tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79970442841416029222024-02-21T07:00:01.749-08:00Glow in the Dark ThoughtsThis is the blog of things I'm thinking about at the moment. I expect to think about ideas related to dance, games, comics, films, theatre, food and sex. I might think about other things too.Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-65906601045090626412015-02-03T08:39:00.001-08:002015-02-03T08:40:48.530-08:00Thank You for the Struggle - Blizzed!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thank You for the Struggle, our Second City music program show got canceled due to blizzard last Sunday. That means there are only two more chances to see it!</div>
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In the meantime it seems timely to look back at our growth over the year.<br />
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Level 1: <a href="https://gigity.tv/event/40902#401710-312" target="_blank">An Accidental Cow</a></div>
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Level 2: <a href="https://gigity.tv/event/60651#402637-44" target="_blank">Moondog & Starshine</a></div>
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Level 3: <a href="https://gigity.tv/event/84602#403603-2242" target="_blank">Accidental Cow: The Level 3 Show</a></div>
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Level 4: <a href="https://gigity.tv/event/99193#404379-28" target="_blank">An Accidental Cow Strikes Back</a></div>
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Our level 5 show was never recorded, but you missed Snowflakes, Resumes, Tokens, Cake Pops and lots of other fun stuff!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">From our last class in level 3, photo by Aaron Graham</span><br />
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Here's one of the previews for Thank You for the Struggle, featuring some cool stuff which ended up on the cutting room floor. Guess which one I wrote!</div>
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<a href="https://gigity.tv/event/102209" target="_blank">Thank You for the Struggle preview</a></div>
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See you at Donny's Skybox, Sundays at 8pm for the next two weeks!</div>
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Thank You for the Struggle!</div>
Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-76792256635967973632014-12-16T08:45:00.002-08:002015-02-26T10:44:47.805-08:00Thank You for the Struggle!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This morning I saw on Timehop that it was a year ago today when I got the acceptance email into the music conservatory at the Second City Training Center. Our final class is this Thursday and our show, Thank You for the Struggle, opens for preview on January 4th.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/628082760647255/?ref_dashboard_filter=hosting" target="_blank">Thank You for the Struggle</a>!<br />
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It has been a big year for musical improvisation. <i><a href="http://www.blankthemusical.com/" target="_blank">Blank: The Musical</a></i> opened off Broadway and perhaps has set the bar for musical improvisation. Studio BE became <a href="http://www.mclchicago.com/" target="_blank">MCL Chicago</a> and is now posed to be the epicenter for musical improvisation and sketch, if not just in Chicago then the world.<br />
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Last time I posted about musical improv I provided a bunch of links to related podcasts. Here are some more:<br />
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ADD Comedy Podcast - <a href="http://addcomedy.sideshownetwork.libsynpro.com/laura-hall" target="_blank">Dave Razowsky with Laura Hall </a><br />
Improv Nerd: <a href="http://www.feralaudio.com/112-stephanie-mccullough-vlcek/" target="_blank">Jimmy Carrane interviews Stephanie McCullough Vlcek</a><br />
Magnet Theater Podcast: <a href="http://www.magnettheater.com/blog/22-creators-of-blank-the-musical/)" target="_blank">Creators of Blank! The Musical</a><br />
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Finally, I'm teaching a musical improv workshop at the Kansas City Improv Company this Saturday, December 27! It will be great to be back there for that!Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-21712622569925583942014-03-19T09:39:00.000-07:002014-03-19T09:45:09.926-07:00I had to Google the spelling for PhilippinesI'm trying to get my head around all these ideas about racial identity in the theatrical world. Stereotypes, accents, casting, etc. Historically I haven't been very comfortable with race and even less so when it comes to thinking of myself as having a racial identity, and especially when it comes to finding a way to sell myself as an actor.<br />
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It goes back to my earliest days in memory, growing up in East Los Angeles, as perhaps the only non-Mexican kid around. It's not like I was entirely friendless in elementary school days, however I recall the roots of my feelings of alienation being planted in that period. The taunting with rhymes like "<a href="http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/andiexclask-a-mexican/Content?oid=2181923">Chino, Chino, Japones, Como Caca No Me Des</a>" By the time I was in High School things were a bit more diverse, especially since I was in a magnet program that drew students in from around the city.<br />
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I went to Garfield High School, which was famous for calculus teacher Jaime Escalante. The film <i>Stand and Deliver</i> had a few scenes shot there, though mostly at rival High School Roosevelt. If I had to look back and realize, my first days doing extra work (as the biz would call it - background artist) were on this shoot. I didn't realize at the time that Lou Diamond Phillips was of Philippine descent like me. I think La Bamba had been released and at the time he was getting work playing Mexican. And good for him!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Q3a-bXXN9Xc" width="420"></iframe><br />
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There weren't really any Filipino characters in the media either, at least not that I remember. I was lumped in with the Asians in general. So people assumed I knew Kung Fu. To a certain extent that misconception kept me safe from harm, as long as I didn't start a fight myself. There's a certain Alien-ness of all the Asian characters I'd see on the screen too, from Long Duk Dong to Short Round to Data (from Goonies, not Star Trek: TNG). I think the only times I've seen an actor portraying a Pinoy character (I'm still not used to that phrase, but I'll use it) it was playing a houseboy during the 1940s and 50s or this scene from <i>Priscilla, Queen of the Desert</i>. I love the hell outta that movie too, even that scene though I'm as uncomfortable with it as one might expect.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/NDu9gbuKpKc" width="420"></iframe><br />
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Speaking of discomfort, I remember a featured extra job during which I was offered a line. It was during a pilot set at a hospital. I was supposed to have been a husband for a wife going into labor, who knew very little English. The line was simply calling out to the lead - "Doctor! Doctor!" and yet I couldn't swallow the whole outsider vibe, like playing a character who had the accent that was present in my life growing up. I talked my way out of that, and thus also a significant pay bump. That day kind of caused some big questions for me, with which I'm apparently still dealing. How committed am I to being a professional actor? What do I think about how my racial identity has been perceived?<br />
