Video Vault: Job Interview

Random short film of the day...



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Blake N. Cooper (ThinkingTen; Twitter; Facebook)

Video Vault: Snow Day in Seattle!

Emilia decided that the best way to celebrate our first snow day of 2008 would be to frolic and dance in the front lawn! Her fabulousnes is through the roof:


Snow Day in Seattle--2008! from Stagekid on Vimeo.

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Blake N. Cooper (ThinkingTen; Twitter; Facebook)

Video Vault: UNHCR's Gimme Shelter Campaign

Source
"Actor-director Ben Affleck and Sir Mick Jagger have launched a short film for UNHCRs new Gimme Shelter campaign to help raise funds and awareness about the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the work of the UN refugee agency.

In November, Affleck visited Africa to shoot footage in DRCs strife-torn North Kivu province, where tens of thousands have fled their homes since fighting resumed in August. He also visited Uganda, where some 30,000 people have sought refuge and are receiving help from UNHCR. The result is a short film entitled Gimme Shelter, set to the classic Rolling Stones song of the same name, which Jagger and the group donated to the campaign.

UNHCR hopes the Gimme Shelter campaign will help raise US$23 million in 2009 to pay for clean water supplies and emergency humanitarian assistance kits in the region.

The film - Gimme Shelter - was directed by Affleck and filmed by John Toll, both Academy Award winners. The footage was shot in the strife-torn North Kivu region of the DRC in November, where thousands have fled their homes since fighting resumed in August."



- For more information about the Gimme Shelter campaign go to http://www.unhcr.org

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Homework: "Capitalist Fools"

There is a lot to sift through regarding the current financial crisis we find ourselves in--but sift we must, for continued ignorance is the poison that dares to destroy countless generations of American progress and values.

The below article is precise in language and informative in substance. Also, the Ayn Rand zealot tie-in is well placed...

Source: Vanity Fair
Article: "The Economic Crisis: Capitalistic Fools" by Joseph Stiglitz

"Behind the debate over remaking U.S. financial policy will be a debate over who’s to blame. It’s crucial to get the history right, writes a Nobel-laureate economist, identifying five key mistakes—under Reagan, Clinton, and Bush II—and one national delusion." (full article)

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Video Vault: Reviving The Auto Industry

The New York Times' Thomas Friedman spoke to Bob Schieffer about where the Big 3 in the auto industry went wrong and the repercussions of the India attacks.

My favorite part? Friedman's analogy to the music industry:

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Video Vault: The Miniature Earth

Perspective--get it.




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20-Week Baby Tweet Appointment!!

Today we had our 20-week Tweet appointment! We've been anxiously awaiting this day for about seven weeks now and we're happy to report all is perfect on the Tweet front: she's growing beautifully; her heart couldn't be healthier (!!!); her little arms, legs, and baby body parts are all in place :)

The picture below takes a little while to figure out. She's the most perfect creature I've ever seen: precious nose, smiley lips, flailing right arm. More importantly, if you focus closely she looks like she's wearing George Washington's wig :)


(click on picture for higher resolution)

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Article: "Why Most Transportation Should Be Public and How That Could Help Private Enterprise"

We need a complete paradigm shift when it comes to infrastructure and transportation. While I know that I need to continue educating myself on the current auto bailout crisis, my initial reaction is to support the bailout only if strict conditions--based on green technologies and a total re-education of the workforce--are met. We have a real opportunity, here, to completely transform the American landscape. The opportunity is now for green job creation, infrastructure reestablishment, and (most importantly) education.

"Why Most Transportation Should Be Public and How That Could Help Private Enterprise"

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Blake N. Cooper (Blog; RSS Feed; Twitter; Facebook)

Video Vault: Charlie Rose and the Emanuel Brothers

I'm adding Charlie Rose to my daily fix--this is a fantastic interview (but I would definitely recommend the full November 7th show here)



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Blake N. Cooper (Blog; RSS Feed; Twitter; Facebook)

Full Steam Ahead for California's High-Speed Rail

Finally!! Great job California!!


