Set in Belle Epoque France and based on a true story, Augustine is about a young woman who is diagnosed with "hysteria," which results in fits, emotional disturbance, temporary paralysis, sexual behavior, and so on. (Wikipedia explains the common definition from the era in more depth.) The film follows Augustine's treatment by a Mr. Charcot who places her at the center of his research and ultimately makes her the star of "academic" spectacles in an attempt to get funding to continue his research. The film is lush and well made. Some would describe the relationship between Augustine and Charcot as complex, and perhaps it is. I couldn't help looking at it through twenty-first century eyes and seeing gender imbalance and social injustice, and I just wanted to slap Charcot all over town for his behavior. While the SIFF site seems to be taken with the movie and it may be a fine film for some, but I was left feeling really on the fence about it.

Our Nixon is a documentary made entirely out of archival footage from news broadcasts and home movies taken by John Erlichman, H.R. Haldeman, and Dwight Chapin, and VO from the Nixon tapes. The film is fascinating, an examination of the Nixon era from an entirely different perspective. It is sometimes funny and remarkably timely. I found myself watching these men doing what they did, and thinking how young, how good looking, how optimistic, how committed they were to what they were doing. And then, like music in a major key slowly sliding to a minor key, events just go awry. Who knew what, when, and how? It's like their entire world warped. Listening to excerpts from the Nixon tapes, the disconnect from reality is, frankly, kind of astonishing. I have to believe that this film will either get wide distribution or turn up on PBS or HBO. It must be seen. It's a remarkable film.

The documentary Out of Print was touted as "an in-depth look at the turbulent, exciting journey from the printed book through the digital revolution and modern information age." It turned out to be more of a survey of the subject than any kind of a discussion. While the filmmaker, based on her post-film talk, had some very specific thoughts and positions on the subject, the film was pretty neutral over all. It didn't get into some of the more contentious issues surrounding the evolution (or lack of same) that publishing is going through. I don't think the publisher position was well-represented, and I feel like the self-publishing situation was represented in a kind of lopsided way. Overall, I walked away feeling rather disappointed in it. Best part about it was hooking up with ironymaiden and varina8 to see it.

Populaire is a French romantic comedy set in 1959 about a girl from a small town who goes to the big city (a little city in Normandy, actually) to become--how exciting!--a secretary. Turns out she's a terrible secretary but a prodigy typist. Her boss decides that, to keep her job, she has to participate in the regional and national typing competition to become the fastest typist in the country. He becomes her coach and trainer, and thus begins the comedy and the romance. It's a delightful little film. Deborah Francois, who plays Rose the secretary, has a refreshing, Debbie Reynolds quality about her. She's charming. Romain Duris, who plays Louis, her boss and coach, has the sort of dark-haired, dark-eyed looks I always swoon for. As a World War II vet and last survivor of his French Resistance cohort, he's appropriately sexy and tortured. The film is clearly modern but imitates the sensibilities of the time very well. The clothes are to die for. It's all made with this Technicolor look and feel that is delicious to the eye. I had a great time with it and very much recommend it.

Okay, I have an interview tomorrow for a 6 month temporary position.

The question I'm afraid of being asked is about my prior temporary work - I've done a lot of temp work, so was that intentional? I'm afraid that either answer I could give might suggest I'm a flaky person (wanting to work temp jobs could suggest that I just have no commitment and will jump ship whenever, wanting to go permanent but not going permanent might imply I'm not worth hiring on a permanent basis).

What do you think I should say if I run into that question?

Thanks!

The Human Wok! by *Pachycrocuta on deviantART

 

A true story/more kid logic by *Pachycrocuta on deviantART

"Alternate reality in which Toho Studios hires Ray Harryhausen = 1965 chambara epic in which Toshiro Mifune faces a stop-motion gashodokuro."


... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_legendary_creatures_from_Japan is the best thing in the world right now. I want to draw ALL OF THEM.

supernatural gingers attack! by *Pachycrocuta on deviantART

Having now watched nearly the entire Beastmaster film series in an evening (I, III, and it was getting late about the time that II passed the bad movie event horizon), I kinda have more weird opinions.

I don't think you can argue these were good movies, but I actually really liked the pacing for the first Beastmaster film. Plot elements get wrapped up, but not at the same time, which is a little more believable to me than having say, Dar's final combat with Maax resolve Dar's origin, his conflict as an adult with King Zed, the invading Jund hordes, and his relationship with Kiri. I felt like I was getting a much longer movie than it actually was. I also actually liked the competence of the supporting characters - especially that the young prince, Tal, isn't funny comic relief or the kid who knows more than the adults, he really shouldn't be getting dragged into a dungeon and two nasty battles, but he does a pretty good job of holding his own.

