Hello readers.  I notice that it’s been a while since I wrote anything… anything at all.  So, to make up for it, today’s post is going to be about two entirely unrelated topics.  Basically, two days worth of blogging in one thrilling adventure…  Here we go.

The age old debate continues.  Superman, or Batman?

I have read more than one article/blog now saying big movie execs are worried about the future of a squeaky clean Superman in the dark realm of heroes such as Batman and Hellboy.  In a way, I guess I can understand the panic.  In a world of self-professed cynics we relish the the flawed hero, or even the anti-hero, which I guess is fairly interchangeable at this point. For Pete’s sake, even the Harry Potter movies fight for that dark and broody, angst filled atmosphere… and they’re based on children’s books. (Go back and read the first four novels… Not broody or cynical.  Children’s books.)  You know what, that’s fine.  Largely those movies work and for various reasons, and are hugely popular, but just because a couple movies work one way, doesn’t mean they all have to.

Superman has always been a much lighter hero, right up to the bright blue spandex.  He is the squeaky clean, super human, bringer of hope.  To change that for box office purposes would completely change who that entire character is.  Where Batman sees the flaws and warts of humanity,  Superman sees the strength and good-will of it.  What’s wrong with that?  In today’s world, where bombs are being dropped on various countries by various enemies, children are shooting their peers, and politicians play bloody knuckle boxing with tax-payers, why can’t we go to a movie to see someone actually be able to save the world, just because he wants to?

Superman is an idealist.  He does not seek revenge or have too many inner-demons to battle, and though he may not represent the ever-popular downfalls of humanity, he does represent the hope that we have all seem to have forgotten these days.  He doesn’t need to be the same as Batman to succeed.  He’s Superman for Heaven’s sake.  Use what you have on the table in front of you, don’t go stealing off of other people’s tables.  With the USA being ripped apart by this year’s election over issues that there seems to be no Right or Wrong answers for, and when the people are doing nothing but screaming for a savior,  ¹ why not just give them one?  Superman does not play in the grey areas, he’s so Black and White, so good vs evil and he wins everytime.  Don’t underestimate people’s need for that.

Superman and Batman are different heroes, that’s why there’s two of them.  Let Superman stay Superman.  Batman gets to come into his own being Batman.  So, let Superman come into his own by being Superman.

That being that, onto Topic #2, and I wouldn’t mind someone swooping in and saving the day.

Today I will finish Draft Two of one of my screenplays  – that is, if I will get off the internet and finish it’s last sequence.  It’s a decent draft, much better than the first, but it is still facing a lot issues, a lot of which I created for it with the premise.  Six redheaded women are forced to stay under the same roof after the death of the patriarch.   Adding to the claustrophobia, two of the women are former wives of the man while the other four of the offspring of the respective unions.  The fact that the action takes place under one roof where little happens in terms of plot stimulus, the women are forced to continually rehash their past with one another.  Anyone who has taken Screenwriting 101, or even has just SEEN a movie, knows that the last thing that any audience wants to sit through is a bunch of people sitting around talking about the past… except, for some reason, in The Big Chill, that was a huge success. ²  I am completely stuck on how to bring about keeping the story in the present as well as bringing a bit more action³ to it.  So yeah, that’s where I am with that.

I feel as though until I can work out some of the big flaws, as well as a title⁴, it would be pointless to pursue another draft.  And to be honest, I don’t think I could do that right now.  It has worn me out, and I need a break.  So where do I go from here?   I have a few options,  I suppose:

1. I have another screenplay that I have draft 1 already out there for.  It needs a lot of plot work, as well, in order for another draft to be attempted.  It’s difficult but not impossible.  I like this project, it’s a bit lighter in tone and not quite as soapy  – though I never intended my Redheads project to fall under the “soapy” category, for the record.
2. I also have a TV Show that I am trying to develop.  If I had to choose, this would probably be my “passion project.”  It’s something that I have been swirling around with for a few years now.  I’ve written scraps that could eventually wind up as a bible and a draft of the pilot episode.  Both need considerable work before they have the ZAP and PUNCH that I think is completely achievable with the idea and that’s fine.  I can work with that.  It’s my favorite idea so far, but honestly, probably the one that’s least likely to get me any work at the moment.
3. This last week or so I have been itching to get started on this new idea that’s been brewing in my head.  It’s the idea that the more I think about the project I’m working on, the more I think about starting this idea. It is called Finding Geraldine and it is to be a feature film.  I have deliberately suppressed working on it because I would get swallowed by it and never finish Redheads. I’d love to start now, but I fear taking on yet another project would just cause me to neglect my existing ones and they would never get any further.
4. Hopefully next year, I will be applying for the ABC Disney Writer’s Fellowship. Hopefully.  It is an intensive (and very competitive) program where they throw you into the TV writing business and help you hone some skills with on the job training.  It is how many TV writers in L.A. get their start.  In the application you must submit a TV Spec episode (essentially a glorified Fan Fic ep) of a series in production.  This will probably take me months to do because of all the research  – which I promise involves slightly more than just watching the series over and over — and planning involved.  I have a little less than year to get this underway.

