Friday, September 11, 2020

An Update About Nothing Exciting

Time to write a new blog post about all the recent exciting things happening in my life!

Nothing. Nothing really at all.

I had the week off work last week for a mental health break which was nice, but I wasn't really able to go anywhere to unwind. Not only does Covid-19 still have places closed and not allowing me to visit my friends, but now there are wildfires all over California too. Actually, they're all over the Pacific Northwest. I haven't opened a window at my apartment for over 3 weeks now due to smoky conditions. I'm lucky that I haven't had to evacuate (yet), but it is all really sad. I had a good streak of playing tennis every Saturday with my uncle, but now I don't know when I'll even be able to exercise safely outside again. 

They claim there will be a vaccine for Covid-19 by the time of the election in November. I hope it is true and I hope it works. I would love to mingle with friends and family indoors again, that's for sure. Some might be reading this and wondering why I don't just hang out with friends now as long as we keep our bubble small. One, who knows if any friends in this small bubble breaks out of the bubble at any point? I can't track everywhere my friends go. Also, I'm slightly higher risk because of my heart condition so I have to be cautious. 

So will Covid-19 end before the Wildfires end? I sure hope not, but it is evident that the fires are the result of climate change. 

So now I not only miss stand-up-comedy, miss my friends, but I also miss fresh air. 

I hope a year from now that I can look at this blog and say "wow, times were a lot worse then" and not "wow, it wasn't as bad then."


Friday, May 22, 2020

Memorial Day Weekend, Checking In

Hey everyone out there that reads this blog. I'm doing better since my last post in case you were wondering.

It is Memorial Day weekend and I was scheduled to be back home and performing at Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club in Sunnyvale May 21st-24th. Of course, that's not happening. I've seen some comedy clubs in Texas and other areas are running again at like 25% capacity. Even if that was the case here in California, I'm not so sure I'd want to do the shows at this point.

In the meantime, I've been putting together some skits and posting those on YouTube and social media. They at least allow me to still be creative.

I watched Mark Normand's comedy special on YouTube called "Out To Lunch" the other day and thought it was great. (you're welcome for the plug, Mark, views will now skyrocket because they've read my blog)

I hope everyone out there is staying safe and not being stupid. Even if you don't think this is a big deal personally, have some respect for the people around you.

Lastly, I usually do MLB predictions every season, but if there is an MLB season in 2020, I won't be making any such predictions. Personally, even if they play in 2020, it won't be the same. They have to jump over many hurdles and the game will be much different. I think the games should just be exhibition games.... but that's just my opinion. Don't tell me that the players owe it to you to play though because that's bullshit.

Ok, see ya next time. Try to enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Not Feeling Like Myself

This isn't an easy thing for me to write at this moment, but I feel I need to get this down while it is on my mind.

Right now, we're in a pandemic as everyone is I'm sure aware with Covid-19. We're to stay inside and only leave the house for essential things. It has only been a month, which is really not that long. I expect it to go on a lot longer given what I'm hearing in the news. 

There is no sporting events to watch as an escape. All stand-up comedy shows have been canceled. (I haven't tried doing a Virtual open mic like other comedians but maybe I should.)

Tonight was the first night where it really hit me though. I thought maybe doing a Netflix Party with some friends would be a good escape. I just wanted to shoot the shit with some friends. I didn't want to have to worry about paying attention to the movie or anything.

As a comedian...and really just as a person in general, I'm always looking to make people laugh when possible and be the center of attention. 

However, tonight during the Netflix Party, I realized we are to a point where most of us just want some attention.  (I might be wrong but that's how I read the chat room...)

I tried to make some jokes at the beginning of the movie (we watched Hook)...I'd never seen it before and that is fine. Nobody didn't really seem to be replying to anything I typed so I just stopped and followed along with the chat instead...not so much the movie.  

One friend said I went to go poop. I didn't reply to this comment as I just wanted to see how long it would be until someone questioned if I was really pooping or not. Finally, another friend text me after a while to check. I told her that I was okay and just following the chat.

