Shortly after my last update, I was turned on to an internet meme that challenges you to come up with 101 realistic life goals, and achieve all of them in within 1001 days. Thinking of 101 somewhat significant goals is actually a lot harder than I anticipated. I started writing my list in March and I still only have 65 things on my list. Of course I’m not waiting until I finish the list to start after my goals, and I’m actually aiming to finish everything before I turn 30, which would put me a little under the 1001 day mark.
You can keep up with my dubious accomplishments by checking out my new page
101 in 1001: A Chronicle in Pictures
On the last weekend of this month, I’ll be traveling to backwoods PA for a wilderness rafting adventure/bachelor party. Hopefully I can knock two or three things off the list when I get back.
Posted 1 year, 11 months ago at 10:02 pm. Add a comment
Want to let my opinions dictate your tastes? Okay!
2007 in Review
Favorite Song
None Shall Pass by Aesop Rock
Favorite Album
Oppenheimer (self ttled)
Favorite Movie
3:10 to Yuma directed by James Mangold
honorable mention
No Country For Old Men directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
Favorite TV Show
(discovered in 2007)
Heroes - Season 1
(aired in 2007)
Rome - Season 2
Favorite Book
(discovered in 2007)
Watchmen by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons
(published in 2007)
The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman
Favorite Trailer
Sunshine
honorable mention
Iron Man
Posted 2 years, 6 months ago at 10:02 pm. Add a comment
Despite the fact that I’m typing this update in the American Airlines terminal of the Chicago O’Hare airport, I won’t be able post until I get back to LA much later this evening (read, 20 days later) because sadly, the internet still isn’t free. So its 2008, the future, and the world is still lagging drearily behind my expectations.
In my update from October of last year I mentioned a “theoretical” promotion that has since solidified into an actual promotion to junior editorial within Herzog. I’m working nights, almost exclusively on HD Online Editing. My primary activity over my Christmas vacation was explaining to people what I do when I’m not on vacation, and after watching the blank look come over people’s faces during the fifth or sixth sentence of my speech, I get to wishing I had just pointed people toward this wikipedia article about onlining.
I’m also moving again. I don’t really like the apartment I live in. It is big, but that is about all it has going for it. It is expensive, gothic and old, has no laundry, parking, or air conditioning, and the paper thin walls and large windows invite the sound of the busy intersection right into room. I gave my 30 days notice without having a new place in mind - a move that people who don’t live in LA can hardly comprehend, and within only a few days of searching I found a place in Studio City. More on the new place in my next post when I will hopefully have pictures.
Posted 2 years, 7 months ago at 10:01 pm. Add a comment
Well, constant reader, this is it. This is an update for the sole purpose of linking you to other interesting things on the internet. Any plausible deniability that this is not a “blog” has just gone out the window.
Make sure you check out my friend and colleague Matt Walden defend America’s most hilarious presidential candidate on G4’s Attack of the Show.
And while you are surfing, check out Jon Ronson’s three part documentary Crazy Rulers of the World. The first part is about secret paranormal experiments conducted by the US military. Don’t start watching this until you have 40 minutes of free time, because you won’t be able to look away.
I forgot to mention that there is a new black and white photo on the portfolio page. It is called “The Night Crew.”
Posted 2 years, 10 months ago at 10:01 pm. Add a comment
The word “blog” isn’t that old. I was hoping that it would come to mean “a prefab fill in the blanks web format with hosting supported by advertisements” but instead it has come to mean “any website with regular editorial updates.” So I give up. Call this a blog if you want, you can’t fight the English language, but I’m still going to call it a website.
Anyway, I’ve always tried to keep this site about myself without making it into a public diary, but I think it would be strange for me to not mention that Cristine and I have separated after almost four years. Anyway, without punishing you with details, I’m living in our apartment by myself right now, probably moving in December, and Cristine is taking care of the cats.
In other recent developments, I was moved back to night work at Herzog Cowen in time for my one year anniversary at the company. I had worked nights from October of last year through the end of June this year - 9 months. I spent 3 months as a daytime assistant editor, and now I’ve accepted a move back to nights but I’m theoretically no longer a general assistant, but rather a junior editor and online assistant. The difference, this week anyway, is that I’m actually cutting something instead of making quicktimes and digitizing tapes.
