I am writing from the Omaha's Eppley airport, where my plane is currently delayed an hour. I'm flying to Florida for the weekend. I am very excited to be in warm weather, though I've gotten fairly attached to my rotation of scarves, so they will be missed. I am also looking forward to seeing family and relaxing.
In other good news, a film studies class that I proposed looks like it's going to be a go for the upcoming semester. I hope I'm not jinxing it by writing before it's official, but things are looking good. I've always wanted to teach a film critical studies course and be able to choose which films to screen and what topics, theories and genres to cover, so this is really exciting for me. Especially since most of my students won't have seen any of the films before, and hopefully will be exposed to some interesting stuff that they wouldn't normally seek out themselves and give them a greater appreciation for the art form.
Oh, and an article I wrote on Slumber Party Records for The Reader comes out today. I wasn't able to pick up a copy, so I hope someone can pick up a copy for me to see when I return. Maybe I'll check around in the airport for one, now that I think about it. It should also be up on their site sometime soon.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Purchase
Today (technically yesterday now) I bought a book titled Screenwriters' Masterclass by Kevin Conroy Scott from Borders. I had two coupons and I think it was a great purchase. I'm hoping that it will inspire me to start doing the one thing I haven't done that I really planned to do here in Omaha: write a script. Not come up with an idea or write an outline or write 15 pages and abandon it, but finish the whole thing. 112 pages. Or 107. Either one of those is a good number.
So the book is a compilation of interviews the author conducted with writers, discussing one particular work of theirs, plus the whole writing process and other fun stuff. He's chosen a diverse and talented group of screenwriters, including Lukas Moodyson, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Lisa Cholodenko, David O. Russell, Michael Haneke, Wes Anderson, Chris Weitz, Scott Frank, Guillermo Arriaga, Paul Laverty, Francois Ozon, Carlos Cuarón and Darren Aronofsky (among others). From the skimming I've done, it looks like it's pretty solid stuff too. I didn't notice any embarrassing questions and the answers look pretty meaty. It also reminded me that I still have to see Lilya 4-Ever, a movie I've wanted to see 4-ever, or about 5 years.
Anyway, thought someone else out there might find it interesting. It should also provide me with the opportunity of making more double-sided, photocopied handouts for my students to ignore. More importantly, let's hope it does the trick of getting me in the writing mood.
So the book is a compilation of interviews the author conducted with writers, discussing one particular work of theirs, plus the whole writing process and other fun stuff. He's chosen a diverse and talented group of screenwriters, including Lukas Moodyson, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Lisa Cholodenko, David O. Russell, Michael Haneke, Wes Anderson, Chris Weitz, Scott Frank, Guillermo Arriaga, Paul Laverty, Francois Ozon, Carlos Cuarón and Darren Aronofsky (among others). From the skimming I've done, it looks like it's pretty solid stuff too. I didn't notice any embarrassing questions and the answers look pretty meaty. It also reminded me that I still have to see Lilya 4-Ever, a movie I've wanted to see 4-ever, or about 5 years.
Anyway, thought someone else out there might find it interesting. It should also provide me with the opportunity of making more double-sided, photocopied handouts for my students to ignore. More importantly, let's hope it does the trick of getting me in the writing mood.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
the holidays: a photo retrospective
Conagraopoly! How exciting! The limited edition, hard-to-find game created by the innovators at ConAgra Foods. Look at how much fun we're having.
Forget about Park Place and Marvin Gardens. You can purchase Hebrew National and Slim Jim. Oh, you didn't know about Ettore Boiardi, the original Italian chef behind Chef Boyardee? If you had Conagraopoly you would!
An annual tradition of decorating Christmas sugar cookies.
Yeah!
Meet the Snuggle Bees! Don't we look like rockers? I would be scared of us. I mean look at the look we've got going...yeah, pretty intimidating.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
a plea
Dear Weather gods, El Nino, Global warming, Sun, and Thermometers,
I hereby request that you bring the temperature back into the double digits, or at the very least, out of the negative wind chill range. It is seriously cold. A cold so cold that my brain froze out any hint of memory of cold that cold. And I think I'm getting a cold.
Warmly,
Lindsay
I hereby request that you bring the temperature back into the double digits, or at the very least, out of the negative wind chill range. It is seriously cold. A cold so cold that my brain froze out any hint of memory of cold that cold. And I think I'm getting a cold.
