I haven't posted a blog in awhile, but scrolling through my blog posts, I noticed about 5 or 6 incomplete drafts. They all started with an idea that exploded into a lot of chaotic baby ideas and then confusion. I really appreciated Eli's(?) presentation and his comments on Stevens' immensity, because I was getting really frustrated with the contradictions and all the directions we could go from his poems. Too much and so little time.
In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, instead of posting blogs, I have been emailing my dad and talking on the phone with him about our class. It wasn't to the same depth and degree as John Paul- we were taking things pretty lightly and then an idea started to emerge.
My dad is a lawyer, songwriter, writer and actor. When I was 12, he basically taught me how to write-- essays, stories, poems. He does a lot of serious work, but he always takes pleasure in the things he writes or performs. He especially loves parody. When I was in high school, we always talked about doing a parody of children's show. And talking with him about my topic- children and Wallace Stevens, I thought why not do something we had joked about doing that would give pleasure (Because that note really stuck with me) I sent my dad pieces of rough draft script, and he'd send ideas back. I recruited artistic help from my friend, Sam Thomas (I sent her the poem and my concept, and she made some rough draft drawings and then finally a finished product) and help from my sister, Eva, who is a fan of photoshop, my husband Joe to act and at the last minute, I got my mom to make a special appearance in her bathrobe. I'm basically a people user, but I'm a grateful one. So in case people didn't make it all the way to the credits, all those people I just mentioned deserve some props.
I'm really thankful I got to do a project like this (and that I had people willing to help), because it was truly a pleasure to make. I know my dad was so thrilled with it, he posted the first movie draft (without some edits and closed captioning) on Facebook the night we filmed it. The comments he got on it were like:
"I don't know if I understand. . . " "What?" and "Very nice," "Fun" and Happy Thanksgiving (?).
That made both of us happy.
Watching final presentations and reading blogs, I just wanted to say that those have been enjoyable too. I especially liked Nate's melding of Peter Pan and Wallace Stevens. It was brilliant- just like the colors of Jenny's paintings. I admire how some people like John Paul and Oranda took this class to such a personal, emotional level--so brave. I love the creativity in the stories from Arielle, Megan Anne. And then some people (Dusty, Breanna James)are just intimidating. And it all makes the last few days fun- pleasurable.
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