So Long, Ra's Al Cool.

Why?

The time is right. 

Over the past year I kept thinking "I can't top what I just did, there's no way." I was happy to be proven wrong. And while it was a truly great time and I had a blast filming the clips, once "they" got wise to my act- the fire went out. What's the point of going on when everyone is in on the joke? Are there probably tons and tons of people out there who have no idea what I was trying to do with the character of Ra's Al Cool? Probably. Could I continue making clips based on the completely bogus stuff I read online? Definitely.

I just think the time is right to step away. It started out as a total joke, you know? I read something online that I thought was total bullshit and laughed it off. I then wondered how the hell anyone could believe what these people were thinking and theorizing. I did a little bit of research, tried to find a rhythm, and hit record.

Here are some facts about Ra's:

- 98% of what I said in those videos is based on what I saw on numerous message boards (I won't name them, but they aren't difficult to find...)

- Everything was completely improvised. I never rehearsed and never really knew what I wanted to say until I hit record

- Most of them were recorded in 1 take, as I hardly ever re-shot anything

Look, I'm a writer and a director. I've been writing since I was 16 and I've directed a couple of super small personal projects, so this whole thing was an exercise for me: can I create a character that people can relate to? And the answer is "yes."

I want to give a massive Thank You to Bill Ramey, founder of the (greatest) Batman site, Batman-On-Film. Bill immediately understood what I was going for and started putting the videos on his site, which was insanely generous of him.

Look, in every bitchy, whining fanboy rests a Ra's Al Cool. Is it annoying? Definitely. But you know what? They're the gift that keeps on giving.

For those who liked the videos and "got it"- truly, Thank You.

Random.

A few photos from 2010.

Chicago, 2011.

All photos taken last October.

Collage.

From around the neighborhood.

Betty.

My grandmother, taken sometime in 2011.

Road Inclines.

Downtown Baltimore.

Rocky, b&w and color.

Rocky, nearly 11 years old.

Cabin.

An old cabin I saw while on the bus coming home from Pittsburgh.

Bridges.

I took these photos in September 2011 during a trip to Pittsburgh, PA.

The Skipped Song.

On this (super) dreary morning on the east coast I decided to grab a couple of cd's; one for my drive to and one for my drive from. Disc (a) was Jimmy Eat World's "Bleed American," which is always a solid choice (under any circumstance). Disc (b) was Nirvana's "In Utero," (again, solid choice). I pulled out of my parking spot, popped in Jimmy Eats, and away I went. A few minutes into the drive and it happened, just like that, without even thinking: I skipped their song "The Middle." I can't stand that song. At all. Like, at all at all. Maybe I just heard it way too many times when I was in middle school and high school that it eventually just wore me down. I love the album, but the song belongs nowhere near my ears. So as I skipped track 3 (wish I kept track of such of thing, I wonder how many skips I'd be up to...) I started wondering about other songs on good albums I skip.

Here's a small list (in no particular order, mind you):

1. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nevermind- Nirvana
- OBviously a game changer (duh), but it's not even the best song on the album (Drain You and Lounge Act are front runners for me) let alone their best song ever. Love the album, but I generally skip track 1.

2. Can't Stop, By The Way- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Too simple for the album, in my opinion. Love RHCP (not including I'm With You, which I'm still not in like with...) but I prefer the other dynamic/soulful tracks on BTW than this one.

3. Rock 'N Roll, Led Zeppelin IV- Led Zeppelin
- As much as I love Stairway to Heaven, it doesn't get any better than Going to California. That song speaks to my soul in a way that Rock 'N Roll can't. Maybe I've just seen it in way too many car commercials?

4. Your Body Is A Wonderland, Room For Squares- John Mayer
- Hate this damn song.  Well... I strongly dislike this song, and (maybe, just maybe) because the song is for and about the woman 16 year old me was destined to end up with: Jennifer Love Hewitt*. Room For Squares is a phenomenal album, especially for a debut album. And while YBISW fits with the vibe Mayer has going on the album, it's a mediocre song compared to the others. FYI, Why Georgia Why and St. Patrick's Day are my favorites on the album.

OK. I guess I can only think about 4 examples right now (which is upsetting, because as soon as I click send a hundred more songs will pop into my head). But you get the idea. Most of the time I don't listen to the radio because I can't stand what stations play. And most of the time the songs on the radio aren't even the best songs on a particular record.

Anyway, that's all for today.

*Jennifer Love Hewitt and I never got together. Can't Hardly Wait is and will always be a classic in my heart.

Shed.

Shed next door to my parents.

Coming or Going?

Cemetery Photos.

I took these in February while visiting Gettysburg. Taken with my Olympus OM-1, 35mm.

Prometheus Has Landed.

I woke up to the new Prometheus trailer this morning!! So epic!

Watch it for yourself, geek the fuck out, then go back to bed: today is all downhill from here.

Darth Vader Bagpipes While Riding A Unicycle.

This... is impressive.

Crew Neck Shirts = The Force

Why can't every shirt ever made be a v-neck? They're so much more comfortable! Crew neck shirts make me feel claustrophobic! Crew necks make me feel like Vader is constantly using the Force on me!

Not cool.

The Power of Music, Chris Cornell Style.

Chris Cornell is a stud. The dude has an amazing voice and has been consistently one of the greatest musicians of the last 20 years. I think this video of Cornell covering Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" has been seen by a lot of folks already, but I just saw it this morning and couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with happiness.

This, friends, is the power of music.

35mm and I Are Lovers.

I got a 35mm Pentax camera back in October. I'm loving it. Photography has always been a passion of mine and I always liked the idea of photos on film. I won a bid on eBay (after hundreds of tries... those buyers are LETHAL ASSASSINS!) and have been shooting ever since. Here are some of my favorites.

BWI Airport

My grandfather. And yes, I know he looks like Santa.

One of my parents cats, Jax.

My wife during her pregnancy.

Neighborhood lamp post.

Zombie Daddy.

It's been 2 weeks since my son, Calvin, was born. No, I'm not going to shower this space with ridiculously cute photos of him (although he is super cute) or (over)share about his poop (it's frequent). He's just been a beautiful kid, you know? Yeah, he's up every hour and a half... but so what? So I lose a (lot) little sleep, what's the big deal? I didn't think there was one until I went back to work today and a buddy of mine told me I looked like a zombie. While Calvin will probably think it's pretty cool that his dad looks like a zombie in a few years, I couldn't help but wonder why I looked like he zombie. My buddy just said I had bags under my eyes. Well guess WHAT, friend?!, I have a BA-BY! That's why my eye bags look so horrid and zombie-like!

On the bright side: My coffee addiction gets to stay!!

ps: Still unpacking boxes (new apartment) and found some of my sweet Batman stuff!