I love the way bare trees look when their branches are encased with a layer of ice, especially when the sun hits them and the melting ice refracts the light in little rainbow sparkles. The fact that it's dangerous just enhances the beauty.
Took me over 2 hours to drive to work on the icy roads. (My usual commute is 45 minutes.) I didn't mind, as driving on ice is fun - as long as you remain focused. It's the other drivers who are a potential problem.
Orange-glazed scallops with ginger and scallions... I've been trying to think of a good orange-glazed scallop recipe that didn't need to be spicy but would still have enough contrast with the sweetness of the citrus. (My sister can't tolerate hot spices. She gets blisters.) That would work.
Do I keep writing pages for the Co-write contest, or do I work on developing my own first ten pages that I created with that contest in mind? Or both, if I can manage it. The two stories may evolve from the same logline, but the opening they chose will take that script in very different directions than mine is going.
Here's my answer to the stupid High-Fructose Corn Syrup ads:
HCFS suppress the chemicals that tell us we're full, leading to gorging
and
Products made with HCFS likely to contain Mercury
and the FDA knew about it, and did nothing
Obama needs to invest in trains.
Trains can reduce vehicle emissions, reduce traffic, reduce the stress on roadways, increase the ability of workers to travel for work, develop new technologies, and employ large numbers of people.
Bush severely cut funding for the commuter train system, but increasing it could help address a number of problems.
Seriously - we really should have more trains.
Catalysts
This is a sidebar to the Character Arc debate in Mystery Man's blog. Just some scattered thoughts I wanted to jot down before bed.
In some films, the central character does not serve to propel the story forward in a direct manner. Nor do they change. Yet they still are at the center of a dynamic story, and they are part of a mythical tradition in storytelling as valid as the Hero's Journey.
These catalytic characters fall into three main archetypes: The Fool, The Trickster, and The Messiah
Now, it is more common to find them as the antagonist (especially the Trickster, The Joker being an excellent example) - but they are sometimes used as the protagonist. And there are some cases of these characters being written with an arc, though that is not really in their nature. The story with these characters is the change they create in others.
The most obvious fool is Forrest Gump, however, not the most catalytic.
Butch and Sundance are Fools. The archetype has nothing to do with being stupid, but is of one who travels through the world on a journey, blissfully unaware of the changes/chaos they create in their passage. For Butch and Sundance, it catches up with them.
Indiana Jones is part Fool, part Trickster - and is very much the same man with the same desires and drives at the end of the first film as he was at the beginning - but he definitely triggers events, simply by being present.
Ferris Bueller: rarely has there been a better example of a Trickster catalyst in film. Absolutely drives the film, does not change, and inspires change in his friend.
Ghandi is a classic Messiah archetype. He inspires others to great change, while remaining very much the same himself. (The movie Ghandi, not to be confused with the real man, who very much changed over the course of his life.)
Captain Jack is a trickster and clearly a catalyst. Whose desires and actions drive central storyline of the Pirates trilogy? (OK, there are arguments for both Will and Elizabeth, but it's Jack's presence that gets things moving, and Jack who spurs them on.)
Another great trickster is Redford's character in The Sting, who does not himself change and yet is the catalyst for the rest of the characters to come together and to revive their old interests, and even to stretch their abilities.
Chance the Gardener in Being There is a combination Fool/Messiah, and one of the best examples of a catalytic character in film. He is clearly the protagonist, but he does not change, and is, in fact, incapable of changing. However, he triggers great change in the people who encounter him.
Powder: messiah... pretty blatantly so.
The Prestige, trickster (but is Bale the Protag? or the Antag?)
Axel in Beverly Hills Cop - Trickster
from TV: The Doctor (as in Who), Trickster
Bruce Willis in the 6th Sense was a Catalyst, but does he fit one of the above types?
Same for Poitier in To Sir with Love - arguably a Messiah, though teacher/mentor may be another archetype.
The lead in Seven Samurai... been a while, but as I remember, he starts off pretty much the same person he is throughout, but inspires other shogun to come together and protect the village.
