Secret Hollywood TV Techniques

When I watch selected shows on Hulu, some contemporary, some not, I often notice things in dialog or acting which must have been taught at the same school.

One technique used in drama, more by actresses than actors (is it ok to say actress rather than female actor?) is the the to and fro eye dart. This is used when the actor is "searching" the eyes of the other character who may be saying something like, "Of course I don't love you anymore."

They will focus on a face shot of the searching character who is staring into the eyes of the other character. Many actors have mastered the technique of making their eyes shift quickly back and forth, but only just a little bit each way off of center. They can do it rapidly, like maybe 5 times or so in a second. It is supposed to convey earnest bewilderment, I think.

Remember that in your next audition.

Dialog is different and I need to make mental notes of all the typical phrases. Of course, just like in politics and news commentary, the phrase "at the end of the day" has become common. It replaced the over use of the phrase, "the bottom line is...".

Fictional characters will likely never stop "playing a hunch". I'm grateful that "and your point is?" hasn't run as far as it could have. "having a lot on my plate" found its way into many scripts, sometimes on every page, but seems to have faded. Now I only hear that from my brother.

I suppose "you're (he/she/it's) going down" is often about the easiest way to say it so that cliche is not quite as pure hollywood.

It is clear that some actors and/or directors come from whichever school thinks reciting lines with a full mouth of food is great for adding a realistic touch. They clearly have been taught the technique and they all do the eat and talk delivery identically. To avoid actually grossing everyone out while doing this is an acquired skill, considering you have to utter your lines audibly and articulately.

I think it is a stupid device. In real life, my friends rarely attempt that, and if they do, I generally let them know I have time to wait until they swallow before hearing what they have to say. Michael Landon, RIP, was a great proponent of the talk-with-food-in-mouth acting school. That is quite clear. He was also a fan of the fake uncontrollable laughter scene. It was a good time killer if the script was a little short, I guess.

I go great lengths of time without catching current TV, and even on hulu I still avoid any show with canned laughter. It is my little protest. Some people won't buy foreign products or shop Walmart. I boycott laff track driven entertainment.

I'm going to keep an eye out for other techniques so we can employ every cliche and seemingly pointless acting and scripting device when we create our own show.

While I am at it, I hope to discover why Alec Baldwin thinks he's funny. He simply is not. I've yet to find any humor in his humor.

Beach Blanket Bingo

In an odd twist of fate strangers call me every once in awhile these days regarding playing some kind of music with them. The latest call was from a guy whose name rang no bells, and I could not recall ever playing with him at any of the open mic venues or other events I've attended.

He said I played with him and his wife, who plays paercussions. His plan has to do with another charity event, and the details are still a little vague. I think he wants me to sit in with him and/or others.

Not wanting to limit my horizons too much I agreed to meet down at the beach to jam a little with him and some other people he said were showing up. He gives detailed resumes of whoever else is supposed to play, and I tune out such things. If you say you know Joe Dokes and he's famous or played with Bach or whatever, it means zilch to me.

All I care about is if I can fit with the people and if what they play is not completely abhorrent to me. That is a little negative but many guitar player/singers of the acoustic world tend to play things which seem like they lack real melody, and which contain chord changes that have no purpose as far as what makes sense and sounds pleasing to me.

Often the songs are famous and made someone tons of money. Usually things that did not grab me when they were rising in the marketplace, and things which I couldn't imagine wanting to cover.

So, I showed at Ocean Beach and after a second did recognize the guy. I still don't recall playing with him and his wife. A mandolin player and violin payer showed up. The violin was tentative but I liked how she played. The mandolin was not bad either. He seemed to know what he was doing and be capable of fitting with others better than the other three. I guess it worked out, but I cannot recreate even a shred of any of the songs in my head because they just didn't have whatever it is that memorable tunes have. They seemed like those tuneless odd songs Mike Douglas used to sing on his show.

