Today I was reading another diatribe both attacking and then the response defending oil companies in regard to gasoline prices and record profits.
Each time I see this the discussion goes off into international oil markets, bounces around a bit, and ends up in name calling.
I guess it is bizarre to me that so many people seem to miss the point, so, as I see it, here it is.
The price of a barrel of oil is only the baseline of this problem, it is the benchmark, not the driving force. The problem for the last few years have been skyrocketing PROFITS, by gasoline manufacturers.
Profit is what you make over and above your operating cost. That includes buying oil at whatever price it is, refining and then distributing it to retail outlets. If oil is 10 dollars a barrel and a company makes 38 billion in profit, or oil is 100 dollars a barrel and the same company makes the same 38 billion, there is no difference.
Nothing wrong with profit. That isn't the problem. The problem is twofold from my standpoint. One, there is no such thing as a free market economy. All financial systems must have some controls to avoid one company or another that creates a vital part taking over. Then you have feudalism. So, these controls have to set certain rules. One of those rules in the United States states that there can be no collusion among competing companies. Also known as "Price Fixing", where companies agree to subvert the market pressure and agree on an artificially inflated price.
Case in point. Last year gas hit $3.00 per gallon. Industry analysts said that to support that price level, if all other things were equal (including profit), oil would have to be at 90.00 per barrel. At the time it was barely 60.00. Yet, all gas companies were charging 3.00 plus per gallon for fuel.
Flash forward. Now oil actually is hovering in the 90.00 per barrel range. And gas? It is at about 3.00 per gallon. Does something seem wrong here?? If the price of a barrel of oil is the driving factor, then last year gas should have been at around 1.98 per gallon, reflecting the 60.00 per barrel price. But it wasn't. And the oil companies that can obviously sell gas at 3.00 per gallon when oil is at 90, were selling it at 3.00 per gallon when oil was at 60. All of them. No maverick at 2.00 per gallon cornering the market. Just uniform pricing and record profit.
Does that sound like collusion? Does to me.
So please, don't quote oil prices to me. Use common sense, look at profit percentages. That's where the problem lies.
Xtian
Monday, November 26, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Sexual Selection
Sexual Selection
A few weeks ago I wrote a piece on my feelings about the slowdown or halt of human evolution. After giving it some further thought and study, I felt I needed to come back and make an essential clarification. Often I am thinking out a idea in my head that is framed within a certain set of parameters that may not be expressed when I expound on the idea. This was the case in my previous blog.
In that blog I was speaking solely to "Natural Selection Pressure". That is the distilled down version of the more crude idea of "Survival of the Fittest". Not to say that SOTF is in any way incorrect, however, natural selection pressure is so complex that "Fitness" is not to be defined lightly.
Many people are unaware (sadly) that Darwin stated that evolution is driven by two main engines, "Natural Selection" and "Sexual Selection". For many reasons, the first is well known while the second has been rather obscure until lately.
The easiest definition is "Natural Selection" determines "If you survive to sexual maturity". "Sexual Selection" determines if you get to mate or not once you get there.
Due to somewhat prudish overtones in society and science, sexual selection has been given a reserved cubical in the back of the room. Which is strange, since it is responsible for most of the unique characteristics of the human race. Art, Culture, Music, Sports, Etc. all developed by sexual selection. There are no survival advantages to being able to play a guitar, or to using your resources to buy a Ferrari. However, when you bring in the likelihood of mating.....that's another story.
It has been theorized that the development of the human brain was entirely the result of sexual selection. From an evolutionary standpoint our brains got far too large, far too quickly for natural selection. They took a lot more energy than they gave back. Later, they would develop energy saving devices that would offset this, but natural selection isn't an investment banker. It doesn't give something now with hopes of return in the future. Natural selection must have results now. So, that wasn't the reason for our brain development. HOWEVER, sexual selection answers the question nicely. Those with larger brains, given to more creative, entertaining minds..... mated more often and produced more offspring.
So how does this change my earlier ascertains? It doesn't. If anything it makes the prognosis worse. You see where Natural Selection has a blind, relentless drive toward survival, Sexual Selection is very suggestive and given to whim. Sexual selection assumes you have already survived and then makes changes to suit itself. Those changes are not at all tied to the survival of the species and may in fact be detrimental to that survival.
Take for example the Peacock / Peahen relationship. Peahen's sexual selection favored big, brightly colored plumage displays. 3 foot long feathers with blue and bronze coloration. Taking the early, defensive "Eye" pattern of the male's feathers and expanding it to extreme proportions. The bigger, longer tail made the male awkward. It was easier to be caught by predators and overall less likely to survive. If it weren’t for domestication, it probably would have gone extinct. Yet, this was the direction Sexual selection took it. Down a path to extinction.
Think about that next time you are watching some hottie on the "X-Games".
C
A few weeks ago I wrote a piece on my feelings about the slowdown or halt of human evolution. After giving it some further thought and study, I felt I needed to come back and make an essential clarification. Often I am thinking out a idea in my head that is framed within a certain set of parameters that may not be expressed when I expound on the idea. This was the case in my previous blog.
In that blog I was speaking solely to "Natural Selection Pressure". That is the distilled down version of the more crude idea of "Survival of the Fittest". Not to say that SOTF is in any way incorrect, however, natural selection pressure is so complex that "Fitness" is not to be defined lightly.
Many people are unaware (sadly) that Darwin stated that evolution is driven by two main engines, "Natural Selection" and "Sexual Selection". For many reasons, the first is well known while the second has been rather obscure until lately.
The easiest definition is "Natural Selection" determines "If you survive to sexual maturity". "Sexual Selection" determines if you get to mate or not once you get there.
Due to somewhat prudish overtones in society and science, sexual selection has been given a reserved cubical in the back of the room. Which is strange, since it is responsible for most of the unique characteristics of the human race. Art, Culture, Music, Sports, Etc. all developed by sexual selection. There are no survival advantages to being able to play a guitar, or to using your resources to buy a Ferrari. However, when you bring in the likelihood of mating.....that's another story.
It has been theorized that the development of the human brain was entirely the result of sexual selection. From an evolutionary standpoint our brains got far too large, far too quickly for natural selection. They took a lot more energy than they gave back. Later, they would develop energy saving devices that would offset this, but natural selection isn't an investment banker. It doesn't give something now with hopes of return in the future. Natural selection must have results now. So, that wasn't the reason for our brain development. HOWEVER, sexual selection answers the question nicely. Those with larger brains, given to more creative, entertaining minds..... mated more often and produced more offspring.
So how does this change my earlier ascertains? It doesn't. If anything it makes the prognosis worse. You see where Natural Selection has a blind, relentless drive toward survival, Sexual Selection is very suggestive and given to whim. Sexual selection assumes you have already survived and then makes changes to suit itself. Those changes are not at all tied to the survival of the species and may in fact be detrimental to that survival.
Take for example the Peacock / Peahen relationship. Peahen's sexual selection favored big, brightly colored plumage displays. 3 foot long feathers with blue and bronze coloration. Taking the early, defensive "Eye" pattern of the male's feathers and expanding it to extreme proportions. The bigger, longer tail made the male awkward. It was easier to be caught by predators and overall less likely to survive. If it weren’t for domestication, it probably would have gone extinct. Yet, this was the direction Sexual selection took it. Down a path to extinction.
Think about that next time you are watching some hottie on the "X-Games".
C
Monday, November 12, 2007
The awkward position of humans
Those who have read my previous writings know that I am a firm believer in the natural order of the universe. Things happen by cause and effect, selection pressure, environmental occurrence. Not by magic fairy dust, happy thoughts, or any other form of myth. (including yours).
I am currently struggling with being human. Ok, I know I AM human and can’t change that. But as a human, I am the only top level predator that is subject to “Memes” and as such I am the top level predator that is in the most danger! (except for the ones humans endanger by insane actions, caused by Memes of course).
