Brandting

Me and Sports

2011-09-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

I can't explain why I love sports when they've treated me as they have...
In high school --
I played football (Fall Season) two years... kind of... I was mostly utilized on special teams which is exactly how it sounds -- that's where the put the "special" players. Kickoff, kick returns, punts... Freshman year, in one sparkling display that apparently no one cared to watch or take note of, I caused and recovered a fumble taking out a QB on the option as a Defensive End. Senior year, the coach sent me in at nose and I was double-teamed. I came off the field laughing that they'd double-teamed me.

I played soccer (Fall Season) two years. They kept me on JV Junior year saying I'd get more time on the field than if I went to the Varsity team. They lied. Summer soccer was a lot more fun. We often showed up to games with less players than you are supposed to field so it was constant PT. I nearly scored a goal. I had a breakaway and was taken down from behind in the box (yeah, that sounds naughty). The opposing player got a red card, our team got a penalty kick, and my coach opted to have someone else take it. Thankfully, it was a friend and he scored.

I played basketball (Winter Season) two years. I think I won most improved player both years and yet I remember a distinct lack of playing time. Thankfully, because I scored in one of the two minutes I played, I had a very high listed PPM.

There's a comedian, I forget who so please annotate if you know, who said that on sports teams he was called "the minute man". He'd ask the coach, "Hey, can I play?" and the coach would say, "In a minute man." I was often in that club, the 40-40-40 club -- up by forty, down by forty, forty seconds left.

I shifted to being in the musical (Winter Season) because they generally won't bench you for no good reason. I got the lead twice -- once in Bye Bye Birdie and once in The King and I. I got so proud of my work I actually auditioned for a professional local production of The Sound of Music. Kicked ass at the audition. The director said they only had one more dude to see, but he had a great feeling about me. Got the call the next day that they went with the other dude because I "wasn't Aryan enough." Apparently, you can get benched in musicals.

So that happened...

2011-06-14T15:21:00.000-07:00

...and by that, I mean to say that we made a movie.

We didn't blog so much as we tweeted ( Our Twitter ) all the juicy bits and out of context quotes that we could muster. Feel free to hit me up for context.

Check us out on IMDB so that you can see the cast I became so enamored with.

We're currently in editorial. We will probably have a finished film before we have a trailer. I know that should be the natural order of things, but it rarely is in showbiz.

I've been neglecting you...

2011-04-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

Oh, blogger, I've been neglecting you.
Though, in all fairness, I'm not sure that anyone actually reads you.

So today is our RND read-thru and I couldn't be more psyched.
We have assembled a cast that is so good it defies logic.
I'd say it's a testament to the script, but that seems a bit ego-y.
I think they just really like Lisa and me because we're the funnest peeps ever! (So much less ego-y)

Actual shooting is just around the corner and I know that will be done in a flash.
Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth and just trying to take snapshots of all the moments.

I'd love to tell a younger me, a creative and therefore picked on bit of a person... all the work, all the toil, all the rejection -- worth it.

More work, more toil and more rejection always on the horizon.

The transition from screen to page

2011-02-09T14:38:00.000-08:00

Hello blog readers -- both of you.

My very first editorial job in comics (Li'l Depressed Boy from Image Comics) sees print today. I'm immensely proud of the work that went into bringing the book from webcomic, to self-produced to distributed by Image.

Please pick one up.

If your shop doesn't have one, please complain politely.

It will help us to keep putting this book out.

I would love anyone who picks it up to comment on this journal and let me know what you think.

The final page, the Little LDB, was written by yours truly.

Thank you for your support of creator owned comics!

But the fourth time, oh that's grand

2010-07-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

My fourth go-round with Little LDB
Been Caught Writing

I noticed in regular LDB scripts that the character seemed to do a bit of outdoor writing and this is the origin of that.

Hope you enjoy.

Currently, DORKS is still in post and Lisa and I are optimistic of our co-venture happening on the horizon.

The third time is the charm

2010-05-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

Today marks my third webcomic strip appearance as the writer of L'il Depressed Boy's younger incarnation Lil L'il Depressed Boy.

I'm immensely proud of it.

The creative work of artist Scott Arnold blows me away.
Struble, LDB's creator, brings us to colourful life.

Tonsils and Video Games

Please give it a look.

Ok, secrecy probably not important

2010-05-17T15:22:00.000-07:00

There's one, maybe two people who read this blog...
So this is the poster my crack team of exports came up with.
Alas, there's slim to no chance it will be used in any capacity, but that doesn't make me any less proud of the creation.

Moxy through us

2010-05-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, a gang of talented friends surrounded me with their awesome to create a mock up of a DORKS poster.

Jason was the real mastermind behind the whole endeavor, I was more of the straw boss, which I must say was a great position to be in. (Unlike laying on the ground with hands mere milimeters from our models crotch holding the blue coat so that he could heroically open it properly)
Jonah was our lovely torso model.
Jessica made sure the cape sat properly on his shoulders.
Art made with the photography (and Photoshop) magic.

All in all, a very successful endeavor.

What's Up by 1 Non-Blonde

2010-05-06T10:46:00.001-07:00

John and I turned in our trailer pitches for TSLOD yesterday.
Apparently, the producers are taking a trailer to Cannes to show around.
I say that casually, but inside I'm screaming "Woot!"

Director's cut done.

Hoping to see it in the next couple weeks or so.

Also, Roger Ebert added my Tweet to his list of potential Webby Award speeches.

Now if only I could get the finished version of TSLOD for his review -- a perfect storm.

I realize April Fools is a bad day to make that kind of statement

2010-04-01T16:03:00.001-07:00

But, on the plus side, people won't have high expectations and will be surprised when we actually deliver on them.

F-- You Joeboo, I do this myself.

2010-04-01T15:53:00.001-07:00

Currently pulling together an A team to turn a horror script I co-wrote into a movie.
We have a first pass at a budget and quality worker bees interested.

Hopefully more in this space soon.

my time with the LDB

2010-02-04T15:15:00.001-08:00

My friend created, writes and colours (yes, he prefers that spelling) this lovely strip called Lil Depressed Boy.

We met through mutual friends in the comic book community. I'm his faux editor, periodically, and sometimes a cheerleader (in spirit, if not uniform).

He recently had two weeks of guest writers and I leapt at the chance to add my pen to the cause.

