Kurt Brindley's Blog, page 76

So I’m going to make a movie… UPDATE #3

We Have Our Captain!

I am pleased and honored to announce that we have found/been blessedly bestowed with a Director for our film LEAVE.

With a captain now at our film’s helm (yes, I do love my sailing metaphors), we will soon be launching our Indiegogo funding campaign, where we will happily and proudly announce all Cast & Crew.

Even once the Indiegogo campaign launches, we will continue to run our website funding campaign here for those Indie Authors and other Indie Creator-types who would rather receive one of the Reward Packages as a donation incentive to promote their books or other projects versus the incentives that will be offered with the Indiegogo campaign.

To be notified when the Indiegogo campaign goes live, please sign up here.

To learn more about the website funding campaign and how you can promote your books or other projects, please visit here.

To go ahead and just donate now, please do so here.

After you donate via the website campaign, you should be automatically directed to a page where you can select your Reward Package. If you are not directed to the page, please let me know and I will personally assist you.

Right on?

Write on!

PLEASE SUPPORT ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORT OUR FILM .
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So I’m going to make a movie…

So I’m going to make a movie… UPDATE #1

So I’m going to make a movie… UPDATE #2

 

 

Filed under: Promotional Tagged: authors, book promotions, books, independent films, Indie Authors, indie publishing, marketing, novels, poetry, promotions, publishing, So I'm going to make a movie..., Women in Film, writing

The Power of About

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON MEDIUM

I may be mistaken, but it is my belief that we’ve all been to that dark, lonely place at least once or twice in our lives where we, and the lives we have led, seem…

Insignificant.

Less than.

Pointless.


It’s a scary place and one which I suspect, and hope, the majority of us visit only infrequently and fleetingly because our lives are fulfilling and rewarding enough to steer us clear from the depression that can lead us there.

However, I also suspect that there is a significant minority of us who visit this dark, lonely place more often and for longer periods than most since, according to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, nearly 19% of the United States’ adult population experience some degree of mental illness throughout the year [1]. And, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States [2].

I, myself, became a frequent visitor of this dark, lonely place not long after I began taking high doses of the steroid prednisone to combat a deadly disease that was destroying my lungs, and one which I was given little chance of surviving.

It was a hard enough to mentally process that my life may soon be ended by an aggressively fatal disease — pretty tough for anyone to process, I would imagine — but couple that bummer news with a steroid that induces psychosis-like side-effects and, yeah… double bummer.

Consequently, it wasn’t long before I found myself spending nearly as much time in that dark, lonely place as I was out of it.

It’s hard to explain what I and my mind were going through whenever I visited there. I’m not sure there is a way to describe it wholly in just a few words. It is both a tangible and intangible feeling. A cold feeling sometimes. A heavy feeling other times. But it was almost always a feeling of pointlessness. A feeling of… Why bother?

I was dying. My body had failed me and I had failed my family. The only thing I felt I was good for now were my less than adequate disability checks. Were I gone, my life insurance payout would have been much more rewarding and helpful for those whom my absence would release from the burdens my illness had placed upon them.

Yeah… I was down there in that indelible darkness of depression pretty deep.

Fortunately for me I had a saving grace — several of them, in fact.

One, the primary one, was a support network of family and friends who loved me, cared for me, and prayed for me.

Another, was that I like to write.

The Writing Hand

I began blogging shortly after my leukemia diagnosis. Nothing too deep or introspective — though scared, I was completely confident I was going survive — just updates to keep my friends and family informed of my health and happenings during my treatment.

But months later after learning my lungs were slowly dying away as a side-effect result from my bone marrow transplant, and having to begin a hefty prednisone regiment in an effort to slow the dying process down, my positive perspective on things changed significantly.

Though the drug-induced and drastic mood swings made it difficult to focus, I began to blog more often and about more personal matters. And while I regard my blogging experience during this difficult time as a very beneficial, therapeutic activity — an activity I presume many others regard beneficial as well, for a simple Google search of the term “writing therapy” resulted in around 259,000,000 results — it wasn’t helping me to shake the persistent feeling of irrelevance; of feeling that I others would better off if I were dead.

Fortunately for me, since I was spending more time thinking deeply about my life for my blog, I eventually began tinkering with my blog’s “About” page.

And this tinkering proved to be yet one more saving grace; for it led me on a path to try to discover things about myself that others might find interesting enough to inspire them to read more of my writing.

And once I began thinking in more of a self-promotional, third-person kind of way about my life, I began realizing and rediscovering things about myself that I found to be very special and unique.

