George Lucas | timotheories

Dear Diary (How To Best Start and Keep A Journal)

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Tim Kuefler

Have you ever tried free writing before, dear readers? It’s a technique where you write continuously over a set period of time, ignoring the majority of the typical conventions of writing – The purpose for free writing is not to produce great content, though that can potentially be a by-product, but rather to address self-esteem and internal criticism.

I’ve tried it a few times before myself, but I’ve found that writing a blog works to that end as well and is even better because of the regularity involved with the creative process. Because whether you believe it or not, what you are reading right now is not the first draft, it’s more like the 6th or 7th version of this post.

For those of you who do not pre-date the internet, a journal used to be the main method of delivery when it came to combining free writing with purpose. Though in many ways the blog has effectively replaced that practice. Or has it?

Now just hang on a tick, I know what you’re thinking.

Keeping a journal seems like one of those monumental tasks which will eat into your personal time and which is mostly self-gratifying. But the reality is that there is no right or wrong way to do it, and it will help provide value in a number of ways…

Don’t believe me? Let’s list some reasons off really quick.

Greater focus and organization skills (ie. to do lists and goals)
A record of past achievements and milestones
Emotion management and stress reduction
Reflection time which leads to self-discovery
Perspective on your own thoughts and feelings
Cathartic release from trauma
Alleviate negative effects of stress and strengthen your body
Working memory improvement
Creativity becomes more common
Thinking about and articulating the next step in the plan
Becoming inspired beyond the obvious and intentional in all work
Accountability for our actions
Inspiration for ourselves and others

Yeah, and that’s just a short list. I read somewhere between 10-15 articles in preparation of this Wisdom Wednesday post, and I just thought those examples were really solid.

The truth is this, journals help facilitate personal growth. To quote this article:

It’s impossible not to grow when it comes to journal writing. That’s what makes a journal such a powerful tool, whether it’s about achieving goals, becoming a better person, or just general personal-development. No matter what you use it for, you’ll eventually see yourself growing as a person.

I initially wanted to start this post by pointing out that writing a journal is something that successful people do. It’s not just for hormonal teenagers or those beset by grief and cats.

For example, Mark Twain, Anne Frank, Sylvia Plath, George Lucas, Virginia Woolf, Ludwig van Beethoven, Frida Kahlo, Marilyn Monroe, Courtney Love, Pablo Picasso, Agatha Christie, and Leonardo da Vinci are just SOME of the examples of creative people who regularly journal/journaled.

Of course, there are also tons of articles out there that will tell you how you should get started and how you should keep up the habit of journaling. I’m going to tell straight up that you shouldn’t worry so much about the details of writing at this point, but rather, you should figure out when you are going to do it, then build some good habits to ensure you keep at it.

And if you really want a detailed how-to, this wiki will do the trick.

If your journal features content from other sources, so be it. You might find that source material is a great jumping off point or a good visual reminder for the period down the road when you revisiting your work and want to reflect on ideas.

Another good habit to get into is to have a log with each entry so that you know where you were when you wrote, the time of day, and the calendar date. The details will help solidify the moment in time and allow you to only focus on the current event(s), which will be great when reading previous entries – And besides, if you only stick to the negative things or the major milestones you’ll run out of ideas quickly.

The biggest thing to keep in mind though is that it’s not your responsibility to fill in the gaps if you take a break from writing, whether its for a day or a month, resume with the day you’re in and the stuff you’ve forgotten about or missed recording will crop up.

Lastly, if you can figure out a way to personalize the diary with a unique cover (collages, stickers or drawings) that will also help down the road. And consider including “if found” information at the front in the event the journal is lost, after all, this is not a blog and it could get lost.

Okay one more cool thing, you might want to hide your journal from prying eyes, so consider a hollowed out book for storage, because that’s super cool.

And now I’m out of theories, so keep it cool and I’ll see you tomorrow with something timely.

Tim!

Why Captain America Turned Nazi And Other Fan Theories (Cross Talk Ep.6)

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Tim Kuefler

Fandom is broken.

Well, that’s what Devin Faraci of Birth. Movies. Death. would have us believe anyway.

