Okay, so last time I promised that I would be back with a humorous video that my brother and I made. And I have kept that promise. We actually made it over a week ago and it's been on youtube for a couple days now too, but I just decided to post it on this blog today. So here it is:
Enjoy! And thanks to all of my positive comment.....okay, thanks Alison for the only comment on my last one (but seriously thank you :D).
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Barack Obama = Mr. Bindschadler? (and more!)
So, I just read Mr. B.'s latest entry (http://www.bbind.blogspot.com) about one of his students who was reminded of Mr. B, after watching President Obama on Jay Leno. What a smart guy. But after watching the interview (http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/video/clips/president-obama-full-interview-319/1067541) there was something about him that reminded me of Mr. B. There was a charisma and a playfulness that was exactly like Mr. B's. He sounded just like Mr. B, when he was just joking around and being normal. Not at all when he was being "political"-God, I hate how fake politicians have to be, but the qualities I hate about politicians are traits that they can't get elected without, so I also just hate Americans. But am I a cynic for thinking that all politicians lie and are corrupt? All right, I don't really think that. Honestly, as much as I hate to say it, I do, deep inside of me, have some faith in people. But back to you, Mr. B. The truth is I don't even know President Obama, so I don't really know. And I don't know why you took it as a compliment. The only reason he reminded me of you was because you both make fun of the disabled (not really, though I felt really bad after talking to you and then coming home to all the news coverage on that). It was a compliment, and the truth is you're probably cooler than anyone arrogant enough to run for the presidency.
So, recently my sister and I have been fighting-ninja style. Even though we're joking, she's still a lot stronger than I am.
Now, I know that no one's really gonna care that I'm telling you guys this (if anyone's even reading this) but I'm excited about it so I'm just gonna tell it anyways. Last summer, I wrote a screenplay (wow, I feel pretentious writing that) and over Rodeo Break when my mom, sister and I went to L.A. for the weekend, one of the things we did was meet with some screenwriters my mom knows. We had dinner and a long conversation about writing and movies, in general, and I gave them a copy of my screenplay (after staying about till 2 in the morning the night before and deciding to edit it). Well, they just emailed back after having read it. I'm not gonna get into the whole thing but they liked it! Of course, it wasn't perfect, and they made a lot of very helpful suggestions and things I can work on (and I agreed with everything they said), but they liked it and think that I can only get better. And here's a direct quote from the email "After our dinner, I didn’t know what to expect, as there are hundreds, if not thousands of “writers.” The difference is that most of them can’t get anything cohesive, entertaining, memorable, insightful, etc… on the page. I think you’ve done that here. Is it perfect? No. Is it entertaining and a page turner? Yes. And the subject matter is dark. What is on the page can’t really be taught. It’s something that evolves with you the individual." So, I'm feeling pretty proud and excuse me for gloating, but I can't help it. I love getting feedback and when I do a good job. I always love it when Mr. B. really likes something that I've written, when I do really, really well on a math test (105%, baby!), and I felt so good when the whole class responded so well to my latest presentation and liked it as much as they did. And I feel really proud about this too. I think I generally keep a pretty humble attitude about it and usually act like it doesn't affect me, which is why I don't feel as bad writing all of this, but you know, I work hard and probably no one is reading this, so I'm just letting it all out for once.
This is also partly in response to part of Mr. B.'s latest entry in which he said ". . . it struck me, as it often does, how much we all carry around inside ourselves that we rarely let out. Sometimes people amaze me." And man, I don't know, but I just feel like that is so true. I know, from myself, that there's so much going on in my head, so many thoughts and emotions, that I never express. No one knows these things at all. Just the other day, I broke down and started crying, telling my mom that I felt like she wasn't proud of me. I think there's a whole other side of everyone that we don't see. And I wish we could because it is amazing, there's nothing more human in the world and I do sympathize.
