in hindsight, i'm not sure i approached this whole "internet thing" very responsibly. there were always initial warnings to using your real name for everything, but it isn't until later that you really understand why this is such a good idea. Google my name and all sorts of information pops up. i used to think this was something to be proud of. Have almost 2 pages on Google dedicated to stuff that you actually are involved with? Sounds awesome, right? Especially with this sudden surge of other Steve Pappins all across the world. Ha-ha, suckers, I bet you're reading this blog post right now after Googling yourself, and you're coming to realize that I am the one true Steve Pappin and you are clearly a secondary Steve. Don't worry, i'll have need for my Steve Pappin army in the near future, so stick around, and by all means, keep googling yourself. Or are you really Googling me? That's my ultimate goal. All the Steve Pappins in the world will attempt to Google themselves, but what they won't realize is that they're actually just Googling me, and that their name does not take Internet Priority. Undoubtedly the relevance of ones existence will soon depend on ones Internet Priority, and I have to say that mine is pretty high.
However, to return to the beginning of this topic, there are some pretty severe consequences to being of the highest Steve Pappin priority. Essentially, all my previous work, whether it's shitty, or monumentally shitty, is readily available for other Steve Pappins to look at and mock. There may even be cases of a particular Steve Pappin being like: "WOW, this sucks, glad I'm not this Steve Pappin." This scenario has actually been a fantasy of my own on occasion, although I will admit, if i give anything i do a good couple of years to ferment, i (myself, not necessarily anyone else) can begin to appreciate the work that i once thought was monumentally shitty, and can now place it in the more appropriate: just shitty section.
for example, this little gem:
I mean, for 48 hours worth of work? We did this on no sleep! That is special effects editing I did there, people!! And, DAMN, I love that fucking haircut! Curse you, brother, for giving me the best haircut that no one paid minimum wage (plus tips) at a SuperCuts can imitate! Woe is me. Where was i? Yes, yes. Seriously, not bad for 48 hours. And after seeing the actual winners of this particular festival...i'd say we had a pretty damn good chance of snagging some bitchin awards, like Cinematography, Editing, or Best Hair Cut. Maybe even Most killer purple shirt. But don't take my word for it, see for yourself:
Now the dude who Googles his own short films is going to find this splooge, and be all: "WOW, this sucks, glad I'm not this Steve Pappin...because he's an asshole who thinks his shitty romance is better than my super hero comedy gold." Whatevs. I'm over it.
Lord, let me get back on track. Ok ok, Internet Priority...Fermenting Projects...Haircut...ah yes. Anyway, so i'm on this topic simply because i recently realized how absolutely terrible my current demo reel was. I mean, the Back to the Future worked, and there were some pretty solid shots that I don't mind being on my reel, but there were also some pretty embarrassing moments that really made me look bad. And I was all: "wait, demo reels aren't supposed to make you look BAD, so clearly, something must be done." This bad demo reel was also accompanied by a pretty awful looking website that took forever to load and didn't really serve much purpose. So, I popped both of those pussy...pussy? pus-ee. Like pimples. Man, is that a word? And how have I not come across this literary problem before this point? You can't make the word pus an adjective without encountering an awkward situation in which you don't know how to spell it without embarrassing your mother...huh.
I popped both of those internet pimples **full of pus** from existence. (That simply doesn't sound as good, but I got better shit to talk about) I've since begun the reconstruction of
it's hip. it's minimalist. it's universal. it's impossible to edit because i don't have a PC! You'll notice the original template first. It's a red explosion of sorts, before my image covers it. Yeah. Pain in the ass, I know. From there, you can view my new and improved demo reel! It's hip. it's minimalist. it's universal. it doesn't make me look like an idiot! Maybe it does. Dunno.
This reconstruction will lead me into my new life as an Angelino, where my dreams of making movies that inspired much conversation in the midwest, are what make me a boring cliche in a city of 10 million others just. like. me! Gone are the easy days where I could strike up conversation with someone based solely on the fact that they're wearing a Back to the Future shirt. Now, I have to spend more time lying about what I do to people sporting "People Who Make Movies Fucking Suck" shirts...this, and the entire city of LA seems to be comprised primarily of people who are my age and came to this city to follow their dreams...but all this happened 10 years ago. Now, they're hot parents with hip babies who tend to be very bitter towards me.
In terms of work, there seems to be some of it. Once you get it, it's very easy to get more and more. But only if you're a young, cute, female, and it helps if you don't really need the work because your parents are loaded...that tends to get you lots of work. Whoa..is that me being bitter? I'm afraid to turn around for fear of there being a baby with a better haircut than me and a sexy wife waiting for me to take her to the farmers market...where is someone younger than me that I can berate? Just joshin'.
Honestly, LA is treating me pretty damn well. I eat organic and the corner store has glass bottle cokes. There is a hill I chill on nearby with a great skyline and walking trails. Dodgers Stadium is right down the block, and my Toyota Pickup is fucking awesome. There are mountains on my drive to the store, and pupusas at every Saturdays Farmers Market (the girl recognizes me now). Work comes steadily enough to keep knocking out months worth of rent and my music library is consistently growing. I get lots of sun and apparently smell pretty damn good.....I've never felt more like a speck of dust.
