We live in a false reality.

It’s our emotional outlook; the product of wounds and pleasures, mixed in a alchemy of dreams and imaginations. It makes for one strange reality. It is developed over years, and none can escape without help from God.

We interpret circumstances to reinforce that outlook, and deny interpretations that run contrary to it. The challenge is to not be conformed to this outlook, but to God’s Word and what we ‘think’ it says about us. But even this must go through our flawed emotional outlook, and it can get warped. We must have the working of the Holy Spirit to help us through. Over time we resolve to a more perfect solution. And this will be love. Freedom to love others as they are, freedom to love yourself as you are. And most importantly, understanding how great Father God’s love is for us, just as we are.

The song Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch reflects this strange reality .

I think this song reflects the journey of the older brother of the Prodigal Son, as he returns back home. He has learned the profound truth, in your love, my salvation lies.

More on Alexi Murdoch here…

Think before you leap. [video]

From a coffee cup to an iPhone to the bible, tools are essential to the human experience. In the short film, THE BLACK HOLE, a witless office worker finds the ultimate tool, only to be trapped by it’s limitations.A clear goal or motivation makes a story understandable. Risk and/or conflict make it engaging. Twists keep it interesting. This film has all three, and does it in just under three minutes.

THE BLACK HOLE shown at the May, 2009 Cannes film festival.

This is another case of a great story where no dialog is necessary. Like the short film, A THOUSAND WORDS, the best story telling needs a minimum of words. Film is first and foremost, a visual medium. Words should be used sparingly, if not at all. A foundational rule for good screenplay writing is, show it, don’t say it. It’s best to learn the characters through the choices that they make. Choices demonstrate motivations. Actions do speak louder than words.

See the short film, A THOUSAND WORDS…

Bullet time, next generation. [video]

Movies make a great visual for altered reality. Time distortion, or bullet time, first shown in the film, The Matrix, is characterized by an extreme slow-down of time as the camera moves around the scene at a normal speed.

The video below is the making of the movie.

Trekkies bash new Star Trek film as ‘fun, watchable’.

It’s a shame the Trekkies won’t let the franchise move forward with a fun, watchable movie with a good story. Watch this news report and you’ll see, traditions die slow.

Movie Plots should be this simple.

Great films should have a story so easy to understand, that even a three year old can get it. Watch this three year old give an insightful review of the first Star Wars movie.

The power of story in promotion.

This promotional short film tells a compelling, intricate story of adoption. A great mix of narrative over multiple stories that intersect in the end. Produced and Directed by my friend, Andy Anderson, at Paradox Media Group.

A great question.

Great stories are based on a great question. One of my favorites is “Is this real or am I crazy?” Movies ask this question, creating a mystery the audience has to figure out.

Often, it’s a debate between science and faith.  Science is about the tangible, verifiable physical world. Faith is about the supernatural, intangible, meta-physical world.

Few story genres debate science and faith better than than Sci-Fi. Mulder and Scully debated it on X-Files for nine seasons. Morpheus offers Faith to Neo in the form of a red pill in the Matrix. Jack and Locke have been debating purpose, fate and the supernatural on LOST for six seasons. Their relationship even inspired an episode title: Man of Science, Man of Faith.

Though different stories offer different answers to this debate, what drives the story is always the quest for truth. And sure enough, truth comes along and rocks their world. The desire for truth makes us question everything we believe and takes us on incredible journeys that can be both exhilarating and heartbreaking.

In the new trailer for the movie Moon [June 12], an astronaut, Sam Rockwell, is on a lonely lunar mission. He struggles with the question, Can he believe what he sees? “Is this real or am I crazy?” I love it when the computer sympathetically suggests, “Perhaps you are imagining things?”

[qt:http://movies.apple.com/movies/sony/moon/moon_h.480.mov 480 216]

[Trailer options at the apple site...]

This is Jenn’s first contribution. Welcome!

It is the near future. Astronaut Sam Bell is living on the far side of the moon, completing a three-year contract with Lunar Industries to mine Earth’s primary source of energy, Helium-3. It is a lonely job, made harder by a broken satellite that allows no live communications home. Taped messages are all Sam can send and receive. Thankfully, his time on the moon is nearly over, and Sam will be reunited with his wife, Tess, and their three-year-old daughter, Eve, in only a few short weeks. Finally, he will leave the isolation of “Sarang,” the moon base that has been his home for so long, and he will finally have someone to talk to beyond “Gerty,” the base’s well-intentioned, but rather uncomplicated computer.

Tweet a story as you travel.

