Sunday scaries AND I'm too sad to sleep???

Why I love OFMD editing so much (episode 10, Love, and music)

In film postproduction, or what I call editing, the idea is that you have to arrange all the elements of film or visual media to tell a story. One of those elements is music. 

I’m definitely not the first one to point out how important music is in OFMD. We have all been traumatised by different music. I for one am obsessed with Gnossienne no. 5 because that’s their song and The Chain makes my chest hurt in angst every single time I listen to it. I am planning to make a big ass meta on Gnossiene no. 5, but for now I want to focus on another piano piece that is used at a very pivotal point of the series: Debussy’s Rêverie. 

As you all already know, that’s the piano piece that is part of the amazing fancam in episode 10, where Stede realises he loves Ed. However, that’s not where the piece ends. It actually is edited to mirror one of the major themes at the end of both Stede and Ed’s journeys away from each other, which basically moves in parallel throughout episode 10. That theme is Love; more specifically, how Stede and Ed “come to terms” with their love. We all know that ends in two extremely different ways and that’s because they are still very much self-centred and oblivious to the fact that one is in love with someone, the other person has to be considered too in the equation for it to work.

They only know their side of the story and, thus, have different questions about Love. The music is edited to reflect this disconnect: Stede and Love, and Ed and Love, not yet together. I will try to explain how.

Debussy's Rêverie

“God doesn’t play dice with the universe”. In the same way, we all know this show chooses its songs and music for a reason: on one side we have the songs that are pretty self-explanatory thanks to the lyrics; on the other side we have the “classical” music pieces that are used for what they evoke in the mind of the audience (I’m looking at you “Dies Irae”) or to convey a certain mood (Stede actually is presented with baroque music in the background on ep 1 to exacerbate his campy, out-of-place self).

This led me to ask, why use Rêverie specifically? You already know I’m that kind of nerd who looks up words in the dictionary and rêverie has two translations (if any French-speaking person reads this and it’s somehow inaccurate, please let me know!):

1. [réflexion] daydreaming, being deep in thought 2. [chimère] dream, daydreaming, delusion

Rêverie is being deep in thought, reflecting on something, but it can also refer to literal delusion. Two different conceptions that lead to two different things, right? It’s safe to say that, in that sequence, both Stede and Ed reflect on what they had, on what that means or meant for them, and the conclusion of their reflection is the way they will proceed with the knowledge they gained. All centred around Love.  

Like I mentioned before, the crux of this point in the general plot is that Stede and Ed are apart from each other. They have to figure out stuff on their own with what they know, what they remember, and with the input of the people they have around because they have no personal reference for Love in this way. Similar to this, Debussy’s piece is fragmented to show that.

In classical music, each piece, no matter how big or small, has a structure which consists generally in 1 or 2 themes, or ideas, that are explored, developed, and constantly referred to throughout the piece. Much like a sentence, a theme has 2 parts, a “question” and an “answer”. You know a theme ends because, much like a sentence, there’s a sense of reaching some point, a sense of closure. In tonal music, that means reaching the tonic, i.e. the tonality (chord) on which the piece was created. 

Rêverie has 2 themes that are pretty contrasting and, therefore, are very hard to miss. It’s structure is divided in 3: Theme A, theme B, and a recapitulation of A and B that ends up in the tonic with a major chord -> [A] [B] [AB]

This is theme A:

(time in audio [0:00-0:51])

A is the main theme of Rêverie. It has two parts or sections (A1 in pink [0:00-0:24]; A2 in blue [0:30-0:51]) joined by a little “bridge” that is called “cadenza” (in yellow [0:24-0:29]). 

This is theme B:

(time in audio [2:14-2:26])

B is there to create contrast with A, both rhythmically (the figures used) and tonically (this is in a minor key, the "opposite" of a major key which is how A begins and ends).

If the theme of the sequence in the episode is reflecting on Love, one could argue the main theme of Rêverie is used to represent Love. With that in mind, let’s see how the editors use it on the sequence itself.

2. Stede and Love

Stede, light of my life, began this series pretty unaware of what or who was around him and also of his feelings. The growth of Stede depended on him finally beginning to notice everything around him but also have the courage to notice what is inside him and own it. David Jenkins said Stede unknowingly flirted with Ed in the moonlight scene, but I think we all agree that by episode 9 he was aware that he felt something for Ed. He knows Ed makes him happy. However, it’s not until this beautiful heart-to-heart with Mary that he is able to fully understand what that something is: Love.

“How does it feel…to be in love?” Stede asks Mary after they were talking about how amazing Doug is.

Mary answers: “It feels…easy. It’s just like breathing. He understands my idiosyncrasies…”

Just then Stede looks away from Mary and the editing cuts to the fancam montage. Each little fragment we see is Stede matching memories of his time with Ed to fit the things Mary is describing as Love. And it’s right at this moment when we hear Rêverie's theme A.

Therefore, theme A = Love

However, if you go back to where I showed theme A, you will notice that what is used in the fancam is only the first section of A with the cadenza. By the time Mary finishes with “I call those things Love” and we see Stede has finally realised that's what he felt for Ed, the editors ignore the second section of A and jump straight to the end of the first big section of Rêverie, which is basically when the elements that make up A have been developed and that whole first musical idea is ready to wrap up and give way to theme B. But A is shown incomplete. Even if Stede reached his epiphany and has answered his question about Love, the theme that represents Love is missing its second part! And we need it to get the whole picture, right? 

So, where is it? 

3. Ed and Love

After A finishes and Stede has found his answer, the editors use the little bridge that connects themes A and B to create a continuum as the “camera” cuts and we see Ed in the revenge, alone at night.

Just like B in the piano piece, the shot makes an abrupt change from a cozy, warm, candle-lit bedroom to the Revenge at night, with the moonlight (!) as the only source of light among the darkness. Unlike Stede, Ed is alone and, unlike the dreamlike constant movement of A, now we hear short staccatos and it's in a minor key in contrast with A’s resolution in a major chord.

Ed, for all that he is as unaware as Stede is about himself, at least knew that what he felt was Love. Ed’s question then doesn’t have to do with what is Love so much as where to go from here, and what to do with his side of it now that he thinks that he will never have Stede's.

He takes the red silk out and, lo and behold, now we hear the missing second section of A right when his mind goes back to the "you wear fine things well" scene. The editors pick up right where it ended with Stede, using the cadenza (yellow) that connects both sections and let the rest of theme A sound.

This is the part that we were missing, but Ed doesn't have the luxury of omnipresence that we as audience have. He doesn’t have the first section of A, maybe he doesn’t even know there is a first section, not like we do. Much like Stede, he can only answer his question from his side, with the information he has and with the input of the people around him (Izzy and Lucius).  

Like I mentioned before, the structure of Rêverie is [A] [B] [AB]. The editors jump from [B] to use the cadenza and second part of A in [AB] (3:36) and let the piece end.

Except they don’t. 

Ed’s flashback ends as soon as A ends and we hear the recapitulation of B when he lets go of the red silk. Debussy’s piece uses B to create a small cadenza that ends up in the major chord, but here the editors changed the last chord! What we hear is not major, it doesn’t have the sense of closure (!) that it should have. Contrary of Stede’s part where it does end in major, here it has dissonance, the Love theme never closes and never reaches its natural conclusion. It’s worse. It’s jarring and out of place and then you see the change on his face and Lucius is thrown overboard and everything goes to hell!

