Hello again.
As of late I've been asking myself what it is that drives me to create and/or to dive in to a fat plate (loco plato!) of someone else's fine works. One of the greatest cinematic movements I've ever experienced is W.P. Blatty's 'The Ninth Configuration', based on his book Twinkle, Twinkle Killer Kane. Short book, big punch. The film (and book) deals directly with existentialism, belief, sacrifice, redemption... and the most controversial word of all time: God. Not to be a dull or irritating proponent of this work, but this movie did change my life. I have carried with me for many years it's beautifully crafted impact and, as a filmmaker, I can only push myself to build something as inspired and moving. This is certainly, for myself, to be considered one of the moving forces in my life. An energy. The word that comes to mind is inertia. My sensibilities were, and are, directly influenced and changed by the energy of this film. Is it transference? If so, once I have created something on my own, is the new work to be considered something new? Not to say this movie was the only Thing that made a difference in my life. Far from it. I'm just using it as an example I can readily use. If you ask any musician, professional or not, what their influences are, you'll get a long, detailed list of musical artists that preceded them and a few of their contemporaries. Same question. Is it transference? Is there anything new under the sun? I believe the answer is yes. And no. Had I been locked in a room, with absolutely no outside stimuli, for all those years before I created anything, would I have been able to make something new, fresh and inventive? Something to be considered referenceless? Would instinct and genetic makeup have driven a new song or visual movement into existence? I do not know. I know I'm sensually attracted to the vibrance and sheer vitality of artists who do not reflect the work of others. Of one of the creative souls I've had the pleasure of working with is Jeremy Shipp. We were actually long distance, electronic friends before we collaborated on a strange and beautiful Thing called Egg. This is not to imply that the other artists I have worked with are of lesser value. Banish the thought! Every single project I've worked on (of my choosing) has in some way or another lit me up like a fucking pinball machine. The first time I read the Egg script, something went terribly awry with my brain for about 10 minutes. I got up from the computer and went outside and smoked and paced and smiled. The thoughts of what could be done with with this story, in a cinematic way, were racing and tumbling at blinding speed. Soooo many possibilities! I was, after all those years of training, discovery, disappointment(s), fascination and minor successes, given a chance to do something original in a cinematic way. And I did not create the story. So on a sub-level of the topic of the origin of energy, I pose myself this: What part did the filmmaking process play in the universal mechanics of the existence Egg? It is, after all, a product and it had to come from somewhere. The written words and story came from a quiet, humble genius named Shipp. The movie, a long, involved and intricate parlay among several artists and disciplines. Hmm. I think the actors are responsible for for the physical character portrayals, the camera guy for the cam movement and angles, the sound department for proper audio, etc., but I think ultimately, the origin of energy for Egg, no matter what happens to the written words (simple readings or on to film), comes from the writer. Why? Because it can stand alone as a written story, no matter of it becoming a movie or not. And this is only one example among a googol.So, how many of our experiences on the Earth are linked to the past?
Everything.
We are simple mirrors with a prismatic affect.
In case anyone is interested in Egg or Jeremy Shipp:
http://www.myspace.com/jeremywriter
http://www.myspace.com/eggfilm
Here is the trailer for Egg:
Here's a few pix from Egg:
This is a link to a 10 minute clip from The Ninth Configuration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js5q8JZ1zcw&feature=related
...the whole movie has been uploaded there on You Tube, and this is segment 2. Writer/director Blatty has a small role in the film as Fromme, one of the asylum's patients. He can be seen in segment 2 as the 'doctor' telling Stacy Keach to 'follow the yellow brick road'. Most people know Blatty as an author and Oscar-winning screewriter of The Exorcist. Here at this link ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itB1iFU-8Xk&feature=related ) you will find Blatty discussing the links between The Exorcist, The Ninth Configuration and Legion (Exorcist III), all of which he wrote and produced, the latter2 directing. Fascinating stuff!
WOTD:
GLARTCH: (v)\ one of many sounds made during a violent session of vomiting.
