The "Toys" Game

The "Toys" Game!

It is so easy to get caught up in it, the Toys game!  

I love to browse B & H Photo     , it is so fun!


I try to find the best combo for what I need for my first low budget film, just a few things really, but can add on a thing here or there too easily!

I got the basics down to just under $11,000 now.  But that is for a Sony A7S II

Sony A7s from B & H photo

Isn't it strange though, how I get the ideas into my head.  I absolutely need this camera to make the perfect low budget film.  No idea how I got that idea in the first place, but now it is there, the seed planted.  My fertile imagination doing the rest.  Browsing the site though, you see it is also paired with a Sony PMW F5

B & H Photo

And there is my imagination telling me it is a good deal and I will need it eventually, right?  So I need to wait until I can afford both to make the film.  I guess it seems like it is a "practical thing" and I can talk myself into needing almost anything I want  :p   

But wow, I have it down to the absolute necessities and it is do-able!  Once I get the audio for my handycam, I will do a behind the scenes for you.  It is funny how all the goofy ideas come to you, the ones you would never actually put in the film itself, but pop into your mind...  

Ever see the movie "Much Ado About Nothing", the Kevin Kline one?  I love their play scene as it shows him doing lots of added 'goofy' stuff.  I hope to get it all out of my system with this Werewolf one!   I daydream the scenes if I am not at my computer to type it up.  I wanted a scary chase scene but my ideas had an element of the absurd.  I will probably film a few just to have them as behind the scenes.  But this also leads me back to my "toys" theme...  I need more!  hehe...  I dont know why, I have some very interesting ideas but they are NOT low budget!  darn!  

I know the best way to actually get the film completed is to write it with what I actually have to use now.  But I keep thinking it would be cool to get a dozen kayaks, life vests, etc.  and an action cam for each one and see how cool it is filming the rafting!  Ok, they do not get chased here, it would be added money and not further the story, just be a cool scene to do...  So, reality check and cut scene!  Then I tell myself, well...  we could add a chase scene here, the werewolf on the bank keeping pace as they race for their life down the river!  How cool would that be, the 4 or so kayaks and a desperate race for their own life!  We would need to throw in "Crewman #23" to die since my main cast cant yet...  hehe...  more toys!!

But reality check and that is something we can save for a sequel...  :p  

For my documentaries, part of it involves interviews and I convinced myself I needed this very cool green screen set up to do it.  I told myself it would allow us to film it and then place us on Attu once I get those background shots!  Course, first I need to get there myself...   but Toys needed!   hehe, I got the idea to buy my own boat, since we will be going and forth often.  Better to buy one and save us $$ in the long run!   

Research boat, yummy!

Oh man, I can just see me loaded down with Toys someday and wondering how it happened...  I dont know, fun to dream I guess!  

hugs,

~Sea

Trying To Sound Translated...

Trying to sound translated...

It is an effect I am trying with some of the stories, to try to make them sound as if they have been translated into English...

With Seafoam, I tried to show it.  I want it to be subtle, like you are not sure why but you think it is somehow one of those "as told to" stories.

http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/artic_piercing.htm

It is strange to see these images and wonder about them...  I imagine she is very much like me but dresses way cooler...  

I mean, how it has to be a translation, the stories I mean.  I want them to sound passed down for generations.  A few of them I mean...  It seems strange to have to explain it so it makes sense but I guess I cant expect everyone to know my mind by magic  :p

So, try reading Seafoam again and see if it makes a difference now that I have explained it is meant to sound translated...

Did I achieve it?  Almost?  Not Quite??  


I think it is a fun way to write them, it comes naturally too.  Not all of my stories are written in that style, some are modern and meant to sound it too.  

My mind is buzzing today with ideas for "stuff"... I am gathering all the junk needed to apply for a business loan, woot!  wish me luck!  So may write a few more blogs since feel like bursting with creativity at the moment but dont want to work on any of my stuff...  

hugs,

~Sea

Joan Jett, The Blackhearts - Little Liar

I love this song!!

Strange Sounds In sky At Night

Strange noises at night...

