Category: These Are Those Things

That inspire, that I like, and that I hope you feel the same about

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These Are Those Things

Carson Mell: 1 pt C. Burns, 1 pt. P.K.Dick, 1 pt. just him

David Lowery’s HammerToNail review of Carson’s Field Notes From Dimension X created that hunger that couldn’t be filled.  Dimension X was no longer on the Sundance iTunes sight.  

Luckily, the man’s got some of his other work up to be dug.  Monsters, rock, and loneliness has always been cocktail to tickle my tuesday.  I can’t wait to see Mell’s feature debut.  Dang, I may have to go buy his book just to tide me over.


The Writer from Carson Mell on Vimeo.

Definitely check out The Devil In Denim too
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Wow! This is great! "Please Say Something"

Thanks to IFC’s Independent Eye I have now seen my favorite film of 2009.  David O’Reilly’s PLEASE SAY SOMETHING won the Golden Bear for short films at Berlin this year.  It’s about ten minutes long but packs a wallup of emotion, innovation, and experimentation into those ten minutes.  My day has been made.


Please Say Something – Full Length from David OReilly on Vimeo.
IFC has some more information on their site, along with excerpts from an interview with O’Reilly.  Check it out.
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These Are Those Things

Animated US Air 1549 Hudson Landing

Splendid times indeed that we can get something like this — but this is a case where I only like the version that comes intact with the happy ending.

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These Are Those Things

William Carlos Williams

I would place “This Is Just To Say” on the top of my list for favorite poems and those things that have influenced me.  That poem taught me how to look at the world differently, to see beauty in the mundane, and love even in the folly.

I got something similar today when I got to recall another WCW verse, courtesy of TruthOut.  This poems too nails it for me, as did Michael Winship’s article that it inspired.

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

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These Are Those Things

Where The Paths May Lead You

I watched graphic artist & writer Dean Haspiel on the Artist To Artist series that BRIC has this morning.   In a lot of ways Dean is responsible for my making American Splendor.  Back before he was the recognized great artist he is today, he was our receptionist on The Ice Storm.  As we both shared a love for underground comics, it was only a matter of time that Harvey Pekar came up.  The years went by and Dean did some drawing for Harvey and told him and Joyce of my dream of making an American Splendor movie.  One night, late as it was, my phone rang.  Joyce was on the other end and my journey began.

Dean’s just done me another pleasure, by introducing me to the work of photographer Seth Kushner, the other artist on the Artist To Artist show, and the man behind this great portrait of Harvey, shot just last week.

Seth has done a lot of great portraits and whole bunch of the indie film scene.  You should check them all out but here’s a nice taste to get you started.

You check out Seth’s book The Brooklynites here.  He’s working now on a book of photos of NYC Graphic Novel scene, Graphic NYC (and hence his connection with Dean).

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These Are Those Things

The Changing World Of The Trailer

I love how the internet has redefined what a trailer is and what a trailer isn’t.  Post modern times indeed.

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These Are Those Things

Perhaps The Greatest (In Their Own Special Way)

Wow.  1965.  Germany.  Four American GI’s shave the tops of their heads and give in to that delicious beat.  The first punk band?

I once played these guys for my friend Anthony and we fought to the near death on whether they were a past or present band.  In the end I think neither of us were right as that clearly they were time travelers.
By the way, I knew they were from ’65.  Thanks for the tip Rob!