sundries

[rm]

Patty has her first day of school in Cardiff today!

Yesterday, Kali fixed our novel by basing the magical system on the sub-prime induced economic collapse and the European credit crisis. I am not even kidding. Unrelatedly, we're also writing a pitch for a miniseries, because she had and idea and I went "but update it and set it now, right?" So hey, we get to come up with a snazzy name for our collective efforts too. We're going to have one more meeting before I go to CH so we can map and then get to work while I'm away.

Meanwhile D&J is has a full outline, an ACT II opener tentatively titled "It's a Cop!" and a plot-critical reference to Australia that's so wrong it's right. No, no really. Poetic too.

Meanwhile, our fundraising video also has an outline, and that will be shot over the weekend. Also getting my hands, finally, on the disc of D&J that I forgot existed to edit into it. I'm hoping we'll be able to have our Kickstarter fundraising page up by the middle of next week.

Treble Entendre is getting closer to having logos and website. Yay.

My singing for Inception: The Musical is getting better. Next time: a bigger drink first. 90% of the problems are all in my head right now.

It may suck, but it's still progress, part 1: "Gay-cure" group Exodus International no longer sponsoring Day of Truth event.

It may suck, but it's still progress, part 2: While more Americans oppose marriage equality than support it, the percentage in opposition has, for the first time, dropped below 50%.

The student targeted for harassment because he's gay by the Michigan ADA speaks out.

Race and the empty seat.

Are any of my fellow New Yorkers going to Click + Drag this weekend? I'm thinking of stopping in after my class reunion.

For all y'all that missed it in comments yesterday, ladyofthelog remarked, brilliantly, that all White Collar fans should mentally replace the individuals in the photo I posted yesterday with Neil Caffrey and Peter Burke. She is entirely correct.

Comments

[sethg]

basing the magical system on the sub-prime induced economic collapse and the European credit crisis

WANT.

(Does this give new meaning to “the gnomes of Zurich”?)

[taffimai.livejournal.com]

The Empty Seat article is interesting, but I think he's only describing part of the phenomenon. I've spent a tremendous amount of time on Amtrak and on Southwest flights, which both expose you to people choosing their own seats. This is the order that I've seen people select seats based on:

1) Is the other person going to affect my experience in some way? This is usually around body size, unfortunately, but odor or loud music from the other person's headphones can also play into this. If not, then:
2) Is the person attractive, do they appear pleasant? If so, then:
3) Does the person appear to be the same race/gender/religion/socio-economic class as I am? This usually just manages to segregate business travelers from the rest of the population, but can go much further.

I think 2 and 3 are pretty entangled, since I think perceptions of pleasantness have a lot to do with an ability to opt-out of dealing with people who are different than we are.

The sad thing here is that when I try to find a seat companion on Southwest, I'm usually trying to find someone who will make it less likely that anyone will take our middle seat. So I end up looking for the largest, least attractive person I can find. If I can't find someone who meets those criteria, I try to find someone as different as possible from the majority of the passengers, like the punk skater boy I flew next to on this trip. I hate myself for it, but I usually end up with more elbow and leg room as a result.

[airspaniel.livejournal.com]

Sort of random question I've been meaning to ask - Is the Inception thing an all-female cast? I'm mildly obsessed with Takarazuka and similarly styled theatre, so it would just add another level of personal interest. Either way, I'm still damn curious.

And I know you don't need me to say this (or want me to, probably), but you'll be fine. I haven't heard you sing much, but once you kick the nerves and really know the material, you'll kill it. You've got the skills.

[ckd]

After reading the empty seat article, I saw a link to this article which is a nice palate cleanser.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

First time I've seen John Travolta actually referred to as a "Scientologist movie star" rather than by his actual name, but that's quite an article.

(Also, I'd love to go down to that bar just to say hi and thanks to Cassius. What a dog.)

[tdanaher.livejournal.com]

The Empty Seat article is interesting, but I think he's only describing part of the phenomenon.

Also, 4) Where in the car is the seat located? I usually find that people will not tend to gravitate toward an empty seat if the car is crowded and the seat is also in the middle of the car, no matter who is sitting there. Seats near the doors, at least in my experience, tend to be more prized because the people in them get to bolt out when they arrive at their destinations, but if you're in the middle, you're pretty much resigned to being among the last people out, so that could also be a major consideration when the riders are choosing their Empty Seat priorities.

[rm.livejournal.com]

The Inception thing will actually be traditionally gendered in any further work with it, is my understanding. This was a "hey, can I get my friends to sing this thing?" on Mith's behalf, which has now led to things happening on several fronts, that still make it all somewhat bizarre. But jeeez, yeah, man, we should do something with a Takarazuka sort of idea. People keep telling me about their Cassablanca, which I'm fascinated by.

[browneyedgirl65.livejournal.com]

basing the magical system on the sub-prime induced economic collapse and the European credit crisis

I... what? Oh, I want to read this...

I'm glad to see more & more speaking out on the bullying issue. I hope Dan Savage has sparked something with even more endurance than the santorum googlebomb. Certainly I'm seeing a lot of discussion on this and a lot of uploaded videos, so I have my fingers crossed.

I love the name "Treble Entendre."