With twitter you can share a real time travelogue as you road trip the world.

In the tweets below, follow twitter founder Jack Dorsey as he tweets his way to Baghdad and back. A fascinating read.

Jack’s posts tell a story, and it’s all the more dramatic when it’s real time. He shares emotions, observations and questions from his network of followers. A real time story.

Twitter postings show the last post at the top of the list. To go to the beginning of Jack’s trip, click here.

Note: Some links may be broken. I’ve also removed some posts that were background conversation.

Happiness is an empty seat next to you on the flight to NYC. Farewell, Amman.about 7 hours ago from txt

 

Checking out of my hotel and on the way to Amman airport. Sleepy.about 9 hours ago from txt

 

Getting ready to go out on the town in Amman.about 19 hours ago from web

 

Making my way back to the hotel. And some dinner.about 20 hours ago from txt

 

Watching the sunset 475 meters below sea level, over the dead sea. Beautiful breeze.about 22 hours ago from txt

 

Reflecting on everything that occured this week as I stare out to Israel.9:35 AM Apr 23rd from txt

 

Looking at Isreal7:50 AM Apr 23rd from txt

 

Getting ready to head to the dead sea5:13 AM Apr 23rd from txt

 

Farewell, Baghdad. Hope to see you again soon. Stepping off the C130 into Amman.3:53 AM Apr 23rd from txt

http://twitpic.com/3tb2m 12:11 AM Apr 23rd from Tweetie

Haven’t had a lot of sleep. Not sure when I’m going to do that.12:09 AM Apr 23rd from txt

 

Saying goodbye to our security detail 11:45 PM Apr 22nd from txt

 

For the rest of the story, click here

Now that the Deputy Prime Minister is signing up to Twitter, we have to get Secretary Clinton back on. @JaredCohen1 will make that happen.6:13 PM Apr 22nd from Tweetie

Following our delegation lead @jaredcohen1. Hopefully we can lose the 1. Jared is awesome (and sometimes has good hair).6:05 PM Apr 22nd from Tweetie

@iraqii where are you from? You’ve taken the first step. Keep updating and find others around you!6:02 PM Apr 22nd from Tweetie in reply to iraqii

University of Baghdad http://twitpic.com/3sjt4 5:36 PM Apr 22nd from Tweetie

Wine and cheese with the delegation. Beautiful night in Baghdad. We’re chatting about the week. http://twitpic.com/3sjgf5:31 PM Apr 22nd from Tweetie

 

Twitter succeeds when it’s not talked about so much, blurs into the background, & is used as a utility. Like electricity.3:17 PM Apr 22nd from txt

 

If the progress in Iraq could get a tenth of the press Twitter gets everyday, we’d all be aware of something exciting & new. #iraqtech2:51 PM Apr 22nd from Tweetie

 

Gave the Deputy Prime Minister a handmade glass bowl. Also, he’s signing up to Twitter tonight. #iraqtech2:46 PM Apr 22nd from Tweetie

 

@seeemore no, we feel very safe here2:37 PM Apr 22nd from Tweetie in reply to seeemore

 

@Mytoy1964 with the State department to survey technology here in Iraq and figure out if tech like Twitter can help2:36 PM Apr 22nd from Tweetie in reply to Mytoy1964

 

Warm night, sung prayer wafting on the breeze, & inspired conversation. Wonderful.1:54 PM Apr 22nd from txt

 

Talking in baghdad with Ranj Alaaldin1:33 PM Apr 22nd from txt

 

Gorgeous weather and light tonight #iraqtech11:36 AM Apr 22nd from txt

 

The Embassy people work so hard. 7 days a week! No breaks. An impressive team #iraqtech9:42 AM Apr 22nd from txt

 

@mkayes because SMS was limited to 160 characters. We want to make sure we work on the lowest common denominator: cheap mobile phones9:11 AM Apr 22nd from Tweetie in reply to mkayes

 

@PizzaCones thanks. You too!9:07 AM Apr 22nd from Tweetie in reply to PizzaCones

Hello Jack.. this could be your first tweet from an Iraqi in Baghdad:-) (via @Aziz_RiTS)8:34 AM Apr 22nd from Tweetie

 

@Aziz_RiTS hello! Where in Baghdad are you?8:34 AM Apr 22nd from Tweetie in reply to Aziz_RiTS

 

@robertaw99 extremely hot! Lots of problems wearing a suit here8:33 AM Apr 22nd from Tweetie in reply to robertaw99

 

@davar pretty amazing, huh? Even more is how much people want to participate in gov’t8:33 AM Apr 22nd from Tweetie in reply to davar