I also wanted to report a successful birthday. The highlight was a They Might Be Giants show at the Avalon in Hollywood (thanks to Cristine for the tix), and the big surprise was the opening act Oppenheimer, who sounded amazing. They are playing at the TLA in Philly where I first saw TMBG years ago this Thanksgiving weekend, and if I had $800 for a plane ticket home I would be there. So if you’re in the tri-state area for the Thanksgiving, I highly recommend this show.
Posted 2 years, 10 months ago at 10:00 pm. Add a comment
I’m not so materially obsessed that I relish the thought of growing older for the sake of receiving birthday gifts. Still, September has always seemed like something of a speed bump in the year, a good time to slow down and take stock. All that being said, this post includes a list of shit you could buy me for my birthday if that’s something you’re interested in doing. And if you’re last name isn’t the same as mine, I don’t see why you would be.
Firstly, I can’t believe this set of travel posters from the Firefly/Serenity universe exists, and I must have them soon.
Computer wise, I’m falling way behind the curve in flash memory computer peripherals. My128mb flash drive just isn’t cutting it anymore. This one looks neat, and purports to be the smallest in the world. Wonder why its so inexpensive. I’m also starting to wish my computer had an All-in one card reader, especially since my cell phone now apparently accepts flash memory. I’m also really in need of more storage space for my desktop computer.
Warning! Don’t attempt to browse Polish Poster.com unless you have a least an hour of free time, because I guarantee you will be unable to resist exploring this ridiculous website. There are three of my favorites.
1. Innerspace
2. Star Wars
3. Alien
And perhaps most importantly an Amazon.com wishlist filled with exciting miscellanea.
There you go mom, stop asking.
Posted 2 years, 12 months ago at 10:00 pm. Add a comment
The three year anniversary of this web-effort is approaching, and due to a dreadful staleness in the kind of self-news I have to offer, posts have trickled down to six and eight month updates. So in case you were worried - no I haven’t lost my fingers, or forgotten how to use spell-check - I just haven’t had much to talk about.
In work related news, I’ve learned a lot at HCE, and since my last post, have moved from working nights (6pm to 4am, five days a week for NINE months) to having a fairly secure daytime position as an assistant editor. My role in the company has changed often, from logging tapes, general night assist, to leading the night assist crew, to B-roll pulling, to day time general assistant, and in the coming weeks I’ll be focusing on online editing (conforming finished pieces for delivery, color correction, and quality control). Anyway, everyone will know my name at this year’s Christmas party.
Also, Christine and I moved this summer. If you decide to send me something in the mail (thanks for those books Bryan), make sure you get my new address. The place is much bigger and nicer in many ways (for example, I’m typing this in my office) without being much more expensive. I don’t really have any pictures of the place yet, but I’m sure I’ll post them in another six months. I did however just take a picture of my office with my cell - and that reminds me - be careful not to leave a phone set to vibrate on the lip of the sink while the water is running. In other news, I recently got a new cell phone.
I don’t know if I mentioned it before, but last summer I started hounding people to participate in online advertising offers as my “referrals” - so that I could get a free gift. I wasn’t able to convince most of my so-called friends to sign up for anything, but the venture worked out very well overall. I did eventually receive a totally free X-Box 360 (which I immediately had modded) and a free Zune (which kicks an ipod’s ass) before I got bored with the effort.
Without really meaning too, I’ve become a Microsoft apologist wherever I go. I now carry a PC laptop in a wonderful Microsoft branded messenger bag that also holds my Microsoft Zune, and you wouldn’t believe how much shit I get for it. You know what, I actually think apple makes some neat products, but when I have that kind of money to spend on frills that I don’t absolutely need to get by - first I’m going to have my teeth whitened, then maybe I’ll get an iphone.
I shake my head in wonder every other day when I hear the date, and this has been going on since late March. This year has been fast and challenging in every way. I haven’t worked this hard since I was in film school, or partied this little since I was in diapers.
As usual, I’ll end this post with a vague promise to keep the internet more informed about my goals, my expectations, and the all the changes worth mentioning. On that note, see you around Christmas.
Oh, and of course, a shout out to my friend and FSU film school classmate Will Bigham, winner of the first season of On The Lot. Congratulations Will and best of luck!
Posted 3 years ago at 9:59 pm. Add a comment
Far too many of my posts begin with an apology for how long it has been since I last updated this site, but if you rely on the internet to get information I’m afraid you’re always going to be the last to know everything.
