Let's just pretend I'm good at this.

http://io9.com/5549613/the-last-thing-spider+man-should-be-is-another-white-guy

When I first saw this article, I assumed the worst. And by the worst, I mean an uppity, overly sensitive bitch and moan session about how Marvel is racist for not drag and dropping an African American in the Spidey-suit. But I was pleasantly surprised by this article because it brought up an excellent point. Peter Parker was never a character defined by his whiteness. He is a character who is defined by the people he cares about, and the choices he makes to protect them. Spider-Man's biggest weakness was Peter Parker's greatest strength; his ability to love, and hold onto those relationships that mean something to him. Peter's refusal of the Superhero Sacrifice is what makes that book. And I'm pretty sure I'd go see that movie reboot whether Aunt May is cooking chicken casserole, tamales, or collard greens. On that note, I think they should cast racially blind and just see who who captures that snark we've come to expect from Spider-Man. That was what was really missing from Toby Maguire's "performance." Bottom line, I don't care what race the rebooted Spider-Man is, I just hope they get an actor who doesn't have this face in his repertoire.



I'm working two internships. One is with a Hollywood director and I'm unsure about saying his name on public forums such as this. And its not a testament to his fame or anything, he's C-List at best. I just know that he's vain enough to google himself regularly and the last thing I want is for him to find his name on my donk-and-poney blog where I regale my legions of fans with tales of getting his prescriptions for Valtrex filled (That's a pill for when you get the herps, FYI). Overall, I'm not learning much at that internship. It mostly consists of me sitting in the kitchen with the other two interns scouring the internet for images that coincide with director projects he wants to work on. He also has had me read a couple scripts and do coverage, and let me tell ya, I know I'm not the greatest writer on Earth, but God damn. If these scripts are indicative of the work done by paid, Hollywood writers, then I'm going to take this town by storm in less than five years. Let me explain. This is not a testament to my amazing writing style or unique voice; its a testament to the horrible material I've seen swirl around the toilet that is this town. If I read one more haunted house script about a woman being haunted by a creepy little girl ghost, I'm going to go bat-shit insane.

My second internship is at a prominent reality TV production company. I'm really enjoying my time at this internship, actually. Its a busy office and I'm learning a lot. The people are super friendly and down to Earth, and when I'm not doing little tasks around the office for people I'm watching TV and writing coverage about what I see.

I'm slowly widdleing away at my savings, so I'm only going to keep up this "no pay work" thing for a month or two longer. Until then I'm keeping myself busy. Totally overbooking yourself is a fantastic way to forget you're sprinting towards debt.

It LIVES!

Alas, I am back. My little hiatus was brought on by a sense of stage fright. My overall purpose for this blog was to chronicle my experiences as a struggling writer trying to adjust to LA and what not. The only trouble was... I wasn't in LA yet! So rather than bore all three of you, and bore myself with stories of how lame the suburbs of Chicago are, or how my Mom believes my cat to be a homosexual, I chose to forgo blogging until I completed the move.

WHICH I HAVE! I'm sitting in a Starbucks on Ventura Ave because that's what fancy writers with MacBooks do in LA. We sit at Starbucks and get off on people watching us write. We're like narrative exhibitionists. This is true for those of us writers who are in our hearts, failed actors. We still get the attention (even if it's in our minds) but we can eat all the glazed donuts we want cause no one looks at the writers! Horray! The system works. True to the core writers are way to nervous and jittery to even contemplate leaving the safety of their computer chair let alone go to Starbucks. A perfect example of this is Alan Moore. Take a look at this guy. He wrote some of the most prolific and awe inspiring graphic novels of all time; Watchmen, V for Vendetta, The League of Extraordinary Gentleman. But he doesn't seem like the kind of guy you'd see waiting in line behind you at Crate and Barrel. Alan Moore is a few bloodstains away from being that asshole who works at a haunted house and creeps up behind you, waiting for you to turn around. But his giant crumb trap and deep set eyes, withered from years of staring at computer screens and blank paper, are like creepy badges of courage in my eyes. There's integrity in that anarchist's face; an integrity that I admire. And even though I'd call security on him if I saw him at an airport, I'd respect him still. This is the TRUE face of every writer. Whether you be an exhibitionist like myself, or a rodent like recluse watching people through your Venetian blinds, this is what we all look like on the inside. Aren't we pretty?