CandyGram

My sister Mary, who surprised me for my 40th birthday by flying down and spending the night with us, sent us a "candygram"... a box full of candy for our mini-concession stand.

How cool!

Goobers, Junior Mints, Nerds and more.

The concession stand is again fully stocked and ready for our neighborhood kids to munch on during movie nights at the Bauer house.

Thanks Mary!!!

A Tapeless Video Future... The HVX200

I have seen the future of tapless, low-cost High Definition future and its name is the Panasonic HVX200. Panasonic first revolutionized high quality, low cost digital video in the miniDV format with their DVX100 a few years ago, which allowed prosumers (professional consumers, i.e., wedding videographers, etc.) to get film look on inexpensive tape.

Panasonic has now done the same with high definition.

The HVX200 is unique in that, when recording high definition, it employs what are called P2 cards, which are solid state metal cards about the size of a credit card with storage sizes ranging from 2 gigbytes to 8 gigabytes. These cards don't have actual hard drives, but use RAM-like storage to keep the video files stored until erased. When using these cards, there are no moving parts... no sound from the camera as the tape mechanism turns the tape while it is recording. It's virtually silent.

A screen capture from a test of the HVX200

The camera also allows you to record in standard defintion the old fashioned way, on miniDV tape. Another option is that you could shoot on high definition and "down convert" your pristine high def video into the standard definition format, which ends up looking superior than the normal standard definition video quality.

In order to record in high defintion, you need about a gigabyte per minute of storage, so, with the 8 GB P2 card, you can record 8 minutes of high definition video. This is in line with shooting on film because film cannisters on movie cameras have about 8 - 10 minutes of film in them. Eight minutes of high defintion video doesn't seem like a lot, but its only a start. The storage capabilities of the P2 technology will continue to grow... the more space, the more footage you'll be able to store on each card.

The camera comes with two P2 slots, so you can swap out cards as they fill up while you're recording. If you have more than two cards, you could just plop in another one and keep recording. If you don't have more than two cards, when one fills up you could unload the video content on the P2 card to a hard drive on location and then reuse the P2 card. Another cool feature is that you can pre-record record for up to 8 minutes in high definition. What does this mean?

Well, lets say that you are recording your son's little league baseball game and he's up to bat. You don't want to record the entire at bat sequence, you just want to record when he hits the ball. You can set the camera to constantly record/overwrite 10 seconds of video into the P2 card until you hit the record button... meaning, that when you hit the "record" button on the camera, it will save what was coming through the lens 10 seconds before you hit that button. So, you aim the camera and have it setup to continually save into storage 10 seconds of video. Your son swings and hits the ball, you hit the record button, the camera will save 10 seconds before you hit the record button, meaning you have the pitch and the hit recorded.

That's just one of the little advantages that a tapeless video acquisition world will allow. As it becomes more standard, a variety of options will be available when recording video that would never have been a possibility in a linear, tape recording world.

I've been looking for a change in the video technology to allow a low cost alternative to High Definition, filmic filmmaking and the HVX200 may be it. It's certainly a step in the right direction and, potentially, a very important step in allowing me to provide high definition projects at a relatively low cost.

Now, you'll excuse me, as I have to change my shirt... I've been drooling on it since seeing the HVX200 footage.

Predictor Pete - Week 14

The Bucs play a critical game this week in Carolina against the division leading Panthers. The winner of this game could have an inside edge to one of the home field advantages in the playoffs. Seattle is the front runner in the NFC and has a pretty weak schedule, so they should remain in the top spot in the NFC playoff hunt. The second seed is up for grabs and the winner of the Bucs/Panthers could decide that seed.

Again, a road divisional game is tough. So far, the Bucs have done well, winning both divisional road games in Atlanta and New Orleans/Baton Rouge. But the Panthers beat up the Falcons pretty badly last week in Carolina and look very tough to beat.