So there you have it.  How do I spend my days now?

And also I would much appreciate your advice on how I can get out of the house in the process.  I’m tired of being here all day alone with my body image.

I grew up watching television. What American kid of my generation didn’t?  However, I remember as a kid I read so much more than I do now.  I mean, I read a lot back then, sometimes a book a day and I could always find time to read AND watch all my shows.  Now, I’m not really sure when the last time I just sat down with the sole purpose of reading a book.  Occasionally, if I go into the city on a more frequent basis I will take a book along and read it over the course of a month as I commute to and fro.  Though that’s far from impressive and I can’t say truly in the spirit of enjoying a book to it’s fullest.

My father, on the other hand, is a reader.  Growing up, I swear he was constantly reading about fifty books at a time.  It was just something he did.  He still does.  One time he gave me an interesting theory on his reading, which I will share with you now.

Dad makes a habit of reading four books¹ at a time, each serving a different purpose.  

One just for fun.

If you’re not going to enjoy reading, what’s really the point?  Read a book that offers you a sense of pleasure.  It doesn’t have to be classic literature, ² just something thrilling.  It can be a romance novel or an anthology of WW2 guns.

Being a big fiction reader, this one isn’t too hard for me to choose.  I either go one of two routes with this, I either pick up a Sci-fi/Fantasy book or a first person character piece, usually about some sort of idiot savant.  And I’ll have  you know that both Ender’s Game and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time  were both excellant reads.

One to learn something.

This is where we obviously start to use our brains a bit.  Pick up a book that will actually teach you something.  This, of course, can be on a topic that you know very little about or that you know a bit about but could always know more.

Like the previous category, this one isn’t difficult for me.  Learning something new about something I’m interested in really isn’t a chore, so getting through a Film/Television book, or something, isn’t too much of an ask.  Though I recommend something that can really further your knowledge, not just an easy read.

Update: My father noted that this one, for him, is usually to learn something new about his particular career field, if you would like to take that on board.

One for faith and/or spirituality.

When I was about thirteen, my father jumped head first into participating actively in the Episcopal Church, and with that, came a whole new stack of books.  Obviously, not everyone out there is a Christian, or even particularly religious for that matter, but I sort of like this one, and I believe that’s it’s still applicable to everyone.  There’s more to spirituality than learning about Jesus.  Spirituality is about the incorporeal or immaterial nature we possess, or rather plainly, “the soul.”  Not a big fan of the big J.C.?  Maybe buddism is more up your ally.  Grab a book on meditation.

A bit too wanky for you?  Well, you can’t say that there’s not room for improvement.  What about picking up a self-help book of sorts.  I hear The Secret is revolutionary.  Don’t judge, that’s just what I hear.  Use this category to find a way to make you a better person, whatever way that might be.  Who doesn’t want to be a better person?

One to broaden horizons.

Pick up a book that you wouldn’t normally pick up.  I can’t speak for everyone but I have a very small comfort zone.  My interests are very limited and the idea of seeking outside of those interests is a concept that’s either terrifying or boring to me… Probably both.

This may sound like a bit like the second category, and I guess in a way it is, but this one isn’t as limiting.  This book can be anything that’s a leap for you, hence the term, “broadening horizons.”  Techincally, a action novel would be way outside my peripherals and no one is really argueing that they are the most educating books in the world, so really, this can be anything.³ Though, a book about South African Apartheid would certainly be stepping out of the box. The more we read, the more we learn learn, and that can’t hurt.

Though, I would like to note that dad always snubbed my SciFi thing, so maybe he should follow his own advice and picking up a book about space ships or dragons should be his next attempt under the “Broadening Horizons” heading.

So there.

