tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80013603426906454462011-11-27T20:01:38.015-05:00I started this blog to let 40-somethings (and anyone who has ever felt different) know that it's never to late to go for your dreams! I'm living proof!Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.comBlogger751100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-20130899113568940552011-05-18T22:31:00.005-04:002011-05-18T23:41:22.508-04:00

It all began because I was hungry and didn't feel like cooking! It has been raining here all day (all week actually) and I really didn't feel like going back out in the rain to get dinner. You would think that living in Brooklyn (were you can get the best pizza in the USA) that I wouldn't bother ordering from a chain pizza joint. Since my favorite family own pizza shop only takes cash I had to

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-35043256294576145622011-03-30T01:22:00.005-04:002011-03-30T03:07:41.720-04:00

I think this is turning out to be a great season for Broadway hits! Last night I the new musical "CATCH ME IF YOU CAN" at the Neil Simon Theatre! It has all the makings of what a Broadway musical should be: a great story, catchy songs, and an exceptionally dynamic cast!If the title sounds familiar its because Steven Spielberg made a film version of the book by Frank W. Abagnale Jr. in 2002. If

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-5642604636642463672011-03-29T10:58:00.007-04:002011-03-29T11:50:59.953-04:00

Wendy Williams just read my letter on her show this morning!Last week I was home and a get a phone call from someone at THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW telling me that they are going to read my letter and show a photo that I sent them. The photo I took one day a few months back while walking down 14th Street. Once I saw I this image, I knew I just had to take a photo of this.Now if you aren't a regular

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-33907800178728544802011-03-21T18:04:00.019-04:002011-03-21T22:19:06.095-04:00

I went to the theater on Friday to see another show on Broadway: AMERICAN IDIOT. If it sounds familiar its because it's also a Grammy winning album by the alternative rock band Green Day. If you haven't seen the show - then RUN down the "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" to the St. James Theatre to see it before it closes. Rumor has it that its closing at the end of April!Don't expect to see a show

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-78896338681744444482011-03-16T00:13:00.012-04:002011-03-16T01:53:44.573-04:00

Today I was bummed out (does anyone even use that term anymore?) by all the images and information coming in about the earthquake in Japan. Don't get me wrong, I really feel for those people over there and I just hope that they can rebuild soon and stay safe. But after having lived through 9/11 here, I have become a bit neurotic - I'm a New Yorker, thats how we are. I think what really got me was

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-47060307605073346832011-03-12T00:51:00.009-05:002011-03-12T03:04:06.917-05:00

Today, as I'm sure everyone knows by now, has been rather crappy! I hope the best for the people of Japan. My thoughts and prayers are with them.Okay, moving on to some happier news... last Friday I went to see the horrible, HORRIBLE, HOR-RI-BLE, musical Spider-Man:Turn Off The Dark! A night I'd like to forget ever happened! Tonight I went to the theater again and "FINALLY" saw a musical that I

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-13533006039465556472011-03-09T21:52:00.013-05:002011-03-10T00:02:27.518-05:00

Ok, so I guess maybe someone connected with the musical read my blog from a few days ago when I gave my review of "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark" because here is an update: The show, which was set to open next week, has now been postponed for the SIXTH time! Just when I figured out how to upload pictures from my cell phone to my blog!Wait a minute! It gets better! Now it's being reported in the

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-56798487049277897982011-03-05T01:23:00.009-05:002011-03-05T03:17:31.237-05:00

BE WARNED: No Spoilers (because, for the life of me, I wouldn't know were to begin).I just got back from the theater after watching the new Broadway musical SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK. Officially it's still in previews and has been set to open on March 15th. What is there not to like when it has so much going for it?:It has music by one of my favorite bands in the world (U2 - Bono and The Edge

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-88132725315668106162011-02-12T16:08:00.007-05:002011-02-12T17:24:48.310-05:00

