9-1-1

So today marks the anniversary of the September 11th Terror Attacks. The day the world as I, and everyone, knew it changed for good and certainly not for the better. In my humble opinion.
Out of respect for everyone who died on the day, or in the continuing aftermath that followed, I ask you to go out there and look for the truth. It's there, somewhere.

Of course, the act of writing this post - even as small, irrelevant and nondescript as it is - instantly puts me in a category with people who believe Elvis is alive and that Bigfoot walks the earth. So I should probably just leave it there.

JB.

A Word About Kickstarter

So...for anyone who has been living in a cave the past few years, or simply has a life which has nothing to with the industry, the emergence of a phenomenon known as "Crowd Funding" has become ever more prominent. Basically, if you're interested in raising money for a project you're working on - typically a film, TV show, or some other kind of venture in the arts, you can start a campaign. The idea being that people offer up their cash and you offer some reward, like if you donate 10 dollars you get a signed script, or for 500 you get to be in it for a day etc. A noble cause and fantastic way to raise money for your project. If you know a thousand people who can chip in a fiver, you already laughing. Sometimes, of course, you may find the occasional parasite looking for a quick grand because they feel "glum", but more on that another time.

Anyway, for us independent film-types out there, the birth of sites like IndieGoGo and KickStarter were nothing but a blessing. In theory at least. You see, for people like myself or friends in a similar situation - unknown, unfamous, unproven and no "in" with Warner Bros, or The Weinstein Company - it's a nice way to get some money off the ground and edge closer to making your dreams come true.

That was then. This is now.

Yesterday I had the misfortune of stumbling across one campaign by TV & Film star, Zach Braff. He has decided that he now wants to direct his second feature film (after the decidedly mediocre "Garden State" in 2004). However, Mr. Braff has decided that his fame, fortune, hook-ups to an untold network of producers, actors, agents, distributors, financiers, cinematographers, locations etc etc etc is not enough for his liking. He needs more creative control. So, he decided to follow in the footsteps of people like Charlie Kaufman and, more recently, the "Veronica Mars" franchise (which raised an ungodly 5 million dollars), and start his very own Kickstarter campaign...to panhandle the public with the promise that for the throwaway sum of $10,000, you can meet old Zachy boy and his wacky gang. He has asked for 2 million dollars. He has so far raised, and at this moment of writing he still has 27 days left (yes, 27), $1,967,804. Not bad going, eh?

Another award? Oh, go on then.

Now this might just be me (it often is) but does anyone else out there find it incredibly offensive that someone at his level deems it fit to essentially prey on his fans for money? "Hey guys, you love me, right? Of course you do. Anyway, the big bad studio wudio's won't let me have final cut and I can't really be arsed to go through the traditional rigamarole of finding actual investors for my newest masterpiece. Sooo, give me some money. K? Yes, I know you're all working stiffs and I'm one of the luckiest men alive whose made a career doing what I love and made a princely fortune doing it, but come on guys, look how quirky and cool me and my friends are." Nauseating.

Stop me if I'm wrong here, but I see the entire point of 'crowd-funding' as being that it exists for people who couldn't otherwise raise the funds themselves. Not mega-famous, mega-successful people to swoop in and take advantage of the good-nature of their fans. Surely that is the very antithesis of what the entire purpose of crowd-funding is all about? But, of course, where there's a good will and a dollar, it's only a matter of time before the vultures start circling. What sickens me most is that, at some point, a conversation must have occurred wherein Braff and his allies calculated that Braff has 'X' amount of fans, times 'Y' the average amount of that fans will donate, then minus 'Z' the amount we don't want to ask for so we don't look cocky, and equated exactly what they would need to do to maximize the public's goodwill. Which I personally find cynical and exploitive beyond belief.

Minion #1: "But Zach...Kaufman and Veronica Mars tripled their amounts and they're not half as popular as you" 
Braff: "I know, but we want to keep in the spirit of the thing, so let's go for two million and we'll probably get ten" 
Minion #2: "Well, what are we going to do with the extra money we raise? Offer back-end points, or other financial incentives typically involved with financing a film?"
Braff: "No, I'm buying an Island in the Maldives"
All: "Yaaaaaaaaay"

Because folks, my point is this: I have seen many, many, kickstarter campaigns come and go in the last few years and the difference between the successful ones and the non has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the project, the professionalism of the campaign or the spirit of those involved in the making of it. No, as seems to be the way in this day and age, the key to raising finances is being popular. Or, to put it in context, having a vast network of people to finance from. It makes sense I suppose as the more people you know, the less they have to donate and the more likely they are to do so, again, regardless of the quality of the campaign. I can't tell you the amount of times I've seen friends of mine limp towards financial failure because their honest, noble, tentacles just aren't as far-reaching as they need to be. It's a lot harder to raise what you need than it sounds. Trust me, folks.