4. Now what?

Thanks to the magic of editing, we know both Stede and Ed are still missing an important part to get the whole picture of Love. The part that the other has. More than likely, they will need to get back together and sort out this mess to finally get the missing bits and complete the picture. Because everything is needed to be able to understand Love, not just the nice parts that end up in a major key that Stede has, or the sharp parts that never end in major key that Ed has. Ed decided to throw overboard the bit that completes what Stede has, but even the ones he keeps, i.e. the pain and loss, are needed in order for them to be properly in love.

Will they get them in series 2 if that ever is renewed? I don’t know, but I hope they will.

[I’m so happy I was able to edit that out. Season 2 mfs!]

23 please for ao3 wrapped (because I know the answer and I would like to hear you talk about it 👀) but I am also curious about 30!

Thanks for the ask, friend!

23. Did you do any collaborative works this year?

Yes. :)

The collaboration I worked on this year was "Just Missed You," an ensemble cast Beard/Ted podfic that @boglady (gnen) and I wrote for @pod-together with lots and lots of feedback and wonderful collab/inputs from @podklb and @rockinhamburger and that klb and rockinhamburger then recorded with a whole cast of voice actors (including gnen in a very memorable DeuxMoi gossiper spoof role and me in a tiny cameo as TroisToi herself).

Since you said you were curious to hear more about it, I'll happily ramble on a bit. It was SUCH a great experience. We started not long after s3 ended and the Pod Together event was starting up, and I think it was a great opportunity for all of us to kinda process what certainly felt/feels to me like a very singular fan experience while creating something new and imaginative together. We brainstormed lots of ideas and then gnen and I went off into our little google docs to write solo for a bit (I started Ted-centric and gnen started Beard-centric, and we knew we wanted the story to be comprised of found audio and epistolary forms), then we started sharing snippets with the group and piecing together a theme, a plot, and a timeline from the things we wrote. From there, we kept assigning out scenes that we needed. And watching klb and rockighamburger work on developing the script into a full podfic production was INCREDIBLE. They created a lot of the sound effects and not only did they perfectly embody their roles as Ted and Beard, but they also brought so many great voice actors into the fold. I'd never been a part of any podfic before, much less one this involved, and it was not only one of the most fun fandom things I've ever done but one of the most fun writing/collaboration things I've done in general in life!

30. Biggest surprise while writing this year?

I answered here about my surprise at becoming completely obsessed with writing about Beard as a dad. But I think maybe I'm also kind of surprised by how much I wrote this year? I do not mean this to be a brag! I have just had a VERY FULL year with a lot of really difficult things happen, and I guess you hope that a passion like writing can become a healthy thing that brings you a lot of joy and distraction and focus (yes, both distraction and focus) during hard times, but it was nice to find out yet again that writing is here when I need it and that I don't really stop needing it even when life is a lot. (And I am OK, by the way...it's just been a year with an unusual amount of family/friend/community challenges and related emotions.)

From the ao3 wrapped ask meme.

Enjoltaire Games 2023 Info

THEME:

This year the theme for the Enjoltaire Games will be DREAMS AND WISHES. Please remember that you can interpret this theme in any way that suits you. Dreams can be hopes and wishes, or literal sleep dreams, or fantasies, or anything you want to interpret that theme to mean. For that matter, wishes can be simple hopes or something as magical as literal wishes. Have fun with it!

TEAMS:

This year the teams will be PAST and FUTURE. This just means that your work will need to focus on either the past or the future. Pretty simple. It can be something as simple as dreams that a character used to have that influenced where they are now, or hopes for the future, or any other way you want to squeeze these ideas in. That, much like the overall theme, can be taken however you’d like. We try not to stifle anyone’s muse around here.

When you sign up for the fest you will be allowed to request which team you would prefer, but please keep in mind that the teams will need to be at least mostly even for voting purposes, so you may or may not be able to get your first choice of team. Your mod will do their best to be as accommodating as possible, though.

PROMPTS:

The prompts will be available once you have signed up for the fest. There will be a total of fifteen (15) each of text based, image based, and audio based prompts. Each prompt will be available to be claimed once by each team. For example, if team PAST claims prompt Image 3, then one person from team FUTURE may still claim prompt Image 3, but no one else from team PAST may have it.

These prompts are not meant to dictate your work, but simply be used as inspiration. A song could have the lyrics translate to plot, or simply have the tone color a work of art, or a scene in your story. An image could be a direct setting, or simply a painting on someone’s wall. As long as they actively inspire your work and are not an afterthought to your work.

VOTING:

Voting will be based on three criteria: How well the work fits the theme of the fest, how well the work fits the team, and how well the work incorporates the prompt. There will be no voting on talent, or how “good” a work is. That is not what this fest is about and is simply too subjective an idea anyway.

And please remember that these works are not in competition with each other. They are simply being judged for their own existence.

More details on voting will be available when we get close to posting time.

And as always, if you have any questions please feel free to check out the FAQ page, or poke your mod on tumblr or email at [email protected]

Your mod recommends email first as tumblr is not the most reliable system of communication and often things disappear. I wouldn’t want to miss anything.

Genuine question…while I realize the bulk of fan fiction and Gifs focus on one particular Croy, how does the fandom differentiate between the variants? Are there nicknames? Over explaining of physical descriptions? When I worked at Adventurers Club, the fans gave us all nicknames (and were kind enough to ask us what we wanted for our nickname when they could), so the could say…”oh, last night “Scully” was in as Pamelia and “Annelle” was the Samantha.” I’m curious how the labeling is going. :) And please be kind in your answers. ;)

Thanks for the ask!!!

While I do follow the fb groups, the discourse there is more focused on the vacation experience than digging into the characters and story. So, my answer to this is based on my experience in discord/tumblr.

How we differentiate between character variants is… ✨controlled chaos✨.

We’ve created graphics that track the different character variants and gave them numbers, but the numbers are in order of who we spotted first in vlogs/photos, so they don’t have any significance (ex: so if we’ve spotted 5 Sandro’s, they’re labeled 1-5 in the order we saw them). Then there are the Saja who have unique names, so that’s easier. The graphics are great for our new members who aren’t familiar yet with how many different cast members play their favorite characters.

If a cast member has made it public that they play that character, we’ll use their name when we’re talking about them within the discord. Or we’ll use physical descriptions. But we don’t use nicknames—mainly because we can’t agree on them lol. It’s really hard to come up with nicknames! But if we were sent anonymous nickname suggestions, we would be happy to use them 🗣🗣🗣. With that said, we don’t differentiate between variants through hashtags on tumblr. Gaya is Gaya no matter who plays her, etc.

When we talk about characters in discord, we are either talking about them as one being (Croy with a capital C, not a particular variant) or we are talking about specific variant—in which case we’re usually sharing a vlog link or gif or image so it’s clear who we mean if we’re pointing something out.

I wanted to touch on another point you brought up: the bulk of fan content focusing on a certain Croy, or certain variants of other characters. There are two main reasons for this.

1. We are very much dependent on vlogs for content and understanding of the characters. Some variants end up getting filmed more than others. It’s frustrating because we want to see them all! In running this Croy blog, I can’t tell you how many times I’ll be watching a new vlog, looking for potential Croy gif moments, and then either getting chest shots (which understandably can’t be helped lol) or Croy is across the room or on the balcony in the Atrium and he looks like a little ant up there. I can’t even hear what he’s saying in the audio. This happens with the other character variants as well. I do hope that as more vloggers share their experiences, we’ll get solid footage of everyone.

