THE PARC @ THE TIMES SQUARE ARTS CENTER

Hey Everybody :)

The PARC will be shown on June 2nd at the TIMES SQUARE ARTS CENTER in NYC and I am excited! This will be our first showing in New York. This will also be our first showing to a crowd outside of our own circle of friends so my fingers are crossed. I know that the subject matter is deep and there are no guns or car chases but the information is relevant to our time and experiences in the community.

The showing will be at 8:30pm in the main room. Admission is free but there is a two drink minimum.

To enter this event come to the 8th Ave entrance at the corner of 42nd st. and be sure to mention JT at the door so that they will let you in.

FYI I read that The Source and Universal Records are having a pre-release party at the same time so be ready to mingle with some of music's finest.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Nate

This is what I know so far

So far The NYTVF has not pick any Official Selections, however, the deadline is closing soon and they will begin the judging period in July. This period will last until mid August at which time all Official Selections will be posted on MSN and (I think) YouTube as well.

The greatest aspect of this festival are the private meetings. Weeks before the fest all the major broadcast companies will receive copies of the DVD entries. They will then decide if they want to have private talks with you about your project. There is even a mentor or fellowship program that allows established producers take us newbies under their wing and guide our next project. Hallelujah!!! That is just what I and all the smart people in the cast are looking for. A real step up in project status and (hopefully) budget.

So AIM HIGH and maybe success will be yours for the taking!

Stay Positive
Nate

THE NEW YORK TELEVISION FESTIVAL ( NYTVF.COM )

The cat's out of the bag! I entered our short into the NYTVF. It is the only legit TV festival of its kind on the East Coast. For more information on the fest hit the link in the title or go to www.nytvf.com

The IPC or Independent Pilot Competition will be held at the festival from Sept. 12th - 17th. As of yet I do not have the time or date that our short will air.

The official name for the short is THE P.A.R.C. or People for Active Reinstatement into the Community. Wow there are a lot of acronyms in this blog but it gets worse because this short was based on a script called THE P.A.C.T. (People for Active Community Treatment).

Anyways, now you know and knowing is half the battle. I am also happy to say that the showing of the pilots are free to the public so when I give you the date and time please show up. I will definitely need the support seeing that I was director, DoP,
producer, editor, etc on this project... and it shows a little. LMAO!

Take it easy and thanks for your support.

Nate

A Few Familiar Faces

Some of my long time associates were a part of my latest production. DON ESCHBACH, STEVEN A. ROBINSON, AND ROBIN WAIRE gladly volunteered their time. Don played the wise cracking team member of The P.A.R.C. who in my original script was the youngest and most tech savvy character. That, of course, changed when I began casting. Steven once again reprised his role as Francis "Kuji" Franklin and he did a marvelous job. My sister, Robin, was made executive producer because she was suppose to dish out the most cash. In the end, I supplied the most financial support and she got a minor role as Ms. Clark. LOL. However, she did provide me and the cast with guidance and financial wisdom also called frugality that kept the production on track.
I did one blog for all three of these cast members because they have all been on the blog multiple times before. Plus, I like to be impartial towards all the cast members so that everything has good closure. This wraps up the cast section of the production. Next month I will be posting some actual production shots from the short.

Take it easy,
Nate

BRIAN M. WIXSON, the Vulcan in a Blazer!

Brian was a very cool person. His style of acting was very self-assured. He also had a way of conveying confidence to the people that he worked with on set. It was a comfort having his accuracy and 'Vulcan-like' attitude in the production because it offset some of the more expressive souls around him. There is a link to his web page in the title if you want to contact him.

Also, Brian has a knack for communication and keeping his word. I trusted in him at times more than my fellow producers. Just kidding! Seriously, he was a patient and pleasant actor to deal with which is refreshing with all the young know-it-alls that we often bump into everyday. KUDOS, Brian. The future of the Enterprise that most people call careers looks bright with you on the bridge.

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER

Nate

Once Again... ARI MYRTAI!!!

So I met Ari at a networking and (for my loyal readers) posted his pic early in August or September of last year. Happily, the promise that I made to him about working together someday manifested sooner than I thought. Without a question I made him team leader of the script I had written and was producing.

Ari never liked doing the same take twice the same way so every take was different. He was very creative and playful in his acting style so I made sure that his primary scene partner (Brian Wixson... not pictured here) was the exact opposite in style. It was like having Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock reading lines together.

Since Ari was already in my blog I have added a pic of him and Ruth studying from the first rehearsal/reading. Ruthy was sort of put back by the fact that her face could not be clearly seen in last weeks blogging so I will probably sneak in a few pics of her in over the next few weeks... But not before I give recognition to the remaining cast. :P LOL I can be such a showbiz tease!
Also, click on the link in the title to go to Ari's web page.

Next week I will focus on the Vulcan in our cast, Brian Wixson.

Here's Ruthy!!!