The only hope for the Bucs is to get the breaks the Panthers did when these teams first met a few weeks ago in Tampa Bay. In that game, the Bucs made costly turnovers that turned into points, the Panthers ran the ball well, converted third downs and did not turn the ball over. The Bucs have to have that type of perfect game to win a road game. They have to force turnovers. They have to turn those turnovers into points. They have to run well and convert on third downs. The Panthers have a tough defense, so that is a tall order. But, as we've seen this year, anything can happen.

Our last two trips to Carolina the games were lost due to bad field goal kicking... and we're going into this game with either France, a replacement kicker, or Bryant, our injured starter... neither option gives me a lot of comfot. My biggest fear going into this week, however, is that the Bucs defense seems incapable of stopping teams on third down unless they get a turn over. They must get a lot of three-and-outs in order to get the edge on the road.

My Heart: Bucs 21-20.
My Mind: Panthers 24-17.
My Colon: Panthers 29-13.

My Pick: Panthers 20-17...

If the Bucs win, they share first place in the NFC South with the Panthers with an edge over inter-divisional play. If they lose, they fall with the Falcons two games behind the Panthers and the Bucs will have to fight it out with the rest of the above average teams in the NFC to get the three wild-card spots.

This is a big game. The playoffs, as far as the Bucs are concerned, start this week. Its time to put up or shut up.

My Record: 8-4

Cafeteria Catholics Leaving Before Dessert

There are certain things I've come to expect as I grow older. I expect my hair to thin and recede on the top of my head. I expect hair to grow on other parts of my body that never once held follicles. I expect my body to ache. I expect my hearing to go and my eyesight to diminish. I expect more frequent trips to the bathroom. I expect my grand kids' music to be too dang loud. I expect to have an instinctual urge to live in a 55+ only community.

But the one thing I don't understand is all of the older Catholics who leave Mass early. Our church has a 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday's that is heavily attended by the snowbirds and retirees. I was dismayed that about 20% of the elderly left before communion. Another 10% left after communion, but before the final blessing.

What is up with that? What the hell is so important?

A member of our renew group often complains about the "cafeteria Catholics", those who attend Mass, treating it as some sort of heavenly insurance policy... "If I go every week and attend 70% of the service, then I should be a shoe in to get into heaven. I mean, I don't have to pay attention or stay through the end or even receive communion. I just have to sit my old, bony butt on this hard wooden pew for 37 minutes a week and I'm in!"

It was so frustrating. I was seated near the exit of the church and people kept getting irriating because I was praying and wasn't aware that they needed to pass me to leave church early. Yeah, I'm the one who's offensive in that situation.

For those early bird special exiters... if you actually stick around for a total of five minutes AFTER Mass, the parking lot is almost entirely empty. So, you'll be able to leave the parking lot with little concern about fighting your fellow Christians to the death on the way out.

So, the one thing I do NOT expect is to be one of those Catholics who leaves Mass early. After all, my crossword puzzles or naps or trips to the pharmacy can wait just a few extra minutes... I think God's worth it.

I Hate Ceiling Fans

I hate putting up ceiling fans. My wife and I spent 2 1/2 hours last night putting up a stupid ceiling fan. 2 1/2 hours! It was insane. I was convinced that whoever designed ceiling fans has never actually put one up themselves.

Silent Night Secularized in Wisconsin

From World Net Daily.com...

For a performance in its "winter program," a Wisconsin elementary school has changed the beloved Christmas carol "Silent Night," calling the song "Cold in the Night" and secularizing the lyrics.

According to Liberty Counsel, a religious-liberty law firm representing a student's parent, kids who attend Ridgeway Elementary School in Dodgeville, Wis., will sing the following lyrics to the tune of "Silent Night":

Cold in the night, no one in sight, winter winds whirl and bite, how I wish I were happy and warm, safe with my family out of the storm.

You can read more by clicking here.

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I used to live in this country once... it was called the United States of America...

