25
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It's rather discomforting when you realize just how uninteresting you are. It took me many days to think of 25 interesting facts about myself, and even when I had a decent list, a good number of them will be old news to many of you. That having been said, I agreed to write this note.
I have tagged people who are mentioned, people who have already wrote a similar note that I have read, or people whom I haven't heard from in a while who -- if they're interested -- I wouldn't mind reading 25 facts about. But y'know... no pressure.
Anyway:
1. My bedroom does not have a ceiling. When I lie awake at night, I find myself staring up at exposed support beams, ventilization ducts and electrical wiring. I'd like to think it says something about my personality.
2. In a corner of my bedroom is a black dresser. The contents of this dresser are extremely varied: In the top drawer there is a bouquet of artificial flowers, a photograph, a bunch of change rolls, some unlabelled DVDs; in the second, a variety of miscellaneous VHS cassettes and books; in the third, an enormous collection of personal artifacts ranging from notes, illustrations, binders, cards, etc.; in other drawers, a vibra-slap, a pair of old shoes, a Life cereal box featuring the image of a childhood friend. Inside this dresser, however, there isn't a single article of clothing.
3. On housemate Steven's bookshelf is the 2004 edition of a book entitled "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die." Of these 1001 films, I have seen a meager 121. This includes three that I have watched from beginnig to end for the first time this week --- Taxi Driver, Vertigo, Raging Bull. I feel that I have a lot of work to do as an aspiring filmmaker.
4. For my fourth birthday, my grandma gifted me a VHS copy of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. I credit this film as being a major influence on the direction my life would take. In the third or fourth grade, my grandma would give me a VHS boxed set of both original Terminator films as a Christmas gift. Having now two copies of Terminator 2, I sold my original copy to a schoolmate for the princely sum of ten dollars.
In the past couples weeks I have been in touch with this person and, if he is able to unearth this relic from my childhood, I have offered to purchase the VHS back for the same price.
5. I feel that there are few activities as lonely as grocery shopping by oneself. Whenever I must go grocery shopping, I tend to drag a friend along. I fear the overwhelming sense of loneliness that results in coasting unaccompanied down the grocery aisles looking for food to eat alone. The whole thing just seems very sad.
6. It is a regular thing for me to take late night walks. I put on my headphones and leave the house as late as two or three o'clock in the morning and just walk aimlessly, sometimes for hours (especially during the non-winter months), listening to music and thinking about numerous projects, making films in my head, etc. Often on these walks I will see a seemingly burnt out streetlamp re-illuminate at the exact moment I pass under it. It happens all the time and while I imagine this happens to everybody all the time, I always feel, when it occurs, that it is some sort of phenomenon and I always feel momentarily uplifted, no matter what my mood.
7. When I was three years old my mom brought home a stray kitten that had been hanging around the motel where she worked. The thing was a vicious little feline and was transported home in a cardboard box. Across the side of this cardboard box, written in permanent black marker, was the word '"Boots.' Naturally, we named the cat Boots.
Boots now lives with my Grandma and Grandpa, who adopted him when my mom and I had to temporarily move in with my uncle and his wife, who is allergic to cats.
8. This past August I got a new kitten. At first we (my housemates and I) were under the wrong impression that it was a male cat. During this period we considered naming the cat John Locke, after the character from Lost -- the television series with which I am presently obsessed. Later, when it was discovered that she was, in fact, a female cat, I briefly considered naming her Jolene, after one of my favourite songs.
Ultimately, I ended up settling on the name that I always knew in the back of my mind I'd settle on, regardless of gender. Her name is Sneakers.
9. In the third grade I was sent to the principal's office for saying the word 'Sex'.
10. I have never been as bold as to directly ask somebody on a date. One time, not too long ago, I managed to ask somebody in a characteristically half-joking fashion, as to protect myself from any dreaded humiliation. I was declined on the grounds that she was "kinda involved" with somebody who was getting bored of his present girlfriend. Puzzled though I may have been, I ultimately found it more amusing than sad that she preferred the possibility of becoming involved with somebody who is already a proven cheater than entertain the notion of going on a semi-serious date with me.
