ehowton | Responsibility

On the recommendation of one of my readers here, I watched The Weatherman with Nicolas Cage and Michael Caine. There were a lot of close ups of Nicolas Cage's face as he attempted to emote, and Michael Caine's role was almost non-existent. Only Drew Barrymore's visage on the cover of Scream was more misleading.

The Weatherman is one of those movies created for people who have no life, to be able, if only for an hour or so, to experience one. It is not a movie for those of us who have a wife, children, a job, a mortgage, two car payments, life insurance, living parents, etc. We LIVE the things daily that movies like this one try to recreate for those of you who don't. Movies like this do not entertain me because when I take time out of 'real life' to watch something like that, all I'm seeing is more 'real life.' And I'll tell you something I learned a long time ago - I'm far more entertaining than most everyone else I interact with. Most people are mopey, dull, uninteresting flotsam. They live their entire lives striving for something they never reach. Nicolas Cage's character in The Weatherman was similarly portrayed.

When

photogoot and I were rooming together in the service, acquaintances were often bringing us people who had no personality, so that we could inspire them. I am not making this up! Like an orphanage, the doorbell would ring and we'd answer it only to find someone's personality-deficient friend on the doorstep, staring up at us with dewy eyes. YOU CANNOT INSPIRE SOMEONE WHO LACKS SELF-MOTIVATION.

Recently, I've been reminded of my own responsibilities. They are to my family, and my family alone. While I certainly enjoy you all in your different ways, and relish in the interaction we have here, your emotional well-being is not my responsibility. Lately, my wife has felt cheated, as if my time were stolen away from her with all the phone calls, emails, text messages and instant messages. Those of you who are beholden to another know and understand the look. I get the look every single time my phone makes a noise. Perhaps its because I've been off all week that I see it too?

Its been a hard week to get a hold of me. And since we're on the subject of prioritizing things in my life, a really poor example of a voice mail is one which states simply, "Call me."

I appreciate both your understanding and support. But if I can't have both, your support will suffice.

Taking care of you is causing me difficulty in being able to tend to those who see after me. And if I can't take care of myself, I will not be able to assist you. Turn my back on you? Not yet. We're not at that point. And as odd as this sounds,

crowy put it best when she stated, "There is a difference between a problem and just plain drama. Problem: you had a bad day and need someone to talk to. Drama: every fucking day is a bad day..."

Bravo.

I've canceled all my public appearances for the rest of the month and am looking forward to a nice, quiet New Year's at home with those who matter the most to me. My family.

I wish all of you the most fantastic New Year you've ever experienced.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

We'll deal with the last things first and the first things last.

Firstly (or would that be lastly) since your authorship of this post, I have not endeavored to contact you in any way. This includes not leaving you comments so that you don't get the automated email from Live Journal. So not only do you have my support, you also have my full understanding and empathy as I go above and beyond the call of duty. As, however, a new month is upon us, ergo, your timeframe of seclusion is over.

Now then, I don't require inspiration to do what I want to do. Oh, sure, I need to be inspired so that I'll have a story to write a script, but that's not the kind of inspiration we're talking about here. I fully agree that I lack self-motivation, but for all the right reasons.

You see, as I have previously explained I cannot just uproot myself and go to where the film/video action is without serious financial repercussions. Furthermore, I don't have the necessary skill set to show up and get a so-called "real" (read "high paying") job; I have yet to learn how to be my own DP, hence the strong desire to start with still photography and then make the transition into motion photography.

I'm sure you'll agree with Limbaugh when he says "most limitation are self-imposed." One could argue that I have boxed myself into thinking that unless I have the funds I shouldn't get into film. As I have just made the argument that until I have some money or mad skillz to speak of I cannot argue this point, thus I concede that in my own way I lack self-motivation. Hell, I haven't even actively sought out any project in my area. (That may be due to the fact that there are no projects in my area.)

Finally, I will out myself and 'fess up to being the one who not only recommended The Weatherman but also was the one who gave you the DVD from my own personal collection. I have only just recently put together the fact that when it comes to movies you prefer instant gratification rather than something that you have to keep turning over and over in order to gain proper perspective and deeper insight. Had I recognized this before I journey to Texas, I would have brought you a Three Stooges collection.

There are many reasons that I like this movie. Perhaps the lasting reason (thought I don't think about it these days) is that the movie's release date got pushed something like three times and I all I had to go on was the trailer. It then played for two weeks in town and left with no word on a DVD release. Aside from The Fountain, this is the only movie that I have ever downloaded in the theater to home release interim.

I find it very quotable. You're a champion asshole. A real blue ribbon fuck! (I would go on, but as we are the only two who would appreciate them, I will stop at this. Please let me know if you want an exhaustive list. I am sure, however, that your favorite two quotes in the movie were I like eating pussy and To get anything of value you have to sacrifice. Do you know that the harder thing to do and the right thing to do are usually the same thing? Nothing that has meaning is easy. "Easy" doesn't enter into grown-up life.

I also liked the camera work and the general cinematography. I'm a suck for blue "duotones". To me, what was so fascinating about the story was here was a guy who had a life that most envied, yet he was the most clueless person on the planet. I appreciated Robert's wisdom. He knew that if he attempted to correct the flaws that David would reject the correction, so instead Robert waited with open arms for David to say "Dad, I need your help." But this thought never crossed David's mind.

I remember being really ticked off at the end of the movie because I thought that it was highly irresponsible of the filmmakers to make a movie where there wasn't some correction or attempt to be responsible and say "hey, if only this selfish stupid fuck would do X all of his problems would vanish." The more I thought about the story, the more I got what was being communicated. Sad really. I consider this movie to be a warning. Too many people who see it will miss the message entirely.

You missed the point! Loquacious asshole.

Which point are you pointing to that I presumably passed over?

Perhaps 18 months from now, while "back reading", you will cull the point out of what has already been provided.

Thank you for the clarification given that there are so many points on the table. Your insight was...illuminating.

There is only one point. You missed it. Nothing illuminating or insightful was offered. I simply made a statement to you.

I too only saw (read) one point in this post. Read the whole instead of breaking it down. Often the meaning is lost in the details. Did you skip the class on subtly? It is an excellent skill to acquire for film making.

Responsibility

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