Cool Hand Luke, again - it's been a long time. Other than accepting his fate (sacrifice), does Luke change?
McMurphy in Cuckoo's Nest?
Ethan, especially in MI 2, is portrayed as a Messianic figure.
hmmm... forgetting something that I started off wanting to talk about....
OK, need to go off to bed. Up much too late.
In some films, the central character does not serve to propel the story forward in a direct manner. Nor do they change. Yet they still are at the center of a dynamic story, and they are part of a mythical tradition in storytelling as valid as the Hero's Journey.
These catalytic characters fall into three main archetypes: The Fool, The Trickster, and The Messiah
Now, it is more common to find them as the antagonist (especially the Trickster, The Joker being an excellent example) - but they are sometimes used as the protagonist. And there are some cases of these characters being written with an arc, though that is not really in their nature. The story with these characters is the change they create in others.
The most obvious fool is Forrest Gump, however, not the most catalytic.
Butch and Sundance are Fools. The archetype has nothing to do with being stupid, but is of one who travels through the world on a journey, blissfully unaware of the changes/chaos they create in their passage. For Butch and Sundance, it catches up with them.
Indiana Jones is part Fool, part Trickster - and is very much the same man with the same desires and drives at the end of the first film as he was at the beginning - but he definitely triggers events, simply by being present.
Ferris Bueller: rarely has there been a better example of a Trickster catalyst in film. Absolutely drives the film, does not change, and inspires change in his friend.
Ghandi is a classic Messiah archetype. He inspires others to great change, while remaining very much the same himself. (The movie Ghandi, not to be confused with the real man, who very much changed over the course of his life.)
Captain Jack is a trickster and clearly a catalyst. Whose desires and actions drive central storyline of the Pirates trilogy? (OK, there are arguments for both Will and Elizabeth, but it's Jack's presence that gets things moving, and Jack who spurs them on.)
Another great trickster is Redford's character in The Sting, who does not himself change and yet is the catalyst for the rest of the characters to come together and to revive their old interests, and even to stretch their abilities.
Chance the Gardener in Being There is a combination Fool/Messiah, and one of the best examples of a catalytic character in film. He is clearly the protagonist, but he does not change, and is, in fact, incapable of changing. However, he triggers great change in the people who encounter him.
Powder: messiah... pretty blatantly so.
The Prestige, trickster (but is Bale the Protag? or the Antag?)
Axel in Beverly Hills Cop - Trickster
from TV: The Doctor (as in Who), Trickster
Bruce Willis in the 6th Sense was a Catalyst, but does he fit one of the above types?
Same for Poitier in To Sir with Love - arguably a Messiah, though teacher/mentor may be another archetype.
The lead in Seven Samurai... been a while, but as I remember, he starts off pretty much the same person he is throughout, but inspires other shogun to come together and protect the village.
Cool Hand Luke, again - it's been a long time. Other than accepting his fate (sacrifice), does Luke change?
McMurphy in Cuckoo's Nest?
Ethan, especially in MI 2, is portrayed as a Messianic figure.
hmmm... forgetting something that I started off wanting to talk about....
OK, need to go off to bed. Up much too late.
I am now on twitter. We'll see how much I use it.
I have re-committed to my writing. Expect to see more posts, and to see me participating at Triggerstreet.
I have a tendency to try to accomplish too much, then get nothing done. I end up avoiding all of them and playing Warhammer for hours.
I have come to the conclusion that I really need to focus on one thing at a time. Once writing is a habit again, I can add on other goals.
I can do just about anything I set my mind to. I just can't do everything. At least not at the same time.
I have re-committed to my writing. Expect to see more posts, and to see me participating at Triggerstreet.
I have a tendency to try to accomplish too much, then get nothing done. I end up avoiding all of them and playing Warhammer for hours.
I have come to the conclusion that I really need to focus on one thing at a time. Once writing is a habit again, I can add on other goals.
I can do just about anything I set my mind to. I just can't do everything. At least not at the same time.
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