Cinemaligion: Contact

Thirteen years ago, there was a big-budget summer blockbuster that did something rare: it entertained people AND made them think about important philosophical issues. Its repercussions continue to be felt today. That movie, of course, was Beverly Hills Ninja. No, I kid, it was Contact, starring Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey. This was 1997, when Jodie Foster still made movies regularly, and when the novelty of Matthew McConaughey hadn’t worn off yet. Robert Zemeckis, who had just won an Oscar for directing Forrest Gump — THAT IS A THING THAT REALLY HAPPENED — was next hired to direct this story, based on a novel by Carl Sagan. Sagan, who died eight months before the film was released, was next to Isaac Asimov and Stephen Hawking in the category of Super-Smart Guys Who Look at the Stars and Know Everything About Them. The stereotype would be that he was therefore an atheist, but Sagan always insisted he was agnostic. “An atheist has to know a lot more than I know,” he said. “An atheist is someone who knows there is no god. By some definitions atheism is very stupid.”

Full article

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I’m an agnostic myself. I just marvel at my atheist friends who are atheists, just because. They put no more research or thought into the subject at hand other than what they were force fed by college professors, peers and so-called “authoritative” figures. Basically taking the word of others, they are either too lazy or too apathetic to invest the time necessary to confirm or deny for themselves.

I’ve spent literally dozens of hours in all debating this topic. Yet, I’m STILL shocked to find how little they actually know, yet are still SO convinced they are right. Based on….NOTHING really. Same goes for “believers”. I’ve had one too many friends try to “save” me, yet, I know their Bible better than they do!! At least I took a few years to actually give it a thorough study!

I tell my atheist AND believing friends the same thing: “Don’t tell me you’re an atheist. I don’t care because more than likely you don’t know WHY you are.” “Don’t tell me you’re a believer because again, most likely you don’t know WHY you are.”

The Writer

Are you a writer?

It has been said, and is the generally accepted belief, that if you write, you are a writer. Whether you wait on tables, repair PCs or milk goats, as long as you write, you are technically a writer. “Then why don’t I feel like one?” you ask? Some are reluctant to say, “I’m a writer.” As if making that statement would be committing the eighth cardinal sin. If asked, they might say, “I write.”

This might be due to the misguided assumption many have, that unless you are a paid writer, you aren’t a real writer.

I visit numerous screenwriting and novel writing blogs and websites and am in awe of the unsigned talent out there. Most of those guys make little to no money for their efforts. They freely share their imagination and brilliance with anyone who would avail themselves of the opportunity to soak it in. Others write for a living. A good living. So whether you are a paid writer or not isn’t the point. Yet!

Another problem might be that you tend to compare your screenplays to those of Woody Allen, Billy Wilder, Francis Ford Coppola or Charlie Kaufman. Or compare your novels to those of the masters of horror, sci-fi, romance, mystery and so on. While it is good to read and learn from the greats, it is not good to compare yourself to them to the point of discouragement and apathy setting in.

Focus on honing your craft. Find your voice. Your style. You may not become a great writer, but you can become a good writer.

Remember, “The professional is the amateur who didn’t quit.” – Richard Bach

Write first for the personal satisfaction of letting your inner child, demon or alter-ego out. If you are only doing it for the money, then you are more likely to be washed away by the numerous waves of rejection and disappointed that will invaribly come your way. At least when starting out. If love of the craft, on the other hand, is your motivational force, you can enjoy your work whether published or not, whether paid or not. Then, down the road if you are noticed and published, then all the better.

Consider the example of J.L. Bourne. He started a blog several years ago, wrote a little bit of his story each day, and in time his compilations became the book entitled Day by Day Armageddon. What is more, its sequel is scheduled for release in July of 2010! “Ah, but he’s a professional writer.” you say. In truth, he was on active duty serving in the U.S. military when he wrote DBDA. He wrote a little bit each day as he had time to do so.

