Friday Fantasies: Holiday Movies

While I dabbled on the computer today, working on my latest American Nomad post and waiting for Dan to come home from his mad Black Friday dash to Best Buy, I could sense, in my post-Thanksgiving haze, that the Christmas season was well on its way. So, to get fully into the spirit, I watched two of my favorite “holiday” movies: Better Off Dead (1985) and While You Were Sleeping (1995), both of which never fail to bring a grin to my face and to make me wish for all the Christmas trimmings posthaste.

So, what are some of your favorite holiday movies?

Whimsical Wednesday: Making Movies

Dan’s away at the moment, running last-minute errands for our film festival, which (yikes!) kicks off tomorrow with an opening night party at the Kerry Irish Pub in the French Quarter. So, I’m using this time to write a quick post for “Whimsical Wednesday” – ‘cause heaven forbid I actually give up blogging for a week (wink). I have so much left to do in preparation for this weekend’s festival that I really have no business adding this blog to the list – which is exactly what Dan would say if he were here... so thank goodness he isn’t (sorry, honey). I mean, come on, it’s bad enough that I haven’t yet visited anyone else’s blog today (my sincere apologies for that, folks) – the least I can do is keep up with my own little blog.

Anyway, enough blathering. In celebration of the third annual Big Easy International Film Festival, I thought I’d set the record straight. You see, many of the filmmakers and audience members that have participated in our film fests over the years are surprised to learn that, as co-directors, Dan and I are more than just administrative types behind the scenes. Actually, we’re both cinema lovers from way back – having studied film in our respective colleges, sold a horror screenplay together, and dabbled in filmmaking ourselves – such as the time we co-wrote and co-produced an irreverent dark comedy (that shall remain nameless for the moment), which I then starred in (out of desperation) and he directed. The experience was, on the whole, educational – but the outcome was rather dreadful, not to mention the fact that we had a falling-out with a good friend during the process (a fact that still doesn’t sit well with me, even after seven years).

A few years after that, we co-produced a documentary about a treasure-hunting friend on South Padre Island. Although that project also didn’t go as planned, I’m still proud of us for seeing it through – and if you’re listening, honey, I’m still hopeful that we’ll soon produce something we can be proud of. After all, we have at least four co-written screenplays just itching to be made. And that lottery ticket will come in someday, right? In the meantime, we’ll continue to help other filmmakers share their stories with the world. Just know that we’re both more than festival directors. Making movies together is in fact our dream, too.

Friday Fantasies: Graveyard Memories

Two days ago, Moon.com featured a post about “tombstone tripping” – visiting graveyards not with a purpose but with fascination. Perhaps I’m a little disturbed, but I love strolling through interesting cemeteries. I respect the fact that they memorialize others’ loved ones – and I always walk quietly and with care. But I must admit – I’ve long been a fan of cemeteries, especially at this time of year, when Halloween and the Day of the Dead are upon us.

Part of this fascination comes from the thrill of being just a little unnerved, and part of it stems from the curiosity of some cemeteries, especially ones where famous movie stars are buried (like the Hollywood Forever Cemetery) or the architecture is particularly creepy and/or stunning (like the aboveground cemeteries and mausoleums in New Orleans). While there’s nothing quite like visiting a cemetery in person, I often get just as effective a fix from watching graveyard scenes in certain movies – comedies, dramas, thrillers, and horror flicks, it makes no nevermind. Here, in chronological order, are some of my favorite morbid movie moments:

Easy Rider (1969) – Amid a drug-induced haze, counterculture bikers frolic with some lovely ladies within an aboveground cemetery in the Big Easy. After seeing this film as a teenager, I never looked at Mardi Gras – or Dennis Hopper – the same way again.

Harold and Maude (1971) – The intergenerational title characters first meet at a funeral, where neither one belongs, and soon realize their mutual fascination with death. Oh, how I adore this movie – and hope it’s never remade.

Phantasm (1979) – The entire story revolves around a graveyard and a funeral home operated by a lanky alien, bent on destroying humanity. All I can say is... cloaked midgets, flying orbs, and marble walls are one freaky combination.

Poltergeist (1982) – During a torrential rainstorm, Carol Anne’s mommy falls into a muddy pool, filled with corpses. And, seriously, who can forget the line, “You son of a bitch. You moved the cemetery, but you left the bodies, didn’t you?!”