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Even earlier at UCSB, I remember taking the stage dialects class. I loved learning stereotypical accents. But I got very uncomfortable with doing the one Asian accent in the book. It brought up those old feelings of alienation that I and the Chinese girl student had to do a scene from Rashomon in Japanese. I blew it off without explanation, but again there are questions I'm still dealing with twenty years later.<br />
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Last Friday I volunteered for an arts expo at the Chicago Cultural Center. Mostly sitting and chatting up folks and promoting the Second City, but I had fun and saw some resources I wasn't aware of before. I met a lady from the local SAG chapter and discovered that I was still eligible to join, which surprised the hell out of me. She also seemed to see my "racial ambiguity" as an advantage in terms of work. That thinking is very uncomfortable for me, seems inauthentic. On the other side there's work to be had, right? Is there such a thing as Yellowface?<br />
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This sketch from Mr. Show captures the way I think folks think of Asian characters. Look for the section about Chinatown.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0bQVKYY5Fc8" width="420"></iframe><br />
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Russell Peters has a handle on his racial identity and it allows him to discuss race elegantly.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hd77eNaKEck" width="420"></iframe><br />
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I've written before that the one movie I can remember during which Asian characters were presented as normal dudes and not entirely outsiders was <i>Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle</i>. I didn't see the sequel, but I have to imagine that it's possible to see more people who look like me in the media. It's weird because when I Google "Philipino Actors" the links are nearly full of people who have partial descent, people who play other races. I don't begrudge those people their work, but it makes me question what a young Pinoy kid sees as their options in the media? I personally never related to the stereotypes that were seen about faces like mine.<br />
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There was an indie movie out recently called <i>Graceland</i>, set in the Philippines. It was tense, extremely dark and had a pretty wide range of characters, though none of them pretty. Does it speak to stereotypes? Maybe. Is it a very interesting film which leaves me with questions? That's much more important to me.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9TefQLJDMSE" width="560"></iframe><br />
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I still have a lot to chew on. What are your thoughts?<br />
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Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-17203869049099482002014-03-13T05:28:00.001-07:002014-03-13T05:28:48.210-07:00The Bat - Improvention 2013 by Improv Things<a href="http://soundcloud.com/improvthings/the-bat-improvention-2013?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=mshare&utm_medium=blogger&utm_content=http://soundcloud.com/improvthings/the-bat-improvention-2013">The Bat - Improvention 2013 by Improv Things</a>Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-34836172374052566512014-03-04T21:58:00.001-08:002015-02-26T10:45:02.772-08:00Music Improv I'm in the musical improv conservatory at Second City in Chicago now and loving it. You can watch our level one show that we did. I think it costs two bucks to watch but here it is: <a href="http://gigity.tv/event/40902/">An Accidental Cow</a>. I think the show starts around three minutes into the recording.<br />
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We got the title from our teacher Mike Girts, who mentioned another teacher talking about every improv song having an accidental cow. That is every time someone needs to rhyme with the word "Now" when they don't have a plan, they usually have to use COW.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0t-4IW9YGZU9M8RCMr3OE6-cayJ1G3KUULlqtFFiYturzOvS1dwxrhwZatLILFWWv60gaIo8XBrgeiMp1MZjmprL7YoCS2js49dC-xsuKaAk6TGP_A0rrr8Rwd8_cAYHfj1yORx69as/s1600/Moos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0t-4IW9YGZU9M8RCMr3OE6-cayJ1G3KUULlqtFFiYturzOvS1dwxrhwZatLILFWWv60gaIo8XBrgeiMp1MZjmprL7YoCS2js49dC-xsuKaAk6TGP_A0rrr8Rwd8_cAYHfj1yORx69as/s1600/Moos.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>Here's a compilation of podcasts about musical improv comedy:</u><br />
<a href="http://podbay.fm/show/250433192/e/1215030000">Zenprov: Music</a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Nancy Howland-Walker and Marshall Stern explore musical improvisation from the point of view of Zen. Nancy is the author of Instant Songwriting and the founder of <i>Musical: The Musical</i>. </span><br />
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<a href="http://podbay.fm/show/572391530/e/1366603370">ADD Comedy: Shulie Cowan</a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Dave Razowsky chats with Shulie Cowan, director of the long-running Los Angeles show <i>Opening Night: The Improvised Musical</i>.</span><br />
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<a href="http://podbay.fm/show/547986680/e/1387812270">Improv Nerd: Mike Descoteaux</a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jimmy Carrane interviews Mike Descoteaux, Artistic Director of Improv Boston and former head of the music program at Second City in Chicago.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.feralaudio.com/76-baby-wants-candy/">Improv Nerd: Baby Wants Candy</a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Baby Wants Candy</i> is a perennial musical improv show in Chicago. Jimmy Carrane sits with them to discuss their process.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.musicalimprovcomedy.co.uk/podcasts.html">Musical Improv Comedy</a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Heather Urquhart and Joe Samuel of UK improv group the Maydays created a series dedicated entirely to musical improv comedy.</span><br />
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The list of resources is always expanding.Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-66382054148735606682014-01-01T07:51:00.004-08:002015-02-26T10:45:58.428-08:00SeedsI spent last night kicking the common cold on its ass, by which I mean I slept in.<br />
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So Chicago, right? I forget whether I've mentioned it but I moved to Chicago in July. It has been a pretty big adjustment. I spent the first several months trying to build an infrastructure to my life. Work in progress.<br />
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In just over a week I'll be starting the music conservatory at Second City and level 5b at iO. So there's beauty in store. I'll be helping with the Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival in March so my nerd quota will be filled.<br />
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I don't get to teach dance anywhere formally at the moment. That's a sadness, but it's also a goal for me. There's a lot for me to share with this city. There's a whole lot of potential here.<br />
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I knew by New Year's Eve last year that I'd have to leave Los Angeles. I had a family member who needed me in Kansas City so I handled my affairs in Los Angeles as much as I was able and I set out to return to the Midwest.<br />
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Here are some of the things I was involved with that kept me sane:<br />
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Planet Comicon: <a href="http://comicattack.net/2013/04/22/planetcomicon13/">http://comicattack.net/2013/04/22/planetcomicon13/</a><br />