I guess my biggest fear is that so many humans are so unaware of their part in the grand scheme of things. Through any number of mythologies, they have conveniently abdicated their responsibility, and thus moved on, gleefully destroying and maiming.
Do I think humans will destroy the earth? No, probably not. Do I think we will extinct ourselves through our own actions? Probably.
Other creatures understand the world around them on a fundamental level. Or rather, they live, not possessing the need for “Understanding”.
Killer whales eat, swim, reproduce. That’s it. Nothing eats them. They live, do their thing, and die. They have complex hunting strategies, they mate, they produce baby killer whales, they hunt until they are too old to survive, and then they return to the oneness of the universe.
I don’t do that. I developed a neo-cortex apparently and everything went down hill from there. According to Douglas Adams, the three stages of civilization are “ How can we eat, Why do we eat, and Where shall we do lunch”. Once we moved past the “How” things started to get a little fuzzy.
The “Why” shouldn’t be the major question that it has become. We eat so that we don’t starve and die. Let me try to address some of the “Meme” based issues that come out of this questions-
Should we eat to fulfill our souls? No, you should eat so you don’t die.
Does the universe want me to eat? The universe doesn’t care.
Does God want me to eat? Which god do you mean?
I mean “the one god”. Ok there are several 100 “One gods” you have to be more specific than that.
Can I eat anything? Sure, but different things come with different consequences.
Ok, that’s a few of them.
But, that isn’t the issue…. I am bouncing a bit far-a-field here. But hang with me, it gets better.
I guess at this point I have to be sure that everyone understands “Memes”. The dictionary defines a Meme at-
a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one person to another by non-genetic means (as by imitation); "memes are the cultural counterpart of genes"
Sooooooooooo, what does that mean? Well, a Meme grows and is shaped by the same method a creature is. The parts of a meme that strengthen it, hang on and the parts that weaken it are pared away by selection pressure. Ok, fine. What’s the problem?
The problem is that the meme projects into the extended phenotype in a way that nothing else does. Bear in mind that the meme doesn’t have to be beneficial to the host (human), it is only in it for its own survival.
To understand the depth of this effect we have to take a look at one of the previously ok parts of evolution that has become problematic with humans. One of the core elements is that to be “Successful”, a creature only needs to live long enough to reproduce and nurse its young to an age where it can survive. That’s it. That defines ultimate evolutionary success. ( in a rudimentary way, but it does it).
If we are talking about a deer, we don’t have a problem. Say an idiot deer is born. Not bad enough to starve to death, but pretty dumb. It runs into trees a lot. But it mates, reproduces, stands still long enough or is unconscious from running into trees long enough for the fawn to reach self-sufficient age. Then it runs off a cliff, leaving an idiot fawn to repeat the process. (somewhere down the line one of the fawns with run off the cliff before reproducing, ending the cycle). But here is the rub. In this example, the worst thing that will happen is you will be left with some dented trees and a puddle at the bottom of a cliff that raccoons and vultures will enjoy.
In humans, we not only reproduce, but we carry memes, just like rats carried fleas with the plague. When an idiot human reproduces, it not only sends on the idiot gene, it sends along all the memes that go with it. And as we discovered before, memes have far-reaching effects in the extended phenotype. So, instead of dented trees, you get people who blindly support organizations who are raping and killing the planet, because their memes tell them they are morally obligated to do so. And since other memes cause humans to take extraordinary measures to keep the idiot humans from being weeded out by selection pressure, the gene travels farther and faster than it ever could in nature.
Add to that the fact that the idiot gene doesn’t know not to reproduce beyond its means to support its young…..BUT, the memes step in and make sure the young survive…………
I don’t mean to sound harsh here, but the bottom line is we are heading for a future that will closely resemble Mike Judge’s “Idiocracy” in short order. As Green Day said so eloquently, “I’ve been around the world and found that only stupid people are breeding”.
So my dilemma is, how do we fix it? Can we fix it? And if not, how do I keep the idiots out of my way on a more regular basis?
I am currently struggling with being human. Ok, I know I AM human and can’t change that. But as a human, I am the only top level predator that is subject to “Memes” and as such I am the top level predator that is in the most danger! (except for the ones humans endanger by insane actions, caused by Memes of course).
I guess my biggest fear is that so many humans are so unaware of their part in the grand scheme of things. Through any number of mythologies, they have conveniently abdicated their responsibility, and thus moved on, gleefully destroying and maiming.
Do I think humans will destroy the earth? No, probably not. Do I think we will extinct ourselves through our own actions? Probably.
Other creatures understand the world around them on a fundamental level. Or rather, they live, not possessing the need for “Understanding”.
Killer whales eat, swim, reproduce. That’s it. Nothing eats them. They live, do their thing, and die. They have complex hunting strategies, they mate, they produce baby killer whales, they hunt until they are too old to survive, and then they return to the oneness of the universe.
I don’t do that. I developed a neo-cortex apparently and everything went down hill from there. According to Douglas Adams, the three stages of civilization are “ How can we eat, Why do we eat, and Where shall we do lunch”. Once we moved past the “How” things started to get a little fuzzy.
The “Why” shouldn’t be the major question that it has become. We eat so that we don’t starve and die. Let me try to address some of the “Meme” based issues that come out of this questions-
Should we eat to fulfill our souls? No, you should eat so you don’t die.
Does the universe want me to eat? The universe doesn’t care.
Does God want me to eat? Which god do you mean?
I mean “the one god”. Ok there are several 100 “One gods” you have to be more specific than that.
Can I eat anything? Sure, but different things come with different consequences.
Ok, that’s a few of them.
But, that isn’t the issue…. I am bouncing a bit far-a-field here. But hang with me, it gets better.
I guess at this point I have to be sure that everyone understands “Memes”. The dictionary defines a Meme at-
a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one person to another by non-genetic means (as by imitation); "memes are the cultural counterpart of genes"
Sooooooooooo, what does that mean? Well, a Meme grows and is shaped by the same method a creature is. The parts of a meme that strengthen it, hang on and the parts that weaken it are pared away by selection pressure. Ok, fine. What’s the problem?
The problem is that the meme projects into the extended phenotype in a way that nothing else does. Bear in mind that the meme doesn’t have to be beneficial to the host (human), it is only in it for its own survival.
To understand the depth of this effect we have to take a look at one of the previously ok parts of evolution that has become problematic with humans. One of the core elements is that to be “Successful”, a creature only needs to live long enough to reproduce and nurse its young to an age where it can survive. That’s it. That defines ultimate evolutionary success. ( in a rudimentary way, but it does it).
If we are talking about a deer, we don’t have a problem. Say an idiot deer is born. Not bad enough to starve to death, but pretty dumb. It runs into trees a lot. But it mates, reproduces, stands still long enough or is unconscious from running into trees long enough for the fawn to reach self-sufficient age. Then it runs off a cliff, leaving an idiot fawn to repeat the process. (somewhere down the line one of the fawns with run off the cliff before reproducing, ending the cycle). But here is the rub. In this example, the worst thing that will happen is you will be left with some dented trees and a puddle at the bottom of a cliff that raccoons and vultures will enjoy.
In humans, we not only reproduce, but we carry memes, just like rats carried fleas with the plague. When an idiot human reproduces, it not only sends on the idiot gene, it sends along all the memes that go with it. And as we discovered before, memes have far-reaching effects in the extended phenotype. So, instead of dented trees, you get people who blindly support organizations who are raping and killing the planet, because their memes tell them they are morally obligated to do so. And since other memes cause humans to take extraordinary measures to keep the idiot humans from being weeded out by selection pressure, the gene travels farther and faster than it ever could in nature.