I'm sure it works and sounds different to others. Maybe because I did not know the songs and how they sounded originally, I found no attachment to them. A lot of that going around--someone covers a tune in such a way that you can't even recognize it even though you know how the original sounds.

Maybe I'll play his benefit. Just for the exposure. It is probably a decent service that proceeds help fund. But, I confess, I'm not there because I think I am "doing good" or "giving back". I could care less about giving back because I haven't taken that much. If I were to give back it would go to family and friends who really deserve it and who have sacrificed for or because of me. Not random charities. That is how I roll.

It was a strange session, and I guess I added to it, but it seemed the guy did not really know the songs he was doing, and he never knew what key he was in. I finally just asked him to name a chord or two that would be involved and guessed it from there. I can find it but it is a pain. If I paid enough attention I would be able to know immediately the key just by hearing it. I'm working on paying attention.

I'm often finding people thinking they are in A when they are in E minor or D or G or something. Today most often they thought it was in C but it was actually in G. Close enough. They were in tune, and that is good. I just don't get the idea that this angle is going to move my experience and education forward. I'm turning into a snob maybe. Maybe not.

There is just a limit to how much I am willing to play that I don't find engaging.

I think I want to get a giant hot air balloon and make it my home. Just float around on the wind, sometimes waving to the people below while I eat popcorn, watch movies on my computer and just be lazy in the clouds.

Back to the Better Way

So, I'm reading the Factotum blog, and, for once, I find information I can use. Generally it is like a foggy window into how the other half lives. Which other half, I am not sure. Probably the half that doesn't find it odd that people think it is odd when a retired football player offs himself. Or when anyone does, for that matter.

And, in the midst of all the wit and wisdom, I find out that you can return to the old and improved blogger interface thing. I had not even tried. That is how they get you--resign yourself to tyranny or political correctness or the ninety nine percent, and don't look any further.

Now, I wonder if being in the ninety ninth percentile would count with the people who love to speak in terms of "we"? I'm guessing it won't register with ninety nine percent what that means.

It is worth bragging if you are in the ninety ninth percentile on standardized tests and that sort of thing. It means you are in the one percent who did better than the other ninety nine percent. You are smarter as far as their tests go. But keep it to yourself or the ninety nine percent will rough you up and take your lunch money.

Actually it is odd how life turns. Nerds become gangster politicians or else they own them, and then it all goes askew.

I have angered more than one friend because I cannot say I think the occupy business is grassroots, sincere, and truthful. I do agree that it was crooked who got bailed out in the big American spend off, and all else about how that was handled. Who cares.

They think things get better through one approach and I do not like that approach. They are wrong, as usual, but they think I am wrong. That is why they are the ninety nine percent who don't get it, and I am the one percent who does.

Best of all I got rid of the abusive interface which harassed my browser and added clicks to the process.

Thanks Factotum. Class Factotum is in the one percent who figured out this escape route.

Twists and Turns

So now the guy calls me and I began practicing.  This is the one who is talking doing shows, recording and whatnot.  No big money anytime soon.  But, I'm working with him and a girl who is classically trained with some kind of opera experience.   I guess everyone like that plays piano.  She does.

It is clear that this guy knows what he is doing in the sense that professional musicians who can go to a studio with charts and such know what they are doing.  Lots of original stuff to learn.  This is not electric ladyland.  Maybe just one step removed from what I do with the mountain friends but a little more polished, and I am being told specific things they'd like me to do.  That is a first.

Everyone I ever played with seemed incapable of telling me what they wanted.  All they ever said was play a little more, usually.  This guy says, how about playing this riff at this point in time.  Old habits die hard.  So this is the biggest challenge to date, but should result in more playing.  Then what?

I only have five or six tunes to figure out and become comfortable enough with from varying standpoints by next Saturday.  Since I haven't heard but maybe one of them in terms of knowing what is desired, I need to be ready to play harmonic things as well as straight melody lines and guitar lines.  That way I can do any of it at any point as suits the guy who wrote the tune.