Two Issues! 1) Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE to read. I always have a book on me. I just got a nook eReader from Barnes & Noble - but thats another story for another time. So I recently began collecting the leather-bound classic collections of authors that can be purchased from Barnes & Noble! They are great books for any collector. They are beautiful books with ribbon bookmarks and gold

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-7193343768167295832011-01-14T02:36:00.008-05:002011-01-14T03:16:29.148-05:00

Yesterday I finally came to the realization that what is meant when they say "you can pick your nose, you can pick you ass, but you can't pick the family your born into!" Because believe me if I could pick my own family, I would be an only child or maybe I'd like to have a brother. Either way I guess I'm stuck with what I got even if I never say another word to my mother's other child again, I

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-76871856482956632682010-08-26T16:49:00.012-04:002011-03-22T14:02:33.736-04:00

It's been over a year since my last posts! I've been going through a lot of life changes but I'm well now. So much has happened in a year's time. Where to begin? Okay here goes: BP Oil spill in the Gulf! Those poor animals and the people whose lives depend on the tourist! My heart is goes out to you!True Blood-LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! Who won American Idol this year? Who cares! Adam Lambert

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-75233584397044065972009-07-21T19:52:00.010-04:002009-07-21T20:24:56.783-04:00

Okay, If you have been reading my blog for a while (at least since last summer) you will know that I am a big, Big, BIG fan of Wendy Williams. Last year when she did her 6-week trial run in New York and 3 other markets, and I couldn't get enough of Miss How-YOU-Doin'? Since last week I have been watching religiously to see what she will wear, who she will have on as guests, and to hear her utter

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-53285174536399140552009-07-07T17:42:00.004-04:002009-07-07T18:06:09.759-04:00

It's been 13 days since the passing of the King of Pop and it still hadn't sunk in until today when I was watching the funeral on television. Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz came on and sang the Jackson 5 classic "I'll Be There" and I lost it! I know this sounds funny but it really feels like I've lost a relative, a strange one, but a loved relative nonetheless.It's almost as if I can "Remember the

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-25833440646779423322009-03-14T16:24:00.004-04:002009-03-14T17:38:10.940-04:00

This week I received the Gus Van Sant film "Milk" from Netflix! Last night I finally had the chance to see it! And I want to let the WORLD know how much I loved this film. For anyone who doesn't already know, it is the story of the first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk. He is to LGBT people, what Martin Luther King Jr. is to Black people. And I can say that because I am both! He fought

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-9112727312131935342009-02-24T15:21:00.005-05:002009-02-24T15:51:23.004-05:00

Last week my photography professor, Cal Vornberger, took us on a field trip to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Actually it wasn't that much of a trip, per se. All we did was walk out of the door of school and walk across the street to Bryant Park. I was there walking to a photo shoot the week before and saw the paps surrounding Lindsay Lohan as she was going into the back of the tent. So on this

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-56145426806166422392009-01-20T08:35:00.009-05:002009-01-20T09:47:03.079-05:00

Today will go down in history as the day the first African-American and the 44th President of the United States of America will take office as our Commander-in-chief. From this day on people will remember where they were when President Obama was inaugurated. After 8 years of George W. Bush's White House, this is a new day that we all have been waiting to happen.I am proud in so many ways by this

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-24147690311021903782008-11-25T18:20:00.003-05:002008-11-25T20:19:30.317-05:00

Since I last posted here, Barack Obama has been elected as the 44th President of the United States of America! Hopefully better times will be ahead for this nation economically. I think just by the fact that he has already given 3 press conferences and has started announcing cabinet members in his administration, hopefully this is a good sign that the man means business to change the mess that 8

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-39212442004154732342008-10-28T17:36:00.008-04:002008-10-28T17:45:32.279-04:00

I haven't been able to make many entries these past few weeks. Busy, busy, busy. All I can say is the photo says it all. Don't forget that ELECTION DAY is a week from today on NOVEMBER 4! Even if you don't know who you want to vote for yet just remember this: Are you better off now than you were since George Bush got into office?I've been engrossed in the presidential campaigns and

