matt bro

Yesterday I saw Nice Work If You Can Get It on bro-way. I choose that show because Matt Bro was in it (and Jersey Boys tickets were sold out). I liked Matt since he was Ferris and Inspector Gadget, and even Simba. He always seems to play the character, but it always works. I liked the show but I got deja vu. For some reason I thought the show was very similar to How To Succeed in Business Without Even Trying. Both shows have the same title as the first song, have an optimistic lovable main character and were played by Matt Bro. The show started out slow with some witty jokes but fortunately picked up the pace with even more jokes and physical humor. The "bad guys" were good and the "good guys" were adequate. My favorite part was when the actors tried to act like tough thugs, but everyones comedic timing was great. After the show I waited outside the stage door for an hour and got the autographs of the cast and a pic with Matt (take that mom). He was nice but seemed tired. Maybe one day with hard work and dedication I too can be a Ferris or Simba, but only time will tell.

Dealing with Being Jewish

Its that time again. Time to dream about bread and watching matza crumble between your fingertips. If you find yourself in a seder follow this Jew's guide to passover.....

1) The more you suffer the better.

I have had this theory for years, that Rabbis and adults like to watch you suffer because jews way back when did, thus creating balance.

2) The more gibberish the better.

I am sure that most jews can't read hebrew and cannot correct you on your pronunciation or if you are saying real words. The family will be impressed that you have a general knowledge, or not, of hebrew.

3) Know the story.

Yes, I do know the story, but if you forget, here is my general tip for rememberance. Just memorize this line for all jewish holidays. The jews had adversity, overcame adversity only to have more adversity to overcome yet again.

4)  Complement the chef and cooking.

I dont care if the food bounces or inedible, the last thing you want is a big argument to break out between everyone and you being stuck in the middle.

5) Have fun!

Passover is a time for celebration and remembrance. It is a time for family and cheers and we can all manage one reunion per year. Reflection on your accomplishments and overcome your obstacles free yourself like the Jews escaping from wherever.

work update

Another work update....

The twitter narrative that I am working on is great. I like this project because the tweets are short bursts of inspiration anywhere at anytime, without any planning and a general direction. I am pretty sure I went from a southern drama to a story based on The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy.

My Bill and Ted/ Big Lebowski script is still in progress. I have some of the beginning done. I really do not know how the final version will turn out or how my audience will react to it. I can only hope it will be a good one.

For my bad art, I am still editing some footage, and when the music is done, we will sync it to the footage.  The irony is that we might fail and make it a decent project that is sure to get a couple of laughs...

Finally, the ITSA is being written as we speak.

Looking Back: Harry Potter

My sister is reading Harry Potter, which sparked my thoughts about looking back. Looking back at a series is interesting to me to see how or why a character developed. Harry, for the most part, did not change. He was still adventurous and knew from his upbringing what is right and wrong. Ron and Neville really changed. They went from shy little children to brave men who destroy horocruxes. Hermonie just became less pretentious. Malfoy was never bad, but a product of his bad upbringing. In conclusion, you never know how the character will turn out until the end. You can only predict, (and yes that is how fan websites get popularity).

update: Foreigner lyrics project

For my group project, (making something out of Foreigner lyrics) we are making a music video depicting lyrics of various Foreigner songs. The filming aspect is done and we are currently editing the film. We are about 50-75% done with it. We need to record the music video songs and fix some of the footage. I am sure by the end of the assignment, it will fill the requirement of being bad, in a funny way though.....