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<a href="http://fox4kc.com/2013/07/09/jazz-orchestra-dancers-pay-tribute-to-kansas-city-greats/">http://fox4kc.com/2013/07/09/jazz-orchestra-dancers-pay-tribute-to-kansas-city-greats/</a>. That whole process of building the foundation for Kansas City Stomp. That was a cool time. This video was from our morning show appearance on Kansas City's Fox 4 News.<br />
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The Kansas City Improv Company named me the King of Improv for a night:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/72291590" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/72291590">Kick Comedy 062913 part 3</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user5885666">Tom Ptacek</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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When I wasn't needed anymore in Kansas City, Chicago seemed like a place worth exploring.<br />
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And yeah, let's see what we can bring to the year ahead!<br />
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Seeds: planted.Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-53461664538110953072013-12-01T07:47:00.000-08:002015-02-26T10:47:13.231-08:00Stagedive redux<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">During
my time at the training center at iO West, I felt the need to dig in to the
physical aspect of my improvisational work. Of course the training center at iO
didn’t include any physical work as part of its core curriculum. There were the
occasional workshops offered, but not often enough to scratch the itch I was
feeling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
remember one day, the morning of the Del Close Awards in 2012, that I had a
dream that I had stage dived from the main stage at the theatre. That night,
after getting done with my intern shift there was a dance and it was
incredible. By that I mean that I couldn’t believe that so many folks had so much
dancing freedom! There were dozens more (maybe most of the attendees) who would
rather schmooze in the bar, but the groove on the dance floor was deep and
everyone was in the pocket. From a Harold nerd’s perspective, what was
happening was essentially a giant group game, moved by the flow of the DJ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Then
there came the stage dives, and I got to live the dream I’d woken with that
morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At
the time I’d imagined working with dancers on an improv comedy form. I’d seen so
many talking heads scenes over the previous few years that I was eager to break
new ground. At Camp Hollywood, an annual swing dance competition that I’ve
attended for over a decade, I’d imagined a way to do a completely improvised
swing dance routine to music that we generated from singing of the audience. To
say that was an ambitious notion would be an understatement, but I knew that
the ideas revolving around improvised dance would need to be realized. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ve
taught improvisation for dancers in the Lindy Hop world since the turn of the
century. Most of my exercises were inspired by things I learned in my earlier
days of improvisation. So when I started my level 7 class at iO, during which
our class would workshop an entirely new form, the notions that had been
swelling in my head for months or years were ready to be born. I’d have to save
those ideas for later since our class worked on a great form called The Quark,
but that meant I’d have time to recruit players and a coach and find space for
us all to play!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
called the form The Stagedive. We rehearsed with coach Stacy Rumaker (and once
with George Caleodis) until I was pulled away from Southern California for
family reasons. We got a good couple of months of practice and what I think
were some good shows under our belts. I was sorry to leave the group behind,
but I was needed in Kansas City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
following are the email correspondences I sent to the Stagedive group. I’m
finding it valuable to revisit these ideas because they’re still boiling for
me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Email
1</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Here are some new clips to check out. This week I was interested
in the heightened world of dance:<br />
<br />
Black Coffee</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: Centaur, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bd3Yu-ImZk0" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">
This metaphor is pretty much on the nose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;"><br />
Step Up 3 - Red Hook<br />
</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://youtu.be/Tistx28WpJU</span></span><span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;"><br />
Another video of two tribes. Seems like a common theme in dance movies.<br />
<br />
Adriano Celentano - Prisencolen...</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: Centaur, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BZXcRqFmFa8" width="420"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">
I can't even explain this one. I find it infectious.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">
I've got tons more clips, but just three for now. Thanks a ton for your time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Email
2</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Hey y'all,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">There's a lot to say about what music means for a dancer. I've got
some links here which you may interesting or may seem pretty heady. If you find
your brain pounding then I advise you to put the reading down. We'll explore
musicality more in rehearsal this week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">In the follow-up email, I'll have an exercise for you to try and
more videos for that "ooh, pretty" feeling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">So, musicality... In the sense that I'm bringing up
here, let's consider the word a few ways. How does a dancer feel
music? How then can the dancer use those feelings to find movement? And
eventually how does this work with a group? How do a group of surfers ride the
same wave?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">The first link is from my dance blog. These are all the links that
specifically relate to musicality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://lindygroovetechnique.blogspot.com/search/label/Musicality?m=0<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">The next link is from Swungover. It's an interview with a deaf
dancer named Tim Vail. There's a lot about how music moves a person who can't
use their ears to hear it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://swungover.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/interview-with-tim-vail-deaf-lindy-hopper/<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">I followed the included links yesterday. One of those that hits me
really hard is the link to "Whip My Hands," video by Adrean Clark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: navy; font-family: Centaur, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GjuY2ta6Vgc" width="420"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">When I first watched this I wanted to hear the music she danced
to. Then I thought "oh..."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">This could get pretty deep. If you have any questions I welcome
them! Thanks for your time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Email
3</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">One of the things I've been considering lately is the way I listen
to music. We talked about lyrics in rehearsal last weekend and I remember that
for me lyrics are usually the last thing that hit. Usually I don't hear lyrics