Add to that the fact that the idiot gene doesn’t know not to reproduce beyond its means to support its young…..BUT, the memes step in and make sure the young survive…………
I don’t mean to sound harsh here, but the bottom line is we are heading for a future that will closely resemble Mike Judge’s “Idiocracy” in short order. As Green Day said so eloquently, “I’ve been around the world and found that only stupid people are breeding”.
So my dilemma is, how do we fix it? Can we fix it? And if not, how do I keep the idiots out of my way on a more regular basis?
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
The Beauty of Selection Pressure
The Beauty of Selection Pressure.
I received several comments on my statement that the crafting work of selection pressure was a beautiful thing. I thought, perhaps I should expound on this issue.
I am an actor / director. I love art and beauty. Art and beauty is often portrayed as being in stark contrast to science, but for me, it isn’t the case.
I live in the Texas Hill Country, about 100 miles northwest of Austin. Ahhhhh, Austin, a shining patch of gleaming blue in a big red state…… But that is an issue for another time. We are talking about science, art and beauty. When I walk through the woods behind my house, I am taken with the beauty of the trees, the animals, the earth as it presents itself to me….. The most beautiful part, is how selection pressure has crafted each element to be the best it can be for the environment. Except for me of course. To quote Bill Hicks, humans are a virus in shoes. I wear size 12 -½.. (see my blog “has evolution stopped for humans”)
To understand selection pressure, you first need to understand fidelity in reproduction, or the lack thereof. Each time biological reproduction happens, there is a recombination of DNA. Doesn’t matter if it is a tree, a moose or Tommy Johnson, it was created by combining DNA. (there are a few species that reproduce from asexual means, but they are essentially clones and are a different class that doesn’t evolve, so they aren’t relevant to the discussion) So back to fidelity. Each time a copy is made, there is the opportunity for mutation. One particle hops over another, and the copy…….Changes.
I forget the exact statistic, but something like 97 percent of these mutations are fatal, pre-birth. Of the ones that survive, many are insignificant in the large scheme of things. That is to say, they have no effect on selection pressure because they provide no advantage or disadvantage. But the few that do….. WOW, they change everything.
I am trying not to ramble here, but I have to cover many diverse points in order to pull this into a cohesive statement. Another unavoidable factor is time. Evolution takes time more than anything else. Many mutations will happen, some will happen again, and over time, the ones that provide an advantage will be reinforced. When you look at the several billion years that the earth as existed and you see how there is plenty of time for the process to work.
So most mutations are fatal, some do nothing, and some provide an advantage, be it large or small. Imagine if you will, the first hominid to walk erect. A mutation changed his/her spine, hips, etc. and suddenly a new form of locomotion was born. This new creature was the top of the chain. He went on the hunt and was never eaten (I don‘t have to outrun the saber tooth, I just have to outrun you…) . He could reach the high branches. Those who wanted to reproduce flocked to this one, as he/she had the strength and the resources to produce many healthy offspring that lived to reproduction age themselves. WHAM, we have evolution at play.
Creatures are crafted by the environment around them, to fit as well as is possible. Only when the environment changes at a rate beyond the optimum reproduction rate do problems happen, usually resulting in extinctions. Sometimes this happens from a natural event, other times, more recently, it happens from an artificial event. (See those who believe in “Dominionism” for details on this.)
Occasionally there is an environmental change that drops an ill or well suited entity into the mix, but that is a rare condition called environmental displacement and is generally the result of a catastrophic weather event.
In most cases, the environment crafts the species. That’s what is so beautiful. Small subtle changes, refined over long periods of time, bring us miraculous creatures. Each minor mutation, each small mistake in fidelity, has the opportunity to craft the species in a new direction. So after billions of years of the earth’s existence we have tigers who attack with brutal quickness, we have chameleons who change pigment to match their environment. We have giraffes, polar bears, kangaroos, and alligator snapping turtles (including the one who lives in my office, his name is Spike). All uniquely suited to their environment, crafted by selection pressure.
I have been told that this scientific explanation takes the wonder out of nature. I am baffled by this. To me, it is wonder and majesty. To see all of this at work. This is the art and beauty I see in nature.
I received several comments on my statement that the crafting work of selection pressure was a beautiful thing. I thought, perhaps I should expound on this issue.
I am an actor / director. I love art and beauty. Art and beauty is often portrayed as being in stark contrast to science, but for me, it isn’t the case.
I live in the Texas Hill Country, about 100 miles northwest of Austin. Ahhhhh, Austin, a shining patch of gleaming blue in a big red state…… But that is an issue for another time. We are talking about science, art and beauty. When I walk through the woods behind my house, I am taken with the beauty of the trees, the animals, the earth as it presents itself to me….. The most beautiful part, is how selection pressure has crafted each element to be the best it can be for the environment. Except for me of course. To quote Bill Hicks, humans are a virus in shoes. I wear size 12 -½.. (see my blog “has evolution stopped for humans”)
To understand selection pressure, you first need to understand fidelity in reproduction, or the lack thereof. Each time biological reproduction happens, there is a recombination of DNA. Doesn’t matter if it is a tree, a moose or Tommy Johnson, it was created by combining DNA. (there are a few species that reproduce from asexual means, but they are essentially clones and are a different class that doesn’t evolve, so they aren’t relevant to the discussion) So back to fidelity. Each time a copy is made, there is the opportunity for mutation. One particle hops over another, and the copy…….Changes.
I forget the exact statistic, but something like 97 percent of these mutations are fatal, pre-birth. Of the ones that survive, many are insignificant in the large scheme of things. That is to say, they have no effect on selection pressure because they provide no advantage or disadvantage. But the few that do….. WOW, they change everything.
I am trying not to ramble here, but I have to cover many diverse points in order to pull this into a cohesive statement. Another unavoidable factor is time. Evolution takes time more than anything else. Many mutations will happen, some will happen again, and over time, the ones that provide an advantage will be reinforced. When you look at the several billion years that the earth as existed and you see how there is plenty of time for the process to work.
So most mutations are fatal, some do nothing, and some provide an advantage, be it large or small. Imagine if you will, the first hominid to walk erect. A mutation changed his/her spine, hips, etc. and suddenly a new form of locomotion was born. This new creature was the top of the chain. He went on the hunt and was never eaten (I don‘t have to outrun the saber tooth, I just have to outrun you…) . He could reach the high branches. Those who wanted to reproduce flocked to this one, as he/she had the strength and the resources to produce many healthy offspring that lived to reproduction age themselves. WHAM, we have evolution at play.
Creatures are crafted by the environment around them, to fit as well as is possible. Only when the environment changes at a rate beyond the optimum reproduction rate do problems happen, usually resulting in extinctions. Sometimes this happens from a natural event, other times, more recently, it happens from an artificial event. (See those who believe in “Dominionism” for details on this.)
Occasionally there is an environmental change that drops an ill or well suited entity into the mix, but that is a rare condition called environmental displacement and is generally the result of a catastrophic weather event.
In most cases, the environment crafts the species. That’s what is so beautiful. Small subtle changes, refined over long periods of time, bring us miraculous creatures. Each minor mutation, each small mistake in fidelity, has the opportunity to craft the species in a new direction. So after billions of years of the earth’s existence we have tigers who attack with brutal quickness, we have chameleons who change pigment to match their environment. We have giraffes, polar bears, kangaroos, and alligator snapping turtles (including the one who lives in my office, his name is Spike). All uniquely suited to their environment, crafted by selection pressure.
I have been told that this scientific explanation takes the wonder out of nature. I am baffled by this. To me, it is wonder and majesty. To see all of this at work. This is the art and beauty I see in nature.
WGA Strike Is Inspiring
As the WGA strike enters its third day, I am inspired by the solidarity of the guild members. SAG members are also walking the picket lines causing many series to go dark sooner than expected. In an additional unexpected turn, many executive producers have also refused to cross picket lines calling a halt to even more shows.
