conversation at a tim horton's drive-thru window

Me: (pulls up to drive-thru window with van window open. stops)

Cashier: (opens drive-thru window. looks at me expectantly)

(crickets)

Me: (hands exact change to cashier curiously)

Cashier: (takes money and rings it in. hands me 2 cups of coffee)

Me: (takes coffee and places them in cupholders. turns back and looks at cashier expectantly)

Cashier: (looks back at me with dumbfounded expression)

(crickets)

Me: (drives away)

the art of the possible

The following is a message you may have already received from me if you're in my email address book. It's a forwarded message from Gigi who's a new AAE Wingman from up here in Canada. I thought I'd include the contents here so that I can reach as many folks as possible (since my blog imports into Facebook as well). More from me below.

Gigi writes:

Hi friends,

I want to tell you about a project I'm involved in called ARTEMIS ETERNAL.
Luckily there's a 2-minute clip about it called 'AAE -The Story So Far' for
a quick catch up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tokCs7Wl5d8

Why I (or whoever sent this to you) thinks you'd be a good Wingman:

1. You consume more story than anything else. (You're doing it right now.)

2. Six companies control all the media and story you see, right down to how
you see it and that does mirror and shape your life. Time Warner for example
owns a movie studio (Warner Brothers) TV stations (TNT, CW) cable (Time
Warner Cable) Internet (America Online) magazines that publicize their
properties (Entertainment Weekely, Time, People), book publishers, music
labels… it is a list you would not believe and is controlled by very few
people.

3. To shift the cues for the better, someone has to do it first and do it
right by proving it possible. A professionally lead project has provided the
oppourtunity and now the baton passes to us: The audience, the people who
make it impossible by funding those six media conglomerates. But we can turn
it around - By becoming Wingmen.

Here's the awesome project site: http://www.artemiseternal.com

Here's a press release in case you have questions (you can google it for
more press):
http://prro.marketwire.com/prroom/prro_details.do?id=353A15DD0A00F060&release_id=383974

And did you see me in the video? Yep, little ol' me now involved with a
serious film project. I found out about this in Canada's Globe & Mail
(biggest paper up north for you Americans) and I became involved in
something so extraordinary and genuine with a huge social return. I'm
incredibly proud.

Contribute $1 and become a Wingman. Join in our projects as much as you
like, you'll get to know the filmmaker, who is an extraordinary talent, come
to the screenings and meet the cast in person and be one of the one's to say
"I called it!" (I bet that's our next video) when this film gets nominated
for the Oscar in the best short film category, which is presented during the
regular telecast.

If you don't have $1 you can still help and be a part of this. The filmmaker
made the project that way to include everyone: Forward this to your list of
friends and colleagues and come hang out with us online. This is for anyone
who watches story and consumes media, especially those who love movies,
anime-styles, scifi and fantasy.

We have to cut through all the crap that is Paris Hilton updates and E! news
live. We have to be the news wires for this story. Forward this! I don't
want anyone to say down the line "D'oh, I wish I had known about that!!"
Everyone should have the opportunity to at least explore the website
experience but they need to know about it first! (And thanks to Tim for
covering this on the largest scifi site online!)

Welcome to the art of the possible, heroes & friends! Make it contagious!

Storytelling belongs to the people,

Gigi

Forward this as much as you can.
Please note that I'm not involved with the production beyond being a Wingman
but if you want to email me questions I can try to answer anything I know
about.



"Be the change you want to see in the world." {{ghandi}}

A couple interesting points:

1. Those who watched the video link might have been surprised to see yours truly featured in it. Those who didn't watch it.....are probably going to go do so right now.

2. People are learning about the Artemis Eternal project thanks to Gigi's email. Gigi learned about Artemis Eternal from the Globe & Mail. The Globe & Mail learned about Artemis Eternal from ME. See how this works?

This is about demanding better movies from the studio system....and letting them know that if they don't.....we, the audience, will figure out a way to do it ourselves.

Raised: $40,000.
Remaining: $60,000.

This is the art of the possible. Be a part of history. Get your name in the credits.

And as an aside to you Sudbury folks......Cinefest Sudbury is the 4th largest film festival in Canada.....with sufficient support, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Artemis Eternal team come and enter the film at Cinefest and bring the travelling road tour to Sudbury. It may even be your chance to not only see a great short film on the big screen, but meet a future Academy Award winning filmmaker.

Isn't that worth $1?