I’m not going to pretend that I have ever been able to read four books at once, especially with such stipulations, but if you ask me, it’s not a bad discipline to have.  Reading is what keeps our brain active, so by all means, do what you can.  Start with any two of these books and work up from there.  My father’s a smart man, and perhaps this is why.  TV and movies are great and I have heard people say that it will be the end of reading, but why does it have to?  Why does one have to be to the exclusion of the other?  Paper is awesome, grab a book.

There is still another two to three weeks in summer hiatus left, so pick up a book or two…or four.  My dad will like you more for it.

Don’t ask about my Wii.  We aren’t speaking to one another.  Though this evening I rent on a real run.  Yes, I left my lounge room.  It was brutal, and probably a bit comical to watch.

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Other than the occasional social issue, I try to stay as clear as possible from politics. It’s not the politics that I find distressing, but rather the politics OF the politics that I find particularly off-putting, but really that’s an argument for another day. Upon creating this website, I never had any intentions of it being a political haven, particularly because I don’t think I can speak articulately enough on any one political subject well enough for it to be so, nor honestly, do I care. But it would seem now, with the November election rapidly approaching, I find myself a lot more interested, and not to mention, scared.

Yes, to repeat that, I am scared of which what the political winds are blowing. I’ve heard countless times that this may be the most important presidential election America has ever seen, and though I can’t argue if that is necessarily the case ¹I cannot deny that the election is crucial to the future of our country. The notion of John McCain taking office terrifies me. Actually terrifies me. The below video pretty much sums up why:

McCain will be the next Dubbya, and then some. Over the last eight years, the USA has tumbled² from grace due to the current administration and to be honest, I don’t think that we are strong enough to take another four years of decline. That’s over a decade falling, and that’s bound to do some damage. The economy is worse off than it has ever been. (From 3 trillion surplus to 5 trillion debt, is nothing to scoff at, even though the numbers are fairly hard to comprehend.) McCain will surely continue that with his notions of what “rich” is and how we should continue to stay in the futile war we’ve been drowning in for the last seven years. If McCain wins the presidency, America will go even further into debt with the war, not to mention, lose lives that ought not be lost, run screaming towards Christian Evangelical Fundamentalism and most certainly set social issues back twenty years. ³

We need Obama.  And though I really like him and think that he will do a good job as president, I am not claiming that Obama has to be the most 100% perfect man for the job.  We just can’t have McCain — at this point, even if it were 2000 McCain and not 2008 McCain — because Bush has already set us back too far. Maybe it would be different, tolerable at least, if he was coming straight off the heels of Clinton, but he’s not, our grave is being dug as I type this.  

Frankly, I don’t trust My Fellow Americans to make the right choice.  People vote their wallets an unfortunate amount of the time, even if they don’t have the wallets that are going to benefit.  Plus there’s the ignorant contingent that we have to deal with who just like to have their freedom to bare arms and not having to deal with those different (or more intelligent) than them.  Not to mention, those looney’s who vote Independent, thinking that that is a way to keep the evil away by not voting for it.  You know what, stay home, independents, because all you do is take away from the good guys, since your “parties” are generally little off-shoot denominations of Democrats anyway.  Thirdly, what’s to stop the GOP from stealing yet another election?  Twice in a row they’ve done it, and not subtly, either, so what’s to stop them from doing it again?  What’s the swing state of choice this time?  And finally, Obama is counting on a lot of votes from demographics that aren’t the most reliable when it comes to rolling out of bed on that Tuesday in November, and though they seem to be changing their tune this year, old habits die hard.  I can’t say that the outcome is optimistic here. 

The last thing I want to be is cynical, and to be honest, I think that my new found viewing of the West Wing is only exacerbating the issue.  (Why can’t Martin Sheen run for president?  Or at least Laura Roslin?  They’ve done nothing but proven awesome at it on screen, who’s to say they won’t do better than the standard Dubbya set?)  Is it so wrong that I want tomorrow to be better and that I believe that, in our case, if it doesn’t get better, it’s going to get a lot, LOT, worse?  I know I’m not the most informed person in the political playground, in fact, I’m pretty sure I’m the kid on the leash that has to sit in the corner facing the opposite direction, but I do my best to stay informed and alert.

I’m scared about the election.  I’m scared it’s going to turn out the way that I’m scared of it turning out.

Wii Fit:

Down to 22.27% BMI, thats 59.9 kg.  Fingers crossed.