I was a bit hesitant to play in someone else's sandbox (hence a sandbox being in my first strip), but I think I have a decent familiarity with the character to stay true to the comic and yet add a dash of my voice. I think I more than succeeded when people assumed he'd ghostwritten my first one.

This was my first time working with an artist and let me just say, not only did Scott Arnold take my scripts and bring them beautifully to life, we found a common love -- Canadian music -- that will hopefully keep us friends for ages.

Ergo and hence, Lil LDB --
(including the about the authors notes because no one ever reads the bottom).

Strip #1

"I have no clue who Vaughn Mason is. He is an enigma, wrapped in a cypher, boxed in a conundrum and covered in secret sauce. He's apparently 6'3" and I know he doesn't do a good Texan accent. However, he wrote today's strip for me. Also, I suspect he may not even exist. Which is good, because he can't claim to have created Little LDB. Bwahahahaha."

Strip #2

"Thanks to Leo Burke, Zach Trover, Travis Fox, Chris Fenoglio, Raul Rodarte and Kat Cahill for helping out. And double thanks to Scott Arnold and Nick Brandt for starting the fortnight off, and now ending it. Aw crap, not Nick Brandt. Vaughn Mason. Why do I always confuse Nick Brandt and Vaughn Mason? All you guys did a great job, and it was fun to see all those other interpretations. Thanks so much."

Honestly

2010-01-25T12:18:00.001-08:00

When someone isn't instantly blown away by my creative mastery, my first response is a lingering "F%#$!" (Sometimes voiced, sometimes kept inside)

After that minute or so, it's quickly followed by, "well, I'll just have to win them over then, won't I?"

Thankfully, generally speaking, people seem to vibe with what I put out.
But I want 100% approval.
It's a lofty goal, but I'm willing to work.

Stolen from an IM today

2010-01-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

[15:07] nicofopolous: so the development person looked me up on Studio System and asked how long I'd been rep'd by ICM
[15:07] nicofopolous: to which I said, "I'm repped by ICM???"
[15:07] nicofopolous: (I'm not repped by ICM, btw)

Never a dull travel day

2009-12-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

Travelling often involves the universe messing with me.

On the way out:
I show up at 12pm to the wrong airport in Los Angeles for my 2pm flight out ($100 cab ride to Burbank airport and additional travel stress). Thankfully, the brief layover on the flight out was in Las Vegas and I actually won back $50 on a Wheel of Fortune slot machine. Those were my mom’s favorite. I call this the universe giving me the 50% off dumbass discount.

On the way back:
I got pantsed by security at the Providence Airport (immeasurable embarrassment and comedy potential). I was randomly selected for a pat down and said pat down happened before I put on my belt. The pat down was thorough enough to dislodge my pants from my hips, dropping them to the ground, revealing my relatively plain boxers to whoever was looking.

The universe has a sense of humor.

Full On Optimism

2009-11-24T17:31:00.000-08:00

Not only have I been to set, I've seen that our director is really crafting something special (good special at that).

A couple more weeks of shooting, then editing, then... the world?

Time will tell, but I am full on optimistic.

Excitement?

2009-11-18T19:01:00.001-08:00

News of cast sprinkles down to me.
Shooting Friday.
For the longest time, I've been saying I'll stop being cautiously optimistic and start to believe it when it starts shooting.
I guess in less than two days, I become a believer.
I'm excited.

Who Plays Who

2009-11-02T13:53:00.001-08:00

Initially word from our producer has me very psyched about some casting directions they're heading in.

Obviously, I can't say anything until it's public knowledge, but if all works out, expect a full-on, super sloppy geekgasm.

Halloween

2009-11-02T11:18:00.000-08:00

Mad props to Sean and Will for outfitting 22 X-Men to storm the streets of West Hollywood. They deserve more glory than they will ever receive. And a lot of costumer work...

BTW -- picture is too cool-as-f screenwriting friends as two even cooler X-Men. Fur and Feathers!

Independent vs. INDEPENDENT

2009-10-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

When HK was made, as writer I was ever-present during pre-production. Not just for the writing, even. I saw tapes from the casting sessions. I saw wardrobe choices. Touring our location had a deep impact on how the script played out. I found music. Heck, I co-wrote lyrics to two of the songs in the movie. This is INDEPENDENT filmmaking. All hands on deck because we need all the hands we can find.

With Dorks, I feel like I'm actually going through the studio experience. "Writing done? Okay, we'll see you at the wrap." It's very weird to be connected with something for five years and then just hang out waiting for word. I'm a horribly impatient person so it's a special kind of purgatory for me. It's probably the more common Hollywood writing experience. Hopefully in doing things the right way, they'll also avoid some of the mistakes and missteps we had on HK, leading me to a new sense of pride even with a smaller sense of involvement.

This has been a real growth experience.

Now someone please tell me who will play who.

I'll be here waiting for you

2009-10-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

Polish completed, accepted and I'm going to add lauded and applauded.
So our job is done... for now at least.

Cue more waiting.

Casting is in progress. (You can tell because my imdb starmeter is on the rise)

There will probably be a read-through once the majority of the roles are resolved and then maybe a couple notes here and there.

The director joked during our last notes meeting that we'll be done writing when she's done shooting. This is potentially true.

I really look forward to what she does with our words.

Pause That Refreshes

2009-10-13T15:24:00.001-07:00

Okay, gentle reader, I'm about to tell you the most important thing I will ever write in this blog:
I'm grateful for all interest in my writing (and co-writing as the case may be).

Have I grown to be a little frightened over the phrase "we have notes"?
Absolutely.
But what came before "we have notes" is "we have interest" and that one "interest" is more powerful than a billion requests for changes, because it means someone wants to take what was written and actually film it.

Oddly enough, when J & I first sat down with the very first Dorks producer (the Alpha producer if you will), we all shared a round of "How many ____ does it take to change a lightbulb?"
The "writer" answer -- "The lightbulb? But that's my favorite part."

That is revision.

Some people call it "killing your babies/darlings" and it's absolutely true. But good producers (and directors) force writers to kill the babies that they've entrenched around to make the movie better.

I may not always let my dim light shine, but I'm so incredibly psyched in the hopeful forward movement on Dorks and I believe that the producers would agree that J & I have turned around some quick, note-addressing drafts, re-drafts and polishes... regardless of the number of darlings killed.

Dorks will be a big step in my eventual realization of being a real, fully-fledged screenwriter. Much further down the line, I will have to take time at the podium to thank each of these producers and our director (and hopefully scads of others) for their encouragement, for their interest and for their notes.

