Dear Cool Kids,

Please do not feel guilty when you say "I don't want kids."  You don't have to take responsibility for making sure the next generation of people is worth a damn.

And don't worry that as you look around, you might realize only the most ignorant of your species is shooting out children, and at a rate only exceeded by the pile of scratch-off lotto tickets piling up in their pickup truck.

Soon you will be outnumbered, and then eventually, all the cool people on Earth will be dead, and the cities will fall under the control of the half-simian, half-redneck masses.

Yes, just like "Planet of the Apes."

Have a great life!

(signed)
Evolution

http://mysterymanonfilm.blogspot.com/2008/05/50-flaws-of-indy-iv.html

A lot of good points here, and a great resource for screenwriters.  Not only from a script analysis point of view, but as a word of comfort and caution: nobody can get it perfect every time.  Filmmakers take heed.

Although I usually spend my time writing/directing, this summer I'll be stepping in front of the camera as part of Chasen Grieshop's upcoming film, "Scorpeo Cutlass."  I'll be playing the part of Cookie, the wiley and talented ship's cook.

Chasen Grieshop has the sheer ballsiness to stage a pirate film, and most daunting of all, he's kicking ass.  It's a huge undertaking, and I'm glad to add my little part to it.

The author should be in his work like God is in the universe--present everywhere and visible nowhere.
"L'auteur dans son oeuvre doit etre comme Dieu dans l'univers, present partout et visible nulle part."
-Gustave Flaubert


Space isn't remote at all. It's only an hour's drive away if your car could go straight upwards.
Author: Fred Hoyle
Source: in the London "Observer"

It's the new episode of Stranger Things. 

Shot with a professional crew and cast.

Wowed 'em at Balticon.

Nuff said.  Click the image.

For those who missed it, a quick recap of the Singularity:







Or, check out the story posted about us on IO9.com:


Zombie Clones and Holy Aliens Build a Bridge from Web to TV


This is a big story, not just for us, but for podcasting in general.  Repost in your blogs, and encourage others to repost as well.  This is huge.

Zombie Clones And Holy Aliens Build A Bridge From Web To TV

This is our T-shirt design for our Stranger Things event at Balticon, which we're calling, "The Singularity."
( Click for teh awesome )

Bill Cunningham at the DISContent blog is going on an Internet strike.

That means he won't be watching any major television or movie content on the Internet.

Studios insist that the Internet is just a promotional tool, that they aren't making money off the ads they include with the content.

Very well then. Let's not watch anything on the Internet.

This is new meme: if you want to support the Writer's Guild, include this on your blogs, your websites, everywhere:

Until the strike is resolved, I hereby swear not to watch any streamed content from the networks or cable outlets. They will not have my eyeballs. They will not have my money.

I've long been a skeptic of both fundamentalism and skepticism.  And in that argument, the science/logic supporters usually raise the point that, "Religion is bad for society.  Look at 9/11, the Crusades, etc.  All mass murder waged in behalf of religion."

Here is my response:

"I don't think it's fair to use radical fundamentalists as representatives for the "God" side, any more than using
Nazi doctors to represent science."

I believe the word you're looking for is "owned."

Found this at my Skype-in-movie buddy, MAinPA.

-Leave me a casual comment of no particular significance, like a lyric to your current favorite song, or your favorite kind of sandwich, maybe your favorite game. Any remark, meaningless or not.
-I will respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better.
-Update your LJ with the answers to the questions.
-Include this explanation and offer to ask someone else in your own post.
-When others respond with a desultory comment, you will ask them five questions.

1. Does your head weigh 8 pounds, or is it heavier than the average head? Not to say you have a big head, but rather one very full of ideas.

My head is very heavy with scheduling and to-do lists.  Ideas, too.  My head is a big knick-knack drawer, basically.

2. What is one memory that you can point back to that set you on the course you are on now?

I would have to say: getting rejected from film school.  I was so determined to put my career in other people's hands, and learn from them, that for awhile, it threw me for a loop when I was turned away.  But having had to go my own way in the media business, I've learned more than most of the film school students I know.  While my friends are just graduating college, I've already executive produced regional radio and television, and am currently writing/directing my own television series.

3. What was the last movie you saw?
French Kiss, one of my favorite movies.  Came on cable this morning, and I saved it on the DVR.

4. What is your current ear candy?
I love SModcast, and This American Life.  Trying to clear up some space on my hard drive so I can load in my David Sedaris essay CDs.

5. What is one thing that you are particularly proud, that you don't tell many people? (Yes, I'm stealing from Eley)
I'm proud of the fact that, of all the things I've done in which I've been truly successful, I taught myself how to do most of them.  My parents instilled in me the belief that there is nothing you can't do if you are willing to work hard, and learn fast. 

Hallo all -

Just got the final word today: Stranger Things is officially a finalist for the 2007 Parsec Awards, in both Best Video Podcast and Best Video Production.

Check out the other finalists, we're in enormous company.

This is the first year for Stranger Things, so the nomination is a huge honor.

Add to that the nomination for the play I wrote (Doctor Doolittle at the World Council of Animals), and things are shaping up pretty nice.

Yo folks -

Early last week I got a letter in the mail.  Some of you may remember a one-act play I wrote called "Doctor Doolittle at the World Council of Animals."  The Pensacola Little Theatre staged the world debut of the play as part of their Short Attention Span Theatre series.  Turns out I've been nominated for a PLT Crystal Award for playwriting.

The awards ceremony is the last weekend in August - one week before the Parsec Awards ceremony in Atlanta, which Stranger Things  MAY be nominated for in two categories..

Basically, the end of August represents my head getting too big for my body.



UPDATE: If you're interested in reading the play, you can find it here: Doctor Doolittle at the World Council of Animals (PDF)

This is me, always:

Working to make today a better example of what I should have done yesterday.

Good God, this may be one of the cutest/funniest things I've ever seen.

Everyone pretty much knows I love Macs, and love the culture behind them.  It's nice to be on the cool side of scathing, catty commercials.  Kind of like getting a chance to relive high school, as a popular person.

But Apple is really stretching it now, and it's starting to get obnoxious.

(pulled from the Apple website)
“Apple’s iPhone could emerge as the most successful product introduction of the 21st century, new research suggests.”

Which is another way of saying "The most successful product introduction in the last seven years."

Woo.  Be proud, Apple. You might be the best product in the last almost-decade.

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, John Hodgman.

If this doesn't disturb you...yeps.

This was actually the subject of a weirdly funny chat session I had with JC Hutchins tonight.

A sick seed to plant, but it's birthed something amazing.

We've been brainstorming a movie idea for the last two hours (it's 2 AM where I am).

It will blow your freaking minds.

And just wait till we get Sigler in on this.

Good God.