2. In fan fiction specifically, the variant we choose to write is based on the goal of the fic. If the fic is focused on romance, then we’ll lean on the variants who have chemistry with each other in the footage we’ve seen. Considering the nature of the cruiser, anything we see in the vlogs is canon, so it’s fun to call out specific moments in our writing as well, so that also helps us decide. That said, the more we learn about the different variants, the wider the range of choices we’ll have for our fics. So far, no one’s written a fic where Croy is 100% loyal to the First Order. So Croy variants playing the straight-laced villain probably won’t get picked up for the fics where his defection is a plot point. With that said, this fandom is still small and growing. No doubt we’ll get different kinds of fics as more fans join in and we continue to explore these characters.

And lastly, that is SO COOL that you worked at Adventurers Club. I will forever be mad that I missed out on getting to experience it before it closed 😔 (I was a year away from being old enough to get in!). I love that you all were able to settle on nicknames with your fans. Starcruiser isn’t accessible in the way that Pleasure Island’s venues were in terms of being able to have repeat guests and build that in-person fan base. This really is a new experience for all of us to work through the vlogs and our own Halcyon adventures when and if we have them. But it’s been a wild ride so far!

by: Tia Williams Published: Apr 12, 2016 Genre: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary 363 Pages, Audio Book (HH:MM) 11:48

★

GoodReads Synopsis:

Jenna Jones, former It-girl fashion editor, is broke and desperate for a second chance. When she’s dumped by her longtime fiancé and fired from Darling magazine, she begs for a job at StyleZine.com from her old arch nemesis, Darcy Vale. But Jenna soon realizes she’s in over her head. She’s working with digital-savvy millennials half her age, has never even “Twittered,” and pretends to still be a Fashion Somebody while living a style lie (she sold her designer wardrobe to afford her sketched-out studio, and now quietly wears Walmart’s finest). Worse? The twenty-two-year-old videographer assigned to shoot her web series is driving her crazy. Wildly sexy with a smile Jenna feels in her thighs, Eric Combs is way off-limits – but almost too delicious to resist.

My Review: ***SPOILERS***

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaby, hated it!

Jenna is too damn old to be making reckless mistakes like sleeping with this young photographer who turned out to be her new boss' son!

They say with age comes wisdom well, Jenna only has the age. Everything about the circumstances screams, LET ME FOCUS ON SELF but nooooooooo, she's perpetrating and pretending in front of people who couldn't care less about her. She's pining after this young man like she's never had some good D before! Cringe fest.

Jenna and Eric move from all-night sex benders in the house to being out in public, and guess what? Of course, some IG famous model who knows Eric sees them out. Obvious! Darcy threatens her job because of this close relationship between her and Eric. Obvious. Girl, this is an HR manager's nightmare.

All of that aside: the age difference between Jenna and Eric, the obvious plotlines, and the lack of critical thinking and good decision-making, were all bad but the ending is where I really wanted to throw this book into a dumpster fire.

I 1000% do not like when women feel like they're taking the "high road"* by not including a man, the father, in the lives of their children. I hated that Jenna said nothing about being pregnant, never reached out, sent an IG DM, or anything. That burned me up. Then (another obvious plot line) Jenna just happens to run into Eric 4 years later and then presents him with his son, Otis -- I hate this name -- and Eric is overjoyed. WHAT?! This man has been purposely left out of this child's life for 4 years and in the end, he just, walks off into the sunset with you. I wanted him to cuss Jenna's dumbass out! Hell, I cussed enough for him just reading this.

*by "high road" I mean, this idea of not wanting to upend the man's life or inconvenience the man by dropping a baby that he wasn't planning on having, into his lap. by volunteering to be a single mother so that you don't distract/disturb the man and his dreams and goals. It's bullshit and I hate it. Meanwhile, Jenna's whole life gets tossed into a Vitamix while she juggles her career and being a mom and Eric gets to live his best life. All the while, living said best life, he has missed out on years with his son. Ugh, I'm getting mad all over again.

One-Word Summary: Trash

Other Tia Williams' books I've reviewed: Seven Days in June

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Power of the Doctor - Jodie Whittaker's last story as the reigning Doctor Who. And it's entirely fanservice, which is fine. It's all about actors from the show's past showing up for cameos and continuity references. It also features the series' three biggest enemies, and resolves some plot threads from the past couple of years (although not, notably, the controversial Timeless Child storyline, or whatever was happening in Flux). It doesn't make a lot of sense or entirely nail the tone it's going for, but as a celebration of Doctor Who as a series it delivers some fun moments, and sets things up for next year's 60th anniversary holiday specials, which are likely to deliver more of the same.

goodtimeswithscar and the power of ‘no, but’

or, why scar is the best person to have on your improv team. content warnings for meta talk, unreality,  me dragging on hermatrix a little in a lovingly constructive sense, and a77. this thing is long, y’all. it’s also 3:00 am when i’m finishing this up.

now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about goodtimeswithscar, and the incredible power of his improv.

Scar is an invaluable resource to any person who does improv for 4 solid reasons. We can go over those 4 reasons later, but the important part to focus on is focusing on ‘iconic’ moments from Hermitcraft, and how Scar fits into them. Name one of your favorite story-related arc/bits from Hermitcraft, and odds are you’ll land on something Scar had a hand in. Mycelium War, Area 77, Mayoral Campaign, the Logfather Trial, New Hermitville Build-Off, Civil War, Jingler/Jangler, and the list continues. It’s no small coincidence Scar ends up in story related arcs, mostly because he is either drawn to the story (Mayoral Campaign,) or creates it around him (Mycelium War.)

So, why are these moments deemed so iconic? A mix of character interaction, inclusive storytelling, and background work, which all blend together to create something memorable. Anyone who has watched Scar for a while is familiar with one of his rules when it comes to buildings -- every build needs to have some life in it, however that may be. In s8, this was the paths and backgrounds he made for each cart attached to the Swaggon. In s7, this was the heads he put on the villagers to make them look ‘magical.’ In simplified terms, his natural habit of building makes his improv all the more better.

With that out of the way, let’s talk about the 4 reasons Scar is so important to improvisation.

Vocal Comedy (Jokes). For all his fumbling around, Scar is actually pretty masterful with his words. Examples that come to light are 3rd Life and Last Life, for very obvious reasons. Scar knows when to say things, and his easy, laid-back way of communicating with people makes it very easy for humor to be the way he progresses a plot. Scamming someone out of their armor is funny to him, so it is funny to the plot. Think of his and Doc’s conversation when they went to see the Jungle Monster from A77. From Doc’s perspective, that entire clip is a horror film, from Scar’s worrying way of saying ‘the monster can read minds and I have to keep it at bay with a trident,’ to the downright chilling ‘nothing important has ever gone missing in the jungle.’ From Scar’s perspective? It’s a fun day with his new business partner, and he’s sharing some fun work stories. Scar’s jokes are a narrative device for him to interact with people and progress a story.

Vocal Comedy (Delivery). Yes, vocal comedy part two, but I feel as if it’s important to make a distinction between the two here. A joke can very easily fall flat with the wrong delivery, and while I’m sure Scar is no stranger to that, his delivery lands so much more often than it misses that it’s a negligible failure rate. Delivery, in the sense of improv, also concerns committing to the bit -- you have to deliver a joke in the same vein many times over. The Mayoral Campaign is a good example of this. Bdubs and Scar made an excellent duo for this because of their combined effort of committing to the bit. Bdubs was working his ass off for Scar’s approval, and character wise, Scar was constantly degrading of his efforts. Over and over again, Scar hit that delivery, reminding us of the joke (Bdubs tries and Scar doesn’t notice,) while progressing the plot (pitting Cub and Bdubs against each other.) Delivery, in improv, is all about commitment and timing, and Scar exceeds time and time again even in the smallest ways (bebagerie, mattress store.)

