Greetings from the wonderful world of the Valley.
And Merry Christmas. Sorry this day is reserved for Jesus. So take all that other shit and find a different day. Better yet, go to work if you don't love Jesus.
Just joshing folks. Today is a day of reflection. Lately I've been reflecting on a life that trickles away. All of our lives do.
What we want to do is leave a small mark in this world, as a friend once told me. So that sometime down the line, a teacher would point to your craft and study it. There is no higher honor.
Someone once told me that my student thesis film was still shown to incoming graduate students as to the type of films that can be made at film school. That was really nice to hear, but a massive kick to my ego. Which is never good. Because of my, already, inflated head.
I'm opinionated for sure.
But, also, discussions have turned to how you survive in Los Angeles.
I ran into a friend at the gym a few days ago, and he's from Texas. He came out here to body build. INCREDIBLY nice dude. We chatted about how we ever survived Los Angeles (been out here 20 years now, he had only been out there 5). He told me it took him 2 years to get adjusted to the ups and downs of Los Angeles. I professed that I've hated it then, and I hate it now.
So...you probably are wondering why I am still here. Simple. It makes me money.
Money that sustains living a comfortable life. Quiet and content.
The downside, it makes me have time to think useless what most of us in the film business are.
Not because we're physically useless, but when end comes, everything goes to zero. Think about that...remember going to the zoo on a elementary school field trip? Erased.
I think a lot of older people ponder this. What is it all mean anyway? This was made a LOT more apparent by my car accident. The line in Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven" How when a man dies, it's everything he has and everything he's ever going to have. Zep. A big period at the end of that sentence.
And it doesn't help as you look around and see and hear people who have died. Do you ever consider them lucky? To know the universal question about life after death. To have peace from some physical or emotional pain. These are thing people like...oh say...Jack Lemmon does not worry about. He's gone. And others who have gone.
That said, I think most of us build lives comfortable enough for us to live comfortably. That's weird to consider if we're always on a ticking clock. And we feel this in our daily lives. So we distract ourselves with things until that dotted period. Which could come minutes or seconds after I finish writing th---
Just kidding. Anyway, let pettiness go. It's a natural reaction to do so, but let things go (I'm mostly saying this to myself) relax and let others live their own way as well.
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Sunday, December 22, 2019
"Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker" (2019)
It's become fashionable to hate on JJ Abrams and the Disney/Kathleen Kennedy "Star Wars"
Let us not forget that K2 gave us the early Spielberg flicks with all the Indiana Jones stuff. Or Robert Zemeckis stuff.
Sorry to disappoint you all, but she is giving you exactly what you wanted. Corny nostalgia.
No one is better at it than JJ Abrams. His entire career is rooted in "hey, that feels familiar." And it's not a fault. It's a talent.
With shows such as "Stranger Things" it's mostly a mimicry of that time. It doesn't have the sensibility of the time. To me, Abrams is the ONLY person who fits that bill. Director Rian Johnson with "The Last Jedi" seemed to have shuttered all the wholesome corniness of the series. Seems to be the least fanboy of the "Star Wars" saga.
The other thing, is for people to call for George Lucas's return. Hey dopes...he made the prequel three. Which, if anyone has a brain...should recall it is dull as dirt and looks like a cheap soap opera (ooooo right, it is). If that's the "Star Wars" you want, NO ONE will be happy.
It's a silly galaxy romp that fans have taken to be something else. A cult into itself. Freaky as that may be.
I happened to like "The Rise of Skywalker." It's not a good film. It does what it needs to do to fix a lot of the issues we have with it. A casual fan, such as myself...is going to be okay with it. Heartwarming where it needs to be. Though my biggest gripe are the failed moments. When a character declares a line, you expect it to have a deep shot to the core. Instead, it feels kind of flat. Whatever. They'll come at you with something else.
Also, to Abram's credit...he has to deal with 40 years of built up incel hate. "Star Wars" is escapism NOT some deep meaningful thing. It's suppose to fantasy. Which it is. They shouldn't even talk like us, but they do. Some could argue, the earlier ones (4-6) do have a message in it. Yeah, we know Mookie "do the right thing" but it is frustrating to deal with the same thing over and over again. Light overcomes dark and you're not alone in the fight. I know, I know. Which is why this one is pretty good. Because it doesn't completely bash you over the head with liberal agenda (unless you count this split second lesbo kiss at the end, which happens so fast, no one should care..but they do). It is still George Leftist Lucas's legacy to promote Leftist agenda, even though down the hill from where he lives, homeless are shitting in the streets. Fuck you, Leftists.
Oh wait, I threw in my own agenda into this review. Anyway, I liked this film. I don't love it. There are moments that will make you cringe. The dialogue is just as bad as 1977 "Star Wars." And that, in itself, is a nod.
Just don't think it should guide your life and just have fun. In fact, I'm going to go see it in IMAX in a little bit. Nice little easter eggs within the film. Got to say, if anything, I believe Abrams cares about you, the fan. I wouldn't give a shit about you. Rian Johnson didn't. So there's that.
May the Force be with you in the next decade.
