An opinion

As anyone who knows me can tell you, I love the moving media. Films, television and animation, I love them all. 

But by the same token, there are actors and actresses who can make and break something for me simply by being in it. These people can mean the difference between me seeing something and not. This is not unique. Everyone has them. My friend Jeremy, for example, will generally see something if James Corden is in it. While I have a dislike for him myself, I will still generally not be put off by his presence. 

Having said that, though, I do think that there is usually an exception of one or two film that these actors appear in that the people enjoy. 

(I am excluding cameos. For the sake of this argument, the actor in question has to have a starring role. For roles involving Voice Acting, it again depends on the level of involvement.)

For me, that actor is Will Ferrell. 

I cannot stand him. Elf is a prime example. Elf is innocent enough. It has an entertaining storyline, a good supporting cast and an actress I would extremely cringe-worthy scenes for (I'm looking at you, New Girl) yet I cannot stand Elf because of Ferrell. the Anchorman series is likewise wasted on me, because of him. I simply do not find him funny. I think he is annoying. 

But having said that, I think Stranger Than Fiction is a great film. Ferrell is the main character, and the plot revolves around him being both a real person and a character in Emma Thompson's character's book, in which he will be killed off in the end. I don't know if its because he doesn't play the role with his usual level of hamminess or not but I would go as far as to say I even like Ferrell in this film.

The Lego Movie and Megamind are other examples of this. I think with these, it's because I don't see Ferrell himself (save for the ending of (SPOILERS) TLM). I enjoy him more as a voice over actor, I think. 

In closing, I feel that I have to say that I nothing against Will Ferrell the person. I just don't like him as an actor. 

And to you, my loyal readers, I ask. Is there an actor or actress whose presence in a film would immediately put you off seeing it? Let me know in the comments below

Live Long and Prosper

Conversations with Past me

So for this blog entry, I'm going to try and imagine what pressing questions my 15 year old self would have for me if he was here next to me, and answer them. And to make it easier for some people, I'm going to put the questions in a different font.

Beware, swearing and hormones to follow.

So do you have a girlfriend yet?

No, but we did date a bit in 2014. That has to count for something, right?

Seriously? No girlfriend at all?

Nope, sorry.

Really?

No! New subject please!

I'm very disappointed in you. What about work?

Still unemployed, sorry.

WHAT? No girlfriend and no job? What happened to you, man?

Well, I was a cocky little gobshite who thought he didn't need to revise for his GCSEs and that turned out oh so brilliantly. We're working on both fronts though. Give us time.

Well, this is great. Have we at least travelled anywhere yet?

Actually, we have. We've been up to Scotland plenty of times. It's really-

Scotland?! But we fucking hate Scotland! 

No, we hate someone from Scotland. It took us a long time and actually meeting other people from Scotland to realise we didn't hate the country. And as a result, we've applied that philosophy to the rest of the World as well. We're a lot happier as-

Oh for fuck's sake! Is there anything we do hate?

Chavs.

What the hell are chavs?

Spoilers.

Okay then, so at least we're still a bit weird. So we've no girlfriend and no job. Next you're going to say we never went to Uni.

No, we went to Uni. 

Nice! What did we study?

Nursing.

NURSING?!? What the Hell?!

I know. I was as surprised as you when I applied. But hear me out. I started out with the intention of getting grades to apply for a film course.

That makes sense...

But I actually enjoyed it. The sense of helping people actually made me feel good. 

.....Seriously?

Yup.

So we're qualified as a Nurse now?

Um...

What?

I'll explain later.

Okay... so how come you don't have a girlfriend? Are you gay or something?

*sigh* Looks like this might be a two-part Blog entry....

What's a blog????

Live Long and Prosper

Bucket List

So I was talking with someone last night, and the topic of my illness came up. She suggested that I make up a bucket list of all the things I'd like to do. I know I already have one somewhere on this blog, but I thought I'd make a newer, more up to date one. I'm including some things that I've already done, so I can cross some things off already and feel accomplished.

So here goes.