The Return of the Living Dead (1985) – Most of this classic zombie flick takes place in a cemetery, where a small band of young partygoers offer easy access to the undead. Bloody hilarious!

Army of Darkness (1992) – In an utterly memorable scene, Ash, a hero of questionable ethics, ventures into a graveyard to retrieve the Necronomicon, only to misspeak the magic words and inadvertently raise an army of the dead. Oops.

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) – It’s a brief moment, but I find it hard to forget. Assassin Martin Blank visits his father in a hometown cemetery, only to pour an entire fifth of alcohol into the grass above his father's grave. What a thoughtful son!

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997) – The reporter and the millionaire venture into a creepy Savannah cemetery, where a spiritualist tries to quiet the soul of the millionaire’s murdered lover. There’s no doubting the effectiveness of some well-placed mist and moss.

Stir of Echoes (1999) – A loving mother takes her strange little boy for a walk that ends up in a cemetery, where a touched police officer stalks them, only to demonstrate his psychic connection to the child. Truly an underrated film!

My Dog Skip (2000) – A remorseful young boy finds his beloved dog in a cemetery, where moonshiners have nearly beaten him to death. Don’t worry – the doggy recovers.

Hellboy (2004) – The climax of this entertaining yarn occurs in a Russian cemetery, where the resurrected Rasputin attempts to open a doorway to the Seven Gods of Chaos. Every time I watch this movie, I believe this place is sinister – and cold.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) – If you’ve seen this movie (or read the book), then you know where I’m going with this one. At the end of the labyrinth lies a portkey that transports Harry and Cedric to a moody cemetery, where You-Know-Who is waiting...

So, what’s your favorite cinematic cemetery scene?

Thoughtful Thursday: Eleven Keys to Serenity

As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been a frequent visitor to a site called Come In Character, where authors and characters can interact in a creative, sometimes therapeutic way. Well, yesterday marked my first day as a regular contributor to the site, and perhaps due to my current frame of mind, I decided to focus on “frustration” as a conversation starter.

As it turned out, several authors and their characters had frustrations of their own, which was infinitely reassuring. Not that I wish misery on anyone else, but sometimes, when you’re feeling a bit lost – hurt by the economy, confused about your path in life, doubtful that your fiction will ever see the light of day, and overwhelmed by the responsibilities and promises in your life – it reassures you to know that you’re not alone in your daily struggle... that you’re not like this sad gorilla, isolated by your own dismay.

Airing a few of my frustrations and hearing others’ troubles – even in an entertaining forum like Come In Character – actually urged me to consider the things that routinely make me feel happy, grateful, inspired, and tranquil – especially when life seems most stressful and uncertain. In no particular order, here are my eleven keys to serenity:

Willie’s music: Even as a child, I found Willie Nelson’s unique voice incredibly soothing, and his laidback spirit extremely inspiring. I listened to my mom’s records often – so much so that he quickly became my favorite musician – and still is today. I’ve even seen him in concert on more than one occasion – once, on a trip to Branson, Missouri, with my mom, and, several years later, at the House of Blues in Chicago. When I was considering a career in the U.U. ministry (a long story that I won’t divulge today), I even wrote and delivered a sermon about him – in particular, about how spirituality can be found in the most unlikely of places. For me, a lifelong atheist, I’d always gotten a spiritual jolt from Willie’s songs – somehow, his words and music calmed me in a way that prayers do for others. Even today, when deadlines and commitments threaten to break me, I just have to listen to one of his many albums, and the stress dissipates. While many different types of music – from movie scores to Irish ballads – can calm me, too, there’s nothing quite like Willie – whatever you might think of him, he’s truly one-of-a-kind.

Favorite flicks: Some of my favorite movies can do the trick, too. Whenever the current state of publishing unnerves me – whenever the stiff competition, troublesome guidelines, and improbable odds make me question the sanity of my writing goals – I simply have to watch one of my favorite life-affirming flicks, from Waking Ned Devine (1998) to Wonder Boys (2000), and I’m back on the path again.

Good food: What can I say? I was born and raised in New Orleans – how could food not be a big part of my life? In fact, it’s often too big a part of my life – I depend on it, at times, for more than just sustenance. Certain foods – like raw oysters, dark chocolate, sweet cherries, tomato basil bisque, havarti cheese, kalamata olives, and lemon poppyseed muffins – have a way of bringing me a lasting moment of joy and reminding me that there’s a lot to appreciate in this complicated world. Of course, when it comes to yummy foods, it’s all about portion control – not just for health reasons, but also because the less often I indulge, the more I appreciate it when I do.