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Stagekid

Essay: Obama & America Look Forward

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President Barack Obama

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"Barack Obama for President" by Andrew Sullivan of The Daily Dish

A new chapter in the American story begins tomorrow. Sullivan's post, below, is a fantastic summation of the last 7+ years and a great narrative of why he thinks Obama is the right person for this moment in history. The post ends with--what I thought to be at the time and still think today is--the single greatest artistic contribution in the history of American politics.

Source: The Daily Dish
Post: "Barack Obama for President"

"On a spectacular September morning more than seven years ago, our world changed. I remain one of those who believe that that day remains indelible, and its lesson unforgettable. The civilized democratic world came under attack from a small but lethal band of religious fanatics bent on destroying free societies, and, more terrifyingly, eager to get their hands on weapons of mass destruction that could make 9/11 look like a dry run..." (full post)

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McCain, "Palin," and "Olbermann" on SNL

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Hiking in the Washington Cascades

Hike- Washington Cascades

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Video Vault: John McCain- Prisoner of War

An American hero who deserves nothing but respect for his service to our country. This is a powerful video--especially the closing moments. I thank John McCain and all those who have fought and are fighting for America.

I support Barack Obama for President:




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Video Vault: Culture War!

The power of unfiltered rhetoric (hey, that's a pretty good book title):




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The Second Wave of Second Life

The future of the workspace; get on board or get out of the way:




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Video Vault: Colin Powell Endorses Obama

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Film Trailer Vault: Marley & Me

Everything Jennifer Aniston does on screen bothers me--can't really pinpoint the reason why. Other than the casting--which, for most movies, seals the deal for me--and the fact it looks a little lite, I'm game for Marley and Me (I think I'm going to read the book, though, first ). I absolutely love dogs:

Firstshowing.net also has a nice post for those interested.

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Crawford

Just finished watching Crawford, a new documentary about George W. Bush's Crawford, Texas. Certainly a unique lens by which to view the last eight years:



Also see a Crawford review at The International Herald Tribune

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A Note on Unity

McCain's recent terror tactics is unacceptable. We need to remember what separates us from them. Today, at a rally, McCain instigated the racism and hatred that he vowed to rise above; today I am embarrassed by some of my fellow Americans. Obama's vision of hope and unity are strong ideals, but I have no interest in uniting with ignorant fools who think the hatred drenched in our past is the ideal for our future.

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Spain - On the Road Again

There is no better place on earth than Spain; having lived there, gotten married there, and figured a ton out about myself there, Spain is that place where, once you leave, you start immediately trying to get back. The nostalgia hurts in way that hurting feels good:

Spain - On the Road Again


(higher resolution)

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I'm Going to be a Dad!!!

Yes, as some of you may have heard, I'm going to be a dad!!! Emilia and I found out--on July 31st-- that we are going to have a baby (due date: April 8, 2009!!)!! Emilia will start her 13th week in a few days and is feeling great: no morning sickness, no moodiness (seriously, no joke!), and is just flat-out being a superstar.

You want more news? Okay, fine. Today we found out the baby's gender (on Thursday we went through some of the normal genetic screening tests--with an extra doozie on Friday--and the doctor called this morning to tell us the baby is healthy as can be... in addition, she asked if we wanted to know the sex of the baby...yes please). So without further ado... we are having a GIRL!!!!! I am beyond excited to have a daughter. I get to be the daddy in the "Daddy's Little Girl" equation :)



Ultrasound (September 2008) from Stagekid on Vimeo.

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Film Trailer Vault: The Lucky Ones

Three solid actors--should be a recipe for some good chemistry:




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Film Trailer Vault: Synecdoche, New York

When it comes down to it, we need to start being honest with ourselves; we need to start asking one simple question: is there a better actor working today than Philip Seymour Hoffman? As of today, I am officially announcing my two favorite actors: Robert Downey Jr. and PSH. Hoffman is a brilliant actor; it is a privilege to watch him work to master his craft.