until the second or third time through and usually only remember them if
they're exceptionally clever or bold enough to stick in my head. For me music
is usually what's underneath the words. For me a singer's voice is one
instrument among many.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Maybe it wasn't always that way for me. I remember in a dance
class at the Edge years back, when the instructor stopped us cold. He told us
to stop counting (bear in mind I haven't asked us to <i>start </i>counting) and listen to the music. He asked us to pick out
one instrument and dance to that. That minute's worth of work was a crucial one
for me! So I'd like for you to have a similar experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Here's a song from Lake Street Dive:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Centaur, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dW2KJR4i-mM" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Clear a Space<br />
<br />
Here's the exercise:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">1) Listen to the song. Please don't read parts 2 forward until
after you've heard the song once.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">****<br />
****<br />
****<br />
****<br />
****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">2) Listen to the song again. This time pick out the BASS - It's
fairly prominent in the song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">3) Once you've found the bass, hum along with it. Try to make the
same sounds you hear. If you're sensitive to which parts of your body vibrates
when you sing then make note but there's no pressure to think on that much. If
you don't notice anything them just hum along for now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">4) Dance to the bass-line. It might just be a simple foot tapping.
A head bop counts as dancing in my book! Whatever feels like moving, let it
move.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">5) Listen to the song again picking out a different instrument.
There are only four instruments total including the singer. Sing along and
dance with that instrument.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">6) Try the exercise again with a song of your choice!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Centaur, serif; font-weight: normal;">Questions</span></strong><span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">: Where in your body does
music <em><span style="font-style: normal;">turn into </span></em>dancing? How is
listening in this way similar or different from the kind of listening you use
in the world or onstage?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">The exercise above is a musical exploration of sensitivity to <em><span style="font-style: normal;">tone</span></em>. Later we'll explore how <em><span style="font-style: normal;">structure </span></em>works in songs and how we can
become more sensitive to that as dancers and as players.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">I promised videos. Here are some videos!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Videos<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">*Jammin'
the Blues</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: Centaur, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2v_Y3Pbiims" width="420"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">This
is one of my favorite jazz clips, shot by one of my favorite photographers,
Gjon Mili. It's a good transition in the discussion of music and dancing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">*Amelia
- Lalala Human Steps</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: Centaur, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9WomwTIWJ5o" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">I've
lost count how many times I've watched this. I find it completely hypnotic.
This is the first section of a longer feature film from Lalala Human Steps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">*Weightless
- Erika Janunger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Centaur, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xXi1P4qXSxw" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Man,
I don't know what this is but it's gorgeous.<br />
<br />
Okay, that's plenty of stuff. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks for your time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;"><b>Email
4</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Great rehearsal last weekend! Aw man, I have to give it up to
Kelsey McCowan for coming in to teach for the first hour! I've been working on
that tap section. And I have to thank you all for just playing your asses off!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">This week I'll be teaching a Lindy Hop lesson. We're going to
learn the roles of lead and follow and build some ideas about what that means
in partnership. Since we're a little gender-uneven I'll be inviting some extra
ladies to join us for that first hour. If you know anyone who'd like a free
lesson please send me a line!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">We'll be guest coached this weekend by George Caleodis, alumnus of
the Second City mainstage and a man who performs with at least 12 Harold teams
each week. I'm excited for him to work with us!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Some related READING -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">USS Rock 'n Roll - Dance Lessons part 1 & 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://ussrocknroll.com/?p=6907<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://ussrocknroll.com/?p=6911<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">RockStepTriple - Lindy Hop vs. Improv Comedy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://rocksteptriple.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/lindy-hop-vs-improv-comedy/<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">A slew of VIDEOS -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Groovie Movie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Centaur, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cbaNYWkQYYA" width="420"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Fifteen years ago this movie changed my life. Most of my basic
philosophy of life can be found here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Hellzapoppin'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Centaur, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qkthxBsIeGQ" width="420"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">This is one of the most memorable scenes from an ahead of its time
sketch comedy film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">I Love Lucy - from Lucy Gets an Eye Exam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: navy; font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">http://youtu.be/frLNbUWG524 (*unfortunately now removed from YouTube*)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Lucy danced with one of my heroes from the Groovie Movie, Arthur
Walsh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Living it Up - Jerry Lewis & Dean Martin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Centaur, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0JjOBKii8vM" width="420"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Jerry Lewis backed up by some of southern Californias legendary
swing dancers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">The Retro Kids Show - Everybody Eats When They Come to My House<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Centaur, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/tvkCEEj4I2s" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Hey, I'm in this one!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Okay, that's plenty for now. Send a line if you have any