Warmly,
Lindsay
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
lowering the bar
I am discovering a new phenomenon brought on by Rock Band. No, it's not wrist fatigue and back aches, although I have fallen prone to both. I have found myself actually liking songs by The Killers and Weezer, two bands who I had what could best be described as an elitist attitude toward prior to this obsession with Rock Band. When You Were Young by The Killers? Killer song (pun intended). I find myself singing, "He doesn't look a thing like Jesus, But he talks like a gentleman, Like you imagined when you were young" nearly every day.
I fear that I will soon be buying the new Flyleaf album and hiding it in my closet. Or maybe I will invest in the South Park created band Timmy and the Lords of the Underworld. I see dark things in my musical future.
I fear that I will soon be buying the new Flyleaf album and hiding it in my closet. Or maybe I will invest in the South Park created band Timmy and the Lords of the Underworld. I see dark things in my musical future.
Monday, January 21, 2008
saturday
The Bemis. Photo taken at an earlier, less snowy date.
Saturday was a cold, snowy day but Jamie, Erin, Sean and I made it out to the Bemis (Jamie and I made the trip twice, in fact). The following photos were taken from an exhibit/show titled "Visual Art by Musicians." Let me know if that isn't descriptive enough. If you want to see a list of all the artists featured, just click on the Bemis link above.
Some artwork. Left by Derek Presnall (Tilly and the Wall), right by Kianna Alarid (Tilly and the Wall).
Photos by Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs).
Artwork by Jacob Thiele (The Faint).
Jamie admiring the antics of Derek Presnall, captured on video.
Flowers Forever. They are a great live band, Derek has a lot of energy and fashionable accessories, a killer combination. Their upcoming CD is coming out on Team Love February 5 (out in stores Feb. 19, pre-order available now).
You can download three songs at Team Love.
Fourth of July. From Lawrence, Kansas. She's In Love is a super catchy song, and they closed with it.
NY Times articles
Today, Sarah Vowell wrote an op-ed piece Radical Love Gets a Holiday. It's a great read, of course, and a great reminder of Martin Luther King, Jr. on this day.
On Sunday, NY Times magazine had a piece on Friday Night Lights and the franchising of television by Virginia Heffernen.
Also, New Wave on the Black Sea was an interesting article on the recent output of accomplished Romanian films by A.O. Scott. I am really anticipating the release of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.
On Sunday, NY Times magazine had a piece on Friday Night Lights and the franchising of television by Virginia Heffernen.
Also, New Wave on the Black Sea was an interesting article on the recent output of accomplished Romanian films by A.O. Scott. I am really anticipating the release of 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Things I am looking forward to:
1. Watching this week's recorded episode of Project Runway
2. Seeing The Savages, most likely tonight
3. A new Friday Night Lights tomorrow
4. Playing with the Snuggle Bees before we go on an extended hiatus
5. Tomorrow night's art opening and show (Coyote Bones, Flowers Forever and Fourth of July) at the Bemis Underground
6. Pulp's Paper Dolls art exhibition
7. The weekend! Freedom!
2. Seeing The Savages, most likely tonight
3. A new Friday Night Lights tomorrow
4. Playing with the Snuggle Bees before we go on an extended hiatus
5. Tomorrow night's art opening and show (Coyote Bones, Flowers Forever and Fourth of July) at the Bemis Underground
6. Pulp's Paper Dolls art exhibition
7. The weekend! Freedom!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
celebration over
Well, sadly my official birthday has passed, but it was a great day.
Great news: Jamie and I passed Black Sabbath's War Pigs on hard (on a kind of embarrassing technicality: she took over on my bass drum and vocals). What an electrifying birthday accomplishment!
Great news: Jamie and I passed Black Sabbath's War Pigs on hard (on a kind of embarrassing technicality: she took over on my bass drum and vocals). What an electrifying birthday accomplishment!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
just in
I passed The New Pornographers' Electric Version on the drums on hard (on Rock Band).
Next up: War Pigs! I will make it through. I must.
Next up: War Pigs! I will make it through. I must.
Monday, January 14, 2008
a bit of news
Hump, a short film made by Jeff, Derek, Bradley and myself, has been accepted to the Omaha Film Festival. It's screening Thursday, February 21 at 6 pm and Saturday, February 23 at 5 pm at Westwood Cinema (Screen 4) as part of the Nebraska Shorts section (I guess if you averaged our home states/towns, it might end up around Nebraska).
