An Introduction to Ked

Thank you for visiting my blog posts for Indian Epics. I am really excited about this class and think it will help me to develop even more stories to film in the future.

My name is Sean P Wise.  I'm the creative director of Black Cloud Motion Pictures. This past year I have been focusing on building scripts that will excite the mind. We placed in the top 20% of the Nichols Fellowship that is sponsored by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences with #TheWorldIsRound. We place in the top 25 percent of Page International Screenwriting Competition with both #UnknownCaller and #AndThenThereWasOne . Currently I am submitting #PookasPassages to Sundance Episodic Lab and #BrokenBrotherhood to OutFest. Also we are finishing up our short film Deviance to submit to Cannes.

Deviance Poster

By Sean P Wise

I am a gay man. I am 37 years old. I am an activist. I have worked to bring equal rights to the LBGT community because I have seen the demon underside of religious zealots. I have been on the side of the road outside the Oklahoma Capitol building holding signs in support of equal rights. I have stood on the side of the road in Reno in opposition to Prop 8. I have stood before the San Antonio city council and city members to proclaim the need for a Non Discrimination Ordinance. You don’t really understand evil until a friend of yours gets beaten so bad that he has to have his mouth wired shut for months by religious zealots proclaiming his doom in hell.

Coba Temple

Loaded by Pomakis

Courtesy of Wikipedia

My wedding is next week. I am marrying the love of my life and my best friend Randy Bartels. We are taking a cruise that will be departing from Galveston! We will be stopping in Cozumel and touring Coba Temple. I am fascinated with history so this is right up my ally.  One of the people asked if I got sea sick while on the ship.  Funny story, one of the stabilizers went out on the return trip so the ship was going everywhere.  They were cleaning up puke left and right.  However I was able to keep my dinner down, just barely.

I'm the newsletter editor and member of San Antonio Film Council. Being the editor I have gotten to interview some of the most amazing people including Lucy Mukerjee Brown, Gray Frederickson and Hal Sparks! I'm a member of the Texas Motion Picture Alliance. I am the chairman of San Antonio QFest International Film Festival. 

One person asked did I have any suggestions for people starting out in the film industry.  First: it's not who you know, it's who knows you.  Second, as Grey Frederickson said, Never Give Up.  Third: as Hal Sparks said, there is no version of this that is successful if you don't go where the jobs are.  Move to Hollywood or LA.  Work as a PA.  Get a foot in the door.

Hal Sparks

by Greg Hernandez

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

So I'm busy, but I want to finish my bachelors. That is my goal. I have 163 credit hours and only an associates to show for it. I have come back to OU because I can receive a degree in less hours going to school here online. I am currently with the planned curriculum group and my major is Human Learning and Development. This has helped me to build exciting and believable characters in my storylines.

From Kedezzericou Channel

This is a fun little video we did from Deviance.  Steven is a card and a half!

Thank you,
Sean P Wise

Perilous Repast: Week 1 Storytelling

A shaky hand goes up to Judy Waller's temples. She massages her temples meditatively as a tear falls down and joins the pool in her glass. The half masticated remains of lunch sit baking in the sun. The sun is shining impossibly bright on her as she sits at the table in the chic Cafe Twila. 

Sidewalk Cafe, Miami Beach

Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

Her hand darts down to her glass. She raises to her trembling lips and takes a small swig of water. She returns the glass to the table and gazes out over the railing separating her from the bustling street beyond.

Judy contemplates the information she just received as the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. You see, the president had just taken office 4 months prior and had inherited a mess in the middle east. Judy smiles sarcastically to herself as she looks down at her watch. A mess indeed. When was it not a mess?

Judy pulls her purse up to her and clings to it like a life raft in the ocean. She fishes through it and pulls out a billfold. She extracts several bills and drops them on the check that was sitting silently on the table.

She stands up with too much force and almost falls backward. She regains her balance and drops her billfold back into her purse. She slings the purse over her shoulder and moves out onto the street.

She looks up at the glaring sun as she enters the heavy traffic of the sidewalk. It was times like these she wished that she could just burn up in the heat of the day. All cares and worries evaporated like so much spilt milk on the sidewalk.

Suddenly a crack exposed her Vera Wang knock offs as substandard. The 5 inch heel slips off to the side sending Judy plummeting directly into traffic. She hits the road hard, her hands scraped and bleeding. She lifts herself up slowly and sees a city bus barreling down the street toward her. 

Travel Coventry

Courtesy Wikipedia Commons

Everything slowed down to a crawl. The bus’s shrill horn bellowed out of the siren. Judy was frozen like a deer caught in headlights. Curiously she could feel a drop of blood running swiftly down the side of her cheek from a gash in her forehead. A slow scream of fright was escaping her throat involuntarily.

A hand wraps itself around her midsection. A sharp pressure lifted her out of the way of the bus and threw her back on the sidewalk. She landed splayed out on the concrete. People walking around her oblivious to the events that had unfolded. The man in the dark trench coat reached out a gloved hand, the fingers breaking through the fabric.

Judy took his hand and he helped her back up onto her feet. “Thank you! Thank you so much, Mr...”

“Jessup. Mr. Jessup.”

“I owe you my life.”

“It was nothing. Just saw that you were in need.”

