FGHMovieBlog

Failure

2009-06-26T08:24:00.001-07:00

Failure sucks. I have failed this movie. I failed the animals. I failed the actors and everyone who has helped on this film. I cannot finish this film without help. And I have failed at mustering up the help. Sorry.

Digitizing The Movie

2009-05-26T07:51:00.000-07:00

Hoping to find some summer help to digitize the movie.

Facebook

2009-05-08T04:36:00.001-07:00

Judy Crozier's Profile

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Need digitizing help

2009-04-29T08:51:00.001-07:00

Anyone in Long Beach, near Ocean Blvd who wants to help digitize a feature film? I need some help. Will train on Final Cut Pro.
Contact me at
freetoagoodhome@aol.com

ABC Nightline on Puppy Mills TONIGHT

2009-03-27T08:42:00.001-07:00

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=6307869&page=1

ABC Nightline investigates puppy mills - tonight Friday at 11:35 pm (Eastern Standard Time) or earlier in other parts of the country. Set your DVR or VCR's. Please take the time to forward this to all the rescues, shelters, and legislators in your area.

Beth
DogSTARspace.com

Visit www.DogStarSpace.com at: http://www.dogstarspace.com

Birthday Wish

2009-03-11T02:54:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for your Birthday Wishes...

Here is my Birthday Wish...

Please help me finish this film.
Send this trailer link to a few friends...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0CXnDrXqEI

donate time or equipment or pay for an editor for a day.

Click here to find out more about donating.
http://fghmovie.com/donate.html
http://fghmovie.com/donate.html (this one is for copying and pasting)

need I say more?

2009-02-19T16:08:00.001-08:00

Wyoming.

is this your dog?

2009-01-31T22:03:00.000-08:00

I was leaving the campus (I teach at Compton College). And I saw this poor little thing. What struck me was the collar, that looked like it was thrown off. And I wondered why I have seen so many dead or stray dogs recently. They seem to come out in droves when I want to quit.

Fire Anniversary

2008-12-08T18:25:00.000-08:00

December 8, 2008 the anniversary of the fire.

In memory of:

Bambi (my favorite - she died Dec 11th - three days after the fire... when VCA animal hospital, the SHITTIEST vet on the planet KILLED her by withholding medication twice and not doing any xrays and when she arrested they did not even attempt to resuscitate her.)

Sneakers - the oldest I think she was about 8... I had her since the day she was born. Born to my friends dog... I cared for the whole litter... and gave them away FREE to a Good Home... which is why I named the film FREE to a Good Home... because at 20 something in Wyoming I had no idea what kind of pet overpopulation problem we had...

Monster - aka Puff Monster aka Puffy... named by my niece who could not say Puppy ... He is the main reason I made the film... because I found him my first year attending USC. He was on the corner of the school.... I scooped him up... and fell into the world of animal rescue in Los Angeles...

Lilly Munster - Puffy's Wife - she came up to my place a couple of weeks before the fire... she was looking to be rescued... only to die there... no rescue for Lilly... she had a couple of weeks of a warm bed and good food..... and a small part in the movie... playing Monsters double... Monster kept trying to kill all my actors... um he had an eye especially on Katie... and so Lilly found us... and we thought it was a miracle to film the capture of her... for Monster... she (unlike Monster) had a amazing underbite... she was very cute and the Monday after the fire she was scheduled to be fixed. I was still integrating her into the pack.

Thelma-Louise the only cat...the window was open and Shane jumped out... and Thelma was the one who was always opening that window... so not sure what happened. She probably was overcome with smoke. I found her the litter in the backyard of my friend David. Got the rest of the litter homes.

And Shane - died in January 2007
She died because I brought home a rescue dog that broke out of a crate and killed her.

She was the only one who survived the fire...

Sorry guys... I was supposed to rescue you...

...

quit or go on

2008-11-20T23:36:00.000-08:00

I want to keep going because of the actors hard work and the animals who lost their lives...

but really think maybe I'm beating a dead horse.

