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.

there is no try

Luke: I can't believe it.
Yoda: That is why you fail.

I want to let you in on a little secret. The big movie studios are afraid of Jessica Stover. Afraid of her and others like her. Those who are in tune with such things know that there is change in the wind. The way that media is conceived, produced and distributed is changing daily. One need only look to iTunes to see an example of this. It used to be you had to listen to the radio, figure out what songs you liked, go out to the store and find the album, buy it, then bring it home to listen to it. Today, with a computer and your index finger, you can preview music and purchase it instantly from your own home. And you need only buy those songs you want. The power is shifting from big business and going instead to the artist and the consumer. If you are a student of history, this shouldn't really come as a surprise.

Bear McCreary, the composer of the music for Battlestar Galactica said it well in his blog entry An Open Letter to the New Patrons:

"For centuries, artists have balanced the need to express themselves creatively with the need to sustain their livelihood. We’re all aware of the cliched starving bohemian artist; its a cliche because its true. But, even successful composers struggle with this balance daily. J.S. Bach’s incredibly influential canon of contrapuntal works were originally composed for weekly church services. Mozart had his royal patron, Emperor Joseph II, and the vast majority of his music was essentially written for pay. Indeed, were he alive today Wolfgang Amadeus would be writing music for film and television to pay the bills. Shostakovich wrote Stalin-approved music for the tyrannical Russian state, literally writing for his life."

Patronage for the arts used to come from the elite of society. They commissioned portraits, musical compositions and funded the theatre. Today, with the advent of the Internet, the power to support artists and their work has been given to all of us. We can give our money to those things which we value, rather than letting the big studios tell us what we want. But as with all power, it can cut both ways. Bear recognizes this as well:

"Unlike the radio and television audiences of the past, our relationship is symbiotic. Like all artist / patron relationships, ours has the potential to be incredibly rewarding for all involved. But, if you download the show illegally, you sacrifice your role in the relationship. You’re no longer a patron of influence, but a spectator from the sidelines, a political pundit who doesn’t vote."

Apathy is easy. It requires nothing. No effort. No money. No action. Unfortunately, what you get as a result is the status quo. If we don't express with our voices and our wallets that which we want, we will continue to get more of the same. Spider-man 3. Rambo. Episodes I through III. American Pie: Stifler Does the Retirement Home.

I opened with a quote from Star Wars because George Lucas is one of the best examples of cinematic storytelling at it's best, and at it's worst. The original trilogy was independant, innovative, and ground-breaking in it's execution. It was idealistic and passionate. George Lucas was Luke Skywalker. By the time the second trilogy came out, though, he had become Darth Vader. The movies were unimaginative, formulaic and cold. It was a stark portrayal of what happens when creativity goes corporate.

Jessica Stover, and those like her, are trying to bring the magic back, but they can't do it alone. I've mentioned it here before, and I'll do it again, because it is important. Jess is in the pre-production stage of a short film called Artemis Eternal, which she has written. Unfortunately, Jess is not independently wealthy, nor does she have the luxury of investors with very deep pockets. She's just a girl in L.A. struggling to realize a dream. And she wants us to dream with her. To support her. To fund her. For as little as $1, you can buy a film credit, interactivity, and involvement in a film to be proud of.

Now, while I've prattled on about these things, it should be noted that the filmmaker says it much better herself. So, here is what is important.

1. There is a new website for Artemis Eternal. I ask that you go there and check it out. You won't be disappointed. It will not only inspire you, but help you to realize that this isn't some elaborate scheme to part you and your money. This is a real project, that will see real results.

2. On Wednesday at 9:30 EST (6:30 PST), Jess will be appearing on CU@USC which you can watch live on the Internets. She will be sharing the same seat once occupied by George Lucas and Patrick Stewart, and talking about her film projects....and maybe even jump off some stuff. You are encouraged to check it out.

3. Join the Facebook group to support the project. Invite your friends.

4. Donate $1 or more to the project. It may feel like nothing, but every little bit counts.

5. Spread the words. Tell your friends. Blog it. Digg it. Participation is the engine that powers this train.

coming soon to a theatre near you

I thought I'd share some trailers for some of the movies I'm looking forward to seeing.

In case you cared.

Vantage Point
Juno
The Dark Knight
Billy the Kid
In Bruges
Pride and Glory

broken hearted hoover fixer sucker guy

Saturday night in my household generally tends to be a rather boring affair. The common practice is to curl up on the couch after the baby is in bed and catch up on some television shows that have been recorded on the PVR over the course of the week. However, given the writer's strike, most of the programs I watch are off the air or in repeats. We also cancelled the movie channel a few weeks back to save a few bucks, so I ended up doing something I haven't done very often in the past year or so. I went to the video store to rent a movie.