11. When I was much younger (beginning in the second grade, I believe), I took piano lessons. I became fairly good at it, winning many pretty red ribbons, but ultimately quit several years later. When it became evident that I had some skill, I began to feel pressured to be some sort of musical prodigy and, having different passions, quickly lost interest.
Looking back, I wish I had at least kept myself practiced over the years. I have, over the years, lost almost all skill that I once had and now wish I possessed a little more prowess as an instrumentalist.
12. In the two years plus that I spent in a relationship with Aaron, I never once farted in front of her. Not once. I consider this a glowing testament to my commitment.
13. I have had a five/six year love affair with the band CAKE. Since October 2004, I have seen them perform live six times and have vowed to see every New Year's Eve concert they play as long as they continue to play them, wherever they play them. Atop my iTunes '25 Most Played' is the song Frank Sinatra, which I've apparently listened to well over 100 times. I visit the band's website daily and have collected numerous singles and collectible items -- most recently a vinyl reissue of their first album limited to 500 copies.
Despite all my CAKE love, though, I am always annoyed when people imply that I listen only to CAKE. I listen to a great variety of music and easily become enveloped in other bands' discographies, listening to them endlessly for days without often revisiting CAKE.
What's special about CAKE, to me, is that it never gets boring to me. There is something personal about my connection to the music that makes it easy to return to it and enjoy it at any time, in any mood.
14. In the sixth grade I was presented the honour of becoming the first student given the responsibility of writing the class Christmas play, a task that had always been performed by the teacher. The only stipulation was that I included the character of Austin Powers, who was big in popular culture at the time. In this play, which I took very seriously, I played the role of Dr. Evil. In a demonstration of my devotion I shaved my head entirely for the single-performance play.
I always imagine that portions of video footage of this play will surface on a future DVD release...
In later years, during high school productions, I would continue the trend by altering my hair dramatically for different roles: I once died my hair platinum blonde for a production of 'Importance of Being Earnest in the 80s' and then sported a 'fohawk' for a while to play Bob the Saw in 'the Threepenny Opera'.
15. I often wish that I was in a band. I don't even know what I'd do. My skills as a vocalist are marginally decent at best and I've little skills with any instrument beyond the vibraslap. But still.
16. I really enjoy listening to audio commentaries on DVDs. There are even some films that I have undoubtedly seen more times with the commentary track than without -- these films include Evil Dead II and Mallrats (and probably most other Kevin Smith films).
17. I quit my job as a Video 99 clerk in a moment of passion when the employment of a 'Back in 5 Minutes' sign prompted an outburst from the store owner, whose policy concerning bathroom breaks is evidently less secure than my own. In retrospect, sometimes I think that quitting may have been a bad decision -- it was really a pretty sweet gig, getting to watch films and discuss films most of the day. It may have been worth agreeing to uncomfortably irresponsible poop-breaks.
18. I really don't like my body very much. But more specifically, I really dislike my torso. I generally avoid any situation that involves the removal of my shirt. In fact, I tend to avoid swimming if only to avoid the unavoidable and incredibly annoying goading that results in swimming with a shirt on.
For a classmate's photo project in the twelfth grade, I allowed her to take a photo of me without my shirt -- making her one of an exlusive group who have seen me shirtless (I think the number is now three, maybe four). After the project was finished and graded, I insisted on confiscating the photograph, which now resides in the third drawer of the aforementioned black dresser.
In terms of my body, I also dislike everything behind me than everything in front of me. Most people when changing clothes tend to face away from any nearby doors, as if subconsciously preparing for the possibility that somebody may barge in unannounced and see them unclothed (it's better to be seen from behind than full frontal, right?). I am the opposite. When I undress I always do it facing the door, as I'd rather be spotted from the front than from behind.
