Attack of the Yeti Hand is officially listed on imdb.com. This also means that I, Karyn Ben Singer, and officially listed on imdb.com. This ALSO means that I have accomplished something on my Life List of Things to Accomplish. The last time I accomplished something on this list was “get my work mentioned in Entertainment Weekly” which happened with the Contemptuous Sardonic Felicity Watchers Society. Actually, “Make a Damn Movie” is on the list, so technically THAT is the most recent. In regard to making movies, there's a rant I go on every so often, usually preceded by someone making asinine comments about someone else's work. And the commenter usually has no experience in doing the work they feel the need to criticize. This is one downside to the internet. Everyone can voice their opinion and feel justified in their remarks, even if they're full of crap. So, let me clear some things up. And my internet opinion is valid because this is my blog and I am the boss of it.<< MORE >>

I was introduced to the Final Destination franchise via DVD rental. When the first film hit the video stores, I took it home and watched it, alone. It was a thrill; part mystery, part horror, all fun. This was early in the life of my original DVD player and the concept of being about to watch original endings and cast commentaries was fresh and new and exciting. Through all these bonus features, I learned that Final Destination wasn't meant to be an open-ended lead in to a multiple film franchise. It was a single story that suggested death can be defeated by new life. But that, apparently, was not what test audiences wanted. And, instead, we've been treated to a series of more and more elaborate death scenes, each less likely than the last.<< MORE >>

Dear Parents Who Opted Their Kids Out of the President's Student Address Speech,

I hope you all feel like paranoid assholes. Because, in case you're still hiding under that rock to avoid any Obamanisms that might trickle down your ear canal, the speech was about STAYING IN SCHOOL. Oh, and GETTING AN EDUCATION.

No love,

KBS

Okay, I'll reel it in for a moment. I'm sure I sound harsh. But you know what? I'm tired hanging back and watching the Conservative Shout About that happens every time something “controversial” pops up. I'm tired of passively deleting what I consider to be offensive email FWDs about replacing the Statue of Liberty's torch with a chicken leg. I'm tired of the Obama/Hitler Photoshopping being done in the name of Healthcare.

I'm tired of the crap.

So, seriously, all you parents who were terrified that Obama was about to unleash Hitler Youth 2.0 during today's address, do you feel like ignorant sheep? Do you even see how ridiculously you've behaved? Do you realize that your behavior is an example of the 1984 future you're afraid of? Do you even know what I'm talking about when I say “1984 Future”?

Turn off the damn Fox News. Turn it all off. The flat screen, the DVR, the satellite receiver, the Xbox, the HD radio, the modem... turn 'em all off. And take a moment. Just you and your thoughts. And THINK. Think about your future. If you have kids, think about their future.

What do you want? And don't worry about what Glenn Beck or Bill O'Reilly or Anne Coulter or Rachel Maddow or Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart or anyone else told you that you want. What do YOU want? What do YOU need?

Once you figure that out, take the next step to think about how to get those things done.

Whatever it is, whatever you want or need for your future and your children's future, it's going to take time, it's going to take money, and it's going to take work. If you want to see change, you are going to have to be willing to contribute some of that time, money, and work at some level.

And if the change you want is in exact opposition to what the President proposes, that's fine. That's your American right. But be educated. If you're opposing a bill, read the text. If it's a lengthy bill, say around 1200 pages, try to find an unbiased Cliff's Notes version. OR, be a star and read the whole thing. How hot would you be at the next party? Seriously, even if we're on opposite sides of the issue, I'd have to buy you a drink, because that is impressive. And, it shows just how dedicated you are.

Which brings me back around to my original point: Don't be a sheep. Educate yourself from a legitimate and reliable source.

Education. It'll get you places. Just a little something I picked up from a speech I heard once.

I case you're not BFFs with Felicia Day on Twitter, you may not have yet heard about the changes being made to the Emmy Telecast. In short, they're pre-taping certain segments that they may be edited and trimmed down in order to "streamline" the broadcast, thus leaving more airtime for "entertainment".

The show's producer, Don Mischer, and host, Neil Patrick Harris issued a response explaining the need for such changes, the main point being that they want to entertain the viewership.

This suggests that writers are not worthy of the viewership. This suggests that writers are boring, that they hold no interest with the public. That time Tina Fey told her dweeby interweb critics to "suck it"? Super boring. Nobody even remembered that the next day. Oh, no wait. They did.

Writers make this business go 'round. Even reality television employs writers to help construct story elements that enable viewers to become more invested in the shows. Actors do not just show up on set and make up their lines. Directors do not simply tell the actors what the story is and guide them through it. They work with scripts. Those scripts are written by writers.

