Saturday, August 31, 2019
Friday, August 30, 2019
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Don't Show the Monster Too Much at the Beginning (Poem)
A sick and dying cockroach
traversing a wet cold roof
Old Man’s lot in life
is an empty lot
his mind made of mucilage
in a detritus of thoughts
eligible for citizenship
in a nightmare country
lying peacefully in agony
land mounds built away
from progress of waste
The sun slides silently back
Aurally and visually stunning
Promising a mourning rise
These hills have
Gary Mitchell eyes
traversing a wet cold roof
Old Man’s lot in life
is an empty lot
his mind made of mucilage
in a detritus of thoughts
eligible for citizenship
in a nightmare country
lying peacefully in agony
land mounds built away
from progress of waste
The sun slides silently back
Aurally and visually stunning
Promising a mourning rise
These hills have
Gary Mitchell eyes
___
2019
Simon St. Laurent
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Starship Enterprise in Miniature Form
Believe it or not, this ol' Trekker existed for many years with no representation of Star Trek's stellar starship. As did many of my peers, I built various AMT kits in my youth -- including the first "U.S.S. Enterprise" kit, which included internal lighting.
My deficit changed the other day when I stepped into BMV Books on Bloor Street here in Toronto. A front table supported a few Star Wars vehicles in little eye-catching boxes. I passed on those since I'm not a fan of that franchise -- and I'm not a geek.
There it was, sitting in the pack; illustrated in the above, in miniature form.
I'm guessing I should crack it open....
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Monday, August 26, 2019
A Forever Question: Fool Me Twice
“Since before your sun burned hot in space and before your race was born, I have awaited a question.”
Sir. Why is there no Fool’s Platinum?
Sir. Why is there no Fool’s Platinum?
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Scheer Magic!
Conservative Party of Canada leader Andrew Scheer is hoping to displace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in October’s federal election. His angle: tweet after tweet about Liberal Justin Trudeau.
Outside of his obvious obsession with the PM, Mr Scheer feels that details of policy don’t count for much. Mr Trudeau’s miring in the SNC-Lavalin scandal, a scandal which doesn’t seem to want to stick, I should add, is not enough to convince his followers that it’s time for him to “go Harper, 2016-style”. CPC Scheer is preaching to his own faithful, who look at the issue in matching monochromatic tones -- issues of employment, international trade, health care, and more, don’t register as being important enough to charm one's vote. Admiral Scheer does understand something, however, and it seems to inform his obsession with the PM. Trudeau exudes charisma. Scheer has none.
Much in the same way a Hollywood casting director might admit about a actor's miscasting in a film, one could describe the CPC’s pick for leader: “He’s all wrong.”
Outside of his obvious obsession with the PM, Mr Scheer feels that details of policy don’t count for much. Mr Trudeau’s miring in the SNC-Lavalin scandal, a scandal which doesn’t seem to want to stick, I should add, is not enough to convince his followers that it’s time for him to “go Harper, 2016-style”. CPC Scheer is preaching to his own faithful, who look at the issue in matching monochromatic tones -- issues of employment, international trade, health care, and more, don’t register as being important enough to charm one's vote. Admiral Scheer does understand something, however, and it seems to inform his obsession with the PM. Trudeau exudes charisma. Scheer has none.
Much in the same way a Hollywood casting director might admit about a actor's miscasting in a film, one could describe the CPC’s pick for leader: “He’s all wrong.”
Friday, August 23, 2019
Re Film Design: Storeroom Concept Sketches
When I'm writing a script or story and I want to get a handle on the layout and look of a location I often sketch out what I imagine that place to be. Sometimes I'll draw up a place to give me story ideas.
I wrote a short-film script a few years ago after I watched the 1924 Russian silent feature film Aelita. The work of its designers, Issac Rabinovich and Victor Simov, inspired me to review Constructivist art. What happened was I stormed-up a story. I could not write it down fast enough.
The sketches above came from my pen when I was writing another story idea.
