#like they would help kill ben stiller i know it

[scurvyboy]

i don’t know how to explain it but ur relativity falls stan reminds me so much of lancer deltarune

i was going for more of a buford van stomm vibe, but i see where you're coming from

also you've inspired me to make this

[mychlapci]

My king, out of curiosity, do you have any more information on the movie where ben stiller and owen wilson are aliens? What do they look like? Was there a plot??

mhrmmmm i don't remember a lot... It was a silly comedy movie. ben stiller mostly looked like himself, but he had these tiny little antennae in his hair which is somehow even more ridiculous than owen wilson, who literally looked like he was wearing cats the musical make-up. but it looked kind of good on him, y'know? he was also kind of fruity with it. i would feel guilty for having a crush on him as a child, y'know. of course, the stark contrast in their appearance is kinda confusing, so i suppose they might have been two different alien species? though now that i think about it, ben stiller had some of the physical traits that owen wilson had (weird cheek hair, lots of fur and fluff... he really looked like he came out of cats the musical for broadway), they were just much less prominent. maybe it was sexual dimorphism idk

anyways, and the plot was basically that they were sent on a mission (what mission? idk. don't remember. some kind of delivery, i think) but crash landed on earth, and then the us government found them and well, they had no choice but to try and contain them to the best of their abilities. they also decided to let them wander around society as long as they were under observation and not telling people that they were aliens. ben stiller took everything very seriously, he kept working with the government and nasa so they could go back home. owen wilson just fucked around. he ended up getting way too far into the public eye and ben stiller was very mad at him because he was paranoid that the humans will figure them out. people mostly just assumed that owen wilson was one of those hardcore body modders who got surgeries to look like a cat or something... he was getting plenty of bitches and having tons of fun, too. i suppose the plot of the movie was just owen wilson helping ben stiller realize that humanity is fun and loving and he shouldn't be in such a rush to leave...

don't know how it ended though. that's killing me man. i want to rewatch it every single day. every night i go to sleep thinking of owen wilson and ben stiller. in cats the musical make up.

[tehshelaroxx]

Ah, The Spleen. 😂 I got this in today for the Pee Wee/Paul Reubens shrine but unfortunately I'm gonna have to do some rearranging to make him fit. Or at least rotate him in and something else out for a bit at some point. For now, he has a nice home on my shelf with some of my kpop albums.

Every since my parents took me to the theater to see this, not once but twice back in what 1999(?) 2000(?) I've always wanted the entire line of Mystery Men figures. Looking back, I can understand why some might say the movie was an acquired taste but I loved it back then and still enjoyed it a lot when I watched it a few years ago. I still really like the aesthetics and fuccccck I always wanted a piece of a young Ben Stiller as Mr. Furious...and Paul despite the musty but so well played character gimmick...and Kel. 🤭

When I took The Spleen out of the small box he was shipped in today, I couldn't help but laugh. You're lying if you can't call Paul a phenomenal actor. He killed it every time, even as Lock from Nightmare Before Christmas. The Spleen (I think) was the main reason my parents wanted to take me to see the movie as a little girl...must have seen Pee Wee on the previews and knowing how much I loved him from the start of my cognitive existence, surprised (and embarrassed) me. Also my dad and I both were/are big Kel Mitchell fans too, and were at the time as well.

I had the opportunity once to go and meet Paul at a nearby Fanboy Expo and my dad wanted to take me to the event to meet him, but he couldn't get it arranged to go ahead of time with his siblings and their shared duties in caring for my special needs uncle. Plus he never ever would reserve tickets ahead of time even if you explained how important that was to do until you were blue in the face. I still wish we would have made it and hate and regret that it won't be in this lifetime. Maybe in the next one we will finally cross paths. But until then...

Pee-Wee Forever!

[the-firebird69]

Destiny: The Taken King - Intro Cinematic

This might occur after the events with Warhammer 40K. And her words are very important. And she said you have killed his son and some people know what that means and it is most likely Tommy f who appears to kill Trump and cheesman and many others and has Lady Gaga attached to him possibly or one of the granddaughters and he does it as a threat the empire is helping it happen you need to tighten in the laser to a complement the sources and protect them in order to launch and to keep the empire down

Zues Hera

Well that makes sense and what did you say to her I said quite a while ago that the two are related Warhammer 40K ending and the cinematic and that was him and it was what she said I looked at and I said how is that I said I'm calling you his son and it is not completely obvious so we thought it was about Dan and Dan said sometimes she used that word about you so we went over and said if he's the son then you can't do that and she said why not we do it all the time and we can block it cuz I don't want you to do your favorite a****** and Steph's messing with me I said hold on there we don't want to call you bunch of names and we said we see it she said the publisher was on my name but we can't. Now I see what it means and it's not you doing anything and it's not damn this is a joy and he says one question though who is damn okay the machine is saying damn and you're actually saying Dan dammit

Trump

Haha

Yeah it's really actually funny

Dan yeah that's not the funny part I mean I don't think I'm in the film that's funny no the answer is no that's not funny I don't know where I am I think I didn't make it I'm trying to get poison together they had something I'm not sure where I think it might be Brazil and to cleave Tommy f off the little space ship yeah that makes sense

I'm track so he goes after me too drax this is going to suck

Kind of Killian that piece of s*** and the phones get me clones not the phones you idiots

Jason

We're not here it's okay some of the time we do a lot of stupid s*** this blows real bad it's on film and everything and he says they're manipulating it it would have been better to do it as a team since whenever one of those stands up we get wiped out and it's true

The Todd

I like this relationship but we have to live with it

Tommy f yeah I mean we're always infighting and ruin each other we need each other as a team

We have to have a meeting or something this is terrible

Mac Daddy

I don't think that's going to do s***

Deal with any action Neil adamiak

I think when I meet at my brand new pancake House and all these sponsor and build in like half a day so I can have a business and so you can have this important meeting

Zeus Hera

I don't think we can do that but it's a splendid idea we know we could cook you know about working we can make as a group

Mac Daddy

Where and when I'm famished

Ben Stiller

I don't know where's my knife this idiot's got to go

Terry cheesman I think I'm your grandson or grand uncle or nephew or something yeah Grand nephew well things get out of hand and your blow up and we don't get how and he says he's one of the Chinese guys is Mike the maintenance guy so we are going to have to do something

This blows were fooled again

Terry cheesman

[aion-rsa]

Best Romantic Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now

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Some movies brave enough to tread where only pop songs and poems go, and try to capture all the drama, contradictions and happy, bubbly feelings that come along with romance and love. It’s high-time that we honor them and defend them against their unearned sappy reputations with the best romantic movies on Amazon Prime.

We’ve scoured Amazon Prime to find the best romantic movies available for your viewing pleasure. Here are the best romantic movies on Amazon Prime. Ok, some of them are perfectly sappy.

The Big Sick

Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily Gordon’s theatrical debut made big waves when it came out for the singularity of its vision and just how plain funny it is. Now Amazon gets to reap the benefits of producing a bonafide romantic indie hit by getting its exclusive streaming rights. The Big Sick is the real life story of comedian Kumail Nanjiani meeting and falling in love with his wife, Emily (who is played by Zoe Kazan in the film).

Kumail and Emily’s courtship process is difficult enough to begin with due to Kumail’s family pressuring him to find a nice Pakistani girl to settle down with. But soon things get even more difficult as Emily suffers a health scare and Kumail must suddenly contend with that situation and Emily’s eccentric parents who have just come to town. The Big Sick is a clear vision from talented people and tells a beautifully convincing love story while making plenty of room for laughter. Not only that but it’s a big win for our list of best romance movies on Amazon Prime.

Watch The Big Sick

What If

Canadian drama What If (originally known as The F Word before the MPAA got its greasy fingers all over it) is a fun romantic movie and a tremendous showcase for its two young stars Daniel Radcliffe (you know what he’s from) and Zoe Kazan (The Big Sick). Radcliffe stars as Wallace – a directionless young man living in Toronto who decides to become more social after his girlfriend cheats on him.

Enter Kylo Ren (Adam Driver playing a character who is unfortunately not named Kylo Ren) who takes Wallace to a party where he meets the alluring Chantry (Kazan). Wallace and Chantry immediately fall for each other. Unfortunately there’s the small matter of Chantry’s boyfriend. What If? is a sweet little Canadian flick that knows how to push its audiences romantic buttons.

Watch What If

Still Mine

Still Mine isn’t necessarily about romance. It’s about love – a deep prevailing love built up over decades. Craig Morrison (James Cromwell) is a farmer in rural New Brunswick, Canada. He intends to build a new house for his ailing wife Irene (Geneviève Bujold) but runs into trouble with the local municipality’s bureaucracy prevents him from doing so.

Still Mine is as romantic a movie about bureacratic development regulations as has ever existed. Cromwell and Bujold have wonderful chemistry and paint a portrait of profound, abiding love.

Watch Still Mine

Some Kind of Wonderful

Some Kind of Wonderful doesn’t have the same pop culture standing as other John Huges films like Sixteen Candles or Pretty in Pink. Still this remains a worthwhile entry into the Hughes canon on teenage love. 

Read more

Movies

Celebrating John Hughes’ Sixteen Candles

By Carley Tauchert

Movies

The Bee: The $50 Million John Hughes Movie That Fell Apart

By Simon Brew

Keith Nelson (Eric Stoltz) is a high school outcast who has his eyes set on popular girl Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson). Thankfully he has his tomboyish Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson) to help court her. Based on that meager plot description, you may think you know where Some Kind of Wonderful is going to end up, and…you’re probably right. That doesn’t make the journey any less satisfying. 

