a day to give back

told you three peeps had shirts off

they gave us the shaded seats

nice guns Beau

Dan Ryan, creeps into every photo

It’s probably not what most are thinking. Not for charity or for a special cause, just being grateful, ya dig?

I have been saying that a lot lately. Ya dig? “Ya dig?” I don’t know why. And “Good good.” Someone asks me how I am and I say, “Good good.”

Here is the order to the recent giving back. The Los Angeles Dodgers, despite their most recent financial troubles, decided to come give Baby Blues BBQ two stacks of tickets to a couple of recent day games. They were showing a ton of gratitude for their many fine dinners of tasty ribs and pitchers of Nana’s Sweet Tea. These were not small stacks either. Fifty tickets each!

Now it was Baby Blues turn to give back. Who do they give back to? ME! I am sure it had a lot to do with my love for the Detroit Tigers, seeing how the game was against them, and the fact that I had the ability to get fifty people to attend. I love Baby Blues, man. Last week I spent a couple of hours sending out some invites to all the regulars that come into the restaurant and some of my close friends and colleagues, all deserving of a special “thank you” for just being the shizzle. In a matter of three hours we had the forty-plus tickets spoken for. Thankfully, at least six or so were Tiger fans.  And three had their shirts off, so they gave back also.

I just didn’t want to get my ass kicked at the stadium. That’s my main reason for inviting everyone, really. Dodger fans can be vicious. What better protection than forty friends? Kidding.

No, the main reason for inviting everyone was to show some gratitude for new relationships, old relationships, and BBQ.

I have said it before, Baby Blues is like the Mecca for all SUCCESS for me in the last couple of years. I probably met 90% of the people from my last project at that place.  So, thanks again Baby Blues BBQ.  “Like” it on Facebook.

The game was a blast. A bunch of actors, producers, directors, photographers, painters, agents, kids, fans, and dodger dogs. My friend told me your body can only digest two dodger dogs a year. I had eight between the two games I went to while the Tigers were in town. I have recently gained five random lbs. and can’t figure out why they won’t go away. It must be all the hot dogs inside me. Sick. Suck it, Scotty.

Go support the Dodgers, go eat some BBQ, watch some Nut Bucket Films stuff, and go be successful. That’s my bright little point for the day. Here are a bunch of pics of the day.

Lije

Papa Grande closing it out, Tigers win.

the crew, Lije, Jai, Tyler, Matt, Joy, and Stacia

jump off a bridge or into a shark tank?

I love where I live

Or both?

This Sunday is my pal Kerry’s birthday.  What is he doing for his birthday?  Dragging all his friends northeast to the “Bridge to Nowhere”.  I freaking love it!  He always has the best birthdays.  Last year we went paintballing.  The trip is a 4 1/2 mile hike to the bridge followed by a bungee jump off the bridge, then lunch, and a leisurely hike back.  Sounds awesome right?  What’s more awesome is the text I got from my friend Sarah last night after inviting her along.  Here it is: “So I met a guy wearing a suicide ‘bridge to nowhere’ t-shirt today and he inspired me to do some research. F that place!! Over 100 people have committed suicide off that bridge.  Apparently it’s beyond haunted!”  I called Sarah last night and all she would say was, “If I jumped, all I would think about is all the dead people and what they were thinking while they jumped!”  I love you Sarah.  This makes me want to go even more now.  I didn’t know it was haunted or suicidal.

As for the Sharks, you all know how much I love my Detroit teams.  The Red Wings come back home to the “Joe” to host San Jose for game 6 tonight.  If they win there will be a game 7.  They will win and there will be a game 7.  Which means my buddy Brandon and I are driving our asses up to San Jose and jumping into that Shark tank to watch the Wings take ’em down.  We were supposed to go up Sunday for game 5 but shit got all f#$%ed up and we ended up watching the game at B’s.  Turns out this was fate.  What better than a game 7.  B is heading over to my pad tonight for rib-eyes and shark meat.  Go WINGS!!!

