Norm MacDonald

No one had a clue Norm was ill. And when he died, it actually took me by surprise. I did suspect something was odd when he was doing his half-ass podcast that he seemed to be much more spiritual than I was expecting. Talking about God a lot. And really (quietly) mocking those who didn't believe in a higher being. Perhaps he knew his time was limited. But he never told anyone about his illness. Guy like Norm doesn't want your pity. I followed Norm throughout his career, because he was brutally honest about...common sense. He considered much of what he saw of our society as comedically silly. Particularly the people of the "cancel culture" I think because he found it odd that talking shit and laughing about it somehow became taboo. Perhaps he knew he was not to be on this planet long. He also meant a lot to me because in one of the darkest moments of my life, his sardonic silly sense of humor made me feel better about...everything. He understood the ridiculousness of life. And mocked its absurdity. With a glint in his eye, he often didn't know his true power and gift. Things he said just made you laugh your nuts off...for instance... on Liberace "you kick that dude in the ass, a hundred dicks fall out" Shit, that makes me laugh. Yes, it's a VERY outdated reference but for "old coals" like me, we get what humor use to be like. Working class humor, really. These days comedians seem to take themselves way too seriously. Norm didn't seem to want girls, money or fame. He just wanted to make observations about daily life that when seen in its most obvious terms, makes us laugh. Much like "The Three Stooges" I doubt many women found him funny. He never found women funny, so it worked out. There is the ability to make dudes laugh that transcends the mamby jahamby nature of where we are in 2021. To me, his humor made it alright to be a dude. I LOVED that the phony entertainment business had no control over him. I'm sure most comedians looked up to him because he said whatever the fuck he wanted with no reprisal. As I've said in the past, Norm seemed like an old prospector who came out of them mines saw society and made his observation. I honestly feel like I lost a good friend. I think Norm and I would get along. He was a true original.

Kidz Film Festival

I went to a screening of a 17 year old's film that he made with his family. I mean, it was a family affair. Father is an analog film shooter and Mom is a professional violinist. The movie itself is incredible, since he made it on Super 8. The impressive part is the way he sounded. Assured, confident without much nervousness. It floored me since at that age, I despised being in front of an audience. I certainly didn't meet strangers like myself to speak so eloquently. Perhaps that is the European sensibility. It made me think that maybe the United States does chip away at one's self-esteem. If you think about our movie industry...we are the ONLY country whose government doesn't support cinema. Consider that a LOT of films made overseas that have depth were funded by their own government. Sure, there must be corruption when it comes to who or who cannot be funded to make a movie. But at least it's there. They assume cinema as an art form versus Americans who see it as pure commerce. So this adds to the constant competitive approach to filmmaking. People then spend their lives shitting on others efforts. For instance, there was a cinematographer at the screening who was also there to support the young man. He is a professional working cameraman (never seen a thing he's done, none of his credits are remotely recognizable) who attended the American Film Institute (overpriced, pretentious scaly people go here). I can tell right away, he wants to sell himself. To me, of all people. Everyone else is insignificant to him. And he always has a comment to put himself higher on the heirarchy of production (there is one, you=direct - me=camera). What I'm getting at is...who fucking cares? This douchebag couldn't help himself from telling the child of the flaws he saw in the movie. Idiot didn't realize it was all part of the aesthetic. He just couldn't help himself. He had that nervous shifty eyes of a person who is deeply insecure about his craft. Joined guilds and unions because that's what networking does. Otherwise, he knows tech, has very little to non-exitent ability to communicate. Kinda guy who loves to take over a conversation. Regardless of what you have to say, he has to remind you how much more important he is. This is AFI people I can't stand. Guess what...didn't ask me a single question about what I did. And when found out what I did, would batter me with his knowledge of the gear...being mostly wrong. This is someone who wants you to like them and doing it all wrong. I digress. What I was surprised at, was the level of maturity the films had. I saw TWO silly ones in front of six very deeply serious ones. Simple tropes that I'm glad young people are thinking about (racism, suicide). But I don't recall at 17-18 year old caring about that shit. I was making stupid gangster movies. Or re-enacting George Romero. Or dumb silly things. Not only were these "kids" making serious material, they SPOKE with such bravado about themselves and their project. NOT arrogantly, but very focused and intelligently. It wasn't the films they made, but the way they conducted themselves. At that age I was fighting off a shitty girlfriend and drinking myself into a stupor. So I got a glimpse of what serious people do...from young people. Again, the films had a amateurish quality. But some of them were better than what adults were doing. I was impressed and excited to see their future.