Watch Some Kind of Wonderful

To Catch a Thief

You know who would make a great romance film? The guy who did Psycho. Yes To Catch a Thief is a classic romance film from none other than Alfred Hitchcock. Of course, there’s a lot more going on in this heist thriller.

Cary Grant stars as retired cat burglar John Robie. When another burglar starts copying his act, Robie has to undergo One Last Job (TM) to catch…a thief. In the process John comes across the wealthy Frances (Grace Kelly) and the two strike up an unlikely romance for the ages.

Watch To Catch a Thief

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Hello, My Name is Doris

Between TBS’ Search Party and Hello, My Name is Doris, director Michael Showalter had a stellar 2016. Hello, My Name is Doris is a wonderfully sweet, equally tragic and completely hilarious romantic comedy. Sally Field stars as the titular Doris, a lively woman in her 60s who after the death of her mother becomes infatuated with a younger man. 

Read more

Movies

Best Romantic Movies on Netflix

By Alec Bojalad

Movies

Best Romantic Movies on Hulu Right Now

By Alec Bojalad

With the help of cliched self-help materials she does whatever she can to get his attention. Hello, My Name is Doris is an empathetic romantic comedy that will change how you view age. 

Watch Hello, My Name is Doris

Sabrina (1995)

Let’s get one thing out of the way right now. Sabrina‘s theatrical poster is dope. When I was a kid and I would pass the VHS cover in Blockbuster, I couldn’t help but think “Wow, that is a real adult movie.” At a young age, the mere sight of a woman’s lascivious red lipstick (lascivious in my head at least) was enough to fry my brain. Poster aside, however, Sabrina is an excellent romance with some real star power. It’s a remake of the 1954 film of the same name starring Billy Wilder and Audrey Hepburn. 

This version was directed by the great Sydney Pollack and stars Harrison Ford, Greg Kinnear, and Julia Ormond. Weirdly enough Greg Kinnear plays the ultimate rich playboy while Harrison Ford plays his studious older brother. Weird casting choices but it works out alright thanks to each actor’s chemistry with Ormond.

Watch Sabrina

Ghost

Ghost is much more than just the reason you can no longer attend a pottery class without giggling. It’s a legitimately great sci-fi romance yarn. Patrick Swayze stars as Sam a banker who is killed by a mugger. Immediately post-death he discovers that he has become a ghost and can no longer directly interact with his girlfriend Molly (Demi Moore).

Sam sets out to solve his own murder and somehow reconnect with the woman he loves. Ghostcomes along with all the corniness of an early ’90s blockbuster but its central theme of love trying to achieve the impossible plays in any decade.

Watch Ghost

Brokeback Mountain

Longing is a crucial part of the formula in any romance movie and Brokeback Mountain has it in spades. Ang Lee’s 2005 film played a crucial role in bringing queer cinema to the mainstream and it did so by presenting mostly straight audiences with a universal depiction of love and passion – the kind of love that supersedes the norms and expectations of everything in your life to that point.

Heath Ledger and Jake Gylllenhaal star as 1960s Wyoming cowboys Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist. While herding sheep on the Brokeback mountains, Jack makes a sexual pass at Ennis and the two begin a summer-long physical affair. The movie then follows the pair through the subsequent decades as they try to return to their “normal” lives, all the while unable to forget their time on Brokeback.

Watch Brokeback Mountain

Letter to Juliet

Somewhere along the way, Hollywood decided to let Amanda Seyfried become the queen of romantic comedies set in exotic locales…and that’s perfectly fine with us.

In Letters to Juliet, Seyfried stars as a New York fact checker Sophie on “pre-honeymoon” with her fiancé in Verona. There she learns of the phenomenon of “letters to Juliet” where women women bring love letters to Juliet Montague’s Verona courtyard. When Sophie answers a letter from 1957, she embarks on a decades-spanning journey of love and self-discover.y

Watch Letters to Juliet

What Men Want

Back in 2000, only one film had the distinction…nay, the courage of trying to figure out What Women Want. The answer, apparently, was Mel Gibson. We don’t talk about this movie that much.

Read more

Books

Which YA Romance Should Netflix Adapt Next?

By Kayti Burt

Books

Yesterday Is History: Meet the Latest Addition to the Time Travel Romance Genre

By Alana Joli Abbott

2019’s What Men Want is a loose remake of the earlier film. And it has something that the original never did: Taraji P. Henson! Henson stars as Ali Davis, a sports agent who gains the ability to read men’s minds after meeting a shaman. The movie puts Ali’s male-dominated profession to good use and in the process tells a nifty little romance story.

Watch What Men Want

There’s Something About Mary

More than two decades later, it’s still wild to see that above screenshot. Like, that ran in newspapers. It was on a poster! And if you don’t know why a photo of Cameron Diaz with a unique hairstyle is a big deal then you’ve likely not seen the Farrelly Brothers 1998 gross out classic There’s Something About Mary.

This is not so much a romance movie as it is an exploration of the pitfalls of attraction. Diaz stars as Mary Jensen…and there’s just something about her. Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon, Lee Evans, and Chris Elliott all play men who are helplessly in love with Mary and trying to win her affection. In the process, many injuries as sustained.

Watch There’s Something About Mary

Moulin Rouge!

If you like your romance with more than a dash of Baz Luhrmann saturated colors and big, sexy musical numbers then Moulin Rouge! is almost certainly the movie for you.

This 2001 film is set in 1900s Paris amid the Bohemian movement. When Christian (Ewan McGregor) falls in love with Moulin Rouge cabaret actress and courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman), he must contend with her impending betrothal (or really sale) to the Duke of Montrose. As one might imagine, this is resolved with quite a bit of singing and dancing.

Watch Moulin Rouge!

Sylvie’s Love

Amazon Prime’s 2020 film Sylvie’s Love positively oozes jazz era atmosphere and tells a compelling, decades-spanning love story in the process.

Tessa Thompson stars as Sylvie Parker, a young woman who one day meets an aspiring saxophonist (played by Kerry Washington’s husband and former NFLer Nnamdi Asomugha) and in her father’s record shop in 1950s Harlem. This leads to sweeping romance that guides the pair through the era’s jazz music scene.

Watch Sylvie’s Love

The post Best Romantic Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[everymovie2020]

Next of Kin (1989)

Date watched:  13 July 2019

Ngl, I would never have watched this movie if it wasn’t for Swayze, but the cast is pretty great:

Patrick Swayze

Helen Hunt

Bill Paxton

Liam Neeson

Baby Ben Stiller (just a little baby!!!)

Adam Baldwin

Plot:

Swayze is a small-town hick who is now working as a big-city lawman in charge of wrangling other small-town hicks from tearing up the big city (Chicago).

His brother, baby Bill Paxton, works as a vending machine truck driver guy, and the other brother, baby Liam Neeson, still lives in the country, wherever that is - I was guessing Appalachia but honestly I have no idea.

Swayze is married to Helen Hunt - sadly, Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton do not interact on screen in this movie - who, honestly, looks way too young for him.  At first I was like, “She’s his younger sister, right?” And then I was like oh no brothers and sisters shouldn’t kiss.

And yep, just googling, Swayze was 11 years older than Helen Hunt at the time of this movie.

BABY FACE.

The lady has TASTE.

So what happens is that baby Ben Stiller and Adam Baldwin kill Bill Paxton for reasons that I didn’t understand when I watched the movie, and which are still unclear to me today.

Obviously Swayze and Liam Neeson are upset about the untimely death of Bill Paxton - as you would be - and so after the funeral in the backwoods of wherever, Liam Neeson comes to Chicago to exact revenge on the bastards that killed his baby brother.

He is somewhat successful in pissing off the bad guys until HE dies, and then Swayze has a showdown with them in a cemetery and all of the hicks from the country come and help him take them down, and...

End of movie?

God I think he is the most beautiful man who has ever walked planet Earth, he is just gorgeous.  I don’t know why, HE JUST IS.

WHAT IS IT

Like WHY does he have this effect on me?  The man has been dead for ten years and I’m still like HOT DAMN

Anyway, re the movie...

It went for a really long time, I struggled to understand why Bill Paxton died in the first place, I was not really invested in Liam Neeson’s revenge plot and I felt that Liam Neeson’s accent was just really terrible, Patrick Swayze was good but he had a mullet and honestly, I just didn’t love this.

I wanted to.  I just didn’t.

Man I have GOT to watch the Outsiders again, jeez.

[the-niknak]

Random bits of info from the “Escape at Dannemora” commentaries, Disc 1

Hello! I got bored and decided to put together some random bits of info from the “Escape at Dannemora” commentaries. Each episode came with an audio commentary, so...yeah.

Originally, I was going to do just one post, but I realized later on that it would end up being extremely long, so I divided it up into three posts. There will be spoilers ahead, so...SPOILERS AHEAD!!! Alright, let’s do this...

*Disc 1 features episodes 1-3*

Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin, the shows main writers and also co-executive producers, wrote a script for the series shortly after the events of the prison escape took place, filling in details that they did not know about. After the Inspector General’s report was released, they then rewrote the entire thing, this time including actual details from the escape.

Ben Stiller initially said no to directing, but when Tolkin and Johnson came back with a revised script he finally said yes.

Patricia Arquette was the first of the three lead actors to join the series.

