Jason Haskins's Blog, page 45
June 17, 2016
NBA Refs Cry Foul, Outcry Ensues
photo courtesy of pixabay.com
"He's [Steph Curry] the MVP of the league. He gets six fouls called on him. Three of them were absolutely ridiculous. He steals the ball from Kyrie [Irving] clean at one point, LeBron flops on the last one--Jason Phillips falls for that for a flop. This is the MVP of the league we're talking about these touch fouls in the NBA Finals."- Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr after the Warriors game six loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Criticizing officiating is nothing new. Errors by referees, especially when world championships are on the line, are scrutinized by not only coaches and players, but by fans of both teams. When all else fails, when your team is just not getting it done, it is easier to place blame on bad calls rather than emphasize the importance of how well the other team played.
This is exactly what happened in game six of the 2016 NBA Finals on Thursday night, a victory by the Cavs that ended with Curry fouling out and, in a rare moment of loss control by Curry, flinging his mouth guard into the stands.
The refs have done it again.
To be fair, Coach Kerr emphasized that the officiating did not cost the Warriors this game. Instead, he chose to insinuate that MVP's should never foul out. It is up to the refs to protect their star player, to give preferential treatment in games to these players, specifically in this case to his superstar Curry. It's been like that for ages. Coddling superstars because that's what people pay for. The league mandates it, right?
Ah, yes, the league. The very same league that Curry's wife, Ayesha Curry, angrily tweeted about--and later deleted--after the game. A tweet in which she basically accused the league of instructing the refs to call the game favorably for the Cavs, helping to ensure a Cleveland win that forced a Game 7. Thus, bringing the NBA more money.
Adam Silver's pile of cash after Game 6
photo courtesy of flickr.comConspiracy theories are nothing new surrounding the NBA. I've even discussed it previously within the halls of this blog, explaining that star NBA players had a direct line to a bat phone of sorts to former commissioner David Stern's office.
In fact, just last week in watching the Warriors dismantle the Cavs in game four of the Finals, I was officially ready to hand the bat phone down to Curry. He is the face of the league, the first unanimous MVP in league history, and it would only seem right that the refs would give him the benefit of the doubt in tight situations.
Until last night, that is.
In effect, I agree with Kerr. A couple of those fouls were pretty ticky-tack especially in a Finals that has been pretty physical up until this point. Did the refs call it that way based on an executive order from the league? Did the bat phone revert back to LeBron James in an effort to finally bring the city of Cleveland a championship? As a proponent of conspiracy theories, I'd be inclined to say yes, all of this is true.
But enough is enough. Time to put the conspiracy theory to rest.
I'm seeing a suddenly hungrier team in the Cavs that are outplaying a Warriors team watching as their hubris finally catches up with them.
I don't have a dog in this fight. I liked the Warriors last season. I've liked Curry since his college days and enjoy watching them when they catch fire from beyond the arc.
It's hard for me to root for the Cavs. As a Boston Celtics fan, LeBron James has broken my heart on more than one occasion. The man has received more generous calls from referees than many players have combined.
In these Finals, though, the Cavs have earned my allegiance in the Finals because over the course of the playoffs I've seen a Golden State team become more arrogant and whinier than the team that won our hearts last season. They've become a team that's hard to watch.
Don't get me wrong, a certain amount of arrogance is expected thanks to the regular season they had. They no they are good. But watching this team whine their way through games when a simple call doesn't go their way is frustrating to me as a fan of the NBA.
In that regard, it starts with Curry. Though he hasn't received the bat phone, Curry has assumed the mantle of complaining to the refs with every call that doesn't go his way. This was passed down from James, who received it from the Mamba himself, Kobe Bryant. Curry expects a foul call on every shot he misses. (James still does it as well so I don't think the torch has been officially passed).
Yes, there were some phantom calls against Curry last night. I also watched has he grabbed onto the jersey of a Cavs player every time a screen was set against him, all just to get around the screen quicker.
In game five, Curry ran into a Kevin Love and threw himself to the ground in an attempt to get a foul called. Hitting the floor, he looked immediately to the ref. Correctly, there was no foul called. There was barely any contact and the screen Love set was actually legal, compared to the majority of screens I see in today's NBA. (Apparently hardly anyone fears for their groin when setting a screen in today's NBA. They prefer the offensive lineman clear 'em out style of screen.)
Don't get me wrong, Curry is not the only player that does this. Many of his teammates play the flopping game, as I'd estimate that Golden State players fall to the ground after 1/3 of their 3-pt attempts. And the refs haven't been biting as much so in turn the Warriors are getting mad. Are the shooters getting hit? No. And if they do get hit, a foul is called.
It may seem like I'm picking on the Warriors. I am, to an extent, because they are currently the living, breathing example of an NBA gone wrong. Teams and players across the league display the same sort of actions. Flopping has become the norm and arguing with a ref after every call has now become second nature.
Back in the day, if a player that wasn't the team captain started complaining or yelling at the ref, they'd get a technical foul. Now, it seems any scrub can turn to the ref and complain about a foul, bad call, etc. Want to fix that? Start handing out technical fouls unless it's a designated captain. That might get players back to playing the game.
Yes, part of the whining and arrogance comes from an overwhelming desire to win. I get that. Adversity will arise. As players, you hope it doesn't come from the refs. And it's not like it's just been happening to the Warriors. The first two games of the series it appeared everything was going the Golden State's way. And yes, they complained as well.
Then the Cavs got some swagger back.
The Warriors, though they have won a record amount of games, have never seemed unbeatable, as they are just as apt to win by 30 as lose by 30. In game six, they had some of the worst passes I've ever seen from a professional basketball team.
That's today's NBA, though, in which the three-pointer is favored over the dunk/layup and the mid-range jump shot (This is coming from a guy that loves the three). It's a game that is always changing, ever evolving but at some point teams that live and die by the three will hopefully learn their lesson.
Conspiracy? Not this time around. The answer to the the last two games is not the NBA handing down an edict to the refs to manipulate the action. The answer lies in James and Kyrie Irving, who are quietly dominating these Finals. It has been their play that has elevated the Cavs, but hardly anyone is talking about it. Instead, the focus has been on the Warriors repeating, Curry's struggles, and whatever the hell Draymond Green is doing.
James is averaging 30.2 ppg, 11.3 rpg and 8.5 apg.
Irving is close behind in points, averaging 27.5.
James scored 41 points in back-to-back games.
That's why this is a series again. Not conspiracies, not refs, and not commissioner Adam Silver's bat phone. (If he even has one. Perhaps Stern retired it). On Sunday night, two teams will enter the arena. One team will leave. Finally time to see who wants it more. Hubris versus desire. History versus history. Curry versus James.
Get your mouth guards ready, NBA fans. Game 7 is going to be a wild ride.
June 10, 2016
Where Are They Now? The Cast of Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Six months have passed since Star Wars: The Force Awakens stormed into movie theaters. Along the way, box office records were broken, careers were changed, and fanboys wept. All in a day's work for the Star Wars universe.
Since all of that happened so long ago (but not in a galaxy far away), it's time to catch up with the cast and see where life has taken them today.
Harrison FordFord, who played Han Solo, returned to perhaps his most iconic role in attempt to win back fans who were mad at him for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. And boy did he deliver, bringing back a little bit of fun to the Star Wars movies.
How did Ford take advantage of his return to the universe? He parlayed the success into a role in the new Blade Runner film and appears to be reprising his role as Dr. Jones in the upcoming film Indy 5: Retirement Home or Bust.
One can only hope this new found success leads to a studio decision to make a sequel to Air Force One.
Oscar Isaac
photo courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org
Isaac, as Poe Dameron, is currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII. He has also won our hearts as the coolest guy on the planet.
Daisy Ridley
photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
Ridley is reprising her role as Rey and currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII. And is also British. And also pretty cool. Adam Driver
Driver is currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII. His alter ego, Kylo Ren, likes to tweet things from time to time.
BB-8BB-8's unexpected rise to fame brought it what every aspiring actor desires: fortunes and invites to all the hippest Hollywood parties involving Ashton Kutcher. BB-8 was the talk of the town, adored by kids and adults alike.
The droid attended events left and right, turning the new found center of attention into its own personal platform. BB-8 spoke of donating money to charities, helping out third-world countries and fighting battles on the home front for Droid's rights. It did all of this while balancing a healthy social life, as BB-8 was seen canoodling at parties with starlets ranging from Brie Larson to Ridley to Meryl Streep.
BB-8's penchant for burning the candles at both ends eventually caught up with it. The droid was forgetting to go to interviews, refusing to take photographs, and had several run-ins with the law. There was even talk Sean Penn took BB-8 with him on his interview of El Chapo, though those rumblings were never confirmed.
Rumors of being difficult to work with kept BB-8 from getting roles in the next Transformers movie and the Baywatch movie. The droid even was found one night in the back corner of a Baltimore drug den, passed out with a needle in one of its sockets.
