The economy sucks

I got laid off today. One of 9 people who got laid off (in a 30-employee company). Everyone else got a pay cut. Did it matter I was there for 8 years? Well, apparently it did, since 2 others who were there nearly as long were also laid off. Who stayed? The ones with the least time there - probably the lowest paid in each department. Know what pisses me off the most? I had 187 hours of vacation. I never took it. And I didn't get anything for it. That's over 4 weeks of time off I should have taken - and didn't because we were, by management, fought taking any scheduled time off, and was trying to look like a good employee and not take any time off. I'm the fool on that one. Apparently, performance had nothing to do with it. Which - and the bitterness leaks out - what I did for the company and no one else could do or had no idea about, hopefully now they'll stammer and fumble and fail. An empty hope, I know, but wutev.

I got laid off. Right now, all I care about is keeping the kids oblivious (other than the "why are you home so early?" and subsequent "why aren't you going to work?") and keeping the income coming in before I have to tell them why all their channels aren't working.

Happy Birthday, Scott

I miss ya.

My so-called criminal past - part 2

So, I finally found (I think) a way to get "The Bet" torrent removed from at least one torrent site. I sent them an email following their instructions, and it should be removed in a couple of days. We'll see.

I also asked (though I'm sure I will get no response) if they had any information about how the incorrect and slanderous biography became attached to the film.

Part of me isn't all that concerned that it's being downloaded illegally - it's getting seen - but it is wrong and I need to fight, I guess. I would have less of an issue if any of the 100+ downloaders, including the two that posted positive comments about the film (if they're real), would take the time to actually purchase the DVD with extras legally. But, then, that's just the way I would do it. It's not like I ever got paid for making the film. I paid to make the film. And recouping the $5000 or so put into making it would go a long way to alleviating the frustration.

I have an interesting past

I got spam on my Vimeo account which, oddly enough, led to a torrent of "The Bet." I know nothing about torrents. Except that it pisses me off people can download the film without paying - and paying me. Anyone who knows how to get torrents deleted, please let me know.

Anyway, what was particularly interesting is the Director's Biography they have for me:

Con-turned-filmmaker Michael Dunn (*22 November 1970, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA) directed The Bet. Convicted of several rape crimes in 1995, and sentenced to 5 years in prison, Dunn continued his work as screenwriter. Texas prison proved to be harsh, but he survived. There, he wrote a biography about himself, in it, explaining some of the issues he has with women. At Sundance, Hollywood Producer Mischa Barton, stated in 2008: "He's not a bad filmmaker, but as a woman, and knowing about his past, I would always stay at least half a mile away from this guy...." Dunn is currently working on another short film, again, about violence against women.

I may use this as my bio from now on.

I have no idea where they got that info - it's clearly not true - and it's not like they just stuck some random info in there (unless they have a template that replaces specific info). It's my birthday and hometown the have listed. Just. Weird.

Very odd

We have "The Bet" for sell at Amazon, has been available there for quite awhile. That isn't the odd part. What's odd is that it shows there are 4 in stock, and in the breakdown of what's available it shows: 2 new, 2 used. At first I thought it was strange that the used copies are selling for over double the cost of the new copies, over $32. Then I realized that they should have in stock 4 new copies. Any used ones should be in addition to those 4. The reason this bothers me is that, technically, if it's being listed as used, it must have been sold, and if it's been sold, I should have been paid for it. However, the seller, "any_book," which has nearly half a million counts on its feedback, is somehow selling (at over twice the retail price) a used copy of a DVD they don't even seem to technically own. Something's fishy here. It's almost as if Amazon is using this "any_book" name to get more money from customers (not that 55% of my sale is enough).

Hybrid Moments

My wonderful friend Rachel Bellinsky (who wrote the song "Hallway" for "The Bet" and liked to disturb me by eating crackers like a hamster when we worked together) has another awesome video. Her previous video for "Salt of the Sea" was directed by Thomas Barndt. This one was directed by Lexington Wolfcraft. Hopefully, soon, I'll join these amazing guys as a director for her videos (soon, I swear).

You can buy the CD, The Secret Life of Spiders - which kicks ass - HERE.

My good friend and creative giant, Lexington Wolfcraft, has created this video for Switchyard's version of "Hybrid Moments." I think you will find that I have never looked better.

Fuck

I was so happy that no film had been made (at least according to IMDb) with the title Detox. Until now. Sure, it's a totally different story. Yes, it only cost $10,000 to make. Okay, everyone involved has really only been involved in this one film. But still. Really?!

Fuck.