not being a smartass for once

Every year at this time I have some kind of a birthday, which I know would be more healthy to celebrate than to see as a countdown toward death, but you know, I don't see a glass as half empty or half full, but as a glass that possibly contains poison. This is also the time of the Sundance Film Festival, which I have attended several times in the past, including last year, with Chris and Kate and a lot of the makers of the film "The Pool"-- including some of the Indian actors and crew. I have never started a year out with such optimism. Then followed a lot of disappointment as the film struggled to find a distributor. It now has a distributor, at least, and after countless viewings, much thought, lots of discussion, divorce, dreams, and separation, I still believe it's one of the best films out there. I argue that my objectivity on this matter is possible, and I don't feel like it's going out on much of a limb to predict that "The Pool" will find a large and very enthusiastic audience, no matter how slowly.

At the same time, I started being disappointed at film after film after DVD after movie-going-experience, to the point where I stopped going to the movies or even watching them at home. Part of that was due to packing, moving, going insane from packing and moving, and recovering from insanity. I admit that I haven't seen much of what I think I might like that's out there now, but on the other hand I find myself not caring. I still care deeply about books. What has happened between me and movies? Is it just me, just the movies, or both?

I feel like the next few months will tell me a lot and answer a lot of questions about my future with various art forms. There is something to be said about quitting everything and then starting over-- it's a good time to separate what's really important to you from the things you were just doing because you always did them.

New Everything

Due to the overwhelming lack of response to the "name change" survey, I decided to change the name as well as the entire look for this online journal. It never really knew what it wanted to be anyway. Now perhaps it has a new purpose: Randy Russell trying to find readers for his collection of stories, titled "Nine Lies." The first reader may well be himself, at which time he may decide to embark on yet another harrowing 9 month editing freakout!

Or maybe not. We'll see. Stay tuned. Hopefully this new look will be easier on your eyes. The old one was really bugging me. Every time I saw it I thought of the USC Trojans, and the name John David Booty kept going through my mind. John David Booty, John David Booty, like an endless nightmare.

Thanks to Frankie Latina for the photo. It's a scene from his upcoming movie, Modus Operandi. Happy 2008 everyone!