Monday, May 15, 2023

IN PRAISE OF GHIDORAH

I watched a lot of monster movies growing up. Anything weird, scary, strange, and I was in. This included all the Godzilla movies. Not just the big guy, but Rodan, Gamora, Baby Godzilla, Mothra, and Ghidorah, the three headed monster sometimes just called Monster X. Very weird shit but I loved it. All of it. And Monster X was just... sort of like life. The three heads sort of flopped about, shot lazer beams every where, looked absurd, but managed to kick the living crap out of everyone and everything in its path. 

I think King Ghidorah eventually ended up living on the moon, like you do.

Of late, I think of the beast with three heads.

Because I lack focus, blaze a path of destruction, and feel like I live on the moon.

I just took over a job at one of the schools I work at, going from 4 hours a week to 32. I am directing a new show, EIGG the MUSICAL, that is going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer. I have summer classes coming up at DCPA, StageDoor, and Reel Kids. I am finishing a new pilot that I hope to submit to the Austin Film Festival, which has a hard final deadline of May 25. (more on all those in future blogs)

AND I AM STUCK IN ACT THREE OF A FIVE ACT STRUCTURE.

Yes. I am Monster X. I wake up dazed and confused, looking at three things at once, roaring nonsense and dusting things up with Godzilla, Gamora, Mothra, and some unnamed monsters that look large but fuzzy at the edge of my peripheral vision.

And I love it. 

I am not able to sit still. It makes me anxious. I hear silence and I don't like it. I crave it at the same time. Silence.

Maybe that's why Ghidorah was always pissed off. It wanted and didn't want the same things at the same time, and was furious at those with seemingly simpler desires. 

Godzilla wanted to kick the shit out of some buildings and then go back to the sea. Baby Godzilla wants to blow smoke rings. Mothra wanted those miniature women to sing her theme song. What did Ghidorah want? Deep down inside its heart? Who can say? 

Also, did it have three hearts, one for each head?

I don't know. 

All I know is, like Bilbo, I am too little butter spread over too much bread, and I want to see mountains again, Gandalf.

We are all lost monsters, I think. 

So, that's it. My first blog entry of the year, I think. Better late than never.

Now I'm off to find Godzilla.

Here's a song. It's Mahra Mothra, and God Damn is it awesome.


PS: The classes I am teaching are:

Playwriting at DCPA, this June & July, evenings. 

https://storage.googleapis.com/dcpa/pdf/EDU23_Summer-Adult-Catalog_V4.pdf

Broadway Boot Camp at StageDoor Theatre in Conifer, June 5-9, days.

https://www.stagedoortheatre.org/

Web series, Acting Improv, and D&D at Reel Kids, June and July

https://www.myreelkids.com/projects-3




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