The Magical World of Leigh Scott

Big Time Baby!!!

2009-06-01T17:59:00.000-07:00

In case you care, and you should, my blogs are now posted over at Andrew Breitbart's Big Hollywood website. Big Hollywood is a diverse "group blog" featuring conservative, liberal, and libertarian commentators. Many are in the entertainment industry. It's worth a read every day as there is always something interesting over there.

Check it out!

Big Hollywood

There they go again....

2009-03-26T22:33:00.000-07:00

This just came in the mail. It kicks ass. Leave it to the Democrats to take it away from me!

So, it seems that Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, a Democrat, has appealed to the FDA to ban my new best friend...the electronic cigarette. This, of course, happens as I enjoy the close of my first full week without cigarettes since I started smoking in 2001. This horrendous news comes as I just received my brand new, super sweet e-cigarette in the mail (with Coke flavored nicotine...wow, Leigh Scott can now smoke Diet Coke, is this heaven or what).

We can only surmise three possible reasons why the good senator would attempt to piss me off and put my life back into jeopardy.

1) He genuinely cares about the well being of others and is worried that since e-cigarettes haven't been subjected to five to ten years of clinical studies, that they could pose a hidden danger.

2) He recognizes that e-cigarettes are superior to regular cigarettes and that since they are not tobacco products, they are exempt from the ridiculous taxes that he and his brethren love to spend on silly social engineering projects. Within a couple of years, cigarette sales could drop significantly, meaning his revenue streams would drop significantly.

3) E-cigarettes are far superior to other pharmaceutical smoking alternatives like nicorette gum and nicotine inhalers. That would cost those companies millions. Right now the success rate for the gum and the patch is around 7%. From what I've read and my own personal experience, the e-cig is at around...oh, I don't know ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. And since the e-cigs are made by scrappy entrepreneurs and the fluids can actually be made at home with over the counter products, the pharmaceutical companies would be out of luck here. Now this only makes sense if the Senator was, you know, involved with the pharmaceutical companies. Hmmmm...what's this? Oh, just a couple hundred grand in his bank account from such companies? Color me shocked!

The real reason is probably a combination of all three. And while number one may appear noble, I say screw off. I don't need them telling me what to do. So, thanks, but no thanks. GET OUT OF MY LIFE GOVERNMENT!!!!

True to form, there are two Congressmen and one Senator who oppose him and actually smoke e-cigs themselves (one of them is Minority leader Boehner, who actually sent one to Obama to try and get him to stop smoking), and they are all Republicans.

Most of the "vaping" community is made up of tech heads and hippies, so they're all mobilizing their petitions, calling their congressmen and banning any negative political discussion from their forums and websites. Well, hippies, this is your fault in the first place. And you know what, being nice in politics gets you nothing. The only reason we are in this mess is because the left spent eight years being downright mean and spiteful across the board. No respect. Nothing "nice" about it.

So, instead of an impassioned plea, I'll just go underground, stock up on supplies, find the black market and tell this jackass that his days are numbered just like the rest of his socialist buddies!

Gen X...Your Time is NOW!!!!

2009-03-18T22:45:00.000-07:00

I think we Gen Xers dropped the ball. Sure, we were supposed to be the slackers. We were the disaffected youth, disappointed that the ideals of the 1960s morphed into the social and economic selfishness of the 80s. We had our grunge music. We had our long hair (some of us still do), our goatees (ditto, still got it), flannels and Nirvana. Ethan Hawke in "Reality Bites". Got it?

So what happened. We were supposed to take the torch and move the world forward at some point. Instead, those decrepit Baby Boomers refused to cede the throne and now these pesky Gen Y rubes are using their superior technological aptitude and horrible work ethic to shape popular culture and politics.

We grew up during Reagan. We watched the Berlin Wall fall. We have seen America at its best. We know what this country can be and why you don't want to fuck with us.

We grew up with Star Wars. The ideals of freedom over tyranny. Good and evil. We understand this.

Bono, Madonna, Prince, Kurt Cobain. They belong to us. The future belongs to retarded clowns like Lady Gaga.

Let's face it. We've always had Lady Gagas. Remember Soft Cell? The Screaming Trees? Crystal Waters? We've always had remakes and sequels. The difference is, now these flimsy excuses for entertainment and art are elevated to the status of true masters. Cheesy Katy Perry music is fine. It's fine. I'm listening to it right now. Extolling her grand talents and calling her an artist? That's wrongheaded and culturally dangerous.

Generation Y doesn't like to work. Why would they? Never before has a nation produced a bigger group of self important individuals. We follow people on Twitter. We all write blogs. We all have our own piece of the internet, either on Facebook or Myspace. Everyone is important. Everyone is a celebrity.

What would you expect from a generation raised in a school system where everyone got a trophy just for participating. Gen Y doesn't believe in winners or losers. Everyone is a winner.

We know that that attitude leads to everyone being a loser.

This Generation has ushered in the reign of leftist democrats and "The One". We in Gen X are supposed to be too cynical to buy into that. Consider this Soundgarden fan unimpressed. Gen Y is squishy. They were raised that way. You can't blame them. Why would you want to fight and stand up for principals? Watching funny cat videos on youtube is way more fun.

We lost the fight about three years ago. The Gen Y folks with their Baby Boomer enablers (who now want to bring back their 60s ideals in a vein attempt to recapture their youth) ran rimshot over American ideals and managed to vilify a principled, well intentioned leader and lead us to a cultural wasteland. Gen Y isn't about results. It's about feelings. It's about theories and ideas. The Greatest Generation was results oriented. They won the biggest, most important war EVER. The fact that we were attacked on our own soil on 9/11 and haven't had a single incident since should have at least garnered a bit of gratitude and good will. It didn't. Instead we got a light weight actor who can't give a speech without a teleprompter. But hey, he looks good on camera. What else would you expect the facebook generation to give us?

But at the core, the cynicism of Gen X came from our disappointment with our parent's generation. They should have done more we thought. Our grand parents were so fucking impressive. The stories of war, the Great Depression, life without technology and convenience were inspiring and mind boggling. Through it all, they were great people. Happy to be alive. Happy to be Americans. Our parents looked like spoiled brats in comparison. With all of their privileges all they managed to do was get a bunch of really good ideas half way there. Then, they got selfish and abandoned it all, leaving the country worse for the wear. What was the point for us to do much if anything? We couldn't really change much. Being selfish didn't lead them anywhere. So, screw it. Let's play some Madden 97 and drink some beer.

Now, things are different. The world needs our cynicism. These happy lemmings are going to lead all of us over a cliff. We need to buck political correctness. We need to be that group that asks the questions, points out the hypocrisy and offers the solutions.

Culturally, we need to inspire, finance, and support true artistic movements. These clowns may know how to use the internet, but screw you, we invented it! I used to have AOL dial up to IM girls I never met who lived in Hawaii. Sure, it took two minutes to get an answer, but my ass was typing LOL while your ass was learning your ABCs.

For a generation that thought they could do nothing to change the world, the time has come to lead it.

Boo Hoo AIG Executives Got Some of Your Cash

2009-03-17T21:33:00.000-07:00

Once again, a quick scan of the TV or the news sites on the internet just pisses me off. Today everyone is hoping mad because AIG, a large insurance company that received $160 Billion Dollars in tax payer bailout money, is giving out bonuses to their senior managers. In all, its 73 executives and it totals about $160 Million dollars.

Should the people responsible for running a company into the ground get a bonus? Should these executives profit from tax payer subsides? Of course not. It's wrong and stupid. But is that even the issue here? This is less than one tenth of one percent of the total bailout given just to AIG. It is barely a blip on the radar screen in the whole bailout mess. Should we just let it go? Probably not. Should we focus on it while our inept government tosses trillions of dollars down the money hole? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Like the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz, the Obama administration has done a great job to keep you from looking at the man behind the curtain. Don't look at the fumbling administration, staffed by rookies and egomaniacs, what's Rush Limbaugh up to? What? They gave out bonuses? Outrageous!!!!

I'm getting a little sick and tired of all the games and shenanigans. We have a banking, stock market, and credit "crisis" that demands immediate action. So, let's focus on health care, education and renewable energy. Let's quote everyday, down to the specific number, how many jobs we've lost but then let's put in rules to restrict stimulus jobs to union members. Oh...REALLY?

The problem here is that government, leftists in particular, always attack the symptom and not the actual disease. They don't look to real solutions or long term fixes. Let me tell you what I would have done.

This whole thing started with people who couldn't pay their mortgages. They shouldn't have had mortgages in the first place, but the government encouraged (i.e. underwrote and passed laws) banks to issue them. The banks then passed the mortgages on to other financial institutions, which caused a massive domino effect on the entire economy.

So, the government stepped in and gave cash to the banks and insurance companies. Bad move. Keeping them afloat is irrelevant. What matters is the root of the problem, the yeyhoot who can't pay his mortgage. This is the "toxic" asset that the TARP program was meant to fix.

Every month about 300,000 homes go into foreclosure. The average price for a home in the US is $264,000. What we should have done is step in and purchase the homes from the banks that were going into foreclosure. That's $79 Billion a month. In a year, if the same numbers continued we would have spent $800 Billion or so. That, is the same amount of the first TARP that bought us a bunch of shares of worthless companies that continue to need cash.

If we bought the homes, we wouldn't have to boot the occupants. In fact, we could make them pay rent!!! We would also have to hire people to manage and maintain these government homes. Hey, new jobs. Hmmm...that's a pretty rational plan. Right?

But no. The government was afraid to allow their big fat cat friends to loose money (under my scenario, they would at the worst, break even). Just check out the list of politicians who received contributions from AIG and Freddie and Fannie (the two government subsidized mortgage lenders who hold 55% of the bad mortgages). You can read the lists here, and here.

I really don't care if people loose their equity if they can't pay the mortgage. That's the risk of investment and why I rent and have rented for the last 20 years. I'm not going to buy a house until I know that I can afford it.

This is a major clusterfuck on all levels. These government clowns are wasting our money and making bad decisions. If more than half of you voted for "Hope and Change" aren't you a bit disappointed that it's business as usual?

I sure as hell am.

We have a shortage of Americans...

2009-03-13T22:25:00.001-07:00

What is American? Remember when George Bush was president (or as I like to call it, "the good old days") it was American to "dissent" and "question your government". Now, it seems when you speak up against the completely incompetent and dangerous administration, you are clearly a "hater" or worse. You might be a "traitor" or god forbid, the worst crime of all...a "racist". Just look at the character assassination of people like Rush Limbaugh, Jim Cramer and Rick Santelli (I hate linking...just google that shit.)

Being American is not some amorphous concept. It doesn't change from day to day, administration to administration. It does not change with national crises like 9/11 and financial meltdowns. It is a real, tangible thing.

It's not some dumbed down concept either. "Republicans think being American means hating immigrants, loving country music, watching Nascar, and drinking beer" goes the elitist mantra. Not quite amigo.

It is not American to "pay taxes" as VP Joe Biden said. In fact, a quick look at a history book...any history book shows you that the main motivation for the American Revolution was a rebellion AGAINST taxes. There is a reason why we on the center-right are calling our protest "tea parties" (and no its not because we, classless Southerners hate Starbucks).

Let me break it down for you. America is not a race. It is not an ethnicity. It is an idea. It is a set of principals, an inherent genetic difference in some people to think for themselves. They are born rebels. They are born risk takers. They have a natural predisposition to distrust and dislike authority. They don't like arbitrary rules. They have a deep seeded, inexplicable belief, that all creatures on the planet are entitled to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".

The idea that true Americans are in some way racist is ridiculous. Americanism transcends race. It is an idea, a higher calling than simply the color of one's skin. Because of this, Americans are born, everyday, in every nation of the world. Right now, Americans are born in Somalia, Mexico, the UK, Australia, Russia, Romania, Japan, and Thailand. Many of them struggle with their own country's rules and regulations. Many of them can't take it, get on a plane, get on a boat, or hop in a car and come to the nation that their soul feels closest to...the United States of America.

Conversely, every day, non-Americans are born on American soil. From San Francisco to Miami Beach, native born citizens are born without this psychological bent. Others are born with it, and then have it stripped away by deprogramming operations in major universities, public schools, and community groups. They come in all colors, from all creeds. They believe in entitlement, that we must have a large government to protect and provide, the do not see the exceptionalism that rages in the heart of their American cousins.

The Founding Fathers were Americans from the day that they were born. Their vision was a safe haven for those who shared their ideals. The rebels, the mavericks, the people that didn't fit in; not because they were weak and lame, but because they simply could not be constrained by the societies that they were born into. America was the "All-Star" team of the world.

That message got lost somewhere. Maybe it was the whole quote on the Statue of Liberty (given to us by the French no less). The quote was written by Emma Lazarus a 19th century poet. A quick google search reveals that she was an ardent Zionist and ...wait for it...Marxist. She interpreted our country not as an All-Star team, but as a safe haven for the homeless, teaming masses of the rest of the world. That is a great sentiment, but not exactly the whole story. For these masses to be provided for, for them to truly be set free and on the path of self reliance, they would need guardians and mentors from this All-Star Team. For a long time, we had this. Recently, the scale has tipped a bit. Now, we talk about "fair shares", "taxing the rich" and "redistribution of wealth".

Nothing could be more antithetical (cool word, huh) to the concept of Americanism than Marxism, Socialism, and Communism. There is no other way to describe excessive taxation, giant government, and attacks upon the free market and capitalism than as Socialist, Marxist and Communist. Using this cool thing I learned in math called the transitive property (if a=b and b=c, then a=c), the current policies of the Obama administration are un-American. The debate is over (as Global Warming proponents like to say). The concept, the nomenclature of Americanism belongs to those of us who protect its ideals. Those of you who are hell bent on turning this county into a soft, socialist version of Europe without the cool architecture are...yes, un-American.

