Since I feel more inclined to post at Words Pictures Movies than here, check out that blog.

I'm not sure but I probably won't update this blog or do anything under the Last Robot Films label for quite some time. Come on over to the WPM blog & site and check out our work over there!

Haven't written anything new in some time here since I've been busy having a real job.

Last Robot Films will probably be on the back burner for awhile since I've decided to partner up with some brilliant folks to create WORDS PICTURES MOVIES. The other two partners are Adam Dickinson and Bruce Meyers.

Our first short film is tentatively titled The Robbery but the title might change. Its a twisted little 1930's bank heist flick. It should be on the site by December 25, 2005 so don't forget to come back and check it out!

In other news, I've put up two short films on the Last Robot Films page. Scroll down to see the links or click on the direct links in the next two paragraphs.

"Being Joe Beercan" was written by Kevin Maher and directed by me in 2001. Kevin stars in it as do many people whose names I forget. Except Bruce Meyers. How can I forget Bruce? He's also a part of Words Pictures Movies. "Being Joe Beercan" was a fun little film we did to criticize modern media. The end is, uh, interesting and probably not the best ending ever but it might make you giggle so check it out.

"Territory" was written by Adam Dickinson of A Halo Called Fred fame and directed by me in April of 2005. Territory is really special since we completed it in 3 weeks, effects and all. It stars Bruce Meyers, who was also in A Halo Called Fred.

Its a small, small world.

So I'm back to working on the Zombie script with very little progress. I've taken part in forming a screenwriting group but not even the potential embarrassment of not completing an assignment helps me.

Perhaps I just like having stories in my head and not sharing them?

So my car was totaled. I bought another but now there are problems with it. At least tomorrow I'm getting together with three friends to discuss screenplays, writing and process with the hope that we will encourage each other to complete personal projects.

Another update before I pass out -- I read Ferenc Toth's latest script tonight and it is awesome! I really hope he's able to start shooting within a few months. It deserves to be on film.

All I'll say about it for now is that its a great story about redemption. And it has some Irish people in it! It is a dramatic story so please don't assume it is a comedy by my whimsical discription. I'll let you know more as it happens! Maybe if I'm lucky I'll even get to work on it!

Remember Ferenc's name, I suspect he'll be remembered as one of the greats decades from now.

My friend Adam wants to set up a screenwriting group to force us to write on a more regular schedule. Perhaps this will help in the neverending quest for self discipline?

Your thoughts?

Just another update before I pass out, drunk on rum.

I am not getting up every day to write at 5AM. I envy people with self discipline, I really do.

For what it is worth, I have destroyed my future political career with this overly honest blog. I mean who would vote for a guy who gets drunk alone on a Saturday night contemplating his IQ of 137?

Oh wait, I just described Dick Nixon. You won't have Last Robot to kick around anymore!

If you make films, post your website link in my comments section, I'm always into viewing other people's work.

Just a quick update in my life to my only reader, Vice President Dick Cheney. I totaled my car last week, my beautiful new 2004 Sentra. Well, I didn't total it -- a man in oncoming traffic who decided to save himself 3 seconds and made a left turn in front of me did. He drove nearly head on into me.

Thank god for seatbelts and airbags.

I recall yelling at him "you ruined my life!" Well, he didn't really but I was very upset. I really liked that car.

So this week I am going to finally film "Emmy Fight Club", a short film that has been in my head since I won two Emmys a few years ago for TV editing. It involves my Emmys, fighting and lots and lots of blood. Look for it on my website within 45 days!

Hooray for blood!

Oh yeah, I'm home alone now and drunk. My life is so sad.

Hooray for blood!

I got a job! So once I settle in there, I will start organizing everything to get back to creative film-like endeavors. I have a bunch of ideas that I just have to narrow down.

Oh and I have to maintain some self discipline. I'm going to force myself to get up at 5AM every day and write. If anyone reads this and has suggestions for self discipline, feel free to click on the comments link and leave your thoughts!

I have a few interviews coming up in the next two weeks. I'm so excited! Since currently I am the personification of Last Robot Films, it is my own money that goes into each and every project. Without solid work, my side-projects have no hope of even seeing the light of day. Therefore it is essential that I get a job.

Well it is essential to have an income to make films and avoid homelessness. And to eat. I like eating. And would like to continue doing it a few times a day.

The quest for self discipline in how I structure my free time, unfortunately, is not going as well. I am not reading as much as I should. I still surf the internet too much at night. At least through the glory of Netflix I'm watching a lot of films. Tonight I have Good Bye, Lenin to watch and have Remains Of The Day on the way in the mail.

So if filmmaking rocks your world, get off the internet and make some films!

The website update is finished but I am still searching for a job. I think no one is responding this week because Christmas is approaching and we're in the middle of Hanukah. Hopefully January will bring bunches of job offers. Its all I ask for Christmas.