Physical Comedy (Props and Setting). While no one can deny the power of audio only storytelling, sometimes, having physicality means your story is capable of a lot more detail. I do keep coming back to A77 and the Jungle Monster (for good reason,) but think back to that scene. Scar presents us, the viewer, with a variety of background sets and detailed props that bring his story together. We can see the crashed Convex ship and the broken cage inside, as well as the well-trodden path and the Etho head inside the cave. In the way of props, we’re given iron helmets renamed to tinfoil hats, a single torch, low durability tridents, and raw meat. From both of these sections, we can draw a variety of conclusions. The crashed ship could’ve injured the creature, and the well-trodden path means Scar comes here often. The low durability tridents means they’re well used, and that fact that there’s two helmets and two tridents means Scar comes here with someone. In such a small amount of time, and with a minimal amount of expositional dialogue, Scar has given us a lot of details to examine with his use of props and the set.

And the final reason, reason 4, is important enough to get more than one paragraph to itself. Reason Number 4 Scar is integral to improv is because Scar has mastered the use of ‘No, but.’ For those of you unfamiliar, one of the golden rules of improv is the rule of ‘Yes, and.’ This rule states that you should always be agreeing with your partner to move the story forward. Yes, you are a fish, and you’re part of a highly advanced race of fish. Realistically, anyone who has done improv for more than two weeks should know this rule. However, as anyone should know, the people who are best at their subjects are those who learned how to break the rules.

‘No, but,’ is a hedonistic transformation of the ‘yes, and’ rule. You disagree with your partner, and you move the story in your own way? Downright sacrilegious. Joking, of course, but using the ‘no, but’ in improv is enough to raise a few eyebrows, least of all when done right.

Let’s take a small detour to talk about our favorite furry improv storytellier on the server. Ren is a very good example of the ‘yes, and’ rule. He agrees with his improv partners (”Yes, Grian, the mayor is corrupt and we should spread the mycelium,”) and moves the story forward for them to build off (Here’s a mushroom scientist who is open to work with anyone.) Another well known improver who follows ‘yes, and’ well is Doc. It’s been said before me, by people who say it much better than I can, but the general idea is; Ren and Doc work well on a story together, but only on opposite sides, or with someone on their team to hold them back. When placed on the same team, they’ll ‘yes, and’ each other into the sun, losing sight of their story progression. 

You can’t move a good conflict without plot, and you can’t move a plot without conflict. Part of this is Doc’s natural nature to godmod, which for those unfamiliar, is the slightly more advanced version of the kid who said ‘well, you can’t do that, i’m invincible’ when playing superheroes. Not necessarily a bad trait to have, and it can be very interesting sometimes, but when paired with the give all or nothing kind of improv Ren uses for his improv partners, it allows Doc to use his godmodding tendencies much more than necessary. Cough, Hermatrix, cough.

In all seriousness, that is why Hermatrix was rather frustrating for me to watch. With a group as large as the hermits, anything you set in stone needs to be able to be used by everyone, and the set in stone ‘it’s all a simulation’ really does not lend itself to being flexible. False escaped on a giant eagle? No, she’s asleep in the simulation. Boatem’s in the void? No, they’re asleep in the simulation. Because of this set in stone fact, it diluted any emotional response we could’ve otherwise gotten from these characters. If you were able to find that emotion and you enjoyed Hermatrix, I’m honestly really happy for you! I just like to look at things through an improv lens, and sometimes it comes out a little critical.

So. What’s the solution to an unhealthy ‘yes, and’ realtionship?

Someone who knows how to ‘no, but.’

The very unique property of someone who can ‘no, but’ is that they fit into both the plot and the conflict sections. They’re the versatile chatacters in improv, because of their ability to work with whatever slot you need them to. If Doc tries to godmod in A77, Scar is there to help provide him with character progression instead by preventing the easy out. (No, these aliens do not pose a physical threat, but they have to ability to slightly mind control you.) If Ren needs a reason to go red in 3rd Life, Scar will show up to threaten him. (No, you are not safe with a yellow life out for your blood, but there is a way you can protect your friends.) Scar will fit into every role he is needed for, (and this is partially why he so often ends up the villain.)

There is a reason why Grian “Conflict Master” works so well with him.

(And on a separate note, a special mention to Cubfan135, who has mastered the art of ‘no, and.’ While highly discouraged in improv groups, and a surefire way to lose yourself points in any official competition (source; dude trust me,) using ‘no, and’ is a fantastic way to practice with improv partners. It stops someone in their tracks, and forces them to rework the story. ‘No, and’ could almost be considered a punishment for improv players who don’t offer their partners a chance at the story. ‘No, you aren’t an immortal being, and here’s your weakness.’ A method of consequential action in the game of improv.)

So, to wrap up, what makes Scar such a quintessential player in the world of Hermitcraft Improv? Vocal comedy, physical comedy, and good communication. These three combined points make Scar downright scary when it comes to a question of who builds the best stories, and I think everyone could take a page from his notebook when it comes to improv. There’s no one that quite does it like him, after all.

Hii! I have a lot of questions and thoughts about the movie.

Do you think Amy will appear in the movies? What did you think when you saw the credits scene? Were you excited like everyone? Or were you hoping for something/someone else, like a certain pink character?

I was hoping for that character, so I'm a bit of disappointed. It's not that I don't like Shadow, but I think the female role is missing in the group, and I'm a little mad that they will bring Shadow before Amy.

[I could go on talking and sharing my thoughts about the movie, but I'll leave it here. And sorry for the long question and comment]

Hi, and thanks for the ask! Definitely keep the thoughts coming, we can discuss them together! So, let me go in parts...

Do you think Amy will appear in the movies?

I hope she's there by the time we start seeing stuff from Sonic 3. I think right now Team Sonic is a lot more varied than their game counterparts (mostly due to Tails' own insecurities being a lot more pushed to the front here and Knuckles building up to his traditional guardian self) and, like you said, adding Amy as the fourth element could make for fascinating dynamics with everyone else (and someone also mentioned her interacting with Maddie and especially Rachel).

Thing is, after watching the movie I don't know how they'll introduce more anthros. I've been trying to think how any more portals can be accessed and where Amy would fit in that, but I have no idea right now. Maybe if they introduce Little Planet as a plot device...?

Adding Amy would also be a great way to improve writing, since they can't pull a Rachel with Amy and make go all "psycho fangirl" because it'll stick out sooooo badly. If she's there, she'll have to be active and ready to fight, think Maddie in the last half of Sonic 2 but on steroids.

What did you think when you saw the credits scene? Were you excited like everyone?

I actually knew Shadow was coming thanks to some Reddit leaks months ago that spoiled most of the plot (thankfully it missed some key details), but I didn't know how it would play out in context. I actually recorded audio from the last 15 minutes of the movie and I have proof that my friends and I went nuts when that scene played.

So, two things I liked a TON and surprised me from that post-credits:

They set up Stone as a potential main threat just in case Jim Carrey doesn't return for Sonic 3. They did enough work putting Stone in a position of power that now he can be either a spy for Robotnik within G.U.N., or his own rise to the main villain spotlight. I see great things coming from him anyway.