The Big Lebowski

Two dudes embark on a great adventure, sounds like a simple plot right? It is actually a classic tale of comedy and mystery with themes of identity, sex and comedy. What I liked about the Big Lebowski were the jokes that drove the plot, like in the midst of a fight, a bowling ball is thrown, and in the middle of a funeral, ashes are thrown into Leboski's face. This shows the random comedy of the Big Lebowski. I liked the parallels to western movies, ie tumbleweeds going through the streets of LA and Lebowski gaining advice from a cowboy.  The Big Lebowski is my new favorite slacker comedy, a great one for the whole family.....maybe not, but still an excellent movie.

to kill a mocking bird

I don't see it. I really don't. I want to, but I can't. I understand that To Kill A Mocking Bird is a classic piece of literature, but isn't there something else we can read? I like the symbols and motifs, the depth of the characters, the themes and the morals.  I really do.  But, when I put the book down, I always find myself thinking that I would like to read something more modern and not quite so depressing. Harry Potter gave us good and evil, the struggle for morality and really interesting characters in a modern/ancient world, but I don't think those books will ever be assigned.  I really love Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy for its mind bending theories of life, but I can see how this is not considered a great book.  I heard that The Fountainhead is an epically great book, old but poignant.  Unfortunately, I never seem to have time for it.  Maybe I just found my reason.  Old good books are forced upon us in school because if not, we will never be exposed to great literature, even if we think, at times, it is a bit old and tired.

STAC art board game

Today in STAC art, Mr. Ganes decided that he was bored and because of this he gave us a 50 page assignment about a painting that no one had heard of, due tomorrow. This seems legitimate. But, what he really decided to do, was give us an assignment to make a board game and yes I am pretty sure because of boredom. Some ideas that I have are, carrots, peas, broccoli... oops wrong list. What I really think is, stuff the burrito, the game of death, bankruptcy and safety. Coming up with the idea is easy, creating a working model.....not so much. I never realized how much art was involved in designing a game. I think that is something everyone takes for granted. That Mr. Ganes is quite tricky.

Good vs Evil

Today I will be taking about the theme good vs evil or  villain or a saint. The above is a billboard that I saw in the city a while back. I thought it was interesting, so I took a picture. It got me thinking about how history is written and based upon that, who we think of as good or bad. We all know that history is written in the perspective of the victors.   But what about our modern leaders?  How will they be portrayed and will they be portrayed differently by different groups who have different perspectives?  For example, I am sure that the people who are considered heros in the United States are not thought of the same way in, let's say, the middle east or, a hero in North Korea, may be thought of as a villain here.  A hero in one place is a villain in another.  Obama is a hero to us, but is he to everyone, or should he be portrayed that way....... until a post tomorrow

the play

Sorry for the delay, I know i will blog more in the future (when I am not in Rochester, home of the Mormons and the infamous DECA Regional competition and caught in snow storms and saving the art world by moving stage scenery), but without further a do here is my vlog.  As all of you know, or should know as supporter of the arts and our STAC friends (past, present, future or wannabees) I did stage crew for the play, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, and liked it. It was a great experience and all. I got to bond with other stage crew as well as the actors and support staff. I had a great time and all and but realized something about myself that I never realized before.  I am a in the spotlight type of guy. I like theater, and want to be a part of it more. I found out that I really want to sing, dance and act to be seen and heard. The only thing seen of me today, however,  was my floating orange wristband.   I am seriously going to consider changing this for next year.  There are many choices that I have to make in order to accomplish that task, but in the end I think it will be worthwhile.

DECA

Well folks, I am going to DECA states in a few days and am pretty psyched to go(three days off from school doesn't hurt either). But, I have to say, I am nervous. I must take a 100 multiple choice test and do two role plays ( there are more for other events). I have been studying and practicing my lines I mean role plays. This feeling that I have right now in my gut is a weird combination of fear and the usual hunger. What if I am not asked to go onto Nationals? I would hate to have gotten so far only to tank out and go home. What if I mess up so badly on my role play that it is laughable in addition to getting every question wrong on my test? Who knows what will happen, but what I do know is that I am breaking my habit of fear and try to start being brave. So what if I make a fool of myself? As long as I am having fun and trying my hardest, the rest doesn't matter, and if all else fails, I can always charm myself to nationals?  Then my next blog will be how can one charm their way through life!  Somehow I have the strong feeling that will be a very very short blog!