Katara's a man-eater.
NTWON: W/ Bob & David
Comedy nerds rejoice- Mr. Show's own Bob Odenkirk and David Cross have made their return to sketch comedy with their new Netflix-exclusive program W/ Bob & David.
W/ Bob & David retains many of the things audiences enjoyed about Mr. Show: the blend of the dark with the absurd, the semi-continuous transitions between sketches, and the vicious, no-holds-barred satire of modern society.
Some of the bits include a freelance Jewish Pope, a sovereign citizen who only encounters friendly police officers, a man whose utterance of the word "cunt" summons the people he's shit-talking, and a musical about rooms called Rooms: The Musical.
Acting out these crazy sketches are many of the old Mr. Show cast and writers, including: Paul F. Tompkins, Scott Aukerman, Jay Johnson, and Brian Posehn. And among the veterans are some familiar faces including: Keegan-Michael Key (of Key and Peele), Stephanie Courtney (Flo from Progressive), and Arden Myrin (of Chelsea Lately).
The only bad thing I can honestly say about W/ Bob & David is that it's too damn short. Clocking in at only 5 episodes (4 regular episode and 1 special), it's really closer to a movie than a season of a TV show. I highly recommend watching the one hour special as well, as it affords a rare look behind the curtain on how the show was made starting from the writers room and ending on set.
Park yourself in front of a screen and binge-watch this one.
SOTW: Power/Rangers
Power Rangers is a lot darker than I remember...
Michael Rousselet: Making Messes
I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Michael Rousselet. Besides being awesome and hilarious, Michael is best known as the director of Dude Bro Party Massacre III, one of the co-founders of 5secondfilms.com, and the guy who discovered Tommy Wiseau's masterpiece, The Room. But what many people don't know is that Mike is also a painter on top of all that. So I had a chance to sit down and have an extended chat about his work.
MT: When did you begin painting?
MR: I began painting when I was young because I would draw a lot and doodle...I was very disruptive in class, I was the class clown and always goofing off and they discovered one of the ways I would shut up and behave was by drawing and doodling. But what I was drawing was really kind of morbid- Hellraiser, Clive Barker, Alien... So my grandma gave me books by Van Gogh, Picasso, and Salvador Dali and I loved it because it was all so surreal and colorful and I was like 'I want paint...I want to play with paint' and that was pretty much how it started.
MT: I can definitely see an impressionistic influence in your work.
MR: Oh yeah! I love the impressionists: Monet, Renoir, Gustave Caillebotte...Impressionism is one of my favorite things. And also I guess kind of a Pollock-y messy...I like making messes. I like how sometimes I don't know what I'm going to paint. I just let it come out so, I guess it's constantly making mistakes until I find something I like and then I focus on that. There are a lot of faces in my paintings. It's like my own Rorschach. I see something and I say 'Okay, let me add more details' and I try to pull out whatever I see there.
MT: How would you say painting fits into your identity as a creator, being a writer and a filmmaker and this awesome multi-talented individual?
MR: I don't feel like I'm an artist...It's fun. It's not like writing where you really need to think about it and focus and plot and plan. And it's also not like filmmaking where it's a communal experience, where it's you against the elements. This is just you against the canvas and it's very freeing. I can be alone and just do this. I can turn off my brain and go. It's an escape. And also like filmmaking it's about control. I think that's what I like about painting and filmmaking: you're trying to take all these elements out of your control and control them.
MT: What was the first thing that went through your mind the first time you sold a painting?
MR: I was like 'Omigod! I can't believe I just broke even!'...It was amazing. Somebody liked my mess enough that they wanted to buy and keep it all for themselves. It was the greatest compliment ever. It's funny. My whole life I've been writing and trying to sell a screenplay -I even went to school for it- but I've had a much better track record with painting.
Mike and I examine one of his paintings in-depth.
MT: How did you start using incorporating paper towels into the painting process?
MR: I put paint thinner in spray bottles and I would spray it on the canvas and it would drip and then I'd have all these paper towels to catch the drippings so I wouldn't make a mess all over the place. And then at one point I just kind of like- it was probably during a manic moment when I was just like 'ugh I hate this painting' and I grabbed it and I just twisted it and I was like 'oh, a spiral, that's really cool'. It actually started with the typewriter painting, that whole green background is made with paper towels.
MT: What advice would you give to aspiring artists?