Finishing the FILM - HELP!

2008-10-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

I am currently fund-raising to complete the film.
We have an editor on board who just needs a small stipend for her weeks of work.

If you can donate please do so.
ALL those who have donated will be invited to a private screening.

There are PayPal donation buttons on our donation page,
you can see the days and items we are still trying to raise money for.

Other items we need $120 for graphics card
$250 for postcards
$250 for screening room

http://fghmovie.com/donate.html

Or PAY the editor directly.
Make a check out to the editor
and mail to us at:

FREE to a Good Home MOVIE
PO Box 101
Venice, CA 90294

http://ariflowerimages.com/

Very Sad News

2008-09-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

I am very sad to report that Alfred the parvo pup died during the night.

We tried our best but the virus took over.

Thank you all for helping to try to save this one.

Judy and Danielle

Tuesday AM Update

2008-09-16T09:10:00.001-07:00

He made it through the night.
The vet will be in and re-evaluate it by 10AM.
He is not hanging his head as low as he was yesterday.

That's all I have for now.

Here is how we stand on the math...

We have Todays treatment cost covered. Thank you ALL very much!
We are raising Wednesday's - we need $143.57
And we need Thursday's inpatient treatment of $200.

Just so you all know... the reason I am working so hard to
help Danielle with this Parvo pup is because she spent
$200 of her rent money to cover the Parvo treatments on the
girls... and she is tapped out.

And most of us have been there... pay my bills or save this animals
life... and I wish it wasn't like that... but until the world gets the
message that we are severely overpopulated with animals...
I do not see it stopping (or even slowing down) any time soon...

Okay I will step down from my soapbox.

Monday Night Update - guarded

2008-09-15T22:07:00.000-07:00

Just got off the phone with the vet...

Prognosis is guarded to poor... need prayers... (or whatever you choose to do). Extreme blood, and drooling, throwing up... it is pretty bad. Although the vet said he has seen others pull through that were this bad or worse... it is going to be rough going though.

He said the pup if he makes it through each night will have to be in the hospital until at least Thursday. He is continuous IV's and treatments throughout the day.

Thanks so very much everyone... for your financial assistance and your prayers.

Monday Night UPDATE not good

2008-09-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

Alfred the surviving puppy is not doing so well, said the doctor just moments ago. We MUST pay for todays treatments before 9:30PM TONIGHT.

I need $167.72 TONIGHT...

Thank you!

Monday Afternoon UPDATE

2008-09-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

Well, Alfred is still hanging in there. They say he has a 50/50 chance. They also said they will know more in the morning. But my favorite vet is checking on him tonight. So I will report back then.

We are still down $200 for today...
Please use the link below (in this mornings post)
to donate.

Thanks

Monday Noon Update - Bad News URGENT

2008-09-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

The vet said we have to leave the pup at the vets for treatment. That with the blood and the amount of blood and various other reasons the vet suggested that it would be best to leave the pup and have CONTINUOUS IV FLUIDS and MEDS flowing into him. (Because he is not improving and still DECLINING they want to keep him at the vets.)

So the pup is at the vets getting treatment. The vet said this would most likely have to be for the next two days - if the pup makes it.

HELP.... we need to raise the $200 a day for inpatient vet care.
PLEASE use this link to donate via ChipIn and PayPal
or to download our fax form to send your CC directly to the vet.

http://www.fghmovie.com/rescued.html

Thank you!

Here is the cost breakdown and what we still need to raise.

Saturdays treatment 125
Sundays treatment 125
Mondays treatment 200
Tuesdays treatment 200
TOTAL $650

so far we have raised

$207.26

Which means we need to raise TODAY

$442.74

I absolutely need to have TODAY $242.74

(Keep in mind that PayPal takes out about 4%)

I need to keep this relationship with this vet in good standing... I put my name on this pup for Danielle so we could get them treatments... but I cannot afford this bill...

This vet has already shut down working with rescue groups because of unpaid bills...

