Craig Amabello says: having a good attitude in life is very important.... Especially if you chose show biz for your profession.... When your job as a REAL person... Is to make FAKE reality seem real.... It can all get pretty damn surreal, bizarre and twisted up inside your head... So having a sense of humor about it all is so VERY important!
Unfortunately my attitude confuses people a lot.... I am very sarcastic and dark... But I am also very friendly and helpful and I love to make fun of everything.... And I try my best to laugh and have a good time no matter where I am, what I am doing, or who I am with.
Unfortunately many times, people confuse my easy going attitude with weakness.... and my clowning around makes people think I'm a bloody moron... So it just sucks when people try to take advantage of my good natured & easy going ways.
Which leads me to my Topic of this blog..... ATTITUDES...... Hollywood can be a very closed, tight knit place where it is almost impossible to break into the business because only a handful of people truly do run the entire town. And many people develop serious attitudes in their attempt to mask or cover up their own insecurities & weaknesses so they can act all big & important.... It can be most painful & heartbreaking just trying to make it through another day in Hollywood & if you can't find a way to laugh at all this insanity.... You can go CRAZY!
I left Hollywood after 12 long years of struggling & frustration dealing with so many BAD attitudes and all I was doing was just trying to better my life & get to a higher position & work on bigger & better paying productions.... But for the life of me, I just couldn't find the right door to open, or the right window to climb in to better my position in the hard, cold world of Hollywood.
All my struggles where in vain... I never did better myself.... My attempt to climb that elusive ladder of success, was a complete failure!.... I finally gave in & had to admit.... That I was a loser & that Hollywood had Kicked me like a raw dog & beaten me to the bone & slammed me into the ground like a chewed up rag doll!
But I can still laugh & smile when I look back fondly of my days in LA.
I learned a lot working on many low paying jobs doing camera work and editing. The things I learned could never be taught in a class room, because once you get into the REAL WORLD of Hollywood production... you find that many supposed rules, just fly out the window. The directors drunk & in a bad mood, The actors been doing coke for days & can't remember their lines, the DP was dating the actress & now hates her & wants to make her look horrible, the production manager has only booked talent that he thinks he can have sex with & they have no talent at all, the producer is making last minute changes with actresses because he had sex with a girl the night before & promised her a role in the movie & she can't act at her way out of a paper bag, the owner of the shooting location turns out to be a crystal meth addict & still wants to conduct drug deals while we are trying to work...... & on & on...... but you learn that you still have to get through the day somehow & COMPLETE the project.
Now I know this may all sound far fetched & weird to you people, & probably doesn't occur on a George Lucas picture... But in the Hollywood world that I worked in... "The Low budget world".... this kind of stuff occurred all the time! And believe me, it was fascinating at times to work around all these obstacles & still get the days work done.... but it just put a lot of undue pressure on me to work under these conditions.
That's why I so desperately wanted to find better paying gigs with bigger & more professional production companies, but I just had know idea how to go about meeting the right people. I was making $300 a day as my rate as a cameraman & I worked approx. 3 days a week shooting & I also did editing 2 to 3 days a week on top of that for various different rates.... Many projects I shot, I also ended up editing... And believe me, when the cast & crew are all in a bad mood for the entire shoot & the script goes out the window & the shooting is horrible & I end up having a producer breathing down my neck to complete a project because the release date is 5 days away.... THE PRESSURE JUST BECOMES ENORMOUS!
But I developed a thick skin & learned to laugh at everything & tried not to let it get to me... otherwise you would go insane! I know I have a weird attitude & very sarcastic out look on everything... but no matter who I worked for, or what I was being paid, wether they were big movie stars, (yes, once in awhile I actually did work with big movie stars), or just brand new unknown actors, I prided myself on my ability to be helpful, happy, and professional in the sense that I always tried to do the best that I could under whatever circumstances we were shooting under.
I found that it was very important to have a sense of humor when you find yourself working 12 to 14 hour days... day in & day out under such pressure to complete projects on time & on budget. But many of the people that I worked with, were just miserable. They would start the day at 7 am complaining and bitching about how they hated everything and it never made sense to me why these people where even in show biz in the first place if they hated it so much. So I always chose to be the nice guy... The helpful guy... If a light needed to be placed I would place it, if a chair needed to be moved I'd move it... If the talent needed water, I would go & get it for them... There was nothing I wouldn't do to try & make the day just a little bit nicer, a little bit happier, so that we could all accomplish the job at hand.... Which was getting the movie shot!
Now I have only worked on a handful of productions out here on the east coast since I have been back from LA & the one thing that I have found is that all anyone seems to do out here is TALK ABOUT HOLLYWOOD.... Everyone seems so HELL BENT on BEING like Hollywood.... Acting like they think Hollywood is.... Using fancy terms.... Big titles.... almost putting more importance on talking about a shot with the proper vernacular & Buzz words that would make them seem like Hollywood big shots, than to actually just do the shot without all the damn Jingo & jargon that would befit a Hollywood production!
On one shoot I worked on as a grip making $4.16 cents an hour (yes, I actually figured out how much I was being paid by the hour) I was actually fired after the DP asked me several times to get him some C-64's... This was in front of 6 or 8 crew members (I never could figure out why the hell there was so many crew on this shoot, we were shooting in a small cramped basement room... & none of them seemed to be doing anything.... That's another pet peeve of mine, directors having huge crews just to satisfy & stroke their damn ego's).... Anyways, I scratched my head & felt like a fool in front of all these people looking at me, but I had no idea what the hell a C-64 was..... Finally after almost 2 minutes, the DP looked at me & said, "The Clothes Pin, I need a couple clothes pins!"
Now why couldn't he have just said that in the first place once he realized that I didn't know what a C-64 was.... BUT NO..... This guy just wanted it all to sink in & deliberately wanted to belittle me in front of a room full of useless people..... He actually enjoyed waiting for me to ask him, "I don't know what you want?"... Should I have known a clothes pin is called a C-64?... Sure I should have, but jesus, couldn't he have cut me some slack?
Previous to this, he had spent the whole day barley even acknowledging me as I spent the day bending over backwards, keeping my mouth shut, running extension cords all over the place, getting lights, stands, gels & scrims & doing the best I could to help the production along. It wasn't as if I was drunk, screwing around, talking, being disruptive & just hanging out all day doing nothing... I actually worked hard lugging some heavy equipment around & being right by his side to get him whatever he needed & he never once even said hello to me, or even thanked me when I ran around getting stuff like a good little gofer grip.
I mean, this guy came in with an attitude that was high & mighty right from the start of the day because he was the Director of Photography & I could sense that I was just a lowly grip (not to mention that I was probably twice his age, which made me feel like even more of a loser than I already felt)... & I just went about the day doing what I was told to do with no complaints whatsoever..... And then at the end of the day when he fired me, he seemed to really enjoy it!