MR: My advice to aspiring artists is to just do it. Don't wait for permission. If you want to be a writer then write. If you want to be a painter then paint. Be fearless, don't worry about making mistakes, learn from them. A lot of aspiring artists are too hesitant to create something because they are afraid of criticism or failure. Fuck that. Who cares, you are your own worst critic. Embrace your mistakes and move on to the next project. It's called learning. Eventually mistakes get called style. Make it for yourself, make it because you want to. The real failure is not even trying.
Mike goes deep on how he made "Sea Change" using paper towels.
There For Your Protection
Digital- 2015
SOTW: Uncanny Valley
I wonder how much that game costs.
Black Jesus
The second coming is here. Jesus is back and blacker than ever. This Adult Swim show answers the burning question on every religious scholar's mind: What if Jesus walked among us today and was also a 6 foot tall black man wearing a wig? The answer is Black Jesus.
I had to see this show just for the premise alone. I immediately became hooked on watching and have since plowed through the first and second season.
The most engaging aspect of Black Jesus is how believable all of the interactions with Jesus are. Some people dismiss him as a false prophet or a crazy person. Others acknowledge his role as the son of God, but demand that he use his divine powers to further their own selfish ends. Then there are the ones who hang out and smoke blunts with him and let him crash on their couch sometimes.
Created by Aaron McGruder, it also features Boondocks veterans Charlie Murphy and John Witherspoon, who serve as the primary antagonists Vic the Landlord and Lloyd the Homeless Guy. Slink Johnson plays the titular Black Jesus and brims with sunshine as Jesus tries to spread love and kindness among his slacker/stoner friends living the struggle in Compton.
Overall, Black Jesus is a funny show with a ton of heart. It's not overly preachy and not even as outlandish as some of the other stuff on Adult Swim once you get over the name/premise. Both seasons are streaming now on AdultSwim.com for your viewing pleasure.
Squid
Ink on Bristol
SOTW: Coyote- 300 Sunnyside
Everyone knows that coyotes are afraid of roadrunners.
Conception by Will Atwood
Sometimes you see a piece of art that speaks on different levels.
Not only is Conception beautiful, but the process of its creation is remarkable.
Conception is a three dimensional piece of art using acrylic paint and resin. The effect is achieved by alternating layers of resin and paints.
I have honestly never seen anything like this before, but it's amazing.
Long Live the Queen
Acrylic on Canvas- 2015
SOTW: Actresses
Never date someone who does the same thing as you.
NTWON: The Culture High
This time around, I sat down and watched a movie called The Culture High. The Culture High is a documentary exploring marijuana prohibition.
This documentary affords a no-holds-barred examination of marijuana prohibition in the United States. Note that this movie is staunchly in favor of ending prohibition and the War on Drugs at large, so if you're looking for something "objective", this isn't the film for you. But then again, if you're looking for information in favor of the War on Drugs, you're probably not at all the target audience in any case.
A wide range of individuals are interviewed and provide their perspective on prohibition. Snoop Dogg and Joe Rogan make an appearance in addition to a bevy of experts, scientists, lawyers, pundits, and police officers.
The thing that's the most interesting about this film is that it starts with a historical perspective and then moves into the current factors and vested interests in keeping marijuana illegal. Obviously, money pouring in from all sides is the main factor. Police want to keep their absolutely fucked up civil forfeiture laws, for-profit prisons want to keep their populations up, and pharmaceutical companies don't want any competition.
There were points in this movie where I got legitimately angry. I knew things were bad, but I had no idea how bad they were. If you're curious about marijuana prohibition and why the War on Drugs is a thing, you need to absolutely watch this movie.
Guest Post: Grace & Alex- Erin Pearlman
Erin is possibly the most optimistic person I have had the pleasure of meeting. Not only is she brimming with sunshine and positivity, but she also has a sharp eye for photography. She was kind enough to share her series Grace and Alex on ALSO THAT. Be sure to pay her website a visit as well: www.erinpearlman.com
Erin Pearlman is an LA-based photographer, capturing love in its truest form. She recently graduated from the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula, Montana. This particular series chronicles the relationship of Grace & Alex during the weeks leading up to their wedding.
-EP
SOTW: Hellbender: Applooza
Hungry for apples?
Zach Fox: Therapy for the World
Recently, I got a chance to meet Zach Fox, the director of the comedy-horror short "Homer". Check out his film and then give his interview a read.
MT: When did you first start creating films?
ZF: I first started making films when I was in high school. I went to the Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven and during my freshman year I took a video class and instantly fell in love with video. I started out doing lots of short experimental films. I took as many video classes as I could during high school before moving on to the film program at the School of Visual Arts. That's when I really started to do narrative films.