I tried to make a few more funny comments toward the end of the film. Maybe they weren't funny? Maybe my friends have known me too long that nothing is funny from me? Maybe they did laugh but they weren't going to type out "LOL" or "Haha." Maybe they thought I was trying too hard?

It really made me miss live stand-up comedy shows and performing in front of people I don't know.
It also made me feel selfish. I guess I just expected this Netflix Party to be more special. I expected us all to laugh more. Maybe we're all to a point where nothing is funny right now? Laughter is contagious also and some people just don't laugh when they're alone. Maybe I shouldn't have stated that I was never a fan of Peter Pan toward the beginning of the film? My audience walked out on me, so to speak. 

I'm not looking for some pity "LOL" or "Haha" replies either... I don't know why I care so much about Netflix Party reactions but I can't really get much human connection these days as I live alone and don't get to hear much audible laughter from people and it makes me so sad. Sure, my mom will laugh when I call her but that's my mom, she'll laugh at anything I say. 

BUT I'm still trying to lift spirits...(usually while drinking spirits)... I feel like I'm not supposed to be having a hard time. I always wanted to live alone, like I currently am, but I never wanted to feel this alone. 

As far as my day job, I'm able to remotely work from home fortunately. I know a LOT of people are not that fortunate. So why I am making a big deal about what seems to be a small thing? I guess I'm finding out just how much comedy means to me. 

Stay safe, stay home, wash your hands, and thanks for reading. I'll be okay when it is all over. Just typing this out has given me the opportunity to cry for the first time since this all started. I think I had been holding that inside too long to be honest. 

I can't wait to have an epic road trip with some friends when this is all over...so I can hear them laugh and see them having fun!


Saturday, February 8, 2020

The 2020 Academy Awards

The 2020 Oscars will air at 8pm EST on Sunday, February 9, 2020

I love going to the movies and watching movies in general. When the Oscars come around, I usually try to see as many of the nominated films in as many of categories as possible given the available time that I have. While I feel the Oscars would be better with a host, they have decided to go without a host for the second year in a row. Hopefully the presenters of the awards are able to add some entertainment in their presentations.

Movies that were nominated that I was able to see before the ceremony tomorrow night include:
1917
Avengers: Endgame
Ford v Ferrari
Joker
Jojo Rabbit
Judy
Knives Out
Little Women
Lion King
Marriage Story
Missing Link
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood 
Parasite
Rocketman
Toy Story 4
The Irishman
The Lighthouse
The Two Popes

Unfortunately, I was unable to see films like Bombshell and Hariett, among others. One film that I saw that I think deserved some recognition from the Oscars but sadly does not is the movie Booksmart.

With that being said, my predictions for the winners are in bold. If there is another nominee that I'd like to see win instead, that is listed in italics. I hope everyone that watches enjoys the show!

Best Picture
“Ford v Ferrari” (Disney/Fox)
“The Irishman” (Netflix)
“Jojo Rabbit” (Fox Searchlight)
“Joker” (Warner Bros.)
“Little Women” (Sony)
“Marriage Story” (Netflix)
“1917” (Universal)
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (Sony)
“Parasite” (Neon)


Best Director
Martin Scorsese (“The Irishman”)
Todd Phillips (“Joker”)
Sam Mendes (“1917”)
Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”)
Bong Joon Ho (“Parasite”)

Best Actor
Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”)
Leonardo DiCaprio (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”)
Adam Driver (“Marriage Story”)
Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”)
Jonathan Pryce (“The Two Popes”)

Best Actress
Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet”)
Scarlett Johansson (“Marriage Story”)
Saoirse Ronan (“Little Women”)
Charlize Theron (“Bombshell”)
Renee Zellweger (“Judy”)

Supporting Actor
Tom Hanks (“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”)
Anthony Hopkins (“The Two Popes”)
Al Pacino (“The Irishman”)
Joe Pesci (“The Irishman”)
Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”)

Supporting Actress
Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”
Laura Dern (“Marriage Story”)
Scarlett Johansson (“Jojo Rabbit”)
Florence Pugh (“Little Women”)
Margot Robbie (“Bombshell”)

