How to Fight

Today is a good day for self reflection...as I look back at myself in the mirror I see a man who is on the verge of being broken but also one who will fight harder and harder. I struggle everyday in this world as an artistic minded person...I fear this is a huge burden. It is a burden not just for me but for all who think artistically because we must struggle with the small details of not only our work but with ourselves. If things are perfectly aligned and structured for us, then nothing will be right. The constant criticism and complaints can at times bombard us with no remorse, but we must fight back by creating works that are stronger. I fight every day, and all other artists do as well. Do not stop fighting, do not stop doing what is right to make yourselves better. Support one another and show love...this is the only way we will all succeed against the many obstacles we face.

Random Movie Fact: In the 2005 film Thank You for Smoking, no one is shown smoking a cigarette throughout the entire movie. In fact, except in the black and white film that Naylor watches, no-one is seen even holding a cigarette. Naylor holds an empty packet and Robert Duvall holds an (unlit) cigar.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Stress Coming

Well the music video is either totally off or just plain postponed for a while. Client was trying to get me to switch the whole direction of the video last second and also just plain trying to get me put in a risky situation. Without insurance and all that, I just didn't feel comfortable all around. I was talking to his upper management today so hopefully they can chat with him and straighten things all out but for right now things aren't looking too chipper. More work coming up soon though so there is plenty of time to make good content this month. Let us not make this a wasted day!

Random Movie Fact: In the 2006 film The Science of Sleep, Sam Mounier gave Michel Gondry the idea for the film when Gondry asked the then 10-year-old Mounier to come up with a bed time story. Literally the next day, Gondry began writing the script.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Music Video Shoot Tomorrow

So tomorrow is my first official shoot since the 48 hour film festival and it is a new rap music video for Kane Mayfield! I am excited to be working with him again and I am aiming to create something more cinematic than the last music video. So tomorrow starting around 1pm that is going to be the rest of my day!

Last night I went scouting on another upcoming music video with my DP Chris Hill, it was cool we got to check out a lot of the local bars around my way. After a couple of misses on bars we found the perfect one and we are in talks to lock it down for the video. I am excited for this one since it is a video for a genre I never thought I would get into, but it will be worth it for sure. So more to come on that, we are looking to actually film sometime between July 18th-20th.

Random Movie Fact: In the 1994 animated film The Lion King, one of the bugs that Timon pulls out of a knothole during Hakuna Matata is wearing Mickey Mouse ears.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Wild Morning

Whew...I gotta take a breath. This morning was one of the craziest things ever...like really I don't think I have ever talked with that many clients at once. I think at my peak I was emailing, texting, and trying to call about 7 or 8 different people. Each one with a whole other thing. These past two days have been absolutely insane and this month is on the verge of picking up in a big way. Like tomorrow runs the possibility of filming some stuff, this Sunday I am filming stuff. Monday-Friday next week looks filled up. The only pause I am going to have is my birthday which is July 14th and with the way things are looking I may have to put off relaxing Saturday and Sunday that weekend. I don't know but I can barely keep up. My mind is racing right now...

Random Movie Fact: In the 1994 film Pulp Fiction, Jules's character was originally written to have a gigantic afro, but a crewmember obtained a variety of afro wigs and one jheri curl wig. Quentin Tarantino had never thought about a jheri curl wig, but Samuel L. Jackson tried it on, Tarantino liked it, and it was kept.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Fourth of July to everyone! I hope it is a good day for all of you and yours. May today bring fun filled joy, hot dog eating, and safe firework launching to all! Be careful and if you are somewhere hot like here in Maryland, make sure to stay hydrated. Our country is a great one and thanks to all those who have fought for freedom I can voice my opinions and thoughts on a blog such as this. I love this great country and hope our liberty can ring forever!

Random Movie Fact: In the 1972 film adaptation of the musical 1776, In the song Is Anybody There, sung by John Adams, the lyric "Yet, through all the gloom, I see the rays of ravishing light and glory" were from a letter by the real-life Adams to wife Abigail the day after the Declaration was adopted.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Walking Past This

So last week while I wasn't home my dog jumped the fence and ran up to a lady walking her dog. My dog is a 95 pound German Shepherd and when she "plays," with a little dog she does get a little aggressive, however she did not really hurt the dog or anything, the vet said minor bruising which tells me that my dog was in fact just playing rough with this little dog. However since then this house I call home has been turned upside down and my parents are fighting to get rid of the dog, even threatening to just get rid of her when I am not around. Once I brought up the fact that legally I own the dog and if they do anything I will call the cops, of course my father who refuses to lose anything turns the psycho meter up and says some sh*t I don't even want to repeat.