12/7... the day before 9/11

Sixty-four years ago today we were forced into World War II. An unprovoked attack on our country, killing thousands, led to hundreds of thousands of men entering the service to sacrifice their lives for this country. The media was behind it. The politicians were behind it. The people were behind it. The battle and casualties racked up for four years, but we kept our focus on the prize and were willing to pay the ultimate price for obtaining our objectives.

To those men and women who risked it all so that I may live in a country and have the freedom to be entering this blog today... thank you.

I look at how our country reacts to the unfortunate necessity of war today and it goes to show me that we don't have the stomach for fighting for our beliefs and securing our freedoms.

Boy, how things have changed.

Funny Joke

Here's a funny joke I came across... living in Florida it's sad, but true...

*********

At a nursing home in Miami, Florida, a group of Senior Citizens were sitting around talking about their ailments:

"My arms are so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee," said one.

"Yes, I know. My cataracts are so bad I can't even see my coffee," replied another.

"I can't turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck," said a third, to which several nodded weakly in agreement.

"My blood pressure pills make me dizzy," another went on.

"I guess that's the price we pay for getting old,” winced an old man as he slowly shook his head. Then there was a short moment of silence...

"Well, it's not that bad," said one woman cheerfully. "Thank God we can all still drive."

Christmas Carols Banned, But Hanukkah Songs Are Allowed

Let the anti-Christian movement continue! After all, Christianity is SO offensive, what with its rules and ideas about following Jesus' example and all. Squash the infidels!

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47749

After they abolish Christianity from the public, next will be Judaism and Islamic teachings... so, get in line! You too can be the next morally strong belief to be found offensive by those who have no morals!

Lenin and Marx would be so proud.

Leave Left Behind Behind

I'm a big fan of Christian films and have watched all three films of the Left Behind series. Last night I watched the latest film, Left Behind: World at War and it is the best of the series so far. The budget for the film is the largest and it shows up on the screen with better directing, cinematography, actors and action.

Kirk Cameron continues on as Buck, the intrepid reporter who must hide his Christianity in order to keep in close proximity to the Nicolae, the anti-Christ. The story revolves around the President of the United States manipulation by Nicolae and a sup-plot of Nicolae's attempts to spread biological weapons through the Christian community.

The film moves along very well until the end, when a dying preacher, played by Arnold Pinnock celebrates a "communion" which is vastly different from the Gospel, to say the least. There are two main differences between Catholicism and Protestantism: 1) Protestants believe faith alone can save you, Catholics believe faith and works are required. 2) Protestants believe that the Communion celebration is symbolic in nature and Catholics believe the Eucharist is actually the body and blood of the Lamb of God, or Jesus.

This difference was never more obvious than in the Left Behind's treatment of the last supper. As a preacher lays dying he asks to celebrate communion one last time. Instead of quoting the words of Jesus in the last supper from Mark 26:14-17...

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins."

The Left Behind version went something like this "Eat this bread. Seek forgiveness and have faith and you will receive salvation." That's not the exact lines in the film... I'm paraphrasing, but it was something like that. I do know that it was not even close to the actual lines Jesus spoke in the bible. I was dumbfounded that a preacher, who knows the bible backwards and forwards, would not actually quote it accurately on his death bed. Instead, it was a misrepresentation of the last supper.

As a Catholic, I'm more sensitive to these obvious omissions than most others may be, but since it is the core of the Catholic church, I found myself offended. And, because of this selective use of the last supper that I cannot recommend this film.

The foundation of the Catholic belief in the Eucharist begins in Exodus and the first Passover, Exodus 12:6-10...

You shall keep it (unblemished lamb) until the fourteenth day of this month, and then, with the whole assembly of Israel present, it shall be slaughtered during the evening twilight. They shall take some of its blood and apply it to the two doorposts and the lintel of every house in which they partake of the lamb.

That same night they shall eat its roasted flesh with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. It shall not be eaten raw or boiled, but roasted whole, with its head and shanks and inner organs. None of it must be kept beyond the next morning; whatever is left over in the morning shall be burned up.