But I'm not bitter about that and it's certainly not the case that I don't support the rebellious nature of the whole endeavor, it's not even that I don't support the arts or anything like that. I absolutely do, with all my heart. It's simply that it's hard enough for us bottom-feeders to get any sort of meal in the Serengeti plains of Hollywood. Especially with the emergence of the internet as a new networking medium. The last thing we need is a bunch of already-stuffed Lions swaggering into our territory and feasting on all our scraps too. However, it's a trend that I can only see growing over the next few years.

Well, let's all paint on a smile and furrow forward at a snail's pace.

Rant over.

JB.

Proper Ganda

So, away I have been once again from this here blog space. Largely because I'm getting a little sick of all the "anonymous" comments from Nigerians offering me free money and/or a penis enlargement. I'll tell you what I told them...it's fine the way it is, thanks. My money situation, I mean.

Anyway, so in my time away I managed to finally sit down and watch Kathryn Bigelow's "Zero Dark Thirty". Now, since it's release I have purposely avoided this film like the plague. This would be because, as anyone who cares to know me knows, I am staunchly against the politics involved in the whole sordid affair (if you care to know more, drop me an anonymous line offering penis goodies). 

So, against my better instincts and partially out of pure boredom, I decided to sit down and give it a whirl. For anyone who doesn't know, the plot is based entirely on the hunt and, ultimately, destruction of one Osama Bin Laden: bad guy numero uno of the last 10 years. 

For the entire first ten minutes I sat with my finger hovering over the stop button as some absolute moron mercilessly tortured a man for information while spouting absurdities like "everyone breaks, bro". I was appalled and so far, the film was exactly what I had first feared - nothing more than a piece of self-gratifying propaganda for the United States and their foreign policies. "Rah, rah, rah, aren't we all a jolly bunch of trained killers"-type stuff. 

Once the first ten minutes subsided, I found myself unwittingly swept along in the frankly quite pulsating storyline, told with absolutely expert direction by Bigelow (who, let's face it, knows how to make a film). By the end I was positively gnawing at my fingernails, such was the amount of tension that had built up in that time, this despite me knowing the end. Obviously. 

The performances were first class, the score brilliant and the cinematography pretty flawless, particularly in the final "storm the compound" sequence. As the credits rolled, I found myself taking it all back and declaring it one of the better films I'd seen in recent memory. Forget all the politics, murky moral waters and potential debate involved, that was just a bloody good yarn. It was sensitive to the material involved and overall a very well made film which wasn't exploitative at all. And, with that, off I went to live my vacant little life once again. 

However...when the clock struck late and I rested my head on the pillow a thought suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks and that thought went something like "OF COURSE IT IS!!!" 

You see, when engaging in any form of propaganda the key ingredient is for it not to look like you're engaging in propaganda. That's the whole point. In this day and age, and wise as people here in the US are, of course they're not going to back some ridiculous Bin Laden-baying gorefest directed by Paul Verhoven. No, that would be far too obvious. Of course, as Goebbels did in fascist Germany, you hire the best filmmakers to make the best film possible to further the agenda of those who want it furthered. Now, I'm not for a second comparing the US Government to Nazi Germany, I'm just saying, what better way than to document the murder of the boogeyman than to hire an Oscar-nominated director to adapt a best-selling novel into something that will most likely serve as 99.9% of people's account of what really happened the night OBL got smoked. 

Daniel Day Lewis said of his role in "Lincoln" that it gave him sleepless nights because he knew that for an entire generation of people, his portrayal of honest Abe would be the only one that people would ever know. It's true. When you ask people how Bin Laden went down, you'll think of a bunch of muscular, cool, wise-cracking Americans wiping him out with ease and panache. What you will not remember, nor ever care to actually find out is the truth. And why would you? You know what happened, you now know a spectacularly slick version of how A got to B, so why would anyone ever need to know, or care to know, anything more? Job done, and in a manner that George Orwell would be mighty proud of. 

As a method of propaganda, the film could not be more effective. It gleefully ignores the fact that women and other people (who are unknown) get casually shot in the face on the way to the end of the film. It joyously glides over the fact that some numpty gets choked, drowned and put in a small box, because they got what they needed. Delightedly it dances by the sheer facts of how many innocent, repeat innocent, women, children - and men for that matter - died in the search for this twat. Instead we find ourselves going..."Oooo, I hope Jessica Chastain doesn't get humiliated in her next meeting. She needs results, and quick". The absolute perfect distraction. Fuck, even I didn't care about the innocent souls lost in this fight by the end of the film...and I care...a lot! A masterful job by all involved.

