Believe Your Voice Can Mean Something

Im up this morning at 7AM. I slept horrible last night. I even tried to go "early". At least by my standards.

I can't sleep.

I'm far too excited.

You see, 2009 is kicking off to a hell of a year. Its interesting too because I'm not a person who takes New Year's Day as a fresh start. Its just another day in the grueling trek of "living the dream" (BTW if you haven't figured it out by now, for MOST artists, living the dream means making crap money, giving up most of your free time, and working way harder than most people out there so that one day, about a decade into your attempts you'll be recognized and called an "overnight success!"). See I can't complain about and 2008. I was able to...

- shoot a script I really love "Still Here"

- direct a music video I've been sitting on the concept for a long time "The Afters"

- networked with a few key people I believe will be in my life for a long long time.

- close the book on a few lingering bad chapters in my life as well as some lingering business.

... so hoping or wishing for better in 2009 would just be selfish because I had a banner year. However, 2009 is going to be an extremely better year. I can't sleep because since Saturday, my life as been a bit turned upside down with opportunity. I've connected with two different parties that 100% "get" my vision/ideas and someone that HAS already been on my wavelength for over a year... but you see... I have tons of friends that believe in me and that's always been fantastic, but this turn of events on the weekend is people that can/have access/will push through some of my thought-to-be-impossible projects right to the top of the top... and its exciting! I need sleep, I'm so tired, but how do you sleep when you're in meetings that are so surreal and happening so fast you can barely keep up? Oh, and then there's that meeting with Kevin-fucking-Smith that How Many Days? has landed me on top of it all!

I wish I could talk about everything that's happening but I can't just yet... I assure you as soon as its signed, sealed, and delivered, I'll post it. Nothing I've done has been possible without all of your help and support.

This is all a build up to what I ACTUALLY want to say right now, just need you to know where its coming from.

Being an artist in any sense of the medium is about small victories and its about enjoying the ride. You have your ultimate goal(s) but if you can't enjoy everything that comes with it along the way, you should definitely pursue something else. There's a harsh truth out there that of all the actors, singers, filmmakers, writers, dancers, painters, etc out there - most will not pursue their dream to the end. Its too hard for most people. It is "impossible" coming from a blue collar town in Canada to do that. That's BULLSHIT by the way. Everyone starts somewhere and if you really think that location is your only hold back, you can move. Bon Voyage, on to bigger and better things! But again, most won't. There are a real select few that finish there marathon for the arts. This isn't to knock anyone that hasn't pursued it to the fullest. People get married, have children, reach a different point in their life, thought it would happen faster for them, didn't enjoy the struggle and found something else they were equally passionate about... and that's fantastic, that's life, that's what you gotta do sometimes... but I'm speaking to the fence sitters.

There are artists that I know saying they can't do it, they can't tour full time with their band, etc. Why not? Its what every other band that's success if doing. They didn't always have CDs that sold, tour buses, videos on Much Music. They had a dream and a plan to put that dream before much else. There will always be sacrifice. There will always be failure. I've fucked up more times than I've succeed in the last 5 years. I've embarrassed myself, I've stumbled, I've spoke out of line, I've burned bridges, I've launched ideas that have fallen flat, I've negotiated great projects piss poor and lost them... but I'm still here... and that's the point. You have to laugh it off and know its all part of doing it. How can you learn to do anything correctly if you have no experience doing it in correctly?

That being said... this will sound cheesy, but here's a 2 minute or so scene from Rocky Balboa (yes, from Rocky 6, as in did they really have to make another one?)... but its a really great father and son moment, as Rocky gives his son some motivation. WATCH IT, don't skip past it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uASVzkrEKgs

Never give up. Other artists around you don't believe in you or carry a negative attitude? Drop them, find others that work better with you. We're artists, we're fickle, but most of us work in mediums that require teamwork. That's difficult for me. I want to work fast, I want to get things exactly how I want them and in the realm of being on set to do that... I'm hot-headed. I'm not for everyone... but neither is spicy food... so you just don't eat what you don't like chewing, simple. The minute you start to say that your art is anywhere it shouldn't be ENTIRELY because of someone else, you're spitting something no one should listen to. You always have control. You can always change, adapt, rethink, find new people to unite visions with and move forward. Oh, and stop caring about a paycheck. Most people can't afford you and won't afford you until you've done enough that is so good they feel a need they can't live without you on a project!