Anyway why am I bringing all this up? Well the fact is this leaves me with no choice but to move out from my current residence and start living on my own. Is this earlier than I wanted to leave? Yes, but with no other real options, I don't have much of a choice. My parents threaten it at every chance they get, if we even get in the slightest of arguments, my dad always says "You know what, if that is the case you can just pack your stuff and leave." I am tired of it, sick of it, so that is exactly what I am going to do.

All my life since I am the oldest child, I have always sort of had it rough. Not only that but being the only son makes it even harder. The relationship I have had with my parents has never been good. I seem to be the one working the hardest but yet get punished the most. My sister who is two years younger than me on the other hand has had everything handed to her, cars, money, college, all of it scott free. Me on the other hand, I have had to work so hard to get exactly what I wanted and I have always tried to show my parents but they just don't care. It sucks ya know, mix all of that with the fact that for a while I was like the youngest of my cousins and I got picked on a lot. I have always been the outsider of my family and I don't know why but I just have.

However for all that is going on right now, I am truly blessed to be alive and thankful that I have what I have. Sure it is going to be hard living on my own but I am going to make it work as best I can and while the past has sucked it doesn't mean for one second I am going to stop fighting.

Random Movie Fact: In the 1980 film Raging Bull, when the real Jake LaMotta saw the movie, he said it made him realize for the first time what a terrible person he had been. He asked the real Vicki LaMotta "Was I really like that?". Vicki replied "You were worse."

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Demo Reel!

Here is the official To Tony Productions demo reel for this year! It is all the best from TTP since starting back in 2009. Enjoy the reel and leave any feedback you can.



Demo Reel - To Tony Productions from Daniel Hess on Vimeo.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

June is Over

So every now and again I like to reflect back on a month and see what all I managed to accomplish over the course of it. This month was a time for moving forward with my life. June was when I finally officially graduated from Towson University and got my Bachelor's Degree from the Electronic Media and Film department. June I would say was also a rocky month, it was a time for a lot of talking and not a lot of results coming out of it. I mean I guess I could be that blunt about it but all this talking was necessary for building a foundation for professional relationships. June was when I made my second attempt at the 48 Hour Film Festival, to lackluster results. However for all the slow time that passed in this month it is vital to lead into July because now I am looking to the future and I see what is going to be the most busy month for video production I have ever had to deal with, and that is amazing! No matter what happens I know I will be learning and growing for the better.

Random Movie Fact: In the 1956 Science Fiction film Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the film originally ended with Miles J. Binnell on the highway shouting to the people driving by, "You're next, you're next!" However, the studio wanted a happier ending that would assure the audience that the hero's efforts were not in vain, so scenes were added to the opening to show Miles in a hospital recounting his story to two other doctors and to the end when the other doctors find out about the pods and one of them contacts the FBI.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Crazy Storm Last Night

So last night was one crazy storm, the kind of weather that gives you inspiration for a story idea. I feel like I have been getting a lot of those lately but I can never seem to remember them. Right now I am hoping to start working on a script for a feature film, something that I have been wanting to do for a while now. Well the plan is in August to go to Florida for a while, don't know if that is actually happening but if it does maybe I can find inspiration and get writing done down there. Anyway I have been booking more work for this month, and I hope to keep up with this pace because it is shaping up to be our busiest month ever at To Tony Productions and as long as everything keeps on trucking forward we will be making a lot more content for everyone! Plus don't forget Voicebox will be coming soon.

Random Movie Fact: From the 1941 film The Wolf Man, "Even a man who is pure at heart, and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright." This quote has been listed in some sources as an authentic Gypsy or Eastern European folk saying. Writer Curt Siodmak admits that he simply made it up. Nonetheless, the rhyme would be recited in every future Universal film appearance of the Wolf Man, and would also be quoted in Van Helsing. (Albeit, slightly modified, "The moon is shining bright." rather than "The autumn moon is bright.")

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

July is Going to be Crazy

So this just in, July is going to be crazy for sure. With a ton of gigs getting booked, I don't know if we are going to be able to keep up. I think so far there are going to be at least 3 music video productions this month as well as my freelance work at my part time job, a video promo, and possibly more music video work. I am excited and can't wait to work my butt off to make all these videos come to life. It is going to be an awesome month and something I have been working hard to see come true.

