The Fabulous Adventures of The Crazy Slovenians

We are ALIVE!!!

2009-02-25T11:27:00.000-08:00

Yes yes yes. A lot has happened since we checked in. I guess Facebook effectively took over our lives... Oh, well not our lives, more this blog's life. However, we are not letting it die. We shall continue to check in and tell the story of our lives, even if there is nothing to say, even then we will turn in just out of spite and say - hey we are still ALIVE!!! This being said - we do say that if you wish to see our day to day operations then find us on Facebook and click away...

So, this is what happened in the last few weeks/moths: we survived the new year's celebaration/parties that come with it. We managed to keep our weight at the same level which is amazing, given the amount of food and booze we sometimes consumed. We also used a whole year worth of supply of shaving cream in a matter of 55 minutes just after X-mas at the so called Annual Bled Party!

And then there was the infamous karaoke night...

Afterward, we were busy with wedding prep 3 moths ahead of the joyful and amazing event that is set to take place in Umag on April 4th this year.

Upon return to Los Angeles we were knees deep in our work/school/LA life until I landed in the hospital after only five days. Actually I was rushed to the ER and then stayed in the hospital for five days. Let me say this - it wasn't like ER the TV show at all. No sense of urgency. I was lying on the bed screaming in pain and they took their sweet time to fill me with pain killers/narcotics... After I received the desired amount of narcotics everything seemed amazing. Vesna was worried sick about what will happen next. Meanwhile I was having a blast. No pain, just funny tickling feeling of bliss... Doctors came to conclusion: your gall bladder threw one of the gall bladder stones out. That stone then effectively blocked the pancreas which then rebelled and almost annihilated itself... Apparently the levels of enzymes and other zymes were thousand times higher than they should have been. In other words - it was serious, so they kept me in. They also kept me on narcotics. That means I was staring at the beige wall at all times. Oh and I was having a blast staring at the wall. It seemed so much fun. Meanwhile, poor Vesna worried her cute ass off. After a few days they took out my gall bladder and I was released. It wasn't until about a week after that they told me that I was but a few days away from dying... Go figure.

I am fine now. Vesna is great now. We are both amazing now.

Now to the more fun and joyous news: Vesna landed a job at a Celebration Theater. A world premiere play The Prodigal Father. She has rehearsals four times a week (for six hours straight). In West Hollywood. They open the day we leave to get married.

I am currently writing a TV pilot... More about that later. And of course finishing things on my AFI thesis film Slings And Arrows.

Tachka is still wonderful... As always.

Uh, and lastly... we are attending dance classes! What fun! What love!

Happy Happy greet to everybody

2008-12-23T17:08:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Umag Forever 2009

2008-08-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

Vesna and Danijel absolutely enjoyed visiting 'such great heights' as Silba, Ljubljana, Los Angeles, Ventura, Joushua Tree, Korcula, Bled, Marina Del Rey, Tijuana, Pasman, Santa monica, Las Vegas, Yosemite, San Francisco, and of course UMAG! And now the journey is about to become even more interesting, fun, exciting, romantic, crazy, and insane! As always, the traveling arrangements are provided by the fabulous Postal Service.
Join us all in Umag! In 2009!
Happy times!

The Most Massive Woman Wins

2008-06-16T19:37:00.000-07:00

Yeaaaah! We did it and it was incredible! The Most Massive Woman Wins brought to life... immortalized!

If only we could bring them back - to get lost in their stories, to get carried away by their heart 's desires,...to linger in the shadows of their truths.... just once more
... but their presence will shimmer under our skin ... Massive Women forever!

Rachel, Jeena, Jenny and Michelle - thank you for the inspiration my adorable Bundle!
Much Love,
Vesna

The Most Massive Woman Wins

2008-05-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Vesna! With her new show - The Most Massive Woman Wins! It appears to be pure gold! You are all invited to come and see Vesna's latest masterpiece! It will take place in a Studio Stage at Santa Monica College. Dates: June 6th & 7th at 7.30pm, June 8th at 1.30pm.

See you there!!!