I was actually shocked by them reusing the "50 years ago" plot point from SA2. I thought Shadow in this universe would be a lot more different, a literal creation by G.U.N. in direct response to Sonic and Robotnik being so dangerous. But nope, we are going back to SA2 ways and we were all shocked to see it's literally his game design in the movie. I thought they would show a black silhouette or something different, not the game design lol.

...Or were you hoping for something/someone else, like a certain pink character?

tbh I mourned her absence long before the movie came out. Those movie leaks mentioning Shadow made me lose most hope. Of course I still somewhat believed that she would make a tiny appearance, since there were rumors about this little "ice cream truck scene" that I think even Idris Elba himself mentioned...? But I think it was either a deleted scene or a misunderstanding of the ice cream truck scene in Seattle at the start of the movie.

In hindsight, I can kinda see how adding Amy right now would've been too much for a movie that's already packed with stuff and decided to focus so much on Sonic-Tails-Knuckles. A little tease at the end would've been lovely, but I guess we're going all (team) dark and serious for Sonic 3.

Like I said a few paragraphs ago, I still hope she'll be there for Sonic 3. Friends of mine like @waywardcollectionchai and @potatoes-tomatoes perfectly pointed out the fact Shadow's arc works because of Amy, because she's the one who ultimately untangles Shadow's confused mindset in SA2, and right now I don't see any character in the movieverse able to do that. No "Wachowski family special" will be effective if the writers decide to stick to SA2 Shadow lore. (Maybe Rachel's daughter? I don't know, she has less of a role here in Sonic 2, I don't expect much from her in Sonic 3).

We don't know as of know, and the writers don't want to adapt every game in a linear fashion (I think that was already clear when Sonic 2 had tons of Sonic Adventure vibes, but people were shocked). I hope Amy is there, and now that G.U.N. is here, maybe we can have a cameo from that special agent Rouge we all know and love. There's lots of lore potential concerning the Owls vs Echidnas, Tails' world and more places from where anthros could come in rushing to find out what the hell is going on with that absurd amount of Chaos Energy on Earth. Let's cross our fingers!

Why Holding On To Past Relationships Is The Worst Thing You Can Do For Yourself, Period

by Daniel Dowling via MindBodyGreen

Three years ago I was a 24-year-old failure-to-launch who lived on his mom’s couch and shared a bathroom with two teenage sisters. My friends had their own houses, degrees, and independence. And there I was, broke and depressed, totally reliant on my parents. It hadn't ever not been that way.

But in 2014 I made one small decision, which led to results I still sometimes can’t believe.

Today, I’m leading writers in a national campaign to rebrand my hometown, and I write for the best entrepreneurial and self-improvement sites in the world (mbg being my favorite; no lie). I make a great living coaching others to become the happiest and most successful versions of themselves. That’s a lot of change in just three years, from any perspective. And I can trace the transformation of my life back to one single thing: letting go of my exes—completely.

Breaking free from serial monogamy.

For most of my adult life I’d been a serial monogamist. I thought I just really loved love, but it turns out I was just really, really afraid of responsibility. So, for my personal dissatisfaction and unhappiness, self-improvement wasn’t the cure—it was a new girlfriend! And when that one didn’t work out, I'd find another. Yay for love!

Except it wasn’t love because I wasn’t becoming the best version of myself through these relationships. So after the last one ended ignominiously, I quit the love game—just not quite all the way.

I still kept in contact with my exes. And Jen—my former fiancee—was a particular crutch. We still visited each other even though we lived in different states. We kept in regular contact through texts and phone calls, especially during crises. I was still depending on her to make me happy.

Every time we talked, I renewed the connection to my former ways of thinking and behaving. It strengthened the conviction that, deep down, I could only be happy with Jen. She was my way out. If things got too tough, I could always come to her, and she could come to me. We even promised that if we weren’t married by 30, we’d get hitched. Talk about a safety net… (and, yes, also the plot of My Best Friend's Wedding).

Unfortunately, that safety net was keeping me from being the bold, successful, independent man I wanted to become. I just couldn’t seem to cut the cord on my own.

Flying without a net.

Then one day I was listening to an audio course from my favorite self-improvement mentor, Zig Ziglar. He was talking about how to right our wrongs and forgive ourselves. He advised writing apologies down and sending them to the appropriate people. But he had a special step for exes.

"When it comes to the forgiveness you want from your exes [Zig has a drawling Southern accent], I want you to follow all the steps I just gave you. But instead of sending off the letter, I want you to fold it up, light a fire, and burn the damn thing. Cuz there’s no point in renewing emotional connections with people who aren’t good for you. That’s why they're your exes! It’s time to move on from them and fully embrace your own life."

When one is slapped by truth, one’s jaw has a tendency of dropping, and the eyes have a tendency to glaze over, lost in a thousand-yard stare. That was the picture of my face. Might’ve even drooled a little.

I thought about Jen, and Em, and Katie. I thought about how important they’d been for me and how much security they’d brought me. And I knew I had to let them go for good. For good.

No more texts or calls. No more being Facebook friends. No email updates. No nothing.

I had anxiety about the decision, naturally—severing ties with my past and obliterating a huge comfort zone. But I had a future to step into. I had to do that on my own.

Dealing with the emptiness.

I missed my former girlfriends like crazy. But instead of feeling sorry for myself and longing for them, I prayed for them. I asked God for the same things I was asking for my own self-improvement journey—courage, faith, hope, positivity, inspiration, grace, and so on. I prayed for them to meet amazing and inspiring friends who could help them become their best selves. I prayed for my future wife. And I prayed that I would become the fully independent man capable of supporting her.

In all this praying, I completely changed my focus. Instead of relying on my girlfriends for faith and reassurance, I relied on God and my own ability to handle my problems. I took back the misplaced faith in my girlfriends and put it squarely in my own hands.

That’s when I finally launched.

Do you believe in life after love?

Just like Cher, I found my power only after letting go of my past relationships.

Without my exes as safety nets, it was just me. Nobody else was going to make me happy. So I did what I needed to do to make me successful—all the writing, studying, practicing, pitching, researching, and self-improvement. I actually become part of a community and made new friends. I fully embraced my own damn life.

Three months passed and I still missed my exes. But I was making money through my writing and making new connections.

Six months passed and I still missed my exes. But I’d started earning a full-time living through my writing. And I was growing more confident by the day, especially in my community.

A year passed and I still missed my exes. But I was fully independent through my passion. And I’d outgrown the anxiety and depression that had haunted me since I was a teenager—a by-product of my newfound faith in me.

It’s been three full years since I cut out my exes. I’m 100 percent over each one, but I’m human—I still miss them! Who wouldn’t? They were brilliant and beautiful women who were insanely fun to be with. I made thousands of joyful memories with each one.

Sometimes I’m reminded of them by hearing a certain song or watching a movie. But that’s just another opportunity for me to thank God for them and to pray for them. It’s another opportunity for me to be the independent and faithful man I know I can be for myself, for my wife, for my clients, and for my audience. It’s another opportunity to find security in myself and in a higher power. And through these opportunities, I’ve found the happiness and fulfillment I always wanted.

I advise all of my clients to go on a yearlong relationship fast, which most of them do. But the real growth comes when they fully let go of their exes and stop using them as crutches. It’s hard, hard, hard to do but absolutely essential if you want to grow.

Here are five tips to help you let go of your exes for good:

1. Start a self-improvement routine, complete with daily, weekly, and monthly goal setting.

Read this article as a primer.

2. Meet with someone weekly to discuss your personal growth and your journey.

This person will help keep you accountable to your goals and lifestyle choices. Can be a friend or an amazing coach.

