Dump the timeline... and focus on your craft.
Lately I've been listening to a fantastic book called the 5-Second Rule. The book offers a simple and yet effective concept, since we tend to hesitate with our goals, the 5 second tells you to get rid of your strict timeline and just do the work. Some people are huge successes at 20 years old (Mark Zuckerberg), others not until they are 50 years old (Walt Disney). The point is, go after what you want in life and dump your timeline, you are never too young or too old! Some folks, especially actors, seem to give up on their dreams because it didn't happen early or they may feel that it is simply too late for them. I call bull-shit... that's just not true!
I've often heard people talk about certain actors such as Jessica Chastain or Gal Gadot and say, "Wow, she came out of nowhere, must be nice to be an overnight success". If only they knew how hard these actors had been working their whole life! People assume all the success just fell into their lap and that's just not true. These dedicated actors have been hustling and grinding for years! Do overnight successes happen? Believe it or not, they do. Some people do move to LA and immediately start booking (Corey Monteith of Glee), however, these folks are a rare exception, rather than the rule. For most actors we must dedicate ourselves tirelessly to our craft and our art.
When the 5-second rule instructed me to get rid of my timeline I knew it was a reminder I needed to hear. I've always known that I wanted to act and do creative work, but at certain points we all start to get discouraged when we feel like we aren't getting anywhere. The truth of the matter is anything can happen in this life. As an actor and screenwriter, my only goal should be to keep perfecting my craft, keep writing, and keep telling myself onward... onward into the unknown, and onward into success... whatever that may be!
Onward,
Gabe S.
(P.S. - If you notice a huge gap between my blog posts, it's due to work and a new script I've been working on, I've been a busy lil' bee (buzz buzz) and I'm almost done with it! Up next... script festivals!!)
My Interview with Cinema After Dark
I was thrilled to be invited on the Cinema After Dark Podcast this weekend! The interview covers my Acting/Screenwriting career, including Metronome and Hide The Monster! There was this surreal moment during our discussion, when I was being asked all these questions about my projects... I realized that it was the first time I had taken several moments to discuss & reflect on the last two years. So many ups and downs, twists and turns, which is to be expected with most in depth creative projects. I definitely left our conversation feeling profoundly grateful for what I've created so far, both as a screenwriter & actor!
If you're interested in film or curious about my projects, check out our NPR style discussion & let me now what you think! Lot's of interesting conversation & shout-outs to the many fantastic Actors and crew members I've had the distinct pleasure of working with over the last few years.
Have your eyes set on the upcoming destination, but remember to enjoy the fantastic journey!
Onward,
Gabe S.
New Script = New Possibilities!
So after finishing & releasing my horror film Hide The Monster, I was really starting to miss writing & so I started toying around with a few ideas... which is how it always starts... :D
I recently started working on this new Sci-Fi script!... I've always been a huge fan of Science Fiction movies, having seen The Matrix at 14, I've always been fascinated by the genre's limitless imagination. When you sit down to write & create this world that has never existed before you wonder what kind of world do you want to create and what's possible in this world! What happens to your characters that is worth sharing? Who do they encounter along the way and is that person foe, friend, or even frenemy?
Without giving away too much, I will stay that this Sci-Fi film will include a diverse cast of characters! I have a hard deadline of March 15th, so I have all Winter to write, create, and develop! I'm excited to see what will come of this new creative adventure!
"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. " - Charles Swindoll
Onward!
Gabe S.
Oh yeah... A Blog!
Lately I've been so caught up in work, that I forgot to update my blog and almost forgot I even had one. Scouts honor, I'll be more consistent.
During my amnesia of this blog, I was able to complete work on my new horror film 'Hide The Monster'! This was definitely one of my most challenging projects, but also one of the most creatively rewarding. I've always been a huge fan of horror films and getting the opportunity to create a spooky story was boatloads of fun! From the masks, props, monster scenes... you are swimming in creative possibilities.
Getting to work with such fantastic actors is also a huge benefit, but when they also turn out to be great people and friends, it makes the work that much better. You trust each other, and trust is crucial on a film set.
In a nutshell, we started shooting 'Hide The Monster' in late May and premiered in late September!
You can see it now on Amazon Video and at www.HideTheMonster.com *Coming soon to Hulu & Netflix
Hide The Monster - Interview
Onward,
Gabe S.
Be present for yourself & everyone else... :)
So for the past month I've been interning at the Dallas Comedy House. It's been great, I get to hangout with fun people & experience a flood of creative energy from people.
I recently sat in on some of the stand up comedy open mic. You stand under a spotlight & your EXPECTED to be funny! There was a comic doing a set my first night at DCH who I thought did great! He had a dry sense of humor, & his jokes were spot on, I loved it! ... if only others had been paying attention. For the most part, there are always those people that feel a force stronger than gravity that causes them to pull out there phone, the blast of light making them light up like little towers in the theater. ("Uh hello, it's called multi-taking, duh! Get ova' yourself!")
As the comic's show concluded, he had a masked look of disappointment & frustration. Disappointed because his show didn't go as he had hoped & frustrated because even if it had gone the way he planned, most people weren't paying attention!! He looked up and said one last thing before walking off stage, "Take a break from your phone's people, because one day your gonna look back up & the ones you love won't be there anymore."
