I had the privileged to see the film Rocky Balboa tonight at a limited press screening. Lets be honest with one another, I've been waiting for this film all year round. Sure you got plenty of groans from me when I first heard they were doing another film. Hell I'll be the first to tell you that I think its ridiculous how many times they can bring a character back. But deep down, I have to admit that I love the character of Rocky Balboa. He's our modern hero, and as much as I'd like him to bow out of the picture gracefully, there's another part of me that wants me to see him fight one more time and prove to everyone that life is about the heart and courage to live it to the fullest...

Now enter tonight and the build up for this film. Amongst long moments of building and developing the story we are given a full picture of our hero. Certainly beyond his prime, Rocky is a man presented as doing the right thing because its the right thing. His priorities in life are straight: Family, Friends and Passion. But each of these elements are lacking in his growing age. Needless to say the film progresses and is about his fulfillment of these priorities and as well about finding the heart that drives people tp great lengths.

The audience I saw it with cheered applauded and chanted for Rocky, and getting that kind of a reaction from an audience is rare. This may not be the best film out there, but it succeeds in reminding all of us that sometimes its about more than being the best, its about having the heart to try and be the best.

... so yeah, take this as a reminded to all you artists and dreamers out there that its important to keep your heart aligned with your goals in life...

They said it couldn't be done. Anyone who even talked about it were laughed at. "Slow motion DV is impossible!" "It can't be done!" "You're losing it!" But brave pioneers continued to press forward, and finally I can say "It has been done!!" We just finished our tests and it looks great. You will all get a chance to see it in action in January when release the first episode of Elephants of War series.

So I've officially decided that winter is indeed here. Nights are cold, the days are crisp and clear, the only thing really missing are the occasional showers (but I'm sure those are coming). Needless to say this weather reminds me of almost every Winter I've spent in the Bay Area, so here I am officially declaring "Winter has arrived ladies and gentlemen. Get your scarfs and jackets handy, prepare your skiing/snowboarding gear, lets all make this a great winter." I've also officially changed my picture to my winter weather picture...

OK, now that I've made my official declaration... onto the elation. So I've been giving people hot cider and have told them that it's wonderful because it warms you from the inside and on especially cold days it will warm you just the right way. Most people have looked at me, smiled and after the first sip you can see a sense of comfort and relaxation coming over their face because they can feel it working. No words are ever necessary because their smiles speak volumes. This feeling can also be felt without the cider, but its generally more difficult because you have to open yourself up to be happy through more than just a physical act, like sipping hot cider. When this kind of warming happens, it doesn't usually warm your stomach but your heart and soul. Your mind starts swimming and you can't help but wear a smile because you can see how beautiful life is. The other day I reached this feeling (without the cider) and have been swimming with beauty since. Sometimes things are just wonderful, and there are no real words for them. I might be able to express all of this in a picture, in which case I'll post it up next week...

Until then I hope you all can reach a point of elation... and if you do, let me know I would love to hear about it.

I realized recently that I haven't created a blog in a long time. I tried to write one at least once a week, but certainly I fell off the boat recently. So I mean to correct that starting now.

There have been a lot of things changing over the last few months. We're plugging away out our film dreams, and currently we're working on a project that is very exciting for us. I'll update everyone about this more, probably next week, when more of the precise details are out.

Other than the film work, my Dad recently returned from New Zealand, so it was great to be able to spend time with my family this Thanksgiving. Although low key, I think it was exactly what I needed.

Since my last blog was about the A's I'll do a bit of transition by saying, certainly there hasn't been as much baseball around, and things didn't pan out the way I hoped, but I just figured out my games for next year, and although hesitant about their move to Fremont I think it will be a great opportunity for the A's to finally show the Majors that they are a team to contend with.

As a final note I wanted to note that my picture at the Emeryville Art Exhibition was received very well and I got many compliments on it. Thank you to all my friends who came to see it, and for those of you who couldn't make it, I'll try to get more work out there so you can all have opportunities to see it.

Well hopefully by now most of you know that the A's have moved on to the ALCS. Today the Tigers officially put away the Yankees, meaning the A's will start playing the Tigers on Tuesday with home field advantage. As a ticket holder for all the post season games, this is getting exciting.

