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Monday, December 19, 2011
It is remarkably hard to write a non-trite Christmas story
I had an idea that I would try something new this year and try to write a Christmas story. It turns out that, in the short story format, this is very hard.
Of course, the short story format is an enormous challenge to begin with, but add in the complication of the sentiment and sentimentality of Christmas, you can either go sweet and twee, or you can go dark and maybe just end up wallowing in an obvious bit of cynicism or horror that really doesn't get anyone anywhere.
One of the challenges that Hollywood faces, that I've become acutely aware of, is that the message of Christmas is a generic "believe" or "fill yourself with the spirit of Christmas", but what one is to believe, or how one defines the spirit of Christmas (or what that spirit should then encourage one to do), is never really explored.
Of course, the short story format is an enormous challenge to begin with, but add in the complication of the sentiment and sentimentality of Christmas, you can either go sweet and twee, or you can go dark and maybe just end up wallowing in an obvious bit of cynicism or horror that really doesn't get anyone anywhere.
One of the challenges that Hollywood faces, that I've become acutely aware of, is that the message of Christmas is a generic "believe" or "fill yourself with the spirit of Christmas", but what one is to believe, or how one defines the spirit of Christmas (or what that spirit should then encourage one to do), is never really explored.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
To me, fashion is a mistur-ee
I recently saw this image online at the NY Times Magazines tumblr. This is the latest collection from designer Thakoon Panichugal.
This picture is the worst thing I have ever seen.
Call me kooky, but this outfit is a mishmash of clothes randomly pulled off the shelf from a box store and put on a really dumb person suffering from malnutrition. I am led to believe that this poor, sick girl has gotten lost on a tour of the house where James K. Polk spent his post-presidency golden years. She cannot see to the end of the room.
I do not understand fashion.
This picture is the worst thing I have ever seen.
Call me kooky, but this outfit is a mishmash of clothes randomly pulled off the shelf from a box store and put on a really dumb person suffering from malnutrition. I am led to believe that this poor, sick girl has gotten lost on a tour of the house where James K. Polk spent his post-presidency golden years. She cannot see to the end of the room.
I do not understand fashion.
San Fran in Jan(uary)
Heads up, Bay Area folks.
So, in January I'm headed for San Francisco.
I arrive on the 19th. I had originally planned to run around the city and whatnot the first night, but it turns out that its the first night of the San Francisco SketchFest. As part of the Sketchfest, the crew from RiffTrax is performing on night 1 of the SketchFest. So, while this means I may have a problem with the Alpha Plan of @#$%in' &%#@ up in San Francisco on the 19th, it does mean I get to go to SketchFest see the guys from RiffTrax do a bunch of shorts. And that is awesome! (and, no doubt, means extra time hangin' with The Dug and a more likely scenario of seeing MikeF and others)
Oddly, the event is at the Castro, where I will also be the following few days.
The schedule and tickets are now available for Noir City X, the tenth installment of the Eddie Muller-helmed Film Noir Fest.
I'm in and out of town fairly quickly as a man can only afford to stay in one place too long, and the fact that every time I leave work for a few days, some disaster is awaiting me on the other side.
I'm pretty darned excited. The line-up for both before and after I'm there features some great films I've seen and a long list of films I haven't seen. If you live in the area, take advantage.
I am a bit down that I'll miss Naked Alibi on Thursday, which features both Sterling Hayden and Gloria Grahame (and I've been trying to track it down for a while), and it seems this year they've moved the party to the second weekend, so I'm missing that. But they did add Angie Dickinson to talk Point Blank, which is a great movie, so I'll get to see her in person.
But I also will be looking to fill days while I'm around, so if you have helpful touristy hints for me that don't involve wandering The Tenderloin in a Batman costume, I'd like to hear them.
So, in January I'm headed for San Francisco.
I arrive on the 19th. I had originally planned to run around the city and whatnot the first night, but it turns out that its the first night of the San Francisco SketchFest. As part of the Sketchfest, the crew from RiffTrax is performing on night 1 of the SketchFest. So, while this means I may have a problem with the Alpha Plan of @#$%in' &%#@ up in San Francisco on the 19th, it does mean I get to go to SketchFest see the guys from RiffTrax do a bunch of shorts. And that is awesome! (and, no doubt, means extra time hangin' with The Dug and a more likely scenario of seeing MikeF and others)
Oddly, the event is at the Castro, where I will also be the following few days.
The schedule and tickets are now available for Noir City X, the tenth installment of the Eddie Muller-helmed Film Noir Fest.
I'm in and out of town fairly quickly as a man can only afford to stay in one place too long, and the fact that every time I leave work for a few days, some disaster is awaiting me on the other side.
I'm pretty darned excited. The line-up for both before and after I'm there features some great films I've seen and a long list of films I haven't seen. If you live in the area, take advantage.