I’m pushing for 2007 to be “the year that was cool, but you don’t have to make a big deal about it.” And in that spirit, here’s a non-threatening billeted list of highlights from the season.
I got a job. I now work for Herzog Cowen Entertainment as a night assistant editor. Some of the perks of this job include very nice people, very nice facilities, the opportunity to work on big budget DVD projects, a fully stocked kitchen, and minimal amounts of self-loathing. Some of the cons include sleeping during the day, working at night, and not being an editor.
Its no secret that I am a nerd. Find a picture of me in 7th grade and it will be patently obvious that I was not thinking about the same things as 90% of my peers. After a long hiatus from blatantly nerdy activity I was compelled to read Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, and watch Battlestar Galactica. I would say I’ve spent 10% of the last 4 months engaged in hot nerdy orgy of the mind thanks to Stephen King and the Sci-fi channel. I don’t know where this nerd renaissance is going, but I just yesterday purchased my first (intentional) magazine subscription - Popular Science.
Probably in response to the nerdiness, some part of my brain told me that I wanted to watch football a few weeks ago and I turned on the first Eagles game that Jeff Garcia QB’ed and got roped into the most exciting Eagles season since the last time the Eagles had their backup players lead them into the play offs. I don’t know how it happened, but I’m a sports fan all of a sudden.
I worked briefly in Dec. at the LA Auto show, burning CDs of amateurs who filmed their own Toyota commercials in front of a green screen. You can probably find some of these on YouTube if you care enough.
Our cat, Victor, broke the elbow of his right foreleg. He’s recovering now after having surgery to pin his bones back together, limping around and carelessly jumping up on things as if he has no idea how much a new cat elbow costs (you don’t want to know).
I mean to make other updates to the portfolio section - I added a long time ago a non-link to a Firefly video I made, but I’ll probably take it down because I don’t think anyone cares and I’m kind of over showing it to people anyway.
Until then, Happy New Year.
Posted 3 years, 8 months ago at 9:59 pm. Add a comment
My birthday is this coming Sunday, the 24th of September, and while I’m not planning anything, I thought I would put it out there that lottery tickets would be an excellent way to show you care. Lots and lots of lottery tickets. Preferably Mega Millions or Super Lotto. But I would also accept Powerball. Quickpicks are fine, you don’t have to personally choose the numbers.
If gambling isn’t your thing, but you’re still aching to celebrate, two of these window shades one of these cell phones (1, 2), or some chocolate malt carnation instant breakfast would all be acceptable in lieu of lottery tickets.
Also, if you aren’t into spending money, I still need people to sign up and complete a free trial offer so I can get a free Xbox 360.
Posted 3 years, 11 months ago at 9:58 pm. Add a comment
Over a year of editing for Good Time Golf is at a functional end. Unemployment brings into sharp focus that list of things that you normally keep in the hazy distance, of stuff you hope you’ll never have to do . I’ve been scanning that list all morning and my eyes keep flicking hungrily between “sell body for science experiments” and “rob liquor store.” Now you’re think, Dave, you are hy-larious, and I agree. Unfortunately hy-larity is poor resume filler.
The big news is that I’ve moved my site to a domain that does not imply that my name is David Cholland. Welcome to The Cloud Pit. The Cloud Pit is the title of a story that I wrote almost ten years ago that was based on an amazing dream. Someday it will be a screenplay, but in the meantime, enjoy the domain name.
When I moved the site, I gave it a head to toe polish, added some pictures to the color photography section in the portfolio, and also posted the long awaited, if not anticipated Wreckumentary - an epic documentary on the making of Glitter Girl - a short film I crewed on in my first year of film school. Check the portfolio section.
If you are a potential employer who found this website by reading my resume, you can find more of the same kind of information on the resume page of this website, and you can rest assured, I would never actually rob a liquor store. But maybe you should hire me just in case.
In the way of personal news, I gave myself a going out of work present by grabbing an enormous 36inch HDTV from Craigslist. I’m finally able to use the progressive scan feature on my DVD player, with which I swiftly conquered season one of 24 and season two of Veronica Mars. And to top it off, I can now watch the third seasons of Veronica Mars, House, and Lost in true and beautiful HD. My god those shows are good. The jury is still out on 24 as I limp into season 2 - I prefer my drama with at least a grain of levity.
Posted 3 years, 12 months ago at 9:57 pm. Add a comment