Turning to Ben Affleck for guidance, BB-8 found again the spirit to work. A trip to the Betty Ford Clinic also helped. Now clean and sober with a renewed hope in life, the droid is currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII.Dante Briggins
Briggins was seen as a Stormtrooper in The Force Awakens. Taking advantage of the success of the film, Briggins has five projects lined up over the next year. He can be seen as an Area 51 soldier in the upcoming Independence Day: Resurgence.
He's also currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII, reprising his role as a Stormtrooper.Kate Fleetwood
Fleetwood appeared as a First Order Officer. She was recently in a television adaptation of War and Peace. She is not currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII, as it can be assumed her character was killed in the explosion on Star Killer Base.John Boyega
photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
Boyega, as Finn, is currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII. He may or may not still be wearing the jacket given to him by Poe Dameron. On the set and off.Mark Hamill
Hamill, as the legendary Luke Skywalker, has not promised anything in regards to Star Wars: Episode VIII, which he is currently filming. It is assumed that Hamill will have a larger part in the new film, perhaps even doubling his screen time from ten seconds to twenty.Carrie Fisher
Fisher, in her role as Leia, is currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII. She is also pretty active on social media, often displaying her strong Twitter game.
I can't believe how everyone has changed so much! Time really does fly and it was good to catch up on the lives of some of the stars of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Since all of that happened so long ago (but not in a galaxy far away), it's time to catch up with the cast and see where life has taken them today.
Harrison FordFord, who played Han Solo, returned to perhaps his most iconic role in attempt to win back fans who were mad at him for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. And boy did he deliver, bringing back a little bit of fun to the Star Wars movies.
How did Ford take advantage of his return to the universe? He parlayed the success into a role in the new Blade Runner film and appears to be reprising his role as Dr. Jones in the upcoming film Indy 5: Retirement Home or Bust.
One can only hope this new found success leads to a studio decision to make a sequel to Air Force One.
Oscar Isaac
photo courtesy of commons.wikimedia.orgIsaac, as Poe Dameron, is currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII. He has also won our hearts as the coolest guy on the planet.
Daisy Ridley
photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.orgRidley is reprising her role as Rey and currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII. And is also British. And also pretty cool. Adam Driver
Driver is currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII. His alter ego, Kylo Ren, likes to tweet things from time to time.
dear diary
my dad has had too much to drink
he's trying to get me to use my powers to help him and uncle lando win at roulette
i hate him— Emo Kylo Ren (@KyloR3n) May 14, 2016
BB-8BB-8's unexpected rise to fame brought it what every aspiring actor desires: fortunes and invites to all the hippest Hollywood parties involving Ashton Kutcher. BB-8 was the talk of the town, adored by kids and adults alike.
The droid attended events left and right, turning the new found center of attention into its own personal platform. BB-8 spoke of donating money to charities, helping out third-world countries and fighting battles on the home front for Droid's rights. It did all of this while balancing a healthy social life, as BB-8 was seen canoodling at parties with starlets ranging from Brie Larson to Ridley to Meryl Streep.
BB-8's penchant for burning the candles at both ends eventually caught up with it. The droid was forgetting to go to interviews, refusing to take photographs, and had several run-ins with the law. There was even talk Sean Penn took BB-8 with him on his interview of El Chapo, though those rumblings were never confirmed.
Rumors of being difficult to work with kept BB-8 from getting roles in the next Transformers movie and the Baywatch movie. The droid even was found one night in the back corner of a Baltimore drug den, passed out with a needle in one of its sockets.
Turning to Ben Affleck for guidance, BB-8 found again the spirit to work. A trip to the Betty Ford Clinic also helped. Now clean and sober with a renewed hope in life, the droid is currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII.Dante Briggins
Briggins was seen as a Stormtrooper in The Force Awakens. Taking advantage of the success of the film, Briggins has five projects lined up over the next year. He can be seen as an Area 51 soldier in the upcoming Independence Day: Resurgence.
He's also currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII, reprising his role as a Stormtrooper.Kate Fleetwood
Fleetwood appeared as a First Order Officer. She was recently in a television adaptation of War and Peace. She is not currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII, as it can be assumed her character was killed in the explosion on Star Killer Base.John Boyega
photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
Boyega, as Finn, is currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII. He may or may not still be wearing the jacket given to him by Poe Dameron. On the set and off.Mark Hamill
Hamill, as the legendary Luke Skywalker, has not promised anything in regards to Star Wars: Episode VIII, which he is currently filming. It is assumed that Hamill will have a larger part in the new film, perhaps even doubling his screen time from ten seconds to twenty.Carrie Fisher
Fisher, in her role as Leia, is currently filming Star Wars: Episode VIII. She is also pretty active on social media, often displaying her strong Twitter game.
I can't believe how everyone has changed so much! Time really does fly and it was good to catch up on the lives of some of the stars of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
June 5, 2016
June Starts not with Gloom but a Heat Wave
It's supposed to be near 100 degrees today. This is not June weather. This is July weather. Global warming is not a myth.
After a two-week hiatus, I'm back. This will be a post of updates, not the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens Where are They Now?" article I was planning on writing. I still may do that because hey, it's been six months and I'm sure people would like to know what BB-8 is up to these days.
The writing front had slowed down the past few months until recently. Between writer's block, a piling up of rejections and a slight lack of motivation, progress had not been made on very many of my projects. That scared me for a spell, as I was not ready to give up on writing but there were days of despair in which it seemed writing was giving up on me.
Over the last month, the ramp-up of writing has started again. I have been editing previous projects, including re-writes, and have even started the early stages of writing new material. It's amazing how my mood depends on whether I'm writing or not.
One of the re-writes I'm in the middle of is for my full-length play The Latitude of Life. Some fairly major changes are going on and I'm also awaiting feedback from some of my contemporaries that are reading the play for the first time. I feel good about the changes I'm making and am holding out hope that it will see the stage within a year.
Of course, that's the hope for all of my plays. The goal will never go away.
This past weekend I was once again able to participate in the i48 film festival in Boise. This year I found myself not as a main writer, but as a contributor, script supervisor, and, for a brief section of the script, director. The experience was a great one, as I was surrounded with a fun group of people that are smart, talented and excited about making films.
photo courtesy of Matt Melton
On the subject of films, the first short film I directed, The Broad Brush, was finally edited and "released". While I don't think it will be entered into festivals any time soon, I am glad for the experience and proud of what this small crew created. More about it that can be found here.
I am also currently in the process of editing/re-writing a few of my screenplays and an original pilot for a television show (on spec. No deal in place or anything like that). Though these are for feature movies and an hour-long television show, I do have a short films outlined in which I can hopefully film some time this year. A lot of big plans, right? Go big or go home.
On the literary front, The Blue Gem has not seen the needle move in regards to the word count since February. June and July are going to place a lot of heavy focus on this fantasy novel as it is still a goal to have a completed draft by the end of July. That may not happen due to a commitment to some other writing projects, including a ten-minute play festival with HomeGrown Theatre, and acting in a short film, but I will hold firm to accomplish as much as possible before the end of July.
In the mean time, The Dragon Princess is still available to purchase. The price has been lowered to the download price of only $1.99. Pursuit of an agent and a publishing deal continues, with emails being sent out daily.
The ball is rolling again. Pushing myself to keep the momentum going and keep chipping away at the blockade that sometimes slows me down. Persevere.
On a more personal note, my cat of ten years had to be laid to rest last Monday. I'll spare the details, but it was a difficult decision to make. The apartment is a bit lonelier these days, as she has been a vigilant roommate for the past nine years, and she will be missed.
"Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience."- Paulo Cuelho
After a two-week hiatus, I'm back. This will be a post of updates, not the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens Where are They Now?" article I was planning on writing. I still may do that because hey, it's been six months and I'm sure people would like to know what BB-8 is up to these days.
The writing front had slowed down the past few months until recently. Between writer's block, a piling up of rejections and a slight lack of motivation, progress had not been made on very many of my projects. That scared me for a spell, as I was not ready to give up on writing but there were days of despair in which it seemed writing was giving up on me.
Over the last month, the ramp-up of writing has started again. I have been editing previous projects, including re-writes, and have even started the early stages of writing new material. It's amazing how my mood depends on whether I'm writing or not.
One of the re-writes I'm in the middle of is for my full-length play The Latitude of Life. Some fairly major changes are going on and I'm also awaiting feedback from some of my contemporaries that are reading the play for the first time. I feel good about the changes I'm making and am holding out hope that it will see the stage within a year.
Of course, that's the hope for all of my plays. The goal will never go away.
