Creative Endeavors

Molly and I after Poppycock's first show

This week has been great. I felt like my creative output was on full.

Poppycock: Molly had a dream that we did a two person improv show and the name of it was Poppycock. She told me about it the next day. We figured it was a sign and got a slot. Our first show was last night and it was great. It was Molly's first two person show. The crowd was packed and they loved it. The show was slow paced and grounded, playful and fun. I broke super hard in the middle of a scene where I was Molly's mom berating her for being in love.

Talkie Pictures: BK asked me to shoot some videos. We did one where I slammed George R. R. Martin. Dreams do come true!

Salute Jive: Julia and I had our first show since July. Both of us were a little nervous before hand but we clicked right into place once the show started. We got the longest laughs we've ever had. Fast and fun and effortless.

Bubble Boys: Tisher and I are writing an episodic radio show. I'm really excited about this and we've been talking about it for a while. We finally got episode one on paper and planned out. It should be recorded and available for your ear holes some time in the next couple weeks.

Its always satisfying to perform. But it's even more satisfying to utilize multiple types of media. I'm realizing that I'm in a place now that if I have an idea I can get it out there. There's no reason not to be as eclectic as possible with presentation. I have many talented friends with many different skills. And they're all game to create.

'The Flat' A Review

The Flat is an Israeli documentary which follows Arnon Goldfinger as he cleans out his grandmother's apartment after her death. He finds evidence of a friendship between his grandparents and a member of the SS in Nazi Germany before their forced immigration to Israel. As he digs deeper he uncovers more information including their friendship after the war. He delves further into his families past uncovering disquieting things.

The film unravels a mystery but raises very complicated questions. Questions that can't be answered or simply have no answer. Why do people do the things they do?

It's an insightful, moving, dense film that examines an incomprehensible friendship in the wake of the Holocaust.

See It.

Street Talk 9

I was getting on the train today and my CTA card must have gotten demagnetized. It showed me an error message on the turn style "see attendant". The attendant was very harried and seemed annoyed.

Woman: (thick accent) It no work! It no work!
CTA Attendant: OK, try this one here.
Woman: I had 5 dollars! I had 5 dollars.
CTAA: (irritated) You still have 5 dollars just go through.
Woman: But I already, I already, I already...I payed two twenty five already! It charge me!
CTAA: (louder, more irritated) It's charging you 25 cents! (woman boards) Jeez...(to me) Yeah?
Me: My card won't work. I have $8.10 on it.
CTAA: (rolls eyes) Try this one here. (I try it, it gives same error) Hold on, I'll get you a new card(sighs)
Couple: Excuse me?
CTAA: Yeah?
Couple: We're trying to get to 322 N. Jefferson...?
CTAA: (sighs, shuts eyes, pause, opens eyes) Go up the stairs here walk north to the elevated train stop then get on the green line and your stop is Clinton. Get off at Clinton. Then head west to Jefferson then take a right.
Couple: Thank you so much.
CTAA: Yeah. (to me, sighs) OK, you got your ID? This gonna take a minute.
Me: (smiles) Here ya go.
Snooty Woman: Excuse me?
CTAA: (frowns) Ahhhhh Yeah?
Snooty Woman: I'm looking for (unintelligible). You know by the Marriott.
CTAA: (rolls eyes) Yeah I know it. Go up to Grand and head east.
Snooty Woman: ...Grand...um...Grand.
CTAA: (disgusted sound, pause) So I got you a new card-
Cute Little Boy: (runs up, jumps to the window) Boo!
CTAA: (face lights up with the most amazing warm smile) Oh, hello! How are you today?
Cute Little Boy: Trains! (ducks below window, jumps up) Boo! (runs off to his mom)
CTAA: (chuckles) Ok here's your replacement card and I'll give you a free ride for the inconvenience. Sorry about the wait.
Me: Thanks. No problem at all. (smiles big) Have a great day!
CTAA: (returns smile, big and honest) You too.

Graffiti 79

"I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach ten thousand stars how not to dance." -e.e. cummings

"I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself." -D.H. Lawrence

"I don't ask for the meaning of the song of a bird or the rising sun on a misty morning. There they are, and they are beautiful." -Pete Hamill

Inciting Incident 4

I ask friends "When did you first feel the need to perform?" This comes from my beloved collaborator and Shrink creator Ted Tremper.

Gratitude 4

I'm grateful for these last warm days.
I'm grateful for coffee and cigarettes.
I'm grateful for Punam and her love.
I'm grateful for stages to perform on.
I'm grateful for an understanding and loving family.
I'm grateful for Radiolab.
I'm grateful for Adam and Beanpole's joking texts.
I'm grateful for vegetables.
I'm grateful for cooking oil.
I'm grateful for salt.
I'm grateful for candles.
I'm grateful for fantasy books.
I'm grateful for reconnecting and staying connected with friends.
I'm grateful for feelings and talking about them.
I'm grateful for ideas and paper and ink and glue and push pins.
I'm grateful for hot showers and sandalwood soap.
I'm grateful for dreams even ones that leave me uneasy when I awake.
I'm grateful for movies and dark theaters.
I'm grateful for iO and all the friends and opportunities I've been given there.
I'm grateful for Christmas lights and candy.
I'm grateful for wind and clouds and sun and full moons.

And you, always you.

'Flight' & 'The Man With The Iron Fists' Reviews

Flight is a movie about a struggling alcoholic. The film opens with Whip, played by Denzel Washington, waking up, finishing a beer, doing some coke, and then flying a commercial flight. During the flight there is a mechanical failure and the plane goes down. Whip pilots the plane to a miraculous landing saving 96 of the 102 people on board. The rest of the film follows the fallout of the crash.

The first half of the movie is great. Denzel's performance is nuanced and engaging. The film falls apart however because it doesn't go anywhere. The second half of the movie loops in on itself and repeats the same series of actions over and over. Denzel's love interest is so underdeveloped and contrived it takes you out of the film anytime it's shoehorned into the plot. The ending is sappy, unsatisfying, and unbelievable.

After ten years of dealing with computers it seems Robert Zemeckis has forgotten how human's actually work.

Rent It.

The Man With The Iron Fists is a Kung fu movie written, directed, and starring RZA. The dialogue is terrible, the plot makes no sense, but the fighting is great. As I watched it I felt like it was a complete waste of time until I realized what a passion project it was for RZA. Everyone knows how much the Wu Tang Clan loves Kung fu movies. And it's obvious that a lot of love went into the movie however poorly it turned out. If RZA decides to make another movie I would simply suggest working with a professional screenwriter.

And the wigs were absolutely terrible.

Don't See It.