The 5 Year Engagement
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Not only did Kevin Haggerty have some fun interviewing me recently; he also opened my eyes to an upcoming film with a unique marketing plan. The 5 Year Engagement is using transmedia, a new form of storytelling that is changing the way we absorb stories and consume culture.
Okay, full disclosure: The movie stars a certain actress named Emily Blunt who I may or may not have mentioned a couple times*. But I’m not here to blather and blush and blubber and gush. There’s plenty of time to do that later**.
The fictional couple in The 5 Year Engagement (co-starring Jason Segel) even has a wedding blog that is building towards the big event. Some of this stuff is really clever.
I’ve been wondering how this approach impacts marketing and how writers can use this kind of creativity in the 21st century. It just happens that my friend Ellie–whose superskills include cooking and being awesome–has been delving into the world of transmedia like no one I know. I asked her for some thoughts on this emerging area.
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Ellie’s thoughts:
I had lots of misconceptions about transmedia when I first learned heard about it (it’s much more than putting a wig, makeup, and heels on your book). Transmedia is not to be confused with multimedia or cross media, it’s not simply combining media. It’s creating an experience. Henry Jenkins, MIT media studies professor says, “coordinated use of storytelling across platforms can make the characters more compelling,” and Stephen Dinehart says, “ ”true” transmedia is designed in preproduction with the intent of immersion.”
Transmedia evokes all your senses, immerses you in the story. Examples: Read more »
eduClaytion’s Angels
Some of you know about a couple of very important women in my life–Kate Beckinsale and Emily Blunt. By “in my life” I mean they have no idea who I am.
Well, it’s Underworld weekend, and I am going to see the film ASAP. My friend should be here any minute. I’ve been waiting for, oh, two and half years. I feel that now is a good time to give some other ladies a bit of attention before I see Kate as the lovely death dealer she is and promptly forget about everyone else for a long time.
While I never intended to hurt anybody with so much Beckinsale adoration it’s come to my attention* that I may have been hurtful to my other three favorite actresses who round out the eduClaytion top 5, a prestigious list often whispered about during Hollywood soirees and such.
I don’t have some ranking system from 1-5 or anything because I don’t think it’s appropriate to objectify chicks and stuff. But I will say that Kate and Emily are on top. Here are my three other favorite actresses. Read more »
What Inspires You?
I’ve been underground lately, and for good reasons. More on that in the near future. In the meantime, I have a special weekend planned and want to take you with me.
Well, I can’t take ALL of you, just a piece. Specifically, an inspirational piece.
See, I’m going to Gettysburg this weekend for a unique time of reflection and writing. I’ve wanted to go stay in a house in the middle of nowhere for a long time but never did it. I finally buckled down a couple months back and researched possible towns to stay in. I’ve been to Gettysburg before, but as soon as I thought of it I knew I had my winner.
Then I set about checking out bed and breakfast type establishments. I’ve never stayed in one of those. I found one that actually doesn’t serve breakfast. This was actually a key attraction for me. Instead, they have a stocked kitchen and you just do your own thing. EXCELLENT if you know anything about my life and sleep patterns.
It’s also major off season. This means A) The rates are cheap and B) There’s no one staying there.
I literally get the entire house to myself because the proprietors (who are very nice) stay offsite nearby.
All this to talk about inspiration. I recently asked the Twitter world what music they use to get in the creative mood. A lot of the responses were movie soundtracks. I get that. Ellie Soderstrom and her husband Mike are all about the Tron soundtrack, so I’ve been playing that one recently.
I listen to a lot of rock, and that won’t change, but I’m open to new ideas! So I’d like to know, What Music Inspires You?
How to Lose Touch With Reality
There’s a lady on the internet named Marianne. She’s really funny. This humor might be the necessary outlook of someone who actually lives in Montana on purpose. Since we always make each other laugh I asked her if she would write a guest post, and she’s come up with a winner. After you read this post by Marianne, check out her site Comedy of Errers & find her on Twitter.
