Donde está Shane??

Some of you may have tried calling or tried getting in touch with me and I am sorry if I have not returned the call or been in reach. I have been away for the last 2 weeks in Panama working. Every now and then my 9-5 jobs requires me to go out to location and this time it sent me to Panama City, Panama!

The weather was hot, sticky, but being originally from San Antonio, Texas, I didn't find Panama to be that bad in terms of the weather. I didn't get to see and do a whole lot as I was working during the day and at night in the hotel I would work on Trenches as I could.

I did get out a bit thanks to Marco and his wife (Thanks guys for the kindness!) and saw some of old town Panama which has very cool Spanish influence architecture. in fact the new James Bond Movie, "Quantum Of Solace" shot in Panama and we drove by the location of the old club they used for the film.

I also did a bit of gambling while there. My last night in Panama I walked out $90 richer winning with 4 Aces in Texas Hold 'em. That was with a $6 bet on the table. A great way to end the trip.

So with $90 in my pocket I said "dinners on me!" and off we went to a great restaurant called "Beirut" which is Lebanese food. I have never had Lebanese food nor could I tell you where the country is (I suck at geography among many other things) but the food was excellent and we smoked Hukas and walked Belly Dancers perform. A great night of entertainment, good company, and a great send off from Panama back to the states.

So I get back to my hotel at midnight, pack my bags and hit the bed at about 1am. I am up at 4:30am and in a car to catch my flight at 7:30am. from there I arrive back home at my front door step in the good 'ol US at 6:30pm.. a long day.

The bad news is that while I was gone, my youngest son has been having troubles breathing and has been sick. My wife taking care of all 3 kids while I am gone has taken the little one to the doctor a few times and Saturday night when I got back in town, my wife wakes me at 3am and says she is taking the baby to the emergency room as he is having a hard time breath.

Long story short, my youngest son, Hayden, was released yesterday and doing better but still not feeling a 100%. My wife stayed in the hospital the whole time while I watched after the other boys, and my wife continues to be the strong one with doing the medicines, doctor visits, and super mom. I love ya babe! Always stronger then me.

Today I am back to work. So a long trip and then some stress when I got back, then my 9-5 job and then .. oh yeah.. Trenches. Yes still doing that as well.

So I am starting to get back in the grind and get things back up and going but bear with me a moment as I try and get things square and I will be with you as I can.

FearNet.com Covers Trenches

Here is one of the interviews I did while at NY ComicCon. This one is from FearNet, a great site with really good content. I love their site design! They interviewed for "The incredible Hulk" new movie, "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" , "Ghost Hunters" and many more. check 'em out!

Why is it I always wink at the camera? I know.. it's because I am a dork.
Or it's just my Carol Burnett 'ear pull' gesture to my wife. Yeah, whenever I wink to the camera I am really sending a signal to my wife saying "I love you." .. yeah let's go with that, or that I am just a dork. Well what can I say.. you guys be the judge as I think the jury is still out on this one. BTW.. that's me at the end of the video making the scarry "Ooooooh" sound.. dork.

Moving on

Well if we missed you at the NY Comic Con event it wasn't my fault. I looked for you. Where were you? I text messaged you! .. ah well. I will catch you at the next event maybe.

Here is a pic from the "Trenches" panel we did at ComicCon
(man Aaron needs to cut his hair :)

(photo by: Zafe) left to right, Lev Gorn, Aaron Mathias, Shane Felux

So moving on, the NY trip was good and it was great to hang out with some very good friends. Unfortunately I got sick, I think I picked it up from on of the kids, as I was feeling a bit off when I flew into town. Now I am pretty miserable.

At the event Stage 9 released a new Trailer for Trenches.
Take a look at this studio cut trailer and let me know what you think.

The studio wanted to put out something new so there ya go. I dig the movie voice over guy. That made me smile. So perhaps a bit more info and look at Trenches as we work to completion and delivery. When you ask? Err.. soon. No later then July.. how about that? :)

Hope all is well with you and send some love sometime!

Trenches at NY ComicCon & NEWS

If you are wanting to catch me and see perhaps a bit more on Trenches, we will be at New York ComicCon this month April 18-20. So if you are on the east coast and near the big apple come on out to the event. It should be a lot of fun as Comic Con is one of the best with lots to see.

The idea is that Trenches will show perhaps a new trailer (cut by the studio.. be afraid) and will air right before the new Star Wars "Clone Wars" trailer and the new Indiana Jones Trailer.

Also from what I hear, a special ComicCon message from George Lucas and Harrison Ford.
From what I hear. See the full guest list here:

The "Trenches" presentation is stated for the place and time below. Check the schedule here:

Saturday

3:30 PM

4:00 PM

1E12-13-14

ABC TV/Stage 9 Digital Media present - TRENCHES

Also at the event we will be giving out these new cool "Trenches" postcards I designed for the studio. let me know what you think?