This has caused a sharp backlash from many advertisers. Promotion of new films has decreased substantially as advertisers decline spending their money on full rate ads on shows that are suddenly in reruns.
It is a shame that unions and guilds got such a bad reputation through the corruption scandals that happened last century. In many industries these organizations are essential for the safety and fair treatment of workers. No where is this more true than in the entertainment business.
While top level stars make massive paychecks, that represents a tiny portion of the professional actors working today. The entertainment industry is one of the unique businesses where people can be convinced to work for nothing by dangling the carrot of being discovered. There are many independent films where the producers have made millions and the actors/crew have never received a dime. Nor were they “Discovered”. Nor were they allowed to work on the producer’s next big budget union film. They had simply donated their time, work and identity to make money for someone who would give them nothing in return.
There are real issues on the table regarding residuals, new media, etc. that must be hammered out. I am very proud that my guild, SAG, is supporting the WGA.
Other unions could learn a lot from the solidarity shown here. Working people, well organized, can make a substantial difference. This is something too many have forgotten.
This has caused a sharp backlash from many advertisers. Promotion of new films has decreased substantially as advertisers decline spending their money on full rate ads on shows that are suddenly in reruns.
It is a shame that unions and guilds got such a bad reputation through the corruption scandals that happened last century. In many industries these organizations are essential for the safety and fair treatment of workers. No where is this more true than in the entertainment business.
While top level stars make massive paychecks, that represents a tiny portion of the professional actors working today. The entertainment industry is one of the unique businesses where people can be convinced to work for nothing by dangling the carrot of being discovered. There are many independent films where the producers have made millions and the actors/crew have never received a dime. Nor were they “Discovered”. Nor were they allowed to work on the producer’s next big budget union film. They had simply donated their time, work and identity to make money for someone who would give them nothing in return.
There are real issues on the table regarding residuals, new media, etc. that must be hammered out. I am very proud that my guild, SAG, is supporting the WGA.
Other unions could learn a lot from the solidarity shown here. Working people, well organized, can make a substantial difference. This is something too many have forgotten.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Has Evolution Stopped?
Has Evolution Stopped??
For those who don’t know me, evolution is one of my favorite subjects. Not any debate about it, for no “REAL” debate has existed for more than 40 years now, but just the pure, simple, truth of it. It has been suggested that natural selection has joined prime numbers as the true universal language.
In 2007, I almost retch at the need to make this preface. But here goes.
1) The theory of evolution has been proven 1000's of times over. It is accepted as fact in the scientific community. The only ones who try to disparage it as speculation are the fear mongering, hate pushing, children of pure evil who are VERY afraid of losing their tax free billions to a small nugget of actual truth.
2) If you hear anyone begin a discussion of “Evolution” and it begins with the words “Humans” and “Monkeys” in the same sentence. They are clueless and should be avoided. If you can’t avoid them, slap them. HARD. Try to get the heel of your palm involved. Hopefully you will dislodge the “stupid” factor.
So, if you are still reading, I will guess you are in the small percentage of intelligent people who know the truth.
Sooooooo….. Here is what is troubling me this evening. This isn’t a new theory, and I forget who’s shoulders I am standing on. But I wanted to throw it out anyway……
Here is the question-
Did evolution stop for humans with the advent of speech and written word?
That sounds a bit odd on its face, but when you really think about it, it makes perfect sense.
All evolution happens by selection pressure. Remove that pressure, evolution stops. Generally when it stops, either the creature is at a very stable, near perfect level, or it goes extinct. Most of the ones who make it are top level predators of some sort.
So how does speech figure into this?
Lets go back pre-speech. A group of hominids are living an a valley. There are red berries in the valley and a very steep cliff that drops to very sharp rocks. Over time, selection pressure will favor those who have a predisposition to avoid the berries and the cliff. Or it will favor those who have an immunity to the berries. Either way, the environment will shape the inhabitants to better survive in it.
Enter speech and later writing. Now, smart hominid sees someone die from the red berries. Dumb hominid sees the same thing. But dumb hominid later gets hungry and the red berries are close. He walks toward the bush, and smart hominid says “Hey, Dummy, don’t eat those, you’ll Die”. Dumb hominid doesn’t eat them, lives, reproduces a bunch more dumb hominids and the crafting ability of selection pressure is removed.
Later, written word allows the same thing to happen, but the knowledge bringer doesn’t even have to be present.
Something to think about.
For more on the subject read Richard Dawkins “The Selfish Gene” and “The Blind Watchmaker”
Xtian
For those who don’t know me, evolution is one of my favorite subjects. Not any debate about it, for no “REAL” debate has existed for more than 40 years now, but just the pure, simple, truth of it. It has been suggested that natural selection has joined prime numbers as the true universal language.
In 2007, I almost retch at the need to make this preface. But here goes.
1) The theory of evolution has been proven 1000's of times over. It is accepted as fact in the scientific community. The only ones who try to disparage it as speculation are the fear mongering, hate pushing, children of pure evil who are VERY afraid of losing their tax free billions to a small nugget of actual truth.
2) If you hear anyone begin a discussion of “Evolution” and it begins with the words “Humans” and “Monkeys” in the same sentence. They are clueless and should be avoided. If you can’t avoid them, slap them. HARD. Try to get the heel of your palm involved. Hopefully you will dislodge the “stupid” factor.
So, if you are still reading, I will guess you are in the small percentage of intelligent people who know the truth.
Sooooooo….. Here is what is troubling me this evening. This isn’t a new theory, and I forget who’s shoulders I am standing on. But I wanted to throw it out anyway……
Here is the question-
Did evolution stop for humans with the advent of speech and written word?
That sounds a bit odd on its face, but when you really think about it, it makes perfect sense.
All evolution happens by selection pressure. Remove that pressure, evolution stops. Generally when it stops, either the creature is at a very stable, near perfect level, or it goes extinct. Most of the ones who make it are top level predators of some sort.
So how does speech figure into this?
Lets go back pre-speech. A group of hominids are living an a valley. There are red berries in the valley and a very steep cliff that drops to very sharp rocks. Over time, selection pressure will favor those who have a predisposition to avoid the berries and the cliff. Or it will favor those who have an immunity to the berries. Either way, the environment will shape the inhabitants to better survive in it.
Enter speech and later writing. Now, smart hominid sees someone die from the red berries. Dumb hominid sees the same thing. But dumb hominid later gets hungry and the red berries are close. He walks toward the bush, and smart hominid says “Hey, Dummy, don’t eat those, you’ll Die”. Dumb hominid doesn’t eat them, lives, reproduces a bunch more dumb hominids and the crafting ability of selection pressure is removed.
Later, written word allows the same thing to happen, but the knowledge bringer doesn’t even have to be present.
Something to think about.
For more on the subject read Richard Dawkins “The Selfish Gene” and “The Blind Watchmaker”
Xtian
The Magic Formula for Acting Success!!!!
Normally, I just let people be.... You see, at the most base level, I don't care for "People". I would rather just avoid them. That is why I live on a remote ranch with many guns.
However...........
I received another, "Take my class and let me teach you the magic formula to be a successful actor" e-mail today and apparently it tripped some internal switch in my psyche.
There is an old, and I mean VERY old axiom that says, "Those who can, do, those who can't, teach, and those who can't teach, administrate.
Take a moment, just a blink in time, to examine the pitch of the "Magic of Acting" teacher.
At current rates, a very successful actor makes around 10-20 million dollars per picture. A moderately successful actor makes in the 1-5 million dollar range.
Let me be frank. If I am making 1 million per year, I wouldn't take the time to piss on you if you were on fire. Not even if it were amusing.