The beautiful and alluring Ruth Hauptman is a native of Israel. Born and raised there, she served in the Israeli military for three years as an officer. Fortunately for theater buffs everywhere, she moved to the US a few years ago to start her acting career.
Ruth is a true professional and truly devoted to her work. Always early and willing to stay late, Ruth set a very high standard on set. I am sure she will make a strong impression on the industry as her career develops.

Next on the list is Jennifer Upthegrove!

The part of the "suicide girl" was played by Jennifer Upthegrove. It is a totally silent part but crucial to the telling of the story. From the beginning to the end, her character is seen as a conduit for the movement of the piece. Although she kills herself in the beginning of the short, through flashbacks the viewer is able to get a deeper sense of her character, the torment, and circumstances that lead to the worsening of her mental stability.

Jennifer is a phenomenal actress willing to go to extremes to bring her character to life. I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors in the arts.

Until next week, remember to stay focused on your goals and never give up on your dreams.

Nate

I forgot a key cast member! CRAIG SCRIBNER!

In my zeal to post info about the production I forgot to mention that one of the people not in the early cast photo was actor, Craig Scribner. Craig has a very wide range of emotions and acting ability, hence, we will be seeing a lot more of him in the future.
In this production he plays the role of Andrew "Andy" Baxter, a mentally troubled young man who doesn't know how to ask for help with his illness. Craig was outstanding as this character and it was no shock to find out that he has played mentally ill characters before.
If you click on the title there is a link that will take you to his webpage so check him out!

That's A Wrap!

We actually finished shooting the short for the festival last Thursday so officially we are in post-production. Despite some seemingly odd setbacks like not being able to cast the role of Mya we persevered. I had to eliminate her role completely from the short which is strange because I have been trying to cast this role for the past two years.

An amazingly wonderful turn of events came when a friend of mine recommended an actor she knew who was on Myspace. I contacted him and we became friends. He started off just being an understudy for all the male roles. Then I gave him the position of P.A. soon his helpfulness made me feel the need to see how strong his acting skills were. So I watched him improvise with some of the established actors and bingo!!!! He was actually pretty good so I made his role bigger. In turn, he proved to me that when one door closes another opens. As a sign of gratitude I am going to start off my shout-outs to my actors with E. Vincent Burrows. He is an outstanding performer and P.A. Way-to-go, E!

Also, to my actors... Every week or so I will post one of your pics on my site and your bios as well so send me your bios soon! I have already completed the trailer for the festival and I have also finished the photo booklet but the text has not been completely filled in yet because... I haven't received all your bios!!!!

To all my other readers, thanks for your encouragement. It really has helped :)

Take it easy.

Nate

The Cast and Crew (so far)

So it has begun...

So far I have gotten a handful of rather talented and attractive actors to join my cast of the pilot that we are making. It will be entered (if larger production company doesn't get to us first) into a NY festival that has a pilot competition. I am also pleased to say that the photographer of the cast will also be the Director of Photography on this project. His name is Ron Abernethy and he is one of the head photographers for a major radio station.

Starting from the left you can see Steven A. Robinson, Brian Wixson, Ariot Myrtai, Donald Eschbach, Jennifer Upthegrove, Sarah Jean Kubik, and Ruth Hauptman. Not seen in the picture is Robin Waire and myself.

So far the production looks good and is moving at a steady pace. My fingers are crossed but I know that hard work and diligence mean a lot more to success than just luck.

Until next time.

Nate

A SECOND GO!!!!

I just started preproduction on a 20 minute short for a TV pilot festival. According to the festival FAQ thousands will view the entries and many production companies and networks will be present.

This will be a grand opportunity to gain exposure so I am putting forth a 110% to make the whole production run smoothly. I have assembled a group of talented actors and our Director of Photography (DP) has an outstanding eye for the beautiful and elegant. Hopefully, this combination will warrant some merit in the Pantheon of television entries at the festival.

Wish us Luck and I will definitely keep you informed of our progress as the competition date draws near.

Nate

p.s. I purposefully left out names and dates because contracts have not been signed yet ;)

Book #3 Update & Other Stuff

Greetings everyone!!

The third book is half complete and I have made some astonishing revelations. First, I think that this book is really two books instead of one complete work. Also, I am not in a hurry to finish this piece because my mood and position with my current publisher is transitory to say the least.

It seems that each time that I sit down to write life challenges me with distractions. This is okay for me because I have learned that when you are on the road to doing something great life will test you to see if you are tough enough to complete the task. It is a quality of character situation that must be dealt with on a very personal level and sometimes you have to know when to take a break. I am up to face a challenge but feel motivated at this point to promote some of my other projects. For all you astrology believers I guess Mercury in retrograde last Monday has officially postponed the progress on my third book for at least three or four weeks. However, taking a break now and again is refreshing and necessary so I look forward to promoting some of my previous endeavors. Also, astrology lovers I must make note that Mars has finally moved forward. It maybe too soon for fellow Aries to celebrate but after 10 week retro in Gemini and Cancer I am glad to see it launch ahead. Whether you believe in Astrology or not, the next few months should be interesting. I feel that if you face the future aggressively and with a more progressive attitude good things should manifest. So never be afraid to approach life in a new manner or way. You may get a few bumps and bruises but you will have done that which others sometimes fear and that is change.

