If it wasn't for Robert Rodriguez's book "Rebel Without A Crew" I would never have gotten into this at all let alone quit the day job not oh so many years ago to pursue my passion fulltime.
Awards
2004 Payne County Line Best New Video Of The Year: Brandon Jenkins -"Austin"
2004 Austin Music Network Music Video Of The Year 1st Place - Brandon Jenkins "Down In Flames"
2004 Austin Music Network Music Video Of The Year 2nd Place - Ryan DeSiato - "Make Believe"
2005 2005 Payne County Line New Video Of The Year: Brandon Jenkins - "Down In Flames"
2006 Payne County Line Video Of The Year : Brandon Jenkins - "Down in Flames"
2006 IFFYNTX Film Festival Best Picture : For Love & Stacie
2007 Seattle True Independant Film Festival Audience Award : For Love & Stacie
I honestly love all aspects of video production and film making. Every job I get, whether its a music video, commercial, or a training video, is a challenge to my creativity and I relish the opportunity. Its a gift to have chosen a career from which I'd never want to retire.
Beyond that its my friends and my family, it's my hope that one day I can give back to them all that they have given and sacrificed for me.
Music
Kind of like a bit of everything. From Tool to Sarah McLachlan to Frank Sinatra and just about anything you might care to squeeze in between. A big fan of local bands and the artist that make Austin such and amazing town to live in.
Movies
Harvey with Jimmy Stewart ( just makes ya wanna be nice to everyone ), Rodriguez, Tarantino, The Coen brothers, The Graduate, just about anything with Will Ferrell, Chris Farely, or Jack Black. I have about 100 DVD's and it just aint enough, though I've tapered my DVD buying since mainstream HD is right around the corner.
Television
Hate to admit it but I'm strangely addicted to reality shows. Survivor, The Apprentice, Amazing Race, Hell's Kitchen, The Contender, Roller Girls, etc etc etc. Other stuff, Family Guy, American Dad, CSI, Dinner For Five.
Heroes
My Mother and Father who adopted me at birth and raised me as though I was their own ... because I was.
Moved to Austin from Chicago when I was 19, best mistake I ever made. Great town, great people, though I'll be the first to admit I do miss Chicago Pizza and White Castles ( and no mater what Conan's says, they are defiantly NOT Chicago style ! ).
The last few years have been pretty amazing. Underground Planet went from an idea and a dream to winning first place for "Best New Music Video" for the second year in a row in Oklahoma with our second video for Brandon Jenkins and then went on to win second place for " Video Of The Year " with Ryan DeSiato's " Make Believe " video at the Austin Music Network awards. Only coming in second to our Brandon Jenkins " Down In Flames " video, just how cool is that? So that year the only person that beat me was me. Shortly thereafter I was asked to be a presenter at The National Association Of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas. I was filling in for the Senior Director of NBC Nightline, not too shabby!
So that's where I'll leave it for now. I'll update the blog from time to time as well as the forum on my main site www.undergroundplanet.com . Also the place to go if you have any interest in checking out some of my work, most of my videos are there for the browsing.
Off to edit;
- Ray
P.S. If you just haven't had enough to read here are a couple articles I'm more than a little proud of: Hollywood Industry Article
Who I'd like to meet: Maynard's a genius, Kevin Spacie's brilliant, Robert Rodriguez has been my inspiration. Oh, and Jenna. She's quirky, she's beautiful, she's artistic, and intelligent ... I needta see wtf is wrong with this silly broad.
Indeed, it was immensely sweet working with you brother. WE are so gonna be top friends, You're being added right now. Air conditioning for the next video sounds like a fuckin plan lol. Oh and we'll need a helicopter for the next video as well, an air conditioned helicopter that is
Thanks man! Its funny though, lots of people have asked questions like that to me. But I only do it for fun. I love music, and cant go a day without it. But you'll be the first to know if I need a video! I want through your myspace page! Damn. And that face thing. OUCH! But its cool to show that your also human and more things happen in your life than what people see. Respect
I'm pretty sure you ruined my life. The only thing I have accomplished today is...well NOTHING but push the play button over and over!! Thank you so much Ray, the video is KILLER!!
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