This plays on all my shortcomings, however it is not beyond my scope to pull it off.  It is a learning opportunity.  They think I've got a good ear, but I noticed this guy tuning his 12 string and never saw him use any base line reference--no tuner.  Nothing.  And he did it while carrying on a conversation.  It sounded in tune to me.  Every time I've heard him he is in tune.

Fortunately I remember bits and pieces of music training as a kid.  Mostly I forgot or blocked it all out.  It helps that I know the notes on a piano.  So I have a little intuition about minor 2nd and related keys.

You never know what curves you might be thrown.  I played a tune tonight at open mic with a guy who was pretty sure the song was in G.  I had a host of harps at the ready.  I could tell immediately that cross harp for G nor straight harp were the ticket.  It worked out well using an Eminor harp.   The other option would have been 3rd position in D, but notes would be limited.  Guitar players who don't play in combos can really be out there when it comes to knowing what's what or communicating it.

I've become pretty good at knowing when I can't count on the key they think is needed.  It is a little game to me.  Lots of times the nature of the piece is better suited to something which is not the typical harp for that key situation.  Of course, tonight, I can see no way that tune was in G.  Whatever it was, use Eminor.

The house guitar player really hates me.  He will make a big deal introducing everyone else up there and conspicuously pretends I'm not there.  I think I got the better of him by ignoring his sleights.  Most people there know me and feed my ego enough.

This new challenge will do the trick of bringing me back down to reality.  It is cool to be recruited by people who seem extremely skilled and professional, and who appear to have a realistic plan.   We'll see how it goes.  It will take a little time, but maybe not that much.  Should be recording in July I think, and shows probably sooner.

I just want to sleep and eat and travel and hope my belly sets a trend and becomes the thing that defines the desirable new man of the new century.

Lift The Veil Of Right and Left

For their own convenience and to promote their agendas through propaganda techniques, people in public life, in the media, and in mindless mob actions tend to label things "right wing" and "left wing".  Terms which are all but meaningless if you try to hold the labels down to a test based on definition.

One is given to believe that right wing means law and order, no social programs, big on war.  And that left wing is big on government services and control of resources, social programs, not big on war but big on aiding other countries.   These are bad definitions, because when I really go to define these things, and try to keep my own extreme bias out of it, it makes no sense.

Most of the time, I would be in line with what is considered right wing--except that I think government ought not be involved pro or con in matters like abortion, marriage, or internal affairs of other lunatic states in the world.

I'm left wing when it comes to not making laws about social behavior.  But when I think of it, left wing does make laws about behavior and taxes behavior and much else.  We agree and disagree.

Here's where the terms get botched.  They always report things like "radical right wing neo-nazis blow up in attempted parallel parking caper".   Here's the news; Nazis are left wing extremists!  They are bigoted socialists, just like the Black Panthers, Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson.  That is, if you class Sharpton, et al, as left wing, which most people do.

If capitalists are somehow mainstream or right wing, and socialists and communists progressively left wing, then Nazi, which is socialist by definition, is a lunatic version of left wing.

You can't class something as left or right based on racism alone, although I find left wing groups, or what get labeled as left wing to be more abundantly racist that those on the right.  White supremacist groups are very few in number and have little support.  They are usually labeled right wing.

Racism in left wing circles is rampant; Black Panthers, race based hiring and admissions policy, race based contract awards, Al and Jesse inciting crowds against people based on race rather than fact--or when facts are not known--Duke rape case, whatsername Brawley, Trayvon Martin, the riot that killed the Jewish guy in NY, etc.

The whole one wing or the other thing is a bit convoluted.  But if wings must be labeled, the reality of where more violence and hate is generated is opposite from the picture painted of left wing, compassionate---right wing, violent.  But then, it is rare that the most common forms of hate crimes are labeled as such.  And everyone knows it.

But the whole idea that a violent crime needs to be treated differently depending upon the why and the victim, is absurd.  I don't care why you beat me and raped my dog, I don't like it.  The hate crime concept is absurd and only designed to make some groups more special than others.  That is how it works in practice.  Not sure which group hate-crimers fall into. I guess they usually call it right wing, but in reality, that doesn't hold water.

