Edupdate 12-12-05 Monday 7:30am Las Vegas, Nevada - Voiceopolis studio.
Friday, December 10th, after work Ed drove down to Los Angeles and stayed at a nice little Days Inn just a few miles southeast of Hollywood. He had filled up his iPod with some Kathy Troccoli songs, Veggie Tales’’ "On The Road Again" sing along songs, and some old time radio shows from the heyday of radio called "X Minus One". Ed mostly listened to the "X Minus One" science fiction about future space travel. He enjoys listening to how they use sound effects, and voice actors to go as far as Alpha Centauri, or the Crab Nebula and back while making him feel like he is in a real "rocket machine" instead of his trusty little Geo "Bentley".
Arriving in Los Angeles in time for a good night’’s sleep, Ed tried watching a little television, however, television still somewhat disgusts him, so he just nodded out for the evening. Ed's plans for the next day were important enough to warrant a sharp mind the next morning and some extra time in early morning for checking out his route.
Ed's first appointment was at the Los Angeles Film School at 6363 Sunset Blvd in Hollywood a few blocks up from Sunset and Vine. However, that was very close to the hotel where he was staying, and he wanted to check out the route from Los Angeles Film School to his second appointment which was about seven miles north and slightly east in Burbank at the Holiday Inn. His appointment there was at 1:00pm SHARP. By knowing how much time to allow for travel from one appointment to the other, he would know what time to depart from Los Angeles Film School.
After Ed had a continental breakfast of corn flakes, danish, o.j., and coffee, he pre-traveled the route to the Holiday Inn in Burbank, and still had time to get back to the hotel, before heading over to the Los Angeles Film School.
The Los Angeles Film School was having an OPEN HOUSE for possible future students, and Ed wanted to know more about it. Wow, would he love to have about to be able to go to that intensive school for a year!!! Ed was probably the oldest person that was looking into the school. The instructor that teaches directing - Jim Pasternak - and Ed got to talking about some things, and Jim really wants Ed to attend because of what they spoke of and Ed's "life experiences" really apply when it comes to directing.
Because the Christian film industry is going to really explode, Ed would like to become involved so that his untapped creativity may be a proper stewardship for the Lord! His dreams of getting Christian media into the hands of children would become more of a reality than what he would have ever imagined. Ed used to imagine only of accomplishing his dream with radio drama vis-a-vis Jonathan Park, and now, he can see so much more what he could do to get Godly media into children’’s hand, minds, and their lives!
Later, Ed was excited when the Open House tour led the tour group to the sound editing/sound design area and the instructor Jeff Kushner. Earlier in this Edupdate we mentioned Ed's mind was captured by the effects in the "X Minus One" radio dramas from days gone by, but what Jeff Kushner showed everyone really got his creative juices going!
The cinematography instructor, Charlie Rose gave Ed some insights into camera usage. The little amount of picture taking that Ed does with a still camera is sooooo different don’t cha know! NOTE: more creative juices flowing again!
Steve Cook, the instructor of film editing began to show everyone a sample of what the basics are. Ed's mind was putting the experience of his audio editing together with what Steve was teaching, and voila... Ed was almost pre-guessing what he was going to do! Yes, more creativity steaming Ed's mind.
Later the tour group had a chance to view some previous students final projects. Ed was surely amazed. He is sure that only the best was shown. Ed imagine that some way some time in God’’s bountiful goodness, he could do this for HIM!
There was to be a time for food, and to chat with each other along with the instructors, staff, and the admissions reps. However, Ed had to depart in order to go to Bob Fraser’s Show Biz University up in Burbank.
Ed was in prayer on the way to Burbank asking Father above to let him know if going to film school is His will for him.
Ed arrived exactly on time for the Show Biz University. Bob Fraser is the HeadMeister. Bob Fraser is an actor, writer, director, producer and author of You Must Act! The Bible of Acting Success. Bob was one of the original writers for the television series The Love Boat. He went on the write and produce the successful sitcom Benson. During the shows seven year run, Bob also directed a few episodes and acted as Benson's nemesis, the slimy Senator Leonard Tyler. His career also included the title of Supervising Producer and writer for the hit show Full House. Bob takes a no-nonsense approach to the "BUSINESS" of acting. His words are written from experience and the heart. Ed sincerely recommends that you follow his advice and read his book if you are serious about acting.
Bob Fraser spent the next six hours with the class instilling some honest truths about being an actor that is in search of work in the LA/Hollywood area. This was also an invaluable time that Ed was busy taking notes, laughing at Bob’’s antics, stories, and remarks, along with appreciating every moment learning from him. At the beginning of the class, he told the class that we should not have any fear, and then asked for a volunteer... guess who had their hand up the quickest? ED! So Bob had him get up in front of the camera on the mark and tell what me dream is. Ed quickly and calmy stated that his dream is to appear as a star in a major comic film. Then of course, the rest of the class went on to top what Ed said with things like their dream was to win an Oscar, etc. but hey, Ed was the first up eh?
Bob had a very nice hand-out folder for us with headings of what the subjects were for each session, and room to take notes, which Ed profusely did. By looking around Ed noticed that only about five of the eighteen of the class took notes at all. Well the non-note takers must already knew this stuff!
Bob had the class fill out a card with their individual names printed on the back and placed all of the cards in a spitoon. He told them that when it comes to success, luck doesn’t really get you there like many people say. Luck is reserved for things like drawings. So he had many drawings throughout the Show Biz University session and Ed won a wonderful book on directing and producing (which he read within days), "Memos from David O. Selznik" selected and edited by Rudy Behlmer. Very interesting and informative memos from Mr. Selznik’s career from his early years at MGM, his years at Paramount, and RKO, and back to MGM. Also when he formed Selznik International, and when he produced "Gone With The Wind", "Rebecca", and on to David O. Selznik Productions, finishing with his later years to 1962. Thanks to Bob Fraser, and of course the Lord for Ed's copy of this fine book! Seems like Ed was receiving affirmation already about going to film school!
Bob gave everyone a chance to get up in front of the camera and tell their thoughts about what they got out of the Show Biz University! Some lady beat Ed up there, but hey, he was second!
Ed is sincerely in need of those who would agree with him in prayer for attending the Los Angeles Film School. Ed already has the support of several friends in this endeavor. Of course the finances are in God’s hands. Ed knows that many of you are thinking, what is Ed up to now? We’ll see, and only God knows!