Synecdoche, New York may be a bit out there for most people's taste, but there is little debate about the genius of Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind):



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A Must Read: Sean Penn: Country First (Or How the Media Loves a Lipstick Rumsfeld)

Every American should read this piece from Sean Penn. Make your own judgments about Penn and stop relying on the media's portrayal. Take the time to educate yourself on what's at stake in this election. If you are feeling unmotivated to vote, think about your kids, your grandkids: vote for them. Vote for hope; vote for change; vote for choice. If this article doesn't get your blood boiling, then you need to hop on a raft and float away. Seriously, just go:

Sean Penn: Country First (Or How the Media Loves a Lipstick Rumsfeld)

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Video Vault: Zipline in Whistler

Insanely exhilarating! Next up: skydiving or bungee jumping:





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Video Vault: Olbermann's Special Comment on McCain

9-11 TM:




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Film Trailer Vault: The Soloist Trailer

Oscar watch: Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Fox will both win. (If you're a video-quality snob like me, head over to Firstshowing)




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Video Vault: Daily Show's Indecision 2000: McCain Bus

I feel the urge to post a random Jon Stewart video every so often (so get use to it). It looks like the McCain campaign decided to take a different strategy with the Cindy branding:



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Film Trailer Vault: Michael Moore's Slacker Uprising

Slacker Uprising will be available for free on September 23, 2008 (sign up). There is a lot that bothers me about Michael Moore, but his perspectives will always be welcome in this house:



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Video Vault: Daily Show- John McCain's Big Acceptance Speech

Highlight: the side-by-side McCain/Bush speeches...



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Morning Coffee: "Relentless: How Barack Obama Outsmarted Hilary Clinton"

Source: Politico
Article: "Relentless: How Barack Obama Outsmarted Hilary Clinton"
Author: Roger Simon

Politico's Roger Simon just published an (as always) great piece on what will go down in the books as the campaign that changed the direction of 21st-Century America...

--
"In the summer of 2006, Patti Solis Doyle offered David Axelrod a job. Hillary Clinton was running for reelection to the Senate and Solis Doyle was her campaign manager, but everybody knew Clinton was soon going to run for president. And Clinton wanted Axelrod onboard.

Axelrod was a highly experienced and successful political consultant and just what Clinton needed. But he declined. Presidential campaigns were mentally taxing, physically exhausting and emotionally draining. There were easier ways to make a buck.

Unless. “I wasn’t planning to work in a presidential race,” Axelrod told me, “but if Barack might run, well, he would be the only guy to cause me to get in..." (full piece)

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Biden Rips GOP on Iraq War Resolution and Others

Passion and drama: WOW! This is exactly what the Obama campaign needs, at this point, as the GOP attempts to destroy the Democrats:





Bill Maher, Feb. 2007


Letterman, Aug. 2007


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Biden!

Sure there are positives and negatives to the Biden pick, but regardless, this shows a lot about how Obama will lead. An ode to Biden:



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Water and Green Tea

Goodbye coffee, hello Green Tea ...

"Your body is estimated to be about 60 to 70 percent water. Blood is mostly water, and your muscles, lungs, and brain all contain a lot of water. Your body needs water to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all your organs. Water also transports oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs.

A good estimate [for how much to drink] is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number in half. That gives you the number of ounces of water per day that you need to drink. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink at least 80 ounces of water per day. If you exercise you should drink another eight ounce glass of water for every 20 minutes you are active."

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Cooper Joshua Soller

I'm an Uncle! Uncle Blake sounds fantastic, right? Welcome to the family, little Coop.

Check back periodically: this album will get bigger as pics from other cameras start getting posted.

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Obama VP Predictions

Most likely, Obama will be picking his VP this week (probably Tuesday or Wednesday).

My top 3:

#1: Al Gore (obviously a pipe dream) [article posted today]
#2: Joe Biden (foreign policy strength)
#3: Tim Kaine (Virginia swing state)

#4: Kathleen Sebelius (really number three on my list since picking Gore is almost impossible)

Now that I've laid out my predictions, Evan Bayh will probably end up getting it.

