The McAllen chronicles and NEW video....

I’m sitting here at the I Hop chatting w/ this waiter, whose been off the clock for three hours, or so. He’s doing all the talking, and that’s COOL, cause he’s got a lot more interesting stuff to say than I do at the moment. The art to a great conversationalist is listening. Ironically, he’s just left. I guess my Art went out the window when I started blogging, and the real bad news is that It’s my turn to talk, via this blog, and you are my captive audience! :) This was my second day back in my OLD hometown of McAllen. My NEW hometown, the last eight years, has been Los Angeles, where I’ve been writing, directing, editing, and acting in the film industry. My latest project is a song and video I created as a commision from my sister, who champions the Education program GEAR UP that prepares Middle and High school kids for college. Thank you Oskar Hernandez, who let me use his editing suite in McAllen to finish editing the project. Oskar is a childhood friend who is professional musicain and an amazing video-ographer for weddings! Today, I set up the screen and solidified all the deatails for the screening of my film MEXICAN AMERICAN PSYCHO on Saturday. However, the HIGHLIGHT of my day was the amazing homecooking, rice-beans-meat-tortillas, from my wonderful beautiful mom! My dad was working, but I had a great visit with him yesterday. I’ll be right back.......................Okay, I’m back. I just purchased the newspaper, and they printed an interview about me my movie; so, I will blog on that next! I love my life...love, jd
p.s. I miss all my L.A. friends....

3:00 a.m., Starbucks, battery low, and a Rodent....

It's 3:00 a.m. Central time, and I'm sitting outside a Starbucks with my lap top's VERY low battery, and a roach is saying hi to me with his antennas, AND the sprinkler system has just erupted H2O, far away, though! Not exactly the the Rock Star thing to do, especially when my movie is screening in my hometown this Saturday night. I should be attending some fabaulous happening "after party" where everybody is toasting to the boy who left his small town roots to pursue his passion and love for film, and has now returned for not the 1st, or the 2nd, or the 3RD movie; but, for the fourth time to screen one of his films. Am I the toast of the town? LIKE, does my roach friend get H.B.O. with his antennas? Back to the subject at hand, I'm here for the "rip-off" T-mobile internet service in order to post this incoherent blog! MOTEL 6 does NOT provide Wi-Fi, but the rooms are clean and they leave the light ON! Yay, and I love my life!!! love, jd
p.s. more details on my trip tomorrow as my lap-tops battery is about to go BYE,BYE!

Austin City Limits

I'm sitting here at the airport in Austin, Texas in a two hour layover before I fly home to the Rio Grande Valley. I just bought a 24 hour T.Mobile service plan for ten bucks then I checked my online bank, and I was charged an additional two dollars for who knows what! Hidden charges is what makes corporate America crooks! What do I know, I'm just a cheezy filmmaker/musician. And, that's why I'm flying home from L.A., to screen my latest film, MEXICAN AMERICAN PSYCHO. Mixed feelings about this screening. I LOVE this film, but it really is twisted, and what will people think? FOOEY! A fugue filmmaker must never get trapped in the "Politically Correct," movement that has, in my opinion, tainted society. However, society I cannot control, just MY thoughts, and ACTIONS. At this moment, which is all I have, I LOVE my life.....love, jd
p.s. more on my trip to come....
p.s.s. I'm putting up a video THE TACO BELL SONG for kicks!!

Home Sweet Home...

I'm making final arrangements for my trip back home to South Texas. Oh, that's right. How would you know; cause, I haven't BLOGGED in over a WEEK! No excuses, I just haven't :(...por mi culpa, por mi culpa!! Heehee Anyway, the reason I'm going home on Wednesday, is to screen my film, MEXICAN AMERICAN PSYCHO. It will screen Sept. 1 at The Creative Incubator, I love that name, at 7:00 p.m. I'm also excited to see my family, which I haven't seen in over a year. I'm a bit nervous, mainly because, if you've seen my latest photos, my hair a cross between a Gang-Banger and a BAD 80's mullet! The TRUTH, I just signed with a commercial agent, and she wants me to keep my hair LONG! I'm at Jeniffer's coffee house right now, and I just got the BEST suggestion as I write this from "literally" two BLONDE gals sitting to the left and right of me, and they said, "Cut your hair and impress MOM!!" Case closed! I love my Life:)......love, jd

Gone to the dogs...