This kind of goes along with all of that. The other night, while driving in the car, my mom said she thinks she'll probably die in 15 years. This horrified me. 15 years. I'd only be 30 or so, in 15 years. Only 15 more years I have with her. If that. She doesn't even know after the cancer. The first step is to make it to 5, then 10, and so on and so on. But she thinks she and our dog will die about the same time, in 15 years. You know, even though I know everyone will die, it hurts so much to actually think about it. One day my mom will never come back. Just be gone. The most important thing in the world to me will die and never come back. And my dog-all her joy and happiness. This wonder. One day she'll die and I'll have nothing left but the memories and I can never be with either of them again. Sometimes I just really hate life. Why does it have to be this way? When I think about myself, I don't mind knowing I'll die. In fact, I don't want to live to be too old. It gets to a point where there's just no joy or anything to live for and I want to die enjoying everything. But I also don't want it to end. I could never kill myself, even if I wanted to, because I know I might be missing out on something. But sometimes there's just so much pain. It's weird to think about it. Even with people who I don't like as much. My uncle. How weird to think about? One day I'll go to my uncle's funeral. Think about it. Everyone you know will die. You'll go to their funerals and they'll never come back. Your teacher. Your cleaning lady. Your friend. All these wonderful people die. And they just don't die like they do in the movies. They actually die. Not from old age. Not in their sleep. That never happens. It's just a way to hide the pain. Those lies are just to protect us from the fact that as you get older, you just get sicker and have diseases. I can't do this anymore. I'm gonna stop here. But it's things like these that represent all the things we carry around with us and never let out. I'm letting out. Life is tough and there are parts of it that just really suck. Sometimes you've just gotta go-this really sucks and in the end, it all just sucks-but there's so much to be grateful for, to enjoy everything you do have, and to appreciate what you do have. Try and have some fun with it. Just laugh. I know I sound like some cliche grandpa telling life lessons, but you know it's true. Sometimes things are cliches because they're true. Sometimes the lessons you learn as a kid-to live life to the fullest, or that if you never try, you never know, or to try and make great memories and do exciting things that you haven't done before-well those lessons are the first ones you learn for a reason. They're true and the most important ones.
Alright, I'm signing off. And to close off Mr. B. style-I hope your presidents are as charming as your teachers, I hope your fights are full of cool ninja moves, I hope you feel proud of yourself, I hope you let it all out, and I hope you live life well. And don't worry-next time things won't be so heavy (I'll be sharing a new, humorous video with you that my brother and I made over the weekend). And because I have to end my blog my own way-here's a wonderful clip of the late Elliott Smith playing two hauntingly beautiful songs on the piano:
So, recently my sister and I have been fighting-ninja style. Even though we're joking, she's still a lot stronger than I am.
Now, I know that no one's really gonna care that I'm telling you guys this (if anyone's even reading this) but I'm excited about it so I'm just gonna tell it anyways. Last summer, I wrote a screenplay (wow, I feel pretentious writing that) and over Rodeo Break when my mom, sister and I went to L.A. for the weekend, one of the things we did was meet with some screenwriters my mom knows. We had dinner and a long conversation about writing and movies, in general, and I gave them a copy of my screenplay (after staying about till 2 in the morning the night before and deciding to edit it). Well, they just emailed back after having read it. I'm not gonna get into the whole thing but they liked it! Of course, it wasn't perfect, and they made a lot of very helpful suggestions and things I can work on (and I agreed with everything they said), but they liked it and think that I can only get better. And here's a direct quote from the email "After our dinner, I didn’t know what to expect, as there are hundreds, if not thousands of “writers.” The difference is that most of them can’t get anything cohesive, entertaining, memorable, insightful, etc… on the page. I think you’ve done that here. Is it perfect? No. Is it entertaining and a page turner? Yes. And the subject matter is dark. What is on the page can’t really be taught. It’s something that evolves with you the individual." So, I'm feeling pretty proud and excuse me for gloating, but I can't help it. I love getting feedback and when I do a good job. I always love it when Mr. B. really likes something that I've written, when I do really, really well on a math test (105%, baby!), and I felt so good when the whole class responded so well to my latest presentation and liked it as much as they did. And I feel really proud about this too. I think I generally keep a pretty humble attitude about it and usually act like it doesn't affect me, which is why I don't feel as bad writing all of this, but you know, I work hard and probably no one is reading this, so I'm just letting it all out for once.
This is also partly in response to part of Mr. B.'s latest entry in which he said ". . . it struck me, as it often does, how much we all carry around inside ourselves that we rarely let out. Sometimes people amaze me." And man, I don't know, but I just feel like that is so true. I know, from myself, that there's so much going on in my head, so many thoughts and emotions, that I never express. No one knows these things at all. Just the other day, I broke down and started crying, telling my mom that I felt like she wasn't proud of me. I think there's a whole other side of everyone that we don't see. And I wish we could because it is amazing, there's nothing more human in the world and I do sympathize.