[airspaniel.livejournal.com]

The Inception thing will actually be traditionally gendered in any further work with it, is my understanding.

I'm...weirdly disappointed by that. Huh. But man, that's still awesome.

The adaptations are one of the things I love best about the Takarazuka style of musical theatre. I confess I have several of the Sailor Moon stage adaptations. The game/series Sakura Wars based an entire franchise around the idea of Takarazuka, so while their live action stage shows can't really be called adaptations, they are some of the most beautiful theatre I have ever seen. I would love to get my hands on the Takarazuka Casablanca.

With the exception of pants roles in opera, there's really nothing at all like it in the Western world. I'm all in favor of changing that.

[mithrigil.livejournal.com]

As am I actually--hi, composer in the house. But while I definitely want to see a production of INCEPTION: THE MUSICAL done with a traditionally gendered cast, it;s mostly just to make sure that I wrote the voice parts correctly and applicably. After that, I'm entirely open to Takarazuka treatment and other nontraditional casting. Lord knows we need the opportunity.

But personally I am more about writing better roles for women, intended from the start to be performed by women, rather than keep contributing to the really screwy gender dynamic in the theater. The next thing I work on with RM is going to be really focused on the women, 5W/1M and the M is a secondary character. And I've been planning for years on adapting Neil Gaiman's The Dream Hunters to a Takarazuka-style format.

[airspaniel.livejournal.com]

Hi! Wow, awesome. ^_^ And yeah, that totally makes sense. As versatile as a woman may be, the range and timbre of the voice is not at all the same as a man.

I fully agree with and support the initiative to create better roles for women from the outset, as it is something that is sorely needed. I like to fuck around with gender in the theatre, but it should be something that is done for fun or for experiments' sake or just because, and not to make up for the fact that there's mostly shit out there for women to do as women. I'm really happy the two of you are working towards fixing that, and I'll support you in any way that I can.

And I've been planning for years on adapting Neil Gaiman's The Dream Hunters to a Takarazuka-style format.

I just swooned at my desk. Swooned.

[rm.livejournal.com]

When we do auditions for the D&J workshop, I'll totally want you to come in, if you've room in your schedule. Won't be for a bit (a) things need writing, b) things need funding, although that's in hand and c) hey, I'll be in Europe until the end of Nov).

[airspaniel.livejournal.com]

I'd love to. Just tell me where, when, and what to bring. And hey, man, no worries. I have to learn how to run a post-production facility in three months or less, so, y'know, I'm keeping busy. ^_~

Also, if you guys need posters or postcards or anything like that, my dad does run a graphics shop and I can get you ridiculous deals. I know that's distant future, but just so you know. The offer doesn't expire.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Cool deal. Thanks. There will totally come a time when, and less time spent with VistaPrint, is better time in my life.

[gement.livejournal.com]

I scan for where to sit by filtering against (1) and then choosing someone with as few variables from (3) in common as possible.

I'd thought of the size thing as a courtesy, though I know my intent is not distinguishable from phobic people. If there are lots of seats, why crowd the person who needs more room? Difficult to sort that out from shunning, though.

[idunn.livejournal.com]

From that article about Chris Armstrong:

After his blog garnered national media attention, Shirvell placed it behind a privacy firewall, making it only available to invited readers. The lawyer late last week took a voluntary leave of absence from his state job. He faces a disciplinary hearing upon his return.

FINALLY. I first read about the story when it broke and managed to force myself to read some of Shirvell's blog. What a hateful asshole that guy. I couldn't understand how he wasn't facing some sort of consequence for bullying, especially when as a state muckity-muck he has so much more power than a college kid.

[mithrigil.livejournal.com]

I like to fuck around with gender in the theatre, but it should be something that is done for fun or for experiments' sake or just because, and not to make up for the fact that there's mostly shit out there for women to do as women.

...So there's this other thing with theater-and-gender-roles I've been meaning to do, and if RM's comment is any indication you're also a musical theater person and a singer, and I'd like to pitch this at you to see if you have any ideas for songs/further study/applicability. Is there someplace I can e-mail you the pitch?


And re: the Dream Hunters, I like to think if I pitch it just right I can cast my dream actress-with-genderfuckery as, well Dream.

[airspaniel.livejournal.com]

Dude, totally. Totally. Especially since, between rm and chuckro and jethrien, my flist has collapsed to a singularity with your name on it. ^_~

airspaniel [at] gmail [dot] com



Man, I like the way you think. ^_^

[mithrigil.livejournal.com]

Sent along, and the feeling is entirely mutual.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

Yesterday, Kali fixed our novel by basing the magical system on the sub-prime induced economic collapse and the European credit crisis. I am not even kidding.

Okay, I sort of hate you guys for getting here first, but this sounds awesome.

As always, very stoked about all of the Treble Entendre and D&J forward motion.

I am a bit stunned by Exodus choosing to modulate their message, and expect that some other group will pick up the ridiculous Day of Truth mantle, but this is welcome news that gives me hope that groups like this are on the wrong side of history.

And Chris Armstrong is like the most graceful target of online harassment ever.

[alienor.livejournal.com]

You may find this interesting...

Connecting with female characters in geek television (http://austintotamu.blogspot.com/2010/10/connecting-with-female-characters-in.html)