Dorks still at 92% and holding.

New Draft Submitted...

2009-10-13T14:20:00.000-07:00

...first (and only response) from one of the producers was that he was "92% pleased" with it.

That's an A.
If we got 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, I'd be ecstatic.
Would I like 100%? Yes, yes I would.
Does this mean there will be additional notes heading towards us...?

I'm 92% certain.

New Notes

2009-10-09T16:36:00.001-07:00

Four pages of new notes received last night.
Thankfully, an element they'd eliminated despite our protests has made its way back in with a "sorry we lead you astray on this" mini-pology.

So there's a silver lining to every "we have notes"...

6 Weeks

2009-10-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

Told today it shoots in 6 weeks.
Start the countdown.

=)

so THAT happened...

2009-09-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

I played an open mic at DWA today.
I had an in, as I work there.

I played three original songs (TOOM, Accidental Love, Superhero Song). It'd been about eight years since I played my last open mic. As was my tradition all those years ago, I wore a hockey jersey. Today's was Gilbert Perrault -- a gift from Jessica and my sisters Aimee and Kristin.

My guitar was dusty. My fingers and strings were rusty. I eventually dropped the pick into the body of the guitar towards the end of the third song. But I enjoyed every nervous minute.

Thankfully, I brought backup in the form of Jenna Bryson -- a friend and powerfully talented singer/songwriter. I was her opening act. I primed the crowd with my awkward innocence/subtle sexuality and she wowed them with her pipes and power. I chimed in with the banter between her songs which was I think easy and free-flowing since I didn't have to play my guitar to do it.

Dorks part 231

2009-09-18T17:51:00.000-07:00

New revision submitted this week that has a bit of fun with the time-space continuum.

Thankfully, John had prepped this so it was only a matter of minor tweaking to make presentable.

Went out mid-Monday.

No word back yet.

Why I'm not a poet...

2009-09-18T17:40:00.001-07:00

I used to love writing poetry.

My first attempt to get into the UR's poetry class was fully rebuffed. (Of course, so was my attempt to get into the Creative Writing Fiction, but that's because I was only a Freshman).

As it turns out, I backdoored in. While the usual professor rejected me, the one who filled in for a semester loved my work and welcomed me in. (Wait, creative writing is subjective?)

Because I'd taken the first course, I was allowed into the advanced class with the usual professor. There was only about six of us. I was the ONLY member of the class to not place in the Dean's Prizes for poetry. (I got honorable mention for Creative Writing Fiction that year.)

I went to support the class and the professor asked me to join them for their group picture "just because." I declined.

When I told one of my filmmaking professors I was thinking about getting an MFA in Poetry, he asked "what's the going price on poems these days anyway?" In effect, wholly discouraging me from taking that route.

It's okay.

I'm a better screenwriter than I am a poet.

I'll let you know when I get to the going price on scripts...

Can you smell that smell?

2009-09-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

I dated a girl and she smelled weird.
Not foul, not ripe... vintage.
Vintage like the clothes at Goodwill. (I've done my fair share of shopping at Goodwill)
I don't know how someone ends up smelling like that.
It wasn't bad, just... off.

Someone walked by me today with that smell.
Memory is a funny thing.

Thankfully, my fiancee smells wonderful.

Yogurt Chicken

2009-09-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Anyone else do this?
I try to eat as much of the yogurt as I can before mixing in the fruit on the bottom.

Dorks part deux

2009-09-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

It should be stated that John and I are still addressing producer notes.
We sent our most recent polish back to them today.
Minor stuff really, mostly clarification.

As it turns out, one of the producers passed the geek check.
(Death in the Family, not The Killing Joke)

Dorks

2009-09-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

(Producer) to Nick two Fridays ago --
"We're going to be shooting in six or seven weeks. I know I've said that before, but this time I mean it."

I'm thinking of starting a writers group

2009-09-04T10:53:00.001-07:00

Not one where we read each other's shit and give notes.
No, more like AA.
"Hi, I'm Nick and I'm a writer. I've been writing for as long as I can remember. For the most part, it's only brought me pain and rejection."

Writers Support Group.
It's coming...

Revised, Now with Additional Rules

2009-08-27T12:05:00.001-07:00

Hollywood Kills drinking game

Rule #9 Identify NDB's number (the number he includes in all his scripts) -- give everyone else in the room a drink.

Rule #8 Any time Nicholas and/or David and/or Brandt appears on the screen -- take a drink.

Rule #7 (final at least for now): Be responsible. Be sure to not drink and drive (or call exes... or text...)

Rule #6: When the Sinatra-esque song plays (lyrics by me and Regan) - social!

Rule #5: Any time a Tragically Hip or Prince song title is used in dialogue - give five drinks (1st person to call only).

Rule #4: Any time the actor Happy who plays James says "happy" - take a drink.

Rule #3: Any time Fenway has a bipolar-esque shift in mood - give a drink.

Rule #2: Any time Vaughn Mason hits on a girl with his signature line - take a drink.

Rule #1: Any time someone tries to break down a door - take a drink. Anytime someone succeeds - give a drink.

Hollywood Kills game

2009-08-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

(posted to Twitter, but Twitter is temporary, blog is FOREVER!)

Rule #7 (final at least for now): Be responsible. Be sure to not drink and drive (or call exes... or text...)

Rule #6: When the Sinatra-esque song plays (lyrics by me and Regan) - social!

Rule #5: Any time a Tragically Hip or Prince song title is used in dialogue - give five drinks (1st person to call only).

Rule #4: Any time the actor Happy who plays James says "happy" - take a drink.

Rule #3: Any time Fenway has a bipolar-esque shift in mood - give a drink.

Rule #2: Any time Vaughn Mason hits on a girl with his signature line - take a drink.

Rule #1: Any time someone tries to break down a door - take a drink. Anytime someone succeeds - give a drink.

Another Gem - this time a joke

2009-08-10T16:19:00.001-07:00

Two boys are playing hockey on a pond in a
Buffalo when one of the boys is suddenly attacked
by a crazed Rottweiler. Thinking quickly, the other
boy takes his hockey stick, shoves it under the
dog's collar, twists it and breaks the dog's neck,
saving his friend.

A Buffalo reporter is standing by, sees the incident,
and rushes over to interview the boy.
"Young Bills Fan Saves Friend From Vicious
Animal," he starts writing in his notebook.

