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Tyler

Where does he get his sense of humor?
My son...makes daddy so proud!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

And since I loooooooooooove boobies... check them!!

Enjoy! (the video!)

The Goldrush Gunslingers Make Television Debut

Our old west entertainment group will be featured on local television this Thursday Aug 19, 2010. The Goldrush Gunslingers will be appearing on "The Early Late Show" with Danny Minch and Mike Wirtz. The show is a kind of "Wayne's World" type of show, produced locally in Fresno. The Slingers are scheduled to be part of the show airing from 6 to 7 PM Pacific time. It's on local digital 33.1 AND also on their website broadcasting to the world at http://www.centralvalleytalk.com/
Make sure you tune in and check us out, you don't wanna miss this show!

Lesson In Life And Death

Staring Tyler and me.

Slightly trimmed to fit on the blog. You can view the full video here. http://www.vimeo.com/13474927

Seemed to get bashed some with comments like ""the acting was stiff" and "the acting could have been better" but what the heck. I don't do it for a living anyway. Please feel free to pile on with your comments if you like.

I supplied all the props and costumes, except the one the young lady wears.

The writer/director hopes to make a feature from this and is writing a script now. I think the story would make a good Hallmark movie, but I think this is as far as I'll be going with it. Hope you enjoyed it.

When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder...and other stuff!

Woke up Friday morning and had one of those nights where I had dreams, but don't really remember them. I do remember dreaming something about Jesus and all day Friday and most of Saturday a song has been rolling thru my head. Now this song is one I guess, I've heard somewhere in the past. The lyrics were not familiar to me but strangely I know them. After having one of my all to regular nights of waking up at about 3:30am and not going back to sleep, I decided to Google the catch phrase that will not leave my mind. Wow! Not only is this really a song, but it's been done by everyone from Johnny Cash to Sinatra (Hank Sinatra that is!)
Is God taking to me? I dunno but if He was, this is the message I would want to hear! In the past I've had dreams where I felt He was, then when I listened, it was for my benefit! Anyway, here is one of the many versions of this, my new favorite Christian song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8n0Cw-j534


Tyler and I are in Winters this weekend filming a western movie called "Lessons in Life and Death" (http://www.facebook.com/lessonsthemovie) and having fun doing it. I play Marshal Tom Colton and Tyler plays Billy Colton. It's a fun little film about having to make decisions on where you take your life. We spent all Sat filming in 98 degree weather and lemme tell you, wearing a vest and coat and hat...it was HOT! We couldn't wait to get to our hotel and shower! Well after hitting the sack, I woke up about 3:30am (we're you paying attention from that part earlier in this post?) and knowing I'm not going back to sleep decided to go on line. Then I got an itch. Scratched it, not thinking much and felt a bump. Looking down at my side I saw a brown, what looked like a mole. Except I don't have a mole there! Went into the bathroom and discovered I had a tick! Lucky for me, he had just decided to rest on me and not bite. So he got a watery sendoff! Wow! the things I go thru for the ARTS! This is a photo of Tyler, me and Travis Herche. Travis plays the bad guy, The Memphis Kid!
Have most of the movie finished, one more 1/2 day of shooting for Tyler and Travis. All I have to do is voice over. After the film is done, it'll be entered in film festivals starting with DVX West-Fest. You can find it on line there starting July 19th!

Time for our continental breakfast! Yummy....sort-of!
Happy Trails, Buckaroos!

Happy Father's Day

Woke up to about 6 text messages from friends and family wishing me a happy daddy day! Nice way to start the day!

Happy Father's Day to all dads, moms that have to be dads too, and all who take the place of a dad in the life of a child!

Back In The Saddle Again

Well back on the ol blog page after a long absence. A few reasons for the time off but to keep it short and sweet, I need to LJHI (for the meaning of that look here) http://jefybal.blogspot.com/2007/02/up-dated-resume.html

So what's been going on with Ye Ol Gopper? Been a roller coaster of a year, some ups some downs but thru it all there has been my family, especially Yvette, supporting me. She is my strength and is starting to make me believe that we will get thru anything together. I love her more all the time.

Been taking my pal Dusty to Hollywood for auditions for both him and me for different things. As of this writing neither has booked anything but we get auditions and that's a good thing. I took Dusty on an audition for a Dickies commercial then a few days later, we went back for a Viagra audition for him. A couple days later he got a call back for the Dickies so I guess the Viarga may have helped with his Dickies!

I thought that was funny anyway!