The series was filmed at multiple locations, which meant that some scenes where filmed at multiple locations as well. So, for example, a scene where somebody is walking into a room could have been filmed at five different locations. They would just then carefully edit the scene to make it seem like it was filmed at only one location.

A lot of the prison scenes, mostly the outdoor scenes, were filmed at a decommissioned prison in Pittsburgh called the Western Penitentiary.

Mark Ricker, the show’s production designer, was not allowed to take photos when they did a walk-through of the actual Clinton Correctional Facility, so he had to draw quick, but detailed sketches, take meticulous notes, and try to remember what each location looked like from memory so that he could then recreate them as sets.

The Honor Block was an almost exact replica of the real Honor Block at Clinton. The real Honor Block was four stories high, while the set was three stories high. They could not make it four stories high due to safety reasons.

Benicio del Toro made several choices in regards to how he played Richard Matt, understandably so, due to Matt getting shot and killed. So...like, he didn’t really have a whole lot of sources to base his portrayal on, so he kinda had to make certain decisions on his own.

When they met up with David Sweat, he claimed that he came up with the idea to escape, but when asked to elaborate further, he could not provide a straight answer, which made the filmmakers feel that Matt was the brains behind the escape. Also, because Matt did hide his paints in the catwalks, which meant that at one point or another, he realized that there was a way down to the basement.

Sweat also claimed that he never felt anything for Tilly Mitchell, but his and Tilly’s statements in the IG’s report say otherwise.

I remember watching ep. 1 and thinking that Sweat might have mommy issues, and it seems like the filmmakers think so too.

It was Benicio’s idea to have Matt paint the Hillary Clinton portrait upside down because that was something that he learned when he was learning how to paint. Apparently, it helps with getting the finer details of an image more accurately (Idk if this is true because I know nothing about art).

Ben loved it whenever Patricia and Benicio would do scenes together. He thought they were very fascinating to watch. Like...seriously, he loved watching them do scenes together.

Patricia loved working with Benicio because she felt like she learned something new every time they did scenes together.

Patricia described Tilly’s relationships with the men in her life in the following ways: with Sweat it was teenage-like but also somewhat maternal, with Lyle it was a caregiver, and with Matt it was submissive due to Matt being an alpha male.

They hired an artist to recreate Matt’s paintings, and according to him, had Matt not become a criminal, he probably would have had a pretty good career as an artist, specifically, a portrait artist. He said that Matt’s portraits were extraordinarily detailed for a guy who was not really a professional, so like...imagine if he had had the opportunity to hone those skills even more.

Apparently, somebody did actually walk in on Tilly giving Matt a blowjob.

Mark Ricker had an experience at the Western Penitentiary years ago that until now he can’t explain. He had a haunted experience, is what I’m saying.

It was totally Benicio’s choice to do the “Don’t tell anybody” line like that at the end of ep. 3. They did several takes and he did the line like that every time. The reaction you see on Patricia’s face in the scene is her actual reaction (according to her on Twitter and according to Ben in the commentary). 

[ghosts-and-blue-sweaters]

I'm sending in more asks because A) I like to be nosey and 2) because your story ideas are awesome. So... Odyssey Squad, 99/Cadets, and Pazoni Zuziono and 448th Battalion? SPILL (please)

One: I AM ALSO NOSY AUSGABGAGWW AND I LOVE GETTING LITERALLY ANY KIND OF ASK SO PLEASE SEND AS MANY AS YOU WANT :D

B: WHAT THE AWWWWWWW THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Just answered Odyssey Squad, but ooooooh boy you chose some good ones!

99/Cadets centers around 99 and… cadets ahahahshqh

Shortly after Domino Squad leaves, 99 takes notice of a squad of very young clones. They’re all about three to three and a half (physically six or seven)

They remind 99 of Domino—squabbling, always annoying each other, generally not getting along—and so he decides to help them work out their issues… in the form of stories

It turns into an adorable routine—once a day, 99 pulls the cadets aside and tells them about a time when Domino squad had done x and what they had done about x

The cadets very quickly become obsessed with Domino; they choose favorite “characters” too, and frequently argue over who’s the better dude XD

The cadets end up learning a lot through 99’s stories, and 99 really bonds with the five of them in the time they spend together

…and then the Battle Of Kamino happens

The cadets actually get to meet Fives and Echo! They turn into overexcited fans and holy jalapeños it’s adorable-

They’re all devastated when they learn what happened to Droidbait, Cutup, and Hevy, however :(

Shortly after… 99 dies. And suddenly the cadets are left without their friend and mentor

Fives and Echo stay on Kamino for ARC training, and end up “unofficially adopting the kids as their little brothers”, which includes letting them sleepover in their barracks, comforting them when they’re sad and grieving, and protecting them from Kaminoan jerks

Best big brothers ever

I’ve only come up with one of the cadets—Breeze. He’s extremely quiet, almost nonverbal. He’s also very shy, and often hides behind his brothers in new situations. He got his name because he loves going outside, stretching his arms out wide, and letting the rain wash over him and the wind blow his hair. I think he’s Autistic, but that’s not a hard fact yet

If you or anyone has ideas for any of the other cadets, please let me know! Help would be great lol

Pazoni Zuziono And 448th Battalion *rubs hands together*

So, there’s this movie (starring Ben Stiller) called The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty. It’s incredible and you should totally watch it shsjsjahalakak

Anyway, there’s a scene in there where Walter, the main character, plays soccer with a bunch of random dudes in a beautiful field

That sparked the idea of a Jedi playing soccer with a bunch of clones :D

I eventually came up with characters—here’s some of them!

Pazoni Zuziono

.Jedi General

.Extremely new to the whole war thing, despite it being the second year of the war

.Stayed at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant for the first two years of the war

.Had a padawan who ended up leaving the order and being killed in a speeder crash… all in the same day :/

.Kinda oblivious (in a funny way)

.Cares deeply about everyone, and strives to find peaceful solutions to everything

.Has no problem with letting other people take the lead

.Straightforward and honest, especially about himself and his shortcomings

.Goes by Paz

Chase

.Clone sergeant (who gets promoted to commander of an entire freaking battalion randomly one day, much to everyone’s surprise and his horror)

.Cares deeply about his men

.Very confused by Paz, who’s different than every other Jedi he’s met before

.Worried about disappointing people, and often hides his discomforts in order to appear put-together and in control

Domino

.Crazy

.Absolutely crazy

.Sometimes makes jokes about things he shouldn’t really joke about, not understanding that it could be offensive or rude

.Batchmate and best friend of Chase

17

.Unnamed

.Quiet

.Very Crosshair-like

.Suffered severe trauma by the hands of Krell

.Hates Jedi because of Krell

.Slow to trust people

There’s a bunch more, but those guys are the main characters :D

So yeah… basically Paz forces his squad to play soccer. They’re very confused. The game is awkward

It turns fun after like 15 minutes though and from that moment on every single clone adores Paz <3

After that mission (which was a complete fail lol) all of Paz’s men BEG the General to stick with them instead of leaving. Paz has a meeting with the higher-ups and comes to this agreement:

1. Paz gets to stay with his squad

2. He also acquires a battalion (because there’s not enough Jedi in the war and they gotta find leaders for the clones, no matter how inexperienced those leaders may be)

So Paz and his small squad-turned-gigantic-family gets to navigate this insane transition together :D

Thanks for the ask, and sorry it took a while to answer XD

[taronfanfic]

Crossed Targets: Dare to Return

Previous chapters here

Chapter 9

With a handful of DVD’s and the hood of your onesie pulled up over your freshly washed and still damp hair you made a run for it through the cold drizzly night air across to Taron’s trailer, letting yourself inside without knocking. You left your shoes next to Taron’s and walked round the corner to join him on the small sofa. Two steaming mugs of tea were placed on the coffee table and you pushed them back to make space for your DVD choices for the night.

“Something new: Baby Driver.” You lined it up in front of Taron’s mug. “You’ve not seen it already have you?”

“No, it’s one I really want to watch though!” Taron sat forward and picked up the case to look at the back cover.

“Something animated: Monsters Inc.” You placed the second DVD down on the table and Taron smiled knowingly at you.

“I’m watching you Wazowski, always watching!” He did his best impression of Roz and it had you laughing.

“I don’t know if we’ll have time for the classic, but I brought it anyway: Zoolander.” You added the third film to the table as Taron got up to put the first one on, turning back to give you his best blue steel look. He nailed it too. “You’re too good.”

“I could definitely give Ben Stiller a run for his money.”

Everything fell quiet as the film started to play and you relaxed down into the sofa. You crossed your feet under your legs and let your knee rest gently against Taron’s thigh. A few minutes later and he moved his arm, resting it back over your knee. The shared personal space wasn’t flirty, just comfortable and relaxed. You could totally chill out with him around and spending your evenings with someone was preferable to being on your own. You’d never lived on your own, always having Katherine or Oliver and for a while both of them when you shared a house together. Having a trailer of your own was a novelty and once the excitement had worn off it felt a bit cold and lonely over there by yourself.

Taron was quietly singing along to Easy Like Sunday Morning as the film came to a close and you were both smiling at the ending.

“Such a great film!” Taron was the first to comment. “That soundtrack… just perfection.”

“I bet they had so many sing-alongs on set.” You pushed yourself away from Taron and went to switch over the DVD.

“Guaranteed! They’ll have struggled to shut Ansel up, he loves to sing more than I do and that’s saying something!”