3. Stay single for a year—totally single.

If you can’t be happy with you, you won’t be happy—truly happy—with anyone else. Love that you! Commit to being successfully single for a year. That means happy, connected in your community, fulfilled in your work, and in a state of continuous personal growth. (Your daily routines and long-term goals will be critical to this step.)

4. Surround yourself with positive, uplifting people.

Join a faith community where people strive to live out the values you identify with. This is where you’ll find the deep connections that you can grow with—and that will prevent you from leaning on your exes as crutches.

5. Pray or meditate often.

Use your emotions as mindfulness cues. When you miss someone, pray for them. When you’re lonely, pray for the courage, positivity, and fortitude to make good decisions. When you think you can’t go on—that happens to everyone—pray for what you need. This will help you grow faith in a higher power and yourself, which is an absolute must if you want to be happy alone.

And being happy alone? That’s an absolute must for loving someone unconditionally in a relationship that can last a lifetime.

Link to article on Mind Body Green

Author: Daniel Dowling

— title : a sweet truth

— word count : 2.1k words

— pairing : john wich x reader

— summary : you get an overwhelming need to share with John how you feel, unable to keep it to yourself anymore, leaving only the good to follow.

— warnings : none, issa soft one

note: my first one shot back and it’s john of course! anyways i need to binge the movies again because this man’s voice was difficult to master this time around, now i will be getting to requests now i have indulged myself oops

                    ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*   requests are open !   *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

The dull crackle that runs mindlessly beneath the audio of the radio is the only sound that can be heard illuminating the space of the bedroom where you and John lay contently together. He’d offered to repair the object, or even buy another but you refused stubbornly — remarking that it gives it a certain endearing charm. You had joked that it reminds you of him. In the sense that while it has a flaw, it was able to bring joy and amusement to a person’s life. It’s humbling to know that even the John Wick was human, that he had his flaws despite being difficult to witness them in the flesh.

It took a lot for John to bare the darkest and most damaged parts of his conscience. He couldn’t go another day where his mind leapt endlessly to conclusions, his mind conjuring haunting images of your departing body that would eventually come to pass — to him, it was inevitable. He fully convinced himself he was hallucinating when you had not retreated in fear, with the look of disgust cosying up to your reflection, but the opposite. He is still a man greatly feared by a whole world beneath yours, yet you still gaze upon him with nothing but warmth.

You will your mind to focus on the words from the small object, yet it’s the heat that is emitting from his body in waves that prevent you from fully taking in what is being said, its presence doing more to provide white noise than entertainment. The minor glint in your gaze turns upwards to drag your sight across the body that half lays on top of you.

Like vines, to be found in a twist of limbs that would be almost difficult to distinguish what belongs to who is a common occurrence, the sense of shielded from the scorching realities that the world bares boldly is an addicting concoction that you can only find with him. Your heart swells tenfold at the mere thought of him and being here in such a simple way that holds so much affection just for two people.

“ What ? “

The suddenness of his voice lifts you from your thoughts that run their own race, a shy lift of your lips can be seen twirling gracefully in response.

“ Nothing, I’m just thinking. “

“ Thinking? “ he asks you, a light hint of laughter gently coating the question with a feather-like touch. “ Are you trying to scare me? “

Eyes widen in response to what he says, a heavy burst of air plummeting to the soft mattress below the two of you. “ Don’t be so rude! “ A short chuckle trails behind your reply, secretly loving the cheeky side of his personality coming out to peek out.

You’ve realised that he has a warmth whenever you’re together, but even still he maintains an air of such seriousness you’re surprised he has not collapsed under the pressure of holding such a wall up with his bare hands, these moments are the kind that you paint mentally — a still of this moment in a thousand shades of gold. Upon your first meeting of his, you’d never associate that with him, with how intimidating and stone faced he was, it would be a honeyed lie if someone would have described him in such a way but here he is. Not a honeyed lie but a sweet tasting truth that you never want to be without again.

“ I’m sorry. “ he apologises as the amusement in his tones still very much present that would aim to refer to him as a hypocrite, but it’s not spoken with vitriol, his words directed towards you rarely contain any harshness. “ Tell me, I’m curious. “

It’s a minor debate that dances with only itself, zig zagging with a biro pen that creates a mess of lines converging at multiple points to create a tangle plot point that should not be as complicated as it’s being made out. Neither of you have muttered the L word, not even under your breath in passing and the one dominating emotion you can feel overwhelming your body entirely is incredibly close to it.. but is it too soon? Even as a description? It’s a fear you can feel tickling your neck from behind, whispering stained words of discouragement, but if you have learnt anything, it’s that hiding your feelings will be worse off in the long run. Never can a human being strive for the euphoria of authentic happiness clutched in their fist when they lock away their thoughts and their desires in a box to gather age and dust — leaving behind a hollow shell of what could have been had it the opportunity to bud and grow.

“ Well.. “ you begin, your sight lowering to meet the sight of his neck, unable to look him in the eyes fully and you approach the topic. “ I was thinking about you. “

“ Yeah? “

“ I’m just.. happy. More than I thought I could be and it’s you I have to thank. “ Your shoulders shrug as best they can from your position laying down on the bed.

“ I think I should be the one saying that. “ he replies softly, his words ringing truer than they could ever be realised to be as he leans down to leave behind a ghost of a peck behind your ear. It’s an action that is short and sweet.

Never did John imagine himself being rewarded for being the architect in more tragedies and more horrors than he could ever recall. Though, he soon realised your presence was rather the opposite, a ticket to a greener field void of bloodied bargains and death, and should he keep you in his life that would be an opportunity he would not let pass him by in a sea of missed chances left to drown due to his lack of motivation. He gazes upon you fondly in affection, a hand reaching up to draw mindless circles in the back of your hair, memories of his last bargain to leave his previous life playing before him as if an old gritty movie.

“ Stop it, John. I haven’t done a thing! “ your nose wrinkles as you refute what he says with a bashful glint that explodes in your gaze. After all the time you’d spent together and you still refuse to see yourself in the way John has painted you in —

“ You’ve done more for me than you realise. “

It feels like yesterday you shared your first kiss, fondly remembering how you’d mentally remarked that it’s so unfair that what is between you should be so perfect, a cruel joke were it not to work out. Though your heart is full of gratitude when you still tell yourself that not a worry should be had, your need for a physical reminder as you move your hand to his clothed back — bringing him closer as if to burn a permanent reminder into your fingertips.

“ I guess that’s why we compliment each other so well, huh? “

A wispy sigh plummets, your thoughts and emotions mixing more and more into a blend of intensity as you fully realise just how much you have fallen and adore the man who shares your bed. It has been such a long time you have had these emotions to this degree rouse from, what has felt like, an endless slumber. Yes, there had been a few who had caught your eye, but compared to the substance that has been created and nurtured from you both, they had nothing more than a water drop in a boundless and enduring sea. It’s a hope of yours that you don’t look foolish before him, getting so emotional over something like this, you scold yourself mentally — trying to pull yourself together before you completely crumble.

“ What’s wrong? “

“ It’s nothing, really. “ you shake your head, accompanying the almost denial. You want to let everything in your heart free, but the question is how to without scaring him off. There’s not much that can scare him, but you’d rather not throw a spanner in the flawless equation.