Let us not forget that K2 gave us the early Spielberg flicks with all the Indiana Jones stuff. Or Robert Zemeckis stuff.
Sorry to disappoint you all, but she is giving you exactly what you wanted. Corny nostalgia.
No one is better at it than JJ Abrams. His entire career is rooted in "hey, that feels familiar." And it's not a fault. It's a talent.
With shows such as "Stranger Things" it's mostly a mimicry of that time. It doesn't have the sensibility of the time. To me, Abrams is the ONLY person who fits that bill. Director Rian Johnson with "The Last Jedi" seemed to have shuttered all the wholesome corniness of the series. Seems to be the least fanboy of the "Star Wars" saga.
The other thing, is for people to call for George Lucas's return. Hey dopes...he made the prequel three. Which, if anyone has a brain...should recall it is dull as dirt and looks like a cheap soap opera (ooooo right, it is). If that's the "Star Wars" you want, NO ONE will be happy.
It's a silly galaxy romp that fans have taken to be something else. A cult into itself. Freaky as that may be.
I happened to like "The Rise of Skywalker." It's not a good film. It does what it needs to do to fix a lot of the issues we have with it. A casual fan, such as myself...is going to be okay with it. Heartwarming where it needs to be. Though my biggest gripe are the failed moments. When a character declares a line, you expect it to have a deep shot to the core. Instead, it feels kind of flat. Whatever. They'll come at you with something else.
Also, to Abram's credit...he has to deal with 40 years of built up incel hate. "Star Wars" is escapism NOT some deep meaningful thing. It's suppose to fantasy. Which it is. They shouldn't even talk like us, but they do. Some could argue, the earlier ones (4-6) do have a message in it. Yeah, we know Mookie "do the right thing" but it is frustrating to deal with the same thing over and over again. Light overcomes dark and you're not alone in the fight. I know, I know. Which is why this one is pretty good. Because it doesn't completely bash you over the head with liberal agenda (unless you count this split second lesbo kiss at the end, which happens so fast, no one should care..but they do). It is still George Leftist Lucas's legacy to promote Leftist agenda, even though down the hill from where he lives, homeless are shitting in the streets. Fuck you, Leftists.
Oh wait, I threw in my own agenda into this review. Anyway, I liked this film. I don't love it. There are moments that will make you cringe. The dialogue is just as bad as 1977 "Star Wars." And that, in itself, is a nod.
Just don't think it should guide your life and just have fun. In fact, I'm going to go see it in IMAX in a little bit. Nice little easter eggs within the film. Got to say, if anything, I believe Abrams cares about you, the fan. I wouldn't give a shit about you. Rian Johnson didn't. So there's that.
May the Force be with you in the next decade.
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Learn To Listen
So many people...
...I can't believe I have to repeat myself. But NONE of you listen.
Here's a few thoughts about those of you who can't retain information and follow up, you know...that thing called "listening"
a) you are not the most interesting person in the room
b) you are annoying
If you want to stand out in Hollywood, listen. Most of you don't. Which is why most of you aren't that far in life.
Listening requires a few things...processing information you are given, taking a small amount of time to consider, then following up with something that pertains to what that person said.
Most actors can't do this. In life, in acting. Why? It's not about them.
Actors are narcissists of the worst kind. The ones who have succeeded understand this. Tom Cruise for example. Watch him in interviews. Most of the time it isn't about him, it's about the interviewer. He remembers EVERYONE'S name and can regurgitate one fact. About them.
Here's an exercise...try it.
Meet a stranger, then find out ONE fact and retain it. Then see if you can remember it.
If you can't, keep trying until you do.
Most people in our society today can't function this way either. They give an opinion and then ignore everyone who has input.
If you ever wonder why people have become annoying. And why people function a little better online.
Because if you read something, you do take the time to process, because it interests you...somehow.
Be original and LISTEN. Most think you do, you don't. I do my very best to ask more questions than anything. Have genuine interest in people. The world would be a better place.
...I can't believe I have to repeat myself. But NONE of you listen.
Here's a few thoughts about those of you who can't retain information and follow up, you know...that thing called "listening"
a) you are not the most interesting person in the room
b) you are annoying
If you want to stand out in Hollywood, listen. Most of you don't. Which is why most of you aren't that far in life.
Listening requires a few things...processing information you are given, taking a small amount of time to consider, then following up with something that pertains to what that person said.
Most actors can't do this. In life, in acting. Why? It's not about them.
Actors are narcissists of the worst kind. The ones who have succeeded understand this. Tom Cruise for example. Watch him in interviews. Most of the time it isn't about him, it's about the interviewer. He remembers EVERYONE'S name and can regurgitate one fact. About them.
Here's an exercise...try it.
Meet a stranger, then find out ONE fact and retain it. Then see if you can remember it.
If you can't, keep trying until you do.
Most people in our society today can't function this way either. They give an opinion and then ignore everyone who has input.
If you ever wonder why people have become annoying. And why people function a little better online.
Because if you read something, you do take the time to process, because it interests you...somehow.
Be original and LISTEN. Most think you do, you don't. I do my very best to ask more questions than anything. Have genuine interest in people. The world would be a better place.
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