Growing Young

Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television

2010-03-12T03:17:00.006-05:00

I just read that Conan O'Brien is going on tour and making a stop here in Austin. Unfortunately it's already sold out.

Rats.

Dancing Towards A Better Life

2010-03-11T03:45:00.010-05:00

Alee recently took a trip to Colombia where she discovered a school called El Colegio Del Cuerpo. It's an organization that is doing some really beautiful work in the city of Cartegena, Colombia. Their basic goal is to teach the art of dance to kids of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Rich kids are allowed. Poor kids are allowed. All kids are allowed.

It's an intense school too. They don't have mediocre dance classes to give the kids something to do when they're bored. The school wants their students to be the best in the world. The dancers that leave this school compete on a global level.

I can't help but smile when I hear about organizations like this. Schools like El Colegio del Cuerpo help the world realize that it doesn't always matter how much money you have. People don't respect the students of this school because the students are super rich and powerful. They are respected because they are really good at what they do.

It's also great because it gives underprivileged kids a way out of their poverty. It gives them a skill. It gives them confidence. It gives them an opportunity to contribute beauty to a broken world.

I just discovered a very similar school in Atlanta that is also helping underprivileged kids by teaching them dance.

Go Fly A Kite

2010-03-10T05:47:00.006-05:00

In college my friends and I loved to skip class and fly kites on the campus of North Greenville. It was mostly just a fun attempt to try to impress girls. Luckily I don't need to impress girls anymore, but that's not going to stop me from flying a kite.

This Sunday Alee and I are going to take Harper the Dog to Zilker Park and fly a kite at the annual kite festival. Our kite probably won't be as impressive as most of the other ones, but we'll still fly our hearts out. The only kite we can afford is probably going to be a Dora the Explorer kite from Wal Mart.

I'm considering bringing the video camera to this event. So get excited about potential video footage.

...but on Oscar night...well I like Oscar night...Pt. 2

2010-03-08T02:20:00.002-05:00

Well the night is over. It was a great night for the movies.

I predicted 17 out of the 24 winners correctly. Not great, but I'll take it...at least I outguessed my brother, dad, and most of my other friends.

The highlight of the evening for me was Pete Docter's acceptance speech for Up. His heartfelt speech brought me and Alee to tears. I can't find the video for the speech online, so I'm just going to post the end of the speech:

"It was an incredible, incredible adventure making this movie, but the heart of it came from home. And to our families, in my case, to my wonderful parents, they were so supportive. My kids, Nicholas and Ellie, and my amazing wife Amanda, you guys are the greatest adventure. Thank you."
-Pete Docter

...but on Oscar night...well I like Oscar night...

2010-03-07T15:33:00.001-05:00

Tonight's the night.

Tonight's one of the only nights where I consider myself a competitive person.

Tonight's kind of like a second Christmas for me.

Tonight's the kind of night that dreams are made of.

Tonight's Oscar night!

My ballot is filled and I'm ready to let Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin help me laugh away my troubles.

I'm predicting The Hurt Locker will take home the statue for Best Picture although my heart is wishing Up would take it.

Austin Storytellers

2010-03-05T05:37:00.002-05:00

Last night I was part of an incredible evening of storytelling. I was invited to a meeting of filmmakers, photographers, and writers from The Austin Stone. We had a great time of eating, talking, and sharing stories through our respected art forms. I left the evening feeling inspired and artistically renewed.

I showed one of the films I helped make when I was Malawi a little over a year ago.

Malawian Duet from Nathan Willis on Vimeo

City of Lakes Trailer

2010-03-02T19:06:00.002-05:00

One of the guys I've been doing some shooting and editing for since I moved to Austin is a wedding filmmaker named Joe Simon. You can see some of his work on his blog. He really is quite amazing at what he does. I used to think wedding videographers were all uncreative guys who overcharged engaged couples to film their wedding. This idea changed when I first saw Joe's work.

