My First and Last Play

The stage directions were challenging, and still are. I still am not comfortable, really, with doing them consistently. I feel like it doesn't flow as well, but that is just my personal preference. The unpleasant surprises were thinking about how I would do some things in my play on stage, but a couple of them could have been resolved by starting the conflict, and then pulling the curtains and dimming the lights. However, it was still unfortunate that I had trouble with that, because it felt like it was constricting my creativity, which I've never been a fan of. That is one of the reasons I don't like plays so much, or at least writing them (plays are fun to watch actually), I feel like my creativity can't be utilized completely, like I have to limit it in some ways and enhance it in others. I much prefer to write what I feel, what I find funny or entertaining, not necessarily what I think could be portrayed well on a stage.

However, I have helped write a movie script, provided it is just for fun, and is not particularly well written as far as drama goes, but I truly believe it will be hilarious. I should have some time to film it with my partner in crime over break (after the band tour), so hopefully we can make a lot of progress on it. :)

One personal essay that I have always thought about writing is being colorblind. I have written shorter things about it, but never an essay or a paper or something formal like that. I am, however, working it into my stand-up routine that I'm doing for the Cabaret on January 10th, and my audition is actually today. It is something that, when I was younger, I was extremely uncomfortable with, and I felt strange or weird, and so different from everyone else. It seems like before middle school or high school, everyone wants to be the same, and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't change that about me, and it bothered me for a long time. The way it was... exposed, also bothered me too. Usually, my Mom would tell all my teachers that I was colorblind, that way I didn't have to answer any questions that I might not know. However, we forgot to tell my 4th grade teacher, Mr. Beverage, and one day during History he asked me a question about different altitudes, or something, on a graph. The graph was color-coded (naturally), with red meaning lower or green meaning higher (or so I was told later). Naturally, I had no idea what to say, and I could only say either "I don't know" and end up looking like I wasn't paying attention, or tell him I was colorblind. I chose the latter. Luckily, recess was right after History, so everyone was asking me what color their shirt was, what color their pants were, what color the grass was and if the sky looked blue. One kid (who shall remain nameless) even asked me if I was colorblind like his dog, hahahah. That's definately my favorite one. Anyways, if you want to hear my stand-up about that, you'll just have to come to the cabaret. However, to finish this up, I have changed a lot since 4th grade. Being colorblind does not bother me in the least, as you can tell from me using it in a stand-up routine, and I make jokes about it all the time. It is fun to think, write and talk about now, so I could definately see myself writing a personal essay about being colorblind. But the stand-up will be tons funnier. ;)

Well, as I referred too in the answer to the second question, I would have to say that (to a 10 year old), you should do your best to be original. Everyone wants to be the same in elementary school, but how boring would that be? As you get older, you will realize you are original, and not try to be the same as everyone else. I would definately suggest that, because it makes life more interesting, and makes you, as a person, more interesting. Just about everyone I know has embraced this, which makes me think it is more than common, but it is a transition that I think everyone should make.

Luigi Pirandello says this blog will never die!!

1. It can be very important, but sometimes it might not be as important. In some cases, adding a theme can be extremely important because it would add more meaning and depth to what you are writing. One instance might be a short story, because usually they are fictional, or only slightly based off of real life. So, if there is an important theme or message that the reader picks up on (or is supposed to pick up on) throughout the story, it makes the short story more important, easier to read and the reader will generally feel better after they've read it. Personally, I don't care too much for finding or creating an important theme. Usually, I just go for comedy and try to make the reader laugh, or my audience laugh. That means on occasion my writing isn't as strong as it could be, but it accomplishes what I want it to, and that's really all I care.



2. I suppose writing about an ageless conflict or ageless human problem would be a good start if you wanted to have your writing preserved for hundreds or even thousands of years. However, I'm not entirely sure what that would be. Perhaps, love (like in Romeo and Juliet) mixed with great tragedy, because both of those will always be involved in human life. I don't really have any passion to write something like that, so, it is hard for me to think of possible topics that would be preserved for a long time or revered for years. Personally, I don't see myself writing something that lasts that long or is ever that popular. I envision myself going into an occupation in the NFL and maybe doing stand-up on the side, so I really don't think I will be writing to support myself or to attempt to get something of that caliber published in my lifetime.



3. That is an interesting question, and I would have to say I'd like to use my comedy and my humor to help make people happier around me. I don't think I will run for President, I don't think I will be a Senator, but I think I will always be funny and I will always be smart. So, I can use both those traits to my advantage to make my humor more interesting and entertaining. I don't know if I could accomplish that with my writing as well as I might be able to if I was speaking it, but I suppose I could. It wouldn't be quite as funny, but I'd hope that it would still make the world around me happier or help my audience laugh for a while, because that is what I love to do.

Apparently "Thinks" Is A Word

1. Something in my world that concerns me is global warming and our overall lack of concern about our environment. Global warming is happening and in my opinion it is man caused. The Earth is changing and it will directly affect everyone on this Earth if we don't do something to at least slow it down. I honestly don't know what I would do to try to improve the situation, but I am not paid or expected to, there are lots of people who are. But ignoring this problem or attributing it to a natural cycle of nature (which is about the dumbest thing I've ever heard) will only hurt this country and the world in the long run.

2. This might not be the exact point of this question, but I am having trouble thinking of an example. So, my example is Chad Johnson, who is a wide reciever for the Cincinnati Bengals. Not only is he a very good WR, but he is very talkative and funny. He does a bunch of end zone celebrations, and often draws fines for using "props" once he gets to the end zone. I don't know if this is the right word, but he seems flamboyant even, and is very animated all the time. He is creative and I find him funny, so that is why I think he is dynamic.

3. I think movies are the form of art that have inspired me. I don't know if there is a specific film that I have watched that inspired me, but I love making movies for classes in school and even just for fun (The Michael Vick Musical for instance). That inspires me to be creative and try to get the audience to laugh, because usually that is the goal when I make a movie with my friends. So, you have to think creatively and try to percieve things from the audience's point of view to make sure it will be funny and have it's desired effect.