Coal 4 Cole short film/spec shoot

2008-05-31T12:29:00.000-07:00

Coal For Cole

Finally a project that is not related to AFI (this statement is not meant to belittle my AFI experience - however, it does feel great to produce something non-AFI related again). Coal 4 Cole is a funny little film that has a potential of being not only an amusing short film but also a hilarious commercial for... well COAL!

Snow in Los Angeles?! In the middle of May?! So surreal... You know...

Roll camera...

Last looks...

This is a stick up!!! Give up your bag of toys! Or else....

Guess who is getting coal next christmas?

Anyways the shoot was fun and at times stressful as well as hilarious. It was shot on 16mm. I love film... I love producing... Good times!

Santa Claus exists!!! Cager & myself posing with the one and only: Santa Claus!

Save the Rainforest!

2008-05-31T12:27:00.000-07:00

Morro Bay Adventure 08

2008-05-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

The beautiful month named May was opened with a wonderful trip to the one and only, at times amazing, at times quite weird, Morro Bay. Magnificent Harris' invited us to camp with them to which we responded: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

We left early in the morning, stopped at Peets to get some incredible coffee for the road and of course the delicious Artichoke bread, and then we were on the way to this interesting place in the central California with quite a weird history. The drive was interesting due to the fact that the 101 was literally swampped by BMWs. There were hundreds of them. Some of them showed off the strength and the raw power of their modern day carriages that resulted in a speeding ticket from California's finest highway patrol...

'Pull over!'
' Thanx! Killer boots man!'

Morro Bay is a place that is absolutely great for camping, hiking, canoeing, partying, grilling, and of course a great place to freeze to death at night...

The happy family

As soon as we got there we set up the tent among a gazillion tents of our friends who all came to experience Morrro Bay. It is one of the most enjoying experiences watching how other people pitch their tents, how they struggle with instructions, the arguments, the confusion, the desperation... oh what fun! I know I know, I will probably go to tent hell...

Tent city

Once the tents were up our small 'family' explored the surroundings. Simply wonderful!

Love is in the air...

Furious Tachka the Explorer

The two precious beauties

Fly fly fly little bird... Who's the white dude?

Upon return we were absolutely flabbergasted by the fact that there was an actual cow and cow milking going on on the campgrounds. We quickly raced there...

I wonder if this cow emits any environmentally unfriendly gases...

After getting over the shock of seeing the cow like that for the first time - we blame the nearby nuclear plant for it - we returned to our tent city and had some snacks mixed with couple of bottles of the finest brews available - we had quite a selection. Perhaps the most exotic and quite nauseating - Clam beer! Yes yes - it is exactly what you thing it is - it's beer that tastes like clams... Clams!!!

Clamato beer

After initial shock of seeing and smelling the Clamato beer we continued on our spiritual (all of the drinks were baptised with lots of love) journey. We went for a long hike through the marches of Morro Bay. Now the thing that really surprised us was that they were covered with lots and lots of white ribbon like material. Where did it come from? Does it have anything to do with a nearby nuclear plant? Who killed JR? Did the aliens abduct Elvis? None of these interesting questions were never answered. So we still keep wondering and wondering...

Vesna wondering about Elvis

Tachka and Flash looking for Elvis

Wonderful sunset...

Ze Marshmallow Man

Upon return the party began - as well as the incredible cold! Danijel managed to stay up all the way until 10pm. What a party animal... As the moring came - it sure was cold... We had a mean breakfast and slowly we had to leave a small paradise called Morro Bay. It was absolutely excellent.

Tachka - warm in comfy in the deep depths of the sleeping bag

Cleaning of the remains of a cat that crawled into our mouths and died

The Harris family sans Maya avec Eddie

So the trip was quite excellent and might great if I might say. Thank you Harris family for such an excellent weekend!

If you wish to see more - just click here. C'mon you know you want to!

Pismo Beach conquered!

2008-04-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

We did it! We finally took a weekend off! Turned off the cell phones! Turned off Los Angeles! Turned off AFI! Turned off SMC! Turned ON life!
We drove to the Pismo Beach! What an amazing place. The tranquility mixed with the excitement of life. We enjoyed in nothingness... Oh how truly wonderful it was. We shall return some more. And stay longer! Always! Forever!