___
The above piece was originally posted on December 13, 2017
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Picturing: A Special Rock in The Annex (Toronto)
The 1.5 billion-year-old rock. It sits at the southwest corner of Major and Bloor Streets here in Toronto.
Since I live very close to the rock (a stone's throw?), yesterday I figured I should take some snaps instead of just walking by, oblivious to more than 4000 pounds (2000 kilograms) of granite. Yes, it's actual granite and not Gunite.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Saved from the Star Wars Rabbit Hole
In January of last year I wrote a post ranking the Star Wars movies. In concluding that piece I stated with satiated glee: "I have not seen any SW since Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith."
That all changed late last year when I decided to get bold; I watched Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). My reaction was such that I said "end of story". Not so fast, encouraged a certain friend of mine. He recommended Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) -- "it's a lot better". I sat, I reawakened. It was better in that it reaffirmed: No more Star Wars for me. (Too many movies to see, too many books to read.)
From January 10, 2018:
Rating All the Star Wars Movies
An open and discarded Toronto Sun lay before me as I order my coffee. There's a full page spread rating all the Star Wars flicks, of which there are many now, and increasing in number like bunny rabbits.
That (no doubt 'complimentary') copy of the rapidly depleting rag got me thinking. ("The Sun got you thinking?") What are my favourites and in what order do they fall?
1. Star Wars
2. The Empire Strikes Back
Numbers 1 and 2 are interchangeable, really. (I have not seen any SW since Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.)
That all changed late last year when I decided to get bold; I watched Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). My reaction was such that I said "end of story". Not so fast, encouraged a certain friend of mine. He recommended Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) -- "it's a lot better". I sat, I reawakened. It was better in that it reaffirmed: No more Star Wars for me. (Too many movies to see, too many books to read.)
From January 10, 2018:
Rating All the Star Wars Movies
An open and discarded Toronto Sun lay before me as I order my coffee. There's a full page spread rating all the Star Wars flicks, of which there are many now, and increasing in number like bunny rabbits.
That (no doubt 'complimentary') copy of the rapidly depleting rag got me thinking. ("The Sun got you thinking?") What are my favourites and in what order do they fall?
1. Star Wars
2. The Empire Strikes Back
Numbers 1 and 2 are interchangeable, really. (I have not seen any SW since Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.)
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
A Forever Question: Re Soul
“Since before your sun burned hot in space and before your race was born, I have awaited a question.”
Sir. Can one be re-souled?
Sir. Can one be re-souled?
Monday, August 19, 2019
A Forever Question: Tough Stuff
“Since before your sun burned hot in space and before your race was born, I have awaited a question.”
Sir. Why do souls never wear out?
Sir. Why do souls never wear out?
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Terrific Television Program Scores
In the past few weeks I've posted a few times about favourite motion picture film scores. Good, and not so good, movies can be enhanced further by an appropriate music track.
How about television programs? How could I let that one go?
Television programs of all sorts have fine theme tunes, but a few have had terrifically appropriate background scores. Consistently so.
Some of the best come from classic television shows. Dramatic television series' tend to capture this market. This is even more the case for fantasy/SF shows, with the type's inherent variety and tableau of stories calling out for special scoring.
Two prime picks:
The Twilight Zone (1959 - 1964)
Star Trek (1966 - 1969)
There must be recent examples....
How about television programs? How could I let that one go?
Television programs of all sorts have fine theme tunes, but a few have had terrifically appropriate background scores. Consistently so.
Some of the best come from classic television shows. Dramatic television series' tend to capture this market. This is even more the case for fantasy/SF shows, with the type's inherent variety and tableau of stories calling out for special scoring.
Two prime picks:
The Twilight Zone (1959 - 1964)
Star Trek (1966 - 1969)
There must be recent examples....
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Friday, August 16, 2019
On a Long Pier
Yesterday I heard the news that there’s a proposal here in Toronto to build a deepwater pier at the Ontario Place site. For a while now I’ve been meaning to post something about this city needing a pier.
Here it is:
The great lakefront city of Toronto needs its own “Southend”.
Here it is:
The great lakefront city of Toronto needs its own “Southend”.
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