I am a bit down that I'll miss Naked Alibi on Thursday, which features both Sterling Hayden and Gloria Grahame (and I've been trying to track it down for a while), and it seems this year they've moved the party to the second weekend, so I'm missing that. But they did add Angie Dickinson to talk Point Blank, which is a great movie, so I'll get to see her in person.
But I also will be looking to fill days while I'm around, so if you have helpful touristy hints for me that don't involve wandering The Tenderloin in a Batman costume, I'd like to hear them.
Happy Birthday, JimD
edit. Oh, hell. Apparently tomorrow is Jim's birthday. Just consider this an early present on Jim's B-Day Eve
we don't do birthdays around here much anymore. But it's Jim D's B-Day, and I remembered.
we don't do birthdays around here much anymore. But it's Jim D's B-Day, and I remembered.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
SW Advent Calendar December 17
You know, I just don't see this happening in a current issue of Batman or Detective Comics. But its nice to know that Batman and Robin, once upon a time, totally got into the Christmas spirit.
Kickstarter Project - Folk Documentary
Hey! I've known Hilary since the 4th grade, and now she's one of the subjects of an upcoming documentary on the hard-traveling heroes of Americana/ Folk Music.
Hilary and Stuart are The Flyin' A's (who I went to go see just last night). I've known a lot of musicians at this point, and some have been successful, some less so, but I haven't seen anyone who has worked as hard at keeping their music going as these two. And they're actually very good, too.*
A while back Stuart and Hilary were noticed by a documentary crew and were approached to take part in the film. You can see Hil (not really the shyest of daffodils) gets a lot of coverage.
1. You can see a trailer for their documentary here.
2. You can help fund the documentary by contributing to the Kickstarter at this link.
They only have a couple of weeks left, so if you can kick in a few bucks, it would get the documentary a really long way and get Hilary and Stuart in front of more eyes and ears than a summer's worth of touring.
*I think we've all known that band or musician we really didn't want to encourage
Hilary and Stuart are The Flyin' A's (who I went to go see just last night). I've known a lot of musicians at this point, and some have been successful, some less so, but I haven't seen anyone who has worked as hard at keeping their music going as these two. And they're actually very good, too.*
A while back Stuart and Hilary were noticed by a documentary crew and were approached to take part in the film. You can see Hil (not really the shyest of daffodils) gets a lot of coverage.
1. You can see a trailer for their documentary here.
2. You can help fund the documentary by contributing to the Kickstarter at this link.
They only have a couple of weeks left, so if you can kick in a few bucks, it would get the documentary a really long way and get Hilary and Stuart in front of more eyes and ears than a summer's worth of touring.
*I think we've all known that band or musician we really didn't want to encourage
Friday, December 16, 2011
SW Advent Calendar December 16
Provided by our own AmyD.
This was my response to her email:
I doubt you guys listen to much Magic 95.5 for their magical month of Christmas, but I think they play this song every hour on the hour. Its insane.
Sometimes... this is the song that gets stuck in my head, and even a power drill and a tire iron cannot get it out.
And now I share with you. Merry Christmas.
Marvel finally starts working on Disney comics
It seems Marvel is going to release a Toy Story limited series later this year. Toy Story, while more Pixar than traditional Disney (although the Disney Store would beg to differ), was also one of the first titles launched by Boom! when they began rolling out Disney properties under their license.
I thought Boom! did a phenomenal job handling the Disney properties. Maybe TOO phenomenal as I spent a lot of money on Disney comics for a spot there as Boom! flooded the kids' section with Pixar and Disney properties, both new and licensed from the European and classic American Disney comics.
They also wisely repacked their comics in inexpensive, kid friendly collections.
Really, it was a lot of fun. And so when Disney purchased Marvel, I knew that a wrench would get thrown in the works.
Now, this is one comic of a four-issue limited series of one property. I am still not able to buy new issues of Mickey, Scrooge or Donald. But I will be watching Marvel in 2012 to see what they try. And, hopefully, it won't mess with the great work Fantagraphics is doing collecting the really old school Disney strips and comics.
I thought Boom! did a phenomenal job handling the Disney properties. Maybe TOO phenomenal as I spent a lot of money on Disney comics for a spot there as Boom! flooded the kids' section with Pixar and Disney properties, both new and licensed from the European and classic American Disney comics.
They also wisely repacked their comics in inexpensive, kid friendly collections.
Really, it was a lot of fun. And so when Disney purchased Marvel, I knew that a wrench would get thrown in the works.
Now, this is one comic of a four-issue limited series of one property. I am still not able to buy new issues of Mickey, Scrooge or Donald. But I will be watching Marvel in 2012 to see what they try. And, hopefully, it won't mess with the great work Fantagraphics is doing collecting the really old school Disney strips and comics.
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