i reed gud

[thehefner]

Has anyone read Luke Reinhart's THE DICE MAN? Is it worth checking out? When I discover a book about a man who bases all decisions according to the casting of dice--and thereby discussing this philosophical implications of a life ruled entirely by chance--you might understand why my interest could be piqued.

If you've read that or Reinhart's "self help" guide, THE BOOK OF THE DIE, do let me know what you think. And if you have either, can I borrow them? The latter, especially; it's out of print and going for 20 bucks used on Amazon. It all sounds very Palahniuk*-like.



Meantime, I'm reading THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN, by Richard Matheson, author of I AM LEGEND. I've heard great things about the 1950's film** and so I wanted to check out the original. This is only the second Matheson book I've ever read, and already I'm inclined to include him as one of my top three favorite authors.

The title is kinda terrible, leading one to believe the book to be trashy sci-fi pulp camp. Instead, what we get is one of the most engaging and usual adventure thrillers I have ever read, with layers upon layers of metaphorical implications. As with I AM LEGEND, this feels like a book-length TWILIGHT ZONE episode, and I mean one of the great episodes. And no wonder, considering who the author is.

By the way, THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN also includes a number of his most famous short stories. Ever read "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" while actually in a window seat on an airplane? It's fun! I only wish it had been night during a thunderstorm. Ah well.



*I was thinking about being a smartass and again misspelling Palahniuk's name in a Homer Simpson type way like "Palaninuckihick," but last time I did that, somebody threw a hissy fit.


**According to imdb, they're remaking THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN.

Directed by Brett Ratner.

Starring Eddie Murphy.

FUCK YOU, EVERYTHING.

Comments

[wringham.livejournal.com]

No! But wait. I think I know who you're talking about. Is he a really hyperactive guy?

The James Hogg I'm on about was a Gothic Scottish writer. He was like the Scottish Mary Shelley. He wrote what was possibly the first 'evil twin' story and the evil twin in question was called Robert Wringham. I'm obsessed with the evil twin idea and my real name is Rob Westwood - so because his name was so similar I used it as a stage/pen name. Basically, my on-stage self is my evil twin. But you don't have to know that to enjoy my shit.

I've checked out your MySpace too and I think I'd love to see your show! It seems to be in the right ball park for me to appreciate. Cos although I'm billed as a standup sometimes I prefer the idea of solo theatre which *happens* to use comedy as a tool.

Do you perform fulltime by the way? My performance stuff is only a side project really but I want to do it properly some day.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Jimmy is... I'm not sure I'd say hyperactive. He's energetic and intense on stage, but off, he's pretty chill and scruffy. This cat:

http://torontoist.com/attachments/toronto_johnnie/2007_07_07Curriculumvitae.jpg

But I don't think we're talking about the same guy. Weird, I didn't realize there'd be more than one James Hogg! I met him at Orlando Fringe; dude goes alllll around the circuit here, Canada, and the UK (he's a Londoner). Brilliant performer, but he's got a maddening poker face, so if you have him in your audience, you may be certain that he hates your show even if he loves it.

Ahhh, I did not know that you had a stage/pen name! Well, at least the first name is the same, so it'll keep from being too confusing. Or maybe I'll just call you "Bruce."

Evil twin obsession? Fascinating! I have a bit of a thing for duality myself, which actually plays into why I very much would like to read DICE MAN.

Egads, my MySpace! I need to update that like whoa. A little embarrassed that you saw that. But hey, glad it's piqued your interest! I surely hope you can see it one of these days, and that I can see yours!

Yeah, I sometimes have to go by "standup" as shorthand for some people. What're you gonna do, right?

Full time? Nah, not yet. I mean, the goal for the near future is just tour the Fringe circuit and dedicate the off-season to writing, as I have a number of scripts in mind as well as a novel or three. I've met a couple people who do this full time, and it took them five to ten years to get to that point.

Unless it stops being fun (or the stress and frustrations just ain't worth it and ruins everything), I'm in this for the long haul. But sooner or later, I think I'm gonna have to get a real job again.

[little-dinosaur.livejournal.com]

And I was worried I'd have to start you two off talking! "Timecop". You geeks!