The left in our country has already conceded this. The Democratic party and their supporters is made up of small groups: ethnic groups (African-Americans, Arab-Americans, Hispanic-Americans), sexual orientation groups (LGBT-Americans), unions, and community groups (like ACORN). They have subdivided themselves, and they, not us, place American secondary in their preferred titles. With the exception of those who clearly identify themselves as Republican, we, the opposition, are not subdivided. We refer to ourselves as Americans. Period. We are never ashamed of the title and do not seek to hide behind any other label.

So, let's not get our panties in a bunch when someone tosses out the "un-American" label. If you want to avoid it, simply avoid endorsing policies, ideas, and individuals who do not reflect the ideals of our great nation. Ben Franklin would be proud of you if you did.

The Reality Behind the Nanny State

2009-03-12T16:14:00.001-07:00

Of all Conservative principals, the one I believe in the most is personal liberty. There is a tremendous amount of hypocrisy (the thing in the world that I hate the most) that comes out of the other side. There are many attempts by leftists to limit our personal liberties, all done in the name of "helping us" or making the world better for others. You can't say certain things because you might hurt someone's feelings. You can't put certain things in your body because its bad for you and they are just looking out for you. At the end of the day, these are not their true motivations. Power, control and money are their real objectives. The whole political correctness movement to limit free speech isn't about protecting people's feelings, its about limiting descent and marginalizing criticism.

But let's look at a Nanny state issue that is close to my heart. Smoking. Smoking is cool. It looks cool. Again, not very "P.C." to say so, but it is. Now, I'm not here to tell you that smoking is good for you. And I won't get into the argument of how bad it is for other people (the numbers and stats on second hand smoke are extremely shady and inflated). But I will say that I emphatically believe that it is every human being's right to do whatever they want to their own bodies....regardless of the risk or implications.

A lot of people don't like tattoos. Many religions forbid them. How would we feel about a law against tats? Any size, any shape. Not even offensive tats. Just tattoos in general. After all, there are many complications and diseases that can happen to people during the tattoo process. What about regret? How many people want their tattoos removed later? And I wonder, how much money it costs tax payers in medical expenses related to tattoo complications, disease and removal?

We are told that smoking is dangerous. Ok. I agree. Not the best for you. We are told that smoking is a nuisance and danger to those around smokers. Ok. Not 100% behind that, but I'll give you that one. They say that smokers cost tax payers tons of money because of their medical problems.

There have been lawsuits against the tobacco companies and tobacco is the highest taxed commodity (next to fuel) in our country. It makes sort of sense though, if cigarettes cause damage to people's health, and the tax payers pick up the tab for that, shouldn't those who profit from cigarettes help pay for those health costs? Sure, ok, I follow the logic. Yet, as a smoker, no one has asked me to be on some special list so that I can dip into those health funds that the cigarette taxes have been going to. Oh, wait, even though the rationale to tax cigarettes and sue the companies is the health problems of smokers, that money isn't actually allocated just to smokers...it goes into the general fund to pay for all sorts of crap. So, the "good intentions" the "fairness" of the tax and the law is really offset by the end result or goal, more income for the bloated government.

Let's think for a second about who smokes. James Dean smoked. Humphry Bogart smoked. In movies, the rebellious, cool characters smoke. Rock stars smoke. Artists smoke. Smoking has always been synonymous with non conformity and recklessness. During the 1970s Virginia Slims had an entire ad campaign entitled "You've come a long way baby" which tied the women's liberation movement to the creation of a brad of cigarettes just for women. Smoking also can be found amongst the poorest groups of people. So, to recap, smoking is an activity practiced by rebels and poor people.

Who do liberals despise the most? Poor people and non-conformists. Their utopia is full of mindless zombies who think Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are actually smart people and not awful vampire trolls. Despite their claims that they are looking out for the poor, they are really only looking out for votes. Without the huge masses of urban poor to vote for them, they would be lost. By insisting on a continual flow of freebies, rather than initiatives that force people to rise above poverty through hard work, education, and self reliance, they insure their voter base for generations to come.

So, the Nanny State, the anti-smoking lobby isn't really about helping smokers or improving lives. It's about marginalizing groups of people who oppose liberal ideology and subjugating the poor masses. It's about vilifying an activity so that the average person doesn't mind or notice excessive taxing. Ultimately, its about collecting more cash to put into the coffers of special interests that keep liberals in their positions of power.

My theory is about to be tested. In 2004, a Chinese inventor named Dr. Hon Lik created a battery powered liquid atomizer. Sounds like a sci-fi weapon right? Actually, it will soon be popularly known as an e-cigarette. E-cigarettes contain nicotine (which is the addictive, yet ironically non-dangerous portion of a cigarette), look and feel like a cigarette, but contain no tobacco, tar, or any of the other 4,000 dangerous carcinogens found in your average Camel Light. The "smoke" that is emitted from an e-cig is actually a harmless, odorless, water vapor.

E-cigs are big in Asia. They are moving through Europe and have just found their way into the US. I recently bought one, discovered the vast online community of enthusiasts, and just ordered a new, supped up model. Despite the initial "hardware" cost, they are exponentially cheaper than "analog" cigarettes. And, they come in a variety of blends and flavors, making them more interesting and more exciting than regular cigarettes. As a smoker for the past five years, I can tell you that, with the e-cig, there is no reason to smoke regular cigarettes. You feel better, they taste better, you don't smell like a tavern, and best of all, you can puff away while in the house or working on the latest edit of your film (or whatever it is you work on).

One would think that those who dedicated their lives to banning smoking, crusading against tobacco companies, and taxing the bejesus out of Phillip Morris products would have picked up on these things from the get go. After all, here is an alternative that can break even the toughest smoker, and turn them into a safe, productive member of society.

WRONG. There is no way to tax these things. Outside of sales tax, there is no "specialty" element to the e-cig that would warrant onerous taxation. Do you add a new tax on liquid flavoring and chemicals? What about cotton (which makes up the e-cig cartridge)? Without the revenue stream generated by cigarettes and tobacco products, big government proponents would be screwed. If Phillip Morris doesn't jump on the e-cig bandwagon, other companies will grow in size and profit, but won't be as easily demonized or exposed to litigation.

Instead, the WHO (world health organization) and the FDA refuse to endorse these things as "quit smoking aids" like nicotine gum or the patch. BUT, they really aren't just quit smoking aids, they are a whole new way to CONTINUE smoking. And that's the last thing they really want. They endorse things like the gum because the success rate is so low. They WANT you to keep smoking because they want the money. They just pretend to care. If they really did care, they would get behind something that is a 100% replacement for dangerous cigarette smoking. Plus, the last thing that they want is a whole generation of rebels and artists smoking their water vapor in restaurants, movie theaters, and bars. It's not about the health risk. It's about dividing our society into small groups. It's about controlling human behavior. It's about power and money.

This extends to other things like safe sex and abortion. Is there really anyone in our country who knows how to have sex and doesn't know what a condom is? Of course not. But, the only way to curb STDs and unwanted pregnancies is to teach respect, morality, and personal responsibility. The sexual revolution leveled the playing field for women. Women can enjoy sex too. But would it kill anyone, would it hurt the cause of feminism to teach respect in young men? Would it really kick feminism in the balls to force young women to embrace personal responsibility? We talk a lot about choice...the choice of a woman to have an abortion. What about the choice not to have sex with that cute bartender without a condom? Why in our modern society, led by politically correct leftists, is common sense and common decency off the table? I'm not advocating going back to the 1950s, not by a long shot. But we shouldn't be afraid to make people look out for themselves.

So there you have it. Full circle. So the next time some Nazi Hippy has some idea (like taxing soda or fast food) in order to help the "common good" or "offset rising health costs", look deeper and really listen. It's about control, power and money. Me, I'm going to pop open a diet coke, sit down with a Big Mac and enjoy the smooth flavor of Virginia Blend water vapor while I write my next screenplay.

Hippies....leave me alone!!!!

Leigh Scott on...Leigh Scott

2009-03-10T01:14:00.000-07:00

I've gained a bit of a rep for striking back at people online who mock, talk trash, or are general trolls about my films and filmmaking skills. It's fun, funny, and slightly therapeutic. Additionally, my online antics have actually led to several online friendships and expanded my fan base. All in all, not a bad strategy and one that I do not regret.

An uber fan recently sent me a photo of himself posing with a DVD copy of every film I've ever made (he even had a German version of my first movie, BEACH HOUSE, which has never been released in the US). He asked me to sign a DVD, which I did, and then asked a simple question: "You don't really like all of your movies do you?".

Of course, he was responding to the fact that I've defended much of my work online. As a fan, and one of the few people who has seen them all, he can judge the strengths and weaknesses of the works, individually and as a whole.

So, here is my answer, no Todd, I don't like them all. Not in the least. If you comb through the IMDB and other assorted sites, you will see that I only defend certain films while I've never commented on others.

In watching Leigh Scott movies, you have to understand that I don't take everything very seriously. If you're watching something and it could either be a joke or simply a stupid mistake, it's probably a joke. I'm a big fan of Joss Wheedon and love inside humor. My first two movies were comedies. Of my past films, I'd say only two or three are deadly serious. The others should be viewed in an "Army of Darkness" sort of fun way.

So here are my thoughts, movie by movie. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

THE GOOD

Art House
-My second film and an official selection of the US Comedy Arts Fest in Aspen, Colorado. Notable for its Adam Carolla cameo and hilarious performance by Chris Hardwick.

Frankenstein Reborn
-A well received and inventive film. Like all low-budget films, it has its flaws, but the acting is solid, effects are good and the story puts a modern spin on the old story. And, fyi, the drug and sex thing was a reference to Shelley's real life and the era in which she lived. They're not there just to get in some lesbianism and shocks.

The Beast of Bray Road
-It's a comedy. I was never happy that the film was re-edited to move around some of the deaths. I felt it worked better as more of a mystery that led up to a savage reign of terror. Jeff Denton is great in it.

Dracula's Curse
-A personal favorite. I love the complexity of the world and the colorful characters. Eliza Swenson, Rhett Giles, Sarah Hall and Tom Downey are great in it. Again, budget kills you, but you do your best. I just watched it the other day and I still enjoy it.

The 9/11 Commission Report
-One of my few "serious" films. It's slightly conservative bent turns some people off, but again, I'm very proud of it.

Chrome Angels
-You haven't seen it yet...but you will.

The Dunwich Horror
-Another film you will soon see on the Sci-fi channel, this one is tough. Lovecraft is a beast, and the purists are relentless. But, as with Frankenstein, you read the work and try to capture the "essence" of the story more than obsess about the details. The acting in this film rocks, and the cinematography and locations are a huge step up from my previous work.

Exorcism: The Possession Of Gail Bowers
-My cheapest film (budget wise) but one of the best. Simple, straightforward, and creepy. The 20 minute exorcism at the end was one of my favorite shooting experiences.

The Hitchhiker
-A dark, dark movie. I'm still not comfortable watching it. I guess that means I did a good job. Oh, and watch for the Jay Ferris death scene, one of the best effects EVAH.

THE BAD
Something got lost in the translation on these movies. They started off with good ideas....and then went somewhere else.

Transmorphers
-Call it Robot Wars, fix the CGI and fix the audio, then come talk to me. And hey, if it came out in 1987 I would have won an Oscar

Flu Bird Horror
-Well executed, but its just silly. It was a great experience making it though!

Dragon
-Needed more locations...and a decent Dragon. Eliza's witch character and Matt Wolf are great though...they just deserved a better movie.

THE UGLY
Ok, no excuses...I fucked up.

Hillside Cannibals
-What is this movie? Ok, I'll admit it, I was prepping Dracula's Curse and didn't really care. There really wasn't a script. We sort of made it up as we went along. I've never actually seen it all the way through. I didn't edit it and I feel asleep during the mix. Sorry. I know, I'm a schmuck.

Pirates of Treasure Island
-Ok, this one pissed me off. We started off making a "fun" pirate movie that slowly decended into comedy. The producers didn't watch the dailies until day 10 of 12. They called me and said "Oh, um, hey, this can't be a comedy...fix it!" Oh, and they wanted giant CGI bugs in the movie. I give up!!! One day I will find a way to release my edit of the COMEDY that we made so people can watch that instead of the bizzare, cheap, non-sensical film that you can rent today.

King of the Lost World
-So close, but so far.... This movie is sunk by more lame CGI and a script that alternates stupidity with boredom. A lot of fun making it though! And the actors really did try their best. It was just far too ambitious for the time constraints and budget (which could be said for a lot of these movies).

So, there you have it. My honest feelings about what I've done....Do you agree?

The Change People Really Wanted....

2009-03-02T21:55:00.000-08:00

In case you haven't guessed yet, I didn't vote for Obama. Instead of going down as a "hater", "bigot", "homophobe" and general kill joy, history will remember me as one of the legions of people who stood proudly in the corner and said "Told you so". During the campaign I pointed out several things. One of them was the fact that Obama and his ilk were hard core socialists. I pointed out that it was a bad, bad, idea to have two thirds of the government in the hands of the most left wing politicians the nation has ever seen. Most importantly, I told you not to focus on the "hot button" issues, but on what really matters, and what the government effects the most: national defense and the economy.

But oh, no...we had to make Sarah Palin's clothes, gay marriage, abortion, education, Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and a whole host of other non-issues the focus of the election. Guess what, at least a third of the soldiers in Iraq are staying there indefinitely, Guantanamo Bay is staying open for business, gays still can't get married in California, Sarah Palin still shops at Wal-mart, and abortion is still legal (has it has been through 22 years of Republican rule since Roe v. Wade in 1972).

Instead, we've got the mother of all economic disasters that threaten not only our economy, but the economy of the world. Obama's SOCIALIST (that's in caps if you don't get it yet, and yes it is a dirty word and should be to any American) polices are business as usual for the corrupt, narcissistic, tax and spend Democratic party. No hope and change here. Just the same old bs. Pay the lobbies, pay the unions, redistribute the money and watch the whole thing fall apart. If you want a glimpse into the future, just look at the past. Take a gander at Jimmy Carter and FDR.

