You know, people always say, “It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy,” but in this case it’s really true. Bob’s been working and chasing this dream for a long time, and he’s the kind of guy you just want to be successful, because if he isn’t, what hope is there for you?

The movie is called “The Air I Breathe.” Read the Variety article about the film here. And, for criminy’s sake, tattoo the title on the back of your hand and go see it the minute it hits the theatres.

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• We went to the 7:00 showing at Cinerama. The house was packed with a hardcore geek crowd. I remember thinking that half of these guys—overweight and pony-tailed—could be models for the comic book store owner in The Simpsons. Personally, I love this. It was nice to watch a movie like H2G2 with a truly appreciative crowd. When “For Douglas” flashed on the screen at the end of the movie, the audience let out a heartfelt cheer.


• I thought I was the only one pissed at George Lucas. Guess not. When the trailer for Episode III came on, there were equal parts cheering and booing, and one very loud, “You suck, George Lucas!” from the gentleman in front of us. Hope you sell a lot of toys, George.


• My wife has not read the books and enjoyed the film. And why not? Who wouldn’t love Sam Rockwell and Alan Rickman?


• As a long-time Douglas Adams fan, I found lots to enjoy, but also many filmmaking decisions that puzzled and frustrated me. It’s no wonder that the film took so long to get produced, because Hitchhikers is in no way the stuff of standard Hollywood fare. It’s meandering, philosophical, and a bit wistful. And damn funny. It’s not a love story, and I think that by trying to make it one, the story lost its center.


• If you’re a real fan, I’m not sure what you’ll gain by seeing the movie. The radio and tv series were much better adaptations. In fact, I’m not even sure what the big deal is about making any great book into a movie. The two media are completely different, and so much has to be lost in the translation from the page to the screen. It’s kind of like saying, “Hey, you like pizza? Well you’re going to love this pizza-flavored corn chip.” I might, but it’s not the same thing.

There was a lovely tribute to Douglas Adams from the folks at IGN FilmForce. It’s worth a read, even if you’re not a fan. The way the folks who knew him talk about him… well, I’d be proud to leave such a legacy.

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Rock on, mah brothah!

JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES

JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES

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Born Magazine: Art and Literature Collaboration

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Can’t wait!

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy—The Official Movie Website

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Whether he was (note to self: try to avoid the obvious cliche here) taking a page (note to self: d’oh!) from Python or not, Pulitzer Prize Winning author Robert Olen Butler went Hardy one better. Butler is Eppes Professor of English at Florida State University, and back in November, he wrote a short story in front of a webcam for the whole world to see. The entire 17-session act of creation, titled Inside Creative Writing was broadcast on the Internet, along with Butler’s commentary describing his process.

Now, sure, watching someone write – even a Pulitzer Prize winner – might sound like a sure cure for insomnia. And, it is mostly. In fact, at times it’s almost absurdly comical to watch Butler typing away on his keypad while classical music plays in the background. One is compelled to keep watching, yet one is also struck with how ridiculous it is to waste a perfectly fine afternoon watching someone type. It’s just like JennyCam, but different. Very, very different.

Still, I really like what Butler has to say here (click the Real Audio link) about what inspired him to begin this project. He talks about how the Internet is leading to a shared experience of life, to, as he calls it, the unveiling of the moment-to-moment experience of people’s private lives. Butler postulates that the Internet, then, may be giving way to a new art form.

This is interesting to contemplate. I don’t know if the idea of watching the creative process will catch on as the next big thing, but having such programs available could be a tremendous boon to future generations.

One of the things I think my generation suffers from is unrealistic expectations. We expect that novelists, for example, are a class above us, something beyond what we can attain. Butler shows us that novelists struggle and sweat and rewrite and rewrite and rewrite and rewrite sentences, and that it takes 17 90-minute sessions to write a short story. And, sure, it takes talent, but I’ve always thought that was in far more abundant supply than self-confidence.

If nothing else, projects like these can help students of the arts see the real work involved in creation. Perhaps that will encourage more to try. And perhaps more folks will explore the possibilities of this new medium.

Thanks to the fabulous Danny G for leading me to the link.

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