So the guy who wants to charge you $300, $500, $1000.00 to teach you the "Magic Formula" to being a successful actor is probably full of crap. If he/she knew, he/she would be doing it, not screwing around with you for a few hundred bucks!!!!
The point of this is to say. Avoid the charlatans. If you need work on your craft, get on tape, with other actors, or directors, who will be honest and help you grow. If you pay money to take classes, take them from successful people, not people who have the same level of credits you do.
Starving actors are a dime a dozen. Make sure you aren't spending your money feeding another one..... Unless it is one you like!!!
Xtian
However...........
I received another, "Take my class and let me teach you the magic formula to be a successful actor" e-mail today and apparently it tripped some internal switch in my psyche.
There is an old, and I mean VERY old axiom that says, "Those who can, do, those who can't, teach, and those who can't teach, administrate.
Take a moment, just a blink in time, to examine the pitch of the "Magic of Acting" teacher.
At current rates, a very successful actor makes around 10-20 million dollars per picture. A moderately successful actor makes in the 1-5 million dollar range.
Let me be frank. If I am making 1 million per year, I wouldn't take the time to piss on you if you were on fire. Not even if it were amusing.
So the guy who wants to charge you $300, $500, $1000.00 to teach you the "Magic Formula" to being a successful actor is probably full of crap. If he/she knew, he/she would be doing it, not screwing around with you for a few hundred bucks!!!!
The point of this is to say. Avoid the charlatans. If you need work on your craft, get on tape, with other actors, or directors, who will be honest and help you grow. If you pay money to take classes, take them from successful people, not people who have the same level of credits you do.
Starving actors are a dime a dozen. Make sure you aren't spending your money feeding another one..... Unless it is one you like!!!
Xtian
Ruminations on Halloween Night
I have wanted to get more serious about this whole blogging thing, and I always think of things when I am in the car that I should blog about and then I don't get around to writing them. So here are a few, and I plan to make this a more regular event.
Item one, this one is a bit dated but it needs to be said. No one should ever use the phrase "That's just how I roll" ever again. The ultimate usage occurred in an Austin Texas courtroom. When asked why she helped a guy dismember his girlfriends body, then fled with him to Mexico and showed the knife to a hotel owner and bragged about the dismemberment, Laura Hall replied "That's just how I roll". Can't be used in a more horrific manner so it should just be retired.
Item two. Why don't they make size 12-1/2 shoes anymore? I wear that size and I used to buy them all the time. But now the half sizes stop at 12 and start skipping full sizes. 12s are a bit too tight and 13s are a bit too loose. Do they think there is a different measurement system that happens when you get over size 12. Just wanted to share my grieveance on that one.
Ok, not much, but it's a start. I will post more as events warrant.
Xtian
Item one, this one is a bit dated but it needs to be said. No one should ever use the phrase "That's just how I roll" ever again. The ultimate usage occurred in an Austin Texas courtroom. When asked why she helped a guy dismember his girlfriends body, then fled with him to Mexico and showed the knife to a hotel owner and bragged about the dismemberment, Laura Hall replied "That's just how I roll". Can't be used in a more horrific manner so it should just be retired.
Item two. Why don't they make size 12-1/2 shoes anymore? I wear that size and I used to buy them all the time. But now the half sizes stop at 12 and start skipping full sizes. 12s are a bit too tight and 13s are a bit too loose. Do they think there is a different measurement system that happens when you get over size 12. Just wanted to share my grieveance on that one.
Ok, not much, but it's a start. I will post more as events warrant.
Xtian
People we Like
On Sergeant Peppers' the Beatles famously pictured "People We Like". I have decided to start compiling a list for myself. Some are people I have known, some are not. My wife Linda and son Morgan are always at the top of any list. Full size photos of the images in the collage are in my "Pics" section at myspace www.myspace.com/lchristianmixon .
There are no "throw-aways" here. Look these people up if you want to expand your world.
So, here is installment number 1 of people we like, in no particular order.
Johnny Depp- Perhaps one of the finest actors on the planet.
Jim Morrison- An artist, poet and rock star. Gone too soon.
Stephen Hawking- The universe in a nutshell should be required reading. He is striving to explain the universe without resorting to mythology, and it is a noble task.
Gene Simmons- Aside from being a famous bass player in "Kiss" most people could learn a lot from his business models.
Richard Dawkins- Much maligned for telling the truth, Dawkins bring knowledge to the masses.
Aleister Crowley- Every man and Every woman is a star. A brilliant teacher, who was a little too fond of his reputation.
Ken Kesey- On the bus Further, Kesey (author of "One Flew over the Cuckoo's nest) was an inspiration. Read "Spit in the Ocean"
Ralph Steadman- Long time companion of HST. His drawings are beyond description
Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau - On set their banter turned from PG to XXX when the cameras stopped. I was very honored to work with them.
Bill Hicks- One of the best spoken word artists on the planet!
Hunter S. Thompson- A great voice of truth through bafflement. Gone too soon. We miss you Doc.
Gene Rayburn- Match Game crafted my young mind. I believed that having fun and answering a few questions was what Hollywood was all about.
Douglas Adams- Read his trilogy in 5 parts. So far ahead of his time. Very multi-layered artist. Also don't overlook the wonderful Dirk Gently series.
Clive Barker- A modern day Renaissance man. Author, Painter, Director, and a really nice guy. Coldheart Canyon and Imajica vie for my favorite.
Christopher Moore- Lamb is a revelation. An excellent author.
Lords Of Acid - Exceptional artists pushing the boundaries with a healthy dose of sexuality.
William Gibson - Father of cyberpunk. Still producing excellent work.
Kurt Vonnegut - Read Breakfast of Champions. It's required.
Prince- Played every instrument on the album 1999. Bit off his game since Purple Rain.
Timothy Leary - Read Chaos and Cyber culture. Leary understood more about the human mind than anyone I have read. Sadly most people tie him to illegal drugs and dismiss him out of hand. Don't.
Oscar Zeta Acosta- Hunter's Attorney and fabled companion to Las Vegas in a "Fast, red car with no top". Also a real civil rights attorney who disappeared in the early 70's
Crash Worship - Their shows were a Bacchanalian feast for the senses.
Johnny and June Cash- It was a privilege to work with them on "The Apostle". Johnny was the first to truly live the Rock star life.
Sam Kinnison - Ahh Screamin Sam. We miss you.
Robert Duvall - Got me into SAG. Thanks!
Rasputin - The mad monk. Poisoned, shot, thrown out a window and drowned. Gotta admire someone that hard to kill. And he was a first rate charlatan to boot!
Niki De Saint Phalle - Artist, sculptor, designer. Inspiring
Neal Cassidy and Jack Kerouac- On the Road. Also required reading. Cassidy later drove the "Furthur" bus during the "Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test"
Walter Wolf- Former F1 team owner a devoted speed freak (the velocity type) has several special edition Lamborghinis named for him. I worked with him in 93.
Bill Hicks
I was bouncing around YouTube looking at some old recordings of Bill Hicks when I realized, there are a lot of people who don't even know who Bill is.....
Let me start by saying that as a general rule I don't shill people or products. Wait, what am I saying?? I'm an actor. If it pays, I'll do a commercial for "Baby on a Spike". "Have you ever looked at your baby and thought, 'how much more convenient and quiet that baby would be if he were impaled on a spike' New Baby on a Spike brand products make that possible".
Let me rephrase. I am not a shill for free. So if I am taking the time to point out something that I'm not getting paid for, you might want to take notice. Bill would be horrified by this, but seeing as he's dead, he can't be too horrified.
Bill Hicks was perhaps the most intelligent spoken word artist to ever pick up a microphone. He couched his craft in the comedy genre, but make no mistake, Bill was speaking truth.
Bill described an America and a world that I would love to live in. He was branded as an angry comedian because after illuminating this "Hicks" world, he was amazed that more people didn't demand to live there. The complacency of the "Sheeple" was too much for Bill to take.
