Bad name for a street

I apparently saved the best for last. The Midnight Cookies and Cream was quite good, but I am okay with just regular Cookies and Cream. The chocolate masks the cookie flavor a bit too much, and I ask, "then what's the point?" The crunch is satisfying, but it should provide an additional joy in flavor. Maybe if the cookies were vanilla-flavored? Now there's a role-reversal that I'm sure someone must have thought of by now.

The Shepard Scale is playing a key role in my wet project. We'll linger on it for some time and then find a composer that is interested in playing with the idea. Experimental film, as it should, must have a goal in mind. This project will allow me to continue my process of engagement - how involved can we make the audience? Simple formulas will focus on character and story - but a film is much more than that! If these were the only options, then I'd become an author.

But words that go unread will never fulfill their purpose.

The majority are uninterested (-ing) in the process. They would rather throw their money at someone that will provide a caffeinated shot of ecstasy to please their dull senses. One that, as is its nature, will leave them with a satisfactory but temporary high and nothing more. Just a mere distraction before they fall back in line with the masses, never to have their internal gears moving again.

NTTAWWT

That is to say there is nothing wrong with those films, I grew up on that filth as well and still enjoy them from time to time. And there are plenty of people willing to make a dollar off of that demand. But let's add some class to the mix since at the moment it is a concentrated sludge that is collecting in the gutters. Some quality, some variety, some CREATIVITY would help dilute the stink.

So how? How do we engage the average audience member when the ideas we want to use or express are now filed under 'art house fluff'? How does one entertain and challenge or inspire at the same time in a film? Without relying on story or character?

I don't know, but that's what my experiments are about. I do think that a character, or at least a vessel of sorts is needed. Some thing that the audience can use to enter the world, a point of reference.

In my wet project, who or what is the vessel?


Now have a cupcake. That's but a bit of what runs through my head as I begin a new project. I did say I'd share my process with you, which forces me to work on my project more frequently than before, so we all win. Especially if there are cupcakes involved.

A Nightmare On Elm Street will be screening tonight at the Dryden, along with the sequel. It's quite an interesting film, as there really isn't anyone to root for - everyone's kind of a jerk. You almost want to cheer on Freddy, but then you realize who he is (or why rather) and then you're left with an odd feeling. Presently, there has been a lot of attention given to child-related incidents, to the point of paranoia that leads to terrible false accusations (occasionally, not all the time). We won't get political and it's a good thing to think about the children, but one can wonder now if Freddy was mistakenly accused of his acts. Well, no, he couldn't. All the evidence was there to lock him up for good, or so we are lead to believe by a drunken woman.

Hrmm.

If he were a pedophile, then it would have made for a very uncomfortable movie. Instead we're left with an asshole jerk who bullies kids around and then kills them in an act of revenge against the parents. But it's never fully explored (it never felt like revenge). To be filled with so much hate that you are able to come back and haunt people in their dreams is a great idea - but Freddy never appears to actually hate anyone and he becomes someone the audience cheers for like Jason Voorhees. You're cheering for a pedophile to win. Ah, such is the slasher flick... or am I just assuming that people are cheering for Freddy? This film is just boiling with ideas to talk about that I might have to attend to hear the curator's opinion. Plus the blood hitting the ceiling will be nice to see on a big screen.

On another note, to be wrongfully accused of his acts and killed for them - now there's a reason for revenge and possibly a reason to cheer. That too could possibly lead to a very uncomfortable film.

Hrmm.

Since 1965

It is by my own humorous deduction that there are a lot of alcoholic women in my area, for the Amaretto Almond Crunch ice cream is out of stock. That was my conclusion as I wandered around the market. There was plenty of Bananas Foster in stock, I should point out. And although I did enjoy the AAC more than the BF (finished it in one sitting, as embarrassing as it is to admit), I again would not pick it up for a second time. The almond praline gets stuck in my teeth. Would it have been so wrong for it to just have almonds? I should note that my favorite bowl of ice cream is vanilla with some cinnamon on top, and maybe a sliced banana on the side.

It's quite refreshing.

My latest distraction is provided by the X-Files, which has given me the opportunity to imagine how such a series could exist in the present day. Would Mulder and Scully have twitter accounts? What would they think of the internet in general? My memory is vague, so they probably do cover the wonders of the world wide web in later episodes, after all it only took about 4 episodes before their super high-tech computer was used to enhance a photo to reveal the identity of not only a blurred individual's face - but the face of a ghost. It then took about another ten episodes before they filtered out a phone conversation to detect a helicopter in the distance taking off, which they were able to use to figure out the trajectory and altitude. All of which was done on magnetic tape. CSI doesn't even compare to the FBI circa 1992.

I suggest you watch it, as it is by far more entertaining and professionally done than most shows today. Don't you dare suggest that Lost is just as good. That filth was exhausting to watch. I even lost interest in the pilot episode. I'll say that the effort to try to juggle so many characters at once was decent, but in the end I still didn't care about any of them.

I won't waste my nor your time on the matter.

In other news: My connections have provided me with a taste of the new Unkle album, Where Did The Night Fall, in which we find our heroes in a new chapter of their lives. My first impression is as follows.

--Immediately, I am in a room lit in red, smoke soaks our clothes and I'm looking towards the bartender for another shot. It's comfortable, after all, everyone in here is a fatalist and no one has got the time. It's only the first track, but I feel rather optimistic about my evening and where I will end up.--

An album rich and heavy in character, it will be a most welcome selection to your evening ventures.

