And the ZCP increases by one, thanks to the (possible) Zombie Short Film Festival in Toronto.

NPR had a story yesterday, about something I talked about back in April.  Granted it covers a lot of ground on the idea of Zombie Culture Permeation (ZCP) compared to my slightly self-absorbed assesment, but they really talk about the same thing: Zombies have become a large obsession in our culture.

Is it because they’re so easy to destroy, the us that isn’t us (as I paraphrase Max Brooks)? The article is good, but it doesn’t ask the most important question: why are zombies so important now? Why not ten years ago? Could the popularity of Zombie media be akin to cycles of malaise and depression in the culture? Or are we just getting somewhat lazy in our satire (considering how we talked about making “My One Zombie Film” at the alma mater, as if it was a requirement to graduate)? I would like to think that it was linked to cultural cycles, but I’m more inclined to agree with the latter point. Especially considering how adaptable of a metaphor Zombies can be; something that adaptable is bound to evolve with its environment. 

I own Thriller on vinyl, and my cousin did the moonwalk across his high school stage accepting his diploma. Thank you Chris Onstad for once again, defining  pop culture so very well. This is how I felt when I found out about Harvey Danger.

HOW was loads of fun. I met some amazing folks, attended some great events, lost some posters, saw John Vanderslice and his new band (got to sing “Keep The Dream Alive”, just like these folks did in Orlando a couple years ago, but we had a flute, and more of the FLA folks seemed to know the song), went to Emo’s, . Of course, I picked up a few books: Zombie Haiku, Away We Go, and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.

I wasn’t into the conference at first, but it grew on me. There were a number of talks about creativity, organization, and passion for what you do, and how you interact with the customers, projects, and people in your daily sphere. What there wasn’t a lot of was talk about understanding people, or even being understood, but that’s not something this conference was about.  That’s what I was there for, as a writer and a filmmaker first, and a graphic designer second, I felt a little out of place, or at least pushed myself away, and made it like that, comfortable not fitting in to the crowd.

As soon as I dropped the stigma of not being a wholly passionate graphic designer, I loosened up enough to realize I was surrounded by loads of creative people, who just wanted to be around other creative people. That’s all I wanted too. When I understood that, the conference opened up to me like the nearly cloudless sky above Texas.

It has been raining on and off all day. I have a scene in a short story that explores part of the experience of not doing what you’d like to be doing and not knowing why you’re not accomplishing what you know you should be. The difference is, I know why I haven’t gotten to edit this short yet: I’ve got a live event to shoot tomorrow, and since I’m heading to Austin on Tuesday. Maybe on the plane I’ll be able to review and refresh.  I hope I can get to it before then.

Tomorrow is going to be fun, and worth all the stress. In the long term, will it be worth interrupting my writing?  Perhaps. I’m worried about not being able to jump right back into my writing, into my editing, to be where I was when I was writing every day.  I need that.  I found out some lovely info about myself again.  Writing not only calms me down, but evens me out, clears my head, and makes me happier. I want to do more of it, and to write every day, regardless of the films or music I’m recording.

Maybe I should take a cue from Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino. I do carry a notebook around, but I use it for notes, not for writing and drawing, simply because it isn’t big enough, and my handwriting isn’t that great.  Maybe I need to rethink this, and maybe I need to refresh myself over at 43 Folders and review my GTD book. Maybe I’ll even develop better handwriting.  Maybe.

The Ghostbusters video game came out on Tuesday. If you didn’t know that, please get out from under whatever rock you’ve been living under and rejoin us in the light. Assuming you’re human.

I got the Wii version, because I don’t have an XBox 360 or a PS3.  Mostly because I’d be completely consumed by the need to play.  So my parents, being savvy in the use of video games (they were the ones who bought the 3rd Gen Sega Genesis back in ‘95 or ‘96 or something) have the Wii, and they bought me the game for my birthday.  For three hours on Tuesday, I played the hell out of the game, forget the graphics, and the disappointment there’s no 4 player version on the Wii, the thrill of catching ghosts—a deep rooted desire in myself and others I’m sure—was so immersive that only my general fatigue made me put the controllers down.  At around one am.

For a little while, bashing ghosts around the room and getting them sucked into the trap, made me feel like the 9 year old that made his first film by borrowing a friend’s neighbor’s video camera, and planning it all summer.  We called it “Ghostbusters 3”, and I have only fragments of the memory left over, 19 years later.  But now that I’ve got a couple of new cameras of my own, I’ll be working that urge out all over again.

Sorry Seattle, I just can’t squeeze that trip in at the end. Chicago it is.

08-15-2009 Harvey Danger | Schubas Tavern

(via addthis)

JOHN VANDERSLICE and THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH

(via addthis)

I finished mastering the tracks from the IMF4 sessions last night.  Ladies and gentlemen, The Suprise Cabinets present, track 3 of 6: Jon Voight Stole My Car.