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My rapid drop in Blog Proficiency has directly coinciding with the end of my Battlestar Galactica viewing.  It would seem that my brain cannot focus on focusing without having an active television series to watch.  No, I have never actually discussed my analysis of BSG with you, but I feel as though it was the last string keeping my brain from turning to mush.  It was hard enough starting this site smack dab in the middle of summer hiatus with close to no brain-fuel, but now Aneeta and I have officially run out of shows to watch at night and we still have another three weeks until shows start airing again, much less start to develop momentum.  I don’t really know what to do about that, so I guess you guys are on the screwed side of life for now.

One could say, “Well, if you were smart, you could use this time to finish the two screenplay drafts that you’re working on” to which I would say, “Narg.”  I don’t even feel inspired to write fictional stories rooted in no actual fact, and in theory, that’s a much easier task than finding mini-essay topics, right? 

A lot of good this post has down both of us.  I promised myself that this blog would never turn into a “Today I ate a Sandwich and sorta played checkers” blog, but I guess I’m a liar.

So, to console you and me alike, below I have posted network premiere dates.  Do enjoy.  They are mildly more interesting than what I have to say.  And if that doesn’t suit, go take the “Laura Roslin” Quiz.

A list of the Major Network premieres by Date (not network).  Networks include the four major ones; NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX as well as the CW.

Also, FYI:

Dexter premieres September 28th.  And for those who care, The L Word airs January 4, 2009.

Also, there is no official word on the dates announced for Dollhouse and Battlestar Galactica.  Word says both will go to air in early 2009.

UPDATE: By Popular demand… or at least a query…

BMI: 22.61 which puts me just under 61 kg.

Weight to lose: 1.5 kg

Date to lose it by: Tomorrow.

SIgh.

As you may or may not know I have been spending the last couple weeks trying to write a sample for All Saints.  In one of my former posts, I talked about my day in the writer’s room and how I was asked to submit a segment from the episode if I wanted to.  Since then, I have sort have poked at it but have used the excuse that I haven’t received the medical research, so how am I to do anything of worth?  Today, I received this medical research¹ and, now that my excuse is invalid, I feel as though I’m still at square one.  In fact, where ever right before square one is, that is where I am.  It’s eleven page document filled to the brim with Medical Jargon that flies nicely right over my head (with room to spare).  I couldn’t finish reading a line before cross referencing it with some Idiot’s Guide on the internet.  Here I thought I would be getting around to an earnest first draft today when really, but it has taken me all day to get through this little document and digest what it all means.

I don’t know how Meredith Grey does it.  I’m completely surrounded by doctors and ailments that I can hardly concentrate on getting to the fun relationship stuff.   I don’t know how she does it. All I can say is that I have truly underestimated writers who do this sort of thing for a living.  I don’t know how the writer’s of Greys or All Saints can do this without ten years of med school…

Hopefully I will get around to a draft this weekend so I can get it done.  But next week is hectic too because I’m supposed to be completing my second draft of one of my features this coming week.  AGH.

WII FIT:

Lost .5 kg and .15% BMI.  GO DIET SHAKES!

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In 2003, I was devastated when my favorite show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, came to its inevitable end.  And I was on board for all the various rumors circulating about potential spin-off movies and not-so-secretly wished that the animated series would be made, even though it went back to the beginning of the series.  Eventually when the shock had worn off, I got over it and moved on to bigger and better things. ¹ Now, over five years later, you’ll still hear a “rumor” that someone is finally going to get around to making that Spike/Faith spinoff that we were all so excited about.  I don’t actually know how this keeps happening even though the fact that Buffy’s God himself, has said “Uh-uh, no more.  No Spikey, no Faithy, no Cartoony,” and really I think that that should be that, but my fellow geeks just can’t let it go.  In fact, I think this very mentioning of the Animated Series is enough to get a small flutter of internet Geek-Goss. 

Unfortunately, this undying hope doesn’t seem to be limited to Buffy, in fact, it turns out that all Geeks are apparently just satisfied, ecstatic even, by whatever the creator deems to release of a long finished franchise.  Recently, I ranted about the low-stooping of producers who would dare release yet another Terminator movie just for a quick buck, but as it turns out, it might not be entirely their fault.  Geek groupies want more and they don’t care about the quality they get it in.  The people in hollywood with the power are more than willing to oblige if it means that they can make a quick buck without the extensive ad campaign.

