Everyone says "enjoy the internship"...

...as if that's difficult.



Regardless of what happens at the end of it, I am allowed this humbling moment. This, ladies and germs, is one of my idols. The dude, that is, not the little gold guy. That is Oscar, and he's just a friend. "Heavier than he looks"... and definitely "not a shampoo bottle".

But modern-day storytelling orbits around this man's mind. I feel as if I have my current job because of him (and the rest of 'em!).

Me: Congratulations!
Stanton: No, congratulations to you.
Me (thinking...): Well, OK!

WALL-E-LATION.

Top 10 films of 2009

Based on what I have seen, of course.

1. vicky cristina barcelona
2. the wrestler
3. rachel getting married
4. doubt
5. in bruges
6. revolutionary road
7. wall-e
8. the dark knight
9. milk
10. slumdog millionaire

runners up: nick and norah's infinite playlist, frost/nixon, waltz with bashir, medicine for melancholy, curious case of benjamin button, the reader

yet to see: frozen river, the class, wendy and lucy, gran torino, happy-go-lucky, man on wire

On "Parenthood"

One great thing about Picksar—and the fact that I put on hold my Netflix account—is that they have a small DVD archive (small still means large, but in the film world, it's obviously not ginormous). I've been making my way through countless films that, until now, have been on my "must see as a self-proclaimed film snob" list for years.

Also in stock are seminars and interviews and source material for all media. You obviously know which medium I've been browsing, and I recently snagged a Q&A with Babaloo Mandel and Lowell Ganz. These two are two of the best; they've written Parenthood, A League of Their Own, Night Shift, Splash, City Slickers and more. What I found interesting in their interview was that they acknowledged never generating their own story idea. They take the money, write the script under that pressure—handwritten, no less, then passed off to their secretary—and go about their lives, waiting for the next assignment. It's not how I'd envision a perfect career in screenwriting, but the guys sure back it up with their stellar work. You get the feeling watching their films that they invented a lot of the cliches that exist today—and that's entirely a compliment.

I saw Parenthood yesterday, am watching Night Shift tonight.

Personally, the following scene is especially remarkable, for a few reasons:
1. It threads the whole film.
2. The Grandmother looks exactly like my Gramma.
3. The lesson is applicable not just to parenting. But it makes me want to be a parent and writer 3, 4, 5 times over.



I want to write that. That scene, the whole movie. And maybe Ron Howard will direct and Brian Grazer produce? Would I have it any other way?

One Man Guy

Loudon:



Rufus and co:

Saraghina

I love you, Fellini.

The now

In the past few weeks, a blurred but assured trajectory has formed, and tracing it backwards, I see that I am growing comfortable. I feel like I'm in a place where I can nestle my feet into the sand and embrace the things that wash ashore around me. Although I would always, under any circumstance, seize an opportunity to travel and uproot myself—wherever I was—I think I see the benefits of finding a lasting home.

The future right now is only 2 months long. And oddly, I'm OK with that. Sure I fantasize about what might become of life in 2009 and further out, but my Achilles heel has always been off the ground, stepping toward a new direction, afraid of attachment and commitment. Those are the things that intrigue me most for now, so it seems. My routine is only so fulfilling. I'm hoping to share.