Come if you can, and if you're from out of town and I know you and like you, you've got a place to stay.
Come if you can, and if you're from out of town and I know you and like you, you've got a place to stay.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
coming to the end of the weekend
Quick run-down on weekend cultural activities:
Dan McCarthy, Spring Gun and Thunder Power!!! at Slowdown was awesome. The sound is really great in there and as a result, the bands all sounded great, especially TP (photo below). Kacynna's voice was amazing on those crisp speakers.
Saw Billy the Kid at Film Streams and really liked it, also enjoyed the Q & A afterwards. I felt nostalgic for 466 nights and Q & As and felt like I should've been sitting on the floor in the front taking photos. That would've been weird though. I decided that I would make a list of all the guests we had so that I could remember them in my old age or tell my grandkids. I always plan to do this with concerts too (for the same reasons). I will add both of these lists to my non-New Years resolution list. But yeah, the movie was a funny, interesting, moving portrait of this kid, Billy. It's surprising that the director, Jennifer Venditti, was able to establish trust and a sense of rapport with him in only 5 days (she went back and shot 3 more days. If you don't feel like doing the math, that's 8 shooting days)...although after watching the film and getting a better sense of Billy, it's not all that surprising - though it is a testament to her personality as well. I have a lot more I could say about this film (and maybe will), but for now (since this is a quick recap and it's 2:14 am) I will just say: go see it if you can.
It is also the kind of movie that makes me really want to go out and make a film. It had a very DIY aesthetic and was shot with basically just two people as the crew on the Panasonic DVX camera and has a verité style. I wish the camera had been more steady, but in the end it didn't matter because Billy as a character and the subject matter as a whole was so strong. It really is an example of story, character and heart triumphing over any matter of production value or gloss.
Recently got back from seeing Baby Walrus at The Waiting Room. It seemed like a shorter set than usual, but it was still fun and they sounded great. I really like the record, but it's even better live. I still have What Plastic Box in my head. Here's the end of it live:
I would like to go to The Waiting Room tomorrow night to see Orenda Fink, Jake Bellows, Joe Knapp, Stefanie Drootin, Dan McCarthy and more, but probably won't because I haven't planned anything for class on Monday and that would be another late night and I have get sleep for my long work day on Monday. I'm just not as hardcore as I once was, I guess. I'm getting old.
And last, but not least, I am in the process of re-watching Me And You And Everyone We Know. It's been too long since I've seen it last, and it's been fun and inspiring to watch it despite the fact that I keep falling asleep...which has nothing to do with the movie itself and everything to do with the fact that I start it at around 3 am after taking Tylenol PM (a recent bad habit I am aiming to break). I'm hoping to make it through another 20 minutes tonight. Later.
Dan McCarthy, Spring Gun and Thunder Power!!! at Slowdown was awesome. The sound is really great in there and as a result, the bands all sounded great, especially TP (photo below). Kacynna's voice was amazing on those crisp speakers.
Saw Billy the Kid at Film Streams and really liked it, also enjoyed the Q & A afterwards. I felt nostalgic for 466 nights and Q & As and felt like I should've been sitting on the floor in the front taking photos. That would've been weird though. I decided that I would make a list of all the guests we had so that I could remember them in my old age or tell my grandkids. I always plan to do this with concerts too (for the same reasons). I will add both of these lists to my non-New Years resolution list. But yeah, the movie was a funny, interesting, moving portrait of this kid, Billy. It's surprising that the director, Jennifer Venditti, was able to establish trust and a sense of rapport with him in only 5 days (she went back and shot 3 more days. If you don't feel like doing the math, that's 8 shooting days)...although after watching the film and getting a better sense of Billy, it's not all that surprising - though it is a testament to her personality as well. I have a lot more I could say about this film (and maybe will), but for now (since this is a quick recap and it's 2:14 am) I will just say: go see it if you can.
It is also the kind of movie that makes me really want to go out and make a film. It had a very DIY aesthetic and was shot with basically just two people as the crew on the Panasonic DVX camera and has a verité style. I wish the camera had been more steady, but in the end it didn't matter because Billy as a character and the subject matter as a whole was so strong. It really is an example of story, character and heart triumphing over any matter of production value or gloss.