I hope you converted all of your money into gold bricks and autographed Asylum DVDs because that's about all we are going to have. You can look forward to hearing about things like inflation, stagflation, double digit unemployment, and double dip recessions. Also, watch for the bad guys to make some serious moves, as this government is amateur hour to the highest degree. Not only are they incapable of keeping a promise or making the right move, they soon won't have the money to do anything. It's hard to fight the Chinese when you have to borrow money from them to buy the bullets to shoot them (and don't forget that the bullets are made in China anyway).

Side bar, aren't you glad we don't have a "dolt" like Sarah Palin as the VP? Can you believe that they actually vetted her before putting her on the national stage? Geeze, what we they thinking. Thank god we've got this Albert Einstein instead...

What? What the fuck is he talking about? God, that made me feel better.

Can't all of you guys who were behind Obama just get together and tell him the truth? Tell him that you weren't really interested in major policy change and that you just wanted someone "cool" for the speeches and photo ops? Tell him to talk about unicorns and rainbows and keep his mouth shut about the economy because every time he opens his mouth, the stock market looses 10%. This was a popularity contest, not a mandate for Marxism, Carterism, and Economic Stupidism.

Did you know that government spending increased under George Bush? Did you know that he added more federal regulation to the financial markets than his predecessors? So, increasing the size of the government and over regulation are the failed polices of the Bush years. How do we fix it? According to Obama and his peeps its to increase the size of government and over regulate. Say what?????

Did you ever see the Texas Chainsaw Massacre? When the heroine escapes, she finds that other family looking for a phone. She soon realizes that this other family is another part of the evil family. She's gone to get help from the very people trying to kill her. That's how I feel. We're looking to the same people who fucked it up in the first place to fix it!

Wake me up in four years. It's only been a month and I'm so pissed I can't even explain it to you. I'm like Roddy Piper in "They Live". I want to give everyone those sunglasses so you can see the creepy skeleton aliens. Actually, Nancy Pelosi and Robert Byrd look like that without the glasses...but you get the idea.

The Leigh Lists....

2009-02-22T12:55:00.000-08:00

Lists are fun. They spark debate, inspire people to check things out, and they give clever insight into the person who creates them. So here a few things you should think about or check out....

Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and the Ting Tings got you down? Then...

TOP 6 OBSCURE, UPCOMING or UNKNOWN BANDS YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO:

1)QUARASHI
This little known Icelandic, white, rap, metal group (yes, you read that right)had some success with songs licensed for movie trailers and commercials. They broke up, but these cats put posers like Linkin Park to shame....

2)Electric Six
The beyond cool fusion of arena rock, 80s techno, and straight up rock and roll make Electric Six one of the greatest bands EVER!!! They have a great sense of humor and despite being in the game for years, they stick to their indie band roots. They had one song you probably know, "Danger, High Voltage", but that is far from their best.

3)The Divine Madness
Ok, I'm a bit partial here, but the new album is great!!! They recently licensed a song to the Showtime show The Tudors and have a new music video on the way (directed by yours truly). I say give it another year and they will be everywhere....

4)The Dandy Warhols
Not exactly that obscure...but they are awesome. Can you tell yet that I grew up in the 1980s?

5)The Killdares
Kinda rock, kinda metal, kinda bagpipes. That's right. The Killdares from Dallas, TX are really cool. Every here a bagpipe and wish it was accompanied by Led Zepplin style riffs and driving beats? Wish no more....

The Killdares on myspace

6)Bree Sharp
A very talented singer songwriter who has a thing for Blade Runner? Not bad...not bad.

Bree Sharp's Band on Myspace

This week a group of historians released their list of top U.S. Presidents. I say fooey. Here's my list.

TOP SEVEN US PRESIDENTS

1)George Washington
Really a no brainer. Defeated the British. Became the first president. Walked away when his time was up. Too bad the dollar bill that he's on won't be worth much in three years.

2)Abe Lincoln
Held the country together. Gave great speeches. Freed millions of Americans from the bondage of slavery. Sure, I can see the Obama comparisons. One out of three ain't bad.

3)Ronald Reagan
We don't think the Soviets were that tough because he beat them down so bad they looked like a paper tiger when he was finished. Oh, and he rebuilt the nation's pride after four years of a clueless president who let the US be the whipping boy of the third world and led the country into economic ruin. We may need to bring him back in four years.

4)Teddy Roosevelt
Chuck Norris checks under his bed for the ghost of Teddy Roosevelt. Bully!

5)Calvin Coolidge
What? WTF? Hey, sometimes being a president is like being a good editor, your job should be invisible. No wars, economic prosperity, and no scandals. That's what we should want from our presidents. Right?

6)George W. Bush
Liberated 50 million people. Held the nation together after the largest attack on American soil in history. Just wait. After the liberal hatred has subsided, history will judge him as one of the finest.

7)Thomas Jefferson
Hey, he bought Louisiana. Huzzah!!!

Oscars are boring and lame. The Dark Knight and Gran Torino were the two best films of the year. Here's some non-Oscar nominated movies you should watch....

TOP SEVEN GREATEST 80s MOVIES (In no particular order)

1)Flash Gordon (1980)
2)The Monster Squad
3)Night of the Comet
4)The Empire Strikes Back
5)Back to the Future
6)Buckaroo Bonzai
7)Gremlins

I dare you not to smile....

2009-02-22T12:51:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you just need to watch something and smile...

Hey, this guy proves my point!!!

2009-02-12T23:26:00.000-08:00

Check out this video by a SAG actor...

This guy is the middle actor that I described in my prior post that details the three levels of actors in Hollywood. The point of his video is that the entire entertainment industry is moving towards the internet. Since the other guilds have allowed non-union work on "webisodes", he claims that webisode production has boomed as a way to avoid the guilds.

Maybe. But the internet is not a proven market. I was recently discussing a project that would be a web based series based on one of my films. The amount of money to do 20 3 minute webisodes did not translate to the amount of money we spend on Sci-fi channel originals and their ilk (about 20k per minute for network TV versus 3k per minute for the webisode). How can one define the cost of labor, or the value of the product when the marketplace has yet to shape up and define a profit? Making a webisode, of any budget is a huge, huge, risk. So to say that someone is getting ripped off here is pretty naive and myopic.

I don't blame the guy. This thought process, or lack thereof, is spreading around the country like wildfire. Look, he's an actor, not an accountant and certainly not an entrepreneur. He doesn't understand the business, nor the fundamental structure of capitalism and risk of investment. For many independent films and webisodes, the sad reality is that these union members who are bitching about their rates and residuals are the only people who DO get paid. The investors, producers, and other creative folks who pour much more time and effort into a project to make it happen often walk away with nothing. And sure, sometimes these films and shows hit the jackpot. Sometimes a bunch of kids from New Jersey make a movie in the 7-11 where they work for 20k and it makes 20 million. But those stories are needles in haystacks. More often than not, it's a couple hundred thousand dollars thrown down the money hole, with actors, grips, camera guys, prop guys etc. being the only ones to walk away with a few measly bucks. Trust me, I know. Before I got smart and sold out doing genre films I made two independent comedies that still haunt me to this day. I can't count the thousands of dollars and countless YEARS of my life spent with these projects. The net result for me was experience and a bit of exposure. But every actor, on both projects was paid at least SAG scale with their pension and welfare, OT, etc.

And here is the other dirty little secret the socialists and unionists don't want to tell you. What would happen if the unions did all go away? Would actors be paid like Walmart Employees? Well, if they we working for me, the answer would be yes. No, kidding. Here's what would happen, and I know this because I have real world experience to prove it.

Actors as a whole, on average, would be paid much less. But individual actors would be paid exponentially MORE. Why? Because right now there is no bottom line incentive for producers to hire no name actors and pay them any more than we have to. The buyers across the board don't really care who your cast is outside of the "names". We, as producers, feel like we are getting ripped off by having to pay someone to be the bartender $500 for eight hours of work to deliver two lines (and in many cases, producers ask us writers to cut out parts to save money, which creates EVEN FEWER ACTING ROLES). So, how good you are or how aggressive your agent or manager is becomes irrelevant. Unless you have a name, I'm paying you scale. BUT, if there was no scale, if I could pay people whatever I want (within federal and state minimum wage laws mind you), it would free up a ton of cash. We would have more parts and, if an actor that blew us away came in and we really like them, we would negotiate and pay them more to do the show. Remember, just because a breakdown says the pay is $25 a day doesn't mean you have to do it. I routinely turn down directing gigs because the money isn't what I want it to be. Should the Leigh Scott market enter a downturn, I would change my tune and work for less if I needed to.

What's more troubling about this video is the notion that somehow the unions "allowed" these productions to exist. Webisodes are booming because a lot of the other markets are drying up and people are looking to be the first to stake out some online real estate. They would exist regardless of what SAG, IATSE, WGA etc. say or want. The notion that one private entity can dictate terms to another private entity is un-American and wrong. I hire SAG actors because the name actors stand in solidarity with the union. There would be no other reason for me to deal with the incompetent and ineffectual organization known as the Screen Actors Guild without this caveat. Unless you are in a similar situation, or have a predisposition to support organized labor, the choice to go union or not should rest 100% in the hands of the people taking the financial risk.

Payment, residuals etc. must be based on the market and by determined by the people putting up the money. Period. After all, why stop at scale being $500/day? Why not make it $1000/day? Maybe $10,000/day? Hey, if the rates get good enough, a lot of us producers might just pack it in and become actors.

And when we all do, who's going to be left to produce the movies and cut the checks? This my friends, is the core principal of capitalism. THE FREE MARKET. It's what made our country great!

Actors...Now is Your Chance!

2009-02-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

The Screen Actor's Guild is in a bit of turmoil these days. They recently pulled some legislative maneuver to fire their chief negotiator. Additionally, I keep getting emails from different "factions" in the union. One is led by the guy who looks like Anthony LePaglia and the other is the bad guy from Highlander. Or at least I think that's how it shakes down. They might be on the same side. I don't know.

Problem is that the whole argument comes down to money. That's it. And that, my friends, is counter-intuitive to the hopes and dreams of individual actors.

Unions for creative things are a bit strange. The UAW, as an example, guarantees certain benefits for employees based on their job classification and experience. They know that the UAW isn't going to pay wild amounts for a single employee based on their performance. The employees are widgets. That's why it makes sense for them all to stand and negotiate together.

Actors, directors, and writers are different. While the WGA minimum for a screenplay may be 40k, many, many writers are paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for their scripts. It doesn't make much sense for the guy who writes Schindler's List to stand side by side with the guy who writes Sci-Fi channel movies. Ok, ok, I know all about the touchy feely concepts behind this, but in a pure economic sense the logic falls apart.

SAG was started in 1933 to combat the Studio System and protect the rights of actors. Back then, actors would sign contracts with the studios. There were no rules governing their hours, pay, conditions etc. For contract actors, the bulk of working actors at the time, it made sense to band together and fight for better pay and better conditions.

As time progressed, the studio system gave way to the system we have today. Agents and managers and casting directors now serve as the gateway between actors and their jobs. It's now a freelance system, and not a monolithic operation controlled by the five or six major studios.

I have lots of friends who are actors. They fall into three basic categories...

1)The waiter/waitress, bartender, editor, sales agent, temp, substitute teacher who books a handful of movies, shorts, and commercials each year.

2)The actor who makes a living doing commercials, guest spots, and bit player movie roles.

3)Actors with "name value" who never work for SAG scale. They do a variety of television and film jobs and make six or seven figures per year.

Now, groups 1 and 2 benefit greatly from SAG minimums and from residual payments. But group 1 can't make a living at it, so they end up, invariably working on non-union and freebie projects.

Group 3 isn't really effected by the SAG rules. They negotiate everything for themselves through their agents. They could care less what the "standard" rules are because they are above them.

So only Group 2 really lives and dies by what SAG does.

But, the huge majority of the 120,000 or so members of SAG are in Group 1. They pay dues, have a vote, and often loose out to work because they are SAG members (actors are terrified by SAG. I've never seen a group of people so afraid of something that exists to "help" them)

With all of this in mind, actors should band together to force their union to negotiate for things that will help them achieve their ultimate goal i.e. not working at PF Chang's. To do that, more actors need to move from category one to category two and three. But this is tough because the industry (despite the union) prevents much of this mobility due to its complex and nepotistic structure.

Here's what SAG can do to help actors get more jobs. THIS is what SAG should be doing, not threatening a work stoppage over DVD residuals (especially when DVD sales are down 30%!!!!)

1) All SAG signatories must submit casting data that shows a set amount of SAG auditions per role. This quota should be based on the number of roles and the budget of the films. This would ensure that casting directors aren't lazy and that producers and directors get to see more talent. I once did a show where the part was described as "Female. All ethnicities. 18-25, hot, slutty type. Quick wit. No nudity." After seeing about 20 actresses and unhappy with all of them, I asked the casting director to see more. She said that that was it. No one else responded to the breakdown!!!! Really? In LA? I see more than 20 at the bar on Friday night.

2)Cap the number of roles per show that can be cast from the same agent or manager. This stops "packaging" which provides for bad actors to get bigger roles because they know somebody at an agency. Again, this opens it up for more actors to get parts and get auditions.

3)Require SAG signatories to accept submissions from SAG members WITHOUT an agent or manager. Each SAG member has a number. This goes on the front of the envelope along with a description of the actor and the role that they are interested in. I can hear it now "That's chaos!" We will get millions of submissions. Not really. Let's go back to my hot chick example above. If there are 120,000 actors, maybe 30,000 think that they fit the part. Of the 30,000, 10-15,000 have representation already. Of the remaining actors, less than 10% have the resources and motivation to submit themselves so we are talking about 1,000 submissions per role, tops...Big deal. And think of all the jobs created. Extra casting assistants, more postal delivery, head shot photographers and printers. Damn, I just created more jobs than the Nancy Pelosi "stimulus" bill.