Lot’s of stuff happening in my film world so I am going to give you all a quick update.

orientation at DWF

CLOSING DOORS

This little short I directed is now on its 3rd festival in as many months.  We will have our West Coast premiere at Dances With Films film fest right here in Los Angeles, CA.  It is actually playing at the Laemmle Sunset 5 theatre on June 5th at 5pm sharp.  I will be throwing a dope-ass after party like I did two years back when the feature I directed, Alphonso Bow, premiered there.  If you come to the screening, you will know about the party.  “Like” us on Facebook HERE please!  We would love some more fans.  It is a great little film and the stars, Dave and Brendan, are f#$%in’ great dudes!  Check their interview HERE.

ALPHONSO BOW

It has been almost exactly three long years since we wrapped shooting this feature film that I directed and my father, M Sarki, wrote.  I remember because we started shooting on “Cinco de Mayo” and we wrapped in five days.  Crazy that we did this feature in five days.  It feels great to say that it is being released in just over a month by Vanguard Cinema.  If you click the site you will see it in the upcoming releases.  June 21st is the date.  We are so proud of this accomplishment.  It has a been a bumpy ride and a hustle but soon enough you will all have the opportunity to watch it if you like.  They have done some great new artwork for the DVD!  It really brings it to life.  We are also releasing it in color and b&w.  Most of the festivals had only seen it in b&w so this is new look at the film.  I will keep everyone posted as it gets closer.  “Like” us on Facebook HERE!

fight scene, UNDERBELLY

UNDERBELLY

This Pilot project in itself deserves its own long write-up.  And I will get it done.  Soon.  We are about three more “shoot days” from wrapping the shooting portion of the project.  It has been a hell of a ride.  Shoestring budget, amazing cast, great director and producing partner, all the favors for locations and props, the time donated, and I could go on forever.  I am going to save it for later though.  Our director is on another job for three weeks so we have to push finishing until mid-June.  I am going to leave you with our cast list so you can see for your self how awesome it is.  “Like” us on Facebook HERE please if you want to keep up with the project and learn more about what it is.  Hopefully you will see it on Showtime in the near future…

CAST: Andy Dick, Reid Scott, David Rogers, Lije Sarki, Phillip Jeanmarie, Greg Evigan, Jamie Harris, Vanessa Evigan, Sonia Rockwell, Lauren Ziemski, Stephanie Rae Anderson, Natalie James.  If I forgot someone I am sorry.

Underbelly has been a trip.  I am an executive producer on it as well as a producer, production manager, sound guy, camera operator, driver, actor, and whatever the hell else you can imagine.  I have learned a lot once again.  I will share a lot more once we finish.  We have a lot of work to do.  Still have to sync and edit this thing.  Ryan, I love you for that.  Lauren, I love you for all your help too and just being you.  It has been a ride that I will not forget.  It has engulfed four months of my life.  I was recently on the verge of explosion until Ryan got a gig he couldn’t pass up.  It’s a good thing.  It has allowed me to take a three-week hiatus from anything film/TV/production/creating related.  Granted I still audition and go sling some drinks at a bar but that is all mindless.  Effortless.  It is just fun.  Not that the other isn’t fun.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the shit out of it.  I will love it even more when that is all I have to do to pay the bills.

For now, I am on vacation.  Enjoying where I live, the fruits of my labor, baseball, hockey, the beach, hikes, skateboarding, my lady friend, other friends and just being present and put together.  I love you Life.

Cheers!  GO WINGS! and Happy Birthday Kerry!

Lije and NBF

I am going to leave you with another quote from my good friend Sarah, “Hi kids! I’m going to work out with Richard Simmons at 6:30 on Tuesday at Beverly Hills studio. If anyone wants tocome let me know! Class is $15 and eveyone needs to be there 45 min early so factor it in!”  

SPECIAL NOTE:  Think twice before you ever ask me to do some shit like that again!  I am experimental, of course, but Richard Simmons scares the shit out of me.  

pal Brandon (B), repping the beer for the ticket to the game, GO WINGS!

Steph Rae, pre-fight scene, UNDERBELLY

 

Mike, on a boat, Catalina

psychiatrist scene, UNDERBELLY

me, life, fun, Catalina, again

poolside, UNDERBELLY

My lady friend

DETROIT ROCKS! for CLOSING DOORS

Premiere at the Uptown 8

For those of you who read this Blog, sorry I have been short on recent posts!  It has been a hell of a week and a half.

