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?

AAE - The Story So Far

Can't see the video? Click here, yo.

believe

Jess on CU@USC

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

the dark side of hollywood

A few days ago, for no reason in particular, I found myself musing about George Lucas. More specifically, I was trying to figure out how the original Star Wars series could have been so good, and the second series so god-awful. I came to the ultimate conclusion that it was in large part due to the fact that when creating Episodes IV through VI, Lucas was a filmmaker. When creating Episodes Ridiculous through Lame, he was a businessman.

I think part of what I love about the first trilogy is that despite the lasers and spaceships and alien muppets, there is a gritty, tactile realism to the whole thing. You can suspend your disbelief about the story, because the components of the story exist in the real world. With the second trilogy (a.k.a. crapfest) there is such a reliance on computer graphics that I have difficulty suspending that disbelief. It lacks that human element which I believe the story needs. I liken it to a stage magician, doing the trick where he taps two metal rings together and links them. The illusion works, assuming you believe the metal rings to be solid. If you doubt the reality of the rings, the illusion fails. Jar Jar Binks makes me doubt the reality of the rings.

Anyway, the reason that I bring all this up is that yesterday while flicking though the channels, I happened upon an A&E special on Lucas and Star Wars. It made me remember everything I loved about Star Wars, and everything I hated about Revenge of the Sith. Lucas has said that the remastered first trilogy and the second are more in keeping with his vision of the story. I find that sad, since I think the original production is the one that stands the test of time. In the interviews, Lucas himself admitted that when he made the first films, he was a staunch supporter of independent filmmaking and loathed corporate interference in the creative process. At the same time, he admitted that over the years, he has become the corporate head that he used to rally against, much like Anakin Skywalker's spectacular fall to the Dark Side, where he becomes Darth Vader (who used to be the greatest villain of all time). It's nice to know that he at least acknowledges the fact....even though he somehow seems to think the Dark Side is where it's at, these days.

I'm curious what other people think about the subject, and given Lucas' recent track record, I'm wondering if there's anyone who actually is looking forward to the new Indiana Jones film.

Also.....THIS.