In the meanwhile, aside from trying to finish scripts, I have been contemplating what to do with my life in general. Lets face it, I may finish one or two features in my life but its probably more difficult than I thought. Therefore, I need a real career to support myself.

I really like editing video. I like teaching. Why not combine the two? I've been considering going for a Masters in Adult Ed. and really refining my video skills (i.e. getting certified by Avid by taking a bunch of their courses). That would actually be a fun job to have.

I'd like to edit for television but I wonder why my approach in interviews seems to fail. I'm wondering if it shows through that I may have some small gaps in my editing skills.

It is strange that I have two Emmys but also have gaps in some of my editing software knowledge...but I don't have the money right now to either rent time in an edit bay and teach myself or take courses. It is a vicious cycle. What's really weird is that I know I'd pick up the skills I need within a day of working on any job but I have no idea how to prove that to people.

I wish I had spent my money better in 2003 but at the same time, I had to find out for myself that I do not enjoy the LA/Hollywood life (I moved out there and came back 6 weeks later). If I had done that, I would have taken courses instead that would have refined my editing skills. However, I'd be regretting not having tried the west coast adventure either.

In other news, Ferenc Toth's film Unknown Soldier keeps racking up the awards and deservedly so. It has a great story about a young guy who ends up homeless in Harlem that shines through the minor technical imperfections that plague every low budget film. My claim to fame on this one is that I taught Ferenc how to use Avid Xpress!

I'm currently waiting to see the Tom Zuber film Little Athens. This is the film I went to Los Angeles to work on as either a PA or script supervisor in 2003 but they hit a few delays after I got there and while seeking other work decided LA & me just aren't meant to be. Anyway, they finished shooting this summer and are in post-production. I read the script and all I can say is I can't wait to see how it was shot because the script was fantastic and Tom's first film Lansdown was great.

And so it goes.

I spent all day working on the website with a bit of time looking for jobs. Days like today make me really miss the 1990's where jobs were striking me in the head like that apple that gave Newton the idea to create those 3 laws of his.

Someone should really make a movie about Newton and his apples.

Yesterday I sat down at 11:30 AM and began loading in the raw video for the Geoff Braun video I shot last January in England. By 8:45 PM I had the rough layer complete. Possibly my fastest edit -- including time wasted on the internet and 2 hours of render time.

The current layer only has shots of Geoff playing and walking around. I'm going to add more when I shoot it. I'm hoping to do the shoot in under two hours and then the next edit in about 4-6 hours. I'd really like to get this one done in the next 2-3 weeks.

In the meanwhile I'm redoing my site, www.vitner.net. I'm also looking for freelance edit gigs or a full time job within 1 & 1/2 hours of central New Jersey.

It is amazing how goals can be set but remain unrealized due to total lack of self-discipline.

Today is my first 29th birthday. This week I premiered a short film at Chicago City Limits' First Sundays Festival titled "The Happiest Sheep On Earth". This film will not be shown in public again since it contains "borrowed" artwork. I am showing you the menu and telling you that you won't be able to order any of the specials since we don't make them any more. A lot of my friends showed up to the screening. Several other friends tried and were prevented by fate. They're all amazing wonderful people I don't deserve to know but count myself lucky that I do.

What else has consumed my life? Work, making money, entertaining offers to work on non-paying projects, love (or the lack thereof). Not enough filmmaking in my life. This has to change. I am still working on the Zombie script. I know the ending but can't seem to get a cohesive outline of Act II together. What's that? I have not told you about the Zombie movie? Well, its sort of a practice script. Think of it as Dr. Strangelove meets All The President's Men. Draw your own conclusions. I will not give away any more in this blog. :-)

Head over to my site when you have a chance.

So my car died and I had to buy another. This puts a serious dent in my plan to purchase a Mac-based Avid editing system. I was hoping the car would last until 2005. The danger here is that I tend to become obsessed with new toys.

I already have a premiere based PC that I could edit a feature on, with some blood, sweat and tears of course. I could do a film right now -- save for the money -- but I always start thinking about the next toy. Do not do this. Art first, toys second. Repeat that to yourselves and you won't make my mistakes.

Currently I'm rereading "The Art Of Dramatic Writing" by Lajos Egri. Its more about playwriting but I think there's some good suggestions and ideas in there on maintaining dramatic tension. In writing news, I still have not started the Zombie script. I am a procrastinator.

Before I write the script for my ultra-low budget feature, I am going to write a rather silly feature script featuring brain-eating zombies and Nazi's on the moon. I do not intend for this one to be my first feature, but a "practice" script.

I plan on having act one complete by January 30th. Also, when I get back from England on January 15th, I hope to seriously sit down and start developing my friend Adam's short script titled "Bob Likes Ice Cream." I'd love to have that completed by March of 2004.