A few years back I was reading an article about how we learn- part of the article involved the influence of sleep and dreams on learning. During one part of the process the researchers needed to be able to see if the could control what their subjects were dreaming about. As I read this I said outloud "Tetris" - y'know that classic, elegant computer/video game.
I'm not a big games player , but for a while I was hooked on Tetris. I had a hand held game that I would play on the train, an hour or so each day. During the night I would always have a Tetris based dream.
So , I'm reading the article, I turn the page and there it is-Tetris! The researchers discovered that people who played Tetris before going to bed were inclined to dream Tetrisy that night. They had a long explanation as to why, but I was so proud of myself for guessing.
Last week I saw the movie, Pina, by Wim Wenders , a documentary/performance film about the dance/theater work of Pina Bausch. I knew a bit about her, and had seen a few lips of her work, but I was coming to this experience with open eyes.
Incredible.
Each night since , my dreams have been Pina-esque, which makes sense, many of her pieces have that crystal clear dream logic.
I have to see it again, I'd like to try and track it down in 3D, i saw it in your basic 2D.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
anyone have an aspirin?.......
If you are 50 years old (or older) let's take a quick trip back to those thrilling days of yesteryear
Think about the neighborhood you grew up in. ( I grew up in a suburban neighborhood, about an hour east of NYC, on Long Island, or as the locals say Lawn Guyland)
Think about the families who were your neighbors.
Now, how many kids were in those families?
I'll start- My family 5 kids. Next door on the west 5 kids. Across the street on the east 6 kids. Behind us 4. down on the corner 5 on the other corner 6 and then 10.
There were a few 2's and 3"s sprinkled in but you get the idea
The majority of these families (mine included) were Irish Catholic.
I remember I went to a wedding once where the bride was from a family of 10 and the groom was from a family of 14. (French catholic marrying into Irish Catholic)
Let's travel back now to the present. Same neighborhood, same houses. No kids, no kids, two kids, two kids, two kids, that one house on the corner- 5 kids, obviously there's something in the water at the end of the block.
you get the idea.
So, unless there has been a massive improvement in the Rhythm method - somebody is using contraception, someone has some birth control in the house. Raise your hand if you believe that married men are using condoms- I don't see any hands.
Is it possible that the use of birth control goes beyond sex crazed college co eds?
just asking
Think about the neighborhood you grew up in. ( I grew up in a suburban neighborhood, about an hour east of NYC, on Long Island, or as the locals say Lawn Guyland)
Think about the families who were your neighbors.
Now, how many kids were in those families?
I'll start- My family 5 kids. Next door on the west 5 kids. Across the street on the east 6 kids. Behind us 4. down on the corner 5 on the other corner 6 and then 10.
There were a few 2's and 3"s sprinkled in but you get the idea
The majority of these families (mine included) were Irish Catholic.
I remember I went to a wedding once where the bride was from a family of 10 and the groom was from a family of 14. (French catholic marrying into Irish Catholic)
Let's travel back now to the present. Same neighborhood, same houses. No kids, no kids, two kids, two kids, two kids, that one house on the corner- 5 kids, obviously there's something in the water at the end of the block.
you get the idea.
So, unless there has been a massive improvement in the Rhythm method - somebody is using contraception, someone has some birth control in the house. Raise your hand if you believe that married men are using condoms- I don't see any hands.
Is it possible that the use of birth control goes beyond sex crazed college co eds?
just asking
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
didn't we meet on a summer cruise....*
A moment from one of my favorite Woody Allen movies- Love and Death
All of the, 70's Allen (and Mel Brooks ) movies Are the foundation of my families sense of humor, when we get together we can have entire conversations in "code"
"Is it nessa,,,,?" "Of course it's nessa!" (high anxiety, mel brooks)
* (the producers, brooks)
Monday, February 27, 2012
don't look behind that curtain........
A month or so back, I'm sitting in a Barnes and Noble store, drinking a large green ice tea (sweetened, thank you very much) paging thru one of the most recent James Patterson books- not really a fan , but I am in awe of the fact that he basically puts out a book monthly. Perhaps I am most in awe of the fact that he gets away with co- writing these books. What the...? As far as I can tell he sketches out characters and story and the co writer does the nuts and bolts. Amazing.
