Mom. This is my official apology.

I never really believed that SoCal could have ever really been that cool. But now that I'm here... well crap. It's pretty stunning. With each passing day I have to eat a little more crow.

Right after I eat another taco from the taco truck. Right after I get back from the beach. Right after I finish taking photos of Venice. Right after I wake up to the sounds of Palm tree fronds rustling next to my surf shack.

Ashton Kutcher Did Me A Favor.

So last week, the day after I posted Lauren + JP's wedding video, things got a little nutty / awesome / completely ridiculous!  Tuesday morning, I was working on emails and networking and what not, and all of a sudden a couple of my inboxes just blew up.  Like 100 new emails in each in about 30 minutes....  At first I couldn't figure it out.  Then I noticed that a lot of them were Twitter nofications letting me know that some new person was following me.

OK, cool.  Thanks.  But why so many so quick.  I started to do a little searching and all of a sudden I realized that Ashton Kutcher -- yep, the Ashton Kutcher -- had posted a retweet referencing my video:

For those who don't know, Ashton Kutcher has about 5 million followers or so by last count.  And when he tweets a link, you get insane traffic to the link in question.  Talk about marketing power awesomness.  

On Wednesday, my friend Holly called me to tell that her Mom had just seen a link to my wedding video on the home page of AOL!  Unbelievable.  Later that day, I heard from the kind folks over Sony Music, who said that Passion Pit had actually seen the video and liked it.  The next day, they posted it on their Facebook page as well!

The next three days saw my video jump to 150K views, with tons of emails asking about my rates, background, availability, etc.  I was even interviewed by www.omgimgettingmarried.com in the UK. A lot of those obviously weren't serious, but there have a been a number of those that do seem serious.  We'll see.  In any event,  to have that many people actually express their enthusiam about something I created was overwhelmingly positive.  

Now, a week later, the video has been spotted on blogs and websites all over the world including  Italy, Brazil, Portugal, Spain, UK, Germany, and Hong Kong I think.  I've spotted a few sites impersonating Lauren and JP, acting as though they were the couple featured in the video.  And I also spotted the first re-upload on YouTube today. I'll be curious to see what this massive spike in traffic to my sites will do for my Google Ranking, and also to see how many views the video will ultimately get.

What a way to start my time in L.A.

Did you know I shoot wedding videos too?

I know it can be hard to keep up with all the various irons I have in the fire, but I recently created a new site that focuses exclusively on my wedding photography and video work.  The site is called ROCKANDROLLHEARTS.COM . By all means, share it with anyone you know who's getting hitched.

I thought might enjoy this video I did for a wonderful couple in La Grange, GA.  

Lauren + JP from Matt Odom on Vimeo.

Well, at least I'm writing again.

I'm a cavern of nervousness. A container for anticipation and worry.  I can hear the pissed moans of whiskers literally losing their color to gray.  I don't suppose this will change, in fact it will probably worsen, until I actually book some jobs with new clients in my new home.

So let's at least wrap ourselves in the silver lining of the unexpected: my writer's block is gone.  

I haven't been able to write much of anything the past few years.  I've often wondered if my source of all things creative is binary.  That is to say it's either expressed through my words or my images, but not both at the same time.  Since I haven't worked much in the past month or so, maybe the words are finally willing to come out and play.  Maybe.  I may very well book work and find that my words and images still play well together.

In which case, I suspect that my words won't come out to play when things are a little too far inside the comfort zone.  Which presents an unappetizing cone of irony dipped in melancholy with "I'm nuts for upheaval" on top. AWESOME.

Good thing the $.99 store had a sale on Toblerones.  I'll stuff down these thoughts with gobs of honey nougat and chocolate.

On Making New Friends and Networking.

Among my many faults (there is a tome on the subject on sale in the Reference section of Barnes and Noble), the unwillingness to ask for help, in any fashion, is definitely a contender for "Matt Odom Fault-of-the-Decade".  I'm not sure where that comes from, or why, but I'm aware it's an issue.  This move to LA is completely at odds with my predilection for solitary, proud, self sufficiency, so I'm hoping I'll be able to make some advances in this department of self help.

Take last night for instance.  

A few months back, my buddy Hans, meets an amazing, world class German photographer named Jens Lucking on a flight across the country.  They share a few bottles of red wine on the flight, entertain each other with stories of the absurd and bizarre I'm sure, annoy other first class passengers to the point of having some move back to coach for solace, trade info and move on.   Classic Hans.

So a few days ago, Hans thoughtfully sends an email to Jens, introducing me, and suggesting that maybe we meet up for a drink.  And to my amazement, Jens responds almost immediately, and suggests we meet up in Venice on Friday night, as he'll be there already.  Friday night rolls around, and I begin to squirm.

Making an appointment to meet someone new, especially when I'm so new to an area with few friends, is definitely in the "don't be too proud to accept someones kindness" bucket, and totally puts me outside my comfort zone.  "What if he really didn't want me to come by and was just being gracious?"  "What if he thinks I'm a total ass?" "What if he actually looked my work and thinks I'm crap?".  The thoughts rush in.  I remember that Hans would be dissapointed in me if I didn't follow through, and I shoot out a text asking if we're still on, before I can wuss out.  

He responds.  He's at The Cabana on Rose, just a blocks from my place.  Crap, now I have to go.  It's walking distance, and I'd be a complete failure if I didn't suck up my neurosis and go.  So I did.  I walk down the street in the dark, and let him know I'm on my way.

"I'M THE GUY WITH THE LONG HAIR AND BLACK JACKET."  Great, I sound like a roadie for Dokken. He texts me, "BACK PATIO. GUY WITH THE HAT."  Roger that. I walk to back patio, and spot him.

And his wife and child.  And their friends.  At at an already crowded table.  In a crowded restaurant.  In what is obviously an intimate dinner amongst friends. And in the space of one second I have this inner dialogue:

"OH NO.  I'm totally THAT GUY.  The douchebag who shows up to a friends and family gathering uninvited."

"Wait.  But I was invited. If I'd known I'd be crashing a private get-together I would've backed out for sure."

"Nice Matt.  Everyone is going to have to move their seats and drinks just so I can squeeze my interrrupting-outsider-needy ass into the circle of conversation. FRIEND MAKING FAIL."

"His wife and child are lovely.  She's gonna hate me for sure now.  I bet she chews him out later for inviting the friend of guy he had drinks with on an airplane a few months back to an intimate dinner with friends."

"I can't back out now.  I hope the chips and salsa are good."

And so I sit and join the conversation.  And you know what? They couldn't have been more gracious.  We talked about traveling, art, their baby, his immigration, and more.  They are legitimately amazing people, and if put out on any level by my showing up, hid it deep enough to let me feel comfortable.  I was enrapt with stories of FBI visits, burnouts on the Salt Flats, and a unlikely theft and return of a Rolls Royce. An hour passes quickly.  Dinner wraps up and it's time for them to get the baby home.  I thank them for the company and leave.

And as I walk home, I realize that this whole getting out of your comfort zone thing might actually be a good thing.  Thanks Jens Lucking.  Your awesomeness is noted.

And if for nothing else, it was good chips and salsa.