questions. Thanks for your time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Centaur","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Email
5</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">Just one video today - Bobby McFerrin </span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-family: Centaur, serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ne6tB2KiZuk" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Centaur, serif;">I'd love to play an audience like he does.</span></div>
Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-61599427597526162122013-08-19T07:54:00.001-07:002015-02-26T10:45:26.318-08:00Brava!In case anyone is wondering, I've moved to Chicago. Still adjusting to this city's rhythms, but I think good things are ahead.<br />
<br />
I was looking through YouTube the other day and discovered the Broadway deconstructions of Seth Rudetsky. It started with this video his analysis of one of my favorite recordings - <i>At the Ballet</i> from <i>A Chorus Line</i>.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/M_rwriVOMkU" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
And as I'm really interested in musical work (mostly in the world of improvisation) this gives me a chunk of stuff to consider. Anyway, he has dozens of those, and even more deconstructions of performers throughout the decades. This guy is clearly obsessed.<br />
<br />
Then there's this:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLqLKBNesVXghhAULTJxfpdUgzlkBGHrH4" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
I'm not even halfway through this five part series of bootlegs, but it's got me thinking of how to step up the game in musical improv, but it's also entertaining as hell.<br />
<br />
And let's thank the Kansas City Improv Company for giving me a place to play. While I was there I performed a bit and taught four workshops on musical improv. Here's a video from the King of Improv show. I'll think of it as my going-away present:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/72291590" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/72291590">Kick Comedy 062913 part 3</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user5885666">Tom Ptacek</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-43608594010216598582012-12-12T11:31:00.001-08:002012-12-12T11:40:47.840-08:00Four different flavorsMy music tastes of late have been entirely driven by YouTube. I don't know how folks keep up nowadays. I could turn on the radio I suppose, and I still dig KCRW when I think to turn on the tuner, but I'm not home often enough to consider it, I guess.<br />
<br />
Anyway, here are three tracks I've been enjoying lately:<br />
<br />
Macklemore X Ryan Lewis - <em><strong>Victory Lap</strong></em><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZSJBtq5VQZA" width="560"></iframe><br />
I've dug the tracks I've seen on Facebook, including <em><a href="http://youtu.be/QK8mJJJvaes">Thrift Shop</a></em> and <em><a href="http://youtu.be/hlVBg7_08n0">Same Love</a></em>. I dig this artist pretty well. Think I'm going to have to listen to more.<br />
<br />
Kitty Pryde & Riff Raff - <em><strong>Orion's Belt</strong></em><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2NNbeS-_EEA" width="560"></iframe><br />
What's Tumblrcore? I'll admit I only watched Kitty Pryde's <em><a href="http://youtu.be/3SDYus7iKC8">OK Cupid</a></em> video because I had a crush on the X-Men Kitty Pryde character back when I was in Jr. High. There's just something about the vibe here that makes me want to curl up into a ball. <br />
<br />
Underground Anthem - Dead Poetz<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9zfAT4gqkVc" width="560"></iframe><br />
My buddy Otis Johnson directed this one and it reminded me immediately of the way we would go on and on about Dr. Octagon. The snake reminds me of the Jim Crow character from Grant Morrison's <em>The Invisibles </em>series, which I've recently re-read. It all fits into this weird little matrix that works in my head. Check out Otis's short film: <a href="http://ideasthatglow.blogspot.com/2009/07/robogeisha-silent-razor.html"><em><strong>The Silent Razor</strong></em></a><br />
<br />
MC Yogi - <em><strong>Hanuman</strong></em><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CLyY3gR7fmk" width="560"></iframe><br />
I've been listening to MC Yogi since I found his CD at Darren Rhoades yoga studio in Tucson a couple of years ago. His latest record Pilgrimage is one of the few CDs I can remember buying this year. Love it! Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-83615691746705445052012-10-22T13:24:00.001-07:002012-10-22T13:30:39.980-07:00Inside the Master Class - Black Guy Auditions<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WMoNeHxapkY?list=PLqLKBNesVXgiJQg0sgv-Aw2r_w94G_1Tb&hl=en_US" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
If you haven't seen the original Inside the Master Class series, I posted all the episodes <a href="http://ideasthatglow.blogspot.com/2012/01/inside-master-class-bonus.html">here</a>. This is a thoughtful follow-up.<br />
<br />
<br />Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-91891284917524002372012-09-23T17:57:00.000-07:002012-12-12T11:32:09.316-08:00Want It Back<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cZCadqQY-Lw" width="420"></iframe><br />
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If I wasn't working at this very moment, I'd be seeing a free show with Amanda Palmer at<a href="http://www.amoeba.com/live-shows/performances/hollywood/2012-september-23/amanda-palmer/artist.html"> Amoeba</a>. I'll be honest and report that the only thing I knew about her before searching YouTube was that she's married to Neil Gaiman. It seems like she's a force to be reckoned with.Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-28909170603124154972012-09-22T16:03:00.003-07:002012-09-22T16:03:46.635-07:00Lurch's Grand Romance<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TbWIMOA8e3k" width="420"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-Vg5t378ebs" width="420"></iframe><br />
Lurch's Grand RomanceFad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-79328104559882137082012-08-25T13:46:00.002-07:002012-09-13T11:59:22.945-07:00Sex HouseI love Sex House!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0App7QizQCU" width="560"></iframe><br />
Meet the Nymphos!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1tD_TsZQJqI" width="560"></iframe><br />
Sexy Truth or Sexy Dare<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0CcGO0xE6tI" width="560"></iframe><br />
Get On That Pole!<br />
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Erin Bares it All<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4FUggExQPJY" width="560"></iframe><br />
Banana Sex Olympics<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Y37RMvwlhX8" width="560"></iframe><br />
Dr. Sex<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/58mDp6HHQWw" width="560"></iframe><br />
Sex in a Bottle<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2JYCSgCPVBQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
Orgy Scheming<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CFuuf5V3QRE" width="560"></iframe><br />
Sex Climax<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/s31fWsk6lMQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
Reunion<br />
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Yeah, that's it for season 1!Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-79901856874649966572012-07-12T17:36:00.000-07:002012-07-12T17:36:25.373-07:00Williams and Osbournes<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sNG8uoINiKs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Trust Us With Your Life, Season 1, Episode 1
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HY5XG6wi3W8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>\
Trust Us With Your Life, Season 1, Episode 2
This is the latest improv show on television. What do you think?