“He can sing too? I didn’t know that!… Cute and multi-talented, do you have his number?” You raised an eyebrow at Taron as you walked back over to the sofa.

“I do, but that doesn’t mean I’m giving it to you!” Taron was quick to close your idea down.

“Hey! Why not?” You protested and then teased him. “I thought we were friends…”

“Well for starters he already has a girlfriend and they’ve been together for years so if that’s what you had in mind, I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go there.” Taron shook his head as you huffed in disappointment. “But more to the point, you don’t need to be the one doing the chasing. Everyone knows you’re a catch so just be patient. Someone’s probably just waiting for the right time to make a move.” You narrowed your eyes as you scrutinized everything Taron had just said.

“You sound like you know something…”

“No, I’m not saying anything.” He teased as he raised his hands defensively.

“Is it that guy… what was his name? Matt? The one who you told off for touching my arse when he put my harness on this afternoon. Were you trying to wind him up over me?”

“No, no, I was genuinely worried about where he was putting his hands… but speaking of this afternoon-”

“Don’t you dare change the subject when you clearly have important gossip!” You interrupted Taron, gently nudging the side of his thigh with your foot.

“I’m changing it, so deal with it!” He grabbed hold of your foot and lifted it in the air so you couldn’t kick him again, instead allowing you to stretch your legs out across his lap. “What I was about to say was that I’m glad you found the funny side of it this afternoon. There was a long moment where I thought I’d be heading back to the dog house.”

“If we hadn’t been pranking each other all week I think I’d have killed you! Then again I thought you might kill me after the fake tan; you were not a happy bunny that night.”

“No, I really wasn’t.” Taron sighed. “I can see the funny side in hindsight, I’d have usually taken that and laughed with you but…” His earlier smile had been replaced with a more sombre frown. “Amy broke up with me.” He added simply. You pulled your legs back from his lap as you sat up in surprise.

“Shit, no! Why, what happened?” You replied quickly. “Sorry, lots of questions. You don’t have to tell me, or talk about it if you don’t want to-“

“No, it’s fine.” He looked up from his hands and gave you a weak smile. “She’s been seeing someone else. She said just while I’ve been away but I kind of know it’s been longer than that.”

“What makes you say longer?”

“Gut instinct.” He scrunched his nose up. “I knew she was flirting with him back when we started all the prep for this, she was getting more distant too. So that’s why I was so flirty with you – and I know I shouldn’t have been because you didn’t deserve it – but I was just trying to make her jealous. I told her I’d be working with my ex and I thought she’d get a bit more territorial over me but it just seemed to have the opposite effect… So I’ve been expecting things to end. Kind of prepared myself for it.”

“Shit.” You ran your hand through your hair as you pieced everything together and made sense of Taron’s earlier actions. “That explains a lot.”

“I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean for you to end up being part of it! We weren’t on great terms back then and you were so cold to start with so I didn’t think it would matter. I didn’t think about it hurting you, but as soon as you said it did it was like everything backfired, and suddenly I cared more about-” You cut him off.

“Taron, it’s ok. You’ve already apologised for all of that and I forgive you for it. It would have helped to have had the full explanation at the time, but I get why you didn’t give me all the details… Wait here.” You never gave him chance to finish his sentence as you got to your feet and ran back over to your trailer to collect the untouched chocolate bar that Taron had given you weeks ago. “Here.” You handed it back to him and he smiled gently.

“No, this is yours.” He put it down on the coffee table.

“We can share it. I promised Dalton I’d save it until after the shoot but I think we deserve a bit now.” You opened the packet and broke a chunk off, splitting it in half again and handing a piece to Taron.

“You’re being way too nice to me.”

“I’m just being a good friend.” You sat back and savoured the taste of the chocolate that had been missing from your diet for the past 6 weeks. “Chocolate is the answer to everything.”

“I thought that was tea?” Taron chuckled. “I was expecting you to say something like ‘I know how you feel’… being cheated on.”

“Well I do, but that would have been a bit harsh seeing as it was you! Can’t kick a man when he’s down.”

“It’s been pretty shit.”

“I know how you feel.” Taron laughed harder this time.

“I’m so pleased you’ve been around these past few days to distract me. You’re actually the best.” He leant in against your side and you pulled him closer as you wrapped your arms around him, finally settling down to start watching the second film despite missing the start of it. Everything fell quiet again until the film had ended, neither of you rushing to get up and retrieve the DVD this time. Taron stretched his arm out behind you as he yawned and you couldn’t help the temptation to poke him in the ribs and make him squirm. He flinched away from you instinctively and then started to stare you down, his eyes warning you against trying anything. You stared back at him holding the intensity of his gaze as he moved his whole body closer to yours. The heat between you was rising as your heartrate quickened. You couldn’t anticipate his next move, your mind flicking between the options of him suddenly tickling you or potentially trying to kiss you. This was mad. You knew Taron. You’d seen the look in his eyes when he was feeling playful and also the look of lust but right now you couldn’t tell the two apart. Anchored to the spot you could only wait. You watched his eyes as they flicked down to your lips for a split second. He knew you’d seen it but neither of you backed away. The tension held you both tightly, both barely breathing as you daren’t make a sudden move. As your eyes stayed locked with his you felt his hand rest gently against your upper thigh. His touch pulled you from your thoughts, snapping you back to reality and pulling you sharply away from his body.

“I should-”

“Yeah.” Taron didn’t need to hear the rest of your sentence as he retreated to the opposite end of the sofa, not even looking at you as you got up to leave.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” You added as you bundled your feet into your shoes and made the quickest exit of your life.

[thedeaditeslayer]

TDS Exclusive: Interview with Ash vs. Evil Dead actor Ray Santiago

Below is a transcribed interview done by phone with actor Ray Santiago. Other than playing Pablo in Ash vs. Evil Dead, Ray has an impressive array of films and TV appearances under his belt such as Suburban Gothic, Trash Fire, In Time, Girlfight, and Meet the Fockers.

Ray Santiago as Pablo Simon Bolivar with the Kandarian Dagger in a still from Ash vs. Evil Dead season 3. (Courtesy of Starz)

Q: First off, what sparked your desire to become an actor and what was your first big break to make it in the industry?

A: As a kid I was really uncomfortable with myself and I always wanted to be other people. In the pursuit of trying to become an actor and playing other people and studying acting I discovered facets of myself and my personality which ultimately lead me into being more comfortable with who I am today. Along with that I knew that as a young kid that grew up in the South Bronx that I was put in this universe to be something special, to be something more. Also, as a kid I didn’t find that any of the people in television that looks like me and I didn’t think consciously I but subconsciously that TV is identity building. I wanted more people out there to see me as an example. I wanted to help that in the future.  That was sort of what I discovered in my journey. You have to be who you are and there’s power in that.

My first big break came when I was twelve. I was in a movie called Girlfight with Michelle Rodriguez. It went to Sundance and it won best picture and best director. After that I went to the High School for Performing Arts in New York City. When I was nineteen I played Ben Stiller’s illegitimate son in Meet the Fockers so that was probably the other big break. I then moved to L.A. and jumped from show to show and played different roles like different gang bangers and drug dealers in every interrogation room that existed in Los Angeles. Then I found my way onto Ash vs. Evil Dead.

Ray Santiago as Tiny Guzman (left) in Girlfight. (source)

Q: What learning experiences has working on Ash vs. Evil Dead taught you and how has it molded you as an actor over these three seasons on the show?

A: From Bruce I learned to hit my mark. I think that I was terrified of Bruce until the second episode just because I wanted to make him happy and not let him down. I was sort of all new to what we were doing on the show. He said to me that I was killing it but I need to hit my mark. I was like “Oh, I’m starting to get it now” and he was like “You’re doing all of this great stuff but you’re missing your mark by two inches so note the camera was not picking up on it.” So, I learned that. I think that I learned it in every sense of the word. Show up to your job and hit your mark. Show up prepared and show up ready to do it in one take because sometimes that’s all you might get.

I’ve learned to trust myself and to trust myself as an actor. I’ve learned that I’m better at stunts and co-ordination. I’ve learned to enjoy being alone. When you’re alone in Los Angeles trying to get a job then it’s not so great. When you’re alone in New Zealand and you’ve only had forty minutes or twenty minutes alone because people have been touching you all day because you’ve been having prosthetics all over your face since 4AM being alone can be a beautiful thing. I’ve learned to enjoy what both of those things have to offer. I’ve learned to enjoy the journey because really that’s the beautiful part. It’s not about the money, the accolades, the success or the fame. It’s about how much you work to get where you want to go to and how you enjoy it. It’s from everything in between from when you’re born and you die. You learn to enjoy it.

Ray Santiago as Pablo Simon Bolivar alongside Bruce Campbell as Ash in the episode The Killer of Killers from Ash vs. Evil Dead. (Courtesy of Starz)

Q: Throughout all three seasons of the show, you got to work with many different writers and directors. What is it like working with a diverse team and the diverse cast on each season?

A: TV and film are a collaborative art. We each put a piece of our soul in the pot and we make something together. You learn to appreciate what everyone has to bring to the table. Like I said, as a kid I was really inspired by television.  It was my escape and it was my way of seeing the dream. All of those details like from a costume designer put into a show or a writer put into the show or a producer who decided to produce something that other people didn’t want to produce, it all goes into the pot and it all makes a beautiful canvas look beautiful. You learn to enjoy and trust everyone’s color. Everyone brings something to the table and it’s worth looking at and understanding. I love working with Kiwis. I love working with icons like Lucy who are just so sophisticated and so elegant and not a diva at all. She’s so driven by family and her thirst for knowledge of different languages. You learn that there is more to life out there outside of what we do and it ain’t the be all end all.

