The Passion
Alright, I finally went to see the Passion. I was beginning to feel like the last person in Christendom who hadn't. I think this blog sums up my feelings nicely, but I'm going to put it into my own words what I thought. Just what we need, right? One more person's opinions on the subject...

1.I didn't cry. I wasn't even that shocked. Is that horrible? I've seen my fair share of crucifixion films, and this one was pretty much like I'd always pictured it. We had a sunday school teacher at my church who would come in for our yearly pre-Easter shock the kids with the true story of what being crucified was really like. The first year it was shocking. The third or fourth year into it, it was old news. I was expecting the whips with bits of glass and metal, the roughness of the cross against a mutilated back. The fresh opening of the wounds after the blood had stuck to his robes, the hematadrosis, the thirst, the irregular heartbeat as result of dramatic blood loss...etc, etc. It didn't make it any less horrific, but I wasn't "shocked into instant understanding of what Christ suffered."
2. That being said, did you guys notice the heartbeat sound effects right before the "it is accomplished" line?
3. The teardrop from heaven was powerful.
4.I really liked Jesus seeing the dove as God's way of reassuring Jesus that his suffering was not in vain.
5. The flashback scene with Jesus and his mother was probably the thing I took away from the film. We forget sometimes that he was only a preacher for a short time. It was nice to see him as a real person. And the reference to tall tables was great if you knew that people then mostly reclined at a low table to eat.
6.The scene with Claudia(Claudius?) giving Mary the shroud.
7. Why were they mopping up blood after his beating? Was it grief? Is there a Catholic tradition I'm not aware of? I know there were lots of stations of the cross moments of which I caught only a handful.
8. Did anyone else think Jesus fell a few too many times. I know it probably happened. . And why did they make him carry the whole cross when the other two only had the crosspiece. Did anyone else find it incredulous (rightly or wrongly) that Christ was able to carry the cross that it then took a roman soldier and Simon to hoist? He was in terrible shape. Adrenaline can do amazing things, and he was in shock. I'm not saying it's inaccurate or wrong, I just had the thought cross my mind of, "there is NO way." All those stairs. My GOD all those stairs. How did he ever make it up them?
9.I'm glad they showed the whole beating. And the beatings before and after. I caught myself trying to cover my ears, and then thought "The least you can do is have the decency to watch it all." Jesus Christ Superstar, by the way, also did them all.
10. The transitions from Latin to Aramaic didn't bother me. In a country that small its entirely likely that the Romans (though I doubt they'd stoop to it often) knew it, and also that the natives could speak some Latin. Pilate had been there for some time, and the country had been occupied for...mumblemumble...years.
11.The pieta pose at the bottom of the Cross I liked.
12. The demonology was interesting. I think it would have struck me more had the violence towards Judas been more mental than physical, but that's just me. That would have creeped me out more than nasty little exorcist children screaming and biting.
13. The one thing I wish they were able to show was the mental, or spiritual agony. The moment when God separated himself from Jesus, and his wrath dumped on him. How would they do that? I have no idea. Then it would have been more than about some poor, hapless man who got caught in the political cogs. To me that is. I would have liked to get a sense of it. I guess I'm a Christian, I can fill in the gaps. It was an amazing film. I wish there was some way to show that...

So, um, I've run out of things to say. Actually I haven't. Anyone who knows me knows that I often get very verbose, especially after the rare drink....poor Ben who got an entire lecture on the merits of C.S. Lewis and how amazing his Space Trilogy is...I still think its a darn site too bad that we will never see Perelandra on stage or screen. Though, I think it ought to be done as a "secular" work ... Christian genre movies leave a lot to be desired. Why is it that the quality goes down as soon as you try to make a "religious" film. Not referring to the "Passion" of course. But did anyone actually see the Left Behind series? I'll admit I'm biased. I hated the books. I read the first couple, then couldn't stand it anymore. My mother is so end times I think I got my fill of it. You can read The Third Millinium and get all the main plot points of the left behind series in 300 pages. Better written, and less of a marketing sell out. Wait, I got off topic here.

The reason, of course, that Perelandra will never be made as a Christian production is the nudity. Since the characters are in 'eden,' only one character wears clothes. And there is a violent fight...and on stage at least it would be hard to represent the water...You could do it with wires I guess.

Hypothetical question:
Which is the lesser of two evils? Getting up at 4am to let the cats out, or getting up at 4am to chase the raccoons out of the apartment because you left the door open...

I found this to be the most informative article I've read in a while. More on that later.

I believe you belong in Pride and Prejudice; a
world of satire and true love. A world where
everything is crystal clear to the reader, and
yet where new things seem to be happening all
the time. You belong in a world where your
free-thought puts you above the silly masses,
and where bright eyes and intelligence are
enough to attract the arrogant
millionaire/prejudiced young woman of your
choice.


Which Classic Novel do You Belong In?
brought to you by Quizilla

Ah, what a wretched couple of days. After being quite diestressed about my job, things came to a head the night before last. A bellman stopped by with a note from the housing director informing Drea and I that this was our final notice before eviction. I am $70-some-odd behind in rent. BUT, we were told that they would roll it over or defer it until we were working again (like they do with everyone who lives on the ranch during slow season). I had been in to talk to him twice in the last week. Both times we came to the agreement that he would take my entire next paycheck, and if that wasn't enough to cover it, I would write him a check once I got paid by my other job.

Then the letter appeared.