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-83501715464057014512008-08-12T18:20:00.014-04:002008-08-12T20:46:54.695-04:00

I've been watching a lot of films lately in my free time. Films that I'm either rediscovering or discovering for the first time. I especially like foreign films that are as far away from the American "Hollywood" film mold as possible. But there is something that I discovered that I wanted to share. There are certain films that have been released in the past that should NEVER, and I repeat NEVER

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-62540273580399628162008-07-21T15:00:00.005-04:002008-11-13T16:51:00.626-05:00

Of course, I was one of the million's who saw Heath Ledger's final film performance this weekend in the hit film in the Batman franchise, "The Dark Knight". Heath was BRILLIANT as the very dark and very scary "Joker." This isn't Caesar Romero's "Joker" either. Heath's portrayal of the Joker really gave me the heebee geebees. It was a truly moving and terrifying performance which only seems sadden

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-24775516563476346962008-07-15T18:50:00.008-04:002008-11-13T16:51:01.092-05:00

Okay everybody, today I watched the second day of the Wendy Williams show and it was equally as fabulous as it was yesterday if not better. Wendy looked exquisite in her little black outfit. Today she had on Al Roker from the "Today Show" and he is really a character. I really wish I could get tickets to see a taping of her show? I have a feeling that a taping must be a lot of fun for the

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-86111736981267423032008-07-14T16:52:00.008-04:002008-11-13T16:51:01.288-05:00

I know that I've been away from blogging for a little bit, but I had to write today because I wanted to talk about my new favorite talk show that premiered today in limited markets (NY, LA, Dallas, & Detroit) called the Wendy Williams Show! Wendy is a FABULOUS radio talk show hostess on WBLS weekdays. She is also a New York Times best selling author (as I will be one day once I get my books

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-70187831719900702542008-06-20T17:21:00.003-04:002008-11-13T16:51:02.155-05:00

I just finished reading an amazing book that you MUST read!!! Patricia Nell Warren's The Front Runner. Although this book was published over 20 years ago. I heard that it is now being made into a film. I guess with the success of films "Brokeback Mountain", perhaps the puritianical American public can handle a love story as touching and moving as this book truly is. A masterpiece by any other

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-57442710028737522762008-06-03T18:37:00.010-04:002008-11-13T16:51:02.619-05:00

It's taken me the entire month of May to recuperate from my surgery but slow-but-surely, I'm getting back up on my feet again. I'm just bored to death. I'm still trying to get my thesis film shot, but I haven't been doing too much since the pain from surgery still gets me now and then. The one thing that I can say is that I've been watching a lot of Netflix stuff. Mostly the continuing stories

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-58733176500191139782008-05-16T19:05:00.007-04:002008-11-13T16:51:02.794-05:00

Just a quickie to let everyone know that I've survived my surgery. I did go into it with the idea that it was minor, but in reality, all surgery is MAJOR. And mine was no different. But the good thing is that I survived. I've been home recuperating but relaxing and reading a lot of books. Think Goodness for the NY Public Library Card!!!!The graduation when very well since the last time I wrote.

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-81024888884955855322008-04-24T17:44:00.006-04:002008-11-13T16:51:02.881-05:00

It's been a roller coaster this month and especially difficult when it comes to having access to the Internet.What did I do this month:Oh yeah, I saw "The DL Chronicles" on DVD: really good storytelling and acting and it was a lot better than any of the other shows that come on the HERE! Network. I also when to a screening of this new film called "Hamlet 2": It was HILARIOUS! It opens in August.

