Saturday, April 11, 2009
Going away to college...
There's been a lot of talk about college lately. I don't like it. My life has been starting to change, and instead of steering it where I want it to go, i'm just passive in the passenger seat. Everybody asks what I would major in. I have a hard time answering that question. My dreams are impractical...or are they...
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Screenplay attempt
I decided to post a rough draft of a screenplay that I was working on. If you decide to read this, please guide me through leaving a comment. I want to improve and expand this piece, and I need help.
The Ice is Melting
By Stirling Danskin
Tanner, a boy in his late teens, is walking down a path in the woods, the path leads to a large lace that is iced over. You can tell that it is late winter because of the melting patches of snow, and the thin layer of water over the ice. It is very early in the morning, probably about one o’clock, but the moon and abundance of stars illuminate the sky with a ghostly feel. Over the abundance of trees surrounding the lake, there is a gray glow of streetlights shining across the night. It gives the lake the feel that it’s secluded from the rest of the area. Tanner walks down the path very solemnly, occasionally, he takes in his surroundings with a look of reverence. As he walks, a girl appears behind him, following him closely. Tanner doesn’t notice, he keeps walking. Tanner reaches the edge of the lake, and he pauses. He looks up, and then with a heavy sigh, he lowers his head and walks out onto the lake.
Tanner: The Lake’s starting to melt you know.
(Beat)
Tanner: I know you’re with me right now.
Even after Tanner acknowledges Sarah’s presence, he doesn’t face, her or show that he is talking to her at all with his body language. An observer wouldn’t be able to tell that he even knew she was there.
Sarah: It’s beautiful out here
Sarah trails behind Tanner, listlessly
Tanner: The most beautiful I could find.
Sarah: Please don’t come out here. What’s the point of it? It’s dangerous out here.
Tanner: haha…yeah…but, isn’t that one of the risks we take? To view this picturesque quality; to be a part of it. I have spent too long watching it just out of my vision. There is a fine line between seeing the detail, and having it blur. After seeing these vague…general outlines, I want to see what’s there!
Sarah: So…you think it’s worth it?
Tanner: I guess we’ll find out won’t we?..ha...fuck
They keep walking; the lake appears to be quite weak, although neither of them appears to notice, or care.
Tanner: Yes. It is.
Sarah: Worth it?
Tanner: Yes, It’s intoxicating…I don’t think that I’m even thinking straight right now…which is probably the only reason I’m out here right now. Ha…but look at it…I think it has some sort of hold over me. Everything that’s beautiful in this world, it has its own power against me, I’m held at the whim of every beautiful thing around me.
Sarah: I can’t say that sounds like any way to lead your life.
Tanner: No…Goddammit, it’s pathetic. You wouldn’t fucking understand. That’s the only way that I can get through. In all this turmoil around me, I need something there. Just one thing that I can focus on. My world is rocking around me, I need you there……
Sarah: Tanner…The ice is melting, you shouldn’t be out here.
Tanner: It’s beautiful….we’re almost at the center…I have this feeling, deep in me…This moment will only become more beautiful once I can stand at the center of the lake. Sarah, look at the sky…I swear…I swear Sarah, this is what heaven will look like…Look at the ice Sarah…am I the only one…the only one that feels privileged to be out here? To have it hold me up like this? To support me? It’s beautiful Sarah…why can’t you find it beautiful…you won’t even look will you?
The ice can be heard cracking
Sarah: Tanner! I know you heard that! Tanner! Do you have to be doing this! Please Tanner, I can’t save you….I won’t save you…please Tanner…
Tanner: It’s too late Sarah…can’t you see the moon in the ice?
Sarah: No…I can’t. All I see is you beneath the ice…Tanner go home, don’t put me in this position. I never thought that it would come to this.
Tanner: I’m sorry Sarah, I’m sorry…
Tanner keeps walking, slower now, it seems to be more of a struggle at this point. Sarah stops, and watches Tanner. Slowly, she fades out, and Tanner doesn’t notice, he keeps walking. The ice can be heard cracking louder at this point. And visible cracks start to appear.
Tanner: We’re at the center Sarah! Sarah! I told you it was worth it, It’s beautiful Sarah, it’s beautiful!
Tanner is looking up at the stars, he still doesn’t notice that Sarah isn’t there.
Tanner: Sarah?
He turns, and notices that Sarah isn’t there. The ice is now severely cracked underneath him.
Tanner: (screaming) Sarah!
As Tanner screams the ice completely breaks underneath him, and he falls through the ice. He reaches out, but there is nothing. As the pitch blackness closes in around Tanner, he can no longer even see the single pair of footsteps leading to his demise. With plenty of fight still left inside of him, Tanner no longer struggles, and instead succumbs to the cold embrace of what lies beneath the surface.
The Ice is Melting
By Stirling Danskin
Tanner, a boy in his late teens, is walking down a path in the woods, the path leads to a large lace that is iced over. You can tell that it is late winter because of the melting patches of snow, and the thin layer of water over the ice. It is very early in the morning, probably about one o’clock, but the moon and abundance of stars illuminate the sky with a ghostly feel. Over the abundance of trees surrounding the lake, there is a gray glow of streetlights shining across the night. It gives the lake the feel that it’s secluded from the rest of the area. Tanner walks down the path very solemnly, occasionally, he takes in his surroundings with a look of reverence. As he walks, a girl appears behind him, following him closely. Tanner doesn’t notice, he keeps walking. Tanner reaches the edge of the lake, and he pauses. He looks up, and then with a heavy sigh, he lowers his head and walks out onto the lake.
