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SEPTEMBER 2012
28/08/12 11:26
Hello there, and how hot is it where you are? The weather boards say it’s been in the 90’s in Los Angeles, yet the thermometer outside my house tells me it’s been topping 110 degrees, and quite often. Yep, we're having a heatwave and it isn't letting up. Are they lying to us about the temperatures? A conspiracy? Is my thermometer a crackpot or am I? I am, most certainly… so let's dance!
I’d like to begin by thanking EVERY ONE OF YOU who contributed to my Kickstarter campaign. In June I participated in a bit of cyber-begging and for those of you who indulged me, I’m happy to say the manuscript is well on its way, thanks to you. I’ve had two months of consistent work on it, and it’s coming along. Not as quickly as I’d hoped. Such is writing… it takes what it takes. Especially in memoir, when you're trying to remember that time you and your buddies ended up in fisticuffs with an English rugby team on a ferry to Dover… and what does that have to do with Antonin Artaud's Theater of Cruelty? It's an intricate tapestry, for sure.
For anyone who contributed $70 or more, sometime in September I will be sending you a PDF download of a manuscript I have written which is a fictionalized account of a certain someone’s childhood that you may find interesting. Or you may not. Point is, I don’t want my contributors to think me lazy, deceitful, or any number of misnomers. I'll be thanking those of you who’ve helped me with an extra token of my gratitude and proof of my diligence as a writer, by gifting you with a story unlike any you've read before. I’ll be getting in touch with you contributors through Kickstarter about sending the PDF soon. Not that having given less than $70 makes you any less of a giver in my estimation! You’ll still be receiving Kickstarter gifts promised for September too. The film of the dancing Cicciolina won't be forthcoming until next year though… she is presently tapping the boards in rehearsals.
I’ve also penned a few articles as US writer/editor-at-large for my friend Meiling’s new arts and culture
magazine, 6 Carlos. Meiling launched this magazine in July with Babatu Sparrow from Port of Spain, Trinidad and I’m thrilled to be working with them. My ambitions have never been toward journalism really… chasing celebs for interviews is not in my nature. Actually celebs would do well to chase me for their interviews though, since I could care less about the celebrity culture phenomenon and would give them an unbiased heart-to-heart opportunity to upload. But since that's not about to happen (!) I'll be pursuing subjects and people that are pertinent to what my colleagues and I are sincerely drawn to. What could be better? The way Trinidadians view and understand art is very different to how we perceive art here in the States. If this peaks your interest, I've written an essay about Trinidad which can be found here.
How can it possibly be that television is THE medium with its finger on the pulse of what is truly relevant today in America? More than current pop music, film and literature IMHO. Art that captures the truth of the human condition is timeless, always relevant, and thanks to the smart, brave producers who are buying shows written by intelligent and soulful writers, several cable TV networks are serving up relevancy in spades right now. They understand that presently, the demographic isn't all kids… there's the mega-demo of baby boomers, with smarts and taste who've worked their asses off for nigh 30-odd years and now demand a hot, nutritious meal for their entertainment needs.
I didn’t go near a television for 2/3rds of my life. Today, my love affair with television (especially on Sunday nights) continues unabated with incredible new shows popping up every season. Shows like The Newsroom, Episodes and Lisa Kudrow’s Web Therapy. Web Therapy is hilarious... I haven't laughed out loud this much since Bridesmaids. And although the frustrating love stories of The Newsroom make you want to bang your head against brick, it’s a riveting take on American integrity and our current lack of it. Oh and I never did watch Breaking Bad until this last month… am now addicted and playing catch-up on Netflix. What recent American film can compare with this show?
I can't wait for Homeland to return, amongst many others…
With the brawn of a donkey on Heisenberg's blue meth, a cabal of savvy cable TV showrunners are kicking the ass out of the American movie industry.
Back to 6 Carlos, here’s the link. If you’re interested, there’ll be three pieces of mine in the next issue, which will go online around October 1st. My October contributions include an interview with the lovely Phyllis Logan, who plays Mrs. Hughes on one of my favorite shows, Downton Abbey.
A piece on the Mars Curiosity landing that twists toward Afro-futurism, and a piece on Natalie Hill, Trinidadian producer who just finished her first feature film with Colin Firth and Emily Blunt. The film, called Arthur Newman and directed by Dante Ariola, will debut at the Toronto Film festival on September 10th.
I used to write an opus or two a month here on the website but don't have the luxury of time for it currently… aside from my writing gigs, all scrivening efforts are involved in the manuscript, so please forgive my lack of content.
I've posted a tribute to my father this month. For Umberto ‘Al’ Bertei.
And Patti Smith posted a story I wrote about two dogs on her website.
