From the desk of Thomas Typewriter

From the desk of Thomas Typewriter…09-21-2020

From the desk of Thomas Typewriter, The Great Works Project assignments, The Great Works Project scripts

Progress continues on The Great Works Project scripts. I’ll finish the final rough draft for Season Five tomorrow or Wednesday. Once that is dine, I’ll start working on crafting the Season Two scriptbook. The last three scripts of Season Five required a complete rewrite. Carro and Z-Mouse suprised me, reacting differently than what I expected. I like when the characters surprise me. A moment of joy.

As for the List, I feel like I need some help. A glaring issue I failed to notice when I compiled the List is the lack of context. I really believed that just exposing one self to great art could trigger a positive change. I still believe that, knowing it to be a powerful form of spellcraft. Yet, with every piece I am left wondering about the context. Why do people like it? What have those before me found special in it? To that end I have ordered three of the books that helped form part of the List*. I ordered “A Lifetime’s Reading: Five Hundred Great Books to be Enjoyed over 50 Years” by Philip Ward along with “1001 Films to Watch Before You Die” and “1001 Albums to Listen to Before You Die.” I hope these will help.

*When creating the List of Great Works, I was concerned about how these lists could be so mono-cultural. I felt that would defeat the purpose. I also was not experienced enough to fully discern the quality of a source. My solution to this was to go overboard and grab a too many sources. Cast a wide net. I of course used the Harvard Shelf of Classics and then added onto it. Here is a list of the sources I used: A Lifetime of Reading by Phillip Ward, Pitchfork.com’s People’s choice Top 200 albums from 1990 to 2010, AFI 100 years 100 Laughs, AFI’s The Top 25 Musicals, AFI’s Top 100, Empire Magazine’s 500 greatest films of all time, NPR Young Fiction Top 100 finalists, NPR Science-fiction/Fantasy top 100 finalists, The Guardian’s Top 25 Blues albums, The Guardian’s Top 20 Operas, The Guardian’s Top 20 classical works, Time Out New York’s survey of animators best animated films, Rolling Stone Magazine’s Top 500 Albums, The Great Works lit collection, The Harvard Shelf of Learning, 1001 Films to Watch before you die, and 1001 Albums to listen to before you die. I also believe I threw the movie Corky Romano on the list just so the list couldn’t be taken entirely serious. The list was important to me but I do not think anyone should take it as anything but suggested reading and viewing.

From the desk of Thomas Typewriter…09/14/2020

From the desk of Thomas Typewriter, Up Late, Late at Night

Another week, another update…

Last week did not go so smoothly. I am not happy, more so displeased with myself. I changed my method for working on my college classes and I disrupted my whole flow. I missed two assignments and failed to meet any of my script goals. Why do I do this to myself? I forget how important routines are for my attention difficulties. I just get this impulse, building in intensity like a bonfire, going from a spark to a raging fire. At least I have lived long enough, and been burned enough times, I can get back on track.

Up Late, Late at Night made minimal progress since the last update. Ophidia and myself are still working through character designs that we can both agree on. It is frustrating at times, but it is very important to me that she feels listened to. Important that Ophidia feels involved and respected. While we work on the puppet designs, I have started looking around the house to see where we could film the show. So far the basement looks the most likely.

From the desk of Thomas Typewriter…09-07-2020

From the desk of Thomas Typewriter, My next assignments..., The Great Works Project assignments, The Great Works Project scripts

First off, let me say thank you to everyone who reached out with a kind word regarding the paintings. Thank you.

The Great Works Project continues to move forward. The scripts are on schedule with Season Two, Episode Twelve all set for publishing next Wednesday. Being that it is the final episode of Season Two, I would like to take some time and compile all the episodes into one collection. It will take me a few weeks to compile and format then onto Season Three. I am thinking that it might be time to set up a character and location list. Let me know what you think.

The other part of the project, the List is moving alone nicely. I actually managed to read, watch, and listen to the assignments without feeling crunched for time. I enjoyed myself. I’ll keep to the current schedule of three assigned titles a week. Last week’s I was assigned the movie “Aliens” , the graphic novel “American Born Chinese” by Gene Luen Yang, and the album “All Directions” from The Temptations. A real solid collection. “Aliens” was awesome. One of the things I noticed was how much of the movie I had missed before. I had some friends in high school who loved the movie to the point where they had it playing on loop on the tv one of the weekends I slept over. Watching it last week made me realize how much of the movie I did not notice. For whatever reason, I had no recollection of the scenes on the colony with the colonists. I also did not notice when I was younger how the film could be allegorical for the Vietnam War. American Born Chinese was a great book. I remember first hearing of Gene Leun Yang when he won the Xeric Grant for “Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks”. (That was a really good comic. Check it out if you get a chance.) In “American Born Chinese” I liked how it uses the different characters to explore the feelings of fitting in, feeling like an outside, and empathy. Also a nice little nod to use the shapefting Monkey King to talk about shifting identity. Then there is “All Directions” from The Temptations. It is The Temptations, so you know it is good. The vocal range coupled with the strong tempos, loved it. It also has one of my favorite album covers.

The new assignments are to watch the 1950 movie “All About Eve”, to read the novel “American Gods” by Neil Gaiman, and to listen to the album “All Hail the Queen” from Queen Latifah. Should be an interesting two weeks.

updating…

From the desk of Thomas Typewriter, The Great Works Project assignments, The Great Works Project scripts

Progress moves forward on The Great Works Project. 

The scripts, or storytelling side of it, are moving along. Season Two’s finished scripts are on schedule. I should be able to keep to a schedule of a new script every other week. As for the rough drafts, I am nearing the end of writing out Season Five.

