Do or Die

There is the great line in Shawshank Redemption, "Get busy living or get busy dying." I've always wanted to see a spoof where someone hears that, solemly nods and later we hear a gunshot off camera and a thump as he falls dead.

Summer is like that. Great enough weather to get the camera out, but maybe either my scripts aren't ready or the ones that are I haven't got the passion or specific mischeif to set about shooting. I thought for sure I would have shot my one about Siamese Twins by now. I won't mention the specific element that sets them apart from "Stuck on You." But even if I like my satire, once I've communicated it in a script I need to be driven to get past that.

Recently I had a tooth problem solved, and it reminded me how little I have to complain about. Most of my complaints originate with my choice to eat the wrong food and do too little exercise. I'm oddly not uncomfortable, but adrift and the current is taking me farther away from the reason to exist - whatever efforts I have invested my life in.

Film directing and writing are the main passions, but it seems to take a bit longer now. Some actors are great and accessible only for shorts. Others would pay thousands of dollars to take acting courses or improve exercises but then insist on being paid to make a movie that will actually give them something decent (if not the only item) on their reel. One thing I know is that time is ticking and there is kind of a deadline. I feel myself becoming somewhat more misanthropic, set apart, and in the wrong position to direct the attention of an audience and expect success.

I will very soon lose all interest in some of the simpler and sharper ideas that at least a handful of people enjoy. I should be married and have kids by now, but more importantly I should be able to support them with an excellent moviemaking career. The disease is enough that I hardly even look at the stage plays I've written, much less made the effort to book a space and start rehearsals. Maybe because movies are the white whale that will eventually kill me.

I've started reading The Dark Side of Genius about Alfred Hitchcock, figuring that should help keep me grounded nicely. Whether or not grounding is the thing I need. I'm sedated. Maybe as a result of too many pills. I have to get a passport, a new doctor, some acupuncture to the backs of my legs, and a reason to set foot out side of Ontarion for the first time in my adult life. I thought living in Toronto was a leap, but I still find a comfortable groove. I'm too accepting. I wonder what will happen when I finally snap.

putting off health

There are some things that need to be actually written into a daily planner.

Definitely getting to a dentist. Apparently a split molar isn't something to ignore for awhile. My left jaw hurts like hell. Put some expsensive ambosol in there this morning so I could sleep a bit. But at work now I still have to deal with it. Swishing some mouthwash over the area helps for a few minutes. I'll likely go through a bottle before my shift is done.

My right knee still has something not quite right. May get it ex-rayed on Monday.

Also have to ask OHIP to look up records as far back as 2004 when the Rudd Clinic lost my results from something there and claimed I was a no show. Not that I'm planning a belated lawsuit. I just like to know.

It would have been better to assume from the start that "we're taking care of it" is not something to believe and that ultimately it's better to find out immediately if someone is trying to avoid giving you bad news. Need to prevent hemmoroids as much as possible too. Maybe permanently. I mean how do I plan for anything? Pain in the ...

Have to settle on a new doctor and a dentist as well, not necessarily in that order.
Man, been a while since I've had a real persistant tooth ache. I can only swish so much mouthwash in there to numb it. Man, pain is an inconvenience. It's worse if I lie down.

Movie director birthdays today

a) George Lucas
b) Robert Zemeckis
c) Sofia Coppola

Happy birthday all.

I realize Cate Blanchett turns 40 today. Happy birthday to her.
But for years I've just thought of the directors who share this birthday.

Mother's Day

Happy mother's day, mom. Although it's safe to say she won't likely read this blog.

I planned in advance this year and got some flowers ordered, annoying the operator by repeatedly making sure the morning would be time of delivery.

Now she won't be at home until the afternoon. Oh. well.

Porky's and Star Trek

Last night I sat down and watched a DVD I got from the public library. I hadn't seen it since it first hit VHS more then 26 years ago. It's about friendship loyalty, antisemitism, racism, and the trouble of finding a bad guy that can make a bunch of horny kids of little distinction seem like heroes. A local brothel in the 1950's, run by the brother of a corrupt Sherrif whose station is next door, is run with little concern for repeat business. Customers may return, but usually to seek revenge. The unlikely system is that Mr. Porky has located his strip club in a free standing structure suspended over water for no apparent reason other than to give Porky a place to dump people. Apparently the regular clientelle don't mind their strippers right beside the police department. The third act of the film is the most entertaining and upbeat, and Porky makes a perfect punching bag as an antagonist so bad and mean that he defies logic or motivation of any kind. Basically he is fat and mean without a bit of business sense. He of course is balanced out by Ms Ballbricker as the minor heavy and her petty tyranny at the school railing against anyone who has sex. It's a formula that obviously worked but on reflection even the turning of the tables with their "good" police officer and the community inexplicably coming together seems a little starry-eyed. It reminds me of perhaps the one good line in the awful "It's Pat," while seeing if they have anything in common Pat's mate Chris says, "You know what I'm against? Senseless evil." Porky is a fat man who seems to have aquired riches by antagonizing potential customers from the nearest town. At least with Ballbricker one look at her explains why she hates youth, pretty girls, and peeping penises.

Star Trek (2009) I saw at the first Toronto matinee I was aware of, only because I was unaware there had been screenings the previous day. D'oh! In a couple of places my eyes glazed over a bit listening to time travel and black holes being explained, but those were brief and the movie itself has momentum to get past it. Knowing the original crew characters will be an advantage, since much of the fun is in the subtle recognition of habits and moves or quips we know. But it is almost more of a homage to Nicholas Meyer's Wrath of Khan and The Undiscovered Country going by what is referenced. Although I am assured that there are more references to the TV series, which sounds reasonable enough. If people haven't seen any Star Trek and want to be up to speed, The Naked Time, and Space Seed episodes from the original series, then the Features The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, The Voyage Home and The Undiscovered Country in that order will be excellent preparation for the new Star Trek. I have no idea whether it plays as well for people who don't know the characters. They might feel on the outside of an inside joke. The main thing is that at least the evil antagonist here has a grudge we can understand, which will be apparent when you see it. Good logical flick.

bad movie warning signs

I'm not recommending anyone see Empire Records, but it's a recent viewing that comes to mind. It came with Singles by Cameron Crowe on the same DVD and looked like a deal. With a better script, Alan Moyle can make a good movie (New Waterford Girl. Pump Up the Volume), but with a weak one you can only ask so much even with a mostly talented cast. About 14 minutes into Empire Records there's a little scene of head bopping and hair-flinging dance as the cast begin their day at the record store. It brings to mind the dancing at the end of The Breakfast Club, except that in the John Hughes classic the dancing is EARNED and very welcome after some heartsearching dialog and character development. Here, in Empire Records, it's off-putting cutsey-pie crap. The only sign of something happening is that the manager Anthony LaPaglia doesn't immediately fire an employee who has stolen and gambled away a day's cash but even then it just stands as weirdness. I'm not sure I should go on watching it.

Babelgum

Congrats to Michael O'Hara who was one of the winners in a recent competition with his "Mr. Happy" animation. Getting a free plane trip to see Spike Lee isn't too shabby. It must have been a couple of years ago that short was made. These things take a long time. I know I've tried to upload a few things to Babelgum. I don't know why I've dragged my feet.