Thursday, July 5, 2007
So I'm Odysseus?
Your Score: Odysseus
66% Extroversion, 33% Intuition, 100% Emotiveness, 47% Perceptiveness
You are a generous entertainer, an observer of tradition, and you are an enthusiastic leader. You are most like Odysseus. You meet transgressions with swift retribution but you are, in the end, just and fair. You're also pretty astute -- it's hard to pull one over on you.
You're a very detail oriented person, you take your responsibilities very seriously, and you're highly dependable. You aren't particularly idealistic, and are more apt to practice a kind of situational morality, albeit a pragmatic one that you ensure is amenable to the situation at hand. Your externally defined morality also means that you have a lot of regard for law, tradition, and social structure.
Because you're a sense-oriented person, you may lack the ability to weigh your externally defined morality on a theoretical basis. This can be harmful if you aren't versed enough in the ways of the world to compare the value-system you were raised in against some of the other social and ethical systems in practice around the world. On the other hand, if you were nurtured in a non-sociopathic setting, you will find that you can be a very fair and just leader. Because your ethical code is so contingent upon your upbringing, you may find yourself in staunch and violent opposition to other Odysseus types, as well as the more analytical personalities (such as Hermes, Prometheus and the Oracle).
Leadership and tact are your strongpoints. You are adept in exploiting these to such an extent that, when you make a strategic or ethical error (as the Odysseus type is prone to do from time to time), you can recover and regain your footing in short order. This makes you a natural head of state or military brass.
Famous people like you: Bill Clinton, George Washington
Similar Personality Types: Atlas, Apollo, Pan
Personalities to Avoid: Prometheus, The Oracle, Hermes
| Link: The Greek Mythology Personality Test written by Aleph_Nine on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Baah Bah Black Sheep
One of our New Zealand Wordplayer buddies did something that my writer friends and I would also love to do. He had a movie released this past weekend. It's a horror-comedy called BLACK SHEEP and he didn't just write the film, but he directed it, too. To celebrate this great achievement we got together this past Saturday up in LA to catch his film.
It didn't disappoint. It was really well made. It was bloody, but in a funny way. Hard to believe but it's true. The actors played it straight, which helped, I think, w/ the humor. There's something inherently funny about a mad weresheep that's chasin after you. We laughed and laughed and laughed s'more.
After the movie we were invited up to Terry's, where we got to kick back, chat and just enjoy each others company. We laughed, we debated (something about the plausibility of an iPod connectin to a vibrator), we danced … well, Terry danced, his girlfriend danced, but the rest of us … we sorta just nodded our heads and tapped our feet. I woulda danced if I had a drink or 3. But I only drank water that evenin, so my shyness ruled the night.
Funny thing about goin up to Terry's. I was reminded of just how long I'd been out here in Cali.
(It's easy to lose track of time out here in the land of sunshine.)
I was also reminded of how Terry used to throw these fabulous parties at his house - and we'd all go up there and drink and dance and have a really good time. I saw a remnant of one of the parties – and this was a toga one that he threw about 7 years ago. I saw a remnant from that night. It was a wreath, one of many which Mel made for a bunch of us to wear durin the toga party. I spotted that wreath, sittin on one of his shelves, and I smiled. Then I pointed it out to Mel. She smiled, too.
I've been out here for seven years, y'all. Maybe soon we'll have a movie up on the big screen, too. Lucky number 7?
Oh and before I forget, here's a link to the pics from the party:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=5ssimamh.4jqmun3d&Uy=q39qic&Ux=0
It didn't disappoint. It was really well made. It was bloody, but in a funny way. Hard to believe but it's true. The actors played it straight, which helped, I think, w/ the humor. There's something inherently funny about a mad weresheep that's chasin after you. We laughed and laughed and laughed s'more.
After the movie we were invited up to Terry's, where we got to kick back, chat and just enjoy each others company. We laughed, we debated (something about the plausibility of an iPod connectin to a vibrator), we danced … well, Terry danced, his girlfriend danced, but the rest of us … we sorta just nodded our heads and tapped our feet. I woulda danced if I had a drink or 3. But I only drank water that evenin, so my shyness ruled the night.
Funny thing about goin up to Terry's. I was reminded of just how long I'd been out here in Cali.
(It's easy to lose track of time out here in the land of sunshine.)
I was also reminded of how Terry used to throw these fabulous parties at his house - and we'd all go up there and drink and dance and have a really good time. I saw a remnant of one of the parties – and this was a toga one that he threw about 7 years ago. I saw a remnant from that night. It was a wreath, one of many which Mel made for a bunch of us to wear durin the toga party. I spotted that wreath, sittin on one of his shelves, and I smiled. Then I pointed it out to Mel. She smiled, too.