Recently got back from seeing Baby Walrus at The Waiting Room. It seemed like a shorter set than usual, but it was still fun and they sounded great. I really like the record, but it's even better live. I still have What Plastic Box in my head. Here's the end of it live:
I would like to go to The Waiting Room tomorrow night to see Orenda Fink, Jake Bellows, Joe Knapp, Stefanie Drootin, Dan McCarthy and more, but probably won't because I haven't planned anything for class on Monday and that would be another late night and I have get sleep for my long work day on Monday. I'm just not as hardcore as I once was, I guess. I'm getting old.
And last, but not least, I am in the process of re-watching Me And You And Everyone We Know. It's been too long since I've seen it last, and it's been fun and inspiring to watch it despite the fact that I keep falling asleep...which has nothing to do with the movie itself and everything to do with the fact that I start it at around 3 am after taking Tylenol PM (a recent bad habit I am aiming to break). I'm hoping to make it through another 20 minutes tonight. Later.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Thunder Power!!!
This was in the same issue of The Reader. I'm happy to see Thunder Power!!! mentioned as, "one of the more sophisticated and exciting bands to come out of Omaha." Yeah!
I'll be at this show tomorrow.
I don't think I've mentioned this before, but I'm directing a music video for them. I'm in the editing stage and should be done in a few weeks. They just got out of recording at ARC, Mike Mogis' recording studio here in Omaha and the stuff I've heard sounds great. I can't wait for the album release.
Article published
The Reader, an Omaha weekly, published an article I wrote on parkour in Omaha (see scanned images below...notice the top left of the cover).
You can click on the photos to get a closer look (and actually read the article).
Or you can read it online here.
I'm working on my next one for the paper now...
You can click on the photos to get a closer look (and actually read the article).
Or you can read it online here.
I'm working on my next one for the paper now...
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
New doc awards
Out of frustration with the AMPAS and its exclusion among doc Oscar nominees, the doc community (rallying behind filmmaker AJ Schnack it seems) have created their own awards and shortlist for those awards. Pretty cool idea, and a way to promote some great films that don't get enough support/recognition/viewers. Check out more info here. The films that I have seen on this list are pretty great, and I plan on seeing the rest of these that I haven't already seen.
I'm going to see Billy the Kid (photo below) directed by Jennifer Venditti this Saturday at Film Streams. She's doing a Q & A after the screening.
I'm going to see Billy the Kid (photo below) directed by Jennifer Venditti this Saturday at Film Streams. She's doing a Q & A after the screening.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Arrested Development translations
This is awesome. Please check out this blog entry about a pirated copy of Arrested Development she picked up in Hong Kong. Pretty hilarious.
is that really how you're going to end it? really?
The 24 watching crew and I have finished our marathon. Jack had us at "damn it" in that first episode of Season 1 in summer and we've stayed by his satchel-carrying, tight jeans-wearing side through to the finale of Season 6 tonight. It's been a long and bumpy (and sometimes nauseous) ride and now we've made it to the end (so far). I feel a sense of accomplishment even if it means that I'm one step closer to defending the Patriot Act.
I was holding my breath until the last minute, when I promptly exhaled and muttered the title statement above. The stalled Season 7 better bring some excitement. I have hopes that they will inject (metaphorically and literally) some thrills, especially with the addition of Janeane Garofalo and Cherry Jones to the cast, as well as the prospect of the return of a dearly beloved character who shall remain nameless. All I'm saying is that a) they have to make up for that lackluster ending and b) I'm waiting for a seemingly inconceivable plot twist of Lazarus proportions, I'm waiting for that Chicago Cubs coffee mug to be sitting on a desk in CTU. Now if the Producers would only end this Writers Strike...
I was holding my breath until the last minute, when I promptly exhaled and muttered the title statement above. The stalled Season 7 better bring some excitement. I have hopes that they will inject (metaphorically and literally) some thrills, especially with the addition of Janeane Garofalo and Cherry Jones to the cast, as well as the prospect of the return of a dearly beloved character who shall remain nameless. All I'm saying is that a) they have to make up for that lackluster ending and b) I'm waiting for a seemingly inconceivable plot twist of Lazarus proportions, I'm waiting for that Chicago Cubs coffee mug to be sitting on a desk in CTU. Now if the Producers would only end this Writers Strike...
Friday, January 4, 2008
awesome
Came across this photo, taken in Miami Beach. I believe the artist has an upcoming site at www.clavahead.com
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