Another day at the salt mines
Aug. 30th, 2005 10:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pbraySpend all day yesterday running queries and building data models, while simultaneously obsessively watching the internet news sites. When I got home, I did not turn on the news but instead tuned into the premiere of Fox's new show Prison Break.
The story revolves around two brothers-- one of whom is on death row for killing the Vice President's brother. He's played by Dominic Purcell, who stared in the short-lived series John Doe, and since his appearance is virtually unchanged from that show, including the haircut, it was a tad jarring for me at first, as I kept wondering why John Doe was in prison. Naturally he's innocent, and his brother devises a scheme that lands him in prison, so the two of them can break out. Wentworth Miller, who plays the other brother, gave an outstanding performance. I'll definitely tune in to see where this is going.
Reading: Finally had to set aside the book I had started over the weekend. I like SFR, but this was sfR, where the romantic attraction overwhelmed the story line. In the opening chapters every possible contrivance is used so the hero and heroine keep accidentally landing in each other's arms, pressed up against a tight bulkhead, etc. The heroine, who is supposed to be a tough as nails independent captain, displays an astounding degree of naivete when it comes to letting an unknown stranger have the run of her ship. The hero's secret identity is so heavily foreshadowed that even the dimmest of readers knows who he is. Both characters can't think about the other without refering to their physical characteristics, eye color, hair color, how their skin smelled, firm body, you get it.
I think I lasted 50 pages and then I had to give up. The stuff was painted on with a trowel, where light brushstrokes would have served far better. At least for me. Though I probably would have liked this story when I was a teenager.
The story revolves around two brothers-- one of whom is on death row for killing the Vice President's brother. He's played by Dominic Purcell, who stared in the short-lived series John Doe, and since his appearance is virtually unchanged from that show, including the haircut, it was a tad jarring for me at first, as I kept wondering why John Doe was in prison. Naturally he's innocent, and his brother devises a scheme that lands him in prison, so the two of them can break out. Wentworth Miller, who plays the other brother, gave an outstanding performance. I'll definitely tune in to see where this is going.
Reading: Finally had to set aside the book I had started over the weekend. I like SFR, but this was sfR, where the romantic attraction overwhelmed the story line. In the opening chapters every possible contrivance is used so the hero and heroine keep accidentally landing in each other's arms, pressed up against a tight bulkhead, etc. The heroine, who is supposed to be a tough as nails independent captain, displays an astounding degree of naivete when it comes to letting an unknown stranger have the run of her ship. The hero's secret identity is so heavily foreshadowed that even the dimmest of readers knows who he is. Both characters can't think about the other without refering to their physical characteristics, eye color, hair color, how their skin smelled, firm body, you get it.
I think I lasted 50 pages and then I had to give up. The stuff was painted on with a trowel, where light brushstrokes would have served far better. At least for me. Though I probably would have liked this story when I was a teenager.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-30 05:12 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-30 05:51 pm (UTC)My new series was in part inspired by John Doe. I kept trying to analyze what it was about that series that intrigued me, and realized it was the fundmental question of what makes us who we are. In John Doe the hero's challenge was to make sense of his life, with neither memories nor friends/family to provide a background context to ground him.
Then, of course, because I'm a writer, that idea was merely a launching pad. Rather than starting with an amnesiac, I start with someone who is absolutely certain of his identity. The twist, of course, is that he's 100% wrong....
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-30 08:42 pm (UTC)I had a story idea dealing with a different thread from the same tapestry come and get me about two weeks ago.
Now, I'm sorry I never saw John Doe.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-31 02:19 am (UTC)You can weave powerful story ideas around these threads, because they touch upon the most fundamental of questions. It's like using power tools-- plug one of these suckers in and vrroom! now we're building something.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-31 02:56 am (UTC)It's so neat that one little thing can trigger a whole avalanche of ideas.
I get visual triggers too. Some image I see will set off a flight of fancy.
Years ago I saw a guy in a movie who, just by the visual he presented in that one shot, merged with another image of a completely different guy from a completely unrelated place and setting. The new merged visual triggered the on the spot creation of a whole, fully evolved, 3-D character with a full, rich personality and dossier(nothing like the triggers BTW except a hair resemblance). It was something like Athena springing fully baked from Zeus' forehead.
I've never done it as well since either, drat.
P.S. I'll be the spotted green salmon.