wise words from Freeman

Please give us the gist of the acceptance speech you
would use were you to win one of our Pretentious
Awards.

"Members of the Brick Theater... I accept this Award
on behalf of the Working Class, who cannot speak for
themselves; and my parents, who should never have
gotten divorced."

http://pretentiousfestival.blogspot.com/2007/05/interrogation-iv-interview-with-author.html

http://matthewfreeman.blogspot.com/

What I'm reading

I am a sucker for the charismatic young genius. I loved reading about Neal Cassidy, can't help but like Finding Forrester or Good Will Hunting or Proof. I love the myth of the rebel genius who can do things no one else can or who is bold enough to do what no one else would. That's what this book is so far and I'm loving it.

article about Jonathan Coulton

This guy grew up in the same small town as me. I
think we rode the same bus when I was in Elementary
school. He is super-talented but I had no idea he had
a blog.

Sex, Drugs and Updating Your Blog

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/13/magazine/13audience-t.html?em&ex=1179288000&en=f55e0d94efd98eb0&ei=5087%0A

Tom Robbins' writing process

http://www.dareland.com/emulsionalproblems/robbins.htm

"When he starts a novel, it works like this. First
he writes a sentence. Then he rewrites it again and
again, examining each word, making sure of its
perfection, finely honing each phrase until it
reverberates with the subtle texture of the infinite.
Sometimes it takes hours. Sometimes an entire day is
devoted to one sentence, which gets marked on and
expanded upon in every possible direction until he is
satisfied. Then, and only then, does he add a period.
Next, he rereads the first sentence and starts
writing a second, rewriting it again and again until
it shimmers. Then, and only then, does he add a
period. While working on each sentence, he has no idea
what the next sentence is going to be, much less the
next chapter or the end of the book. All thoughts of
where he is going or where he has been are banished.
Each sentence is a Zen universe unto itself, and while
working on it, nothing exists but the sentence. He
keeps writing in such a manner until he eventually
reaches a sentence which he works on like all the
others. He adds a period and the book is done. No
editing or revising in any way. When you read a Tom
Robbins book, you are experiencing the words not only
in the exact order that he wrote them but almost in
the exact order that he thought them. "

from Heidi's article about J. Schwartz

"Schwartz's rigorous vision is honed in a
painstakingly slow and rather weird process: she
rewrites the entire play from memory each time she
works on it. "I think my process of typing the play
from the beginning over and over again, whenever I
work on the play, helps me to figure out a formal
structure that supports the emotions," she says. "It
also helps me to get the language into my body…When I
get too formal, I usually feel like I'm taking a wrong
turn.""

read more here:

http://brooklynrail.org/2007/5/theater/the-fat-lady-will-sing-with-bells-on

Photos of Food For Fish in LA

Photos by Josh Buerian-Mohr

www.theatreofnote.com

the last juilliard class

We read my new play and it went over extremely well.
I was actually really worried about it and uncertain
but it was a big hit. Now I just sit back and wait
for the offers to roll in. That's what it's like to
be a playwright. You jsut write it and then everyone
finds out about it and wants to do it. You have to
hit them away with a stick.

"No, bad producer! Not until you get Kevin Spacey to
be in it! Go away! Bad!"

wed

We live in an oligarchy. Was this always true and I
just never noticed? Has it become more true lately?

So depressed. Today is the last day of Juilliard. I
will miss it. sorely. so sad.

got to finish the play for the fringe and write that
ten min play for ars nova and then finish that novel
by August 17 and then write a screenplay and a new
play and somewhere in there revise all the things that
need revising.

Wish me luck.

book signing

also hope to see you here

http://www.dramabookshop.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp;jsessionid=abc93yMijgSPfe0QZgkjr?s=storeevents&eventId=348208

this morning

This morning, I finished the first draft of a new play
currently called "Temporary Everything."

I hope it's good. One never knows with these things.
I'm just so glad to have it done. It took way longer
than it should have.

Go See

God's Ear by Jenny Schwartz. I saw it last night and
was very impressed. Amazing cast, excellent
direction. It goes off on tangents sometimes but damn
it's so good. Don't miss it. She's an exciting new
voice in the American theatre you should know about.

http://www.newgeorges.org/frame_content/cev.html

I also saw Cymbeline over the weekend at BAM. I'm not
a big Shakespeare guy but I had a blast at this. I'm
glad K dragged me to it. They make the play extremely
clear and enjoyable to watch. I especially loved the
music number.

http://www.bam.org/events/07CYMB/07CYMB.aspx

I love this song

Your Belgian Things by The Mountain Goats

The men were here to get your Belgian things
They'll store them for you in an airplane hangar
There's guys in biohazard suits
Mud kicking on their rubber boots
They've come to keep your pretty things from danger

The men were here to get your Belgian things
They'll spend the whole day hauling them downstairs
I shot a roll of thirty-two exposures
My camera groans beneath the weight it bears

more here:

http://www.lyricsmania.com/lyrics/mountain_goats_the_lyrics_11052/we_shall_all_be_healed_lyrics_35024/your_belgian_things_lyrics_379824.html

Coming this summer to the New York Fringe

Susan Gets Some Play

by Adam Szymkowicz

starring Ms. Susan Louise O'Connor

and Some Men.

Directed by a Young Genius Director (as long as he is
still available.)

Just found out today. This means I have to finish
writing the play now. I'm glad I got in this time.
Last time I applied, I did not get in. Although the
rejected play is now published by DPS so I guess it
worked out OK.

wow

from isaac

http://parabasis.typepad.com/blog/2007/05/the_rug_removed.html

"In the United States, the NEA has a budget of $139.4
million US dollars, none of which (by law) can go to
individual artists. What does this mean in terms of
per-person spending on the arts? The United States
spends $0.47 per person, while Denmark spends $12.27
per person, which means that Denmark spends 27 times
what the US does.*** (To make the point even starker,
if we were to raise the NEA's budget to keep up with
the Danish government's budget it would come out to
something around $3.6 billion dollars) . This is
despite the fact that the US's GDP is $13.22 trillion
dollars and Denmark's GDP is $256 billion dollars"

from Kristen Palmer's email to me

Dear friends,

Please join me on May 13th at 7pm for a reading of
"The Melting Point." There are wonderful people
involved and it's very new and I'd
love for you to be there!

more sooner,
Kristen

May 13th, 7pm
SohoRep
46 Walker Street

a reading of:

The Melting Point by Kristen Palmer
developed in the SohoRep Writer/Director Lab

directed by Awoye Timpo

with the talents of...

Nicole Behaire
Stephen Bel Davies
Kate Benson
Chris Kipiniak
Alfredo Narciso
Heidi Schreck
Mary Schultz