Tanner: The Lake’s starting to melt you know.
(Beat)
Tanner: I know you’re with me right now.
Even after Tanner acknowledges Sarah’s presence, he doesn’t face, her or show that he is talking to her at all with his body language. An observer wouldn’t be able to tell that he even knew she was there.
Sarah: It’s beautiful out here
Sarah trails behind Tanner, listlessly
Tanner: The most beautiful I could find.
Sarah: Please don’t come out here. What’s the point of it? It’s dangerous out here.
Tanner: haha…yeah…but, isn’t that one of the risks we take? To view this picturesque quality; to be a part of it. I have spent too long watching it just out of my vision. There is a fine line between seeing the detail, and having it blur. After seeing these vague…general outlines, I want to see what’s there!
Sarah: So…you think it’s worth it?
Tanner: I guess we’ll find out won’t we?..ha...fuck
They keep walking; the lake appears to be quite weak, although neither of them appears to notice, or care.
Tanner: Yes. It is.
Sarah: Worth it?
Tanner: Yes, It’s intoxicating…I don’t think that I’m even thinking straight right now…which is probably the only reason I’m out here right now. Ha…but look at it…I think it has some sort of hold over me. Everything that’s beautiful in this world, it has its own power against me, I’m held at the whim of every beautiful thing around me.
Sarah: I can’t say that sounds like any way to lead your life.
Tanner: No…Goddammit, it’s pathetic. You wouldn’t fucking understand. That’s the only way that I can get through. In all this turmoil around me, I need something there. Just one thing that I can focus on. My world is rocking around me, I need you there……
Sarah: Tanner…The ice is melting, you shouldn’t be out here.
Tanner: It’s beautiful….we’re almost at the center…I have this feeling, deep in me…This moment will only become more beautiful once I can stand at the center of the lake. Sarah, look at the sky…I swear…I swear Sarah, this is what heaven will look like…Look at the ice Sarah…am I the only one…the only one that feels privileged to be out here? To have it hold me up like this? To support me? It’s beautiful Sarah…why can’t you find it beautiful…you won’t even look will you?
The ice can be heard cracking
Sarah: Tanner! I know you heard that! Tanner! Do you have to be doing this! Please Tanner, I can’t save you….I won’t save you…please Tanner…
Tanner: It’s too late Sarah…can’t you see the moon in the ice?
Sarah: No…I can’t. All I see is you beneath the ice…Tanner go home, don’t put me in this position. I never thought that it would come to this.
Tanner: I’m sorry Sarah, I’m sorry…
Tanner keeps walking, slower now, it seems to be more of a struggle at this point. Sarah stops, and watches Tanner. Slowly, she fades out, and Tanner doesn’t notice, he keeps walking. The ice can be heard cracking louder at this point. And visible cracks start to appear.
Tanner: We’re at the center Sarah! Sarah! I told you it was worth it, It’s beautiful Sarah, it’s beautiful!
Tanner is looking up at the stars, he still doesn’t notice that Sarah isn’t there.
Tanner: Sarah?
He turns, and notices that Sarah isn’t there. The ice is now severely cracked underneath him.
Tanner: (screaming) Sarah!
As Tanner screams the ice completely breaks underneath him, and he falls through the ice. He reaches out, but there is nothing. As the pitch blackness closes in around Tanner, he can no longer even see the single pair of footsteps leading to his demise. With plenty of fight still left inside of him, Tanner no longer struggles, and instead succumbs to the cold embrace of what lies beneath the surface.
Friday, February 20, 2009
indecisiveness
Been a while since I've posted one here. Whatever. This might as well be a diary considering I'm the only one that reads it. And I don't care. I'd just as soon have no one read it. So, Just last week, I guess I made the final decision. I made the school musical. That's not what matters though. What that means is I'm not playing lacrosse this year. I played lax my freshman and sophomore years, and went to a couple of different camps. My whole life has been one of indecisiveness, and therefore I played a variety of sports my whole young life, because according to my dad that's what real boys do, and therefore that's what I had to do. I started playing guitar because that's what my sister did, and the studio had an opening that was offered to me. Who was I to say no when confronted? I played trumpet because that's what the majority of my fellow elementary schoolers did also. I still play the trumpet because to stop playing it, would be a form of.....change in my life?rebellion? i don't know. As I've grown up, I've managed to become mediocre at a lot of stuff. It's like the bread and butter theory. If the bread represented my talents and skills, and the bread represented the activites i participated in. I'd be not enough butter spread over too much bread. I'll finish this post later.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The Pursuit of originality
as life grows longer, life grows jaded. As we keep walking through life, does not everything start to become the same. Repetition dulls the senses until we are walking through a bland haze. For the finest of pleasures in life are only fine for as long as they are new to us. Therefore, should not the pursuit of hapiness go hand in hand with the pursuit of originality? Does not life then turn into a never ending quest for something that differently appeases us?....until that is then cast into our subconcious as something we have and no longer something of which we desire.
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