Previews

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The entire internet (at least anyone not out shopping on black Friday) seems to have lost its collective mind over something again. This time it’s a preview for the new Star Wars movie.

For most of my life I’ve loved previews. I always wanted to be in the theater early, seated with my popcorn and ready to see the future flicker to life before me. Previews would get you talking, help you make plans for your entertainment budget and help you believe in the magic of Hollywood. Maybe I’m the one that’s changed, but previews are not the same to me anymore.

I have reviewed and critiqued previews before. I’ve got more than one web page bookmarked that exist purely to show these previews on demand. There are archives of previews that can be reviewed and dissected at any time before or after the film itself has come out. They’re shown in high definition at your fingertips any time you’d like to see them. I stare at the screen today and feel that the magic is gone. It’s certainly not at the theater any more.

I went to the theater with my daughter to see Big Hero 6 just a couple of weeks ago. I’m so happy she’s interested in stories with heart and imagination. I’m glad she’s excited to see some of the same types of films I love. We sat there in the theater waiting for things to get rolling with popcorn and excitement. Then, right at the time the film was scheduled to start we were bombarded with 27 minutes of advertisements and previews before the movie we actually came to see started. That was one of the last few steps toward my dislike of previews. Almost a half an hour? That’s more than enough to test the patience of an adult, never mind a child. I heard one of the other children in attendance ‘whisper’ to his mother, “What are we watching?” Once we passed this barrage we moved on to a film that, while good, certainly had a couple of its best moments totally given away by the previews. The funny is lost when you’ve already seen it in the advertisements before the film.

So, the theater is no longer the haven of previews it once was but I should be selective and pick the ones I want to see here on my computer. That brings me back to the Star Wars preview out there today.

I watched it. IF the creative team wanted eyeballs on advertisement, they won. I had to see it. I was compelled by my childhood and driven by my devotion to the preview.

We got a few seconds of film, tied together with the music we know and love. Those few seconds spawned no fewer than a dozen shot by shot breakdowns that popped up on my news feeds. Screen captures, questions of symbology involved, cursing, begging and threats of nut kicking for failure. It’s not even dinner time yet – wait until the shoppers get home. True, there were no plot critical elements or ‘best moments’ from this film that were given away here. There was nothing beyond a handful of images here FOR A MOVIE THAT IS AT LEAST A YEAR AWAY. We’re not into December 2014 yet this ad is for a film due to release in December 2015 (IF everything stays on schedule and doesn’t end up getting pushed back like Jupiter Ascending – you know the one that was supposed to be out this past July?). A year away and we’re getting shot by shot take-downs form a few seconds of film?

I am not excited by this. I’m really not sure I’ll remain that interested. Star Wars is firmly planted in my childhood and was one of the formative influences of my life. This ad was more depressing than exciting to me. I can’t ignore it, but it’s difficult to care. I won’t see this film on opening day and have my doubts that I’ll even see it in the theater. The real choice maker on that one will be my daughter. IF she wants to see it in the theater, we’ll go. If we go to the theater, we might arrive in time for the ads to start and hope they run shorter than a half an hour. We might get seats and go for popcorn while the previews run.

Today was the day. I don’t like previews anymore.

SYFY is Back?

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This was originally published in Watch The Skies for November 2014

“If I insult you, it’s probably because you deserved it.” Harlan Ellison

Disclaimer: I don’t have cable any more. More than two and a half years ago I got fed up with another rate increase. I had just taken my second paycut in an attempt to survive a floundering economy and things looked bleak. I was forced to take a long, hard look at what cable television programming had to offer me and that programming came up wanting. Choice made, cable cut. While the seperation was difficult, I believe much like dropping a dangerous addiction, I don’t miss it.

I have stated many times that I am a fan first and foremost when it comes to all things science fiction and fantasy. One of the things I enjoyed when I had cable was the channel where those things I loved could call home. Then came a number of very poor choices from that channel, not the least of those being professional wrestling. While professional wrestling is fiction of a sort it fails to meet the criteria for science fiction on every front. I spent a great deal of time bashing and despariging the network that once gave me a weekly dose of crumudgeon (and I still miss those rants). I was not alone.

While the channel carrying the name of my beloved genre was busy trying to shed the loyal fan base the entertainment, the core, the very shows that should have lived there dashed off to other channels where they met with wild success. There are now far more popular genre television shows on other channels as there are on the network that claims them, if only in title. There were a number of failed experiments in genre programs that I would have thought should have been on a channel dedicated to science fiction. It should have all been on a channel dedicated to science fiction. Reaching out and trying to attain something is vital. Own the subject, good, bad or indifferent. The channel didn’t, it ran and hid. It was, and is frustrating. The experiments, the thought provoking stories wrapped around circumstances not of this world were popping up anyplace other than “home”.

Giving credit where credit is due, the channel I have often compared to a sexually transmitted disease now seems to be owning the error of their ways. A recent article published by EW gives some insight into how things will work going forward and gets the new head of original programming Bill McGoldrick to answer some of these criticisms. The article is full of hope and positive, forward thinking statements.

