Losing Weight?

I woke up this Sunday morning happy and impressed that I was losing weight. I know I don't look like I'm losing any weight at all but I surely have! I'm really proud of myself and wanted to share with everyone out there that it's possible to get anything done as long as your presistant with your goals. I was up to a 3XL in clothes and I'm back into a 2XL. Working on getting to a 1XL. I want to thank everyone who's been watching my unscripted life and reading my books. You guys totally Rock! Stay Inspired and Keep Writing!

Recycling on a Film Set

Thought I would share one of my stories from working on Film Sets in Hollywood. You all know that I have written a book about running a security team for the Entertainment Industry and worked on tons and I mean tons of movies, music videos TV shows and even done some private parties. I even had the weird experience doing the under the radar services for many celebs in Hollywood pretty much like Ray Donovan. I will be posting more experiences working on film sets with a touch of my personal life. Stay tuned and stay inspired!

$800, for 5 mins!

So here we are smack middle in Downtown LA, it's dark, tons of fans and paparazzi everywhere. I have the fun post of being next to set as they do the rain scene for this Back Street Boy music video. I don't get offer an umbrella instead I'm given a small grocery plastic bag to help keep me dry from the fake rain. Don't get me wrong, I love being by set when they film, but at least I would like to be prepared for this rain.

I lost count on how many takes they done for this shot without the Director shouting cut after the girl on the stretcher not staying still. The girl's only part in this video is play a dead body. The beginning shot of this video is the paramedics pushing in a body into the hospital (which is really the hotel) but the lady won't sit still. The extra is complaining about the rain getting into her nose and ears. They tried covering her face with the sheets but the lady is complaining about it feels like she's drowning. They try the plugs for her ears and nose but still the lady won't lie dead on the stretcher. Now mind you even though the scene is only a few seconds on the video it's a longer shot here as they film.

I think it's been over 45 minutes just for this one shot. The frustration of the Director finally got the better of him as he screamed at the extra, and replaced her with some guy. But that didn't seem to work either. The guy wasn't able to pull off the scene either with out flinching from the rain pouring on his face. After many unsuccessful shots they ended up pulling the guy off and that's when I heard the 1st AD shout out. "Were offering $800 for 5 Min's. All you have to do is play dead!" Heck I can play dead in the rain for 5 minutes for that amount of money. But they weren't looking for a Mexican or a heavy set Mexican that is. So I was shit out of luck. This older man was chosen and he did want the other 2 weren't able to do.

I know this isn't such a big thing but people wonder why filming takes so long. This is a perfect example of a Director who wants everything perfect down to the lighting to the effects and to the people who play dead.

From the 31 hour shift I did on this job, I came out pretty hefty on the money side; I say I made out just perfect myself.

Game Stop needs to train their Employees!

We all have shopped at game stop once in our lifetime, most of us more than others. Since there are no more huge video chain stores I either have the option to use Red Box which has a very limited selection of games and not many of the new game releases. Then there’s Gamefly which it’s pretty rare you get a new game on release date. So Game stop is the one place where you can get the new releases and used games at anytime. I have nothing against Game stop, I like their selection of games but their prices don’t really drop unless they have many returns on a popular game. What I really hate and I don’t think I’m alone on this subject is Game stop really needs to train their employees. There have been many times where I talk to some of the employees about games and they have this dumbfounded look on  their face as if whatever I was talking about just went over their head. This happens more with the female employees that work there. Now I have nothing against girls and games, lets make that  clear. I game with many girls on the xbox. But the many girls that have helped me at Game stop have no clue what character is for what game. This one girl tried to play it off and mentioned how she liked the black player Charles Barkley in the new Madden 25 game because his defense skills are strong in the goal area. Really? I didn’t know that EA had their basketball players intertwined with their football game and have goalies. I understand why Game stop would have an attractive blond early 20 something in their store. Gamers dig hot chicks. But if this hot chick isn’t offering anything more in the backroom then she better have a clue to what games are good especially if I’m going to be dropping $60 plus bucks on games and equipment. I done the whole management thing and understand putting the right people in the front to attract customers. I remember working at this restaurant and the manager wanted me to place all the fat workers closest to the window so when potential customers walked by they would say “the food must be good here, look at the employees” and it would bring business to the joint.; and it did. But at least give them some knowledge of gaming! I went to another game stop and this guy straight out from the military was working the counter. You would think this guy would have some knowledge of video games. He didn’t. His response was. “I don’t play video games”. How do you work in a game store and not play video games? That’s like a vegetarian working in a burger joint. I don’t eat meat yet I cook burgers? How does that work? How does game stop get customers if their employees don’t play what they sell? I know a few years back there was a time where every game stop employee knew the ins and outs of games and what to get and what not to get. I think game stop needs to invest some time on their employees and not worry so much about next generations consoles, this way majority of their employees could be game savvy.

Having 2 sons that are special needs

Back in 2008 when my younger son was diagnosed with Autism, I had no clue what it was. I read many books, looked up hours and hours of videos. Read over hundreds of different blogs from other parents that also have children with special needs. But after doing tons of research I came up with one conclusion. No one actually has an answer on how to deal with a child with special needs. The only best advice I have heard from anyone is have patience. Patience was the answer everyone came up with. even today Patience is advised to many parents. Other parents say medical treatment is a better answer but I don't feel the need to have my boys on Meds. Now when I say boys I mean both my older and younger son's are considered special needs. My oldest son was diagnosed a few weeks ago. They say he doesn't have Autism but is special needs. To this day I'm not sure what the difference is. My oldest son who's 10 shows his special needs with aggression as to appose my younger son who's 7 shows a different sign of his special needs by not sitting in one place for too long and jumping around and always moving. I found ways to keep my younger son distracted by letting him play with the ipad or on xbox. He sure loves his Minecraft. I know many parents are against video games but i think minecraft helps with counting and using skills he would use at school. I love that my son is creative in his video game world. My older son, I tried so many things but his anger blows to fast and anyone near him will take most of the heap of it. My oldest son is like Bruce Banner, one second he's calm and the very next he's green and mean! The damage my older son has done in the household has put a hefty price on our finances.

