Comments on: Bio Thoughts http://z-studios.com/blog/2006/10/31/bio-thoughts/ Thoughts on Machinima and Life, and whether the two can peacefully co-exist Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:59:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Krad Productions http://z-studios.com/blog/2006/10/31/bio-thoughts/#comment-171 Krad Productions Mon, 20 Nov 2006 04:38:14 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/2006/10/31/bio-thoughts/#comment-171 You bring up some very interesting and true points. I believe that general equality should be the center pillar of any and all communities, but at the same time I believe that mediocrity should not be recognized on the same level of excellence as something truly excellent. I once received a certificate during a school ceremony awarding "academic excellence to students in extra-curricular activities." I was in two "actives" that year, choir and a musical (Aida) and the former took place during school hours. The requirement to receive the certificate was that the student must have a GPA over 3.0. My GPA for the year was 3.14, and during one quarter I failed Physical Science. After the ceremony, I folded the certificate into a paper airplane and threw it at one of my friends. I didn't do bad by any means, but I knew that there were kids that had a GPA over 4.0 due to AP courses that had an all expense paid ride through MIT that received the exact same certificate with the exact same wording on it. And all of this talk about Ayn Rand has me interested. She sounds like a very interesting person. I vaguely remember seeing the cover of "Atlas Shrugged" on the bookshelf at our old house, although I'm probably mistaken. If I were to pick up and read one of her books, which one should I read first? Evan- You bring up some very interesting and true points. I believe that general equality should be the center pillar of any and all communities, but at the same time I believe that mediocrity should not be recognized on the same level of excellence as something truly excellent. I once received a certificate during a school ceremony awarding “academic excellence to students in extra-curricular activities.” I was in two “actives” that year, choir and a musical (Aida) and the former took place during school hours. The requirement to receive the certificate was that the student must have a GPA over 3.0. My GPA for the year was 3.14, and during one quarter I failed Physical Science. After the ceremony, I folded the certificate into a paper airplane and threw it at one of my friends. I didn’t do bad by any means, but I knew that there were kids that had a GPA over 4.0 due to AP courses that had an all expense paid ride through MIT that received the exact same certificate with the exact same wording on it.

And all of this talk about Ayn Rand has me interested. She sounds like a very interesting person. I vaguely remember seeing the cover of “Atlas Shrugged” on the bookshelf at our old house, although I’m probably mistaken. If I were to pick up and read one of her books, which one should I read first?

Evan-

]]> By: gToon http://z-studios.com/blog/2006/10/31/bio-thoughts/#comment-170 gToon Tue, 31 Oct 2006 23:27:11 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/2006/10/31/bio-thoughts/#comment-170 Alright, you've sold me on the idea of reading her. I'll pick up one of her books today. Alright, you’ve sold me on the idea of reading her. I’ll pick up one of her books today.

]]> By: MuNansen http://z-studios.com/blog/2006/10/31/bio-thoughts/#comment-169 MuNansen Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:16:10 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/2006/10/31/bio-thoughts/#comment-169 I THOUGHT Ayn was a she, but I saw somewhere her referred to as a "he." I think it might've even been Wikipedia (which certainly has its share of errors). Funny I kept having to correct myself when I'd type "she," and here my instincts were right the whole time. I THOUGHT Ayn was a she, but I saw somewhere her referred to as a “he.” I think it might’ve even been Wikipedia (which certainly has its share of errors). Funny I kept having to correct myself when I’d type “she,” and here my instincts were right the whole time.

]]> By: Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/2006/10/31/bio-thoughts/#comment-168 Overman Tue, 31 Oct 2006 21:16:57 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/2006/10/31/bio-thoughts/#comment-168 I agree, Mu. (He's a she, btw) :) And thanks, both of you, for the comments. Ayn grew up under the early Soviet regime, and her embrace of "radical" democracy and gravitation to what some would consider the extreme (albeit nonreligious) end of the right, were very much a personal reaction to oppression she perceived in her early years there. (Some of the stories from that upbringing made their way into her first novel, "We The Living.") She was quite the activist in the interest of keeping the U.S. from becoming like her old motherland, and I agree that it is likely she got caught up in something which on its surface appeared to be consistent with those ideals, but at its core was a good old fashioned alarmist witch hunt... a fact which only became apparent to the general public many years afterward. Ricky, I think you'd REALLY enjoy her work. The characters are idea-rich, and the dialogue (especially in Atlas) is fantastic. I agree, Mu. (He’s a she, btw) :) And thanks, both of you, for the comments.

Ayn grew up under the early Soviet regime, and her embrace of “radical” democracy and gravitation to what some would consider the extreme (albeit nonreligious) end of the right, were very much a personal reaction to oppression she perceived in her early years there. (Some of the stories from that upbringing made their way into her first novel, “We The Living.”) She was quite the activist in the interest of keeping the U.S. from becoming like her old motherland, and I agree that it is likely she got caught up in something which on its surface appeared to be consistent with those ideals, but at its core was a good old fashioned alarmist witch hunt… a fact which only became apparent to the general public many years afterward.

Ricky, I think you’d REALLY enjoy her work. The characters are idea-rich, and the dialogue (especially in Atlas) is fantastic.