 

Met the President of Iraq at his house this morn. Amazing palace and an enlightening conversation #iraqtech7:43 AM Apr 22nd from txt

 

Going on CNN live7:43 AM Apr 22nd from txt

 

@babyglam yes, first time in the mideast7:27 AM Apr 22nd from Tweetie in reply to babyglam

 

Some of the delegation. On the far right is Tony, our lead detail. He’s awesome. http://twitpic.com/3ri1d7:27 AM Apr 22nd from Tweetie

 

In the Presidential Palace http://twitpic.com/3ri0e7:26 AM Apr 22nd from Tweetie

 

Taking advantage of the wifi here and catching up on the rest of the world. Lots going on out there!7:25 AM Apr 22nd from Tweetie

 

@chrissyman not fighting, learning and talking to people7:23 AM Apr 22nd from Tweetie in reply to chrissyman

 

Getting some pizza before our next meeting7:20 AM Apr 22nd from Tweetie

 

Passing a group of Iraqi kids laying in the shade under a tree. They were all texting and smiling #iraqtech7:06 AM Apr 22nd from txt

 

Talked with a great bunch of students & professors at the technology university. Unfortunately had to leave early due to a security issu 7:01 AM Apr 22nd from txt

 

Starting to get a bit hot here. Feels good. #iraqtech4:59 AM Apr 22nd from txt

 

Wow, that man had a coffee cup holster (and amazing coffee to go along with it) #iraqtech4:57 AM Apr 22nd from txt

 

30-40% of graduating university students don’t get jobs in their fields. The other 70% get jobs in the government. #iraqtech3:42 AM Apr 22nd from txt

 

Taking off my helmet and flak jacket2:41 AM Apr 22nd from txt

 

Checking out our transport for the day1:42 AM Apr 22nd from txt

 

Breakfast time. A smokey and hazy morning. Lots of helicopters. #iraqtech1:00 AM Apr 22nd from txt

 

@dberube Learning from Iraqis about how technology is used here, what’s broken, and where help is needed.6:33 PM Apr 21st from Tweetie in reply to dberube

 

@andrewmueller I am talking to troops whenever possible. Sometimes Twitter comes up, mainly we talk about where we’re from.6:28 PM Apr 21st from Tweetie in reply to andrewmueller

 

@maniar Talking to Iraqi’s to figure out if technologies like Twitter can help bring transparency, accessibility, and stability to the area.6:19 PM Apr 21st from Tweetie in reply to maniar

 

My iPhoto Places tab is looking hot. Almost as hot as my passport. http://yfrog.com/0cozkp 6:16 PM Apr 21st from Tweetie

 

@steffhoward there’s a need for a lot. You should look into it. Start at the embassy.6:14 PM Apr 21st from Tweetie

 

@loic believe it!6:12 PM Apr 21st from Tweetie in reply to loic

 

Getting ready for bed in Baghdad. A few stars out, no signs of helicopters for a while, mostly quiet. Sleep tight, Iraq. #iraqtech5:59 PM Apr 21st from web

 

Yo! @Calperry is now on Twitter. Watch how CNN works from the ground. Currently in Baghdad.5:51 PM Apr 21st from web

 

Rerouting one of my flights through Washington DC.5:31 PM Apr 21st from web

People walking the Baghdad streets. #iraqtech http://twitpic.com/3qa5p3:41 PM Apr 21st from Tweetie

 

Baghdad museum. Odd creatures. #iraqtech http://twitpic.com/3q91n3:25 PM Apr 21st from Tweetie

 

Streets of Baghdad. #iraqtech http://twitpic.com/3q8qd3:21 PM Apr 21st from Tweetie

 

Civilization’s first two tweets. ~2009 BC. Hard to follow that! http://twitpic.com/3q8ni3:19 PM Apr 21st from Tweetie

 

Iraqi’s start thier weekends on Friday. Back to work on Sunday. #iraqtech3:14 PM Apr 21st from txt

 

Drinking a glass of wine with embassy folks2:44 PM Apr 21st from txt

 

Saw the real Baghdad today by driving out in the red zone. Lots of work to do, but people are on the street talking and things are moving.2:11 PM Apr 21st from web

 

@rohanjay I’m twittering from a US cell. We don’t have an Iraqi number ready just yet.1:46 PM Apr 21st from web in reply to rohanjay

 

Leaving an amazing conversation with a group of extremely bright Iraqi students. Inspiring. #iraqtech11:35 AM Apr 21st from txt