Geeks have no urge to branch out from their comfort zones, so why would filmmakers and TV series creators feel the need to branch out themselves?  If they keep churning out more of the same, they are still guaranteed the audience, and nothing feels better than blind worship.  Why take a risk on something new that could possibly flop?   Several weeks ago, I read an article that said just this very thing about Star Wars God, George Lucas.

These days Lucas sounds like a museum curator, fussing with dusty memorabilia… If he has any inspiration left, he shouldn’t waste it on exploiting something old when he could put it to use dreaming up something new. 

I tend to agree.  Come on, Georgie, you don’t think six movies and a few ill-fated 80′s series were enough to satisfy ALL the story lines that Star Wars legitamently had to offer?  Turns out, he didn’t have think that.  There was still enough buzz circulating the animated Star Wars movie that just came out (that tells the story that we have already seen the ending for!²) and the upcoming live action TV series that he doesn’t even have to remotely consider making something fresh.

George Lucas has created two thrilling franchises  – Star Wars and Indiana Jones – so surely if he put his mind to it, he could come up with another good trilogy before his time is up, instead of beating up one of his other dead horses.  He isn’t that old.  George, use your powers for good not evil!

And if the so-called god of cult classics³ can do it, why can’t the little guys?  Now there is talk of a Veronica Mars movie appearing on the “to-do list.”  Veronica Mars was one those few shows that somehow sprung up a devoted cult audience — whether that had anything to do with the endorsement of one Joss Whedon is debatable — which is somewhat surprising considering it only lasted three seasons and by the end of which, kind of sucked, in my opinion.   My guess would be that this movie would try to wrap up the so-called cliffhanger of the last episode.  You know what would have done that?  Not having a cliff hanger.  Creator Rob Thomas’s theory was “if we leave them with some half answered questions, surely they will have to renew us to find out.”  Some good that did, now the questions will always go unanswered.⁴  The movie is not the answer folks, the world has moved on from Veronica, and nostalgia and sugar dreams can’t change that.

I am the first to admit that finding a show that is worth devoting your heart-and-soul to is few and far between, but have some dignity.  Squeezing the life out of a franchise until it is nothing but recycled and recasted waste is not going to bring back the feeling you had seven years ago.  Shows (and movies) have a limited story potential, it’s inevitable.  The reason some shows (and movies) are so great is that they know how to exploit this potential and then make it come together in a nice, well-deserved ending that provides us closure.  A show ending is not the worst thing that can happen, in fact, it’s generally the best.  Spinoffs and comic books and movies only muddle the ending and what the show was trying to accomplish in the finale.

When a show ends, there will be another one day.  It might not be tomorrow and I know that that hurts your little internet-raised, instant-gratification soul, but it will happen.  Buffy ended in  2003.  It was great, and it has been untainted⁵ since then and therefore it will live on as something awesome forever.  A few years later I have discovered Battlestar Galactica, albeit a couple years late, and that fills the gap just fine.  Great shows don’t come around too often  – and really, would they be just as great if they did?  – but they do come around.  So be patient and don’t fool yourself into believing lame rumors or watching tired spinoffs.  It will all work out in the end.  The worlds of TV and film aren’t going anywhere, if anything, they’re just growing.

As for Wii Fit… I’m still on the incline… and you would think that burned more calories.

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It is no secret that a film can live or die with it’s publicity campaign leading up to the film.  If sold right, you can get butts in the seats to see any movie, whether it is any good or not.  Trailers play a large part in these campaigns, from the first twenty second teaser to the full blown epic three-parters, and often they are successful in piquing the average viewers interest.  Trailers are hard workers too and are often taken for granted by the average viewer who pays no attention to how what they are watching is effecting their psyche.  These babies have to offer a huge amount of appeal in anywhere from thirty seconds to two minutes on the outside. This might sound easy for a Disney adventure, but can you imagine having to be the poor sucker who had to cram the three hours Lord of the Rings into that little box?  Talk about a time crunch.  Trailers, like their movie mommies, tend to have a certain structure to them.  They start off setting up the premise where the second part dives you just slightly deeper in the story to hook you and then the third part drives it home making you want to DIE if you don’t see the movie now.

I love movie trailers and if this whole screenwriting thing doesn’t work out, I wouldn’t mind settling into a career as a Trailer editor.  I think if done properly they can really draw you into the story — a story that almost can exist on it’s own, without the accompaniment of the bigger piece.  Set aside the fact that they are constructed to make you want to see more, there is a certain amount of closure you get with a good  one that just gives you the warm-fuzzies.  A good trailer transcends a movie and becomes it’s own work of art.