Truly amazing Pismo Beach

Two lovely ladies

It's a beautiful day...

Gorgeous Vesna

Pismo beach fun I.

Magnificent Shell Beach

Shell Beach Dano

Better one bird in a palm than two birds on a lawn... Err... Nevermind. They were seriously serious about being the birds

Tachka harrased!

Tachka almost asleep

THE FEAST!

The feast for the gods! Cracked crab is one awesome fresh seafood restaurant! Food was amazing. And they bring it in buckets! And just dump it onto the table. Afterwards - the fun, the feast begins!

Cracked crab - and of course Vesna's vicious attack!

Vesna in her element

They just dumped them on the table! Crabs! Tons of them! Very delicious!

Dano and of course - coffee! Plus desert!

Lovely Vesna

Dano, Tachka and of course - more coffee!!!

Tachka finally getting sonme much needed ZZZZZZs

BACK TO THE BEACH!

Orange & Peacock

Pismo Beach fun & joy II.

Vesna enjoying the beach

Endless sand (and an occasional rock that one can easily loose a toe on...)

Magnificent sunset

Pismo beach was reached and conquered! Until next time! We bid you - adieu!

Abbot Kinney & Venice

2008-04-28T12:24:00.000-07:00

It was such a magnificent day. So we decided to go for a short bike ride and apartment watching through Venice. We explored Abbot Kinney street. And of course - we had to stop for a cup of coffee...

The heart of Venice (inland Venice at least)

Tachka and Vesna enjoy coffee and water...

Palm Desert & 35th Anniversary

2008-04-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

Palm desert was taken over by four Slovenians for a few days... My parents celebrated 35th wedding anniversary - so Vesna and moi surprised them with a trip to Palm Desert - Golfers heaven as well as fun resort! I think they deserved it since not only they managed to happily enjoy each other for 35 years - they also had to endure the chaos and the mayhem of Danijel Sraka for 32 years too. I trust me - by the stories and memories my parents like to share so often - I was quite a workload, not to mention pain in the behind... Well - here is to you mom and dad - to the most wonderful parents one could ever dream to have! Happy anniversary!

Meet my wonderful dad Zlatko and my beautiful mom Vera

The Japanese grill was an excellent choice... The chef is employing his finest skills to dedicate the whole dinner to the couple of the hour

Here's to eternal love...

The happy couple!

The happy bunch!

From the bottom of our hearts - Dad, Mom - Happy anniversary!!!

Joshua Trippin' III.

2008-04-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

The wind was blowing with such might that it almost ran us off the road. Sand was everywhere, devouring the road as well as the sky. Visibility was close to none. Our Scion XB A.K.A. GROM (Thunder) was wrapped in a yellow fury as it inched its way to our destination. JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK! We didn't give up! And we were richly rewarded by the beauty unmatched in the universe (except for my favourite Orange, my precious, my beautiful Vesna)...

Nature's fury just began...

Scion XB a.k.a. GROM (Thunder) edured it all...

Joshua rocks!!!

My dad and my lovely mom loved it

Zzzzeee beauty ces't unmatched!

Zeee joshua tree...

Top of the world (or at least the rock) I.

Top of the rock II.

We are not going to be able to hold this for too long... Send reinforcements!

Susek and Susika! Enjoying beauty and of course each other!

What a glorious bunch!

Princess VICTORIOUS!

Santa Monica Mountains with Tachka

2008-04-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

Finally some time for ourselves!!! We went to the Santa Monica Mountains over the weekend. With Tachka. No AFI! No SMC! Just the three of us! And it was awesomeeeeeeee! And fun! And of course - pure joy!
Tachka loved it too...

PS. This wonderful weekend took place in the mid March. Of course - as always - do take time to scold us...

Love is in the air...

Tachka the explorer!

Two of the cutest beings in the universe..

After a long and hard hike - we have reached the top!

