Dr. Lou

I dare you to find a better 3ish minute segment on television than Dr. Lou. Actually, I take that back. I don't want you wasting a whole day on a pointless wild goose chase.

Backfire

I'm certain I don't understand this video yet. But for the past couple months this ditty has been my "theme song" of sorts. Miss Jackson and I sing it on our walks. True.

Thought Pop

Over the weekend someone came into my office and told me they wanted to be in the Christmas Show. This person was baffled when I said there weren't any spots open. He/she was also uninterested in helping backstage or being a part of future videos. This someone was only interested in the biggest spotlight we have. I found this quite frustrating on numerous levels.

But then today, as I tore down the stage, a thought popped through my head. I do the same thing with God. I want _____ and I kind of just want it now. I'm not interested in paying my dues or getting a different version of ______. I want what I want now and I'm baffled when I don't get it. He must find that quite frustrating. On numerous levels.

Yesterday, dummy.

The Christmas Show

If you're in the 'Nati, mark your calendars for Dec. 21, 22, 23 and start telling your friends, neighbors and co-workers to do the same. We're opening our doors so you can share a FREE experience with your friends that will start conversations about faith, hope and love in the new year. More info to follow in the next weeks about ticketing and promo info you can use to invite your guests. Stay tuned.

Gut Feeling

I have this hopeful feeling. That's the only way I know how to dscribe it. It feels weird posting this, but a very real part me feels that in say five years or so people will know about filmmaking in Cincinnati. It'll pop up in conversations around the country. "I heard some church started making movies in Cincinnati and now it's like a thing there." Midwesterners who daydream of one day moving to LA or NYC to follow their passion will find it in their back yard. The Esquire will host premieres and the love affair for local talent starts beforehand when the indie band who wrote original music for the film plays a opening concert. People will say things, "I had no idea there was this much going on in Cincinnati." Doors will open for this local talent in the "big cities" around the US and the network will grow. Film schools around the area will promote their programs by boasting "industry experience" possibilities on the yearly Cincinnati films being produced. A film program at the Cincinnati School of Performing Arts will be created and kids will dream of breaking into the local industry. Proceeds will be used to help the community in tangible ways. There will be a buzz in the neighborhood coffee shops and bars- a sense of pride about the next project and about the city- a feeling of expectation. And for a little while people will say things like, "It's so weird that a church is doing this." But after awhile no one will think twice. It'll just be about the city and this "unexpected" thing that is happening. A few of us will know the backstory. And perhaps over some beers or coffee we'll marvel at what God did.

The Lone Ranger Myth

There's a lie that lots of us have swallowed. I'm going to call it The Lone Ranger Myth. I'm sure this lie affects numerous aspects of our lives. I'm going to focus on how it screws with the creative process. Here's a typical scenario. Jimmy has an idea for a thingamajig. It's his idea so he goes it alone. He does a little research, finds materials, assembles them just so and shows thingamajig to his friends. The Backslappers say, "Cool, Jimmy." The Armlinkers agree but they also offer ideas on how to improve it. Jimmy only listens to the Backslappers. Nothing great ever happens with Jimmy's thingamajig. It sits on his shelf and all Jimmy has to show for his work are the echoes from the Backslappers.

The magic happens when Jimmy thanks the Backslappers and goes on an adventure with the Armlinkers. These are the folks Jimmy collaborates with to turn his thingamajig into something truly beautiful and useful. Collaboration with folks who are willing to link arms with you is the only path to greatness. The Lone Ranger Myth is the belief that your idea can only be yours if you and only you do all the work. That's moronic. Collaborate with the Armlinkers and you'll experience a sense of community, accomplishment and wonder at what you all created together.

A big thanks to all the Armlinkers in my life. I'm grateful and excited that lots of adventures are yet to come.

Bearcat Fever

I wanted to catch some catch Bearcat fever last night. So a couple bros and I went to the Holy Grail on campus. I learned/noticed a few things in my few hours there.

Winning is fun. People like it.

College kids are silly. I felt very old last night when a group of co-eds were playing flip cup behind me. It's very odd to watch a game with an entire bar and have one table who is cheering about something else. Like when WVU scored, the flip cup squad was going nuts because the boys lost to the girls again. Annoying.

Curiosity almost killed the cat (me) last night. I saw this 6'5" guy in leather chaps in the bathroom. I was curious and inquired why he was sporting chaps. The Holy Grail isn't a biker bar. It's a college sports bar. He didn't appreciate this question. He said, "It's 40 degrees and I'm riding a motorcycle. You figure it out." Then he stared me down. I felt his laser glare burning the back of my head as I used the urinal. I escaped death. The old adage, "There are no dumb questions," doesn't apply in all situations.

There's nothing better than college football. Nothing.

Brian Kelly is going to break a lot of hearts. The murmur in the bar last night was, "He's gonna stay. He said he's gonna stay." The optimism in Cincinnati is cute. It's like when you go to the fair and you see all those cute little pigs. You know they're going to be dead and put on sandwiches soon. But you try and just enjoy their cuteness while they're still around.

Ellery

I had heard of this group but never heard them. That changed Wednesday at a house concert hosted by Jason and Emily Boys. They are amazing. I hope to convince them to write music for my film. Check them out at ellerymusic.com

Fireflies

Two emo bros eat muffins at a Barnes and Noble coffee shop. One is a musician who just had an epiphany.

Bro, I just had an epiphany.

Yeah?

Maybe a breakthrough.

Ok.

A song about fireflies.

The bug?

Yeah. Remember those from when you were a kid?

Sure.

Well last night I was thinking about 10 million fireflies.

That's a lot of flies.

They'd fill the open air.

I mean I guess.

And leave teardrops everywhere.

What the crap?

You'd think me rude. But I would just stand and stare

Bro....what are you talking about?

I'd get a thousand hugs. From ten thousand lightning bugs.

I want you to stop talking like a sixth grade girl.

As they tried to teach me how to dance.

That's your song?

Pretty much.

Are you hoping the Wiggles will buy it from you?

No, bro. It'll be huge on alternative stations everywhere.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHA. Right, bro. Riiiiiiiiight.