You might think that this is a rather mundane topic to post about, and perhaps it is, but I have done it with some context.  I was recently shown the trailer for Brad Pitt’s new movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.  Watch it here:¹

After the first viewing I was absolutely blown away, so much so that I had to immediately watch it again.  Now, I can’t say for certain that I know what the film is entirely about, nor do I really care. The premise is set up well enough that I’m not floundering and as the trailer progresses you can tell that the eponymous Benjamin has a certain tension with fair lady Cate Blanchett, and to be honest, that’s just fine with me.  Not being a Brad Pitt fan myself — I have nothing against him, I just think he’s overrated, that’s all — I probably wouldn’t have just run out and saw this movie before, though I might now.  I think the trailer is absolutely beautiful.  It’s moving and poignant with the music taking us on highs and lows perfectly in time with the images we see on screen.  Thanks to this joy that was the trailer, I am excited about seeing this movie when it comes out at Christmas.

That said, we can all look forward to the following movie.  Watch me insert my tongue firmly in cheek.

W.

I have absolutely no interest in seeing this movie and that’s not just because it seems to be painting Dubbya in a unsung struggling hero light. I think if I had to watch a biopic about the President Coat Tails I would have to stab myself and the person closest to me — despite whether the message was Pro-Bush or Anti-Shrub.  However, I did feel the need to add this trailer in because at the end it introduces all the characters to you and instead of listing the name of the actor who plays the character, it went ahead and listed who the character really was.  This is possibly because the glossy character portraits painted are so blindingly shiney that you can’t see who they’re actually supposed to be.  That, or it was made especially for Mr. President’s eyes himself, who needed to be told that this was just make believe and those people on screen are just “actors.”

Third day in a row my Wii Fit Graph went down in numbers instead of up (way to jinx it Carrie).

BMI: 22.23 (from 22.61)

Weight: 59.8 kg (from 60.8 kg)

A full Kilo! Though I expect that number to go up tomorrow after the huge burger I ate tonight.  Such is life.

Cloning is still a fairly new phenomenon, really only measuring up to a few sheep here and there, so it’s not surprising that a story about a woman who paid to have her dead dog cloned would make the news.  People are bound to have their opinions on such things.  Is it natural? Is it a sin?  What have you.  Personally, I think the sin lies in the fact the woman paid $50,000 to have her dog Booger cloned.  What’s wrong with going the pet shop and just getting a new one that looks like him and naming him something like Booger 2?  50k must be one hell of a puppy.  Anyway, I digress.

Bernann McKinney has made the news once again because allegedly she is the same woman who sexually assaulted a mormon missionary thirty-one years ago.  It turns out if you have your picture out in the paper for the world to see, the world tends to see it. Read the full article here.

What an idiot.  Thirty years ago, this woman commits this crime and then flees the country.  She’s never able to be found ¹ which would mean to me, if I were a criminal on the run, that I should keep doing what I am doing. But what does this girl do?  She runs and does something ground breaking and media attention-getting, leaving her face splashed all over the internet. Sheesh, I at least hope that dog knew how to fetch a beer out of the fridge.

I leave you with a quote that more than confirms her guilt for me:

“She’s ugly as sin now, but sure enough, that’s her.”

Wii Fit:

BMI: 22.79

Weight: 61.5 kg

Two days before my deadline and I still have 1.5 kg to lose.  Son of  a Bitch.

James Cameron accomplished the awesome in the 80′s/early 90′s.  He made the first two Terminator movies, which in my opinion, T-whatever is the only role the Governator was perfectly suited for.  Though we can never really fully grasp why the futuristic cyborg has some strange miscellaneous accent, it seems to be forgiven and we allow the man who can hardly form a sentence save (or destroy) the day.  In 2003, we thought that Nostalgia and the Gov alone would be able to setup some box-office gold with Terminator 3. It almost worked… almost.  Turns out you have to actually have a good movie as well and cannot rely soley on a sixty year old man who used to be cool to sell the movie (this applies to Chuck Norris as well). ¹  

The grudge look attempts to promise quality.

Though all seemed to be forgiven (and possibly forgotten) regarding Terminator 3 and America was equally as stoked when the Sarah Connor: My Long Title Promises Awesomeness TV Series came into view.  Even this show was smart enough to pretend that T3 didn’t exist by jumping through time, effectively erasing the flop’s existence.  This must have built up some good karma because Sarah Connor is terrific, like really.  I enjoy it immensely and that’s not only because I have not-so-PG fantasies about Leda Headey, who plays the eponymous character, or that oh-so flexible Firefly chick.  Me, along with lots of other viewers anticipate the upcoming Season 2.  It has great potential and I believe that soon it will find it’s place on it’s own without the two movies and possibly earn a shorter title.