 

A bit hotter today in Baghdad. So much concrete. It’s everywhere. #iraqtech9:42 AM Apr 21st from txt

 

Met @madeleinep77’s brother Cal today. He interviewed me for CNN!9:38 AM Apr 21st from txt

 

Stores in Baghdad started taking credit cards again a few months ago. #iraqtech6:41 AM Apr 21st from txt

 

We just visited the Baghdad Museum. What a precious experience. So beautiful!6:41 AM Apr 21st from txt

 

Arabic is a really beautiful language3:01 AM Apr 21st from txt

 

http://twitpic.com/3oh4q6:12 PM Apr 20th from Tweetie

 

Soldiers from North Carolina in front of Saddam’s Iraq-Iran War memorial [?]5:37 PM Apr 20th from Tweetie

 

Beautiful night in Baghdad. Clear, crisp, warm, and quiet. Replying to people and preparing for tmrw.5:18 PM Apr 20th from web

 

State department press release on our trip: http://bit.ly/qjAfw #iraqtech3:09 PM Apr 20th from web

 

The embassy has yoga classes. And belly dancing.2:29 PM Apr 20th from txt

 

A question for all reading this (& your followers): what do you think life is like in Iraq today? I had no idea. #iraqtech12:31 PM Apr 20th from txt

 

17.5 million mobiles. 85% penetration. The infrastructure is overwhelmed. Only 0.06% Internet penetration. #iraqtech11:05 AM Apr 20th from txt

 

Cell phone usage here is massive and the velocity is increasing. #iraqtech9:28 AM Apr 20th from txt

 

The weather here is like San Francisco today. #iraqtech4:16 AM Apr 20th from txt

 

@saleemkhan Nothing specific. We want to listen to figure out what works and what’s needed.6:08 PM Apr 19th from web in reply to saleemkhan

 

@bastiancontrari Twitter is what you make of it. Everyone is going to find a different use, & push the product the way they wish.5:46 PM Apr 19th from web in reply to bastiancontrari

 

@Axeluno It wasn’t too bad! The kevlar suits are heavy & awkward. It’s surreal how quiet everyone becomes after 30 minutes in the air tho.5:41 PM Apr 19th from web in reply to Axeluno

 

Scott (@heif) just set up a photos feed: http://bit.ly/wVlEm and we may have the 1st press release with a Twitter search URL tmrw! #iraqtech5:38 PM Apr 19th from web

 

@koslosle We have a really packed schedule of us talking to all sorts of people. Lot’s to explore there!5:32 PM Apr 19th from web in reply to koslosle

 

@koslosle It actually feels a lot like San Francisco at the moment. Kind of chilly. #iraqtech5:23 PM Apr 19th from web in reply to koslosle

 

@bastiancontrari Rather, I’m hoping they introduce it to me. Everyone and every culture will have their own needs and ways of using it.5:22 PM Apr 19th from web in reply to bastiancontrari

 

In Baghdad courtesy of State.gov meeting Iraqi’s from all walks of life. Follow & join the conversation: http://tinyurl.com/d2njem #iraqtech5:02 PM Apr 19th from web

 

@N02R We have to restart somewhere.4:56 PM Apr 19th from web in reply to N02R

 

A picture of me in the c-130 & armor: http://twitpic.com/3l8pe (via @heif) #iraqtech4:25 PM Apr 19th from web

 

Leaving an amazing dinner in Baghdad, Iraq. Such an honor to be here.4:05 PM Apr 19th from txt

 

In a helicopter. Wow.9:44 AM Apr 19th from txt

 

Landed. That was an amazing flight. Waiting to be picked up.9:02 AM Apr 19th from txt

 

Walking up a ramp into the back of a plane6:47 AM Apr 19th from txt

 

On our way. I’m so excited!2:34 AM Apr 19th from txt

 

Wearing a suit. Getting ready to go to the next location. But first, breakfast!12:55 AM Apr 19th from txt

 

That was a fantastic dinner. Great conversation and planning. Ready for tmrw.5:22 PM Apr 18th from txt

 

Discussing video games over hookahs3:05 PM Apr 18th from txt

 

Sitting down to dinner in Amman Jordan.2:11 PM Apr 18th from txt

 

Everyone applauded that landing. Here for a night then onward!11:20 AM Apr 18th from txt

 

Touchdown in foggy Brussels. Only here to refuel.5:59 AM Apr 18th from txt

 

About to embark on the most exciting & meaniful experience of my life (so far). More soon. For now: bye USA, see you

 

Friday.9:59 PM Apr 17th from txt

 

At JFK airport8:07 PM Apr 17th from txt

 

Triple checking everything.5:40 PM Apr 17th from Tweetie

 

This espresso+grappa smells like hay12:09 AM Apr 17th from txt

 

Getting a bit nervous. Tomorrow is a big day.9:26 PM Apr 16th from txt

 

@ranajune I’ll be here until Friday night, then back on the 24th through the 26th. Sure we can arrange something! Will try to get a tweetup3:21 PM Apr 16th from web in reply to ranajune

 

Wow, turns out lots of people here at bumble&bumble use & love Twitter and just gave me a bag of product! Thank you!

