My last No Shame Theatre piece will be Friday, April 30th at 11pm in Theatre B of the University Theatre Building.
It'll be my 102nd piece since I started doing No Shame four years ago.
If this sort of thing interests you, maybe you'd like to come?
I'll have dairy for you!
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
I've been asked to give the "honored guest speech" at my high school's 2004 graduation ceremony. It's for the class that was in 8th grade when I was a senior in high school. So that's pretty cool.
I've been trying to think of speeches I can give. One of them would open with: "Hey, kids. We're gonna' be a little dangerous here. How 'bout some impressions of your teachers?!" And then I'd do scathing impressions of high school teachers... that only I had and they didn't. Take that, Mrs. Harvey!
Or maybe I'll just give Rodney Dangerfield's closing graduation remarks from Alan Metter's "Back to School" (1986).
If that was the case, then it would also be the audience's first time they saw boobs and heard the f-word. Cuz... you know... that movie was my first time for those things.
And Chris Stangl's. At least with the boobs. I'm not sure about the f-word.
No. Wait. The first time Chris heard the f-word in a movie was "House of Sand and Fog."
And he cried until the ending credits.
I've been trying to think of speeches I can give. One of them would open with: "Hey, kids. We're gonna' be a little dangerous here. How 'bout some impressions of your teachers?!" And then I'd do scathing impressions of high school teachers... that only I had and they didn't. Take that, Mrs. Harvey!
Or maybe I'll just give Rodney Dangerfield's closing graduation remarks from Alan Metter's "Back to School" (1986).
If that was the case, then it would also be the audience's first time they saw boobs and heard the f-word. Cuz... you know... that movie was my first time for those things.
And Chris Stangl's. At least with the boobs. I'm not sure about the f-word.
No. Wait. The first time Chris heard the f-word in a movie was "House of Sand and Fog."
And he cried until the ending credits.
Monday, April 26, 2004
Sunday, April 25, 2004
The screening of "David Mows Yards" happened on Friday night.
All in all, I'm proud of the movie. Before the screening, I was worried about it. I didn't know if the right "beats" were being hit and I was afraid that it would fail to communicate its larger ideas and not reach an emotional register. Basically - that it would suck. But sitting in the audience... watching it on opening night... the movie felt right to me.
Of course, it's far from perfect and I know in a couple years, I'll think it's a piece of shit, but for now, I'm proud of it. And after all the work and stress and anxiety I put into the video, it feels good to say that.
So, the next step? Making another video after I finish editing "Wet Cotton." After all, "David Mows Yards" was an improvement on "America's Funniest American," so I just want to keep making videos and get better. Because quite honestly, I still have a lot of room for improvement.
So far, I got some ideas, but I think they'd be better suited as plays. And yeah, I know you could turn a play into a movie. But it wouldn't feel right. Right now, the movie ideas I have are pretty formless. Just vague concepts of what I would like to do or see. I want something with a heatwave. I want something where people are waiting for someone to show up and bring a necessary item. I want something with a bathtub faucet.
But... um... uh... where's the plot? That'll come later, I suppose. "David Mows Yards" started off with me wanting to do something with lawnmowing, living rooms, and summertime afternoons. With that, I came up with a story and characters to get that out. And after that, I looked at it analytically to find out what it meant.
If I come up with something about bath-tub faucets, I'll let you know.
All in all, I'm proud of the movie. Before the screening, I was worried about it. I didn't know if the right "beats" were being hit and I was afraid that it would fail to communicate its larger ideas and not reach an emotional register. Basically - that it would suck. But sitting in the audience... watching it on opening night... the movie felt right to me.
Of course, it's far from perfect and I know in a couple years, I'll think it's a piece of shit, but for now, I'm proud of it. And after all the work and stress and anxiety I put into the video, it feels good to say that.
So, the next step? Making another video after I finish editing "Wet Cotton." After all, "David Mows Yards" was an improvement on "America's Funniest American," so I just want to keep making videos and get better. Because quite honestly, I still have a lot of room for improvement.
So far, I got some ideas, but I think they'd be better suited as plays. And yeah, I know you could turn a play into a movie. But it wouldn't feel right. Right now, the movie ideas I have are pretty formless. Just vague concepts of what I would like to do or see. I want something with a heatwave. I want something where people are waiting for someone to show up and bring a necessary item. I want something with a bathtub faucet.
But... um... uh... where's the plot? That'll come later, I suppose. "David Mows Yards" started off with me wanting to do something with lawnmowing, living rooms, and summertime afternoons. With that, I came up with a story and characters to get that out. And after that, I looked at it analytically to find out what it meant.
If I come up with something about bath-tub faucets, I'll let you know.
Friday, April 23, 2004
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Whew. It's been awhile since I've wrote in this infant. Well, at least, relatively. I was going on a streak of continuous days. Then poof! Monday and Tuesday go by and you're left lookin' like a jerk. An a-hole jerk.
So I'm putting finishing touches on "David Mows Yards." It's a little too close to the screening time (fingers crossed that the transfer to DVD works out), but I want to make sure that it's as good as it can be. Besides, I don't have class on Thursday, which means I can stay up all night doing what needs to be done. Like... editing... for example.
Truth be told, I've been staying up late every night for the past week. Sleep has been obtained by a series of 3-hour naps. I'm getting pretty exhausted. But that's what necessary when you're making something!
Of course, you get the least amount of sleep when you're making one particular thing...
BABIES!
(rim shot)
Am I right? Am I right? This guy knows what I'm talking about!
A friend of mine just recently found out that my new movie is called "David Mows Yards" and not... "David Mosey Arts." I wish my movie was called "David Mosey Arts." It's so much better.
Ciao, amiga.
And hey... if you're the 5000th person to visit my weblog... you should sign my guestbook (to the left). You will win an old, tin can that looks like an old, leather boot.
So I'm putting finishing touches on "David Mows Yards." It's a little too close to the screening time (fingers crossed that the transfer to DVD works out), but I want to make sure that it's as good as it can be. Besides, I don't have class on Thursday, which means I can stay up all night doing what needs to be done. Like... editing... for example.