Yoga: As I explained in a recent post, I’ve been practicing yoga (off and on) for nearly a decade, and the only thing that derails me at times is my inability to stick to a schedule. It actually has nothing to do with yoga itself – which I absolutely adore. Like many people, though, I often let projects and responsibilities usurp things like exercise – and it’s a constant struggle to realign my priorities. But when I do make time for a few yoga poses, it does wonders for my body as well as my psyche – and relaxes me like nothing else. Maybe what I need is more yoga and less cheese in my life. Hmm... that’s something to think about.

Natural world: Although I grew up in an urban area, I’ve always loved the outdoors. Whether camping in a forest, hiking up a mountain, fishing in a bayou, swimming alongside a beach, even exploring the desert, I feel a sense of wonder and peace in the natural world. That’s why I love living in northern Michigan during the summer months. It’s hard to stay stressed in such a beautiful, somewhat remote place. A long walk in the woods or a nice swim in the lake is usually all it takes for me to relax and refocus. If only I could take this clean air with me back to New Orleans and Los Angeles.

Meditation: Yoga certainly incorporates an element of meditation. Key poses – such as “cat” and “corpse” – as well as the focus on breathing help me to quiet my thoughts, unwind my nerves, and concentrate on, well, nothing. But sometimes, it’s nice to roll up the yoga mat, find an out-of-the-way place, and simply sit still for a while, meditating on the cosmic web, the meaning of life, my place in the world, or nothing at all. In our fast-paced world, it’s hard to take such time for ourselves, but I always feel better after I do.

Sleep: No matter what I do, it seems as though my “to do” list grows longer every day, and my schedule gets more inconsistent all the time. Ironically, though I make less money now as a freelancer than I did when I worked for “The Man,” I find that I work harder and have crazier hours than I ever did when I was living a normal post-college life in Chicago. I’m juggling so much more these days, and sleep is not the priority that it once was. That’s not a good thing, I know – as my mother is fond of telling me, poor sleep habits can cause all sorts of problems down the road, from hypertension and heart disease to stroke and cancer. Besides body health, though, sleep is also excellent for mental health – something I experience for myself whenever I manage to get a good night’s sleep, and I must admit there’s nothing quite like waking up after a solid rest and a medley of memorable dreams, some of which have inspired my stories.

Writing passion: This might seem bizarre, but sometimes, when I’m feeling discouraged by the modern publishing industry and stressed by all the revision work ahead of me, I find strength and peace in the realization that there’s nothing I’d rather be doing than writing. I wrote skits as a child, short stories and scripts as a teenager, longer works (like novellas and screenplays) in college, and a novel in my post-college life – and at every step of the way, I’ve loved escaping into the worlds I’ve created and interacting with my characters. They’ve calmed me – even when the road to publishing seems insurmountable – and given me a reason to keep trying.

Rich experiences: I think it’s easy for all of us to slip into regret and disillusionment at times. Am I on the right career path? Am I with the right person? Should I have waited to have kids? Should I go back to school? Should I have sewn my wild oats when I had the chance? No matter what the pressing issue at the moment, it’s critical that we embrace the positive aspects of our life experiences. When I’m feeling down about something or confused about my direction, I try to focus on the rich experiences that have defined my life: fishing excursions with my dad, road trips with my mom, close relationships with my grandparents, my vision quest experience as an adolescent, good times at Northwestern, all of the unusual travels that I’ve shared with my husband, and all the crazy things we’ve seen over the years (including the Florida Keys’ obsession with manatee mailboxes). And I realize that I wouldn’t trade any of those memories for all the money and fame in the world.

Supportive hubby: No doubt about it – what really keeps me going at times is the love, respect, and support that I get from my husband. Dan is truly my best friend, my favorite traveling companion, and the person who keeps me on track when stress and self-doubt threaten to derail me. He encourages me when the odds of publishing success seem impossible. He urges me to keep trying, no matter what, and in the immortal words of Galaxy Quest to “never give up, never surrender.” Hopefully, I do the same for him.

