If you look closely that’s ice in my beard. It was well bellow freezing. I was woefully under dressed. And feeling stupid since I have a closet full of very expensive, rarely used top fo the line outerwear. I’ve been here 10 years but southern California still surprises me.

Anyways, here’s a couple more from the same day. And I’m sure I’ll post more later. The video is almost done.

Danielle and I just returned last night from two days of shooting a music video in the mountains about an hour north of here. She produced and I directed. We had top of the line equipment and a small but exceptional crew. Actually the most competent and professional crew I’ve ever had.

It was so cold up there. Both mornings myself, the DP and the 1st AC left at 6 AM to shoot as the sun rose. The first morning we drove all the way to the top of the mountain, an elevation of almost 9000 feet. It was so cold. Brutal cold.

I’ve always been superstitious about synchronicity and dates. It seems to mean something that the shoot coincided with my 10 year anniversary here. I don’t think I’m making something from nothing over it either.

I guess I’ve been dreading the date because I feel like I should have achieved more by now. I do know that 10 years ago I could not have directed the video I just did. I could not have led such a professional cast and crew. And nobody in their right mind would have come to me with money and asked me to even try.

But somehow that doesn’t comfort me. I was going through the footage from the shoot and came across this clip and felt like it summed up my feelings about being here 10 years. About the experience of those 10 years.

I’ve been shooting a lot this month. I shot THIS video and it was online a week later and got over 90,000 hits in the first 3 days. I thought that was pretty cool for what its worth. Here’s some photos from the last month.

- Staley Out

Here’s the new DP reel.

The music is from my good friend at the Dead Beat Project, which I highly recommend if you are looking for awesome original scoring for any projects.

I’m very proud of this new reel but remain humbled by how much there still is to learn. Hope you like it.

And then from June 17th to the 21st is Visionfest in NYC. Sweet. NYC. But heres the cool part. We are kinda the opening act for another film, Like Dandelion Dust. Heres the official Press info:

In keeping with its nine year tradition of unveiling its bearer of style, elegance, and impeccable storytelling in its Official Closing Night Selection, this year’s VISIONFEST shines a spotlight on the visually poetic page-to-screen adaptation of Karen Kingsbury’s best selling novel, Like Dandelion Dust, directed by Jon Gunn, and produced by Bobby Downes, Kevin Downes, and Kerry David. Sweeping countless awards and accolades at festivals nationwide, Like Dandelion Dust, tells a very intimate story exploring “the different meanings of being a parent through the grittily realistic lives of a struggling, blue-collar family, and a privileged family, as their lives intersect, intertwine, and ultimately collide, all for the love of a little boy.” With compelling, powerful performances by Academy Award™ winner, Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper, Kate Levering, Cole Hauser, and Maxwell Perry Cotton, this emotionally charged tale makes its New York premiere at VF09, and very appropriately, on Father’s Day. The heart-warming short subject, boy I man, by Danielle Jacobs, will precede the feature presentation.

I think we’re in some VERY good company. I’m humbled and I’m super excited about this.

And we’re plugging away. Big plans. Big dreams. Big projects in the works.

- Staley out

We didnt make the awards show because we were shooting more movies. But we found out two days later that they had given our little flick a top award. It feels good to see all of Dani’s extremely hard work be recognized by the IFFF. Thank you IFFF! And thank you Krista for coming to the screening with us!