This is Finish Your Monsters, a weekly blogletter about the creative process. I'm sharing adventures in art and life as well as setting CLIFFHANGER goals for myself, so--

DID I MAKE MY GOAL?

Last week, for the second week in a row, I set the goal to write 2 pages of the script for my next film.

Last week, I only managed one page, but this week…I succeeded!

I wrote two pages of the script. And those two pages got me past a stumbling block of how to introduce some characters.

Like a log jam in a river getting busted up, now the ol’ waters are rushing around in my brain and I can’t wait to get back to working on the script.

I’ve got one idea that I really like that will be very meaningful and visually impactful. It requires very little dialogue and very little screen direction. It will take me 15 seconds to type. Moments like these are the joy of brainstorming while you’re doing other stuff (wander writing, as I think of it).

Now I just need to find the 15 seconds to type it.

It’s been another busy week of promoting Dead Media’s recent debut on streaming. I’m trying hard to pre-plan some of the social media promotion so I can get up in the morning with graphics, texts, reels, etc ready to go for the next few days. Also working away on bonus features so we can hit our goal of early 2027 for the physical media release of the film!

I’m also guesting on various podcasts to promote Dead Media. For one of them, I re-watched the original Alien movie and was really struck by how much of the plot is driven by the characters’ devotion not just to a corporation, but to the dictates of the computer. Allowing corporate tech to totally infantilize them to the point where the computer is actually named “Mother” and the captain doesn’t know how to make decisions without asking Mother.

Amazing and painful that a 40 plus year old film reads like a direct commentary on our current situation with dubious tech being advanced by the greediest humans on Earth.

My podcast partner, Ken Napzok, and I also recorded an episode of ForceCenter about the far right’s effort to paint Anakin/Darth Vader as a hero and we tried out a new shorter format video called Faster More Intense. ForceCenter has been my consistent and joyful part-time job for many years now. We’re excited to try out some new things and invite more folks into the community as we head into Star Wars’ 50th anniversary year.

I also found a moment this week to celebrate human connection which leads me to—

LIFE ADVENTURES

—Amoeba Records. I have the thrill and danger of living within walking distance to this great physical media store in Hollywood.

I’m trying hard not to stop into the store as often for a couple of reasons. One, finances are tight. Two, space in our apartment is tight. And three is a deeper thing I will call ACCESS FUGUE.

When I was a kid, I couldn’t enjoy certain things because I did not have access to them. I couldn’t afford that record. Or that book was not at the library. Or that movie did not exist on VHS.

Now the thing that limits my access to stories and art I want to enjoy is that old jerk, TIME.

But when I step into a beautiful temple of physical media like Amoeba Records my mind goes into an ACCESS FUGUE. I successfully lie to myself that if I PURCHASE this, then of course I will have ACCESS to it. And, yes, my body will have access to it. But there’s still that damn time thing.

I’ve had lots of good talks with friends about this. And I generally adhere to the belief that just because you purchase something doesn’t mean you need to immediately consume it. You’re building a library and the right moment will come for that book, that record, that movie.

So this past Saturday, I acknowledged my ACCESS FUGUE and allowed myself to add to the library for a special occasion.

Saturday was Amoeba Hollywood’s 25th anniversary. One of the reasons I like going there is the community. Sometimes I talk with people when I’m there. Sometimes I just like being around people. Once, some 20 year olds actively asked my opinion about which Frank Sinatra album they should buy and I’m still chasing that high.

I’m very glad I went on Saturday because I found some great stuff and the vibe of the store was very chatty. There’s been lots of streaming shenanigans with Doctor Who so I picked up the complete Peter Capaldi run on blu-ray. I chatted with someone about the show and their diligent attempts to give Matt Smith a chance after their beloved David Tennant left. I also picked up a 30th anniversary album with the score of one of my favorite horror films, Scream. A woman outside the store asked me what I bought and we ended up having a chat about the importance of music in film and the difference between a score and a soundtrack.

Finally, I picked up the book in the picture above. It’s a collection of essays about women-monsters in film published by a small press in Portland, Oregon. I believe the book said there were only 2000 copies printed.

This one isn’t going in the library, I’m starting it next week.

All in all, it was a great reminder that a big part of my love for physical media (and this is an idea wrestled with in Dead Media) is that it drives connection and community. Technology can be great. Streaming is fantastic for reach and accessibility. But we need some physical, too, to keep us connected to the here and the now and the world outside our screens.

Thanks, Amoeba. (Sub-goal for next week: Don’t go to Amoeba, self.)

LIGHT PLUGS—

And speaking of technology, Dead Media is streaming on Prime Video, Moonbeem, and Bloodstream TV.

And if you already watched, leaving a rating/review on Letterboxd, IMDb, or Rotten Tomatoes helps a ton!

Please let me know in the comments or on ol’ social media if you check it out!

MY GOAL FOR THE WEEK--

Next week is a slightly different one. Later today, Sara and I are going to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Then we’re leaving town for a few days to celebrate our 20th (!!!!) wedding anniversary. But I’m still going to make time for some writing on this next script. In an act of extreme hubris, I’m going to up my goal this week. So my goal for next week: Write the next THREE pages of the script for my next film.

YOUR GOAL FOR THE WEEK--

I would LOVE to hear what you're working on in the comments below. What's your goal? How can I help you literally finish your monsters?

A LITTLE SKETCH--

This week’s sketch is a nice little picture of being haunted by a record I want to listen to. Thanks again and best of luck with all your creative adventures!