19. In the top drawer of my bedside dresser are the following items: a pair of handcuffs, a ball gag, a number of condoms (including a single female condom), and a tape measure.
These items were placed there solely for amusement's sake -- imagine the look on the face of the poor soul who thinks to snoop around in my stuff.
20. In 2008, I saw a measely thirteen films in theatres, most of which were films I saw for the sole purpose of being social and being in the company of friends. Many of them were not great, a couple were terrible, all of them were very mainstream and thus make me feel tremendously uncultured.
The list:
1. Sweeney Todd (Saw this one willingly at the Cineramadome at the Arclight Cinemas on Sunset Boulevard. Tremendous film-going experience)
2. Cloverfield (Walked out on account of it being a naueating big-screen experience)
3. Step Up 2: The Streets (I was visiting Hilary in Ottawa and she really wanted to see this flick. When all was said and done, it did have some cool dance sequences, so it wasn't completely uninteresting)
4. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
5. Baby Mama
6. The Strangers
7. Wall-E
8. Don't Mess with the Zohan (Only one person in the group of people I went with wanted to see this particular movie. Unfortunately, she happened to be one of those people who whine persistently if they don't get their way. This flick was arguably the worst movie I've ever seen)
9. The Dark Knight
10. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
11. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (Only thing playing that my sister and I had even moderate interest in seeing when I visited her for the first time at her and her now-fiance's new house in Cambridge. I feel the movie might've been pretty decent if it could've decided whether or not it was a preteen romantic comedy or a teen sex romp)
12. Zack and Miri Make a Porno (Saw this one at the TIFF before its official premiere. Best movie-going experience of 2008. One of the best movie-going experiences of my life)
13. Pineapple Express
21. I don't cry often watching films or television or anything like that (with the exception of My Girl, which is my kryptonite), but the first time I watched the finale of HBO's Six Feet Under, I sobbed like an abandoned infant. Savouring the experience, I rewound and replayed the closing scene countless times, each time continuing to sob into my pillow. That series, as humourous as it is beautiful and profoundly moving, has the power to reduce a sculpture to tears. Seriously, if you haven't seen it: Watch it. Love it.
22. Having grown up with an interest in both visual and dramatic arts, I grew confused when applying to the Integrated Arts Program when prompted to select between the two options after my acceptance to the program. Either I forgot my selection, or there was an error, or I was moved unannounced from one discipline to the other, but the day I arrived at PCVS I was completely surprised to find that I had been placed in Drama class. I was also relieved, though, as I secretly wanted to be a drama student much more than a visual art student, despite originally applying and being accepted for my visual art.
In my four years as an Integrated Arts student, I would never take a visual arts class, but would become involved in almost every theatrical production put on by the school in that time.
23. Despite my innate hatred of such thinly veiled popularity contests, during my graduating year at PCVS I wanted nothing more than to be voted Valedictorian. I wanted it so bad that I had even convinced myself that I stood a chance of winning the honour, and was saddened more than I thought I would be when, naturally, I did not win. Silly as it was -- and is -- to dwell on something so insignificant, I felt that by not getting to deliver what would've become my valedictory speech, I was denied a pivotal life experience.
Oh well.
24. One of my deepest fears is that I will not have success as a filmmaker. Not because I doubt my abilities, but because there is nothing else -- nothing -- that I could picture myself doing as a career. With no plan B, there is little room for failure.
25. In grade eleven I developed a crush on one of the only people with whom I felt comfortable discussing such topics as my crush. One of the complications of such a circumstance, when you're not particularly bold or courageous, is that one has to create a codename to use in place of the crush's name. The codename we agreed upon was Natasha. Whether she knew at the time that she was Natasha, I'm not entirely certain. Eventually she knew.
At any rate: Co-starring Andrea Wilson, my next serious short film (after I try to produce some shorts for the Millbrook Three Minute Film Festival) will be entitled Natasha.
