this lone iris
white
in the spring twilight
Masaoka Shiki (1867 – 1902)
Considered by some to be one of the four great haiku masters, Masaoka Shiki was a Japanese poet, author and literary critic.
We are producing a short film titled, White Iris, inspired by Shiki’s simple, yet beautiful Haiku. Please read the attached script and message me if you’d like to be involved.
Comments welcome.
For all my friends out in the blogosphere, here is the release of my novel book trailer, Death Comes At Night. Check it out.
I’d love to get your feedback.
Death Comes At Night is a suspense/thriller novel guaranteed to get your heart racing and keep you up at night reading. Death Comes At Night, the novel, is available for purchase on Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com or directly from the publisher, Black Rose Writing. For more information email, DeathcomesatnightNovel@gmail.com.
Credits:
Nate Cummings as Daniel Monson.
McKenna Cullimore as the Woman
James Dalrymple as the Author
Richard Porter, Camera, Sound, Osmo
Anders Piiparinen, Osmo and Grip
Sterling Elliott, Production Assistant
Meagan Piiparinen, Hair and Makeup
James Dalrymple, Writer, Director, Editor, Composer
Special thanks to Don Wadley for use of his farm.
We shot this video on one of the coldest nights of the year. I had intended to use rain in the video; however, the temperature was near 32ºƒ and McKenna was freezing. And, because this was a volunteer effort, I lost the rain. The cold temperatures did work in our favor as you can see their breath.
Everyone on the crew did a great job. Hopefully, this trailer tweaks your interest enough to buy the book. If it does, let me what you think.
I purchased a DJI Phantom 4 drone about two months ago. I’ve been having a great time flying and shooting aerials. I have a lot to learn. The drone has some great features and I’ve only scratched the surface on how to use them.
Here are some shots from a recent trip to Crescent Cove, California.
When we went to Crescent Cove, I was nervous to fly over water. My drone took off and zipped out over the ocean and there was a feeling in the pit of my stomach that nearly compelled me to bring it home before it dropped into the depths and was lost forever. Fortunately, I didn’t bring it right back.
In order to legally fly a drone in the United States, you must register your drone with the FAA and take the FAA part 107 sUAS certification test. The test will not be available until August 29, 2016, but a link to a study guide is available:
https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/test_questions/media/uag_sample_exam.pdf
There is also a great study guide for those who already have their pilot’s license but want to certify to fly small unmanned aircraft. The link is:
https://www.faasafety.gov/gslac/ALC/course_content.aspx?cID=451&sID=726&crID=1436761
When I purchased my drone, I registered it with the FAA, online, for a cost of $5. It was easy. I plan to take the FAA Part 107 certification test as soon as it is available.
Even though I’m following all the required regulations, I still get nervous when I fly. I’m not worried about the regs, I’m worried about crashing. I don’t want to loose my drone. I’m hoping that the more I fly the less worried I will be about crashing, but, I know some good pilots who have crashed drones.
The more I fly the more confidence I develop and the better I get. It definitely takes practice and time in the air to gain that confidence. The phantom 4 represents a real investment and I don’t want to loose it, and, I will keep flying in an effort to gain more confidence and skill.
In the meantime, I’m having a great time and capturing some cool images and video. Let me know what you think.
Time moves fast, too fast.
I try to live in the moment, as much as possible; yet, many of the moments I live in become memories and the moments are gone. I would like to hold some of those moments and return to them often. Other moments, I am glad, have become memories. Some memories I would like to fade, except that I learned much in those moments and the experience shaped my life. Still other moments have faded and only return with sense memory–the smell of baking bread, the metallic taste of anesthesia, a favorite song, a familiar breeze, a majestic sunset or the troubled sleep of repeated dreams.
Moments
I haven’t been good at capturing them. Often, when I try, the moment is lost.
Nevertheless, I thought I would share my top ten list of Moments from 2015, at least, the ones I captured. Be sure and check out the hyper-links to past blogs.
10. Western Caribbean Cruise
Anytime my wife and I can get away, it’s a good moment.
In January we went on a Western Caribbean cruise–Mexico, Belize and Honduras.
I never thought I would enjoy cruising; however, I was pleasantly surprised. The food was good. The company was friendly. The entertainment was fun. The weather was great. The water was warm. The snorkeling was incredible. And, we explored ancient Mayan ruins. Cool.