Last week was full of shooting the Pilot, Underbelly.  I was doing a little acting and a lot of producing and very little sleeping.  It was worth it though!  We got to shoot so many great people and we have a hell of a cast.  You can go to our Facebook page and read more about it and become a fan!  Here are a couple stills…

Phil, Reid, Lauren, and Sonia

Reid Scott and Andy Dick

After shooting all week I hopped on a red-eye to Detroit to premiere my short film, Closing Doors, at the Detroit Independent Film Fest (DIFF).  It was my second year attending it and let me be the one to tell you that they kick ass!  In one year they have grown a huge audience and several new venues.  I was lucky to have a great screening time at the Birmingham Uptown 8, the nice rich part of Detroit.  Thanks to Robert Butler for that!  He is the director of the festival and a solid dude and excellent filmmaker.  Props to Aaron Karns too.

In thirty-six hours in the “D” I managed to do a ton of shit.  My best pal Justing picked me up from the airport at 9am and we headed back to his house to play with his daughter Olivia.  She is going on two years old and is much more fun than she was last time I visited.  She is so cute and so friggin’ happy.  She has a liking to me too.  She kept following me around the house and I’m not even very nice.

Later we headed into town and did some shopping.  I bought a bunch of “Made in Detroit” gear.  Kid Rock’s company.  I realized while I was trying on the clothes that some of them were Alternative Apparel.  My pal Greg Alterman owns that company so I supported heavily with some purchases.  I actually went to Greg’s fashion event Tuesday to celebrate the new line coming out but that’s another story.  Ran into a ton of old friends.  Just like at his birthday.  Whatever.  Getting sidetracked.

My pals Stone and Canoy at the film screening

We packed up the car with people and hit the screening of the film.  Movie started at 5pm.  The theatre was packed.  I had never seen anything like it at all the festivals I have attended.  It was awesome!  I had some college buddies come to the screening too.  We had the entire back row of the theatre.  The show was sold-out!  The experience could not have been better except for the fact I wanted to gouge my eyes out while watching the first of the four films.  We screened third.  Lot’s of laughs and a chick next to me was actually balling her eyes out at the end of the film.  It made me proud to get such a great reaction to the film.  There were a lot of great comments after the screening.  Good times all around.

We hit Dick O Dow’s after for some grub and pints.  The closing night party for DIFF was there too.  It started at 10PM so by the time we finished eating and drinking the festival peeps showed up and I got to do some more mingling with the “movie” types.  Kudos To Rob and Aaron for putting on such a great show.  And to everyone who helped them!

I was exhausted by Sunday and didn’t fly out until the evening so Justin and I headed up to Mario’s to watch the last of the college hoops games.  We always go to Mario’s.  It is like our little watering hole.  Shitty music, bad food, and boring people.  But nobody bothers us.  That’s how we like it.  Just us.  Sitting there.  Not talking really.  Didn’t need to.  Just hangin’.  Like buds do.  I needed it oh so bad.  Check out this review of Mario’s on yelp.  Hilarious!

“Dear Kat:

If you’re reading this, I’m sorry, but after this weekend, your dining out recommendation credentials have been revoked.  On Friday, we hit Station 885 and then on Saturday, we hit this place: East Side Mario’s. C’mon!  Are you trying to kill me?

Now, I am ready to accept responsibility and acknowledge the truth:  I brought this on myself.  I forgot to make reservations at Izakaya Sanpei and they couldn’t take our table of eight.  There, I said it.  IT’S MY FAULT I HAD TO EAT AT EAST SIDE MARIO’S EVERYONE.  Are you happy?

But the fact remains…you said this place was good…and well, I feel like you lied to me.  This place sucks and deep down inside, I think you know it sucks.   This place is everything I hate in a restaurant.  Let’s start with the “ambiance.”  This place is decorated like a ShowBiz Pizza minus the creepy singing animitrons.  It’s obscenely loud and full of children, some of whom were singing.   I wanted to jam a fork in my eye.

Now let’s move on to the menu.  Once again, I will take responsibility and say I have some weird ass dietary restrictions, but all I wanted was a vegetarian salad.  That’s all I need.  They have three salads at this place and all of them have meat and/or fish.  While they have lots of stuff on the menu, none of it even approaches healthy.  In the end, I got a Caesar  and called it a day.  In all honesty, I shouldn’t complain about the food because I didn’t really eat it and it doesn’t matter…because I wouldn’t come back to eat here if the food tasted like it was beamed down from heaven and was simultaneously calorie free.  Why?

