The Laughing Wall

One of the pages on my site will be dedicated to play. Specifically, the renewal of laughing as a means to release tension and enjoy the moment. I am not sure all of what I want on that page. My sketchpad has not yet revealed to me what the page will look like. However, I do know one element I want to create for my site: a Laughing Wall.

Surfing the other day I came across a "love letter" wall. The page has 400 colored squares. Click on a square and it reveals a jpg of a love letter. Kind of cool. Time consuming and clearly voyeuristic (what isn't on the Net?), but a neat concept.

300 Love Letters

Having mulled over the idea for a couple of days, I came up with the idea for the Laughing Wall project. The Laughing Wall consists of face imges that when moused over expands and broadcasts an associated giggle, laugh, guffaw, or chortle. Wave the mouse over sections of the wall and the viewer is delighted with a cacophony of laughter. Since I am thinking beyond my ability already, I may as well set it up that a text displays a one word to a sentance response to the question, "what makes you laugh?"

Ambitious I suppose. Especially for a guy that doesn't even know how to do a mouse over in HTML. Even more ambitious in that I want to start with a 10x10 wall with people that respond to me with clips, sound bytes, and pictures. Except for those very melancholy types that thrive on severe mood swings to draw their creative energy, most folks like to laugh. It stimulates good health, tension relief, and shared pleasure.

More to come on how to participate in the creation of the Laughing Wall....

Too Old To Learn

The old saying that you can't teach old dogs new tricks is crap. Old dogs that can't be taught new things are people that don't want to learn. Set in their ways, the idea of a lifestyle change or trying something new is unfathomable. You might as well ask them to walk on the moon.

Got an old dog in your life or feeling a little like your years are multiplied by 7? There is hope. Put down that book and do some web surfing. Worldlifeexpectancy.com reports:

UCLA scientists have found that for computer-savvy middle-aged and older adults, searching the Internet triggers key centers in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning. The findings demonstrate that Web search activity may help stimulate and possibly improve brain function.

Image Link

Somehow in addition to everything else I am trying to do, I work in a daily surf fix. I search the Web for a combination of written, visual, and audio pages that interest me. I am totally digging the things I have discovered. My brain is popping with inspiration and creative ideas.

Robyn Waters, author of "The Trendmaster's Guide", encourages surfers in What Matters Most to  "leave the screens of your virtual world momentarily behind, and indulge your senses with a real world adventure." Before the Internet, reading was a catalytic resource for inspiring adventures of mind and action. I agree wholeheartedly with Robyn. Get away from the screen and experience real world adventure.

But I will add a point...

Create critical mass in your soul. Make your mind so hungry for real life experiences through the resources you have at hand. I use the Internet to discover possibilities. The creative energy is reaching critical mass and I am very hungry.

The Most Important Creative Project

Last night, following a gruelingly long 20 hour day, I plopped on the sofa exhausted. After vegging on something mindless, I went to bed. My heart pounded in my chest. Was this an anxiety attack? I hear about that kind of thing all the time. What does an anxiety attack feel like?

Reset the attitude button and start the day on the right foot. The activities that consume my time actually give me a lot of enjoyment. I have nothing to complain about. So where did that overwhelming sense of -- whatever that is called -- come from? Probably the same angst that has driven so many artists to madness over history.

Considering the projects I am working on, there is nothing that might warrant a mini-freak out. The most important creative project I am working on is...me. Coming to that time in a life when the realization that change is possible and necessary can take a very long time. Sadly, a lot of people never realize the potential for life fulfillment through change. Small changes that yield massive rewards.

I remember a story that described Michangelo's method for selecting marble for a project. He spent considerable time in a quarry observing slabs of marble. The project would become visible in his mind's eye. His task was then to chip away the excess to uncover the art, so he could detail it, and buff it for public enjoyment.

The chipping process took a toll on me the last few days. Through the process of self-discovery, I am uncovering aspects of my talent that I have not seen in years. My mind is sharper. My patience deepened. Today I even broke out my strathmore pad and colored pencils to play with some new web site designs. Every little burst of creative energy strikes a new neural pathway for my future.  2010 looks promising.

A Creative Leap

I think I registered my domain name in 2005. It took me four years to eventually get a page posted. Here are my top ten reasons why it I took so long:

10. Nobody I knew could crawl into my brain to see through my eyes. (I love you Charlie Kaufman!)

9.  The strategic plan I developed while in college was REALLY over the top.

8.   I was a victim of paralysis by analysis.

7.   The font choices of ARIAL, HELVETICA, and TIMES NEW ROMAN limited my personal expression.

6.   Pre-fab templates felt like wearing bunched up speedos down a water park speed slide.

5.   Damned red lights in Colorado Springs got me all worked up over the past four years.

4.   I lost my creative mojo in 1981 and it took a while to find it.

3.   Voices in the night told me that if I would build it "they would come." Scared the crap out of me.

2.   Stick figures are uninspiring (at least that is what I thought until I saw a Life is Good t-shirt!)

1.   I was afraid it would look stupid.

For my Masters graduation gift my Dad gave me the gift of jumping out of a plane. It was really cool. The night before I was full of fear and thinking of ways to bail. The morning of the dive, I resolved to do it regardless of my feelings. After watching a video briefing that reiterated several times that "YOU CAN DIE," we drove to the plane. A rickety old thing that probably did this junket 10,000 times.

As the plane ascended with the doors wide open, I watched as the Colorado landscape became smaller and smaller. My fears melted away knowing that there was no turning back. When we fell from the door, I experienced a thrill like I had never before.