The Goldrush Gunslingers ( http://www.goldrushgunslingers.com/ ) have been going like gang-busters! So much fun has come from this group and we're busier than a Starbux after a church service! Sadly, we are loosing a couple of members, Wild Bill Hiccup and Miss Kitty, who are moving to another state. They will be coming back for visits and promise to attend some of our big events throughout the year so at least they are not gone for good! They have brought so much fun to the group and it's been really fun to watch Wild Bill come out of his shell some as he has become more comfortable with participating in skits with the group. Miss Kitty and Wild Bill...we will miss you! Thanks for the great times and best of luck in the times ahead!!!

Tyler and I have another film coming up together called "Lessons In Life and Death".

It's a short western where I play U.S. Marshall Tom Colton, and Tyler plays my son Billy Colton. It's going to be entered in a film festival but could use some help from you! Please check out this page! http://www.indiegogo.com/LessonsInLifeAndDeath

This will be the 3rd time Tyler and I have been in a film together and all three playing father and son.

Think I'm getting type-cast!

So that's the last 6 months in a nutshell. I'm going to try harder to update this page more often and would really like to hear from those who read this dribble if you would. And if you can find it in your heart, (and pocket book) to help out with this film we're doing, well you'll be a friend for life!!!

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IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

My top 7 favorite Christmas movies and T.V. show episodes, in no particulate order!

The Lone Ranger: "Christmas Story" December 20, 1956 Episode # 197 The Lone Ranger & Tonto help Robby Talbot (James Baird) cut down a Christmas tree and then begin a search for Robby's gold hunting father, Ben Talbot (Bill Henry), capture a gang of bank robbers and then convince Ben to return to his wife, Mary (Aline Towne), and Robby in time for Christmas. A great Christmas episode which also stars Robert Burton as Josh Hannah and Mary Newton as Martha Hannah. (Hi-Yo Santa! Supporting acting is so bad it's good! It's just a fun watch)

The New Gidget: "A Christmas Curl" December 17, 1987 The Kahuna (Don Stroud) comes to visit and provide his acting skills for Gidget’s Classic Christmas Carol performance. Well, Gidget, who's the director, gets everyone stressed out and experiences her own ‘classic’ Christmas Carol with all 3 Christmas spirits to set her right. (I always felt this was a great series with some fun stories. I soooo miss the 80's! COWABUNGA dude!)

A Charlie Brown Christmas: December 9, 1965 "MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN!" (who can resist a round headed kid!)

A Very Brady Christmas: December 18, 1988 Almost 20 years after the start of the original "Brady Bunch", the kids are grown up and have kids of their own. Everyone is having a wonderful time back at the family house for Christmas, until Mike learns of a structural problem in one of the buildings he designed. As he is inspecting the problem, the building collapses, trapping him inside. As the whole family waits by the pile of rubble, they fear the worst. Will Dad be all right? (stupid movie, I still cry at the end!)

Ebenezer: November 25, 1998 A Wild West retelling of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol," with Scrooge (Jack Palance) as a land baron, gunfighter, and card cheat who is visited by three spirits who attempt to teach him the true meaning of Christmas (cool, with Jack Palance? Believe it or not!)

A Christmas Story: November 18, 1983 It's Christmas time and there's only one thing on Ralphie Parker's Christmas list this year: a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-Shot, Range Model Air Rifle, but many obstacles stand in the way of his dream because every adult that he confronts keeps telling him he'll shoot his eye out. Meanwhile The Old Man just got a major award and Mom is making sure The Old Man doesn't come near her turkey, Ralphie's friend gets his tongue stuck to a flag pole, and Ralphie utters a four letter word in front of his father. Christmas is drawing nearer and Ralphie visits Santa at the department store in hopes of asking him for his dream gift. Will he receive it? Let's hope so. (You'll shoot your eye out, kid!)

It's a Wonderful Life: January 7, 1947 On the Christmas Eve of Bedford Falls, the guardian angel Clarence is assigned to convince the desperate George Bailey to not commit suicide. George is a good man, that sacrificed his dreams and his youth on behalf of the citizens of his small town. He inherited the loan business of his father and he gave up traveling the world and joining University as scheduled. Later he resisted the proposals of the evil banker Mr. Potter, and never sold his business to protect the poor community of Bedford Falls and offer a means to afford to buy their own house. He married his beloved Mary Hatch Bailey and had four children with her and a tough life with his family. When his uncle Billy loses US$ 8,000.00, found and stolen by Mr. Potter, George decides to commit suicide, since he believes he worth more dead than alive. When Clarence sees that he is not able to persuade George to give up his intention, he decides to show the life in town if George had never existed. George concludes that life is wonderful. (fun note, watch for Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer as Freddy. Such a sad life)

And there are more! Of course I love to watch just about all the "Christmas Carol" movies and all the "Santa Clause" movies altho I think they get worse as they go.

So, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!'

Back On

Things have been strange for me this past month. I Haven't had much desire to post but maybe it's time to update this thing.

Our music video is out and on youtube! My son Tyler and me play ...father and son!
Here's the link http://lnk.ms/4gK1MMood:
The song is Obfuscation by Between the Buried and Me.
Kinda hoping my bestest pal Mike will do a review on the song.....cuz this old dude don't understand any of it!!!LOL!

Took my pal Dusty for a audition for a Sprint commercial a couple of weeks ago and had an interesting day.
High light...I met his agent, and after talking with her a bit she asked to represent me! Cool! Now I have a real Hollywood agent!
Low light...on the way home we hit the 5 O'clock traffic and we were going no where when Dusty said "Don't we qualify for the car pool lane?" "Yes we do" was my answer and at first opening I shot right over......crossing a double yellow line.......with a CHP six cars in front of me......who just happened to be looking in his rear view mirror. $350.00 fine for that! So if your interested in contributing to the "Keep Slone Outta Jail" fund, I accept paypal! (Only half kidding on that!!)

Anyway, I'll have a few more videos this month to post. Another with Tyler that we shot in the Bay Area in Oct. and the Zombie one should be here any day and keep checking back for the Slone Players annual Christmas extravaganza exclusively on this blog!

Obfuscation

Obfuscation is the concealment of intended meaning in communication, making communication confusing, intentionally ambiguous, and more difficult to interpret.

My son Tyler and I returned home late Sunday (ok it was like 2:30am Monday morning) from L.A. where we were filming a music video. The song is called "Obfuscation" by a band called "Between the Buried and Me" It's a acid-metal-band and being an old guy, I can't understand any of the words.

Tyler and I play father and son in a 1950's sci-fi short movie thing that goes with the song. Kinda like "Thriller" was for some guy whose name escapes me at the moment. We had a blast and worked between 10 and 14 hour days shooting this thing but Tyler was great! (OK I thought I was good too but nobody notices the dad in these things!)

So here are some pics along with a couple from "Karmic Currency" the short movie we did in the Bay Area the week before.

Tyler and a Alien

So that's how he moved so smooth! about 12' tall!

The evil magician

Dad with his 55 Bel Aire! Awesome ride! Got to drive it for about an hour! Notice the slick hair and lack for hair under my lip???

My son, the star!!

Dad almost showing off his goodies!

Arts Council of Kern presents: Zombie High

October 22, 2009
7:00 PM
Think “Thriller” meets “Breakfast Club.” This new short feature film from participants of the Kern Film Workshop is filled with great camp moments, lots of laughs and LOTS of zombies! Filmed around Bakersfield, you’ll recognize many local landmarks and local actors. The Kern Film Workshop is a collaborative effort between the Arts Council of Kern, the Kern Regional Center, and Joey Travolta’s Inclusion Films. The workshop provides vocational training and enterprise development to film makers with developmental disabilities. The world premiere of Zombie High promises to be an entertaining evening. Support a great community effort and independent movie making at its best! Come meet the team who made it all happen: the filmmakers, the workshop leaders, and the actors (see if you can recognize them non-zombied). Doors open at 6:00PM.

The Seven Year Plan

In the Spring of 1981, I got a call from my pal Yez. It was a warm afternoon when he told me I needed to come over and check out this cute girl that was there. I asked who she was and he told me she was a friend of his sister. I said "your sister is only 13 years old!" He told me just come over and check her out! So I did. I remember the first time I saw her. I couldn't take my eyes off her! She was beautiful! I remember talking to her trying to act cool. That first encounter lasted only about an hour, but it was a day that changed my life.

Over the next 28 years, we had a boat load of ups and downs. We spent most of the first 20 years playing games with each other, neither of us knowing how the other "really" felt. Over those years she married another, as did I. Over those years she had children, I had children. She was never far from my thoughts, this girl with the beautiful smile. I had never felt with anyone one else, what I had felt with her from the first time I saw her. She was special. We connected, this 19 year old guy and this fresh faced 13 year old girl. I remember our first kiss. I cupped her face, looked into her eyes, and felt her lips against mine.