“I think now it’s about giving our audience some fresh stuff.” Mr. McGoldrick said. He gave out some thoughts on where the channel has been and where he sees things going. I’m intrigued by what he has to say. I like the idea that the channel dedicated to science fiction will be heading back to outer space. The mini series Ascension looks like it could be absolutely fascinating. The other thing it is? Most importantly it’s not like other things that are on right now. The things that do the best, the ones that get the highest ratings or score the biggest returns are the things that give a story that’s different than what’s out there. I don’t want another procedural. I want compelling story telling.

They talk a good talk, but can they walk that good walk or are they just walking dead? I look forward to finding out.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/10/28/syfy/ The EW article is worth the read.

Philcon!

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I’m very excited to have been invited to participate as a guest at this year’s Philcon. The convention is taking place next weekend and I’m very excited to be headed there. It even looks like I got all panels I was interested in / am qualified to talk about. That reduces my anxiety a great deal. It should be a great weekend. IF you can, get out to the convention!

Here is my schedule:

Fri 9:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
TECHNOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE (1867)

[Panelists: Bernie Mojzes (mod), David M. Axler, Mark Wolverton,
Daniel Grotta, Eric Hardenbrook]

Is our society too dependent on technology? Are we becoming
cybermen? From smartphones and tablets to online communities and
relationships, have we become unable to function without our
mechanical assistants

Sat 12:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
ART AND COMPROMISE (1953)

[Panelists: Eric Hardenbrook (mod), Robert Kauffmann, Mike McPhail,
Ray Ridenour]

Discussing the differences between approaching art as a hobby versus
art as a professional career

Sat 2:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
ART IN THE DIGITAL AGE (1951)

[Panelists: Ray Ridenour (mod), Eric Hardenbrook, Robert Kauffmann,
Luke Stelmaszek, Brian Thomas]

The blending of art and technology is more and more common. Can
artists even work without their computers anymore? Has the digital
world overtaken the traditional paintbrush? Artists discuss the
latest trends of these two world colliding into each other, and what
techniques they use now to create their art

Sat 3:00 PM in Crystal Ballroom Three (1 hour)
HOW LONG IS TOO LONG? (1739)

[Panelists: Tom Purdom (mod), D.L. Carter, Eric Hardenbrook, Neal
Levin]

Is anyone really going to start a 14-volume bug-crusher fantasy
series? (Not mentioning any names, of course). At what point does
the sheer size of a series discourage new readers

Sat 9:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
BOOK INTO GAME (1777)

[Panelists: Robert C Roman (mod), Eric Hardenbrook, Anna Kashina,
Joan Wendland]

How is a literary work made into a game? Are there some books that
just aren’t suitable or can gamers game everything

Sun 10:00 AM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
FAN WRITING IN THE INTERNET AGE (1840)

[Panelists: Anastasia Klimchynskaya (mod), Eric Hardenbrook, Berakha
Lana Guggenheim, Diane Kovalcin, Deborah Stanish]

There was a time when paper fanzines were the dominant source of fan
writing. Now, with the internet and the World Wide Web, other forms
of fan writing have taken the stage, such as blogs, vlogs, websites
and podcasts. What has fan writing become and what might it be like
in the future

The Wonder of a 10 year old

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I tend to stay away from too much family talk here. I make every attempt to stay away from the cult of personality culture that has developed in this country. I hope that people can find health and happiness in whatever form their family takes – and I don’t really care what the star du jour is doing when not at work. I think people working in public view – as famous or as unknown as you like – still have a right to have enjoyable family time and YOU don’t get to be part of that.

Having said all that, I want to share a bit of conversation I had with my daughter today.

Her, “So, I was the first person in my science class to finish the circuit and make the light bulb light up.”

Me, “That’s great sweetie!”

Her, “Yeah, I was also the first person to shock myself. That was tingly. What do you call the metal part at the bottom of a light bulb?”

It was such an awesome little conversation. There was more about the young man sitting next to her dropping his bulb and how one of the other kids wanted to copy her and she wouldn’t because, “you’re supposed to be learning…” but the point was how she encapsulated all the wonder and excellence of growing and learning in just a couple of sentences. I love that she was first in science for anything. That’s great. I love that she’s taken a few notes from Hermione (from Harry Potter) and wants everyone to learn not just copy. I particularly love that she mentioned she was also the first to get… let’s say negative results from her work. She electrocuted herself just a teeny bit and didn’t even slow down. She kept working and wondering and trying to figure stuff out. It was awesome and I did what I could to encourage more of that behavior. I couldn’t have been happier.

I am so constantly amazed by my daughter and all the wonder that goes with being ten. I am just going to soak it in because I know it will be gone too soon. IF you have a chance, get out there and wonder like a ten year old. Think past the bumps and the wrong turns and keep driving toward what you’re really interested in. That feeling will go away far too quickly if you let it.

