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Feb 7, 2003

I need a bunch of names with "eye" sounds in them. I have the following:

Diane, Eileen, Giles, Grimes, Guy, Hiram, Igor, Ike, Ira, Irene, Iris, Irvine, Isaac, Isis, Ivan, Ivonna, Kyle, Kyra, Linus, Mike, Miles, Milo, Ryan, Tyler, Violet

I'm especially low on last names. Can anyone help me out? I need these names for the following characters in the Eye movie:

The Writer (M)
The Producer (F)
The Director (M)
The FBI Agent (F)
The Actor Playing the Killer (M)
The Actor Playing the Love Interest (F)
The Actor Playing the Private Investigator (M)
The Professional Wrestler (M)
The Principal of the School for the Blind (M)
The Regional FBI Director (F)

The genders are not finalized, because casting hasn't started. There are, of course, numerous smaller parts -- I don't doubt that almost everyone I know will end up in the movie somewhere.
Nick ::: 2:16 PM ::: 0 comments

I'm sorely tempted to post my Very Secret Diary of Mme. Cline, but I will resist.
Nick ::: 1:31 PM ::: 0 comments

Feb 5, 2003

The Very Secret Diary of a Victim of The Plague

Day 1
Spat on a cat today. Is amazing they have not figured out "here kitty kitty I'm going to spit on you" trick.

Day 2
Was accosted by rats while in bed last night. V. messy, as rats were bleeding from all orifices. Boyfriend sure to ask about blood on sheets.

Day 3
Have developed v. troublesome zit in unmentionable place. Not all bad, as is quite large, causing impressive bulge. Must avoid boyfriend, though.

Day 4
Similar zits in armpits. Really altogether too large. Unable to lower arms to sides; have to apologize constantly for smacking people in streets.

Still avoiding boyfriend.

Day 5
Auugh. Ow. Zits exploded. V. painful. Definitely still avoiding boyfriend. Bleeding. Ow.

Day 6
Reflected on amazing exploding groin. Have decided is natural alternative to surgery; cheaper and probably less health effects.

Bleeding update: profuse.

Day 7
Maybe not less health effects.

No longer avoiding boyfriend, as is dead. Was not very pretty anyway. Nonetheless, v. sad, as had noticed intriguing bulge prior to rat incident. Spat on a cat today. Cats v. stupid.

Day 8
Saw boyfriend off to mass grave. Bulge not evident, v. confused. Met cute, upwardly-mobile gravedigger, though. Certainly a future in that career.

Bleeding update: clots.

Day 9
Gravedigger not responsive to "you can lance my bubos any day" come-on. Perhaps is straight.

Necrophile? Does not bear consideration.

Bleeding update: healthy-looking pinkish color.

Day 10
Died. Stupid plague.

On bright side, saw gravedigger again. Go me!
Nick ::: 12:59 PM ::: 0 comments

Feb 2, 2003

I love February. It's such a nice little month. It's totally restful. The world is thawing and the Sweethearts are circulating (I love Necco with a passion). It's annoying when you can't read the messages, though.

Robby's party kicked so much ass last night. We'd all spilled our collective emotional guts and chilling at his place was really the perfect conclusion. I can't say enough how much I appreciated working with that cast. Student theater really is a joy, in a way that MST (what ironic initials) just can't duplicate. I hope that ETC, like its namesake, continues into infinity. Anyway, that whole night was just the perfect start to the month.

I'm going to be spending more time blogging, and, at the risk of revealing something about myself that people won't like, playing computer games. I'm going to spend more time listening to relaxing music. I'm actually spring-cleaning. Such a restful time. So relaxing.

I know this Spike was a little bit telegraphic, and I apologize. I'm too relaxed to construct a coherent narrative thread.
Nick ::: 5:02 PM ::: 0 comments

The Candle, Continued

Let's face it, cast, there is no way to say all you want in those few minutes. (Or, in some cases, not so few.) Always someone comes along after you and throws out something that inspires you to greater schmaltz -- thus is the wonder of human conversation. I'm going around the circle, and then I'm going to cover some people who should have been there. I know not everyone in the cast reads this, but it's still something I need to say. Who knows? Maybe tomorrow I'll start targeting people outside the play.

