Kyle Kerr

Me Write Pretty One Day

10/21/07 | Books, Idiot Mode, Movies, Trailers, Procrastination | 0 Comments

My personal deadline for finishing revisions on my book is fast approaching.  When I got back from Maui, I told myself that I would write a page-a-day (or whatever the revision equivalent is), and that it would all be done by the end of October at the latest! It is now October 21st, and I have only worked on four chapters… So, I’m no where near done, no where near where I should be at this point (considering my deadline), and have no possibility of finishing on time (unless I forego everything else in my life, including going to class, sleeping, and possibly even eating).  There are ten days left.  It’s not going to happen, and I’m disappointed in myself.

Since making certain decisions about the book, I have come to love it again.  Yes, there was a time when I thought it was the worst thing ever and hardly considered showing it the light of day, let alone to friends, family or, god forbid, literary agents.  I would have died of embarrassment.  Now, I think it’s a story worthy of being read.  I just have to finish it, and therein lies the problem.  I can’t seem to motivate myself to finish, and it’s exceedingly frustrating.  What I wouldn’t give to just go away, away from the world, from school, from interruptions like TV and movies, out of contact with everyone, no internet, nothing; just me, my computer, and possibly some books (show me a writer who doesn’t read, and I’ll punch them in the nose).

So, as I wallow in my reverie, here are some things that have kept me from writing…

READ

Look Me In The Eye: My Life with Asperger’s by John Elder Robison

This is a memoir about a boy who grew up with Asperger’s Syndrome and didn’t know it.  Asperger’s is a type of autism, but generally mild—considering most autistics live in their heads.  Aspergians, as JER calls himself and others like him, seem outwardly rude and misfit-like, while generally being very smart (savants).  Yet it is their incomprehension of certain social rules and guidelines that is their true downfall.  JER talks about his struggles to make friends and socialize, about his abusive and sometimes downright terrifying childhood, and about learning to live with his condition and making the best of a life that seemed set to fail right from the off.  JER is the older brother of National and Internationally acclaimed memoirist Augusten Burroughs, who wrote the incredible memoir Running with Scissors.  Here is a short clip of Augusten interviewing his brother (notice how very different the two are):

And, yes, John Elder Robison DOES in fact “Woof!” at the camera!  This is one of his mechanisms for awkward silence (which he explains in the book).

WATCHED

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

If you remember, I have been waiting to see this movie since I first heard about it a year and a half ago.  Besides a problem the theater was having with the sound (which isn’t a reflection of the movie), it was absolutely AMAZING.  I am thrilled that I liked it so much, that it was able to live up to the epic movie I had been building it up to be in my head.  Cate Blanchett is in her element, and Clive Owen lives up to his name, and Jordi Mollà (as King Philip II of Spain) is almost terrifying.  Geoffrey Rush, unfortunately, wasn’t in the movie as much as I would have liked.  Excellent movie, with some definite twists and turns that will keep you guessing right until the end of the movie.  Sadly, it has had a poor box office run these past two weekends, only grossing $11.2M in 10 days.  Not good!  Go see this movie!

This Film Is Not Yet Rated

This is a documentary about how the MPAA rates movies.  For those of you who haven’t heard of this, the board that rates movies is consisted of 8 “normal parents” who rate movies based on what they think is appropriate for children to see (which is why the ratings are all age based… G – General Audiences, PG – Parental Guidance suggested, PG-13 – Suggests parents should accompany any children under 13-years-old, R – Children under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult, and NC-17 – No Child under the age of 17 under ANY circumstances).  However, this board is secret, just like the CIA.  No one knows who they are… until now.  Director Kirby Dick hires a personal investigator to find out the identities of these mysterious and all powerful 8, and they do, and they tell you exactly who they are.  Kirby also delves into the biases these people show towards studio made movies versus independents, scenes with violence versus scenes with sex, and straight sex versus gay sex.  Very eye opening view into the inner workings of the MPAA.  Worth a watch!



Oh, and for anyone as excited as I am by the upcoming The Golden Compass movie, here’s an extended 5 MINUTE preview of the movie!

Looks amazing!

Now, back to writing (hopefully).

Until next…

Kyle W. Kerr