Thank you for anything you can do!

Monday Update

2008-09-15T07:52:00.000-07:00

Finally this survivor has a name.... We are calling him Alfred. Alfred made it through another night. A lot of blood in his stool. And this morning he threw up a pile of worms. So we are rushing him to the vets (well as soon as they open) for not only his PARVO treatment but for deworming too.

We have only have $25 pledged toward todays treatment. We need $100 more for the PARVO treatment and approximately
$30 for the deworming.

To donate via PayPal please use the ChipIn below or on this rescue page of my website
http://www.fghmovie.com/rescued.html
There is also a FORM on that webpage to FAX your CC into the vet directly.

WE MUST receive donations BEFORE 11AM.

Thank you thank you!!!
A pic of Alfred taken just minutes ago. Tired and not feeling well, but holding his own!

Survivor - Holding His Own

2008-09-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

The only surviving puppy is still holding his own. Bloody stools, and still throwing up a little, but he is holding is own. He seems to be strong.

Thanks to a very special person we received the pledge to get the puppy treatment for Saturday and Sunday.

We are now raising the $125 for Monday's Treatment.

Please help if you can. The ChipIn PayPal tote board is below in my first post about the puppies.

Here is today's pic.

SAD NEWS

2008-09-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

The Two girl puppies did not live through the night. The first one, the sickest died at around 2 AM the other died shortly thereafter. The third a boy pup pictured here is in for treatment as I type this.

We need to raise for him 125 a day for 6 days.

We also need to raise at least $30 for cremation of the two pups.

The chipin PAYPAL link is below to donate.

I will have to change the total amount later as I have to run out to class.

3 Choc Lab Pit Pups with PARVO need HELP!!!

2008-09-12T22:10:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday September 10th 2008:
A homeless man came by Danielle's house with three puppies. The man said, 'I know you can do right by these pups' as he has seen Danielle with her 6 rescued pits because she lives in a house on a corner in Wilmington. One was not as active as the other two. Today the two girls tested positive for PARVO.

We need donations! Please!

The cost is estimated over $2000 for 6 days of treatment (remember thats a treatment - times 3!)

This is Danielle's 2 yr old daughter with some of the rescued pits.

Happy Ending for Vanessa Diesel!

2008-08-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

Vanessa (now named Cleo) was adopted this past weekend. She has two canine siblings and two human siblings and a mom and a dad. Here are some pics with Vanessa and her new family.

This is all thanks to the animal rescue community in Los Angeles and nationwide!

Great News about FGH moving along! Finally

2008-08-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

I guess you really have to hit bottom to dig your way back out. (If you read my previous post you will know what I am talking about).

Late last week, I finally decided to do a Vision Board... I had been wanting to do one for a long time now. For years I had a bulletin board where I would make little collages from images and text. But when I moved to LA my places have been so small there was no room. In my last place I made collages on just regular paper... but have been wanting to do a mammoth vision board. I completely believe that what you put out there comes to fruition. Mediation fueled by action equals results. So for the last year I have been collecting magazines (okay stealing them from doctors offices and - well vet offices) then this last week I finally started cutting out text and graphics... I even photoshopped a little here and there. And I also printed some images from the net, if I could not find or create what I wanted.

Then Sunday... when I was having a particularly bad day because a friend was giving me the cold shoulder aka the silent treatment... again... I decided to turn it around... and I started cutting out the images and laying them out.

The largest segment was, of course, the film. And when later that day I was finally putting smaller panels of what I had completed , it was one large collage, I received a phone call from Ariana. She helped me a few years ago when we were looping. One of my lead actors moved to Taos, New Mexico and Ariana helped us loop her lines for the film. She did a fabulous job... and Sunday Ariana decided to check up on the films progress. When she saw I was still struggling to finish, she called me and offered to help. Slicing her fees and doing some work deferred. (WOW this vision board stuff really works!)

We talked for a while... not just about the film... it is clear to see she is one cool cat!