The last couple of days and nights, I've had the pleasure of taking care of my God-Dog's VIVIAN and BILLY. These are the STAR Greyhounds that you see in the Video above. Their owners, my great friends, George and Erin, are off to Vegas! I also have the privilege of living the life of a Rock Star, as I get to stay in their lovely two story home in Valley Village here in L.A. Oh, did I happen to mention that as the rest of L.A. is in a heat wave, I get to find relief in their POOL! It's a tough job, but somebody has got to do it!! In terms of the film, THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE, I'm solidifying locations for the shoot, still. I will definitely start shooting in Sept! I love my LIFE! love, jd
p.s. tonight I played at the CAFE AMSTERDAM to the FLY on the WALL, again! more on that tomorrow!

Head Shots

My Best Bud, world famous STEVE WORTH of the Animation Archive in Hollywood, worked his magic AGAIN last night, at the last minute, and shot/edited head-shots for me. I'm close to signing with a commercial agent, and they wanted new pics A.S.A.P.! Thank you STEVE for being a great ARTIST, but most of all, FRIEND! I love my Life! love, jd
P.S. Today, August 17, FIVE years ago is the day I met BILL W. Thank you Bill W for working your miracle on me!

Mexican American Psycho Poster

So, last night I called up my best friend STEVE WORTH and told him I needed a movie poster A.S.A.P for my film MEXICAN AMERICAN PSYCHO which will screen in South Texas Sept 1, and at the North Hollywood Arts distict summer film series on Sept 14. He replied, "come on over." He is the Director of the animation archive in Hollywood, which is whwere I went. At any rate, I brought a few props, and within ONLY an hour, Steve created this movie poster! Thank you STEVE! I love my life...love J.D.
p.s. for all info to the screening in North Hollywood, go to www.crossculturalfilmfestival.org

Malibu Nights!

This past Sunday, I played this really amazing wedding in Malibu at a FIVE star restaurant called THE CHART HOUSE. It's located right on beach, as I could hear and feel the movement of the waves to the rhythm of the songs as I sang! Performing as I looked out and into the vast blue Pacific Blue was truly breathtaking and euphoric! I do not know what else to write about this experience of which I will never forget! I LOVE my LIFE!! love, jd
p.s. The video is a clip from my film PAN DULCE, which features a song I wrote several years ago, MALIBU!

Late Summer Nights! A fugue filmmaker's life!

Pre-production on a fugue film is all about late night "Pow-wows" on how to make a $1,000,000.00 film on a budget with all those zero's removed! It can be exhausting, but nothing that is genuine, pure, and magical comes easy. The Teacher's Lounge script is completed and I'm wearing the hat of Location scout, which en-tails finding a location to shoot this movie.
Thank you Tobi Sackheim for snapping those shots at THE PANTRY in downtown L.A. as we LABORED over THE LOUNGE! As you can see, they were kind enough to lets us stay a bit longer than most:) I love my life! love, jd
P.S. My earthquake predictions were as follows: I was accurate on the location, NORTH of North Hollywood! yay; but, the strength was a "4.5" whereas, I guessed "5.1" CLOSE but not cigar:) yay!

{{{{EARTHQUAKE!}}}}} just a few seconds ago!

WOW!!!! It was like a JOLT then another smaller jolt! It startled me, as I was online reading some stuff! I'm predicting that the epicenter was somewhere North of where I live which is North Hollywood! And,I'm guessing it was like 5.2 on the richter scale. So, let's see how perceptive I am in terms of earthquakes! By the way, this is gonna sound bizzarro, but I did tell various friends that I had a dream recently, in which I was told there would be an earthquake, soon! Hey, quit laughing! I know, I know, this is Sothern California, we get them all the time; however, not that often:) Okay, I'll stick to filmmaking and leave the predictions to the true psychics not the Mexican American Psychos!! haha I love my life, and I just got a jolt! love, jd

MexIcan AmErican PsYcho! selected for North Hollywood Screening Series!

