Apparently this is the classic Finnish Pancake House in Thunder Bay: Hoito... sounds Japanese. Anyway, I landed in Thunder Bay this evening and have reflected on the day's events, including how I physically got here and how I ended up here.
1) Justin Bieber on the Congolese tainted headcheese scandal.
2) Katy Perry on the retreat of the polar ice caps.
3) Lindsay Lohan on urban blight in Mumbai.
4) Oprah on salmon migration patterns.
5) Tiger Woods on the "new" Facebook layout.
6) Paris Hilton on AIDS research.
7) Flavor Flav on bringing the troops back home.
8) Tila Tequila on stem cell research.
9) Bill O'Reilly on chemical runoff of farm fertilizer.
10) Simon Cowell on P2P downloading.
via vimeo.com
Breathtaking.
I'm continuously amazed at how technology has brought us closer to reality in allowing one person trekking around to capture shots like this. While you can certainly watch the embed here on the blog, if it's not giving you the full HD experience, I'd recommend going to the Vimeo source page and clicking full screen.
Makes me want to drive a lot slower and out of reach the next time I cross Canada. Commendable job with scenery that is oft-shot, but rarely so beautifully.
photo courtesy http://commons.wikimedia.org
Some ruminating on the purity of individual ideas (no matter how utilitarian they be) and how something is lost with every tweak.
photo courtesy www.mokisfanfictionblog.com
...and for fuck sake, STOP IT WITH THE FLASHBACKS ALREADY!
(10 minutes earlier)
Dear Television Writers,
I know that as a television writer you must be under immense pressure to try and appease network execs driven by advertising dollars while struggling to maintain the last vestiges of your artistic integrity.
It must be tough.
After all, you've got centuries of writers who've created enduring narratives behind you. I mean, shit, how the hell are you supposed to compete with Greek Mythology, The Bible, and Shakespeare by packaging a message into a 22 minute sitcom or 42 minute procedural?
I don't envy you. I can't say I couldn't do better because I've never tried, but I don't really want to either. It must hard to devote weeks to a script only to have ripped apart by a show creator, director, and pre-pubescent cast member who changes your painstakingly-crafted dialogue because they can't say "verisimilitude" without spitting on the rest of the cast.
I understand that in the over-reaching story arcs of many of the series you work on, there are only a limited amount of plot devices you can explore without becoming hackneyed and derivative. I also understand that the magic of editing allows you to play with timelines like so many styrofoam peanuts that accompanied the oversized box that my one DVD order from a popular online retailer was packed in.
I will even cop to understanding that by starting your action drama with a big car chase and explosion will retain viewers in the first two minutes. I further "get" the financial constraints on most producers as they try to milk every last dollar for stunts, sets and pyro. It really only makes sense that if you're going to write a big action scene that requires a large budget chunk, you might as well get the most out of your money.
So hey! Why not use it twice?
Because it's tired, stale, and a cop out for weak writers.
Take back control of the narrative. If your dialogue cannot sustain interest for the two minute teaser before the opening titles, quit now and forever hold your piece of remaining dignity in the world of indie film and a flailing grasp at Sundance.
Be bold, be creative, be daring and for fuck sake, STOP IT WITH THE FLASHBACKS ALREADY!
A before B, except after Z... really?
Sincerely,
Anthony Marco
Different styles and content, but cool nonetheless. Hope you enjoy marveling at the creative process in watching some of these come together:
picture courtesy condemnedtorocknroll.wordpress.com
Crowdsourced topics from Episode 200's Associate Directors:
Ian McGregor (@mcgregis)- Copyright in Education
Alex Blackie (@x96design)- Schools Scrambling Cell Phone Signals
Ralph Lichtensteiger (@lichtconlon) - SILENCE
Chantal Mancini (@uniongrrl)- Backyard birds and Puffins
Cheryl (@victriviaqueen) - "what happens when you do meet online friends in person (feel free to rant about the terms "IRL" and "meatspace") -- do you bond or is there an awkwardness? Or do you just try to keep it all separate and not, as in Ghostbusters, cross the streams?"
Scarborough Dude (@scarboroughdude) - "Hate. We use this term quite casually, usually meaning dislike or something that bugs us. I'd like to know what you think is deserving of real hate in the strongest sense of the word. Fuck love - that's too easy."
via vimeo.com
In what may be the coolest and most surreal superhero short story of your life, Salesman Pete is yet another effort found through the amazing community at Vimeo. I somehow don't feel I've done my job if I haven't provided an animated timesuck for your workday blahs at least once a week.
Truly bizarre, engrossing and entertaining. From the Vimeo website:
"Pete is a nice and clumsy salesman. But he's also a deadly super secret agent with a microprocessor implanted into his brain by some mad scientists from the governement ! He has to secretly stop a bunch of badguys who stole a magic stone that can change anything into seafood!"
Great action, style and attention to detail. Definitely worth half a coffee break.
photo couresy newsquake.netscape.com
While I finalize the 200th lovehate podcast, I thought I'd share some music with you folks. Since it's not a #musicmonday and I didn't feel like talking too much. I figured it was time to bring da noize, bring da punk... just for fun.
Unlike most of the content I create on this site, this is not Creative Commons. I will comply with any and all takedown requests. I encourage you to buy these tracks (and more by the bands) if you like them.
Song listing:
- Clash - White Riot
- Dead Kennedys - California Über Alles
- Dead Boys - Sonic Reducer
- Ramones - Judy is a Punk
- New York Dolls - Trash
- The Damned - Love Song
- Sham 69 - Borstal Breakout
- Black Flag - Wasted
- Hüsker Dü - Makes No Sense At All
- Generation X - Kiss Me Deadly
Later this week I'll be recording the 200th episode of the lovehate podcast and I want your help.
I want you to tell me what I should talk about.
I'm opening up the floor to all topics, including pop culture, politics, media, technology, or whatever else you can think of.
There is a catch however. You only get one topic, so make it good.
I have no illusions that this is going to generate an ungodly ream of suggestions, but rest assured, whether it's 2, 20, or 200, I will talk about all of them in this podcast. It could be a VERY long affair.
So put your thinking caps on and decide what you would like to hear a lovehate spin on.
Love it or hate it.