There’s something a little cruel about “Spring Ahead” –– it always feels like you’re losing an hour.
[There’s a funny little poster of a Native American saying, “Only the U.S. Government would believe that cutting the bottom off a blanket and sewing it back on to the top would mean you’re gaining anything.”]
Last night, structurally broke apart TOOTSIE, which the more you look at it, the more you realize how INCREDIBLY well-crafted it is.
Having realized that my novel is closest in structure to comedies of disguise (although there’s nothing as elaborate as that at all), I wanted to look at every story beat in both our stories as I keep condensing, distilling, and slashing.
It’s actually rather awesome to have the film on my computer now thanks to itunes, because I can minute by minute look at plot points. Plus the DVDs chapter divisions are already a good start to key points and divisions in the narrative.
[It’s kinda funny that in 1982 they needed to proclaim on the poster’s logline that the main character was “hopelessly straight” … is that even a phrase anyone’s ever used before?]
I started diving a bit into REVENGE on ABC via hulu and I have to say it’s rather juicy. They have a real director Philip Noyce (from all those Harrison Ford blockbusters) and it’s always fun to watch Madeleine Stowe. It may become my new work break fare of choice.
This morning, I decided to combat the time shift and check out the Golden Gate Spiritualist Church where there are all sorts of mediums and such.
I arrived semi-purposefully late, in that I was less interested in the entire service part and more interested in the psychic readings.
First, this church was founded by Florence Becker and has been around for almost a hundred years.
The building is rather impressive in its old-fashioned splendor and everyone was very nice to me and Belle.
I do have to admit that having been exposed to a ton of episodes of THE MENTALIST –– and having had Simon Baker run past us a bunch of times in Runyon Canyon –– I am distinctly prejudiced against the medium experience.
[Although I do love the Happy Medium in A Wrinkle In Time.]
The first medium was an Asian guy named Sonny G who would scan the room, pick someone who’s spiritual guides stood out for him, ask them to say something in order to hear their voice, and then gave a reading about the guides he saw and their messages.
The second was a lady named Eustice or something like that who had taken questions earlier on fliers that were folded in half with one’s name on them.
She called the name that was written and didn’t seem to read the question but just caressed the paper a bunch of times before giving info from the guides she saw.
Well, Belle and I were not selected by either one, and although I was slightly disappointed, I was also relieved mostly because Sonny and Eustace both had lots of time proclamations (“Oh, that will change by October”) and I knew that I would be disappointed in any results that were promised to be anything less than immediate.
There was something charming and warm-hearted and nostalgic about it all, even down to the final song (“Let Me Call You Sweetheart” written in 1910) song by a sweet older gentleman. Was this something designed to appeal as contemporary to all the grandparent spirits apparently in attendance? In 60 years, will some medium’s gathering have me singing Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” to the disembodied crowd?
One other note: I immediately found a $3 pamphlet for AS A MAN THINKETH (you may recall my entire my blog entry. That felt like “a sign” and I am eager to re-read it all nightly and return my probably overdue library version.
Anyway, after the Mediums, I ran to a newstand to spend 30 minutes going through magazines to deliver a Wish List for my new publicist for various projects before our 3pm conference call tomorrow.
[Are you getting my day’s contrast: hundred year old spiritualist churches with mediums and then leafing through every trendy glossy mag for PR opportunities….?]
Another episode of REVENGE.
More marketing and PR work for tomorrow.
A lovely dinner with Susan and Belle.
And … a delightful LOA-arranged “accidental” reunion with Rhiannon at Whole Foods (she’s on my call list for this week now that she’s back in SF).
I could piece this all together a little better –– there’s something about disguise and mediums and the illusions of PR and running into people that I could make a little thematically tighter but …
I’ve got to get back to REVENGE (first things first!)
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