THE SERVICE!  My salad (Caesar) had four ingredients.  The seven other people we were dining with all got their lavish dishes and had eaten half of it by the time I got my salad.

This place is cheap so it gets a star for that and I’ll give them another one for being able to immediately seat a table of eight and as an acknowledgment that I was cranky on the night in question.

Hugs,

Heather”

Me at Dick's

I realized taking that trip that I need to bust over there more often.  It’s an easy flight and a quick hang.  I am gonna start doing it every other month.  Tiger games and hangin with J.  Nothing better.

This week has not slowed down at all.  A little more shooting and some auditions.  I am prepping the secret screening of Closing Doors at Baby Blues BBQ on Monday the 21^st!.  Come down if you are in the neighborhood.  Here is a link to the party invite.  CLICK HERE

I am off to Tampa next week to take the film to the Gasparilla Film Fest (GIFF).  This I have been told it is going to be insanity.  I guess they host a hell of a party.  Justing is meeting me down there and we are going to a bunch of Detroit Tiger spring training games at the same time.  Hells yes!  Get excited people.  Life is good.  Enjoy it.  And say something for the peeps across the ocean.  That is so sad and even a positive thought might help.  Much love,

Lije

Uptown 8

the packed lobby!

Canada

BREAKING from the PACK of AVERAGE

Time to break away...

Yo yo yo yo!

I have been gone for almost three weeks.  I was on track to writing at least once or twice a week, but I tell you, life gets ahold of you sometimes.

I have been on a few adventures, that’s for sure.  Every single one of them deserves their own separate blog.

I went to the Red Wings vs Kings game this last weekend with my pal, Sonia Rockwell.  “Big Ups” to my man Will Wright for hooking-it-up with the tickets!

I spent my Turkey Day  in Maui!  I have a buddy by the name of Keith Zielinski who has a house out there.  he is a real Estate guru.  if you ever need a house there look him up.  Pacific Shore Realty.  He puts me up, cooks me dinner, and takes care of me like a five-star hotel.  My wife outside of America.  I like to think Maui counts as leaving the country.  It is far and definitely doesn’t feel like I am in the USA.  I got SCUBA certified there and swam with some more sharks!  I got a nice video to edit so that will go up this week or next, hopefully.

"Big Beach" in Maui

Me and Lenny Schmidt shot some more little web gems for Baby Blues BBQ.  Here is the latest.  I truly believe this one to be funny.  You can find them all at http://www.youtube.com/nutbucketfilms or the Facebook page.

Lately, I have been editing Closing Doors. Yup, that’s right, I edited the film.  I was not an editor before this.  I had very basic skills on Final Cut Pro.  But, like I said in the last post, I took a tutorial on AVID and BAM!  I was not an editor before but I am now.  Thankfully, I am a quick learner.  Minus a couple of hold-ups, actually a giant f%&*ng hold-up (the 30-day trial for AVID stopped working on day 14), I am almost done with the edit.  “Thank you” people at AVID for saving me.  I will save the story for the “trials and tribulations” section of making a movie when I write my biography or accept my Oscar.  The last piece is the Score.  I am so grateful to have Lol Tolhurst from The CURE composing it!  Now that is cool.

OK, so now what?  I am almost finished with Closing Doors.  We are going to do a festival run.  I hope.  I think it’s pretty dang good.  It should do well.  So, minus submissions and some marketing, that project is in a holding pattern.  We still need help financially help to finish the project so if you want a perk, feel good about helping out, and be a part of a dope-ass film then check this out right HERE.

I am working on a TV Pilot with writer/director Ryan Philander and my producing partner Lauren Ziemski called Underbelly.  We have some super talented and “working” actors attached.  I will announce the names when the time is right.  We are still casting a couple of the roles.  Patience people.  We start shooting after the new year begins.  Not only producing it, but I will also be playing the role of Eric, an out-of-work actor in rehab, struggling with life and a cheating ex-girlfriend who we find out is pregnant with one of his best friends.  That is just episode 1.  Can’t wait to put the acting hat on again for something substantial.