Does anyone else notice the weird noises at night?  Some kind of music, I so wish I had better audio or that it is still happening when I do!  


I found this online, it sounds like what I heard, pretty close! 

Now this is from 2012 but some comments say they heard it last few nights too!



I hear it around 2 or 3 am or so I guess...  I think most of the time I thought it was coming from one of my daughters games as they played on their computers with me... A few times I asked them but with their headphones on they don't notice it as much I guess because mine are not as good...

2 nights ago one of my daughters and I were heading to bed when we heard it and could not figure out where it was coming from.  I went into the living room with her and looked out the window (sneakily, just in case...) ...

It was kind of loud, and sounded like music...

Last night I went to bed early so I would be deep asleep before it started!  

This morning one of my other daughters was on the couch.  We had told her about the weird sound and I guess she stayed up to hear it and got scared and was up most of the night...  

But last night I dreamed about it!

Was a good dream since I figured it out!

heheh...

So, I used my brand new recording equipment (in my dreams... sheesh, cant wait until I can afford to upgrade!!!)  and recorded it...

Got real good quality sound too!  So good I realized it was a woman talking, but her voice was so musical it sounded like music to all of us!  Made me think of Melody from Archie comics...    I dreamed I went on Youtube (and you know, had an actual following...) and asked them to help me out...  I said it was a woman talking, asking how we are...  and thinking us so rude because we never respond!  I said I am not musically inclined so needed someone to record themselves singing "I am fine, how are you?" beautifully for me...  I played it the next night and presto!  mystery solved!

Course I ran into my house too scared to even look out when she came to have a nice chat...   

but...  mystery solved!  someone sing and say "we are fine" and ask how she is!  

hugs,

~Sea

SeaFoam ~ writing sample

Seafoam ~ writing style sample...

stock image from wikipedia

 Here is a short story I wrote as an example of my writing style...  a mother/daughter tale...  a quick sketch to show my writing style, hope you enjoy...











The Seafoam

A Modern Unangan Tale


By Searean Moon



Copyright Searean Moon, 2015

It all began that fateful day the clouds cried.  I would never have gone to see what was happening otherwise.  But when a cloud cries, it matters.  Clouds have seen it all, all of humanities joy but also its cruelty, whether they want to or not.  They can’t help it, they must do their job as must we all.  So, their normal rain pattern is like a background sound.  The commercials between your favorite show.  But that day, the clouds cried.

I could not place the sound at first, it happens so rarely.  But then I remembered back when I was a child, the clouds had cried then too.  That was the day my tribe "forgot".  It was a sad day for all of us here.  No more play dates, no more sweet laughter for no other reason than just being alive, no more games. 

I call them my tribe because they moved to my island a long time ago.  They were seeking some peace away from the world of humans and had found an island suitable but others followed.  Too many others.  So they began to seek again and I showed them the way to mine.  Mine is special, very cloaked and shrouded, perfect for those seeking peace and quiet.  I lead them to mine.  I knew they would eventually have "Her".  Some things are meant to be.

Okay, so yeah, I had no clue about her, but it sounds cool and it is what I plan to tell my grandkids!  The pure joy I felt around them, hard to describe.  I loved to lie there on the bottom of the ocean, not a care in the world, spending eternity swaying to the forces of Nature.  I can imagine no greater joy.  I won’t tell how exactly, but there are ways to view what happens on the surface lands just as they can take a peek at our world down here at the bottom of the sea. 

My spot is where the world meets the sea.  It is a unique spot, no other place like it in the world.  So it is no wonder that the tribe that settled here would be unique as well.  Or that it would eventually produce a girl like her.  Her natural beauty astounded me the first time I glimpsed her.  There was talk of her and some of it was sad.  I loved our leader, who had heard all these stories and when it was time to take a wife, he chose her.

It became a grand love story.  The legend is he was fishing nearby her island and spotted her with a bunch of other girls getting the grass for the baskets.  Even knowing her life, I saw her smile, and she felt joyful.  Such true beauty.  That is what the legends say.  And we all heard the tales, we all did what we could to make it seem so fairytale perfect for them.  Unfortunately, that is what brought the others.