MT: What do you want audiences to take away from your work?
ZF: With Homer, I wanted to show that we should all try to treat people with respect. So I'm showing what happens when you don't do that. You've got Bob and Al treating Homer really badly and then they face the consequences of their actions. Things don't turn out too well for them. It's not what happens in real life but it's more of a fantasy of revenge. So I want people to take away the idea that bullying has consequences. I like the idea that art can be therapy for the world. I don't know if I achieved that with Homer but I'm always trying to go deeper with my work.
MT: Do you have any major influences? Who are some of your favorite directors?
ZF: My biggest influences would have to be Stanley Kubrick and John Carpenter. My two favorite films being The Thing and The Shining. I can watch those movies over and over again. The Thing still has some of the best practical effects I have ever seen and apart from having no women in the movie it's basically perfect. The Shining is all about the psychological side of horror. I feel like these 2 films were crucial in my horror education. As for my favorite directors, I love Alejandro Jodorowsky, David Lynch, Nicolas Winding Refn, Akira Kurosawa and David Cronenberg. I could name a lot more but those are my top 5.
MT: Have you ever gotten in front of the camera yourself? Would you?
ZF: I've gotten in front of the camera a few times. The last time was in 2013 for an upcoming film my friend Neil Meschino is working on called Maggots. I would love to do it again but I'm not for acting and directing at the same time.
MT: What would you say is the most difficult part of making a film?
ZF: I'd say the most difficult part of making a film is making that first day of shooting happen. Getting everything ready on time for that first day takes a lot of work and there are a lot of times where it seems impossible but once you're on set and get to see the fruition of all the pre-production work you've been doing for months; there's no better feeling.
MT: What words of advice do you have for aspiring filmmakers?
ZF: You have to be determined, like you want to start a fire but all of your wood is soaking wet. It seems impossible but that doesn't slow you down. If you have that determination, nothing will stand in your way.
SOTW: Wrestling Isn't Wrestling
Wrestling isn't wrestling, but this short is definitely a short.
Shout-out to Taylor R. for showing me this.
Art Dump
Sharing some art today to help promote the Laurate Nu Crafts Fair this Saturday! I will be there alongside my sister, Maria Theebs, selling art.
All of these paintings will be available for sale this Saturday.
SOTW: The Rat
When you got Netflix $$$, you can afford to make choose your own adventure ads with insane production value.
Master of None
On Friday, Aziz Ansari's new Netflix-exclusive show Master of None dropped and by Sunday I was wrapping up the tenth and final episode. While this in itself is not impressive (as gobbling down entire seasons of programming in five-hour stretches is the new normal), I was spellbound the entire time. Ansari, working with some heavy-hitters in the world of comedy, managed to create a show that is not only hilarious, but also verbalizes existential anxieties facing an entire generation.
It's no surprise that a show featuring the writing of Aziz Ansari, Harris Wittles (RIP), and Joe Mande (among many others) is a comedic hit. Couple this with the unique perspective of Eric Wareheim (of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!), who directs the lion's share of episodes, and, baby, you got a stew going.
Master of None is not afraid to take some risks with their jokes, especially when it comes to pacing. There are several instances where a scene runs the risk of being too long as it milks a bit dry. Thankfully, these jokes are few and far between and the script of each episode is rife with snappy dialogue (no doubt due to Wittles' influence).
At the center of the show, beyond the wit and banter, is a beating heart. Master of None is to Aziz Ansari as Louis is to Louis CK. Aziz uses this show as a vessel to explore a range of topics important to him including: dating, racism, immigration, sexism, and the influence of technology on a generation entering the throes of adulthood.
One episode that particularly stood out begins with an overview of how Dev's (Aziz's character) father emigrated to the United States. The entire episode seemed like a kind of catharsis for Ansari as it allowed him to publicly thank his parents for the years of sacrifice in order to give him a life of luxury and prosperity.
Being a massive fan of Aziz, I have seen all of his stand-up and even read his best-selling book, Modern Romance. And many, many threads in Master of None connect to his past work. You don't need to be familiar with his back catalog to enjoy this show by any means, but it adds another dimension to the enjoyment, especially if you have read his book. Some scenes seem to be lifted straight off the page.
Overall, the freshman season of Master of None is a massive success. The internet is foaming at the mouth for more, and why wouldn't they? Ansari has taken something personal and turned it into a hilarious and relatable program. I could not recommend this show highly enough.