Now, normally I don’t like to indulge the reaction post/video side of humanity on the Internet because I find doing so to be far too specific and not in the least satisfying – The problem being that creating content around a “trending topic” runs the risk of quickly becoming dated and it’s often not broad enough to build an entire timotheories sized post on.

Sure, I could do something everyone likes, like speculating on the next Angry Birds movie, but I’d prefer to write like a Shrek movie, one with many layers, sort of like an onion, because I don’t care what everyone likes.

But fortunately for you, dear readers, you’re going to get your cake and eat it too, because that Faraci article is something of a whopper and conveniently related to the topic I was going to bring up this evening anyway.

It just so happens that in doing research for Episode 6 of Cross Talk, how fandom influences studio direction, Chris came across the above article and decided to share with me. And we had a good chat about it.

But let’s get into it!

Without giving too much away, Chris and I have found a way to demonstrate the value of a measured approach to the challenge that is social media, because if you follow his logic through to it’s logical conclusion, then Faraci’s fandom has always been broken.

Faraci tells us that because of the Internet, extremists like Annie Wilkes now have a way to terrorize anyone and everyone, but what about the other side of the coin? Those who never had a voice now have potentially have one, and petitioning for artistic changes just go a lot easier. So where did we land? And how upset are we about the Steve Rogers: Captain America #1 reveal? You’re about to find out, and I’ll give you a hint, as an artist, I happen to have a few theories on this topic.

I’ve included a direct link to the full video for you here, but as always, the real action is just below for your convenience. Otherwise, please sit back and enjoy Episode 6 of Cross Talk!

I’m out of theories for now, but please check back tomorrow for an album review that is all about Simon. It should be a good one! Please comment, subscribe and share this with you friends. We want to hear your feedback!

Tim!

The Hero’s Journey (Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, review)

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Tim Kuefler

You know that saying the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree? I was never a big fan of it myself, because when I was growing up I wanted to be my own man, with my own ideas; I didn’t want to bogged down by tradition and duplication.

The problem with this attitude though is that not matter how hard we try, we don’t live in a vaccuum and we inherit traits from our biological parents, and depending how we grow up, also from those who raise us up.

So there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with knowing the blueprint. You have to know what you are working with so you can improve upon it.

Which leads us into this week’s film review.

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)

Cast: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac
Director: J. J. Abrams
released on blu-ray April 5, 2016
********* 9/10

IMDB: 8.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%, Audience Score 89%
The Guardian: *****/*****

Jeffrey Jacob Abrams, better known as J. J. Abrams, is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and composer. He is known for his work on M.I. 3, the Star Trek reboot, and sequel Star Trek Int Darkness, as well as Super 8.

Abrams is well now known for his science fiction and adventure films, and he has a good understanding of drama as well. He is the co-creator of the television series Lost.

I remember when it was first announced he would be at the helm of this movie, people were really nervous that he wouldn’t be able to address both Star Wars and Star Trek. That he would further ruin the Star Wars franchise. But obviously he didn’t. Let’s take a look see at the plot.

Taken from Wikipedia and edited,

Approximately 30 years after the destruction of the second Death Star, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last Jedi, has disappeared. The First Order has risen from the fallen Galactic Empire and seeks to eliminate Luke and the New Republic. The Resistance, backed by the Republic and led by Luke’s twin sister, General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), opposes them while searching for Luke to enlist his aid.

Resistance pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) meets village elder Lor San Tekka (Max von Sydow) on the planet Jakku to obtain a map to Luke’s location. Stormtroopers commanded by Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) destroy the village and capture Poe. Poe’s droid BB-8 escapes with the map, and encounters the scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley) near a junkyard settlement. Ren tortures Poe using the Force, and learns of BB-8. Stormtrooper FN-2187 (John Boyega), unable to bring himself to kill for the First Order, frees Poe, and they escape in a stolen TIE fighter; Poe dubs FN-2187 “Finn”. They crash on Jakku, Finn appearing to be the only survivor. He encounters Rey and BB-8, but the First Order tracks them and launches an airstrike. Finn, Rey, and BB-8 flee the planet in a stolen, rundown ship, the Millennium Falcon.