But that's not why you called, So , over the PA they play the featured Cd's of the month, hoping to entice you and then crush your will and force you to buy what they're hawking. Usually I can resist. On this particular night they were playing a new compilation of Frank Sinatra's greatest hits. Now , if you were born after 1940, these songs are woven into your DNA, you've grown up with these playing somewhere in the background. There is no need to purchase. For God's sake, you probably have all of these songs at home already! Included in this collection are My Way and New York, New York- no right thinking person needs to ever hear these overblown, overproduced, over played monstrosities ever again.
Of course, as I was leaving, I stopped by the music section and bought a copy. ........It was on sale!.... I'm a member, I get an extra 10% off- on top of the sale price!!! Witchcraft is on there! Under My Skin!! Summer Wind!!!! That's one of my favorite recordings of all time!
Okay, I fell right into the trap they set, but no regrets, it's a wonderful collection and I listen to it a ton. He was remarkable- listen to the ease of this performance of Under My Skin. I love the way he swings when he gets to the bridge " I would sacrifice anything....." A true Artist- one of a kind. Lot's of imitators, but no one comes close.
Of course , he was also a world class shit. One of a kind nasty bastard. I'm sure members of his family would disagree, but there is plenty of evidence on hand that points to the fact that he could be a spiteful, ruthless, cold, cruel, monster. But.....the songs, the work.
I read the recent memoir by Dyan Cannon about her relationship with Cary Grant. He was much older , near the end of his career , she was at the start of hers- they met, fell in love, got married, had a child.
He was also controlling, jealous, domineering, prone to wild swings in mood and totally enamored with LSD. He made her life a living hell, But the movies, that voice, that face, that smile. One of a kind- NO ONE like him.
Woody Allen...........
Picasso.........
John Kennedy........
Walter Brennan.........
etc..........
The artist owes us their art and ....what else? Anything? Should we care how they lead their lives outside of their work? The more we know about...(fill in a name) does it change the way we watch the movie, listen to the song, see the painting, cast our vote?
just asking.
ps If anyone is looking for the most beautiful woman in the world, you can call off the search. I found her. She works in the Cafe at Barnes and Noble in Newburgh NY, right off the thruway.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
what am i wearing.........
I love movies.
Always have. I love the whole event- going to the theater- picking the seat- coming attractions- watching the credits. Yes, I'm one of those , I stay to the bitter end, usually as the crew of ushers clean up around me.
I used to save every ticket stub from every movie (and concert and show, etc) . During college years I remember seeing, on average, 7 movies a week. That was a bit of heaven as well as excess. Lots of film .clubs and societies as well as three separate theaters in town.
A few of my pals and I discovered that the local library lent out 16 mm films, so on weekends we would "borrow" a projector from the school and show films in our apartment- mostly oddities. The first one we showed was the documentary "Hospital" by Fredrick Wiseman- a good film, but it starts with a rather graphic bit of surgery , up close, pass the pop corn!
Today is Academy Awards Day- I watch, but I'm not a fan. I don't like competition in the arts, yeah I know, everybody loves competition. Just seems silly to me. Especially when people attempt to connect some meaning to the awards beyond, marketing. (Ordinary People was a better movie then Raging Bull? back in 1980 it was)
This past year I got back in the movie going habit- saw a bunch. Mostly pretty good. Back in the old days I saw EVERYTHING. Now I'm a bit more selective
Here are 3 movies that I enjoyed and then thought about as I left the theater and then talked to people about and in 2 cases went back to see a second time. The Tree of life, The Artist, and Hugo.
The Artist- the presumed best picture winner. An absolute joy from start to finish.Now in the press we see the backlash in full bloom. "Cute, harmless , precious, a stunt......."
I loved it, i cried like a baby once or twice (tears of joy), laughed out loud, and actually gasped a time or two. If you haven't seen it (and according to Box office reports most haven't) you should.
Here are two moments that are worth the price of admission- The young starlet in the stars dressing room, alone with his costume, that's all I say- don't want to spoil it. Perfection.