Random Movie Fact: In the 1997 film Seven Years in Tibet, In the scene where Heinrich confronts Ngawang, the director did not tell BD Wong the script called for Brad Pitt to throw him into the dirt; Wong's reaction is completely authentic.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

I Need to Shoot Something

Like a video shoot, it feels like forever since my last video shoot, even though it kinda was this month, but that was the bust of the 48 (which I am not here to discuss). Anyway yeah I feel like all I do these days is talk about negotiating with clients and talking over budgets which sucks, because that is all I have been doing. Lately all I do is talk things over with what I call "potentials," they email me, we talk and usually price is the main issue. I mean I don't want to turn clients down, it sucks, but making money is a big thing and not being able to make any sucks. I know there are a lot of talented people that deserve video work, but everyone is on a level playing field to me and fees for work are fees for work. Maybe I am just out of touch but I have to stick by my rates. We will see though, hopefully soon I can get back to shooting more stuff.

Random Movie Fact: In the original Godzilla film circa 1954, the sound department tried numerous animal roars for Godzilla but felt they were unsuitable for an animal of such immense size. Akira Ifukube came up with Godzilla's roars by rubbing a coarse, resin-coated leather glove up and down the strings of a contrabass (double bass), and reverberated the recorded sound. Also, Godzilla's thunderous footsteps were made by beating a kettle drum with a knotted rope.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

For Today

So today I am trying to be more productive than have in a little bit, mainly because of being in between gigs. So what I am thinking of doing is first and foremost working on a demo reel for myself/To Tony Productions. Something to encapsulate my experience as a director, videographer, boom operator, and editor...it is going to be hard but I think I can make it work, I already have the song picked out for it and everything. So that is the first piece of business to attend to. Next up is formulating a rough sketch for a country music video we have coming up to do, once I get through that we can really start moving on dates for shooting, location scouting, etc. Next up on the agenda is washing my car, which I have been meaning to do but I actually want to get done today. After that I want to talk with a past client of ours about pricing on a new music video. Maybe I will cut the grass today if it is looking like it needs it. Finally if I have any time left in the day I will sit down and watch The Royal Tenenbaums today at some point since I am on a bit of a Wes Anderson kick this week. Other than that I don't know, we will just have to wait and see what the day brings.

Random Movie Fact: In the comedy classic Animal House, Meat Loaf was the second choice for Bluto in case John Belushi dropped out of his role.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Worst Fear

Today I want to ask a question instead of talking about me...what is your worst fear? Lets start with me, my worst fear is getting lost while driving or as it is known in the scientific community, mazeophobia. Now it is your turn...leave a comment below and share your worst fears.

Random Movie Fact: In the 2004 film Shaun of the Dead, George A. Romero, creator of the films that this movie pays homage to and lampoons, was so impressed with Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright's work that he asked them to appear in Land of the Dead, the fourth part of his Dead series, in cameos as zombies.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Mary Photoshoot

So yesterday I spent my afternoon editing the exposures from the photoshoot on Monday. I have to admit I feel like this is my best photoshoot so far and I am very proud of both the quality of the pictures and the overall ease of working with a great subject such as Mary. She did great in that she needed little to no direction, we just worked very well together and I hope to do a lot more photography with her. Without further ado, here are the pictures.

Random Movie Fact: In the holiday classic The Nightmare Before Christmas, it took a group of around 100 people three years to complete this movie. For one second of film, up to 12 stop-motion moves had to be made.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess

Off Day

So today is my day off to just kinda relax and have a day to myself. Yesterday was chill and I got to hang with Chris, a friend of mine but today is just my day to lounge around. That being said I am going to probably still do touch up on the pictures I took for Mary on Monday, but that is kinda relaxing to me so it will be chill. I saw Moonrise Kingdom last night at the Charles Theater and it was a good and funny movie. I really enjoyed it, and for not being a big fan of Wes Anderson before, this film definetely got me intrigued to see more of his work. It was also awesome to see it projected in true 35mm print film, had an awesome vibe to it for sure. Well for now it is time to relax and edit photos, maybe hang out later tonight but I don't know. Today is a playing it by ear kinda day.

Random Movie Fact: In the 2005 film Doom, during the end credits, when the cast members' names appear on the screen, the only ones not to be shot/blown up are the only ones which survive in the movie.

Thanks for the support,
Daniel Hess