On another shoot I worked on as a cameraman, this young kid, an Emerson graduate, was all talk about Hollywood this & Hollywood that... He talked loud & made damn sure that the 8 people waiting around could hear him and understood that HE was the Director of Photography.... This guy just reeked of ATTITUDE... & It just seemed crazy to me to be so hung up on titles & to cop an attitude in front of all these people..... It was just embarrassing.... But I shut my mouth because I had worked with the director before & I liked him & didn't want to cause problems on the shoot.
So like an idiot, the director & I did all of the lugging of equipment up 3 flights of stairs, while this DP & his assistant went & got pizza! I bent over backwards to be friendly & polite & asked him what I could do to help & he just treated me like I was some homeless bum off the street looking for a bottle of booze.
The final straw was when he asked me to go downstairs to grab another sandbag & when I did, he couldn't believe I just dropped it on the floor 5 feet away from him... he actually expected me to bring it right to him & put it exactly where he was going to tell me to! I fumed, but kept my composure for the good of the shoot & just quietly walked way & waited for him to be ready.
After this DP spent over 3 hours setting up 2 lights & a jib, keeping 8 people waiting... he turned to the assembled cast & said, "Welcome to Hollywood!"
The point of all this is: That I came back east because I was fed up with the Hollywood attitudes & now all I seem to be surrounded by is people with A HOLLYWOOD ATTITUDE..... And we aint even in Hollywood!
Its nice to know the right terminology & the proper things you need to do to complete a production.... But so far, out here..... I just seem to run into people were its ALL ABOUT the Show biz Jargon... The Hollywood Glitz.... It's more important to look & sound & act the Hollywood part.... Than it is to just COMPLETE THE PRODUCTION!
So the lesson to be learned out here kids is this: ...... What's more important to you? To do a good job, be creative, make some money & be proud of your work......
Or to look & act COOL like you think HOLLYWOOD big wigs would & to slow down the shoot with a bunch of garbage talk, debate, useless fancy terms, Titles, big Ego's & ATTITUDES?????......
I know there are some really cool & talented people out here just waiting to shine..... And I hope that these people that I have been dealing with are NOT THE NORM..... That they are FREAKS..... & do not represent the basic attitude of most film makers out here on the east coast.
Good luck people in your search for your dreams..... I hope you do well.... treat people with respect & decency.... & create the ART that YOU want to make!
I would love it if you PEOPLE would make some comments on what I have written..... Tell me I'm wrong.... Give me your opinion..... Let people know about YOUR experiences in film making out here on the east coast..... We all need to share each others experiences.... good and bad.... Maybe that way, it can help us all learn to make a better film community out here on the east coast that may someday rival Hollywood!
For I am: Craig Amabello, an X-Hollywood Reject!
PLEASE CHECK OUT SOME OF MY ROCK VIDEOS THAT I DIRECTED, SHOT AND EDITED OUT IN HOLLYWOOD AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.... I would love to hear what people think of my work... I need feed back to know if my work is any good or not:
just go to: http://www.hollywoodeasttv.com/profile/craigamabello
ALSO CHECK OUT MY WHACKY VLOGS ON YOUTUBE.... THEY MAKE ME LOOK LIKE A COMPLETE IDIOT... BUT MIGHT JUST MAKE "YOU" FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOUR OWN LIFE!
http://www.youtube.com/craigsrealtv
Please Comment.... Rate.... and subscribe to my channel..... I always love to hear peoples opinions... even if its negative... As long as its real... & sincerely meant..... I don't care what you say about me..... BUT JUST SAY SOMETHING!
Hello Beanywood.... Hello New England Film Makers..... How are your lives going?????
Mine is in the gutter..... This site doesn't even acknowledge my existence after 25 posts & over 14 thousand views....... But hell.... I'm just a nobody BUM that spent 12 year working & living & paying my BILLS in HOLLYWOOD... Ya know... The "REAL DEAL".... A guy that knows SOMETHING about Hollywood... But I'm just POND SCUM compared to the REAL players out here in NEW ENGLAND!
So here's what I've been up to..... I got my first gig EVER out here in New England after almost 4 YEARS OF BEGGING PEOPLE FOR ANY CRAPPY PRODUCTION JOB..... It was as an editor for an online gambling website located in Beverly Mass... The pay was $17.25 an hour.... Just enough for me to buy crack.... (NO Hookers), Just lousy Crack... Anyways I took the job.. Smiled... worked hard... kept my mouth Shut & listened to MORONS Bossing me around.... I did what I was told... & after less then 2 months.... After going through 2 BOSSES... (the first being a nazi, Gestapo Rude Arrogant Loser... Who called himself a DIRECTOR... & spent all day trying to figure out ways to boss me around & I took his CRAP Daily.... HE was finally FIRED..... & then my NEXT boss... ended up being the SON of the owner... A completely UNHINGED, DERANGED, DANGEROUS, PSYCHOPATH of a LOSER who's LIFE'S AMBITION was to be a COP!!!!!!..... Long story short.... This pathetic loser... Who for some screwed up reason had the audacity to claim to be MY boss... ended up CHASING me OFF the JOB by threats of TAZERING ME.... Assaulting ME... BEATING ME up... (Because I refused to TEACH HIM Final Cut Pro) & HE was going to HUNT ME DOWN & GET ME.... All because I refused to take HIS CRAP anymore...... I never got payed my last weeks pay.... (I have since gone to the Mass Attorneys General's Office & complained about my pay & how I was THREATENED & CHASED OFF THE JOB.... & have not been PAYED as of YET.... BU T THEY are still looking into it!!!!!)..... And FOLKS...... That was just my FIRST & ONLY JOB offer that I finally got out here in NEW ENGLAND!...... So ya gotta wonder Folks..... Who the hell else is working out here for MONEY????..... Anyways..... Lets fast forward to just the other day...... After sending out over 2,000... Yes Kids, that's right..... OVER TWO THOUSAND Emails to EVERYBODY.... Looking for ANY kind of WORK..... I RECEIVED a COUPLE RESPONSES!!!!!!!!..... Whoopee!!!!!!!.... YAhhhhhhhhh.....
Here's response ONE: It was for an ad making $50 dollars a day as a BOOM Operator.... Yes sir, FIFTY big ones a DAY!.... I Gladly responded not once.... but TWICE with my PHONE NUMBER & QUALIFICATIONS & RESUME WITH LINKS TO MY WORK...... For $50 Freakin Bucks a DAY!..... I received a email back with NO NAME.... NO NUMBER...... NO INFORMATION WHATS SO EVER......... Just the CRYPTIC Words...... WE might be all set for this Boom gig... BUT HANG TIGHT..... WE MIGHT BE CALLING YOU!.... Zooweee..... Wowee....... THEY "MIGHT" be callin ME???????...... I eventually received a CALL at 7:00 AM On a Sunday Morning &, believe it or not... I MISSED THE CALL!!!!!!...... When I called the number back... (there was no Message.... NO Name... NO NUMBER.... & NO reference whatsoever as to what the call was about) I reached a Women who stated that HER Brother was making a MOVIE & MAYBE he HAD called ME?????..... Believe it or not... I still left MY NAME & NUMBER & REASON for calling & have YET RECEIVED a CALL BACK!!!!!!