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I live in Montana where we are very serious about winter. It lasts most of the year, and it can get to a temperature where you get to know your nose hairs individually. During this time, I turn to the only true solace one can have when you don’t want to leave the house for days on end: television series on DVD and Netflix.
I watch a lot of television in the winter. Some may say too much, but they would be wrong. I’m sure the temporary side effects I incur from three days of continual media exposure are perfectly normal.
Last winter I watched seasons 1-4 of Grey’s Anatomy in about a week. It made the -15 degree weather seem not so bad, until I had to go to the doctor. I found myself wondering who was sleeping with whom in the medical supply closet. I may have looked in one just to be sure. (You’re not supposed to look in those closets, by the way.) Read more »
A Young Lady’s Gift
For the past couple months I had planned on writing something for this Christmas weekend. I thought I might come up with something interesting and reflective, the kind of words that make ya think and feel good about yourself when that Christmas spirit softens us all a little bit.
But I’m not going to. The reason is a video I’d like you to watch in a moment.
My brother-in-law and sister’s niece Katie is a super gifted singer. She’s only in 7th grade yet just won a singing competition for performers across Southwestern Pennsylvania. In addition to a cash prize, Katie will be performing at First Night, a huge celebration in the city of Pittsburgh.
Her mom told me that the competition was open to boys and girls from 6th-12th grade. And Katie beat ‘em all! Everyone’s really proud of her and if you watch this video you’ll see why.
I hope every one of you have a fantastic weekend with your family and friends.
What’s your favorite Christmas song?
The 12 Days of Gen X Christmas
Can you help me finish my 12 Days of Gen X Christmas song? I need #5. And most of the other ones need help too.
16 Candles…Wait, you can’t start there.
12 Brat Pack movies
11 Smurfin’ Smurfs
TEN from Pearl Jam
9 Light Sabres
8 inch hi-top fade
7 Muppets singing
6 mix tapes
5 Missing things / Breakfast Club detainees / ___________________
4 mutant ninja turtles
3 Matrix movies
2Pac rappin / 2 Mario Brothers / 2 Legit to Quit
And a cartridge for my Atari
What should #5 be? What should any number be?
Best suggestion wins free guitar lessons from me.
How Does the New Sherlock Holmes Movie Rank Against Other Sequels?
So I saw the new Sherlock Holmes movie. My buddy WD and I had been planning on hitting opening weekend for a while. During a preview earlier this month I heard one critic describe the movie by saying this current film Game of Shadows is better than the original. You don’t hear that too often.
Image via Wikipedia
He was right.
Whether you are new to this Holmes guy or have a solid background in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle canon, you’ll enjoy this film. Well, unless you don’t like good movies. Guy Ritchie directs marvelously. I’m not sure what all cinematography encompasses, but this movie should win Best Cinematography for 2011. That’s a thing, right?
This stellar follow up got me thinking about sequels that were as good as or better than the original. What do you think of these picks?
Back to the Future II–Maybe not better than the original but definitely great. BTTF is my favorite trilogy of all time. Get it? Time?
The Dark Knight–Okay, I know they’ve made like a jillion Batman movies but we can call clean slate on the latest rendition. Of course Heath Ledger stole the show as The Joker, but what a great film.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan–The original Star Trek movie is a disaster, just atrocious (although Mamma Mia makes it look like Casablanca). The rest are pretty good with the exception of #5 which is hard to watch. Oh yeah, I hear there’s also this Star Wars trilogy that had a pretty good run.
T2–I didn’t see the original Terminator until I was a teenager, after I saw T2. In fact, this sequel was the first R rated movie that MamaClaytion let me go to. I went with my friend and his dad during a trip to Erie. I still think it’s way better than the original.
Superman II–I loved Superman when I was a kid. LOVED it. Still do in fact. This sequel had everything including the unthinkable: Clark willingly giving up his powers for love just as the evil General Zod (Terence Stamp) shows up.
I’m trying to think of any major oversights here, so I’ll ask you…
What are some of the best sequels of all time?
How about WORST sequels?