Take a few minutes to look at a few of Bill's performances. They are free. If you like it, order "Love all the People" from Amazon.
Bill was diagnosed with cancer in 1993 and died in early 1994. He left these words. "I left in laughter, love and Light. Wherever these things are given freely with compassion, I will be there in spirit"
Let me start by saying that as a general rule I don't shill people or products. Wait, what am I saying?? I'm an actor. If it pays, I'll do a commercial for "Baby on a Spike". "Have you ever looked at your baby and thought, 'how much more convenient and quiet that baby would be if he were impaled on a spike' New Baby on a Spike brand products make that possible".
Let me rephrase. I am not a shill for free. So if I am taking the time to point out something that I'm not getting paid for, you might want to take notice. Bill would be horrified by this, but seeing as he's dead, he can't be too horrified.
Bill Hicks was perhaps the most intelligent spoken word artist to ever pick up a microphone. He couched his craft in the comedy genre, but make no mistake, Bill was speaking truth.
Bill described an America and a world that I would love to live in. He was branded as an angry comedian because after illuminating this "Hicks" world, he was amazed that more people didn't demand to live there. The complacency of the "Sheeple" was too much for Bill to take.
Take a few minutes to look at a few of Bill's performances. They are free. If you like it, order "Love all the People" from Amazon.
Bill was diagnosed with cancer in 1993 and died in early 1994. He left these words. "I left in laughter, love and Light. Wherever these things are given freely with compassion, I will be there in spirit"
Across the Universe - Review
Director Julie Taymor's (myspace.com/julietaymor ) Across the Universe is a unique film in a sea of formulaic fodder. This is not a film that follows a strict narrative from point A to B to C. It is almost more a series of vignettes strung along a loose story arc that creates a series of emotions to develop an overall feel for the piece as it is portrayed. All powered by the masterful lyrics of The Beatles.
We follow Liverpool born "Jude", (Jim Sturgess) as he travels to American ostensibly to find his U.S. G. I. dad. This device is used to introduce the character and get him to the east coast at the height of 1960's counter culture. At Princeton he meets Max ( Joe Anderson) and Max's fetchingly wholesome sister Lucy (Rachel Evan Wood). They all end up in New York, meeting a host of bizarre characters that each play a role in the tapestry of the film.
By now, you have met Jude, Max and Lucy. You probably see where this is going. You will also meet Sadie, Prudence, Rita, Dr. Robert, Mr. Kite….. The nice thing is that none of these characters are throw-away sight gags. Each plays an important piece in the sculpture Tambor is creating.
Look for great cameos by Bono, Eddie Izzard, Joe Cocker and Salma Hayek.
The voices of the principal cast were wonderful in their raw, organic delivery. Most of the songs were recorded on location. There were none of the "That's where they switched to studio" moments. The songs were seamlessly incorporated as dialog in many sections. This was an exceptional device that made many of the scenes so powerful as to really challenge the viewer.
This film is set in a time in history that has no equal. The late 60's was a rare era when music, ideology and world events conspired to create something that was new, vibrant and often terrible in its passion. It was a time when the youth rose up and truly changed the course of the world.
Unfortunately, there will be people who just don't get this movie. Either they don't have the cultural context to understand it, or they don't have the life experience or emotional depth to comprehend it. Normally this would be OK, everyone is entitled to their opinion. But not in this case! If you take someone to see this film and they come away saying they "Just didn't get it", they are probably a lost cause. Buy them the new Britney Spears CD and call it a day.
This film is a must see, and the DVD will be a must own.
As a filmmaker, you want to create something transcendent. Something that will be remembered. In Across the Universe, Julie Taymor has pulled off the rare feat of actually doing it.
Xtian
We follow Liverpool born "Jude", (Jim Sturgess) as he travels to American ostensibly to find his U.S. G. I. dad. This device is used to introduce the character and get him to the east coast at the height of 1960's counter culture. At Princeton he meets Max ( Joe Anderson) and Max's fetchingly wholesome sister Lucy (Rachel Evan Wood). They all end up in New York, meeting a host of bizarre characters that each play a role in the tapestry of the film.
By now, you have met Jude, Max and Lucy. You probably see where this is going. You will also meet Sadie, Prudence, Rita, Dr. Robert, Mr. Kite….. The nice thing is that none of these characters are throw-away sight gags. Each plays an important piece in the sculpture Tambor is creating.
Look for great cameos by Bono, Eddie Izzard, Joe Cocker and Salma Hayek.
The voices of the principal cast were wonderful in their raw, organic delivery. Most of the songs were recorded on location. There were none of the "That's where they switched to studio" moments. The songs were seamlessly incorporated as dialog in many sections. This was an exceptional device that made many of the scenes so powerful as to really challenge the viewer.
This film is set in a time in history that has no equal. The late 60's was a rare era when music, ideology and world events conspired to create something that was new, vibrant and often terrible in its passion. It was a time when the youth rose up and truly changed the course of the world.
Unfortunately, there will be people who just don't get this movie. Either they don't have the cultural context to understand it, or they don't have the life experience or emotional depth to comprehend it. Normally this would be OK, everyone is entitled to their opinion. But not in this case! If you take someone to see this film and they come away saying they "Just didn't get it", they are probably a lost cause. Buy them the new Britney Spears CD and call it a day.
This film is a must see, and the DVD will be a must own.
As a filmmaker, you want to create something transcendent. Something that will be remembered. In Across the Universe, Julie Taymor has pulled off the rare feat of actually doing it.
Xtian
Bloodshots
This weekend our production company was entered in the "Bloodshots" film contest. Much like the 48 hr film contest you had 48 hours from kickoff to completion. However this time instead of open main genres, it was set at Horror. Then you were given a subgenre, method of death, line of dialog and prop. All had to appear in the film.
Once again Linda, Morgan and I were joined by Thad and Stacie Engeling. They provided a location, two of our acting ensemble, Thad's invaluable help in FX and Stacie handled extras casting.
Thad caught both barrels on this one as he had the most dialog and needed to both wear and apply a lot of FX. He held up well, though I know he was glad when we wrapped.
The rest of the cast was top notch as well, we won't say a lot about the film until it is screened, but we had demons, vampires, a succubus, and lots of carnage!
On a contest like this the hours are long and everything is rushed. Getting a crew that comes ready to work and stays til it is over is essential and that is what we had this weekend.
Where our last effort was very short on dialog, this one went VERY far the other way. We had an 8 minute limit on the film and when editing started Sunday morning we knew we were in trouble. We quickly realized that we had gotten very ambitious the day before and we had shot a 20 minute short for an 8 minute contest. Some hard decisions had to be made in a hurry and they drastically changed to face of the film in general. We may go back and recut the original footage and include the full story later, but we had a few hours to finish editing so we cut a few elements completely to make it fit.
The other main challenge was equipment related. I discovered that Camera B wasn't recording sound, and I couldn't get it to work no matter what I tried. So all of my early reaction shots had no sound and were hard to match.
But overall we were pretty happy with the final product. It was a lot better than our last 48 hr piece technically.
As always there were a few hilarious moments during filming. One of the best was at about 11pm as we were filming one of the final scenes. It required one of the actresses to scream a death scream. I was setting the mic levels and manning A camera on the floor while Linda was on B Camera. Others were working on FX for the final scenes and Morgan was on a quest for paper towel. So I ask Alice to scream so I can set the mic level. She lets loose with a blood curdling shreik several frighened explitives are heard from the kitchen and Stacie, at this point kneeling over me with a weapon say "Oh my god, the neighbors are calling the cops right now." They didn't and she screamed a few more times before the night was out. Each time you wanted to duck.
