A Valentine (Pre-Production Part One: Script)

I developed the script for A Valentine while researching the history of the poem, involving the affair between Poe and Fran. They’d been sending one another essentially love letters through their public poetry. This is bold and not something I’ve personally seen in everyday person’s relationships. Often people continue trying to make something work when it’s way past the possibility of repair. From these thoughts I was brought back to Poe and Fran and their dark love and imagined their relationship in time of high suicide and divorce rates, mental instability, and simple miscommunication. From there my script was born, A Valentine. I think I did two or three ‘drafts’ before production, which was years later. There was no “shooting script”, so what’s different was decided the night before, on location/set, or in the edit.

I wrote this during the easiest of hard times in my life, and I think the story reflects that. Because even if some problems aren’t temporary, they can still be worked on.

[READ/DOWNLOAD: https://tinyurl.com/valentinepdf%5D

Flame Con 2017

You know I’ve been going every year since the first one and plan to never miss out on these.

This year I got to experience the very entertaining Jenny Owen Young with her musical production of Buffy, entitled Buffering The Vampire Slayer. One of the songs performed is available in the playlist below.

I also got to sit down for a few panels, two in particularly I really enjoyed were Queer Nerd Powers and The Queering of Sex Education. Both of these panels are also available in the playlist below.

If you’ve never been definitely consider it. It’s a very nice and relatively cheap NYC comic con that’s very open to all of us humans.   flamecon.org

Glow (poem)

I watched the sunrise every morning

Praying for his silhouette

Waiting for his hand extended

And I would grab it

And hold it over our creation

Until the sunset

 

 

(One of two poems written on spec for an artist inspired by the images they sent me. Don’t know what ever came of this project, but I still enjoy the poems.)

(I am dedicating this poem to my grandfather John Robert Banks Sr 1924-2009)

SNOWSTARS (poem)

she didn’t quite understand,

the power she held

in her hands;

she was too enamored by its beauty;

a disservice,

only to the most unworthy.

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A post shared by John Robert Frames Photography (@jrframes)

(This poem was written for a ‘winter’ photo on my photography account on instagram.)

(I am dedicating this poem to my mother Pamela Banks 1951-1993)

DIG (poem)

I could only remember the moon,

And what she looked like in it.

I have to keep going.

She can’t break my focus now,

she will only motivate me.

 

 

(One of two poems written on spec for an artist inspired by the images they sent me. Don’t know what ever came of this project, but I still enjoy the poems.)

(I am dedicating this poem to my grandmother Lunetta Banks 1926-2000)

4109 (Mannequins)

I worked at Home Depot from April 2016 to April 2017. I was fired the day before my one year anniversary (Vacation Pay Denied!), just two days after receiving a raving evaluation where I asked for a dollar raise . But whatever I won’t discuss their shitty management here, we made this cool video while I was there for a nationwide Home Depot contest. I hope you like it!

VIDEO LINK

my ‘vlogs’

Vlogs are the new home videos and I’ve been making home videos since I first learned how to use my grandfather’s old VHS camera. One of my first ‘films’ then entitled ‘Four Boys and a Couch’ and ‘Snow Dayz’ now long lost but never forgotten. Thanks goodness we have the internet now, or specifically YouTube.

These are a series of home videos by me ‘These Are Not Vlogs’ a vlog series.

Do enjoy. THIS IS NOT A VLOG

Credits/Previous Projects

This probably isn’t the most comprehensive list just because I know there are plenty of projects I’ve just ‘forgotten’ about over the years. But I’ll try to keep this as updated as possible.

ACTING

Bitten – Sep/Nov 2018, Short Film, Party Goer
It’s All Good – August 2015, Music Video, Antagonist
Clerks – December 2006, Scene Reenactment, Acted as part of Cigarette Rally

WRITER/DIRECTOR/EDITOR

Nollie – December 2020, Short Film, Writer/Director/Editor

Go Run – July 2019, Short Film, Writer/Director/Editor
You’re It – June 2019, Short Film, Editor

Hell’s Eye– June 2019, Short Film, Editor
A Valentine – November 2017, Short Film, Writer/Director/Editor
Bitten – September 2017, Short Film, Editor
Flesh – October 2016, Short Film, Editor
Would You Be My Friend – May 2008, Short Film, Director, Co-Writer, Editor
Filmmaker: Brian Baker – May 2008, Promo Interview, Editor
Blow – February 2008, Experimental Video, Videographer, Editor
Montage – December 2007, Short Film, Writer, Director of Photography
90 Percent – November 2007, Short Film, Writer, Director, Editor
Two Knuckleheads and an XL2 – October 2007, Short Film, Writer, Director, Editor
Garbage Gifts – October 2007, Short Film, Co-Writer, Co-Director, Co-Editor
In The Studio – April 2007, Studio Show, Writer, Producer
Introducing Heidi – March 2007, Interview Piece, Writer, Producer

PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT

Non Violence Workshop – May 2019, Stage and Tech Crew
Anthem – April/May 2019, Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus Show, Stage Crew
Evolved – November 2018, Short Film, Audio Editor Bitten – Sep/Nov 2018, Short Film, Production Assistant
Bedhead VS – Jan/Feb 2015, Casting Assistant
Reflection – Sept 2013 – Aug 2015, Short Film, Associate Producer, Assistant Editor
Comedy Net – June 2008, Live Comedy Show, Production Assistant
Scum – November 2008, Short Film, Production Assistant
10K Mole Promo – September 2008, Promotional Video, Production Manager, Editor
Cork – April 2008, Short Film, Script Supervisor, 2nd Assistant Director
11:11 – February 2008 – April 2008, Short Film, Production Assistant
Ghost Eye Tree – December 2007-February 2008, Short Film, Set PA/Craft Services
Death Note – November 2007, Short Film, Set PA
4 Minutes – October 2007, Short Film, Production Assistant
Sunshine – May 2007, Short Film, Production Assistant
Mortal Fu – March 2007, Short Film, Writer, Production Designer
Presents – March 2007, Studio News Show, Writer, Audio 1

CAMERA (& ON SET AUDIO) DEPARTMENT
You’re It – April 2019, Short Film, Camera Assistant
Title Unknown – January 2019, Short Film, Audio Mixer/Boom Operator
Teddy Bird – December 2018, Web Series, Audio Mixer/Boom Operator
Japanese Society – June 2015, Dance Performance, Camera Operator
N/A – Music Video, May 2015, Grip
The 39 Days – May 2015, Short Film, Key Grip
Mee Productions – June 2010, Health Commercial, Camera Assistant
LO over VE – May 2010, Short Film, Camera Assistant/Audio Recorder
Carrie Z TV – June 2009, NYC Reality Show, Videographer, Editor
Dad Vail Regatta – May 2009, Live Crewing Event, Logger, Camera Assistant
Four Minutes – Apirl 2009 – May 2009, Short Film, Camera PA
Follow Focus – October 2008, Camera Assistant
NY Jazz All Stars – April 2008, Second Assistant Camera
John Lennon Performance Tribute – October 2006, Music Concert, Camera Operator, Floor Manager
Got A Light? – September 2006, Short Film, Assistant Camera
Drag – November 2007, Short Film, Second Assistant Camera
Pick Up The Phone – October 2007, 3 Commercials, Camera Operator
Whiskey Horse – October 2007, Short Film, Crew (Grip/Electric)
Choir and Chorus – May 2007, Concert, Lighting Engineer, Audio
Jazz Orchestra and Ensemble – May 2007, Concert, Camera Operator
Skittles Commercial – February 2007, Set Decorator, Gaffer
After Mass – December 2006 – March 2007, Short Film, B Camera Operator, Camera Assistant, Grip
Two Old Chaps – December 2006, Silent Film, Camera Assistant
Johnny Can’t Two Step – November 2006, Music Video, Second Assistant Camera, B-Roll Camera Operator
Converting Vegetarians – November 2006, Silent Film, Camera Assistant

The Lottery Ticket (w/ excerpt)

INT. REYNOLD’S BASEMENT – NIGHT
June and Wesley switch places at the table.
Reynold (22, pushover) looks up from the cards.

REYNOLD
What are y’all doing?
WESLEY
Switching up, the fuck it look
like?
REYNOLD
But I don’t know if –
JUNE
Reynold.
REYNOLD
Yeah.
JUNE
Shut up and deal.

Reynold deals the next hand.

INT. REYNOLD’S BASEMENT – LATER
June and Wesley take turns as their chips continue to stack up.
There are only six people left playing.
Wesley is on the table.
Reynold flips the River card. Wesley takes the pot.

WESLEY
Alright lets keep this shit going.
JUNE
Don’t you think we should maybe
stop? We have enough for rent.
WESLEY
Naw man, we can’t just quit the
game. Besides maybe we can make
enough for next months rent too ya
know.

June looks uneasy, but silently agrees.

WESLEY
Well then, lets keep these cards
coming.

---

The Lottery Ticket After losing their rent money in a poker game, two roommates put their hope in a new game of chance.

The Awkward Turtle the full story of the adventure these two friends take road tripping to Vegas meeting a nationwide serial killer.

Email ChanceCreatedIt@gmail.com to read/produce.

Skateboarding

I started skateboarding in 2002. I bought my first skateboard from Modell’s the summer before starting high school with my Jr High graduation money. It was Spongebob Squarepants. I wasn’t even a fan of Spongebob but damn did I love the fuck out of that terribly shitty board. I learned ollies and shuv its on that board. But I quickly outgrown it’s cheap materials. Getting pieces to create a new set up from my friend (and technically the only skate crew I ever add), better known now to most people as Michael Trapson.

I’d been making short videos/home movies on my grandfather’s old cameras for years. But the 2000’s introduced digital media to me, and my grandfather bought “us” a little pocket digital camera. It didn’t have a screen. You couldn’t expand the storage. And the megapixels were for sure in the single digits, possibly under five even. But that camera became my new best friend. And I took it everywhere including school.

After I learned a couple tricks on my skateboard I of course wanted to start filming my own lines (yes, even I had dreams of going professional, don’t laugh at me I do it enough). And so I did. This is one of the few videos that remain from that era in my life, my first skateboard video. It’s awesome to see how far I’ve progressed even if it might not seem like much to others. My ollie is actually full inches instead of centimeters off the ground now. I’ve even ollied off of stuff. And that is fucking exciting.

My tag back then was dp or drunken psychopath. It’s a Gilmore Girls reference.

Menikmati is my favorite skate film.