Back in my midwest poetry writing, watercoloring, soap making days. 2003-ish.
Every once in a while I still do it, too. But I used to do it every day.
Recently, my first ex husband got remarried. I’ve been married twice already, and some days I’m fine as frog’s fur with that, and other days I feel like it’s a bit of dirt up my nose that I can never wash out. I can smell it, and it’s visible, and that dirt says, “Here’s a lady who doesn’t know how to have a long lasting, meaningful relationship. Here’s a lady destined to make bad choices.” Couple that with having three kids from three different fathers, take a look in my cupboards at my chipped, non-matching dishes, and look at the way I thumb tack mementos to my bedroom wall, and this is the pretty little package of a someone stunted person.
So, Mitch got remarried. Nothing feels weird about it. There are no moments where I miss what we had; no regrets that things ended. The wedding reception was great, too. They had a mashed potato bar, you guys. And in the morning? At brunch? Another mashed potato bar. It was some kind of heaven, and a goddam lovely time. (more…)
When I moved to Los Angeles two years and 7 months ago, my experience in the business they call show was limited to one podcast and a public access appearance my senior year of high school to talk about the senior service projects. (I didn’t realize, until that broadcast, how much I said “um” and nodded. I still do the nodding thing. I hope it’s endearing, because it’s not going to stop.)
Within a year’s time, I was hired as a producer for an amazing company, One Economy Corporation. In my time at the company, I learned how to edit, how to do wardrobe, and how to do all things producerish, from paperwork to handling the talent. I love producing. It’s really something I’m good at. I feel comfortable pre-production, on set, and post-production. I get an amazing high from producing. I even love it more than (yeah, I’m going to say it) writing.
But there is one thing I love more than producing. (Not counting heirloom tomatoes, hot sauce, and my kids) And that is directing. I recently got to direct an episode of a new series on Public Internet Channel. The series, Front Seat Chronicles features the writing and directing of a handful of people, all presenting the intense moments that can happen in the front seat of a car. Broaching topics like unemployment, cancer, alzheimers, and more, this series is an opportunity to start a larger discussion, and that discussion is: “How do we fix this?”
So often we come across a bit of video, visual art, a song, a story or poem, and we are moved. We relate or we are made to see something we knew little about, and we feel connected. In the same sense, all too often, we feel helpless to handle the very issues we are faced with. So, why am I saying that this series is any different?
Each episode of Front Seat Chronicles is accompanied with a discussion guide for the episode, as well as a list of resources that are available related to the topics covered in the episode. We didn’t just say “Hey, isn’t unemployment hard?” We supplied a comprehensive list of employment and unemployment related resources. And that’s how we roll with all of the things we do at Public Internet Channel.
And so, while this isn’t my directoral debut. (That would be Real American Family) It is the first time I have written/directed/produced/edited a dramatic piece. I even got to use a jib. I’m really proud of what I made, really happy about the people I made it with, and more than a little bit stoked about the way this will hopefully impact people, both in raising awareness and in providing help for those who need it. Be sure to check out the episode here for the resources and discussions.
I don’t mean to brag, because normally I let other people do that for me, but right now my dad is in stupid Wisconsin, and I can’t fly him out here every damn time I want him to stand in a room and tell people how damned great I am. Plus, he’s old as hell, so people are like, “Whoa. Guess it was bring your WalMart greeter to the networking party day.” Anyway, thanks to my dad living far away and being old, I guess I’m going to have to be the one who pins up my accomplishments on the giant refrigerator of life. This refrigerator better have some decent leftovers inside. I’m a bit of a night eater.
This is to apologize to my dad for calling him old and to endear me to you. Our band is called “Country and Rap”. Hire us to play music for you when you’re drunk.
Anyway, being “freelance”, or as some jerks call it “Got No Job”, or as I call it when I am filling out a weekly form, “unemployed”, that means I have to spend a lot of time thinking about what exactly I’m good at. I even made a list. I’m exceptionally good at list making, by the way. Unfortunately, the stuff I am good at doesn’t always naturally (or legally) translate into me having a job. Even some of the whacky shit people hire other people to do in Hollywood is harder to come by than you think. You can’t just walk into Howie Mandell’s house and offer to wash his hands for him. I know. I tried.
One of the things I’m really good at is the thing where you write about the stuff in your head which is the stuff you think about the things you see and do and hear. That last sentence is a perfect example. I don’t know how I churn out such sensicle bits of amazing, but they flow out of me like mixed metaphors out of a unicorn diamond fountain. I’m telling you guys, I write good.
And I regularly find myself writing for free, only it’s not for free. My payment comes in the form of thumbs ups, or people rating my Yelp reviews. I’ve got, like 35 “Funny” ratings on Yelp, and I’m not even trying. Also, I’ve been reviewing music and comedy for AV Club, Beatweek, and LA Record for years now. Also, at age 8, I wrote a compelling letter to the Kellogg’s people regarding the quality of their in-box toys, which did not come pre-stickered, leaving those of us children with shaky hands to apply our own stickers and face the painful thunder of a million playground bitches mocking our slightly askew sticker jobs. That letter resulted in a whole box of pre-stickered toys, and a letter signed by Tony the Tiger.* In any case, I am rather certain that it was my stellar writing that got my message across.
So, since I’m already writing for free, and since I have a bit more time on my hands lately, I’ve decided that I’m going to start filling the world with more of my reviews. Hey, if I’m not working for anyone in particular, that means I can say whatever the hell I want, however I want to say it, and gradually build up more samples of my writing that will either cause people to hire me, or be used against me when my children have me committed.
What you got for me internet? You got a business you opened, a product you’re selling, a music you made, a book you wrote, or a sandwich for me? I like all of those things, you know? So, get in touch. Reach out. And if you don’t, whatever. I’m still going to be here, writing on the internet, until some anti-piracy act makes me stop. Stay tuned for some reviews, y’all.
*As I write this, I am wondering how the hell a tiger, with such huge, furry paws, was able to place those stickers with such precision.
So, Tim came over to my house to help me with a few episodes of So, What Did We Learn? And I may possibly have usable footage for that. But I also have a ton of other footage, and so… Coming soon. Tim & Nikol. We’re Sorry.
Warning- NSFW and if you care deeply about maintaining an idea that I am a rather wholesome lady, just don’t click play.
My monthly video blog, So, What Did We Learn? (which is not at all SFW), usually focuses on my dating life. This month, with my full time 13 year old son being around, I have been thinking instead about the thing I want to tell him about sex, but feel way too awkward saying to him. Go watch the video. Comment on it. Tell me the things your parents should have told you, or the things they did tell you that you felt horrified by.
I got to shoot a series of challenge videos recently for our Net Connectors web site, and I basically fell in love with this girl who is about the size of one of my legs, but could probably kick my ass, and she made my heart beat fast. Take a look at the girl who made cartoon birdies spin around my skull.
Oh, and also, you should do something with this video challenge so you can win an iPod and help your elders understand technology.
Have you uploaded your own video yet? Here’s what I had to say. Got comments? Can you post them directly on the Just Think site, so you can help me get the conversation going.