9. Seattle
I grew up in Seattle. I love the city. I love the scenery. I don’t like the rain.
When I was growing up, my parents used to tell people who were coming to visit that if you wanted to see the sun you should come to the city during the last week of July or the first week of August. It rains the rest of the year. Now, my son and his wife live in Seattle. We came for a visit–the last week of July, along with everyone else. It was fun and crowded.
Seafair week is amazing. It took us three days to get home flying standby. Next time we’ll buy tickets.
https://theyrecallingtome.com/2014/09/14/seattle-its-my-birthday/
https://theyrecallingtome.com/2014/08/31/seattle-the-emerald-city/
8. Capitol Reef National Park
Located in South-central Utah, Capitol Reef National Park is a geologic wonder. We spent a night and a day in the park this summer. It was transformative. It would be hard to visit the park and not be changed in some way. However, the change may be so subtle that you won’t notice it for a millennium.
https://theyrecallingtome.com/2015/08/31/transcendence-capitol-reef-in-hdr/
https://theyrecallingtome.com/2015/08/24/deep-time-capitol-reef/
7. Aruba
Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya…
Beach Boys
Anne and I spent a week in Aruba. It wasn’t enough. I now know why the Beach Boys sing about it. If you have a chance to visit the friendly Friendly Island, don’t miss it. You will create some amazing moments.
https://theyrecallingtome.com/2015/11/24/aruba-bodies-in-the-sand/
6. He is risen–New Testament Films
In the fall of 2014 I was privileged to write and direct a series of New Testament Films on the life of Christ.
I have a profound belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world. Writing and directing these films was a profound experience and served to deepen my faith in and love for Christ.
We finished the films in the spring. I’m hoping they are released to the public this coming year.
5. My First Novel, Death Comes At Night, was published
In August, my first full-length novel, Death Comes at Night, was published by Black Rose Writing. It was a challenging and rewarding process. I would get up early and write from 5:30 am to 6:30 am. My goal was to write at least one page per day. It took me about a year-and-a-half to write the book. It took longer to get it published.
You can buy the book online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Check out my book Facebook page. Buy my book, PLEASE. If you do, I’ll sign your copy next time we meet. And, if you like it, I will write more 🙂
https://theyrecallingtome.com/2015/08/01/death-comes-at-night/
4. Carrie Graduates from College
My daughter Carrie graduated from the University of LaVerne with her bachelor’s degree. I am so proud of her effort and accomplishment. She finished her degree while working full-time, getting married and having a baby. Congratulations, Carrie.
3. Chloe Graduates from High School and goes to College
My youngest daughter Chloe graduated from Lone Peak High School this year. She is a bright and talented young woman. I’m so proud of her. She started college at Brigham Young University this fall with a scholarship.
The downside is that she no longer lives at home. The upside is that she often comes home to eat and do laundry.
https://theyrecallingtome.com/2015/09/20/shes-leaving-home/
2. Ryan Marries Sheri
My son Ryan, the one who lives in Seattle, was married in the Portland, Oregon LDS Temple in the spring of this year to Sheri Dougall. We are thrilled for them both. They are a wonderful couple. We love Sheri and welcome her to our family.
I have been an athlete all my life. I make an effort to stay in shape. So, when I started getting light headed during cardio workouts, I went in for a physical. The doctors thought I may have a clogged artery. They ran some tests. My arteries were clear and my heart was strong, it just wasn’t beating right. They thought they could fix it.
No such luck. Instead, they installed a cardioverter defibrillator. It’s kinda like having a combination insurance policy and time bomb in my chest all the time. It keeps my heart from going too slow. If my heart beats too fast, and out of sync for too long I get shocked.
CLEAR.
I have to admit, I don’t like it. I can feel it all the time. I went to the heart Doc last week for a checkup. It is doing it’s job. I’m not. I need to change my lifestyle. I don’t want too, but I guess my life depends on it.
So, my number one moment of 2015 has to be my heart surgery, even though I was asleep for it. I do remember the before, and I look forward to living the after.
https://theyrecallingtome.com/2015/05/13/my-broken-heart/
2015 is now in the books. Happy New Year and may 2016 be our best year ever.
