Across the Universe....

Yesterday, I saw the film ACROSS THE UNIVERSE in Hollywood. The movie's narrative is framed soley on BEATLE'S songs. I had often pondered this concept, as I am the FIFTH BEATLE! However, I got beat to the punch, and thank goodness, because this movie was BRILLIANT!!! In my opinion, a Cinematic Masterpiece. This movie has only limited release, which means, living here in Los Angeles, it's playing; but for all my friends elsewhere across the universe, when it reaches you, please go see it!! I love my life!...love, jd

Uncharterd Territory!!!!!

I find myself in a bitter/sweet spot! So far, I've had at least five various sources promising me the world in terms of my film MEXICAN AMERICAN PSYCHO. Flattering; however, no one has delivered. Everything has been lip service, and I'm feeling uncomfortable, like I'm about to get SANDBAGGED! Just in case, I hope not, maybe this post will help me in court one day! I am the SOLE creator of MEXICAN AMERICAN PSYCHO. So, if any other studio, or cheezy distribution company puts out a movie similar to mine, BEWARE! Now that I've got that off my chest, How is your day coming along? Are you too, feeling a bit uneasy about your creative endeavors? If so, PERFECT! That's part of the process. Hypersensitivity is MANDATORY in our arena. For example, my feet have always been sensitive to sheets, therefore I wear socks to bed. That's in my movie Pan Dulce. Bad example, oH well! I LOVE my LIFE!!! love, jd
P.S. I actually wear socks ALL the time: around the house, at the beach, when I make Lo................. heehee

Music, film, and FUNDS! Things come in threes :)

MUSIC: Here's the skinny. In my film, PAN DULCE, there is a scene where I'm writing a song sitting on my "PORCELAIN THRONE!" Perhaps this is to much information, "BUTT" I did write a few tunes this weekend! Yay. In terms of performance, I played ERNIES Sat and Sun, to PACKED houses. I was a ROCK STAR! heehee Was it something in the weather? Dunno, it was a strange phenomenon, and I hope it continues. After singing at church on Sunday, I played a function for the church then I was off to Ernies. Tonight, Choir rehearsal then I'm at the Cafe Amsterdam which is a gig that I absolutely LOVE!

FILM: I'm having my final table read for THE TEACHERS LOUNGE tomorrow! I worked diligently this weekend on a final, final, final draft.

FUNDS: If you BELIEVE in your VISION, PURSUE your VISION, and STAY no matter what, SUCCESS will CATCH you. What may be the ABSURD in one person's eyes, may very well be SERIOUSLY INTERESTING to another! This improbable person has NETTED me, and has GREEN LIT the LOUNGE!

I love my life! ......love, jd

P.S. SAVING JERRY ROCKET opened this weekend on YouTube to over ONE HUNDRED views!! Well, I viewed it 95 times! Does that count.....Also, Thank you to the Beautiful TOBI SACKHEIM for her amazing cinematography! xo

Premiere of SAVING JERRY ROCKET

Here is my first short documentary...enjoy. I LOVE my life! love, jd

Friday Night LIGHTS, CAMERA, and ACTION!

My latest flick MEXICAN AMERICAN PSYCHO screened this past Friday as an official selection of the North Hollywood Art's district final film of their summer series. The turnout was amazing, and the reaction to the film was VERY positive. After the screening, I was approached by various people in the industry about DISTRIBUTION! YAY! One individual proposed to me about pitching it to the movie studios and re-doing it as a multi-million dollar studio film. I was flattered, to say the least. The photo above, Mica Ray, the female lead, and I, at the Q&A following the screening! More to come soon.....I LOVE my Life! love, jd

Hidden TREASURE CHESTS!

BASED ON A TRUE STORY. A multi-millionaire walks into a large restaurant, sits close to the piano player, and decides he's to loud, and rather than move, the millionaire demands the piano player stop. The piano player has to leave his work..... At face value, it appears he is halting someones livelihood. However, money buys an individual material things, but it has no tangible power on spirituality. Human decency and spirit is a construct that is worth an ocean basin filled with treasure chests and can only be discovered through LOVE. LOVE will CATCH you, and cannot be purchased........... A Millionaire walks into a restaurant and sits close to the piano player. Annoyed by the volume, the piano player is told to stop playing. The piano player graciously stops and gets richer; because, another TREASURE CHEST, "humility" is discovered! I love my Life!.....Love, jd

SAVING JERRY ROCKET! continued.....

Yesterday, Tobi and I shot some pickup shots for the short documentary SAVING JERRY ROCKET. Read the previous post for the advent of this fun project. YAY! In a nutshell, this past Sunday at the Creative Artistic Boardwalk in Venice Ca. I performed for tips to raise money for Jerry. JERRY ROCKET is a cat that got ATTACKED by a Pit bull. Last night I also played the Cafe Amsterdam for the FLY on the Wall. Look at previous posts for the FLY on the WALL. He is my dear friend!!! I love my Life!!!!!...love, jd

SAVING JERRY ROCKET!