Now for the big announcement!!  The big punch!  The motha f%&*in snake on a plane!  I am going to direct the teaser (Episode 1) of a 10 episode web project me and my partners in Texas are creating.  Yup, I am working with the Fu Man Kru once again and Jeff Grettler is playing “point”.  It is a high intensity thriller/horror in the realm of  Traffic meets Lost in a little dirty Border Town.  It will represent a feature film in length and could play out as that, but instead will play in 10 separate episodes in the Internet.  That’s about as much info as I can give at this point.  We have a little handshake deal with a company that wishes to stay anonymous for the time being.

How did I get to here?  Today?  Now?

I have done some projects.  I directed a feature called Alphonso Bow.  I produced a couple features with my partners in Texas, For Whom He Tolls and Stabbin’ Kabin.  I just directed the short film, Closing Doors.  They are all solid projects.  I am especially proud of each and every one of them.  I am excited about the new one, Underbelly.  It has a lot of potential.

I am having a wonderful time creating and I love my job.  I wear a lot of hats.  I want to get rid of some hats.  I want to Direct and I want to get paid for it.  I have talent.  I need to get noticed.  I have decided I have a Mentor.  He doesn’t know it.  Maybe he does.  It doesn’t matter if he does or doesn’t.

I went to my mentor on Monday and said “Yo, ____ , what the hell do I have to do to get to do what you do?  This is what I have done…How do I make the leap?  How do I get to the next level?  What the F%k do I do next?”  He replied to me, “Do the ‘Narc‘ version of your movie.  Do something that will knock people’s socks off.  You either got to do something really funny or really action packed or really f%&*in’ relevant.”  That’s when it hit me.  Why produce just a script for the web series?  Why not shoot the opening episode?  Why not you, Lije Sarki, direct the opening episode and show what you got?  Why not knock the doors off it?  Why not blow people away?  Then we have a teaser to pitch with the project (the already great idea).

So there you have it.  The next big thing for me is this teaser. This BIG teaser.  Lots of work ahead.  Shooting in the Winter/Spring 2011.

Muchas Gracias Mentor.

Lije and a bucket of Nuts…

SUP’ing with the SHARKS…For REAL…mini-attack

 

out in Malibu...with the brother a couple of weeks back.

 

What a week!!!  I know it has been a few days since the last Nut Bucket attempt to entertain the mind but we have been quite busy on this side of the planet.  Last week we wrapped up the shoot of Closing Doors.  I can say now that I think we have a pretty good little film.  I spent the latter portion of last week watching all the footage and making notes in an attempt to help our editor out as much as possible.  For now it is out of my hands and in hers.  Thank you Stacey.  Looking towards a “first cut” in the next week or two.  We are searching for music for the opening sequence and closing song.  If any of you artists know anyone that would like to submit their ideas, send them my way.  The opening will be a heavy punk/rock tune while the character drives a ’66 Chevelle and the closing will be a heartfelt tune about becoming a man.  It would be really cool if the name of the song was “Closing Doors“.  HA!  Or, that might be a bit cheese-like.

SO, after the week of post, was a busy Friday with my actor friend, Sonia.  We shot a scene from There’s Something About Mary” for a class that we partake in.  It was actually quite funny.  The whole “I work with retards” bit.  Class was good.  That movie is a classic.  There are lots of pretty people in that John Rosenfeld Acting Studio.  Cheers Johnny.

Saturday morning I had plans to go SUP’ing (Stand-Up-Paddleboarding).  I got my normal six hours of sleep Friday night and was pretty fired up about getting out on the water.  It was a beautiful day Saturday.  Amazing actually.  About 80 degrees and all sunshine.  The water was glassy and no wind.  Some decent waves.  I was all prepped too.  I went and picked up a new SUP board from my friends over at Santa Monica Ski & Sport.  Denny and Mark hooked it up.  I had been riding this big ole’ floaty ten-footer but Mark loaned me his nine-footer.  I needed more maneuverability.  More surfability.  So anyways, Mark hooked me up after I went a got a new  board rack for my car.  I need to shout out to Rack Solid and Kyle for that.  They are good people over there in Santa Monica/Venice right up on Lincoln.  I will use this thing all winter for the trips to Mammoth.  Kyle was straight up.  No bullshitting.