“But I'm not a Bills Fan, " the little boy replies.
"Sorry but since we're in Buffalo, I just assumed you
were," says the reporter and starts writing again.
"Sabres Fan Rescues Friend From Horrific
Attack," he writes in his notebook.

"I'm not a Sabres Fan either", the boy says.
"Oh, I assumed everyone in Buffalo was either
for the Bills or Sabres. What team do you root for", the reporter asked?

"I'm a Dolphin fan", the boy replies.
The reporter starts a new sheet in his
notebook and writes: "Little Bastard From Miami Kills
Beloved Family Pet."

Capturing the Gems (part 1)

2009-08-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

Deleted my LJ account. Will capture some of the gems on this, including --

I'm either
(a) an introvert trapped in an extrovert's body
(b) an extrovert trapped in an introvert's body
or
(c) it varies back and forth every the day...

I wonder if we all perform ourselves for so long that we become ourselves
and if so
can we be someone else if we just try hard enough...?

Looking Back -- 2008

2009-08-10T11:33:00.003-07:00

Wanted to balance the happy and sad --
(also unedited)

Sent: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 5:03 pm
Subject: A True Story

THE PROPOSAL

SETUP -- Sunday December 14^th

Jessica and I attended mass. We hadn’t been in a while and showed up early. An alter server came up and asked if we wanted to bring the gifts up. I started to shake my head no, but this was overshadowed by Jessica’s very positive yes. We brought the gifts to the priest, he blessed us and we returned to our seats.

Upon sitting, Jessica elbows me and whispers, “Give you any ideas?”

She20didn’t know things were already in the works…

TRAVEL DAY -- Thursday December 18^th

Jessica and I fly from Los Angeles to Buffalo. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?

We had three options for the stopover as Southwest has no direct flights to Buffalo – Chicago, Phoenix and Las Vegas. We immediately decided to avoid Chicago and their snowy Decembers. And if your choice falls between Phoenix and Vegas… Needless to say, we attempt to fly into Vegas. I say attempt because Vegas experiences its first snowstorm in THIRTY YEARS! Our flight out of Los Angeles is delayed. We make it to Vegas with just enough time to run to our connecting flight. Thanks to hustle and heavy breathing, we make it to the plane. Once onboard, we have to wait thirty minutes as they try to locate the "Holland family" which I assumed was stall code for “we need to get these bags on board.” Of course our bags will meet us in Buffalo. These are professionals and they know what they’re doing…

…So our bags go missing.

But we’re in Buffalo and with my sisters and there’s talk of the bags arriving later Thursday or first thing Friday morning.

THE DAY -- Friday December 19^th

Not so much.

Calls to Southwest Baggage at Buffalo airport aren’t answered. Calls to national aren’t helpful. Our clothes, toiletries and numerous Christmas gifts (not to mention irreplaceable Christmas cookie recipes from our mothers) are somewhere in the continental United States… theoretically.

Aimee, my older sister, takes Jessica to Kohl’s to pick up a winter outfit for Jess and me that will supposedly be covered by Southwest after 24 hours. Aimee and Kristin (my younger sister) try to get Jessica out of the house because, unknown to her, her brother Tommy and father Tom are on their way to Buffalo to see me propose. Her father also has, in his possession, Jessica’s mother’s ring for the proposal. Jessica is in a bit of a mood because of our lost luggage and doesn’t want to get her nails done, especially since now the snow is really starting to come down outside. After a bit of cajoling, she finally agrees to accompany my sisters to the mall for some last minute shopping. It’s about now that I hear from Mr. Gardner that he and Tommy are stuck on an airplane on the tarmac because of the snowstorm happening in Buffalo.

At the mall, Kristin and Aimee convince Jessica to go to Macy’s and then trick her into getting her makeup done at the Clinique counter. She is still blissfully unaware of the rapidly derailing plan and just thinks my sisters are trying to comfort her with pampering. Once finished, they exit to the mall to see that Kristin’s car is now stuck in the snow. My sisters send Jessica back into the mall with the bags and the excuse that they don’t want her to ruin her newly done makeup and proceed to push the car out of the snow drift. In her exuberance, Aimee snaps Kristin’s side view mirror completely off the car, but at least they’re free. Unfortunately, Kristin’s windshield wiper motor now refuses to work so they have to drive relatively blind in the snow. They still somehow manage to pick up pizza and wings. Jessica does notice that there’s a hefty amount, but suspects nothing. Her father and brother (the Toms) were supposed to come to Aimee’s, witness the proposal and bask in wings and pizza, but it’s now six o’clock and they’re finally landing in Buffalo. I send them to the hotel and we dig in for some dinner. At six-ten, my phone rings. Twenty-six hours later, our bags have been found. Southwest says they can get the bags to us in “several hours”. Having already lost much Buffalo time and desperately needing to get to our destination for the night (Lasertron), my brother-in-law Bill volunteers to drive us to Buffalo Airport in his truck with four-wheel drive.

Excited to get our hands on our bags, we present our receipts to the Southwest Baggage people and they say they can’t help us. No apologies. They say it hadn’t been 24 hours (it had). Then they want to see the receipts to make sure our purchases were made after the 24 hour mark which is not a stipulation that we were ever told. On top of that, they say they wouldn’t be able to do it regardless. I tell20them I will handle it through customer service. Frustrated, we start to leave and one of them calls out after us, “At least you got your bags” snidely. This was the straw that broke the camel’s back and sends Jessica into tears. Thirty minutes before I propose and the woman at the Southwest Baggage desk makes Jessica cry.

Bill drives us to Lasertron. Aimee and Kristin stand outside waiting for us. Kristin escorts Jessica into the ladies room. Jessica told me that only afterwards did it feel weird that while Kristin had Jess vent, Kristin also fussed with Jessica’s hair, got her out of her sweatpants and into real pants and convinced Jessica that putting on lipstick would make her feel better. While this was taking place, Aimee handed me the ring. I go to the very back room and greet the Toms with a hearty apology for what they’ve had to go through. I tell them to come out in about two minutes.

I wait for Jessica to come out of the bathroom with my sister and as she approaches, someone tells Jessica she has some special visitors. She sees our friends Brooke and Dan standing next to me and,=2 0thinking it’s them, starts to say hi and give hugs. As Jess is mid-hug, the Toms run up behind her. I grab Jessica by the shoulders and turn her so that she sees her father and brother. Barely able to register anything after the 24 hours we’d been through, she hugs her dad who then turns her by her shoulders so that she can see that I’m down on one knee with her mother’s ring extended to her.