Sometimes when life is going so well, others want to try to take it for themselves.  This was one of those times.  It was a mighty battle, one involving most of the world in one way or another.  When my tribe was taken away I lost her for a while.  I searched but travel is difficult, as you might imagine.  If I was sea foam instead of seaweed, it would be so much easier to follow her.  But I was seaweed, rooted to my area for life.  So, I had to change.

You know the rules for such drastic change, it can be done but the cost is high and you cannot undo it.  But she was worth it.  Her smile was pure joy, her soul so vibrant and beautiful, not another woman had such a soul.  So, I did it.  I won’t try to explain the process or the pain, it is too hard for a mortal to understand.  Needless to say, it hurt and by the time I was done, she was once again moved far away.

When I finally found her again, the sadness in her eyes stabbed my heart like startling a gathering of porcupines!  I felt so moved.  But I was now sea foam and no longer seaweed.  I could not help her very much.  All I could do in this form was stay as close as I could and send her my friendship.  She felt it, though did not know it was me.  When she looked out to the sea, she felt it and would daydream for hours as we dreamed our dreams.

I have no idea exactly how it happened, no one does.  Sometimes the Goddess, or Mother as we call her, surprises us like that.  I was lapping there on the beach, sea foam like the rest.  Though I used all my strength to stay here in this area instead of riding the sea like the rest.  I was mostly spent, but determined to stay right here.  They thought me very weird and maybe that is how Mother heard about me, all of this just to try to stay close to some human?

So, I found myself suddenly on the land, my head resting on her knee as we looked out to the Sea.  When she stood to go home, I became what is called a puddle I believe.  It was great to be so close, I could see her myself instead of the secret ways.  The joy I felt transferred to her and she became more at peace once more.  I felt a change and realized my time was short.  The sea is endless with no beginning or end, but not so a puddle.  I sent her all my love I could until the day my puddle dried and I joined Mother once more.

Much time had passed when Mother sent for me.  I had forgotten everything I once knew and just basked in the lightness that is Mother.  She said there was a chance to rejoin my friend if I wanted.  As she spoke, the memories came back... 

My tribe, being seaweed, becoming sea foam, finding my friend, the slow death that every puddle must endure, forgotten as the happiness flooded me once more.  Mother smiled at my childlike eagerness.

My friend needed me.   She was about to have her last baby ever, there was a problem and I could become her child if I so wanted.  I could not believe my luck, wow!  I agreed without thinking of it.  I got to spend the end of my time and join my friend as a part of her.  That kind of thing rarely happens, I believe I am the first to go from seaweed to seafoam to mortal!

It is hard at times to understand them, I do feel different.  I guess because I am.  I got to grow up for my friend, trying to lighten her days.  Now I have my own daughters and it is time to tell them the story of friendship and devotion.  Will they understand how special we are?  Will they think I am just telling a tale?  Or maybe even this thing called a lie?  Maybe that is what I will tell them, that this is a story I dreamed one night.  That it never actually happened.  I mean, who ever heard of a cloud crying, no one would ever believe that! 

So, this is the tale of a dream I had after I had pizza late at night, nothing more.  Seaweed cannot see.  Clouds do not cry.  Puddles do not dry up.  And most important of all, seafoam is not magical essence itself.  It is merely seafoam.  But what is foam of the sea, if you stop and think about it??!  Is it the tears of the mighty sea itself?  Did the Sea, moved by her sadness, cry one tear that became me?

Werewolf film Revisited

Werewolf Film Revisited...

I need better audio!

 Rode Microphone from B&H


I wanted to make a cool intro for this blog and my Youtube channel but my audio is so bad!  So, I will upgrade that and get one posted soon!

For the werewolf movie, I plan to film a scene for crowdfunding!  I think it will generate some interest, if not cash...  But once we get it shot and am in post-production, I bet we get some funding then!  

It is hard to create something separate from my other works!  Those are designed to all tie together somehow and this one is a one-off...  Of course, I am writing a webisode to hopefully turn into a tv series some day...  But creating something "new" has been a good experience for me. 