Here's an example of another Response from another GREAT NEW England Film Maker........
RESPONSE NUMBER 2: This guy had an AD Looking for a camera man to shoot in DOWNTOWN Boston Mass for 3 HOURS with a PROFESSIONAL CAMERA..... I SENT him all MY info & patiently waited for a reply.... After several hours & hear back from him & the gig paid $60. Dollars...... Thats Right FOLKS..... SIXTY DOLLARS!!!!!!
Whopppeeeeee..... Zoweeeeee......... I can't believe MY good Fortune!.... I quickly & Politely EMAILED HIM right back & stated: Make it, $100 dollars.... & you have a deal!....... NEEDLESS TO SAY....... I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THIS BIG TIME, NEW ENGLAND ENTREPRENEUR.........
& the FINAL KICKER OF THE DAY....... (This all occurred Yesterday folks, On Sunday May 11, 2008)... I emailed an AD FOR A BIG NEW ENGLAND CASTING COMPANY Looking for a CASTING DIRECTOR.... I told them, my background was primarily in Video Production, But that I was looking to EXPAND my horizons & felt that I could be quite good at working for a New England Casting Agency considering that I spent 12 years Working & Living in Hollywood California & that I have over 30 years in the Entertainment Business.......
I will now give you an EXAMPLE OF OUR EMAILS:
MY FIRST EMAIL RESPONSE TO THIS AD FOR WORK AT A NEW ENGLAND CASTING AGENCY:
On Sun, May 11, 2008 at 12:29 AM, Craig Amabello wrote: Hi, I noticed your post... I am qualified in video production & have over 30 years experience in Show business... I would like to speak with you about this position... Maybe I could be the right candidate for the job... I am looking to expand my horizons & would feel right at home dealing with many sorts of talented actors, etc.
I have enclosed my resume for you to look at. Thanx's Craig Amabello Located in: Southern New Hampshire. Contact me @: Laconnection101@aol.com
And of course my resume shows my MANY YEARS EXPERIENCE IN VIDEO PRODUCTION....
I then receive THIS BACK AS A REPLY FROM THIS BUSINESS PERSON...
On May 11, 2008, at 1:58 PM, XXXXXXX wrote:
Hi,
What can you offer Our Casting Company?
SO I THEN.... CALMLY... PROFESSIONALLY..... ANSWER HIM BACK WITH THIS, SINCERE RESPONSE!
On Sun, May 11, 2008 at 2:23 PM, Craig Amabello wrote:
A) I'M HONEST...... B) I'M HARD WORKING...... C) I'M INTELLIGENT....... D) I AM GOOD WITH PEOPLE...... E) I'M CREATIVE...... I write, make music, do photography & do Video.... F) I CAN SHOOT VIDEOS OF YOUR TALENT FOR AUDITIONS G) I CAN SHOOT STILLS OF ALL YOUR TALENT FOR HEAD-SHOTS, ETC. H) I CAN GIVE DIRECTION.... OR I CAN TAKE DIRECTION... I'm a team player.
And I have a good, basic, common sense about ALL the basics of Show business.... With over 35 years involvement.
Do you have any other questions that I could answer for you? Please feel free to ask me anything. Thanx's Craig Amabello
and this piece of crap MORON scum-bag HAS THE AUDACITY TO EMAIL ME BACK & SAY!
On May 11, 2008, at 2:26 PM, XXXXXXX wrote:
Thats wonderful Craig...but really didn't answer my question. WHAT CAN YOU OFFER MY COMPANY?
So I email this absolutely, Arrogant, Delusional, Hollywood WANNABE .... THIS RESPONSE:
May 11, 2008 5:31:33 PM EDT To: XXXXXXXX
From Craig Amabello:
MONEY?... BAGS OF GOLD?.... The best WHORES IN THE LAND?... DRUGS?????...... An Invitation to the White House????
DUDE.... I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU MEAN BY THAT QUESTION???
IT'S A VERY NEBULOUS QUESTION.... VERY VAGUE..... VERY ESOTERICAL????
PLEASE.... I'M JUST A DUMB COUNTRY BOY WITH NO COLLEGE EDUCATION....
I LIKE THINGS SIMPLE & SWEET & SPELLED OUT FOR ME!!!!!!
I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU WANT ME TO SAY??????
I AM NOT GOOD AT PLAYING GAMES....... I'M A SIMPLE GUY......
REALLY DUDE..... DON'T YOU THINK YOUR GETTING A LITTLE STRANGE WHEN I DO THE BEST I CAN TO ANSWER SUCH AN OPEN ENDED QUESTION SUCH AS YOU GAVE ME & THEN YOU EMAIL BACK & SAY I DIDN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION????
CHRIST........ TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT??????????
This ALL pretty much explains MY HATRED TO THE NEW ENGLAND FILM COMMUNITY...... ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH OVER THE PAST 4 YEARS ALL ARE SO DESPERATELY ATTEMPTING TO " MIMIC" WHAT THEY THINK HOLLYWOOD TYPE PEOPLE WOULD ACT LIKE...........
PEOPLE.... THIS IS SO EVER WRONG!!!!.... Will will you people ever learn??????
Hollywood is made up of MOSTLY money GRUBBING sharks that would RAPE your lil sister or your mother for the next BIG DEAL!!!!
So many of YOU "NEW ENGLAND" FILM PEOPLE are so DESPERATELY TRYING TO MIMIC & FOLLOW THIS TYPE OF ATTITUDE & BEHAVIOR that it is DESPICABLE!.... DISGUSTING!!!!!!..... DEPLORABLE!!!!!...
PLEASE PEOPLE....... PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO MIMIC!!!!!!!
TO BE JUST ANOTHER HOLLYWOOD SCUM-BAG DOES NOT MAKE YOU CLEVER..... BETTER.... NOR, PROFESSIONAL.....
WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS HERE FOLKS..... WHY CAN'T WE HAVE THE SIMPLE COMMON COURTESY TO TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT??????
TRUST ME PEOPLE.... I AM ONE OF THE "ONLY PEOPLE" ON THIS DAMN SITE THAT HAS SPENT 12 LONG YEARS WORKING & LIVING IN HOLLYWOOD....... I HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THE PLACE.... I HAVE SOMETHING VALID TO SAY!!!!......
PLEASE PEOPLE.... I BEG OF YOU.... STOP TRYING TO MIMIC THE "WORST OF HOLLYWOOD!".....
Try to act like decent, civil, human beings with a little respect for other humans........ Life can still be good this way...... PLEASE PEOPLE...... UNTIL YOU HAVE SPENT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT I HAVE SPENT DEALING WITH HOLLYWOOD ASSHOLES........ YOU WILL SOON REALIZE WHAT A SIN IT IS.... FOR "ALL OF US" TRYING TO DEAL WITH "PRETEND" WANNA-BE HOLLYWOOD ASSHOLES!!!!!!!!!!!