Anarchists, on the other hand, should be right wing, since no government is the antithesis of a socialist or communist state.   The so-called anarchists we see these days can't possibly be anarchists in the true definition of the word.

If you do not believe in laws and a body of authority to enforce them, you certainly cannot say you are allied with the communist party, and it seems odd that you have an official logo, flag, and organize to protest because you think certain groups aren't regulated enough and that unions should have more power.  Lot of "archy" in that.  Your name suggests you are all about no archy at all.

Liars.

I just thought I'd mention that left right confusion.  I'm thinking of getting new flags made which I can send to the mis-labeled anarchists.  It would be a capital I instead of capital A in the middle of a circle.  Or maybe a question mark, as a friend suggested. The I would stand for idiot.  Then they could really be in solidarinosc; "Idiots of the wold unite!"  Plenty of takers for that proposition.

I'll go back to reclusion.  Politics has become an odd religion to many, and often people bring their religion into it.  Left, right, and who knows.  You tell me Chris Matthews does not have the same awe and worship of Obama as any Christian has of Jesus.  So his religion is government as it now exists, while many want to bring in Christianity, Islam, you name it.

What a pain.  Government should have such limited power that you can't even slide any of this stuff in. But it does have power.  That's what people do.  Just look at any condo association if you don't think power feeds on itself and that the average Joe won't let power go to his head.  Few can resist abusing even minor power.  I, of course, am one of the very few who is not one to abuse power when I have it.

So, once again, I truly am your best hope for president.  I'll even marry someone and promise she won't waste time and money on some cause like dirty fingernails in America, or dandruff in the workplace, or the tattoo epidemic.  Imagine that?  No subtle royalty behavior being foisted upon a nation which forbids titles of nobility, and royal power.   It would be the first time in forever.

Those people who swooned over the Kennedy years calling it Camelot have no idea what they were saying.  You really want to live in a monarchy?  That is your dream, so you imagine a presidential family that you like to be our ruling monarchs?  And you imagine yourself bowing as their carriage passes by?  You freedom hating fool!

The Pot Calling the Kettle Rotund

Never again will I smugly brag, even silently, about how I can effortlessly control my weight.   I can't say that I've actually tried all that hard, but I am finding this belly situation a little disconcerting.

It used to be that I could cut out a few meals, eat less when I did have a meal, and in no time, my appetite was minimal and I became skinny.  I'm still sort of slender, but I have a beer gut; and I don't even drink.

I have been eating fewer meals but, unlike my past experiences, I think about eating, and how I want to feed myself constantly.  I believe I am being shown just a hint of what many people go through.  It is hard for people to burn more fuel than they take in.  I guess that is why they invented amphetamines and manual labor.

Exercise, just for the sake of exercise, to me, is as unpleasant as laying on the beach.  I love the coast and the beach, but I have to be doing something.  I can't just lay there.

Walking is great, and walking up my hill can be a pretty good energy burner.   I find it tougher to do things like walking unless I am going somewhere, or just kissing up to some dame who wants to walk aimlessly.  In both cases I suppose I'm trying to get to  defined destination for a defined purpose.

For me to walk to the store would be a major outing; 9 miles there losing 2000 feet in elevation, and then the walk back.  One day I may do it, but no way that will become one of my habits designed to divorce myself from this jelly belly and keep it gone.

It is easy to see how people make money off of fad diets and all else related to losing weight.  I'm still far enough on this side of the line to see what a scam that really is most of the time.

I probably wouldn't care if I were married.  As it is there's a skinny chick who is way too healthy and athletic for me to feel comfortable wooing in my present shape.  Fortunately she is not local and not likely to work out long term.  Things could go differently, but I tend to doubt it.  Whether that is a defense mechanism at play, or actual intuition at work, I don't know.