A few months ago Joe traveled to India to help film a wedding with some of the top wedding filmmakers in the world. This wasn't going to be a typical wedding shoot though. When he first explained the concept of what they'd be doing there I was very confused. The trailer from the India shoot is now up and I'm still very confused. It is unlike anything I've ever seen. The film combines an actual live event with a narrative film. I don't know if that makes a whole lot of sense. I'm having a hard time explaining it because I can barely wrap my head around the concept.

I'll stop trying to explain and just show you the trailer:

View on ExposureRoom

My So Called Life

2010-02-23T17:03:00.002-05:00

Since getting a DVR Alee and I find ourselves quickly becoming addicted to more and more shows on TV. We're turning into an old married couple who have nothing to live for but our television shows.

Here's a list of the shows we watch together (don't judge):

The Amazing Race
Hoarders
Intervention
American Idol
The Biggest Loser
The Office
30 Rock
Big Love
Little Miss Perfect
Toddlers and Tiaras
Project Runway
Saturday Night Live
Glee

We really need to get out more.

P.S. This list doesn't even include the shows I watch sans Alee. I won't write those down since I'm already depressed enough.

It's Finally Here

2010-02-02T17:56:00.001-05:00

Harper the Devil

2010-01-31T11:51:00.001-05:00

When you first look at Harper the Dog your first thought might be "Oh my goodness, that is the most precious dog I've ever seen!". Don't be fooled. She's actually the devil.

Alee and I have composed a list of things Harper the Devil has tried to eat over the past week:

Socks
Underwear
Receipts
Alee's purse
My shoes
Alee's sunglasses
Paper towels
Pants legs
Our toes/fingers
Mail
Cardboard boxes
Wii controllers
Alee's computer
My computer cord
Alee's phone
Alee's hair
Sweaters
The coffee table
Grass
Pine cones
Her own vomit
Chapstick
DVD case
Coat hanger
Medicine bottles
Washcloth
Q-Tip
Screw
Tissue
The bed
Alee's hip
Her own poop

Harper the Dog

2010-01-29T20:41:00.001-05:00

If you know anything about me, you know that I have severe asthma. Growing up my asthma made it so I couldn't have any pets in my house. While my asthma has gotten better in adulthood, I would by no means call myself asthma free. Being around dogs and cats for an extended amount of time still makes me sick every now and then, so Alee and I just assumed we'd probably never be able to have a dog.

However, we recently discovered that there are dogs that are classified as hypoallergenic. After hearing this Alee went on the hunt to find an asthma-friendly dog for us. I was a bit skeptical about the whole idea at first. We can barely afford to pay our rent, so why would we want to add another member to our family?

If you've had a conversation with me within the past 6 months you'll also know that Alee hates her grad program. There are tears shed at least 3 times a week over how depressed the program is making her. Alee finally convinced me that having a dog might help her feel better about the state of her life.

So we got a dog. Her name is Harper.

I can safely say that getting Harper was the best decision we've made since deciding to get married.

Amos Story

2010-01-23T18:32:00.007-05:00

Aaron Ivey, one of the worship leaders at The Austin Stone, adopted a boy from Haiti a couple of years ago named Amos. Aaron and his wife have had a really hard time getting Amos to America because of a lot of red tape issues. However, due to the recent earthquake in Port-au-Prince the government expedited the adoption process. This past weekend Aaron was able to go pick up Amos and bring him home to Austin.

A few months ago (before the earthquake) Aaron shot a music video for a song he wrote for Amos. I'm having trouble embedding the video so I'll just share the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4eZybIXpm8

For The City

2010-01-03T12:39:00.001-05:00

A few months ago The Austin Stone dedicated most of its service to a showing of a short documentary that highlighted what the church is doing to serve the city of Austin. I did a little bit of editing and shooting for the project, but the overwhelming majority of the work was done by a really talented filmmaker named Jeremy Rodgers.

It's a long watch but it's worth every minute.

For The City-Revisited from The Austin Stone on Vimeo.

Where Ya Been?

2010-01-03T10:27:00.001-05:00

It's been quite a while since I've updated this bad boy.