And very early in the Movie, we see an audience watching a Movie, -the hero is thrown in a cell and locked in. There is a dog in the cell, but obviously no way out. We cut to a view of the audience and their reaction, two gasps and a burst of applause. Back to the screen, the hero has escaped! How? there was no way out Well however he did it, it made the movie audience burst into applause. Again, Perfection.
Hugo- again a few tears were shed. I saw it in 3D, I saw a bunch of 3d movies this year and I can safely say I'm done. Well, maybe not. Most of the 3D things I saw were mostly full of silly effects, stuff jumping at the screen.I will say that the snow in Thor was fun, it really had a "prescense" It was all over the place.
(back in high school I remember we went to see a 3D soft core porn movie , something with Stewardesses. the possibilities of 3D porn are.....alarming.... but this was mostly throwing things at the camera and then hopping into bed)
With Hugo you really feel that you step inside an enviorment, you are completely a part of that train station. It's also a thrill to see bits of the Original George Melies Silent films on the big screen.
I also have to believe that the young actress Chloe Moretz is going to have a long career - what a face! (i could be wrong, I'm not the best predictor of longevity- I thought Leelee sobieski was going to be a big star)
The Tree of Life- where to begin. I saw this one twice and it was like seeing two different movies- I will say that like 2001, this is a movie I will keep coming back to. Amazing.
When I first saw it , I started to squirm a bit during the first section of "the Universe" sequence. "wow, this is long" But, them I stopped and thought "well , this is How Terrence Malick wants to tell the story so, sit back and take it in"
The second time I saw it was at Stony Brook University on a HUGE screen and a packed house of nearly 1,000 people. 950 of which were not having a good time. Lot's of grumbles and moans and talking throughout. My Favorite reaction was at the end, the movie finishes and the audience lets out a collective wail. they were stunned that it was over and that there was no tidy ending. I loved this reaction, after nearly three hours of quiet, non linear, meditation, which includes dinosaurs and swimming pools, they were shocked that there were no easy answers to be found at the end.
So there's three I really liked- there is one thing the all share, all of them could have been silent. There are long stretches in Hugo that are silent and there is very little in the Tree of Life that is spoken that is of great importance, no big plot points, lot's of whispers and murmurs and overheard conversation.
Alright, I'm going to go get ready to watch the Oscars, or maybe I'll go to the movies instead........ but I will Tivo the show, I'm interested to see what Billy Crystal has in store...... talk about back lash! He is the great modern host, but he's getting no love. Meh
Always have. I love the whole event- going to the theater- picking the seat- coming attractions- watching the credits. Yes, I'm one of those , I stay to the bitter end, usually as the crew of ushers clean up around me.
I used to save every ticket stub from every movie (and concert and show, etc) . During college years I remember seeing, on average, 7 movies a week. That was a bit of heaven as well as excess. Lots of film .clubs and societies as well as three separate theaters in town.
A few of my pals and I discovered that the local library lent out 16 mm films, so on weekends we would "borrow" a projector from the school and show films in our apartment- mostly oddities. The first one we showed was the documentary "Hospital" by Fredrick Wiseman- a good film, but it starts with a rather graphic bit of surgery , up close, pass the pop corn!
Today is Academy Awards Day- I watch, but I'm not a fan. I don't like competition in the arts, yeah I know, everybody loves competition. Just seems silly to me. Especially when people attempt to connect some meaning to the awards beyond, marketing. (Ordinary People was a better movie then Raging Bull? back in 1980 it was)
This past year I got back in the movie going habit- saw a bunch. Mostly pretty good. Back in the old days I saw EVERYTHING. Now I'm a bit more selective
Here are 3 movies that I enjoyed and then thought about as I left the theater and then talked to people about and in 2 cases went back to see a second time. The Tree of life, The Artist, and Hugo.
The Artist- the presumed best picture winner. An absolute joy from start to finish.Now in the press we see the backlash in full bloom. "Cute, harmless , precious, a stunt......."
I loved it, i cried like a baby once or twice (tears of joy), laughed out loud, and actually gasped a time or two. If you haven't seen it (and according to Box office reports most haven't) you should.