For the next week or so, I stopped blogging altogether and, like a gold digger after finding his first valuable nugget, I worked passionately on mining through my past to dig up and write down all the meaningful nuggets I could find.

And when I was finally satisfied that my life was properly represented on the page, I began to craft the long, meaningful list of me into a voice that, when others read it, would be heard distinctly as mine.

When I was finished*, my “About” page was more than just being about me… it was me.

And even now when reading this long and winding written documentary of me, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and purpose so powerful that, even if I were to once again visit that dark, lonely place, I could never do so feeling as if my life were pointless and without meaning.

1. https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-By-the-Numbers

2. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/major-depression-among-adults.shtml

*As I live and grow, so too does my “ About ” page. It will never be finished completely… until I am.
Filed under: Health Tagged: cancer, depression, Graft Versus Host Disease, GVHD, health, leukemia, lung disease, mental health, prednisone, psychosis, steroid psychosis, steroids, writing, writing therapy

Military Uniforms versus Religious Uniforms

WARNING: This post attempts to make a bit of humor over various religions’ garb requirements

When I joined the US Navy in 1983, sailors were still allowed to wear beards. However, with the military, prompted by the dictates of its Cold War Warrior Commander-in-Chief and President Ronald Reagan, in a fast-paced process of snapping out of its ragtag and drug-laden Vietnam War Police Conflict low-standards hangover, the navy outlawed full beards in 1984.

After which, many o’ Old Salts requested to Go Ashore permanently, as they would rather quit or retire from service than retire their beards.

I was just a young “Boot Camp” of a wog at the time who could barely grow even a little patch of peach fuzz let alone a full beard, but I still remember how passionate my Senior Chief was about keeping his beard.

And this passion of his and other bearded Old Salts like him was stirred simply over a style choice and tradition, so I can only imagine how one must feel about the importance of keeping one’s beard as a religious requirement, which is exactly the passion three enlisted servicemembers who are of the Sikh religion must be feeling right now as they petition the military for exemptions to be allowed to wear their religion-required beards and turbans.

Sikh Army enlistees file lawsuit seeking beard, turban exemptions: https://t.co/NlJtdmXmDT

— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) March 31, 2016

 

If I remember correctly, I believe the primary reason the Navy gave for no longer allowing full beards was that they did not allow for the proper donning of gas masks, which created a health and military readiness risk. Another, and probably a more driving reason, was that beards did not allow for the professional military appearance that the Top Brass was striving for.

My position on this has evolved over the years, as it has on many social issues.

Now I’m like, meh… the military makes many exceptions for many situations so why not these?

For example, many servicemembers are allowed to wear beards under a doctor’s order. This is common when, typically a male, is prone to get in-grown hairs from having to shave his face so often.

And as for turbans and other religious requirements…

Now, I’ll admit, all the various grooming and wardrobe requirements that all our various religions place upon us is, in my opinion…

Stoopid.

I mean, c’mon. All the goofy hats the Pope wears (hence the sarcastic saying in response to a obvious/stoopid question: Does the Pope wear a goofy hat?) is enough to outfit a circus show, not to mention all the goofy hats all the other religious leaders and religious wannabes insist on wearing.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR ATTRIBUTION

Obviously I’m a bit skeptical about any religion that requires one to dress a certain way in order worship its god, so obviously I sympathize with the military and its position of restraint when allowing exemptions for, what I’m sure are way too many, all of the various religions’ various garb requirements and impositions.

Besides, the military, and especially the navy, is doing just fine with all its goofy hat requirements, as is evidenced by the hat that young “Boot Camp” of a wog who can barely grow even a patch of peach fuzz for a beard is wearing in that ancient picture on found on the sidebar…

However, as our nation is, and is quickly becoming much more, diverse, I can foresee it becoming harder and harder for the military to not allow for more and more exemptions in the future.

Besides, doesn’t this Royal Air Force officer look striking and professional in his militarily accommodating military garb?

Sikh Royal Air Force Officer / Wikimedia Commons

 

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?

 

 

Filed under: Religion Tagged: beards, goofy religious hats, humor, military, military standards, Pope Francis I, religion, religious freedom, religious humor, religious issues, Sikh, standards, the Pope, uniforms

WILL YOU?

DONATE TO SUPPORT MY WOMEN’S ISSUES SHORT FILM AND PROMOTE YOUR WORK?

AND WILL YOU…

SUBMIT YOUR HUMAN-RELATING WORK TO THESE HUMAN-RELATING FEATURES?