If you love shows like Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, True Blood, Veronica Mars, 30 Rock, Better Off Ted, Friends, Seinfeld, Will & Grace, Law & Order, Burn Notice, The Sopranos, Sex in the City... then you, friend, are a fan of great writing.

If the public viewership doesn't care about writers, it's only because writers are consistently pushed below the radar where they're expected to produce great works for everyone else to use. It's somewhat akin to being the smart kid on the playground, consistently approached to do everyone else's homework, but never invited to eat lunch with the other kids.

If the concern is one of streamlining, why not tape the entire show or run it on some kind of longer delay? Better yet, LEAVE THE SHOW ALONE. If it's too streamlined, when will we have time to use the bathroom or get up for another beer?

Personally, I don't watch the Emmys or Oscars or any award show for the entertainment acts that come between the awards. I watch it FOR the awards. And, as a writer, I want to see my colleagues LIVE and IN REAL TIME waiting and hoping and winning and crying and accepting, just like everyone else.

(If you're into the Twitter, in support of this movement, please use hashtag #emmysfail today)

I am back from my weekend at the Broad
Humor Film Festival. I learned a lot and saw some great films.

The weekend proved to be a combination of high energy "industry" moments, and laid back conversation.  It was a great introduction to the festival circuit, because it wasn't a heavy competition atmosphere, but did give a tiny taste of what to expect at other events.

I also met a few cool people. Now, I'm
am TERRIBLE at networking just for the sake of networking. If people
want to ask me what I'm working on or what my film ...<< MORE >>

So, I'm sitting here, planning my weekend, which centers around my movie showing at a film festival.

Less than a month ago, someone told me my movie was a horrible embarrassment. The next day, I showed it to a class full of high school students, who loved it. Not three days later, I got the call that said it was accepted to the festival. This Sunday, there was a three quarter page interview about myself and the movie in the local paper.

I've encountered some friction with this project, and I understand some, if not all of it. It's not a masterpiece. It's not going to change the face of cinema. It's weird. And, in parts, it serves just to make me, and possible only me, laugh.

But it's done. Start to finish. And I can say I've done it and move on to the next thing. That's what this whole project was about, learning and doing and having a good time.

I'm ready for the next one.

Glee is a good time.  Diablo Cody and I both stamp it with a seal of approval.
So, one of the reasons someone didn't like this was "stereotypes dating back to the 80's". ALL THE WAY TO THE 80's. I think they probably date back to the beginning of the high school dynamic. Or the beginning of time.

But stereotypes exist because they're true. Not all the time. But enough of the time to be recognized.

I really enjoyed this show. It's fun. And the music is pure liquid joy.

Yes, high school shows have been done before. Yes' we've seen the unpopular rise above the popular. But, you know what? High school is the same as it always has been. Sure, certain things change, but every four years, a new group of kids endure what, to them, is a brand new experience.

So, I welcome yet another telling of the same old high school story.

It's okay to just sit back and have a good time. Seriously. It feels nice.

Also, this morning I learned that ABC is remaking V.  If you don't know V, you don't know epic 80's sci-fi.  Oh, and they're remaking it with Morena Baccarin.  If you don't know Morena Baccarin, you don't know epic 2000's sci-fi.  The original V miniseries was something we had on tape that I watched whenever I was home on a sick day.

A) Yesterday, I converted my computer to Ubuntu.  If you know what this means, then I need not explain.  If you don't, just know that I'm no longer under the thumb of Bill Gates and I didn't need to hide behind Steve Jobs to do it (even though I heart my iPhone, Steve).

2) The Attack of the Yeti Hand screening was packed with about 80 people.  Everyone seemed to genuinely have a good time and laughed in all the right places.

d) If you bounce on over to Blog of the Yeti Hand you will see a donate button.  All donations received through that fancy little button will be used toward festival fees, DVD duplication costs, and anything else that demands a mighty dollar as I try to show y kooky little film to as many people as possible.

Yay, internets.

I only ever venture onto the imdb.com boards if I'm looking to be excruciatingly frustrated at the masses of uneducated armchair critics.  But, sometimes, I join the fray.

kben on Diablo Cody

As of this writing, Attack of the Yeti
Hand is in the late stages of post-production. The rough cut is
finished, refinements are in process, and excitement builds. At
least for me.

In the course of this production, I've
encountered three specific criticisms. Granted, I expect them. I
shot a feature length movie in eight days on a budget of two-thousand
dollars. It doesn't sound like the recipe for the biggest summer
blockbuster. But that's not what I set out to do. I wrote a
screenplay I knew I could shoot quickly and cheaply. I chose a genre
that praises ...<< MORE >>