This past weekend I was once again able to participate in the i48 film festival in Boise. This year I found myself not as a main writer, but as a contributor, script supervisor, and, for a brief section of the script, director. The experience was a great one, as I was surrounded with a fun group of people that are smart, talented and excited about making films.
photo courtesy of Matt Melton
On the subject of films, the first short film I directed, The Broad Brush, was finally edited and "released". While I don't think it will be entered into festivals any time soon, I am glad for the experience and proud of what this small crew created. More about it that can be found here.
I am also currently in the process of editing/re-writing a few of my screenplays and an original pilot for a television show (on spec. No deal in place or anything like that). Though these are for feature movies and an hour-long television show, I do have a short films outlined in which I can hopefully film some time this year. A lot of big plans, right? Go big or go home.
On the literary front, The Blue Gem has not seen the needle move in regards to the word count since February. June and July are going to place a lot of heavy focus on this fantasy novel as it is still a goal to have a completed draft by the end of July. That may not happen due to a commitment to some other writing projects, including a ten-minute play festival with HomeGrown Theatre, and acting in a short film, but I will hold firm to accomplish as much as possible before the end of July.
In the mean time, The Dragon Princess is still available to purchase. The price has been lowered to the download price of only $1.99. Pursuit of an agent and a publishing deal continues, with emails being sent out daily.
The ball is rolling again. Pushing myself to keep the momentum going and keep chipping away at the blockade that sometimes slows me down. Persevere.
On a more personal note, my cat of ten years had to be laid to rest last Monday. I'll spare the details, but it was a difficult decision to make. The apartment is a bit lonelier these days, as she has been a vigilant roommate for the past nine years, and she will be missed.
"Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience."- Paulo Cuelho
May 20, 2016
Let the Good Times Roll
Looking around at the various construction going on in downtown Boise, I was reminded of this monologue I wrote for 'Voices from the Boise Hole 2' back in 2013. The play, consisting of monologues written by myself and Evan Sesek, with contributions from Aaron Kiefer, takes a look at the ever expanding city that is Boise, Idaho. This monologue was also written as Boise was getting ready to celebrate its sesquicentennial. (To see another monologue that ultimately wasn't used, you can hop on over here.)
The play was produced by Alley Repertory Theater in April of 2013 and performed at the Visual Arts Collective in Garden City, Idaho. It was directed by Aaron Kiefer. A kind man named Justin originally performed the role of Ralph. The role was later re-written for the 2015 Treefort Festival in Boise and was performed by Sam Lounsbury.
WARNING: Contains a bit of strong language
(RALPH, clearly drunk, is singing while in the bathroom of the VAC. A toilet flushes and he exits the bathroom. He continues to sing until he reaches the bar.)
RALPHHappy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday deeeeaarr Boise! Happy Birthday to you!
(To bartender)
Line 'em Joe. Whiskey and a shot. Beer and a beer... Shot and a beer... What do you mean you can't serve me? I'm fine. I'm good. I've been to every bar today and you can't serve me? Yeah, I can name them... Mulligans, Neurolux, Tenth St., Fireside, Quinns, Ranch Club, Suds, Broadway Bar, McClearys, Charlie Browns, Buddies, Hooligans, Cactus, The Modern, Pengillys, Moe's Place, and the Ranch Club... I said the Ranch Club twice for a reason.
One beer. Deal. Just don't you worry 'bout me. It's not my fault I like to party.
(The BARTENDER hands RALPH a beer. RALPH takes a drink. He turns around, noticing the audience for the first time.)
What the fuck is this? You people look like you have to fun. Who likes to party? I see you there. You must like to party. You ever been to the Nav? THE NAV? The Navajo Room? Like with the fuckin' giant Indian? That place is awesome...but kind of sad. They have this one-armed girl there. She's got a hook for a hand. Ass like a shelf. I never hit that, though. Gross.
I love to party. I'm Ralph. What's your name? Who cares! Chances are I'm not going to remember it. You know whose name I remember? The teller at my bank. Greg gives me twenty dollars every morning. Drinking is fuckin' expensive these days. And I'm not gonna drink that crap PBR that everyone drinks 'round here. You know what, though? I like to party...
Hey pretty eyes. Didn't I see you at Tenth Street yesterday? Not you? Well, they have this one-armed girl there. She's a little cross-eyed but has tits out to here. I didn't hit that though. Gross... You gotta smoke? I usually have one, but the two packs I allow myself a day are gone. I've always said that I don't have a smoking problem, but smoking has a Ralph problem... So that's a no? Not even one for you old friend Ralph? Fair enough. Wanna fuck? I'm messing with you. This isn't your boyfriend, is it?
You guys ever been to the Balcony? I used to love that place. You could go in there and grab all the condoms in the world. For free! They have this one-armed man in there with abs of steel... So, yeah...
What do you say we take our drinks to the streets and fire our guns in the air? It's a birthday celebration, after all... Of course I brought my gun. Didn't you? Don't worry, I've been backgrounded. Everyone needs a gun. Here, let me show you... It's not an assault rifle. It's here somewhere... Now, where did it go? I swear I lose this thing like twice a week... Crap, I must have dropped it... Let's all take our drinks to the streets and---look for my gun! Hi ho, hi ho, to look for my gun we go. To the streets!
(RALPH starts to leave, but abruptly stops and comes back when he notices that no one followed him.)
You guys are no fun. You've all changed. You've become too cool for your own good. Go back to your boutiques and your coffee shops and your PF Changs. I remember the old downtown. Not this new downtown, this midget Portland. Like a Mini-Me Portland. All these silly shops and boutiques or whatever the crap they are. All these salons and pretty places to get your haircut. There used to be a barber shop on every block. Now there's maybe two... Total! A MAN gets his haircut at a barber shop, not by Roberto at the DV8 salon... I love the smell of Old Spice and Brute. That's where a man gets his haircut. They have Playboys and Hustlers layed out. That's a real way to get a haircut. At least I still have Hannifans. I can get my Plumper Humpers every month. And don't even get me started on the bars. Where are the real bars? Where's the Black Palomino? Huh? The Interlude and being packed in like sardines. Like a steam room, but it was an awesome bar because it was fuckin' sad. I like to relax at a bar. What about the Pub 'N' Tub? I want to be able to get a drink and enjoy it upstairs in a hot tub with my friends. Now that's a party! Give me back old Boise! Give me back fun! Give me back the Beanery, Joe's Down Under, the Bouquet, Dino's on Emerald. Give me back Yankee Dog Steve and his hits of the 80's. Give me back the Iron Gate...
(RALPH has had a seat on the edge of the stage during the last part of his speech. He trails off as he lists the bar, eventually falling asleep. He snores for a few beats before finally snapping back to life.) I love to party! I should go. My doctor said I shouldn't be drinking, but how much harm can some whiskey do? Four weeks ago I was in a hospital bed. Layed up from crashing my bike. Only the third time in the last year. No big whoop. Last time I had nine detached ribs. My ribs were just floating in my bodily fluids. Doctors told me they would never attach again without the help of wire pins. Fuck that, I say. I start drinking this herbal tea from Brazil and Bam! Ribs are healed... And I tell you, the whiskey and beer certainly don't hurt... So fuck you doctors! I'm my own doctor. I'm God. I am the Party God and will bring this party to the streets. A party this town will remember. To Mulligans and then to Tenth St. and then to McCleary's and then to China Blue--No, fuck that place--And to the Navajo Room and to the Ranch Club and to the Pub 'N' Tub. I am the Party God!
(RALPH is heading towards the exit as he finishes naming the bars.)
Happy Birthday to Boise! Happy Birthday to you!
The play was produced by Alley Repertory Theater in April of 2013 and performed at the Visual Arts Collective in Garden City, Idaho. It was directed by Aaron Kiefer. A kind man named Justin originally performed the role of Ralph. The role was later re-written for the 2015 Treefort Festival in Boise and was performed by Sam Lounsbury.
WARNING: Contains a bit of strong language
(RALPH, clearly drunk, is singing while in the bathroom of the VAC. A toilet flushes and he exits the bathroom. He continues to sing until he reaches the bar.)
RALPHHappy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday deeeeaarr Boise! Happy Birthday to you!
(To bartender)
Line 'em Joe. Whiskey and a shot. Beer and a beer... Shot and a beer... What do you mean you can't serve me? I'm fine. I'm good. I've been to every bar today and you can't serve me? Yeah, I can name them... Mulligans, Neurolux, Tenth St., Fireside, Quinns, Ranch Club, Suds, Broadway Bar, McClearys, Charlie Browns, Buddies, Hooligans, Cactus, The Modern, Pengillys, Moe's Place, and the Ranch Club... I said the Ranch Club twice for a reason.
One beer. Deal. Just don't you worry 'bout me. It's not my fault I like to party.
(The BARTENDER hands RALPH a beer. RALPH takes a drink. He turns around, noticing the audience for the first time.)