Truth be told, I've been staying up late every night for the past week. Sleep has been obtained by a series of 3-hour naps. I'm getting pretty exhausted. But that's what necessary when you're making something!
Of course, you get the least amount of sleep when you're making one particular thing...
BABIES!
(rim shot)
Am I right? Am I right? This guy knows what I'm talking about!
A friend of mine just recently found out that my new movie is called "David Mows Yards" and not... "David Mosey Arts." I wish my movie was called "David Mosey Arts." It's so much better.
Ciao, amiga.
And hey... if you're the 5000th person to visit my weblog... you should sign my guestbook (to the left). You will win an old, tin can that looks like an old, leather boot.
Sunday, April 18, 2004
As much as I lecture about the necessity of subtlety in film and protest its overdependence on "big emotions," I still secretly crave to be overwhelmed by cinema.
And although the third act of "Kill Bill - Volume 2" fell short for me (a little too "Jersey Girl - Volume 2"), the movie knocked me on my ass. And I needed that. I was craving it.
The casket scene had tears streaming down my face.
And I suppose that's why I go to the movies. I am so completely unable to feel something purely in my daily life that I go to the movies to experience the entire breadth of human emotion. Yeah, that maybe a little "unhealthy," but... we all got crutches. And mine's a form of art. Not a drug. Or even another person. So, that's not all that bad.
That's why early Spielberg movies are so great. I read somewhere that Spielberg (unbeknownst to him) has got this "Pure Cinema Trilogy." With "Jaws," he gets you to feel pure terror. "Close Encounters," wonder. "ET," love. And "ET," as you probably know, is my favorite movie.
And my second favorite movie? "Magnolia" - another movie filled with "big emotions."
So... I don't know. Maybe it's not "big emotions" that I'm opposed to - maybe I'm just opposed to when they're done poorly. You know, when it becomes over-wrought and crass and sentimental. Which is everywhere.
Over-wrought. Crass. Sentimental. Three things I worry "David Mows Yards" will be.
See you at the screening on Friday.
And although the third act of "Kill Bill - Volume 2" fell short for me (a little too "Jersey Girl - Volume 2"), the movie knocked me on my ass. And I needed that. I was craving it.
The casket scene had tears streaming down my face.
And I suppose that's why I go to the movies. I am so completely unable to feel something purely in my daily life that I go to the movies to experience the entire breadth of human emotion. Yeah, that maybe a little "unhealthy," but... we all got crutches. And mine's a form of art. Not a drug. Or even another person. So, that's not all that bad.
That's why early Spielberg movies are so great. I read somewhere that Spielberg (unbeknownst to him) has got this "Pure Cinema Trilogy." With "Jaws," he gets you to feel pure terror. "Close Encounters," wonder. "ET," love. And "ET," as you probably know, is my favorite movie.
And my second favorite movie? "Magnolia" - another movie filled with "big emotions."
So... I don't know. Maybe it's not "big emotions" that I'm opposed to - maybe I'm just opposed to when they're done poorly. You know, when it becomes over-wrought and crass and sentimental. Which is everywhere.
Over-wrought. Crass. Sentimental. Three things I worry "David Mows Yards" will be.
See you at the screening on Friday.
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Tomorrow, I'm attending a "personality party" thrown by my friend Nathan. It's where you are randomly given a personality description (long before the party) and then you come to the party - completely in character, which you cannot break out of.
Here's my "personality":
BART ABBOTT - AGE 17
"Bart is a lazy punkster from New York City. He doesn't like people to know that his parents are rich, and he was brought up in a mansion. He tends to lie and tell tales of life on the street. None of it is true. You actually learned to play guitar at Christian camp, and you pout if food is not cooked to perfection. You are attending the party to meet a girl. YOUR MISSION: Write a punk rock poem and give it to someone who clicks with you."
I'll be going to the party after No Shame. It should be fun. One of the neatest parts is that I have to dress for the character. I'm thinking about wearing a ripped shirt (held together by safety pins) with "You Are a Commodity" written across it in black Magic Marker. Tight jeans and spiked hair will also be included. And oh yeah... I'll keep mispronouncing "underground" punk bands.
Another neat thing is that my older sister is played by Michele. We've got this dynamic worked out - where she's always calling me on my faux-punk 'tude in front of others. "What're you doing? Who are you trying to impress?" And I get embarassed and angered by her. The added level though (developed by Michele) is this tension of "If your brother bothers you so much, why do you follow him around all the time, making fun of him?" Cuz making fun of her brother gets her by, you see?
"Personality parties" reveal truths about human behavior.
See you there!
Here's my "personality":
BART ABBOTT - AGE 17
"Bart is a lazy punkster from New York City. He doesn't like people to know that his parents are rich, and he was brought up in a mansion. He tends to lie and tell tales of life on the street. None of it is true. You actually learned to play guitar at Christian camp, and you pout if food is not cooked to perfection. You are attending the party to meet a girl. YOUR MISSION: Write a punk rock poem and give it to someone who clicks with you."
I'll be going to the party after No Shame. It should be fun. One of the neatest parts is that I have to dress for the character. I'm thinking about wearing a ripped shirt (held together by safety pins) with "You Are a Commodity" written across it in black Magic Marker. Tight jeans and spiked hair will also be included. And oh yeah... I'll keep mispronouncing "underground" punk bands.
Another neat thing is that my older sister is played by Michele. We've got this dynamic worked out - where she's always calling me on my faux-punk 'tude in front of others. "What're you doing? Who are you trying to impress?" And I get embarassed and angered by her. The added level though (developed by Michele) is this tension of "If your brother bothers you so much, why do you follow him around all the time, making fun of him?" Cuz making fun of her brother gets her by, you see?
"Personality parties" reveal truths about human behavior.
See you there!
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
I mentioned it yesterday, but here's the poster for "David Mows Yards."