One would think this would be enough to the various sized Enchiladas in Hollywood. They have found a way to earn back our trust while also having a way to continuously generate an income due to the ongoing nature of a TV show.  But alas, it is not enough.  As Abba said, Money, Money, Money. Now we can all anticipate the arrival of the 2009 Box Office Smasher, Terminator Salvation.  I am stoked, let me tell you.  And to make things better, James Cameron has little to do with it and they have hired McG to be the director.² One might be able to say “Hey look, Christian Bale is in it as John Connor, and he’s Batman, so like, it’s going to be awesome.”  Unless he decides to put on the Batsuit with little to no explanation to his fellow characters, I highly doubt awesomeness will occur. ³

Though I might not be able to claim to be the first person to report on this movie, I can say that I’m definitely the most disappointed, possibly more so than I was with the last Harry Potter book. I can’t believe anyone would think that this was a good idea.  Even if I was a thirteen year old boy promised a free Playboy Mag upon entry, I would not turn up for this piece of bull.   What is the logic here?  Could it be a fake nostalgia thing?  The target demographic is far too young to remember the arrival of the first two movies and it’s even unlikely that a number of them have even seen them.  At best, there will be some that have occassionally tuned into Sarah Connor  or went and saw T3 for Kristanna Loken in that red spandex get up.  When things get down to it, and these kids were actually to see this movie, they wouldn’t enjoy it.  The effects are no where near what they would be used to and the first movie is way too long for their little attention spans. ⁴

Lucky for execs though, they do have one marketing tool that they can take advantage of — the fact that if you tell kids that it’s something they should remember as awesome, they will assume they remember it is awesome and will buy into the hype.  Have you seen those “Bred in the 80′s” shirts?  The majority of the consumers that buy that shirt were probably born in ’89, ’88 at the earliest, but they have been told that living in the 80′s was THE thing and therefore they get to share in this glory on a technicality, though they have absolutely no recollection of what that means. It’s false memories thus it’s false nostalgia.  I am assuming that this is the same principle that Terminator Wankation is trying to channel to ensure viewers. That, and Batman.

I may be way off on this assumption, but I guess we will have to wait and see what happens when it comes out.  Until then, I will be doing what any other self respecting Terminator fan will be doing: watching Leda Headey run around in kick-ass boots trying to forget that distressing night out with Kellie and Old-Man-Governator.

Wii Fit says I gained .4 kg.

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to be an observer in the All Saints writer’s room.  For those who cannot easily guess what that may entail, let me explain, I observed in the room with all of the writers.  I spent a whole day watching the writers do there job.  Does it sound boring?  Well, it most certainly was not.  In fact, it was pretty much on the awesome side. 

As an American, I am not an expert on Australian television, especially their dramas.  I’m not totally opposed to it,¹ but it would seem that the more actively I pursue my interest in television the less time I have to sit and watch it.   Ain’t life grand?  I have seen only a handful of All Saints episodes, so it can be easily said that I was a bit disoriented at first but I think I caught on fast enough.

Because we ² were plotting out an episode that doesn’t air until next year sometime, I don’t really know what I’m allowed to say about the actual episode in terms of respect for the show and respect for spoiler phobia, so to be safe, I’ll just stick to the “My Day” part of the story.

The day before I was sent a brief rundown of what the episode was that we were going to be looking at. After I got over the “I don’t know which faces to put to these names” portion of my anxiety, things went a bit more smoothly. (Turns out there are a few new characters to appear an that’s why they weren’t able to be found anywhere on the web).  I was also informed that they were starting at 10, so please be there by 9:45.  

If only I had gotten there at 9:45.  Not wanting to be late, I left my house at about 8:45, knowing that though the distance to Channel 7 studios wasn’t far, the traffic in that area could be a real bitch.  Of course, with my luck, there was no traffic.  None.  In fact, from what I could tell, the roads were bored.  I got there at nine. NINE!  Yes, it is good to be on time and even a bit early, but I believe an hour early falls into the category of “Annoying” because your hosts have to discreetly find a place to put you so they can get their actual work done.  So, I went and grabbed a coffee, which took about three seconds, so for the next half hour or so I just drove around the three or four block radius in order to kill some time.  At 9:35, I thought that maybe I had crossed the “Annoyingly Early” threshold into the “Professional” area and headed on into security. 