“ You don’t have to tell me, but it might help if you do. “ John lends a soothing weight in your hand as he interlocks your fingers together, leaving the choice completely up to you, refusing to force you to share something that is so personal to you. “ it’s your call. “

“ It’s nothing crazy.. “

The side of John’s brain that has been hardwired to jump to every scenario imaginable — good and bad, is running rampant. Itching to be prepared so nothing is able to disrupt the perfect day dream of a life that had only been made available through television shows and movies, now that he has it, every day he promises to never let it be ruined. Nothing good can ever occur from ripping away the first drop of water that touches a person starved of it for days, only a troublesome path of anger can walk that path on its twisted and turned limbs.

“ I think it’s time that I tell you how I feel, “ you state, your lips almost devouring your lips by how hard they bite them, a lost thought of how you have not drawn a drop of blood seeping into irrelevancy. “ how I really feel. “

“ Right? “

For the first time, John is completely unable to get a read of you. The apprehension that is emitting off you in strong waves is not something that comforts him fully, though the fact that you speak not from anger and have opted to stay in your current position as opposed to fleeing is the only source of relief he can continue to draw energy from. Curiosity is the only thing that dominates his mind, wanting desperately to hear the next part of your statement.

In his silence, your brows furrow purely from your own thoughts. Mainly in the wonder of how you can approach this while sounding as if you have capacity and are not obsessed with him as some are with their idols. You know that would be something that would probably scare him off. Your fingertips lay a random beat on the top of his hand, you nestle closer to him as to make yourself comfortable — this does feel like the right time. Should it not? You remind yourself that it is part of a plan that the universe has for you, that it is part of a bigger picture you are not allowed to know until the final moment.

“ I just, “ you pause, blinking as you gather your thoughts and your words further. “ It’s been a long time since I’ve felt anything remotely close to this. “

Your words are like a cozy kiss goodnight before two lovers depart until the next time they see each other, a warmth that slowly grows in his heart overspills at the sentiment you individually wrap with each word you speak. He can’t help but tip his head ever so slightly, to take in every detail on your features — in his mind, nothing is more so perfect than this moment.

“ What I’m trying to say is, and you don’t have to say anything — “ the rambling leaves your lips so effortlessly, as if to savour the last few moments of normally before the inevitable confession. “ I can’t help but realise how much I am in love with you. “

His eyes widen instantaneously as his features follow suit, his lips part in surprise. With how your speech had begun, it should not have come as a surprise, yet to hear it from your lips is as pleasant as the final summer’s day, surrounded by warmth and an impenetrable energy that shields you from any harm that would befall you. He’d lived the life of a haunting ghost story that it soon became a belief that he was a monster, to hear you in this moment recite something so real is something that is difficult for him to wrap his head around. Maybe he isn’t a monster that has made its peace with the darkness, that there is more for him as a person.

The emptiness is soon replaced by a soft weight on your lips, he has leans down to join you — unable to fight the desire to savour the taste of him as you often do when you kiss. It’s a fight you have not yet one, and it’s a fight you imagine you would prefer losing. Time is no longer a concept, you’re too wrapped up in the concept turned reality that is John Wick, only are you able to concentrate on the burning that his free hand leaves as they slide up and down your waist. If this is a dream, neither of you want to awaken.

“ Who says I’m not feeling the same as you? “

Blu-ray Review: Manhattan Baby

Following the success of Zombie and his Gates of Hell trilogy (City of the Living Dead, The Beyond, and The House by the Cemetery), Italian horror maestro Lucio Fulci released two genre films in 1982 in which he tackled more grounded, contemporary material. The first, The New York Ripper, is a nihilistic giallo; the second, Manhattan Baby, is a supernatural horror film. While neither reaches the operatic heights of his earlier work, both have their merits. Fulci himself was unhappy with Manhattan Baby, but it endures better than its reputation might suggest.

In a shrewd attempt to make the audience believe the film has high production values throughout, Manhattan Baby opens with a family vacationing in Egypt. After a mysterious woman gives 9-year-old Susie (Brigitta Boccoli) an amulet, her archaeologist father, Professor George Hacker (Christopher Connelly, 1990: The Bronx Warriors), has a brief Indiana Jones-esque adventure in an unexplored tomb that leaves him temporarily blind. Terror follows the family home to New York City as the ancient curse claims several victims.

While the title alludes to Rosemary's Baby - and both movies feature a female in New York being overtaken by evil - Manhattan Baby owes more to The Exorcist. Both films open with a relic being discovered in a foreign desert, impacting events that occur in America. Along with elements borrowed from The Awakening and The Omen, the movie plays like a bizarre Italian counterpart to Poltergeist - though the movies opened within months of one another so any direct influence is unlikely. (Manhattan Baby debuted in the U.S. as Eye of the Evil Dead, an alternate title as misleading as it is meaningless.)

It may not fire on all cylinders, but most of Fulci's signature elements are accounted for in Manhattan Baby: a muddled plot written by Elisa Briganti (Zombie) and Dardano Sacchetti (The Beyond), a dreamlike atmosphere, ocular trauma, idiosyncratic cinematography by Guglielmo Mancori (The New York Ripper, Spasmo), a haunting score by Fabio Frizzi (Zombie, The Beyond) which reuses some cues from some of his previous Fulci films, and a cameo by the filmmaker, this time playing a pipe-smoking physician. Gory practical effects are present, and so too are optical effects - with mixed results.

Manhattan Baby was restored in 2K from the original uncensored camera negative with DTS-HD 5.1 and DTS-HD Mono audio options for a limited edition Blu-ray/DVD/CD release in 2016. For those who missed out (or simply want a more budget-friendly alternative), it has been reissued on Blu-ray and DVD, sans the bonus booklet and soundtrack CD. The picture quality allows the hallucinatory visuals to shine in all their gory glory, though it also makes the optical effects look even more artificial.

The best of the special features is Fulci & I, a 55-minute career-spanning documentary on Frizzi with a focus on his work with Fulci. The composer discusses his scores film-by-film, intercut with footage of him and his band rehearsing and performing for their Frizzi 2 Fulci tour. A nine-minute live studio performance of a Manhattan Baby suite by the band is included separately as well.

The disc also features interviews with actor Cosimo Cinieri, who shares sweet memories of his four times working with Fulci and details Manhattan Baby's infamous bird attack scene; special effects artist Maurizio Trani, who fondly traces his 25 years of collaboration with Fulci back to an argument on their first movie; and Sacchetti, who details his attempt to make a high-tech horror movie for modern audiences before the budget was slashed and discusses Fulci's misogyny. Other extras include a film analysis by erudite author/historian Stephen Thrower, the theatrical trailer, and a gallery of posters and stills.

Manhattan Baby is available on Blu-ray and DVD now via Blue Underground.

Theme Info for ER Games 2022

THEME:

This year the theme for the Enjoltaire Games will be MYTHS AND FAIRYTALES. Please remember that this does not mean that you need to retell a myth or fairytale, although that is certainly one interpretation of the theme. You can interpret this theme in any way that suits you. Characters discussing stories, using the influence of a particular myth or fairytale in the shaping of your work, anything you’d like.

TEAMS:

This year the teams will be BEGINNINGS and ENDINGS. This just means that your work will need to focus on either beginnings or endings. Pretty simple. That doesn’t mean that you need to focus more on the beginning or the ending of the work so much as of the story that you’re trying to convey. For example, is it the end of some huge adventure, or the start of something new? That, much like the overall theme, can be taken however you’d like. We try not to stifle anyone’s muse around here.

When you sign up for the fest you will be allowed to request which team you would prefer, but please keep in mind that the teams will need to be at least mostly even for voting purposes, so you may or may not be able to get your first choice of team. Your mod will do their best to be as accommodating as possible, though.