My web site sucks. I know it. It won't win any awards as it sits. Then again, that is not my goal. The Internet is like a blank canvas. I never realized how much incredibly cool stuff is out there. Every day I take 20 minutes (if I behave myself) and browse a randomizer for new stuff. I get great ideas on living, laughter, and making my crappy web site better.

Last night I discovered cool little utility that makes a digital character. Even though I used to draw cartoons as teen, I wanted a crisp digital character for my web site. At least I think I do. At this point I can do whatever I want. My creative license is truly universal. I can go anywhere my mind and imagination take me. Despite my frequent and obvious lack of skills.

You just gotta decide to make the leap.

High Ate Us - Getting back into writing mode

In 2008 I hit the ground running with my screenwriting. I purchased a copy of Final Draft 7, picked up a few books to learn about formatting and jumped right in. I had a couple of good story concepts to work with so it was relatively easy to get started. That first year I cranked out four, still requiring rewrites, scripts.

To test my results in a smoky industry mirror, I submitted a couple of scripts to some contests. That began what I call the marketing phase of my learning curve. Film is business. At least that is what I hear and read from industry pros and secondary minion that try to discourage wouldbe entrants to the biz. Screenwriting guru Robert McKee is so tough on newbies in the first chapter of Story, that I almost wanted to quit after I read it.

When I take on a project I give it 100% effort and energy. I get rather intense. For one short deadline contest I entered, I had one week from notification to write a feature length script. I got it done. The script was complete, but not good enough to win. Despite the business-side wake up calls, I rode high on my newly discovered talent. Instead of quitting I simply took a hiatus.

Getting back into writing after my hiatus has proven to be harder than I imagined. Today I broke through and wrote three pages of script. Of course that came after several hours of puttering on the Internet yesterday as my procrastination spilled over into today. Not a brilliant accomplishment, but visible progress.

As a regular to the gym, I find that I train better with good rest and regularly planned periods for rest. When I get back into the gym after that kind of break, my muscles ache from the shock. My goal is to complete a first draft of a 15-minute short by January 24. My creative muscles may ache, but it will be worth the push.

Fractal Mindbending

Watched Inglourious Bastards last night and then got sucked into From Hell (Johnny Depp) until 2:00 AM. Subsequently I got up later that normal. Had to drive to Pueblo to get my laptop power cord. Called my grandad's widow on the way down. Dad on the way back. Got home with the intention to start work on my 15-minute short for Nate. Instead, I puttered around the Internet nearly the entire day. It was a wonderful day of discovery and fun.

As I write this I am listening to a soothing piece of looping music by Kevin MacLeod. The music is embedded into a neat site called Fractal Scape. I am mesmerized by the beauty and upbeat music of this kaleidoscopic web page. The visitor can change the pattern display by clicking any surface point. What intially caught my attention was the banner title that reads:

Remembering Childhood

You lived moments filled with exciting new journeys.

It is never too late to start again

 

The title kind of encapsulates my experience. I got entangled in the underbrush of some life sucking experiences when I was younger. Not until I was in my mid-forties did I begin to pull out the machette of positive self-talk did I begin to whack out a path that uncovered the lost city of personal creativity. As a kid and teen I loved to create things. I never really considered myself an artist. I just loved to make stuff. The process was enjoyable and satisfying.

 

The Splendor of Color: Kaleidoscope Video

Until I discovered Fractal Scapes, I never gave the word fractal a second thought. Tonight I looked it up on Wikipedia. There is, of course, a scientific definition for a fractal. What slapped me in the face was the Latin dirvation, fractus, which means "broken" or "fractured." The moving, even graceful transformations that occur on the Fractal Scape screen are the results of a breakdown of structure. A fracturing of one geometric shape into ordered chaos. Broken pieces displayed with beauty and complemented with a chipper musical theme.

 

My creative journey, no, my life journey is a series of fractured, broken events that are creating a collage of transforming beauty. How can I use this experience to stir up my creative core? To take a leap into areas that I may never experience? If I translate my life experiences and creative expression through the tool of visual fractalization I will invariably uncover new paths. Fractal mindbending is taking a thought and letting it grow in whichever direction it chooses. Brainstorming is like a mini-atom smasher. We smash our will into our brain and expect it to deliver new creations. Fractal mindbending is to allow your brain to go wherever it wants.

 

Seems like a much more non-violent way to produce new ideas. Still listening to Kevin's looping music.

The Creative Process: Stage Six - Showing

Eight days into the new year I did a little review of my goals today. I am pretty excited about my progress. Using an engine metaphor, I feel like I am hitting on all pistons. One of the reasons I know I am hitting my goals, is because I wrote them in my journal. In a way, I keep myself accountable to my vision for 2010.

In the process of writing scripts I think I developed an attitude that my work was only as valuable as it was marketable and sellable. What a load of nonsense. Sure, I would love to sell a script. There is also a level of personal pride to produce something that others value or appreciate. At the end of the day the greatest personal reward must come from the personal satisfaction of completion.

Gross over-simplification? Sure. I think we complicate our lives way too much. This is my take. If a person makes it through the five stages of the creative process, they should be proud to show their work. There are so many places to show your work. Perhaps you will get some great feedback from comments. If you belong to one or more of the countless online communities for your creative expression, engage there. Most of the time there are people there to offer good critque and support.

As I close thise series of blogs, I have several questions to ask of myself:

• Why do I write?
• What inspires me to seek other creative expressions?
• What do I want from it all?

I hope that some readers will follow my blog. The journey of creative discovery is best shared. My battery is dying. My power cord is 50 miles away at work in Pueblo. Guess I better put this to bed.