What the fuck is this? You people look like you have to fun. Who likes to party? I see you there. You must like to party. You ever been to the Nav? THE NAV? The Navajo Room? Like with the fuckin' giant Indian? That place is awesome...but kind of sad. They have this one-armed girl there. She's got a hook for a hand. Ass like a shelf. I never hit that, though. Gross.
I love to party. I'm Ralph. What's your name? Who cares! Chances are I'm not going to remember it. You know whose name I remember? The teller at my bank. Greg gives me twenty dollars every morning. Drinking is fuckin' expensive these days. And I'm not gonna drink that crap PBR that everyone drinks 'round here. You know what, though? I like to party...
Hey pretty eyes. Didn't I see you at Tenth Street yesterday? Not you? Well, they have this one-armed girl there. She's a little cross-eyed but has tits out to here. I didn't hit that though. Gross... You gotta smoke? I usually have one, but the two packs I allow myself a day are gone. I've always said that I don't have a smoking problem, but smoking has a Ralph problem... So that's a no? Not even one for you old friend Ralph? Fair enough. Wanna fuck? I'm messing with you. This isn't your boyfriend, is it?
You guys ever been to the Balcony? I used to love that place. You could go in there and grab all the condoms in the world. For free! They have this one-armed man in there with abs of steel... So, yeah...
What do you say we take our drinks to the streets and fire our guns in the air? It's a birthday celebration, after all... Of course I brought my gun. Didn't you? Don't worry, I've been backgrounded. Everyone needs a gun. Here, let me show you... It's not an assault rifle. It's here somewhere... Now, where did it go? I swear I lose this thing like twice a week... Crap, I must have dropped it... Let's all take our drinks to the streets and---look for my gun! Hi ho, hi ho, to look for my gun we go. To the streets!
(RALPH starts to leave, but abruptly stops and comes back when he notices that no one followed him.)
You guys are no fun. You've all changed. You've become too cool for your own good. Go back to your boutiques and your coffee shops and your PF Changs. I remember the old downtown. Not this new downtown, this midget Portland. Like a Mini-Me Portland. All these silly shops and boutiques or whatever the crap they are. All these salons and pretty places to get your haircut. There used to be a barber shop on every block. Now there's maybe two... Total! A MAN gets his haircut at a barber shop, not by Roberto at the DV8 salon... I love the smell of Old Spice and Brute. That's where a man gets his haircut. They have Playboys and Hustlers layed out. That's a real way to get a haircut. At least I still have Hannifans. I can get my Plumper Humpers every month. And don't even get me started on the bars. Where are the real bars? Where's the Black Palomino? Huh? The Interlude and being packed in like sardines. Like a steam room, but it was an awesome bar because it was fuckin' sad. I like to relax at a bar. What about the Pub 'N' Tub? I want to be able to get a drink and enjoy it upstairs in a hot tub with my friends. Now that's a party! Give me back old Boise! Give me back fun! Give me back the Beanery, Joe's Down Under, the Bouquet, Dino's on Emerald. Give me back Yankee Dog Steve and his hits of the 80's. Give me back the Iron Gate...
(RALPH has had a seat on the edge of the stage during the last part of his speech. He trails off as he lists the bar, eventually falling asleep. He snores for a few beats before finally snapping back to life.) I love to party! I should go. My doctor said I shouldn't be drinking, but how much harm can some whiskey do? Four weeks ago I was in a hospital bed. Layed up from crashing my bike. Only the third time in the last year. No big whoop. Last time I had nine detached ribs. My ribs were just floating in my bodily fluids. Doctors told me they would never attach again without the help of wire pins. Fuck that, I say. I start drinking this herbal tea from Brazil and Bam! Ribs are healed... And I tell you, the whiskey and beer certainly don't hurt... So fuck you doctors! I'm my own doctor. I'm God. I am the Party God and will bring this party to the streets. A party this town will remember. To Mulligans and then to Tenth St. and then to McCleary's and then to China Blue--No, fuck that place--And to the Navajo Room and to the Ranch Club and to the Pub 'N' Tub. I am the Party God!
(RALPH is heading towards the exit as he finishes naming the bars.)
Happy Birthday to Boise! Happy Birthday to you!
May 14, 2016
Dr. Dre: A Sampler of his Impact and One Undelivered Album
"And don't worry 'bout that Detox album
it's coming, we gon' make Dre do it."- Eminem on Encore (2006)
Detox is on its way. A familiar refrain fans of Dr. Dre have been hearing for years and here we are, in the year 2016, still waiting.
At this point in the game, is it safe to say we may never get this album? Yes, according to this interview with Dr. Dre. Does Dre owe fans the album after years of promises? For all that he has done for music, it is entirely possible that Dr. Dre's career as a solo artist releasing full-length albums might be over.
Growing up in a predominately white community, my extent of rap knowledge in my early music listening years was limited to the Beastie Boys and Vanilla Ice. Two extremes in the rap game, yes, but I was 11 years old. Who I was to know that Vanilla Ice wasn't even close to what true rap music represented? I mean, this guy could bring it, right? He could play that funky music and knew what it was like having a Roni.
Looking back, my foray into the love of rap music changed my freshman year of high school, at least according to my back log of memories of life. It was before a basketball game, sitting in the stands at Elko Junior High (our team's home away from home until our gym was finished being built), in which I was introduced to the world of gangsta rap. I was handed a Walkman (remember those?) and told to listen. Reluctantly, I placed the headphones over my ears and pressed play. The song that blared forth: Gin and Juice by Snoop Dogg. Thus, my first introduction to the world of Death Row Records.
Lacking MTV--save for road trips or visits to a friend's house-- I knew little of this Snoop Dogg fella. What I heard, though, I instantly enjoyed. The discovery of gangsta rap in my life led me to Dr. Dre and what turned into a lifetime love of his sick beats (Taylor Swift hasn't trademarked that term, has she? Am I still safe to use it?)
Dr. Dre has been in the rap game for 30 years and I can safely say I've been a fan for twenty plus years. I initially missed out on those glorious World Class Wreckin' Cru and N.W.A. years, but more than made up for it later in life. He continues to be relevant, whether it is producing music, movies, or simply creating headphones for all to enjoy. And that's why, whether he gets around to finally delivering the long promised follow up to his album 2001 or not, Dr. Dre will always be on my top-five list of greatest rappers of all time.
image courtesy of youtube.com
N.W.A. is the group in which Dr. Dre burst onto the scene. Along with stalwarts Eazy-E and Ice Cube, the group received national attention for rapping about what was truly happening on the streets of inner-city Los Angeles and for their feelings on police.
The music of the group and the movie Straight Outta Compton can sum it up much better than I can so I will leave it at that. The group was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an honor well deserved.
Dr. Dre's first solo album, The Chronic, was actually the first rap album I owned (not counting Vanilla Ice), despite hearing of him after my discovery of Snoop Dogg. Though it came out in 1992, I probably didn't purchase the CD until 1995 or 1996. (I know it wasn't until then because my first CD was the Spin Doctors, a gift given to me sometime around my Confirmation. And that was in early '95.)
Scratched and all, I still own that CD. His songs from that album get regular play on my iPod. In what turned out to be a foreshadowing of his career, it would be another seven years before Dr. Dre's next solo album dropped on the world. First, though, would be his falling out with Death Row Records and the launch of his own record label.
"If Cali blew up, I'd be in the Aftermath." Dr. Dre on Big Ego's
Dr. Dre presents the Aftermath was his first album in the post-Death Row Records era on his newly launched Aftermath Records. He contributed one song to the album, Been there Done that, but for the most part stuck to producing the album while lending his name to a few other songs. Though the album achieved platinum status, it had mixed reviews from critics and fans alike.
The year before, Dr. Dre contributed to the Friday soundtrack with his hit Keep Their Heads Ringin' and he helped with Tupac's California Love, but for the most part Dre was sticking to the producing aspect of music, while also on the lookout for the young rappers that would carry his label into the next century.
In late 1999, fans of Dr. Dre finally got what they'd been hoping for: a true follow up to The Chronic. And, speaking here for all fans, we weren't let down. I'm pretty sure the 2001 stayed in my car's stereo for at least a year straight, still making appearances in the car 17 years later. Critically speaking, with the help of his old friend Snoop Dogg and new protege Eminem, the album was top notch, providing fans with an album that has nary a bad song.
And then...
Promises of a new album. Nurturing the career of Eminem and helping to turn him into one of the greatest selling rappers of all time. Dr. Dre continues to produce music, among other things, and helped bring Kendrick Lamar onto the scene. He helped launch the careers of artists such as Warren G, Xzibit, and The Game. The Detox continued to be teased to fans, reaching a swell with the 2011 release of this video:
And yet...
Still nothing. Some have gone as far to say that the Straight Outta Compton soundtrack was essentially Dre giving us the Detox album we were all clamoring for.
