Tuesday, October 05, 2004

• It’s often said that there are no “new things” in the world of movies, books, and plays; just skillful recycling and twisting of old ideas someone else used. I cheerfully admit to that, and present some for you. I have no time to write, but if YOU have time, let me know and write it out! J

   

  Ideas for Movies and Plays:

                         

              Delusion. The inhabitants of a small town are shown as normal people going through the motions of daily life.  The town is not very religious, but highly moral. The mayor is the only real Christian in the town. However, each inhabitant has a small moral flaw. When a motivational speaker’s limo breaks down in the small town, she takes the opportunity to exhort the people to “Live life to the fullest”. The people first make positive changes in their lives, and then start to fulfill their sinful wishes. They turn on their mayor and…should they turn on each other, or get taught a lesson by the rural farming family 5 miles outside town?

              Twist: Movies often act as if letting go of tradition and inhibitions is the secret to a full life. But, letting go of all inhibitions leads to the f-o-o-l life.

              Inspiration: The Oath by Frank Peretti; Romans chapter 1.

   

              Sam Holmes. A local factory worker gets caught in a machine due to the company’s maintenance negligence and loses his left arm (sorry Nick). He chooses to represent himself and wins due to his uncanny ability to interpret photos on the scene. The rookie police officer in the courtroom realizes his ability could be used to solve crimes. However, Sam is just a simple guy who has the ability to look at pictures and tell habits. His rookie police officer friend finally realizes that he’s really not that smart, and then treats him as a child. This causes Sam to snap and…something. Should he get angry at their inability to respect his personhood and seek revenge? Or disappear into the desert and let the police show their ineptitude?

              Twist: There’s too much of an emphasis on the “smart automaton” or “emotionally fragile” crime-fighter all over the TV nowadays. Also, people should be loved for the Giver and who they are, not the gifts--easy to forget this.

              Inspiration: I discovered Kyle Chandler’s “Early Edition” and Michael Weiss’ “The Pretender” nearly at the same time. While both eventually took some unscrupulous paths, they were great in the beginning.

   

              Together Again for the First Time. A brother and sister grow up in the same family, but lead very separate lives. After graduation from high school, they purposefully lose contact with all members of the family but their younger sister. They both choose similar career paths: spying for their country of choice. Years later, they become disillusioned with their choice and attempt to flee the lives they’ve chosen…they do this by stealing information to release to the worldwide press? By trying to fake their deaths so that their countries will leave them alone? With the help of their younger sister (who actually turns out to be the smartest of the three—say thank you, Dan), they make their escape, and discover one another as family members for the first time.

              Twist: It’s a growing trend in American society for family members to lead very separate lives and really not know each other. Unfortunately, I’m not so lucky in my family; I know my family too well (love you guys, I might add, you sarcastic brats! J) But I think that your first line of defense as a person is your family; they’re the ones you can fall back on. Broken families, especially for no other reason than selfishness, are sad. I think a story should be told that would highlight the stupidity of not knowing what you got.

              Inspiration: Should I count Spy Kids? SOL maybe it is. I have a soft spot for “undiscovered gifts in the group” type stories in sci-fi. Here’s a made-up example:

              Big tough guy: “We can’t get out of the tunnel unless one of us was a telepath and could put the guard to sleep!”

              Weakest member of the group: “Funny you should mention it, but I am a 9.7 on the telepath scale.

              Big tough guy: “No way, you couldn't even outrun the Balcazamar!”

              Weakest member of the group: (nothing)

              Whole group: “Why do I need to pee all of a sudden?...(moment of silence) Hey, that’s you!

              Weakest member of the group smiles, proceeds to put guard to sleep, and as a bonus reads his mind to find out where the nearest restroom is.

   

              And yet I hated X-Men 2 with a passion, so much so that you might even get a post about it. Oh the irony! Anyway, the story/movie post is one type of post I haven’t used yet. And I haven’t even touched politics, one of my greatest passions. You lucky people (rubs hands together in anticipation). By now, you may be getting the clue that the things I post about on Xanga aren’t necessarily what I think about day to day.

   

  PS I actually broke down and subscribed to some new people the other day. SOL I’m so afraid of commitment when it comes to small things.

   

  PPS Long enough for ya?! :-p Hey, thanks for reading.

             

  • 4:04 PM
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