A GOP comment: if McCain picks Lieberman or Romney as his VP, Obama wins BIG.

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Swimming in the Gutter

I'll be up and running with the blog again soon (I can't believe the longest I've gone without posting is a week: that's serious dedication, people); an excuse for my preoccupation will come later. A couple of things:

The presidential campaign has taken a turn for the pathetic: McCain's Paris Hilton ad took our country to an all-time low. What's worse is that they just responded to her recent Funny or Die "ad"; I'm not posting either here, so go to Google. The presidency is the most important position in the world and to swim in the gutter like this is beyond embarrassing.

High values, high standards: Obama must win. Period. (I'm politically scarred by what McCain did because I just spent 4 hours watching a documentary on Franklin Delano Roosevelt (incredible doc; incredible American hero: here).
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Pubs in Britain

Source: The Economist
Article: Pubs in Britain

Coop's Take: 2001 was the year of the Pub for me as I aimlessly hopped around Europe, toasting a Guinness to circumstance: to a country-a-week epic journey; to an unexpected addiction to all things Spain; to this great gal I met in an elevator in Madrid (now my wife); to a new-found passion for theatre. After 9/11, I remember retreating to my Irish pub in the heart of Madrid: angry, confused, desperate to see my country--my family; I remember staying for hours, writing a screenplay on coasters and napkins, sipping my froth. Anyway...


The Economist has a nice ode to pubs...

"EVERY nation needs a national myth, and Britain might seem to need more than most. A modern myth has it as a country full of overworked wage-slaves. Newspapers write of a “long-hours culture”, and point out that the British working week is significantly longer than the European average. Yet walking through the afternoon streets of St James, on my way back from Friday lunch, it is hard to see much evidence of that. A legion of investment bankers and private-equity types crowd the streets, as indistinguishable from one to the next, in their open-necked shirts and luxuriantly coifed hair, as their predecessors were in their umbrellas and bowler hats. They are the overspill from London’s pubs, which have been..." (keep reading Pubs in Britain).


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Film Review Vault: In the Shadow of the Moon

Film: In the Shadow of the Moon

Tagline: Remember when the whole world looked up.

Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
IMDB
Wikipedia

Coop's Take:
For those interested in the human side of history, you'll love this documentary. There are two things that have stuck since watching: (1) I wish Neil Armstrong could have contributed to the narrative of the film; (2) what's happened to the great American ambition? We need to get back to that place where the world, once again, looks up to the values that our country represents: strength, bold hope, relentless courage.

Favorite Acting Scene:
All things Michael Collins! Great narrative, by an easily-overlooked American hero.

Coop's Movie Rating: 9
Coop's Trailer Rating: 9 1/2

Trailer:




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Debate: Two Acting Styles

Source: Cinematical
Post: 400 Screens, 400 Blows: Up with Downey by Jeffery M. Anderson

Anderson presents an interesting debate about acting styles: Brando's "method" vs. the "always plays himself" school. Bringing Downey Jr. (especially his performance in Two Girls and a Guy) into the discussion certainly brings credibility to the argument.

I've added Anderson to my list of tracked Tomatoe critics.

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Film Review Vault: Lars and the Real Girl

Film: Lars and the Real Girl

Tagline: The search for true love begins outside the box...

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
IMDB
Wikipedia

Coop's Take:
Lars is a very well-casted film with Gosling, again, showing his gifted range. Some may be turned off by the unrealistic premise, but with a little suspension of dramatic disbelief and a focus on the acting (Mortimer and Schneider are great together), the film is worth the time.

Ryan Gosling continues to make great career choices. Using The Notebook's pop success to leverage his acting career, his last three films have certainly stretched his obvious talent: Half Nelson, Fracture, and Lars (there are few actors who can hold their own against the incomparable Anthony Hopkins, let alone upstage him on screen).