DOES ANYBODY OUT THERE HEAR WHAT I AM SAYING??????
DOES ANYTHING I SAY MAKE SENSE TO ANYBODY OUT THERE??????
I AM SO LOST & FRUSTRATED OUT HERE IN NEW ENGLAND..... KNOWING THAT ALL I DEAL WITH OUT HERE ARE LOUD MOUTH WANNA-BE HOLLYWOOD SCUM........
IT HURTS US ALL..... NOT JUST AS A BUSINESS.... BUT AS A PEOPLE AS A WHOLE!
PLEASE..... I BEG ALL OF YOU TO HEED MY WORDS.... THIS IS WHY AFTER 12 YEARS OF LIVING & WORKING IN HOLLYWOOD THAT I LEFT!
I COULDN'T STAND THE FAKE... PHONEY.... BULLSHIT... RUDE... ARROGANT BASTARDS ANYMORE!!......
& NOW I COME BACK HOME TO NEW ENGLAND & FIND EVERYBODY & THEIR BROTHER TRYING TO MIMIC THIS VERY SAME BEHAVIOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE PEOPLE....... WHAT I AM SAYING IS TRUE!.... I CAN NOT BE THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS BEHAVIOR OUT HERE!!!!!
GROW UP....... BE HUMAN.... STOP BEING RUDE, DELUSIONAL ASSHOLES!!!!!!!!
From your very SAD, DEPRESSED X- HOLLYWOOD REJECT...... Craig Amabello.....
I will always tell it like it is...... Please people.... HEED MY WARNINGS!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know what it takes to get recognized, respected & noticed on this website by the people in charge?
I can't get an email back from them about how to become a "Selected blog".
Or, How to become Acknowledged as a legitimate blogger on this site?
I am like a Ghost in the Machine... A phantom dream... I can't get no damn RESPECT!
They won't put me as a Selected blog.... Or put me on the front page of Past blogs... Or even acknowledge my existence by returning my emails... But they do it for so many others....
But........... NOT FOR ME!.... WHY?
Did I do something wrong???
Did I kick their little doggy??
Did I strangle their Pet Kitty??
This is starting to remind me of my Good ole days in Hollywood when nice Show Biz Celebrities like: Gene Simmons, Lemmy Kilmeister, Jane Seymour, Kirstey Alley, all Hated me & yet I don't recall ever doing anything to them to get such a Violent reaction.
But yet, Sean Lennon enjoyed my company... Angela Bowie thought I was a darling... Ronnie James Dio Protected me... Burt Reynolds told me I did a really great job & my Only True Hollywood Friend "Bruce Campbell" Loved me!... What did these people see in me that so many others couldn't???
Am I to be forever Misunderstood & maligned?
From Coast to coast to Sea to Shining sea...
From Hollywood to Beanywood...
Peons to Stars vacillate between their love & hatred of my personality...
CAN I EVER GET A DAMN BREAK?
I have gotten off the track again...... Back to my point:
I have written 20 blogs here which have included various info on:
Productions in the New England area... With such varied content as: Real Television commercials... Presidential candidate web promos... Motor-cross X game stunt show coverage... Documentary shooting for ER Doctors... Rock & Roll live concert events... Quasi-Religious Short films... I've spoken on such Hot topics as: Show Biz deals, heartbreaks & Busted dreams from the very Beast Herself... "Hollywood".....
But still it seems I do not seem to RATE HERE... Why?
If a guy that spent 12 long years slugging it out in the trenches of Hollywood California...The very CessPit that is Show biz Hell itself... can't get acknowledgment here.... Then what does it take?
I have attempted to broach such topics as Human kindness... Hard work... Creativity... Dedication... Respect for others... Being a Team player... The ethics of doing REAL PAYING gigs....
BUT STILL..... NOTHING... NADA-- ZIP.......
What does a guy gotta do to get recognition here by the POWERS THAT BE?
Am I like some Bastard Step child?... The Black sheep of the family?... The drunken Uncle that says dirty, awkward & embarrassing things at the dinner table in front of mixed company?
I am ever so Confused... Is this Professional Jealousy?... Pettiness? Or just plain Childishness???
What can a poor boy do, But sing for a Rock & Roll band?
Anybody have any clues out there for me?
Anybody wanna give me any pointers on the Human Condition that I don't seem to have a clue about?
Am I just so far gone from banging my head against the brick wall of life that I have lost all of my sense?
I attempt to truly be Enlightening... Humorous... Insightful... Educational... About Hollywood... Life... New England Productions & REAL show Biz Examples....
Is this not what this site is supposed to be about????
I just don't know anymore......
IS IT ME?
So I propose this:
If any of you fine folks of Boston want to see me gone....
To VOTE ME OFF OF THIS BEANYWOOD SITE...
Then please POST YOUR VOTES!
I am SERIOUS!
IF THERE ARE 10 VOTES POSTED THAT WANT ME TO DISAPPEAR....
THEN I WILL GLADLY GO...
I don't want to be were I am not Invited.... Wanted... Or appreciated....
PLEASE.... POST YOUR VOTES...
SHOULD CRAIG AMABELLO STAY BLOGGING ON THIS SITE?
OR DO YOU WANT ME TO GO?
The choice is now left to THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON.
We live in a Democracy.... (Albeit, a very crooked, Corrupt & at times, Insanely Inept bureaucracy, that borders at times on being a Fascist, Dictatorial, Totalitarian Nazi Regime).... So lets see if THE PEOPLE WILL TRULEY SPEAK UP....
CAST YOUR VOTES TODAY... DO NOT DELAY.... TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE....
If 10 of you want me to go... I will go, with my tail between my legs, running back to the Hills, (The Hollywood hills that is)... A place were I seem to fit in much better than here in New England... The place of my Childhood.
IT IS ALL IN YOUR HANDS NOW FINE FOLKS OF NEW ENGLAND.
Oh ya..... Thanks to the few people that have answered my ads... Said nice things about me... & seemed to understand my Eclectic style.... I truly do appreciate your understanding & good will.
And if any of you actors & Actresses out there want to contact me about comedy Sketches I am in pre-production on for really insane, cutting edge & funny Web shows... Please contact me: laconnection101@aol.com.
I am also looking to hitch up with a few cool, dark humored writers to help me put my ideas to scripts for full length feature films & Shorts, please let me know.
Keep believing in yourselves... Don't kick a dog when he's down... & have fun creating cool, entertaining, & Profitable stuff for the Bewildered Masses....
I know I sure am.
Signed, Your truly Demented Reporter & X-Hollywood Reject, Craig Amabello
Hello Everyone, this is your X-Hollywood reject & truly Demented reporter, Craig Amabello, reporting in from the front lines of New England productions.