None of the three are good movies but what gets me is they're bad in ways very characteristic of the time period. The Beastmaster is an early 80s attempt to make this awesome over the top barbarian movie and despite its flaws it's got a more aggressive energy that makes it enjoyable. Beastmaster II: Through the Portal of Time is like this overly-cutesy, stereotypical, hack attempt to merge Star Trek IV with Conan the Destroyer and failing to capture the appeal of either, a little like the way popular culture in the late 80s was frankly, brainless homogenized shit. Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus is very mid 90s, as though the filmmakers were making something for kids and filed the sharp edges off, creating something which I think might be a bit less appealing to 10-12 year old kids than the sometimes scary original. It's like comparing the kid-friendly jollity of mid 90s TSR to the viciously over the top character-killing modules of the '70s. Really good in its own way, but "its own way" is this pale wan ghost of the original.

Skipping to 1996. Clinton is President, there's only one disappointing Star Wars film, and Beastmaster III The Eye of Braxus is on TV. Hmmm!

We start with a bad guy getting younger by operating the TARDIS so right away we know we're in for a great ride. #BeastmasterIII #AnotherBM

and somewhere in there he got another ferret & a different cat & swapped swords it's like he's a completely different person. #BmastahIII

Only 6 minutes in and they've already swiped a line pretty much from Robocop. #BeatMasterIII

In the many years that transpired the brunette prince gained beautifully feathered blond hair & the big dude grew back his hair. #BMIII

Accept this heartfelt tribute of a Mechagodzilla action figure. #BeetmasterIII

Take this, the McGuffin of the ancients previously never mentioned in these movies. Keep it somewhere secret like between your pecs.#BLMIII

#Beastmaster was incredibly 80s, #BMIII is very Kevin Sorbo era fantasy. I'm pretty sure a 2013 BM would feature lots of CGI and explosions.

"I roll 30 to detect traps." "The strange beacon is trapped." "Cool. What happens if I hit it with a sword?" #BeastmaserIII

Leathermen with hopilite helmets and the Robe of Gustav Klimt are kind of a step down from undead luchadores to be honest. #BeastmasterIII

Lord Tal may not be telling us all he knows. It's time we demonstrate the full power of this battle station. Set course for Alderaan. #BMIII

"I thought the #Beastmaster didn't involve himself with the affairs of men." "Ya but I need 700 XP to level up so I hope they're hostile."

WHAT THE F*** HE'S USING THE CAT AS A CHICK MAGNET AGAIN WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM DUDE? #BeastmasterIII

"Listen.""What is it?""A drum circle. 'Tis the Hackey Sackers of Santakrooz. It is said that those who behold them get The Munchies." #BMIII

"Tell them we mean no harm.""The only words I know are 'how does one get to the train station' and 'Does anyone speak Frost Giant?" #BMIII

The lion has been captured by wild Hackey Sackers from the Santakrooz Mountains, who plan to eat him with peanut butter and kool whip.#BMIII

And then Braxus himself appeared and http://youtu.be/bojx9BDpJks was the only thing that came to mind. #BeastmasterIII

My response to the cheesy draco-turtle-demon costume isn't "wow that's cheesy" but "awesome costume, I'd love to see it at a con." #BMIII

Um, if I were a megalomaniac why would I ignore my fanatically loyal witches and order my fanatically loyal monks to suicide? #Beastmaster

SO EVIL THEY MADE A COW PREGGERS. Good way to smuggle babies out of the capital, but don't they have a hideout for safer evil? #Beastmaster

Dude your village is a very nice matte painting but it doesn't lie on the same plane as the rest of the landscape. #Beastmaster

Oh crap! Does anyone speak Low Ursine? Didn't anyone take Intermediate Grizzly in college? Uh... oh. Guess that's a yes. #Beastmaster

TAKE THIS THE KITHMAKER HOOK OF MY PEOPLE AND RIDE AS A LEADER AMONG M... naw just kidding. It's a hoe. Get to farmin' kid. #Beastmaster

"I was thinking if this new German shepherd dog works out of going to the academy.""But harvest is when I need you most, Luke." #Beastmaster

Oh crap the village propane supply just went up! (Most early medieval communities had one.) #Beastmaster

Then he finds that he can see through the eyes of a crow and with his newfound power seeks vengeance! Wait wrong movie. #Beastmaster

"There's nothing for me here. I wanna go with you to Alderaan and learn the ways of the Force." MASSIVE JOHN WILLIAMS MUSIC! #Beastmaster

Ok I'm making snide comments about this bad movie I'm watching at Starbucks don't cry about the way he carefully lays the dog to rest. Damn.