4)Create SAG training programs that are free to members. Why should producers go SAG? Well, because that's the only way to get "name" actors in your show. That's shitty. If I'm going to pay someone a minimum of 30/hr (and that's on low budget movies) they better know how to read a call sheet, show up on time, hit a mark, act to an eye line etc. If SAG actors represented a more technically proficient bunch, producers would feel like they are getting their monies worth. I hate to break it to you, but I've worked with many a non-SAG actor who smokes SAG actors. This is especially the case in regions outside Los Angeles.

5)Create tougher regulations to get into the union. There are simply too many SAG actors. Period. Do away with the voucher thing for extra work. Require three or four Taft-Hartleys, not one. BUT, do create a program where non-union days count towards your SAG card. Just like the other unions do. I know that a union editor has more experience than a non-union one. They have to put in the hours to get their card (unless the union pulls the unethical "show flip" thing, *cough, cough*). Actors, not so much. If you have to do five Asylum movies to get into SAG, you know you are serious and dedicated to the craft!

6)Adopt a residual system like the one musicians have through ASCAP and BMI. Instead of attacking just the studios and producers, lower the amounts, but spread the payments out over many people. If a restaurant or bar has a TV, they should pay $50/month to SAG. If a website, like Youtube, features SAG actors on its clips, they should pay a nominal fee. Sure, it's harder to monitor and collect, but it will translate to more fairness and more money at the end of the day.

All of the above would greatly help the rank and file actor. By changing the royalty structure, you will see more independent production and all actors will make more money. By opening the gates to more talent, the more talented actors will rise to the top which will create more compelling films and television shows. That in turn will create more demand for SAG programming, so reality shows can go back to their little hole in the ground. The onus for picking talent will once again rest with producers, casting directors, and directors and NOT agents, managers and PR people.

But, SAG really isn't interested in helping YOU. Everything I mentioned would make more work for them and casting directors. It would cost agents and managers a lot in lost revenue and diminished power. The only people who would really benefit are actors, directors and to a lesser degree producers.

Hmmmm. Makes you think. At the end of the day, who's side is SAG really on?

The Silence is Deafening...

2009-02-01T03:20:00.000-08:00

Where have all of the political activists gone? In the months leading up to the election, there were tons of Facebook and Myspace bulletins and quotes from everybody and anybody. Bob is "waiting for our new president", Sally is "excited we have a real president now" read the Facebook updates. Myspace bulletins rang out "Top Ten Reasons Republicans Are Evil", and "Must Read-Important Facts about the election". We were told that "everybody" must vote. No matter what GET OUT AND VOTE. Make your voice heard!

Now, less than two weeks after the inauguration we have the largest expansion of government spending in the history of the country about to happen. We have an edict to cut defense spending by 10% despite being engaged in two large military actions. We have orders to close Guantanamo Bay without any idea how to try the prisoners or where to put them. We have new Executive Orders that give trial lawyers and unions free reign to sue employers. We have "reached out" to our enemies, only to have them call the gesture a "symbol of our weakness".

Yet, the youth and intelligentsia is remarkably quiet. Where are the Facebook postings saying Bob is "excited about a Trillion dollars of spending", or Sally is "loving the billions of dollars going to ACORN"? They're not there. Why? I'll tell you why, because the whole political "activism" thing is a fad. Uninformed knuckleheads think its cool and hip to fight and argue and have an opinion when its a multiple choice question with only two options: the old creepy white guy or the hip black guy. Now, when the real issues come into play, its over. Back to life as usual and Bob is "digging the new U2 album". There is no emotion about the economic "stimulus" or the changes in foreign policy because you don't understand it. And that is why most people shouldn't vote in the first place.

Let me give you a quick primer. Economics come down to two schools. Keynesian economics and supply side economics. Keynesian economics states that government spending and control over monetary policy is the way to control and stimulate the economy. Infrastructure projects (roads, school repair etc.) and other government spending stimulate the economy by moving the money around. Supply side economics say that the private sector should control the money. The government should be limited in its spending and private businesses should spend the cash. Taxes should be lower and government spending should be at a minimum.

It's hard to sell supply side economics to poor people. It sounds like a scam. Keep the taxes and rules low on the rich folk while the lower earners still pay a large cut. On top of that, you're cutting freebie programs. So the poor, uneducated voter (as well as the "do gooder" wealthy types) see this as a way to scam all the cash. "Trickle down" economics, as it is also known, rings untrue because poor people don't understand why rich people would spend their money. After all, when they (the poor people) get money, they save it, pay down debt, or use it for themselves.

And this, my friends, is why poor people do not own businesses. We folks who do, those of us who have employees and make payrolls, understand that the way for us to make MORE money is to expand our business. How do we do that? By hiring more "poor" people, buying more supplies, renting and buying bigger facilities, and investing money in research and development.

Money always "trickles down" and this is the fallacy of the Keynesian theory. It either trickles down from businesses who are interested in expansion or government officials who are interested in protecting their power. And this, of course is what this is all about. The stimulus bill reads like a who's who of Democratic supporters. Giving out $500 checks is a sure way to get people on your side. The point in all of this is not to make America stronger. It is not to make your life or my life better. It is to secure power for the Democratic party!

Cutting taxes and government spending has worked several times in our history to fix the economy and lead to an economic expansion. It worked for Kennedy. It worked for Reagan. It worked for W. Keynesian economics have never worked. The Great Depression was ended by World War II. The last time we played this game was in the 1970s under Jimmy Carter. Google that shit bro. It wasn't pretty.

This really gets me fired up because I hate when people don't look at history. That's really all we have to go on. I welcome anybody to debate me on this and prove me wrong. It's not going to happen. All the negative comments I don't publish are either personal insults or dismissive. "Yeah, right, whatever, you're and evil Rethuglican and you directed Transmorphers. What do you know douche? Go Obama."

Yeah, that's not going to create any jobs.

I'm a bit sad...

2009-01-27T21:33:00.001-08:00

I find myself a bit melancholy these days. Not just because my beloved holiday season is over and we now find ourselves in the wasteland between New Years and my birthday, but because of national events. You see, I want to believe. I want the world to be better. I completely understand the desire, in a dangerous and scary world, to believe in someone who promises to make it better. I wish it could be true. I want to drink the kool aid. It must be a much better mental space to be in.

I don't know if you ever saw INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, but its one of my favorite films. The alien "pod people" make a lot of sense really. Being a rational, thinking, emotional person is difficult. There are a lot of complexities to being human. Getting rid of them, living in a constant state of emotional well being, letting the group decide rather than make tough choices doesn't sound that bad.

Yet, here I find myself. Someone who was raised by parents who were and are middle class or below. Someone with gay and minority friends. Someone who lives and breathes film and art. I am, in every way shape and form, the poster boy for who should subscribe to liberal ideology. But I don't. I am a member of the NRA. I am a member of the RNC. I donate money to the Heritage Foundation, the CATO institute and American Solutions. How can this be?

You know, I looked up the definition of "conservative". It reads: "tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions : traditional b: marked by moderation or caution "a conservative estimate" c: marked by or relating to traditional norms of taste, elegance, style, or manners". That's really not me. It's also not a good word to describe many of my friends and associates who think like I do. The word liberal, "broad-minded ; especially : not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms", now that's me. That's how I think. That's how I live. So, why am I not a liberal in the political sense?

Look at the root of the word conservatism. It's conserve. "To keep in a safe or sound state "he conserved his inheritance" ; especially : to avoid wasteful or destructive use of "conserve natural resources" to maintain (a quantity) constant during a process of chemical, physical, or evolutionary change." Hmmmm. To keep safe or sound state. What are we talking about? We're talking about the country. We're talking about the Constitution. We are talking about the freedoms, ideals, and systems for which so many have fought and died.

Built into the framework of the country is an inherent desire and need to be free, to be a rebel. To stand equal to all men, regardless of their religious, financial, or ethnic make up. An insurance that every man and woman has a right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." That's a pretty broad concept. What you do, or what I do to achieve those things is our own business. You have an opportunity in this country to be a great success. Greater than in any nation in the world. You also have the risk of being a failure. But that risk, and potential reward, is unique to the American experience. And, it's part of what makes our country great.

The conservative wants to protect those basic ideals. Within that, there is much room for interpretation and evolution. But the basic, core beliefs is what matters. The word liberal comes from the old English word meaning "to grow". I'm all for growth, but it has to be with those basic principals as a guideline. Without them, we run the risk of becoming something else. Something that is not America.

Which leads me back to why I am sad. I'm sad that people think the government, by spending a bunch of tax payer money on pet projects will help the economy. I'm sad that we are talking about redistributing the wealth of our country. I'm sad that our president feels that the intentions of our enemies, brutal men who oppress and murder, are more honest and genuine than those of George Bush or Dick Cheney. I'm sad that the Democratic Congressional Committee has an online petition to stifle Rush Limbaugh's free speech. These things are decidedly un-American. They will not work. They are wrong. But this is apparently the change we voted for, the new direction in which we are heading.

I wish Nancy Pelosi's desire to spend $200 million on condoms would give people jobs. I wish that Barney Frank giving money to failing banks in his district would keep people in their homes. I wish that giving the NEA $50 million for art projects that have no financial viability would help children in math and science. I wish that calling terrorist organizations on the phone and saying that we are willing to listen instead of "dictate" to them would make them stop sending their children to die as suicide bombers.

I'm sad, because I know that it won't.

There's No Rhyme or Reason to Hollywood....

2009-01-19T23:42:00.000-08:00

Let me spin for you a tale. Some may call it a cautionary tale. To do so, however, would place a moral judgment on individuals that I would not make. Instead, let's just call this story an example of the odd, bizarre, unpredictable and downright crazy world of the entertainment industry.

As many of you know, I made my first feature film when I was 22 years old. I graduated USC on May 6 and begin full prep on May 8th. The film was called BEACH HOUSE. It was a throwback to my second favorite genre of film: the John Hughes teen comedy. It was full of Star Wars references, hot girls, and heady comedy. Unfortunately, it was before its time. It was very glossy and high budget looking. Not good for the era of CLERKS and SWINGERS. The film went nowhere. It was an adventure in filmmaking, lawsuits, broken promises and dreams put on hold.

I've kept in touch with some of the cast. With the exception of Chris Hardwick and Brooke Langton, few of the actors found the success of which they all dreamed. It has taken me fifteen years to reach a level where I can live comfortably and call myself a filmmaker; not a bartender who has some great ideas, but an honest to god industry professional.

One of the actors who I would sporadically run into in Los Angeles was Kelli McCarty. She was Miss USA a few years before the shoot and was an exceptional actress. She is very attractive, smart, and had actual acting chops (which can tend to be a rarity in the low budget world). Although her part was small, working with her stuck with me. When I was casting for my second film ART HOUSE, I instantly offered her a part. She passed on the project.

A couple of years later she found her way into the bar I owned in Westwood. We had drinks, talked about the film and the industry in general. She stayed after closing to continue the chat and we parted with plans of meeting up again. We never did.

Kelli ended up with a recurring role on the soap opera Passions. A few years later I caught a late night Cinemax movie with her in it. They don't call it Skinimax for nothing if you know what I mean. I was a little bummed. In my mind, Kelli was a better actress than that. As I watch morons fumble through roles in big films, I am always amazed that my friends and occasional collaborators don't fare better.

Today, I was doing the rounds of movie and Hollywood gossip sites. The trailer for my film CHROME ANGELS was picked up and spread like a virus in Paris Hilton's panties. Low and behold, I found an article about Keli. She is now starring in Vivid Video's latest XXX feature film.

I said earlier that this isn't a post about morality. It's easy to assume that pornography is some final stop on the express train to nowhere. Is she into drugs? Has she gone crazy? Abusive boyfriend/husband? Is she broke? Those are the easy questions. I am not in a position to assume that any of them apply to this actress who crossed my path nearly fifteen years ago. Nor am I the type of person who sees pornography as evil or immoral. There are far more evil or immoral things done by people in our industry without ever taking their clothes off. Besides, there are far worse stories of sexuality in Hollywood that don't involve porn. My actor friend who slept with a casting director to get on a network show. An actress who gave a handjob to an AD to get her SAG card. Just because cameras aren't rolling doesn't mean it ain't dirty.

If this is what she wants to do, if this makes her happy, then so be it. As someone who enjoyed working with her and respected her work as an actress and comedienne, I wish her the best of luck. Sincerely.

The point is that this is a strange industry, a daunting career path. It is not for the squeamish. Choose your moves wisely. Who knows, both of the actresses that did accept roles in Art House (Rebecca McFarland and Amy Weber) have enjoyed rather successful careers. Was my little movie a turning point in their careers in some way? Would Kelli have ended up a WWE girl instead of Amy Weber? Would she have gotten a sitcom? Who knows?

I couldn't get to where I am without every success I've enjoyed and without every failure I've endured. That's life. That's show biz. The best we can all do is do what we think is right, follow our hearts, and have fun!

Hmmmm....

2009-01-14T18:34:00.000-08:00

Watch it before it goes away....

Chrome Angels Trailer from Leigh Scott on Vimeo.

The Irony of Irony

2009-01-08T23:44:00.001-08:00

Over Christmas I was watching a marathon of those VH1 "I love the 70s, 80s, 90s" shows. Don't ask me why. My dad had the remote.

I actually have a couple of friends who appeared on some of the shows. Some of the comments were funny. There is also a certain entertainment factor in seeing old commercials, shows, music videos etc. But, for the most part, the shows are beyond obnoxious.

Why? Well, because there is a delicious irony in watching a bunch of people (more than half of which I didn't recognize)who will be forgotten within six months mock and belittle music, actors, film, politicians and trends that are still talked about 30-40 years after they were big!

Everyone is so smarmy. So much smarter than you. It's sort of like watching Olbermann and Maddow on MSNBC. Condescending is putting it mildly. And they all wear those little Tina Fey glasses and sweaters to prove that they're smarter than you. Oh, my, they are all so clever. Just count the glasses and sweaters in this clip below.

