side-hustle thoughts

First, I tested some of the Dakumentary on speakers. It was good, but yeah, it could use a pro mix. Gary's PA is quite powerful, though, so it'll be fine for the May 2 screening. Most of the files are around, but it depends on when PB Tech look at my laptop. I replaced a few clips yesterday, but yeah... I think it's got the right shape as an epic. - As for my role and how I reckon I was in the film: See - I'm really good at writing songs, and I move well. While the tapes are useful demos, their main purpose is so I can see my hands; I didn't bother to write down the Shipwrecked chords. It's in Drop D, and that's what I came up with when I stood Chloe up at the Mandy Hager book launch*. My chord charts end up looking too complex due to the inversions, which is why I usually publish my songs as piano/vocal scores. -

I think the Dakumentary played well on the speakers, but I'd rather save that for the Lindale Village screening with the PA and projector.

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As for performing songs, well, I'm good at that too, but I really see that as just a party trick, which is why the club is my ideal venue for myself. That's very Carmen of me. 🤣

The club is useful from pretty much every perspective in terms of my life goals:

1. Regular income. Trafficking in weed is a really safe business (once it's legal).

2. People come in, share their stories, and I write my musicals.

3. Regular income = money to fund my movies.

I'm still a casual employee at RNZ, but that only means a few shifts a month. 😀 That covers enough of the bills to keep me off the dole (unfortunately), but not enough to go out and do shit. The thing that brings me the most joy atm is Uber Eats, which is also because I'm depressed. I'm in a bad mood, and it's been the same for a few days - seasons changing tends to mean cycles changing re: bipolar, so I was in an up mood during the summer and my winters are generally bleak. - Dave said to keep the circle really small. So maybe 4-5 people I could swing dealing for.

This, though, is totally an example of how society marginalises the mentally ill. The dealer-client relationship is one that I think my Weeded Out scripts were useful for explaining to the young people. In brief: the privileged buy weed; the underprivileged sell weed. 😡 Even Dakta isn't made of money, though he's done nicely out of the trade.

This is why people should befriend me - I've got the connects, and your pussy attitudes about my shows aren't welcome (if you want me to suss your buds and trips). 😎

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As for the sound design, it's designed for a binaural experience.

I've been designing them to sound good on my headphones.

For the TVNZ+ version, there'd be post costs.

I think the chipmunk sounds are funny for the weed clips, but it would be tragic for Te Whakaahua.

So the frame-rate issue is the main block to producing the clips as proper episodes. As for upscaling and grading .. I have qualms about that, particularly the grading. One of the charms of the film is the different eras, so the grade would have to preserve that rather than trying to achieve a uniform look. My main concern is someone desaturating the clips. I think it should be a highly saturated look.

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And I don't want to do season 2. I'm bored of Wellington, but I can't afford to move. 🙄 - *Real talk: so, about that... Gary mentioned the event, then I had some DMT. Just as Gary and Dakta were leaving, one of Jeffery's mates rocked up with some acid. I weighed up my options: crash the party with Dakta and Gary, or take a trip. I chose the trip. 2023 me is more confident, but yeah... Parliament freaks me out.