Like many people, I’ve had an idea for a screenplay knocking around in my brain for quite a while. Despite the best of intentions, I’ve never committed it to paper. Cue Script Frenzy. Like its sister event, NaNoWriMo, its reason for being is to inspire novice writers to produce an entire draft by setting an arbitrary deadline and time constraint. Script Frenzy participants are challenged and encouraged to produce a 100 page draft of their screenplay, teleplay or stage play between April 1 and April 30. The website also provides helpful tips and basic instruction, such as this introduction to screenwriting or this guide to the basics of screenplay formating.

For mostly superstitious reasons, I’m reluctant to share the basis for my screenplay, but I will represent that it’s based on a true (though relatively unknown) story, has memorable characters, and might make a great movie. If someone can ever get it written, that is.

Wish me luck. Anyone else want to join me?

Susan last year did a great post on opening lines. It was all music though. So let’s switch it. What are your thoughts on the best opening lines in literature? There are some I love even when I’ve never read the book. (i.e. the classic, “it was a dark and stormy night. Suddenly a shot rang out.”)

So, in no particular order. Here are a few of mine.
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Best-Ever Oatmeal Chocolate-Chip Cookies (more…)

I’ve frequently been accused of being an apologist for the TV show LOST. To some, it seems that I’m just someone who drinks the Kool-Aid. This last accusation is particularly inaccurate. In fact, it was Flavor Aid laced with cyanide, and not Kool-Aid at all, that Jim Jones passed out to members of the People’s Temple in Guyana on November 18, 1979. Look it up. These kinds of details matter, people. The part about me being an apologist for Lost, however, is correct. I think it’s the best series that has ever been broadcast on network television. But it would be an exaggeration to say that I watch with an uncritical eye.

So to prove my point, clear the air, and score some credibility, I offer the following list of the ten worst things about LOST.
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1) David Cook
2) Michael Johns
3) Syesha Mercado
4) Brooke White
5) Kristy Lee Cook
6) Jason Castro
7) David Archuleta
8 ) Carly Smithson
9) Ramiele Malubay
10) Chikezie

While last week we saw mostly poor-to-mediocre performances, this week was saw some fantastic ones. David Cook was brilliant, and that’s coming from someone who hasn’t really loved him in the past. Incredible. Also, Michael Johns and Syesha Mercado were fantastic. Syesha can really carve out a front position if she continues with performances like that. Even Kristy Lee Cook’s performance was pretty dang good. It was nice to see her break out, though I don’t think it will last very long. Brooke is always good and this week was no exception. The rest were pretty boring. David Archuleta’s age is starting to show, he’s just kind of a goofy teen that doesn’t really know what’s going on. I mean, seriously, compare him to David Cook or Brooke White, they’re on a completely different level of awareness and professionalism. And it’s Chikezie’s time to go.

Meat Puppets, live, Pomona, CA, March 20, 2008.
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1) Bill Cosby
2) Jerry Seinfeld
3) Mitch Hedberg
4) Dave Chappelle
5) Steve Martin

Runners up: Chris Rock, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks, Demetri Martin

I got this purely on a whim the other day. I was browsing the documentary aisle at Best Buy and the pickings were slim. I ended up buying this for two reasons. One, I grew up as a teen in Seattle and used to see Nirvana play at small all ages shows. Two, there was a list of bands on the back whose music are featured in it, including Bad Brains, the Melvins, Butthole Surfers…my kind of stuff. When my husband saw it, he said, “I wonder if there’s any footage of us in it?” I figured chances were slim, but maybe there might be some footage from a show we were at.
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Devices that I’d never have thought would be hits are. To me the Kindle looks ungainly, it’s LCD too slow refreshing, and why would I read on that rather than a book? Yet, according to Amazon, it’s a hit. They are selling more than they can make.

Ditto the Apple TV. (Or, if you’re reading on Safari, TV) Underpowered (although at least it now has 5.1 sound). With HD content that is better than cable or dish, but not in the same ball park as HD-DVD or BluRay. At best an excuse to use Netflix to rip DVDs.

And the iPhone, as cool as it looks, has little RAM, no cut and paste, no spreadsheet, and won’t have 3rd party applications until June.

So have any of you consumed?

Here’s why I’m waiting.
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My 4 year old son received a light saber for Christmas.  It is probably his favorite toy at the moment.  Ever since he got it he has wanted to get me one as well.  His plan was to get me one for my birthday but RSV intervened  and there was no birthday.  Today at the store he spotted a light saber, and it was about six bucks so we bought it.

At home my daughter claimed it and they had impressively mild sword fight in the driveway.  Once inside the house my son placed the butt of his light saber on the floor and asked his sister to put her’s next to it.  Once she did he exclaimed, “See!  My light saber is longer!”