Cuties - part 2

Before sun got the best of me and turned my head into a violently purple eggplant (Yes yes, sun loves to burn my skin) - we slowly descended...

Love is in the air - part 3452679088997168998

AFI Cycle shoot: Comb A.K.A. NADIE short film shoot

2008-04-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

What an incredible shoot! What an incredible group of people! What an incredible experience! Cycle 2 project Nadie that I had an honor to produce was simply AMAZING! Great team, great talent, great group of people! Fun shoot! Despite being hacked to pieces by some... I'd do it again whenever, always!

Group 7B Cycle 2 team:
Producer: DANIJEL SRAKA
Director: GIULIO MUSI WENNERGREN
Story Editor: CHRISTOPHER KLOETZEL
Cinematographer: ROMUL CHIOREAN
Editor: TAYLOR WARD

Honorable mentioning:
Costumes Designer: VESNA HOCEVAR (thank you thank you thank you my precious one)
Production Designer: SILVIA GALINI

There are numerous others - actors that were superb and absolutely amazing. Crew that was wonderful. And of course - as always - there was good coffee on the set...

This is the end... of 2007... Here comes 2008!

2008-01-08T16:20:00.000-08:00

As the year 2007 approached it's end, like always Vesna, myself and our friends Oki and Katja, visited our favorite 'end of the old, birth of a new year' city Umag. It was as always magical... and memorable. Especially the fireworks... and the walks with my wonderful Vesna... watching gazillion films (most criminally bad), excellent food... and coffee in my favorite coffee shop Gala cafe...

Vesna enjoying Adriatic sea

It was so peaceful...

Let the games begin...

So cold!

Gala cafe... the serenity...

Perfect cup of perfect espresso!

My wondeful Orange

Awaiting fireworks...

Wonderful Umag at midnight....

Happy new year peoples!

Saturday afternoon at the Venice Beach

2007-11-25T22:27:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday we went for a bike ride - with Tacka. It was a beautiful day for cruising around our neighborhood...

Love Me Love Me Not

2007-11-25T22:15:00.000-08:00

American Film Institute is a truly valuable and interesting, not to mention very exhausting, experience. Last weekend 'Love Me Love Me Not,' the film I am a producer of was finally shot. It was a wonderful experience - both fun and crazy! The actors were great, the crew extremely professional, and the food was simply terrible, but we made it and completed it. I want to thank everybody for their patience and dedication. As always - my beautiful princess Vesna contributed her two cents (that were more like gazillion dollars...). Screening will be on December 7th. On that day w will be slashed to pieces, stomped on, thrown under the car, bombarded, etc. in Frank Pierson's Narrative Analysis workshop... I sure look forward to that glorious day!

TACKA is here and she is here to stay!

2007-11-25T21:48:00.000-08:00

Here she is... the one and only - the beautiful Tacka, our wonderful adorable doggie!

Tacka 'enjoying' the drive to the beach.

We speny a wonderful post-Thanksgiving day at the Deer Creek beach in Malibu. It was Tacka's first encounter with the ocean... she enjoyed it as much as Vesna and I did.

At the end of the day at the beach - Tacka did what she does best - she fell asleep in the lap of my beautiful Vesna.

Graduated!!!

2007-08-11T05:36:00.000-07:00

It's kind of an old news now but nevertheless we are proud of it. We GRADUATED!!!!
Vesna completed her education at Ventura College with honors and received Associate of Arts Degree in Theater Arts while I completed my stint at Brooks Institute of Photography - receiving Bachelor of Arts degree - Film & Video Production.

What an awesome feeling!!!

While the photograph bellow has nothing to do with graduation - it kind of shows what we did to celebrate it... Don't worry - the cake was eaten afterwards!

First look at Balicanni

2007-08-01T03:10:00.000-07:00

Brrr... Here it is!

Balicanni: It's a wrap!!!

2007-07-24T15:11:00.000-07:00

Captured

The shooting is done! Finished! Complete! Actors and the crew were absolutely marvelous! They blew me away with their commitment and passion.

'Every night I burn!'