So, to recap we have Rachel Harris and Michael Ian Black commenting on The Spice Girls. Rachel Harris has a resume of guest staring roles and internet shows that would make many LA waitresses and baristas jealous. Michael Ian Black, according to Wikipedia, is best known for being the guy on the "I Love the blank" shows! And wait, is that really the guy who was on Friends? In the background???? Awesome. The Spice Girls have sold 47 million albums, had nine number one hits, and recently sold out their London reunion show in 38 seconds. Forgive me if I don't find it a little ironic to have a couple comics with good agents telling me how silly the Spice Girls were.

Now before Michael Ian Black or any of these other commentators and bloggers from the smarmosphere come looking for a fight by quoting my wikipedia or imdb, let me just say, yes, I know. I get it. I'm the guy who made Transmorphers. But you see, the difference is, you don't see me sitting in front of a greenscreen mocking other filmmakers while wearing a Gap sweater and tiny glasses.

Instead, I will humbly pursue my craft. Sometimes I will miss. Sometimes I will hit. You see, it is my goal not to be a flash in the pan, cool enough to get the call from VH1 to be "ironic" in exchange for a couple thousand bucks, but to be the cultural icon who will be discussed years later by hipsters of VH1's holographic online channel. It is my dream to be mocked by a talking head commentator who will be forgotten by the masses before his final cable network paycheck clears the bank. Wait a second....perhaps dreams do come true...

Until next time suckers, remember: "You can't outsmart stupidity".

Japanese Key Art and the Dream of 3D

2008-12-22T12:48:00.001-08:00

Just got an email from The Foywonder. I guess that the Asylum has ditched the idea of the 3D Transmorphers 2. That is a lump of coal in my Christmas stocking. Not only did the title have an awesome ring to it, but my heart raced with the thoughts of Z Bots reaching out of the screen and right at the audience. Oh well. Here's hoping that Transmorphers 3...D will be a reality.

On the Foywonder's blog you can see a selection of Asylum films and Sci-fi channel originals, Japanese style. American DVD marketing people just don't get it. Our entire entertainment culture is moving towards this international model. These DVD covers are not just appealing to Asian markets, but to everyone who grew up on MTV and graphic novels.

If only an American company were to make films that were marketed like this....hmmmm.

Hey, Where Did America Go?

2008-12-20T10:26:00.000-08:00

The year is 1979. After landing at Milwaukee's Mitchell Field on a TWA flight from New York, we hop into my uncle's AMC Javelin and head out to do some Christmas shopping. We hit all of the big stores; Gimbels, Marshall Field's, Montgomery Ward. Money isn't a problem, my uncle uses credit cards, his Diner's Club and his Master Charge. On the way home, we stop off for a burger at my favorite place: Burger Chef, where I get a tasty Super Shef sandwich and a chocolate shake.

No, this isn't some clever piece of fiction. The companies that I listed above were real, not those fake company names that they force screewriters to use in made for TV movies. Those companies were behemoths of their industries. "To big to fail" if you will. And to the casual observer, with TWA flights buzzing around the world, drive through lines around the block at the Burger Chef, and Christmas shoppers flowing through Gimbels, these companies looked like they would be around forever.

But, alas, it wasn't meant to be. These companies failed to change with the times. They didn't meet consumer needs. They had poor structures and management. Burger Chef didn't diversify its menu or expand in the right markets the way that Burger King and McDonalds did. TWA made poor labor deals, cut customer service, and had poor flight schedules. Diner's Club didn't penetrate enough retailers to be as versatile as Visa or American Express. Because of these mistakes, they went the way of the dodo. And you know what? America, today, is just fine.

As we debate bailouts of major corporations, we should keep these ghosts of Christmas past in mind. The failure of major corporations and brand names is the dark side of capitalism, but it is an important component. Without the ability to fail, there is no pressure to succeed. And that, is the true danger here.

Like the old, slow deer at the back of the herd, these companies must become cougar food. That allows the herd to move faster. If the entire herd adjusts to the speed of the slowest animal, they all risk death at the hands of their predators. So, too, will our global dominance fall and fail.

This bailout is framed as a necessity to save the workers. Sure, okay, but the government shouldn't be in the business of protecting jobs. That is a risk that befalls all Americans. And why, may I ask, are the auto workers more important than the other people being laid off? Why should those workers take priority over the other private sector employees who now find themselves without a job?

For every family that has kids in college, a big mortgage and lives paycheck to paycheck, there are other families who maintain savings and investment. For every autoworker who only has the skills to be an auto worker, there are others who came from other industries, or have other skills or interests that they could move into.

You see, the dream of America is that three of those autoworkers, currently resigned to their six figure incomes, design their own type of car. A flying car. In their off time, they design the car. They then raise some money from family and friends and a savvy investor to build a prototype. From the prototype, they make some sales. Now, a group of investors and banks get in the mix and a new company is born. This new company hires employees, pays taxes, builds plants etc. Those three plant workers are now CEOs with bigger salaries and stock options. In order to get the best talent, they go through their former co-workers and find the best and the brightest. In order to lure them away from GM or Ford, they have to offer a BETTER deal than the current UAW contract. Business is healthy. People succeed. The American Dream lives on.

These days we are talking about doing things that kill the very principals that this country was founded on. Instead of 17 billion going to failing companies with poor labor deals and poor management, that money should be given to entrepreneurs. 100 new companies, in a variety of industries would create more, better jobs than extending a life line to these bloated behemoths.

Do you miss Burger Chef? Did you really want a new AMC Gremlin? Are you mad that you have to use a Visa instead of a Master Charge? Do you not go shopping because it's Macy's and not Marshall Field's? Didn't think so. Guess what. You're not going to miss GM, Chrysler or Ford either. But what you are missing is the promise of the American Dream....and probably a flying car.

Buy This Album!!!

2008-12-13T23:46:00.001-08:00

Everyone should click the link below and buy this album. I helped produce it and let me tell you...its awesome!

They're Back!!!! Transmorphers 2 in 3D!!!!

2008-12-11T00:06:00.000-08:00

A while back I got an email from my online buddy "The Foywonder" that suggested that the Asylum was planning a sequel to Transmorphers. I just read on the Asylum website that they were in fact sequelizing my 2007 cult classic. On top of that happy news, I learned that it was going to be filmed in 3D!!!!! That's motherfucking right. 3D Bitches!!!! I tell you right now that I will be the first person to pre-order a DVD of that film. I am looking forward to that release more than any in 2009.

Is my tongue planted in my cheek right now? Absolutely not. My enthusiasm is 100% genuine. Transmorphers was one of the simultaneous high points, and low points, in my tenure with the Asylum. As most of you know, I am a rebelious punk. An arrogant bastard who hates rules, hates taking no for an answer, and loves to buck the system (just ask IATSE, but that's a story for another day). The idea of trying to make a futuristic period piece with giant robots with the budget of the average AFI short film was a challenge that I couldn't resist. While most people in Hollywood marvel at their own excess, I have often been obsessed with the exact opposite; doing the impossible for absolutely no money. Was it a disaster? Sure. Was it fun? Absolutely. In fact, on set of the new film House Of Bones that I'm producing for the sci-fi channel today we were all sharing tales of the Transmorphers shoot. It was a memorable, unforgettable experience.

Outside of me officially making a plea to the Asylum to burry the hatchet and strike a deal to shoot Transmorphers 2 here in Louisiana with my new production company (tax credits, in house VFX, soundstage....call me) let me give some advice to the new team behind Transmorphers 2.

-We all have a shot here at cinematic immortality. Conventions, fan screenings, toys, graphic novels, etc. If you guys can go Aliens to my Alien, Terminator 2 to my Terminator, we got it. If you guys go Troll 2 or Superman IV on me, we are fucked.

-Watch the original. Study it. Feel it. Ask the Davids for a copy of the original Transmorphers story "bible" that I wrote. Stay true to the universe. We have a lot of fans. Do you know that people have written fan fiction? Or that I get requests every week for signed copies? Go ahead and reference the original. The loyal fans will love you for it.

-Help me fill plot holes. A lot of crazy shit went down during the development and production. Lot's of stuff got lost in translation. As you study the first (I suggest at least 20-30 viewings to really "get it") look for things that don't add up or make sense to you. Then, fix it with the sequel.

-Get better robots. Look, genre movies are a mathematical equation. 50% visuals. 50% sound. So, there was a sync issue on Transmorphers...there goes 50%. Then we couldn't afford a dolly so take away 10% of the visuals. Dock it 10% because we didn't discover the awesome set that is featured in the first ten minutes until months after principal photography. Then take away 20% because the film is called Transmorphers and the robots are lame and don't really Transmorph that much. So, you have 10% of a movie there. And let me tell you, the strength of that 10% has built an international fan base that demands a sequel. Fix any of the above problems and you will top the original.

Here are a few production notes and fun facts that you may not know about TRANSMORPHERS....

-Because the film was all interiors or night exteriors, it was shot 100% at night.

-Only a handfull of actors in the film (Kym Jackson, Elodie Hara, Danae Nason, Sofie Norman, Luke Jones, and Erin Sullivan) had never appeared in a Leigh Scott Asylum film.

-With the exception of six actors, the entire cast of Dracula's Curse appears in Transmorphers.

-The original script for Transmorphers was, in fact, called Robot Wars. The original story behind that script came from a script I wrote years earlier called EARTH EMPIRE. The plots were different, but the main character (an outlawed, renegade, military commander named Warren Mitchell) is in both scripts.

-Warren Mitchell's name comes from my father's middle name and aviation legend and Milwaukee hero Gen. Billy Mitchell.

-The average shooting temperature during the exterior sequences was 20 degrees.

-The main battle scene in the middle of the film is made up of two giant, tracking shots involving stunts, pyro and CGI. It didn't work in the original cut, so the traveling shots were intercut (maybe it still doesn't work, DRATS!!!)

-The opening of the film was shot months after principal photography. The initial cut was short on running time and the producers felt that the film lacked action in the first few minutes (which I agree with). Despite being shot in three days with a crew of four people, those scenes look significantly better than the rest of the film.

-Actress Amy Weber broke her hand during production. We were unsure if she was going to return, so an alternate ending was conceived where her character was killed. But, she came back and didn't die in the film.

-Actor Griff Furst (Itchy) demanded to perform his "unfreezing" scene totally naked as it made sense to him that people wouldn't be put in cyrogenic freeze with their clothes on. His request was denied by a majority vote of the cast and the crew.

-The film's main theme is actually a derrivative of the song "Wonderland" by the band The Divine Madness, who performed the film's score.

-The film is hated by a man calling himself "Decepticon Spike" on youtube. Check out his video. Let him know what you think.

-"Robot Girl" Erin Sullivan's wardrobe came from the closet of Line Producer Daniella Southgate.

-Production Assistant Nick Everheart tried to, one night, serve the crew microwave burritos for lunch. The crew attempted to kill him.

-The middle action sequence consisted of six stunt men, eleven actors, and seven separate pyrotechnic effects (the equivalent of 16 frames of a Michael Bay shot).

-Not a single prop weapon used on the film was returned to rental house ISS. They were all destroyed in the production.

-The wardrobe from Transmorphers was featured prominently in Griff Furst's UNIVERSAL SOLDIERS.

-The entire interior set (not the beginning, awesome set) was constructed from materials purchased at Home Depot and IKEA exclusively.

-The entire film was "looped" (maybe you knew that already).

Don't let me down Asylum. Don't let the fans down.

Promise the world that TRANSMORPHERS 2 in 3D will continue the legacy!!!!

Come on lady...you know the right call here.

See, I'm not the only one...

2008-12-05T18:07:00.000-08:00

A little while ago I posted about my dislike for "comedian" Carlos Mencia. I actually took some heat for it from some readers. But, my disdain is not unique.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Campaign Slogan Announced!

2008-11-20T20:22:00.000-08:00

Awesome. That's right. In 2012 I will march to the White House on a tidal wave of excitement, with crowds chanting "Awesome"! That's it. Simple. Clean. Easy to remember.

No specific policies. No actual plan. No experience. Just a simple phrase that sums up my Presidency and America as a whole: Awesome.

So get ready America and the world. 2013 is gonna awesomer than the previous four years!

Mockbust This!!!

2008-11-15T22:09:00.000-08:00

Let me state, once again, for the record that I am no longer working with or associated with the Asylum. We parted ways more than a year ago. That doesn't mean that those guys don't have my utmost respect and admiration. I think back on my time with them and remember it fondly.

This week yahoo news splashed a story about how Fox was actually suing the Asylum over the upcoming mockbuster, THE DAY THE EARTH STOPPED. Of course, this was meant to cash in on the upcoming Keanu Reeves snoozefest THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL.

I've talked at length about how and why the Asylum makes mockbusters. I've defended the practice from a business perspective while I have expressed my disdain for the practice from a creative perspective. That's why I left. It makes sense to me for them to do and I don't find it reprehensible the way that some filmmakers and fans do.

I do, however, find Fox's lawsuit to be reprenhensible for so many reasons. First of all this is just another example of the big guys picking on the little guys. Independent film in general has suffered as a result of the studios making independent films big business through companies like Miramax and rigged film festivals like the deplorable Sundance. As we move into the digital world, the opportunities for small film makers is shrinking everyday as the big studios and media companies angle to take up the virtual real estate of the internet. The hope that one day people would have tons of options as to what they wanted to buy and watch is dissappearing. Instead, we will get the same old crap in a shiny new format. Just as people are stupid enough to pick up TRANSMORPEHRS thinking its TRANSFORMERS, they are not saavy enough to realize that the featured band on myspace isn't some breakout group, but instead the latest prefabricated schlock from Rupert Murdoch's media empire.

What really rots my USC grad, filmmaker soul to the core is the fact that FOX has the balls to sue someone for being "unoriginal" or "trade infringement" when they are the ones perverting one of the true seminal films in science fiction history! Robert Wise's THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL is a near masterpeice. To remake it is near blasphome. To defend this blasphome by taking legal action against some scrappy filmmakers trying to get their .0000001% of the $2 Billion DVD market is just plain bad form. Fox is doing more than the Asylum to "confuse the marketplace" as I assume their claim states, by putting out a tired, boring, VFX laden imposter into the marketplace on the coat tails of a piece of cinematic history.