Yes, the film was sensitive to the potential molotov cocktail of emotions that could be stirred by it. No, it wasn't half as "Rah, Rah" as it could have been but I think the makers (and backers) of this film were smart enough to know that it doesn't need to be any of those things. We already got him, we already celebrated. Let's just show everyone how we think they should think we did it. It's very existence is enough to permeate the minds of the masses in this country and will absolutely leave everyone who's seen it with at least a subliminal feeling of "America...fuck yeah". 

Maybe I'm a lefty, commie, nut. Maybe I'm the only sane man in the room. I don't know. The one thing I do know is that Baked Potatoes are delicious and mine just finished cooking. So we'll leave it there.

Cheers,

JB.

Erection Day

Today is Election Day here in the States and for the first time in my entire history I find myself a nervous, shivering wreck. God, if you are up there, I beg you with all my heart and soul not to let Mitt Romney win this poll and reap damnation upon us all.

I used to think all politicians were the same, simply slick corporate mouthpieces with nothing on their agenda further than becoming deludedly powerful beyond measure, furthering their fame and creating a 'legacy' for themselves (most often by heaping misery on other, less important parts of the world). However, this time around I now know that to not be true. On the one hand you have Obama, a man who - judging by his policies - actually cares about his people and this country's future, both morally and legislatively, and on the other you have Romney. A fucking lunatic.

Not the most balanced argument I've ever made but this time around, for the first time, I am sitting through an election that has tangible issues which would affect my own personal life (along with everyone around me) quite drastically if they went one way or the other. More than that however, the precedents that would be set if Romney wins and fulfills his campaign promise(s) would plummet this country into the beginnings of real fascism. An actual, explicit "do this or we will jail you" state of affairs. The implications of these agendas are too terrifying to imagine, thus it is my eternal hope that a good, noble man is given four more years to do his bidding. No he's not perfect and yes he is still a politician but given the alternative, he has, in my eyes at least, now been promoted to defender of all things righteous and, more importantly, SANE.

For the love muffins and bagels, please everyone get out and vote. I can't, but for the first time in my life, I really really wish I could.

Peace and love,

John.

Heroes To Humanity: #256 - Joss Whedon

Watch this video. End of story.



JB.

Politics As Usual

It's articles like this one which serve only to strengthen my belief that all politicians, deep down and without exception, are just amoral, petty, annoying little twelve year-olds with lots of money and a suit on. I'd almost prefer a dictatorship....at least you know where you stand.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/pm-rapped-over-idiot-balls-jibe-142621241.html


Peace and lust,

JB.

An Appropriate Response...

Amid all the media moral panic, it's nice to read someone with the proper perspective on the London Riots:

"Panic on the streets of London" - Laurie Penny

JB.

London's Burning!

So, as I sit here right now, foggy London town is being burned to the ground by rampaging gangs of masked youths. Or, more accurately, a bunch of chavvy little twerps are setting cars on fire and stealing cigarettes and snickers bars. It started in Tottenham and quickly spread to other shit-holes around town...Peckham, Brixton, Hackney, Croydon etc. (Coincidence? Mmmm.)

Now, me personally, I'm not adverse to a bit of a riot every now and then. Show the people in charge that the rules can be changed if need be, you know? However, as always, what starts as a genuine angry protest (in this case, the wrongful shooting of a man by the police) often gets corrupted by the criminal element and all relevant cause is immediately discredited in a haze of mindless chavvery. Now, if a family member of mine was wrongfully shot by the police, I would happily take to the streets (or least give it some serious thought). However, most people are just out looking to run around and cause some damage. This is where it goes wrong.

The problem with the nature of rioting is the way it invariably gets dealt with by the police. They have only one option...extreme force. They have no time to decipher who is friend and who is foe, therefore they have to just batter everyone who gets in the way. Of course some of these people are innocents who deserve this not one bit. Thus an innocent man trying to get home gets shoved to the ground and the dogs set on him, what's he going to do? Pick up a bottle and start throwing. Therein the situation becomes further inflamed and it goes on and on. So expect this to continue for at least another couple of days.

One thing I've never understood is the looting aspect of it. What is the benefit of breaking into your local newsagents and pilfering all the copies of Mens World? Exactly what statement are you trying to make? "I will speak out against police brutality by masturbating furiously for days on end! That'll show 'em!" That's merely being a moron. Also, by smashing up and setting fire to your own neighbourhoods, you're just doing exactly what the government wants you to do. Everyone already thinks you're all poor, uneducated, amoral thugs and all this sort of thing does is confirm that stereotype. And, as a result, when this all blows over, no-ones going to be in a hurry to clean it all up. No-one at all.