First of all I want to say that if you missed any of the games the A's played against Minnesota, well you missed some really great baseball. Both teams are excellent this year, in fact many were speculating that the Twins would end up going to the World Series. Many analysis's were also analyzing Oakland as an inferior team to the Twins. In the end Oakland swept the Twins in 3 games assuring that Oakland knew not only how to play ball, but how to play some great baseball.

As someone who assured post season tickets for all home games at the coliseum, I just want to remark on how great it felt to be an A's fan. To set the scene, the maximum attendance for the coliseum is 35,077, well somehow over 35,650 people were in attendance. Where those extra 600 people were put I don't know, but the energy and excitement was stellar. Sine the A's came home needing only one more win it felt like every single person in attendance charged themselves with the task to will the A's to victory. Everyone got to their feet, cheered and were trying to give their energy to the team. And I think the A's not only felt it but delivered. The A's ended up beating the Twins 8-3 as Marco Scutaro once again delivered a truly clutch hit to clear the bases and put the game out of reach.

As the game ended many fans stayed to watch the A's celebrate. There was an emotional release, since many of these fans had been their through the early years of this decade only to watch the A's come short. Finally the A's were going to be able to compete in a Championship game. They deserved this, Oakland had deserved this for a while. For the A's faithful many felt numb, I know as I watched the crowd slowly dissipate I had to look around me congratulate the fans that were around and let the cold air simply numb my hands and cheeks. It was beautiful and fulfilling. This was the reason I brought my flag, this was the reason I always wore my jersey, this was the reason I felt my hat wasn't just a hat but a badge of honor. The A's are my team, win or lose I am proud to call myself an A's fan.

If any of you who read this ever feel like watching a game, I'll be seated in the right field bleachers on the right rail with my black A's flag. Remember that the A's aren't just my team but hopefully they are your team as well.

As one final note I got a fortune cookie fortune last week that read "Next week, your luck color will be green!" So here's hoping for the pennant and LETS GO OAK-LAND!!!

So after going to 7 of the A's last 10 games they finally sealed the deal tonight and clinched a spot in the playoffs this year. Friday I got my post season tickets so I'll be able to go to every single game in Oakland during the post season... generally speaking I'm pretty excited by all of this. I think the A's have a good chance to move on and more than just that I think it will be good to go to some October games. I've found my new favorite spot to sit, the left field bleachers and I also have my black flag, so if you are watching the games at home, I'm the one with the black Oakland flag.

Well there has been a lot of other activities going on this last week and I will be sure to update everyone tomorrow, but for now I'm just relieved Oakland is going to the playoffs... and on the note I'll write more later.

So as of the end of Sunday the A's are now 7 games ahead of the Angels and their elimination number is now also 7. With 7 games left at home and 3 of them against the Angels... things are getting a bit exciting. I would hope that most of you know by now that I've been a big A's fan most of my life (I blame it on my Mom) and this year has been one of the most exciting years for the A's. They've had a great blend of pitching, hitting, veterans and rising stars, but more than that they have overcome the opposition facing them, mainly an over use of the disabled list. If anyone has been or seen any of their games over the last month and a half then you would know that the 2006 A's are a solid team that gets the job done when they need to. They win the games they need to and find any means necessary, it's been such great baseball. Needless to say the A's completed a sweep of the Chicago White Sox (check out the picture if you get the chance), and they are on the final leg of their post season push. Including tonight the A's have 7 final games in Oakland then two more series in LA and Seattle. Of those 7 games I'll be going to 5 of them, so if anyone is looking for a game let me know. Otherwise keep rooting for the A's and watch as this weekend they look to clinch the division... ohh man... its a good time of year.

The following is an excerpt from a book that I'm reading, and surprisingly enough this passage is actually a passage from another book within that first book... but I find it to be something I think we are all experiencing always...

"'Each path is only one of a million paths. Therefore, you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path. If you feel that you must now follow it, you need not stay with it under any circumstances. Any path is only a path. There is no affront to yourself or others in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you to do. But your decision to keep on the path or to leave it must be free of fear and ambition. I warn you: Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself and yourself alone one question. It is this: Does this path have a heart? All paths are the same. They lead nowhere. They are paths going through the brush or into the brush or under the brush. Does this path have a heart is the only question. If it does, then the path is good. If it doesn't, it is of no use.' If your path is love the goal is unimportant, the process will have heart."