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Overall, I think the show is entertaining enough. I'm curious to how the reception from the general public will go.
My own thoughts as an improviser is that the structure of the show seems fairly rigid. Each player is proscribed their exact roles before they start their scenes. Essentially each of these games is a short form that while completely improvised by the actors has been considered before choosing been planned for by production.
I remember when I first saw Whose Line Is It Anyway, I always felt that the play was stiff. That is I could feel that the the players had to hold in position for the cameras have to do the least work. I laughed a lot when I watched it, but I could feel their feet were, with some exceptions, stuck in place.
More later.Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-42255683552016988592012-06-23T13:17:00.002-07:002012-06-23T13:17:47.255-07:00I'm Luke Skywalker!<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Cf0RhQOLpLM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Benji Shchwimmer auditions for So You Think You Can Dance
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_L9gxhReIoc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Part 1
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Part 2
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Part 3
If you have watched So You Think You Can Dance, you might remember Benji Schwimmer, the West Coast Swing dancer who won season 2. Underneath his audition video, we see a fascinating 6 hour discussion of his time as a devout Mormon dealing with his questions of sexuality.Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-27101025548190577662012-04-28T15:13:00.000-07:002012-04-28T15:13:04.207-07:00The Super PsycheGrant Morrison is my hero.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyTkZRcBI44QALUwBogulGB4GCCXZGfRe-VNtGvbQpInrRVQ5CpQdSJpRgqEQZqysRijoXKb7i74Z77n1nmTCi4vg11pDhVo8pXnEzYKHE3K_umqZgDCgrUryJ-L30p25Cl45rh5Z9tQ/s1600/playgroundHero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="194" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyTkZRcBI44QALUwBogulGB4GCCXZGfRe-VNtGvbQpInrRVQ5CpQdSJpRgqEQZqysRijoXKb7i74Z77n1nmTCi4vg11pDhVo8pXnEzYKHE3K_umqZgDCgrUryJ-L30p25Cl45rh5Z9tQ/s400/playgroundHero.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.playboy.com/playground/entertainment/culture/the-super-psyche">The Super Psyche</a>Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-20436434026540119592012-04-28T15:10:00.001-07:002012-04-28T15:17:13.053-07:00Freaks and Geeks redux<i>Freaks and Geeks</i> is one of my favorite shows, up there with <i>The Twilight Zone</i> and <i>The Wire</i>. Here's an series that I really look forward to reading.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWK6WhmR-8d6aTZc6DQQ5i96Q86hMuzXHiYOBe34kKko3Izifk7PTpgM8R0ndk-g42S3dMOAuO59Pxjmn9_Bxk20wBlZoppaiUkDwCCFUBdmx9G_ilWMU2No8PP9w5TTVSKOV6GkoSqRc/s1600/freaksgeeksmain_png_627x325_crop_upscale_q85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="207" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWK6WhmR-8d6aTZc6DQQ5i96Q86hMuzXHiYOBe34kKko3Izifk7PTpgM8R0ndk-g42S3dMOAuO59Pxjmn9_Bxk20wBlZoppaiUkDwCCFUBdmx9G_ilWMU2No8PP9w5TTVSKOV6GkoSqRc/s400/freaksgeeksmain_png_627x325_crop_upscale_q85.jpg" /></a></div>
Paul Feig Walks us through Freaks and Geeks
<a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/paul-feig-walks-us-through-freaks-and-geeks-part-1,72057/">Part 1</a>
<a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/paul-feig-walks-us-through-freaks-and-geeks-part-2,72139/">Part 2</a>
<a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/paul-feig-walks-us-through-freaks-and-geeks-part-3,72180/">Part 3</a>
<a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/paul-feig-walks-us-through-freaks-and-geeks-part-4,72299/">Part 4</a>
<a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/paul-feig-walks-us-through-freaks-and-geeks-part-5,72332/">Part 5</a>Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-49241624715459519762012-04-28T15:04:00.001-07:002012-04-28T15:04:20.920-07:00"Sexy and I Know It"<iframe id="NBC Video Widget" width="512" height="347" src="http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/widget/widget.html?vid=1398412" frameborder="0"></iframe>
<iframe id="NBC Video Widget" width="512" height="347" src="http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/widget/widget.html?vid=1398460" frameborder="0"></iframe>
I host the <a href="http://ioimprov.com/west/io/shows/the-happy-hour-challenge">Happy Hour Challenge</a> every Friday at iO West. This puts me in the mood!