I remember not looking at her, scared she would make me cry. Wondering if she would even be there, or would she hurt me like I had been hurt so many times before. I remember taking her hand, telling her how I felt. I remember gazing into the eyes of the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I cupped her face, looked deep into her eyes, and felt her lips against mine. I felt such relief as I heard "I now pronounce you, husband and wife"

Seven years ago, my life took it's best turn when Yvette Dawn Cessna became my wife. Our life has not been smooth, but with her I can get past anything.

Happy anniversary Yvette, thank you for making my life such a great adventure!

I LOVE YOU!

VICTORY

Saturday, our group the Goldrush Gunslingers, entered our first parade. We walked away winning both our division and the best of parade, the sweepstakes trophy! Not bad for our first attempt!

We had everyone there except Shane and Dusty, who unfortunately had to work. That's ok tho, they can enjoy the next parade in a few weeks and hopefully enjoy another victory!

RETURN OF THE HORSE NAMED SUZIE

I'd like to start this post by saying thank you for the support my son, wife and I have received from many of you during a very difficult time. I thought of posting about it and maybe someday I will, but for now it's a subject I'd like to put behind us. Just a big thank you and on with life.

Tomorrow, I will be reunited with the equine love of my life, Suzie-Slow-Poke! It was a year ago that I donated her to Wonder Valley so she could be used for kids with special needs, girl scouts, etc. She has done very well giving out her special love to so many people, but now we get to be together if only for 5 days.

In July, I auditioned for a western movie being shot in Gold Country. I landed a part and my character, Bert Wheeler, has a scene where he leaps on a trusty steed and bolts off to fetch the doc. When I read that I thought, "I so wish I could use Suzie for this". So I thought whats the worst they could say? After all I was told I could come ride her if I wanted! So I called, and after two weeks I got a call back. It was Sat. afternoon when Cheyanne brought me the phone. It was Taffy at Wonder Valley. I asked, she said it wouldn't be a problem! WHOOOOOO-HOOOOOOO!! I cleared it with the director, who thought it would be good because Suzie and I are familiar with each other, and tomorrow I pick up Suzie! It's gonna be so great! We'll be camping and I should have a couple of days where her and I get to just ride around and explore the area because 1/2 of my stuff is a night shot.

I really think it will also work as a closure for me with her. When I donated her last year, it seemed to happen so fast. Made a call, seems like the next day Taffy was there and Suzie and Dolly were gone. I had a rough time watching her leave, but now I feel I'll be able to let her go when I take her back on Thurs.

But until then...it'll be...A fiery horse with the speed of sound, a cloud of dirt, and a hearty

HI-YO STEARLING... OUTA HERE!!!!

A few months back, the Gunslingers were asked if we would appear at a birthday party for a little boy. I thought "sure" and checked with other members of our group. Nobody had any objections so off we went.We did receive some razing from other people..."doing birthday party's for kids??" but we had a good time and besides there was FREE CAKE!! Can't pass up that! Last week I received this message on my blog.

"I'm the mom of that young birthday boy! We loved you guys, and so did everyone else. Months later people are still talking about it. It was actually Brent's 4th birthday and all he can talk about is "inviting the Gunslingers to his 5th birthday party!" You made quite positive impression on a whole lot of little ones. Thanks again!"

That party was six months ago and we seemed to have made a lasting impression. I remember the look in Brent's eyes when we arrived, the smiles and laughs on the faces of his friends and family.

That's why the Goldrush Gunslingers do what we do.

We do it so that boy or girl or man or woman, will have a memory that will last years.

We do it to see the joy in the face of that "tough" kid in the baggy pants and the baseball cap on sideways as he lets his guard down for that split second and smiles as the cowboy trades hats with him, or the floozy flirts with him just a little.

We do it for that elderly person who remembers the names Roy, Gene, and Hoppy and knows who they were and what they stood for.

We do it for that person, young or old, who goes away from one of our shows and wants to know more about what they saw and heard regarding the Mussel Slough Tragedy or The Black Kid Hold-Up and decides to research it.

And we do it for kids like Brent, who just plain love cowboys. Cuz ya know what Brent? So do we!

FLASH-Zombie Update!

Received an e-mail, Zombie High will be having it's premier around Halloween. Mike, I'll be burning you a copy and sending it as soon as I get mine! Consider it a late birthday/early Christmas present! Or if my acting sucks, consider it a early April Fools gift!

In other acting news, I received an invitation to audition for a full-length western to be filmed just above my beloved Columbia Ca. Audition is this Saturday.

Wish me luck!