The screenings are at the Alamo Draft House at 1120 S. Lamar in Austin on the 16th 18th and 19th of September. We will let you all know when our times are assigned for those dates. The audience vote can help push us into the finals so please come out and see it, vote early and vote often!
Thanks
Xtian
Once again Linda, Morgan and I were joined by Thad and Stacie Engeling. They provided a location, two of our acting ensemble, Thad's invaluable help in FX and Stacie handled extras casting.
Thad caught both barrels on this one as he had the most dialog and needed to both wear and apply a lot of FX. He held up well, though I know he was glad when we wrapped.
The rest of the cast was top notch as well, we won't say a lot about the film until it is screened, but we had demons, vampires, a succubus, and lots of carnage!
On a contest like this the hours are long and everything is rushed. Getting a crew that comes ready to work and stays til it is over is essential and that is what we had this weekend.
Where our last effort was very short on dialog, this one went VERY far the other way. We had an 8 minute limit on the film and when editing started Sunday morning we knew we were in trouble. We quickly realized that we had gotten very ambitious the day before and we had shot a 20 minute short for an 8 minute contest. Some hard decisions had to be made in a hurry and they drastically changed to face of the film in general. We may go back and recut the original footage and include the full story later, but we had a few hours to finish editing so we cut a few elements completely to make it fit.
The other main challenge was equipment related. I discovered that Camera B wasn't recording sound, and I couldn't get it to work no matter what I tried. So all of my early reaction shots had no sound and were hard to match.
But overall we were pretty happy with the final product. It was a lot better than our last 48 hr piece technically.
As always there were a few hilarious moments during filming. One of the best was at about 11pm as we were filming one of the final scenes. It required one of the actresses to scream a death scream. I was setting the mic levels and manning A camera on the floor while Linda was on B Camera. Others were working on FX for the final scenes and Morgan was on a quest for paper towel. So I ask Alice to scream so I can set the mic level. She lets loose with a blood curdling shreik several frighened explitives are heard from the kitchen and Stacie, at this point kneeling over me with a weapon say "Oh my god, the neighbors are calling the cops right now." They didn't and she screamed a few more times before the night was out. Each time you wanted to duck.
The screenings are at the Alamo Draft House at 1120 S. Lamar in Austin on the 16th 18th and 19th of September. We will let you all know when our times are assigned for those dates. The audience vote can help push us into the finals so please come out and see it, vote early and vote often!
Thanks
Xtian
Monday, November 5, 2007
Scary
I am real world Scary.
Most people who meet me today wouldn't agree with the above statement. Sure, I'm a big guy and I look a bit intimidating, but scary, probably not.
Well, most of the people who meet me today don't have all the facts. There is evidence that they are not privy to. I want to make sure it is all on the table…..
When I was young, before I had the experiences that would shape the person I am today, there were people who didn't like to look into my eyes. For the record, they are brown, not black as these people claimed. If there is something that causes some to shy away, it is not by intent. But more than one refused to deal with me, claimed there was something not right……
Still, I moved on through life. I met people, knew people….. In some I found friendship, in others I found avarice. I seemed to engender fierce love and fierce hate and little in between.
Before you make your decision, there are a few things you should know about me….
I don't know you. But I have seen more people die than you know. Not that you have seen die…..than….you….know. Even just passing acquaintances.
I have tried to hold an artery together as the last drops of a life slid over my fingers. I have been still pushing my breath into dead lungs when the doctor called the time of death and tapped me on the shoulder.
I have dragged suicides from their cars, beds and tubs.
Unless you are a wartime medic or you work in an ER, I have seen 100 times more death than you will ever see in your lifetime.
But then…..
I have struck life into many whose hearts had ceased to beat. I have held strangers close to me in a mangled car as they are cut out…… and I have been the one doing the cutting. I have brought children into this world…. I hope more than I have seen leave it….But I lost count somewhere along the way. I have put my life in peril to save the life of someone who would not know me on the street a month later…..
But it goes beyond that…….
I have faced many, many people with destruction in their hearts. I have faced people with murder, and pain as their most closely held desire. Reason had left them, and they only wanted to strike out, cause mayhem, cause grave harm….
I have taken these people and smashed their faces into walls, broken their bones, bent their joints at unnatural angles, caused them pain to a point where they lost their rage, lost their desire, where they could think of nothing more than doing whatever they could to make the pain stop….. What could they do to get away from me…..
And still it goes on……
I have stood in the face of a blazing inferno. Heat blasting to a level that would turn human lungs to brittle paper in an instant. Heat that melted the reflective safety markings on my fireman's helmet. I have walked upright into that dragon. Found the remaining pocket of breathable air, found the life still clinging there, and bore it to safety. I have returned to the beasts lair, with no other purpose than to lay it low, stop its advance, end its life…..
And yet, I stand before you today…….
Perhaps I am frightening to some because they see in my eyes that which cannot be erased. Perhaps I am of comfort to others for the same reason.
If you find me frightening, I won't hold it against you. I won't mind. It is valid.
If you find my friendship comforting, I won't mind that either. There is something to be said for making sure you are on the winning team.
XTIAN
Most people who meet me today wouldn't agree with the above statement. Sure, I'm a big guy and I look a bit intimidating, but scary, probably not.
Well, most of the people who meet me today don't have all the facts. There is evidence that they are not privy to. I want to make sure it is all on the table…..
When I was young, before I had the experiences that would shape the person I am today, there were people who didn't like to look into my eyes. For the record, they are brown, not black as these people claimed. If there is something that causes some to shy away, it is not by intent. But more than one refused to deal with me, claimed there was something not right……
Still, I moved on through life. I met people, knew people….. In some I found friendship, in others I found avarice. I seemed to engender fierce love and fierce hate and little in between.
Before you make your decision, there are a few things you should know about me….
I don't know you. But I have seen more people die than you know. Not that you have seen die…..than….you….know. Even just passing acquaintances.
I have tried to hold an artery together as the last drops of a life slid over my fingers. I have been still pushing my breath into dead lungs when the doctor called the time of death and tapped me on the shoulder.
I have dragged suicides from their cars, beds and tubs.
Unless you are a wartime medic or you work in an ER, I have seen 100 times more death than you will ever see in your lifetime.
But then…..
I have struck life into many whose hearts had ceased to beat. I have held strangers close to me in a mangled car as they are cut out…… and I have been the one doing the cutting. I have brought children into this world…. I hope more than I have seen leave it….But I lost count somewhere along the way. I have put my life in peril to save the life of someone who would not know me on the street a month later…..
But it goes beyond that…….
I have faced many, many people with destruction in their hearts. I have faced people with murder, and pain as their most closely held desire. Reason had left them, and they only wanted to strike out, cause mayhem, cause grave harm….
I have taken these people and smashed their faces into walls, broken their bones, bent their joints at unnatural angles, caused them pain to a point where they lost their rage, lost their desire, where they could think of nothing more than doing whatever they could to make the pain stop….. What could they do to get away from me…..
And still it goes on……
I have stood in the face of a blazing inferno. Heat blasting to a level that would turn human lungs to brittle paper in an instant. Heat that melted the reflective safety markings on my fireman's helmet. I have walked upright into that dragon. Found the remaining pocket of breathable air, found the life still clinging there, and bore it to safety. I have returned to the beasts lair, with no other purpose than to lay it low, stop its advance, end its life…..
And yet, I stand before you today…….
Perhaps I am frightening to some because they see in my eyes that which cannot be erased. Perhaps I am of comfort to others for the same reason.
If you find me frightening, I won't hold it against you. I won't mind. It is valid.
If you find my friendship comforting, I won't mind that either. There is something to be said for making sure you are on the winning team.
XTIAN
48 Hrs Part 2
48 Hr Project Part Deux Current mood: artistic Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
The 48 hr diary.
It might seem strange that I am writing the 48 HR film contest diary nearly a week after we started the event, but the reality is, I didn't have time during the contest and this is the first day after the contest that I am not completely useless.