The senator beamed back at him. “It’s people like you... Could I buy you lunch or something?”

An strong arm covered in a suit wrapped itself around her in familiarity. A strong voice resounded within the group. “Ally, we really must be going.” Judy’s face freezes at the sound of the name. She quickly tries to cover and smiles broadly.

“Right Lawrence, of course. I apologize Mr. Jessup, I have a meeting I must get to.”

“It’s all right ma’am. I hope you have a wonderful day!”

Lawrence is maneuvering Judy around and leading her away. She calls over her shoulder, “I hope you do too.”

Safely away Lawrence speaks into his cuff link, “Dove is returning to coup.”

“Why did you use the code name? What’s going on?”

“He had an AK under his coat, ma’am.”

Girl with AK47

Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

“That sweet man that just saved me?”

“Yes, ma’am, he--” Lawrence’s point is cut off by punctuated gunfire. Judy turns in shock to see Jessup spraying death into the cafe she was just eating at.

Lawrence forces her head down as he continues to lead her away. 

“Keep down, ma’am.”

“I don’t understand!”

“You were the target. We just received word of the threat; why I came to reclaim you."

"He's not Syrian!" 

"It was in response to the strike you proposed to the President on the terrorists in Oregon, ma’am.”

“Oh my god!”

“He must not have seen a picture of you; known what you looked like. Count yourself lucky ma’am. Lets get you back to the office.”

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

This work is a derivative of the story “The Fawn and the Little Tiger”. After reading it I was struck by the multiple times we can encounter someone who is seen to be a friend and turns out to be our greatest enemy. Much like the song Passive by A Perfect Circle declares, “I’m sure of your ability to become my perfect enemy.” 

People’s passions about different things are affected by their perceptions. I perceive the taking over of federal buildings by a criminal group making demands as a criminal act of terrorism. However the mainstream media decides to label them as freedom fighters. If these folks had been any other race other than white or any other religion other than christian, the response would have been a lot different. However because of their race and religion we give them a pass.

In my story, I equate the group as terrorist taking on a more traditional terrorism role of attacking a cafe. I also use a red herring of the senator contemplating the strike she had ordered in Syria which also draws a parallel to their actions.

In the source story the fawn and the tiger become friends and help each other out until it comes time to feed. The fawn goes to find food for the tiger cub when the tiger cannot eat grass. The fawn is told by it’s mother that it was lucky to escape since the tiger’s food was the fawn.

I feel that this type of story resonates with the acts of terrorism on multiple levels but because of the non action against the group in Oregon they are still “friends.” When they decide to “feed” by committing an act that endangers other whites, we will know what type of food they need.

Indian Fables by Ramaswami Raju. Website: “The Fawn and the Little Tiger”.

Galveston - My Favorite Place

Galveston Island has a storied and epic history.  And that is what draws me to it. Galveston used to be known as the Wall Street of the South.  It was a financial capitol that all began with wharves and a harbor and declined due to the most deadly natural disaster in American history.

Bishops Mansion Postcard CC 1900
University of Houston Library

Courtesy of Wikipedia

I remember visiting Galveston first as a kid.  My parents took us kids there for Christmas break.  Our cousins were also there so it was definitely a family affair.  I remember falling in love immediately with the opulent buildings of Main street.  Bishops Mansion is by far the most impressive structure on the Island.  Built as a private house it was later adopted by the local church as living quarters for the Bishop.  The gold leaf ceilings and ornately carved woodwork astound hundreds of visitors a day.  The architecture is truly astounding and boggles the mind.

Bishop's Mansion is not the only building that stands out on the Island.  Moody Mansion, Ashton Villa, the boys orphanage all are historical and beautiful landmarks.  But some of the best houses are simply in residential streets, still owned by families.

Residential Castle on Main Street

Photo by Sean P Wise

Residential House

Photo by Sean P Wise

Boys' Orphanage 

Photo By Sean P Wise

Galveston Island has something for everyone, even the military enthusiast in your family.  Seawolf Park found on Pelican Island allows visitors to climb on board and visit the dry docked WWII Submarine USS Cavalla.  The USS Stewart allows visitors to climb on board and fully tour a destroyer escort.  You can feel the military history.  If you are part of a group and want to have an overnight stay to get a full appreciation for the bunks, the park does have very reasonable rates!

USS Cavalla Bunk room

Photo By Sean P Wise

Seawolf Park
Photographed by Chris Hoffpauir

Courtesy of Wikipedia

But the best things to do on the island?  The free things!  Go down to the Strand, the old financial and commercial district, and looking around the historic brick buildings.  Take the self guided tour of the Tree Sculptures to see how people made something beautiful out of total destruction.  Head down to Christmas Bay and feel the majesty of harbor.  

But the best thing to do for free?  Take the ferry to Bolivar Island.  Simply drive on a go out on deck for some of the most amazing vista's in the world.  Also, spot a dolphin or two who love to play by the ferry!

Photo of Sunset from Ferry

Courtesy of Sean P Wise

My favorite things about Galveston is kicking back and relaxing at the bar across from the ocean.  Splash Bar Galveston is a gay bar known for it's drag performances and $4 pitchers of beer.  You can't get more island experience than that.

 

Photo of Splash Bar Upper Deck

Courtesy of Sean P Wise