Behind The Scenes: Colin's Music Video - by Wal Ozello

I met Colin when I was in film school in the early '90's. Even back then I wanted to film a music video for him, as I was always impressed with the way he told a story through his lyrics. 

So when our paths crossed again decades later, I knew I'd have a chance.  The right song never came around until Colin pressed his latest CD, The Best of Colin Gawel: Superior. He shared with me an early mix of track four, called "Dad Can't Help You Now" and I said, "That one's mine." It's a good thing I claimed it early because others jumped at the chance as well, but Colin set it aside for me and I'm grateful he did.

For the past couple Sundays, we've been busy shooting footage for it.  A friend of mine and local filmmaker, Alex Williams, offered to be the Director of Photography and another local filmmaker, Maria Clark of Brainstorm Media, offered to be the Producer. Filmmaker Tim Baldwin plays the role of Dad and I cast my son, Sam, as the Son.  Colin got two Upper Arlington baseball teams to help out, the Rough Riders and UA Bears, and parents from the teams came out to support. We also got some extra production help from Claire George, Jonathan Rolston, Lucas Lewinter, Sarah Martin, and Ryan Newell. 

The film is now in the editor's hands, Eric Ringquist, and we're all impatiently waiting the results of his magic. I should see a rough cut in a couple of weeks. But in the meantime, I'd like to share some behind the scenes pictures.  Enjoy!

Colin in the studio

TIme for Colin's Close-Up

Guitar Close-Up

Last game of the season

Colin's son at bat.

Sam getting ready for the big pitch.

Sam getting ready for the big pitch.

Crowd cheering on the team

Bench is cheering on the team

Wal Ozello is a local filmmaker and the lead singer of the Columbus hairband Armada. He's the author of the science fiction time travel books Assignment 1989, Revolution 1990 and Sacrifice 2086 and a frequent customer at Colin's Coffee.

Thanksgiving Couldn't Have Come At A Better Time by Wal Ozello

Let's be honest. The world is really messed up right now.

Ferguson. Immigration. Healthcare. All polarizing events that are splitting the country in half. You're either for the decisions that have been made by those leading the government or against them. The emotion behind everyone's conversation seems to rise to a boil instantly.

ISIS. Ebola. Crisis that are affecting the whole world. Sure, they are over-sensationalized by the media but they are very real and a threat to all of our livelihoods.

These big issues shadow other stories that would have been big news otherwise: Bill Cosby's rape allegations, the 12 year old that was killed by policeman for brandishing a BB gun, the fraternities suspended for gang rape at the University of Virginia.

Oh... and by the way... the Nigerian school girls that were kidnapped back in April? Still missing.

Personally, this hasn't been a great year for the world around me. I've got friends who are sick with cancer, friends who have died, and several friends that have recently lost their jobs.

2014 is one depressing year.

So with racism, rape, death, and terrorism flooding the headlines, what in the world can we be thankful for?

A lot.

As you sit down to enjoy your Thanksgiving meal, here are some "Thanks-Starters":

1) You have food in front of you. (obvious one)

2) You're surrounded by family and friends. (Even if you're uncle's a douchbag)

3) We live in a country where there is due process and a trial system. (We also have the ability to protest without repercussions in the event we believe justice isn't served.)

4) We have easy access to the world's best healthcare. (If we can't afford it, the government's going to end up footing the bill from the ER.)

5) The media is really good at punishing those that have sinned in the public eye. (Cosby may never face trial for his accused rape charges, but his legacy has flipped from the jello pudding man to rapist.)

6) By comparison to the rest of the world, we're really rich.

This is just the beginning of things we can be grateful for. I believe there's still good in this world. It's there to be found. Sometimes you have to pull up every stone that's been thrown and check under it.

From everyone here at Pencilstorm, we wish you, your families, and your friends, a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Wal Ozello is  a science fiction techno-thriller novelist and the author of Assignment 1989: The Time Travel Wars  and Revolution 1990. He's a resident of Upper Arlington, Ohio and a frequent customer at Colin's Coffee.

Learn more about Wal Ozello and other Pencilstorm contributors by clicking here

Winter's Coming But It's Really Not A Big Deal For You by Wal Ozello

Did you see the Minnesota v Ohio State football game?  Hear the stories about the the snow that needed to be shoveled out of the stadium?

Maybe you're from Cleveland, where you've already got snow dumped on you in buckets and realized that everyone forgot how to drive in this weather.

Maybe you're getting ready for ski season... joining the school's ski club... waxing up your snowboard.

I'm going to spend the day switching out my lawnmower and snowblower in my garage. Winterizing the lawnmower, and making sure the snowblower starts. I'll get all my winter gear together, too.  God forbid if we get a couple inches this week, I'll have to do my driveway and a couple of neighbors' as well.