Work on other people's sets! I'm location scouting today for a friend of mine's indie-feature today. Do I need to? Not at all... I have enough on my own plate. So why do it? Well because he's helped me with my projects, he respects me, he works hard and I believe in him and his abilities to rise to the top of his game. If I can shave even so much as a day off that journey then shouldn't I help him? Shoot stuff for free with talented people that are in the same boat... find bands that need music videos for free so you can get your feet wet, help local charities.... people... doing this projects gets you two things paychecks can't buy you: experience and networking. I can't tell you how many times something I've done for free has led to the best (and yes, even paying!) opportunities of my whole life. Especially if its a choice between sitting and doing nothing that day or at least doing what you are supposed to love and you have the time. How Many Days? doesn't pay the bills. It started as a social experiment and keeps finding me great people and opportunities. People think I'm insane and some think I'm an asshole with this self-indulgent project. For those: Eat a turd. Not much else to say than that. Too each their own. I'm going after what I want and willing to put myself and all my failures out there for the world to see. Got a problem with it? Save that email or text or call for someone else cause its wasted breath. If you think after 660+ days I'll ever quit... well, enjoy the wait for that, its gonna be a long one.

If this week has taught me anything, its that surviving your worst financial periods, continuing to do "free" work is SO worth it. All the excitement in my life right now, the people that are pushing for me are on the brink of breaking something beyond my wildest dreams... the meeting with Silent Bob himself, well, its ALL come out of things I've done for love of the game and not for the colour of money (two sport movie references in one sentence... boo-ya!). Passion, believing in great charities and causes, helping other filmmakers and entrepreneurs get their start with whatever little I can offer them.

To sum it all of, just don't quit. Do more. Push harder. Never take no for an answer. I'll end with a movie clip again today. Tell 'em how it is Will Smith:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_yW3152Ffc

See you all soon with good news (really it could be THAT GOOD!),

GMB

www.howmanydays.ca

My film "Still Here" gets National Press!

View the original PDF of article with this link or read text below:

View PDF HERE

Still Here

Ontario funeral director Justin Dufault stars in soon-to-be-released movie

by Lisa Johnston

Funeral director by day and actor by night, Justin Dufault is an example of the versatility of the modern funeral director. Employed at Melady Funeral Home in Belle River, Ont., Dufault boasts a number of extracurricular interests including a theatre career and a main role in the upcoming independent movie, Still Here.


The brainchild of Gavin Booth, a seasoned producer, writer and director – and also a good friend of Dufault’s – Still Here revolves around a high school student who is grieving the loss of his girlfriend. Unlike many Hollywood.movies that wrap up with a rosy ending, Still Here focuses on what happens to teenagers who cannot get over their grief.


“Gavin has always known that I have wanted to act,” says Dufault, who was licensed in funeral service in 1994. “I’ve been in community theatre, high school theatre and musical theatre for a number of years. Gavin has been trying to get me in one of his movies and he came to me and said, ‘I think I finally have a part for you and ironically enough I need to shoot at a funeral home and cemetery.’ So I said, ‘Funny enough, I happen to work in one.
’”

The movie used all local actors and was shot on site in Belle River, located about 15 minutes east of Windsor. In addition to two scenes at Melady Funeral Home, the crew set up at St. Simon and St. Jude Catholic Church and the cemetery of the same name. However, before Dufault could give Booth the green light he needed to get permission from Arbor Memorial Services, the owner of Melady Funeral Home.


“Luckily I had a very supportive and very understanding manager, Pierre Cecile, and regional manager, Alenka Manners, who gave me their support and were excited about the project as well,” says Dufault. “In a small town like Belle River, it looked really good on us because we let people come into the funeral home for this project. It kind of showed that we’re people too, we’re just like everybody else and we like to have fun.
”

Dufault adds, “We only shot two nights at the funeral home but I was involved in this movie from day one. We shot for 30 days and if I needed a couple of days off scheduling was not a problem, but it certainly did not take away from the duties I had at the funeral home.
”

According to Dufault, Still Here is based on Booth’s own experience, as a teenager, dealing with drinking and driving related deaths of fellow students in a small town.


“The real idea behind the movie is what would happen if somebody that age wasn’t able to get past the death,” explains Dufault. “They can’t get through the grief and they can’t just get on with their life. We see a lot of movies out there where by the end of it, someone is able to get help, get counselling and everything is fine and dandy.
Well this is kind of the flip side of that; what if somebody young couldn’t get through it?”

Surprisingly, Dufault does not play a funeral director in the movie but was cast in the role of a guidance counsellor.


“The main character is suffering the loss of his girlfriend. Before this event, he had it made – he was a football player, he was an up-and-coming artist, he was liked by everyone. Once this death occurs, he kind of spun out of control and he started spiralling downwards. He was losing his chances at college, he was drinking, he was getting in fights and he was pushing away any form of support.
”

Taking on a role similar to Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting, Dufault has several scenes with the grieving main character. “I am trying to help him and reach out to him because I experienced death at a young age in the movie – the death of my brother. Therefore, I am trying to relate to him that I understand what he is going through.
”

During the two scenes filmed at Melady Funeral Home, Dufault acted as a pseudo-artistic director assisting with the layout of the flowers, the way the body was placed in the open casket and even did the cosmetics to ensure the actress did indeed look dead, with materials that were on hand at the funeral home. In addition he was able to acquire the support of both his vault and monument supplier for the use of a graphing device and headstones at the cemetery. In addition, Dufault says the cemetery was a dream to work with during the project.