FRIDAY, APRIL 23RD - 7:30PM - ROOM W10, JOHN PAPPAJOHN BUILDING - FREE ADMISSION
John Henry Muller made it for me. He's been my buddy since we were li'l tadpoles. And guess what? In a month, he'll be delivering his wife's baby. By himself! In his own house! With a mid-wife assisting him! What a wild adventure, that'll be!
Yesterday, I finalized another screening date. Fellow cinema major Nathan Budde and I will be screening our thesis video projects at Public Space One on Tuesday, May 11th at 8pm. In addition, we'll also feature some of our short works from last semester's Advanced Video class. It should be a good time. More on this as it develops...
FRIDAY, APRIL 23RD - 7:30PM - ROOM W10, JOHN PAPPAJOHN BUILDING - FREE ADMISSION
John Henry Muller made it for me. He's been my buddy since we were li'l tadpoles. And guess what? In a month, he'll be delivering his wife's baby. By himself! In his own house! With a mid-wife assisting him! What a wild adventure, that'll be!
Yesterday, I finalized another screening date. Fellow cinema major Nathan Budde and I will be screening our thesis video projects at Public Space One on Tuesday, May 11th at 8pm. In addition, we'll also feature some of our short works from last semester's Advanced Video class. It should be a good time. More on this as it develops...
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Ten more days until "David Mows Yards" is delivered to your front doorstep (FRIDAY, APRIL 23rd - 7:30pm - W10, John Pappajohn Building).
Right now, I got about 10 minutes of "film time" left to edit. I hope to be done by Saturday, April 17th, so my boys DJ "Oil-Can" Ruden and Steve "High-Tops" Heuertz can start burning enough DVD copies to sell at the screening. Cuz I need to make some $$$. So far, I've spent about $110 on "post-production" costs ($50 for the blank DVD+R's and $60 for publicity).
Oh, yeah. Publicity. Hopefully, you'll see a "David Mows Yards" poster near you. My boy Johnny "Oil-Can High-Top" Muller designed them and I am much impressed by (as well as obliged for) his work . I've turned the poster into flyer-sized (8.5"x11"), announcement-sized (11"x17"), and handbill-sized (11"x17" split into quarter sheets) ready to be distributed. But getting them all out is next week's business though. If I did it now, the posters would be torn down and everybody'd forget.
THIS WEEK'S BUSINESS is actually getting the movie done. Fortunately, I only have 3 parts left to edit. They are:
1. "Helen agrees" montage
2. Tree Stump scene
3. Walking Backwards sequence/End credits
Those titles mean everything to you. I gave them "code names," so there wouldn't be any spoilers. Cuz... you know... the Internet is salivating for "DMY SPOILERS!!!"
Welp. Back to work.
Right now, I got about 10 minutes of "film time" left to edit. I hope to be done by Saturday, April 17th, so my boys DJ "Oil-Can" Ruden and Steve "High-Tops" Heuertz can start burning enough DVD copies to sell at the screening. Cuz I need to make some $$$. So far, I've spent about $110 on "post-production" costs ($50 for the blank DVD+R's and $60 for publicity).
Oh, yeah. Publicity. Hopefully, you'll see a "David Mows Yards" poster near you. My boy Johnny "Oil-Can High-Top" Muller designed them and I am much impressed by (as well as obliged for) his work . I've turned the poster into flyer-sized (8.5"x11"), announcement-sized (11"x17"), and handbill-sized (11"x17" split into quarter sheets) ready to be distributed. But getting them all out is next week's business though. If I did it now, the posters would be torn down and everybody'd forget.
THIS WEEK'S BUSINESS is actually getting the movie done. Fortunately, I only have 3 parts left to edit. They are:
1. "Helen agrees" montage
2. Tree Stump scene
3. Walking Backwards sequence/End credits
Those titles mean everything to you. I gave them "code names," so there wouldn't be any spoilers. Cuz... you know... the Internet is salivating for "DMY SPOILERS!!!"
Welp. Back to work.
Monday, April 12, 2004
Sunday, April 11, 2004
To celebrate Easter, Adam and I went to see that one movie (you know, the one featuring a misunderstood man who gets beat senseless and then cruficied on a cross?) And let me tell you...
"Hidalgo" was the best movie I've seen all year!
Ha-ha.
No, I finally saw "The Passion of the Christ" and somehow, it managed to do the impossible: take out every interesting element about the story of Jesus Christ's crucifixion.
Ugh. How can a filmmaker screw up so badly? This is a story that is clearly (and ridiculously) packed with the conflicts of moral ambiguity, but Mel Gibson white-washes it to the simpistic level of "good-n-evil."
Did you know that, according to this movie, there was at no point when Jesus struggled over his decision to have the shit kicked out of him? Yep. He just went out and did it. Forget the whole fact that this event was important solely because Christ resisted temptation and actively chose to have it happen to him. Yeah. Forget that.
Because, according to this movie, do you know what "temptation" is? It's a weird, albino-ish devil with no eyebrows lurking around crowds and holding up a baby that looks like Billy Barty. Oooo, what temptation! Here's a comparable scene:
GOD: "Jesus, I got this taco for you. It's made out of sardines and turds, but I want you to eat it."
JESUS: "Okay. Yeah. I guess."
DEVIL: "Um, Jesus?" (clears throat)
JESUS: "Yes, Devil?"
DEVIL: "You could have that taco or you could have my taco. It's an albino taco that lurks around crowds and holds up a baby that looks like Billy Barty."
JESUS: "You drive a hard bargain, Satan."
Of course, if you have Jesus face actual temptation, then you risk making him look human (WHICH HE CLEARLY WAS NOT!) and angering people (case in point: "Last Temptation of Christ"). But I understand. That whole "entire concept hinges on it" thing isn't really necessary, is it?
This erasing of moral ambiguity isn't limited to Christ, however. If Jesus is strictly good, then the film's Jews are of the evil-cartoon variety limited to "Big Boy" Caprice's gang of goons in "Dick Tracy." Seriously. I half-expected Flat-top and Pruneface to pull out whips during the lashings sequence. Througout the entire film, the Jews' various efforts to crucify Jesus are portrayed as "just plain evil" behavior (as opposed to, say, their feeling threatened that some guy came along and told them that his spritiual beliefs were better than theirs).