An unblemished lamb will be sacrificed. If you only put the blood on the door and did not eat the lamb, your firstborn would die. You had to eat the lamb in order to complete the sacrifice... in order for your firstborn to escape death.

Jesus understood this. Jesus understood that, as the Lamb of God, his sacrifice to save ALL of us from death required that his blood would have to be shed, that his body and blood would have to be consumed. That's what he was saying in the last supper.

That is also why, in John 6:53-58, prior the last supper, Jesus was preaching to thousands of followers and said...

Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."

Its as if the original lamb of the first Passover was speaking... "the one who feeds on me will have life because of me."

Jesus lost a lot of followers that day. Some argue that it was figurative, not literal, like the many of his other parables, yet Jesus did not explain this "parable" to his apostles.

John 6:66-69...

As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.

Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?"

Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

Jesus offered no other explanation to his statement that he was the true blood and flesh of the sacrificial lamb to be sacrificed for our sins. That's why Catholics believe that our Eucharistic celebration is a re-presentation of that last supper, that we are partaking with Jesus, along with the 12 apostles, his flesh and his blood so that his sacrifice would be complete and so we would be freed from death.

The original twelve obviously interpreted it this way because the celebration, which is basically the same Mass we celelbrate today, was in place and documented as early as 155 A.D. In a letter to pagan emperor Antoninius Pius, St. Justin Martyr explained how Christians celebrated...

On the day we call the day of the sun (Sunday), all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place. (church)

The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits. (Old and New Testament Readings)

When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things. (The homily)

Then we all rise together and offer prayers for ourselves . . .and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation.

When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss. (The Kiss of Peace, i.e., May the Peace of Christ be with you)

Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren.

He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts.

When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: 'Amen.'

When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the "eucharisted" bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent. (communion and the delivery of the eucharist by Eucharistic Ministers).

Think about what that means... It means that, since within about a generation of Jesus' life and death, the formation of what is our current Mass was decided, implemented and practiced every Sunday. Unlike the fiction that is the Da Vinci Code, the Mass was not held on Sunday when Constantine, a pagan Sun God follower, was converted in the 400s. Instead, as early as 155 it was already in place because Sunday was the day Jesus resurrected from the dead.

So, I'm a little sensitive when the celebration of the last supper is converted into something far less than it was originally intended and obviously interpreted by the apostles that walked with Christ and their subsequent followers.

Granted, the filmmakers of the Left Behind film series are strong, believing Protestants and are only using the film medium to expound on their faith. Its exactly what they should do.

However, its time Catholics make entertaining films that represent their beliefs where things such as the Eucharist are held up as the holy communional event that occurs every time a Mass is held, including on the day of the sun.

Monday Morning QB - 12/5

The Bucs win a sloppy away game in the division, beating the Saints in the near-empty Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA. The end score was 10-3 but it could have easily have been 20-3, with a blocked field goal and a dropped pass by Galloway in the end zone. Ronde Barber had a tremendous game getting 3 of the 4 interceptions thrown by Saints QB Aaron Brooks. I've always felt Barber is one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history and with games like yesterday, he continues to live up to that billing.

My prediction: Bucs 23, Saints 19

Score: Bucs 10, Saints 03

Offense: B. The offense was more effective than the score showed. Simms played solid, Williams ran for 96 yards and Pittman came in an ran for almost 40 yards on two plays. No turnovers, moved the ball well.

Defense: C+. This is going to sound odd, but the Bucs defense worries me because, unless they get a turnover, they don't seem to be able to stop offenses. Granted, they've been getting the turnovers lately, but when they face the Panthers or Patriots in the next two weeks, I doubt those QBs will be making the same errors as the irradict Brooks of the Saints.

Special Teams: C. Todd France, in for the injured Matt Bryant, had his 44 yard attempt blocked, due to a low trajectory on this kick. Bidwell kicked a punt 25 yards.

Coaching: B. Gruden and Kiffin seem to be doing enough to win. With Simms in there, Gruden is keeping things safe and its been working.