On July 4th, 2007, walking back from the firework's show in Venice Beach with the beautiful Tobi Sackheim, out of nowhere as we were a few feet away fom Tobi's apartment, a stray cat LEAPED out from the bushes and started rubbing up against us. Uninhibited and filled with affection and love, he just hung out with us as we caressed him like he had been ours for years! I had a black dog as a kid named JERRY, and this cat was black; therefore, I named him JERRY. For a middle name, since it was the 4th of July, I chose, ROCKET! Thus began a loving relationship with Jerry Rocket! Tobi would feed Jerry Rocket, and often follow her into the apartment. A few weeks ago, Jerry went MISSING! Then the horrible news came from a neighbor who shared with us that Jerry had been mauled by a Pit-Bull! FORTUNATELY, Jerry SURVIVED and was taken to the hospital, had surgery then taken home to recover by an ANGELIC neighbor. She, out of her own pocket, spent over ONE THOUSAND dollars in medical bills for Jerry Rocket. I decided I had to do something! I'm a filmmaker and a musician. Those are my strengths, so I decided to combine the two, and make a documentary, SAVING JERRY ROCKET, in which I play music at the VENICE BOARDWALK and all my tips go to offset the medical bills. In this documentary, Tobi and I share our experiences with Jerry, and I interview the lady, PATTY, who paid the Medical Bills, and also the witness to the mauling. And many, many more surprises! I actually shot all the footage yesterday and I'm editing it right now. As soon as I'm done, I will post here FIRST!!! Stay tuned...I LOVE my life.....love, jd
p.s. Photo taken by TOBI SACKHEIM.

EXTRA, EXTRA, read all about it!!

I worked as an Extra on a film a couple of days ago. I'm in the process of shooting my sixth film. I've written, directed, edited, and starred in my five prior films; yet, I'm still willing to work as an EXTRA; hence, here lies the SECRET, in my humble opinion, to SUCCESS in the industry! I don't give a "Rat's Arse" if you're the Director, Security Guard, Producer, Star, or EXTRA, as long as, DAILY, you are IN the MIX, YOU are a SUCCESS! Success is in the SET, TODAY! Period! Today is all we have, and I lOVE MY LIFE!!!! Love, jd

NoHo film screening of M.A.P. "Back in L.A., BABY!"

FILM NIGHT
in the NOHO Arts District

Fugue Film production

"MeXiCan AmErican PSYCHO!"
a j.d.mata film

written and directed by J.D. Mata

starring: Mica Ray, J.D. Mata, Jeniffer Cetrone,
Ricardo Herranz, and Chuck Cason

Friday, September 14, 2007
Screening at 7:30 pm

The Hub Theater
5245 Lankershim Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91601

FREE TO THE PUBLIC!

For more information call 818-203-4179

McAllen Highs and Lows!

HIGHS-
Flying! I love to fly. Hanging w/ my best friends and supporters, MOM and DAD! - The screening after party which went till 5:30 a.m. w/ all my hometown buds! Harvest Grain pancakes at the IHOP at 3:00a.m.! Sleeping in my old super comfortable bed that was a haven to deep sleeps during my teenage years! heehee ..Mom’s rice, beans, conchitas, carne, salsa, iced tea, etc. dad’s intelligence. My sister admitting she was wrong. I admitting to my sister, I was wrong. My older brother admitting we were both wrong, HE was right! The press interviews. Seeing Gil, Carlos, Kim, Elysa, SOFIA,KATIE,IRMA, and ANA, Nashla, Elvia. D.J. ART calming me down when the equipment for the screening wasn’t working. Playing guitar at Espana then getting hired to play a private party the following day for a lot of money, honey! Playing a gig at Newmans to a packed house! Looking forward to flying back to L.A. REVITALIZED to work on my next film THE TEACHER’S LOUNGE!YAY!

LOWS-
Leaving my family and friends....

Don't leave home without it.....

The making of the feature film Mexican American Psycho 100.000+
Southwest flight HOME/McALLEN to screen Mexican American Psycho 300.00 +
Cover charge at McAllen Screening of Mexican American Psycho 5.00
Mom's home cooked meals.........PRICELESS!!!!!!
Thank you mom for making my trip back home after one year FULL -FILLING! Thank you dad for suggesting I take your D.V.D. player to the screening just in case the D.V.D. player at the screening faltered. Guess what? It did, and my dad’s d.v.d . player was used. Again, thank you mom for having the presence of mind to buy a HUGE white sheet for “TEN CENTS” just in case the Big Screen that was suppose to be provided didn’t materialize. Guess what? The rental screen never ARRIVED. The sheet still hangs at The site of the screening for the next Indie filmmaker to use! An absolute requirement for making indie films is anticipating potential problems and resourcefulness. Thank you mom and dad for your Gene Pool! I Love my Life, filmmaking, my parents, and mom’s RICE and BEANS! Love, jd
P.S. Thank you to all the wonderful people who attended the screening yesterday evening!

Laughs, SCREAMS, and more...at screening of M.A.P!

The McAllen screening of "Mexican American Psycho" was filled with laughter, screams, and DEAD silence in all the RIGHT spots. The success of of the screening would not have been possible without the assistance of ART CANTU who provided the P.A. system from his business D.J.Art , Kim Snyder who showcased some of her art work and provided assistance in helping me setup. I will provide more details, funny stuff, that happened prior to the screening. Right now I'm barely keeping my eyes open, so I will stop at ths point. I hope you enjy the pics!! I love my life!!! love, jd

McAllen, McAllen, McAllen......

Today, I set up for the screening, went for a run, and played a gig at really cool Restaurant, Espana. True to Mata form, I played four hours straight without taking a break. However, the true highlight was eating Mom's home cooking! It was so delish! I'm posting today from my favorite diner, THE COUNRTY OMLETTE! Yay for them installing free wi fi! I'm so exhausted and tomorrow is the screening so this is where I stop. Tomorrrow I will have scanned the newspaper article to post and I will tell you all about the screening...I LOVE my LIFE!!! love, jd
p.s. sorry so short, but so sleepy....