That's a good thing, right?
I was feeling a little better about things, so I spent my time outside and with friends. But...I'm feeling a little better, so I lost ideas to write about. Maybe this is what scared me away from writing consistently before--in the past, the only time I'd actually sit and write was to release emotions. Once I hit a moment where I'm actually in a good spot with my emotions, I stop trying to write. I could do that today, too, because I still feel pretty decent. But I'm changing my habits. I'm committed to myself; I'm determined to write.
So I'm going to write about this show called Banshee.
I know my parents will read this and roll their eyes because I've been saying for the past week, "You HAVE to watch this show, it's so goooood!" I think I've seen the pilot episode three times now and I'd gladly watch it again.
I'm drawn to and become rather obsessed with TV shows that are produced and written well. Breaking Bad, as many of my peers know, was my favorite series for a long time. I loved (and still love) Breaking Bad because of the intricate storytelling going on in each scene, like in the pilot episode when Walt drives home from the car wash, covering up the oil spot with his car in his driveway when he pulls in. The donut wheel he had on his Aztec was pitiful, the oil spot said, "We have major money problems." The manner in which Walt pulled into the driveway communicated defeat. Not a word was spoken, but that scene--the emotions behind it, the foreshadowing embedded in it--was delivered in in a powerful, silent, 3-second punch.
It's absolutely beautiful. I feel myself filling up with appreciation and love whenever I think about the writers on that show. They don't include intricate details like that to make the show more entertaining or to make more money. They do it because they care about quality, solid, praise-worthy storytelling, even if their extra efforts go right over most peoples' heads. Which, in fact, they do.
They could just stop, you know. They could just quit weaving those subtle bits of story development into the plot and instead add in more meth, violence, kingpins, and point-blank murders. But they don't. They stick to their integrity and deliver a masterpiece of under-the-radar artistry and obvious-to-everyone entertainment.
Banshee has his same allure to me. As I mentioned earlier, I've seen the pilot three times. Last night was my third venture, and I found myself thinking, "Oh wow, I didn't know about that..." or "I never noticed that before." That, to me, is a sign of quality production. The audio, the angles, the familiar lack-of-dialogue storytelling I see in Breaking Bad has resurrected itself in Banshee.
Banshee (Cinemax, on at Fridays @ 10) is written and produced by the same guys as True Blood, but it has nothing to do with paranormal anything. Especially banshees. Banshee is an amish/small-town hybrid city that is almost entirely (unofficially) controlled by a big-money mob boss, where the mob consists 90% of the town's residents. The Sheriff's Department decides they need outside help with bringing this guy down, and basically, things just don't go as planned. There's sex, violence, action, and emotionally driven "aw, HELL yeah!"'s. I'll stop now and let you watch for yourselves.
I get that it's on Cinemax and not everyone will even know what I'm talking about, but I guess my point is: Pay attention to the details. Not just in TV, but in movies, news, books, essays, nature, and your relationships. In real life. The story--the delicious, tasty berry that gives the creative mind an overwhelming sense of color and energy and fulfillment--hinges on the details. Don't walk through life blind, too busy with work/school/money to notice the beauty in the blueprint.
Example: Breaking Bad versus Real Housewives of Anything. If you're a girl and you watch these shows, try an experiment--try to pick up anything specific or detailed about the series that contributes to the storyline. Here, I'll do the experiment for you! There is no storyline, and if there are any details, they don't matter. This show feeds into our desire to be distracted, not insightful. It's entertaining, sure, but I leave that show with a sense of emptiness because it completely lacks substance.
Your life has the blueprint to be as great of a story as Breaking Bad or Banshee. It's up to you, the writer/producer/director/actor, to put substance in it. Think of it like a coloring book. You could make your life an intricate masterpiece, or a Color by Number piece.
Now, go outside and notice how beautiful the crystalized dirt is when it's frozen. When it rains, go outside and just take a deep breath--smell the innocence in a fresh rainfall. While the leaves fall, grab one and read its veins like a book. Because even our own veins are a story in some way.
VERSUS
