Tag: Blog
#1- The Rock – 52PickUp: A Fresh Pack
Well, here we go again. I’m back reviewing older films regarded in some circles as “classics” – only now – I’m watching films that I have never before seen. That’s right, all of these films I’ll be viewing in 2020 are completely new to me. Some of these guilty omissions will surprise you.
The goal of this experiment is to determine whether or not these films stand the test of time while also matching my preconceived notions regarding their plot. Time shifts memories of things, especially when I had only watched a trailer a few times as a kid.
So sit back, grab your favorite beverage, and welcome to…
…The Rock.
My 2020 Goals
I know I said in last year’s post that 2019 was going to be my biggest year yet, and while it was indeed the biggest year ever, 2020 will be even better. Just like last year, I’ve outlined my goals below to make 2020, The Year of the Gagnon.
Here we go:
GuyOnAWire in 2020
Let’s start with the obvious. I’ve been away from this channel for quite some time, and yeah, I miss it. I thought that in order to be more productive in my writing career, I had to focus on the projects that could lead to paid gigs, like my screenplays. But then, I’d get home after a long day, and I’d do nothing, or waste time. The point is, I wasn’t writing.
When I wrote new blog posts in the past, it utilized a different part of the brain, but at the end of the day, I used my brain. The constant stream of output allowed the narrative functions to relax, and the analytical processes to ignite. I loved the feeling of being productive in multiple facets. If I was able to paint something (that I didn’t hate), I’d do that more, but even if I painted something God awful now, it would serve the same purpose as a blog. It’s an expression of the mind through other channels and that’s freeing. I miss that.
So here’s what I’m going to do.
I Pranked a “Give Out Money” Scammer (from DHHS)!
FINAL UPDATE BELOW! 1/14
**UPDATED 12/10 with NEW Conversation below!
Scammers are everywhere and they try dozens of methods to swindle people out of their hard-earned money. The problem with these scammers is that they use the likenesses of the people you know and love. For example, here’s my ex-wife’s Mother’s name being used in an attempt to scam me. At first, I was so busy at work, that I assumed she forgot her old password and created a new Facebook profile. In the fervor of my job, I ignored my instinct and responded to this bait. Then, I began to enjoy the prospect of messing with the scammer.
*Note: I truly apologize for all of the typos on my end; they almost prevented me from posting this conversation, but the following was too much fun to keep to myself:
Three Years in Los Angeles.
Today, I was gobsmacked with a wave of nostalgia. I went to a new restaurant for my office’s lunch run, Belcampo, on 3rd Street in LA, and it was there (in the Verve coffee shop next door) where I spent many a day typing away at my creative endeavors. Whether the focus was My Cancer Story, a screenplay, or the then-numerous blog posts (yeah, sorry about that), I spent my free time (of which I had ample supply then) ticking away at my form of expression. On November 8th, it will have been three years since I moved into my first apartment here, the temporary room rental on Blackburn Ave.
I’ve Completed the Third Draft of My Cancer Story
I’ve done it. After five painstaking months, I’ve completed the third draft of “Thank God for Cancer” (formerly My Cancer Story). If you’re a consistent reader of mine, you’ve likely noticed my absence from the blog. Now that I’m a Writer’s PA (first on Ratched, now on 9-1-1), finding free time is hard, especially when I was knee-deep into the hardest draft of any piece of written work I’ve attempted in my life.
My Top Ten Most Anticipated Films of 2019
Okay, “Better late than never” has been my motto for the past year, but now that I have a new, “less-demanding” job, here’s some blog content! I must keep up with my 2019 goals.
Here are my most anticipated films of 2019. Let’s see how this compares to the eventual Top Ten List of 2019 in December…
I guarantee there will be others that come into my radar as award season draws near, but these are the (mostly) tentpole releases scheduled to hit in 2019. So, without further adieu:Read More »
My 2019 Goals
2019 will be my biggest year yet. I’ve outlined a few goals to ensure this, and most of them revolve around writing.
UPDATE 1/14/20: How did I do?
EDIT: Completed one goal already (see below).
Here we go:
Living Up to My Expectations
“Set a goal. Accomplish it. Set another goal.”
While I never heard Donald Wade utter these words, I live by them each and every day. Sometimes to a fault; I’m hard on myself because I know those hours I sneak away watching mindless YouTube Videos don’t add to my career, but nevertheless, I’m maximizing my efficiency daily.
When I moved out to Los Angeles two years ago, it was to begin a chain reaction of goals in which to accomplish. I spent over a decade of my life post-cancer doing little regarding creativity or towards a profession. Sure, I went to school for four of those years and made some films, but the momentum from the education stalled, and I was left to wander aimlessly.
GuyOnAWire 