Outstanding Players: Barber, Barber and Barber... oh, and Williams.

Things That Drove Me Nuts: Anthony Becht. He's not living up to his billing. Right now he's not a great catcher OR a great blocker. That makes him kinda... well... average.

Bucs Record: 8-4.

Next Opponent: The Bucs hit the second of three straight road games by heading to division leader Carolina Panthers. If the Bucs win, they'll share the lead of the NFC South. If they lose, the Panthers take a commanding lead the division and the Falcons and Bucs will be slugging it out for a wild card berth.

The Bucs ended the 3rd quarter of the season 8-4, winning three of their last four games. We now enter the final stetch with two road games against the Panthers and Patriots and two home games against division opponents Falcons and Saints. It's not going to be easy. The Bucs need to win at least two of these last four games to have a chance at the playoffs.

The Only Gift We Can Give

As we enter Advent and near the celebration of the birth of Christ, the time of gift giving, we will spend the next few weeks trying to figure out what to give each other for Christmas.

Two weeks ago one of our priests gave an exceptional homily on this subject. For the previous month our church had been working on the time, talent, treasure volunteers for church parishioners. In the homily, the priest mentioned that all that we have promised to give to the church, our time, our talents and our treasure, God already owns. Since we are His creations and those items were also created by Him we are therefore not really giving God anything that he doesn't already possess.

It was an interesting thought. Than what can I give to God that is uniquely mine?

The priest went onto explain that the only thing we can actually offer God is our will. Since God gave us free will, we have the ability to ignore his call and ignore his existence, if we'd so like. Our will, our decisions and choices that exemplify our will, is the only thing that we possess that we can offer to God.

Trading my will for God's will. Hmmmm. That's the tough part, isn't it? Surrendering what we want for what God wants, trusting that He will bring us down the right path. Unforutnately, God's path is often fraught with challenges and struggles, but is ultimately more rewarding than anything we can conjur up ourselves. But it's that impending struggle through which we grow that we all fear that most and why we all hold onto our will so tightly.

The only thing I can give to God is my will.

Will I? I'll try.

One decision, one choice at a time.

Movie Memories... Permanent Games Too

The overall bizarre experience that was the shoot of the ultra-low budget film Permanent Games culminated in yet another awkward moment. After having to endure making out with an actress I had never before met who was newly drug free wasn't the worst of it... having to kiss someone you consider your sister was.

The cast of the film included Jay Millman, his wife Leslie and me as the three leads in a love triangle. I had known Jay and Leslie for years in college and they were two of my best friends. Jay and I worked together off campus during our senior year and Leslie and I acted opposite each other in the University's production of The Tempest. They also acted in my short film called Homesick.

Although Leslie had the beauty of a young Grace Kelly, she was more like a sister to me than anything else. She and Jay had gotten married after college and had then got involved with this Permanent Games project .

So, there's the back story leading up to the point of this memory... the point in the script were Leslie and I were supposed to have a love scene.

Ick.

Leslie and I were not comfortable with the idea to begin with... but we were even more uncomfortable doing something like that on a low budget film with unknown filmmakers. So, we rewrote the scene to be something less tame than what you'd find on TV Land on Nickelodeon.

But, it still involved kissing Leslie.

Most men would love the opportunity to kiss someone as beautiful as Leslie. But, we were friends. Good friends. Buds. And it was icky. It was like kissing your sister or cousin or something. In some parts of the country, that's not such a bad thing, sure, but for Leslie and I it was awkward, to say the least.

The best news is that Permanent Games never got completed or distributed. Jay said he has a VHS copy of one of the edits in a box somewhere, but I haven't seen it. Even though the film has evaporated into the ether of low budget filmdom, the unique, humorous and embarrassing moments of that film have been forever burned into my psyche.

Christmas is for Christians

This whole debate over whether Christmas trees should be called Holiday trees in order not to offend others or be more inclusive to non-Christians simply infuriates me.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Christmas trees came from a European tradition celebrating the birth of Christ. Like it not, those are the facts.