In any case, it is a lame, semi-motivational excuse to avoid letting this situation get any further out of hand.  The best thing is to do more work.  Physical work.  Things you can see like build a house,  dig for gold,  catch rabbits bare handed and make fuzzy sweaters with the hide--that sort of thing.

Actually, I'm trying to talk myself into the female-motivates-me thing.  In truth, I have no idea for sure what I am thinking.  I certainly do admire this person's character and such.  But that is the story of my life.  I'm too peculiar for these self assured, very cool women to deal with, even when they like me.

I'm not about to get behind that 8 ball again.  I'll lose the belly, but I am uncertain about not remaining a semi-recluse.  Company--fine.  Commitment--I can't visualize that at this time.

Karma.  I believe it happens because I tend to learn things which I did not properly appreciate in the past.  Empathy and sympathy are qualities that I find tend to expand as I get older.   That, and my libertarian leaning philosophy toward matters public.

Many do not see how the two go hand in hand.  But they do.

So, to all you kettles out there, this pot understands and will not be calling you rotund.  We jolly jigglies need to stick together.  Michele O can't help us.  I think that since she started calling everyone obese and making it her business, she's been putting on padding herself.  As if I need some wannabe royalty involved in my health and diet anyway.

Maybe when people run for president they should disclose what stupid crusades their spouses plan to waste our time and money to promote.  I wish none of them would have any crusade.  Go play tennis.  Have affairs.  Become obese. Just stay out of things and shut up.  The spouses aren't holding elective office.

One Man's Junk Is Another Man's and/or Woman's Treasure

There are times when news stories serve to help one realize that his life is only marginally offbeat, and certainly a preferable existence to some.

Here is an excerpt from a news story which could cause one to ponder, yet, in the end, my only question is why sue, and why would it take 20 months to decide something was amiss.

 — a California man says the seat on his motorcycle has given him an erection he just can’t shake.

Henry Wolf of California is suing BMW America and aftermarket seatmaker Corbin-Pacific claiming his issue began after a four-hour ride on his 1993 BMW motorcycle, with a ridge like seat. Wolf is seeking compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, emotional distress and what he calls “general damage.”

He said he’s had the erection non-stop for 20 months. 

California, of course.  Really, this is not a totally nuts state.  Most of these things come from north of San Diego and south of Mt Shasta.  Oh, oops, that covers most of the state doesn't it?

If only this could somehow be tied in with the political tripe that is out there--now that would be something on which you could hang your hat.

Sorry, no photo or video available at this time.  It is telling what makes news these days.  And what makes it to the world of civil suits.

Woke Up This Morning; part 426012

You know something is amiss when you wake up wondering what you've done to screw up your life.  "Oh, geez, what did I do now?!"

It must be chronic depression; a battle and a mind game.  Don't believe what you tell yourself, unless it is good.  Don't believe the bad stuff or you never get a breather.

Oh well.  I'll go to the Thursday open mic, even though I don't care for it much; bad sound, they charge a fortune for coffee, food, and even water isn't provided.

I'll bootleg my own water and coffee.

Good Bad Ugly; part 425012

Little nibbles seem to be increasing in frequency.  I didn't even know I was fishing.  Another guy, who claims I played with him at one of the open mics I rarely attend, called in reference to a benefit, and something about a jam.  He also mentioned being at the Crest gig.

I remember giving out contact info to a couple of people who asked, but I seem to have trouble remembering everyone that asked me to play over the last couple of months.  It would be good if something came out of this, like some studio work or other pay-to-play opportunities.

It is probably good, though, because I seem to have a reputation in an expanding circle of musicians, and it appears to be a favorable one.  Why not?  I'm more reliable than most and make an effort to just do what I do without hogging the limelight.  That may be the secret to being a sideman who is welcome.

There has been other talk, but until I see substance, I treat it as only talk.  Deep down I hope it is real because it would be quite rewarding.  The best thing is to keep being seen.  There are little subplots to all this which have to do with trying to benefit some people I like who need the diversion right now.