Although somewhat hesitant to admit it, when I left the house last night, my intention was to pick up Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. While that my seem normal to many who may read this, there are other's who are likely saying to themselves, "Duuuuuude. Noooo."

But I have my reasons. I saw the first Fantastic Four, so right there it almost requires me to see the sequel. Also, as many know, I'm a big comic book geek from back in the day, so to not see a big budget superhero film, regardless of anticipated lameness, is almost sacrilege.

Anyway....I got to the video store, and sure enough, they had a copy available. I snatched it up in my right hand and before heading to the checkout desk, had a quick look at what else was on the shelves. And that's when I saw it. Once. Being the type of guy who turns to the entertainment section of the newspaper and throws out the sports section, and watches shows like Ebert and Roeper, I was familiar with the low-budget musical that had received a fair amount of critical acclaim this year. I reached out with my left hand and plucked it off the shelf.

So there I stood, pretty much alone in front of a library of new releases at the local video store/laundromat/dry cleaner. In one hand, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. In the other, Once. I knew my wife was waiting at home, expecting me to return with the former, and that she very well might enjoy it more than the latter. But I also knew that I had really enjoyed the previews I had seen for Once, and although it was being dubbed a "musical", a term which will normally send me running from a movie screaming like a frightened schoolgirl, I couldn't put it back on the shelf. So I had a dilemma, because I knew I couldn't get both. (You see, once you have a baby, if you can stay up past 11pm, you've taken performance enhancing drugs. Seriously.) If I rent the big budget superhero flick over the low budget personal musical, will I be able to look at myself in the mirror. Will I be able to show my face to others? Will I irreparably damage my cinesoul and unbalance my box office karma? Can I afford that?

I could not, and so I put Fantastic Four back on the shelf and didn't look back. And while my wife may tell you now that she regrets that decision, I certainly do not.

Once is a brilliant little film that is certainly deserving of the accolades it has received. If you love (good) music, you will love this movie. The songs are simply mesmerizing and beautifully performed. The lead, Glen Hansard of The Frames is someone who I was completely unfamiliar with before now, but he gives a simple and wonderful performance. The other lead, Marketa Irglova is similarly enchanting with a lovely voice, and watching the chemistry between the two, it is hard to avoid a smile creeping onto your face. The dialogue is minimal and real and honest, and the real story is told through the music. This morning, my first task was to download the soundtrack off of iTunes.

I can't speak to Fantastic Four, because I haven't seen it. But I certainly recommend that the next time you're in the video store, to take a chance on this little movie. If you don't enjoy it, and the music doesn't move you, then go out and buy the latest Kevin Federline album. You deserve each other.

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.

two reviews, one low price

It's funny how things work. Since Alex was born 7 months ago, I haven't been able to see a movie at the theatre. And yet this week, I made it to the big screen twice.

The first one I took in was earlier in the week while on training for work. We had a free evening, it was cheap night at the show, so a group of us got together and made our way into town. The movie I wanted to see was Hot Fuzz, but it wasn't playing at the theatre in question, and the ultimate decision by the group was to see Next. The general consensus was that if nothing else, it had Jessica Biel in it.

It had nothing else.

The basic premise is that Nicolas Cage is a precognitive who can see the future. But only his future. And only two minutes. Except in the case of Jessica Biel's character. He can see further where she is concerned. The FBI are tracking a group of terrorists who have smuggled a nuke into the country and are going to blow up Los Angeles. Julianne Moore is an FBI agent who thinks Cage is the key to finding the terrorists. Apparently, the terrorists also think this. These are superstitious times.

The entire plot for this movie is absurd. To believe that the FBI would abandon traditional investigative measures in a time of crisis to chase after an alleged precog who wants nothing to do with them requires an unreasonable suspension of disbelief. Add to that the fact that the minute the terrorists hear the FBI is looking for Cage, they decide they need to find him first?

The characters are revealed in such a two dimensional nature that it is almost impossible to feel anything for them. Cage is creepy and uncharismatic. Julianne Moore, who I generally enjoy, is completely ridiculous as an over the top FBI agent. The terrorists are....possibly French? It's hard to say, since it's never really revealed who they are or what their motivations are. The whole terrorist plot appears to be just a vehicle to have Julianne Moore chase cage down, and then team up to take out the bad guys.

I've heard that the movie wasn't screened for critics. It seems the people behind the movie could see into the future as well.

