updates

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…

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With Act IV published last week, we have finally finished the script for the first episode of “Up Late, Late at Night.” Now we begin production on puppets, props, and sets. We will also need to slide in plotting and scripting for the second episode somewhere in there.

ULLAN all started from an argument Ophidia and I had regarding which was the better year for film, 1985 or 1999. Ophia championed 1985, while I rallied in defense of 1999. We had such a good time discussing, debating, and detouring, we decided to turn it into a project.

The original idea was that we would take a movie from each year and discuss them. We tried a prototype of this, but my hand could not handle operating a puppet. That was discouraging. Around that same time, Trump got elected. With the sour mood in the air, and my own sour mood, we decided to take a break from the project.

We tried other puppets and other approaches but none worked. Then one day, on a whim, I said to Ophidia, “I feel like trash.” Something about admitting that out loud, dislodged the blocks I was having. The new format followed shortly there after.

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.