It's rather discomforting when you realize just how uninteresting you are. It took me many days to think of 25 interesting facts about myself, and even when I had a decent list, a good number of them will be old news to many of you. That having been said, I agreed to write this note.
I have tagged people who are mentioned, people who have already wrote a similar note that I have read, or people whom I haven't heard from in a while who -- if they're interested -- I wouldn't mind reading 25 facts about. But y'know... no pressure.
Anyway:
1. My bedroom does not have a ceiling. When I lie awake at night, I find myself staring up at exposed support beams, ventilization ducts and electrical wiring. I'd like to think it says something about my personality.
2. In a corner of my bedroom is a black dresser. The contents of this dresser are extremely varied: In the top drawer there is a bouquet of artificial flowers, a photograph, a bunch of change rolls, some unlabelled DVDs; in the second, a variety of miscellaneous VHS cassettes and books; in the third, an enormous collection of personal artifacts ranging from notes, illustrations, binders, cards, etc.; in other drawers, a vibra-slap, a pair of old shoes, a Life cereal box featuring the image of a childhood friend. Inside this dresser, however, there isn't a single article of clothing.
3. On housemate Steven's bookshelf is the 2004 edition of a book entitled "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die." Of these 1001 films, I have seen a meager 121. This includes three that I have watched from beginnig to end for the first time this week --- Taxi Driver, Vertigo, Raging Bull. I feel that I have a lot of work to do as an aspiring filmmaker.
4. For my fourth birthday, my grandma gifted me a VHS copy of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. I credit this film as being a major influence on the direction my life would take. In the third or fourth grade, my grandma would give me a VHS boxed set of both original Terminator films as a Christmas gift. Having now two copies of Terminator 2, I sold my original copy to a schoolmate for the princely sum of ten dollars.
In the past couples weeks I have been in touch with this person and, if he is able to unearth this relic from my childhood, I have offered to purchase the VHS back for the same price.
5. I feel that there are few activities as lonely as grocery shopping by oneself. Whenever I must go grocery shopping, I tend to drag a friend along. I fear the overwhelming sense of loneliness that results in coasting unaccompanied down the grocery aisles looking for food to eat alone. The whole thing just seems very sad.
6. It is a regular thing for me to take late night walks. I put on my headphones and leave the house as late as two or three o'clock in the morning and just walk aimlessly, sometimes for hours (especially during the non-winter months), listening to music and thinking about numerous projects, making films in my head, etc. Often on these walks I will see a seemingly burnt out streetlamp re-illuminate at the exact moment I pass under it. It happens all the time and while I imagine this happens to everybody all the time, I always feel, when it occurs, that it is some sort of phenomenon and I always feel momentarily uplifted, no matter what my mood.
7. When I was three years old my mom brought home a stray kitten that had been hanging around the motel where she worked. The thing was a vicious little feline and was transported home in a cardboard box. Across the side of this cardboard box, written in permanent black marker, was the word '"Boots.' Naturally, we named the cat Boots.
Boots now lives with my Grandma and Grandpa, who adopted him when my mom and I had to temporarily move in with my uncle and his wife, who is allergic to cats.
8. This past August I got a new kitten. At first we (my housemates and I) were under the wrong impression that it was a male cat. During this period we considered naming the cat John Locke, after the character from Lost -- the television series with which I am presently obsessed. Later, when it was discovered that she was, in fact, a female cat, I briefly considered naming her Jolene, after one of my favourite songs.
Ultimately, I ended up settling on the name that I always knew in the back of my mind I'd settle on, regardless of gender. Her name is Sneakers.
9. In the third grade I was sent to the principal's office for saying the word 'Sex'.
10. I have never been as bold as to directly ask somebody on a date. One time, not too long ago, I managed to ask somebody in a characteristically half-joking fashion, as to protect myself from any dreaded humiliation. I was declined on the grounds that she was "kinda involved" with somebody who was getting bored of his present girlfriend. Puzzled though I may have been, I ultimately found it more amusing than sad that she preferred the possibility of becoming involved with somebody who is already a proven cheater than entertain the notion of going on a semi-serious date with me.
