Love these tacos. Izzoz is the kind of place that makes me happy to live off South 1st. We've made this place our go to taco spot; and I've been evangelizing them anyone who would lend an ear (especially all you torchy's fans).
Try a bob bowman and a slowrider, pictured here. Also, the fried avocado tacos puts the aforementioned competitor to shame (which is, by the way, right next door at the more well known trailer park eatery).
Errol Morristweeted that this is the best commercial ever made (or, at least that he has viewed). I have to agree that it is quite strong (quite, to quite quite strong). The camera angles, lenses used, editing, and use of sound are all very interesting, intelligent, and provocative. It's almost unbelievable, but I did google the company and found it here.
Putting the technique aside (and the fact that there is just something quintessentially "American" about the commercial), obviously the brutal honesty of the voice over is what catapults this ad ahead of so many others. "My wife's boyfriend broke my jaw with a fence post, so if you don't buy a trailer from me, it ain't gonna hurt my feelings." It's intriguing to me to have such honesty, because it's just not what we expect as television viewers. We tend to save that kind of visceral moment for our own lives, and may only expect it from our favorite primetime drama. In the latter case, though, it's always removed from reality, behind the fourth wall and safe from our reach. And those moments of honesty are either built up through a dramatic climax, or set aside for a pensive and introspective moment between the players. We don't expect them from a real-life hardened, used trailer salesman in rural Alabama. And we don't expect them so quickly. It's almost uncomfortable, the amount of trust he must have in us to tell us such personal things.
It's also interesting to me that despite all the honesty, they're ok to poke some fun at the art (running/skipping along at the end). Plus, the cougar sound bytes are quite funny.
In preparation for a screening of BEST WORST MOVIE at the Alamo, I give you a rather notorious clip from the movie, TROLL 2 (which has absolutely nothing to do with the 1986 film, TROLL). Filmed in the US by a crew of non-English speaking Italians and a cast of non-professional actors, the movie follows a family's move to a small town plagued by human eating creatures (they don't actually eat meat, but rather turn the people into large plants, and then eat them...makes sense, no?)
BEST WORST MOVIE is a documentary, made by one of the child actors in the film, about the movie, it's cult following, and the finally realized stardom of it's leading man.
Alamo South Lamar is playing the highly provocative film, Turkish Star Wars. Seeing a preview during a recent viewing there of DATE NIGHT (review to come), I had to do some research. Turns out that this is a fairly well known film to fanboys, notorious for its blatant (and unauthorized) use of footage from from the first Star Wars movie which is spliced (unsuccessfully) into a new feature. While the plot has little to do with George Lucas' storyline, it does capitalize on the success of his film and poaches his ground breaking special effects.
There's a great training montage, which may become my new fitness routine. A mix of cardio, strength training and martial arts, it's arguably the precursor to p90X and involves substantially less financial investment (although it looks like a trampoline and a sweet white belt would come in handy).
Is it only in Manhattan that subway passengers could be so indifferent to this kind of act, jaded by the mass amount of performance art they are subjected to on a daily basis? Look at those despondent faces. Although, it was kind'a pitchy, dogs.
Meals on Wheels Association is a great organization that focuses on ending senior hunger, and also helps ensure that these folks have some type of human interaction with others. As the video below mentions, this may be the only interaction they have all day long.
Ok, ok. I have neglected this for too long. This morning, I greeted the day with resolution. No longer will I let the distractions of laziness and procrastination obstruct the small creative outlets I have. It's spring. A new season. A release from hibernation. There are too many things happening which can no longer go without commentary, if only from a lowly young professional with limited creative talents (that's me). South Austin continues to fascinate all with so many sights, sounds, and scents. The sun is shining, temperature rising, and energy climbing. And so, I give you a taste of things I have seen today in this fine portal of information...
One of the best lessons on screenwriting; from David Mamet
Movieline posted an article recently, publishing the notes that playwright/screenwriter/director David Mamet had shared with the writers of the short-ish lived TV drama The Unit (which he Exec. Produced), and I really could not agree more with his notes. I grow oh-so-tired of watching a drama (tv/film/play) with superfluous scenes and character interactions, where the action or dialogue is conducted out of convenience and/or undermines the audiences concept of dramatic progression. Sure, it's the old "show, don't tell" adage for writing. But Mamet hammers it away like only Mamet could. Worth reading the whole thing via the link
THINK LIKE A FILMMAKER RATHER THAN A FUNCTIONARY, BECAUSE, IN TRUTH, YOU ARE MAKING THE FILM. WHAT YOU WRITE, THEY WILL SHOOT.
HERE ARE THE DANGER SIGNALS. ANY TIME TWO CHARACTERS ARE TALKING ABOUT A THIRD, THE SCENE IS A CROCK OF SHIT.
ANY TIME ANY CHARACTER IS SAYING TO ANOTHER "AS YOU KNOW", THAT IS, TELLING ANOTHER CHARACTER WHAT YOU, THE WRITER, NEED THE AUDIENCE TO KNOW, THE SCENE IS A CROCK OF SHIT.
Scarface- the elementary school years
Interesting concept ("motherfudgers", cocain replaced with popcorn), awkward execution (sorry, but the sexiness of young Michelle Pfeiffer and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio shouldn't be superimposed on toddlers). Worth a viewing to make up your own mind. I'd be happy if my kid was in it, as long as he didn't play "Manny".
Justin was telling me about this over the weekend. Need to catch them live.
Massive Undertaking
The MTA released some pictures (via facebook album) showcasing the progress on the Second Ave. subway line in Manhattan. Proposed in pre-WWII New York, the tediousness of the project is realized when viewing its scale and magnitude.
Looks like a movie set. You can already see the foundation of the subway platforms, future stomping grounds of the creative and indigent alike.
Deja vu all over again: Apple to release Verizon carried iPhone
AT&T stocks took a hit today, as Apple (up 1.49%) released the news (or at least, the rumor) that they will start producing a new iPhone that will be compatible with other cellular networks and carriers. Apparently, it all comes down to two different types of cell networks (GSM vs. CDMA) which are distinct, propriety cell infrastructures and not compatible. Apple had initially made an exclusive deal with AT&T (which uses GSM) and that was beneficial to them because it kept their manufacturing costs down by only having to make one version.
I'd be very happy to be a part of the iPhone family, but am far too familiar with the AT&T issues. However, with such a potentially large number of new users hitting the network, who is to say that Verizon will have the bandwidth needed to sustain their current success rates?
Despite the rumor mill and opinions blasted to the web, I think it's impossible (and far too short sighted for the likes of Apple) to keep this product on a single, exclusive network. Diversification is one of the things keeping the Blackberry alive (as well as corporate backing and support). But that's Mac vs. Windows mentality, and while Apple does favor exclusivity over mass adoption, they're always looking to broaden their reach, even if it is to their own adopters (think vertical market here).