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-48164551718110163282008-03-28T20:28:00.008-04:002008-11-13T16:51:03.007-05:00

I've done it!! With hard work and determination I can honestly say that as of today, March 28, 2008 I am a COLLEGE GRADUATE. As of today I have my Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S) Degree in Digital Filmmaking and Multimedia! I am very happy and proud that I have been able to achieve this accomplishment at the tender age of 44 given all the drama that I've lived through in the past couple of

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-70455471780840972712008-03-19T19:35:00.006-04:002008-11-13T16:51:03.160-05:00

Life has been crazy. In addition to turning another year older (I'm 44 yrs young), I've been filming a lot at The Center. It's been interesting with very eclectic subject matters ranging from a leather fetish fashion show, to an art exhibition for nudist. If you hit the link above you can see some of my latest work. I especially proud of the NY City Comptroller William C. Thompson (no relation)

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-9300521902188102822008-02-13T18:04:00.002-05:002008-11-13T16:51:03.353-05:00

I know it's been a while, but I've been really, really, really crazed. Check out my latest work at Out at the Center. I'm actually rather proud of it. Especially the William C. Thompson segment. No, we are not related. School has been interesting with the only class I'm taking now is Literature and Composition and I really like it. My professor is really cool too! She makes the literature that

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-26898382339335173462008-01-16T21:05:00.000-05:002008-11-13T16:51:03.463-05:00

I can't believe I'm just getting around to making my first entry of the year.First of all I want to let you all know that just because the Hollywood writers are on strike doesn't mean that I am either. I've just been incredibly busy with the final stages of pre-production before the cameras start to role on my film, Poppin' In.Second, as today is his birthday and I haven't phoned yet, I just

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-57208048089852545192007-12-09T18:30:00.000-05:002008-11-13T16:51:03.621-05:00

Last night I had the opportunity to attend one of the many sold-out NY premiere screenings of writer/director Maurice Jamal's new film "Dirty Laundry." I must admit I am always a supporter of independent filmmakers, especially those done by other out men of color. His first feature, "The Ski Trip" which seemed to play endlessly when the Logo Network first premiered, was rather disappointing to me

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-83112933915357485932007-12-01T21:12:00.000-05:002008-11-13T16:51:03.926-05:00

So much has happened in the past few weeks I don't know were to begin. For starters I met one of my directing idols, Mira Nair. I had the opportunity to meet her at a retrospective of her work last Sunday at the IFC center. They showed her new short film called "Migration" which dealt with HIV transmission in India. Mira has never shied away from taboo and hot button topics. Perhaps this is one

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-49875837154124012612007-11-16T21:22:00.000-05:002008-11-13T16:51:04.114-05:00

Slowly, but surely, my thesis film is beginning to take shape. I was finally able to find 2 dogs (one owner) who didn't object to the subject matter and will allow her pups to appear in the film. That is one less headache for me now.One of my professors gave me a compliment the other day and I've been beaming about it ever since. I had told him that the owners of the first set of dogs I had cast

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-57152211598382048632007-11-12T22:08:00.000-05:002008-11-13T16:51:04.374-05:00

This week in the world of film school...in a word: INSANE!I found two dogs to play important roles in my thesis film and a few days later the owner decided that the property wasn't what they thought it was going to be. So no I have to find 2 more dogs. Ideally I think the dogs will probably come from an owner or owners in Chelsea since that's where I posted the most casting notices for the dogs.

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-42155410672538200162007-10-31T19:30:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:04.881-05:00

Sometimes I forget holidays on days when I have to go to school or work. Holidays seem less important when you live alone or have no children of your own to enjoy them with. Or, in my case, when you are low in funds that Holidays are just meaningless at times. It's not that I don't like holidays, it's just that I never saw the excitement in going out and dressing up and acting a fool in the

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-66684045035430906422007-10-25T13:40:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:05.011-05:00

Well first of all I want to let ya'll (that's "Southern" for "you all") know that I have completed the principal casting for my thesis film. It's a comedy short called "Poppin' In" (interpret the title any way you may see fit). The three leads are (shown from left to right) Amon McDade-Johnson, Sharon Gee, and Wayne Chang. As most of you know, I wrote the script with Wayne in mind after working

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-788958077571147602007-10-12T20:10:00.001-04:002008-11-13T16:51:05.266-05:00

It seems like only yesterday that I started attending film school and in a few short month (providing that I finish my thesis film) I will be walking across the stage accepting my Associate of Applied Science degree. I never imagined myself at 43-years-young, finally becoming a college graduate, so to speak. I have been investigating schools so that I can further my education and get my