[wringham.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think that IS the guy I had in mind. Maybe I caught him on a particularly hyperactive day. And that *is* a coffee cup he has there. Besides, it was ages and ages ago I saw him and he was in a cabaret of other acts so maybe I've remembered it wrongly or got confused. Awesome that I know (sort of) who you're talking about though.

You seen a guy called Wil Hodgson? I'm into him at the moment. Again, he's billed as a comedian but he just talks about his life. I get the impression it's all real too. I wrote a review of one of his shows here (though the fuckers edited me considerably. But at least they kept the phrase 'punk hulk').

Nothing too shameful at your MySpace, old chap. I love all of your photos! The one on your Facebook right now makes me laugh. I love you lesbian pride t-shirt! Nice touch! A friend of lesbians, I've recently started wearing a "Friend of the Glasgow Women's Library" badge but it's not quite as cool as your tee!

You'll love the Dice Man. It's not so much duality as a totally fractured self. Get the book! They printed way too many editions so you can probably get a copy on eBay for about 2c.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Ah, maybe that's explains it, as he does have a distinct stage energy, yeah. Awesome indeed!

I think I have heard of Wil Hodgson, but I couldn't tell you from whence. I'm totally gonna check him out if I'm ever lucky enough to get the opportunity.

Ha, yeah, lesbians are a recurring theme in my life, and aside from that, the T-shirt in particular plays a special part in my original show. Also, that badge rocks, although I think my friend spacechild has us both beat with his "I (Heart) Being Black" button. He, of course, being white.

Fractured self? Shit, even better! I'm on it like a hobo on a ham sammitch!

[wringham.livejournal.com]

Oh, lesbians and Jews are my favourite communities! It's good to have favourites. By the way, standup comedians are also fast becoming a recognised minority group. I have good anecdotes about this. Maybe some sort of 'comedy pride' movement might be in order? And special parking spaces.

You can be insulting and awkward and socially clumsy and people will call you an asshole but when they find out you're a comedian it all becomes clear. It's like something clicks and they go "Oh! You're a comedian! I thought you were just rude!" It's like finding out that the guy who's been ignoring you all evening is actually deaf. Weird, huh?

Haha. 'I (heart) being black.' That's cute. Do you dig Ali G?

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Comedians are becoming an endangered species? Will we need to establish habitats?

Hahahaha, it's totally weird but totally true!

I do thoroughly enjoy Ali G, but I think I gravitate more toward Borat. Either way, Sacha Baron Cohen is awesome. What's odd is that I normally loathe that kind of humor; it usually makes me feel deeply uncomfortable and embarrassed, but for some reason I feel like Cohen transcends a style of comedy usually reserved for the PUNK'Ds of the world, y'know?

It's a shame to see his sudden spike in fame over here suffered from the backlash after the Borat movie, but I think the man is brilliant and I can't wait to see what he does next.

[wringham.livejournal.com]

Haha. I love Borat too. I thought the movie was fantastic and there was a really good team of writers behind it.

I think he does have a new character. A gay MTV-style TV presenter or something? The question mark is because I think this character might have kicked off in America but we've not seen much of him here.

I remember Cohen when he was starting out on the 11 o'clock show. It's flabbergasting to see how well he's doing. He was on Curb Your Enthusiasm for goodness sake!

I know what you mean about PUNKD style humour. I think it depends upon the architect of it though and how knowing it is. Lowest common denominator stuff is ok if it's coming from an intelligent guy and not just from some fratboy hick on YouTube.

Check out Stewart Lee? He's probably my favourite performer right now. He's most famous (internationally anyway) for co-writing Jerry Springer the Opera but he's done loads of other great stuff. Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MroAtQKHu8

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

A new character, besides Bruno, the gay hairdresser? Last I heard he was making a while Bruno film, but I haven't heard a damn thing about it since it was announced 'round the time BORAT came out.

That said, regarding the architect of that humor... I honestly, with complete sincerity, consider much of JACKASS to be works of art. I can defend this position, I swear! It's all in the movies, man!

Haha, I'd never heard of Stewart Lee before, but I did see JERRY SPRINGER: THE OPERA at its original run at the National in London. The video was great. Now I have "are you a sardine?" burned into my brain.