Favorite Acting Scene:
Gosling, in the woods, singing to his "girlfriend."

Trivia:

• shot in 31 days
• In the scene where Lars is reading to Bianca, he is reading from Don Quixote (an ode to delusions)
  

Coop's Movie Rating: 7
Coop's Trailer Rating: 5

Trailer:

At the Movies Review


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Photo Vault: Whistler 2008

A much needed mini-vacation to Whistler (first time we had been there; TripAdvisor review forthcoming):



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Music Video Vault: I'm Yours by Jason Mraz

Just heard this on the radio--brilliant:



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Next Weekend: Whistler Zip

What will my wife and I be doing next weekend? Where will we be?



Bring it on.

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Before Sunrise and Before Sunset

Source: Cinematical
Post: "When Romance is Done Right"

I've been a huge fan of Linklater's Before Sunrise since its release; its sojourned follow-up Before Sunset was a unexpected gift in the continuation of the simple storyline. Cinematical recently posted a nice article on the evolution of the the story (with commentary, trailers, extra video footage: yes, they stole my film vault blog structure):



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Film Review Vault: Iron Man

Film: Iron Man

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%
Wikipedia
IMDB

Coop's Take:

The most recent Superman movie represented everything wrong with modern-day hero movie hype: no chemistry, too much noise, poor script. From the opening scene of Iron Man, it was obvious this film would take a different direction in the genre: brilliant writing, brilliant acting, brilliant direction. One of the best comic/superhero movies I've seen since the original Superman films--Robert Downey Jr. is as good as they come: by far my favorite actor today (see Saints); the film was brilliantly cast (Howard, Bridges, Paltrow); a great achievement for director John Favreau.

Favorite Acting Scene:
RDJ building the suit while acting with the inadament.

Trivia:

• Rachel McAdams was Jon Favreau's first choice to play Pepper Potts, but she turned the role down.
• Nicolas Cage and Tom Cruise were interested in playing Iron Man. Cruise in particular was going to act in and produce the film.
• The script was not completely prepared when filming began, since the filmmakers were more focused on the story and the action, so the dialogue was mostly ad-libbed throughout filming; Jon Favreau acknowledged this made the film feel more natural. Some scenes were shot with two cameras to capture lines improvised on the spot; Robert Downey Jr. would ask for many takes of one scene since he wanted to try something new... (more trivia)
  

Coop's Movie Rating: 8
Coop's Trailer Rating: 6 1/2

Trailer:




Wired Review: Iron Man a New High for RDJ
Robert Ebert's Review

Unscripted:




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Film Review Vault: There Will Be Blood

Film: There Will Be Blood

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
Award: Won 2 Oscars (Best Actor, Best Cinematography)
Wikipedia
IMDB

Coop's Take: There are few actors working today that truly capture the screen; Daniel Day Lewis is certainly one of those special talents. In a time where most movies aim for big action and fluff, every so often a film comes along that heightens the art to a level worthy of its history and its potential as a medium for story-telling, for expression. There Will Be Blood is a great achievement by Paul Thomas Anderson & Co. It's definitely on my top 3 for 2007 (and ahead of No Country for Old Men).

2007 was a good year for film: No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, Once, Sweeney Todd, Into the Wild, Juno, King of Kong and a handful of others (Breach, American Gangster, Sicko). I'll have to look back to see if I already completed my Top 10 for 2007 (I usually wait to see movies on video--unless we're talking about a film like Iron Man; I think my next post will be to start building my Top 10 list for 2008)

Favorite Acting Scene: The bowling alley scene where DD Lewis puts on an absolute clinic in acting.