I know what everyone's thinking, "Well your a writer, you can afford it". Just because I'm a self published writer doesn't mean I'm flowing with riches. Yes I could of went with a publisher a few years back for my "Life After Wrap" book but the conditions the publishers gave me just wasn't what i wanted my Bio book to go. The 4 books that I have published make enough for me to stay home and take care of the kids while my girl works her job. You also have to remember I have a family of 7 so money goes really fast in this house. Where some people advise taking them places I look out the long run. going to the movies or any other festivities can cost around $100 just for one day. As in I can buy my kids a gold account for their xbox for a year family plan for only $50. A year of letting them watch Netflix and play xbox live with their friends oppose to one day of fun. The yearly gaming pass wins.

For now, the only thing I can do is be patient with both boys and try to drain their energy with my 5 mile walks which I can't always have them go cause of their tantrums. (Ever see a grown boy throw himself to the ground yelling and screaming in public?) Both boys have short attention spans and too much energy. You mix that with 3 sisters and it adds up to crazyness! I know some people have said I should put my kids in daycare and go get a job. Already tried that route. My older son has been kicked out of 2 places. Which I also had to walk out of 1 interview for a job while in process.

I'm always looking for feedback so if you have any ideas on how to deal with two kids with special needs, I'm all ears. It's frustrating at times. Dealing with the boys, writing my 5th book and trying to make an social media name is hard. I used to read comic books when I felt overloaded, cause the books always took me to another place where I don't have to hear screaming 24/7. But since I rather not spend money on something I don't need i play xbox. So many times you may seem me playing games where I can blow stuff up is my way of showing letting out my frustration. I think many parents feel the same and have gone through the same as myself and my girl have gone through. It's rough at times. I think not having a social life also has it's toll. I don't have many friends in the real world as to the internet or gaming world. Me and the girl try to have our date night here and there but finding a babysitter is impossible. We have to rely on my girl's dad who isn't really reliable. So our date night is having a family night watching movies either on Demand or Netflix.

I was told that twitter is the place to find the same circle that your in. Tons of Authors and Writers promoting their works just as you are. And that's all they are doing is promoting their work. The years I have been using the social media to network I only have come across only  a handful of good people out there. I learned that not too many writers like to help or give advice or network or even bounce off ideas with other writers. It's like Hollywood. Not many like to network or help cause that's one more writer who's out there in this hard competition world we live in. For example when I offered free publicity for my youtube channel I had many Authors and writers telling me that I don't have enough views on my page for their work to be on my channel. But like I said, there are many that I have met who really have helped in many ways. I have even met some cool parents in the special needs world that are helpful but like the writers on twitter there's not many parents that give feedback or help. Many of you know that my Adventures of One Sock book is based off my son's life who has Autism, and many of the special needs parents out there feedback was "It's not too Autism enough". Thanks for the positive feedback.

There's a few things I know. I won't stop making sure my kids don't feel different and have fun in their summer break. My girl and I won't stop trying to have date night. I won't stop networking with other creative folks in the social media. I would say I won't stop talking to other parents about kids with special needs cause I don't talk with any parents about this subject. Maybe my different books or opinions turn them off? I don't know.

The biggest thing I also do know is I will never stop creating and writing and loving my kids for who they are no matter what kind of problems they have in their lives.

I want to thank everyone who listened to my rant and everyone who's bought and supported my books. You guys are just too awesome!

My Vlogs

I've been getting many people asking me why em I doing a vlog on youtube. Well as many of you know I used to do a blogtalkradio show, but after awhile I stop then continued and stopped again. I might go back to blogtalkradio again, but then I was told to just do vlogs on youtube. Now just to let people know, I'm not doing youtube for money or to get 15 mins of fame. I think of youtube as blogtalkradio just without the live audience and live chat room. Another reason why I have been doing more on my youtube channel is to post the short films that I will be making very soon. Plus I game a lot, and so I will also be posting some game footages on my youtube channel. There are so many more talented people than me out there in the youtube world. I just like that I can use youtube as another outlet to voice my opinion and for my writing. I want to thank many people who have been watching and sending me emails. I will be posting more vlogs and as I said working on posting some short films in the future. I am a stay at home Dad and using every available device I can to get my creative work out there. Stay inspired everyone and never stop creating and believing in your dreams.

My Video Podcast

Many of you know that I was doing a Radio broadcast on Blog talk radio. I stopped doing the show a few months ago, everyone kept asking when I was going to do another live podcast show. So I figured I would come back but this time do a video version of the show and instead of calling the show Securityfiles I am calling it "Daddy Tales". This podcast will focus on my books and writing tips as well as promote other Artist whether they are a writer or have a book out. I  Feel this is my way in helping others with their craft and getting the word out there. I'm a true believer of Networking with one another. So far I have only done 2 podcast but working on another after I write this blog. I think this is a great way to express myself and show other people who are just getting into the craft of writing that they are not alone with the whole writers block and motivation and inspiration with writing. Check out my show and feel free to leave a comment and let me know how I'm doing; also don't forget to subscribe:) Keep writing and stay Inspired!

Rj