Kickstarting

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I’m happy to say that my short story “Desire” will be part of an anthology project! The story collection will be connected to a strategy board game – and both are based on an alternate history where Japan came out the winner of WWII. It’s a shared world project where my story will actually be braided together with a couple of the other authors’ stories. I’m excited about this project. I’ve been able to read one of the stories mine is braided with and I enjoyed it. I can’t wait to see what the other author comes up with.

So – first things first – here is a link to the Kickstart for the anthology: Tokyo Yakuza

Here is the cool part – I’ve got art that goes with my story. No, it doesn’t match what’s on the Kickstarter but I suspect that’s because I was slow to repsond. My story isn’t available yet – they’re being released piecemeal as the project moves along. I will let everyone know for sure when my story becomes available. Until then, go ahead and check out the first one! It’s up on Amazon: The Things We Try To Forget.

Tokyo Yakuza 31 (Desire)

I will keep everyone up to speed as we move along through the project!

Old News?

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On the off chance that I catch a reader here that isn’t connected to me via Watch The Skies where I posted this originally – how original is Hollywood?

Hollywood is unoriginal. Shocking to hear I’m sure. Somebody’s gone and done a study to try to back that up. I linked it below, but I question how the whole thing is broken down, grouped and quantified. I’m not opposed to a movie based on a book (or comic) if it’s something that hasn’t been done 3 times before (rebooting Spiderman again anyone?). I’ve got something all written up and ready to take on SyFy for this month’s Watch The Skies Fanzine, but I saw this and thought I’d see what others had to say on the subject a little ahead of this month’s meeting…

Study

Old Timey

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Do you like old time radio shows? If you do, there’s a podcast out there you should dig up and listen to. Hidden Harbor Mysteries. I’m going to cheat and let them do the description part:

Hidden Harbor, a small city with big problems. The criminal element strikes by night and blends into the population by day. One woman has the guts and the power to stand up to the enemies of Hidden Harbor, both foreign and domestic.

Hiidden Harbor Mysteries is a full-cast audio drama serial that uses modern technology to re-create a sound and feel from the golden age of radio.

The vocal talent here is great. I love listening to the voices. The story is neat and different from things I’ve heard before. It’s fun – and most importantly, it’s in bite size chunks. The episodes run in the area of about 20 minutes – so you can always squeeze one into your day someplace.

They’ve even got sponsors:

EagleBrand_VintageAd

Stumbling Blocks

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I’m constantly amazed at how the smallest tasks can turn into the largest stumbling blocks for me. There have been one or two things lately that have just stopped me in my tracks. There silly things that don’t amount to anything to anybody but me. Stuff on a “to do” list kind of stuff. These lists somehow morph from road maps to road blocks. It’s silly, but there it is.

On the up side, I get a ridiculously positive feeling when I finish these tasks, particularly if they’ve been sitting around for a while.

I wrote the other day about book reviews – and today I powered through almost all the reviews I had on my lists. I’ve got a couple left to write, but there you have it. A simple thing that is no longer the log jam in the main stream of life.

Book Review(s)

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I always try to give my honest opinion of any book I’m reading. I enjoy sitting and talking about the things I’ve read. I try to do that at least twice each month – I attend two book clubs. I also write up something about almost all the books I read on Goodreads. I also wrote up stuff for MilSciFi.com. They were hibernating, but it looks like they’re back now, so maybe more soon? Who knows. I like being able to share my opinion on what I’ve read and how I feel about it.

I want to let folks know what I like so they can get out there and support those authors too. This helps everyone. I owe a couple of folks reviews, and since I seem to have some time on my hands these days I’m going to make an effort to catch up.

I’m also really worried that I won’t have a thick enough skin for the times when my work is out there. I always try to say something positive about the work I read – because I know it’s work. It’s not easy to do all that it takes to get your work out there, then have somebody just treat it badly. I strive for thoughtful and well reasoned criticism, but don’t always hit the mark. Sometimes it really is just me.

IF you’re interested and we’re not connected already, track me down on Goodreads and do the friend thing. I’d be interested to hear what you’ve got to say.

That missing piece

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This is the start of my 5th week being laid off. It’s really quite odd. I know there is anxiety floating in the background, but it hasn’t transformed into full fledged fear yet. I believe that part of the reason is that I don’t tie myself to my work. My day job is not who I am, so the loss of it hasn’t caused me to lose some part of myself. There are other people out there that are tied much more directly to their work and without it they seem lost. I strive to keep a balance in my life and so far it seems to be holding. I have kept to my regular schedule and work through the day just as if I had to be at some office doing things. Better to stay on track – don’t want to crash when going back to work.

The up side to this whole mess? I’m actually getting work done for me. I’ve been able to be creative with a couple of projects, get some things done around the house and work on my writing. I’ve gotten 2 submissions out and I’m waiting to hear back. I’ve got another couple on the burner – they’re scheduled to be edited and submitted this week. I’ve even had the chance to get out and take some photos. It was a gorgeous afternoon last Wednesday and I had the chance to walk and snap with a friend. It was very relaxing. Hopefully I’ll get to do some more of this kind of thing before I get back to the grind (but not too many more – I do need to pay the bills after all).

Vine