Next.

This afternoon, we took advantage of Alex's Aunt Sheri and had her babysit while we went out to see Spiderman 3. I had been eagerly awaiting this release for the better part of the last year. I've always been a big Spider-man fan, the first two films were excellent, the black Spidey suit is one of the greatest storylines in comics, same cast, same director. What could go wrong?

Everything, it would seem.

At least X-Men: The Last Stand was able to blame it's craperific-ness on a new director. Spider-man 3 has no such scapegoat. The writer's completely pooched the story. As I watched this 2 1/2 hour train wreck, I kept asking myself how they could possibly get things so wrong. I could list the problems.....in fact I will:

1. The retcon of Uncle Ben's death.
2. The convenient and unexplained arrival of the alien symbiote.
3. The strange and mind-boggling experiment responsible for creating the Sandman.
4. Mary Jane singing.
5. The fact that edgy Peter just came off as comical......and looking like Crispin Glover.
6. Peter dancing.
7. Uninspired action sequences.
8. The Twist. Literally.
   
9. Peter being so geeky the geeks would make fun of him.
10. Strange butlers who come out of nowhere to completely alter the storyline.

I'm sure there is more, but I've already started to wipe this traumatic experience from my memory. The one good thing I have to say is that Bryce Dallas Howard was well cast as the lovely Gwen Stacy.

Too bad she should have appeared and died in the first film.

'Nuff said.

jessica mae stover

"It is time that we stop focusing on what we are not and start focusing on what we are. Long ago, I chose me. I chose to believe." - Jessica Mae Stover

(photo courtesy of Jessica Stover Dot Com)

I do not recall the exact instant that I decided to join the RCMP, but I know it happened early on in my high school experience. It was then that I abandoned my previous ambitions as a designer of architecture and started focusing on a career path as an officer of the peace. Strangely enough, it was also during this time that I really started to explore my creative side. There are probably a number of teachers who could attest to the fact that I put more time and energy sketching new superheroes in my binder than on graphing parabolas on the x and y axis. Whether it be art, or movies, or music, playing role-playing games after school or writing short novella's or haiku in Mr. Goddard's creative writing class, I spent more time with my head in the clouds than focusing on the rather academic leaning of my course load. To a certain extent, this trend continued into university, though I was able to reign it in a bit (and working 30 hour weeks on top of a full university course load kept me occupied). There was even a time that I considered abandoning law and pursuing a career in the entertainment industry (as a writer/director of television or movies), but considering where I am today, we all know what decision I ultimately made.

To me, Jessica Mae Stover is the embodiment what might have been; the other path. She is someone who I have come to greatly respect and admire over the course of the last year since making her introduction.

Avatar of the Awesome.

I first became acquainted with Jess, an actress/(screen)writer/industry insider, through Wil Wheaton.

(yes....of Star Trek fame)

(no....I don't know him personally)

Wil has a rather popular website and linked to a rather hilarious string of posts in which she visits the Nerds lining up outside Grauman's Theatre in preparation for the release of Revenge of the Sith (even though it wasn't screening at Grauman's). The piece was aptly titled Revenge of the Nerds. It was enough to get me to start reading her website, Jessica Stover Dot Com (JSDC) on a regular basis.

Now at this point, I could go on at length about Jess' biography and adventures and poems and hilarious posts and etc etc, infinity x2. But I won't. Instead I'll direct you to JSDC where you can explore for yourself. Take the time to visit the different areas and read the cleverly archived posts. It's well worth it.

What I would like to do here is talk about some of the interesting projects currently underway.

One which I have talked about here before is The Silver Legacy, which is the full-length epic screenplay that Jess is trying to get greenlit for production. An audience Demand has been initiated to start a grassroots movement supporting this project, and if it's something that appeals to you, I encourage you to support it.

There are also new Limited Edition Prints of concept art from TSL available for purchase, the proceeds of which are now going to fund Jess' new project, a sci-fi fantasy short film (codename: AAE) that she has written and is executive producing. Anyone purchasing one of the prints (I already have mine....just waiting to be framed) or donating at least $5 to the project will have their name listed in the credits under Special Thanks. Isn't that worth five bucks (or a sweet limited edition print, numbered and signed by the author and artist)?

I've been following the exploits of this spirited lass from Virginia (now in L.A.) for well over a year, and can tell you that I have no doubt that she is going to be successful and become a famous screenwriter and important artist in the genre of film. Now....so I don't have to say "I told you so", why don't you join me here on the ground floor of something big?

Seriously.

I'm not going to ask you again.