I've been out here for seven years, y'all. Maybe soon we'll have a movie up on the big screen, too. Lucky number 7?
Oh and before I forget, here's a link to the pics from the party:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=5ssimamh.4jqmun3d&Uy=q39qic&Ux=0
Monday, June 4, 2007
Corkboards
Iain and I are makin good progress w/ our low budget horror piece. Since he leaves next week, we've been tryna spend every moment we can workin on our script.
It's much easier to work on the script when we're in the same room, as opposed to doin it via email. Cuz when you figure in the time difference, it could easily take us a coupla days to resolve things which are now takin us no more than an hour. So we're scramblin to get as much done as we can before he goes back to England.
To that end, we finally hopped on the Corkboard wagon and bought us a corkboard. Though it's not as big as the one that TnT use (4'x5') it's big enough (3'x4').
The moment the cards went up, I knew that I'd never flesh out (or write) another script w/out one. Yeah, it's THAT good.
I can't believe how valuable it's been in terms of helpin us see our story. It's enabled us to more accurately determine when somethin is missin, superfluous, or in the wrong place. Had I known it was gonna be this useful I woulda bought one years ago.TnT also use these boards to pitch. We haven't gone in to pitch any ideas yet, but you can bet that when we do, we'll be usin one of these boards. They're tremendously helpful.
Mariama
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Pirates Party!
The Restaurant
This was one of the best (if not THE best) Wordplay parties that we've ever had. I'm so happy Mel came outta retirement to put this together. About 55-60 folks showed up, but despite the high turnout it was still easy to hear & talk to your neighbor (in some spots that we've gone to in the past, it's so loud that it's difficult to hear; but not there). It was also possible for folks to move around and chit chat w/ folks at other ends of the table (or at the other tables).
Not me, though. I mean, physically it woulda been easy for me to move around and chat w/ others, but ... well, believe it or not I'm actually kinda shy in person, so I sorta sat in my one lil spot and watched everyone around me... that is, when I wasn't chattin (and laughin) w/ Jacquelyn (Storyteller), Stella, Iain and Pre-Pro.
I did take an occasioal break to snap some pictures, though. They're linked at the bottom of this page. Terry did his thing w/ the readin of the reviews, stoppin after every one to raffle off a gift.
See, when we first got there we all wrote our names on a piece of paper, and later Susan put 'em all in a pitcher and pulled one out after each review was read (thanks for the King :-)
Not surprisingly, both Tia Dalma's and Jack Sparrow's names were called. Surprisingly, they were both called back to back.
In between the readin of the reviews - and most of 'em were downright mean - Ted interjected and told us how abyssmal the state of film criticism is in our country. I was happy to hear him say that, cuz I've never really placed much credence in what the critics (Boooooo! Hisssssss!) hadta say anyway. As far as I'm concerned, screw 'em. As the sayin goes (somethin like) No one has ever put up a statue of a critic.
Ted also told us that he shared this lil jewel re:the state of film criticism in a recent interview in Variety... perhaps that's why the reviews are so awfully scathin? Perhaps. But it's funny how none of the reviews had any meat; they never mentioned any real story elements. They skated around the periphery, but never delved inside, thus provin Ted's point. Ironic, huh?
The Movie was s'pose to start at 7, but we were still standin in line outside at 7. It wasn't til later that we figured out the most likely reason: the folks from the previous showin were prolly stayin til the end of the credits, so they could see the final scene. That prolly threw the cleanin crew off, makin 'em wait, which threw us off, makin us wait outside when we shoulda been inside gettin seated. So we're thinkin the management just said fugettaboutit. It's already after 7. Let 'em in. And so they did.
This audience was a bit more subdued than the Long Beach audience w/ whom Mel, Iain and I initially saw the movie on Thursday night. True, folks who saw it Thursday night were hard core fans, but still... they even cheered ... um, WE even cheered durin some of the previews - especially the one for THE TRANSFORMERS. And once the film started, of course we cheered (we cheered then, too), but the Long Beach audience laughed more throughout the film. Funny.
Both audiences cheered at the end of the movie, and as they were scurryin to get out, I wanted (at both showins) to tell the audience to stay - that there was a scene at the end that they'd really wanna see. But I didn't say a word. I let 'em hurry on out, while I listened to the fantastic score.Speakin of which, bravo (again) for the Pirates Anthem, Hoist The Colors. That song is hauntingly beautiful. I got chills both times I heard it sung.
After the movie, Terry asked some of us what our favorite scene was.