This kind of goes along with all of that. The other night, while driving in the car, my mom said she thinks she'll probably die in 15 years. This horrified me. 15 years. I'd only be 30 or so, in 15 years. Only 15 more years I have with her. If that. She doesn't even know after the cancer. The first step is to make it to 5, then 10, and so on and so on. But she thinks she and our dog will die about the same time, in 15 years. You know, even though I know everyone will die, it hurts so much to actually think about it. One day my mom will never come back. Just be gone. The most important thing in the world to me will die and never come back. And my dog-all her joy and happiness. This wonder. One day she'll die and I'll have nothing left but the memories and I can never be with either of them again. Sometimes I just really hate life. Why does it have to be this way? When I think about myself, I don't mind knowing I'll die. In fact, I don't want to live to be too old. It gets to a point where there's just no joy or anything to live for and I want to die enjoying everything. But I also don't want it to end. I could never kill myself, even if I wanted to, because I know I might be missing out on something. But sometimes there's just so much pain. It's weird to think about it. Even with people who I don't like as much. My uncle. How weird to think about? One day I'll go to my uncle's funeral. Think about it. Everyone you know will die. You'll go to their funerals and they'll never come back. Your teacher. Your cleaning lady. Your friend. All these wonderful people die. And they just don't die like they do in the movies. They actually die. Not from old age. Not in their sleep. That never happens. It's just a way to hide the pain. Those lies are just to protect us from the fact that as you get older, you just get sicker and have diseases. I can't do this anymore. I'm gonna stop here. But it's things like these that represent all the things we carry around with us and never let out. I'm letting out. Life is tough and there are parts of it that just really suck. Sometimes you've just gotta go-this really sucks and in the end, it all just sucks-but there's so much to be grateful for, to enjoy everything you do have, and to appreciate what you do have. Try and have some fun with it. Just laugh. I know I sound like some cliche grandpa telling life lessons, but you know it's true. Sometimes things are cliches because they're true. Sometimes the lessons you learn as a kid-to live life to the fullest, or that if you never try, you never know, or to try and make great memories and do exciting things that you haven't done before-well those lessons are the first ones you learn for a reason. They're true and the most important ones.
Alright, I'm signing off. And to close off Mr. B. style-I hope your presidents are as charming as your teachers, I hope your fights are full of cool ninja moves, I hope you feel proud of yourself, I hope you let it all out, and I hope you live life well. And don't worry-next time things won't be so heavy (I'll be sharing a new, humorous video with you that my brother and I made over the weekend). And because I have to end my blog my own way-here's a wonderful clip of the late Elliott Smith playing two hauntingly beautiful songs on the piano:
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
YAY!!!
A video I filmed about a month ago finally uploaded onto youtube! So check it out:
And now you also know what I look like in the morning.
And now you also know what I look like in the morning.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Three Things I Currently Love
1. Go to this band's website http://www.myspace.com/loneydear and listen to the song "Ignorant Boy." It's so good. I saw them live last Saturday when they were opening for Andrew Bird (who, of course, was excellent) but they totally stole the show. This song is basically just "na na na na na na na na na na na na" over and over again but it was awesome. He had the whole audience sing it together-beautiful. They're even better live. Also check out their songs "Violent" and "I am John."
Speaking of the concert, I ran into everybody that day-I saw my kindergarden teacher at Robert's that morning, didn't even recognize her, then at the concert I also ran into this freshman from the high school who took a film class with me, like 5 years ago, (coincidentally she said she saw me at Robert's that morning too.... but seriously it was good to see her) and David Baker! I haven't seen the guy in forever (though we did talk over the phone right before our birthdays-he's 21 now). He's doing well though, going to school and illustrating comics, plus he's a huge Andrew Bird fan (I found out that night) and he still has his Hellboy hat! I love running into people. Old memories.....
Anyways on to number
2. This video:
It's awesome. A tribute to PTA's (Paul Thomas Anderson) films. Besides the fact that every film PTA has made has been a masterpiece, but the guy who edited this was genius. Seriously, knowing how hard it is to edit anything together, none the less clips (especially when it's from mostly 2-3 hour films), he does it perfectly. Better than most movies are edited. Why isn't this guy in the industry? The pace, rhythm, music (which are all important songs from the actual movies), the way that it shows different dialogue over different clips, and how all the clips work perfectly together, one after the other. This would make PTA proud.