Again the shoot was exhausting due to the devilish heat (temperature was north of 90 degrees), however, we pushed hard and managed to complete it.

'How's my make-up?'

Thank you all who contributed and helped and gave your time, patience, and heart for this project. We are eternally grateful!

The Notorious Ballicani gang

Hopefully I will have something to show in the next few days - trailer perhaps...

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Balicanni! Run for your life!

2007-07-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

Balicanni

Yes yes yes! The crazy Slovenians are alive and kicking! This time we are shooting a short film. A short horror! And yes it was and still is scary. The shoot of course. We found a perfect location for it, an abandoned old Istrian village or should I say ghost town.

Ghost town... This is where the TV crew disappeared

The village itself has a really interesting history. Perhaps the most interesting part of its history is the way it ended. Literally overnight, the village people disappeared. Explanations are vague at best... Anyways, it is in this ghost village that we shoot first half of the short. With a cast/crew of 13 people (yes yes we know what the number stands for) we gathered on the Friday the 13th (again yes yes we know what te number and the day means) in our lovely apartment in Umag. We started things off with a really bad pizza. Afterwards things began to look much much better... We rehearsed the whole thing and prepared for what proved to be one of the coolest and funnest (and yes yes funniest too) weekends of the year.

TV reporter Dani humiliating his assistant Bisa

There is one incident that is worth mentioning that happened on Friday. It was so sincere and weird that I absolutely have to mention it: Sabi who played assistant Bisa, a future doctor, came to our apartment first. We know her for quite awhile (especially Vesna) so things were cool and she was great too. However, once Dani Bavec arrived, she totally lost her coolness. She screamed from the tap of her lungs: 'He is a famous actor!' (Dani Bavec appeared in quite a few TV dramas (Pod eno Streho, Cokoladne Sanje, etc.), he hosted a few TV shows, as well as gave voice to gazillion cartoons, infomercials, corporate videos, etc.) What followed was incredible. She barely said a word for a few hours - due to her shock of meeting Dani Bavec.

Arriving to the location

Saturday, July 14th. 8.35AM. We arrive to the location. It is a beautiful day, that was about to turn into a furnace! The temperature rose to an eye popping 100 degrees (Fahrenheit to be exact not Celsius).

This heat is killing me...

Despite all day we set the base camp with an improv dressing room (meaning a sheet wrapped around a bunch of sticks and an improv holding area with lots of fruit and junk food and and and... wait for it... a drum roll please... A LOT OF COFFEE - courtesy of Vesna's father Dusan.

Coffee break! COFFEE!!!

'Let the wind be with you'

After a quick rehearsal we began shooting. Everybody stepped up to the plate and we managed to shoot one of the most difficult scenes of the script. The cast was simply marvelous.

Neno - probably the most serious person one can meet

Professional, patient, with a sense of humor - I mean why else would day choose to work with me, I mean I understand why with Vesna but with me - I mean you have to have a sense of humor to want to work with me :) . The shoot could also be called the pranksters shoot since almost everybody was at some point a victim of a senselessly funny prank or a practical joke.

Deranged Simona

So the day ended successfully - we got what we came for, there were no accidents, we had fun, and we all almost perished in the burning blaze of the sun! The next day was even more fun, even though we were without coffee on the set (yes I know I know that this is impossible since I adore it... but sometimes you have to take one for the team ;).

Always lovely Vesna - this time in the character of a seriously pissed off producer

Anyways, the shot was great, the acting superb, and hopefully the movie will be cool too. Actually I hope the movie will be scary!
Anyways we would like to mention the people who helped us create Balicanni. Without them there would be no film at all. They all rocked!