“You know that I love you. We’ve been through a lot today, but that just proves that together we can make it through anything. Will you marry me?”

Jessica bursts into a fit of tears and shaking. This goes on for at least five minutes. Still down on one knee, still looking up at her, I merely say, “Well?”

Jessica says, “Yes. Of course yes” and I attempt to put the ring on the wrong finger until she takes over.

Once the congratulations die down a bit she looks at me and says the three words that will be a very important pa rt of our relationship from this day forward, “Really? Lasertron? Really?”

That’s the nutshell story. I’m sure there are nuances and minutiae that I’ve left out, but those are the broad strokes.

Some other things to note:
The Toms and I, during our brief stay in Western New York, in total had to rescue over five cars stuck in the snow.

During our brief visit to Niagara Falls, Mr. G’s Hertz rental car refused to start, stranding the Toms, Jessica, Aimee and myself for over an hour. (Numerous Buffalonians offered help, if not better weather).

My nephew came up to me – “Did you know that Jessica’s brother’s name is Tom and her father’s name is Tom and they have a TomTom that sits between them in the car?”

Looking Back -- 2005

2009-08-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

Feeling reflective. Borrowed this from my old LiveJournal. Not going to edit.

Date:	2005-12-28 13:50
Subject:	2005 in Review: the good, the bad and the ugly
Security:	Public
Mood:	contemplative

In January, Linda Francis Brandt-Cox succombed to cancer after a long fight.

I remember waking to the call that Friday. It was my sister, Kristin. Earlier in the week, Aimee had worried that she wouldn’t know when to call me to come back home, but there it was. I called the airline to arrange a flight (they would subsequently charge an additional one hundred dollars because Ray charged the fare even though they knew the circumstances involved in the travel), woke Dan for a ride and then cried myself through a shower.

Sheila picked me up from the airport and we drove to my mom’s house. Mom looked worse than I’d ever seen her before, barely responsive. I said, “I love you” and she replied “I love you too.” (Actually, the last thing I heard her say.) I rode with Aimee to pick up some prescriptions and we grabbed Mighty Taco during the wait.

Sheila and I (mostly I) stayed up all night so that the rest of the crew could get some sleep. The path to the DVD player was blocked by sleeping sisters and a cousin and the only disc we had access to was Super Troopers. We watched it roughly five or six times. Someday I’d like to thank the Broken Lizard guys for that movie because I can still laugh at it. Periodically my mother would wake and I’d shift her to make her more comfortable or wake someone to administer drugs (I wasn't taught).

I got a brief bit of sleep the next day then went to Blockbuster with Leslie (my cousin) and picked up more movies for what I expected was another night up. The adults (my mother’s siblings) and the kids (Aimee, Kristin, Leslie and I) got into an argument about the use of morphine. We were less concerned about coherency and more about comfort. My Aunt JoAnn arranged for a priest to come and perform last rites. I remember seeing my mother’s eyes looking so scared as he stood above her. She knew.

Then, just after the priest left, I remember someone yelling that she was going. Stunned, moments later we were all standing around the bed they’d brought to the house for her and she looked like she was suffocating. The phone rang and Kristin said she would kill whoever that was (it was our father calling). I cried so hard in those moments that I actually gave myself a twitch in my eye for the next few days and I wasn't sure it'd ever go away.

The funeral home people came pretty quickly. My Aunt Nancy said she wanted to stay in the living room while they took my mom away. The hospice worker advised against it, but Aimee, Kristin and I sat with Aunt Nancy and the hospice worker said that we were very strong and uncommon for that. Then my Aunt Nancy said something that is burned into my memory -- “She wasn’t just my sister, she was my best friend.” Even typing this eleven months later, that still makes me misty.

We decided on two viewing sessions. The funeral home did a great job making my mom look more like how I remembered her and not as much what the cancer and treatment had done to her. It was one of the major things that helped me handle it all. (Being there to tell her I love her while she could still respond was the biggest.) I touched her hand. I didn’t know if I was allowed or supposed to but I did and while no one was around, I sang to her. ("Nan's Song" by Robbie Williams)

Inbetween the viewings, a group of us went to Swiston’s for a Beef Off (where we tried to eat as many Beef on Wick sandwiches, with the pickle, as possible...) and a lot of alcohol: shots, beers and drinks.

The next day was the church service. I was upset that the priest left out the fact that my mom was a wife, saying only a mother, sister and friend, as that was a slight to both my father and stepfather and a funeral service is no time to take a hard moral stance.

An austisic friend of the family asked at the church if Sheila was my daughter, which served as a good laugh and then at the reception at Aunt JoAnn’s which followed he continued to hit on her.

***

In July, David Allen Brandt fell to a fatal heart attack.

It was weird, days before at the 3rd of July party, my father went all in against Ray during one of the Texas Hold ‘Em matches. They both ended up with 3 7’s but Ray had a stronger hold card. (I guess I should explain that it was weird because it was father against stepfather.)

Two days later, for my father’s birthday, it was my gift to take him to lunch. He decided he’d rather pick up wings and a pizza from Pizza Junction and share his lunch with Aimee and my nephews. While waiting for the pizza and standing under an awning to avoid the rain, my father confessed that he still loved my mother. I asked him if he felt he could love again and he said yes. It was a very open, heart-to-heart conversation. It was the most adult conversation I'd had with my father -- one where it felt like it was just two men talking. We went back to Aim’s, shared pizza.

Aimee called early the next morning and the next time I saw him, he was laying in a bed in Kenmore Mercy hooked up to machines. He had a heart attack in the middle of the night. (Of course, no one at the hospital was kind enough to let us know that exactly.) We met the ambulance driver who came to his aid in the hallway and he said that he’d never felt that scared for a person during a pickup. I remember seeing dad in the hospital bed and thinking I should get a picture of it so that I could convince him to stop smoking when he got out of the hospital. A rotating crew of me, Aimee, Rose (my dad’s “girlfriend”), Uncle Don and Aunt Mary kept watch over him in the ER. They never found a regular room for him during that day so he stayed in the ER throughout.