Dr. Dre's fingerprints are all over the rap scene, though many of the artists he helped inspire over the years are starting to slow down. Eminem proved with the Marshall Mathers LP2 that he still has something left in him. Jay-Z appears to be in semi-retirement, though an album is apparently in the works. And Kanye West is all over the place. And many of his proteges disappeared from the scene after their first commercially released album.
Much of the genre as lost it's edge over the years. It has become more mainstream, in turn delivering more of a pop style sound and lyrics that leave little to the imagination or failure to remark on society (see: Drake). It is a good thing Kendrick Lamar is around to carry Dre's torch.
His music, and rap music in general, has helped get me through times in my life when I'm feeling down. There's something about the beats, the lyrics, the flow and the rhythm that can help snap me out of a funk. It can also help pump me up before a show--or sports, in high school-- and helps me to think critically of lives that have been lived differently than mine. Dr. Dre and his music helped bring social issues to the forefront of society.
Will we ever see the Detox album? No one knows for sure, but I take you back to 1999 and these lyrics from Forgot about Dre to let you be the judge:
"This is the millennium of Aftermathit ain't gonna be nothing after thatSo give me one more platinum plaqueand fuck rap you can have it back."
it's coming, we gon' make Dre do it."- Eminem on Encore (2006)
Detox is on its way. A familiar refrain fans of Dr. Dre have been hearing for years and here we are, in the year 2016, still waiting.
At this point in the game, is it safe to say we may never get this album? Yes, according to this interview with Dr. Dre. Does Dre owe fans the album after years of promises? For all that he has done for music, it is entirely possible that Dr. Dre's career as a solo artist releasing full-length albums might be over.
Growing up in a predominately white community, my extent of rap knowledge in my early music listening years was limited to the Beastie Boys and Vanilla Ice. Two extremes in the rap game, yes, but I was 11 years old. Who I was to know that Vanilla Ice wasn't even close to what true rap music represented? I mean, this guy could bring it, right? He could play that funky music and knew what it was like having a Roni.
Looking back, my foray into the love of rap music changed my freshman year of high school, at least according to my back log of memories of life. It was before a basketball game, sitting in the stands at Elko Junior High (our team's home away from home until our gym was finished being built), in which I was introduced to the world of gangsta rap. I was handed a Walkman (remember those?) and told to listen. Reluctantly, I placed the headphones over my ears and pressed play. The song that blared forth: Gin and Juice by Snoop Dogg. Thus, my first introduction to the world of Death Row Records.
Lacking MTV--save for road trips or visits to a friend's house-- I knew little of this Snoop Dogg fella. What I heard, though, I instantly enjoyed. The discovery of gangsta rap in my life led me to Dr. Dre and what turned into a lifetime love of his sick beats (Taylor Swift hasn't trademarked that term, has she? Am I still safe to use it?)
Dr. Dre has been in the rap game for 30 years and I can safely say I've been a fan for twenty plus years. I initially missed out on those glorious World Class Wreckin' Cru and N.W.A. years, but more than made up for it later in life. He continues to be relevant, whether it is producing music, movies, or simply creating headphones for all to enjoy. And that's why, whether he gets around to finally delivering the long promised follow up to his album 2001 or not, Dr. Dre will always be on my top-five list of greatest rappers of all time.
image courtesy of youtube.com
N.W.A. is the group in which Dr. Dre burst onto the scene. Along with stalwarts Eazy-E and Ice Cube, the group received national attention for rapping about what was truly happening on the streets of inner-city Los Angeles and for their feelings on police.
The music of the group and the movie Straight Outta Compton can sum it up much better than I can so I will leave it at that. The group was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an honor well deserved.
Dr. Dre's first solo album, The Chronic, was actually the first rap album I owned (not counting Vanilla Ice), despite hearing of him after my discovery of Snoop Dogg. Though it came out in 1992, I probably didn't purchase the CD until 1995 or 1996. (I know it wasn't until then because my first CD was the Spin Doctors, a gift given to me sometime around my Confirmation. And that was in early '95.)
Scratched and all, I still own that CD. His songs from that album get regular play on my iPod. In what turned out to be a foreshadowing of his career, it would be another seven years before Dr. Dre's next solo album dropped on the world. First, though, would be his falling out with Death Row Records and the launch of his own record label.
"If Cali blew up, I'd be in the Aftermath." Dr. Dre on Big Ego's
Dr. Dre presents the Aftermath was his first album in the post-Death Row Records era on his newly launched Aftermath Records. He contributed one song to the album, Been there Done that, but for the most part stuck to producing the album while lending his name to a few other songs. Though the album achieved platinum status, it had mixed reviews from critics and fans alike.
The year before, Dr. Dre contributed to the Friday soundtrack with his hit Keep Their Heads Ringin' and he helped with Tupac's California Love, but for the most part Dre was sticking to the producing aspect of music, while also on the lookout for the young rappers that would carry his label into the next century.
In late 1999, fans of Dr. Dre finally got what they'd been hoping for: a true follow up to The Chronic. And, speaking here for all fans, we weren't let down. I'm pretty sure the 2001 stayed in my car's stereo for at least a year straight, still making appearances in the car 17 years later. Critically speaking, with the help of his old friend Snoop Dogg and new protege Eminem, the album was top notch, providing fans with an album that has nary a bad song.
And then...
Promises of a new album. Nurturing the career of Eminem and helping to turn him into one of the greatest selling rappers of all time. Dr. Dre continues to produce music, among other things, and helped bring Kendrick Lamar onto the scene. He helped launch the careers of artists such as Warren G, Xzibit, and The Game. The Detox continued to be teased to fans, reaching a swell with the 2011 release of this video:
And yet...
Still nothing. Some have gone as far to say that the Straight Outta Compton soundtrack was essentially Dre giving us the Detox album we were all clamoring for.
Dr. Dre's fingerprints are all over the rap scene, though many of the artists he helped inspire over the years are starting to slow down. Eminem proved with the Marshall Mathers LP2 that he still has something left in him. Jay-Z appears to be in semi-retirement, though an album is apparently in the works. And Kanye West is all over the place. And many of his proteges disappeared from the scene after their first commercially released album.
Much of the genre as lost it's edge over the years. It has become more mainstream, in turn delivering more of a pop style sound and lyrics that leave little to the imagination or failure to remark on society (see: Drake). It is a good thing Kendrick Lamar is around to carry Dre's torch.
His music, and rap music in general, has helped get me through times in my life when I'm feeling down. There's something about the beats, the lyrics, the flow and the rhythm that can help snap me out of a funk. It can also help pump me up before a show--or sports, in high school-- and helps me to think critically of lives that have been lived differently than mine. Dr. Dre and his music helped bring social issues to the forefront of society.
Will we ever see the Detox album? No one knows for sure, but I take you back to 1999 and these lyrics from Forgot about Dre to let you be the judge:
"This is the millennium of Aftermathit ain't gonna be nothing after thatSo give me one more platinum plaqueand fuck rap you can have it back."
May 7, 2016
A Bonanza of Ideas and No Substance
image courtesy of flickr.comI've been staring at the computer screen for what seems like well over an hour. There hasn't even been any false starts. You know, typing a sentence or two and immediately reaching for the delete button. At least when that happens, I know the brain is working.
There has been none of that.
That was preceded by an hour of chewing on the end of a pen. Nothing to report, except that pen is now sitting at the bottom of a trash can. Did the pen fail me? Or did I fail the pen?
Even the bouncing of my trusty tennis ball yielded no results.
Tick, tick, tick. Time evaporates into the mist, never to be recaptured. Everything is in the past. Even the sentence I just typed. Past. Past again. Past even more. Time does not stop.
Stop.
Free writing has not helped. This is the second time I've tried this exercise in the past two days, hoping to jar something lose. It feels like there is a blockage in my brain, a giant cement slab damming the creative thoughts from bursting loose. Is that possible? Is that how the synapses of the brain work? I should have paid more attention in Science class. Would that have helped?
Tick, tick, tick.
There goes that clock again. Internally, it's ticking. Externally, it's on my watch. What does that even mean?
So many questions. What kind of free writing is that?
There I go again. Something has to click, something has to explode off of the page. I guess in this case, it needs to come from me. My heart. My life. My truths. Our hearts. Our lives. Our truths. There are hundreds of stories to tell and a million ways to tell them in. I'm in the midst of a two-week struggle and have not found any answers. Am I pressing too much? Perhaps. I need a new environment to write in. My apartment isn't cutting it anymore.
A bonanza of ideas and no substance. The story of May...
April 30, 2016
In the Spotlight: Olyphant, Corrigan, and Katt
Out there in the entertainment world, lost among the stars that are Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck, there exists a trio of actors that reside somewhat anonymously in the upper echelon of acting. Three actors you might recognize at first glance, but can't seem to place their name. Three actors that make almost every project they take part in, good or bad, that much better.
I'm speaking about Timothy Olyphant, Kevin Corrigan, and Nicky Katt.