Cast/Crew:
Dani Bavec - TV reporter
Neno Muzdeka - Mayor Hjerof
Vesna Hocevar - field producer
Sabina Zadel - assistant Bisa
Miha Hocevar - Sound Guy
Nina Flandija - Make up lady
Saso Sodja - driver
Emina Bosnic - Artrikta
Simona Kern - fugitive victim
Ales Zemlja - village man Sela
Andrej Zidnik - cameraman
Dusan Hocevar - village elder
Stanka Hocevar - village woman
Oktavijan Aram - village man
Katja Bizjak - village woman
Neza Njezic - village woman

Story By:
Vesna Hocevar
Danijel Sraka
Urska Samec

Produced by:
Vesna Hocevar
Danijel Sraka

Written and Directed by:
Danijel Sraka

Producer Vesna scared to death by one of the locals

This coming weekend we are shooting the second part of the film. e will add their names as well as let you all know how it went as well. Anyways - we will leave you with the word of the famous TV reporter Dani Bavec: 'Let there be wind with all of you!'

After the shoot: the spirits were high!

Bloopers!

During the still-photos shoot we encountered couple of the 'mishaps' that we discovered later when going over the images. It looks like Saso had a spanking session going with Sabi... I wonder if she knew...

Let us start with the whole image. It appears that a woman in the middle of the image is about to be attacked. However, I would like to divert your attention to the guy in a stripped shirt at the far left...

Once we zoom in we see how much fun Saso had... Sabi declined to give any comments!

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Vesna presents: 2 Dance

2007-03-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

Talk about coolness! Vesna made this excellent stop motion short film entitled 2 Dance. Making this film was a very painful and yet rewarding process. She succeeded in making a very simply and yet still incredible love story. Music used is played by Videosex.

Summer Camp Short Film teaser

2006-12-12T15:06:00.000-08:00

Here it is... short teaser... (no color correction, one light print, etc.)

Summer Camp film shoot 2006

2006-11-15T08:17:00.000-08:00

It is behind us! My portfolio film shoot... It was incredible, it was fun, it was exhilarating, it was unforgettable...

....IT REALLY WAS AN AMAZING SHOOT!! And Danijel was shining in the parts of co-producer and director!!!
He absolutely knew what he wanted to express and Summer Camp is already a great success - not just according to me - several colleagues and professors at Brooks already congratulated him on overall professional and organizational level Summer Camp was shot on! Yep he is exceptional!!!

Halloween 2006

2006-10-31T13:17:00.000-08:00

Vesna as retired acrobat!Moi as the living corpse...
Our dear friends Alan and Ashley... one as a tree and the other as a poison ivy! What fun!!!

This year... Halloween... Uhm... 3D IMAX Nightmare Before Christmas!!!

Enigma Variations

2006-10-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

'Vesna Hocevar is talented! Vesna Hocevar is smart! Vesna Hocevar is sensitive!'
~ Jay Varella, theater director and actor

Yep, Mr. Varella is totally right about Vesna! Her play Enigma Variation, written by David Ives, was an absolute success. It was incredible! It was engaging! It was entertaining! It was one of the best one-act plays I've ever seen! Her vision and her perspective enchanted us all. It got incredible response not only from the audience but also from her actors...

All in all 'Enigma Variations' was one helluva success that confirmed what some of us knew all along - that Vesna kicks ass!!!

Finished music video

2006-10-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

It took a while, but here it is. For those who didn't see it. Ladies and Gents - Bostjan Meh music video...

The rust finally came off - A brand new no budget musiv video by MadMagpie

2006-06-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

turboDEGUSTACIJA - Bostjan Meh - June 2006

In April 2006 we did a music video for a Slovenian musician who is trying to break out. Budget was too low to matter, however we did manage to create quite an interesting & funny piece... And boy did we have fun making it!

We built the TV studio!

Otherwise we shot it all on location. In less than four hours!!!

Vesna was again invaluable part of the whole project!

Bostjan Meh's song (the musician's name) was very addictive... We soon turned into him...

Once again... beautiful costumes by my favourite precious - The Attack of the Moral Fuzzies

2006-06-20T21:53:00.000-07:00

THE ATTACK OF MORAL FUZZIES - VC - may 2006Vesna's official first costume designer position. And boy oh boy did she excell in it. She created the game show. Call me biased if you want but she made the play believable. She made it alive! She made it fun! Congrats are absolutely in order!!!

"I've seen this perfectly marvelous play..."