Aimee, Bill and I snuck away during the night because it seemed like he had stabilized and we’d previously arranged to meet some people out for a drink. My friend Craig came in from Rochester and was the first one there. A couple shots and beers in, but before anyone else showed up, we got a call to come back to the hospital. Things had gotten worse. We stood around his bed and told him how stubborn he was and how he could beat this if he wanted. It seemed like his heart would get stronger every time we swore so we took turns swearing (which is probably frowned upon in a Catholic hospital). Suddenly, Aunt Mary said “you’re stubborn, David, remember you beat malaria...” and all of us, even Uncle Don, turned and said, “what?” It seems that while my father was stationed in Korea, he’d contracted malaria, but it never was officially reported because his treatment there may have led to his deployment in Vietnam. He was sent home and recovered from it stateside. Something I never knew about my father. Probably one of many things.

His heartbeat got strong enough for a doctor to come and put a pacemaker in. Believing we were in the clear for a bit, we all grabbed some sleep. I slept in the back seat of my sister’s van and woke to hear Uncle Don rapping on the glass. By the look on his face, I knew it couldn’t be good. He said he was sorry but my dad had died while we all slept. He hugged me tighter than I’d ever been hugged. Kristin was still on her way up from Philadelphia.

My friends really responded to the loss of my second parent. We received cookie baskets, ice cream (John), and even a Harry and David's basket from work. (When I got home, there would also be a GC to Burke Williams -- yet to be used -- and notice that two trees had been planted in honor of my parents -- which made me cry at the thoughtfulness.) I remember standing in my sister's backyard the night before the church service and hearing "Nick, one of your friends is here" and thinking "oh, it must be Joe or Goo..." and then walking into my sister's living room and seeing Jessica. I was surprised. She came to hold my hand and get me through and I can't say how much I appreciate that. It took two women (Sheila and Jessica) to really help me get through my parents' deaths.

***

2005 saw the first production of a screenplay written by me going by the title of Hollywood Kills. Post Production will carry that over into 2006 so hold onto your pants. (If I get an audio commentary track on a DVD release, that would cover one of my list of things to do in life -- produced screenplayS being nearly in reach.) Theoretically, there will be movement on The Secret Lives of Dorks early in 2006 as the option as it stands ends in March. Multiple parties are seeking multiple creative works from me, yet no one wants to pay me enough for writing to be my day job. I decided this year that my "shingle" will be linDAvid productions, in honor of my parents.

***

So there you have it, a glimpse at my 2005... it was rough, easily the worst year of my life, but the clouds came with some silver lining and hope and possibility. I'm thankful for all my friends who've helped me along (especially for any and all laughs you've delivered) and I wait with baited breath for 2006: A New Mack (to be followed by 2007: The Mack Strikes Back and 2008: Return of the Mack*).

HK2

2009-08-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

On this, the North American dvd release day, I'll let you in on a little secret...
I really hoped for a sequel.
I hoped for a chance to do it bigger and better.
I even had a title -- Hollywood Kills: On Location.

I don't want to ruin it for viewers by telling too many details, but the concept was solid and ready to go. Simply waiting on someone to want it. Is that still a possibility? Who knows?

I think there's a lot of room to play with a psychotic Hollywood producer who twists your desires into punishing deaths. I think the survivors of Hollywood Kills had more story in them. Survival is its own kind of horror after all.

Maybe if we find some kind of cult following, I'll get the opportunity to tell that second story.

Not entirely accurate, per se, but it ends funny.

2009-07-28T10:03:00.001-07:00

"Hollywood Kills", written by Nicholas Brandt and Regan Wynne, directed by Sven Pape, is a torture porn type movie with a Hollywood twist. It's about an insane, reclusive director/producer that terrorizes people who come to Hollywood by twisting their dreams into fiendish torture in his own private "studio". Jesus, isn't Hollywood hell enough?

http://deadharvey.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-horror-out-on-dvd-this-week_20.html

Any press is good press though, right?

2009-07-20T15:27:00.001-07:00

Bless Them

2009-07-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

Within the course of about a day and a half, we heard back from one of the producers and the director and it was across-the-board positive.

Will have to wait another week for the third major voice to chime in, but with high hopes it will join the chorus of "woot"

Re-Writing (across the universe)

2009-07-14T11:04:00.000-07:00

Always moving forward 'cause we still can't find reverse.

Re-write is for all intents and purposes done. Will re-read again tonight before sending it off for tomorrow's due date and then wait for reactions.

I hate waiting for reactions. I don't care who has the script, be it a friend who is going to give notes on up to a director/producer, it's really tough for me. As readers of the blog (or just acquaintances) know, I'm horribly impatient. Add the general anxiety of "What are they going to think?" and it gets quite messy on my insides. It generally only physically manifests as a stress zit, the biggest and nastiest of all zits.

Pretty much all of my writing partners agree -- Nick cares too much.
I don't know how to be any other way.

Watching the Detectives

2009-07-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, that's an Elvis Costello song title and has nothing to do with this entry.
Rewrite (of the rewrite... of the rewrite...) scheduled for Wednesday July 8th.
I'd love to know going in what we'll be tackling, but I'd also love to win Mega Millions.*

*Seriously, universe, hook me up with Mega Millions Friday. Thank you.

The Reading

2009-06-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

The reading was a hoot.
It took place at the director's house. There were actors in attendance to read all of the major roles.
It was great to hear our words coming out of other people's mouths. The film hasn't been cast yet, so it will be interesting to see who from the reading won over the producers and director and also who ultimately will be playing our Dorks.

Some moments really worked well without the physical setup. Some will require more energy.

A lot of the actors came up afterward and let us (John and I know) how funny and talented we are.... which was nice.

One of the Executive Producers now has pages of notes so we will anxiously wait to see what becomes of that.

The Origin of #FreudianFriday

2009-06-26T10:59:00.001-07:00

A glimpse into the mind of Nico...

So I was tired of seeing all these FollowFriday tags on Twitter and realizing that no one would want to suggest that people follow me.

Instead of complaining (and thus possibly guilting someone into doing it), I created FreudianFriday so that the first FollowFriday I see, I post my weeks FreudianFriday.

Alas, it has not caught on beyond me.

More of me to love?

2009-06-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

That is the hope at least.

HOLLYWOOD KILLS will be released on DVD in North America on July 21st by Osiris Entertainment.
http://www.osirisent.com/

DORKS (Co-written by John Severin) will have a script reading this Saturday June 27th with the hope to lens in Late Summer/Early Fall.

Looking at the future with hopeful eyes.

My Fiancee likes to remind me that I'm not Canadian...