It seems to be happening very quickly and very slowly at the same time.  How I want it all right this moment but filming wouldn't happen until Summer anyway!   I figured out how to do some of the stunts, too!  I am having such fun!  It is fun to see it inspire my daughters too!  

Side Note:  Never use 'auto-correct' on your word processing!  Makes you an extremely bad typist and you do not notice it happening!  I have picked up some bad habits!  A bit off topic but going back to correct typos and such is driving me crazy at the moment  :p  

I do tend to write these more informal and "chatty" and they should not reflect my script/novel writing as it is a totally different thing (at least in my mind).

But I am hoping I get some funding for this movie.  It will make doing the others much, much easier!  I cant wait though, I think it will definitely interest everyone in our other projects!  

What is your dream?  Are you chasing after it with all you got?  If not, then start right this moment!  I know that sometimes a dream can be something special that helps get us through a rough spot, but it can be so much more!  It is an amazing feeling, truly, to be working to make your dream come true.

You think it might change everything, but that is no reason to hesitate!  Change happens anyway, whether we notice or not!  (like with the typing!)   Even if you pursue your dream and find out you are making mistakes, it is how you learn best of all!  My first attempts failed miserably, that is for sure, but it did not deter me.  Instead it helped me realize I can do this!  Solving the problems is easy enough!  It seems the biggest one is "Money" but then you change tactics and plan "low budget" films to start off with.  

It helps prove I am a writer, in a way, I am making up scenes I never thought of all those years of dreaming about Bride of Sorrows!  Knowing I am not a 1-trick pony inspires me and gives me confidence to keep on!  

Things really seemed impossible awhile ago.  Funding was non-existent and there seemed to be no way to go forward.  I think I mentioned I conceived of a major thing that would be about $22,000,000!  It seemed so reasonable, well thought out and well reasoned to me but my would be Funders did not seem to agree!   I remember being so sad but then realized I can do this!  I just needed to prove it somehow!  then it occurred to me I could make a low budget movie...  Except I did not want to turn any of my present work into a low budget one!  

S'happens was born!  It would be an easy to film low budget to prove I have what it takes to create great films!   It seems so much talk and so much planning!  Luckily it is not a complete restart, I can still used all I learned already about film making, etc. and apply it to a low budget idea.  It is actually very interesting as a process too!  It is something I would recommend to anyone creative, no matter your age! 

Hehe, back to purple ink!  Me favorite color!  Hopefully it looks ok for everyone!  

I was playing with wounds and planning the "look" of the ravaged guy.  I wanted it to show it all but not be too much gore, I am still figuring it out.  How to show the details of it, to show the extent of the injuries suffered but not gross everyone out!  Psychology thriller not slasher movie!   I think it helps that it is old wounds so no dripping blood...

well, off to go write a scene, hugs and take care!

~Sea

New Hampshire declares war on Indigenous...


Sadly, they do not get the message, or do not care...

Werewolf Film

Werewolf Film

I guess I dream big, my first plan was to get funded for a building, a boarding house, lots of cool equipment, special effects makeup school (a real life skill we could use elsewhere) and do the costuming and masks for my "Trilogy of Terror" to create a new industry for my people.  It would cost me around $22 million (in a combination of loans and several grants).  I believe I said my great talent and what should assure you is that I raised 4 wonderful good girls so am an expert at multi-tasking with limited resources.  Funnily enough, that did not inspire the confidence I thought it would...

So, I tried a crowdfunding, but since I never actually made a film before, it did not inspire confidence in my project.  I know once we get it shot and are in post we will get lots of takers, so I am not worried about that...

My next great plan was to do a documentary about my people, Attu tribe.  I thought I had a couple interested but there are so many stories to tell (which is tragic in its own right, but got mine passed over) so wondered, man, how do you get funded?

A lot of places have programs but also sell courses on filling out their forms too... you know, this $50 buck course to get you a better chance at our $50,000 grant...  uh-huh...