A lot has happened since we last met. I'm now married and living in Austin, TX.

I made a new years resolution to update this bliggity blog more.

I also vowed to lose some weight.

Let's see how all of that goes.

The Bike King and The Ten Commandments Part 3

2009-04-20T06:48:00.001-04:00

Response from the creators of "The Bike King.."

Nathan
Thanks for you interest we will inform you when the DVD is available. We are looking at a theatre release first.
God Bless
Julius

I wish this movie would ever come to theaters.

The Bike King and The Ten Commandments Part 2

2009-04-18T11:32:00.005-04:00

Good news. The movie is legit and my friend sent me the link to the official website: http://www.bikeking10.com/

After watching the trailer about 32 more times I've decided to try everything within my power to add this jewel of a film to my collection.

I just sent this email to the producer...or whoever checks their emails:

How can I get a copy of your inspirational film?
I've watched the trailer countless times and just can't wait to see the feature!
Thanks!
Nathan

I'll keep you updated in my quest.

The Bike King and the Ten Commandments

2009-04-18T05:29:00.001-04:00

I just found this at work and it's changing my life.

Reason 74 I'm Excited to Move to Austin

2009-04-12T06:46:00.010-04:00

Once I get married in August I'm going to be packing up my life here in Greenville and settling down in Austin, Texas. It's a town I knew little about until I found out my wife-to-be is going to school there. I figured Austin was your stereotypical Texas town. A place where people wear cowboy boots and still like George W. Bush.

This is not the case.

It's a town full of small businesses, live music, and Barack Obama stickers.

It's also home of a little place called the Alamo Drafthouse.

Alee recently told me a story about the Drafthouse that nearly had me packing up my suitcase and catching the next plane out of Greenville:

The Drafthouse recently had a free screening of what was supposed to be Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn, with some special scenes from the new Star Trek to follow. The night of the event, before the film started, the theater announced that the writers of the new Star Trek were in attendance. The writers gave a little speech and then the lights dimmed and Kahn began.

A few minutes into the movie something happened to the film, so the manager ran up to the projection booth to "fix" the problem and the writers got back up on stage to stall. Then, to everyone's surprise, Leornard "Spock" Nimoy emerged from the audience.

Anyway, to make a long story short, the movie goers did not get to watch The Wrath of Kahn that night. They watched the new Star Trek instead.

So if the booming independent film scene, the home of arguably the best film school outside of L.A. or New York, or Alee Franklin weren't enough to make me completely stoked about being a resident of Austin, Texas in a few months, the fact that I'll be in a town where Leornard Nimoy stops by every now and then and hosts world premieres of movies does.

You gotta give 'em hope...

2009-03-22T11:06:00.024-04:00

I've recently had an...um...change of heart...

For the past 5 years my favorite movie has undoubtedly been Cinema Paradiso. If you know anything about me and you know anything about this movie, then you know exactly why it held the number one spot in my heart.

If you haven't seen it, it's basically about a broken hearted filmmaker.

It's quite a depressing movie with little hope presented to the audience. Either way I identified with the main character more than any other character I'd ever seen in a movie. That's why I loved it so much.

However, I showed it to my fiancee, Alee, over Christmas break and the movie didn't feel the same. Whatever it was about the movie that made me love it so much for the past 5 years wasn't there upon this viewing. I didn't identify with Toto (the main character) anymore. It didn't make me feel the way it used to. The magic was gone.

I was scared to admit it at first, but I think I have to say that Cinema Paradiso isn't number one anymore. That doesn't mean I still don't think it's a great movie. I'm still convinced it's one of the greatest movies I've ever seen, but best does not always equal favorite.

So what has taken its spot on my list?

I think I'm in a place where I don't have one favorite movie. I have several. Here are my current top 5 in no specific order:

Casablanca.

Good Will Hunting.

The Untouchables.

The Best Years of Our Lives.

...and Slumdog Millionaire.

Yes, Slumdog Millionaire has replaced Cinema Paradiso.