Trivia:

• While on location in Marfa, Texas, No Country for Old Men was the neighboring film production. One day, director Paul Thomas Anderson and his crew tested the pyrotechnical effects of the oil derrick fire, causing an enormous billowing of smoke, intruding the shot that Joel Coen and Ethan Coen were shooting. This caused them to put off filming until the next day when the smoke dissipated from view. Both this film and No Country for Old Men would eventually become the leading contenders at the Academy Awards a year and a half later.
• Anderson told Entertainment Weekly magazine that the fake oil used throughout the movie included "the stuff they put in chocolate milkshakes at McDonald's."... (more trivia)
  

Coop's Movie Rating: 9
Coop's Trailer Rating: 8

Robert Ebert's Review

Trailer

(HD version)

Charlie Rose (a look at Blood and No Country)

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Video Vault: Where the Hell is Matt?

I want to hang out with Matt over a Guinness and a globe (and just to be clear: this, to me, is what life is all about: a simple idea executed brilliantly):


Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
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Film Review Vault: Schindler's List

Film: Schindler's List
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 96%

Award: Won 7 Oscars including Best Picture
Wikipedia
IMDB

Coop's Take: A legacy-changing film, from one of the great directors of all time--Schindler's List is a true masterpiece. Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, and Ralph Fiennes give performances unmatched by but a few. Everything I have always believed about film--in terms of potential for story-telling; distribution of a message; the power to invoke anger or confusion or elation--pours out in Schindler's List.

Favorite Acting Scene: Amon Goeth in the wine cellar, where he's battling with his feelings for Helen Hirsch. Ralph Fiennes is first-class in everything I've seen him in (especially The English Patient and The End of the Affair).

Trivia:

• To prepare for the role, Ralph Fiennes put on almost 30 pounds drinking Guinness;
• Harrison Ford was offered the title role but declined, saying that some people would not be able to look past him as a star to see the importance of the film... (more trivia)
  

Coop's Movie Rating: 10
Coop's Trailer Rating: 9

Trailer


Siskel & Ebert Review


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Film Trailer Vault: The Wackness

The Wackness: HD Trailer

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Film Review Vault: A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints

Film: A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 75%
Box Office: $420,603
Wiki
IMDB
Trailer

Coop's Take: I will never get tired of films or stories that try to express the struggle of youth--a struggle that often times involve a desperate need to break away from home--from our town or neighborhood; from our parents or friends. Saints offers a mid-1980's, Queens, NY struggle of Dito Montiel, played by--in my opinion--the best actor working today and who may end up being the best of all time: Robert Downey Jr; RDJ's role is quite minimal, but his impact is, as always, a game changer--a film changer.

Shia Labeouf turns in a fantastic performance: there is absolutely no surprise seeing Spielberg & Co. jump at the opportunity to work with this kid. After his performance here--accompained by his role in the Rear Window-influenced, Disturbia--Labeouf's young career has risen quicker than any I've seen.

An Intro to Movie Posts on This Blog: The above links will lead to a ton of reviews if that's your thing, but too much influence/information can stain the experience. Personally, I like researching a film after I've gone through the viewing experience. So... read Coop's Take (I'll never give away an ending or a climatic scene: my focus will be more on the acting), watch the trailer (I'll try to link to the highest quality resolution), and come back, again, after you've seen the film to discuss (I'm also on FriendFeed)!

Ideally, I'd watch my films in a huge movie theatre, surrounded by nobody and nothing--except for my drenched-in-butter popcorn and a water-I-brought-from-home-because-those-charging-5-bucks-for-a-Pepsi-produced-bottle-should-be-arrested. But since the movie theatre experience is dying and since time is becoming increasingly important, a lot of my viewing will be on my iTouch: better to have seen Schindler's List (my next review) than to keep it rotting on my life list.

Also: I am a huge fan of movie trailers: it's art much in the same way a short story is art. Therefore, I'll not only be rating my movies, but also its trailer:

Coop's Movie Rating: 7 ½
Coop's Trailer Rating: 8

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Stagekid

"Lessons in Productivity from Ralph Waldo Emerson"

Source: ZenHabits
Post: "Lessons in Productivity from Ralph Waldo Emerson"

I am nowhere close to where I want to be in terms of productivity. I never want to feel satisfied. Is there anything worse than apathy and complacency?