It's fun to watch folks figure out how to play this game. The players at my show ain't seen nothin' yet.Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-63121621013017336792012-03-03T15:29:00.008-08:002012-03-06T12:07:51.943-08:00The Most Important Word<blockquote>What's the most important word in math?</blockquote><br /><br />That's a question I like to ask my students. I was inspired by this episode of <em>The Adventures of Pete and Pete</em>. It's called <em>X=Why?</em>. In it, Ellen Hickle asks a question of her math teacher which stumps the world and sends everything flying into chaos. I'd like to imagine that this question was asked in a fictional world in which there is no actual answer to this question. The show is full of whimsy and that works for me. I also love... well I'll let you watch the episode before I suggest.<br /><br />There's also that joke floating around Facebook. I think it reads: "Dear Algebra, please stop trying to find your X. She's gone." It's a sad truth that students use humor to shield themselves from the frustrations and joys of learning. More on that some other time.<br /><br />So what's the most important word in math, in my opinion? Take some time to consider and meet me below.<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BxJF-M9inQM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hbXumrVwJkA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SzVONMj05yI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ynX6JqawO-U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />The most important word in math:<br /><br />"IS"<br /><br />That is to say the verb "To Be." Like "I am," "he/she is," "they are" and all of those cojnugations.<br /><br />Now that I've answered that question, what the hell does that mean exactly? The word "is" is so important that most folks wouldn't even think of it. It's so important that we take it completely for granted. Was it Hamlet who pondered "To be or not to be, that is the question?" What was he asking? Let's consider for a moment that he was asking one of the universe's most profound concerns.<br /><br />What does that have to do with math? Let's start with the word "Equals." That's the word most analogous to "IS."<br /><br />For instance, let's start with the thought that 12 eggs cost $3.00. A question most commonly asked might be "at this rate what is the cost of ONE egg?"<br /><br />The way algebra works is pretty simple. Take the information you're given and use different symbols. If Twelve eggs are $3.00, we might translate that like so:<br /><br />12X = 3<br /><br />If you read from left to right, that's a very simple translation. Twelve(12) Eggs(x)are (=)$3.00(3). From there it is a matter of manipulation (moving things around with your hands) to find out the answer. I won't share the answer here. Figure it out yourself.<br /><br />It occurs to me that algebra is often seen as much more difficult than it really is. Part of it is the element I mentioned above (manipulation) that students often refuse to learn. Instead of doing a little work on paper, they usually rely on their brains. That makes the practice much harder in my opinion. I once met a grown man at a Kinko's who asked a question like Ellen did in x=Why?: "Why should I have to learn that?" At the time I wasn't ready to answer him, but I think the answer is fairly profound.<br /><br /><blockquote>We developed these skills to help us to find things that we don't know. </blockquote><br />That's why to me the word "IS" is so amazingly important. Algebra exists to help us discover the things we don't know. The gifts of algebra are the toolset for discovering things that we haven't begun to understand. Those secrets may be as essential as the basics of existence.Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-71976113030065356652012-02-25T15:29:00.001-08:002012-02-25T15:32:14.991-08:00Avery, Del and The Second City<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qasWz3DyZbI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-32321416649800327642012-01-27T19:03:00.000-08:002012-01-27T19:06:37.359-08:00I love French 1960s Pop<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rRva0YOVtcI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4rdtfHJkWs4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GRaAghtPFRE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-89058697027363621842012-01-14T15:49:00.000-08:002012-01-25T09:34:38.568-08:00BIRTHDAZ'D: My annual year-long birthday celebration: the kick-off!<a href="http://ideasthatglowhttp//www.bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif.com/img/blank.gif.blogspot.com/2011/01/4-decades-of-whimsy.html">Last year's celebration of my birthday</a> officially ends on January 25, 2012. That's the day before this year's celebration begins.<br /><br />We have swing dancing, improv shows and classes, food-ishness and some as-yet-unplanned wackiness. The kick-off event is spread out over several days. Make it happen.<br /><br />Last year, I challenged folks to try things they hadn't done much. The challenge is extended again this year. It runs on the honor system.<br /><br />For some reason people have gotten the crazy idea that I don't want presents. If this is you, you've been misinformed. I love presents! Here's where to go if you want ideas about what to get: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html?ie=UTF8&type=wishlist&id=20FKZMNDE170R">me want</a>. If you get something from this list it is likely that I will weep openly. Sorry about that.<br /><br />Here's the schedule as it stands. It's subject to change.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:180%;">Thursday, January 26th</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7:30pm</span> beginner lesson<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8:30pm-midnight</span> dancing!<br /><a href="http://www.lindygroove.com/">LindyGroove</a> - This is my regular spot and always a blast. Admission is $8 and comes with a free beginner lesson. I also have less than 10 free passes I can give away for this night only. If I know you from Improv, yoga or math, this is a night I really want to see you! Swing dancers are welcome, but you were going to be there anyway so find another night.<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Friday, January 27th</span> - IO West</span> -<br />Three hours of comedy shows on the main stage at <a href="http://west.ioimprov.com/">IO West</a> and admission is $10 for all the shows you want to watch.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">09:00 PM</span> - $10<br /><a href="http://ioimprov.com/west/io/shows/opening-night-the-improvised-musical">Opening Night: The Improvised Musical!