Not everyone will have a similar success story. But his story proves that it is possible if you just keep after it. And if fate delays in calling your number, don’t give up. Blogs are cheap-to-free to set up. There are also fairly cheap self-publishing alternatives out there. So just keep the pen to the paper or fingers to the keys and continue to do what you love most: BE A WRITER! The joy will ALWAYS be there and hey, could be the payday will follow. However, you’ll never know if you give up.

Book Moguls

I’ve added Book Moguls to the mogul network. I’ve been trying to make it a point to read a lot more.  Bumping my reading of fiction from 4-6 a year to 10-12. Current and upcoming reads include: World War Z (2/3’s through), Blockade Billy, Day by Day Armageddon then The Pacific by Huge Ambrose.

Please visit us at Book Moguls at your leisure. Share your latest reads and thoughts thereof, offer suggestions on fiction or nonfiction you’ve enjoyed or suggest an up and coming author. Any book recommendations, comments, questions or what have ya are welcome.

Book Moguls should prove to be a nice complement to our Movie Moguls and Music Moguls network.

Book Moguls

Worthless Genius No More

My friend, Benjamin M. Strozykowski, has moved his wiley words of wisdom to a new domain and I’d like to invite you to visit him there.

Check his most excellent blog out here.

World War Z Thought of the Day

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I needed every idea, every word, every ounce of knowledge and wisdom to help me fuse a fractured landscape into the modern American war machine. If my father had been alive, he probably would have laughed at my frustration. He’d been a staunch New Dealer, working closely with FDR as comptroller of New York State. He used methods that were almost Marxist in nature, the kind of collectivization that would make Ayn Rand leap from her grave and join the ranks of the living dead. I’d always rejected the lessons he’d tried to impart…..Now I was wracking my brains to remember them.
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World War Z, page 138
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I think it ironic the mention of Marxism here. Karl Marx thought he was able to demonstrate scientifically that things were different in his day. He set out to develop a system of government that he thought would lead to true freedom, not new oppression. This was the beginning of communism, the most oppressive of all systems to date! The people’s communes of Red China are proof enough of the severe yoke those people bear, for about 98% of China’s peasantry have been herded into a system of forced collectivization. All their personal rights, freedoms and belongings have been surrendered to the State. This is the fruit of a system that Marx believed would do away with oppression and bring true freedom to all mankind.

Zombies Please

I’ve always loved all things zombies. I recently started reading World War Z again, about halfway through. And just received copies of Day by Day Armageddon and the graphic novel The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks last night from Amazon.

After reading these I believe I’ll read I Am Legend Again. The book that started it all. Thank you Mr. Matheson!

That will be all….

Painting With Words

Poets are a combination of artist and songwriter. They are impelled as much by their hearts as their heads. Thus, well-written poems can inspire you. They can make you think, laugh and cry. The book The Need for Words says: “Poetry is often nothing more than words organised to have a high, sudden impact. That’s partly the reason why great poems . . . are unforgettable in every way.”

Beautiful poetry is rarely the work of a shallow mind. Poetry has a long-standing connection with what matters most to us—relationships, love, spirituality, nature, and the meaning of life. It should come as no surprise then that poetry is one of the oldest art forms. Comparing poetry with prose one famous poet said that if both described the same thing and were equally well written, “the verse will be read a hundred times where the prose is read once.”

Because of its attributes, poetry is often relatively easy to memorize. The oldest surviving Greek poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, were recited from memory at Greek festivals—quite a feat, given the epic proportions of these works!

The Macquarie Dictionary defines poetry as “the art of rhythmical composition, written or spoken, for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts” and as “literary work in metrical form; verse.” Note the two key attributes of poetry—rhythm and meter. Rhythm is part of the world around us. We see it in ocean tides, in seasons, and the beat of our heart. Meter is the pattern of rhythm. Another popular poetic device is rhyme.

Not dependent on rhyme, Japanese haiku is famous for combining beauty of thought with astonishing brevity. It packs its thoughts into just three lines comprising 17 syllables—5 in the first and third lines and 7 in the second. Its beauty and simplicity have made haiku an enjoyable introduction to poetry for many.

