Without Fail...

Whenever GAP rolls out a new ad campaign my initial reaction is always along the lines of: "That was cute."
The commercials are bright and energetic and full of beautiful people dancing and singing. Most of the time they have a great aesthetic in regards to how they're filmed. The stark white background with the bright colors of the clothing dancing across it.
They look good. They're interesting.
And then I see the commercials a second time. And a third. And a fourth.
And the more I see them the more I absolutely hate them.
They become annoying. And repetitive. And entirely bothersome.
All those pretty pretty faces dancing around being all happy. Lording their glee and happiness across the screen.
Bastards.

30 Years Later

Holy shit! I'm 30 years old!!!!!!!
I'll return a more regular but still sporadic schedule of posting within the next few weeks. Till then, be good.

The First Draft of Some Dialogue

Excuse the formatting, not interested in correcting it right now. But this is the first draft of some dialogue and a scene I've been kind of working on this week. Thoughts are welcome. I might post some other dialogue later on, and possibly a script for a 5 page comic I finished last week.
Ext. Car. Night.

Tight on a cigarette lighter as it flicks on. The off. Then on. Pull out to reveal DONNIE LAWLESS, 28 and DANNY LAWLESS, 24 sitting in the front seat of their car. Danny is flicking the lighter as Donnie looks out the window. Rain falls outside.

Donnie looks over at Danny. Danny continues to flick the lighter.

Danny looks up.

Danny

What?

Donnie

Quit flicking the lighter, Danny.

DANNY

Why? Ain't doing nothing.

DONNIE

You're bothering me.

DANNY

Yeah, well, all this quiet is bothering me. We're at an impasse.

Danny flicks the lighter again.

DONNIE

Don't make me shoot you in the face.

Danny blows a kiss at Donnie.

DONNIE

You're an asshole.

DANNY

C'mon, Donnie. I'm the loveable scamp.

The back door opens and JACK WALLACE, 29, gets into the back seat.

DANNY

Jackie boy is the asshole.

jack

What?

DONNIE

Danny's call you an asshole. Claims hes the loveable scamp.

JACK

The fuck's a scamp?

Donnie shrugs.

JACK

You know what a scamp even is Danny?

DANNY

Yeah, it's me.

JACK

Faggot is what you are.

DANNY

Sh'yeah, faggot that your little sister wants to blow.

JACK

Hey! You don't say shit like that to me, you prick.

DONNIE

Stop it, both of ya. Where's Diego?

JACK

Comin'.Gotta change clothes.

Danny lights up a cigarette.

DANNY

Why?

JACK

Cuz he was inside, idiot.

DANNY

Yeah an' we're wearin' masks.

JACK

People can identify clothes too, Danny. Donnie, you ain't teach this kid nothin'?

Donnie shrugs

DONNIE

What can I say? Scamps don't learn to good.

DANNY

You think he's in there getting drunk?

JACK

What?

DANNY

Diego. You think he's in there tipping back the cervesas? Mackin' on some skinny bitches?

JACK

Diego don't drink. And he's gay.

DANNY

Fuck outta here?

DONNIE

It's true. Diego don't drink. Says it makes him break out in hives.

DANNY

Nah, I mean, is he really gay?

DONNIE

Far as I know.

DANNY

Holy fuck! Why ain't you guys tell me that shit?

JACK

What's it matter?

DANNY

What's matter? I been to the gym with that guy. Took a shower in the locker room. Jeez.

DONNIE

So.

DANNY

So, what if he was scoping me? Checking out the Big D, you know?

JACK

Get over yourself. Donnie, you hear this guy?

DONNIE

You ain't his type.

DANNY

What are you-What you mean I ain't his type?

JACK

Just what he said, you ain't his type.

DONNIE

Fuck does that mean? I ain't his type.

JACK

Diego's got more discriminating tastes.

DONNIE

Here he comes.

DANNY

Discriminating tastes? What does that say about me?

JACK

Says you ain't good enough.