My background has been as an actor, picture car coordinator, grip, dolly grip and PA on quite a few big budget films. I guess I was a bit used to having a grip truck, electric truck, camera truck, etc. Also a trailer to hang out in between set-ups that each took several hours.
In this setting, I was directing, acting, camera op, gaffer, key grip (if I had had any grip equipment), and producer. As a producer I was woefully under funded and under equipped. As a director, I had very harsh feelings toward the producer….. You get the picture!
Linda, my wife, producing partner, and savior kept the whole thing from falling apart. One of our actors, who was to do some of the makeup, had surgery on her hand before the shoot and arrived in a splint. Our other make-up person wasn't set to arrive until 1:30 p. So Linda handled makeup, set design, and her producing duties all at the same time. Our FX make-up man, Thad Engeling, pitched in with products not in the regular kit, since early shooting required some strangeness.
To our credit, we also had Hans Wax, the best technical engineer and trouble shooter I have ever known. He was 1st camera, (which changed from Camera A to Camera 1 and back a few times if you view the notes) and he kept the whole show running. He was also invaluable during the editing process, putting his unique German spin on the whole process!
The rest of the weekend is a wonderful blur. Everyone arrived ready to work. We had no prima-donnas. When we needed someone to be dead, they were dead, despite the heat and flies. When we had an actor in a splint, it was dressed as a weird poppet and we moved on. When an actor was asked to lie face down in a puddle, he did, blood was poured on and it worked. Camera lens fogged, actors and crew got wet, and we kept going!
When I suggested that we chain an actor to a piece of furniture and everyone set off in search of dog collars, Hans thought it might be too much. Later he told me he expected everyone to say "Whoa" at that point. But trooper that she was, the actor was chained to the dresser, she withdrew into the space between the dresser and the wall, and it turned into a very powerful scene.
Editing in a short time frame had many issues of its own. Late in the game "Sound-forge" rendered a 12 gig piece of file with NO VIDEO. That was NOT COOL!
As a result the final film we turned in had some sound effects for 1 scene, and had music over the end titles. That was it. On a film where we were counting on the brilliant backing soundtrack provided by "Chant", we were left with almost nothing. Damn, and Praise you SONY!!!!! (loved , Vegas, Sound-forge screwed us).
The video you see on the website, is the soundtrack included. If you want to see the version without the soundtrack, good luck, that ended with the last screening 2 days ago.
XTIAN
The 48 hr diary.
It might seem strange that I am writing the 48 HR film contest diary nearly a week after we started the event, but the reality is, I didn't have time during the contest and this is the first day after the contest that I am not completely useless.
My background has been as an actor, picture car coordinator, grip, dolly grip and PA on quite a few big budget films. I guess I was a bit used to having a grip truck, electric truck, camera truck, etc. Also a trailer to hang out in between set-ups that each took several hours.
In this setting, I was directing, acting, camera op, gaffer, key grip (if I had had any grip equipment), and producer. As a producer I was woefully under funded and under equipped. As a director, I had very harsh feelings toward the producer….. You get the picture!
Linda, my wife, producing partner, and savior kept the whole thing from falling apart. One of our actors, who was to do some of the makeup, had surgery on her hand before the shoot and arrived in a splint. Our other make-up person wasn't set to arrive until 1:30 p. So Linda handled makeup, set design, and her producing duties all at the same time. Our FX make-up man, Thad Engeling, pitched in with products not in the regular kit, since early shooting required some strangeness.
To our credit, we also had Hans Wax, the best technical engineer and trouble shooter I have ever known. He was 1st camera, (which changed from Camera A to Camera 1 and back a few times if you view the notes) and he kept the whole show running. He was also invaluable during the editing process, putting his unique German spin on the whole process!
The rest of the weekend is a wonderful blur. Everyone arrived ready to work. We had no prima-donnas. When we needed someone to be dead, they were dead, despite the heat and flies. When we had an actor in a splint, it was dressed as a weird poppet and we moved on. When an actor was asked to lie face down in a puddle, he did, blood was poured on and it worked. Camera lens fogged, actors and crew got wet, and we kept going!
When I suggested that we chain an actor to a piece of furniture and everyone set off in search of dog collars, Hans thought it might be too much. Later he told me he expected everyone to say "Whoa" at that point. But trooper that she was, the actor was chained to the dresser, she withdrew into the space between the dresser and the wall, and it turned into a very powerful scene.
Editing in a short time frame had many issues of its own. Late in the game "Sound-forge" rendered a 12 gig piece of file with NO VIDEO. That was NOT COOL!
As a result the final film we turned in had some sound effects for 1 scene, and had music over the end titles. That was it. On a film where we were counting on the brilliant backing soundtrack provided by "Chant", we were left with almost nothing. Damn, and Praise you SONY!!!!! (loved , Vegas, Sound-forge screwed us).
The video you see on the website, is the soundtrack included. If you want to see the version without the soundtrack, good luck, that ended with the last screening 2 days ago.
XTIAN
48 Hr Film Contest
Sunday, June 24, 2007
48 HR Film Contest - IN THE CAN! Current mood: artistic Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
As I begin writing this, the clock on the computer is just about to hit 12:00 midnight on Sunday night. We spent the weekend competing in the 48hr film contest in Austin, TX.
For those who have never heard of it, this contest gives you 48 hours to write, shoot and edit a short film. You have a blind drawing from a list of Genres and all teams have a character, item and line that must appear in the film.
Right now it seems like a week since we left the house Friday Morning on the way to set up the production office and editing suite. Since Friday we have forged together a script from the ideas hashed out over dinner Friday night. We have spent a FULL day of shooting on Saturday, and a tense day of editing on Sunday. On Sunday night with 20 minutes to spare we turned in our finished product.
I will write more about the contest, but the most important part was that we were able to work with some truly great people. We had a cast and crew that were dedicated, talented and met every new challenge with a smile and a laugh. When you're asked to lie face down in a puddle drenched in blood, what can you do but laugh, (or punch someone, luckily he laughed). We have performances that were amazing in the short time we had to work. We had people going the extra 10 miles just to make sure their part of the puzzle was just right.
I guess I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who worked on the project. Linda and I deeply appreciate every one of you!
If anyone wants to see the film on the big screen, it is playing this Tuesday night at 6pm and Wednesday at 8pm at the Regal Arbor 8 at Great Hills in Austin, TX.
Xtian
48 HR Film Contest - IN THE CAN! Current mood: artistic Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
As I begin writing this, the clock on the computer is just about to hit 12:00 midnight on Sunday night. We spent the weekend competing in the 48hr film contest in Austin, TX.
For those who have never heard of it, this contest gives you 48 hours to write, shoot and edit a short film. You have a blind drawing from a list of Genres and all teams have a character, item and line that must appear in the film.
Right now it seems like a week since we left the house Friday Morning on the way to set up the production office and editing suite. Since Friday we have forged together a script from the ideas hashed out over dinner Friday night. We have spent a FULL day of shooting on Saturday, and a tense day of editing on Sunday. On Sunday night with 20 minutes to spare we turned in our finished product.
I will write more about the contest, but the most important part was that we were able to work with some truly great people. We had a cast and crew that were dedicated, talented and met every new challenge with a smile and a laugh. When you're asked to lie face down in a puddle drenched in blood, what can you do but laugh, (or punch someone, luckily he laughed). We have performances that were amazing in the short time we had to work. We had people going the extra 10 miles just to make sure their part of the puzzle was just right.
I guess I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who worked on the project. Linda and I deeply appreciate every one of you!
If anyone wants to see the film on the big screen, it is playing this Tuesday night at 6pm and Wednesday at 8pm at the Regal Arbor 8 at Great Hills in Austin, TX.
Xtian
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