Click on the postcard image to see larger size

IN OTHER NEWS:
The Associated Press put out an interesting article talking about Trenches, and even quoted me a few times. Read the article here. "TV Studios Embrace Originals on the web"

Also NewTeeVee.com mentions us in a very cool write up you should check out titled " Weekend Vid Picks: Fan Films Good Enough to Fool You" Thanks for thinking of us guys!

The one really cool thing is this live action "Legend of Zelda" (fake) trailer that was put out on April fools and man is it impressive. I fell for it to as I thought it looked awesome. The gaming site IGN, got people good with this one. Check it out.

Other Other News
Trenches now has full picture lock (thank you lord) what that means is that the studio has signed off on the full edit of the film and now the process for color, treatment, sound, music, FX call all focus on completing the film. Rejoice!

The funny thing is that picture lock is a huge piece off my shoulders but it's like this.
Crawling through the desert dying of thirst while burned at day and freezing at night., knowing that just over that next distant sand dune is civilization and salvation.

And so you crawl and crawl looking only to that distant sand dune and when finally at last you crawl up it, your mouth caked and dry with sand, your mind baked in the hot sun, that when you finally crest that sand dune.. . you look out and see..!
More sand .... and another distant dune with the teasing promise of hope.
Head down we start to crawl forward.

Yeah, it's kind of like that. So be my mirage and catch you at NY Comic Con :)

When I Grow up ...

Here is something different and fun for you guys.

When I was a kid (ok still am) but regardless when I was younger, my aspirations had always been to be involved in movies, theater, TV ... The industry (though I didn't know it was called "the industry" for a long time.. in fact I just found that out thanks to this thing called the inter net.. or something)

Anyway, when I was young, it was a film called "Star Wars" that opened a new dream for me, "wow, I know what I would like to do.. I want to be involved in that .. somehow!"

yeah it's cliche but true.. sorry. Then a film called "Indiana Jones" and for a while I actually pursued becoming an archaeologist and researching the arc of the covenant.

My Grandmother gave me tons of religious things to read about the arc. I then soon realized archaeologists really don't carry whips and have exciting adventures, but really sit in some squaller sweating to death, while meticulously sweeping dust with a tiny brush for hours on end, to then discover "look I unearthed a tiny piece of a pot that looks more like a lump of dirt.. wow"

(to all the archaeologists out there .. I am sure it is a fascinating job, so no offense, but not for me) Plus I found out you have to be smart to be an archaeologist.. again .. not me :) . I think we are safe though, as I do not really see many archaeologists reading my blog.

So at a young age if I could not be these things, I could possibly play them, or make a story about these characters and adventures, and so at a young age I pursued it.

My first job in front of a professional camera was I think age 9 or 10. It was for an HEB Grocery store company training video. You know the ones they make you sit and watch when you join a new company.

Yeah, that was the one. I played a young Howard E. Butt, founder for HEB ( which is a huge grocery store chain in Texas where I am from)

My mom at the time worked for HEB and when they were looking for children to she knew I had a dream to do movies and so forth and brought it up " I have a son who would love to do it"

and I did and from then on I had the bug. I still do. From then I had done may other projects. I have done outdoor theater, stage, live TV, commercials, feature films, indies, industrials.. you name it. Everything but porn.. still looking into that one .. JK ;

And I couldn't have done it or gotten where I am (still just a little guy buy living the dream) with out my family and there support.

Love you mom!

So when I was home the lest Christmas holiday (I am behind, give me a break) my mom dragged out these old pictures of my first time on a set and my first acting job. She even still had the old VHS tape. So here it is for you, a retrospect look back when I grow up ... (look how cute I was!)

I have posted pictures of my first time on a set (wow the 70's) and my first short acting job. even then it was a lot of hurry up and wait :)

Now today I still would not be able to do this without the support of my friends and family and though she reads this blog rarely, a big thank you to my wife! It's very hard I know.

Note: If you watch the video, notice how the kid (yes that me) actually looks at the camera .. amateur! So when I grow up I want to be in movies .. let me know how it turns out, as I am still waiting to grow up .. someday.

So here is my 5seconds of fame at age 10. Boy I sure could pull a wagon back then, just look at the dedication and believablilty, I really believe his is pulling a wagon and loading grocerys. genius. Well we all start somewhere, and for me it was at a young age.

SHANE FELUX - FIRST ACTING JOB AT AGE 10

Stage 9 - Squeegees

Well as promised Stage 9 released "Squeegees", their first of a slate of 20 programs to debut on ABC.com and through online video giant YouTube. "Trenches" will be one of those programs. So go watch the first two episodes of "Squeegees" and give your support if you enjoy it. Congrats to Stage 9, and Squeegees! Very exciting

LA Times writes about the debut, Stage 9, ABC, Disney, and mentions "Trenches". It's good coverage for Stage 9 and a great start. I love the picture!

Here is Stage 9's press release from their site

Here is the question. What type of advertising and promotion do you find about the release of Stage 9 and Squeegees? Do you feel the studio is doing their job or really hitting it hard for Stage 9 and promoting their product?