2009-06-12T10:10:00.001-07:00

My fiancee really did spend about half of the Tragically Hip show at the Troubadour last night reminding me that I'm not Canadian.

I grew up in Tonawanda, NY. The city is about midway between Buffalo and Niagara Falls and, therefore, a stone's throw away from Canada.

Canada had a formative role in who I've grown up to be.

Because of proximity, I grew up listening to Canadian music. I still hold a very special place in my heart for The [Lowest of the] Low and The [Tragically] Hip as well as the Barenaked Ladies.
The Edge (102.1) was always on my radio dial.

I watched Hockey Night in Canada and laughed at Don Cherry and his anti-American rants (but mostly at his suits). I also caught Kids in the Hall on the CBC, an essential part in my creative development.

I once drove with a friend to Toronto to get a cappuccino (this is before Starbucks were on every corner). We got trapped in an underground mall and set off an alarm trying to escape.

I saw the Buffalo Bills play at Skydome long before financial troubles had them setting up a yearly deal. Funny side story -- one of the Buffalo Jills cheerleaders said this (in response to me hitting on her) "I knew a guy like you in high school. He was arty too..."

When I land in Buffalo, the first stop is usually Tim Horton's (or Timmy Ho's as we affectionately refer to it).

The summer I turned 19, I typically converted about half of my paycheck to Canadian so that we could go up to Eagle's Landing and enjoy a mighty fine jukebox (James' Laid was 4111) as well as a cold Blue.

I'm reasonably certain that my first live nude girl was in Niagara Falls, Ontario at Sundowners.

And, of course, anyone who knows me knows my love of a little sport called hockey. That unrequited love.

I love America. I love being American. I'll also always have a special place in my heart for our neighbors to the north.

I actually like the IMDB(pro) Plot Summary

2009-05-29T15:53:00.001-07:00

Thank you, Anonymous, whoever you are...

Plot Summary
Samantha (a dorkette) is in love with Payton (a dork) who is in love with Carrie (a cheerleader),who dates Clark (the football captain). When Clark seeks out Payton for secret comic book lessons, Payton sees his chance to be with Carrie. But Carrie's more interested in setting Payton up with Samantha. High School's complicated, huh? And what's Clark's secret?

Who knew?

2009-05-27T15:51:00.001-07:00

So I was talking with a friend in the business last night over dinner and I was relating the lesson I was taught by a producer on MC.

She told us to stop turning in our drafts so quickly.
I thought we were just being dedicated and attentive, but she went on to say that turning in drafts too quickly:
A) sets a standard that you probably won't always be able to meet
B) makes a producer think that you're half-assing it, regardless of how good the work is -- this will also, in their eyes, magnify any remaining issues in the revision
C) not to mention Hollywood can smell desperation because it's the scent of many

So basically, a producer told me to procrastinate for better results.
My friend concurred.

This is a wacky business.

I feel legitimate

2009-05-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

For the longest time, I was wondering... when will TSLOD finally get added to the imdb?

Well, that day is now...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1418757/

Sure, they haven't added me or John as the writers for some reason.
But we know the truth.
And hopefully this is a sign that production is just around the corner...

Good Writing Advice

2009-05-13T12:04:00.001-07:00

Coincidences early on in scripts are inciting moments.
Coincidences later on in scripts are lazy.

Best Thing About Mother's Day

2009-05-12T13:43:00.001-07:00

I got a chance to chat with my older sister Aimee. We had the usual chit chat and, when we were finishing our hellos, this happened...

AIMEE
Oh, that's what I was going to tell you.

NICHOLAS
What?

AIMEE
Joshua has been accepted into an accelerated program. He'll spend fifth and sixth grade with the same teacher. No grades. Just a focus on advancement.

NICHOLAS
That's great.

AIMEE
We couldn't get a sitter so Josh actually sat through the briefing. At the end, I turned to him and said, 'What do you think?' and he replied, 'I think I got my brains from Uncle Nick.'

***
I think that kid has a bright future.

My 2nd Worst Quality

2009-04-30T17:04:00.000-07:00

I care too much.
Doesn't help with the waiting none, I assure you.

My worst quality

2009-04-30T16:58:00.001-07:00

I am HORRIBLY impatient.
I have the patience of a five year old on a grocery shopping trip with his mom that's been told when it's over he can have ice cream... and a candy bar.

The bad thing about this?
Being a semi-professional writer, there's a lot of waiting involved.
Semi-professional scripts quickly make their way to the bottom of the pile, not the top.
My other semi-professional writer friends have their own projects to worry about.
And then, let's say you have producers attached... do you know how long it takes for a script to get financed, cast, shot and edited? A long ass time, I'll tell you.

I'm thinking about my impatience today, in particular, because a pitch that was scheduled for tomorrow has been pushed to "sometime next week..."

Tom Petty said it best, "You don't have to live like a refugee." (unless you're a semi-professional writer).

Pretty sure he said something about waiting as well...

because this got excised from my professional bio...

2009-04-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

...for being too "funny"...

Buffalo native Brandt is well-known for his outstanding karaoke abilities, kindness to animals and an ear for dialogue. Brandt counts among his influences Cameron Crowe, comic books and Fat Tire Ale.

Who Watches the Watchmen?

2009-04-20T11:55:00.000-07:00

In brief: Not nearly enough people...

In its 7th week in release, it sits at the #22 spot.
Total domestic $106,857,000.
Estimated production budget (doesn't account for advertising) of $150,000,000.
(Foreign actually pulled in a pretty healthy $73,263,669 in contrast considering it wasn't expected to perform overseas).

The film will be touted as a failure, though it's more of a break even and will, despite a declining market, do some good business on DVD.

I liked it... I enjoyed the film going experience and look forward to a BluRay with director's cut.
Rorschach translated to the screen perfectly. The loss of the squid actually worked better. I am an open minded comic book fan.

So what happened?
Was the source material too niche?
Were audiences turned away by the stylized violence or the blue penis?

I hope studios don't take this film as a "lesson" and try to peddle bad comic book adaptations because hiring someone who actually cares about the source material doesn't seem to pay off at the box office.

Zach Snyder will survive.
Watchmen will be well received on home video (if that term can still be used).
How will daring comic book adaptations fare into the future?

Only Dr. Manhattan knows for sure.

THE Salve for Rejection

2009-04-08T15:08:00.001-07:00

The salve for rejection, for those of you wondering is much like the song for how to get through the day --
It is, in fact, the small victories that get you through...
poster
Amazon link

A Salve for Rejection

2009-04-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

Is there a point where you stop caring about rejections?