And, of course... Judas - arguably, one of the most fascinating figures in the Bible - has the plot agency of an "evil henchman."
Judas as "stool pigeon." Jesus as Rambo. Jews as Darth Vader.
Finally, at the end of the film, Gibson partakes in an act of "critical self-protection" that I thought was only limited to University workshop classes. In this scene, two men are crucified with Christ. On his left, a man who confessses his sins and professes his belief in Christ-as-savior after witnessing his humanly-impossible suffering. On his right, a man who finds it all very difficult to believe and scoffs. The guy on his left is invited to heaven. The guy on his right... has his eye gouged out by a crow.
And me - arms folded in the theatre, finding myself unmoved by 2 hours of gore, actors-as-props, and uncomplicated moral dilemmas - anticipated Mel Gibson waiting outside the theatre with a crow resting on his forearm.
A CRITICAL SELF-PROTECTION OF MY OWN: I hope, hope, hope that no one sees my irreverence towards this film as an overall irreverence towards Christianity itself. Not because I'm necesarrily afraid of "offending YOU" - it's just that I am so completely bored to bloody tears by polemically-liberal and "progressive" humor that I want to distance myself from it as much as possible. I've stated this in past blogs. And dammit, I'll state it again.
P.S. I like the fact that I'm more concerned about people misperceiving my viewpoints on comedy rather than my viewpoints on spirituality. This is why I want to write jokes for "Planet's Funniest Animals" and why I didn't join the priesthood.
Um, my birthday's on Monday.
"Hidalgo" was the best movie I've seen all year!
Ha-ha.
No, I finally saw "The Passion of the Christ" and somehow, it managed to do the impossible: take out every interesting element about the story of Jesus Christ's crucifixion.
Ugh. How can a filmmaker screw up so badly? This is a story that is clearly (and ridiculously) packed with the conflicts of moral ambiguity, but Mel Gibson white-washes it to the simpistic level of "good-n-evil."
Did you know that, according to this movie, there was at no point when Jesus struggled over his decision to have the shit kicked out of him? Yep. He just went out and did it. Forget the whole fact that this event was important solely because Christ resisted temptation and actively chose to have it happen to him. Yeah. Forget that.
Because, according to this movie, do you know what "temptation" is? It's a weird, albino-ish devil with no eyebrows lurking around crowds and holding up a baby that looks like Billy Barty. Oooo, what temptation! Here's a comparable scene:
GOD: "Jesus, I got this taco for you. It's made out of sardines and turds, but I want you to eat it."
JESUS: "Okay. Yeah. I guess."
DEVIL: "Um, Jesus?" (clears throat)
JESUS: "Yes, Devil?"
DEVIL: "You could have that taco or you could have my taco. It's an albino taco that lurks around crowds and holds up a baby that looks like Billy Barty."
JESUS: "You drive a hard bargain, Satan."
Of course, if you have Jesus face actual temptation, then you risk making him look human (WHICH HE CLEARLY WAS NOT!) and angering people (case in point: "Last Temptation of Christ"). But I understand. That whole "entire concept hinges on it" thing isn't really necessary, is it?
This erasing of moral ambiguity isn't limited to Christ, however. If Jesus is strictly good, then the film's Jews are of the evil-cartoon variety limited to "Big Boy" Caprice's gang of goons in "Dick Tracy." Seriously. I half-expected Flat-top and Pruneface to pull out whips during the lashings sequence. Througout the entire film, the Jews' various efforts to crucify Jesus are portrayed as "just plain evil" behavior (as opposed to, say, their feeling threatened that some guy came along and told them that his spritiual beliefs were better than theirs).
And, of course... Judas - arguably, one of the most fascinating figures in the Bible - has the plot agency of an "evil henchman."
Judas as "stool pigeon." Jesus as Rambo. Jews as Darth Vader.
Finally, at the end of the film, Gibson partakes in an act of "critical self-protection" that I thought was only limited to University workshop classes. In this scene, two men are crucified with Christ. On his left, a man who confessses his sins and professes his belief in Christ-as-savior after witnessing his humanly-impossible suffering. On his right, a man who finds it all very difficult to believe and scoffs. The guy on his left is invited to heaven. The guy on his right... has his eye gouged out by a crow.
And me - arms folded in the theatre, finding myself unmoved by 2 hours of gore, actors-as-props, and uncomplicated moral dilemmas - anticipated Mel Gibson waiting outside the theatre with a crow resting on his forearm.
A CRITICAL SELF-PROTECTION OF MY OWN: I hope, hope, hope that no one sees my irreverence towards this film as an overall irreverence towards Christianity itself. Not because I'm necesarrily afraid of "offending YOU" - it's just that I am so completely bored to bloody tears by polemically-liberal and "progressive" humor that I want to distance myself from it as much as possible. I've stated this in past blogs. And dammit, I'll state it again.
P.S. I like the fact that I'm more concerned about people misperceiving my viewpoints on comedy rather than my viewpoints on spirituality. This is why I want to write jokes for "Planet's Funniest Animals" and why I didn't join the priesthood.
Um, my birthday's on Monday.
Saturday, April 10, 2004
On Friday afternoon, a car full of guys drove past me as I walked to Technigraphics. One of them rolled down their window and yelled, "Nice sweater!" at me.
This was a sarcastic comment. He didn't really like my sweater. He just said he did to make fun of me. You know. Like a joke.
And as they drove away from me, I looked at the back of the car and saw a "Jesus fish" on it. A Jesus fish! Christians were yelling mean things at me. On Good Friday, no less!
You know what? Instead of a "Jesus fish" on their car, they should have had a bumper sticker that read: "WWJND" - "What Would Jesus Not Do!" Am I right? Am I right? Because I doubt Jesus would do that - drive by someone walking to Technigraphics and make a sarcastic comment about liking their sweater.