Adapted Screenplay
Taika Waititi (“Jojo Rabbit”)
Steve Zaillian (“The Irishman”)
Anthony McCarten (“The Two Popes”)
Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”)
Todd Phillips and Scott Silver (“Joker”)

Best Original Screenplay
Rian Johnson (“Knives Out”)
Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story”)
Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns (“1917”)
Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”)
Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won (“Parasite”)

Animated Feature
“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World”
“I Lost My Body”
“Klaus”
“Missing Link”
“Toy Story 4”

International Feature Film
“Corpus Christi”
“Honeyland”
“Les Miserables”
“Pain and Glory”
“Parasite”

Best Documentary
“American Factory”
“The Cave”
“Edge of Democracy”
“For Sama”
“Honeyland”

Best Cinematography
Rodrigo Prieto, “The Irishman”
Lawrence Sher, “Joker”
Jarin Blaschke, “The Lighthouse”
Roger Deakins, “1917”
Robert Richardson, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Best Costume Design
Sandy Powell and Christopher Peterson, “The Irishman”
Mayes C. Rubeo, “Jojo Rabbit”
Mark Bridges, “Joker”
Jacqueline Durran, “Little Women”
Arianne Phillip, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Film Editing
Michael McCusker and Andrew Buckland, “Ford vs. Ferrari”
Thelma Schoonmaker, “The Irishman”
Tom Eagles, “Jojo Rabbit”
Jeff Groth, “Joker”
Yang Jinmo, “Parasite”

Makeup and Hairstyling
“Bombshell” (Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan and Vivian Baker)
“Joker” (Nicki Ledermann and Kay Georgiou)
“Judy” (Jeremy Woodhead)
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” (Paul Gooch, Arjen Tuiten and David White)
“1917” (Naomi Donne, Tristan Versluis and Rebecca Cole)

Original Score
Hildur Guðnadóttir, “Joker”
Alexandre Desplat, “Little Women”
Randy Newman, “Marriage Story”
Thomas Newman, “1917”
John Williams, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”


Original Song
I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” “Toy Story 4”
“I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” “Rocketman”
“I’m Standing With You,” “Breakthrough”
“Into the Unknown,” “Frozen 2”
“Stand Up,” “Harriet”

Production Design
“The Irishman”
Production Design: Bob Shaw
Set Decoration: Regina Graves

“Jojo Rabbit”
Production Design: Ra Vincent
Set Decoration: Nora Sopková

“1917”
Production Design: Dennis Gassner
Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Production Design: Barbara Ling
Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

“Parasite”
Production Design: Lee Ha Jun
Set Decoration: Cho Won Woo

Sound Editing
“Ford v Ferrari” (Donald Sylvester)
“Joker” (Alan Robert Murray)
“1917” (Oliver Tarney and Rachael Tate)
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (Wylie Stateman)
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (Matthew Wood and David Acord)

Sound Mixing
“Ad Astra” (Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson and Mark Ulano)
“Ford vs. Ferrari” (Paul Massey, David Giammarco and Steven A. Morrow)
“Joker” (Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic and Tod Maitland)
“1917” (Mark Taylor and Stuart Wilson)
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (Michael Minkler, Christian P. Minkler and Mark Ulano)

Visual Effects
“Avengers: Endgame” (Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Matt Aitken and Dan Sudick)
“The Irishman” (Pablo Helman, Leandro Estebecorena, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser and Stephane Grabli)
“The Lion King” (Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Elliot Newman)
“1917” (Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler and Dominic Tuohy)
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (Roger Guyett, Neal Scanlan, Patrick Tubach and Dominic Tuohy)

Documentary (Short Subject)
“In the Absence”
“Learning to Skateboard in a War Zone If You’re a Girl”
“Life Overtakes Me”
“St. Louis Superman”
“Walk Run Cha-Cha”

Short Film (Animated)
“Daughter”
“Hair Love”
“Kitbull”
“Memorable”
“Sister”

Short Film (Live Action)
“Brotherhood”
“Nefta Football Club”
“The Neighbor’s Window”
“Saria”
“A Sister”