Sarah
What would I do without you? You are a constant support in my life. I get to school every day because you're kind enough to transport someone too dumb to get a license and too poor to make scheduled payments for gas. We helped each other survive Intro, but I never really got to know you until now. You are an amazing person. Molly Brown has nothing on you -- you're unsinkable. Furthermore, you've put in an amazing amount of time and effort for the good of the show and your fellow student dramatists. I, and we, cannot thank you enough.

Robby
Wow. You've always impressed me with your dedication to your roles. This began when you sang in front of four packed auditoriums for Empire Records. I thought the leg-twitch was hard enough! No matter how impressed I was with Berko, Bender truly cemented your image in my mind; you had to work harder than anyone else in the play and you pulled it off brilliantly. You are the steadfast, powerful engine that drives the entire play, and you've never let us down. You never ask what anyone else can do; if something must be done, you are the first to volunteer. You single-handedly saved us from The Pause. You could not be more deserving of this lead role.

Laura
You are poetry in motion. Your placid exterior is only the surface of your depths of insight and vision. You have the incredible ability to see beauty and peacefully enjoy it for what it is; never forget what a rare gift that is. I met you at the 12 Angry audition, remember? Even then, in those tense moments on Poulos's stage, something about you struck me. The only word I can find to describe it is "stillness." You have an elven aura of calm even in the midst of internal or external chaos. You are the sort of person it is easy to have confidence in. Allison is my favorite character in the movie, by far; your performance improved my opinion of her. Good job.

Sara
It is strange to think that I actually met people through in-character chatting in Empire Records. You are one that sticks in my mind. You don't have the chillingly blue eyes of the movie's Jane, but you didn't need them. You exude presence onstage that is impossible to miss. Your performance in TBC totally kicks Molly Ringwald's ass, yet you're more than just a talented actress. You have an amazing attitude. You are the only person I know who can effortlessly act as a sustained foil for Daniel Glenn. You're funny and fun to be around, as well as generous and caring. It's the personality behind the performance that really makes the difference.

Daniel
Crikey. You're one of the first friends I made at Milton who I didn't already know. A couple of days ago, I got the opportunity to try 2nd period French sans Glenn. It is not an experience I wish to repeat. Just the fact that you're there, cooking up brilliantly caustic things to say, makes an otherwise unbearable situation enjoyable. While TBC wasn't unbearable by any stretch of the imagination, your impact was essential there, too. You have the wit and talent to make a character like Vernon work (no small feat). You're an amazing actor, and (when you let us read anything) a fantastic writer as well. Sometimes I just can't wait to see what you'll come up with next.

(Oh, and don't worry that we know you're a good person. We'll keep your secret; we always have.)

Bethany
Bad AD? Never. Goodness and light must always be balanced by someone reminding you of the electricity bill. You gave us a hard time because someone had to, and you did a fine job of it. It's an amazing thing when you suddenly open up and really shine -- TBC gave all of us a chance to see lots of those moments. You're very funny when you relax and stop putting your mind to it. Also, remember, self-deprecation can be funny, but don't take it to extremes. Sometimes you really sell yourself too short.

Yes, that was a midget joke.

Clarke
It amazes me sometimes how easy some people find it to underestimate you. More's the pity for them. You have the kind of talent and enthusiasm that really takes a performance to a new level. You are a passionate person; I have never seen you do something that you didn't care deeply about. You are also very fun to be around, and you have a positive knack for creating running jokes. Windmills of death? Linebacker sweater? Hummahnah hummahnah? It's difficult to imagine anyone doubting your unerring sense of iconic humor. I look forward to working with you on Black Comedy and the Eye movie; you never cease to impress me.

Drew
You, my friend, always have something up your sleeve. You'll quietly absorb an entire conversation and then make some short, insightful remark that turns everyone else on their heads. I sat not more than 10 feet from you straight through Serkie's 6th period class all Junior year, and never guessed that I was in the room with a comedic acting genius. You're enigmatic (which means mysterious, Glenn); you hold your thoughts and opinions close to your chest until you've got the verbal equivalent of a royal flush, and then you astound all with your perceptive comments. You got me misty-eyed, and that is hard to do. I'm very glad you've read those books; I hope you've enjoyed them as much as I have. Whatever you choose to do in your life, I know you'll do it well.