These three men have been favorites of mine for a long time. Each has been in the business for 20 years or more and have not often been given their dues. While Olyphant has been in the forefront more in recent years due to the critical success of Justified, the three men have managed to do outstanding work while remaining out of the spotlight.
Today, I shine that spotlight on them, taking a brief glimpse into their illustrious careers.
Timothy Olyphant
"Is the juice worth the squeeze?"
This question is posed by Olyphant first appeared on my radar with his turn in Scream 2. It was going to be tough to top Skeet Ulrich's maniacal Billy Loomis from the first Scream, but Olyphant certainly impressed in this ensemble piece.
Olyphant first used his talent of turning unbearable movies into something watchable with his appearance in Gone in 60 Seconds. Don't let the millions of dollars this film made fool you. It is a mildly entertaining movie and has quite the collection of talent, but when Olyphant is not on screen, something is truly missing.
After years of films, Olyphant begin to move into the television spectrum. He made appearances on The Office, My Name is Earl, and Deadwood before launching into a six-season run on Justified.
He is currently appearing in the film Mother's Day. Judging by reviews, this might be a film that not even Olyphant can make tolerable, but due to the fact I must see everything he's in, this movie will eventually end up on my Netflix queue.
Kevin Corrigan
When you have your play produced at age 17 at the Young Playwrights Festival of New York, chances are you're off to a good start to your career.
Nearly 30 years later, In a career filled with bit parts and being a supporting player, Corrigan has found a talent in standing out no matter the capacity he is asked to fill in project.
He has been in major films, such as Goodfellas, The Departed, and American Gangster while acquiring numerous credits in independent movies such as True Romance, Detroit Rock City, Buffalo '66, The Slums of Beverly Hills, and, in one of his finest performances to date, a turn co-starring with Patton Oswalt in the film Big Fan.
He can be even considered to be part of the Judd Apatow family tree, appearing in movies such as Superbad and Pineapple Express. These appearances most likely date back to when Corrigan appeared in an episode of Freaks and Geeks.
Corrigan has done his fair share of work in television, stealing the show in the long running series Grounded for Life and giving a great performance in the critically acclaimed Community. He can currently be seen in the show Dice.
Any time I see Corrigan show up in a movie is often a surprise. A lot of the time he's not a focus of a trailer or write-up on a film or television show, but his appearance is similar to stamp of approval.
Nicky Katt
The reclusive Katt first caught my eye in the movie Dazed and Confused, in which his few brief scenes stood out in an already stellar movie. (Though later I found out he was in The 'Burbs with Tom Hanks, a film I'd seen before Dazed and Confused).
A role in Suburbia proved what Katt was capable, but it wasn't really until the Fox television show Boston Public that Katt really crept into the national consciousness. He delivered outstanding performances week after week in a show that was sometimes overwrought with melodrama.
After three seasons on the show, Katt kept to what seems to have been a pattern his entire career: choosing small parts only when he feels like working. He did School of Rock, appearing in only a handful of scenes.
Even since 2008, Katt has only appeared in three projects. He was uncredited for a role as a SWAT member in the film Dark Knight. His last role was in the 2013 HBO film Beyond the Candelabra.
These three men are some of the finest actors of the last twenty years. They often go unrecognized and I imagine they might prefer it that way. Fame is not necessarily the end result of what these men want. They like to have fun in their roles, whatever the situation, and that's definitely a positive in my book.
Now to go write a script to bring the three of them together. Shouldn't be too hard. Right?
I'm speaking about Timothy Olyphant, Kevin Corrigan, and Nicky Katt.
These three men have been favorites of mine for a long time. Each has been in the business for 20 years or more and have not often been given their dues. While Olyphant has been in the forefront more in recent years due to the critical success of Justified, the three men have managed to do outstanding work while remaining out of the spotlight.
Today, I shine that spotlight on them, taking a brief glimpse into their illustrious careers.
Timothy Olyphant
"Is the juice worth the squeeze?"
This question is posed by Olyphant first appeared on my radar with his turn in Scream 2. It was going to be tough to top Skeet Ulrich's maniacal Billy Loomis from the first Scream, but Olyphant certainly impressed in this ensemble piece.
Olyphant first used his talent of turning unbearable movies into something watchable with his appearance in Gone in 60 Seconds. Don't let the millions of dollars this film made fool you. It is a mildly entertaining movie and has quite the collection of talent, but when Olyphant is not on screen, something is truly missing.
After years of films, Olyphant begin to move into the television spectrum. He made appearances on The Office, My Name is Earl, and Deadwood before launching into a six-season run on Justified.
He is currently appearing in the film Mother's Day. Judging by reviews, this might be a film that not even Olyphant can make tolerable, but due to the fact I must see everything he's in, this movie will eventually end up on my Netflix queue.
Kevin Corrigan
When you have your play produced at age 17 at the Young Playwrights Festival of New York, chances are you're off to a good start to your career.
Nearly 30 years later, In a career filled with bit parts and being a supporting player, Corrigan has found a talent in standing out no matter the capacity he is asked to fill in project.
He has been in major films, such as Goodfellas, The Departed, and American Gangster while acquiring numerous credits in independent movies such as True Romance, Detroit Rock City, Buffalo '66, The Slums of Beverly Hills, and, in one of his finest performances to date, a turn co-starring with Patton Oswalt in the film Big Fan.
He can be even considered to be part of the Judd Apatow family tree, appearing in movies such as Superbad and Pineapple Express. These appearances most likely date back to when Corrigan appeared in an episode of Freaks and Geeks.
Corrigan has done his fair share of work in television, stealing the show in the long running series Grounded for Life and giving a great performance in the critically acclaimed Community. He can currently be seen in the show Dice.
Any time I see Corrigan show up in a movie is often a surprise. A lot of the time he's not a focus of a trailer or write-up on a film or television show, but his appearance is similar to stamp of approval.
Nicky Katt
The reclusive Katt first caught my eye in the movie Dazed and Confused, in which his few brief scenes stood out in an already stellar movie. (Though later I found out he was in The 'Burbs with Tom Hanks, a film I'd seen before Dazed and Confused).
A role in Suburbia proved what Katt was capable, but it wasn't really until the Fox television show Boston Public that Katt really crept into the national consciousness. He delivered outstanding performances week after week in a show that was sometimes overwrought with melodrama.
After three seasons on the show, Katt kept to what seems to have been a pattern his entire career: choosing small parts only when he feels like working. He did School of Rock, appearing in only a handful of scenes.
Even since 2008, Katt has only appeared in three projects. He was uncredited for a role as a SWAT member in the film Dark Knight. His last role was in the 2013 HBO film Beyond the Candelabra.
These three men are some of the finest actors of the last twenty years. They often go unrecognized and I imagine they might prefer it that way. Fame is not necessarily the end result of what these men want. They like to have fun in their roles, whatever the situation, and that's definitely a positive in my book.
Now to go write a script to bring the three of them together. Shouldn't be too hard. Right?
April 22, 2016
The April Effect
Sitting here, pouring through the literally hundreds of topics I could easily discuss this week, I began to ponder my own contributions to the writing world.
Am I another writer simply rehashing stories that pour into the internet every day? Should I start writing poorly constructed, badly worded click bait articles?
Should I start writing false stories that people believe without giving a second thought as to the source? If it's on the internet, it must be true.
What is the purpose of this blog, now almost eight years in the making?
It all started with a post on Kurt Rambis, moved onto a review of a performance of The Sunshine Boys from the fine people over at Boise Little Theater and later jumped into a series of posts exploring the various bars of Boise. Most had stories associated with that bar, some of the places have closed and I, like them, moved on. (To see some of the bar posts, those are housed in the year 2009 on the navigation sidebar.)
Over the years, I have written about sports, movies, television, politics, and even thrown in the occasional poem. Scattered yet focused. Seemingly a perfect description of any project I've written over the years.
There have been times I've gotten a little personal on this blog. Stuff that has been written on here has been stated as if I'm writing in a journal. Nothing I regret, of course, but perhaps stuff that should have been left off of this thing that is now called life.
I have promoted my fantasy novel, my plays and myself in general. I'm like a one-man marketing machine that never bothered to learn about marketing.
Over the past few weeks--now journeying into the personal realm--I have given consideration to setting down the pen for good. It might have looked like this, but with a pen. And at a desk.
Why do I mention this? I'm not really sure. I guess it's something I've been keeping to myself as of late, not really knowing how to put it into words. Pretty ironic, right? A writer not being able to find the words.
Channeling rejections, failures and false starts into a positive outlook can sometimes drain the soul. And for some reason, as of late, each one stung more than the next, sapping me of the strength to sit down and create. Everything remained a blank canvas of hope, an idle pen sitting only a few feet away.
I gave serious thought to no longer pursuing writing. I would settle into a future of going to work, coming home, watching television, and sleeping. No more spending hours on the internet looking for agents, theaters, and opportunities. No more working on projects that would never make it past the notepad or the computer screen.
