Sunny Side Up featuring singer-songwriter, Larissa Ness

About Larissa (from www.larissaness.com)

With 5 albums capturing Larissa’s growth as an artist, Larissa has already begun a heavy promotional assault on the music industry with album, Hello. Hello will continue to reach TV and film placement as well as video and radio play. Ultimately, Larissa wants to bring inspiration and motivation to those who are striving to make a career doing what it is that they love.

Fans can stay up to date on Larissa’s progress and upcoming events, including show dates, upcoming music videos, and special events by visiting her Twitter page: www.Twitter.com/LarissaNess. Live performance footage and Music Video outtakes can be seen on YouTube.

Larissa's FULL BIOGRAPHY

Thanks for tuning in!

Less Than Three

My latest Bobism post, Love In Numbers, on www.lostinsunshine.com was inspired by a true story I read titled, Less Than Three. Immediately, it intrigued me. What's that all about?

As most of my friends know, I also belong to a production company, which produces paranormal-related documentaries with our team in Austin, TX. We've released four feature length ones, and a couple of shorts, which all stream live (and free!) on our Aether site in high quality. We've recently had a little hold up, since we're collectively working on a BIG project that could really put things over the top for us. A location most would die for. Seeing how we don't have our own TV show, and aren't famous, things take a little more time to solidify (sometimes). :) But we are confident we'll get there. It just might not be until this fall. So we'll shoot a couple of short films in the meantime (i.e. stay tuned for me and Shad's adventure to Haunted Faust Hotel in New Braunfels, TX!). If you want to keep up to date with what's going on with us, join us on FB.

And of course, I hope to be shooting LIS with my fabulous Sunshine team this fall, too. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Yes, that's part of the biz. While I'm waiting, I'm not really waiting though. I'm constantly searching the world for things/ways that inspire me to make myself and projects better. Inspiration can't be grabbed a hold of, or purchased... it must be felt. So, when something inspires me, I really like to bathe in it for a while.

The blog post, Less Than Three, written by our friend, Brian, about a funny moment he shared with his lovely wife, Anna Marie, (with Ghostology - in the paranormal entertainment industry) really made me smile, and inspired me to write the current blog entry for Bob about love.

Some people believe that, 'all you need is love' while others are far more practical about this emotion. Regardless of your viewpoint, most of us have felt its power. It can be fun, silly, profound, and inspiring in moments we least expect it.

Bob's (LIS' lead male protagonist) a man of promise and wonder. He's constantly looking for the next way to be inspired, too. So, it's no wonder that he found this sweet story about an expression of love to be both enlightening, and touching.

Inspiration comes in the most surprising looking packages. Don't be afraid to open different ones up.

less than three,

Jentri

Filmmaking: Why he did it. Why I do it.

A friend, Misti, forwarded this article on to me today (thank you!). I was happy to learn that other filmmakers are seeing the value of being intimate with their audience and taking risks (if that's how you view it). After all, filmmaking is an intimate experience, really. Why not allow your supporters/viewers to share in that wonderful, chaotic living room space? Some people will never get the opportunity to otherwise learn or appreciate what we do in our (behind the scenes) crafts.

That is a direction we've always hoped to emulate with Lost In Sunshine - creating a wide open space, free for all to explore, interact, share, and grow with us. If we're lucky, our true fans (as Ted Hope often refers to them as) will be there in the end, supporting us on our journey to expand and eventually, yes, even profit from!

I mean, you can scream your ass off, but if no one is listening it doesn't matter, does it?

Which leads me to my next thought on why I do (and will continue to do) what I do. All the blogging, youtubing, posting pictures, videoing, participating in social (media) interaction (i.e., twitter, facebook, myspace, etc.) is a chance for me to connect with different groups that gravitate to different spaces for various reasons. Perhaps they learn through video, or rely on friends to navigate them... maybe they just like to tweet occasionally, or maybe they just want good old fashion words. Whatever it is - I want to be there. In fact, I'd go as far as to say it's my job to be there - as an indie artist. Who else is going to do it for me? My assistant? (I'm laughing really hard right now).

So let's get down and dirty for a second. Let's get the grit outta the way, so we can be inspired again! 'Cause it's easy to feel yucky and unappreciated when things aren't seeming to go our way. After all, filmmaking is fucking hard work (excuse my language, but there's no other perfect word!). There's no easy way to make a film, contrary to what anyone reads about in a magazine or is told by a friend that was maybe an extra in a movie... once. You don't make films unless you're completely in love with the fabrication of them. I have yet to meet a person in the universe who makes films 'just for money.' If they do, there was a long time in the making, where they did it for love! Trust me!