3. The movie "The Fall", particularly this scene:
Great movie. Took over 4 years to make and filmed in over 20 countries with no special effects at all, it's a wonderfully directed, beautifully filmed (look at that cinematography-how did they pull that off!) movie, not to mention a great story (and Lee Pace, from TV's awesome, now cancelled-grrr-"Pushing Daisies" stars). It's about a guy whose paralyzed and manipulates a girl into giving him morphine to kill himself, by telling her an epic story in pieces.
Lastly, I wanted to post a video of my own that I made but it's taking forever to upload onto YouTube, so next time.
Speaking of the concert, I ran into everybody that day-I saw my kindergarden teacher at Robert's that morning, didn't even recognize her, then at the concert I also ran into this freshman from the high school who took a film class with me, like 5 years ago, (coincidentally she said she saw me at Robert's that morning too.... but seriously it was good to see her) and David Baker! I haven't seen the guy in forever (though we did talk over the phone right before our birthdays-he's 21 now). He's doing well though, going to school and illustrating comics, plus he's a huge Andrew Bird fan (I found out that night) and he still has his Hellboy hat! I love running into people. Old memories.....
Anyways on to number
2. This video:
It's awesome. A tribute to PTA's (Paul Thomas Anderson) films. Besides the fact that every film PTA has made has been a masterpiece, but the guy who edited this was genius. Seriously, knowing how hard it is to edit anything together, none the less clips (especially when it's from mostly 2-3 hour films), he does it perfectly. Better than most movies are edited. Why isn't this guy in the industry? The pace, rhythm, music (which are all important songs from the actual movies), the way that it shows different dialogue over different clips, and how all the clips work perfectly together, one after the other. This would make PTA proud.
3. The movie "The Fall", particularly this scene:
Great movie. Took over 4 years to make and filmed in over 20 countries with no special effects at all, it's a wonderfully directed, beautifully filmed (look at that cinematography-how did they pull that off!) movie, not to mention a great story (and Lee Pace, from TV's awesome, now cancelled-grrr-"Pushing Daisies" stars). It's about a guy whose paralyzed and manipulates a girl into giving him morphine to kill himself, by telling her an epic story in pieces.
Lastly, I wanted to post a video of my own that I made but it's taking forever to upload onto YouTube, so next time.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Journal Entry for Mr. Bindschadler's Class - "Sublime to Ridiculous"
Movies can be a wonderful thing. They can be meaningful, intelligent, entertaining. They can make people connect or relate to and care about what's happening. They can send out a message or analyze and try to figure out some of the mysteries of life. They can help us deal with life and solve our own problems. They can help us reflect on our own lives, see things from a new point of view, and change our lives. They can makes us sympathetic, maybe we've felt similar before or dealt with something just like that. They can teach us, whether it's something that happened hundreds of years ago or something that's happening right now halfway across the world that we should know about, maybe try and fix. They can make us realize concepts, philosophies, life, the truth. They're entertaining, interesting, fun to watch. They're an art form. The can be a beauty to look at, whether it's the way they were filmed and shot or maybe just the people we're looking at. They can make us laugh.
They can do so many wonderful things, but let's face it, the whole idea is a little ridiculous. I mean, come on! All we're doing is watching people get paid to pretend to be someone they're not and pretend there isn't a camera right there filming them. The whole thing is so fake. Why should we care about these fictional characters and the things that happen to them (that don't really happen to them). The whole thing's a joke. It's like we're little kids playing dress up and pretending we're in some great place. But we're not! And society is always encouraging kids to be themselves and not pretend, yet we all pay to go watch grown adults do the same thing. And then we praise them and give them awards and recognition for being so good at.... pretending! I mean, is it really that hard? Yet, we're to blame, because we're the ones who are paying money that we worked for to go watch them. We make plans for whole hours and afternoons of our days to devote to watch these things. And why? Why should we care when it's not even real? It doesn't affect us or our lives in any way. Yet we go to a building and sit with other strangers, who we have no idea who they are, crammed in our seats, shoving popcorn down our throats and gulping our soda (a.k.a. carbonated fat), never taking our eyes off of "Fantasyland." A world that isn't real, that we'll never live, or go to, or be apart of. So, why do we do it? Are we trying to escape from our own lives? Are we watching the things we wish we could do? Imagining all the other possibilities? I'm not sure. It's strange, not to mention we're just sitting there for hours watching a huge piece of cloth. I mean, does it really need to be that big?