"Emerson eliminated distractions by limiting the amount of books he read, streamlining “lower duties” like household chores, and avoiding relationships with people whose nervous temperaments upset his focus. While today there are many more distractions than in Emerson’s day, we too can reduce our information consumption. Put Haiku Productivity in practice by limiting the amount of stuff you own, RSS feeds you read, and times you check email. By doing so, you’ll create an environment"...

and

“Ah!” said a brave painter to me, thinking on these things, “if a man has failed, you will find he has dreamed instead of working. There is no way to success in our art, but to take off your coat, grind paint, and work like a digger on the railroad, all day and every day--RW Emerson” ... (keep reading)

Today's Related RSS fodder: "The Howard Roark of Engineering"
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Stagekid

Video Vault: WineLibrary TV

I'm a huge fan of Gary Vaynerchuk (hat tip to my brother). Expect his new videos to pop up here every once in awhile:

"With a wealth of knowledge and an entrepreneurial spirit, Gary spent every weekend of his college years at his parents’ store, rebranding the family business as Wine Library and establishing himself as a respected expert. As the store’s only wine buyer, he sampled every wine that entered the store. Customers depended on Gary for his advice and within a five year time period, Wine Library grew from a $4 million dollar business to a $45 million business:"




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A frothy Guinness to you for stopping by and another for coming back,
Stagekid

An Ode to Declarations

What I love about blogging is that you can make declarations (e.g. my last post) and change your mind the next day.

I realized last night there was no way to put restrictions on the content of this blog. My last post therefore, is more of a rant. The root: I need to write more: I need to blog more. I've always had an appreciation--a passion--for film, literature, and theatre/acting; it's not surprising that I came to the conclusion yesterday that these topics needed more of my attention. Attention they will get, but to confine my efforts to express, is the wrong decision--at least for the purposes of this blog.

Thanks for keeping up :)

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A frothy Guinness to you for stopping by and another for coming back,
Stagekid

Blogging Evolution

It's time to (at least temporarily) evolve the blog. While I enjoy posting on anything that interests me (technology, politics, social networking, etc.) the noise is beginning to distract:

Politics: It's been exciting for me, this past year, to follow the presidential campaign. I had no idea how hungry I was for politics: it's been life-changing, in a sense, to take a stance on issues that will effect not only my life, but my kids' lives as well. Consider me hooked (especially during the next eight years of the Obama presidency).

Technology: Web 2.0 is the immediate future. There will be no escaping it and for those who think it won't affect their lives, they're wrong. Embrace the potential, people.

Contributing to online political and web 2.0 discussions will continue in a major way (Politico, FriendFeed, Twitter, other blogs, etc.), but for the purpose of this blog, it is time to get back to, and focus on, what I am truly passionate about: film, literature, and theatre.

Film: With the introduction of Apple's iTouch, I am watching more movies and documentaries than I ever could have imagined. I am finally getting to that usually unattainable"Oh, thanks for recommendation: I will add it to my must-see" list. I want a place to track and comment on what I watch. Working at the University of Washington, I have free access to an unlimited amount of movies: I grab the documentary or film I want, take it home, iTouch it...all for free. I am finally able to watch all those PBS documentaries: building the Brooklyn Bridge; biographies of FDR and Eugene O'Neill; the birth of NYC's subway system; the history of Broadway. AFI's top films of all time--bring em on: from Chaplin to Brando; from It Could Happen One Night to Schindler's List. Finally I can watch those films that seemed to sneak in and out of the box office without my even realizing they were there: from A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints to Fast Food Nation.

Literature: I won't even get into what will happen when I finally get the yet-to-be released, v.2 Amazon Kindle, but books for me have always been my escape. The written word is unrivaled in terms of expression and emotion. Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms or The Sun Also Rises, Graham Greene's Heart of the Matter, Ondaatje's The English Patient, Chabon's Kavalier and Clay--these are perfect stories and perfected prose; they, and many others, are beautifully written. This blog will be where I capture the emotion--the confusion--I feel when confronted with the story or character I come across.