DONNIE

Says he's got good taste.

The back door opens, and DIEGO MARTIN, 30, gets in.

diego

We set?

JACK

Yup. Give it a few minutes.

DANNY

Hey, Diego? You gay?

DIEGO

Who wants to know?

DANNY

Me.

Diego

What's it matter?

Danny

Makin' conversation. Shit.

Diego

Yeah, I'm gay.

Danny

Hunh...

Diego

You got a problem?

Donnie

No problem, Diego. Danny just wants to know if you fancy him.

Danny

Hey!

Diego

No offense, Danny boy, you ain't my type.

Danny

The fuck that mean? These two douches just said the same thing.

Diego

That you ain't their type?

Danny

That I ain't yers.

Diego

Well they're right. You're not.

Danny

Why?

diego

Cuz you just ain't.

Danny

The hell does that mean? What's wrong with me?

JACK

You going gay on us Danny?

Danny

Fuck no, I love pussy.

Donnie

Then why do you care if your Diego's type or not?

Danny

I'm just wondering is all. I mean, chicks dig me. I get more pussy than I know what to do with.

Jack

Like you know what to do with any pussy.

Danny

Ask your little sister.

Jack

The fuck I tell you about that?

Diego

So you figure, some bar floozies think you're good looking, gay guy should think the same?

danny

Well, yeah? Your like a chick with a dick right?

DIEGO

Remind me to take you out to a gay bar one night.

DANNY

Fuck that.

DIEGO

It'd be good for you. Buncha faggots falling all over you. You;d be in heaven.

DANNY

I like pussy.

DIEGO

Didn't say you had to fuck anybody. Gay man hittin' on you doesn't turn you gay.

JACK

Or does it?

DONNIE

Hit on Danny real quick, see if he sprouts fairy wings and starts singing show tunes or some shit.

DIEGO

That what you think I do when I ain't around you guys?

JACK

Ain't it?

DIEGO

I ain't got wings.

DONNIE

But you love a musical don't you?

DIEGO

Only the good ones.

JACK

Gay.

DIEGO

Your little brother loves 'em too.

JACK

What is with you people and talking about my siblings? Donnie, do something here.

DONNIE

Can't, too busy thinking about your moms.

JACK

You guys are crossing a line.

DANNY

So what is your type?

JACK

What?

DANNY

Talking to Diego. What is your type? What do you go for that I ain't got?

DONNIE

Jesus, drop it Danny.

DANNY

Don't use the lord's name in vain.

DIEGO

I'm starting to think you want me to take you for a ride.

DANNY

Shut the fuck up!

JACK

Danny boy wants fudge pusher delight!

DONNIE

Mom'll just be happy when you settle down.

DANNY

Shut the fuck up.

DIEGO

Seriously-

DANNY

You guys are all assholes.

DIEGO

Seriously, Danny, I like my guys to be a little more-and no offense to you- a little more butch.

DANNY

You saying I'm soft?

JACK

You'd be the bitch in the relationship.

DONNIE

Watch that shit.

JACK

What?

DONNIE

Don't like that word. It's hateful.

JACK

Hateful?

DONNIE

Call 'em the woman, the chick, don't use the B word. It's crass.

DANNY

I ain't butch?

JACK

Since when the word bitch bother you?

DONNIE

Since forever.

DIEGO

You're plenty butch, Danny. Just not my kinda butch. I need a muscle daddy.

DANNY

Fuck that mean?

DIEGO

Means I like a guy with muscles on top of muscles. One of those genetic freaks looks like he ain't never step foot out of a gym before I met 'em.

DANNY

I got muscle.

DIEGO

Not enough.

DANNY

That's bullshit.

DIEGO

I'm talking muscle like, what's his name? That guy hangs with Paul and Bonnar?

JACK

Big black guy?

DONNIE

You're talking about Antwerp?

DIEGO

That's him. Antwerp.

DANNY

The hell, I could take him in a fight.