I guess some might say that the explanation for this change is an easy one. I don't identify with a brokenhearted filmmaker anymore, because I'm no longer as brokenhearted as I once felt yaddah yaddah yaddah...but I think the explanation is deeper than that.

I think the change has something to do with what kind of movies I want to make in my life.

Like I said, Cinema Paradiso offers very little hope to its viewer. The viewer leaves the film feeling regret, sadness, and confusion. I don't want people feeling this way while leaving a movie with Nathan Willis' name on it.

When movies first came out they were a means of escape for people. People would go to the movies to forget their problems and laugh. Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin reminded people that there was still good in the world, and that there was still stuff worth smiling about.

This optimism in movies seems to have disappeared. All of the critically acclaimed movies don't make us laugh like they once did, they make us want to throw back the Prozac and eat the barrel of a gun.

For the past few years the movies that have taken the Best Picture statue home from the Academy Awards leave the audience feeling pessimistic about the world we live in.

Slumdog Millionaire is a much needed change of pace.

When I make a film I want people to realize that, yeah, life really does suck sometimes, but there is hope. You don't have to live in regret and self pity.

A girl broke your heart? There is hope.

Your mom died? There is hope.

You're poor? There is hope.

I think Slumdog Millionaire embodies this idea perfectly.

I don't want to watch/make movies where people look behind them to a past filled with heartache and remorse. I want people to look ahead to a future filled with hope and optimism.

That's the reason I fell in love with movies in the first place.

Let's Go, Jim!

2009-03-03T23:30:00.004-05:00

I had a long night of video editing ahead of me, but my hard drive bit the dust. So I have nothing else to do but watch the local news and anticipate the second night of “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”.

I’ll be honest. I was not too excited when I heard that Jimmy Fallon was taking over Conan’s late night spot. I think Jimmy Fallon is funny only about 27% of the time, while Conan makes me laugh by just looking at the camera.

None of the promos Jimmy Fallon had on NBC for in preparation his show made me laugh; and as I watch older episodes of SNL I realize how unfunny he really is. So, needless to say, I was not pulling for Jimmy to succeed in the late night world. That was until yesterday afternoon.

As I was exploring Twitter I discovered that Fallon has an account that he updates pretty frequently. I began reading his tweets (I think that’s what they’re called) and discovered that he is the definition of a down to earth celebrity.

Reading his tweets you will discover that he still hasn’t gotten used to being a celebrity. He’s not arrogant or full of himself. In fact, he’s the exact opposite. He admits how nervous he was during the taping of his first show. He expresses how thankful he was for all the good luck calls he got from the likes of Jon Stewart and Jay Leno. He even uploaded a picture of a gift he got from Carson Daily.

Here is what he wrote before he went to bed the night of his first show: “Tonight is my last night of the unknown. By the time I go to bed tomorrow night I will know what it's like.” It sounds like the Facebook status of any one of my friends.

I'm pulling for you, Jimmy. Not because I think you’re very funny, but because I kind of just want to be your friend.

The Oscars

2009-02-28T06:04:00.008-05:00

I realize this is about a week late, but you must know that I love the Oscars. They're my Super Bowl, my World Series, my...I don't know of any other big sports games.

To say I was disappointed with the nominations this year would be an understatement. Here's what I personally think should have been up for Best Picture:

Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon
The Dark Knight
WALL-E
The Wrestler

However, I'm not in charge of the Academy. People who are a lot richer and a lot more Jewish than me are.

Regardless of my disappointment in most of the nominations, I will still say I think it was a great night. I was so glad that an actual feel good movie took home the trophy for the first time in a long time.

I loved the Oscars even more when I woke up the next morning and saw these pictures of the real 'slumdogs' of Mumbai watching the biggest night in Hollywood:

2009-02-27T22:12:00.003-05:00

My friend David showed this to me today. I believe it is pure genius.

The Uncler w/ Uncle Sam and Alyssa Milano from Alyssa Milano

If you need the reference here it is:

2009-02-27T22:00:00.000-05:00

I have a (new) blog.