Why don’t they have actual clowns?
— A co-worker with regards to the burlesque club “Jumbo’s Clown Room”
That sounds like that little emo guy from Star Wars.
— My girlfriend with regards to Yoda.
I just got back from a screening of an indie short in Beverly Hills. This “premiere” went all out with a red carpet, open bar and even an after party. So you could say, I was expecting a real extravaganza. But guess what? No dice. It really reminded me of the crappy student films I would see in college. Amateur hour.
But as i was watching this unfold in front of me in a theater on Wilshire I remembered what me, Squid and Brian Titshaw used to talk about while working the overnight shift in the equipment checkout room: Don’t be inspired by the greats…the Scorceses, or the Coppolas…be inspired by the failures. Be inspired by the kid who made the pirate movie. Or the kid who made the movie about the tool shed (yes, that’s real). Be inspired by the fuck up projects so that you are NEVER that guy. Be inspired by the mediocrity so you strive to do better.
I remembered that tonight. First time in a long time that it came across my mind. But it was an important lesson. Time to get to work.