Bear in mind, when it came to the "ladies", prior to meeting my fiancee, I had more than my fair share of rejection. There was a library girl at the UR that I asked out nearly every day for an entire summer. Why? Because she never actually said "no" she only girlishly giggled... and I worked up enough girl-rejection-callouses in high school that it didn't faze me in the slightest.

Writing, though...
Writing rejections, no matter how small or large, get me every time.
I've been at this long enough that I'd think I should have developed a nice, thick skin, but I haven't and I don't know why.

I care.
I care too much?

When the angry fire is gone...

2009-04-07T17:41:00.000-07:00

My initial reaction to these sorts of situations (see previous blog) is anger. Righteous fury. Gut cleansing fire.

What happens after that?

The refractory period. A time of total and complete apathy. I love writing, but right now, I've got little in me...

In other news, however, TSLOD producer wrote back and said he's thinking about having a reading and shooting on a microbudget in July or August. I'm cautious(ly optimistic). I have no idea how he defines microbudget. To me, my life has been lived on microbudget... but then again, I've turned out relatively okay so there may be hope left for the project yet. The wait and see chart has been moved from passive white to mellow yellow.

Interestingly enough, I tried to find this blog via google and as it turns out TSLOD doesn't find me but it does find:
The Suite Life On Deck
Which has nothing to do with my TSLOD.

Venting

2009-04-06T15:44:00.000-07:00

I've decided to truly document what it is like for me as a screenwriter trying to make it in the crazy world of Hollywood.

I will never burn anyone by name. That is not in my nature and I graduated high school many years ago, thank you. I will keep anonymity for all others and remove the guilty and innocent alike.

The set up for this.
One of my writing partners... yes, I have multiple, ultimately three with varying degrees of "success"... and I wrote a horror script because we had a lead on someone looking to film one on the cheap. We turned a script around from a 36 page germ I had in a little over a week.

Above all, I consider myself a comedy writer. While I love horror and writing horror, I feel like a total novice hack at it. I was starting to feel increasingly more confident with this script. This is the response we got:

[12:13] WritingPartner: been e-mailing back and forth with the director's assistant.
[12:14] WritingPartner: based on our log line we are too expensive.
[12:14] WritingPartner: he hasn't responded to whether or not we should submit if we make changes.
[12:14] WritingPartner: his complaints
[12:14] WritingPartner: 1) guns are expensive
[12:14] WritingPartner: 2) blood is expensive
[12:14] WritingPartner: 3) a hospital is too expensive
[12:15] WritingPartner: not sure what their budget was or what kind of horror film they were expecting to make

Okay. I can understand "guns are expensive" because, well, guns are expensive depending on the budget you're looking at. If you're going to kill "monsters", however, guns are a nice, effective way of doing it. If that had been the one thing said, I would've understood where they were at and considered changes. However, skipping ahead...

"A hospital is too expensive" -- This could honestly go either way. To have a script limited to one location is generally considered a cost-saving measure. The reason I had the germ of an idea initially was because I was told by a reliable source that you can get hospital locations on the cheap.

"Blood is expensive" -- Shenanigans! Malarky! I use the word so rarely I don't even know how to spell it. Blood is cheap. Blood is good. If a director can afford to have an assistant but not to have blood in their horror film, their priorities are horribly out of whack.

My Tweets on this --
Low budget director rejected horror script - "blood too expensive" - want face-to-face so I can slap them upside the head...
Although I am perversely proud that I could co-write something wherein the blood usage was cost prohibitive.

how I get through my day (part 1)

2009-03-30T18:24:00.001-07:00

Sometimes it's not enough to think that you're a good person and that, more often than not, you make the right choice.

I've felt this feeling before.

One time, one of the keenest times, was when I won honorable mention for poetry in the University of Rochester's Dean's Prizes. Honorable mention, not too shabby, right? Well, the winners were all of the other people in Advanced Creative Writing Poetry. So really, in that group, I was the loser.

But I went to their reading... to support... because that's who I am. And when the Campus Times photographer came to take their picture, the professor said, "Hey Nick, why don't you come up for the picture to, you know, because you're here.." and I wanted that big Monty Python foot to come down from above and squish me where I sat.

What gets me through moments like that?

A Small Victory by Faith No More (specifically this lyric)
The small victories
The cankers and medallions
The little nothings
They keep me thinking
That someday
I might beat you
But I'll just keep my mouth shut

(It shouldn't bother me, but it does)

What heck is development hell?

2009-03-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

Seemed like I should speak on this seeing as I named my blog after it...

Development Hell is, in a nutshell, the time between someone being interested in your script and the day they start shooting. For some people, this is years, nay decades in the making. Some screenwriters actually make their living selling scripts that never lens. They have zeros on the checks to keep them happy...

I was fortunate enough to have a script made into a feature. I'm immensely proud of the little guy, flaws and all. I can't watch it anymore because the flaws get magnified with each viewing. But, to get something made -- a whole lot of luck, meeting the right people at the right time and putting in whatever work you can on your side to ensure you don't f it up.

What do I know about Development Hell?
TSLOD just hit the four year mark.
[If you know me, you know what the initials mean. I've learned not to spell things out on the internet since Dominic Keating fans used my livejournal as a leak for Hollywood Kills information.]

Development Hell isn't like Hell at all. It's like purgatory. You don't know what's next and when you'll be where you want to be. For an impatient guy like me, yes, it sometimes feels like Hell, but that's just being melodramatic really.

We named the dog "Nico"

2007-12-04T10:45:00.000-08:00

Oddly enough, yes, my older sister has a dog and Nico is it's name-o.

The origin of Nicofopolous (and random side thoughts):
One night during the Olympics, I decided to shrug off my previous karaoke name (The Duke fka El Duque) and adopt a Grecian one.

I like to watch new KJs struggle with the pronunciation.

I've never enjoyed my real name -- I've always found it bland and altogether too Anglo. Professionally, I use my middle name to give an ongoing nod to my father.

My father never met a joke he didn't like nor a person he wouldn't try to make laugh. If not the key to a good life, it's one of them.

My mother never said "no" when someone asked her to bake for a special occasion.

Every time I laugh or enjoy a good bite, I'm reminded of my parents.

The end of childhood is when you realize your parents are people -- fallable as anyone else.

What I hope to accomplish here:
Garner an adoring fan base.