I finish watching that multi-episode historical film and watch a movie. I read newspaper comics. The requisite round of Roulette is played. I read three books and chip away at another.
Kind of reminds me a little of Daniel Johnston - remember him? I'm not saying your writing is anything like him -- the guy was pretty out there -- but how he created music and doodled and it was just this world he liked to live in.
Here's a link to one of his songs. This could be a way-out there reference but w/e:
Hey Taegan! Thanks for the nice comment. I really like Johnston's work and find him fascinating as an individual, so maybe some of that influence found its way into what I'm doing here. I hadn't considered that and I really like the thought now that you've put me onto it. I have a copy of his graphic novel in my book collection too.
I've never seen St. Elmo's Fire but I absolutely will watch it and write about it for this newsletter if you think I should. And "think I should" could include if you think it's bad; I write about lots of bad movies here. If you want to see it in this space it can be arranged!
Hah that’s really cool that you know Johnston - I had a feeling! I remember discovering him in my late teens and being blown away by his creative output and the fandom surrounding him.
4 weddings, St. Elmo’s, Breakfast Club and a few others were part of this 80s era that I remember as a kid. Based on your review here you may like it.
Do you have a running list of movies you’re thinking of watching or do you watch whatever comes your way?
Sometimes I have a soft list shifting and metastasizing in my mind but rarely do I maintain a hard list. So I basically go with a flow — sometimes it could be stumbling across something on the shelf at the library or flipping through Kanopy, other times it could be a recommendation from a friend or acquaintance. Often I will just remember something I've been hearing about for years and determine that it's finally time to get around to watching it.
In the early days of this newsletter I was more interested in themed entries where I watch certain movies in some particular order or tie them in to whatever books I was writing about, but something I've learned through two years of work on this project is that if I mostly let luck and intuition determine what I read and watch, the thematic connections between my interests will often make themselves apparent through my writing process — and will be a pleasant surprise to me. So I don't necessarily need to choose a theme or a structure if I don't have one in mind; I can let the content I'm consuming and my opinions about it guide me towards more subtly-divined conclusions. Practicing regular writing has sharpened up my eye for these latent patterns in my media diet.
Just put St. Elmo's Fire on hold with the library; you'll be seeing it in the pages of One Could Argue soon!
Kanopy is one of my favourite streaming services. Great collection, especially docs and older films. I suppose your library has the service tied to your account? That’s how it is here in Toronto.
I totally jive with your creative flow. It’s something that only arrives with time, too. It takes confidence to believe the work will straighten itself out, eh?
I’m the same way with mine. I may have a vague idea what I’m going to do with the word I’ve chosen for the month, but as you say, I attune myself to those subtly divined conclusions.
Very glad to have found your stack. And looking forward to your thoughts on St Elmo’s!
This is such an intriguing Substack.
Kind of reminds me a little of Daniel Johnston - remember him? I'm not saying your writing is anything like him -- the guy was pretty out there -- but how he created music and doodled and it was just this world he liked to live in.
Here's a link to one of his songs. This could be a way-out there reference but w/e:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qgXYvjVNvk&list=PLfIsFF6Hs6hSBML3wpXxLf4o52NvTnFsW
Anyways, Four Weddings and a Funeral is a classic. Thanks for the memories. You planning on watching St. Elmos Fire any time soon?
Hey Taegan! Thanks for the nice comment. I really like Johnston's work and find him fascinating as an individual, so maybe some of that influence found its way into what I'm doing here. I hadn't considered that and I really like the thought now that you've put me onto it. I have a copy of his graphic novel in my book collection too.
I've never seen St. Elmo's Fire but I absolutely will watch it and write about it for this newsletter if you think I should. And "think I should" could include if you think it's bad; I write about lots of bad movies here. If you want to see it in this space it can be arranged!
Hah that’s really cool that you know Johnston - I had a feeling! I remember discovering him in my late teens and being blown away by his creative output and the fandom surrounding him.
4 weddings, St. Elmo’s, Breakfast Club and a few others were part of this 80s era that I remember as a kid. Based on your review here you may like it.
Do you have a running list of movies you’re thinking of watching or do you watch whatever comes your way?
Sometimes I have a soft list shifting and metastasizing in my mind but rarely do I maintain a hard list. So I basically go with a flow — sometimes it could be stumbling across something on the shelf at the library or flipping through Kanopy, other times it could be a recommendation from a friend or acquaintance. Often I will just remember something I've been hearing about for years and determine that it's finally time to get around to watching it.
In the early days of this newsletter I was more interested in themed entries where I watch certain movies in some particular order or tie them in to whatever books I was writing about, but something I've learned through two years of work on this project is that if I mostly let luck and intuition determine what I read and watch, the thematic connections between my interests will often make themselves apparent through my writing process — and will be a pleasant surprise to me. So I don't necessarily need to choose a theme or a structure if I don't have one in mind; I can let the content I'm consuming and my opinions about it guide me towards more subtly-divined conclusions. Practicing regular writing has sharpened up my eye for these latent patterns in my media diet.
Just put St. Elmo's Fire on hold with the library; you'll be seeing it in the pages of One Could Argue soon!
Kanopy is one of my favourite streaming services. Great collection, especially docs and older films. I suppose your library has the service tied to your account? That’s how it is here in Toronto.
I totally jive with your creative flow. It’s something that only arrives with time, too. It takes confidence to believe the work will straighten itself out, eh?
I’m the same way with mine. I may have a vague idea what I’m going to do with the word I’ve chosen for the month, but as you say, I attune myself to those subtly divined conclusions.
Very glad to have found your stack. And looking forward to your thoughts on St Elmo’s!