I truly hope that this recession forces major changes at the movie studios. Movies get suckier everyday. Being in the mix, I know that 98% of the problem is at the executive level. People on set and behind the camera really want to make good films, but are constantly hamstringed by the people cutting the check who assume that they know better. During the glory days of Hollywood and even into the early years of the Blockbuster, filmmakers ran the studios. Now, its corporate suits who look at test audience reports and make safe decisions to protect their over paid jobs. Lame.

The World Helped Pick Our President...Let Me Pick Theirs...

2008-11-14T00:09:00.000-08:00

The world overwhelmingly approves of our choice of Barack Obama as President. Good for them. Forget that at the end of the day it will do little to "improve our image" because non-Americans are jealous of our country and its success. If Obama dares look out for American interests, they will lump him in with the rest. Instead of a world of Kumbaya and hippie love, I predict lots of mean and nasty editorials and rascist cartoons depicting our rockstar president once he admits that "gulp" he's an American too.

But, since they only cared about celebrity and not what is best for OUR country in voicing their opinion (or illegally donating money for his campaign) I thought that turnabout is only fair. So, without further ado, here are my suggestions for other nation's leaders. Forget experience, policy, plans etc. These people should lead their nations....because I said so. If the countries below elect these people, their status will go through the roof and the world will truly be peaceful and wonderful.

UK-Elect BONO!!!!!!

I know he's Irish, but so what? If we can put aside slavery and all that, can't they put aside a 1000 year religious bru ha ha? I mean, open your minds Brits. Stop being so damned RACIST! An Irish Prime Minister is a dandy idea, and really the only way to show the world that you are not a backwards, close minded nation. Bono is cool. Bono knows politics. He's been to Africa. He also loves America and of all the rock stars out there, Bono sorta "get's it".

CANADA-ELECT THE SHAT!
Bill Shatner was born in Canada. Not sure where he is a citizen. Again, minor stumbling block in building our happy global village. Can you imagine the Canadian Space Program? Snap! The Shat and Scotty will team up to get warp drive going before the end of his first term. And screw terrorists, Shatner can stop the Klingons!!! Safe from international and intergalactic invasion.

CHINA-I WANNA SEE CHAIRMAN CHAN

Jackie Chan just seems like a really, really nice guy. He could help the Chinese mellow out. I know, I know I saw Rush Hour 2, he's a bad ass. But as long as we appoint Chuck Norris the Secretary of Defense we should be good. Man, that would be an awesome fight. Just awesome.

COLUMBIA-Shakira
Besides really good coke, I don't know of anything or anybody to ever come out of Columbia. Except for Shakira. She's tough, sexy, sassy; everything you need to contain hot blooded South American men, even if they're Marxist rebels with AK-47s. Forget negotiating, Shakira will shake those hips and do that weird thing with her butt to convince people to go her way.

MEXICO-Please take CARLOS MENCIA
Ok, this one is kinda selfish. I can't stand Carlos Mencia. I've been trying for years to get him deported but "apparently" he's a US citizen. Who knew? I don't think he can really do anything good for Mexico, but at this point, who can?

AUSTRALIA-Put HUGH JACKMAN into power!

It's really time that a major nation elect an openly gay man. Wait, he's not gay? Really?

ITALY-MONICA BELLUCCI and a glass of Chianti
After I found out that the kind of pizza you get from Dominoes isn't really Italian, but an American invention, I realized that I really don't like anything Italian. I see the country as sort of a sleezier France. It seems like all the tough guy Italians moved to Brooklyn, so I go with the same advice that I gave Columbia, pick a hot chick. It's tough for people to be mean to hot chicks, unless you're another hot chick. Or actually any chick for that matter.

ISRAEL-The Funniest Comic Alive is your new Prime Minister. JACKIE MASON
Jackie Mason is so unfunny that he goes all the way around the continuum to be the funniest man alive. Plus, nobody screams Jewish quite like Jackie Mason. Plus, Israelis are really tough and sort of mean looking. So having a goofy clown as your leader will keep your enemies off guard. Plus its hard to load rocket launchers in the Gaza Strip when you are peeing in your pants with laughter!

Mo' Money...Mo' Problems

2008-11-12T23:19:00.000-08:00

Ok, imagine that tomorrow, President Bush decided that all medical decisions for all citizens would be made by Congress. Congress and the President would decide if you were sick or not. If you were sick, they would prescribe the medicine and treatment. As advisers to your medical state, they would consult a broad based coalition; traditional doctors, herbal doctors, witch doctors and a poll of non-doctors to see what to do with you. While you think all you need is some time off and some chicken soup, something that worked before for you and always has, they decide to amputate your leg to take care of your stuffy nose.

Ridiculous right? Not really. Right now the same thing is happening, but not in the medical world, but in the financial world. A bunch of people, based on theories and polls, are spending YOUR money on ridiculous and unfair bailouts of US companies.

To understand how bad this is, first, let me ask you a question. How much money does the government have? The answer is ZERO. The government has your money and my money. People are so trained to pay taxes that we debate how much they are and what they are spent on without examining the concept of taxation itself. They are slick about it. They have your employer deduct it from your check, so you never get to hold that cash in your hot little hands. We small business men and self-employed types DO get the money up front and then, every April, have to write the goons in D.C. a check. It is painful. Taking two or three hundred a week makes you not even miss it. Writing a check to the federal government for $25,000 is a different story.

So, its our money. Now, the constitution gives the government the right to tax. But it also spells out what they can spend the money on. Check this little nugget that is never talked about:

ARTICLE 1 Section 8
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States;

Hmmm. So the defense budget is covered. But what does General Welfare mean? Specifically, the constitution does authorize the post office as well as a rarely discussed section about Scientific advances and support for Artistic endeavors.

We can debate if social services like welfare, free healthcare, public parks, etc. constitute the "general welfare" of the United States. But what is not debateable is that this discussed bailout is NOT for the general welfare of the country.

Companies sink and swim in the Capitalist world. That is the natural way of things. If the major auto companies need to declare bankruptcy, so be it. They will rise from the ashes smarter and stronger than ever.

Problem is that The Chose One and his cronies are in tight with the labor unions. The bailout of the auto industry does not protect the "American" brands. It does not insure that people will keep their jobs. It insures that the United Auto Workers aren't broken by the bankruptcy courts and the car manufacturers. That's it! Your money is going to a select group of people so the Democrats can pay back their union buddies. So much for hope and change.

The average salary for an auto worker in Michigan, with no college degree, is $60,000 for a straight 40 hour week not including health benefits (which are amongst the best of any union). Currently, there are about 400,000 UAW members. If we were really worried about people "losing" jobs, would these same law makers rush to defend the non-union outfit know as Wal Mart which employees three times as many people? Hardly. Wake up and smell the corruption! Wow, I haven't seen such blatant D.C. theivery since Dick Cheney started the Iraq War for Haliburton and to steal oil (I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me how exactly that worked).

People need to understand economics. If they don't, they shouldn't have an opinon as to how business should work. All these socialist knuckle heads running around are missing the point: The great wealth of this nation, the wealth that needs to be "spread around" is a direct bi-product of healthy capitalism. When you start monkeying with it, it starts to dissappear.

The $25 Billion basically would cover every UAW auto worker for the year. But then what? What changes are going to happen with the automakers to insure that we won't be in the same place next year? New designs? Price cuts? New labor deals? Nope. Nothing. It is a waste of money.

This is just the beginning. D.C. is prescribing leaches for that nasty ingrown toe on your foot. It's only a matter of time before they cure our winter flu by taking a pinky!

Democracy is a BITCH!!!

2008-11-10T22:36:00.000-08:00

While everyone is making fun of Sarah Palin, I think this entire country could use a lesson in civics, especially those on the left.

See, we live in a Republic. That is a nation of laws. The laws allow us to vote for certain things in a democratic fashion. Certain states allow voters to directly vote on laws. California is such a state.

I find it rather karmic that gay rights advocates are jumping up and down about Proposition 8. Sure its stupid (more on how to fix that problem in a second), but it passed because of a vote of the people. A vote that is fair and square.

Let's look at some of the things that they are saying...

1)People were mislead by ads.
2)People were ill informed as to the reality, and in some cases didn't know what they were voting for or made an emotional and unfair decision.
3)The money behind it came from illicit sources, and there was too much money put behind it to fight it fairly.
4)Blacks tipped the scale by voting overwhelmingly for it, which may not be right because they didn't fully understand the implications or repercussions.

Hmmmm...you know what? The exact same thing could be said about Obama's Presidential win.

Here's the rub. Gays are marching in protest from San Fran to San Diego. They are also putting lawyers to work to challenge the law at the State Supreme Court level where they know their case will be heard by sympathetic judges.

Yet, we conservatives feel the same way about the general election. But, there are no marches, no lawsuits, no talking heads on TV looking for ways to undo the will of the people.

I was disturbed by the 2000 election lawsuits. I'm disturbed by the fact that most on the left never respected or acknowledged that George W. Bush was the President. I hated all of the marches. I hated the dumb websites with pictures of people "apologizing" to the world for electing Bush. It's immature. It's not right. And dare I say, un-American.

When the democratic process doesn't go your way, your mission is to work within the confines of the democratic system to achieve the results that you want. It's not to protest in the streets. It's not to sick lawyers on the situation hoping that an activist judge will rule in your favor. This my friends is the way it works in the third world. It's how dictators rise to power.

If gays really want all of the rights associated with marriage, which I agree they should have, they should present their own changes to the law. Since liberals are so "open minded" and willing to "reach across the aisle", their proposition should be a bi-partisan effort that insures fairness across the board.

I recommend doing away with state sanctioned marriage all together. Most people who are against gay marriage are married in churches. Since its a hot button issue, let's let them keep their marriage in their church and do with it what they want.

We need a series of social contracts, provided by the government at a nominal fee that allow two, or three, or four people to share financial resources, get tax breaks, be each other's legal representatives etc. If a couple wants the benefits that society gives married couples, they should go downtown and get the necessary paperwork.

Then, if any church wants to perform a ceremony that celebrates the love of two (or three or four) people with singing and rings etc. they are free to do so. But that ceremony should have nothing to do with the legal rights associated with "marriage". Divorce becomes like any other corporate dissolution.

If you were married in the church, the church must issue the divorce for their marriage. Hmmm....methinks that will end up decreasing the divorce rate.

If there is a shortage of churches that will perform the ceremony for gays or for polyamorous groups, I'm sure the private sector will end up providing them. This is America after all. It would give birth to a whole new industry.

As society evolves, I agree that laws should change. But they should change for everyone's benefit. They should not be used to "stick it" to the other side. The courts should not intervene. I'm sorry. I've seen too much and heard too much to believe that gays only want the right to marry to express their love. That is a naive and wrong headed belief. There is a strong component to the argument that wants to minimize the influence and power of our nation's religious people and traditionalists. This is America, we all get a voice. Everybody is simultaneously wrong and right. I do not believe that the transgender folks in San Francisco are any more entitled to the country or the constitution than the Mormons of Utah.

What the hell is this?????

2008-11-09T18:25:00.000-08:00

We better not know the whole story here.

Looks to me like the McCain guy was trying to pick a fight and be an ass...but so what? How many stupid anti-war rallies did I have to go through in LA?

If Conservatives Ever Want to Win Again...

2008-11-09T01:40:00.001-08:00

People on the Right are now yelling back and forth at each other about how to win elections and trying to assess just "what went wrong". Well, I'll tell you. First off, conservatives haven't really been conservatives. Government is bigger now more than ever. We've embarked on this whole "nation building" idea, usually after we destroy said nation first. Not good. Second of all, in this election, they managed to demonize George W. Bush to the point where even conservatives didn't like him. Before the election a poll had a generic Republican losing by ten points to an unnamed Democrat. So, Obama's six point edge ain't really so bad.

Though it may seem cynical, I've compiled a list of how Republicans can win. Forget moving to the center or sticking to core values. Blah, blah, blah. This is how you do it baby.

1) Work less. Not at the election, but at jobs. Part of the problem during this election is that most conservatives, like me, told our friends, sent McCain some money, then voted for him. That's not enough. We need armies of unemployed people fixated only on getting a Republican victory. How many of those Obama supporting white guys with dreadlocks, or black ladies who look like DMV employees, or those nebulous ethnic young girls (are they Italian? Hispanic? Arabic? Native American?-you know the one's I'm talking about) have their own small businesses? How many of the work 60 or more hours a week? Not many. Starbucks and FYE employees only work, maybe, 40 hours a week. It's simple math, which we conservatives love. Work less and make less money to get your guys elected. If they lose, most of that money you made working is going to be taken by the government anyway. It's kinda like Vegas.

2) No more cranky old guys. Look, there is a double standard, so just embrace it. The Democrats have an F'ing Klansman as one of their higherups. They have the crankiest jackass of all time, Jack Murtha, yet they are the party of the "young" and the "cool". Guys like McCain and Dole are probably way cooler than Joe Biden, but that's never gonna come out. Just forget it. Stick those guys in the closet and find some front people. That's what we used to do in the fraternity back in college. We had a team of nerds and engineers who would keep our GPA up, then a bunch of slick good looking guys who would wear the letters on campus. It was a win, win. The nerds got to make out with girls way beyond their league and the good looking dumb guys didn't have to worry about the house getting shut down because their collective GPA was around a 1.4.

Here's actually a good idea. See, Hollywood always goes liberal. But, actors will do anything for money. We trick them by saying that it's the "role of a lifetime". You, Colin Farell, are playing an arch conservative. You love freedom. You hate taxes. You think every American should own a gun. Ok, and we're going to pay you $40 million. Snap. There's your candidate. You show me an actor who won't take a big pay day and some BS promise of a good role, regardless of their principals, and I'll show you Bigfoot in a freezer.