I do feel sorry for the regular folk of these areas though. Especially those getting their businesses ransacked by these rag-faced chancers. To them my heart goes out. The rest of you are just tw*ts. If only you took all this 'rage' and used it in a constructive manner, who knows what could be achieved.

Until then, enjoy your free TV's where you can watch 'The Only Way Is Essex' and Baa along like good little sheep. Mugs.

Peace and love

John.

Food For Thought

A fascinating article from The Guardian:

"The world needs a new Marx, but keeps giving us Malcolm Gladwell's" - John Harris

John.

A Very Interesting Article...

For anyone who's interested:

Noam Chomsky on the death of Osama Bin Laden

.

Death! Yay!

NY Post Headline - Classy
So, I feel it appropriate at this moment in time to make comment on the death of boogeyman numero uno for the past 10 years. One Osama Bin Laden.

In all honesty, I find the celebrations that have occurred since the news broke somewhat sickening. If we're supposed to be the bigger man on a global stage, the police officer of the world, then surely acting like fanatical, bloodthirsty hounds - dancing in the streets at the loss of someone's life - simply reduces us to everything we're supposed to be above?

Then again, we live in an age defined, it seems, by double standards (see: Guantanmo Bay), illicit activity (see: Bernie Madoff) and low-brow bluster (see: anything on television). What ever happened to nobility? To dignity? To pride in one's actions? To sound a little Travis Bickle-esque, the answer just gives me a headache it hurts so much.

Now, far be it from me to sit here and declare Bin Laden a saint, obviously that's not the case, but what gets lost in all this witch-hunting and mud-slinging, is why exactly this whole thing started. These people don't just wake up with hate in their hearts and a bomb in their pants. The uprising of middle eastern terrorism, as with any terrorism, is not a cause, it is a reaction. A reaction to what? I'm not going to get into that here because frankly, who wants to hear it? (If you're interested, call me and I'll chat your ear off about it) but suffice to say that a swift read of anything by Noam Chomsky might begin to tell the tale. Now, again, I'm not condoning terrorism at all - it is of course a reprehensible act of violence which should never be tolerated - but to label them beneath us, or savages, or even fanatics is dismissive. Especially when we're dancing on cars singing "We got him! Woooooooo!"

I think the point I'm trying to make is that I wonder just how f**ked up life has become, when the western world actually feels united delight at the execution of an unarmed man. Is that all we have left to celebrate? We can't 'come together' for any other reason? Not only does that kind of reaction further reduce our standing in the world, but it just makes us out to be petty, mindless, bullies (which, sadly, we are proving to be). If we're going to be self prophesised "leaders of the free world" then it might be an idea to start behaving like one.

I won't hold my breath.

Also, as a side note, I am talking about the US government here, yes, but I feel I have a right to say my piece because anything they do, we, as in Great Britain, are aligned with and are just as guilty of. We might do it in subtler forms, but trust me friends, we do it.

No doubt, Al Qaeda will now launch some form of response to the death of their leader, and it the thing that irks me the most about that fact is that the people actually responsible for this mess won't be the ones who suffer, it'll be us.

Peace.

Let me say that again....Peace.

John.

Things I Love: Crips and Bloods - Made in America

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I am absolutely fascinated with street gangs - a cultural phenomenon here in the U.S. which is as inexplicable as it is dangerous - and where is the gang capital of the country? Good old Los Angeles. My current home.

After years of independent research, I would consider myself somewhat an authority on the subject. Sad as this may seem, I could probably name almost every gang in the city, their rituals and the turf they operate on. So, it pleased me no end to find this documentary "Crips and Bloods: Made in America", which is about the best film I've seen on the subject. Alternately you could watch "Colors" starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall I suppose, but it is pure shite.

The film itself was produced by Baron Davis, an NBA star who came from the gang infested streets of South Central LA, and narrated by Forrest Whitaker...who gives it that certain grandad-by-the-fire-place quality that I personally love in a documentary. The film attempts to explain exactly when and why young black men started killing each other indiscriminatly in this relatively small part of the world. Of course there is no conclusive answer, however the questions it raises are very, very interesting (and, I have to say, quite disturbing).

Plus it features this man...one of the most captivating speakers I've heard in a long time:

In short, watch it. Now.

Also, if you're looking for a good read on the matter try "Monster: The Autobiography of an LA Gang Member" by Kody Scott. It is truly appalling.

And to think, all this goes on just a few miles from my house!

Peace,

JB.