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-11929916393124330372007-10-01T16:28:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:05.449-05:00

It's been a little while since my last entry because school was crazy the last two weeks of the quarter. I had to finish my thesis script, get an internship, compile my reel, finish an EPK, scout for locations for my thesis film (in addition to most of the preproduction stuff), and volunteer what "free" time I had at the IFP Market for school credit. Needless to say, I haven't gotten a lot of

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-16458112554417804052007-09-13T21:30:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:05.547-05:00

I was so happy today to be able to walk from the subway to my school and watch the tents being dismantled over at Bryant Park! That means the streets will be safe from the fashionistas that have invaded the areas for the past week and the prices in the local delis will go back to normal. I can finally start to exhale a sigh of relief.On the pre-production front, I'm still working on my Director's

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-65346714107355579552007-09-06T18:05:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:05.662-05:00

Okay, it's that time of the year again that I've grown to hate living in New York City: Fashion Week. For one thing, I go to school directly across the street from Bryant Park and my school, Katharine Gibbs, happens to be neighbors with the official hotel of Fashion Week: The Bryant Hotel. Needless to say there is so much traffic congestion on 40th Street, it's enough to make me want to scream!

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-33110987659854884752007-09-03T16:18:00.001-04:002008-11-13T16:51:05.745-05:00

This has been an incredibly busy week for me. I made the Dean's List again and they had an award ceremony this week that I was too busy to attend because I had classes back-t0-back that day. I got a gig as a tutor at school helping students with Final Cut and Final Draft, etc. But most importantly now I even have a cell phone! Things are really starting to look up. I started submitting my

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-35337562236579015382007-08-15T20:20:00.000-04:002007-10-13T16:07:50.311-04:00

This has been a crazy week again for me. Today I shot some footage (known as B-roll) to accompany the interview and other visuals that I will incorporate in the EPK (Electronic Press Kit) that I am doing for my 5th Quarter project. I'm doing it for a for a music producer/sound engineer who has his studio in DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and I feel that it will be a great project

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-82645542302451793712007-08-08T09:47:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:05.875-05:00

Right now I'm home because the subways are not running out of Brooklyn due to the heavy rain that we had overnight. I walked to 4 train stations this morning to be turned away by MTA workers and told that the trains were our of service or MAJOR DELAY. One woman I spoke with in the street said that she was sitting on the 2 train for 30mins and it wasn't moving, so she said "screw it" and got off.

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-25972770798477701092007-07-26T23:10:00.000-04:002007-10-13T16:10:18.122-04:00

Well, here it is, the 2nd week of my fifth quarter at film school. That's why I haven't made any entries in almost 2 weeks. It's been crazy. On top of that I was going through some health issues, but I finally got a clean bill of health so now I can exhale. Lots of changes this quarter that I am finding both interesting and challenging. Unfortunately, another one of my favorite professors left

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-82980275042951469342007-07-14T10:29:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:06.028-05:00

Right now I've had a couple of Vicodin and I'm currently feeling no pain. I had the Vicodin because I'm recovering from a minor surgical procedure that I had a on Wednesday of this week. So now I'm just on my laptop about to post an entry wondering if anybody is out there reading my blog about my exploits as a film student being a black gay man of 40 plus...Speaking of being Black and Gay, I

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-3362179671526572672007-07-06T21:16:00.000-04:002007-10-13T15:17:25.776-04:00

Okay, so my grades are back and I'm still on the Dean's List for this quarter. Yeah! I made and A in four subjects and an A minus in one. The A minus was from Composition and Motion Graphics, Professor Byrne's class. Honestly, I thought that was generous. But I feel lucky for having gotten an A in both of my general education courses, English Composition and Critical Thinking. Okay, I knew that

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-33750934225172310152007-06-29T09:30:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:06.185-05:00

