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Since this is the first Newsletter, here's a brief history to catch everyone up:
After signing on to work as an actor in 1997 with JPM Productions in an annual Halloween show called Fright Fest (billed as "The largest Halloween party in the nation") I met up with Tony Michael Farmer. He took me under his wing and acted as a mentor as he showed me the ins-and-outs of video production. Together, in August 1998, we released a suspense film called "The Property."

As a result of "The Property" and all that I learned from Tony, in 1998 I started my own small independent company, Slim Pictures. John Champion (the man who's going to make me big….I pray) saw "The Property" and quickly offered me the position of production manager for another upcoming television production company, Angoraland Productions. As soon as that web site is available, I'll pass the info onto all of you.
Now we're pretty much up-to-speed, not counting ANY details. So, here's what's going on now:

SLIM PICTURES
In May 2000 a "thriller documentary" was released called "Voices from the Grave." The picture is about true hauntings all around the Chicago area (real-life ghost stories). Since the first showing, I took the master copy and, with the help of good friend and associate, JP Maurer, cut just over 20 minutes from it, leaving it at a quality 92 minutes total. Since using his machine, I have switched to a Mac G4, and everything is digital now. Since JP is one of the three people who I owe all my liveliness to, please check out at least one of the three following we sites that he hosts:
www.peopletechnology.com/jp
MyGreenHonda.com
DeskTopSoftware.com

The next step would obviously be sending out the new master in order for mass production. However, we are putting that on hold until we have a commercial shot for the CD-ROM (called "Voices from the Chicago Grave," which is a companion piece to the video) that we can include with the video. Currently, my partner (and driving force) with the CD-ROM, Mary Czerwinski, and I are tossing ideas back and forth regarding the angle we want to take with the advertisement. Ideally we will shoot three advertisements by the end of September.

In other news, the marketing department of Mettler-Toledo's Bodhan Automation has hired me to do all promotional and informational videos that they need. This company creates Automated machines used in hospitals.

Since leaving Zanies Comedy Club (where I met the great George Carlin) I have taken to fulfilling my comedy need by branching out to creating videos for comedians. Two currently interested parties are Mike Ostrowski and Tom Clark. These are seriously two of the best comics touring the Midwest. Don't pass up the opportunity to catch these guys. Keep your eyes peeled anywhere from Fort Wayne, IN; Minneapolis, MN; Appleton & Madison, WI; and of course the Chicagoland area.

Some of you may know that JP Maurer and I have been working on a commercial for ZDTV. Unfortunately, production is stopped for an indefinite amount of time due to the fact that ZDTV ownership has changed and in the future it will be known as TechTV.

There are plans for a Slim Pictures website(s), but don't hold your breath until 2001. Currently I am nearly booked with video gigs through the end of the year.

I am also working on a personal project, a non-genre expressionist short film. Granted, this style hasn't been popular since the era of German expressionism in the 1930's, but I'll try to revive it. There aren't big plans for it, but it may be accessible from the future website.

ANGORALAND PRODUCTIONS
Things are starting to heat up as of late. Recently (creator and producer) John Champion returned from Birmingham, AL where he rolled DV on two comedy shorts. The shorts are going to act as a calling card for us as we attempt to find airtime for them on the newer independent film internet channels as well as broadcast television.

JPM Productions
I have been invited to return for a fourth year for this street theater Halloween-oriented event. If I return, this will be my second year as a director. The first two years I was an actor. The website for "The Property" contains some information about Fright Fest, but the real source is the corporate website, www.JPMProductions.com/sfga.html.

SCHOOL
Currently I am a full-time student at The College of Lake County. Come January, though, I will be attending Columbia College - Chicago to major in television production.