Stay Focused And Stay Positive

Nate

LE ROYALE BAR (formally Luke and Leroy)

I would talk about the wrap party for The Wire but the true star of the evening was the hospitality and generosity of the bar LE ROYALE. Bar owner named Terry was very friendly and welcoming to any guest that approached him. His best bartender that night was a man named Gardner (or Gartner). He was truly proficient at mixing drinks and he had a vast knowledge of what drinks to make and combine. He and the owner were extremely classy and a pleasure to be around.
I admit that I left early but I had to do some stuff the next day so I snapped a few pics of some of the beautiful people that were there that night and bid a fond farewell to the club/bar.
Also, my friend and fellow actor Steven A. Robinson was there. He is a class act, too.
Until the next gathering... Peace!!!!
Nate

The P.A.C.T. Video

This is the video I filmed in under one day using just one actor and a camera that had no tri-pod. It is a story based on an actual group of health care workers that focus on the mentally ill. I originally shot this for a contest but after a heck of a lot of waiting and wasting of energy I decided to post it here. This story follows a character named Francis "KUJI" Franklin who after hearing terrible news about one of his clients/patients goes for a long contemplative walk in the park (FYI - KUJI is short for Kujichagulia which is a day during Kwanzaa). Kuji is one of the few diverse characters in this story of how people from all facets of life can unite and work together to benefit society's often ignored and disenfranchised elements. The P.A.C.T.(People for Active Community Treatment) which I gave an alternate name of The P.A.R.C.(People for Active Reinstatement in the Community), are the rescuers of those that are about to give up hope and the givers of new beginnings.

BLACK NJ HOLIDAY MIXER

So I went to this mixer feeling sort disgruntled because several of the last mixers I went to were very disappointing. However, it is the holiday season and my sister had already bought the tickets.
At first it was rather quiet but after a while the dj went old school and everybody (except me) hit the floor and danced the night away. The youngest girl there that night was a grad student and she was one of the highlights of the night. She knew every song word for word and sang while dancing (she is the girl in the white sweater). My sister who was wear a purple glitter top kept her company on the dance floor and paid for it the next morning with sore toes and cramps in her feet (LOL).
Anyway, the mixer was a surprising success in my opinion even if I didn't network as much as I normally do.
Have a great holiday season. PEACE.
N8

p.s. leave some comments if you like the pics ;)

I AM THE LANTERN

A relative of mine saw my Myspace and Blogger pages and noticed that I was the GREEN LANTERN in the super hero survey. She made note that I am African-American and should have the corresponding hero image so she sent me this image and it is so cool.
FYI Tomorrow the Myspace competition for Storyteller Challenge will begin. If you would like to cast a vote of 5 or higher ( I'm praying for 10s) so that we get a thumbs up rating and make it into the top 12 for the next round of competition please click my other blog link on the side or go to www.myspace.com/nathanzensapien

Once there click on the videos to view the short. All voting has to be done through your Myspace account so if you have one please vote and tell your friends to vote too.

Peace

Nate

The Great Unknown

This last Saturday I received very tragic information from three different sources. Two friends announced that they were going to die and a relative actually did die that morning. My uncle's future wife died in the bath early Saturday after a night of feeling chest and stomach pains. As the family grieved, I went to visit a very spiritual friend/associate of mine and he told me that he was dying from a terminal disease. I was in shock for a while until we talk and I saw how brave he was in the face of death. In grim confidence I went to my Mom's house only to hear that a long time family friend had announced that she wasn't going to live longer than a week. True to her words she passed Tuesday morning just one day after she threw a farewell dinner party.

This may seem very depressing but actually it isn't because I know that the other side has gained some very good and strong souls. They will be dearly missed here on Earth but only God knows what greater good they will be a part of in The Great Unknown.

Enjoy everyday of your life to the fullest!

Nate

Birthday wishes and Beowulf trailer #2

Happy Birthday, Panda!!! I know that your B-day is on the 23rd but I just wanted to make sure that I didn't forget. Let's face it, Panda, if you got free tix to a movie and could find a babysitter I know you would go to the movies more often.

I also wanted to post the second trailer for Beowulf up because it RoCkS!!!!! His rant at the end of the trailer sounds just like the stuff a lot of guys say to themselves right before the sh@t hits the fan! Pride is the Curse.

BEOWULF TrAiLeR #2

ALMOST ANNIVERSARY TIME!!!

For my loyal readers this is a given but for some of you new guys maybe you should look deeper into my blog. This may also explain why I have been wearing the same ring for about a year.

"Tibi [ipso] crede." because I am sure therein lies the higher power

Peace

Nathan