JACK

He's gay too you know.

DIEGO

I do know.

DONNIE

Antwerp would slaughter you Danny. Slaughter.

JACK

Shove his brown cock up your ass, he would.

DANNY

Bullshit.

DIEGO

You boys ready?

JACK

Let's go.

DONNIE

Hey! None of this personal talk inside alright?

All four get out of the car and walk across the street towards a bar. There's no sign for the bar and the windows are tinted. It looks run down. This is PARKER'S.

I've been drafting conversations

As an exercise to get back into writing on a regular basis. Just bits and pieces here and there. Slices of conversations between people with little to no explanation of who the people are or why they're talking. Hopefully it all comes out as they talk.
I start every conversation in the same way. Someone says something. That's how conversations start, after all. Some of them start with a person sitting alone and someone bumping into them. Some of them are friends catching up on life. Some of them are strangers. They take place in cars, cafes, bars or on the street. I'm hoping that they all ring true to the way people communicate with one another and don't come off as stilted or scripted. Anyway, that's my writing update for today.

Kedd

I was never a Wonder Years fan

But I've always enjoyed this song

The thing about babies

They're awesome. They really are. Tiny little bundles of joy and vomit and poop. Cutest little things in the world. But only in small spurts. After that it's like they're trying to hard.


Kedd.

I just got the new layouts for the comic!

And I'm excited to see these pages completed! Here's one page. As the completed versions come in I'll post a few panels here and there.


Randy and I are hashing out some additional changes, but hopefully these pages will be complete within the next few weeks.

Kedd

I feel ya, Kid.

I love this video. It's cute and sad and funny all at the same time. And the more I watch it, the more I feel like I can identify with that kid. The kid's standing on the edge of doing something new and amazing for him, but he just can't quite make it happen. He's nervous and afraid and doesn't understand what he's doing wrong, but he keeps trying. He gets frustrated and angry and doesn't seem to have the confidence to dive in and swing his leg and take that kick.
And then, when he finally takes the plunge...he drops the ball. Literally. Just drops it. Takes a swing and a miss. Followed by another. And finally, he just can't even manage to kick his leg forward for an attempt, and he just falls on his ass.
An utter failure.
Until, that is, he tries again.
And sure, he fails again, but I refuse to believe that the kid didn't get it right eventually. It may have taken time and he may have fallen on his ass a lot more, but there is something awesome about the tenacity of of a child.
Yeah, I know I'm reading into the whole thing, and making it seem a lot more significant than it actually is. But still. I can identify with the kid's situation.

Kedd

Everything's Amazing, Nobody's Happy

Truer words. I've taken to watching this clip every now and again as sort of a emotional boost. I've been trying to be less negative in my outlook towards life as a whole and Louis CK does and excellent job of putting things into perspective for me. Please enjoy.

Everyone's got limits

That old saying. The one about the straw that broke the camel's back? You know the one? I've always wondered, what came before the straw? How much was this camel carrying around on his shoulders? And why was that straw the tipping point that caused it all to crumble down on top of him.
And before you say, yes I know I shouldn't take the saying literally. But even in a figurative sense; What weighed the camel down so much that a straw finally broke him?
We've all got limits and breaking points in life. Both physical and mental. And eventually, everyone will reach their personal breaking point. Someone, or something will push you and weigh on you until all it takes is that one final straw. And just like that...you're broken.
I'm reaching my breaking point right now. In a lot of ways. And the closer I get to my breaking point, the more I want to lash out at the people and things that are weighing me down. The louder I hear my back cracking under the pressure, the more I want to scream "fuck it" at everyone that's testing me.
I'm getting to the point that I want to just let loose, and give the finger to everyone and tell them to fuck off and let me do my thing.
Breaking points. Every one's got them. And to me the most important thing about knowing you have a breaking point, is knowing when you're getting close. And learning how to shed some of the weight before your back crumbles to dust under it. That's what I need to start doing right now, the question I have for myself "What goes and what stays?".