Theatre: The stage is where our life--our culture--is at its best. The script, the preparation, the story, the actor, the stage: there is nothing more powerful in terms of emotion and in terms of the human condition. My credits are one (Our Town: George Gibbs)--but those three months of complete transformation changed the way I look at life. The final curtain closed, the production had ended--but a passion for the stage had just begun. I may never get back onto that stage, but I will certainly find my way back to the theatre. This blog will chronicle that journey.

I gave myself 60 seconds to write a personal tagline of what this blog will now represent within the online space:

"Film, literature, and theatre: just another triple-treat connoisseur (and often times fanatic) of skilled acting, depth in prose, and anything theatre."

It might stick.

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A frothy Guinness to you for stopping by and another for coming back,
Stagekid

Seesmic Unboxing: Camping Recap

Seesmic- Join the Video Conversation:



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A frothy Guinness to you for stopping by and another for coming back,
StageKid

Casting Call: Right Place Needed

Source: The Next Stage-A Magazine About Talking About New Theatre
Post: "Your City and You: When Ambitions Collide"

One of the better blog posts I've read in awhile (accompanied by Graham's piece)--The Next Stage poses a few questions about the city you live in and the influences it has on an artists' perspectives and motivations.

Tangent of Randomness: Could it be that purpose and place are the leading influences in our stories--at least for those smart enough to embrace the drama they invoke? To understand why and where (or at the very least, to try) may lead to understanding the script better. Are you in the right setting for your story? If not, why are you not changing your setting instead of carelessly trying to change your self to fit a false setting? Where you wake up and go to--where you fill the minutes--matters. Each place is a different character, so might it be important to cast for the part a bit more effectively?
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A frothy Guinness to you for stopping by and another for coming back,
Stagekid

Morning Coffee: Interview with Sam Shepard

Source: New York Magazine
Article: "How the West Was Lost" an interview with Sam Shepard

After reading Shepard's Buried Child. I have to agree with the masses that he's one of the best artists we have today: actor and writer. I came across this article today (RSS source) and was particularly interested (but certainly not surprised) with the comparisons to Beckett:

"It turns out there’s a real craft to building a dead horse you can believably kick around onstage. Sam Shepard, who recently had to bury his own horse, made it clear what he was looking for in the stage directions for his new one-man, one-horse play, Kicking a Dead Horse, which begins previews at the Public June 25 and stars Stephen Rea. “The dead horse should be as realistic as possible,” he writes, “with no attempt to stylize or cartoon it in any way. In fact, it should actually be a dead horse.” (full article)
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A frothy Guinness to you for stopping by and another for coming back,
StageKid

Photo Vault: First Day of Summer 2008

Took a cruise, today, around Seattle for Lynn and Steve's wedding (friends of Mil):



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A frothy Guinness to you for stopping by and another for coming back,
StageKid

Video Vault: CBS News Correspondent on the John Stewart Show

Source: lessons in brevity
Post: CBS News Correspondent: "I'd blow my brains out"

Recap:



Full episode of this John Stewart Show

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A frothy Guinness to you for stopping by and another for coming back,
StageKid

AFI Announces Top 10 Films in 10 Classic Genres

Source: American Film Institute (AFI)
Post: 10 Top 10

Films from the 10 lists I plan on seeing this summer:

• City Lights
• It Happened One Night
• Roman Holiday
• Philadelphia Story
• Laurence of Arabia
• The Hustler
• Bonnie and Clyde
• Kramer and Kramer
• Ben-Hur
• Schindler's List
• Spartacus

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A frothy Guinness to you for stopping by and another for coming back,
StageKid

Firefox 3

Starting at 10:00 AM today, the new version of Firefox (v.3) will be available. For those not using Firefox, it's time to make the switch. The browser is superior in every way: crisper text and images; faster; enhanced Google Toolbar; simple and clean tabbing functionality. Oh, and my blog is built for Firefox, not IE :)

I already downloaded it here.

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Blake N. Cooper (Blog; RSS Feed; Twitter; Facebook)