Back to the SUP.  My little Facebook crush showed up at about 10AM to head out into the water.  I hung out with her once before this so the virtual thing is no more.  Fantasy over.  Reality.  I guess the real reason I picked up the extra paddleboard was for her but I would like to think that it was because I wanted to ride a smaller one.  Yup.  That’s what I will say.  I am good and convincing myself.  Nice talk Lije.  Good stuff.

We walked right out across my street to Venice Beach.  We went right out  in between the Washington pier and the big lifeguard station at Venice Blvd.  That’s where I always go to surf and paddleboard.  A quick lesson in getting on the water and past the break and we were off and running.  I mean paddling.  The waves weren’t too big so it was pretty easy to get out there.  SHE was one the ten-footer so balancing wasn’t too tough.  It was her first time though so it took a second to get used to but she is pretty athletic and surfs so it wasn’t too bad.

Let me remind you that last time I was out here I was paddling around with dolphins.  It was the record-setting day in L.A. with 112 degree heat on Sept. 25th, I believe.  I need a waterproof camera.  For the dolphins I missed and the ^&%# I am about the tell you about.

This day would be a different one to remember.  It was about ten minutes into the ride and I was a bit ahead of the girl.  Maybe twenty feet.  I saw what I thought was a little fish jump or move or something just ahead of me.  I didn’t say anything and paddled toward it to see what it was.  I got a little closer and I saw the bigger figure.  My first thought was, “Awwww sweet…another dolphin…I am so lucky…twice in a row.”  WELL, I got even closer and the thing didn’t look like a dolphin anymore.  It was grey and big.  Anywhere from 8 to 20 feet long.  I can’t quite recall because of the “shock” factor.  I saw the gills next.  They were like sideways shutters.  Then the fin.  Straight Mutha F^&%kin’ triangles.  There were no dolphin-like curves on this thing’s fins.  So, while time stood still, I contemplated what to do.  I have now identified this beast as a SHARK.  In fact, it was  GREAT WHITE SHARK.  This photo is very similar to what I saw.

 

well, hello mr. shark...

 

Did I panic?  No.  Let me remind you that we were pretty far out in the water.  We were at least to the end of the pier, but in the middle of the pier and Lifeguard Station.  In the middle of the ocean.  Panicking would have done nothing.  I calmingly said, “Hey girl, don’t freak out, but there is a big-ass SHARK here right in front of me, looking at me, wanting to eat me, and you should start paddling towards shore as fast as you can.”  She did not respond.  I think she was shocked as well.  I know she was actually because I turned around for a split second to see her holding her paddle and balancing will a scared face and tears forming in her eyes.

It was time to be a man.  While the SHARK stared at me I stared back.  He moved to the side, and then I moved to the side.  We were in a stand-off.  He turned to his side to show me his size, trying to frighten me, but I would have no fear.  I decided I must make a move.  I grabbed my paddle and thrust it into the water.  Paddle first.  A stabbing motion.  The SHARK was about ten feet away from me so I couldn’t quite reach him.  I didn’t really want to harm him anyway.  I just wanted him to know who was boss.  Let me remind you I was on the nine-foot SUP and balancing was a bitch.  I almost fell off, especially combining riding skills and  a battling stance at the same time.  After my jab at the beast, he did a little waddle and said good-bye.  He was on to bigger or smaller and better things.

 

another view

 

What easily could have gotten ugly turned into one of the greatest moments of my life.  Sharks and snakes are two of my biggest fears.  Since starting this blog, I have gone head to head with both.  Kind of symbolic don’t you think?  I am learning new things about myself everyday.  I love it.  I love my life.  I hope you all love yours.  If you don’t, do something else.  Here is an old post to reflect.

Believe it or not, SHE recovered from the encounter rather quickly and we continued to paddle around.  We went all  the way to the Marina and back.  Four miles.  I have an injury.  Not from the SHARK.  But from riding waves.  That nine-foot SUP is amazing.  I fell in love.  I don’t want to take it back.  After I write this I must call Mark and tell him he can’t have his board back.

After boarding we went to the house and watched Michigan State beat up on Michigan.  Then yesterday the Detroit Lions conquered.  What a weekend!!

What’s in store for this week?  That interview you all have been waiting for will be this week.  With D’Rod, the acclaimed director.

This is my story of becoming a man.  I will leave you with a little video to show you what really goes on under the water out here.  Crazy.  I might actually paddleboard today.

Lije