DISCLAIMER: Once again, I truly do not mean ALL of you people out here in New England are bad, I know THERE MUST be many fine, talented, creative, hardworking individuals out here.... I just keep running into the truly deranged, egomaniacs with such astounding arrogance that it would even put Gene Simmons from Kiss to shame!
Why, I ask myself am I always running into Braggarts, Simpletons, Fools, Losers, & such untalented Hacks that act like they just came off a feature film working for Martin Scorsese, & taught HIM all that he knows????
I am constantly being treated like absolute shit from people in the New England production community.
Are people like dogs? Am I giving off some kind of SCENT that people can pick up on & I am just totally unaware of?
I swear, every time I am booked for any kind of shoot to work in any capacity on, I am always the LOW MAN on the Totem Pole & yet, I smile, take it like a man, & still put out a good attitude.
I show them a willingness to work, to help others to do WHATEVER it may be to MOVE the production forward. I exude a form of HUMBLENESS that is not FAKE, it is quite real, & yet people INSTINCTIVELY SEEM TO PICK UP ON THIS & START KICKING ME LIKE A DAMN MANGY DOG THAT JUST PEED ON THEIR FAVORITE RUG!
WHAT GIVES?.... What the Hell am I doing wrong? It is truly very Frustrating.
As a child I used to Argue Vehemently with a dear friend of mine (who eventually Blew his Brains out all over the carpet), that "KINDNESS IS A STRENGTH.... A very Powerful form of Strength & Confidence, Caring & Humanity to your fellow earth Beings". He would always say that I was a fool & that I was wrong & that "Kindness was a weakness & will always be perceived as such, by anybody on this planet!".... I am exasperated to think that after all these years, after all my efforts to Exude an Honest, sincere, form of Kindness to Human beings that Danny was right!
PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET SEEM TO ONLY UNDERSTAND STRENGTH.... ARROGANCE... VILE CREATURES THAT BULLY PEOPLE WITH THEIR RUDENESS & DERANGED CHARM.
"KINDNESS APPEARS TO BE A WEAKNESS TO ALL THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED"
So where the Hell does that leave a guy like me???
Do I have to become a complete Scum-bag? A complete Rude Pig of a human to get what I want?
How do I get people to take me seriously, without Punching them in the face after they treat me with absolute disrespect?
I truly do not seem to know any more... It disheartens me to be at such a cross roads after so many years of failure with not only LIFE ITSELF... But with the way other Humans beings treat me.
Why am I rambling on about all of this anyways? I just finished a gig the other night where I was working with 2 College grads from a very Expensive & Important Theatre Arts school... These two Clowns, (& that is being really Cruel to Clowns) were completely Rude, arrogant, self absorbed, LAZY, Self Pretentious, WANNA-BE ARTISTS that had no freakin respect for ANYONE or ANYTHING except themselves!
These two "Well Schooled" Morons were so lazy, arrogant & Inept that it took 3 & 1 HALF HOURS TO PUT UP TWO LIGHTS & SET UP A JIB!
Let me repeat that again.... Just so you can really UNDERSTAND & it can Truly SINK IN....
It took 2 guys 3 & 1/2 hours to set up TWO LIGHTS & a JIB!
Is it me, or is that about 3 hours to freakin long?
Let me explain: I met these two guys on the set, the Director introduced us ( It went something like this.... Craig, this is my DP, my director of Photography Matt & his cinematographer Joey. This is Craig... he has been helping me out... THEY were given TITLES & I was given just my NAME & that I HELPED OUT).
Now I know it sounds like I'm Nit Picking, but why is it that every time I'm on a shoot & everyone starts bandying about Titles, these people usual end up being untalented hacks & rude Idiots that just cling to their freakin Titles & Demented dream of Hollywood Delusions!
Wherever I go... I'm just Craig Amabello... NO TITLES.... NO BULL.... Just Hi, I'm here to work, help out in anyway I can, do a good job, get paid & go home...... Is that so bad? Is that so weird?
Do I need to introduce myself As the Grand Wizard of Reality & the Ruler of all Mankind from the past, present & future?... Is this how one goes about getting respect here on planet earth?
Using big Convoluted 10 cent words & titles that more than naught end up being gibberish for the foolish to gnaw on like an old bone is to a junkyard dog?
I hate titles... And I truly feel that many people that have NEVER BEEN to HOLLYWOOD.... Or WORKED in HOLLYWOOD.... CLING TO THESE STUPID TITLES FOR DEAR LIFE... Because they feel it will Validate them to the uninformed masses.
TITLES ARE BULLSHIT!...... There is truly no need for titles out here.... Yes in Hollywood, where there are Unions & Guilds & all that powerful stuff, Unfortunately you need titles to play the game... But for Christ sake people.... WE ARE NOT IN FREAKIN HOLLYWOOD...... Can't we just Mellow the hell out & be a WEE Bit Normal? Have some damn fun? Create some cool stuff? Without the need to prop ourselves up with INSANE Bullshit Pretentious Titles that are pretty much just empty words anyways?......
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... I get so damn frustrated playing these silly, foolish childish games Over & Over & Over.... But I NEVER... IN A MILLION YEARS EXPECTED TO PLAY THESE KINDS OF GAMES OUT HERE, IN NEW ENGLAND WITH SUPPOSEDLY, NICE, Homespun, easy going Country Folks!
Anyways, my story continues...........
Right from the beginning after meeting these TWO IMPORTANT, WELL SCHOOLED, HOLLYWOOD types, I said, "Hey what can I do? What do you guys need? What lights are you going to be putting up? Do you want me to get them? etc, etc, etc..... I was bending over backwards to help out... (Like I always do on every shoot that I am on), To show these two guys that I was there to HELP the production run smoothly. To not give attitude, to not disturb the Power flow... (If they were in charge I thought, So be it. I will make it work & still be polite & courteous to all involved in this production. I am here to do a professional job & be paid.... I might as well attempt to make it a pleasant experience as I always do).
I pretty much got NO-RESPONSE.... A couple Mumbled, "I'm Thinking", " lets see", "give me a minute" etc., type answers, but they both just seemed to be floundering.... DOING NOTHING!
(I must explain here that When these two jokers first showed up on the set the first thing these 2 losers did was to RUN to get PIZZA & left me & the director to carry up almost all of the equipment up 3 flights of stairs into the studio where we were shooting at).
To me this act alone spoke VOLUMES about their Integrity, work ethic, & Presumptuousness!
But even after this, I still bit my tongue & tried to work with these guys.... To help them in anyway possible to get this shoot going & off the ground instead of laying there like a dead fish for almost 4 hours of senseless waiting!
(I must also explain that the director seems to be a very nice, kindly, quiet man who has never directed before, he is BRAND NEW to all of this production stuff. So he seemed very much lost as to how to get the whole show on the road & Unbelievably left it in the hands of these two simpletons that seemed to Revel in their New Found Power!).
So..... My long winded story continues.........