But why do we love it so much? It's not fame, and it's hardly money. Sometimes it's downright exhausting. Sometimes we feel defeated and drained by everyone and everything. Maybe we can't get financing when we need it. Maybe someone with a stupid loose mouth pisses us off, and all we want to do is (however mean, but true!) stuff a burrito in their face so they'll shut up and stop distracting us from our vision. Sometimes we have 2am call times, and barely get to see our families. Sometimes we forget to eat, or our stomach's in knots over a decision someone made to do something we haven't had time to know if we agree with YET. Sometimes we are denied sleep, work for cheap, and eat cocoa pebbles to survive. Does it sound like I've done it before? :) If you're a filmmaker of any sort, YOU'VE DONE IT BEFORE, too!

So what? We get to do what we love, and that's pretty wonderful. PRICELESS. And, it's (as Shad's dad would say) stinkin' fun, too!

The next time you feel like complaining, or going in a hole somewhere and dying (there are certainly days I wanna!), ask yourself this: Would I rather be doing something else? An office job perhaps, where my legs are cold in the summertime, so I have to bring in a mini portable heater and wear skirts & heals to impress my boss? Or a sales job where the chances of making a living are equally as challenging, but a calculator's my best friend? Does it sound like I've done this before? Hey, it's for some people, I know! They're delighted (and meant) to do it- and thank goodness. 'Cause we're not one of them. Deep down, we both know the truth - we thrive on people telling us "no" because it creates a challenge. And us Indies adore a challenge! I haven't met one indie anything that isn't passionate, and hardworking when it comes to their heart's mission.

So stop complaining about how your life is sooooo bad (I see it all the time posted on FB and twitter) and just take a nap. When you wake up, ask yourself the above, wipe away any dew, stop feeling sorry for yourself, and get back to work. That's what you really want to do anyhow!

Film (work) is for the soul. And being a soul survivor, you know - that to just keep going when things seem really shitty - is the only way to survive this business they call show.

Now go on, knock 'em dead!

With passion, love & hope,

Jentri

Out with the E-G-O!

Today I felt defeated. Only for a brief moment, though. It started out rough... tough... emotional... not a common day at all for me.  There was drama surrounding me, and I wanted nothing to do with it.

So I carry on with my day, and I'm told by someone what I need to do if I want to be a filmmaker. Wow. I thought, "You mean, in addition to getting my film degree, writing every day of my life, studying, observing, learning, networking, growing, taking vitamins, and trying to be a successful new director?" I would have never thunk it. 

Dialog: You say I should do wh...?  And how...? 

O.S. A bell rings. 

Action: Deep breath.  Smile.  Nod.

Then, I was speaking to a good friend/film peer this afternoon about her unfortunate experience with a hot headed film director-guy who booked her and her crew in NY this past weekend. What's up with that? Yet another example of someone's ego taking over.  This case sounded a bit more mental, but I have to think if you're not working from heart, there's only one other place you can work from - and it ain't home.

SOMEONE needs to follow the yellow brick road... :)

That's the beauty of diversity though. There will always be people who think they know more than you. Some of them do. And there will always be people that feel the need to talk to you like you're five to make themselves feel more important or taller. And I might always be a minority in the challenging film world, but I can dig it. I like it, actually. Truth is, you can't control how people talk to you, what they say, or be responsible for their actions. All you can control, to some level, is YOU and your reaction. So that's what I do. :) Use it as fuel. I smile politely, nod, say thank you and move on. I know where I'm going... and it's OK if you don't. You can't fight or resist what IS. You just have to accept the IS-NESS and decide what you want to do with it.

As women, we want to be fearless, and strong. But we also are nurturers by default, and most of us care how others feel. We care when we hurt people's feelings and can't understand how others could DO THAT! But that's life. It's not about trying to make the entire world be the way you want - it's about making your world the way you want. 

So I went on a walk and forgot about it... the only way I know how to kill anything is with kindness. And the great thing about that way is - it usually works!!!! 

Besides, what I got to be upset about - I making a freakin' movie, y'all!!!! 

Yes, I know it's not grammatically correct. :)

Director's Statement - LIS

If you're the director/producer & applying for any grants OR you're already making your first feature, you will need a director's statement at some point. Here's a short version of mine to use as an example or maybe inspiration when working on your own....

(this blog has moved -- read the rest here!)

Back to the basics of love.

So much going on. Where do I start?

Last week, someone asked me how I spend most of my days. My answer: Well, most days are filled with meetings of some sort since we're in the preliminary stages of production on LIS. Then there's my HD short that's in post. Along with other documentaries I'm constantly researching/developing/shooting with my Aether Paranormal Group....

(this blog has moved -- read the rest here!)