Moral Issues
Religious Issues
Philosophical Issues
Political Issues
Criminal Justice Issues
Health Issues
Mental Health Issues
Relationship Issues
Race Issues
Women’s Issues
LGBT Issues
Reviews
Flash Fiction
Poetry
Photography
Music
Film
Art

PLEASE.

 

#independentartistssupportingindependentartists

 

 

Filed under: Human Relations Tagged: authors, films, human relations, independent artists, independent films, Indie Authors, Relating to Humans, screenplays, screenwriting, short films, submissions, writing

WILL YOU…

DONATE TO SUPPORT MY WOMEN’S ISSUES SHORT FILM AND PROMOTE YOUR WORK?

AND WILL YOU…

SUBMIT YOUR HUMAN-RELATING WORK TO THESE HUMAN-RELATING FEATURES?

Moral Issues
Religious Issues
Philosophical Issues
Political Issues
Criminal Justice Issues
Health Issues
Mental Health Issues
Relationship Issues
Race Issues
Women’s Issues
LGBT Issues
Reviews
Flash Fiction
Poetry
Photography
Music
Film
Art

PLEASE.

 

#independentartistssupportingindependentartists

 

 

Filed under: Human Relations Tagged: authors, films, human relations, independent artists, independent films, Indie Authors, Relating to Humans, screenplays, screenwriting, short films, submissions, writing

xIRATE X VBLOG: EPISODE TWO

In this episode…

– Tupac as Kurt’s life coach

– Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby as Kurt’s hand coach

– Our initial “Website Review”

– A special thanks to all recent contributors to the Relating to Humans feature

– Trump

– Music

– Animals not Trump

– And other joyous and celebratory things…

 

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS

 

 

Filed under: Promotional Tagged: 2Pac, authors, Donald Trump, human relations, Indie Authors, movies, music, Ricky Bobby, short films, submissions, Talledega Nights, Tupac Shakur, Will Ferrell, writing

What Would Jesus Do…

…in times such as ours?

#happyeaster

 

 

Filed under: Religion Tagged: compassion, Donald Trump, Easter, forgiveness, gun violence, intolerance, ISIS, jesus, Jesus Christ, politics, religion, terrorism, What would Jesus do?, WWJD

YOUR DREAMS ARE DEAD | A Relating to Humans Women’s Issues Feature

YOUR DREAMS ARE DEAD

by perfect_mayhem

These four words flew into the forefront of my brain along with what felt like gallons of blood as I was bent over the floor around my son’s desk retrieving his crumpled up artistic attempts. He is nearly 7 years old and a truly gifted artist. I do not say this because he is my son. A sharp pencil or pen and paper is his chosen medium and from the depths of his soul he creates beautiful and intricate abstracts and hilariously haunting caricatures. We are a homeschooling family therefore he is privileged to practice and delve deeper into his art every day for hours on end. I encourage it, I love it. This is what I want for my children, why I homeschool, so passion can arise organically and be nurtured.

As I am in his room tidying up and thinking “your dreams are dead,” I shout out to my husband “is this it for me, is my life over?” “Yes,” he says. He always answers my nihilistic questions nihilistically. To a large extent, he is right. In a permanent way that you cannot change your mind about like you can the dream of wanting to be a successful blogger or to own a Louis Vuitton bag, bringing children into the world is a dream all to itself. The dream of children trumps all other dreams. I remind myself of that anytime I despair about not having an aspiration to call my own or even an uninterrupted shower to call my own. I wanted this. These children were and are my dream realized. It is exciting to watch the unfolding of these beautiful human beings. And I am their mother. I am honored to be their safe-space, the place-holder as they venture in and out of their artistic worlds through play and meaningful work.

However. As I near my mid-30’s, I find myself being less and less content with this idea. I still have something to offer, I have ideas that flood my head nightly once everyone else is asleep and the silence settles in. There have been times when I felt disgruntled about life and have thought about this character that I have seen portrayed in television and movies of the overbearing mother who regrets that she never did anything with her life so she nags, meddles, cuts-down and eventually alienates her children. It could have been different if only she had made a life for herself outside of her role as wife and mother. This persona would top the list as the worst version of myself. I don’t want to envy my children and begrudge them of their dreams.

There is another way. And I already know where to start. I have been cultivating hopes and desires for people in my family for years. For a passion to bloom, a person needs tools, space and opportunity to create. My children deserve that. I deserve that. You deserve that. As adults, we have to make that happen for ourselves. There is no mother or father around to do it for us now, or maybe, ever. We are creative-space incarnate. No. More. Excuses.