Needless to say, I developed some pretty strong arguments towards those guys - in the event that I would run into them again on my way to Technigraphics.
I never did.
But if I had, I would have had some pretty arguments, I can tell you.
In conclusion, this blog entry dealt with:
- Sarcasm (It is a style of humor we all admittedly use)
- Christians! (Some of them live in glass houses, yes?)
- The popular phenomenon of "WWJD?" (I mean, people, isn't it a little bit weeeeiiiird?)
- Technigraphics (That Jeremy who works there sure is nice!)
Happy Saturday!
This was a sarcastic comment. He didn't really like my sweater. He just said he did to make fun of me. You know. Like a joke.
And as they drove away from me, I looked at the back of the car and saw a "Jesus fish" on it. A Jesus fish! Christians were yelling mean things at me. On Good Friday, no less!
You know what? Instead of a "Jesus fish" on their car, they should have had a bumper sticker that read: "WWJND" - "What Would Jesus Not Do!" Am I right? Am I right? Because I doubt Jesus would do that - drive by someone walking to Technigraphics and make a sarcastic comment about liking their sweater.
Needless to say, I developed some pretty strong arguments towards those guys - in the event that I would run into them again on my way to Technigraphics.
I never did.
But if I had, I would have had some pretty arguments, I can tell you.
In conclusion, this blog entry dealt with:
- Sarcasm (It is a style of humor we all admittedly use)
- Christians! (Some of them live in glass houses, yes?)
- The popular phenomenon of "WWJD?" (I mean, people, isn't it a little bit weeeeiiiird?)
- Technigraphics (That Jeremy who works there sure is nice!)
Happy Saturday!
Friday, April 09, 2004
Yesterday... ten years ago... the world found out that Kurt Cobain had blown his head off.
Yesterday... ten years ago... my long-standing love affair with rock-n-roll began.
It was a Friday and I was having an early party for my 13th birthday. My friends and I came home from school and found out on MTV that this guy - this Kurt Cobain - had killed himself. I knew who he was. Faintly. I know who Nirvana was. Faintly. My sister Amy owned one of their albums (it had a baby penis on it!). They played on "Saturday Night Live" once (Charles Barkley was the host!). And "Weird Al" Yankovic did a parody of one of their hits. (I owned all his albums!)
Thank God for MTV saturation. When the news hit that Kurt Cobain had killed himself, MTV did what it always does - replayed the same shit endlessly. For my 13th birthday, I watched the ceaseless 24-hour cycle of Nirvana music videos, live concerts, interview footage, and whatever else MTV had stocked in their archives. And as I watched it over and over, it slowly occurred to me how great Nirvana was. The music was loud and angry. And melodic and catchy. Their message was loud and angry. And passionate and clear. And Kurt Cobain just seemed... cool.
So...
Cool music + nihilism + turning 13 years old = Paul Rust now loves rock-n-roll.
That summer of 1994, I bought all of Nirvana's albums. That summer, I grew out my hair and parted it down the middle. That summer, I made music videos for 9 of the 12 tracks on Nirvana's "In Utero" (the most notable being "Rape Me," which ended with me pointing a toy gun at the camera and proclaiming triumphantly that "LeMars sucks!" in the most prepubescent of prepubescent voices).
Did mom and dad worry?
Does it look like I care? (carefully looking over shoulder to see if they care)
Naturally, over the next few years, I swung off Nirvana and onto the other branches of the rock tree. Nirvana to Pixies to Sonic Youth and Velvet Underground. And soon, you're in the thick of rock music and trying out everything. Jonathan Richman. Sleater-Kinney. Pavement. Big Star. It don't matter. And by the time you're a senior in high school, you got 300 CD's and music is something you can't imagine being without.
You talk about it all the time.
You think about it all the time.
You write blogs about it all the time.
And you know... once in awhile... I'll dust off my old-timey Nirvana albums and give 'em a listen on that Victrola.
And they still rock like it was 10 years ago.
Yesterday... ten years ago... my long-standing love affair with rock-n-roll began.
It was a Friday and I was having an early party for my 13th birthday. My friends and I came home from school and found out on MTV that this guy - this Kurt Cobain - had killed himself. I knew who he was. Faintly. I know who Nirvana was. Faintly. My sister Amy owned one of their albums (it had a baby penis on it!). They played on "Saturday Night Live" once (Charles Barkley was the host!). And "Weird Al" Yankovic did a parody of one of their hits. (I owned all his albums!)
Thank God for MTV saturation. When the news hit that Kurt Cobain had killed himself, MTV did what it always does - replayed the same shit endlessly. For my 13th birthday, I watched the ceaseless 24-hour cycle of Nirvana music videos, live concerts, interview footage, and whatever else MTV had stocked in their archives. And as I watched it over and over, it slowly occurred to me how great Nirvana was. The music was loud and angry. And melodic and catchy. Their message was loud and angry. And passionate and clear. And Kurt Cobain just seemed... cool.
So...
Cool music + nihilism + turning 13 years old = Paul Rust now loves rock-n-roll.
That summer of 1994, I bought all of Nirvana's albums. That summer, I grew out my hair and parted it down the middle. That summer, I made music videos for 9 of the 12 tracks on Nirvana's "In Utero" (the most notable being "Rape Me," which ended with me pointing a toy gun at the camera and proclaiming triumphantly that "LeMars sucks!" in the most prepubescent of prepubescent voices).
Did mom and dad worry?
Does it look like I care? (carefully looking over shoulder to see if they care)
Naturally, over the next few years, I swung off Nirvana and onto the other branches of the rock tree. Nirvana to Pixies to Sonic Youth and Velvet Underground. And soon, you're in the thick of rock music and trying out everything. Jonathan Richman. Sleater-Kinney. Pavement. Big Star. It don't matter. And by the time you're a senior in high school, you got 300 CD's and music is something you can't imagine being without.
You talk about it all the time.
You think about it all the time.
You write blogs about it all the time.