On Wednesday morning my After Effects professor, Bill Byrne came into class and asked how everyone was doing today and I said fine. He said "you have a big smile on your face?". I told him that it was because I had a good night sleep and was well rested. Which is true but not entirely. The reason for the smile on my face was because as I was walking from my last class to his class (it was down

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-47262636604506428672007-06-26T14:31:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:06.349-05:00

The epic journey that I've been embarking on over the quarter has finally come to somewhat of an end. I just handed over my final edit of Daphne's music video titled, "Satisfied". Presentations begin at 3pm and it's 2:34pm as I write this entry. I'm pleased with the outcome. I'm pleased with the shoot(s) and I guess you could say "I'm Satisfied." The dance shoot didn't go exactly as smoothly as I

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-61195438397198514742007-06-21T17:22:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:06.698-05:00

This weekend in the big Gay Pride March and Festival on Sunday here in the city. I unfortunately will not be able to go and march like I did last year (that's me in the middle of the GMHC banner with my black HRC cap on - we were at the front of the parade) because I will be directing a sequence for Daphne's music video. It was the only day we could get the location and this is a crucial scene

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-71960174848902243942007-06-13T03:47:00.001-04:002008-11-13T16:51:06.869-05:00

I was finally able to shoot another day of exterior shots for Daphne's music video over the weekend. We used locations in Central Park and in Battery Park and on the Staten Island Ferry. It was a fun but exhausting day but everything looks good with the footage we got. Kidane (the Director of Photography for this shoot) and I went with Daphne and our male lead, Almando Rodney, to shoot in

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-29523201213856857482007-06-04T17:00:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:06.975-05:00

I haven't posted in a over a week because I've been working on my new final project for the 4th Quarter: the Daphne Shawn Music Video Project. We held a casting call on May 20 for the male lead in the video and I am happy to report we have cast a model whom, I'm sure, he will become a star just like Gary Dourdan, Djimon Hounsou, or Antonio Sabato Jr. They all got a big boost in their careers

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-73810832887662734322007-05-24T15:30:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:07.078-05:00

Yesterday was the worst day I've had in a long time. Everything started out okay when I got up. I got up on time and had all my homework done. I even had a chance to have breakfast before I left home. The sun was out. Who could ask for the better start to a perfect day? Well every thing started to go downhill once I got into the NYC Subway system. I usually take the 2 or 3 to Atlantic Avenue from

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-58381722815690692542007-05-18T12:33:00.000-04:002007-10-13T15:36:39.635-04:00

A couple of students in my film program at school have submitted a film spoof to win a student film MTV Movie Award. Calvin and Miguel are really very talented filmmakers and I hope that everyone can go to this link and view the clip and rate it. The more votes they get, the better. The filmmakers of the winning clip will get a trip to Los Angeles to win a Golden Popcorn award [like the one that

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-45526983967442412772007-05-17T01:00:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:07.198-05:00

I haven't had much time post in the past few days because I was busy with school. In particular, doing all my pre-production work for the music video that I working on. Its exhausting but at the same time its really a rush of excitement knowing that I'm in the process of making a visual record of a song that hopefully many people will talk about for years to come. (Or at least will say, "wasn't

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-68174446268711520112007-05-09T04:49:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:07.355-05:00

Greetings Measure of Life readers! I'm at home today sick with a cold and I can honestly say it's been miserable. Yesterday I was fine, but I guess the change in the weather has really done a number on me. Just when I thought I was getting better, I'm sneezing like crazy. Anyway I found something on the web [click image at right or here] that made me laugh years ago and forgot to bookmark it.