The Falcon breaks down, and is captured by a larger ship piloted by Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), who reclaim their former vessel. Gangs seeking to settle debts with Han board and attack, but the five escape in the Falcon. The gangs inform the First Order of Han’s involvement. At the First Order’s Starkiller Base, a planet converted to a superweapon that uses the energy of stars to destroy star systems, Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) orders General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) to use the weapon for the first time. Snoke questions Ren about the involvement of his father, Han Solo; Ren says Han means nothing to him.

The Falcon crew view BB-8’s map and determine it is incomplete. Han explains Luke tried to rebuild the Jedi Order but exiled himself after an apprentice turned to the dark side and destroyed what Luke had built. They travel to the planet Takodana and meet with cantina owner Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong’o), who can help BB-8 reach the Resistance, but Finn wants to flee on his own. Rey is drawn to a vault and finds the lightsaber that belonged to Luke and his father Anakin Skywalker before him. She experiences disturbing visions and flees into the woods. Maz gives Finn the lightsaber for safekeeping.

Starkiller Base destroys the Republic capital and fleet. The First Order attacks Takodana in search of BB-8. Han, Chewbacca, and Finn are saved by Resistance X-wing fighters led by Poe, who survived the TIE-fighter crash. Leia arrives at Takodana with C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and reunites with Han and Chewbacca. However, Ren captures Rey and takes her to Starkiller Base. He interrogates her about the map, but she resists his mind-reading. Discovering she, too, can use the Force, she escapes her cell with a Jedi mind trick…

What, I’m stopping there? Come on folks, you should know better by this point. I’m not going to finish the movie for you. I’d rather you watch it yourselves – but I will do what I can to assure you to do so.

I will start by saying this, yes it does look and feel a lot like the first film in certain ways (A New Hope), and it takes elements from Episodes V and VI, but I think that it was important for Abrams and Disney to do that, and for George Lucas to let go of input after initial consultation. George Lucas modelled the initial trilogy around Joseph Campbell’s The Hero With A Thousand Faces, and like that story, the themes of a successful hero’s journey are always the same.

By acknowledging the success of the original trilogy, the themes Campbell’s book, and reinvigorating a new generation with another hero’s journey (this time a heroine), we get to enjoy a fun and empowering story.

Pros: It is fast-paced, features new faces and old, and we care about the entire universe. The Force Awakens is incredibly faithful to the original movies while charting some new territory at the same time, injecting fun back into the franchise. FUN George Lucas.

Cons: Without giving anything away, I still struggle with the climax point of the movie, if only because I think that while it was necessary, the emotional pull was on us, and not on the characters involved. And that’s all I will say about that. Second, the political story behind the First Order is rather dim and will hopefully be addressed proper in Episode VIII.

Runtime: 136 minutes

Points of Interest: Mark Hamill found out about the new trilogy over lunch with George Lucas, and Lucas rather nonchalantly told him he could be in or out, and they would write him out if need be. Hamill nonchalantly expressed interest, though he was super excited. Daisy Ridley and John Boyega were not allowed to tell anyone they had been cast until a few months in, though Boyega did tell a cab driver.

You can tell immediately how much respect everyone involved has for the original trilogy and their concerns in protecting the framework and emotion in those three films. But hands down the breakout performances by the new characters are my favourite parts of the story. Daisy Ridley is fantastic as Rey and Adam Driver is moody and chaotic as Kylo Ren. Not to mention the relationship between John Boyega and Harrison Ford’s characters.

I wrote about this once already this week (read: Weezer, white album review), but returning to form is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if that form is what gave you purpose and a voice to begin with. I will also tell you that I am not going to give this movie a 10 for two reasons. First, because I realize it is the first film in an arc and it’s got two more films to prove itself. And second, because it took 30 years for Star Wars to return to form.

Having said that, I personally enjoy the prequel trilogy. Not all of it, but I definitely like the buildup to Episode III and can even tolerate Episode II. I’ve seriously given thought to the machete order as a way to introduce future progeny to this franchise.

Regardless, The Force Awakens is both the movie we want and the movie we deserve. Please go watch it if you haven’t. Buy the digital HD, the blu-ray or the DVD. Support this movie so the next few are properly supported.

But what do you think? Do you like the new Star Wars? Do you hate it? Leave some comments, and better yet subscribe to the blog! I’ll see you tomorrow with wisdom on social media.

Tim!