The list, or cultural side of it, is moving along as well. The previous three assignments did not really grab my attention. Alien was well-made and suspenseful, but I just couldn’t finish it. The same with Alien Lanes from Guided By Voices. I can appreciate them on an aesthetic level, but it is in a cold detached kind of way. The literature assignment, Altered Carbon, never appeared. My library lost their copy. My new assignments are the album All Directions from The Temptations, the movie Aliens (1986), and the graphic novel American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Outside that I have been enjoying The Owl House and Star Trek: Lower Decks tv series, A Night without Stars by Peter F. Hamilton, and the Nintendo DS game Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure.  With Ophidia, I am attempting to watch the entire run of the tv show Taxi. (Ophidia was telling me last night how she would play the theme song whenever she felt really stressed as a kid. I thought that was interesting because I always felt calmer whenever the theme song played.)

updating…

From the desk of Thomas Typewriter, Up Late, Late at Night

The storm last week covered our streets in tree branches. Everywhere I drive in The City of Champions, there are piles of debris in every yard. Luckily, my house and family were unharmed. Just giant elm branches and drooping telephone lines in my backyard. The branches I’ll work into building some new garden beds. The dropping telephone line I’ll try to convince the Utility company to come out and fix. Automated customer service prompts here I come.

Up Late, Late at Night continues its glacial pace forward. Ophidia is out of habit on storyboarding, so she is working to get back into a groove.  I have no room to complain, because I am no speed demon when it comes to the scripts. I’ll post the  Season One, Episode One, Act Five script on Wednesday. Then I’ll finish and post the Act Six script next week.  After that, Ophidia will work on storyboards while I start constructing puppets. 

From the desk of Thomas Typewriter, August 10th, 2020 edition

assignments for self, From the desk of Thomas Typewriter, Puppet play, scripts, The Great Works Project scripts

When I was growing up, I had this overwhelming feeling that the world had lulled. As in, I felt like maybe I had been born in one of the times that was not too volatile nor too peaceful. The savagery is in the past and the wonders are in the future. I look back at that naive kid and shake my head. You had it so wrong buddy. I am still on furlough from my day job. No answer for when the movie theatre will reopen. I miss movies. Movies and museums. 

But with every sour, there can be a little sweet. Working the late hours of a movie theatre Manager’s schedule, I felt like Primo and Secondo were slipping through my fingers. Not them physically, but more like time with them. Now that we have all this time, they have convinced me to play Minecraft with them. It is a lot of fun. Relaxing too. (Secondo asks me “Dad, what do you want to do in Minecraft?” I responded, “Dig ditches.” He did not find that answer as humorous as I did.)

Progress moves forward on The Great Works Project. Next week should see the posting of the next script for Season Two. I am nearing completion of the Season Five rough drafts. Plus, while on vacation I was able to plot out Season Six. 

In a continuing effort to improve myself, I return to working my way through a list of great works of art.  Hopefully, I’ll discover something inspiring. If not, that is okay too. The exposure itself is the most important thing.

Cinema Assignment: Alien (1979)

Literature Assignment: “Altered Carbon” by Richard K. Morgan.

Music Assignment: “Alien Lanes” from Guided By Voices

Thank you Brighid for the gift of this artwork and the spark of all art. Thank you Above, Below, and four Corners born between for your love, guidance, and gifts.

writing…

From the desk of Thomas Typewriter, today in the studio
thank you to Brighid for the words and flames. thank you to “Lil’ Golden Book” by Princess Chelsea for the tunes.

Back from vacation…

From the desk of Thomas Typewriter

Back in the studio after a family vacation to northern Wisconsin. My Sister-in-law was kind enough to invite Ophidia, Primo, Secondo, and myself. (Thank you Mia!) Originally I was not going to go, as this is normally a busy time at my day job, Movie Theatre Manager. Funny how things change. The first theatre I was at lost its building when the property was sold to Costco. Then the theatre I was transferred to put everyone on furlough due to all new releases being pushed back due to Covid-19. My schedule opened up to say the least.

What a beautiful view.
Finished reading “Big Night” by Joseph Tropiano. (Really good!)
Found some good movies and books at a local library fundraiser. (Really excited for “The Roots of Modern English” with its entire section on Old English.)
I tried to minimize my electronic device usage on the trip, so I got a lot of sketchbook work done.

From the Desk of Thomas Typewriter 06/29/2020

Art thoughts, From the desk of Thomas Typewriter

A studio update

  1. The Great Works Project

As always, TGWP moves on. I have been working on season 05. It will probably take me another week or two to finish the rough drafts. I like to write the episodes then let them sit and percolate before publishing them. That is why I am working on season 05, even though I am publishing season 02. I view my subconscious as a writing partner and I like to give them a chance to review and rewrite.

  1. Up Late, Late at Night

I have finished the script for season 01, episode 01. Ophidia wants storyboards completed before we start building puppets or filming anything. We’ll see how that goes.

  1. The Script Illuminated

I completed and posted the rough drafts from the first page of the script. The question I am wrestling with now is do I create the illustrations physically or digitally. If physically, then I would need markers, bristol board, rubber cement, and an x-acto knife. If digitally, then I would need to install Corel Draw onto my desktop and laptop. 

  1. Untitled project

Can I help my city, my community, be better? I honestly don’t know. But I have to try and for me the schools are the best place to start. 

  1. A prayer to Brighid

Yesterday, while contemplating your grace, I saw your burning hand. A golden handprint of blazing light and curving lines, it called out to me. Touch my hand, you said, and know the arts, for I am art and art is me. I so wanted to reach out, to place my hand in yours.