It's getting cold, folks. It's time to put in the storm windows, reset the thermostats, and get out the winter pajamas. Get the ice melt out, snow shovels on hand, and prepare for snow, ice, cold, snow, ice, cold, and some more snow, ice, and cold.

But here's the thing.... I don't have it that bad and my guess is neither do you. I got a roof over my head, windows I can close, and doors I can shut. Some people don't have that. They may have a tent, an alley way, or a highway bridge.  Their heating source may be a heat exhaust from a downtown building. Some others may have a house to live in, but can't afford the heating bills or even extra blankets for their kids.

Keep these people in your thoughts and prayers as the days grow shorter and colder. I'll be giving some real thanks this year during the last Thursday in November. I have a house, a job, and health insurance. That's a lot more than some other people.

And if you can find it in your heart to help, I recommend donating to a homeless shelter whether in money, blankets, or food.

Wal Ozello is  a science fiction techno-thriller novelist and the author of Assignment 1989: The Time Travel Wars  and Revolution 1990. He's a resident of Upper Arlington, Ohio and a frequent customer at Colin's Coffee.

Learn more about Wal Ozello and other Pencilstorm contributors by clicking here

We Have Forgotten September 11 by Wal Ozello

Last week September 11 came and went. There was a few mentions on TV. A documentary on the History Channel, an acknowledgement on the morning news shoved between NFL Public Relations problems and commentary from the President's ISIL speech the evening before. There was a spattering of 9/11 pictures and posts on social media, with the obligatory tweet from your politicians.

At my son's school, there was no classroom conversation about that important day in history, only a moment of silence as they shuffled to class from period 1 to period 2.

While flags flew at half mast, they weren't lined up and down my block like they were in October of 2001.

But see, I'm okay with that. I'm perfectly fine with a watered down memory of 9/11 as long as we can continue what happened AFTER 9/11. Unfortunately, we've forgotten the American Companionship and Compassion we forged the weeks after that tragic event.

Yes, we should say a prayer for those that died that day. For those killed by the murdering terrorists and those killed trying to save the innocent from the terrors inside. But do more than say a prayer, remember that we are all Americans and that we're all in this together. Reach out and help your fellow American, or just say "Hi" to a stranger. Let's work with each other to make this country the amazing place it is.

Be patriotic. Let's create a better America tomorrow than one we have today. Let's create a better country for all of us to live in.

The divisiveness in America is astonishing today. So many seem to be out for themselves. Sure there are the extremist - the entitlementalists on one side who feel they deserve everything and the 1% on the other side who don't feel they need to help.  But there's a wide spectrum of in-betweeners - those that still aren't willing to compromise on anything because they want to live in their America and not anyone else's.

This country is not mine. It's not yours.  It's ours.  And making it better for the generations to come is our responsibility.

I don't care if you want to live by President Reagan's "If we love our country, we should also love our countrymen" or President Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." I don't care if you're right or left, Republican or Democrat, African-American, Euro-American, Latino, or whatever.

Work hard to have America continue to be the best nation to live in.  Not for yourself, but for all of us. Let's get back to that "We are America" feeling we had days after 9/11.  The feeling that birthed flag-lined neighborhoods, the feeling that made you warmly greet whoever passed you by, and the feeling that made all of us believe we're in this together.

Let's do this so those that died that on 9/11, didn't die in vain.

We got a whole year to get it together before the next anniversary of September 11.  Maybe by then we can remember to act like Americans again.

Wal Ozello is the author of Assignment 1989: The Time Travel Wars and Revolution 1990,  novels about World War III fought as a temporal cold war.  He's a deep believer in liberty, justice, and the pursuit of the American Dream for all.

Learn more about Wal Ozello and other Pencilstorm contributors by clicking here

Wal's Book Signing - Aug 16th at Colin's Coffee

Don't tell Colin, but while all the folks at Pencilstorm are working hard to move our offices, I'll be having a book signing at Colin's Coffee.

See, I told Colin I couldn't help move the offices because I had an audition for the latest Star Wars movie as a stormtropper.

I lied.

It's really so I could promote my new book, Revolution 1990, at his coffee shop.

Here's the details:

On Saturday, August 16th from 10 a.m. until noon I'll be at Colin's Coffee selling my new book Revolution 1990 and my first book Assignment 1989.  The first 50 copies sold will be personally autographed by me. Hope to see you there!

If you can't make it, you can still download it via amazon. Or even get a paperback version shipped to you.

Whatever you do, don't tell Colin that I'm playing hooky. He'll make me close up shop and lend a hand moving the Pencilstorm offices.  Ricki C. has over 600 LP records they have to move, not to mention his VHS bootleg tapes of New York Dolls shows.