Clubblog

New Year’s Resolutions.

2012-01-10T15:14:00.000-06:00

My birthday is today, so I don’t technically start my New Year until now. (For all you calendar huggers out there go ahead and scoff.) This year I turn 30 years old. Kind of one of those reflecting years where I look forward and realize that, yes, I am really getting older. Not like that 22^nd year where just about nothing happened. (Kidding, I may have gotten married.)

With a New Year come those formidable resolutions. Yes the ones you never intend to keep, but tell everyone you know that this is the year: “I will break that habit of drinking from the garden hose.” “Lose that weight and fit into a Speedo.” or “I will finally dig that hole!” Not sure why you’re digging that hole, but that’s your resolution. Here are a few of mine. (Don’t hold me to them.)

*Revamp my Young Adult book from scratch. Deadline April 1st*

Let’s just call this draft number 173. As much as it kills me to do this, in the back of my mind there is a glowing eyed little writing gremlin that knows that I’d better not foul things up with him.

*Write 3 Middle Grade “Reality Series” books – Publish as ebooks*

Seeing as I already have a writing goal in place and I’ve been eager to try this genre, why not just add some more? Sorry, it’s what writers do- Over commit, yet then end up breaking even and that’s fine with me.

*Blog at least once a week. *

Because I sometimes ramble, why not just ramble on the internet? Everyone else does and people seem to listen to them. Why wouldn’t they listen to me? I’m a likeable guy, right? I wonder if I’m likeable enough to get birthday mail today?

...What? Oh, I’m doing it aren’t I?

*Read more.*

I own three IKEA sized book shelves and space is drying up quick. I’ve got to make more room. I also now have a NOOK and that doesn’t help things.

Like me, most people are trying to make resolutions for the New Year and in my opinion; there are anticipations that go right along with them. “I anticipate I’ll break my habit of drinking water from the garden hose, yet for now I’ll take a few more licks.” “I anticipate I’ll lose that weight, so I’ll buy a Speedo today.” “I anticipate I’ll have the hole dug. Because where else would I put my 2012 Underground Apocalypse Shelter?”

No Speedos here, yet turning 30 and having these anticipations I realize that my eyes are bigger than my stomach. And yet, there is one more thing resolutions invoke: Determination. Unfaltering, unwavering, daring determination. I either find that or my resolutions are worth nothing and will crumble and die. May 2012 be our year to find the determination to not only to meet our anticipations, but resolute ourselves.

What are your New Year resolutions? Be Bold.

The Pact

2011-06-14T22:56:00.002-05:00

I’m a big movie fan. Cinema is a big part of my life. I’ve probably seen hundreds upon hundreds of films and yet haven’t managed to see nearly as many as I would like to.

Today movies are so accessible, heck they are practically thrown in our faces during TV shows, sporting events, and advertisements on our smart phones. And let’s not even mention the Internet. Being a film junkie, I tend read a lot of movie news and follow new films in production. I’m the sort of guy you ask around the office if you want to know what’s coming to theaters this weekend- June 17^th: Green Lantern and Jim Carrey in Mr. Popper’s Penguins among others, but I digress.

A couple of buddies and I constantly discuss film and story almost on a daily basis. So, when it comes to the newest developments in that form of entertainment, we dissect them in fine detail. Sometimes we will research a movie so much that when it finally comes to theaters we already know the cast, the plot, the production company, the director, and most importantly have formed a good/bad opinion in our heads even before the previews roll.

One day I sort of came to the realization. Before the Internet (spoiler alert for youngsters) all I had growing up was the daily newspaper to scour the upcoming movies. Sometimes a modest review would be featured, but for the most part all we had for a Friday opening was small strip of paper showing the viewing times. I can remember going to see movies like Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park, with a bit of premise in mind and being blown away having not known what to expect.

Where has that mystery gone today? If I wanted to know every aspect of a movie in production right now I could go online, browse the web, and have that information in mere minutes.

With that in mind, last year my two friends and I made a pact. We would choose one movie and not read one shred of information on it. No trailers, no reviews, no cast list, nothing. Go into the movie “blind”. Although how do you pick a movie that you can be sure will be decent enough to spend $10.00 on and not be disappointed? I’m talking Skyline disappointed. Whew!