Those are things of life; doing things for the purpose of enhancing one's existence and/or the existence of others.   What that entails is often the sort of thing I just keep to myself.   I'd be disappointed if I found myself deep into the Jerry Lewis syndrome.  If you don't get the meaning of that, then don't worry about it.

I look out the back door, down at the little box canyon and out to the ridge beyond, and I realize how fortunate I am to be where I am.  And I realize that it is not guaranteed that I'll be able to be here forever. It is alright.  One evening, within the last three, it was so dark and foggy out on the back deck that I could not see my hand held in front of my face.

Tonight, I heard just a few rain drops under a dark, overcast sky, but I could see the edge of the clouds out over the ridge, and to the left, over Alpine.  I could still see a little bit of light there.  Nice effect.

I guess there isn't much ugly, except that sometimes people think I don't consider them, their feelings, dreams, and whatnot.  It really is not true, but I can see how it appears.  I just don't pry much or offer opinions on what they ought to do with themselves.

Then again, it doesn't take much encouragement for me to become a little too self absorbed.  In ways, I am not that, but there are times when the better part of me definitely is.  I try.  There are mitigating circumstances which I am sure few others would understand, even if they were aware, but it is worth monitoring myself so that I am not so ..whatever.

I've come to realize it is not always easy.  And I do get it back. In one case, recently, I find that my life is of no real interest, which is both frustrating and interesting.  It leaves me feeling of no use, value or interest.  Maybe that is why that person crossed my path.  I must be careful not to cause others to feel that way.  I know it is not intentional on the part of the party of whom I speak, but I see no changing it.

I always think that friends will ask if they want to know what I think.  I am wary of being too sure that I know what others should be doing with their lives, talent, etc.  It is one thing to be empathetic, and another to assume you know what another's best interest really is.  I'll bet someone told Lincoln he needed to get out and see a play.  "Abe, loosen up!  Go out; take the old lady to the theater."

Fate and Fortune part 4 22 12

Different forms of good fortune have come my way lately.  Some of it, I had been advised to expect, but I did not consider it a sure thing.  It took a little while to put it out of my mind and not dream up stupid ways to depend upon vague expectation.  Or even probable expectation.

I have a friend who was expecting part of the family inheritance and all appeared done and good.  All it took was one psychopathic sibling, an unethical, and unscrupulous attorney, and a lengthy lawsuit in a venue many miles away.

Now my friend is worse off than he would have been had nothing ever been slated to come his way.  The legal system quite often becomes a lawyer's game of chess and results in anything but where truth and justice would lead.

The part that I think is most emotionally difficult is to plan on a thing, believe there is every reason to plan on it, and then have one's reality radically altered, dissolving your dreams in an instant.  It is tough to readjust, and accept reality, let go of the pain, anger and disappointment that type of loss brings.

When there was no point to the things that caused the dream to be smashed, it can stick with you and remain a tender spot indefinitely.   That tends to make moving on from there, seeing another way,  generally learning to seek happiness, a difficult, if not impossible task.  There are people who do it, and people who don't.  Anger is often not your friend. It can trap.

Even when the anticipated good fortune is not squelched by stupid things like corrupt people, and such evils, it is a shock when it doesn't materialize.  Disappointing, at least, and often in a way that requires some regrouping.

The trick is not to expect much, and try to refuse to believe that job is yours until it is in hand, that money until you see it, etc.

So, one thing came through that I'd managed to put out of my mind altogether, so it was a treat and almost a surprise.  Another thing came up that is merely a promise of something, and as much as I'd love for it to be true, I think the skeptic's approach is the healthiest.  I'll believe it when I see it.

I found myself thinking as if that thing had come true, and how I could then not be doing things I no longer enjoy, and how I'd have some sort of passion or enjoyment with this.  It is related to getting paid and I guess a form of work.

But, I see nothing today, and I am going to forget about the big talk and promise.  No need to discount anything.  I'm certainly open to opportunity.  But it may be best not to hold my breath until it materializes into something I can spend.