My Big Fat Greek Penance
It’s payday. Not the kind where I happily collect checks and go to the bank. No, today is the day I pay for my transgressions as a wayward, gambling Steelers fan.
Forgive me Thoughtsy, for I have sinned.
Many of you already know about my now legendary wager with Miss Thoughtsy Appears over the recent Balitmore Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers football game and how I was a big fat loser.
So I had to watch the worst chick flick that Thoughtsy and her evil minions readers could come up with.
They picked a doozy called Mamma Mia! Don’t let that exclamation point confuse you. It’s in the title. I wasn’t excited. At all.
But I’m a man of my word, so I took my medicine and watched one of the greatest atrocities ever put on film. And I’ve got a guest post over at Thoughts Appear to prove it. I hope it makes you laugh so the universe can be evened out after all the tears I shed while enduring Pierce Brosnan’s voice amidst an estrogen fest of the devil. Read more »
Is Seattle Giving Up Coffee for Skittles?
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I love Skittles. They are simply delicious, yet my adoration for their sweet tastiness is complex. So I am getting a kick out of the crazy run they are getting as a result of a football player and his mom.
Marshawn Lynch is a running back for the Seattle Seahawks who is also known for being very hard to tackle. Sometimes, he will run over every player on the other team and keep going.
A couple of weeks ago, he made one of his folk legend type jaunts. Then the cameras showed him meeting his mother on the sidelines. It was a sweet moment. The announcers explained why she was holding a bag of Skittles, because when Marshawn was a kid he used to get them for great runs or touchdowns.
I. Love. That. This kid’s running down the field just smashing other children and thinking “Skittles Skittles Skittles…” That’s just a funny thing for a football player to even chant. Read more »
What Muppet are You?
We’re going full-blown, Muppets out tribute this week. (I’ve already reviewed the movie). And now it’s your turn to get in on the best act going right now, so I want you to cast your own bad self in The Muppet Show.
But of course we’re doing this eduClaytion style. That means I want your Muppet personality profile.
I got this idea months ago from a couple places. First, the picture you see off to the right here. I think it’s even funnier if you understand Dungeons & Dragons, but I’ve literally never heard one person ever talk about that let alone play the thing. I did get a D & D beach towel from my grandma one year when I was a kid, but none of us knew it was based on a game. But I digress.
The other inspiration for this post came from a comment by my dear fryber Renee. In response to some other eduClaytion Muppetry a while back, she had this to say:
I have a bad boy/geek thing when it comes to favorite muppets. Go figure. I adore Animal, the Muppet wild-chid. C’mon. Who doesn’t? … But I also had a thing for good ole Kermit, a deep thinker: a little quiet, reserved. The kind of Muppet you might want to go and sit next to and chat about meta stuff, like the cosmos.
So – bottom line – I dated a lot of Animals, but I married a Kermit!
That made me think about who our favorite Muppets are and why. Then I started wondering what Muppet I’m most like. Read more »
Muppet Mania!
I finally saw the new Muppets movie. I say finally because is was out almost 48 hours before I was able to get to the theater. You can read a few of my thoughts in a minute, but I’ve asked Lee of College Ready Writing fame (find her on Twitter) to pitch in her thoughts as well.
Image via Wikipedia
She might just be the biggest fan I know. Take it away Lee.
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Clay, I have to say that I am pre-disposed to absolutely adore this movie; not only am I a rabid Muppet fan (as outlined right here and at my own blog), but I am also a huge Jason Segel fan, dating way back to his Freaks and Geeks days (if you don’t know Freaks and Geeks, find it, watch it, and thank me later).
My kids, aged 2 and 4, have been raised on the Muppets; we own the first three seasons of The Muppet Show on DVD (get on those last two seasons, Disney!) and we also watch Sesame Street Old School on DVD.
