Final Cut on 2190

First, here's a thing you should watch:

Now I'm going to ask you to go take a look at my post about Final Cut on my new blog. You can read a bit about it's history and why it's important, as well as why I think students should submit their work to festivals. 

Or, if you really, REALLY don't want to go check out my new blog (which is, incidentally, a lot prettier than this one), then here are some Final Cut links that you might/should care about:

Get your tickets here (or at the HFAC ticket office)

The Facebook Event

The Website

Also, you may have some deep thoughts you'd like to share about that video I included at the beginning of this post. (transparent request for comments [good ones])

2190: A Brand New Blog

Like it? I designed it myself. Booyah.

I'm finally going live today with a new blog I've been working on. I'm calling it 2190 (say it in two numbers: "twentyone ninety"), and it's about, for lack of a better or more succinct description, film studenting. For a better and longer description of what it's all about, go check out the first post. I'll be updating it every Wednesday at noon, starting THIS Wednesday at noon, so...look forward to that.

I'll still be using this blog for everything else. I'll be talking about my life, my opinions, my experiences--sharing whatever about whatever, whenever. I'm not interested in making this a disciplined and focused blog. I need at least one public repository to use for the unrestrained dumping of the contents of my mind.

That said, I DO want to get into the more disciplined world of blogging, so I figured I'd have to start another one that I could actually follow through with. Those of you who have followed my sad efforts at blogging up to this point probably faintly (maybe) remember my past attempts at starting new blogs. I'll ask you not to talk about them. They'll stay hidden in the ether of ambiguity for the foreseeable future.

But I'm pretty excited about 2190. I have a lot to say on the subjects I'll be tackling. Here's what I'd love from you: if you find value in my new blog, follow it. And then share it with other people you think might be interested. And, as always, I'm interested in conversation. As much as I want to write about some things, I also want to know what my readers have to say, or want to talk about.

The same goes, of course, for this blog, now and always. If you ever have a thought bubble up into your frontal lobe, let it out through your fingers in the comments.

Harvey Milk

Some thoughts after watching The Times of Harvey Milk. (A transcription of my response to the film in Documentary History.)

Homosexuality is about the most complex and difficult subject around right now. There seem to be two opposing camps, on completely different sides of this dividing line of "right and wrong." I say "seem" because I think that many, many people find themselves somewhere in the middle. Some are lost, some are resolute. But the people who see themselves as standing firmly on one "side," in one "camp," are wrong. It isn't simple enough of an issue.

This documentary mapped the progress of a movement that is important, but that is not without its flaws. I'm speaking of the movement itself, which, in an effort to gain momentum, strength, and legitimacy, so often ignores or even shuns some of the objections that are leveled against it. This film, though earnest and significant, did not manage to avoid this problem: Harvey Milk was a hero; the things he fought for were Right and Good; those who opposed him were deeply and profoundly Wrong; his primary enemy was evil. 

It is a testament to the power of martyrdom that these assertions will go unchallenged by the film's audiences. It's hard to argue with a dead guy, especially one who was killed for his beliefs. It's ironic that in murdering his perceived enemy, Dan White accomplished the very thing his "nemesis" could never have done on his own. White inadvertently immortalized Harvey Milk. 

I'm not being cynical, just frank. I believe that much of what Milk did was good for society. Homosexuals are not evil. They do not, by their natures, deserve violence or hate. They are people, just like all other people, with all of their problems. I think Harvey Milk was a good man, who courageously served and fought for what he believed, and, in large measure, for the down-trodden of his era. 

We're in an interesting age now, though. It seems almost impossible to be seen as anything but a close-minded, hate-filled bigot if you still think homosexuality is wrong and say so. If you still find the idea of same-sex marriage fundamentally problematic. I do think some people are "born that way." I don't know and don't care how many or how often, or even why. I still think it's an issue. Lots of people are born with unfortunate things to deal with. And I'm not going to say we should reach out and love them anyway--I am going to say we all ought to love each other, no matter what. This isn't about accepting homosexuals or homosexuality, it is about accepting people, deep disagreements notwithstanding.

To be honest, my real fear is that the friends that I have, and the friends that I will make in the future, who are homosexual or advocate it, will not be able to accept my conviction that homosexuality, as a practice, is still wrong, no matter how good the person, or how difficult the life.

Please feel free to share YOUR thoughts. I'd like this to be a conversation, rather than a rant or diatribe. 

Thank You, World

Today, it was announced at Sarah Jessica Parker's Florida estate that I, Jordan Petersen, will be President of the Universe from today, the 1st day of April, until Sol explodes or an installment of Sex and the City receives an Academy Award for Best Picture--whichever comes first--at which time a new President of the Universe will be chosen (i.e. never).

The announcement should come as no surprise to those who know me well. I've always had an aptitude for ruling over other people, and the development that I will now be ruling over everyone seems only natural and fitting.

I recognize that the title "President of the Universe" is a bit misleading, since I will technically only be presiding over the humans of Earth. But should extra-terrestrial humans make contact with me (via my cellular telephone, my Shreck(TM)-shaped mailbox, or my fax machine), I will happily preside over them as well.

While I'm very happy to fill this role, and gratefully willing to spread the word, I understand that there are some people who may be disappointed by this news. To them, I offer the sincere hope that they perish quickly and ignominiously at the hands of foul-smelling, hideous people.

Please check this blog at least once every week for instructions on how to live your life better than you would have without me.