“They were so accommodating,” says Dufault. “They opened a grave for us. We were sometimes filming through the night and they pretty much gave us the key and said to have fun and be safe. They never asked us for a cent and were completely on board with the project.
”

In addition, Dufault says they did not run into any scheduling conflicts at either the funeral home or the cemetery. “The funeral home does between 70 and 80 calls a year and so does the cemetery in town. So luckily, we didn’t have to worry too much about burials happening. It was an ideal location for the shoot and Gavin picked that cemetery in particular after I showed it to him because when it comes to a mainstream audience, they still like the concept of the old-fashioned cemetery with upright monuments and trees.


As a funeral director, Dufault has assisted families with the loss of a teenager and he believes the movie is very realistic in its portrayal of grief and coping.


“I think just about every funeral director in our profession has probably had to deal with that at one time or another,” explains Dufault. “That’s why I felt so passionate about being involved in the film and I felt that I could give (Booth) input on those scenes. I think it was an interesting twist he put on it because it probably happens more than we realize. I think kids that young, in high school, are just expected to get over it and deal with it. People say, ‘Oh you are young, you’ve got your whole life ahead of you, you’ll be fine.’ When in fact I am sure a lot of those kids are scarred for life and maybe we overlook that, so maybe this movie will be a real eye-opener on that whole topic.
”

Scheduled to premiere in the Windsor area in late January or early February of 2009, the movie will be entered into at least 13 international film festivals.
The production company, Mimetic Productions, under the guidance of Booth, is already hard at work on several other projects involving Dufault including a
MTV video for Dallas-based band The Afters.
However, even though he has found the transition to acting easy and says that both careers have worked hand in
hand in helping him speak to people in awkward situations, Dufault has no plans
to quit his day job.


“It is the only thing I’ve wanted to do since I was six years old. I have no other career aspirations.
”

For more information on the movie, visit www. howmanydays. ca or www. stillheremovie. com.

2 Days Before Christmas...

... and all through my house, not a present was purchased, coal will suffice.

Not actually.  This is one of the rare years that I haven't been working my ass off or shooting film scenes right up to, on, and/or through Christmas.  December 2005, Navin and I ate dinner at my mother's house then immediately drove to the Holiday Inn to set up our gear to begin directing Do Not Disturb the very next morning.  I have done some of my shopping.  Being a broke filmmaker makes it easier to by for people because you're instantly limited in terms of what you're buying!  I have a few unique gifts I think friends and family with appreciate this year.

The biggest gift was given to me... I have been restored.  I feel like its a religious experience:  I can see the light... and the sounds... and the inside of a movie theater!  Kevin Smith, director of Clerks, Zack & Miri, etc. emailed me thus making contact (watch the blog here), thus agreeing to an interview for my How Many Days? project and ending my ban on watching movies.  See back on Day 87 of my daily blog project, when Jimmy Eat World contacted me I took a dare to not watch movies until I made contact with the next person on my list.  I figured I had 90 days tops to wait since I had contact from 3 of the 12 after 87 days... boy of boy was I wrong.  It has been over 500 days without movies.  77 weeks to be exact!  Imagine not being able to do one of the things you love the most for that long.. and actually stinking to it.  I haven't seen Juno, any of last years Oscar winners or contenders... I didn't get to see all the great summer flicks like Iron Man, etc... so its time to spend some serious time this holiday season kicking back and watching movies like the glutton I am!

The next dare for How Many Days? is going to be far worse... so stay tuned to see what that's all about.  For now, back to wrapping up everything for the Holidays.

GMB

www.howmanydays.ca

www.youtube.com/gavinmichaelbooth

www.myspace.com/gavinbooth

Feeling Hot Hot Hot!

Last Saturday... with a whopping budget of twelve dollars, a crew of misfits (not unlike the misfit toys) and some low-fi technology -- not even HD! -- I set out to direct a short film for the Project: Direct competition tied to the Sundance Film Festival.

Here are the results, watch!

Lyebeck's Latte

And as of the 27th the will be posting the finalists here - so click and if we're in the finalists please vote for Lyebeck's Latte and pass the youtube link around for others to see it.  All the support the Windsor arts scene can get is massively appreciated!

Cheers,

GMB

First Blog Spot Posting

In addition to myspace, facebook, twitter, stumble upon, digg, and youtube... I thought why not give this a try?

So here it is my very first blog.  No idea how to work any of this yet.  I'll try posting a few videos:

One Man's Opinion - Funny Funny Christmas Music Video

Lesley Daley's Cancer Book Promotional Video

So that's it... tada... I'm a blogger officially now.  Lots more to come.