Now all we need to do is to fly her here or fly me and the project there (she is in Northern California). And waalaa... we have an editor!

http://ariflowerimages.com/

To see Ariana click here and click on the filmmaker link http://www.ismschism.com/

Of course there is always a catch... since I have been out of work since May, I cannot afford to do flying in either direction... therefore we will again miss the deadline for Sundance. But you never know... miracles do happen.

When I started this project, I just began shooting and hoped everything would fall into place. I received the location of the old Long Beach Animal Shelter to film on - and went to Wyoming to open the film...

Here is a quote that is on my Vision Board

"In fact, the ability to start out upon your own impulse is fundamental to the gift of keeping going upon your own terms, not to mention the further and more fulfilling gift of getting started all over again never resting upon ones oars of success or in the doldrums of disappointment... getting started, keeping going, getting started again-- in art and in life, it seems to me this is the essential rhythm..." Seamus Heaney.

I am very passionate about everything I do and touch. About living life. When I set out in life embarking upon adulthood (have been thinking about all this lately because of my ever silent friend who is a blast from the past) I wanted to experience life to the fullest. I did not want to just travel some place I wanted to live it and experience it and learn the local culture. America is so rich and diverse and from growing up in conservative Cleveland suburbs I knew that there was so much more out there - that people would form their opinions but I wanted to decide for myself - I wanted to LIVE and EXPERIENCE what this world and AMERICA has to offer --. I have lived in New York City, Wyoming, Colorado, San Diego, Los Angeles and been in every state in America (except Hawaii) and I have camped on the Arctic Circle in Alaska having driven to Alaska from Wyoming alone (albeit with my dog and my cat)... I almost died from hypothermia in the Adirondacks on a backpacking trip when it snowed 8 inches... I wanted to feel everything passionately from pain and sorrow to overwhelming joy.

Here is another good quote I just heard today...

Moderation in all things is a mantra we've been hearing a lot about of late. It is healthy. It is sane. It is morally correct. It is also very boring.

I much prefer people with passions. There is nothing more exciting than watching someone fall so deeply in love- with a food, an object, a way of life- that they throw caution to the wind and follow their heart. Although they may not be entirely reasonable, I find that people who allow themselves obsessions are much more interesting than those who don't.
Ruth Reich

I'll take passion over moderation any day. Oh how much more interesting it truly is!

FGHMovie - post

2008-08-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

Since this is a blog that is supposed to be about the movie... here is some movie news... or not so news - news...

I showed part of the movie to my students (I have been teaching lately) and the first day I screened the first part of the movie. Their reaction was good for the movie and for the topic. But that is not why I am writing todays blog. The very first scene that has my dogs in it is unfortunately and possibly ironically the very last footage of one of them alive. As we went out and shot it the night before the fire happened. So that first scene is the last. And it is really hard... for me to watch that scene. That is why when I try to open the movie to edit it, I can't get very far, that shot is within the first ten minutes of the film. Just a nightmare for me to watch.

Although when I watch the film I see all the editing that needs to be done. And someone suggested that I break it back down into parts, scenes... that is how I started editing when we began the film. And that feels do-able. Although I have not been able to get into the film to break it up. Just is overwhelming. I have been taking jobs that would allow me to edit in the morning. And my schedule in September will allow for that. If I could only get out of my own way. The only thing that is stopping me is me. Totally feels like I am letting them down.

Then the scene after that scene is when Tala arrives in LA and takes a place at the trailer park. The dog she is walking with in the Trailer Park is not Sneakers pictured here. It was a stand-in because Sneakers was gone. And so it goes.

2008-08-16T00:24:00.000-07:00

This is Jewel.

She needs Boot Camp Rehab. She was shot by police and tasered. She was starved at the shelter. She was not fed and man-handled by shelter staff. She was not given meds for her wounds. 18 days later she was emaciated and pulled minutes before euthanasia. She has finally come around to trust some humans, but she needs more help. She needs professional help. You can donate toward her rehab by going to www.ruffdiamonds.petfinder.com