"It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend." – William Blake
Alright well ya know what........ I know I just posted about a new film I'll be dropping on you guys real soon but I think you deserve something right now. I give you "Welcome To Ill Street" - MY FIRST SHORT FILM - To learn more about it please see below.
I'm tired of having this hanging over my head. A long time ago - In April of 2015 I officially started my journey of trying to make films - Yes - I had a script produced in 2013 but this was going to be my first time directing something. I teamed up with a friend and we shot this over a weekend. We had no idea what we were doing. I've had it competed for more than 3 years. It's just sat there. Because for whatever reason I was embarrassed.
I felt like the films I made afterwards were so much better I didn't want people to think this was the level of quality they could expect from me. Don't get me wrong - it's not bad. But it's also far from great. So I held on to it. Not wanting anyone else to see. Afraid of being vulnerable. Ask any filmmaker - I guarantee most - If not all - Have a number of "Completed films" that they will never allow to see the light of day - especially in the overly critical and judgmental world we live in.
Truth is this film cost me about $1000 bucks between Gas - Food - Props and camera rentals. Not a crazy amount of money when you're talking about movies but also not a small amount either.
Every few months I'd go back and watch it. Which would inevitably bring on waves of alternating feelings. One moment I would be full of pride - "You know what this isn't half bad" hold on wait a minute "This IS bad - It's like the most pretentious student film ever constructed. Delete it now as so no one will ever have to suffer!"
Well here we are today. It's been awhile since I've have the opportunity to direct something like this and I'm looking at it in a different light. We did this. We weren't afraid of making something bad we just wanted to tell a story. And we did it. You can't expect to be the best at something the first time you make an attempt. For most it takes many many years of practice to get halfway decent at anything - although art and film are mostly judged based on one's personal taste - This is especially true with film.
I'm not afraid anymore - I'm proud of the film you see here. Happy and thankful I was afforded the opportunity to make it and now finally share it with the world...... Well Blockchain at least. I embrace both the positives and negatives about it. I'm sure there is more tweaking that can be done - Obviously more areas that could be polished. But I could spend another 4 years tweaking this thing and I'll still never be happy. So as I've already said. I'm letting go of it. Have at it Blockchain.
I've never put credits in the film. Lost contact with everyone else involved. Not interested in rekindling anything. Lets just leave it at that.
This Film exists no where else on the internet (Publicly) - So please take a few minutes to give it a watch. Share your thoughts below. If you've got a similar story you would like to share I invite you to do so in the comments below. Hell you could even make a video response and tag me in it.
The Song in the video is "Ill Street blues" - A Hip-Hop Classic.
Thanks for stopping by.
I love you.
E - Out