After doing everything in my power to help out, get the lights out, bring them to the set, get the scrims, stands, extension cords, etc... IE: I DID ALL OF THE PHYSICAL GRUNT WORK.... THEY STILL DID NOTHING BUT STAND AROUND & USE CUTE SHOW BIZ WORDS ON EACH OTHER.
I was utterly amazed & appalled by these College Grads behavior.... (Unfortunately I must admit that I am a lier.... I have seen this type of behavior & attitudes on Sets many, many times before, from coast to coast & It is just Sickening, aggravating & nauseating to me at this point in my life)
Then the other genius starts acting like he is now the Art director/ Set director etc & wished we had real live sticks, twigs & rocks on the set to make it more realistic.... So the next thing I know I am out in the park at dark with the director picking up leaves & junk while the 2 college art boys must have been laughing their asses off at their ability to act all special & important & DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING & how truly easy it was to get flunkeys to do their bidding!!!!!!!!!!
But believe it or not.... I still maintained my cool... I still was not about to sabotage this nice mans shoot because two rude arrogant, lazy, shiftless punks had somehow managed to TAKE OVER THE ENTIRE PRODUCTION...... There was Talent on hand... I did not want to poison them with a bad attitude..... Why should I hurt them? Get everyone upset? So I just shut my mouth & kept being the LAP DOG to these TWO jokers.......
HOURS HAD FLOWN BY & NOTHING WAS DONE.... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.......
(The only work that was done up to this point was clearly only the physical work that was done by the Director & myself)...... Otherwise those two jokers stayed locked up on the set doing God Knows what & kept at least 8 people waiting).
The director then asked me if I could go down & get a 25 lb. sandbag that the DP was in need of... I almost said, "let the chubby lil bastard go get it himself"... But no... I put my tongue in my mouth... my tail between my legs & quietly stewed as a struggled to bring this sandbag up 3 flights of stairs......
When I arrived onto the set & dropped the sandbag, the DP said to me, "Can you bring that over here?" ... I just walked away & said that I was tired. He then very quickly & curtly stated.... "NO?... Well thank you very much for your cooperation". It was as if, he was almost in some form of state of shock that the PEON didn't jump to do his bidding... Very bizarre dweeb this guy was.
(Also, as a side note I found out later that this punk is a Christian Youth Minister... Can you Freakin Believe that? This crappy attitude & bullshit behavior all coming form some Pretend Christian/ Religious Scum-bag teaching HIS ETHICS to young children? And you wonder what the hell is wrong with this country at times?)
Anyways....... After this Punk had the audacity to give me lip after I had done nothing but be helpful, polite & kind to him for the last several hours.... I wanted to FLOOR HIM!
Strangle the lil bastard right then & there..... ruin the shoot...... All because this arrogant, lazy little puke was for some reason or another under the MisInformed impression that I was HIS LITTLE PA... ( Or should I say, Peon).
Well I don't wanna bore you folks any more with the details, but the shoot finally got under way almost 4 hours later.... I had done most of the Physical work myself & those two guys where constantly being deferred to as the Director of Photography & cinematographer etc., while I just stood around looking & feeling useless & dumb!
And do you know what the first words out of his mouth were once the whole cast, friends & family had finally assembled onto the set?........ "Welcome to Hollywood"..... I wanted to Kick his teeth in.... Last I recall, we were in Freakin Lawrence Mass!
My whole point is this.........
AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS KIND OF CRAP HAPPENS TO OUT HERE WORKING ON NEW ENGLAND PRODUCTIONS???
Have any of you people out there ever had a situation like this happen to you? If so, could you please share it with us....
I know that I can not be the only person out here that crap like this constantly & consistently happens to.....
I would love to hear others stories of nightmare shoots gone to hell....
Not because I want the negativity... But because maybe, others can learn from this very disturbing & dysfunctional behavior & know that it should not be tolerated any where on ANYONES SHOOT!
I would truly love to know what you other production people out here think of my little tale of disturbing, lazy, attitudes by College Art school Majors....
Thanx's & I hope all of your shoots out here in New England are fun, productive & Profitable & not anything like the NIghtmare shoots from Hell that I seem to be working on.
Your X-Hollywood Reject
Craig Amabello
( & yes, the Irony is not lost on me that I DO USE TITLES!... But for all the right reasons)
Hope all of you wonderful people have fun at the big shin dig tonight....
Me? I can't go because I gotta start writing my memoirs so that I can sell myself... (yes, Just like a REAL Prostitute does) so that I can finally start getting my life & times on film & make a few hundred million. ( I'm running a little short on cash these last few years, with Hollywood Leaving me flat broke, In-debt, shattered & completely Unhinged and all).
Did I ever mention what a Horrible Bitch Goddess Hollywood truly is? The Land of the Leapers... The land of the Un-dead... The City of Lost Souls & Lost Angels... The blackness from within the golden realm of Globes & the hardened Angels of alcoholic Oscars, that roam the studio back-lots never change.
As the interns drive themselves over the cliffs of insanity on those twisted mountainous roads, on the way up to their Masters Malibu Mansions that sit on the edge, of the Brink of disaster... These masters, who themselves, are spiraling out of control on their own way down, as these newcomers climb up, just to descend into the beginning of the end.
The sickness rolls in, like the thick smog that stretches thru the night & into the hot desert dawn, as the daylight breaks on the Blackened, ashened faces of stunned children as they weep for mercy.
The relentless Propaganda machine pounds at their wee little hearts & destroys all that carelessly fall into its merciless path of indeterminable wholesale destruction.
At night, you can still hear the children cry out, as the desert wind stops to blow & the shadows fall, onto the sinners beautiful suntanned faces, as they crawl thru the valley of death in drunken disorder to end up just another, nameless, faceless, casualty of war by days end.
The Boulevard of Broken dreams was built on the blood of the innocent. As the neon signs that illuminate the night & hide the rot of the valley by day, shatters like cheap glass into the mouths of those that get so close that they can actually taste, feel & smell the rancid decay of death that permeates the hollow hollywood air.
Oxygen so thin, the altitude so high, that they can hardly breathe, as they gasp at their last breath of silence, as the blood drips down from their battered hands clutching their Emmys, Oscars & Golden Globes that can be bought in Tijuana for a pittance.
The old school stars know better than to play with matches, but the newcomers never learn. They march in, day after day, arriving by bus, train & planes, clutching onto their dreams... These fresh faced innocents think that they will not get burned by the shimmering lights that shine from the plastic streets that scream of fame & fortune... These streets only bring darkness & decent into madness to the many who have failed & lost their way.
These dreamers, these schemers, of whom most likely, no one will ever be seen or heard from again... for that is the way of the She Demon that prances in the daylight & masquerades as a pretty harlot. But as night comes, the true light shines down from the hills & unmasks the rotten, befouled devil that is the true Hollywood...... in the never ending cycle that eats up & spits out the weak & innocent into the streets like broken toys a child throws away from boredom.
