I’m not usually big on pimping movies here. There are many sites that are much better resources for that sort of thing.

But if any of the following apply to you, you need to check out Sacha Gervasi’s Anvil! The Story of Anvil.

1. You fondly remember early ’80’s metal.

2. You still think “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You (Tonight)” is a kick-ass song.

3. You’ve ever had a dream that seemed utterly impractical but you couldn’t stop believing in it.

4. You’ve ever played a guitar with a vibrator.

Trailer below.

So, it really is true — when one is spending all day trying to write stories, updating a blog seems like the last thing you’d want to do.

Basically, I’m writing fiction instead of the blog right now. Which is good because that’s what the whole Purpose Thing shebang is about, but it makes this stop on the intertubes pretty quiet.

So, um, to all four of you that read this: I’m on Twitter. That’s the best place to see me (periodically) give status updates as to what the hell I am up to.

Anyway, the latest:

1. The TV Pilot my buddy Oren and I finished came out pretty decently given that it’s a new ballgame for me. Feedback has generally been quite positive. The problem is the concept – it’s not not very marketable (which we knew going in) so in the meantime I’m having some peeps I know through my last job check it out, and it’s served as a good awakening to the fact that I Like Writing Television. Who knew? After I finish the feature I’m working on I think I’m going to write a spec TV episode or two to have as samples, and the play may indeed trying to get work that way.

Riveting information, I know.

2. The Feature. It’s got a title, I haven’t gotten bored with the idea, and I’m refining the outline as we speak. Will have the detailed outline ready by end of day Saturday, and it should take about 12-14 days to write. Praying for end of April for first draft, but likely right thereafter.

It’s pretty dark, very indie, and the more I think about it the more it seems like something I should make. Not something that would sell (least not for much anyway). Only 5 main characters and the performances will make or break it. So in addition to the TV thang, I’m realizing I need to direct a feature. Even if it is for no money and doesn’t turn out so great, filmmaking was always the goal, it will continue to be the goal, and even sitting around writing all day – while essential to the overall process – will eventually feel like masturbation just on its own.

Wes Craven has become a touchstone in terms of Fuck Yeah This Is Doable-ness for me. Doesn’t hurt that he made one of my most favorite films of all time, but the guy didn’t even get really going until his late thirties. Dunno why, but I’m really feeling that big 3-4 I’m going to turn this year, and success later in life like Craven’s makes me feel alright.

3. New music is afoot (no, really!). Not L’orangerie Stank… originals. Several new songs written, one in the process of being recorded. I don’t know if I will call this project Uneasy Lies the Head – that names carries some baggage in my head since we could never get a live show going and whatnot – but whatever happens the older ULTH songs will be incorporated. And on Angelman’s previous advice (which was backed up by Trent Reznor no less) the plan is to add some new tunes to the previous selections available here and put an EP out on iTunes.

Why? Cause.

4. And lastly… the girlfriend and I have decided to go vegetarian. “Big fucking deal”, most of you are probably saying (or perhaps “Vegetarian’s for pussies; Vegan is where it’s at”). In any case, for us it was a pretty big decision — I’ve historically been a huge whore for bacon, steak, chicken, shrimp, etc. But, I have grown tired of the food hangover I now associate with meat products… and though I’m somewhat loathe to admit it (the denial mechanism that lets you enjoy meat products runs pretty deep), the animal cruelty aspect has been gnawing at me for a bit now.

So, this is Day Two of me as a Vegetarian. I’ve been craving a Salami sandwich from Larchmont Wine & Cheese all day (if you do eat meat, this is the best sandwich in Los Angeles). The craving sucks, but what are you gonna do. Gonna tame it with a little veggieburger action and a trip to Costco.

Which reminds me, the lady and I will also need to stop at the market. I need to pick up some Bacon Salt.

If you’re a fan of Raiders of the Lost Ark in any way, shape, or form, you should go check out Mystery Man’s blog posting on The “Raiders” Story Conference.  Also included is a link to the actual transcript from the original brainstorming session between George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Lawrence Kasdan.