2006-06-20T20:18:00.000-07:00

CABARET - VCOM - APRIL 2006

Whoa! This one was something else! This one was huge! Big budget, big songs, abslutely awesome musical!!! With a reported budget pf $100,000 CABARET was the event of the year!!!
And once again - Vesna was a part of it, of its production...

The show was glamorous, fantastic, and one helluva entertainment! And fun!

Over one hundred costumes...

Enormous cast!!!

Live band!

Sold out shows!

All one can say is ' It was marvelous, perfeclty marvelous...'

Room Service - Vesna triumphs as CD

2006-06-20T20:05:00.000-07:00

ROOM SERVICE - VC - february 2006

Vesna absolutely outdid herself as costume designer (under the guidance of costume department head Abra Poudler) in this VC Theater’s main stage production of Room Service.

Vesna brainstormed, picked out, pulled, and then dressed the whole cast... She received quite a few congratulations.

Oh, by the way - this was Vesna's first costume designer job. I believe the word we’re looking for is… EXCELLENT!

Joshua Tree Trippin' Adventure

2005-11-28T00:22:00.000-08:00

We finally saw it again! And guess what - it still rocks!!! Joshua Tree is the most awesome national park! Colorado desert, Mojave desert, Joshua trees, endless sand covered off roads, gorgeous views, etc. Being there really liftes one's spirits! One can see how majestic nature is, how delicate and at the same time enduring life can be... It lasted only a few days but it was worth it - every single second of it. We even managed to take some photos... If you ever get a chance to see Joshua - don't hesitate - just go and experience it and meet paradise... We did!
Huh check out the last photograph. Vesna took it. What the hell is that thing on the right side of the photograph? (hehe)

Painter's Journey

2005-11-24T00:44:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday (November 19th), our little crew went to Mission Viejo to interview and shoot Jeffrey some more. We joined him on his journey of creating one of his art pieces... paintings. I absolutely adore his work. Watching him always inspires me.
As he painted he also talked about himself, his childhood, etc. Everytime we go to Jeffrey's we end up with new perspectives and visions of how the final documentary will look. Jeffrey was upset though, because he had to paint instead of shooting UFO's and other unknown entities.
What a day it was... Can't wait to go back!

The Fabulous Night of January 16th

2005-11-19T20:50:00.000-08:00

Starts were shining, moon was singing, night was electrifying on November 11th 2005. Ayn Rand's 'Night of January 16th' opened at Ventura College Theatre. The play was magnificent, witty, entertaining, and at times shocking. Vesna outdid herself again, this time as Mrs. Magda Svenson...

Jeffrey doc update

2005-10-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

The work on documentary has been going on now for over a month. The project is currently titled Jeffrey - named after our main subject - the man himself, an artist, painter, musician, and a man with incredible passion about entities he shoots every single day!!! Here are some production shots I took during the filming. Some were taken while being on location with Jeffrey - filming entities in the night sky. Others just of Jeffrey himself and his art. There are also some from our last three day trip to Mission Viejo. I really believe we have an excellent documentary in our hands. I am producing and directing it - together with Tony Ervolino...

Dano is making a documentary!!!

2005-09-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

Dano & his friend Tony got a great opportunity, offered and partly sponsored by Brooks Institute of Photography - they are a making a documentary!!!
They are covering a story of a man who claims he is communicating with aliens; he even has a lot of footage to prove it. He dedicated his life to proving there are other forms of life, that are present on earth all the time...
I have a feeling this is going to be verrrrry interesting..
Good luck guys!

Vesna is Mrs. Magda Svenson!!!

2005-09-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

Vesna was casted as Mrs. Magda Svenson in the upcoming Ventura College's production of Ayn Rand's play 'Night of January 16th.' Let me be the first to congratulate her. It's simply marvelous!

Opossum Attack!

2005-09-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

Couple days ago we had an evening visitor. An opossum! Unlike mice who actually got into the apartement - opossum actually waited at the front door... Once Vesna noticed it she scared him senseless... It got away safe though... Now we kind of miss it!