 

Working here for a bit.2:57 PM Apr 16th from web

 

Getting a haircut at bumble&bumble. Wonder if they have Twitter2:23 PM Apr 16th from txt

 

Having dinner at Spice Market10:41 PM Apr 15th from txt

 

@juliaxgulia That’d be fun!8:03 PM Apr 15th from web in reply to juliaxgulia

Start reading here and scroll up…

See my other blogs about twitter

Who to write without words. [video]

Writing novels and films is very different. In fact, one of the biggest differences between novels and films is how the emotions and thoughts of characters are conveyed. In novels, this is done primarily though a narrator or character telling the reader their inner thoughts. In writing parlance, this is also known as the inner dialogue. Assuming that the characters have a colorful inner life, this can make for a great novel. But in films this present a unique challenge because there is no way to hear it.
Show it, don’t say it.

The challenge for the screenwriter is how to get this powerful inner dialogue to the screen. If characters speak their thoughts, it often seems forced or didactic. Another method is narration. But this can only be used for one character, and get’s old fast. And narration doesn’t use films greatest power – the image.

A foundational rule in good writing is, show it, don’t say it. It’s best to learn the characters through the choices that they make. Choices demonstrate motivations. Actions do speak louder than words.

A THOUSAND WORDS, directed by Ted Chung.

The short film below tells an engaging story with no dialog. It has a clear narrative, inciting incident, romantic goal, road trip and some surprising twists. Great use of the camera, too. See it all done in just four minutes.

At a press conference today at the G20 economic summit, world leaders unveiled the car of the future. Termed the “gCar” or Green Car, President Obama hailed the breakthrough as a major step forward in “making the United States independent from foreign oil and revitalizing our national auto industry”, fulfilling major promises of his 2008 political campaign. He also took the opportunity to announce a technology cooperative with Russia and China , saying…

This is proof that the socialist nations of the world have much to offer America in our time of need.

President Obama was also quick to extoll the technology breakthroughs of the gCar including the one horsepower engine, which promises near continuous energy for up to 10 hours at time. A “fuel collector” upgrade feature will be available, to remove the engine’s emissions for use in fertilization or the home compost pile. Fuel subsidies will be available from government distribution centers in the form of hay and oats.

America’s consumerist mentality…

When asked about advanced forms of the gCar technology, such as the two-horse model already in use in development by Mercedes and BMW, the President chastened the reporter, saying…

America must change its consumerist mentality. Government experts have determined the one-horse model is the ideal for our workers. Any more will overburden our delicate infrastructure. Let’s not forget we’re in a crisis here.

When asked about other possible drawbacks, including lack of top speed of the one-horse version, the President was quick to point out that speedy transportation is a classist tool that would no longer be used to oppress the poor.

I hope you all got a kick out of that — my attempt at an “Onion” style article. The best Onion articles are the ones that almost seem possible. We have so much absurdity in our culture, some harmless and some dangerous. And there is nothing more absurd than the fact half the population of America is looking to the government and its leaders to preserve a standard of living built with a free market.

I am not aware of a single example of a government program or initiative that has advanced our nation’s economy. Free markets have proven themselves over and over building a standard of living that has benefited hundred of millions of people throughout the world. Did the government mandate the phone, the lightbulb, the airplane, movies, the Mac? No. Capitalists did, motivated by personal gain. Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, Louis B. Mayer, Steve Jobs were all motivated by the opportunity to profit in a free market. The great irony is, if they didn’t meet a need, they would not profit. Thus, the needs of the “people” drive innovation, not the dictates of a government planner. Who will buy the one-horse gCar, or its equivalent from Washington’s central planners? Nobody, unless they regulate out the good stuff. Ever see the cars from the Soviet Union?

Our hope should be in ourselves and God, not the government. It is not time to abandon  the great experiment that started in 1776.

A good question to ask yourself, “What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?” I doubt few will answer… “my government.”