And you know... once in awhile... I'll dust off my old-timey Nirvana albums and give 'em a listen on that Victrola.
And they still rock like it was 10 years ago.
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
When there's nothing to say...
Say it in a survey!
01: grab the book nearest to you. turn to page 18, find line 4. write down here what it says : "SOMETIMES IT IS FRUSTRATING TO ME THAT I GET CREDIT FOR WHAT THEY, IN FACT, DO."
02: stretch your left arm out as far as you can. what do you touch first? : A COUCH CUSHION (I USE IT SO MY MARCHING BAND DRUMS DON'T SCRATCH THE BACK OF MY NECK)
03: what is the last thing you watched on TV? : "CHEERS" (FRASIER CRANE WAS DATING A THIN JENNIFER TILLY)
04: without looking, guess what the time is : 1:03AM
05: now look at the clock, what is the actual time? : 12:57AM
06: with the exception of the computer, what can you hear? : A ROGAINE COMMERCIAL ON MY TV (BUT GET THIS - IT'S FOR CHICKS! NOT FELLERS!)
07: when did you last step outside? what were you doing? : I WAS WALKING HOME FROM A T.W.E.A.N. (TOTALLY.WEDNESDAY.EVENINGS.AT.NINE) SCREENING OF "HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP" (I'VE SEEN THREE MOVIES WITH VIC MORROW AND IN EACH ONE, HE PLAYS A MEAN-SPIRITED RACIST - CAN YOU NAME THE OTHER TWO?)
08: before you came to this website, what did you look at? : IMDB.COM - READING ABOUT "HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP" (THIS IS HOW YOU LEARN ABOUT THE MOVIES YOU'VE WATCHED)
09: what are you wearing? : THIS IS ALWAYS THE MOST BORING QUESTION IN SURVEYS! (GREEN SHIRT. GREY SHORTY-SHORTS. HAPPY?)
10: did you dream last night? what about? : I WAS UP FOR 27 HOURS AND TOOK A 2-HOUR NAP YESTERDAY - NO TIME FOR DREAMIN'!
11: when did you last laugh? why? : CONAN MADE A JOKE ABOUT PROTECTING HIMSELF FROM THE SUN BY WEARING A WOMAN'S DRESS
12: what is on the walls of the room you are in?: A DRAWING OF A COBRA PUSHING THROUGH A YIN-YANG (MY FRIENDS FOUND IT ON THE GROUND - I'M ASSUMING SOMEBODY BRILLIANT DREW IT)
13: seen anything weird lately? : OH, BROTHER!
14: what do you think of this quiz? : I LOVE IT!
15: what is the last film you saw? : GEEEEZE! I SAID, "HUMANOIDS OF THE DEEP!" IT'S LIKE YOU DON'T EVEN LISTEN TO ME ANYMORE, SURVEY-BLOGGY!
16: if you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy first?: JACK BROWN FOR MY SON, ERIC BATES
17: tell me something about you that I don't know: YOU... YOU MEAN A LOT TO ME, SURVEY-BLOGGY
18: if you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?: "CROSSING JORDAN" FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK!!!
19: do you like to dance? : DOES THIS ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? (THEN I FART)
20: George Bush : WHY'D HE PUKE ON THAT JAPANESE GUY?! GROSSSSS!
21: imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?: NOT A BOY!!!
22: imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?: HEIR TO MY RICHES!!!
23: would you ever consider living abroad?: LIVING ABROAD? NO. KISSING A BROAD? DOUBLE NO! MARRYING A BROAD AND MAKING HER THE HAPPIEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD? HOT DAMN!
24: will you pass on this survey?: I'LL MAKE A PASS ON THIS SURVEY. SHE'S F-F-FINE IN THAT SUNDRESS!
You're getting better everyday!
Say it in a survey!
01: grab the book nearest to you. turn to page 18, find line 4. write down here what it says : "SOMETIMES IT IS FRUSTRATING TO ME THAT I GET CREDIT FOR WHAT THEY, IN FACT, DO."
02: stretch your left arm out as far as you can. what do you touch first? : A COUCH CUSHION (I USE IT SO MY MARCHING BAND DRUMS DON'T SCRATCH THE BACK OF MY NECK)
03: what is the last thing you watched on TV? : "CHEERS" (FRASIER CRANE WAS DATING A THIN JENNIFER TILLY)
04: without looking, guess what the time is : 1:03AM
05: now look at the clock, what is the actual time? : 12:57AM
06: with the exception of the computer, what can you hear? : A ROGAINE COMMERCIAL ON MY TV (BUT GET THIS - IT'S FOR CHICKS! NOT FELLERS!)
07: when did you last step outside? what were you doing? : I WAS WALKING HOME FROM A T.W.E.A.N. (TOTALLY.WEDNESDAY.EVENINGS.AT.NINE) SCREENING OF "HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP" (I'VE SEEN THREE MOVIES WITH VIC MORROW AND IN EACH ONE, HE PLAYS A MEAN-SPIRITED RACIST - CAN YOU NAME THE OTHER TWO?)
08: before you came to this website, what did you look at? : IMDB.COM - READING ABOUT "HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP" (THIS IS HOW YOU LEARN ABOUT THE MOVIES YOU'VE WATCHED)
09: what are you wearing? : THIS IS ALWAYS THE MOST BORING QUESTION IN SURVEYS! (GREEN SHIRT. GREY SHORTY-SHORTS. HAPPY?)
10: did you dream last night? what about? : I WAS UP FOR 27 HOURS AND TOOK A 2-HOUR NAP YESTERDAY - NO TIME FOR DREAMIN'!
11: when did you last laugh? why? : CONAN MADE A JOKE ABOUT PROTECTING HIMSELF FROM THE SUN BY WEARING A WOMAN'S DRESS
12: what is on the walls of the room you are in?: A DRAWING OF A COBRA PUSHING THROUGH A YIN-YANG (MY FRIENDS FOUND IT ON THE GROUND - I'M ASSUMING SOMEBODY BRILLIANT DREW IT)
13: seen anything weird lately? : OH, BROTHER!