Tarver
Andrew is a subtly difficult character, and I'm very impressed at your ability to jump right into drama and handle him as well as you have. With just two scenes, I gave Jason more migraines than you did; you put me to shame. You're always ready with a friendly smile and a willingness to help others. Such things seem to be more difficult to find the farther you get into drama. I'd also like to thank you for playing the Athlete sympathetically. I was utterly unimpressed with Andrew in the movie, to be honest. He came off as whiny. You're too intense to be whiny. That intensity is an incredibly important element in the play, and you brought it home.


That's it for the circle. Please note that I got the order right going from my left. I'm now going to cover a few other people who were important to the production.

Jones
Once you get past the feeling that he's always laughing at you... OK, you never get past that. You just get over it. Once you get over the fact that he probably is always laughing at you, Mr. Jones is an incredible person. He's always smiling (and silently snickering), and his attitude never deviates from "It can be done, and I'm going to figure out how." He introduced me to Black Adder -- great show -- and he never gives me grief about using British slang from time to time. He's got an amazing sense of humor and he led me into my first genuine practical joke. I don't know anyone else who could submit himself to basement-files abuse night after night with a gentle smile. (Although, to be fair, behind his eyes he's cackling and muttering, "You're going down, Glenn.")

Reddy
It's time for a confession. When Mrs. Reddy first had that session with the Empire kids in the hall outside her room, my reaction was "who the hell does this woman think she is?" I've come to realize that this woman thinks she is someone who knows more about theater than I do. I've come to realize that she thinks she is willing to stick her neck out for the good of students she's never even met. She thinks she is someone who can take a ragtag group of badly-organized high-schoolers and turn them into professional-looking actors. I've realized something else. I've realized that she's absolutely right, on all counts. I've never been so wrong about a person. This lady has impressed me at every turn.

Mic
A smile. A hobble. An eyebrow. A cough. Mic and I have gotten to the point where a slight gesture is enough to set one of us off laughing. She's an amazing person who went through a personal odyssey in the time it took me to get over Abercrombie & Fitch. She is the quintessential techie, never stopping or complaining even when she's aching and sick and walking on a bad leg and carrying gigantic metal risers across the school. She is open and friendly, always ready with something intelligent to say about any situation. She's also patient; anyone who can walk a dumbass like me through the essentials of sound tech without clouting me over the head with a flashlight must be.

Jason
This is a tough one. A week and a half ago, I was angrier at Jason than I'd been at anyone since the sixth grade. And do you know what? In the middle of it I couldn't say enough how much I liked and respected him. This was usually in the same sentence as "and I want to hit him in the face," but it is nonetheless telling that he commanded such honor at such a time. And of course, I couldn't actually say anything to him. He's too damn professional. If I bitched for even a second, I'd be ashamed because of how much he's done. Worse, I would be disappointed in myself for disappointing Jason -- for disappointing someone I wanted to hit in the face!

Obviously, I don't want to hit him anymore. I've thought about it, and realized that he got me so angry because of his greatest talent as a director. He makes you want to please him. When you're out there, you want nothing more than to have Jason grin, thrust his pelvis at you, and say, "Great!" His approval is paramount to every actor who works with him. I was mad at him because he believed in me more than I believed in myself, and I turned out to be bloody right. He was disappointed, so I was disappointed, but I couldn't do anything about it, so I became frustrated. Essentially, my attitude was, "If you're going to expect so goddamn much of me, stop making me want to prove you right!"

I'm still all muddled over the issue. There is only one thing I'm certain of: Jason Perlman is an incredible director. He's had more positive influence on my life, and many other lives, than almost anyone else. His drive to do something great has led him to do something great. We can thank him for Empire Theatre Company. We can thank him for getting most of us into real acting. We can thank him for believing in us and sadistically making us believe in ourselves. He's an amazing person, and if I can benefit half as many people in my lifetime as he has just in high school, I will die a happy man.

I'm still a bit miffed, though.
Nick ::: 12:59 AM ::: 0 comments

STOMPE Update!
These are all TBC-related or -inspired. It's much easier than my next post.
Incidentally, I don't actually own recordings or MP3s of any of these.
Third Eye Blind - Semi-Charmed Life
Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me
Don McLean - American Pie
Daniel Glenn - Elimidate!
Nick ::: 12:55 AM ::: 0 comments