Q: What kind of trouble does Pablo find himself in season 3?

A: In season three we get to see Pablo sort of finally fulfill his destiny as his own hero. He goes from being just a loyal sidekick to embracing his lineage of a family of brujos. He becomes his own hero and also maybe his worst enemy. There’s an undeniable relationship with the Necronomicon that he has. He’s been tortured by it. It lives within him. In this season we get to see him teeter between both sides of good and evil and try to hone in on the good and evil within himself. Can he use it for the greater of the team or can he use it against the team? We’ve got something very particular this season going on with Pablo. We’d like to call it something very especiale. We’re calling him Brujo Especiale.

Ray Santiago poses as Pablo Simon Bolivar in this promo photo for Ash vs. Evil Dead season 3. (Courtesy of Starz)

Q: If you existed in the Evil Dead world as yourself, what kind of person would you be?

A: I would have probably just have…..ran. That being said, Pablo does get in some pretty good fight scenes this season. He may also lock lips with a certain female character….or maybe even two!

TDS: Oh, that’s like scandalous! *laughs*

A: Oh yeah.

Q: So, did you feel like you were passing the torch to the new cast members and did you give them any advice for season 3?

A: I don’t know if I’m passing the torch but I was definitely sharing it and it was nice to I guess feel alleviated from having so much pressure put on us work wise and schedule wise. I will say this. Arielle has really brought everything that she got to the table. I was really impressed with her. She never complained. She really has a difficult feat of taking on the role of Ash’s daughter but she really does deliver. She’s really beautiful. She’s really humble. We love having her around.

From left to right: Ray Santiago, Arielle Carver-O’Neill, Bruce Campbell, and Dana DeLorenzo as their Ash vs. Evil Dead characters in season 3. (Courtesy of Starz)

Q: In the season 3 trailer Pablo mentions the final test to Ash. Is this really the mettle of man to end all or is there more to it?

A: It might be the end of what we know in this universe but of course in this franchise there could be multiple universes and we can do whatever we want. One thing is for sure. I promise you a jaw dropping finale where everybody will be shocked.  A lot of the cast members were really emotionally triggered and drained from shooting this. We didn’t even have to really act. It was so emotional to see what was happening and we were just all living through it truthfully. You never know what’s going to happen on this season. We may be passing torches onto a whole other level or maybe more people than you think may not survive. We’re all going to down with a good fight so you really all need to check it out and I really encourage the viewers to check it out because it’s one of the best seasons that we filmed so far.

TDS: Oh yes, the fans are all about that. I’m sure that you know about #BringBackBoomstick right?

A: Oh yeah, I know about #BringBackBoomstick and if it works then I’ll love you guys forever!

Q: Do you have any fun stories from behind the scenes for this season that you’d like to share with us?

A: I’m probably the one that runs around the most naked out of the group. I definitely like to flash Dana. I’m known for leaving weird body parts and prosthetics in people’s trailers. We just like to have a good time. We’re always dancing in the trailer.

One time we were shooting a scene where we were driving from one location to another in a car and I was covered in blood. I was ducking down in the back seat because I didn’t want anyone in the streets of New Zealand to see me but I peaked up to see where we were drenched in blood. There was a little Asian man in his car and I turned over to him and pulled down the window and was like “Help me!” and he just like drove off.

TDS: That story is very interesting because something very similar happened to Bruce Campbell during the shoot of The Evil Dead. There was a point where he was drenched in blood and he was on the back of a truck and people were horrified when they saw him! So that is very similar to something that has already happened in this franchise.

A: Yeah, it’s so surprising how people just look at you and react and then they go. Hey listen, I did say that if I was in the Evil Dead world and I wasn’t Pablo I would do the same thing!

Q: Thank you so much for taking your time to speak with us! Do you have anything that you would like to share with TDS followers?

A: Probably my social media handles? No, I’m kidding. *laughs* I think that I’ve pretty much shared it all. Pablo is a dreamer and he wants to be a hero and I think that you’ll get to see the full cycle of that this season. Also, just because I died once doesn’t mean that I won’t die again. If they want to see some more heroes being made or destroyed then they should tune in.

From left to right: Lindsay Farris, Dana DeLorenzo, Ray Santiago and Arielle Carver-O’Neill pose for a photo at the Hulu New York Comic Con After Party. (source)

Thank you greatly to Starz and Ray Santiago for the wonderful interview!

 Visit the Starz Ash vs. Evil Dead official website here.

 Visit Ray Santiago on IMDb I Twitter I Facebook I Instagram

[cryptoevent]

Galaxy Digital’s Sam Englebardt – Cointelegraph Magazine

Sam Englebardt produced zombie films, founded Gold Class Cinemas in Australia and pioneered crypto in the early years. Now he is investing half a billion dollars to create a metaverse.

Sam Englebardt, managing partner of Galaxy Interactive, met billionaire and former hedge fund manager Mike Novogratz during a tumultuous trip to Haiti in 2016. Englebard’s fiancée, Megan, invited him at the last minute to a party organized by Artists for Peace and Justice.

It was a fun weekend, Englebardt said. This is Paul Haggis’ organisation. Susan Sarandon and Ben Stiller were there. It was a big celebration of the great school they built.

Mike and I got along really well. We realized we had a lot of overlapping interests in technology: in bitcoin and crypto, and especially in VR and AR, he says. Nine months later, after their friendship had grown, Novogratz told Englebard to join him in New York to help institutionalize his family office.

He loves Megan, my fiancée. I remember we were sitting at breakfast one morning and he said: ‘You know, Sam, if you don’t come to New York to work for me in the family office I’m building, Megan will leave you! – he said, smiling.

Galaxy Digital’s original plan was to make money in a more traditional way, through venture capital funding, debt and late-stage private equity, but it was swallowed up by the events surrounding the incredible crypto bull of 2016-17.

The plan went out the window when we realized, wow, we’re in a better position than anyone to really build Galaxy Digital and pursue this mission of institutionalizing crypto and blockchain, says Englebardt, official co-founder. And the rest is our crazy adventure.

Interactivity

Galaxy Interactive is investing in breakthrough technologies in virtual and augmented reality (including Polyarc), artificial intelligence (Hour One) and blockchain-based games (Playable Worlds). To date, they have invested approximately $200 million in interactive studios and social platforms, as well as the infrastructure and technology that powers this space.

Remember Block.one’s initial coin issuance of $4.1 billion for EOS in 2018? Some of that money went into a $325 million fund originally intended for general EOS development, but it was converted into a $256 million fund under the name Galaxy Interactive after Englebardt and his partner Richard Kim developed more enthusiasm for the field. They will raise an additional $300 million by refocusing on interactive content.

There is a lot of money at stake in the gaming industry. Newzoo predicts that by 2013, the industry will attract 3 billion players and bring in $217.9 billion, three times more than the film and music industries combined. Englebardt believes that games have prepared the world for the explosion of non-fiction tokens and ownership of virtual digital objects that we have seen this year.

Over the past 20 years, people have become incredibly accustomed to the idea that digital objects have value, he says. The sword could be worth something in the form of real money in the game, and people would want to buy, sell and trade it.

And by the way, these are the same people who created the systems that enabled the creation, trading and monetization of digital objects and games, and then created much of the same technology that is behind the whole blockchain and crypto explosion.

Philosophy on the subject

I was born in Ohio in 1977 – which makes me the dinosaur you think of in cryptoland – and studied law at Harvard and philosophy, political science and economics at the University of Colorado and Oxford. He was so fascinated by Plato, Descartes, David Chalmers and the philosophy of mind that he considered becoming a teacher of philosophy. This may explain why he is more interested in the virtual worlds in which the games are embedded than in the games themselves.

I think all this prepares you to accept the possibility that we are currently living in a simulation, and certainly to understand why people can and do spend so much time building their alter egos in these digital worlds, and even the possibility that the alter egos they build are as important as the physical bodies they inhabit.

What I like about philosophy is that you just have to study the thought process and practice being open-minded, exploring ideas and having fun exploring them. Not only is it great fun and intellectually stimulating, but it’s also a great way to become a venture capitalist, he says.

He also took a course in film history, which fueled a lifelong obsession with film and filmmaking and led him to found a film finance company. When I was in law school, I started funding a company that produced and financed an independent film, he says. That was the beginning of my professional life.

Movie years

During his career, Englebardt has produced or directed zombie films for George A. Romero (Diary of the Dead, Surviving the Dead), the Sin City sequel (Lady to Kill For) and the more recent AMC series, Night Manager.

He also created the concept of Gold Class Cinemas in Australia – premium cinemas with big seats and overpriced food and drink – and co-founded the fourth largest cinema chain in the US called Rave Cinemas with Michael Lambert of Lambert Media Group, which they sold to Cinemark in 2013.

From about 2003 to 2013, I managed or invested in all sorts of old media companies that were declining secularly, Englebardt says with a wink. The winds of change are beginning to blow.

It was impossible not to notice what was happening with digital media and digital content. As I delved into this, I came across some people who are now the real pioneers of cryptocurrencies and who created the gambling industry.

Although he made his first investment in a game studio called Seismic in 2010, it wasn’t until 2013, when Occulus was acquired by Facebook, that he began to realize that interactive content was the future. He made his first investment in VR that year, in an eye-tracking technology called EyeFluence, which was later sold to Google.