Needless to say, I didn't sleep well the night before last. I was so angry I had to drive to the beach in Carpenteria to cool down for a while. I was sure we were being "let go" without being formally fired.

So, I went into my boss yesterday and showed him the letter and my abysmal schedule and asked him to explain it. He was flabbergasted. He assured me that I will be working more when hours pick up in two weeks (spring breaks) and that I never should have had my housing threatened. He took a copy of the letter to the General Manager who said the same thing. So it looks like I will be staying here for a few more months at least. Unless they change their mind. I'm going to be auditioning as much as is humanly possible to try and get a job. At least this buys me some time to get a great gig, instead of needing to take the first one that comes along.

For my sister, this was the redwood log that broke the camel's back. She went into the office after I got out and quit. She'll be moving into an apartment as soon as she can find one. I decided that I'm not committed to staying here long enough to justify all the deposits and start-up fees. So I'm staying put, she's moving out. Funny how life makes right hand turns sometimes.

On the plus side, I will have the room to myself!

Academy Awards

So what did you think of the Oscars? Lord of the Rings ruled. But then, we knew they would. And where were Viggo and Orlando Bloom?

I don't know if Pirates of the Caribbean was nominated for Best Score, but they should have been. Yes, the Lord of the Rings soundtrack is AMAZING (I have the fellowship theme stuck in my head as we speak) but have you noticed how freaking CLEVER the Pirates soundtrack is in the swordfight scenes? It's absolutely perfect. Every beat matches the choreography. Maybe only a music major would notice, but I am very very impressed by it.

What was up with Jamie Lee Curtis' dress?

I didn't get to see much, just in between trips to the bar and back, but I don't think it was 'boring.' An awards show isn't supposed to be controvercial, it's just supposed to.....hand out awards. And the quicker the better I say. We've all been to the never ending school assemblies before graduation....walk faster people. But if you spent more than I make in a lifetime on your dress, and are wearing millions of dollars of jewelry, I guess you'd want to milk it for all its worth.

And here I find myself again...

Nine months ago I found out a week before graduation that I would not be getting any financial assistance for graduate school from the school that usually gives out full ride assistanceships. That precipitated my move to California, to the sound of many doors slamming loud enough to be very clear that I was supposed to be heading out here.

Now, things are rapidly disentigrating. My 'main' job had decided that i"m not working enough hours to recieve benifits. Those were cut off a few days ago......

I'm interrupting myself to give you a special, up to the minute update. Yesterday I auditioned for the summer theater program of the PCPA. Today the man who did the audition called back to ask if I'd like to be considered for their two year program. Long story short, I HAVE A CALLBACK!!!!....

So anyway, my job is going to hell. Because I'm not full time my housing is in jeopardy, and I may not be able to live here much longer. I may not be able to live in the area for much longer either. It's really expensive to live here. Rent is almost as expensive as in San Francisco. Way more expensive than L.A. But maybe something to do with my career will pull together. Tuition is cheap in CA for a resident.

My first Audition

I had my first audition today. If you'll notice I'm now keeping a talley of my attempts to break into the industry. I'll know in two or three weeks if there are any roles available to me...

Alright everyone...lets get down to brass tacks here. I'm sure there will be plenty of commenting after this, but I don't care. I really feel I have to respond to the response that was generated by my last blog.

First of all, I think some of you misunderstood what I was trying to say. God loves everyone. Period. More than anyone else loves anybody. He even said so over and over and over again.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believe in him shall not perish, but have everylasting life."

So, for point one. God does not love only Christians, nor was my last message meant to imply that at all. Quite the contrary.

So, starting with the basis that God loves every human that is, and was, and ever shall be, he also is not a God to let everyone wander around blind. God wants everyone one of the people he loves so much to have the best possible life (that does not mean a trouble-free, easy one) in relationship to him. "This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

God is not an "Anything goes" kind of God. Yes, he associated with the best and the worst of people. He went among prostitues and swindlers, common peasants, religious aristocracy, outcasts, and even the social and ethnic outcasts. He was willing to meet people where they were. He was not content to let them stay that way. He told every person to "come Follow me." Some did, some didn't. That's the choice we all get to make. And he didn't say " I am A way" but "I am THE way." So, if you are a Christian, and believe that the Bible is true (whether you believe every word is inspired, or picking and choosing -- the Red Letter parts aren't usually as in disupte), you have to accept that Christ is the way to God. That is the entire reason you get to become a Christian. The basic belief. Andas a corollary of that, you must therefore also acknowlegde that other religions are, at best, less perfect ways to find God, or at worst, false. (And I can divert you to several theologans who can go into that discussion with far greater depth than I, I'm not going to get into it now.)

So, to 'sum up,' to say that God doesn't love someone because they aren't a christian is really quite out of place. It is because God loved us that we are able to follow him.

For those that do not...I think there are people that will be accepted as God's Children even without following Christian Creed. There are people in the world who will never have a chance to hear anything about Christ at all. In the Bible it says that those who are never introduced to his message will be judged based on what they believe to be true, and then how well they follow it. But there is no guarantee that way. Why take the chance?

Saying that God doesn't love people because they aren't christians is like getting mad at the architect because he didn't save you from getting hurt, when you decided to jump the ravine instead of taking his lovely new bridge.

So there it is. You aren't obligated to agree with me. I am neither a seminarian, nor a theologan. The best way to determine if what I'm saying is valid is to dust off your Bible and compare what I'm saying to it. That's where I try to get my information. It's the best authority there is.

I feel better now.