[wringham.livejournal.com]

Ah, Bruno. That was it. Not a big fan of Bruno to be honest. But maybe we he gets into his own world via a movie he'll be good. Then again, I loved Borat when he used to be on 'Da Ali G Show' when no one else did. I just think Borat was a good idea.

Hehe. I have a softspot for Jackass too. There is something quite endeering about people who will put themselves through so much pain for our entertainment. It's so imaginative too. Like the papercutting bit in the movie: someone had to do their homework to find out about that material! The stuff I don't like on Jackass is when they pull other people into it: like annoying waiters in restaurants and stuff. They can fuck off for that. But we love seeing them shooting either with rubber bullets and eating vomit omlets etc

Fantastic! I wasn't lucky enough to see the show live but I've watched the DVD so many times that the disc has grooves in it. I've seen Stew doing standup live a million times though. I even met him! This was my first ever interview so it's not a particularly good one but at least I got to hang out with Mr. Lee: http://tmcq.co.uk/interviews/stewart-lee/

Haha. "Are you a sardine". I love it. The proper DVD of that show is coming out in August.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I've never seen Bruno myself, but I don't believe I've heard of anyone who's a fan. But it was the only major character of his left, so they threw an assload of money in Cohen's direction and said run with it. We'll see.

Thank god! I was so used to getting the "ew, um, okay, no" reactions from people. Honestly, there's some serious artistic creativity that goes into many of these, playing with a bizarre and sometimes near-brilliant internal logic, capped with people getting hit in the balls. Love it!

Jackass seems to tap into something primal, some way we're wired on an animal level; I keep hearing reactions of people who laugh and are ashamed or embarrassed for laughing. I think Richard Roeper's review was, "God help me, thumbs up." I think if one was to, like, give up comedy for Lent (like, as a fast) and they wanted to get as much in as they could first, a double-feature of BORAT and JACKASS NUMBER TWO might just be sufficient to hold you.

But I agree, the pranks are my least favorite parts. Sometimes they work, usually when they're not pranking specific people but more like, say, running through London wearing cheesy rubber werewolf masks and howling.

You met AND interviewed him? Rock! That's awesome! But really, all this just further cements in my mind how Edinburgh is the "big time" in terms of Festivals, and how intimidating the prospect of finally bringing the show over there is. One day, oh yes, one day.

[wringham.livejournal.com]

Yup, met and interviewed. Strangely it didn't take place at the Edinburgh festival though. Because of the magazine's deadline I went down to see him in London. But that's okay because meeting him was awesome. He is definitely the guy who's inspired me the most.

But Edinburgh is amazing. You just bump into people as you walk about. I've seen Stew a few times around Edinburgh and I've said 'hi' but decided not dwell on stuff. The most famous comedian I've ever seen while walking around the town was Billy Connolly. Alas too star-struck to say anything.

Samara seems concerned that (a) the two of us are going to team up and take over the Fringe and (b) gossiping about her. But in truth, I think she's actually following this public conversation of ours, knows we're not talking about her and is secretly disappointed. So maybe we should. "Yes. Um. Samara. What's that crazy kid all about, eh?" etc.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

As for (a), well, we'll just have to wait and see. Great madness will certainly occur. I've already posited the theory that even if we didn't get on smashingly, I daresay we'd at least make for a great Shane Black style buddy cop movie.

As for (b), yeah, well, one of these days I know she's gonna get together with my actual Girlfriend in Canada and the two will spend hours talking about me and being Canadian.

S: Doctor, I smell burnt toast!

L: Hee hee hee hee hee!

ME: ???

You know what's funny, as Samara and I talked about this recently, she literally envisioned the conversation going, "So, John, huh?" "I know, right?" So if we did, it'd serve her right, really. I mean, eventually. Before she did it to me. preemptive strike and all that.

[wringham.livejournal.com]

Haha. Gotcha. Well, I don't really know how gossip works. The only dirt I have on Sambo involves me and I'm hardly going to gossip about that! Now I think about the whole thing is a bit of an exploding cigar. Dammit! So now I'll just say "So, Samara, huh?" and leave you to say "I know, right". We can now consider ourselves preemtive! Hurrah!