Here are two moments that are worth the price of admission- The young starlet in the stars dressing room, alone with his costume, that's all I say- don't want to spoil it. Perfection.
And very early in the Movie, we see an audience watching a Movie, -the hero is thrown in a cell and locked in. There is a dog in the cell, but obviously no way out. We cut to a view of the audience and their reaction, two gasps and a burst of applause. Back to the screen, the hero has escaped! How? there was no way out Well however he did it, it made the movie audience burst into applause. Again, Perfection.
Hugo- again a few tears were shed. I saw it in 3D, I saw a bunch of 3d movies this year and I can safely say I'm done. Well, maybe not. Most of the 3D things I saw were mostly full of silly effects, stuff jumping at the screen.I will say that the snow in Thor was fun, it really had a "prescense" It was all over the place.
(back in high school I remember we went to see a 3D soft core porn movie , something with Stewardesses. the possibilities of 3D porn are.....alarming.... but this was mostly throwing things at the camera and then hopping into bed)
With Hugo you really feel that you step inside an enviorment, you are completely a part of that train station. It's also a thrill to see bits of the Original George Melies Silent films on the big screen.
I also have to believe that the young actress Chloe Moretz is going to have a long career - what a face! (i could be wrong, I'm not the best predictor of longevity- I thought Leelee sobieski was going to be a big star)
The Tree of Life- where to begin. I saw this one twice and it was like seeing two different movies- I will say that like 2001, this is a movie I will keep coming back to. Amazing.
When I first saw it , I started to squirm a bit during the first section of "the Universe" sequence. "wow, this is long" But, them I stopped and thought "well , this is How Terrence Malick wants to tell the story so, sit back and take it in"
The second time I saw it was at Stony Brook University on a HUGE screen and a packed house of nearly 1,000 people. 950 of which were not having a good time. Lot's of grumbles and moans and talking throughout. My Favorite reaction was at the end, the movie finishes and the audience lets out a collective wail. they were stunned that it was over and that there was no tidy ending. I loved this reaction, after nearly three hours of quiet, non linear, meditation, which includes dinosaurs and swimming pools, they were shocked that there were no easy answers to be found at the end.
So there's three I really liked- there is one thing the all share, all of them could have been silent. There are long stretches in Hugo that are silent and there is very little in the Tree of Life that is spoken that is of great importance, no big plot points, lot's of whispers and murmurs and overheard conversation.
Alright, I'm going to go get ready to watch the Oscars, or maybe I'll go to the movies instead........ but I will Tivo the show, I'm interested to see what Billy Crystal has in store...... talk about back lash! He is the great modern host, but he's getting no love. Meh
Thursday, January 5, 2012
sanctuary.......
Someone gave me a gift certificate a few months back to an Italian restaurant. Very thoughtful. I travel a lot, going back and forth to different theaters for rehearsals and/or performances, so to be gifted a meal or two or three nearby where I'm working is always appreciated.
(from the Producers: Bloom-" You can't shoot the actors. Actors aren't animals" Bialystock-"did you ever eat with one?")
This place was perfect, close to a theater I was working at, but not too close. In other words, if I ate there, chances are I could eat by myself and not be disturbed by other cast members. I know a bit antisocial, but I like to sit by my self and read during a meal break.
The food is wonderful and the service is excellent- nothing fancy schmancy, your basic red sauce Italian joint.
I've been back a few times, it was a very generous gift, and I would probably go back more often, but.....
I have established that I like to read as I eat ( I know , bad habit) usually the daily papers, sometimes a book. In the dining room they have music playing AND a television tuned to the local all news station AND another TV tuned to ESPN. Both Televisions have the sound turned on, not loud, but audible. I'm trying to eat my bowl of minestrone while The Human League asks the eternal question, "Don't you Want Me Baby" and Norm is giving me Traffic and weather together and Skip Bayless is droning on about Tim Tebow.
Oh and in the mens room opposite the toilet, hanging on the wall....... there's another TV. ESPN2.
Next time I'll pack a lunch and eat in the car.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
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