I had breakfast the other day with a former student of mine named Aaron Levy. Remember that name. Aaron was in town from New York visiting his parents and he rang up his old teacher. After getting his B.A. Aaron
The Real Thing- Aaron Levy
Florida State University
Last weekend I went to Florida State University where I spoke with a group of film students working on their thesis films. The dumb filmmaker likes nothing better than a road trip, and getting a chance to talk film with
Plate Spinning
I am often asked about how I can juggle being a full-time teacher and a full-time filmmaker. Honestly, I don’t give it much thought, it is just something I do and have done for a long time. Ten years ago
Circle of Life
“Old Man look at my life, I am a lot like you were.” I heard that Neil Young song recently and those lyrics really hit home. 40 some years ago my dad and mom packed up their relatively comfortable New
Starting Up
Prior to Flashpoint the only previous experience I have with a start up venture was 20 years ago when I worked for the Museum of Broadcast Communications. Even then I was just a first generation hire, starting right around the
Drinking the Kool-Aid
On Wednesday this past week Howard Tullman, President and CEO of Flashpoint Academy, cuffed me on the back of the head. Yesterday, as we were waiting for people to arrive at a Flashpoint open house, founder and chairman Ric Landry
Navel Gazing
It was an interesting week for the dumb filmmaker. As you saw in the previous posts I was simultaneously shooting a film and teaching eight incoming students. If it was 3:30, I must be teaching, 4pm, filmmaking and back and
Production in Action
I am going to let the pictures tell the story today. The words below are from an incoming student. It is pretty straight forward. A film is being made. Students are watching. The dumb filmmaker is teaching, the dumb filmmaker
Teaching Again
Today, for the first time since May, I get to teach. Eight incoming Flashpoint students have agreed to be my guinea pigs for the next four afternoons and they will be coming to the set and I will be breaking
