The Letter

So, it was one year ago today that I got into that car accident in Tampa, Florida that broke my arm. I was working at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival at the time. With no health insurance to speak of, it was quite a financial blow. It has been a year of struggle and frustration. A year when it seemed like every decision I made was wrong. A year of working at jobs which I find totally unfulfilling. I would be lying if I said that I haven't been fighting despair. And I've been asking myself, "Why have I wasted so many years working a Renaissance Festivals when I could have been seeking work that would benefit me more in the future?"

That accident did more than just break my arm. It reminded me of what a fragile thread we all hang on by. It caused me to question every decision I had ever made up to that point. What if I had been killed? What legacy would I have left? Did I make a difference in anyone's life? The fact that I'm going to be turning 40 this June has only served to compound my angst.

Then, the other day, I received an e-mail from a young man named Eirik Bjorkman. Eirik (that's the oldest known spelling of "Eric" in case you were wondering) is a talented young man who I helped direct in the Groundling Support Troupe my last two summers at the Sterling Renaissance Festival (2003 and 2004). I'll let the letter speak for itself...


Hello Johnny- D!!

Greetings from Eirik land! I was just sitting about thinking about that day 2 years ago, at the ren faire, when all the young kids were pushing your legs and arms down and laughing. Damn, a touching moment! So that inspired me to write this email. How are you doing? Any plans for the future?

I am looking at colleges, finishing up my senior year, our school play is in 4 weeks, and i have the male lead! Hooray! I directed and had the lead role in my senior project, we did "The Bald Seprano". It went very well, I learned a lot and had a lot of fun. I finally found an amazing girlfriend, who happened to be a groundling this past year. She was the one in the bright blue dress, if you remember. So that is very good for me.

I wanted to send this email cuz I haven't been very good at keeping in touch for the past few years, taking for granted that I'd always be seeing everyone again. Butthis year there is no groundlings, so i am making sure that the contacts that i want to keep are being kept. I miss you, you really did a lot for me in the two years that you helped me at the faire. Not only did you help open the door of acting for me, but you've done soooooo much more than that. You re-defined my idea of a good person. Your kind spirit and gentle charisma have really helped me in hard times, even the ones that you haven't been present for. I feel that i really need to thank you for that. You've been a great role model for me, and you still are a good influence on me! Stay cool, and stay funky fresh! I love you man!!!!Sending lots of hugs and love,

Eirik Bjorkman (aka Center Dateless, Raphael Dapifer, and Amias James Throckmorton)

That is way I waste my time with this theatre stuff and that is why I'm not ready to throw in the towel just yet. Thank you, Eirik. Your letter meant more to me than you could possibly know. I needed that.

--JMD

Ten More Flicks That Rock

Here is a list of ten more movies that I think of as classics. These are films that I could watch at any time. Flicks I would recommend to any of my friends. Of course, they all fall into the Sci-Fi/Action/Fantasy category, but that is just what I dig. Here is the list in no particular order...

TEN MORE FILMS THAT KICK-ASS!

*

1) Highlander (1986): Christopher Lambert stars as Connor MacLeod, an immortal being who must fight others like himself throughout the centuries. Visually spectacular with some real pathos and a kick ass score by Queen. Also features Clancy Brown as MacLeod's psychotic nemesis, the Kurgan and the great Sean Connery as his mentor, Juan Ramirez. This is one of those movies that I thought was fairly cheesy the first time I saw it, but upon subsequent viewings, it just got better and better.

2) Alien (1979): Ridley Scott's "haunted house in space" film still holds up, even after all these years. Although not as intense as the sequel, Aliens, it is scarier and more claustrophobic. The Alien design by H.R. Giger is still one of the most original and creepy creations in cinematic history.

3) Near Dark (1987): This is my favorite vampire movie (even though, never once, is the v-word uttered in the script). Sadly, it didn't do as well at the box office as it could have because it came out at the same time as the inferior Lost Boys. It brilliantly captures the bon vivant that an immortal being must feel and places the action in a gritty, western setting. Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton and Jenette Goldstein (who played space marines Bishop, Hudson and Vasquez in Aliens) are excellent as Jesse, Severen and Diamondback, the three toughest vamps, and the soundtrack by Tangerine Dream is awesome.

4) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984): While many people disparage the second film of the Indiana Jones trilogy, I give Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Harrison Ford major props for taking the movie in a completely different direction than Raiders of the Lost Ark. This is an excellent, two-fisted adventure.

5) The Road Warrior (1982): This is the second film of Mel Gibson's Mad Max trilogy, and by far the best. In this one Gibson's anti-hero, Max must help a clan of survivors protect their precious oil from a gang of insane thugs in a post-apocalyptic future. Great violent fun.

6) Leon, The Professional (1994): This flick is an interesting fusion of a French art film and an American action movie. It also features a star making performance by a 12-year-old Natalie Portman. The love story between the girl and a foreign hit-man, Leon (played by Jean Reno) should be creepy, but instead it is strangely compelling.

7) Ladyhawke (1985): In this film directed by Richard Donner (the one who made us believe a man could fly), Rutger Hauer (as Captain Navarre) and Michelle Pfeiffer (as the Lady Isabeau) play two star-crossed lovers plagued by a terrible curse. They are damned to be always together, eternally apart--for as long as the sun rises and sets. As long as there is day and night. And for as long as they both shall live. Although Matthew Broderick's wisecracking thief, Gaston the Mouse and the soundtrack by Alan Parsons & Andrew Powell seem a little too modern for a story set almost 700 years in the past, this is still a highly enjoyable fantasy/adventure with heart.

8) Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982): Not only the best Star Trek film ever made, but arguably one of the best action movies of the 80s. It was so good that subsequent Star Trek flicks continually tried to copy it's formula, but none were as effective. It is also a great joy of mine to watch William Shatner's hero, Captain Kirk and Ricardo Montalban's villain, Kahn try to out scenery-chew one another.

9) Planet of the Apes (1968): Twilight Zone creator, Rod Serling, penned the screenplay for this brilliant social satire. Features some fantastic make up effects that hold up even by today's standards and some hilarious scenery-chewing by gun nut, Charlton Heston. "Get your filthy paws off me you damn, dirty apes!"

10) Blade Runner: the directors cut (1982): Visual stylist Ridley Scott outdoes himself with this futuristic film noir adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novella, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. This is a thought provoking and substantive meditation on the nature of life, both natural and artificial.