Loving kitty: During the first week of this blog, I posted an ode to my cat, Ruby Azazel, a furry feline with a sweet face, an affectionate nature, and a mind of her own. What I said then still holds true today. “When the best of intentions fall apart, all I have to do is look at Ruby – sleeping on a pillow, nibbling treats from my palm, staring at a chipmunk outside the window, leaping up and down the stairs, or doing one of a dozen other favorite activities – and I feel a great sense of calm, love, and perspective. Because most things – save for perhaps death or the knowledge of some terminal illness – aren't worth all the worry through which we put ourselves. One look at my crazy, little girl, and I know that’s true.”

So, what helps you overcome stress, frustration, self-doubt, and all the other nasty little entities that plague us at times?

Friday Fantasies: Movies to Inspire Writers

Note: I apologize for the lateness of this post. It might be time-stamped with Friday’s date, but obviously it didn’t go live until midday on Saturday. Given a missing dog and visiting friends, it simply couldn’t be helped. I’ll try hard not to let it happen again, though I can’t make any promises. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me – and that you’re having a groovy weekend, wherever you are!

Novelists and screenwriters have long been fascinated with telling stories about writers, which seems a rather obvious fascination, given the conventional wisdom that writers should write what they know. I guess it might also seem obvious that, as a guidebook author and aspiring novelist, I adore such stories – in print or on screen. Even the gloomiest tales work their magic on me, inspiring me to be a better writer, encouraging me to experience life more fully, and giving me hope that my dream of being a published novelist will one day come true.

Although I’ve read my share of writer-centric stories, most of my inspiration has come from the movies – whether original screenplays or adaptations of beloved novels. It’s a known fact that, whenever I’m feeling down about the publishing industry, my own writing ability, and my slim chance of success, all I have to do is watch one of my favorite “writer” flicks and I feel energized again. Now, such films run the gamut, from dark tales of screenwriting dreams gone awry (Sunset Blvd. in 1950) to exciting adventures about shut-in novelists learning to live (Nim’s Island in 2008). Some have been biographical in nature, like Out of Africa (1985), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997), Under the Tuscan Sun (2003), Finding Neverland (2004), and Miss Potter (2006) – some of which were based on previous material. Some have featured wannabe writers, like Alex & Emma (2003); some have focused on successful novelists in tight jams, like Her Alibi (1989); and some have just been downright weird – Cronenberg’s Naked Lunch (1991) comes to mind. But, of course, Stephen King is probably responsible for most “writer” movies – including the award-winning Misery (1990), The Dark Half (1993), the absolutely dreadful Secret Window (2004), and the surprisingly creepy 1408 (2007).

For me, though, there are ten films that I routinely use to stimulate my creativity and quiet the voice of doom:

The Shining (1980) – I’m one of those people that actually like both the Stephen King novel and the Stanley Kubrick film, even though I’ll be the first to admit that Kubrick took some serious liberties with the source material. The visuals – like the elevators spewing forth a torrent of decades-old blood – are just too incredible to forget, and the sense of isolation is palpable. Of course, you might be asking yourself how this tragic tale of an alcoholic writer, husband, and father who goes mad in a remote, psychically-touched Colorado hotel could possibly be inspiring to me. Heck, what wannabe novelist wouldn’t want the opportunity to write all day and all night, with nothing to distract her but a few hungry ghosts? I say, sign me up!

Romancing the Stone (1984) – You might scoff, but I freakin’ love this movie, and I watch it any and every chance I get. As Nim’s Island did several years later, this film reminds me that sometimes a writer has to emerge from her comfort zone, explore the world, and perhaps find herself in a wee spot of trouble in order to fully realize her stories – and herself. And, come on, who isn’t at least a little entertained when Joan Wilder’s status as a romance novelist saves her and Jack T. Colton from the wrath of a drug lord in the hinterlands of Colombia?

Gothic (1986) – Hands down the best Ken Russell movie ever, this bizarre film explores the stormy drug-filled summer night during which Mary Godwin, Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron amused themselves by creating ghost stories, one of which would eventually become Mary’s Frankenstein. I watched this disturbing movie when I was very young – which perhaps explains a lot – and ever since then, I’ve longed for a night equally as inspiring, memorable, and just a little mind-bending.

Stand by Me (1986) – My connection with this classic coming-of-age tale is twofold: The book from which this story came, Different Seasons, inspired me, at a very young age, to pursue a writing career, and the movie continues to inspire me. For those of who haven’t seen this gem – Really? Could there be anyone out there who hasn’t seen it? – the entire story is told in flashback, from the point of view of Gordie Lachance, a writer who has just learned about the death of an old friend, propelling him to recall a boyhood adventure, during which he and three pals go in search of a dead body... and grow up a little along the way.

