for better actors. Staring at the viewfinder, I was awestruck because I knew I was a part of something special.

I want to thank everyone... for everything. I had a great crew who went without sleep for three nights. Yesterday, we filmed the last little intro scene. Now all that's left to do is edit. In the next month, I'll keep you posted on my progress. I'll also try to share some pics and videos.

In other news, school started. Ahhhhhhhhh!

After filming Sunday night, Ryan and I jumped awake at six in the morning. He had to go to school for Freshman Orientation, and I had to help out because I'm on student council.

The rest of the week was weird. It feels like summer break was only a short weekend. Every time I walked down the halls, I could hear the Jaws theme song playing in the back of my head.
Dun dun dun.

Still, it's senior year! Whatever that means. I'm going to have fun.

No doubt, things are going to get crazy as I attempt to juggle cross country (first meet on Wednesday), college applications (I started my application for FSU), homework, and this short film.

I'll write about the new adventures coming my way, but I still have some stuff to say about the summer.

Until then, good luck to everyone going back to school. Take art classes! Bye.

The Boys Are Back

I am struggling to keep my eyes open right now, but I must stay awake. I have to pick my mom up from work in twenty minutes.

This week has been a whirlwind of craziness, weirdness, and fun. I've had to put summer reading and a little bit of running on hold. Tomorrow night is it. We are officially filming the first scenes of the short film.


The only minor obstacle is the fact that we don't have a location yet. The city manager is yet to get back to me. Sigh.

But all things considered, the project is coming together pretty nicely. I'm making a movie again, and it feels good.

I've been running around trying to get things done, but I have Ryan and our life-long best-friend-nieghbor Adam to help.

I'm really nervous. I hope we can pull this off. But whatever happens... happens. I'm just going to have fun.

Wish me luck!

Exposition! (Part Ten)

Meet Ryan.

Oh goodness.

He's my brother - three years younger than me. I felt obliged to include him because he plays a pretty big role in my life. We often argue, but he too is my partner in crime. Together, there's nothing we can't do.

I come from a family of six - mom, dad, me, Ryan, Tyler, and Addison (who is girl in case you were wondering - I have met boy Addisons). We're crazy, but we're family.