]]> By: MuNansen http://z-studios.com/blog/2006/10/31/bio-thoughts/#comment-167 MuNansen Tue, 31 Oct 2006 19:55:21 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/2006/10/31/bio-thoughts/#comment-167 Well, to a person that is disgusted by the "elevation of mediocrity," such as Rand, communism is a scary thought. Problem is that he probably didn't realize the Red Scare didn't have a damn thing to do with actual communism. And I'm certain he didn't know it would help establish the wedge between the left and the right, as well as be a cornerstone in establishing fundamental Christianity's stranglehold on politics ("under God" and "in God We Trust" were added to the pledge and to our money in response to fears of communism). I'm not at all familiar with his history, but I'd bet that we can add his participation in the Red Scare, along with Einstein's work on the A-Bomb, to activities that great minds would "take back" if they could. - Mu Well, to a person that is disgusted by the “elevation of mediocrity,” such as Rand, communism is a scary thought. Problem is that he probably didn’t realize the Red Scare didn’t have a damn thing to do with actual communism. And I’m certain he didn’t know it would help establish the wedge between the left and the right, as well as be a cornerstone in establishing fundamental Christianity’s stranglehold on politics (”under God” and “in God We Trust” were added to the pledge and to our money in response to fears of communism).

I’m not at all familiar with his history, but I’d bet that we can add his participation in the Red Scare, along with Einstein’s work on the A-Bomb, to activities that great minds would “take back” if they could.

- Mu

]]> By: gToon http://z-studios.com/blog/2006/10/31/bio-thoughts/#comment-166 gToon Tue, 31 Oct 2006 18:57:22 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/2006/10/31/bio-thoughts/#comment-166 Thank you for the acknowledgement, Phil. I'm glad that you found some of my critical comments to be interesting and fun to read. I spent a lot of time watching your films and thinking about them. It's really a testament to your excellence as a filmmaker that I could see patterns and begin to understand your developing style. It's really quite an experience to spend so much time with a single filmmakers work. And then looking at all of your work in the context of your personal life really gave me a sense of what you were trying to communicate in your work, or at least I hope it did. It's also a testament to your character that you allowed so many personal details of your life to be revealed to the community and general public. I know this is not easy for you to do and I thank you for your willingness to let me share this info with everyone. It's my hope that others will find the profile interesting and get the idea to write their own on other filmmakers that they find are interesting. Honestly, the original impulse for this profile was selfish - I just wanted to know more about you. But I do encourage others to seek out filmmakers they admire and learn more about them; and then let the rest of us know what you have found out. Your comments about Ayn Rand are interesting. It seems that more and more people are becoming interested in her writings again, at least in Los Angeles. At the bookstore where I work, we stock all of her books we can get, both used and new. They sell out all the time, mostly to younger people. Her reputation was stained a bit by her testimony as a friendly witness before the HUAC committee "investigating" anti-communism in 1947. I've always found this a barrier to reading her since I've worked with many actors who lost their jobs and reputations by testimony such as Ayn Rand's. But perhaps it's time to put that to the side for now and take a look at her work with fresh eyes. Certainly, if her thinking can help someone like you to learn how to rebuild their lives, something is is worth studying in her works. Thanks for giving me another angle to look at her with. And you are so right about balancing our open machinima community with the importance of recognizing and emphasizing excellence. Coming in to the Machinima Festival in New York this weekend, the topic will be on my mind. Thanks, Phil, for your supportive post. I do sincerely appreciate your help in putting the Profile together and for making yourself available any time I needed it. You are the best! Thank you for the acknowledgement, Phil. I’m glad that you found some of my critical comments to be interesting and fun to read. I spent a lot of time watching your films and thinking about them. It’s really a testament to your excellence as a filmmaker that I could see patterns and begin to understand your developing style. It’s really quite an experience to spend so much time with a single filmmakers work. And then looking at all of your work in the context of your personal life really gave me a sense of what you were trying to communicate in your work, or at least I hope it did.

It’s also a testament to your character that you allowed so many personal details of your life to be revealed to the community and general public. I know this is not easy for you to do and I thank you for your willingness to let me share this info with everyone.

It’s my hope that others will find the profile interesting and get the idea to write their own on other filmmakers that they find are interesting. Honestly, the original impulse for this profile was selfish - I just wanted to know more about you. But I do encourage others to seek out filmmakers they admire and learn more about them; and then let the rest of us know what you have found out.

Your comments about Ayn Rand are interesting. It seems that more and more people are becoming interested in her writings again, at least in Los Angeles. At the bookstore where I work, we stock all of her books we can get, both used and new. They sell out all the time, mostly to younger people. Her reputation was stained a bit by her testimony as a friendly witness before the HUAC committee “investigating” anti-communism in 1947. I’ve always found this a barrier to reading her since I’ve worked with many actors who lost their jobs and reputations by testimony such as Ayn Rand’s. But perhaps it’s time to put that to the side for now and take a look at her work with fresh eyes. Certainly, if her thinking can help someone like you to learn how to rebuild their lives, something is is worth studying in her works. Thanks for giving me another angle to look at her with.

And you are so right about balancing our open machinima community with the importance of recognizing and emphasizing excellence. Coming in to the Machinima Festival in New York this weekend, the topic will be on my mind.

Thanks, Phil, for your supportive post. I do sincerely appreciate your help in putting the Profile together and for making yourself available any time I needed it. You are the best!

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