Like vampires... the bloodlust never ends... And once the innocents have been turned... Like a trick in the night... They to, in turn, become the masters keepers of the gates of delusions, as the new ones come running into & at, the shiny bright lights of hollywood.. These lights, that attract so many, like a moth to a flame, are nothing what you think they are... These decoys of illumination are nothing other than a train... A train that is coming straight at you... ready to run you over & vanquish your soul. Another lamb... left to slaughter.
For that, my dear friends, Is the True Hollywood. What no book, magazine, or person will ever dare talk about or tell you. For she is a mistress without a heart or soul & she will steal your dreams & blind your eyes. And then, just for spite, she will steal your children's dreams & still come back for more, until the blood has gone dry & she has sucked the life out of all your brethren.
But I still miss Hollywood... Each & everyday.... I still dream of her... For I am smitten... I am hooked...
For I am... Craig Amabello... An X-Hollywood Reject... Who terribly misses his Home.
P.S: I gotta get a 3 picture deal, just for starters, so that I can catch up to my hero.... Sam Raimi.
I am not a fancy man.... I did not go to any fancy college.... I am self Taught.... I used to get jobs by word of mouth in Hollywood..... Out here in Boston, I do not know anybody.... So I have been searching for professional production work for several years out here with absolutely no luck at all!
The only way I know how to get work from new clients out here is to send them my resume.
When I do......... I NEVER HEAR BACK FROM ANYONE!
Can anybody out there give me a clue as to what I am doing wrong?
This is a Typical example of what kind of responses I get when I send out my resume to people. Most people never even have the common courtesy to even bother to email me back. But the few that do, ALL seem to have a tendency to be QUESTIONING the validity of my Resume.
POTENTIAL EMPLOYER MR X RESPONSE:
On Sep 4, 2007, at 10:42 PM, MR X wrote: It's a nice resume but I couldn't find anything about you or Prey of innocence under michael deluise.
MY RESPONSE:
Look Dude.... What the hell do you expect to find?
I met Michael Deluise while working on Waynes World. We spent a day working together & he got to know me. He liked me, told me he had just shot this little film that he was working on & needed it edited. So 3 weeks later, after Waynes world was wrapped, Michael & I spent 3 days editing his film. At the time I was doing all my editing in my shitty lil apartment in the Valley.
Editing is intense... Editing under a 3 day deadline is EXTREMELY INTENSE. Michael had already pre-booked a theatre in Burbank to showcase his new film & we had to finish this so that it could be brought to the lab to be blown up to 16 mm film for projection.
We spent those difficult 3 days, Rolling on the floor laughing... Yelling... Arguing.... Laughing some more... crying, (from laughing so hard) & then we finally finished the edit. It came out pretty good. He liked it. I was happy with it.
I don't recall if I even put my name on the film as editor. Many projects that I worked on never had my name attached. All I wanted was to be paid & that, was that. I didn't care about stupid credits then, (I do now). Money was all I wanted. I was never expecting to be famous from working on other peoples projects, so payment of services was all I ever cared about. (besides, delivering a good product).
Michael screened his movie 1 week later to a decent crowd & it was well received. I never went to the premiere, (because that's not the kind of guy that I am). Like I told Angela Bowie a few months later.... "I don't do parties or premieres". I am just weird like that. Screw name recognition, I just wanted money. (Now I do want recognition & MONEY...... Funny how things change with time).
Maybe Michael changed the name of the film. I don't know. Actually, I don't even remember now what the damn film was about.
Do I have any proof of actual, tangible, photographic or Video evidence of this encounter with Michael Deluise, or my editing work on his film?........................................................................................................................................... NO
Do you think I had a Freakin Biographer following me around & documenting any of this?...................... NO
Was it an academy award nominated film? ......................................................................................................... NO
Did it pick up a golden globe? ................................................................................................................................ NO
was it on tv & recieved 5 Emmy's? ......................................................................................................................... NO
Was it a nice little short film that Michael & his Brother enjoyed making & then hired me to edit?............ YES!
WHAT THE HELL WHERE YOU EXPECTING TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS MOVIE?????
THAT MY NAME WAS ON THE CREDITS?
AS FAR AS MYSELF IS CONCERNED.....
AT THIS POINT IN TIME........ I'M A GOD DAMN NOBODY.........
WHAT WHERE YOU LOOKING TO "FIND OUT" ABOUT ME?????????
I never claim or claimed that I am anything other than what I am....
A talented professional with a life time in Show business. Which also includes, 25 years experience in the craft of Video Production. I am also a Long time veteran of working & living in Hollywood California, Where I did all kinds of Freelance gigs, for all kinds of Crazy people.
I have just not "Made It" as of yet. It doesn't mean that I am a Lier. My resume has nothing but Low level gigs, that paid crap. But this resume seems to antagonize, agitate & aggravate more people than not!
I have sent my resume out to over 1,500 people in the last several years & I have gotten absolutely ZERO Work from it!
In fact.... I almost never even get a REPLY BACK.
I send my resume out to people in the Boston area that are looking for professionals.
I almost never send my resume out Unsolicited.
These are people with online ads that are specifically looking for professionals.....
SO WHAT GIVES??????
WHAT AM I DOING WRONG????
I AM THOROUGHLY BAFFLED....... FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CAN NOT EVEN GUESS AS TO WHAT I AM DOING WRONG THAT MAKES PEOPLE QUESTION EVEN A CRAPPY RESUME LIKE MINE?
It's so damn insulting to repeatedly... send my resume off to.... (more than likely, some damn NOBODY).... Not that that should matter, because people are still people... humans are still humans... We all deserve some sort of respect...
But........ Why do I have a sneaky feeling that its just another bum, with a high & mighty attitude, JUDGING ME.... BECAUSE I SEND OUT A RESUME THAT LOOKS SO DAMN GOOD.....
I AM SICK OF BEING JUDGED MY WHOLE LIFE BY NOBODIES!
DON'T HIRE ME IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.....
BUT DON'T CONSIDER ME A LIER BECAUSE YOU.... FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT MY RESUME IS REAL.
I AM JUST LOOKING FOR GIGS........ NOT TO BE JUDGED ON WETHER OR NOT I HAVE ACTUALLY DONE WHAT I CLAIM I HAVE DONE...... OR IF I AM LYING!
HIRE ME..... GIVE ME 5 MINUTES ON YOUR SET.... & YOU WILL KNOW WETHER OR NOT I AM SOME FAKE, PHONEY, LYING, SCUMBAG REALLY QUICKLY!
AM I INSANE TO FEEL THIS WAY?
AM I CRAZY TO MAKE SUCH A BIG DEAL OF, YET ANOTHER PERSON, NOT HIRING ME.... BUT GOING OUT OF THEIR WAY TO JUDGE ME... QUESTION THE VALIDITY OF WHOM I CLAIM TO BE!
WHAT SCARES ME THE MOST IS THAT..... I AM NOT CLAIMING TO BE SOME BIG TIME DIRECTOR LIKE SAM RAIMI.... I AM JUST CLAIMING TO BE A SMALL, LOW LEVEL PLAYER IN A HUGE FIELD THAT HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING IN HOLLYWOOD....