What I would want to see is ads, click through, or something on major sites such as yahoo, google, etc, with banners, and I don't see anything about it on youtube yet, or really anything major but abc.com - It's still early to tell as the release just happened today. I see good fortune for Stage 9 and I think it will all grown and get bigger. Baby steps.

If I do a yahoo or google search for "Squeegees" in general on that word, I get tons and tons of non related sites dealing with window washing, janitor supplies, floor cleaning and so forth. Pages and pages that do not relate to the Squeegees new web series. If I do a specific search for "Stage 9 Squeegees" I get just a hand full of sites dealing with the new series, my blog comes up as #3 on the search, so what does that tell you, as no one reads this blog.. ok .. I am sorry, I think we are up to 20 of you read my blog now .. but what I am saying is that I want to see pages and pages talking about the new series "Squeegees" and Stage 9.

Actuall it apears there are more then 20 of you now, as it seems some of you guys are actually reading my silly rants and poor grammer write ups. Maybe I need to start watching what I am saying now.. no telling who is reading this.. what do you guys think.

Here is an article I found that Doug pulled form my blog.. what's up Doug!

webpronew.com

So you guys are sending me some love.. ahh right back at ya.

Now think about this. I had to do a specific search on "Stage 9 Squeegees" just to find a hand full of news and sites. What if I didn't know anything about this Squeegees new series, or Stage 9. I have never heard about it, I don't even know what it is.. how would I happen to find out about it?? huh? How is it that I would just run across and watch? ..Swirl that around in your mouth for a while.. how's that taste? Because it taste like jack diddle squat to me :)

It's very early and "Squeegees" just released today, so it is very early and perhaps the snowball will build and pick up momentum. Let's be watching and help promote yourself if you like it.

The one thing about online content or the Internet in general is that everyone needs to understand it is very very easy to get buried and lost on the web. There some 7 million plus unique sites on the web. Audience are not just going to find you. You have to really let people know your content is out there and advertise, promote, market and hit major numbers of people. That takes tireless work. To just rely on viral video to happen is lighting in a bottle, or you get lucky, and sometimes it takes a long time. It actually has to be planned and worked to get people to find your content, and that means media relations, press and if your content is online that is what you should be hitting, and lots of it. TV Network spends millions on advertising. Think what would happen if then spent just a fraction of that on online advertising. I think you will see more and more of that soon. If they are smart.

One big web hit series "Quarterlife" was picked up by NBC and premiered to Tuesday Night TV Watchers and did very poorly. Even my buddy Chris covered the story, as he always seems to have his finger on the pulse of online content.

Have any of you heard of Quartlife? I bet some of you haven't. But where have you been this is a huge successful web series and has a huge following, over 6 million streams!

Ah.. so you see my point maybe?

I enjoy "Quarterlife" myself and find the writing very well done and with some engaging characters. It's not my full cup of tea but I have to take my hat off to them. It did poorly because they already showed their episodes online and on MTV, so what was aired on NBC this week wasn't new, so of course no one watched. NBC says they did great advertising for the show.. but did they? Quarterlife was on NBC front page yesterday and now you can barely find it on their site. sad.

My point folks is that audiences are not just going to magically find you. I still have people emailing me saying "wow, I just came across your site and watched Revelations. I really enjoyed it!" It's been 3 years now, and still new people discover and find it.

So let me know your thoughts if you have any. How about you Tish, your very smart :)

For me, I will just keep working on Trenches and doing what I do.. hopefully we will meet up on the otherside, and hopefully you like what I come out to show and I still have your support.

Stage 9 comes up - Premiere

Here is some exciting news for you guys. The studio that is finnacing and distributing "Trenches" is getting ready to premiere and officially release their first series online this week!

Very exciting!

It's official. Stage 9, the new division of Disney, will put it's first web series and premiere this week, Thursday 2/28.

The first project Stage 9 will be releasing is a great new comedy called “Squeegees”, about the wonderful world of high-rise window washing! The trailer is now online so go check it out and let me know what you guys think of it. Here is the older teaser trailer.

“Squeegees" is produced and directed by the crazy guys at Handsom Donkey.

Adam Countee, Brendan Countee, Marc Gilbar, Aaron Greenberg.

They shall be the first into the breach if you will, and I consider them brethren of a kind, as we both have gone through the Stage 9 system and both made our films through them. We are film compatriots of different spectrums. They doing fun comedy and me .. "what the hell was I thinking" scifi. I wish them the best in success!!

I am very interested to see how Stage 9 promotes and markets "Squeegees", how it does, and what they are able to do with it. Let's see how the studio does it shall we guys?

My understanding is that the series will be online this week and hosted I believe on ABC.com and others to be announced. Stayed tuned for that.

So Stage 9 comes out and is official now. First "Squeegees" then "Trenches" .. maybe.. at some point.. just watch "Squeegees" and keep sending me love.