At the time, venture capitalists didn’t consider games investment-worthy; they were seen as just another form of content, not a real technology, he says. I just saw it and thought: Oh, my God, it’s so obvious. That’s what people are getting at.

The passion for these young demos, the opportunity for people to have much more autonomy in the content they consume, and to actively engage and build on their experiences with the content.

Stung by the Broca Crypto Bug

Like many others, it was the founder of Blockchain Capital, Tether and Block.one, Brock Pierce, who introduced Englebard to the world of cryptocurrencies.

Brock was the first person to tell me the word bitcoin with certainty, he says. She is really the person who took the time to teach me why it was important, why it mattered. More than any other person I know, he has been one of the leading evangelists of decentralized technology in the world.

At the time, Pierce and Englebardt were living in Venice and hosting regular cryptocurrency dinners with William Quigley, co-founder of WAX, Scott Walker of Casper Labs and Johnny Steindor, managing partner of Distributed Global.

There was a whole group of people from Los Angeles who became pioneers in their sphere of influence in the crypto world. And we got together once a week or every two weeks to eat and talk about what was happening.

While the world is currently immersed in NFT mania, much of which dates back to the CryptoPunks and CryptoKitties of 2017, Englebardt says digital ownership has been an inevitable development for some time.

There were a million reasons to look at CryptoKitties and say: Oh, yeah, this is all crazy and won’t work. But if you understood the huge world of in-game properties that were such a huge part of the overall game business three or four years ago, and especially if you understood blockchain technology, I think it was impossible not to see that this was an opportunity for a whole new industry.

We’ve seen millions of people consume digital objects and spend tens of billions of dollars on them, he says. People aren’t just bringing game articles, but just game behavior and gamification into all other areas of their lives.

The more I delved into the games, the more certain I was that this behavior would be reflected in other areas of our lives and in things other than the games.

Snow Crash and Metaverse

With a 10-year horizon for his venture capital investments, Englebardt is used to living mentally in the future, and he sees the Metaverse fast approaching. The term was made popular by Neal Stephenson’s 1992 novel Snow Crash and refers to the virtual world that connects all other virtual worlds and where players spend most of their time.

It’s essentially an immersive version of the Internet, and Englebardt believes digital ownership through NFT will become a mainstay. That’s because people are more willing to put time and effort into a project if they know it’s theirs forever and not subject to the whims of the owner of the virtual world, as is the case with games like Fortnite or World of Warcraft.

We are a species that wants to do things, and the more incentives we have to do things and monetize them, (the better), he says. To build a methaverse, people need to be encouraged. Content itself cannot be created from the top down; it must use the incentive systems and tools created today to encourage people to create and distribute content.

Once you give people the ability to create and make money, it really changes everything in terms of what they talk about, how they participate, how they sell you a certain place.

Users create more value

He cited a comment by Chris Dixon, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, that the main reason Bitcoin and Ether have become so valuable is that they have tens of millions of super-passionate users building on or around them and spreading the word.

Not a single dollar was spent on marketing, and that’s because you take the users and make them creators. And that’s what’s happening in the game industry, and why it’s so exciting.

In a post on NFTs in February, Dixon expanded on this theme, arguing that NFTs can free users from centralized platforms that take their content and keep the revenue, and instead build on the original ideals of the Internet: Users and creators are globally connected, not constrained by intermediaries, share ideas and have economic potential.

The first manifestations of the metaverse can be seen in blockchain-based virtual worlds like The Sandbox and Decentraland, where users can already buy and own goods, as well as create and exchange content and digital objects with each other.

But before we get to the future Ready Player in one style, a few things need to happen.

No one and no company will build the entire metaverse. His tool is under construction, but it takes so many different parts to reach the level of Snow Crash, he says. You need the power of the GPU to support all this; there are a million things that need to happen. So we have a long way to go.

But we’re clearly past the point where people are spending much of their time in digital worlds, making a living out of it, creating jobs, etc. It’s happening.

Keeping digital objects in the digital and physical world, being able to share the objects we own in a decentralized, peer-to-peer way, buying a digital object and transferring it from one environment to a physical environment and passing it on to someone else, all of these things are now being created. It’s not that far.

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[ryanmeft]

Ryan’s Top Ten Films of 2017

I happen to think 2017 was a particularly fine year for movies. Of course, I also thought that about 2016, and 2015. If I could remember how I felt before that, I’d probably say the same thing about almost every year. The constant refrain that this is the year movies died or that we’ve fallen from some feverishly imagined golden age rolls off me like water off a stone, and I am unmoved.

In the end, though, as decreed in the esoteric conventions of the movie gods, I had to pick ten. And it was a tough choice. As usual, I did not attempt to decide the ten best films. I only highlighted the ten I liked the most.

I numbered it this year, but for the most part you can shuffle these around and it wouldn’t matter. My list encompasses a daring allegorical film, a story about ambition killing humanity, a rare take on the most famous war in history, a meditative haunting, and a movie about a fishman. In every case, they are on here for the same reason: they affected me at a guttural level, made me think, made me feel, perhaps influenced my own work. On with it.

10. mother! Roger Ebert said of Pulp Fiction “I knew it was either one of the year’s best films, or one of the worst.” One of those comes along every now and then, and I cherish them either way, because it’s impossible to be wishy washy about them. Darren Aronofsky’s uncompromising allegory is such a film. Is it a blood ‘n’ guts version of the book of Genesis? A meditation on ancient paganism? A primal scream about the very act of creating something from an artist who never does anything but exactly what he wants? Who knows? Jennifer Lawrence is a lot better utilized in dark roles like this, and Javier Bardem is an obsessed creator every bit as inscrutable as any god. Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer are Adam and Eve, unless they aren’t. I usually say you ought to leave your baggage at the ticket counter when you see a movie, but mother! Absolutely demands you react to it on a visceral level. There’s no way to walk out of this one and be non-committal.

9. The Shape of Water

This is the kind of film that makes me happy I’m not so jaded as to demand some sort of lofty artistic merit (and who decides what art has merit, I might ask?) from every movie I see. You might fairly point out that some of the characters are not the deepest. You might fairly point out that’s it’s heavy on the sappy romance. You might fairly point out that the film isn’t a heavy hitter intellectually. I might fairly point out, in return, that I don’t care. Guillermo Del Toro’s lavish Cold-War-Meets-Creature-Feature-Love-Story, led by a mute Sally Hawkins, is a watery confection that I loved not because it made me think, but because it made me feel. A talent-loaded cast---Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon and Doug Jones as the creature---fuels a movie I just wanted to sink into like a pool under starlight, and to top it off, it treated sex as something people actually do, rather than simply pantomime.

8. The Meyerowitz Stories: New and Selected

To a creative sort, the sting of a parent who is indifferent to your life’s passions can be withering, but Noah Baumbach flips that. Here, a floaty, disinterested, perhaps somewhat delusional aging sculptor, played by Dustin Hoffman, is immensely dissatisfied with his three children’s desire for a normal life. The movies rarely deal in this, because it’s easier to draw sympathy for a hero when their parent is more viscerally abusive. The children all have their own ways of dealing with this, and they are brought to life with immensely affecting performances from Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Marvel, and…Adam Sandler? Yes, to everyone’s shock, Adam Sandler has one of the best roles of the year. I am less shocked, because I know he can act when he desires it. And act he does, playing the dutiful son who remains to endure his father’s stubbornness while the others attain greater degrees of freedom. What do you do with a parent who demands you desire their approval but will only give it on their terms? You learn to live with it.

7. Spider-Man: Homecoming

I’m a sucker for Spider-Man. Really, all you have to do to get me to like a Spider-Man movie is to make a halfway decent one. This one may not have been the all-time classic Spider-Man 2 was, but it gave me a relatable Peter Parker, a cast of affecting friends for him, Michael Keaton as the best on screen Spidey villain since Doc Ock, and plenty of Spider-action. I’m going to be honest with you: I think that’s all I need. If you need more, though consider that the MCU formula, which, critics have rightly said is liberally applied to almost all characters, actually works for Spider-Man. Having this excitable super-powered teenager crack jokes about everything to paper over his insecurities and refuse to take his powers or the world he’s a part of all that seriously, only to learn a harsh lesson about how much that life can cost him, fits not just the character but the John Hughes-esque High School setting perfectly. After Tobey Maguire got Peter Parker right and Andrew Garfield nailed his alter-ego, Tom Holland and director Jon Watts are the first pairing to land both halves. The fact that it is such a near-perfect invocation of my favorite comic superhero didn’t affect my review (I still stand by my judge-a-movie-based-on-the-movie mantra), but it did help land the film on this list. Because it’s my damn list and I’ll do as I please.

6. Call Me by Your Name

It’s impossible to shoot a movie in the environs of rural Italy and not make it look gorgeous, it seems. You just point the camera. Setting a gripping story with compelling characters against this backdrop is a challenge, one that Luca Guadagnino accomplishes. He weaves a languid tale of idle academics in a beautiful place, and normally that would be anathema to me, as I’m not a big fan of stories featuring well-off people who live in paradise. Something about this one, however, grabbed me, and it isn’t just Timothee Chalamet’s career-making performance. I think it is the lack of forced drama. 17-year-old Elio may be the main emotional attraction, but where lesser romances take the easy way out, with histrionics and unrealistic contrivances, Guadagnino creates people, people who are capable of coming to peace with their situations and recognizing that life may not always turn out the way you want, but that there’s a large gap between “fairy tale” and “nightmare”. It isn’t a “gay movie”, but a movie about two people who happen to fall in love. It is erotic in the broadest sense of the word.