She’s Having a Baby (1988) – This might seem like a strange choice, but as I get older, I find this John Hughes flick more and more “educational.” After all, it’s essentially about an advertising copywriter (and wannabe novelist) who tries to balance his dreams with the real-life issues of being a new husband and expectant father. Although I don’t plan on having children any time soon, I am married – have been for nine years – and I struggle every day with the desire to write constantly and the reality of marital compromise. (But, if you’re reading this, Danny, you know I love you – and don’t begrudge the struggle at all!)

As Good As It Gets (1997) – I love stories in which curmudgeons see the light, so it’s no surprise that this movie would appeal to me. After all, it demonstrates how one grouchy, bigoted, misanthropic, obsessive-compulsive author learns to get over himself, with the help of a straightforward waitress, a homosexual artist, and a little scruffy dog. Sometimes, I feel a powerful need for such outside help – to get over my own nonsense. Thank goodness for my hubby and kitty, who keep my grouchiness and obsessive-compulsive nature in check, especially when I’m in the midst of writing something – fiction or otherwise.

Finding Forrester (2000) – One of my all-time favorites, this small gem of a film tells the story of a young black basketball player and aspiring writer, who wins a scholarship to a prestigious prep school in Manhattan and subsequently befriends a reclusive white novelist. Through this unlikely friendship, both characters change, grow, and assist each other: The man helps the boy improve his writing skills and cope with bigotry, while the boy helps the man emerge from his self-imposed solitude. While watching this tale unfold, I always wish that I could’ve had a mentor like William Forrester – and though it’s too late for that, I take comfort in knowing that there’s still time for me to help young writers like Jamal Wallace in the future.

Wonder Boys (2000) – By far, my favorite “writer” movie ever – and quite possibly one of my favorite films of all time – this quirky comic drama chronicles one weekend in the life of a college professor with writer’s block and a host of other dilemmas. It’s hard not to be inspired by a man like Grady Tripp, a one-time, critically acclaimed novelist struggling to finish his never-ending follow-up while juggling the needs of his disgruntled wife, pregnant mistress, washed-up editor, infatuated tenant, and suicidal student, who’s responsible for accidentally killing the dog of his mistress, the married chancellor of the Pittsburgh-area university where he teaches. If you’ve never seen this film, drop what you’re doing and watch it... right... now. No matter what kind of funk overtakes me, this movie never fails to chase away the doldrums and put me on the writer’s path again. It doesn’t hurt that it cracks me up on a regular basis – or that it’s based, in part, on novelist Michael Chabon’s own misadventures following the success of his first novel. And don’t tell him this, but as much as I love the book, I adore the movie even more – maybe it’s just the perfect casting that’s to blame.

Sideways (2004) – This choice might confuse you. I mean, isn’t this a film about a wine lover’s misadventure with his philandering, soon-to-be-wed best friend? Well, yes, but the wine lover in question also just happens to be a struggling novelist, with a passionate agent and no hope of snagging a publisher. That might sound disheartening, but what I like about this movie – besides the obvious hilarity of the absurd situations – is that Miles manages to impress a beautiful, vivacious woman with his story, proving that even if a novel remains unpublished, it still has the power to touch someone.

Becoming Jane (2007) – Although historians question the accuracy of this film, which chronicles the elusive Jane Austen’s first and only love affair – the one that presumably inspired her much-studied and much-lauded collection of romantic novels – I really love this movie. First, because it demonstrates how a writer’s upbringing, family, and environment can influence her stories, and second, because it shows the sacrifices that a writer must often make to pursue her art. May I have the strength to do the same...

If none of those work for you, here are a few more suggestions:

The Lost Weekend (1945)
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Somewhere in Time (1980)
Best Seller (1987)
The Accidental Tourist (1988)
Funny Farm (1988)
Barton Fink (1991)
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
Little Women (1994)
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Sliding Doors (1998)
Breakfast of Champions (1999)
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Adaptation (2002)
Orange County (2002)
Love Actually (2003)
Swimming Pool (2003)
Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Atonement (2007)

Of course, there are even more than that, but I’m tired of typing – and frankly, itching to watch a movie!