3) Forget selling ideas, sell phrases. Companies spend billions of dollars each year on marketing. What do they get for their money? Slick, memorable phrases and images. Coke currently has "Live on the Coke side of life". Doesn't that sound good? Coke is a lifestyle. It's cool to drink coke. They don't have commercials that say "the blend of carbonation, sugar, and caffeine in Coke releases endorphins in the human brain which may lead to short bursts of euphoria. So buy coke." Republicans are pushing concepts, solid concepts, backed up by historical evidence. The public doesn't have time for that. They want quick. Easy. Simple. "Hope and Change" beats the historical evidence of the positive effect of tax cuts on government revenues every time.

4) Make the media your bitch. Get better commercials. Master social networking websites. How many retarded pro-Obama myspace bulletins were there? How many myspace groups and facebook pages? How many chain emails full of half-truths and lies ended up in my inbox? Tons I say. Tons.

The mainstream media is totally one sided. This is no longer debatable. Just like Global Warming. It's a fact. (Don't you hate that argument when it's thrown back at you?). People like Chris Matthews, Charlie Gibson, and the moron named Keith Olbermann no longer deserve any respect. They are a disgrace to their profession. So, don't try to deal with them on equal terms. Negative ads are bad, especially when you're running against New Age, feel good, Hippie BS. Confrontation is good. A candidate calling out a reporter makes for a great youtube clip. Go for witty, funny and condescending. Make them look stupid. You see, the media attacks the right from a position that the views of the right somehow need justification, as if the lefty view is correct so why would you oppose it? No way. When they ask "How can you justify cutting taxes on the wealthiest Americans during an economic slump?" The answer isn't about how you want to cut taxes for everybody to help the middle class. The answer is a question. "Wait, Charlie Gibson, what are you asking? Are you suggesting that raising taxes is a good idea? Have you taken any econ classes? I mean, with all do respect (not really!), your question doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense." Then we could actually see these baton carriers of the legacy of Edward R. Murrow quake in their ill educated boots.

5) Ditch the social issues. If you really focus on conservative principals, its not about abortion or gay marriage or any of these divisive issues. It's about following the rule of law, allowing for individual liberties, and providing for states to govern themselves. So, concede the big point (which you are going to lose anyway) and go for the details and stick to the principals. Republicans should respect that the nation is pretty much split on abortion. They are not split on partial birth or late term abortion. Instead of pointing to God, the Bible, and the "rights of the unborn", concede that abortion is a fact of life... when the child is a zygote. Then go ahead and ask that Halloween Ghoul Barack Obama why he would vote for final trimester abortion? Demonize partial birth abortion. Even those of us who are pro-choice think it's pretty nasty. By letting it be known that we are rational and in keeping with the population, we are let back in the conversation and have a chance to win the argument. Then begin the re-education and the other programs that will minimize abortion overall.

Same with the death penalty. Screw it. Death is too good for these goons. Then introduce prison reforms that turn Folsom State Prison into that world in Alien 3. Child molesters will be begging for lethal injection. That will make the "prisoner rights" advocates look like morons. Again, take away the negative and get back into the game. Stuff doesn't change overnight.

6)Screw special interest groups and minorities. Focus on women. Women cross all economic, educational, and racial barriers. We lose a bunch of them over the social issues (which we are getting rid of, see 5 above). Women want a strong defense. The ones who aren't career women want to make sure that their families are taken care of. The career women want their cash the same as any man would.

Minorities and special interest groups trick you into thinking that they are some sort of monolithic group, standing in solidarity against "The Man". The reality is that the big ocean liner that is the cult of victim hood is actually a pirate ship. Every man, woman, and transgender person for themselves. Don't believe me? Ask the blacks in LA who get N***ER shouted at them by well dressed Kylie Minogue fans in West Hollywood. Why? Because blacks voted for Prop 8. They are all in it for themselves. You can't make all of them happy. Don't bother.

And from a mathematical standpoint, two things become clear. One, collectively, gays, blacks, jews, muslims, asians and hispanics only become significant when you lose the other, large voter blocks. Lose the youth vote and don't get out your base and it's President Obama. If older voters showed up and the rock the vote crowd actually voted based on information instead of hype and Oprah is moving to Canada. The black vote did not turn this election. Secondly, the instant that "minority voters" become part of other, larger, voter blocks, they side not with their minority group but the other block. That's why women are so important. And young voters. And rich people.

We are never going to get illegal immigrants, and people looking for hand outs on our side. That's not what we're about. Don't even bother. For every "Freddy the Freeloader" that you alienate, you flip two hard working Americans. Really. Trust me.

7) The Reagan Revolution is dead, literally. My grandfather was one of the staunchest Reagan supporters known to man. He died six years ago. The Evangelical, moral voters of the 80s have passed away, replaced by that white guy in dreadlocks I was talking about. I don't think people turned their backs on McCain, I just don't think a lot of Republican voters could vote because they are dead. (Thanks to ACORN, dead Democrats can still vote. Especially in Ohio and Cook County, IL)

8) Get sassy. It breaks my heart to learn that the McCain camp tried to muzzle Sarah Palin. That's the last thing we need. When Reagan was challenged about his age, he made a joke out of it saying that yes, age is an issue in the campaign, and that he wasn't about to let the youth and inexperience of his opponent effect voters. See! Clever. Witty. Sharp. You know who else did that? Obama. When the Republicans had him dead to rights espousing Marxist beliefs, he down played it. He asked what they would bring up next, him sharing his sandwich in grade school? Smart. McCain totally had it with those CELEBRITY ads in the beginning. He should have done more of them. He should have made ones that look like Obama ads in the style of the old Soviet ads. That would have been funny. And controversial.

9) Control the narrative. That is the key. In 2012, it should go something like this "President Obama is a good guy. He's tried really hard. But things are worse now than they were in 2012. It's not his fault, or the fault of the Democrats, its just that their heart is in the right place, but the principals aren't sound. Here, let us show you how its done. Wait, who? Bush? Who's Bush? "

Screw Santa...My List This Year is Going to the White House

2008-11-08T02:14:00.000-08:00

After watching my favorite news shows today, I got to thinking. See all of these corporate types (like the auto industry and airline industry) and all these governors of states are going to the Obama White House to get cash. Actually, there isn't an Obama White House yet, so they're just talking to him now to get their lists in first to make sure they get a check in late January. These CEOs and governors who have run their companies and states into the ground through bad management aren't even offering to pay the money back, or resign for screwing up. Nope. Just put out your hand and the Feds are going to rain gold upon you.

Then I dug a little deeper. While I was busy supporting the "Oppress the People and Blow Shit Up Party", I wasn't really paying attention to the vague and ever shifting plans of President Obama. Besides "Hope" and "Change", this dude is offering cash to people who don't work! And, free health care! And all sorts of other cool things.

But why stop there? He wants to raise minimum wage to $9.50 an hour, which isn't a whole lot. I won't roll out of bed for less than $100/day. Nobody should have to. And people need cars. And they need food. But not Mac and Cheese, but like, lobsters and steaks and stuff. And they need good TVs, flat screens (LCDs; Plasmas burn out too fast). And if they are going to get federally mandated time off, they shouldn't have to stay in their boring houses, they should go to somewhere cool. Like Disneyland or Branson, MO (Ann-Margaret has a show there). And Wal-Mart does suck. People need clothes. Everyone should have a Gap shopping spree. Well, Gap is kinda boring. Maybe Bananna Republic. Yeah, that's way cool. Oh, and who doesn't have an iPOD? But like the video ones, not the Nano. And definitely not one of those fake-o Zune players. WMAs? Please.

But, I don't want to burden anybody. I mean, I just put myself through college and have struggled to be a small business owner and employ people. I only work 10-12 hours a day. I mean, in the big scheme of things, who am I to really ask for anything? There are a lot of people who, for whatever reason, just ended up lazy or stupid. They need stuff more than me, so I should take the backseat.

I do want a few things from the federal government though. They only total like 25 grand which isn't that much. So, I'm going to post it here, then email it to Dick Cheney with instructions to forward it on to the "real" President and Vice-President (the new guys did get one percent of the vote more than Bush McHitler and the Cheney robot, so they are the real deal. Elected, not selected baby!!)

1. Ford Mustang. 1966. Black on black. V-8. Automatic. Rogue acoustics stereo system. And a DVD player so I can park my ride and watch "Scarface" like 50 cent does.

2. Blue-Ray DVD player. With a new copy of the special edition Directors Cut of Star Trek II: The Wraith of Khan.

3. Wii with the new FORCE UNLEASHED Star Wars game.

4. One of those lifesize ALIEN statues from the movie.

5. A hot tub. (This should be standard for all Americans).

6. A bottle of Louis XIV cognac.

7. $500 in McDonalds gift certificates.

8. One of those pet drinking fountains for Rajah.

9. A pony.

Thanks Obama Claus. I'll vote for you next time. Promise!

My President...Barack Obama!!!

2008-11-04T20:09:00.000-08:00

That's right folks. Barack Obama has been elected the 44th President of the United States. Unlike the angry leftists who fill the blogsphere, you won't hear me crying about "stolen elections", voter fraud, "selected not elected" etc. Even though I am a conservative Libertarian, I am a patriot. You will hear no disrepsect for the man himself. He is my President and will have my respect and have, at the very least, a shot to earn my trust.

I think that Obama will end up leading from the center, much like Bill Clinton did. On a positive note for conservatives, I think that it's fairly obvious that we have seen the sunset of the "Reagan Revolution", at least from the standpoint of the power of the Christian Right. Look for the Republicans to skew younger and skew less religious, focusing on the real issues of the economy and national defense. The issues that really, at the end of the day, matter.

Obama's liberal voting record does not bode well for him to be a uniter or a centrist. But one thing is clear, Obama has a healthy ego, and a strong desire to build his legacy. He has moved, almost chameleon like, up the ranks of political power. I think Nancy Pelosi and wing nuts like Harry Reid are in for a surprise. Obama doesn't want to go out in four years. He is going to move slowly (as indicated by the tempering of expectations by his surrogates over the last few days) and cautiously. Look for a bi-partisan cabinet. Look for a few surprise vetos of Democratic desires.

His election does have special significance in terms of race. Hopefully now, we will get to a point where we can all turn our backs on morons like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. The days of race hustling are over! Good riddance.

Me, I'll be watching closely. I'll be watching my wallet and the affairs of the world. I doubt I will ever vote for Obama, but I won't disrespect him in the way that liberals have trashed every Conservative President of my lifetime.

Good luck....and goodnight.

Don't Vote!!!!

2008-11-03T00:37:00.000-08:00

That's right. I said it. Don't f'ing vote if you don't know what you are doing. At some point this concept that voting is every American's "civic duty" filtered into the mainstream collective mindset. Wrong!!! It is every citizen's duty to familiarize themselves with the issues to cast an informed and thoughtful vote. See the difference? Winston Churchill (international and historic BAD ASS, may I add) noted that "The best argument against Democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter." True that you magnificent bastard. Double True!!!

We need leaders like Churchill. Not....
Celebrities like Efron!

The corrupt media and our disposable culture have turned the election for the Presidency into a really long episode of a bad reality show. The President does serious shit people. He doesn't just give speeches. He doesn't just pose for photo ops like Zac Efron. He makes decisions. He makes the call. HE LEADS THE FREE WORLD.

If you believe the polls (which I do not) then we are about to elect the most liberal, most inexperienced person to ever run for the office of President. Did you hear that? Not the most to be the President, the most to RUN for president. In the years before MSNBC, CNN, and cute Obama-girl Youtube videos, we had the common sense to send jokers like Walter Mondale, Mike Dukakis, and John Kerry packing. Now, it's "cool" it's "hip" to elect Barry-O. Oy vey!!!

So, please consider the following as my last ditch attempt to get some of your heads out of the clouds and back to the real world in which we live. A world with a fragile economy. A world where, seven years ago, a bunch of psychos murdered 4,000 people on our own soil. A world where countries that don't let women drive are trying to build nuclear weapons.

1) Obama hangs with Looney Tunes. His buddies from the past. His preacher. His backers etc. All are wing nuts. I don't care what he thinks of them. Ask yourself this...what about Barack Obama would make a man who bombed the Pentagon think he was a good idea. Even if Obama himself doens't think of Bill Ayers as a buddy, Bill Ayers sure does like Obama's politics. Oh, and Bill Ayers wrote a book about subverting the government and dedicated it to Robert Kennedy's assassin. Nice.

2) Obama has never run anything. Not a business. Not a state. Not a city. Nada. Zilch. What the F???? He was a community organizer? What does that even mean? And if its such a great gig, why are we downplaying the efforts of the ACORN community organizers and all of the voter fraud? Hmmmm.

3) The media worships this guy, so we can't get the facts. Plain and simple.

4) All three branches of government in the hands of the same party is bad!!!! Look, Clinton had to deal with the roughest, meanest, most powerful Republican legislature in history. If Clinton created prosperity on his own, it would be a different story.

5) Sure, dictators, our enemies, and third world leaders like him, but what do the countries who work with us, the ones that are important think of him? The British ambassador to the US called him "elitist and uninspiring". The President of France called him "naive" to world affairs. And the Israelis are scared stiff because this guy is a sympathizer of radical Islamic terrorists. Sure, its all peachy with the people living in the huts and the heroin addicts in Amsterdam, but world leaders don't respect him.

Finally, take this quick quiz. If you don't know the answers to these questions, then just stay home!!!!!! Please, the world is begging you.

1) Historically, does cutting taxes on business and the upper 5% of wage earners increase or decrease revenue to the government? (Hint, ask JFK and Ronald Regan).

2) How did North Korea get the supplies neccessary to construct their nuclear reactors? (Hint, it wasn't from the bad guys, but us. Ask Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter)

3) What is the "surge" and did it work?

4) How many years has the United States gone without a terrorist attack against our Homeland or our interests abroad?

5) What's the difference between a recession and a depression? How did we get out of the last Great Depression?