But these are the things we do. It may be strange when you really boil it down and think about it, but these are the things we think are fun and I'm not ashamed of it. Yeah, watching movies may be weird, but it's entertaining and I like it. Technically, you could say that about anything we do. Listening to music, going to concerts, watching/playing sports, reading, writing, playing any/every game, and let's not forget kissing. As one of my classmates pointed out, we're just putting our lips together or making our skin touch. Why do we like to do that so much? I don't know, but we do, it feels good (not that I would know) and we like it. There's probably a scientific explanation as to the way our chemicals are designed, but why does making our bodies touch stimulate us? Yet it does and I've always felt strange when I physically touch someone. Like I should keep my body to myself, but when I do touch someone, even if it's just their arm or something, I feel like I've given them my trust. Almost like I'm autistic in a way, but not so extreme and not really a fear of contact, but an unfamiliarity or uncomfortableness with it. And the same things that can be said about kissing can be said about sex. I won't get to graphic or anything, but if you think about that that's weird too. Why do we like doing that so much? Why does that pleasure us? But the truth is, everything can be weird. Our whole definition of weird is based on how we live our lives. Anything is. Normality, intelligence, crazy, and weird all depend on our definition and meaning of the word themselves and how we're looking at them. So anything and everything can be weird or normal depending on how you look at it.
They can do so many wonderful things, but let's face it, the whole idea is a little ridiculous. I mean, come on! All we're doing is watching people get paid to pretend to be someone they're not and pretend there isn't a camera right there filming them. The whole thing is so fake. Why should we care about these fictional characters and the things that happen to them (that don't really happen to them). The whole thing's a joke. It's like we're little kids playing dress up and pretending we're in some great place. But we're not! And society is always encouraging kids to be themselves and not pretend, yet we all pay to go watch grown adults do the same thing. And then we praise them and give them awards and recognition for being so good at.... pretending! I mean, is it really that hard? Yet, we're to blame, because we're the ones who are paying money that we worked for to go watch them. We make plans for whole hours and afternoons of our days to devote to watch these things. And why? Why should we care when it's not even real? It doesn't affect us or our lives in any way. Yet we go to a building and sit with other strangers, who we have no idea who they are, crammed in our seats, shoving popcorn down our throats and gulping our soda (a.k.a. carbonated fat), never taking our eyes off of "Fantasyland." A world that isn't real, that we'll never live, or go to, or be apart of. So, why do we do it? Are we trying to escape from our own lives? Are we watching the things we wish we could do? Imagining all the other possibilities? I'm not sure. It's strange, not to mention we're just sitting there for hours watching a huge piece of cloth. I mean, does it really need to be that big?
But these are the things we do. It may be strange when you really boil it down and think about it, but these are the things we think are fun and I'm not ashamed of it. Yeah, watching movies may be weird, but it's entertaining and I like it. Technically, you could say that about anything we do. Listening to music, going to concerts, watching/playing sports, reading, writing, playing any/every game, and let's not forget kissing. As one of my classmates pointed out, we're just putting our lips together or making our skin touch. Why do we like to do that so much? I don't know, but we do, it feels good (not that I would know) and we like it. There's probably a scientific explanation as to the way our chemicals are designed, but why does making our bodies touch stimulate us? Yet it does and I've always felt strange when I physically touch someone. Like I should keep my body to myself, but when I do touch someone, even if it's just their arm or something, I feel like I've given them my trust. Almost like I'm autistic in a way, but not so extreme and not really a fear of contact, but an unfamiliarity or uncomfortableness with it. And the same things that can be said about kissing can be said about sex. I won't get to graphic or anything, but if you think about that that's weird too. Why do we like doing that so much? Why does that pleasure us? But the truth is, everything can be weird. Our whole definition of weird is based on how we live our lives. Anything is. Normality, intelligence, crazy, and weird all depend on our definition and meaning of the word themselves and how we're looking at them. So anything and everything can be weird or normal depending on how you look at it.
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