Only about half the room even heard him, but he felt the need to say it. I thought at the moment it was such a profound thing to say to an audience. Granted some of the other audience members were other comics waiting for their chance to grace the stage, but it didn't make sense these fellow comics weren't AT ALL engaged with their colleagues work, process, or performance. Even watching bad performances has value!! It could be going through what the person did right or wrong. It could be deconstructing jokes & seeing what landed or what needs work.
Yet we are all so attached to our "smart" phones!! I recently saw Captain America 8 (or which ever version they're on now,) where a guy pulled out his phone & started talking to someone... as if we didn't all just see the same 3 minute mini-PSA asking us all not to!
We have a 24 hour day at our disposal and we sleep about 8 hours a day, which now leaves you with about 16 hours for "freedom". BUT WAIT, you're supposed to be working, no worries it's only going to be a short 8 hour day. So now you're left with about 8 hours of "freedom". PUMP THEM BRAKES, your place is also dirty, there's laundry, you have family commitments, a spouse, kids, blah, blah, etc. Let's stay all those things take 4 hours, conservatively. You now have 4 hours to work on whatever you want in the world... which is turning more and more into that little voice that says "hey... YOU should check your phone."
I used to be the same way though... until I realized that life happens whether you're present for it or not. I'd really hate to have my life flash before my eyes & realize I checked my phone the whole time!
Onward,
Gabe S.
Success for Metronome! Accepted & nominated into Miami Webfest.
Metronome was just accepted into the Miami Webfest & nominated for an award! It feels phenomenal putting all your creative energy into a project & having it validated!! I must admit, somedays while producing, writing, & acting in this series I had my own self-doubts; we all do at times, right? We all run into the same cross-road: either we will listen to these negative voices & back down, sticking with the status-quo OR we can brush off these negative voices & keep moving forward nonetheless!!
I'll be traveling to Miami in late September to attend the screening of Metronome & the award gala; it's also an amazing excuse to visit the beach! I can't wait to hear some feed back on this mysterious series! If you haven't seen it yet, here's a link to the full series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLID4qj40BgCmuJvOnNXH4aighNgt85d51
Onward,
Gabe S.
Broken Boundaries... move beyond your normal!
In acting... in writing... in life there are always limits that we bump up against. When this happens we have two simple choices: back down, stick with the status quo or decide to break through & level UP!
Lately I've been executive producing a new feature film, which is a new challenge for me since the completion of my webseries, Metronome. Everything was going as planned, and then 5 days before production was set to begin we were forced to fire one of our lead actors. This had never happened before, the actor was understandably upset, but we had lost faith in his ability to show up for production. He then proceeded to insult not only me & my producers, but the project as well. It was a tremendous let down to be so close to shooting & then have to postpone production until we could recast the project.
I absolutely had to take a step back... I just really needed a breather. After a few days I was able to regain my motivation, regain my sense of creativity & momentum. Looking back on everything, it was an important lesson in breaking through boundaries. Anything we do in life has road-blocks, some more so than others, but the bigger the goal, the more roadblocks you're going to encounter. It's almost a guarantee! What matters most is that you remind yourself why you started when you're staring those road blocks in the face!
Take a deep breath & yell ONWARD!!!
Gabe S.
My sabbatical... a year for creative discoveries!
In two weeks time I will embark on a unique adventure, my own special sabbatical! This is something I've always wanted to do... just get away from the hustle & bustle of life & remember what it means to LIVE. You know, travel, create, learn new languages, read new books, write, act, & really just do anything I've always wanted to do.
It's so strange that from an early age we're all encouraged to follow the same road map. Finish grades K-12, then go to college for a few years, then get a respectable corporate job, get married, buy a house, pop out a few babies, save for the golden years... then die...? It blows my mind how boring this all sounds... & yet we all buy into this same story-line. Hence, the sabbatical!
I was inspired by the amazing TED Talk from Stefan Sagmeister & his notion that every 7 years you should go on sabbatical to recharge & refresh your creative outlook. Perhaps we should all take time to clear out the clutter of our own mind & remember what it's like not only to day dream, but make your actual days dream like!
I've included the video below, let me know what you think... and maybe you should start planning your own sabbatical...! Stay tuned for updates on my progress during this adventure!
Wish me luck & Onward,
Gabe S.
Creative Vacuum
After finishing Metronome, I knew I would need to fill that creative vacuum with something else & I didn't want it to be TV, or partying, etc. I wanted it to be a new challenge, first it was a web-series, why not a feature film?! I mean, isn't that what were supposed to do anyway. Continually push our own personal boundaries. As in you should find the line... & cross it.... & when you cross that line find a new one!
I started writing casually at first, a page here, a few sentences there... edits before bed. If you give it a month or two you start to see the world behind the pages. It's strange at times how clear & real it seems when you're holding the story in your mind. Going from 1 idea & 1 page to over 50 pages & a while story is a wild ride of the imagination! Good Times!
Onward,
Gabe S.
Looking at Metronome Chapter 5 & beyond!
Well after lots of hard work & having to continually push my own professional boundaries, I have successfully completed the first season of Metronome the webseries! It was truly a great experience writing, producing, & acting in this mysterious story! See the conclusion of Metronome Chapter 5 below! Now it's time to submit the series to Film Festivals & show them what we've got!
If you've missed any previous episodes, catch up on them with the links below!
Metronome
Chapter 1: https://youtu.be/pMNDMWs7On8
Chapter 2: https://youtu.be/2IW91tZ9p7k
Chapter 3: https://youtu.be/Vjsn_h6wVJ8
Chapter 4: https://youtu.be/mvmL7rpwo8c
Onward,
Gabe S.