If anyone out there has any other stories that are relative to this I would love to have you post them. I am seriously wondering if it is "JUST ME"...... Or have other people in Boston experienced this odd Phenomonen about the Boston Film community.
Hope you are all having a good life...... Having Fun,
Your Truly Demented reporter & X-Hollywood Reject,
Craig Amabello
On Sep 4, 2007, at 10:42 PM, MR X wrote: It's a nice resume but I couldn't find anything about you or Prey of innocence under michael deluise
From: Craig Amabello To: MR X@hotmail.com> Subject: editor gig
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 01:14:43 -0400
Hi, I noticed your post.... I would be perfect for this!...... I am a Editor & I Specialize in video & audio for the Web. I am fast, Professional, & I do great work. I have enclosed my resume for you to look at. Thanx's Craig Amabello Located in: Southern New Hampshire.
To see samples of my work Check out: http://www.americanartistsinc.com
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY: Over 25 years experience in video production as a Director, Camera Operator, Photographer, Editor, DVD Author, Graphics Artist & Web Designer. 12 years spent working in Los Angeles California as a Freelance Director & production company. Extensive skills, talent, and knowledge of the entertainment Industry.
RELATED EXPERIENCE:
FILM PROJECTS & RELEASES:
BEHIND THE SCENES SPEC DOCUMENTARIES: Director/Cameraman/Editor: "Army of Darkness", "Wayne's World", "Where the day takes you", & "The Bodyguard".
PREY OF INNOCENCE: Editor: film by Michael Deluise of "21 Jump street fame".
TELEVISION PROJECTS & AIRINGS:
HISTORY CHANNEL: "The History of Drugs" Series. Editor/Colorist: Timothy Leary's segment contributor.
VH1's PORN TO ROCK II: Cameraman/editor: Segment contributor on Johnny Toxic piece.
HOLLYWOOD ROCKS Pilot Episode: Cameraman/editor: Featuring Ronnie James Dio, (Black Sabbath), Lemmy Kilmister: (Motorhead), & Don Dokken: (Dokken).
BOB VILLA'S SHOW: Audio Tech: Segment on the Cape.
FINIS TV, STATION 1: 2nd Camera: Interviews with Bon Jovi, M.C Hammer, and Kiss.
THE REAL ESTATE SHOW: Cameraman/Editor: Various segments on New Hampshire.
HARD COPY: Audio Tech: Interview with Burt Reynolds.
WNDS TV "CANDLEPIN BOWLING": Cameraman: Entire season of their #1 Show.
GERMAN TV: 2nd Camera: Bay Watch segment. Interviews with David Hasselhoff & Pam Anderson.
KTLA NEWS SEGMENT: Audio Tech: California Governor Documentary piece.
FOX NEWS: Audio Tech: L.A Mayor reporter piece.
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN PIECE: CLINTON 1996 RE-ELECTION PROMO SPOT: Audio Tech: Various TV Celebrities promo piece for the N.H state primary.
MUSIC PROJECTS:
SPEC MUSIC VIDEO: Director/Cameraman/Editor: "Black Label Society".
JOHNNY TOXIC MUSIC VIDEOS: Director/Cameraman/Editor: "Superwhore", "Slam Jam", & "Happy".
THEATRE GIGS:
HOLLYWOOD ACTORS STUDIO: Cameraman/Editor: An afternoon with, "Sir Anthony Hopkins".
SCIENTOLOGY CELEBRITY CENTER: Cameraman: An original Play with Bart Simpson.
LIVE EVENT PRODUCTION:
LIVE CONCERTS AT: "HOUSE OF BLUES", "THE VIPER ROOM" & WAAF'S, "LOCOBAZOOKA": Director/Cameraman/Editor: Various Bands & Members of: Aerosmith, Kiss, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Dio, David Lee Roth, Guns & Roses, Tesla, Shine Down, Skindred, Clutch, Shadows Fall, Saliva, Quiet Riot, Motorhead, Alice Cooper, Kansas, Mr. Big, LA Guns, Cinderella, Steely Dan, Steve Miller, Tin Machine, Rainbow, and many other bands, Individuals & Artists.
CALIFORNIA BEAUTY PAGEANTS: Technical Director/Cameraman/Editor: "Miss Hollywood", "Miss Burbank", & "Cal State Miss Teen".
CALIFORNIA FITNESS PAGEANTS: Technical Director/Cameraman/Editor: All State Fitness Championship shows.
PROMOTION PROJECTS & AD CAMPAIGNS:
PEPSI COLA PROMO: 2nd Unit Camera/Audio Tech: Internal Company party Promotion.
TIMOTHY LEARY'S, "last video project": Graphic Design & Post Production: For Retina Logic.
UNITED AIRLINES: 2nd Unit Camera: Promo Commercial Check.
UNIVERSAL STUDIO'S PROMO: 2nd Unit Camera: Producer Sales Pitch.
PAPA SKYNYRD: Editor/Sound Design: book promo for Lynyrd Skynyrd biography.
BACKSTAGE PASS: Cameraman/Editor: Angela Bowies Promo For book tour.
PARAMOUNT PICTURES: Cameraman/Editor: Promo for "The Mommies TV Pilot".
INDUSTRIALS & COMMERCIALS:
SKEECHERS: Audio Tech: Commercial
AVIS RENT A CAR: Audio Tech: Commercial
NORTHROP INDUSTRIES: 2nd Unit Camera/Sound Design: Industrial Internal Video.
LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT: Audio Tech/Editor: Interview of Chief Darrel Gates for Internal use.
METROLINK SAFETY VIDEO: 2nd Unit Camera/Audio Tech: In-house Training video.
SPECIAL SKILLS:
Director, Cameraman, Still Photographer, Technical director, Jib/Boom Operator, "Rock solid" hand held camera operator, Live Multi-Camera Switcher, DVD Author, Off-line/Online Editor, Web Designer, Graphics artist, Musician, Sound Designer, Etc.
EQUIPMENT LIST:
I CAN GET ANY PIECE OF GEAR, IF GIVEN 24 HOURS NOTICE.
But I do Own:
3 Macintosh Desktop Computers: (Dual 1 Ghz G-4 / G-4- 450 MHz / Mac 9500) Digital Video/Audio/Graphics Production Editing Suites Set-up with: (Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Photoshop, After Fx, Pro Tools & Digital Performer. Cinema Products: 16 MM Crystal Sound Sync Film Camera. Sony VX-1000: 3 Chip Digital video camera. Sony Mavica: 4 Megapixels Digital Still Camera. Canon Rebel: 35MM Still Camera. Basic Lighting Package: 5- 650 Watts Lights. 1-1K. Umbrellas & Reflector. Basic Audio Package: Wireless & HandHeld Mics.
Thanx's Craig Amabello
Contact me @: Laconnection101@aol.com
To see samples of my work Check out: http://www.americanartistsinc.com