14: what do you think of this quiz? : I LOVE IT!
15: what is the last film you saw? : GEEEEZE! I SAID, "HUMANOIDS OF THE DEEP!" IT'S LIKE YOU DON'T EVEN LISTEN TO ME ANYMORE, SURVEY-BLOGGY!
16: if you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy first?: JACK BROWN FOR MY SON, ERIC BATES
17: tell me something about you that I don't know: YOU... YOU MEAN A LOT TO ME, SURVEY-BLOGGY
18: if you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?: "CROSSING JORDAN" FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK!!!
19: do you like to dance? : DOES THIS ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? (THEN I FART)
20: George Bush : WHY'D HE PUKE ON THAT JAPANESE GUY?! GROSSSSS!
21: imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?: NOT A BOY!!!
22: imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?: HEIR TO MY RICHES!!!
23: would you ever consider living abroad?: LIVING ABROAD? NO. KISSING A BROAD? DOUBLE NO! MARRYING A BROAD AND MAKING HER THE HAPPIEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD? HOT DAMN!
24: will you pass on this survey?: I'LL MAKE A PASS ON THIS SURVEY. SHE'S F-F-FINE IN THAT SUNDRESS!
You're getting better everyday!
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
I got a letter from the Dean's Office today. When I saw it, I got super-scared. What did I do? Why am I in trouble? Did they find out my friends and I ding-dong-ditched the President's house a couple weeks ago? (Sidenote: I did and it was awesome!)
Then I opened the envelope and was greeted with some nice news...
Because I'm "earning the bachelor's degree wtih High Distinction," I've been asked if I'd be willing to give a 5-minute speech at the Commencement/Graduation ceremony at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena on May 15th. If I respond "yes," I'm supposed to include a list of my "special academic experiences," a letter of recommendation, and a rough draft of my potential speech. Then, a five-member committee will choose the student speaker from among these students who were willing to be considered.
So... I have to be chosen and admittedly, there's a pretty strong chance that I won't be, but... it's still nice to be nominated.
It'd be cool if I got it though - mainly because my parents, sisters, niece, grandma and sister's boyfriend are coming to the ceremony and it'd be nice to have them watch me do something (as opposed to just walking across the stage). Plus, you know, it's a nice honor.
This means... I have to come up with a speech to hand in. I've got some ideas on what I want it to be. I want it to be funny without being irreverent. And I want it to be uplighting without being saccharine. But this is difficult since everything I've written for an audience within the last four years has been subversive and downbeat.
I know. I'll just copy Winona Ryder's graduation speech from "Reality Bites."
And then deliver her "My mom's a mermaid!" monologue from "Mermaids."
Don't tell anyone though. This is our little secret - between you, me, and the Mermaid-mom.
Then I opened the envelope and was greeted with some nice news...
Because I'm "earning the bachelor's degree wtih High Distinction," I've been asked if I'd be willing to give a 5-minute speech at the Commencement/Graduation ceremony at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena on May 15th. If I respond "yes," I'm supposed to include a list of my "special academic experiences," a letter of recommendation, and a rough draft of my potential speech. Then, a five-member committee will choose the student speaker from among these students who were willing to be considered.
So... I have to be chosen and admittedly, there's a pretty strong chance that I won't be, but... it's still nice to be nominated.
It'd be cool if I got it though - mainly because my parents, sisters, niece, grandma and sister's boyfriend are coming to the ceremony and it'd be nice to have them watch me do something (as opposed to just walking across the stage). Plus, you know, it's a nice honor.
This means... I have to come up with a speech to hand in. I've got some ideas on what I want it to be. I want it to be funny without being irreverent. And I want it to be uplighting without being saccharine. But this is difficult since everything I've written for an audience within the last four years has been subversive and downbeat.
I know. I'll just copy Winona Ryder's graduation speech from "Reality Bites."
And then deliver her "My mom's a mermaid!" monologue from "Mermaids."
Don't tell anyone though. This is our little secret - between you, me, and the Mermaid-mom.
Monday, April 05, 2004
On Wednesday, a new edit of "Wet Cotton" is required for class, so I've momentarily put "David Mows Yards" on the back-burner and started back on my thesis video.
Right now, I'm struggling over music for the opening titles. The workshop class nixed the Pixies soundtrack. They said it didn't fit tonally. I don't know if I agree with that, but in the end, I have taken out the Pixies songs - only because the class made the good point that a song commits you to that whole, entire song and slows down your editing possibilities. You have to let the whole song play out and it consequently slows down the rest of the video.
They were right on that. So the Pixies are out.
Besides... I got my friend Adam to record some new music for it that's lovely. So I'm better off in the end.
Still, for the opening titles, I want music that's fun and big and stupids. I know the class is going to say it doesn't fit tonally and blah, blah, blah, but I got plenty of time for the music to get serious and sad and all that, so why get to it right away, right? It'll be an argument with my teacher and class, I'm sure, but one that I'll have to win.
That's the one downside of these workshop classes. If I had made this video on my own, I wouldn't have to compromise for others' opinions and the video would stand on its own and in the end, my decisions would probably make sense anyway.
It's the ol' case of "too many cooks spoil your appetite."
Right now, I'm struggling over music for the opening titles. The workshop class nixed the Pixies soundtrack. They said it didn't fit tonally. I don't know if I agree with that, but in the end, I have taken out the Pixies songs - only because the class made the good point that a song commits you to that whole, entire song and slows down your editing possibilities. You have to let the whole song play out and it consequently slows down the rest of the video.
They were right on that. So the Pixies are out.
Besides... I got my friend Adam to record some new music for it that's lovely. So I'm better off in the end.
Still, for the opening titles, I want music that's fun and big and stupids. I know the class is going to say it doesn't fit tonally and blah, blah, blah, but I got plenty of time for the music to get serious and sad and all that, so why get to it right away, right? It'll be an argument with my teacher and class, I'm sure, but one that I'll have to win.
