In the past 30 days I accomplished two different artistic goals. Here’s what that taught me about the act of creating, and about myself. National Novel Writing Month I’d always wanted to try National Novel Writing Month (or #NaNoWriMo). I even started it once before, years ago, but I gave Read more…
What I learned by biting off more than I could chew.
Have you ever walked out of a movie? Or failed to finish a book you started reading? Or gotten halfway through a video game and just given up? Congratulations: you secretly won. That’s because you stopped giving your time and attention to something that didn’t appeal to you, and turned Read more…
Autonomy is a major theme on Mad Men. Who has more power to control your story and your life — is it you, or everyone else? For example, when the execs at ad agency Sterling Cooper learn their ad agency is about to be sold (again) at the end of Read more…
I spent six days in Austin enjoying the 2015 SXSW Film program. Like any conference that’s also a nonstop party, this year’s lineup was inspiring, informative, and over too soon. Here are six takeaways that stuck with me. “The cavalry is not coming.” – Mark Duplass Sound depressing? Well, wait Read more…
Every Marvel movie has a few problems, but Thor: The Dark World has some truly blockbuster-sized plot holes.
In September of 2003, before the launch of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or MySpace — before you could watch a video on your iPod, much less on your cell phone — the first episode of a brand new, so-called “web series” was uploaded to the Internet. The writer-director of this web Read more…
NOTE: This post was written in June 2013. Since then, DC and Warner Bros have released Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, and Justice League, plus a parallel DC TV Universe on the CW. While DC and WB stuck to their vision, I still think my strategy would have Read more…
From the audience’s impact on the making of LOST to the eerie web promotions for The Dark Knight Returns, our media is becoming more immersive by the day. WIRED contributing editor Frank Rose noticed this trend and embarked on a years-long voyage to connect the digital dots. His goal was Read more…
The way the series ends is a crucial aspect of its theme.