No more writing. Ever.
I was worn out, dejected, and down right fatigued. I'd simply stare at my list of things I needed to do for the week and shake my head. I found myself tearing up at the slightest suggestion of sadness in songs I was listening to and shows I was watching.
I was done.
Then I did what I do best. I found the positives in what I'd accomplished, stuff that had been pushed form my mind. And I wrote. And wrote. And wrote some more.
In the end, writing is what I know. Whether it's simply a post on this blog, a private journal entry, a sports article, or a new play (or novel), writing is what I love and will continue to do until my hand is curled and will no longer hold a pen (or pencil). Even then, I will learn to write with my left hand and continue the pursuit.
Now that the pity party is over, it's time to strap in and get back on the ride. I write for me and, though there is a desire to see my writing out in the world, writing is what makes me happy. Does it change lives? Maybe, maybe not. Depending on the forum--stage, book, movie or blog post--I strive to tell a good story, to inform or to simply, in the end, put a smile on someone's face.
Life moves pretty fast. My soul feels 20. My body feels 30. My mind feels 60. Remember to breathe. Take a moment. Soak in the good and the bad, remembering that the former outweighs the latter.
If you want to make art, make art. If you want to dance, dance. If you want to sing, sing. And if you want to write, write. I know I will.
Peace.
Am I another writer simply rehashing stories that pour into the internet every day? Should I start writing poorly constructed, badly worded click bait articles?
Should I start writing false stories that people believe without giving a second thought as to the source? If it's on the internet, it must be true.
What is the purpose of this blog, now almost eight years in the making?
It all started with a post on Kurt Rambis, moved onto a review of a performance of The Sunshine Boys from the fine people over at Boise Little Theater and later jumped into a series of posts exploring the various bars of Boise. Most had stories associated with that bar, some of the places have closed and I, like them, moved on. (To see some of the bar posts, those are housed in the year 2009 on the navigation sidebar.)
Over the years, I have written about sports, movies, television, politics, and even thrown in the occasional poem. Scattered yet focused. Seemingly a perfect description of any project I've written over the years.
There have been times I've gotten a little personal on this blog. Stuff that has been written on here has been stated as if I'm writing in a journal. Nothing I regret, of course, but perhaps stuff that should have been left off of this thing that is now called life.
I have promoted my fantasy novel, my plays and myself in general. I'm like a one-man marketing machine that never bothered to learn about marketing.
Over the past few weeks--now journeying into the personal realm--I have given consideration to setting down the pen for good. It might have looked like this, but with a pen. And at a desk.
Why do I mention this? I'm not really sure. I guess it's something I've been keeping to myself as of late, not really knowing how to put it into words. Pretty ironic, right? A writer not being able to find the words.
Channeling rejections, failures and false starts into a positive outlook can sometimes drain the soul. And for some reason, as of late, each one stung more than the next, sapping me of the strength to sit down and create. Everything remained a blank canvas of hope, an idle pen sitting only a few feet away.
I gave serious thought to no longer pursuing writing. I would settle into a future of going to work, coming home, watching television, and sleeping. No more spending hours on the internet looking for agents, theaters, and opportunities. No more working on projects that would never make it past the notepad or the computer screen.
No more writing. Ever.
I was worn out, dejected, and down right fatigued. I'd simply stare at my list of things I needed to do for the week and shake my head. I found myself tearing up at the slightest suggestion of sadness in songs I was listening to and shows I was watching.
I was done.
Then I did what I do best. I found the positives in what I'd accomplished, stuff that had been pushed form my mind. And I wrote. And wrote. And wrote some more.
In the end, writing is what I know. Whether it's simply a post on this blog, a private journal entry, a sports article, or a new play (or novel), writing is what I love and will continue to do until my hand is curled and will no longer hold a pen (or pencil). Even then, I will learn to write with my left hand and continue the pursuit.
Now that the pity party is over, it's time to strap in and get back on the ride. I write for me and, though there is a desire to see my writing out in the world, writing is what makes me happy. Does it change lives? Maybe, maybe not. Depending on the forum--stage, book, movie or blog post--I strive to tell a good story, to inform or to simply, in the end, put a smile on someone's face.
Life moves pretty fast. My soul feels 20. My body feels 30. My mind feels 60. Remember to breathe. Take a moment. Soak in the good and the bad, remembering that the former outweighs the latter.
If you want to make art, make art. If you want to dance, dance. If you want to sing, sing. And if you want to write, write. I know I will.
Peace.
April 13, 2016
The Mamba's Last Mambo
The farewell game of the Kobe Bryant farewell tour has started off in similar fashion to the entire 2015-16 Los Angeles Lakers season.
Poorly.
Four minutes into the game, the Lakers trail 6-0 and Bryant is 0-4. Not exactly how I'm guessing Bryant pictured his swan song going.
On a night when the Golden State Warriors are going for record-breaking win number 73, Bryant, Black Mamba himself, is going quietly into the dark night on what is, as of this writing, a 16-win team that has had its fair share of drama this season.
Capping a 20-year career, hobbling towards the finish line, is not how any player imagines themselves leaving the game. Winning the championship on a game-winning shot is the way a player wants to walk off the court. It's the way it is dreamed from the early days of picking up a basketball and shooting hoops in your driveway. It's late at night, the cold air is setting in and you want to make one more before calling it a night. Only seconds to go. Down by one. Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The clock is winding down...
UPDATE: Bryant has rattled off 12 straight points. Jay-Z nods his head in approval.
Bryant's first year in the league was my senior year of high school. As far as basketball heroes go, Larry Bird and Bill Russell were on the top of my list. Michael Jordan was close behind.
Bryant, fresh out of high school, exploded onto the scene, in good ways and bad. The scoring was evident, as were the air balls in pressure situations in which complaints resounded about a rookie taking the final shot.
Despite being a lifelong Boston Celtics fan and Bryant being on the Lakers, I was impressed by him. Here was this kid, only one year older than me, and he was willing to step up in these pressure situations. There was only a hint of his cockiness in those first two years of his career and he showed a resilience to work hard in making himself better.
Bryant, you could say, was a favorite of mine. By time Mamba's second year arrived, I was in my first-year of college, playing pickup games against teachers from my mom's elementary school (many of which played together in a women's league.) I will admit now that it gave me a perfect opportunity to practice all of my "Kobe" moves. Post-ups. Cross over dribbles. The fade away jumper. And even the "fake like I"m passing behind my back on a fast break but hook the ball around to myself". Much like Bryant was the King of L.A., I was the King of the Multi Purpose Room.
UPDATE: Bryant finished the first quarter shooting 5-13. On pace for a very Kobe-esque game.
As time went on, though, Bryant became a man I learned to loathe. He was a ball hog. He was cocky beyond any measure. He was accused of rape (and exonerated. Though that hasn't been mentioned much this week). The Black Mamba was cold-as-ice on the court and he consistently drove a dagger into the hearts of the non-Laker fans.
I watched some of my best friends root for Bryant. And I saw some of them devastated time and time again after a game-winning shot eliminated their team from the playoffs. He got on those shooting sprees (like he did in the first quarter tonight when he made four in a row) where you knew that anything he shot up was going in. It was inevitable. Two guys could be in his face and Bryant could make a shot with ease. I even went as far as to put Bryant in the middle of an NBA conspiracy. It was damn frustrating.
Over the past few years, after I felt those very daggers along with millions of other Celtics fans in the NBA Finals, I've learned to appreciate Bryant once again. Despite his propensity to shoot as much as he used to (at a lower success rate), he has mellowed over the years, doing his best to take on more of a leadership role. From judging him on solely an outsider basis, Bryant has one of the greatest work ethics to ever be present in this game. He is among the top-ten greatest players of all time.
Injuries over the past four years have played a part in his downfall. It's inevitable. The amount of minutes he's played in the last twenty years, adding in all of those championship runs, took a toll. Wearing down is bound to happen. There was still flashes of that old Kobe this past season. He's not the same man that dropped over 81 points in game. (When I saw that, I probably quipped he had to do it on 82 shots. He did not.) But, when he was feeling right, he could still drop 30 on you.
UPDATED: Bryant now has 21 points with three minutes left in the first half.
The thing I appreciate most about Bryant is the fact that he stayed with the Lakers for his entire career. In this day and age, it is rare that a superstar does that. (Casually looks in the direction of Lebron James). Yes, there were times he was close to leaving, but Bryant saw it through to the very end. Bryant's career saw it all. Rocky relationships, All-Star game mishaps, NBA championships. You weren't always my favorite, Mr. Bryant, but you will always remain one of the greats. And for that, after a nearly 18-year hiatus, I can finally salute you once again. And for the first time in my life, I'm rooting for that Lakers victory. And to one final Kobe game of scoring 40 points--perhaps on 41 shots--a game in which he can finally fade away into the loving embrace of the Los Angeles night.