Amazing for any movie fan, essential for any writer.

Almost a month into The Great Joblessness Experiment of 2009.

Productive day was had yesterday with my writing partner O on the TV pilot we’re working on. For several hours, during a caffeine-fueled meeting at Swinger’s, we broke down the background and social dynamics of our world, figured out who these various characters we’d been spitballing were, and settled on the main storylines for the pilot as well as some twist and turns we could take them through during a first season. These are some FUCKED UP people that inhabit this one, but I can’t help loving them all just the same. This week we’ll be beat-sheeting (not to be confused with the reddish toilet bowl one confronts after beet salad), then on to pages by next week.

I may feel differently after we’ve gotten into the thick of it, but TV right now just seems so much more natural to write than features. Maybe it’s the rigid structure, or the momentum and economy of it that appeal to me, but I’m excited to play in this particular sandbox.

This project also gets my inner John Hughes engaged, and that has been quiet for far too long.

My computer going into the shop earlier this week initially seemed to be a wrench in the works (HEY GOD!), but ultimately the whole incident was a good headkick. I’d been lagging behind the script-a-month schedule I’d set for myself without realizing it (writing began two weeks after leaving The Gig) and though I’ve made progress, I know myself well enough to realize I will have to demonstrate Kryptonian effort to turn out a draft by Valentine’s day.

I started to toe near a familiar spot, actually; almost done with the outline after several days of momentum, I’d jump into edit mode before finishing, and then would second-guess the whole thing. The same box step that derailed several ideas over the last couple years. The great thing about being able to work consistently every day, however, is that it is a lot easier to notice these things as they happen, and putting in a placeholder is much easier because you know you’ll be back into the material the next day.

As a side note, my girlfriend B and I caught The Reader yesterday afternoon. Perhaps I’m missing something, but I don’t see the reason for all the love. A fine film, no doubt, but why the celebration for Kate WInslet’s performance in this picture vs. Revolutionary Road? I found RR to be a much more compelling film — one that had something specific to say, with well-drawn characters — where I found myself struggling to piece together just why people were doing certain things in The Reader.

On top of that, there is a long discussion to be had about how recent films (such as The Reader and The Pianist) are featuring sympathetic portrayals of Germans that participated in Nazi atrocities. Personally, I find this approach infinitely more compelling than the cartoon mustache-twirling seen in films before then (Schindler’s List, et al). I’ve always found that taking the most horrible things people can do, and caricaturing the acts as Pure Evil vs. seeking a greater understanding of what caused these acts to transpire in the first place (see Bush, George W., and Terror, War On) only inhibits our ability to prevent such acts from occurring again. It may simply be an instance of distance from tragedy (cue Alan Alda in Crimes & Misdemeanors that’s caused the shift in film on this subject, but I’d be curious to hear if anybody thinks there are any broader cultural movements in play in parallel with this.

So, I’m in need of what is appearing to be a rather difficult item to find:

A Mitsubishi HS-U770 VHS VCR.

I’ve found a couple on eBay, but they all seem to be busted (exhibiting the exact same mechanical failure that my old U770 did, in fact).  If anybody out there on the Internets has one that is working that they don’t need, or can manage to track one down, it would be much appreciated.

Tracking this puppy down is one of the last steps before I can finalize the content for the “Student Films” section of Flicker Shows here at SkinMech, and if  you want to see some real-life working filmmakers (directors whose films you may know!  Excitement!) acting completely ridiculous in some short films made over 10 years ago, then the Student Films section will be for you.

A quick preview of the content to come?

“Breaking & Entering”

“No Content”

“Life Fast, Die Young: The Larry Burnstein Story”

“An Experiment in Sleep Deprivation”

“Lucky Pierre”

and a not-so-coincidentally entitled “Skin Mechanic”

Yes folks.  All of this exciting content will be yours.  All that’s standing between it and you is a VCR that first went into production sometime around 1995.

Thanks in advance for any help.