Thanks to Ilene Waterstone I've discovered Karen Dalton, whose story may be tragic and terribly obscure, but whose voice will continue to haunt hungry archeologists to come.
Here are links to my two favorite September songs. Lotte Lenya singing September Song.
And Chaka Khan singing Love Has Fallen on Me. And this one, having nothing to do with September, but perhaps it does…? WHO. So glad David Byrne and Annie Clark/St. Vincent found each other. A perfect duo. And the sweetest lyric I’ve heard this month, from pop-songstress Regina Spektor, Don't Leave Me.
I've also been listening to Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi, who I discovered through the soundtrack to The Intouchables. Listen to Una Mattina. Beautiful.
Sorry about the adverts on the videos but is anything on the internet free of adverts these days? Do you use AdBlocker?
Until the next time, adieu my friends… and remember,
PINK IS FOR LINKS!
For anyone who contributed $70 or more, sometime in September I will be sending you a PDF download of a manuscript I have written which is a fictionalized account of a certain someone’s childhood that you may find interesting. Or you may not. Point is, I don’t want my contributors to think me lazy, deceitful, or any number of misnomers. I'll be thanking those of you who’ve helped me with an extra token of my gratitude and proof of my diligence as a writer, by gifting you with a story unlike any you've read before. I’ll be getting in touch with you contributors through Kickstarter about sending the PDF soon. Not that having given less than $70 makes you any less of a giver in my estimation! You’ll still be receiving Kickstarter gifts promised for September too. The film of the dancing Cicciolina won't be forthcoming until next year though… she is presently tapping the boards in rehearsals.
I’ve also penned a few articles as US writer/editor-at-large for my friend Meiling’s new arts and culture
magazine, 6 Carlos. Meiling launched this magazine in July with Babatu Sparrow from Port of Spain, Trinidad and I’m thrilled to be working with them. My ambitions have never been toward journalism really… chasing celebs for interviews is not in my nature. Actually celebs would do well to chase me for their interviews though, since I could care less about the celebrity culture phenomenon and would give them an unbiased heart-to-heart opportunity to upload. But since that's not about to happen (!) I'll be pursuing subjects and people that are pertinent to what my colleagues and I are sincerely drawn to. What could be better? The way Trinidadians view and understand art is very different to how we perceive art here in the States. If this peaks your interest, I've written an essay about Trinidad which can be found here.
How can it possibly be that television is THE medium with its finger on the pulse of what is truly relevant today in America? More than current pop music, film and literature IMHO. Art that captures the truth of the human condition is timeless, always relevant, and thanks to the smart, brave producers who are buying shows written by intelligent and soulful writers, several cable TV networks are serving up relevancy in spades right now. They understand that presently, the demographic isn't all kids… there's the mega-demo of baby boomers, with smarts and taste who've worked their asses off for nigh 30-odd years and now demand a hot, nutritious meal for their entertainment needs.
I didn’t go near a television for 2/3rds of my life. Today, my love affair with television (especially on Sunday nights) continues unabated with incredible new shows popping up every season. Shows like The Newsroom, Episodes and Lisa Kudrow’s Web Therapy. Web Therapy is hilarious... I haven't laughed out loud this much since Bridesmaids. And although the frustrating love stories of The Newsroom make you want to bang your head against brick, it’s a riveting take on American integrity and our current lack of it. Oh and I never did watch Breaking Bad until this last month… am now addicted and playing catch-up on Netflix. What recent American film can compare with this show?
I can't wait for Homeland to return, amongst many others…
Back to 6 Carlos, here’s the link. If you’re interested, there’ll be three pieces of mine in the next issue, which will go online around October 1st. My October contributions include an interview with the lovely Phyllis Logan, who plays Mrs. Hughes on one of my favorite shows, Downton Abbey.
I've posted a tribute to my father this month. For Umberto ‘Al’ Bertei.
And Patti Smith posted a story I wrote about two dogs on her website.
Thanks to Ilene Waterstone I've discovered Karen Dalton, whose story may be tragic and terribly obscure, but whose voice will continue to haunt hungry archeologists to come.
Here are links to my two favorite September songs. Lotte Lenya singing September Song.
And Chaka Khan singing Love Has Fallen on Me. And this one, having nothing to do with September, but perhaps it does…? WHO. So glad David Byrne and Annie Clark/St. Vincent found each other. A perfect duo. And the sweetest lyric I’ve heard this month, from pop-songstress Regina Spektor, Don't Leave Me.
I've also been listening to Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi, who I discovered through the soundtrack to The Intouchables. Listen to Una Mattina. Beautiful.
Sorry about the adverts on the videos but is anything on the internet free of adverts these days? Do you use AdBlocker?
Until the next time, adieu my friends… and remember,
PINK IS FOR LINKS!