That's the one downside of these workshop classes. If I had made this video on my own, I wouldn't have to compromise for others' opinions and the video would stand on its own and in the end, my decisions would probably make sense anyway.
It's the ol' case of "too many cooks spoil your appetite."
Sunday, April 04, 2004
Today, I realized that from Friday, April 23rd to Saturday, April 30th, I have 5 upcoming events. They are:
1. Friday, April 23rd - 7:30pm
"David Mows Yards" screening at W10, Pappajohn Building
2. Saturday, April 24th - 2:30pm
"Saturday Night Live 2" Riverfest performance
3. Tuesday, April 27th - 10pm
"My Business Failed in Three Weeks" show with "Of Montreal" at Gabe's Oasis
4. Wednesday, April 28th (through Friday, April 30th) - 8pm
"90 Laps," a short play I wrote and directed in the "11-Minute Play Festival" at Public Space One
5. Friday, April 30th - 11pm
My final, original No Shame Theatre performance
It's gonna' be a crazy week. It's weird to think how all of these are culminations of the different things I've done within the past four years (i.e. videomaking, sketch comedy-writing/performing, musicwriting, playwriting, and No Shame-ing). And they're all ending at once.
If I had a girlfriend, I'd break up with her and if I had a car, I'd crash it into the Iowa River.
Gouche. I get bummed after one single play gets over. I can't imagine how I'll feel when that week is through.
Sigh.
1. Friday, April 23rd - 7:30pm
"David Mows Yards" screening at W10, Pappajohn Building
2. Saturday, April 24th - 2:30pm
"Saturday Night Live 2" Riverfest performance
3. Tuesday, April 27th - 10pm
"My Business Failed in Three Weeks" show with "Of Montreal" at Gabe's Oasis
4. Wednesday, April 28th (through Friday, April 30th) - 8pm
"90 Laps," a short play I wrote and directed in the "11-Minute Play Festival" at Public Space One
5. Friday, April 30th - 11pm
My final, original No Shame Theatre performance
It's gonna' be a crazy week. It's weird to think how all of these are culminations of the different things I've done within the past four years (i.e. videomaking, sketch comedy-writing/performing, musicwriting, playwriting, and No Shame-ing). And they're all ending at once.
If I had a girlfriend, I'd break up with her and if I had a car, I'd crash it into the Iowa River.
Gouche. I get bummed after one single play gets over. I can't imagine how I'll feel when that week is through.
Sigh.
Saturday, April 03, 2004
Friday, April 02, 2004
I just got back from the Coralridge (Coral Ridge?) Mall. They had this big tank of hermit crabs out there. The best part? The hermit crabs' shells were painted all these wild colors. I've never seen anything done like that before. One of the shells even had a pair of mini-sunglasses pasted onto it. I bet that hermit crab was the coolest of them all.
Adam wondered if there were any hermit crab shells that were painted to look like Garfield. Right then, I decided I would ask the hermit crab people to paint me a "Garfield" hermit crab shell. And I would buy it. And take it home. And actually name the hermit crab: "Garfield."
But there was nobody around. Who was selling these hermit crabs anyway?
Maybe it was a mystery hermit crab tank that was just set out in the mall to trick people - trick them into thinking that you could get a Garfield hermit crab, that is.
Adam wondered if there were any hermit crab shells that were painted to look like Garfield. Right then, I decided I would ask the hermit crab people to paint me a "Garfield" hermit crab shell. And I would buy it. And take it home. And actually name the hermit crab: "Garfield."
But there was nobody around. Who was selling these hermit crabs anyway?
Maybe it was a mystery hermit crab tank that was just set out in the mall to trick people - trick them into thinking that you could get a Garfield hermit crab, that is.
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Mark your calendars and wash them colanders...
"David Mows Yards" has an official premiere date!
FRIDAY, APRIL 23RD
7:30pm
ROOM W10, JOHN PAPPAJOHN BUILDING
IOWA CITY, IOWA
Last Friday, I sneaked into various University of Iowa A-V rooms to test their equipment and find the most satisfying place to screen my movie. Fortunately, I got my first pick. The sound system in W10 is loud-fantastic and the projector's images are sharp and crisp and vibrant - not washed out and dull like some screening rooms (I'm talking to you, Becker 101).
This is a relief. After all, I am making a video here and you got to do as much as possible to make sure image and sound quality is the best it can be. Because video's not always gonna' do it for you. Uh-huh.
When I screened "America's Funniest American" last year at Becker 101, I died a little bit inside when my green-greens were light-greens and my red-reds were pinky-pinks. Granted, the video wasn't gorgeous to begin with, but it did dilute the colors and it was disappointing. Cuz that's where most of the people who saw "America's Funniest American" saw "America's Funniest American." And it was a mis-representation of sorts.
Anyway...
I'll announce the screening time again when it's closer to the actual date. But remember... keep that night open for us!
"David Mows Yards" has an official premiere date!
FRIDAY, APRIL 23RD
7:30pm
ROOM W10, JOHN PAPPAJOHN BUILDING
IOWA CITY, IOWA
Last Friday, I sneaked into various University of Iowa A-V rooms to test their equipment and find the most satisfying place to screen my movie. Fortunately, I got my first pick. The sound system in W10 is loud-fantastic and the projector's images are sharp and crisp and vibrant - not washed out and dull like some screening rooms (I'm talking to you, Becker 101).
This is a relief. After all, I am making a video here and you got to do as much as possible to make sure image and sound quality is the best it can be. Because video's not always gonna' do it for you. Uh-huh.
When I screened "America's Funniest American" last year at Becker 101, I died a little bit inside when my green-greens were light-greens and my red-reds were pinky-pinks. Granted, the video wasn't gorgeous to begin with, but it did dilute the colors and it was disappointing. Cuz that's where most of the people who saw "America's Funniest American" saw "America's Funniest American." And it was a mis-representation of sorts.
Anyway...
I'll announce the screening time again when it's closer to the actual date. But remember... keep that night open for us!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)