The Kurent mask

2005-09-23T15:46:00.000-07:00

Vesna's latest creation is the mask of Kurent (Korant). Kurenti and 'kurentovanje' are one of Slovenia's most recognized annual events. They 'chase' away the winter every February... Vesna’s mask will be exhibited at Ventura College this Fall.

Umag 2005

2005-09-23T15:15:00.000-07:00

Ahh... Umag! One of our favorite places. The place where 'we' began! It holds so many wonderful memories for us... Morning coffee at Tondo's, excellent cuisine at Samir's restaurant, bike rides, gorgeous farmer's market, great times at the beach, in the old part of the town, everywhere!

Arsenic and Old Lace

2005-09-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

Vesna got a role of Dr. Helga Einstein in a Ventura College's production of an American Theater classic Arsenic and Old Lace. Directed by Judy Garey, costumes by Abra paudler, set design Villiam Eck.
Reviews (especially the one in Ventura County Star) were wonderful, the play delightful, Vesna marvelous... It all happened in April 2005.

Time Lapse Stock Footage shoot 2005

2005-09-22T23:26:00.000-07:00

One of the most interesting projects we did this year was time lapse shooting. Vesna had to stand still in traffic, parks, pedestrian zones, etc. for literally hours. While she had to stand still I had to stand still behind the camera, trying not to distract her and ruin the whole shot. But as always we had fun...

Nature Stock Footage Chase

2005-09-22T23:04:00.000-07:00

We spent most of March and April 2005 shooting stock footage. First up was Nature stock footage. And since we like to hike - we had a blast looking for perfect locations... Seven falls, Rose valley, Los Padres National Forest, Hills surrounding Santa Barbara and Ojai, etc.

Cachuma Lake 2005

2005-09-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

We love camping. So we decided to go to Cachuma Lake. It's beautiful, however there's a shooting range close by so we ended up listening to sounds of gunshots throughout the weekend. And it was freaking cold!!! We did get to hike and drive around with our bikes a little... And enjoyed Vesna's fabulous cooking! All in all - it was OK but we definitely prefer quieter surroundings...

Anniversary - short film shoot

2005-09-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

In October 2004 we shot a short film Anniversary. The shoot was tough, tiresome but nevertheless awesome and fun! We like the film even more... It was shot on an old 16mm Bolex camera. Danijel wrote and directed the film; Vesna did a marvelous job portraying Maria.

Halloween 2004

2005-09-20T09:51:00.000-07:00

Halloween was interesting last year. We helped built The Hill of Horror! Vesna made the costumes for zombies, I painted a lot of stuff and hanged things, together we created and decorated a small cottage where the Evil Witch lives... The Hill of Horror would have never happened if it weren't for Teri, Doug, Kurt, and Ross. It happens every year on the Harris 'estate.' After we built it, we got to be monster too...

Best of Joshua Tree

2005-09-19T23:56:00.000-07:00

We visited Joshua Tree national park last October and were absolutely blown away by its primal beauty and tranquility. Hiking, biking, walking, enjoying Vesna's fabulous cooking, relaxing by the night camp fire, observing thousands of stars, and so much more... We shall return againg this year! We promise!

vPETa

2005-09-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

In June 2004, Vesna created, directed and danced in 'vPETa,' an experimental theater/dance performance. The show was deliciously wonderful. And the crowd absolutely adored it!

Welcome to The CrazyLand

2005-09-17T23:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome!

No we're not crazy at all!

Well, at least not too crazy...

... nevermind...

Anyways, we invite you to enjoy in our adventures and misadventures!

Who are we exactly?

To be honest, we don't have a clue ourselves...

Some quick stats about us:

Vesna Hocevar A.K.A. Susika
Born in Slovenia
Currently lives in Marina Del Ray - Los Angeles, California.
Graduated from Ventura College, Ventura, California - AA in Theater Arts
Currently studies at Santa Monica College.

Danijel Sraka A.K.A. Susek
Born in Slovenia.
Currently residing in Marina Del Ray - Los Angeles, California.
Graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography - BA in Film/Video Production.
Currently pursues Master's Degree at American Film Institute - Producing Program.