Hiatus Hernia: A clever blog title and an actual medical condition I possess...
..true story.
What a long strange trip it’s been. This past month and the next month forthcoming are going to make me a very shitty blogger. Odds are I’ll be posting pictures, videos, and knick-knacks as you’ve seen instead of my usual long-winding, obnoxious, redundant, overdrawn, abusively adjective-and-metaphor-heavy, repetitive….entries. The IBC Project (that seems to be the final title — it works for me for some reason — thoughts?) is pretty much complete with temp tracks (so you’ll probably see a free online version very soon and eventually a festival worthy, copyrighted edition later in the year). But it’ll be out next month as promised, just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness month.
So what has been happening lately? Well, I’ve just been busy at work in the Mad Men world that I live (I’m not sure I’ve ever mentioned it on this blog before, besides maybe my first entry, that I work professionally as an editor for a major advertising firm whose name has been in a few episodes of said AMC Emmy winner). As my new year just passed (still Jewish btw), I did some serious self-reflection and realized that it’s about time I delved into something truly inspiring. Yes, Steve and I hope to reignite SteveAndMattAreJerks.com really soon, but in the meantime, as this new documentary comes to a production close, I’m going to be focusing on actual film direction. Plus, if there are any writers out there looking to pitch, feel free. I’m looking to do as much as humanly possible to expand on the dream.
Yes, award shows like the Emmys do this to me. I see what I want out of life (maybe it’s fame and fortune, but mostly it’s to do exactly what those unrecognizable award-winners who were always behind the scenes do). It makes me realize how important our dreams are, and while my last year has been very emotionally and professionally stressful, I’ve realized that what little free time I have should be spent on creative focus. I’ve more or less decided to give up on writing and really test my chops on others’ works as a director. Will it work out in the end? Will I be wasting my time? Will I just be forced to write my own crap again because my fellow writers have super huge egos? All signs point to maybe, but for now, I’m ready to work. I lost a lot of my confidence in directing some years ago, film direction that is, and I’ve realized through study that I was good, just unfocused. The times, they are a-changin’.
Though the return of Fall TV may totally fuck me. :)
In other news, I thought the Emmys were fun, but particularly, well-directed. So maybe the wins weren’t what we all wanted, and maybe NPH (ROBBED!) was occasionally given gags that were downright dreadful, but my-oh-my there was Dr. Horrible and some really good usage of the stage and moving screens. At least it wasn’t that circle bullshit from last year (or was that two years ago? I can never remember one show from another unless a streaker or a drunk Kanye West are involved). And my love-hate relationship with Ricky Gervais continues.
And I know I’m practically a J.J. Abrams poster boy, but I have to tell you something. Fringe is back. It’s so back and so good. Well, it’s very hammy, too, but it’s still so good. The rest of the new TV starts this week, and I’ll try to blog or at least tweet about it (god, just using that terminology feels disgusting).
In film related watchedness, Johnny-Come-Lately here finally saw Observe and Report and Adventureland, both amusingly mediocre. Actually, Observe, for me, was much better and less cringe-worthy than the team’s previous effort, Foot Fist Way. Seth Rogen’s performance was actually one of his best, namely because he was so far from type. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that, yet again, the characters were straight out of my farm town, middle class, mall crazy, dream limited population childhood. Meanwhile, Adventureland had some glorious dialogue with a so-so story. Plus, Jesse Eisenberg is pulling a Michael Cera, basically playing the same guy in everything, and in this case, a role that seemed meant for Michael Cera. Wah Wah.
Finally, I’d like to mention something that I am stupidly excited for. Tonight at Symphony Space in the UWS, I will be attending a Dr. Horrible sing-along. And who will be in attendance? None other than Joss Whedon himself. The level of my anticipation cannot even be measured. Odds are he’ll be hundreds of yards out of oh-my-god-I-breathed-the-same-air-as-him reach, but it doesn’t matter. Merely to share a room with the man who more or less carved my dorky childhood/adulthood is enough for me. Plus, I fucking love singing Brand New Day. Wish me luck as I attempt get an autograph/not appear stalker-ish.
Can. not. wait.
Okay, okay. Keep it together, Steinhart. He’s just one man. One man whose creative influence represents everything you’ve ever created yourself. One man whose brain has spouted out Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Astonishing X-Men, Dr. Horrible, and the mediocre but potential-filled Dollhouse. One man who…
NO! Do not have a man crush on Joss Whedon. Remember, he has awful teeth. Stick to NPH. Okay, phew.
Now where are those pictures of Olivia Wilde. Ah yes, and all is right with the world once again.
-M
