Sunday, June 23, 2013

More Than Bread Alone


Stories are needed. It puts morality in a context. It brings character to life. Sets them in awkward situations and gives readers options on how to handle adversity. Fight is one method. Humor another. Good guys and bad. Side characters. Luscious scenery and tales of bravery and woe. Lessons to be taught in elongated parable. 

Still we love them.

Storytelling an art to be held fast. George Lucas a masterful story teller predicts in the future that movies will be lost. Lost in the individual screens of computers, Xboxes, and TV screens. Or will be in the grand shows like a Super Bowl, New York play, or music concert. Tickets will no longer be $10 a pop. They will be $125 to $500 per seat. Special effects, grand stories, and holodecks.

What now? Creativity will be a premium. How to is vital for execution. However, "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." Thank you, Einstein. 

Been watching some The Newsroom. Love the dialogue, the story arcs, the characters. Actors are awesome and filmography great. If you ever have watched West Wing or Sport Night, you are familiar with the executive producer, Aaron Sorkin. TV shows like these are the ongoing Aesops Fables. They tell a moral of the story, minus the animals. They extend the mythology of  previous cultural pillars.

Stories is what connects us to one another. It shares a sentiment that we need. It helps identifies us with something we would like to be. Truth be told, no one cares what you know, until they know you care. For a time, I did not understand why are actors and actresses were monetarily valued such an exorbitant amount. This is a shot in the dark. They are rare commodity in which people identify and hope to aspire to. Sure there is a craft and dedication to  those in thespian arts. By the combo of good looks, smart acting choices, and a classical/ vogue style, the make people feel like they care. However, not all have that it quality. I mean I amazed that some of the junk on TV. Real Wives of wherever. Sookie and Farrah Abrams. Real World, huh?

A-Listers are like All-Star professional athletes. They bring the heat. Score valuable hits, they bring in the green, and people like them. Like a 5 tool baseball player. People are drawn to the actors, whether it is the role they play, the dialogue they use, or just their presence, people gravitate towards them. They are integral part of the storytelling. They bring gravitas. 

Still, from the forecast, its clear creative stories are veins of gold. Movie productions companies are making a killing on the comic universe. Man of Steel, Dark Knight Rises, Avengers, Iron Man III, Wolverine. Good actors, like Christian Bale, Robert Downey, Jr, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansenn, Natalie Portman and Patrick Stewart--They bring it .  Also, now it is time where special effects technology are getting on par with the creative par lance of Marvel and DC universe artistry. Great stories are CGI awesomeness are kicking door of the new age.

Not all actors will get a star in Hollywood. The show will go on. They will always go on. Rudolph Valentino, Clark Gable, John Wayne, Sean Connery, Bruce Willis, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon. Babe Ruth, Lou Gherig, Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter. The games go on. Players make an impact. Some even change the game. Time marches on and the games passes them by. Still the stories continue. James Bond 007, Romeo and Juliet, Rocky, Star Wars, Camelot. Stories live on.

Stories, stories,stories--In the time where Shakespeare ruled the era. Neil Gaiman and Frank Miller are at the forefront of the next age of mythology. Writers, storytellers, creative gurus--I do not wish this life on anyone. Just think that it is offered by the Universe and that you decide to make it. 

Cosmic events

Super moon tonight. Supposed to be 14 percent larger than normal. From the looks of its been brighter. Couple hours it will be closest that ever will be. Just love these cosmic events. Whether its Perseids meteor shower, or solar eclipse, or just nice soothing rain. I mean who doesn't love nature? There is something magical out there. The unknown creating miracles. Sights before unseen. We get so accustomed to these great machinations that we forget that this something special. We forget that everything has something to offer.

Our lives are this way. We have these magnificent moments that changes. We don't know when they will come, but they do. Perhaps it is a change of thinking, that cause us to imagine something better, something wonderful, something that brings joy. Perhaps it is a change of lanes that alters our course for the rest of our skein. Missing a moment and our lives are altered for something. . .different.

Lately there has been discussion of alternate realities. There have been shows on parallel universe. If you are former comic hack, then you would be familiar with these "What if?" universes. What if you studied harder and forgone that late night out? What if you didn't kiss her? What if you gone another way? It is nice to consider possibilities, but there comes a point to make a decision that needs to be made. Too often we are caught analysis paralysis. Not sure where I heard this term, but it makes sense. Spending all this time on the cuff--always researching--always gathering data--always doing all things, but not doing the most important one. Deciding.

Like the battery on this laptop, the energies are waning. Before too long, it will not matter what decision is made. There will not be enough juice to make what of it. It is June 23, 2013. Seven more days and this year will be half way over.

We are always on our way. Going from place in our lives to another. We are blessed with companions that will journey with us. We are blessed that we leave those places that have met its function. We are blessed with vision of something better just over that hill. A little more trudging and all of our dreams will be realized.

Plans to Santa Barbara was sidetracked today. A deal is struck with one choice versus another. Go on an adventure to see sights unseen. Summer Solstice parade it would have been. Instead it was large tub of popcorn, mixed cola and blueberry icee and front row seat to the newest Monster U. This choice to be with family was one I decided to make. Haven't always made this choice and this will haunt me. Still walking this alternate journey--this parallel universe--I would have made a different choice. No more punching walls and playing basketball.

We get these moments to see a Supermoon just right out our window. To be close to these cosmic miracles, it is a real shame that they are missed. a choice to get up and see the Challenger land. A choice to give it one more try. A choice to being there despite the raging anger. Wish things were different.  Yet worrying about a parallel universe is something nice, but not real in this universe.

So if you find yourself, wondering about what could have been? Think about what just outside you door. Take a moment and enjoy that super moon. Enjoy the cosmic moment that the Big Smile has provided. So tonight, I will enjoy a sit with the giant moon. If you are reading this, join me from where you are at. Look up in the sky and let those would've, could've, and should'ves. Leave them and seek the glorious events in front of your face right now. Reality there are miracles in front of your face everyday. It is the challenge I put to you. Drop your issues and concern yourself with what is important right now. Just let breathe in  and let your smile out. Let live and let go.