5. In This Corner of the World

To the casual moviegoer, it may seem that a war movie without any war in it should be reclassified. Certainly, it once seemed that way to me. I’ve learned better, and Sunao Katabuchi’s film centering around one young woman trying to have something like a normal life while Japan is in the midst of World War II took me by surprise. Whereas Saving Private Ryan or Grave of the Fireflies might hit you in the gut by displaying the most horrible effects of war in graphic detail, ITCOTW takes a different approach. Warships wait languidly in the harbor of an otherwise peaceful town. Rations run low and ordinary people must make sacrifices. Life goes on surrounded by only indirect reminders of pain, and I was hit by a revelation that seemed obvious in hindsight: most citizens were as unaware of the extent of their government’s ambitions as we are, and were at best distant collateral in the pursuit of empire. In one of the most indelible scenes of the year, the residents witness a massive flash of energy come from from far over the mountains, and after a second we realize with a start that it must have been Hiroshima. Then they go about their day.

4. Detroit

Here we have the most egregious Best Picture slight since Inside Llewyn Davis. In 1967, police staged a raid on a party for black veterans, which touched off a riot during which several black men ended up dead at the hands of the police. Kathryn Bigelow takes on this material and decides the audience must be spared no discomfort or disgust in seeing the terror unfold. A row of black men are lined up against a wall and interrogated, including being terrorized by a sadistic game wherein one is taken into another room and pretend-murdered to scare the others. Two white women at the hotel are swept up, their crime to have been spending time with black men. The movie is anchored by a horrifying performance by Will Poulter as a beat cop so vehemently bigoted that even his white superiors hate him, and a sadness-inducing one by John Boyega as a black security guard who knows that even a hundred years after emancipation he must cower and grovel before authoritative whites to maybe, possible, if he’s lucky prevent black deaths. It is as harrowing and nerve-wracking a depiction of systematic violent racism as I’ve seen. If I may get a bit snippy for the moment, it is worth nothing that in a world where well-meaning voices decry both an alleged lack of films about black culture and a definite deficiency of women directors, this movie, despite a wide release, bombed at the box office. Reality is hard to face, but some people don’t have a choice.

3. Kedi

Would I have loved this as much if the focus were on dogs, not cats? Probably not. I am firmly in the cats-r-gud camp, and might even be said to be in the pocket of the powerful pro-kitty lobby. Thing is, I also wouldn’t have loved this movie so much if it were just about cats. Ceyda Torun’s documentary ostensibly about Istanbul street cats is really about life in one of the world’s most ancient cities. The feline stars of the film are simply catalysts for drawing that life into the open. Each of them have a distinct personality and some distinct humans to fit with. My favorite is the one who is absolutely loyal to his shopkeeper human, and also absolutely loyal to his other shopkeeper human. Shot using inventive techniques to capture the lives of the cats when they go out-of-bounds, and infused with a haunting Kira Fontana score and mesmerizing beauty courtesy of cinematographers Alp Korfali and Charlie Wupperman, you need not have a cat to love it, but you do require a heart. These people, all among the “common” working classes of Turkey, commit what will, for the sadly xenophobic world we currently live in, be a mortal sin: they force you to admit everyone, everywhere, is just human. Even the furry ones.

2. A Ghost Story

The most common thing I hear when I bring this one up is “Oh, the bedsheet one!” It makes me remember a time when I could casually write off such a film by reducing it to its most unusual element. Actually seeing the film makes me glad those days are gone. David Lowery’s haunting (pun definitely intended) meditation on life, loss, time, memory, holding on and letting go is not a film you watch if you want everything explained to you, or even want things that can be explained. Like the unfairly-maligned Cloud Atlas, it pokes gently at the mysteries of life and death and love by encouraging the audience to draw their own conclusions. We’re never quite sure of where we are in time and space, or how one scene relates to another, which is the point. As I’ve gotten older, one of the only things I’ve learned to do well is appreciate time not only as it relates to my immediate life, but as a sort of web that everyone experiences differently. I suspect such a mentality will be needed before one can really draw the marrow from this film. Once you do that, though, you’ll be treated to something that will stay in your mind, always.

1. Lucky

From Inside Llewyn Davis to Locke to Fruitvale Station, I’m always going to be a sucker for well-done films about various people just living life, mostly free from the conventions of pumped-up drama. That’s not to say I don’t like drama, but the films that make me reflect on the ordinary, real world are almost always going to end up higher in my esteem at the end-of-year roll call. Such is the case here. Lucky is not about anything. If you’re looking for some anchor for a plot, there isn’t one. Played by the great Harry Dean Stanton in the last performance released during his lifetime, Lucky is a 90-year-old man who is dying. He doesn’t have a disease. He isn’t injured. He’s just old. He’s an avowed atheist. He’s a bar stool philosopher. He’s kind of a prick. These things are not plot. They are just aspects of a man who, after nine decades on earth, has picked up many aspects, not a one of which feels like something a real person wouldn’t acquire. That’s the beauty of John Carroll Lynch’s film: you’re not going to find Lucky doing anything a man like him would be unlikely to do for the sake of cheap entertainment.

So what does happen? He lives in a dusty old town without much in it and watches game shows. He does crosswords. He eats at the diner and drinks at the bar that hasn’t banned him. He goes to a child’s birthday party at one point, sure, but where I was fearful the film would veer off into contrivance, it instead gave me one of the most beautifully natural scenes of the year. Lucky does have a struggle, and it is to face the (admit it) horrible truth that, even if you do everything right and don’t get sick and don’t get broken and live a good life, you still have to die. No one who was familiar with him didn’t feel the loss of Mr. Stanton, but what a film for him to go out on. What a film. Some films almost made the cut, so here are my honorable mentions, in alphabetical order. Most of these movies, if going by the anachronistic system humans seem to prefer, would also have gotten 3 1/2-to-4 star “official ratings”. In the end, though, there could be only one. Er, ten. There could be only ten. Beatriz at Dinner Darkest Hour I, Tonya It Comes at Night Lady Bird The Lost City of Z Mudbound Phantom Thread The Greatest Showman Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

[blondewolfhd]