Hola Amigas and Amigos,
My last flick, MEXICAN AMERICAN PSYCHO has been selected to screen in North Hollywood as part of a Film Seires featuring filmmakers from L.A. I'm really stoked and look forward to seeing those of you that live in the area at the screening. The film will be shown on Sept 14, 2007 and the theatre address is 5245 Lankershim Blvd North Hollywood Ca. 91602. YAY! I love my life!!! love, jd
P.S. I know I've posted this trailer several times already, but "Ayy," "Mucho Perdon,"....;)

ROMANCE and FINANCE a Fugue filmmaker's life...

I must confess, this fugue filmmaker is heavily involved in an intense romantic relationship with his next film project THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE! It has to to be a labor of deep, deep, deep, LOVE; otherwise, films don't get finished. As with any relationship, the FINANCIAL factor is crucial in keeping your baby happy. Sometimes the most profound moments in a relationship are a stroll down the beach, a drive through the city skyline, or a peck on the nose; therefore, some of the most profound moments in cinema don't have to be Epic, Blockbuster million dollar scenarios, but a Fugue formulatic simple sweet stroll down the beach, drive through a city skyline, or just a peck on the nose.....I love my life! Love, jd
P.S. The photo was taken by the very gifted artist TOBI SACKHEIM as we visited the ELLIOTT SMITH wall at 4334 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood on his birthday, yesterday.

Late Summer UP CLOSE & PERSONAL tour...heehee

Here are the dates, times, and locations to gigs I'm playing the rest of the summer!

Saturday and Sunday's 7:00 - 10:00
ERNIE'S TACO HOUSE
4410 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91602

Monday's 7:00 - 10:00
CAFE AMSTERDAM
10905 Magnolia Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601

Tuesday's 7:00 - 10:00
MONTY'S STEAK HOUSE
5371 Topanga Canyon Blvd
Woodland Hills, CA 91364

"Table read," 4 the LOUNGE!

The Read for THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE went really, really, well! I want to express my gratitude to the following actors for lending their voice and talent: Elizabeth O'Brien, Mario Valdez Juarez, Tony Volu, Brandon Scott, Caroline Neville, Mannie, Amy Lloyd, Joe Best, Christopher Snell, Mica Ray, Jeniffer Cetrone, and Robert Herrera. These actors brought voices to the characters that up to this point were only heard in my head! Although, I still continue to hear voices in my head, and I do have quite a great conversation with all 50 of my personalities, and.....JUST KIDDING! It's only 25 voices! hahaheehee In any event, the table read started at about 9:00p.m.; because I had choir practice before hand, whereas that's when magic started as Elizabeth O'Brien and Amy Lloyd actually joined my spanish choir in singing. They don't speak spanish, but they were extremely proficient in the language of SONG, which has no boundries, with their amazing voices! I LOVE my life...love, jd
P.S. Thank you Elizabeth for snapping the pics on your trusty phone!
P.S.S. I was gonna rotate the pics properly, but the screenplay is so TWISTED and QUIRCKY, that the pics are metaphorically perfect!

THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE "Gossip!" FugueFilmSecrets 2

Tonight, I'm having a "table read" on the revised script. A "Table Read" is the the script being read all the way through with actors. This is a great tool for actually hearing the voice of the character. I encourage all filmmakers to have several table reads before you shoot. I'll post pictures tomorow night! I love my life...jd

MexIcan AmErican PsYcho! available on D.V.D. in 2weeks

MEXICAN AMERICAN PSYCHO will be available on D.V.D. in a couple of weeks. You will be able to purchase it Online as well as FROM BEHIND THE SUNFLOWER. Yay! I will keep you in the loop! I love my life....love, jd
P.s. i hope you like the mini Trailer I posted AboVe!!