This movie worked for me on so many levels. The new songs were catchy, sweet, and fit the movie quite well. As for the critique that Kermit would never had abandoned the gang and holed himself up in a Bel-Air mansion? I just don’t buy it. Maybe Frank Oz didn’t agree to do the movie because it hit a little too close to home for him. How many of the old Muppet crew still, in fact, work together? Life goes on, and often in directions we don’t plan or expect. I think that particular detail rang the truest for me. Read more »
Hello, My Name Is…
When my friend Bill and I used to travel during grad school we always enjoyed assuming fake identities when we met people. We also spoke fake German on elevators and even posed as government agents a couple times.
In our favorite assumed identities, Bill would be a brilliant bassist from Pittsburgh, and I was a pro volleyball player ranked just high enough to be impressive but low enough that no one would doubt it.
A few times, when things got especially loose, Bill referred to me as Moonsauce Washington. Later, I introduced him to my family as Pirate Bill and the name stuck for a few years. Neighborhood children would ask when “Pirate Bill” was coming over. Read more »
Zombie Bloggers
I’ve been in zombie mode for a while now. Not only do I love zombie fiction, but I’ve also been hard at work for months on a zombie nonfiction book.
People always did say my mind was warped.
I could fill a blog for a year with all the stuff I have on the subject. Until now though, I’ve left that side of my brains out of blog world. But it’s time to merge my writing worlds.
To kick off the occasional ZombifiClaytion, I posted myself as a member of the undead the other day and asked for readers to send me their own zombified images.
If you want to see what these folks really look like just click over to their sites which are linked below. Read more »
ZombifiClaytion!
Halloween is upon us again. I’m more a casual observer than eager actor. I’ve never been the guy with great costumes anyway. Also, I have to teach tonight while all the trick or treat peeps do their thang.
So in typical eduClaytion fashion, I’ve gone to the time-tested ritual of stealing ideas from Canada, specifically Leanne the Calgarian.
You’ve probably seen the zombified pics of people for a couple years now. Here’s a couple from yours ghouly.
I will eat you
The original eduClaytion shot zombified
I’d love to see your zombie pics! If you head over to MakeMeZombie and create one let us know in the comments where we can find it. Anyone who wants can email me a zombie pic of yourself at educlaytion[at]gmail. Include one link to a blog or social media account and I’ll add it with your pic! Read more »
10 Television Characters I’ve Wished I Could Be
A recent internet surfer found me by asking if you can have a man crush on a TV character. The answer, of course, is yes since we’re just talking about admiration and respect that can go as far as idolizing someone. As Alan Stanwyk once said to Fletch, “It’s nothing of a sexual nature I assure you.”
As it happens, I already had this post well underway as a follow up to my earlier musings on 10 movie characters I’ve wished I could be.
I don’t watch much TV these days. The shows I like make up a short list. There’s Psych, Chuck, and now The Walking Dead. Community is also fun since it documents my life as a teacher at a community college, but I never seem to watch.
I used to LOVE television. I am, after all, a product of Generation X. We’re the first bunch to grow up watching the boob tube, and I certainly got my fill over the years. Here then are some of the fictional TV peeps I grew up with and really liked.
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MacGyver
No brainer eh? “He can fix anything. He can fix a computer with a hairpin and some duct tape.” Yeah, Pete summed it up about his friend from the Phoenix Foundation. In an attempt to emulate MacGyver I once actually fixed a torn piece of duct tape with a piece of scotch tape. I even remember the episode when they finally revealed his first name. Bonus points if you know it’s Angus. Read more »
Life. Culture. Education.
Life as Pop Culture Professor Clay Morgan
In The Matrix, Morpheus tells Neo he can take the blue pill and go on believing whatever he wants to believe. Or he can take the red pill to stay in Wonderland and find out how deep the rabbit hole goes.
This is a red pill type site that provides information in an entertaining way. It’s about clear thinking and good writing. It’s about finding meaning amidst the absurd. It’s about humor and truth.
I’m a writer / speaker who teaches history and political courses at a couple of local colleges. Where is local, you say? Well, that would be Wonderland of course.
On topics ranging from pop culture to the meaning of life, my brain’s always poppin’. Take the red pill and unplug.