11. When I was much younger (beginning in the second grade, I believe), I took piano lessons. I became fairly good at it, winning many pretty red ribbons, but ultimately quit several years later. When it became evident that I had some skill, I began to feel pressured to be some sort of musical prodigy and, having different passions, quickly lost interest.
Looking back, I wish I had at least kept myself practiced over the years. I have, over the years, lost almost all skill that I once had and now wish I possessed a little more prowess as an instrumentalist.
12. In the two years plus that I spent in a relationship with Aaron, I never once farted in front of her. Not once. I consider this a glowing testament to my commitment.
13. I have had a five/six year love affair with the band CAKE. Since October 2004, I have seen them perform live six times and have vowed to see every New Year's Eve concert they play as long as they continue to play them, wherever they play them. Atop my iTunes '25 Most Played' is the song Frank Sinatra, which I've apparently listened to well over 100 times. I visit the band's website daily and have collected numerous singles and collectible items -- most recently a vinyl reissue of their first album limited to 500 copies.
Despite all my CAKE love, though, I am always annoyed when people imply that I listen only to CAKE. I listen to a great variety of music and easily become enveloped in other bands' discographies, listening to them endlessly for days without often revisiting CAKE.
What's special about CAKE, to me, is that it never gets boring to me. There is something personal about my connection to the music that makes it easy to return to it and enjoy it at any time, in any mood.
14. In the sixth grade I was presented the honour of becoming the first student given the responsibility of writing the class Christmas play, a task that had always been performed by the teacher. The only stipulation was that I included the character of Austin Powers, who was big in popular culture at the time. In this play, which I took very seriously, I played the role of Dr. Evil. In a demonstration of my devotion I shaved my head entirely for the single-performance play.
I always imagine that portions of video footage of this play will surface on a future DVD release...
In later years, during high school productions, I would continue the trend by altering my hair dramatically for different roles: I once died my hair platinum blonde for a production of 'Importance of Being Earnest in the 80s' and then sported a 'fohawk' for a while to play Bob the Saw in 'the Threepenny Opera'.
15. I often wish that I was in a band. I don't even know what I'd do. My skills as a vocalist are marginally decent at best and I've little skills with any instrument beyond the vibraslap. But still.
16. I really enjoy listening to audio commentaries on DVDs. There are even some films that I have undoubtedly seen more times with the commentary track than without -- these films include Evil Dead II and Mallrats (and probably most other Kevin Smith films).
17. I quit my job as a Video 99 clerk in a moment of passion when the employment of a 'Back in 5 Minutes' sign prompted an outburst from the store owner, whose policy concerning bathroom breaks is evidently less secure than my own. In retrospect, sometimes I think that quitting may have been a bad decision -- it was really a pretty sweet gig, getting to watch films and discuss films most of the day. It may have been worth agreeing to uncomfortably irresponsible poop-breaks.
18. I really don't like my body very much. But more specifically, I really dislike my torso. I generally avoid any situation that involves the removal of my shirt. In fact, I tend to avoid swimming if only to avoid the unavoidable and incredibly annoying goading that results in swimming with a shirt on.
For a classmate's photo project in the twelfth grade, I allowed her to take a photo of me without my shirt -- making her one of an exlusive group who have seen me shirtless (I think the number is now three, maybe four). After the project was finished and graded, I insisted on confiscating the photograph, which now resides in the third drawer of the aforementioned black dresser.
In terms of my body, I also dislike everything behind me than everything in front of me. Most people when changing clothes tend to face away from any nearby doors, as if subconsciously preparing for the possibility that somebody may barge in unannounced and see them unclothed (it's better to be seen from behind than full frontal, right?). I am the opposite. When I undress I always do it facing the door, as I'd rather be spotted from the front than from behind.