Traditionally, poetry is notorious for compressing considerable thought into few words. The World Book Encyclopedia states that poetic words “suggest much more than they say. They stir your imagination . . . The language of poetry is packed under pressure, and the meaning of a single word may trigger the thought, letting the entire poem explode in your imagination.” Of course, you may have to read some poems a few times before they “explode” in your mind, allowing you to grasp their sense.

If you want to write poetry yourself, you would do well to first read a wide range of verse. This will help you to grasp the various principles of composition. Obviously, the best way to learn to write verse is to sit down with pencil and paper and write, or sit at the computer and type.

Why not try putting your thoughts into verse when you send someone a get well or thank you card? Your poetry need not be long or brilliant. Just write a few lines expressing what is in your heart.  Be genuine. You don’t have to be a genius to write poetry, any more than you have to be a great chef to enjoy preparing a meal. Mix equal amounts of desire, imagination, effort, and persistence and the paintings with words that you produce may just surprise you.

The Little Things

In relationships, it’s the little things which count most.

Thoughtful words, glances, or deeds. Conversely, the omission of such “little things” can mount up, even to the extent of causing big, marriage-breaking problems.

Faith and loyalty, which in themselves are crucial qualities, are many times expressed in little ways. However, think of the large rewards, satisfaction, and happiness small expressions can bring.

Great importance is often associated with little things. Admittedly, whether something is big or little is relative and is gauged to a large extent by the one making the comparison. Nevertheless, whether it’s expressions of endearment or qualities of our personality, to appreciative individuals, little things do mean a lot.

My Absence / MyRomCom

Just wanted to update the multitude of readers on what’s been going on in my life? I know there are a lot of you, and I know each one cares.

I hate hearing excuses, and I hate giving them even more. But as stated in previous posts, I have been working on a romantic comedy screenplay and have finally finished it.

Busting out a script isn’t ordinarily the hardest thing in the world to do if you plan well and devote adequate chunks of time to it through the week.

For me though, RomComs are the most difficult. First, I find writing GOOD comedy difficult enough as it is. Secondly, romance has never been my field of expertise. In WRITING that is.

Anyway, I did it. Finished the first draft. 8th screenplay in total. Reading it straight through is bit of a rough read. Not the smoothest thing in the world, several of my comedic devices fall flat and the “romance” isn’t extraordinarily believable.

So, I’m proud. And humbled. Proud that I have at least saw a first draft through and humbled, because after writing this mediocre piece of work I realize all the more what a talent is required to write a truly great romantic comedy.

I have another project I’ve been working on, which I discuss below, and will be devoting much of my “free time” to that, but I DO intend to go through and clean up this mess of a first draft I have here. Shape and mold it like clay in my hands. It may never be great, but I think it’s a decent first real attempt. Especially since I consider RomComs to be my weakest area.

As to the Dan Geruss: Investigative Journalist saga, believe it or not, it’s been a work in progress all along. Though I haven’t posted more new storyline here, I have quite a bit written. It has been the most inspiring work I have done for years and I’m really excited about it. It’s coming along so much better than I had anticipated. In fact, I’ve held off publishing bits here because I am seriously debating turning it into my third novel. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve created an original story that I am THIS in to. Today I began what will be chapter 6 in the story.

Please be patient while I decide what to do with it. In the meantime, I shall begin once more updating the blog on a regular basis with interesting and/or informative tid-bits.

That’s all for now, and thanks for listening. Stay tuned…..

Dan Geruss Update

I was asked about our friend Mr. Geruss and if we would hear from him again soon. The truth is that I received a letter from him before his departure to the Island then a disturbing email a few days later. I wasn’t sure whether or not to publish it until I knew my friend was okay. I’ll go ahead and publish them over the next few days. I’ve been waiting to hear from the Italian government but they have refused to return my letters and calls.