One day we’ll rent Space Balls and mention this incident to him, but I hope it is at least a decade before his statement would strike him as funny.

Another quick post: the final trailer for Wall-E has been put up at Apple. Pixar looks seriously back on its game, and I would not be surprised if this turns out to be one of the best movies of the year. I can already tell it will probably be better than Indy IV — and this comes from an Indy fan.

Happy: Junior Senior - “Move Your Feet”

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I’m currently with my family on Spring Break vacation. The odds of me actually watching tomorrow’s episode of LOST tomorrow are slim to none. Rather than leave Kulturblog readers stranded, I thought I’d put together the usual list of links and miscellanea, then leave the post up as a place for open discussion for those who have had a chance to see the show. I won’t get to see the episode until I return home on Friday night (and maybe not until Saturday). I might go back and add my observations and speculations, but then again, maybe I won’t. We’ll see.

Word is, “Meet Kevin Johnson” is going to be a cliffhanger and a key episode. Should be good. By the way, after tomorrow’s episode, there will be a four-week break until the final five episodes of season 4 will be aired.

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Good news, BSG fans. Sci Fi has given the go-ahead for production of Ron Moore’s Battlestar Galactica prequel, set 50 years before the current series. Frakkin’ A!

Don’t forget — The fourth season of Battlestar Galactica kicks off on March 28 at 10 p.m. ET/PT with two back-to-back half-hour specials, with the first new episode premiering the following week, April 4, at 10 p.m.

1) David Archuleta
2) Syesha Mercado
3) Carly Smithson
4) David Cook
5) Michael Johns
6) Brooke White
7) Ramiele Malubay
8 ) Jason Castro
9) Kristy Lee Cook
10) Chikezie
11) Amanda Overmyer

There were no stand-outs last night. David Arch won by default, he was good but not amazing. Syesha was great, though a little too sappy. Carly, David Cook and Michael Johns were all okay and Brooke was embarrassing, though her vocals weren’t that bad. Ramiele was alright. Jason Castro was too goofy to take seriously. Kristy Lee Cook wasn’t horrible, though I expect her to be the next to go. I’m done with Chikezie and Skunkie did the same old shtick.

Elbow is a band from Manchester that has made some fantastic music in the past and has a new album (their fourth), The Seldom Seen Kid, which has just been released in the UK and comes out in the States in April. (more…)

I am a huge fan of “The Wire” and its writers. Long before David Simon had written any television I read his book “Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets.” I’ve read everything Dennis Lehane has ever published. I’ve read at least four novels by George Pelecanos. I’ve read two of Richard Price’s novels and followed his screenwriting work for years.

I knew about these writers long before “The Wire,” and if the show had never been made I’d still be an avid follower of their work.

But frankly, I was disappointed and confused by this manifesto they recently put out. (more…)

I know virtually nothing of this show, the previews look weak, and yet advance reviews (such as this one) are positive. It stars Judy Greer (Kitty from Arrested Development — “Say goodbye to these, Michael!”) as an emotionally stunted guidance counselor.

Cue up the tivo!

March Madness is upon us. Fill out your brackets before the 20th so we can see who is the best at picking teams we’ve heard to beat teams we haven’t heard of. Baby!

Group: Kulturblog
Password: kultur

Only 3 weeks to go to the last season of Battlestar Galactica. What are your thoughts/predictions for this season? Who’s the final cylon? Is Hera really the first human/cylon hybrid? Who won’t live to the end? Will Roslin and Adama get it together?

Post your ideas below (please don’t post spoilers!) (more…)

A Sun and Jin episode with a twist. Nice.

Details and speculation based on tonight’s episode after the jump.

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And you should, too:
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Here’s the new trailer (in Spanish subtitles) for the Ed Norton Incredible Hulk. Hulk still looks CGI, only now he’s battling another CGI Hulk. Disappointing, frankly. Ang Lee’s Hulk was ponderous, but it was also beautiful and thoughtful. How will this movie compare, if the effects/action aren’t superior? Ed Norton’s acting prowess is amazing — but I am not confident that this alone would be enough.

And you Ang Lee haters can stick it!!

1) Carly Smithson
2) Chikezie
3) Brooke White
4) David Cook
5) Michael Johns
6) Jason Castro
7) Ramiele Malubay
8 ) Syesha Mercado
9) Amanda Overmyer
10) David Archuleta
11) David Hernandez
12) Kristy Lee Cook

Carly sounded brilliant and Chikezie was a huge surprise. I was very skeptical of Brooke for a while but she has won me over, she’s fantastic. David Cook, Michael Johns and Jason Castro were all fine. Rameile almost put me to sleep and Syesha was boring. I can’t stand Amanda and her hair is a total and complete disaster. David Archuleta was terrible (he forgot the lyrics!!). David Hernandez was cheese and Kristy doesn’t have a clue.