19. In the top drawer of my bedside dresser are the following items: a pair of handcuffs, a ball gag, a number of condoms (including a single female condom), and a tape measure.
These items were placed there solely for amusement's sake -- imagine the look on the face of the poor soul who thinks to snoop around in my stuff.
20. In 2008, I saw a measely thirteen films in theatres, most of which were films I saw for the sole purpose of being social and being in the company of friends. Many of them were not great, a couple were terrible, all of them were very mainstream and thus make me feel tremendously uncultured.
The list:
1. Sweeney Todd (Saw this one willingly at the Cineramadome at the Arclight Cinemas on Sunset Boulevard. Tremendous film-going experience)
2. Cloverfield (Walked out on account of it being a naueating big-screen experience)
3. Step Up 2: The Streets (I was visiting Hilary in Ottawa and she really wanted to see this flick. When all was said and done, it did have some cool dance sequences, so it wasn't completely uninteresting)
4. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
5. Baby Mama
6. The Strangers
7. Wall-E
8. Don't Mess with the Zohan (Only one person in the group of people I went with wanted to see this particular movie. Unfortunately, she happened to be one of those people who whine persistently if they don't get their way. This flick was arguably the worst movie I've ever seen)
9. The Dark Knight
10. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
11. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (Only thing playing that my sister and I had even moderate interest in seeing when I visited her for the first time at her and her now-fiance's new house in Cambridge. I feel the movie might've been pretty decent if it could've decided whether or not it was a preteen romantic comedy or a teen sex romp)
12. Zack and Miri Make a Porno (Saw this one at the TIFF before its official premiere. Best movie-going experience of 2008. One of the best movie-going experiences of my life)
13. Pineapple Express
21. I don't cry often watching films or television or anything like that (with the exception of My Girl, which is my kryptonite), but the first time I watched the finale of HBO's Six Feet Under, I sobbed like an abandoned infant. Savouring the experience, I rewound and replayed the closing scene countless times, each time continuing to sob into my pillow. That series, as humourous as it is beautiful and profoundly moving, has the power to reduce a sculpture to tears. Seriously, if you haven't seen it: Watch it. Love it.
22. Having grown up with an interest in both visual and dramatic arts, I grew confused when applying to the Integrated Arts Program when prompted to select between the two options after my acceptance to the program. Either I forgot my selection, or there was an error, or I was moved unannounced from one discipline to the other, but the day I arrived at PCVS I was completely surprised to find that I had been placed in Drama class. I was also relieved, though, as I secretly wanted to be a drama student much more than a visual art student, despite originally applying and being accepted for my visual art.
In my four years as an Integrated Arts student, I would never take a visual arts class, but would become involved in almost every theatrical production put on by the school in that time.
23. Despite my innate hatred of such thinly veiled popularity contests, during my graduating year at PCVS I wanted nothing more than to be voted Valedictorian. I wanted it so bad that I had even convinced myself that I stood a chance of winning the honour, and was saddened more than I thought I would be when, naturally, I did not win. Silly as it was -- and is -- to dwell on something so insignificant, I felt that by not getting to deliver what would've become my valedictory speech, I was denied a pivotal life experience.
Oh well.
24. One of my deepest fears is that I will not have success as a filmmaker. Not because I doubt my abilities, but because there is nothing else -- nothing -- that I could picture myself doing as a career. With no plan B, there is little room for failure.
25. In grade eleven I developed a crush on one of the only people with whom I felt comfortable discussing such topics as my crush. One of the complications of such a circumstance, when you're not particularly bold or courageous, is that one has to create a codename to use in place of the crush's name. The codename we agreed upon was Natasha. Whether she knew at the time that she was Natasha, I'm not entirely certain. Eventually she knew.
At any rate: Co-starring Andrea Wilson, my next serious short film (after I try to produce some shorts for the Millbrook Three Minute Film Festival) will be entitled Natasha.