I personally don't want Jews, Muslims or Athiests to participate in Christmas... it's not their holiday. They have their own holidays. Just as I will not ask the Jews to call the menorah a holiday candle stick, don't ask me to call the Christmas tree a holiday tree.

All I hear is that Christians should be more accomodating and be more sympathetic to those offended by the display of Christmas trees.

My answer? Bite me. Christmas is for Christians. End of story.

Santa Claus is for everybody else.

Christians have been bending over and taking it for way too long, because we want to be, well, Christian in our behavior. But that behavior should not enable those who would strip away our values and beliefs from the fiber of this country.

If the majority of this country holds Judeo/Christian values, the laws of this country should reflect that. If the majority of our country holds Judeo/Christian values, our government should be allowed to acknoweldge that. And if the majority of this country holds Judeo/Chrisitian values, then a Christmas tree should be proudly called a Christmas tree.

What people SHOULD be asking is whether changing the name of the Christmas tree would offend Christians, which make up 80% of the United States.

The answer is a very loud YES. The problem is that too few people care to hear or acknoweldge that answer.

We, in a public display of our faith, should keep shouting it until they finally get it.

Constantine (2005)

I watched the film Constantine last night, about a man that survived a suicide attempt and who now exorcises demons in an attempt to earn his way into heaven. I love films like this for one reason, they acknowledge the existence of God, Satan and the battle for souls. The existence of God or Jesus or angels or demons or sin or faith or absolution are not up for discussion… they are accepted as truth in these storylines and the story plays within those boundaries.

The other thing I like about these films is that there are no clear, detailed explanations on this battle for souls. There are hints about how we live our lives and that this battle is waging, but it is open for interpretation.

Constantine, for the most part, did a good job of keeping the theological expectations in place. There was a great amount of stuff added to the story to keep it moving that could be theologically questionable, such as “half-breeds” which are half angel/human or half demon/human that help push people in either the right or wrong direction, but this is the part of the gray area that is not well defined and is open for interpretation or creation.

The images of Hell were pretty amazing and our society could use more exhibition of such images…not in a fire and brimstone “you’re all going to Hell” sermon, but just as a reminder of the consequences of our decisions.

For a film that does not question the existence of God, Heaven, Hell, Satan and Jesus or the damned souls of those who commit suicide does not effectively recognize the infinite mercy of God and the salvation through Jesus and the absolution of sins through the sacrament of reconciliation. It was interesting, as the Catholic characters were very clear on the damnation that occur when someone commits suicide, but not clear on the path to salvation.

So, it was surely flawed, but these stories Christian filmmakers should be telling, with greater images of Heaven, Hell and the battle for our souls.

Predictor Pete - Week Thirteen

The Bucs lost a heartbreaker last week against the tough Chicago Bears. This week they have a chance to redeem themselves as they head out to Baton Rouge to take on the nomadic New Orleans/Baton Rouge/San Antonio Saints.

This is a road divisional game, which is always tough. The Saints have played us very well in the past, so we will need to play our best to pull out a victory. This is the first game of a three game road swing with the Panthers and the Patriots awaiting our arrival. This is the easiest of those games and a game we have to have. The Falcons and Panthers play each other, so if the Bucs can win, they have a chance to be in tie for first place again. A loss could severly hurt their playoff chances.

The Saints are fighting tremendous odds and certainly are in a no-win situation. Unfortunately, the Bucs need to take advantage of that and win this game using a stingy defense and a strong running game. Place kicker Matt Bryant has been held out all week with a hamstring pull and the Bucs may have to rely on the kicker they cut in camp... I hope the game doesn't rely on a field goal this week.

My Heart: Bucs 24-10.
My Mind: Bucs 22-17.
My Colon: Saints 21-20.

My Pick: Bucs 23-19...

The Bucs need this win. The Niners and Jets losses are already haunting them. A Saints loss here could be another.