 

perfectmayhem.org

 

Our vision for our short film LEAVE is to create a cinematic work of art that both entertains and inspires positive change. If you are a #WomeninFilm Los Angeles-based Director interested in captaining our production, please contact me.

 

 

Filed under: Human Relations Tagged: aspirations, desires, dreams, film directors, homeschooling, human relations, motherhood, mothers, parenting, Relating to Humans, self-motivation, Women in Film, women's issues, writing

The Promotional “Devices” I May Employ To Hook You Onto My Nascent #VBLOG

In addition to trying to shake out as many donation dollars as possible from you…

I may discuss and further expand upon interesting comments you leave for me in reaction to on one of my Relating to Humans blog posts or pages.

I may end each episode with a scrolling credit sequence of all recent submissions to the Relating to Humans open submissions feature with the title of the submission, the author or creator of the submission, and the website address of the author or creator of the submission.

I may visit the websites of frequent visitors to my website to provide a “Website Review,” so to speak, of their sites during my shows.

I may encourage you to submit questions you would like me to answer or a comment you would like me to respond to via the contact form of the VBLOG page that I may create which will then send them directly to IAMIRATE@OUTLOOK.COM.

I may encourage you to send me, via the contact form of the VBLOG page that I may create which will then send them directly to IAMIRATE@OUTLOOK.COM, short video clips of you answering questions you would like someone, perhaps me, to ask you about your book or other project you are passionate about. I may then edit this short video clip to make it seem as if I am interviewing you during the show.

I may in my next episode explain why I decided to endorse Trump for president.

Some of these promotional “devices” may definitely be employed; one of them may definitely not be.

I guess we’ll find out in the next episode – Saturday… ish.

 

 

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?

 

 

Filed under: Promotional Tagged: authors, forums, Indie Authors, interviews, marketing, promotions, reviews, submissions, VBLOG, videos, Website Reviews, writing, xIRATE X VBLOG, youtube

PARIS | A Relating to Humans Women’s Issues Feature

PARIS

by elizabeth stokkebye

Seventeen and in Paris on my own.

It was my first encounter with the city of love and I was fortunate to stay with an aunt and uncle, who both being workaholics, left me with oceans of time to explore. I hurried out the door to experience the vast world of Paris with its majestic architecture, its towering cathedrals, its world-renowned art collections, its peaceful parks, and its crowds of people.

The air was spring like, mild and sunny, although I was spending my Christmas holiday away from my home in Denmark. Traveling by myself in a foreign world filled me with a sensation of pure freedom. I remember how my breathing felt different: effortless and silent but steady and consistent. It was breathing devoid of depression and anxiety. I breathed without past or future and let the air be present.

Walking along grand boulevards beneath a blue sky sporting white clouds I felt my loving heart circulate blood through my veins.

On my way past one of the many cafés lining the wide sidewalk, my sway caught the attention of a street performer playing his violin. As I danced by him he let go of his instrument and started to sing Ne me quitte pas. I stopped, turned around, and listened to his chanson. Was he performing especially for me?

My youthful disposition was romantic and I was attracted to him. At the same time, I could hear my mother’s voice: “I’m so proud to have brought up a good girl!” I didn’t move. When he was done with the song, he waved me over. I blushed but followed his hand. He grabbed mine and kissed it. I felt the touch of his soft lips. My skin everywhere reacted by turning prickly and my breathing intensified.

“Ma Cherie,” he whispered.

All of a sudden my body felt heavy and I pulled away. Caught between wanting to leave and wanting to stay, I sat down on a bistro chair.

“Please, I need a minute,” I uttered.

“Bien sûr!” he smiled.

He put his violin to his neck once again and with closed eyes, he played the sweetest melody riding through the air and penetrating the toughest disposition.

Paralyzed, I tried to think. Should I leave or should I stay? My sense of freedom had slowly vanished which made the decision so much harder. The guy was cute, romantic and talented.

A waiter came over and I asked for a café au lait. As more people gathered around to listen to the soft music, I started to relax. He didn’t sing again which made me feel special.

Immersed in the music, I let go of time. Slowly, the morning faded, noon hour came around, and with his violin case full of money, he sang out:

“La dernière chanson!”

From his slender body came Que je t’aime and I didn’t know where to look. My gaze fell on a young woman advancing hurriedly towards us and embodying a sense of pure joy. She stepped right up to my singer and kissed him on the mouth.

 

elizabethstokkebye.com

 

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?

 

 

Filed under: Human Relations Tagged: France, human relations, life, love, Paris, Relating to Humans, relationships, romance, travel, writing