We decided on the movie Super 8. The only piece of information all three of had was a teaser trailer we all saw of a train mysteriously derailing. The attached names to the movie were J.J. Abrams of LOST fame and Steven Spielberg of…well you get the idea. That was it. That is all we knew and for almost a year and half we didn’t watch anything.

Our family members and friends thought we had gone psycho when something popped up during last year’s Super Bowl. One guy reported running out of the room with a shriek when realizing the TV spot. When others would begin to talk about it or ask if we knew anything about the movie we would “lalalalalala” them until they finally stopped talking all together. And to be honest it wasn’t easy. I still read movie news about other movies obviously skipping over anything that mentioned Super 8 or J.J. Abrams. The three of us even covered our eyes and ears during a big screen trailer for the film before Thor last month feeling like complete idiots.

And then finally, finally Super 8 premiered last weekend. We wanted to go opening night, but conflicting schedules divert us into seeing it last night.

Now, I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so if you had unknowingly taken a similar “blind” pact for this movie I’ll try to be surface level and quick.

First of all I felt like a kid again watching Super 8. (I can only assume that was what Abram’s was going for.) The dynamic between the characters was heartfelt and genuine. A rush of memories of the cult classic, Goonies, comes to mind as to each kid and their individual personality. I thought the actors did a great job of portraying their roles and really being that persona. They were nerdy and cool at the same time, my kind of guys.

The story itself was gripping and layered extremely well. From scene to scene I really didn’t know what was going to come next. As J.J. Abrams films go a lot was going on at once, but it wasn’t jumbled and you didn’t feel LOST…bad pun.

Sitting here now it’s almost hard to talk about it without giving away key parts of the plot and twist. Super 8 as a whole was a very good, original, fun, adventure film. When comparing it again to other films Brad Bird's animated The Iron Giant comes to mind. I don’t think Super 8 will win any awards, but as for our little pact, it worked out great. I think it was a success.

I also have a few theories as to its connection to another Abrams film, Cloverfield, but again I digress.

In today’s media dominated society it’s difficult to shut out everything completely and from here I only see it growing, working its way to us in a multitude of ways. Does that kill the magic of the modern film? I think it does at least a little bit or maybe it’s just me and I need to cut back on following cinema so closely. The next question is what will be our next “pact” movie?

What do you think about the films of today? What was it like when you were a kid growing up? What kind of fond memories of classic movies do you have? Would you ever try a pact of this kind?

Hi, my name is Cory...

2011-05-15T19:39:00.002-05:00

In a conversation I had with my west coast CEO cousin, he turned the idea of introducing yourself on it's head. Instead of beginning with the common, “What do you do?” Ask, “What do you love to do?”

Everybody loves something, right?

Quite the engaging principle if you ask me. Rarely we give ourselves enough credit for the things that we love to do. This way you're not bumbling about the weather or exchanging information we could read on each other's business cards.

Furthermore, he strengthened his conversation advice by waging another tip. Be reactive instead of subjective in a response.
"Oh neat." or "That's cool." are phrases that sound dull, and in my opinion kill a first time meeting. Take hold of a conversation, not by rambling about yourself or being a headshaker as the other person listens, but curve the subject matter to your advantage.

This returns us to the original question above, what do you love to do? By allowing the other person to be open about something they enjoy talking about you can shift or puck something from it and relate it to your love. In turn you are talking about something you love all the while basing it off the subject matter they love.

Now, I bet you're asking, "Yeah, but what if what the other person loves is something that I can't relate to at all?" To that I say you're not trying hard enough. Break the surface of your own thoughts and take the focus off yourself, go deeper.

Say this person loves to knit. I'm talking Christmas sweaters for the whole family loves to knit! Me? I love to imagine. Based on what I know about knitting, I can weave (bad joke) that into how I love to imagine. Multiple strands of string combine to create a soft, cushion material. Thus multiple strands of imagined thoughts combine to create a story.

Learn from them if it's a topic you don't know about. Ask more questions if you are floundering on how to relate it to your interests. Be interested, because when the conversation switches and it's your turn to talk you want them to be interested as well in what you have to say. Be polite and humble toward them and lastly be bold. I think you'll find asking someone what they love to do will have you both parting from the encounter knowing something more than just the facts.