So I decided I will show my resourcefulness!  I will make a low budget movie!  The trouble was I did not want to turn any of my current stuff into a low budget version, like taking a 3-tier decorated cake and tearing it apart and turning it into cake pops...  Just no!  So I began to wonder what to write about.  It needed to be something that inspired me in some way.  Makes me think of that movie line in Moulin Rouge "Luckily at the moment, an unconscious Argentinian fell through my roof", hehe.  Inspiration!

I was watching American Werewolf in London again, great movie.  I always wished we had an Alaska version and then it occurred to me:  hey, you are a writer!  I am working on it and like my mind always does, it began planning a tv spin off series at the same time.  

American Werewolf in London, classic werewolf movie!

So, I plan to shoot S'happens this summer along with the webisode shorts to garner interest in a tv version of it...  Now this one if it takes off I would be willing to sell, I plan on keeping all my other stuff, would rather it not get done then done badly!  I think people will like it.  I asked a few people if they are interested in trying it out and they are thinking about it.  If I end up doing the tv version I would keep them, if we sell it then they will have to see what the other party says...  But of they find they like acting, we can create a show ourselves!  


 

A good transformation scene is needed I think...

S'happens will be fun to shoot.  They said to look at what you actually have and write it around that.  So a lot is set close to a forest or in a forest and I will see if I can afford shooting in Anchorage.  There are some cool places I would love to have my werewolf run through!   

 

American Werewolf In Paris, good film, reflected "Gay Paree"

I kept the cast small and each roll is interesting for an actor to play.  I am not worried if they never acted before, we will all be new to this.  What will be fun is learning it together.

 

ut oh!!!

So I made sure to make it "do-able...


 It is just hard, the waiting to shoot until the weather clears...  I might try for some of the special effects now.  I will see how it goes.  I plan a cool transition scene, every werewolf movie needs at least to show some part transforming!  

So, look forward to getting more actual pics of my work, coming soon!  

hugs,

~Sea 

 

Trump

What can one say but that even thinking of him as president is a declaration of war against indigenous peoples... 

New year, new Dreams ~ Same Me, Same Desires

New Year, New Dreams
Same Me,  Same desires


Oh, I can feel it, it is so close!  This is the year we go for it!  I am just buzzing with delight, have the ideas for stuff in my head and am so ready to begin!

Buttercream is a short that I plan on making this Spring.  There was a buttercream ruffle video I just loved to watch and it gave me a peaceful feeling sort of to watch it.  I have been wanting to create my werewolf film and wondered how to explain a character that does not appear in the movie itself.  I wanted to somehow do a buttercream video too so they merged in my mind.  I can see it in my mind and think I can edit it the way I want so it should be pretty good!  I still need to find the right mood music since it is a silent one, but other then that it is planned for this Spring.

 Cakes StepByStep is an amazing cake artist and I absolutely adore this one.  It always makes me feel like I am being hugged! 



S'happens is my new werewolf film that I just created a bit ago, not part of the Bride of Sorrows horror trilogy.  After renting American Werewolf in London, it made me want to see one set in Alaska.  Then it occurred to me "hey, you are a film maker and writer, do it!  Hehe, so I began but it began to drift away from what I think of as 'American Werewolf" and became a werewolf film instead.  But I think everyone who loves the American Werewolf ones will like it too.  With a cast of 8 it should be manageable as my first feature length film!  We bought special effect makeup to practice the looks and scars of werewolf attack, so should be a fun weekend!

 American Werewolf in London original trailer


YouTube playlists:
Frugal-ish is my YouTube channel idea that will be a playlist on my channel since I don't think it will have enough to be it's own one yet. My tribe lived and wasted nothing, that is such an amazing concept to me!  I really want to become this way, though it is hard when you were raised in the Western society!  but it can be found again, it is in my blood and so many others are frugal that together we can do it! 

Part of it will be growing your own food, using the city land plots!  How and when to apply, what to try, see how it goes over the summer!  It should be a good series.  Along with that there will be ways to save money, I am sure these are all already said somewhere, but it will be fun to do them anyway!  

