Dear Pollywog

I’m not sure what your internet situation is inside Annie’s womb (I know they have wi-fi in the apartment), so I’m not sure if and when you will read this letter. In the hopes that you do, I’d like to offer up a few words and maybe some scattered advice, hoping to better prepare you for what it will be like being raised by two of my closest friends, and what having me as an Uncle might do to you mentally.

When Ward and Annie (those are your parents names) first told me of your tiny existence I was blind-sided by a few different elements. Shock, happiness and something else that no one can really describe when people who are a part of your daily life announce life changing news. It’s a strange feeling that presses every emotion available into a tiny feeder cube that slowly dissolves in your stomach acids. I believe the reason this element is so hard to describe is because it is not happening directly to you, but it is non-the-less an event that will also change your life. Yes, little Pollywog, you are about to change things. You’ll be stirring up a can of old paint. The color is still beautiful but it’s been sitting static for a long time now and a film has claimed its surface.

You can breathe easy about one thing, your parents will love you and raise you to be a pretty kick-ass human being. That being said, you will be raised surrounded by madness. I can only imagine that is just how it is for children raised in the industry of film and television. Pure madness. Not to mention you will be seeing a good deal of me. That is enough to drive anyone to drink…but not until you’re 21 (I only said 21 cause your parents might read this, but start earlier…it’s fun). 

Yes, it’s true. I am not your Uncle by blood, but that can easily be fixed. As soon as you are official born (meaning you reside outside the tummy) I will see what  can do about getting a little sample of your blood to inject into me. Hell, maybe it’ll slow down these gray hairs I keep finding. Also, I have so many great films to introduce you to. I know your dad will as well, but I’ll be damn if I’m not there for your first screening of Evil Dead 2. Your mom will most likely shy away from singing to you, but encourage her as she has a very nice voice you can benefit from. 

Listen, Pollywog, I’m not really sure where I’m going with any of this. I just kind of want to say hi and that I look forward to meeting you. You are a most welcome to what is a very untraditional, but close family.

Much Love

Travis

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Friends, family, fans and people who read this blog to make fun of me!

As many of you may know, my demon love story, Lo, is having its Los Angeles premiere through Shriekfest. You should totally come see it! Tickets just went on sale. We plan to sell out the theater, so if you’d like to bathe in the awesomeness of our latest Drexel Box production then ORDER NOW! Here’s all the fun details you’ll need to kick off the Halloween season!

Lo

Friday, October 2nd at 10:30P.M.

The Chaplin Theater – Raleigh Studios

5300 Melrose Avenue

Filmmakers and actors will be in attendance. 

Purchase tickets HERE!

Visit the Lo website HERE!

Much love

Travis

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I know it’s been awhile, but I finally got off my ass and made a new RECEPTIONIST episode. I tapped into my love of horror once again and made this one extra creepy with a side of giggle sauce. Enjoy!

Much love

Travis

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Great news for demon fans! My feature film, Lo, has been accepted into the 2009 Shriekfest Film Festival! This is a great fest for horror lovers and the best part is that it takes place in Los Angeles. that means Lo will have its L.A. premiere on the big screen! Shriekfest takes place October 1st – 4th, the perfect time to celebrate the love of the macabre. As I recieve more details about screening times I will be sure to keep you all informed.

Much Love

Travis

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Here’s a bit of cool news I thought I’d share with those who care. My first feature horror film, JOSHUA, is reaching a wider audience! A friend of Ward Roberts, who plays Kebly in the movie, is stationed over there in the air force and sent him this email:

“So I’m in a DVD store here in Iraq, looking at all the horrible spelling and random movies.  Guess what movie pops up in my face?  Joshua!  They have a few copies right in the middle of the main shelf!  You’re even out here in the middle east!”

As an artist it’s always great to hear your work is getting out there! Here’s hoping Lo goes worldwide!

Much love

Travis

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Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce that my feature film about demons and love has found distribution! Lo has been picked up for North American DVD distribution by Synkronized. After reviewing their contract I feel very confident that they are a company who will not only treat the film right but the filmmakers as well. In a time where the film market is scared to take risks, Synkronized swooped in and happily agreed to take a chance on a movie that prides itself on its originality. We are all very excited at Drexel Box for the opportunity to get this film out to the masses! We’re looking at a 2010 release. 

Thank you to all who have supported the journey. To those who were with us since production to those who have kept their fingers crossed for us during these final stages. You are all awesome and I can’t wait until the day I can announce its official release. 