® </a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10:00 PM</span> - $10<br /><a href="http://ioimprov.com/west/io/shows/orpheus-roy">Orpheus Roy</a> & <a href="http://ioimprov.com/west/io/shows/old-milwaukee">Old Milwaukee</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">11:00 PM</span> - $5<br /><a href="http://ioimprov.com/west/io/shows/the-wild">The Wild</a> & <a href="http://ioimprov.com/west/io/shows/glory-stories">Glory Stories</a><br /><br />I want as many Lindy Hoppers here this night as possible, since they mention the possibility of a dance party afterward. Actually, everyone should come out for this, because it's always a hoot!<br /><br />IO West<br />6366 Hollywood Blvd.<br />Los Angeles, CA <br /><br />After Lindy bombing IO, my bud Marshall is opening up a new club on the same block. It's an Electro Speakeasy, whatever that means. As I understand it, there's no cover.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1am-3am</span> - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/312428655462303/">Confidentiel</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/312428655462303/"></a><span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:180%;">Saturday, January 28th</span> -<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">12:45pm</span> - Mixed level Yoga class at <a href="http://www.missionstreetyoga.com/">Mission Street Yoga</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5pm</span> - <a href="http://www.cafegratitudela.com/">Cafe Gratitude</a> - I've never been. There's food here!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7:30pm</span> - <a href="http://nerdmeltla.com/tickets/index.php?event_id=141.">Enter Spider</a> at Nerdmelt - $10 at the door<a href="http://nerdmeltla.com/tickets/index.php?event_id=141."></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:180%;">Sunday, January 29th</span> -<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2pm-4pm</span><a href="http://theimprovtrick.art.officelive.com/SHOWS.aspx"> - Improv Trick</a> - Improv class<br />At the Underground Theater Annex<br />1314 N. Wilton Ave.<br />Los Angeles, CA 90028<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4:30pm</span> - <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/m/r/5/770645">Doomie's Home Cookin'</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6pm-whenever</span>: let's go roller skating around Hollywood!Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-41833202804857682862012-01-08T11:01:00.001-08:002012-01-08T11:29:40.638-08:00How to Read Nancy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VCi2hj5O_q9sB_qTn98978PtpR12m0tRJV4rQGL71blMrIIQ1Aa82Mh3lyyrm128HwlwR1OC9AWIMOgVly-MkVzUubOUSSAXzNHEin9uODefPHTx2Vnz_5wm4XtuhyqsNO0b3IdPzsw/s1600/lovessavagefury.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VCi2hj5O_q9sB_qTn98978PtpR12m0tRJV4rQGL71blMrIIQ1Aa82Mh3lyyrm128HwlwR1OC9AWIMOgVly-MkVzUubOUSSAXzNHEin9uODefPHTx2Vnz_5wm4XtuhyqsNO0b3IdPzsw/s400/lovessavagefury.jpg" border="0" http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifalt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695340151942082818" /></a><br /><br />Mark Newgarden and Paul Karasik wrote <a href="www.laffpix.com/howtoreadnancy.pdf">How to Read Nancy</a>. (A pdf will download if you click on the link)<br /><br />I've never really read <span style="font-style:italic;">Nancy</span>, but I was so blown away at Newgarden's short comic <span style="font-style:italic;">Love's Savage Fury</span> when I first read it in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAW_%28magazine%29">Raw</a> so long ago that it sticks with me today. I couldn't find a full copy online, but a detail shows above. It's available in Newgarden's collection <span style="font-style:italic;">We All Die Alone</span>.<br /><br />It takes Nancy and Sluggo and casts them as a young man and woman who may have exchanged a glance on a subway train. It's told from the mind's eye of the young man as he tries to recall the moment. <br /><br />What is it about that strip that resonated with me? <br /><br />I don't know. It's like poetry.Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-38794232135220601102012-01-08T10:52:00.000-08:002012-01-08T10:58:32.407-08:00Visions of FrankI've been a fan of <a href="http://www.jimwoodring.com/">Jim Woodring</a>'s for, dunno, maybe 20 years now. Frank is a character who has permeated my dreams. <br /><br />Looks like someone went and animated some Frank stories.<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lp95qKF4cDg"http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iYHcPr0m_jE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dgfySMIDnNs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2OtwF1U8gso" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZxBWUlJXRQk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EhUHBh--6Hc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bTkZHdTRqv0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7997044284141602922.post-53179890561003783712012-01-07T13:52:00.000-08:002012-01-19T09:38:28.318-08:00Inside the Master Class + Bonus!Still been doing a ton of improv! I just started level 1 at <a href="http://west.ioimprov.com">IO West </a>this week. I've been playing at the jams with <a href="http://www.theimprovtrick.com">The Improv Trick </a>and classes will resume tomorrow. I will be returning to <a href="http://www.monkeybutlercomedy.com">Monkey Butler </a>classes after I'm done with level 1 of IO since they're on the same nights. Seeing even more shows than last year, since I can get into the IO main stage for free now.<br /><br />More about that later, of course. Here are some clips!<br /><br />Maybe this will only be funny if you've ever been in an improv class. Here's all of Matt Besser's <em>Inside The Master Class</em>!<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Wf0vCK1pC2I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bvjCaWfc4Eo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uNHuXSKFB6c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YzJrOVtLc8Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />***<br /><br />Thematically speaking:<br /><br />From <em>Life's Too Short</em>: Liam Neeson wants to do improv.<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MKTh7zBIcrM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Michael Scott does improv<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uY6zTFnNS-A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Fad23http://www.blogger.com/profile/04664753834152760821noreply@blogger.com0