Colonizing  Methodologies is an idea that should be talked about more, so mine will be called Proudly Prehistoric.  There I plan skits to show ideas and writing as well.  I think the problem we as Indigenous face is how to politely explain it is not ok to be doing this!  Talking about things that need to be talked about, but without assigning blame, but solutions!  Part is a fake reality tv show where we are finding one family willing to go back home.  It should be a good series, not hateful at all but honest and direct about it.

 This was my arty piece on my iPhone, after reading tons of advice for newbies, it made me laugh at some of the advice so this happened...  My Mayor of Attu novel is meant to kick off the whole Bride of Sorrows series, 1000 stories told in many forms!  So far it has my Motley Crue video I shot at their concert, the last ones ever...  so love them!  

Arts~N~Craftsy is one where I show the stuff we are trying, all beginning stuff so nothing major, but fun to share and see how much better we get over time!  I love watching certain ones on Youtube so this is one I do myself, sort of giving back the love...  

Behind the Scenes is where I plan to put the film related stuff.  I am sure I will be learning a lot (i.e. making a ton of mistakes) so will share the ups and downs.

You can see a lot of them planned but each one not really big so will keep them together so my channel is at least interesting and full rather then scarce...


I am planning on getting my equipment soon to begin, should be 'warp speed' once I get the equipment!  I am so ready!  

Ohhh, almost forgot!!  I am entering this contest and so should you if you have a short planned!  

Short Film major prize 


 I will be entering my Vestiges idea!  It is a short story turned tv series that I plan to do soon too...  part of the BOS (Bride of Sorrows) stuff...  I think it is important for us to put orselves "out there" even if we dont think we will win.  Or even ones we know we won but didnt  :p  where we loved the idea so much, it is important to try!  so, the deadline is end of February i believe, it says on the page, so time to get it together!  With $800,000 us dollars I could get the costumes and sets created for it all since this sort of begins (and ends) it all...

Ok, so I should probably head off and get some work done  :p  take care!  hugs ~Sea

Fallout 3

Fallout 3

Me and my Crew

I love Bethesda games, but they tend to be buggy if you use a lot of mods and I love mods!  So, I found ways to get it to work...  I found this advice around the web but it suggested getting the fatman and blowing yourself up.  I usually am overloaded since I carry lots of change of clothes, an outfit for each occasion ~just because it is the apocalypse does not mean we should not dress nice!   too much trouble to get back to Megaton to get my missile gun thingy..  so do this instead and works just as well:

have passport will travel

CRASHES WHEN SAVING:  I had this one just happen in my fallout 3 game, new one to me and turned out to be easy to fix where it crashed when I tried to save my game...  

I had some conflicting mods that did not seem to matter much until I reached certain spots then it would just crash and burn!   Hit the "f" key so you can see yourself, then the ~ (tilda I think it is called) to bring up the console, click on your character and you should see your name top center, make sure it is you and not someone close to you.  type "kill" and watch yourself die.   Almost immediately you are restarted and can now save normally.  

hehe, beautiful but deadly

"Merge" wont work quite right:  I am not sure how it happens, but sometimes if you switch things around and redo your merged list with fo3edit, you get an error.  I read to close out and save the merged list you did.  Open your fomm, click the merged esp then close it and launch the fo3edit again.  it should be at the end of the list, right click and "add masters", select all your mods and this time it should add them all without a problem.   If you dont see some mods you installed, this could be why!  So, always do it and fix the problems that occur until it likes your mod list order, should not take long to fix it up.  

coffee!  Searean's power potion

TOO SEXY OUTFITS:  If you like the sexy look of the outfits but suddenly find some are "too sexy", it is most likely the Lings mod. It is the Red jumpsuit (forget what it is called) but set it to zero or delete, I forget which I did, but it is easy to figure out when you are looking at it.  Then it goes back to the sexy but more modest version instead of the boring vanilla clothes.   

looking is free...

I do have Fallout 4, but suffer from "re-start-itis" so haven't actually finished 3 yet.  I do suggest you try them if you are looking for a good game to play.  You do need some patience to get past the bugs, but once you do it is a fun game!  There is a huge community so any problem you have, someone else probably already had it and the solution is posted so not too frustrating!

hugs, ~Sea