I write this as just a reminder for all my friends and for those who happen upon this blog, that if the path you choose has heart there is no greater choice you can make in life, and I believe that wholly.

This last weekend our group, The Last Transformer, competed in Cinemasports Tahoe. Despite the complete lack of sleep due to staying up 24 hours before the contest even began, and as well driving up there hours before the kickoff, it was an amazing event. We all had such a great time and really created some unbelievable memories. I have yet to figure out the best way to describe the events, but I think the Cinemasports press release covers it well, while being vague enough that it doesn't give away too many details. So here's the release that cinemasports made:

"Committed souls made the journey to the Northstar mountain resort to participate in Cinemasports Tahoe Reno International Film Fest Aug 26, 2006. Team Glosoli, skipping their first week of high school, drove all the way from Nampa, Idaho to participate in Truckee California. Another team, The Last Transformer, stayed up all night and left Berkeley California at 4AM to make the 9AM kickoff meeting.

The teams who made the sacrifice enjoyed a beautiful day shooting their movies in the Sierra sun and screened their movies to a resort crowd.

Despite their sleepless night, the Last Transformer team hosted a campfire after party at the filmmakers' camp. The noise finally subsided late in the night but not before a plaster head lay shattered by an axe. In their rush out the door, many members of The Last Transformer forgot a sleeping bag. Drunk and shivering, the teammates spooned each other through the night in the chill 40F degree air.

For this display of true Cinemasports team spirit and their hilarious movie, "The Whiffler", The Last Transformer win lift tickets to Northstar at Tahoe ski resort."


So yeah, we won, which is great, but leaving on Sunday I think everyone in our team could agree that the experience as well the friends we made meant the most. As well, one thing the press release doesn't mention is that while we were up in the Truckee area we made a great friend with a waitress at the Wagon Train Cafe. Siobhan, not only brought us into a great state of mind, but made us feel more than welcome in a town we had never really explored. She really made the whole weekend truly wonderful.

Our other teammate who was added to our group at the event itself, Sarah, also made our weekend most fun. Not only did she offer some great props but her advice and support throughout made the film achievable. All in all, the event was great, and we left with new friends, great memories and a whole lot of experience.

For those of you who don't know what cinemasports is, I highly suggest checking them out online at www.cinemasports.com and if you get the chance go do it.

Things seem to have taken a somewhat abrupt change of direction since last week. The first thing to be mentioned id that Cinemasports is coming up this weekend. For those who don't know cinemasports (www.cinemasports.com) is an opportunity for filmmakers to create a short film in 10 hours (going from concept to screen in that time and premiering at a film fest that night). Last time it was loads of fun and we came out of it with the film Adventures of Man in a Bumble Bee Suit Man . This weekend its up in the Tahoe/Trukee area and the excitement is building. We're going in with the same blank canvas as last time but we're also building the excitement because we'll be viewing it under the stars and also joining the filmmakers camp that night. If anyone is interested in going I highly suggest signing up and planning on attending.

The other big bit of news is that I'm a part of the development of Channel 103. For those of you who don't know what channel 101 and channel 102 are, they are essentially an online film festival that takes submissions for "TV shows" (5 minutes in length). These shows are then played in front of a live audience and that audience votes for which 5 shows they want to see more of. Then those 5 shows create the next episodes so that next month the screening will have 5 pilots previously seen as well as 5 new show concepts. Channel 101 (based in LA) has done really well for itself and Channel 102 (based in NY) just started this year and its popularity is growing quickly. Channel 103 will be based in San Francisco and our first tentative date for the first showing is December 2nd. I will of course keep everyone updated as I know more but this is something wonderful and and will certainly bring some life to the bay area filmmaking scene.

My final note is about Snakes on a Plane. If you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for. Grab a grip of your friends and get to the theater. IF you get a chance, give them a call too . Anyways enough is enough. I've had it with these mutha fuckin snakes on this mutha fuckin plane!