Your father's ferrets. An elegant mustellid, not so clumsy or random as a badger. #Beastmaster

Luuuuuke! Use the Force to levitate the ferret out of the swamp! #WaitWhatMovieIsThis #Beastmaster

So wait he uses his amazing warrior instincts to watch hot babes in secret rather than using his hawk-vision to do it? #Beastmaster

Dude so you use your ADORABLE CAT as a way to pick up chicks? Lame, man. Really not original. #Beastmaster

I'm just gonna stealth into their kitchen & ignore their fluorescent cocoons & not free their captives & check out their stew. #Beastmaster

Then he frees the boy from the cage, gaining a sneak-thief henchman who... uh. I guess that's gonna be some other movie eh? #Beastmaster

And at sundown, she transforms from a magnificent hawk into also a magnificent hawk! #Different80sMovie #Beastmaster

MOS EISLEY SPACEPORT! Luckily his spiffy eagle medallion indicates that his destiny is to rule the entire USPS. #Beastmaster

Dude. The "throw the kid in the fire" sequence they swiped wholesale from Aleksandr Nevskii. #Beastmaster

"Ancient and evil, he rules with an iron fist!""Yeah yeah sure how's that gonna help me get dates with the hot pyramid babe?" #Beastmaster

They're mah friends. Mah friends are animals, Ah make mah friends. Ah'm a genetic desahner. Mah name's Dar. #AlsoWrongMovie #Beastmaster

Oh I get it now thanks to his prenatal experience in a cow's uterus he gained MAGIC CATTLE POWERS to challenge evil! #Beastmaster

AND THEN SHE KICKS HIM BETWEEN THE TESTICLES BY THE SURLY BEARD OF MRIFK #Beastmaster

Oh right Kiera was 50' ahead of a party in metal armor so of course she had a 4 out of 6 chance of spotting the secret door. #Beastmaster

Pursued by a pack of undead luchadores! #Beastmaster

And look, the previous Lawful Evil regime left this useful moat of bubbling tar, perfect for repelling barbarian hordes! #Beastmaster

And they were saved at the last minute by horrifying evil creatures! See, THIS is why you don't have paladins in your party. #Beastmaster

And he leaves the kid a potentially lethal exotic weapon it takes years to properly learn, but also no instructions! #Beastmaster

So for a good while, this journal has been updated automatically via a plugin from my main web site. That plugin ceased functioning when I upgraded that page in April, and I really don't have a lot of interest in pounding away at a solution.

As such, this is likely to be the last update you'll see from me for a while.It's been a good long run (nearly 10 years), but as I focus more on marketing my projects and myself, maintaining up to 6 social media sites seems like too much work for not enough benefit.

I invite all of you to visit my web page or join my discussions on Facebook. (bhagwanx.com, scottjamesmagner.com, /BhagwanX , /ScottJamesMagner)

But to give all you rabid writing fans a bit of closure, here's Tuesday's post about my book launch (you can follow all discussion about the book at bhagwanx.com/writer/hearts-of-iron/)

Countdown to Distinction: Launch Day

They say it's the most important part of Comedy. They say it's Everything.

They say a lot of things about timing, but if you asked me when I started writing my own "Choose Your Own Adventure" books in the 4th Grade whether I'd ever publish one, my answer would have been the same as today.

"Sure, but will people buy it?"

I'm not going to lie to you, I've written some pretty bad prose in my time. Shaggy-haired college me read doggerel in coffee shops, composed under trees while looking at ducks. Post-college angry me spewed out lyrics and cranked hit singles with the rest of the grunge generation.

I've released game products on too-tight a deadline with not enough review, and earned every bad word sent in my direction by customers and their dead characters. But some of those characters deserved to die, and DMs and players alike also had good things to say about what I'd put on the page.

Today, I'm fairly confident that I've turned over the best story I possibly could in Hearts of Iron. For starters, I was in the right place at the right time to get in with a pretty cool bunch of co-creators and editors. My schedule aligned with the stars, and instead of Dread Cthulu's continent rising, I was able to write a far better story than my 10, 20, and 30 year old selves could imagine.



I had to be able to accept that my words were not golden honey dripping from the sky. That my characters had not in fact sprung full-formed and perfect from my skull, but needed work to be not only distinctive, but compelling to people who are not me.

I had to surrender to the story, while at the same time remaining in charge.

I've written a lot of words in the last few weeks about the process of writing, about story, characters, setting, and even what happens after a book leaves your hands. But the time for that sort of thing has ended, at least for now.

It's time for you to tell me things. How you liked (or didn't like) the story I've told. What you'd have done with the same characters, or what you think they should have done on their travels.

How likely you are to want more words of this kind, from this author.

The time of pre-release has passed. It's now the Age of (Hearts of) Iron, and I'm truly finished with the piece.

It's been a hell of a ride. Enjoy, everybody.