Since then, until later.

Split lip

You should all be aware that visiting your local grocery store after being at the gym is a bad idea. If it's a test of will power, then I failed last night. But not due to a desire of indulgence, but of curiosity. Unless I am required to be somewhere within the half-hour, I will take my time at the store as I find it to be a very enjoyable experience. Reader beware if you ever find yourself tagging along with me to the market. Eventually I'll end up in the frozen food section to see what devious inventions are being tested on the public. Ice cream is what catches my interest. And last night I picked up three little gems. I couldn't just pick one as they all sounded worthwhile. All Häagen-Dazs flavors, the "limited edition" kind.

Now this label, "limted edition", could just be clever advertising. The common folk are easily duped and love anything that is on sale or rare. Better yet when it is both, just ask my mom who will purchase items she has no interest in (or ever did) due to them being on sale. But my problem was selecting just one. Partly because I was quite hungry, and because they all appeared to provide a delicious experience. The flavors would be: Bananas Foster, Midnight Cookies & Cream, and Amaretto Almond Crunch. Now how new these are is irrelevant - because they are new to me. It's all a matter of perspective, ya know? But I felt I couldn't go wrong, so far every flavor (it feels wrong to say "flavor" when identifying an ice cream) from Häagen-Dazs has been good. Their Vanilla Honey Bee is awesome, if you wanted to start somewhere.

But I was wrong about the Bananas Foster. It's okay, but it's at the bottom of my list now, or very near at least. A combination of banana ice cream with a sweet cinnamon and rum swirl sounds good, and probably will be once I make my own, but the swirl might as well have been replaced with a chaser of syrup. My sweet tooth desires a mild sweetness with a rich buttery feel, which is why I like Häagen-Dazs quite a bit, but this was made with a child in mind, a child that has a giant pixie stick in one hand and a large soda in the other.

What works for me about Bananas Foster, the real kind, is that it is a fun, adult-like dessert. And the fire, definitely the fire. So while I didn't enjoy the ice cream attempt as much, perhaps you will. Perhaps this ice cream will make a good milkshake? It should be around for a while, and as I check the website I discover that it should be here until December. There appears to be another contender - Dark Chocolate Mint. I would venture a guess that it is popular.

In another review - I've been introduced to the "healthy" Clif Bar. The short humorous review is as such: when opening the package, a movie quote pops into my head as I look upon this "bar".

"You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?"

Yes, Happy, apparently I do. And they're delicious.

Are Things Still The Same?

I captured a wonderful shade of blue the other day. The kind only given to us by the sky. I'm quite fond of it, although most would just see blue and nothing more. To you, I say nothing at all.

More and more time is spent outdoors as the weather becomes enjoyable. I plan to make a day out of recording the nearby lake, hopefully I won't pick up too much of the locals (vroom vroom and all). The weekend was a treat, and I've been rewarded with knowing that an old chum of mine can stick various objects in his nose without any discomfort (such as a screwdriver). It was most entertaining. You never know what you will discover at a juggling convention, so, there you go.

May I not be distracted too often by the warm weather, for I do have things to share with you.

Please, enjoy this piece:

441

Just a quick drop in the bucket.

I'll be here for the weekend: HERE. There will be a live video feed of the events taking place, there is also a schedule you might want to check to see if there's an event you would like to make time to view (such as the Friday Night Open Show at 9pm EST). It will be fun, and I will be there.

Let's begin.

A Unicorn

This is becoming quite an eventful month. First we have the 33rd annual Juggle-In which will be going on this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at RIT. Lots of stuff happening and it's all free. A free public show on Friday night, plus another show on Saturday night (not free but it won't break the bank either). Bring the family and have some fun! Learn some new tricks or just learn how to juggle. Of course, if you can not visit us, you can catch all the excitement via the live video stream we will have set up. Nerds, we know. Check the link above to find info on the stream. You'll even have the opportunity to chat with yours truly!

Next is something that has caught my attention over the weekend. Another interesting video competition. Perhaps this is a project I can collaborate with a few folks. Deadline is in August, check out the rules to see if you're interested. If time permits, I'll try. But I've been pacing about for some time on my current piece that I can not just drop it to start on this competition. It won't be far from my thoughts, though.

Here's something I just discovered - you can now use your Wii to view your Netflix stream. The stream has been quite handy and I do so apologize for using it so often. I do promise to return the DVD I have, one day, I just need to actually watch it first. To be fair it's a 3 hour long film, and I'd rather see it all in one sitting than catch it in segments. I have to be respectful to Tarkovsky, after all.

I have twitchy fingers. I am to hear the results of one of my film submissions this week. Will I be accepted? Granted, my film is no unicorn, but I like to believe you haven't seen anything much like it. Just you wait, one day.

I'll show you.

Heads will roll

It's been rather busy in my lab, just go with it, as I tinker a bit more seriously with my next project. I like where it is going as well and should be a promising one. So much so that I will be posting any notes I write down. That is to say, that I will let you see my process.

It's a wet one.

The project, not my process. More on this later, as for now we must turn our attention to a most lovely event. I'll see you there! If you are so inclined, you can even show up in one of two designs I made for the event (the other design will be available at the event, joy!). Behold:

2010 RIT Spring Juggle-In Shirt by me