PROMPTS:

The prompts will be available once you have signed up for the fest. There will be a total of fifteen (15) each of text based, image based, and audio based prompts. Each prompt will be available to be claimed once by each team. For example, if team BEGINNINGS claims prompt Image 3, then one person from team ENDINGS may still claim prompt Image 3, but no one else from team BEGINNINGS may have it.

These prompts are not meant to dictate your work, but simply be used as inspiration. A song could have the lyrics translate to plot, or simply have the tone color a work of art, or a scene in your story. An image could be a direct setting, or simply a painting on someone’s wall. As long as they actively inspire your work and are not an afterthought to your work.

VOTING:

Voting will be based on three criteria: How well the work fits the theme of the fest, how well the work fits the team, and how well the work incorporates the prompt. There will be no voting on talent, or how “good” a work is. That is not what this fest is about and is simply too subjective an idea anyway.

And please remember that these works are not in competition with each other. They are simply being judged for their own existence.

More details on voting will be available when we get close to posting time.

And as always, if you have any questions please feel free to check out the FAQ page, or poke your mod on tumblr or email at [email protected]

Your mod recommends email first as tumblr is not the most reliable system of communication and often things disappear. I wouldn’t want to miss anything.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾shifting script w/ ellie☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

hey looove! if you’re here, imma assume off the bat (back?? idk) that you’re like me and you want to escape the pain that is reality and just spend some time with your comfort characters. i’ve shifted four times (i think????) and every time oml was the time of my life, so buckle up kiddo! aight friends, we’re gonna be going over: scripting, methods, subliminals, and other tips! good luck bbys :))

- SCRIPTING -

what is scripting? - scripting is completely optional, but most people prefer to use it to keep their thoughts down! scripting is basically just a guideline as if you were making an oc. what do they look like? how do they feel? do they have any love interests?

where should i write my script? - you can type it out, draw it, write it, jot it down, make a slideshow, a moodboard with fancy points, whatever it is-- it just has to be something that makes you the most comfortable. i typed mine + made a slideshow with my dr (dream reality) scripting and pointed everything out, but it really doesn’t matter!

how long should it be? - again, this should be FUN and enjoyable! if you feel forced to do it in any way, i recommend coming back to this post later and checking it out when you’re in a better mood my love :))) most scripts can go anywhere from just 10 jots/sentences/bullet points to 10 pages. whatever it is, it’s what makes you the most comfortable!

what should i include in my (specifically bnha) script? - for bnha specifically, if you’re shifting here, please script this: i cannot feel pain, experience any trauma, and i can only feel minimum or incur very very small amounts of pain. i am fit and comfortable wherever i am.

notes: YOUR SHIFTING SCRIPT SHOULD IN FACT SOUND CRINGY. EMBRACE IT, DON’T FEEL EMBARRASSED! this is you hyping yourself off bc you should know you’re sexc as heck and you deserve all the love in the world k bby

MY BNHA SHIFTING SCRIPT 

VISUALS FOR MY DR SELF (this is 10000 percent optional, I just did this for fun! (slight bl**d/g*re warning!)

ULTRA BASIC EMPTY TEMPLATE:

Name:

Age:

Height:

Weight:

Eye color:

Hair color:

Body Type:

Voice:

Hair:

Quirk:

Backstory:

Relationships:

Personality:

Hobbies:

Dorm:

Does this follow the canon plot line?:

Here’s a list of subliminals that I use to help me! (remember: you don’t have to use the wave thingie or the weird high-pitched thing for days that it makes it hard for you to focus. you can use songs that remind you of your dr! remember, shifting is completely real, my loves!) @a-hideaway-for-hoes, cough, ily

songs to help you relax and stay calm by ambition -> has a frickin’ todoroki thumbnail and i used it to like,, relax. and stay calm. makes me think of my comfort characters for the days that are really tough <3

『 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚 』 UA dorm ambiance/sleep aid ✩.･*:｡ -> really really helpful!! this doesn’t use the high-pitched wave thing and it just works like magic. 

SHIFTING: THE RAVEN METHOD SUBLIMINAL AUDIO | QUANTUM JUMP TO DESIRED REALITY | 432HZ MEDITATION -> listen up: this is the only frequencey hz thing that’s ever helped me successfully shift. it’s INSANE how fast it works, and don’t be afraid of the symptoms! you might get chills or feel really light-headed, but dw, that’s completely normal. 

i don’t have many, but there are definitely some songs that make me go, ah yes, i now remember that i’m sexc and that i can feel validation. here’s just some quotes from the songs. don’t mind me.

“how can you miss someone you’ve never met? ‘cause i need you now, but i don’t know you yet.” -> idk you yet by alexander 23

“i have died every day waiting for you,” -> a thousand years by christina perri

“i’ll hold you when things go wrong, i’ll be with you from dusk till dawn,” -> dusk till dawn by zayn

“If this was a dream, then at least I've got memories for when morning comes.” -> welcome to wonderland by anson seabra

THIS ONE’S A BIG BOI:

“When two worlds collide Take a deep look inside What if we were more than just parallel lines?

You can push me a mile away I will run to you always Put us oceans far apart Calm the seas to sail to you,” -> i promise you, yoolee

UHHH and i think that’s it, my loves! if you need any other links to tips, meditations, or anything, lmk bby :)) happy shifting, and good luck! 

Tools that have helped me

I have adhd and often struggle with certain tasks, time management and establishing routines, so over the years I‘ve figured out ways to help myself. I thought I‘d share them here, maybe someone else will find them helpful too.

1. Plant Nanny

I don’t really get thirsty. Because of this, I often forget to drink enough. Plant Nanny tells you how much you need to drink for your height and body weight, and you can water virtual plants with every glads you drink. They‘ve recently added a widget for your homescreen too, which I‘ve found very helpful.

2. Focus Plant

A lot of people use Flora because you can donate money to plant trees, but unfortunately I haven’t found it very helpful (give it a try yourself though!)

Focus Plant lets you pick a time frame to focus, during which you aren’t allowed to exit the app. If you succeed, you collect water drops with which you can water virtual plants. There are also challenges you can complete, which will give you rewards.

3. To-Do Adventure

I‘ve started using this only recently. It lets you create to do lists for each day, and with every task you complete you can add a plot of land to your virtual island. You start a new island each week. The tasks can be scheduled and put into categories, and you can choose how often you want them repeated (I have a daily task to brush my teeth because I tend to forget). You could of course just use a regular reminders app, but I find this more fun and motivating. Again, there are other apps like this like to-do quest, but I‘ve only tried this one

4. Podcasts and Audio books

I need to be listening to something when I do stuff or I will get bored. But music doesn’t necessarily make me more productive because I can listen to music while being on social media or reading. But with for example a podcast I can only do things where I can also listen to what is being said, or I will miss everything. So, social media and reading doesn’t work, but cleaning my room or doing sports does. Music only works when I‘m studying.

5. Wireless phone charger

I‘m on my phone too much. Especially when I need to study. With a wireless phone charger, I can still listen to music but also I cannot pick up my phone if I want it to charge. Focus plant achieved the same of course, but it also drains the battery, so I combine it with the charger. Now I can’t access other apps or pick up my phone, but I can still listen to music.

6. Post-its and Agenda

I use thin colour coded post its in my agenda to keep track of upcoming deadlines and events, because I‘m bad with dates and uni can have a lot of deadlines . Each colour is a different category, and I put labels on the coloured parts that stick out the side; that way I can see at one glance which deadlines and events are up next.