**************************************
BEGIN SPOILERS BEGIN SPOILERS
While Terry was askin someone else, Iain and I discussed it and we both said that the Weddin Scene was our favorite. Someone asked Terry what his favorite was and he said it was the weddin scene. Then he asked a coupla more folks, then me. I said it was the weddin scene, but since that was already mentioned, perhaps I shoulda added a couple more. Only thing is I couldn't think of any right then off the top of my head. So lemme add a couple more here:
The scene where Davy Jones' tentacle reaches up and grabs that single tear from his eye, then Davie goes above board and - while spottin the chest which contains his heart - says somethin like: Get that infernal thing out of here.
The Tia Dalma & Davy Jones scene
Will (lookin so delicious in all that black) at the helm of the Dutchman, comin to the rescue of the Pearl.
Multiple Jacks stuff
The parlay scene, which reminds me of a western. Great shots of 'em struttin toward Will, Becket and Davie (standin in a pale of water). Will's stance durin that walk is classic.
Some of my favorite lines:
When Norrington says: Our destinies were intertwined, but never joined. It's such a heartbreakin line. And I love the way Norrington looks at Elizabeth when she pleads w/ him to come with her.
When Elizabeth says: Kiiinnnng!
When Jack says: Not among us (in answer to Elizabeth's "Where's Will?")
That's all I could think of right now.
END SPOILERS END SPOILERS****************************************
All in all, we had a great time. As usual, we Wordpayers were a kind, considerate lot; generous (Thanks, Terry!) and sure, we're witty and ... well, some of us were downright smartasstic, but we're writers, and many of us have known each other for eons, so that's to be expected. Besides, there was no bloodshed or bruises; there was just bondin. (Or somethin like it.)
It was almost ... dare I say it, magical. There's not been a gatherin like that for ages.
Here's a link to the pics: http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=5ssimamh.9ctrg809&Uy=-7z7zjn&Ux=1
This was one of the best (if not THE best) Wordplay parties that we've ever had. I'm so happy Mel came outta retirement to put this together. About 55-60 folks showed up, but despite the high turnout it was still easy to hear & talk to your neighbor (in some spots that we've gone to in the past, it's so loud that it's difficult to hear; but not there). It was also possible for folks to move around and chit chat w/ folks at other ends of the table (or at the other tables).
Not me, though. I mean, physically it woulda been easy for me to move around and chat w/ others, but ... well, believe it or not I'm actually kinda shy in person, so I sorta sat in my one lil spot and watched everyone around me... that is, when I wasn't chattin (and laughin) w/ Jacquelyn (Storyteller), Stella, Iain and Pre-Pro.
I did take an occasioal break to snap some pictures, though. They're linked at the bottom of this page. Terry did his thing w/ the readin of the reviews, stoppin after every one to raffle off a gift.
See, when we first got there we all wrote our names on a piece of paper, and later Susan put 'em all in a pitcher and pulled one out after each review was read (thanks for the King :-)
Not surprisingly, both Tia Dalma's and Jack Sparrow's names were called. Surprisingly, they were both called back to back.
In between the readin of the reviews - and most of 'em were downright mean - Ted interjected and told us how abyssmal the state of film criticism is in our country. I was happy to hear him say that, cuz I've never really placed much credence in what the critics (Boooooo! Hisssssss!) hadta say anyway. As far as I'm concerned, screw 'em. As the sayin goes (somethin like) No one has ever put up a statue of a critic.
Ted also told us that he shared this lil jewel re:the state of film criticism in a recent interview in Variety... perhaps that's why the reviews are so awfully scathin? Perhaps. But it's funny how none of the reviews had any meat; they never mentioned any real story elements. They skated around the periphery, but never delved inside, thus provin Ted's point. Ironic, huh?
The Movie was s'pose to start at 7, but we were still standin in line outside at 7. It wasn't til later that we figured out the most likely reason: the folks from the previous showin were prolly stayin til the end of the credits, so they could see the final scene. That prolly threw the cleanin crew off, makin 'em wait, which threw us off, makin us wait outside when we shoulda been inside gettin seated. So we're thinkin the management just said fugettaboutit. It's already after 7. Let 'em in. And so they did.
This audience was a bit more subdued than the Long Beach audience w/ whom Mel, Iain and I initially saw the movie on Thursday night. True, folks who saw it Thursday night were hard core fans, but still... they even cheered ... um, WE even cheered durin some of the previews - especially the one for THE TRANSFORMERS. And once the film started, of course we cheered (we cheered then, too), but the Long Beach audience laughed more throughout the film. Funny.