This video is from a volunteer weekend shoot with a few friends from back in 2006. In spite of the fact it was shot in standard def, it still made the LA Shorts Fest. I was asked by a friend to put it back up. Enjoy.
Written by Ed Parnel, Directed by James Dalrymple. Starring Randy Tobin, Piper Moretti, Marsha Fee Berger, Bryan Dyer and Andy Brosseau.
A cold October sunrise on Utah lake substitutes for the Sea of Galilee in a series of films I’m directing on the life of Christ.
First of all, this is not an advertisement; however…
A week ago, I spent a week in Rockport, Maine, attending the Maine Media Workshop. Maine Media has a number of workshops, most of which I would love to attend. In fact, I met several people who were spending their entire summer attending many, if not all the courses. I can understand why. Rockport is beautiful. The Maine Media workshop is exciting. The subject matter is engaging. And, most importantly, the people you meet are inspiring.
I was attending the Director’s Craft workshop, under the tutelage of Alan Myerson (look him up on IMDB, or, google him). I wanted to brush up on my directorial skills after spending the last few years exclusively working on documentaries. Alan was wonderful to work with. Under his direction, we spent the week working with some amazing actors. Alan took us through the process of auditioning, rehearsing, blocking/staging scenes and finally, shooting a scene. There were nine of us in the workshop. We had plenty of individual attention. We were able to explore our vision with the actors, and help the actors reach a level of performance that was awe inspiring. Alan was perceptive and insightful in helping us expand our directorial skill set. He was kind as he shepherded nine aspiring directors with widely varying skills and experience. And, he was responsible for bringing some amazingly talented actors.
Our days in the workshop were long, exhausting and invigorating. Each morning and each evening, I had a ten minute walk from my hotel to the campus, through a forest and past New England homes and farmhouses. One evening, long after dark, I stopped to consider the day. As I looked through the darkness enveloping a meadow, I saw hundreds, maybe even ten-thousand fireflies. Completely magical. Owl city must have been there before me. The next morning on my way back to campus, I stopped again, to consider the wild flowers where the fire flies had been.
On our last night of the workshop, Maine Media put on an all-you-can-eat lobster feed. There really isn’t anything quite like Maine lobster. After dinner, we watched a show of the weeks production work and then went out with our workshop group for a wrap party. I don’t think any of us were anxious to go back to the real world. However, we all knew that we could go back to our real lives and carry with us the gift of renewal and inspiration our week of hard work had brought.
I came to Maine with a hope to increase my skill set. I gained a wealth of new friends. I left Maine inspired by possibilities.
On my last day there, I turned on my still camera.
Here is the script for the sixth episode of Executive Privilege. This episode is titled, “Underground”.
While John West escapes from the President’s SpecOps search with two vigilante’s, his girlfriend, Jennifer, dines with the President, discovering that drones are targeting John for destruction.
Please read and make comments. We will try and incorporate your comments in the direction of the story. We’ll be launching our kickstarter campaign soon, and, we’re just about ready for cast and crew. Contact me if you’d like to help.
Episode 6: Executive Privilege_Ep6
Previous episodes:
Executive Privilege: Abduction
Executive Privilege Episode 2: Deception
Here is the script for the third episode of our web-series, Executive Privilege. This episode is titled, “Escape”.
John West, Navy Seal Commander, head of security for Camp David is framed by the President for murdering the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Events happen in real time.
Please read and make comments. We will try and incorporate your comments in the direction of the story.
And, if you’re interested in working in, or on, or helping produce, contact me. We’ll be launching our kickstarter campaign soon.
Episode Script: Executive Privilege_Ep3.01
Because I am traveling so much, it is taking longer than I hoped to get things launched. It always takes longer than you hope, anyway. I return from travel in March and we will get serious–really serious–about kickstarter, casting and production. Stay tuned.
In case you want to catch up on previous episodes:
Executive Privilege Episode 2: Deception
Here is the script for the second episode of our web-series, Executive Privilege. This episode is titled, “Deception”.
John West, Navy Seal Commander, head of security for Camp David is framed by the President for murdering the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Events happen in real time.
Please read and make comments. We will try and incorporate your comments in the direction of the story.
And, if you’re interested in working in, or on, or helping produce, contact me. We’ll be launching our kickstarter campaign soon.
Episode Script: Executive Privilege Episode 2: Deception
In case you want to catch up:
They're Calling To Me 