Poorly.
Four minutes into the game, the Lakers trail 6-0 and Bryant is 0-4. Not exactly how I'm guessing Bryant pictured his swan song going.
On a night when the Golden State Warriors are going for record-breaking win number 73, Bryant, Black Mamba himself, is going quietly into the dark night on what is, as of this writing, a 16-win team that has had its fair share of drama this season.
Capping a 20-year career, hobbling towards the finish line, is not how any player imagines themselves leaving the game. Winning the championship on a game-winning shot is the way a player wants to walk off the court. It's the way it is dreamed from the early days of picking up a basketball and shooting hoops in your driveway. It's late at night, the cold air is setting in and you want to make one more before calling it a night. Only seconds to go. Down by one. Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The clock is winding down...
UPDATE: Bryant has rattled off 12 straight points. Jay-Z nods his head in approval.
Bryant's first year in the league was my senior year of high school. As far as basketball heroes go, Larry Bird and Bill Russell were on the top of my list. Michael Jordan was close behind.
Bryant, fresh out of high school, exploded onto the scene, in good ways and bad. The scoring was evident, as were the air balls in pressure situations in which complaints resounded about a rookie taking the final shot.
Despite being a lifelong Boston Celtics fan and Bryant being on the Lakers, I was impressed by him. Here was this kid, only one year older than me, and he was willing to step up in these pressure situations. There was only a hint of his cockiness in those first two years of his career and he showed a resilience to work hard in making himself better.
Bryant, you could say, was a favorite of mine. By time Mamba's second year arrived, I was in my first-year of college, playing pickup games against teachers from my mom's elementary school (many of which played together in a women's league.) I will admit now that it gave me a perfect opportunity to practice all of my "Kobe" moves. Post-ups. Cross over dribbles. The fade away jumper. And even the "fake like I"m passing behind my back on a fast break but hook the ball around to myself". Much like Bryant was the King of L.A., I was the King of the Multi Purpose Room.
UPDATE: Bryant finished the first quarter shooting 5-13. On pace for a very Kobe-esque game.
As time went on, though, Bryant became a man I learned to loathe. He was a ball hog. He was cocky beyond any measure. He was accused of rape (and exonerated. Though that hasn't been mentioned much this week). The Black Mamba was cold-as-ice on the court and he consistently drove a dagger into the hearts of the non-Laker fans.
I watched some of my best friends root for Bryant. And I saw some of them devastated time and time again after a game-winning shot eliminated their team from the playoffs. He got on those shooting sprees (like he did in the first quarter tonight when he made four in a row) where you knew that anything he shot up was going in. It was inevitable. Two guys could be in his face and Bryant could make a shot with ease. I even went as far as to put Bryant in the middle of an NBA conspiracy. It was damn frustrating.
Over the past few years, after I felt those very daggers along with millions of other Celtics fans in the NBA Finals, I've learned to appreciate Bryant once again. Despite his propensity to shoot as much as he used to (at a lower success rate), he has mellowed over the years, doing his best to take on more of a leadership role. From judging him on solely an outsider basis, Bryant has one of the greatest work ethics to ever be present in this game. He is among the top-ten greatest players of all time.
Injuries over the past four years have played a part in his downfall. It's inevitable. The amount of minutes he's played in the last twenty years, adding in all of those championship runs, took a toll. Wearing down is bound to happen. There was still flashes of that old Kobe this past season. He's not the same man that dropped over 81 points in game. (When I saw that, I probably quipped he had to do it on 82 shots. He did not.) But, when he was feeling right, he could still drop 30 on you.
UPDATED: Bryant now has 21 points with three minutes left in the first half.
The thing I appreciate most about Bryant is the fact that he stayed with the Lakers for his entire career. In this day and age, it is rare that a superstar does that. (Casually looks in the direction of Lebron James). Yes, there were times he was close to leaving, but Bryant saw it through to the very end. Bryant's career saw it all. Rocky relationships, All-Star game mishaps, NBA championships. You weren't always my favorite, Mr. Bryant, but you will always remain one of the greats. And for that, after a nearly 18-year hiatus, I can finally salute you once again. And for the first time in my life, I'm rooting for that Lakers victory. And to one final Kobe game of scoring 40 points--perhaps on 41 shots--a game in which he can finally fade away into the loving embrace of the Los Angeles night.
April 9, 2016
Films that rewrite history to fit their plot
photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.orgMovies have the the ability to take a viewer to another realm, one that is sometimes far away from the struggles and worries of day-to-day life. For roughly 120 minutes, these fictional events of action, comedy, horror, romance, and even drama can whisk the imagination into a frenzy.
Sometimes a filmmaker or writer will go even further in creating their world. These filmmakers will take real life historical events and, in order to move the plot forward in their fictional world, will re-write the events surrounding a real life, historical occurrence.
I’m not speaking of movies such as Argo, Selma or Schindler’s List. These are dramatized, fairly accurate depictions of historical events. While some liberties might be taken in films such as these, history, for the most part, is on their side. Even Titanic, for all the flak it’s taken over the years for mixing history and fiction and for making Billy Zane’s character “evil for the sake of evil”, still keeps in tact the main historical situation it’s depicting.
In this instance, I’m looking at four films that have taken fairly huge historical events and changed them to meet the needs of the fictional story being told. These movies are not bad. In fact, three of the movies on this list are entertaining and well-made. The other one, well, is Michael Bay.
Grab your popcorn, your soda and your movie tie-in candy and settle in for a look at four movies in which history was rewritten to fit the plot of the film.
Warning: Spoilers ahead
Inglorious Basterds
The set up is done perfectly. A group of mostly American men, terrorizing the Nazis towards the end of WWII, are on a path to kill Hitler. Bombs and bullets should do the trick, but no, it is a fire inside a movie theater that will ultimately contribute to his Hitler’s death.
Yep. Hitler died in a cinema fire. He didn’t die in a bunker, as history tells you, or of Syphilis, as some people are led to believe. If you’re going to write into your plot the death of man, of whom we already know how he died, you might as well tailor the plot to at least have said man die in the same spot. Yes, Tarantino creates fictitious characters and drops them in a historical world. If you are going as far as to include actual people from history, though, at least you can make the setting accurate.
Of course, it wouldn’t be much of a film if this group tracked Hitler down to find out that he had committed suicide. And in having the Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels die in the cinema fire with Hitler is pretty close to the truth, as Goebbels became Chancellor for a day after Hitler’s death and promptly committed suicide in the very same bunker one day after Hitler.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
The moon landing. One of the greatest achievements of man. Seeing how this achievement is often argued to be all an elaborate Hollywood hoax, why not throw some Transformers in there and call it a day.
Sending a man to land on the moon, as it turns out, was not simply to explore space, but to instead find a mysterious craft that crashed (the Ark--so aptly named) on the moon in 1961. Finally, the truth comes out. The real reason JFK had an overwhelming desire to put a man on the moon: to discover a spacecraft belonging to the Transformers.
The crew of Apollo 11 played golf, planted a flag and casually explored the dark side of the moon. And not in a Pink Floyd kind of way. The only thing missing was the crew of Apollo 11 anchoring down some cardboard cutouts of Autobots to keep the Decepticons away from the Ark.
Almost makes me buy that oil drillers can be trained to be astronauts and sent to space to save the world. (One must admit, though, that Harry Stamper was the best damn oil man in the business.)
X-Men: First Class
History books won’t teach you this, but it was actually the work of the legendary Charles Xavier that helped prevent the Cold War from exploding during the Cuban Missile Crisis. And it was also the work of a mutant (as portrayed by Mr. Kevin Bacon) who orchestrated and escalated the entire situation.
I suppose since you’ve already embraced the plausibility of mutants, it’s okay to look at them as the very cause of and finisher of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
JFK transcended reality in real life so it makes logical sense to transcend historical events by throwing some fiction in there. All for the greater good of man, right Charles?
Forrest Gump
You can take your pick of any number of historical events with this movie: Forrest speaks at a Vietnam protest rally. Forrest sits next to John Lennon in a television interview. Forrest plays football for the legendary Alabama football coach Bear Bryant.
Forrest Gump is an extraordinary (fictional) man. In only some of these instances does Forrest influence the actual historical event. In fact, many of his adventures simply place him at the event, a simple observer on the wall instead of an instigator.
It’s hard to even fault the filmmakers, as the movie was based on the book Forrest Gump by Winston Groom. In the course of the book, Forrest even becomes a chess master, turns pro at wrestling, and goes on a Space Mission. In a way, then, perhaps the filmmakers should be given credit for lessening the impact on history.
There you have it. Fiction. Truth. Truth. Fiction. I supposed in storytelling, there’s always going to be both. It’s always best to get your facts straight, though, before you find yourself on the losing side of the “Jack Dawson was really on the Titanic” argument. And my friends, that’s one argument you don’t want to lose.
