January 19
First post of the new year...
I hit some solid goals to end 2023, but I’m still completing my feature. As I continue working on this project and prepare for a workshop, here are a few things I’ve watched, read, listened to, or caught my interest.
Reading
DUNE by Frank Herbert
This is the longest novel I’ve ever read, and it was an adventure from start to finish. Though I likely won’t read anymore of the DUNE series, completing the first book has given me the spark to read more epic novels.
Now that I’ve read the book and seen the movies, I’m committed to doing a screenplay analysis (Denis Villeneuve) to learn one way to adapt a novel.
Breathe by Rickson Gracie
This was a great recommendation from a friend. Throughout high school and college, I either wrestled or grappled (jiu jitsu) and it gave me a nice strength base for skating. It’s been years since I’ve trained jiu jitsu (cost) or wrestled, so I’ve had more injuries when I skate as I get older without regular workouts.
This book was a great reintroduction to a lot of the discipline required to grow in practice and thrive during competition. However, Gracie’s wisdom on training and approach to life are a far healthier approach to the age old philosophy of mindless training.
Djeliya by Juni Ba
Published by TKO Studios, Djeliya is some of the best Afrofuturism artwork I’ve ever seen. Ba, a Senegalese-French illustrator and writer, blends different cultural folklores into an epic sci-fi fantasy tale.
I’d love to see this adapted into either a series or feature film.
Feature(s)
The Color Purple dir. by Blitz Bazuwale; screenplay adapted by Marcus Gardley
Based on Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray, and Marsha Norman’s stage play of Alice Walker’s novel, The Color Purple was a good time. It was just beautiful to look at. The set designs - studio and location-based - actors, wardrobe, performances… *chef’s kiss*
Early on I was impressed by the transitions (of time) between scenes. It opens with a big number, but when the narrative plays without song it’s cinematic… Then it goes right back into a musical number but not in a way that took me out of the story… If that makes sense?
I’ve only seen a handful of musicals and just began attending theatre last year. I don’t see myself adding a list of musical (films) to my Letterboxd watchlist, but The Color Purple stage play is on my bucket list of performances to witness live.
Television
Tokyo Vice created by JT. Rogers
I’m late to the party on the Tokyo Vice series (2022), but the adaptation - based on Jake Adelstein’s book of the same name - chronicles his experience as a crime reporter in Tokyo.
I’m not far into the series, but each episode draws me in completely. Also enjoying the new season of True Detective: Night Country.
Scene(s)
A Soldier’s Story dir. by Norman Jewison; screenplay adapted by Charles Fuller
*Please note, the clip above is the FINAL SCENE of the film*
Keeping with the trend of adaptations, this scene is from A Soldier’s Story, based on Charles Fuller’s play, A Soldier’s Play.
Director Jewison’s cinematography in the final moments is one of the most amazing practical FX I’ve seen. Ironically, up to this point my earliest example of a similar shot is in The Ides of March (2011); dir. by George Clooney.
Short Film(s)
What it’s like to wrestle at Penn State by Roman Bravo-Young
2x-NCAA Champion Roman Bravo-Young wrestled for what is arguably the most dominant Division I college program of the last decade, Penn State. The program’s success is largely owed to legendary coach, Cael Sanderson; undefeated 4x-NCAA Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist.
Sanderson, an art major in college, approaches the meatgrinder that is wrestling much the same as Rickson Gracie, however, not so freely. At best, grainy cellphone clips recorded during seminars are the most one could hope to find of Sanderson’s philosophy.
For that reason, I’d always been curious what the Penn State wrestling room looks like. RBY’s short film offers a glimpse into their training facility, and I’ll give him bonus points for documenting it in an interesting, direct cinema style not common of athlete accounts/influencers.
Webinar(s)
STEM the Tide: Writing Scientific Women in TV & Film hosted by The WGF
Hosted by the Writers Guild Foundation, the first webinar of the year I attended was eye-opening, and I’m really glad I made the time for it.
It was interesting to hear the relationships formed between writers and consultants collaborating to both learn the story and the science of their series.
The guest panelists - Onitra Johnson & Elissa Karasik - were honest, and in their vulnerability shared some incredible insight. A shared insight was advocating for yourself by embracing personal experiences/backgrounds because that’s what to bring to a writers room.
Music (Videos)
A Love International by Khruangbin
Khruangbin makes earworms I can’t recite but always remember, and this is one of their recent releases.
Visual Art
Wair Max Freestyle Part - Ishod Wair
To celebrate the release of his second Nike (SB) pro model, inspired by the Air Max, Ishod Wair dropped a new part. As always, the skating speaks for itself. Just… the best.