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-52656799255622059262007-05-07T09:40:00.001-04:002008-11-13T16:51:07.526-05:00

Over the weekend I had the pleasure to see the highly anticipated film "Spider-Man 3". Was it worth the wait? You bet! I'm a big sucker for any film that has great character development and a dynamic story. Director Sam Raimi has not only include all of this but spectacular SFX that I haven't seen since The Wachowski Brothers introduced the world to "The Matrix" in 1999.I have to admit, I have

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-88087889131301361712007-05-03T09:56:00.000-04:002007-05-03T10:25:50.848-04:00

Film school has been really great but I never knew going into it just how busy it would really be. At the moment I have 3 projects that are in stages of re-editing or pre-production. Ironically, I thrive on this kind of excitement when it comes to the creative process. The good thing is that for every new skill I acquire, it only helps me when it comes to re-editing. For instance, this week I

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-39301338619008880072007-05-02T06:04:00.000-04:002007-10-13T15:37:44.802-04:00

I haven't had a chance to post in a couple of days because school has been keeping me really busy. I will say that I'm really enjoying this quarters' courses. I find all of them really fascinating and have really gotten into it. Yesterday for my Editing II class (Avid) I had to do a lip syncing project with me lip syncing a song. I chose a song by the late, great Luther Vandross called "Dance

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-14061386166543514162007-04-19T19:19:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:07.762-05:00

I had to take a few days off from posting because my new school term began this week. My new full-time schedule leaves little time for anything else but today I wanted to write about college life. Given the tragic events this week on the campus of Virginia Tech, I felt compelled to write. While I was on my way to class on Monday, 32 lives (including one Holocaust survivor from this area) were

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-57402805585621324272007-04-14T13:42:00.000-04:002007-04-14T14:49:09.888-04:00

Recently very good friend who happens to be an educator in the New York City public school system sent me this article and I was blown away. This further reiterates the point I was trying to make in my previous post regarding the Imus/Scarlet Knights Women's Basketball Team remarks. This has got to stop! The fact that it was a 7-year-old child that found this is unacceptable. When will people

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-35545600344175713362007-04-12T17:44:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:07.929-05:00

Okay the whole entire country is talking about the fallout from the Imus incident involving his racist and sexist remarks about the Rutgers University Women’s Basketball team, the Scarlet Knights. I just wanted to put my two cents in on the matter. As of this posting it has just been released that Imus has been FIRED by CBS who carries his radio program. I guess that in the end it just goes to

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-70199148200059569932007-04-10T18:15:00.000-04:002007-04-12T16:54:56.159-04:00

Today is National Sibling Day! Actually only in 27 states this happens, considering that I didn't even know that the holiday even existed until I saw it on Oprah today. On her show today her entire audience was filled with siblings. Her guests on the show today included stories of twins, triplets, sextuplets, formerly conjoined twins, and then she had the Huckaby siblings. Although no multiple

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-43886661746530755492007-04-06T19:07:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:08.153-05:00

Well today is Good Friday. That doesn't mean much to me nowadays. But when I was a kid it meant that I had off from school. I went to Catholic school from First grade until I graduated High School. I was even an altar boy for a couple of years. Despite all the nasty things people say about Catholic priests now, I was never molested by any of them. I guess they were too drunk to bother. Just

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-89577047977868544042007-04-02T18:02:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:08.396-05:00

Yesterday was opening day for my favorite baseball team in the world. They have some of the most cutest players in the entire league. The Yankees are GOLDEN! They beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 9-5. Washington Heights favorite son, ARod proved his worth yesterday with a two-run home run in the eighth inning! I didn't have a opportunity to attended, but I was there in spirit supporting my boys! I

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-9206707998133942552007-04-01T09:49:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:08.753-05:00

Well my 3rd quarter of film school is finally over! It was really a challenge this past quarter. I don't know if I made the President's List this time. (I don't think I will get 4.0 this time) but I think I will be okay if I make the Dean's List. But I did finish the first draft of my website and it is up and running for the time being. I'm not too happy with it but I'm okay with the fact that I

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-88498787783199680302007-03-16T09:18:00.000-04:002008-11-13T16:51:08.933-05:00

By now most of you know that I have a secret crush on recently out of the closet former NBA player, John Amaechi. I mean, who wouldn’t? He’s tall, dark and handsome and that accent is so sexy. So you can imagine my surprise when last week I went to my mailbox to find my latest issues of The Advocate with none other than that sweet teddy bear himself on the COVER! I have to say I was in “seventh