I, by any means, did notdress up for this, but I did make sure that I looked presentable, which included a pair of boots with a very small kitten heel on them.  I like them and they look nice.  However, I was the only one there who had any form of hard sole on ³ and every time I walked across the hardwood floor it echoed and felt like then entire studio could hear me.  I may be exaggerating here, but not by much.

Annabel Davis, the script department manager, a very nice lady who had been handling me up to this point,  introduced me around to the writer’s department before sitting me on a couch to wait for everything to begin.  As people started to trickle in I got more aquatinted with everyone.  Naturally I gravitated toward the writer’s assistant, Nicky, because I saw her the most as she set up for the day but I also got to speak with one of the show’s medical advisors, Camilla (unfortunately, I never caught her last name).  Finally I met the show’s script producer Louise Crane (an insanely hilarious lady with a great feel for story telling), the script editor Trent (aka Trent 2, for my purposes) and the actual writer for this particular episode Trent Atkinson.  I instantly fell in love with Trent Atkinson a bit, possibly because upon meeting him I just assumed he was twelve and not to mention he was just the most pleasant human being on the planet, which is so taken for granted these days.  Trent and Louise really worked well together, seeming to fuel each other, both in story telling and comedically.  Trent told me which seat was Lou’s and as long as I didn’t sit there, I would probably be fine.

Like I mentioned before, they are in the process of adding new characters, so Lou showed a couple of casting DVD’s of the people they have cast since the last episode Trent wrote.  That was neat, because I was able to familiarize myself with the new faces considering I really only knew “Frank” and “Von” by name/face and recognized the people who turned out to be “Dan” and “Bart” as “All Saints People” before this time. So then the writing process began.  Lou and Trent began to talk through the episode’s story with the occassional input from Camilla and/or Trent 2.  On the other end of the table, Nicky typed everything they decided on — eight hours of essentially typing what everyone said.   This is pretty much how the day went (except Trent 2 made an exit at lunch time).  It was really cool and one of my favorite parts was watching Camilla.  They could give pretty much and time lapse (ie, for surgery or recovery) or visual (ie, coughing up blood) and she could tweak the ailment to have that desired effect.  That was really interesting. 

It was a pretty exhausting day for me, and I wasn’t really doing much.  I did take notes though.  Apparently, observers are allowed to write a submission for the episode plotted in the room and someone will give them feed back on it.  I’m definitely going to do one in the coming weeks.  It’s going to be really hard, especially since I have no idea about any of the medical ailments that were discussed.  Annabel said that Camilla would have a summary for the episode’s medical but it probably wouldn’t be out for another two weeks, so I might have to wait for that so I don’t look too much like a tool.  

Yesterday really confirmed for me that this is what I want to do.  The creative energy was awesome and you could really tell these guys were having a ball doing it, even when they got serious and “down to business.”  And it didn’t really hurt to hear the “insider info” about the actors that you might not hear elsewhere.  They sound like great people to work with though, I’ll say that.  It seems like there is never a dull moment around those parts and I can’t wait to get my foot in the door.  I left my CV with Annabel just in case something ever comes up where they may need someone to do … anything really, I am not too fussed.

On a little side note, Trent is directing a series of short films hoping they will help him get funding for his feature.  I offered my assistance if he need it and hopefully he will take me up on it.  He told me to give him an email and he would let me know some details.  It would be cool to get back on set again, it’s been too long.

So, yep, yesterday was a bit A+ in my book.  Hopefully I didn’t make too bad of an impression (though, would that be better or worse than making no impression at all, and be forgotten instantly?)  I wish that I’ll be able to do something else like that again some time in the future.  Thank you so much Stephen Davis for getting me the connection with his show writer friend Blake Ayshford and All Saints.  It was definitely a great experience.

The episode will probably air in February or March, so it’s a while to wait.  Hopefully though I will be able to post my submission on this website after I submit it, granted I’m allowed to.

In other news, when I did my Wii Fit yesterday it said I lost .5 kg.  Today’s results are as follows:

BMI: 22.79 (from 22.94)

Weight: 61.3 (from 61.7)

So down .4 kg is a good sign I guess, but I’m still far away from my goal and rapidly running out of time. (Not to mention over a week ago I started at 61.4…)