Inspiration - Mark Armes & Funwunce

I was lucky enough to meet Mark Armes in 2004 when he volunteered to help come out and film on a "no budget" WW2 reenactor film. He looked like a scruffy hockey player, but his personality and vision was something different and special. When I saw him breakdancing on the pavement of the Krogers parking lot, I knew we would be friends. He helped connect me with Free Press Houston, and some of the most creative people i have ever met like Tim Dorsey and Shelby Hohl. Soon after we were helping each other out on projects and expanding out experience. 

Funwunce is the brainchild of Mark Armes, a local filmmaker, animator and designer who's been active in the Houston scene for years now

Mark was involved with the University of Houston film program where he learned from his mentor Pat Coakley. I watched as film makers like Michel Gondry would help shape the style and feel of Mark's work. We made the jump to some major label Houston Hip Hop, working for local legends, the kind of people we listened to growing up in Texas. When Mark started working with Rick Darge out of Los Angeles, his projects got a bump in quality while maintaing the ethos that makes his work special.

It was during these days, we would hook up for lunch and share stories of our battles in Los Angeles. I would spend most of the day exchanging lines from old UGK and Swisher house music, where the locals had no clue what we where talking about. And I would also get to hear the latest Andy Dick stories. 

I think one of my favorite things about working on films are the stories, and I share a lot of them with Mark. The first time i met his friend Giovanni, he convinced me that Gio's name was Golden Balls. I still call him Golden Balls to this day.

Mark, the skater kid who became an inspiration.

To this day we still mess around with projects together. I got to say, I'm proud of him. I believe in him. And I hope we can work and learn from each other for years to come.