Wisdom from the late J.D. Salinger
My worn copy of THE CATCHER IN THE RYE.
Today, in mourning of the passing of J.D. Salinger, I dug out my old copy of The Catcher in the Rye. (Note the 75¢ price tag.)
I have fond memories of this book. It was the first book I read after escaping the confines of a fundamental high school, where secular literature was forbidden. I was almost seventeen, the same age as protagonist Holden Caufield, and could appreciate the roots of his rebellion. I remember sitting on a Greyhound bus (running away), reading Catcher as the highway passed outside my window.
Ironically, Catcher’s wild success (it continues to sell 250,000 copies each year), became a double-edged sword for Salinger and ultimately led to his infamous reclusivity. Although he published less often, Salinger continued to write. He told a reporter:
“Publishing is an invasion of my privacy. I like to write. I live to write. But I write just for myself and my own pleasure.”
This particular quote resonates with me. Lately, I’ve been re-evaluating my own reasons for writing. To write for the sake of writing, for the sheer pleasure of it, for the absolute delight of it is to embrace the creative process in a miraculous– albeit very personal way. But to write for others, to worry, obsess, scrutinize and try to win some kind of popularity contest sucks every ounce of joy from the process.
Apparently, at least on some level, Salinger felt the same way. But rather than quit writing altogether (a little like throwing the baby out with the bathwater), he simply realigned his priorities. And he lived to the ripe old age of 91.
Hmmm. Perhaps this is Enlightenment.
YouTube vs. Vimeo
As I mentioned in my previous post, I’ve been playing around with free trials of Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 and Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9. They’re both amazing tools– and in conjunction with each other can create some dynamic effects. I’m only two weeks into my 30-day trials, so I can only imagine what I’ll be able to create after I’ve become more familiar with the programs. Maybe I can make videos of the clay people. 
Just for fun, I put together a little video from my recent trip to Vienna. (It seems to be the most popular post at present, getting multiple hits a day.) I posted the same video, “Kickin’ It in Vienna,” on Vimeo and YouTube. I’ve been impressed with Vimeo’s quality, both in sound and the fact that it doesn’t seem to freeze up like YouTube videos sometimes do. But I dunno… both look pretty good to me.
What do you think? YouTube or Vimeo? Comments are still off (long story), but I’ve included a little box for you to rate the videos if you wish. Thanks & enjoy!
Video from Vimeo
Video from YouTube
The Comment Situation
I’ve gotten a couple of very nice emails asking why people can’t leave comments anymore.
Well, part of it was Denise accidentally deleting code. (Apparently I think I can write code now.) And the other part was an experiment. I would elaborate here, but I don’t see the point.
Anyway, comments will soon be returning should anyone care to leave one.
I also have an awesome video to share next post. But if you can’t wait, go to my website and check out my *new* Video Cafe page. I’ve been playing around with free trials video software.
More on that next time….
My New Hero: writer & claymation guru Adam Elliot
Adam Elliot
This guy is my new hero. He’s Academy Award winning writer/director Adam Elliot, best known for his claymation films Harvie Krumpet and Mary & Max.
I saw Krumpet a while ago and was impressed, but yesterday I finally got to watch Mary & Max. Wow! If you haven’t seen it, it’s a wonderful film (based on a true story) which explores the universal themes of loneliness, feeling different, rejection, love and friendship. And all done in claymation!
As some of you know, I’ve been playing with claymation for a (very) short time and I’ve been intrigued by the fact that it is simultaneously thrilling and maddening. Writing is this way too sometimes, but claymation brings it to a whole new level. The challenges involved for a 25 second clip are astounding. Perhaps that’s why I like it.
Anyway, I wondered what Elliot went through making a 92 minute feature film!? So I did some research.
Here are some production facts from the Mary & Max website:
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It took FIVE years to make the film
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There are 132,480 separate frames
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133 separate sets
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212 puppets
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1,028 plasticine mouths– removed and replaced in every single frame
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808 miniature Earl Grey tea bag boxes, hand cut and folded
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Shooting the film took 57 weeks, with a team of people working together to make about two-and-one-half minutes of animation per week.
According to this interview at indiewire.com, Elliot said the process was “like making love and being stabbed to death at the same time.”
What I like best about Elliot’s films is that they contain deeply flawed characters (insecure, quirky, traumatized, afraid, etc.) In this way they’re quite “real.” In fact, Elliot says the characters in his films are based upon real people in his life, people who have been labelled as “different.” His intention is to celebrate those differences and imperfections.
That’s exactly why I’m adding Elliot to the unconventional hero list. While some folks are out there preaching perfection, Elliot is showing the guts & glory of being flawed. Love this guy!
In case you haven’t seen it, here’s the trailer for Mary & Max.
