stop loss

As I prepare to perform 'stop loss' tonight at Annex theater.  The following things are on my mind. 

The hopelessness of the individual in the face of unfathomable evils such as war and exploitation. We have no rational, productive means to fight such terrors.  Our most widely used tools, those of information and communication continue to fail us... what are we left with? Superstition, including ritual, religion, and art-also art as a discharge of pent up emotions, and hope.  These flimsy amulets are all we have.  

"Stop Loss"  as simple as "Got Milk?"  Setting oneself up in opposition to loss in all of it's forms-  not against only the violence of war, but also the violence of illness,  of accident,  the violence of mortality.  

Against loss. 

The one thing that is pointless to oppose because it is unstoppable is the only thing really worth opposing.  Does that pointlessness mean we give up?

No.  

Irrational hope is all we have to keep us in forward motion until our final loss eventually comes.

Locked!

I finally locked the edit on my upcoming film Tracings. I am so excited to have finally reached this point and am gladly handing it over to sound designers Steve Barsotti and Jake Perrine and composer Jason Staczek.  The pictures above are from the shoot.  In the background  of the top one you can see Ben Kasulke and Dave Hanagan working with the camera and of course that is me in the foreground hydrating.  The bottom photo is a detail of the set. These lovely photos were taken by the PA Michelle Henley (and stolen from her facebook!)

I will be having an 'in progress' screening December 3 at Northwest Film Forum.  

This weekend on Friday October 2   I will be performing 'stop loss' (which is a reincarnation of 'economy of force' which itself was a reincarnation of 'once a thing is set in motion')  with Spencer Moody at Spin The Bottle 11pm Annex Theater at 12th and Pike. Should prove to be an all around raucous evening.