Both audiences cheered at the end of the movie, and as they were scurryin to get out, I wanted (at both showins) to tell the audience to stay - that there was a scene at the end that they'd really wanna see. But I didn't say a word. I let 'em hurry on out, while I listened to the fantastic score.Speakin of which, bravo (again) for the Pirates Anthem, Hoist The Colors. That song is hauntingly beautiful. I got chills both times I heard it sung.
After the movie, Terry asked some of us what our favorite scene was.
**************************************
BEGIN SPOILERS BEGIN SPOILERS
While Terry was askin someone else, Iain and I discussed it and we both said that the Weddin Scene was our favorite. Someone asked Terry what his favorite was and he said it was the weddin scene. Then he asked a coupla more folks, then me. I said it was the weddin scene, but since that was already mentioned, perhaps I shoulda added a couple more. Only thing is I couldn't think of any right then off the top of my head. So lemme add a couple more here:
The scene where Davy Jones' tentacle reaches up and grabs that single tear from his eye, then Davie goes above board and - while spottin the chest which contains his heart - says somethin like: Get that infernal thing out of here.
The Tia Dalma & Davy Jones scene
Will (lookin so delicious in all that black) at the helm of the Dutchman, comin to the rescue of the Pearl.
Multiple Jacks stuff
The parlay scene, which reminds me of a western. Great shots of 'em struttin toward Will, Becket and Davie (standin in a pale of water). Will's stance durin that walk is classic.
Some of my favorite lines:
When Norrington says: Our destinies were intertwined, but never joined. It's such a heartbreakin line. And I love the way Norrington looks at Elizabeth when she pleads w/ him to come with her.
When Elizabeth says: Kiiinnnng!
When Jack says: Not among us (in answer to Elizabeth's "Where's Will?")
That's all I could think of right now.
END SPOILERS END SPOILERS****************************************
All in all, we had a great time. As usual, we Wordpayers were a kind, considerate lot; generous (Thanks, Terry!) and sure, we're witty and ... well, some of us were downright smartasstic, but we're writers, and many of us have known each other for eons, so that's to be expected. Besides, there was no bloodshed or bruises; there was just bondin. (Or somethin like it.)
It was almost ... dare I say it, magical. There's not been a gatherin like that for ages.
Here's a link to the pics: http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=5ssimamh.9ctrg809&Uy=-7z7zjn&Ux=1
Saturday, May 19, 2007
A day off
Feels good to have a day off from work. I've been working from 6:30 to 6 all week (OT) and I woulda worked for 6 more hours today, but we weren't allowed to come in cuz no supervisor was available. I was annoyed and overjoyed at the same time. Annoyed cuz that's less money in my pocket, and overjoyed cuz it's more sleep for my body.
So since I'm off I'm gonna take advantage of the free time and get some much needed research and writing done. That is, before I meet up w/ Mel this afternoon. We're gonna catch a movie and grab somethin to eat.
I also need to go to the post-office to drop off Iain's & my script. We're actually gonna enter the Austin Film Festival this year. I'd planned on making their May 15th early entry deadline, but somehow it slipped my mind. On second thought, I guess I don't need to go to the post office. The deadline isn't 'til the 1st of June, so I could wait a lil bit longer...
... and that's prolly how I missed the early entry deadline, huh? Thoughts like that. Perhaps I should carpe the diem?
perhaps.
In any event, I do need to get some writin done today. So I should go in a bit.
Oh, this marks my first post on blogger. I've been meanin to check it out for a while now, but since I barely have time to keep my MySpace thingee up to par, I didn't think I'd have time to maintain another one as well. But for whatever reason I signed up anyway. Maybe I just love challenges.
Maybe.
So since I'm off I'm gonna take advantage of the free time and get some much needed research and writing done. That is, before I meet up w/ Mel this afternoon. We're gonna catch a movie and grab somethin to eat.
I also need to go to the post-office to drop off Iain's & my script. We're actually gonna enter the Austin Film Festival this year. I'd planned on making their May 15th early entry deadline, but somehow it slipped my mind. On second thought, I guess I don't need to go to the post office. The deadline isn't 'til the 1st of June, so I could wait a lil bit longer...
... and that's prolly how I missed the early entry deadline, huh? Thoughts like that. Perhaps I should carpe the diem?
perhaps.
In any event, I do need to get some writin done today. So I should go in a bit.
Oh, this marks my first post on blogger. I've been meanin to check it out for a while now, but since I barely have time to keep my MySpace thingee up to par, I didn't think I'd have time to maintain another one as well. But for whatever reason I signed up anyway. Maybe I just love challenges.
Maybe.
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