My Record: 7-4

High Tension (2003)

I watched a very interesting film last night called High Tension. Its a French film, originally titled Haute Tension, about two students, Marie and Alexia, who travel to Alexia's remote country home in order to study for upcoming exams. We experience the movie through the protagonist Marie's eyes, played exceptionally well by French actress Cécile De France. Marie, a city girl, gets her first experience at the remoteness of country life.

That first night, as she rests in the upstairs bedroom of the barn-turned-house in the middle of nowhere, a killer enters the house, kidnaps Alexia and kills her family. We live the experience through Marie as she narrowly avoids the killer and tries to rescue her friend.

The film, though more bloody than my personal tastes, has some exceptional suspenseful moments. However, as the film enters the third act, something very odd happens.

**Spoiler Warning**

It turns out that Marie IS the killer and we've been watching her version of the story unfold through her twisted mind. This plot twist is pretty extraordinary for two reasons... one, it is very unexpected, but, secondly, it means that every suspenseful moment we've lived with where Marie is avoiding the killer is a complete fabrication. They never happened. I've been watching a lie. How can she be the killer and be narrowly avoiding him at the same time? So, I concurrently felt both shocked and disappointed.

The other things this does is completely ruin any chance of rewatching the film. The great thing about Hitchcock's flicks is that you can watch them over and over again because the experience of the suspense never loses it's edge. Hitchcock creates suspense by letting the audience know more than the main character and with repeated viewings, nothing is lost.

However the writers and director of High Tension destroyed the reviewing experience because now we know that every suspenseful moment in the film does not truly happen. So, why watch it?

Dressed to Kill, by Brian DePalma, could have had this issue, however the protagonist and the antagonist are not the same person. So, his suspense holds up. In High Tension, I may rewatch the film to study the way they crafted their suspense scenes, but I will never again actually be in suspense when watching it.

A very odd choice by the writers and director. It made for a great surprise, but made the majority of the film a lie.

Movie Memories... Permanent Games

Its 1989 and I'm on the set of a very low budget film being shot in Miami. Very low budget. Did I mention they had no money?

My college buddy Jay and his lovely wife, Leslie, were in the film and let me know they were looking for another actor. At this point in my acting career I was just looking for any screen credit I could find. After all, who in NY or LA is going to know how big or small a film called Permanent Games is going to be?

One day I arrive on location to meet a woman with which I'm supposed to make out. Yes, that's right. At one point, I'm supposed to make out with a woman in an outdoor shower. I don't remember what this had to do with the plot, but a lot of this film has drifted from my memory.

So, anyway, I get dressed in my bathing suit, she in her's and, in an attempt to find some sort of normality in this otherwise extremely awkward moment, we decide to ask each other's names and engage in small talk before hopping into this cold-water-only outdoor shower and begin... well... making out.

And just as the camera is about to start rolling, she ends our small talk by excitedly telling me that she had been drug free for two weeks now!

Action!

It was the most unsexual experience of my entire life. I spent the scene trying to figure out just how long it takes drugs to leave someone's system. And what kind of drugs were they? And why did she have to tell me that? I mean, I've known her for all of thirty seconds.

Let's see... when I thought of being an actor, did I EVER imagine this moment would occur? Hmmm... nope.

Show business is weird.

Fortune Cookie

I had Chinese for lunch today. The fortune in the cookie states:

"A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he gives up."

As the saying goes, the key to success is getting up one more time than you fall down.

Movie Memories... Ready, Willing & Able Too

I had set some pretty specific goals in my life. One of which was to see my name on a movie screen in a real theater on a real movie.

Well, its 2000 and I'm sitting in an AMC Theater in Ft. Lauderdale at the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival. With me are my parents, my wife and some of my brothers and sisters. The lights dim and the 35mm independent film Ready, Willing & Able begins.

A few credits into the film we see:

Written by
Pete Bauer and
Jenni Gold

A sense of satisfaction shivers through my body and a well of emotions accumulate in my eyes. My wife squeezes my hand and smiles.

I can check off another goal on my list.