Livin' Lovin' Learnin'

Had myself a great week!

I've been doing some research to give Brian's SKIP SPACEFLYER a faux history. Been researching the origins and eveolution of THE LONE RANGER, FLASH GORDON, BUCK ROGERS and SPACE PATROL.

Did you know that the comic strip (it's original form; 1934) FLASH GORDON was actually created to compete with the BUCK ROGERS strip (1929)? Did you know that "Buck" Rogers began life in pulp magazine (text, not pictures) called "Armageddon 2419 A.D." Or that his name was originally Anthony, and "Buck" was his nickname, because of a 1920s cowboy character? SPACE PATROL was this REALLY BIG DEAL from 1950 to 1955, with a daily TV series and a live Saturday morning TV show AND a half-hour radio series! AND... the stars played their roles in all versions!!!

Fascinating stuff!

...IF you're a creator and you're into how other creators do their thing, and have done their thing throughout history...

...anyway...

So I've been having a good time.

Last night Brian and I watched the unrated versions of -- get this -- THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE and THE DUKES OF HAZZARD.

What a combo, right?

It was actually great, because we watched them in THAT order. So we watch some deep, philosophical horror, then watch the making-of featurettes, then watch some flat-out horse-play comedy, then watch the making-of featurettes for that!

And naturally, when you're watching good filmmaking (and I don't care if you liked THE DUKES OF HAZZARD or not, it was a well-made movie and accomplished EXACTLY what the filmmakers wanted to accomplish), and listening to the people who made the flicks talk about what they were trying to do and how they attempted to do it, the conversation's ALWAYS going to turn to the projects you're currently working on, and how these insights apply to those projects.

That's the cool thing about creating -- be it writing, directing, eiting, creating a performance as an actor, whatever -- is that you're ALWAYS working! Even when you're playing, it enhances your work. You're in a perpetual state of observation and learning, and so EVERYTHING YOU EXPERIENCE makes whatever you're creating just a smidgeon better.

OOH! OOH! Brian and I have a dvd! It's called CREATIVE SCREENWRITING PRESENT JOSS WHEDON: THE MASTER AT PLAY, and it's a recording of Joss's interview at the Expo 4!!! OUR EXPERIENCE WITH JOSS IS ON DVD!!! Almost every word! (Deffinitely everything I took notes on!) Which is really helpful, because his insights and observations were just LAYERED with wisdom! I'll be able to watch this dvd 10 years from now and it will still have new stuff to tell me!

Oops. Time to put my laundry in the dryer.

Bye for now!