CMT - (Rambo) First Blood

There are two common mistakes that people make, in regards to authority. I think that the most common, is the resistance or rejection of authority figures as a knee-jerk, or emotional reaction. Unfortunately, I can't say that the abuse of the power that authority gives is a rare occurrence. Both of those issues are related, and they have similar effects; they contribute to a bloated prison population, and they foster mistrust among us.

Classic Movie Trailers: “First Blood” (1982)

The role of the supervisor is a very important one. In society and in the workplace, rules are enacted in order to restrict behavior that is damaging, to everyone's interests. Without authority figures chaos emerges and the cost of chaos is loss of revenue, loss of property and loss of life. As a person in a position to either create or enforce laws, you have to understand that in order to do your job correctly, the decisions you make must benefit your subordinates, as well as your employer and yourself. The moment that your status becomes linked to your self-esteem, or when it becomes your pass to do any number of objectionable things, is exactly when your power should be stripped away.

Along those same lines, subordinates and average citizens have to realize their responsibility. In fact, those roles are crucial, because those of us in power are few and far between and that power is only there for as long as the masses allow it. So in that way, subordinates are managers as well and they have an equal part to play, to protect the well-being of us all. If you're someone that doesn't enjoy being told what to do and you immediately dislike, or mistrust someone who is tasked to do so, you should understand the danger involved in submitting to those feelings.

Authority figures must be there, and they will remain for as long as human society endures. In order to live together successfully, lawmakers have to question every law they enact and supervisors have to enforce laws with good will and conscience. That leaves the majority of us, under those laws, to abide by those that are just. We must recognize that every authority figure isn't one to rebel against, just as we understand that every one isn't worth following.

@ChannelSeals

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CMT - Dirty Harry

Ignoring financial concerns, I believe there are two main goals an author should have, when trying to tell a story. First, it's your job as a writer to create characters, settings and situations that are believable. Second, it's important to keep the audience's attention. In other words, be entertaining. After watching this film I've been reminded that sometimes, in pursuing the second goal, writers forget the first one.

Classic Movie Trailers: “Dirty Harry” (1971)

Stories are a window to another world. Whether you're looking at a comic strip, or a novel, or a movie screen, a great story will make you forget about the medium and focus on the characters and the plot. Whenever a character does something that a normal person wouldn't do, it breaks the illusion and you become painfully aware, that the scene you're looking in on is not real. One good way to separate people from the experience, is to force your character to say certain things.

Whenever character dialogue is written, the author should ask themselves whether or not the speech fits the character and the situation. Would this character say these lines, to the other character or to themselves, in the absence of an audience to view and hear them? Do the words have a meaningful purpose, other than creating sound bytes or catchphrases, that you think will become popular?

I think that, in order to be entertaining, the writer's focus should be on the plot. Action movies can have millions of dollars worth of explosions, and novels can have pages and pages of flashy dialogue, but these things can fall flat if there isn't a situation to justify them. I think of action and gore and jokes and amusing speeches as frosting on the cake; they can be sweet but they aren't substantial enough, to provide a filling experience. However, plot twists and turns if interesting, can keep the viewer's attention, as they see how the character's react to them.

It is possible to write a script, that relies on gunshots and explosions and fancy martial arts. There is nothing to prohibit the creation of a story, that favors one-liners and come backs and speeches designed to generate mass appeal. There's a lot of money to be made, by writing in that style.

There's just one question...

Do you feel lucky, punk? 

@ChannelSeals

http://youtu.be/HjBNldYiUmg

CMT - Dog Day Afternoon

A number of times, over the course of my life, I've tried to examine why I react to certain people in such a strong way. I'll think about their behavior long after each incident. A single comment, or a simple look from a certain someone, can send my head spinning and my heart racing and I don't immediately understand why. However, after giving it some thought I realize the problem; I keep making the foolish mistake of trying to use logic to explain emotion.

Classic Movie Trailers: "Dog Day Afternoon" (1975)


I think that, when people meet people, they immediately have an emotional reaction. In our everyday lives these reactions may be so slight, that they pass into the subconscious, to be soon forgotten. Sometimes however, we encounter a person that has a profound effect on us. We can move on and forget these people as well, but it takes much, much longer. Until then, we might hang on their every word and deed.

So who are these people, that we become attached to? Well, I don't think that matters. We all know who we're "supposed" to be with. We know their gender, their religion, their race, their political stance and their world view; we also know what their approximate age would be. Tomorrow though, you might meet someone that makes you think again, about one or more of those criteria.

Emotion is what it is. You're going to feel what you feel, no matter how much you try to talk yourself out of it; and you will feel that way until you simply don't anymore. When that condition does change and the tide finally ebbs, it has no more of a reasonable explanation, than your feelings did at the very beginning.

I wouldn't suggest that we all become slaves to emotion. Practical living requires that we keep ourselves under some sort of control. However, we should all recognize and respect the power that emotion has over us. So, if you see a couple together and they seem like an odd match, don't think on it overlong and don't shake your head at the pair, or belittle them. You may not understand what causes their emotions, but that's only because there's no logical answer to that question.

@ChannelSeals 

http://youtu.be/CZHS7zexXlU