1. Travel more.
2. Say yes to more things.
3. Draw more.
4. Write more.
5. See family & friends, particularly the ones who are further away than others.
6. Go to a ceilidh.
7. Meet Neil Gaiman.
8. Write a book, not necessarily for publishing but just so I can say I've written one.
9. Learn Blender.
10. Walk more.
11. Spend more time outside.
12. Have an obscene amount of sex.
13. Learn an instrument.
14. Take a camera to more places.
15. Spend more time on original ideas.
16. Buy a 3D printer.
17. Actually keep a phone.
18. Go to a comic convention in costume.
19. Post a full animation onto Youtube.
20. Play Cards Against Humanity. 
21. Stop making excuses and actually do things.
22. Cook more.
23. Remember that I am ill and there are times I can't do what other people can. But on the flip side, that is not my whole existence. Find the proper balance.
24. Be happier.
25. Spend more time offline.
26. Learn to paint.
27. Go bungee jumping and sky diving.
28. Actually organise my DVDs properly.
29. Start the 3D printing business.
30. find a lovely girlfriend. 

And that's it. 30 things that I want to do.

Well, 27 if you want to be picky. And yes, as I grow up more, I shall update this, both with strike-outs and more entries, because I'm intending to live for a good long time and I need a few more goals.

Live Long and Prosper

So, for the hell of it, I decided to write down the last thought I'd ever have as a 25 year old, and my first as a 26 year old.

They were...

"Cheese" - which is normal for me. I spend a not inconsiderate amount of time thinking about cheese. 

And

"Brent Spiner can sing, but his cover of "Goodnight, Sweetheart" is not his best work" which makes sense if you know that I was listening to it as the clock struck midnight. 

So there you have it. A tiny insight into my mind.

Live long and prosper

Without a big hoo-ha, I've disabled my OK Cupid account.

Just disabled, mind, not deleted. I am probably not done with online dating, I'm just taking a break from it. Unless something miraculous happens and I meet someone in the real world without the aid of the internet, I'm fairly certain that online is my best chance of meeting someone.

But at the moment, I'm tired. And I need a break. 

So I've disabled my account, while I clear my head of some things, sort some other things out and generally get myself in order. Just some stuff like that.

Live Long and Prosper

So I had a blog post...

So I wrote a blog entry before that announcement. It told the story of last Saturday's bonfire party. It was about how we first arrived, what was eaten, who we loved and who we (I) hated and, most importantly of all, just how many people John managed to insult before we were ushered out of the house, possibly forever.

It was a true piece of beauty.

Then I got a stupid idea that I should do an announcement post with the "Surprise, Bitches" meme first. So after turning this beautiful, amazing first blog back post into a draft, I did some searching, found an appropriate use of the meme and made the announcement post.

Then I accidentally deleted all the draft entries, since it's an automatic reaction with my emails. 

Will I ever rewrite that entry? Probably not. Will I let that one slip-up stop me writing on here more? Probably not.

So until next time, loyal readers.

Live Long and Prosper

UPDATE: I was reading through some of my old entries, and noticed that while I had mentioned having interviews, I didn't say anything about whether or not I had gotten either job.

I didn't. The one at Victoria Hall went to someone else. But I got a lovely phone call back, saying how it was a tough choice, that everyone had given a really good interview and also received some pointers on doing better. This took some of the sting out of the whole thing.

The other one, however, didn't hire anyone. As it turned out, the day after the interviews, they decided that they really only needed one assistant, so the second position was axed. Last time I checked, both Workable and the people who ran the course I had been on were looking into it.

I was put onto a brief placement, but by that point, the long hours were taking their toll and by the second week, I had a minor fit and my advisor, Sue, decided that I should take some time off from both the program and from claiming Jobseekers. So now I'm employment support, resting up (still) and starting to try and learn Blender, a 3D modelling program, in order to either get on an animation course to learn more about 3D character design or just jump ahead and open a store on Etsy.

So how are you all?

An announcement

Yes, hopefully starting soon, more regular updates shall be coming from me to you. And just like Mr Holmes, no explanation for my absence shall be forthcoming.

Live Long and Prosper.