If you liked to stay informed about Lo and all other things Travis, please sign up for email updates (or reader updates) HERE!

Much love

Travis

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This is one of the very fist videos that was ever shot for The Baby Eaters. At the time it was just Ward and I, bored one night and just turning the camera on for fun. We’ve gotten far away from stupid stunts like this, but Rubber Neckin’ will always be one of the original videos that started the channel off and got us a first handful of fans. Amazing how human stupidity gives you your start.

Much Love
Travis

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This Friday I’ve chosen a sketch I made while in pre-production on Lo. While gearing up to make a film about a man fighting with demons, I was battling my own by making a film about them. It was a lot of hard work with very little time or money. Last week I screened Lo at the Indianapolis International Film Festival, showing it my family for the very first time. It is always a nerve racking experience introducing them to my movies. They are from the world where films have massive budgets, superstar actors and are released in real theaters. They have very few experiences with independent film and with directors who prefer to tell stories in unconventional ways. That is not meant as a cut to their character, only to say that we are from different planets artistically.

That being said, I was unsure how they would react to a movie that takes the shape of a long conversation between a man and a demon. I felt a little like the guy in the pentagram surrounded by something I could feel but not see. Something that, the minute I stepped out of the circle, would devour me whole. So, yeah…I get nervous. Thankfully the screening went very well and everyone seemed to enjoy it to varying degrees. I think everyone was happy that this one had humor. My first film, joshua, kind of grabbed them by the throat. Here they could breathe. Their support is and always has been amazing, and I couldn’t take the risks I do without it. 

A couple very nice reviews came out of the screening as well. Give um a look-see if you’re bored:

Review # 1

Review # 2

Much love

Travis

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This is just…wow. I mean, when I watch this…wow. Where do we go from here? Thanks to www.tehsuck.net for posting!

Much love
Travis

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My independent web series, The Receptionist, seems to be the only artistic thing I do which occasionally puts a little scratch in my wallet. Mostly, I believe, this is because I do it alone and my budgets never reach any higher than $0.00. With no one to pay back I am the sole beneficiary of all the George Washington’s that come my way due to my construction paper world. Oh, how lovely it is to pay my phone bill every so often!

My first paid gig as The Receptionist was nearly 3 years ago when I had just started my channel on YouTube. Back then there weren’t as many personalities and people clawing tooth and nail to be popular. It was much easier to build an audience and a small group of devoted people had found me. An advertising representative recognized my tiny audience and paper-laced madness and contacted me and a few others to create online promo’s for their new movie, Let’s Go to Prison. We were to basically do a video in our own style with the idea of presenting tips on surviving prison life. I was paid a small fee which gassed up my car and got me a few nights of Taco Bell. Here is that video:

 

After that, my channel continued to grow. It was never a subscriber behemoth or anything, but people were discovering my shorts every day and I was developing a bigger audience. So I kept on making um! Suddenly, I am contacted by Comedy Central. They love The Receptionist and are looking to buy content for their web division (which later became atom.com). The CC bought 5 of my old episodes and commissioned me to create 5 new ones as well. This was a very exciting opportunity as I was making these shorts just like I was before, only now I was being paid. The money was nice and allowed me to pay some bills and move out of my 1 room apartment and into a place with dividing walls and rooms with names like, bedroom and kitchen. Here’s an episode I made specifically for Comedy Central:

The Receptionist: Frog Sucks

When I finished the new 5 for CC, they did not hire me to make any more. They played on T.V. a few times but eventually (like most web content) they were forgotten. I went back to YouTube and brushed the cobwebs off the channel. I never started making these for money, and money wasn’t going to stop me from continuing to make them. Thus began, what I call, The Receptionist: Season 2. I was back in production and the episodes were larger in scope, using more of my world and sprinkling in more music than before. Sure I was now a YouTube partner, but anyone who is a partner can tell you (aside from a few choice and lucky individuals) that the money barely exists. If you’re a partner for the money then you are in big trouble. So, recently YouTube contacted me (and a few other’s) to create a promotional piece for HP. They were holding a contest and needed example videos. They would pay me to make a 1 minute video about anything I wanted. I just had to be creative and not show my face. I was going to be making a new video anyway, so why not get a little greenback for it? I created this video for YouTube and HP:

3 years running, and The Receptionist is still the champ for money brought in from artistic endeavour. Perhaps someday I will be paid to make feature films, but until that black magical day arrives, I will be enjoying the process of the construction paper short…and if it happens to pay a bill here and there….so be it.

Much love

Travis

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