6) What happened when JFK decided to meet with the Soviets "without pre-conditions" upon taking office? Name the major foreign policy mistakes and blunders during the JFK administration.

7) What are the roles of the three branches of government? What are the three branches?

8) How many Senators are there?

9) What caused the major recession of the Carter administration? Who is Jimmy Carter?

10) What is Socialism?

11) What are Ronald Reagan's, George W. Bush's, and George H.W. Bush's feelings about abortion? What about gay rights? Do we still have abortion and now gay marriage across the nation DESPITE the leadership of men who were strongly against it!!! Oh, and since Roe V. Wade, Republicans have held the office for 24 of the 36 years. Do you think moderate John McCain is the one who is going to usher in a new era of the Religious Right?

Serious. These questions are a bare minimum people. You aren't hurting anybody by staying home and not casting an ill informed vote because you don't like "the old guy" or think the Tina Fey lady has a funny accent.

Hope and Change comes from hard work. Not the empty promises of a leftist who advocates the redistribution of wealth, direct negotiations with hostile nations, and energy policies that drive the middle class into the poor house. We've been here before. This is the same, tired, crap in a shiny new package.

So, don't pull the lever for McCain. Just sit at home and watch TV. It's okay. It's your patriotic duty!!

It's True...Anybody Can Be President!!

2008-10-25T00:53:00.001-07:00

I was recently reading an editorial about the pending election of Obama to the presidency (which is by no stretch of the imagination a done deal, but you wouldn't know that from reading the media). The commentator remarked how, finally, young African-American children could look at the office of the President and say to themselves "someday". Now, that would be a real possibility. I agree, that is great. But I think an Obama presidency would mean more than that...it means that anybody can be President.

You see, I've always wanted to be President, but I always thought that my checkered past of ditching student loans, doing drugs, having affairs, and being involved in some shady business deals would have excluded me. Surely, I thought that the media would quickly delve into my past and as the scandals would role out, my dreams of sitting in the Oval Office would fade away.

But watching this election and the media's investigation into Obama's past (or lack thereof), I've realized that they key to the Whitehouse in the modern era is to simply become a media darling. Just as they have elevated talentless hacks in the creative world to media stardom, they can do the same thing for politics. It's crazy to think that the mainstream media doesn't think that Obama's past connections or his true, core beliefs are important. Yet, they all talk about Sarah Palin's wardrobe. Joe Biden makes stupid comment after stupid comment, yet Palin is the one who is a bumpkin!! Unbelievable.

So, if they're not going to ask about Bill Ayers or Tony Resko, I don't think I have to worry about my bad credit. If they're not going to hound him on his communist/radical past, I think my sexual exploits will be off limits. And if they're not going to press him on the details of his past cocaine use, well, then my cocaine use this weekend should be no big deal.

I'll be counting on all of your support in eight years. As a filmmaker, I should have no problem crafting a narrative of "Hope and Change" (it doesn't really matter what's going on in the world in eight years, when running for office, you have to make the people think that the world sucks and its the other guy's fault). Yeah, that's the ticket. I can't wait!

Oh, hold it. I'm not a liberal democrat. Damn it. That means no matter who I am, or what I say or do, or what I believe, I will be portrayed as a dim witted and evil person. Just like Reagan, McCain, Dole, both Bushes, Dan Quayle etc. Well, so much for that idea.

I should have my own VH1 show!!!

2008-10-20T22:46:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I took a brief trip to Los Angeles. As I no longer live there, I treated the jaunt like a vacation. I had no desire to live there as I had, sitting in traffic, getting parking tickets, or visiting the exact same five to ten restaurants/bars. Instead, I used my knowledge of the city to live like a tourist with the inside track. I checked into the Standard, went drinking at Sky Bar, shopped in trendy little stores, and ate a late dinner in typical Hollywood fashion (not ordering any full meals, but instead ordering appetizers and assorted entrees split at the table with no rhyme or reason, trust me, Hollywood people do this all the time). It was a lot of fun.

While living in LA, VH1 premiered "The Pick Up Artist", a reality show hosted by a man named "Mystery" who would teach socially inept guys how to work rooms and pick up women. My friend Jeff Denton and I watched it regularly. It was the only reality show that I've ever really tolerated. I found it quite entertaining. The train wreck factor of watching guys get shredded by mean girls and the clinical, almost scientific terminology used by Mystery and his cohorts was very engaging. Partly because it put names and strategy behind things that some of us do naturally and partly because it explained why things I've done in the past failed. It was a fascinating bit of human sociology.

Yet, as the show progressed, I started realizing that the show was inherently evil. Taking a socially inept computer programmer and turning him into a Hollywood douchebag is not a good thing. The whole point of the "pick up" isn't a simple score. It's about having fun and potentially meeting a longer term friend or partner. The only way to really do that, is to be yourself, not follow a pat routine and use basic human psychology to gain an advantage over people who are just having fun. The difference between the show and say a business psychology course is that people in the business world have entered an arena of competition. Girls hanging out with their friends in a nightclub aren't really there to mix it up with practiced psychologists and body language experts.

"Damn, Leigh Scott. Hate the game, not the player!!!"

So, while at the Sky Bar, already rather drunk, we noticed this guy wearing a glowing Marty McFly-style vest. I pointed out to the girls that I was with that this is called "Peacocking", a tactic explained on the show. By wearing something outrageous, your wardrobe becomes an instant conversation piece. It allows you to "open a set" as they say without an "opener" and generally leads to less "resistence" from the "target". See what I mean about this show and these guys??

Anyway, we all laughed at the guy and the show and the whole concept. Low and behold when we returned to the bar inside the Standard, we saw glowing vest man again. This time, however, all became clear. Glowing vest man was indeed "peacocking", and it wasn't an accident. He was there with Mystery and his entire crew!!!

As Mystery's crew of girls (two girls to about six guys by my count) wasn't very impressive, they instantly tried to move in on the group of actresses that I was with. Well, let's just say it didn't go well for them. Nothing put them off their game more than my friends (prepped by me of course) analyzing their every word. "Are you trying to bounce me?" "I mean are you trying to get me and my friends to another location?" "Are you peacocking?" "Or do you really wear those ridiculous goggles out to the grocery store?" They were neutralized. While I talked to his crew, Mystery instantly saw what I was up to. In their training, they teach the guys to openly confront and deal with other Alpha males that they encounter. It's a no lose. If the guy that girls are with like you, you are in with whatever girls are available in his crew. If you alienate the guy, there is little chance that you will be able to "bounce" any of his girls. Simple psychology. But a psychology that falls apart when your seemingly natural actions are exposed as the pat routine that they are.

Perhaps the biggest thing missing from the show is the true trick to their "success" with the ladies: a combination of persistance bordering on the annoying coupled with a ridiculous level of arrogance. I'm not sure if any of the crew "scored" that night, but I knew they were not happy with their treatment from my attractive actress friends.

Ultimately, Hollywood douchebags should hang with Hollywood douchebags. Reality stars should not hang with real actors. And that computer programmer shouldn't waste his time hanging out at Ketchup trying to hit on the girls from The Hills. He should go online and find that socially inept girl who loves Warcraft as much as he does. He will be much happier in the long run.

Me, I'm taking a break from directing to pitch VH1 my show: Leigh Scott's Playa Hater!!

Chrome Angels Wraps!!!!

2008-10-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

So, you know if I'm off the internet, that means I've been busy. We've just wrapped my latest film as a director, currently entitled CHROME ANGELS. The film is a bit of a departure for me. Sure, it's in the sci-fi genre, but its more of an action film, and dare I say it, a comedy. I don't want to divulge too much of the plot, I'll let everyone infer that when the trailer comes out (hopefully within the week, along with trailers for the other films that we've been doing down here) but I will say its very, very different.

This has been the smoothest and most rewarding film I've ever worked on. My capable and loyal crew is in tact, and everyone fired on all cylinders. I also had a brand new AD staff that completely rocked the house. And, we had great special effects from a local company, CFX, and our wonderful new friend Krystal.

But what has been super great about this show has been the cast. Paul Le Mat plays the film's villain, and while he has been absent from the screen for awhile, he hasn't missed a beat since his appearances in AMERICAN GRAFFITI and STRANGE INVADERS (a film that heavily influenced me while writing this movie, another clue to the plot). Richard Lynch stars as a character very similar to Sam Elliot's character in THE BIG LEBOWSKI. Both Lynch and Le Mat are great guys, both in front of and behind the camera. I brought in a few of my regular actors including Eliza Swenson, Kristen Quintrall, Rhett Giles, Griff Furst and Dean Arevalo. Every time I work with those guys I become more convinced that it's just a matter of time before those guys all hit it big time. Local actors Marcus Brown, Collin Galyean, and Laura Futch return to the show having worked in my film THE DUNWICH HORROR. We also added some great new actors to the team including Brent Lydic (who starred in FLU BIRD HORROR that I did last year) Frida Farrell, Jackey Hall, Monti Dominguez, Jessica Brodosi, and Soﬁa Kastens. My buddy Dave Kiiskinen returned to do stunts. All of them were beyond cool. Professional, courteous, hard working and best of all very talented. Oh, and Stacy Dash is in the movie too.

The film was pretty insane. We got to do things that only the big budget guys get to do (like ride Harleys through shopping malls and shoot gunfights inside grocery stores). We also shot on the RED camera. Whoa mamma. That thing is bad, bad ass! I've always been for digital cinematography but would be the first to admit that 35mm still had a big edge over HD. Now, not so much.

As a side note, I was really bummed that last week the HP Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland screened the wrong version of THE DUNWICH HORROR. Not their fault, we failed to get them the new copy in time. Not the end of the world, but I know the audience would have enjoyed the final copy better than the rough cut that was eventually screened.

Look for some new trailers and some big, big news next week.

Hurricane Sarah

2008-09-05T21:14:00.000-07:00

I spent the better part of the week hiding in Texas from Hurricane Gustav. In the end it was a bit of a bust, but I was glad that we played it safe. And, I got to hang in Dallas, a major city that I'd never been to before. If you know me, you know that I felt pretty at home in that city.

But the big news this week was the hurricane that swept through politics. Sarah Palin. I am one of the few conservative, Libertarian people to "come out" in the entertainment industry. It's like a black spot on your record. But, what the hell, it can't be any worse than being known as the director of Transmorphers, right? So, I press forward, spouting off my views on free market capitalism, strong national defense, limited government and low taxes.

This week, the entire political dynamic changed when Sarah Palin took the stage and showed the country, and the world, that she was the real deal. A talented speaker, a gifted politician, and most importantly a "regular" person. Let's face it, probably the only thing worse than a Hollywood douchebag is a Washington douchebag. They are snobs. They are smarmy. They are everything that is wrong with the political landscape. I'm sorry, but being an African-American does not make Harvard Law grad Barack Obama a "regular" guy. And please, Joe Biden just reeks of that "I know better than you" East Coast attitude.

People want to see people like them in high positions and in the media. They like actors and actresses that they can relate to. Same for musicians. Same for politicians. It makes sense that Sarah Palin would have a higher approval rating than Obama, McCain or Biden. She hunts, she's a mom, she has a vaguely Midwestern accent (like a lot of us). She looks like your friend's hot mom, or that substitute teacher that all of the 14 year old boys prayed would come in when the regular hag was sick. She embodies an "Americanness" that the elites despise. An "Americanness" that represents the majority of our country. There are more people in the stands for a Nascar race than there are for the latest Yale polo match.

LBJ, Reagan, both Bushes, and Bill Clinton all had that "vibe". Some people just don't get it. Those that don't have obviously never listened to a Toby Keith record, been to a State Fair, or drank a beer in the backyard, shirtless while grilling brats. Most of America has. You know who hasn't? Walter Mondale, Bob Dole, Mike Dukakis, and sorry to say it, Joe Biden and Barack Obama. It's hard to run a campaign looking out for the "little guy" or trying to protect the heartland when its clear that you don't know, like, or understand the very people to which you are trying to appeal.

If you've seen my films, you know I have a soft spot for the heroine, especially in the action and horror genres. I don't like portraying women as clueless victims or in need of male support and protection. The toughest people I know are women. I like Buffy, and Xena, and thought Angelina Jolie looked way more convincing kicking ass than Shia LeBeof any day. From Gracie in Dracula's Curse to making Kelly the villain in Beast of Bray Road to inserting Anne Bonney into Treasure Island, I've always tried to make female characters central to the plot.

Imagine my pleasant surprise when it became clear that it is going to be a woman who will save our nation from high taxes and international wimpification.

FLASHBACK!!!

2008-08-27T00:37:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be posting new stuff that we've been working on in the coming days and weeks. Until then, enjoy this....a retrospective of my work, and the work of many others at The Asylum.

Asylum Montage from Leigh Scott on Vimeo.

The Blog Is Here!!!! FLU BIRD HORROR OWNS AMERICA!!!

2008-08-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, so finally I did what I said I was going to do in...um...October. I have started a "real" blog and not a myspace thing. Apparently, myspace is no longer "in", or at least that's what I've heard. These kids today are so fickle. But you know what? Nobody touches my kangaroo tennis shoes. I don't care what you say. They are still cool.

Over the weekend, Sci-Fi aired FLU BIRD HORROR, directed by yours truly. I am proud to say that the film had massive, massive ratings. In fact, it was one of the top five shows on the entire network this year! Not bad for a few weeks in the Romanian forest with a rubber bird suit.

If you didn't catch the initial airing, Sci-fi will be airing the hell out of it over the next few weeks. Oh, and if you don't trust me about it, here's a nice review over at Dread Central.

Foywonder's Review

The below is of Bill Posley in the film. ***SPOILERS*** He dies!

Special thanks to visual genius Eliza Swenson for the blog banner at the top. Aren't you jealous?

A New Home For My Rants and Raves!

2007-10-22T04:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new home of Leigh Scott's ridiculous rants and raves. Myspace was just too obnoxious. This is much, much better. And, it's just as free baby! Thanks again Algore for inventing the internet!