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-42095219887112320752007-03-10T03:51:00.000-05:002007-03-27T22:45:32.420-04:00

I bet she wouldn't like it at all. But I could be wrong. She might even be used to it by now! I know the saying goes "Sticks and Stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me". But is that really true? I think hateful words like the one Ann Coulter used in front of a group of people at the Conservative Political Action Committee last Friday are just as hateful as when someone uses the "

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-44056687705817364092007-03-08T00:06:00.000-05:002007-03-27T22:43:53.867-04:00

Have you seen this yet? I saw this little girl on "The Today Show". Believe it or not she is only 5-years-old. She wasn't even born yet when this song came out and she is getting down!!!! She is too adorable! I also saw another clip on YouTube of her singing "Strange Fruit" by Billie Holiday. Call me crazy but there is something rather disturbing about a pre-schooler singing about lynching folks

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-5411477843580703642007-03-06T01:34:00.000-05:002008-11-13T16:51:09.070-05:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure to produce and direct my first PSA. It was an assigned project for my 3rd Quarter Final in Video Production. My professor who assigned it, Professor MacGillivray (the absolute coolest Professor around) had one major requirement that would make it different from our other projects. This time we were to hire professional actors instead of using our classmates as

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-81685189546825156732007-03-05T19:06:00.000-05:002008-11-13T16:51:09.159-05:00

First of all I just want to say that I finished this entry over a week ago, but I’ve been so busy with pre-production and production of my 3rd Quarter Final project (more on that later) for school, I haven’t had time to post it. Here it is now:One of my favorite moments watching the 79th Annual Academy Award™ presentation last night was watching the commercials like the Master Card ad with the

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-56257727357934097692007-02-23T23:26:00.000-05:002008-11-13T16:51:09.449-05:00

For the past two weeks now I've been busy trying to get a project for school off the ground. Every quarter at school as part of my requirements we are required to do a different film project. Last quarter (my 2nd) was a documentary. This quarter it is a PSA (Public Service Announcement). Since the first week of classes we have been pitching ideas, writing scripts, writing storyboards, etc. The

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-62875228781525058052007-02-19T13:33:00.000-05:002008-11-13T16:51:09.456-05:00

I grew up watching soap operas (a/k/a daytime dramas). I was a weird kid. In kindergarten I would come home from school and watch "Dark Shadows" with my mommy while hiding under the table whenever "Barnabas Collins" [pictured] came on. When other kids were running home to watch "Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck" in 3rd grade, I was running home to catch what was going on in Port Charles on “General

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-63217533465739469492007-02-16T17:23:00.001-05:002008-11-13T16:51:09.686-05:00

I've always been a big sports fan. As a kid growing up in Roosevelt, Long Island some of my fondest memories was practicing my baseball pitching and catching with my dad in our backyard. I always loved when we'd watch football and basketball games whenever we got the chance. My dad was an amatuer boxer before I was born and my mom talked him out of it. He was a Mets/Knicks/Nets fan. I'm now a big

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-12037891699864112682007-02-11T14:13:00.000-05:002007-03-27T22:44:41.144-04:00

I was wonder if any of you have seen this clip of Tyler Perry. He is best know for his stage shows and films based around a character he calls "Madea." Most of the time whenever I see a male actor trying to get laughs by playing a overweight elderly woman, sometimes the joke gets kind of old quick. But I have to say that Mr. Perry is genuinely very funny as Madea. I wasn't a big fan until I saw

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8001360342690645446.post-11929131859808465872007-02-09T12:12:00.000-05:002007-03-27T22:40:01.735-04:00

I got fired from my job in Feburary 2006 and re-evaluated my life and decided to go back to college to live the life that I wanted instead of the one that I fell into as a drone in corporate America. Now I'm very happy as a filmmaking student in New York City at Katharine Gibbs School. So what if I'm the oldest one in my class (I'm even older than my instructors)? Most of my classmates are young

Billy Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10306504564511671286noreply@blogger.com1