* 199 - 1?? >:3c i fucked up on sending the last one

199: I was born in:One of the worst states ever 198: I am really: Strange?197: My cellphone company is: AT&T196: My eye color is: Blue 195: My shoe size is: 6194: My ring size is: ??193: My height is: 5′5192: I am allergic to: SO MANY The one’s I remember on the top of my head are mites, black walnut, pine, and timothy grass (I’m allergic to like 6 grasses jc)191: My 1st car was: Don’t have one190: My 1st job was: Don’t have one yet189: Last book you read: Can’t remember 188: My bed is: so soft I love but I need to get two slats because they broke187: My pet: I have so many! I love all of them! There’s Ralph, Groucho, Axel, Paisley, Psycho, Josh, Pepper, Cole, Hamilton, Philip, Meowgi, Wrex, Wolf, Nikka, Ivypool, and Crowfeather. I’m fostering three animals. Two cats and one puppy!186: My best friend: S I R185: My favorite shampoo is: TRESemme Smooth and Silky 184: Xbox or ps3: PS3183: Piggy banks are: Good I guess182: In my pockets: I don’t have any I’m wearing Kenna’s pants181: On my calendar: So many birthdays (I have a bad memory)180: Marriage is: Alright179: Spongebob can: ??178: My mom: Ugh177: The last three songs I bought were? I download I don’t have any money 176: Last YouTube video watched: 1000 ways to die175: How many cousins do you have? I don’t talk to any of them ever.174: Do you have any siblings? Two both are half siblings but I never talk to one of them173: Are your parents divorced? No 172: Are you taller than your mom? Yeah171: Do you play an instrument? Not good170: What did you do yesterday? Hung with A.Ham while I recovered from my wisdom teeth surgery[ I Believe In ]169: Love at first sight: No I believe it isn’t love but attraction at first sight You can’t really love someone until you get to know them 168: Luck: Not really167: Fate: Not sure166: Yourself: Nope165: Aliens: Yea164: Heaven: Agnostic163: Hell: ^162: God:^161: Horoscopes: Iffy160: Soul mates: Iffy159: Ghosts: Yet again iffy 158: Gay Marriage: Of freaking course 157: War: Unfortunately we can’t have peace in these times because of people like trump 156: Orbs:??155: Magic: ??[ This or That ]154: Hugs or Kisses: Hugs153: Drunk or High: Never been high so152: Phone or Online: Online151: Red heads or Black haired: No pref150: Blondes or Brunettes: Brunettes149: Hot or cold: Cold148: Summer or winter: Winter147: Autumn or Spring: Autumn146: Chocolate or vanilla: Vanilla 145: Night or Day: Night144: Oranges or Apples: Apples143: Curly or Straight hair: No pref142: McDonalds or Burger King: Mocha Frappe141: White Chocolate or Milk Chocolate: White140: Mac or PC: PC139: Flip flops or high heals: Flip flops138: Ugly and rich OR sweet and poor: sweet 137: Coke or Pepsi: Coke136: Hillary or Obama: Obama135: Burried or cremated: Burried 134: Singing or Dancing: Singing133: Coach or Chanel: ??132: Kat McPhee or Taylor Hicks:??131: Small town or Big city: Small town130: Wal-Mart or Target: No pref129: Ben Stiller or Adam Sandler: Rami Malek128: Manicure or Pedicure: I hate either127: East Coast or West Coast: Idk 126: Your Birthday or Christmas: We don’t really celebrate birthdays125: Chocolate or Flowers: flowers124: Disney or Six Flags: Six Flags123: Yankees or Red Sox: Neither[ Here’s What I Think About ]122: War: It should be avoided but the orange idiot is probably gonna throw us into one soon 121: George Bush: Jet fuel can’t melt steel beammsss 120: Gay Marriage: !00% Great 10/10 119: The presidential election: I hate trump 118: Abortion: Should be 100% percent legal  Pro choice 117: MySpace: I used to have one116: Reality TV: I like Jeremy Kyle115: Parents: sigh 114: Back stabbers: Kill em 113: Ebay: Never used it112: Facebook: I hate most of the people who post on it 111: Work: Depends I really love working with animals110: My Neighbors: sigh109: Gas Prices: bad108: Designer Clothes: Never wear them 107: College: Good but expensive106: Sports: nah105: My family: oh god104: The future: OH GOd[ Last time I ]103: Hugged someone: Kenna the other day I think?102: Last time you ate: Couple minutes ago 101: Saw someone I haven’t seen in awhile: Can’t remember 100: Cried in front of someone: When I got my wisdom teeth out I didn’t know what happened and I was afraid99: Went to a movie theater: Long time ago98: Took a vacation: Long time ago 97: Swam in a pool: About a month ago 96: Changed a diaper: Back in 4th grade I think?95: Got my nails done: When I was like 894: Went to a wedding: Never93: Broke a bone: I think my finger was the last on and that was over the summer92: Got a peircing: Idk how old I was but I was young91: Broke the law: Too many 90: Texted: About 12[ MISC ]89: Who makes you laugh the most: Toss up between you and Kenna88: Something I will really miss when I leave home is: Ralph87: The last movie I saw: Can’t remember86: The thing that I’m looking forward to the most: Reading that letter Boiii85: The thing im not looking forward to: School or these stitches falling out84: People call me: A mistake™83: The most difficult thing to do is: ?? Talk about feelings??82: I have gotten a speeding ticket: Never81: My zodiac sign is: Taurus80: The first person i talked to today was: You79: First time you had a crush: We don’t talk about my first actual crush 78: The one person who i can’t hide things from: Idk 77: Last time someone said something you were thinking: You know76: Right now I am talking to: Technically you 75: What are you going to do when you grow up: Veterinarian 74: I have/will get a job: Idk73: Tomorrow: Stop the pain in my mouth 72: Today: Hanging out with you 71: Next Summer: Idk70: Next Weekend: Idk 69: I have these pets: I have mix breed dogs, purebred pugs, cats, and rabbits68: The worst sound in the world: So many but pained screams67: The person that makes me cry the most is: idk 66: People that make you happy: Ralph 65: Last time I cried: When I got my wisdom teeth removed 64: My friends are: Great™63: My computer is: trash 62: My School: Trash 61: My Car: What one60: I lose all respect for people who: The list goes on and on (Don’t be Max and youre pretty much set)59: The movie I cried at was:So many but Marley and Me came to mind first 58: Your hair color is: Blonde57: TV shows you watch: Teen Wolf and Jeremy Kyle56: Favorite web site: Tumblr55: Your dream vacation: SNOW54: The worst pain I was ever in was: The puss pocket in my mouth 53: How do you like your steak cooked: Medium52: My room is: cold51: My favorite celebrity is: Jeremy Kyle50: Where would you like to be: Snow49: Do you want children: Nah48: Ever been in love: Sigh47: Who’s your best friend: Si r46: More guy friends or girl friends: I’m not sure45: One thing that makes you feel great is: Helping animals44: One person that you wish you could see right now: Ralph 43: Do you have a 5 year plan: Yea42: Have you made a list of things to do before you die: Nah 41: Have you pre-named your children: I did a long time ago 40: Last person I got mad at: Idk 39: I would like to move to: Snow 38: I wish I was a professional: Veterinarian [ My Favorites ]37: Candy: Hershey36: Vehicle: Lexus35: President: Obama 34: State visited: DC33: Cellphone provider: AT&T32: Athlete: Don’t have one31: Actor: Rami Malek30: Actress: Holland Roden29: Singer: Jon Bellion 28: Band: BMTH27: Clothing store: Hot topic26: Grocery store: ??25: TV show: Teen Wolf24: Movie: The Guardian 23: Website: ??22: Animal: Wolf21: Theme park: Six Flags20: Holiday: Don’t really have one anymore 19: Sport to watch: Lacrosse 18: Sport to play: none17: Magazine: none16: Book: ??15: Day of the week: Saturday 14: Beach: None13: Concert attended: Haven’t12: Thing to cook: Mac n Cheese 11: Food: Mac n Cheese10: Restaurant: Steak N Shake9: Radio station: ??8: Yankee candle scent: ??7: Perfume:??6: Flower: I’m not sure5: Color: Blue, Purple, and green 4: Talk show host: Jeremy Kyle 3: Comedian: Idk 2: Dog breed: German Shepherd1: Did you answer all these truthfully? Si

[berserker-official]

Then allow me to be the one who does it. -ahem- Answer all 200 questions, please.

YOU

200: My crush’s name is: I don’t have one right now?

199: I was born in: A hospital in Colorado

198: I am really: Really tired

197: My cellphone company is: Cricket

196: My eye color is: Blue

195: My shoe size is: I think 12?

194: My ring size is: I have no fucking idea

193: My height is: 6′2

192: I am allergic to: Nothing that I know of

191: My 1st car was: I share a Jeep with the family

190: My 1st job was: A pizza man at Little Caesars in Texas

189: Last book you read: All You Need is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka

188: My bed is: Small.

187: My pet: She a good girl and like 6 different breeds

186: My best friend: I have too many

185: My favorite shampoo is: Whatever’s cheap

184: Xbox or ps3: Both but I’m a sony man at heart

183: Piggy banks are: Neat

182: In my pockets: I don’t have pockets right now

181: On my calendar: Nothing special today but I have the Danganronpa V3 release date on it in a couple of weeks

180: Marriage is: Neat

179: Spongebob can: go steppin on the beach

178: My mom: is neat but I’m mad at her right now

177: The last three songs I bought were?

Silence by Marshmello & Khalid, OTONA HIT PARADE and Emotional Literacy by Bradio

176: Last YouTube video watched: Oney Plays D. Premonition WITH FRIENDS - EP 6 - Minesweeper175: How many cousins do you have? I honestly don’t know. My parents don’t really keep in touch with immediate family. My mom is an only child and my dad doesn’t talk to her sister.174: Do you have any siblings? I have a little brother who’s a fucking loser going for an astrophysics degree.

173: Are your parents divorced? Nope

172: Are you taller than your mom? By two feet.

171: Do you play an instrument? I used to play percussion in middle school

170: What did you do yesterday? A bunch of stencil work[ I Believe In ] (I’ve already answered these but here u go)169: Love at first sight: Not really168: Luck: Heart of the Cards167: Fate: No166: Yourself: Nope165: Aliens: Yeah164: Heaven: Not really163: Hell: Not really162: God: Not really161: Horoscopes: No but I look at them randomly160: Soul mates: Yeah159: Ghosts: No but not yet158: Gay Marriage: HELL YEAH157: War: No it bad156: Orbs: I BELIEVE IN THE ORBS155: Magic: No but not yet[ This or That ] (I’ve answered some of these already but here u go)154: Hugs or Kisses: Hugs153: Drunk or High: Neither152: Phone or Online: Online151: Red heads or Black haired: Black hair but I don’t really care?150: Blondes or Brunettes: Blonde cuz I’m ready to have fun149: Hot or cold: Cold148: Summer or winter: Winter147: Autumn or Spring: Autumn146: Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate145: Night or Day: Night144: Oranges or Apples: Apples143: Curly or Straight hair: Straight hair142: McDonalds or Burger King: Doesn’t matter141: White Chocolate or Milk Chocolate: Milk chocolate140: Mac or PC: PC139: Flip flops or high heals: I hate showing off my feet and I actually wore high heels once so HIGH HEELS138: Ugly and rich OR sweet and poor: I’m sweet and poor so that one137: Coke or Pepsi: Neither one I actually don’t like carbonated drinks136: Hillary or Obama: Thanks obama135: Burried or cremated: Cremated it’s better for the earth134: Singing or Dancing: Singing even I fuckin suck133: Coach or Chanel: I have no idea132: Kat McPhee or Taylor Hicks: Neither?131: Small town or Big city: Big City130: Wal-Mart or Target: Target129: Ben Stiller or Adam Sandler: Ben Stiller128: Manicure or Pedicure: Whichever is the hand one127: East Coast or West Coast: I’m in the middle so doesn’t matter126: Your Birthday or Christmas: Christmas cuz my birthday is in the summer so I’m dying of heat.125: Chocolate or Flowers: Chocolate124: Disney or Six Flags: Neither cuz going outside sucks123: Yankees or Red Sox: Cubs cuz they finally won the world series[ Here’s What I Think About ]122: War: It bad121: George Bush: He did Nine Eleven120: Gay Marriage: It’s great why the fuck do people think it’s bad119: The presidential election: In general I used to not care but NOW GO FUCKING VOTE118: Abortion: I think it’s important117: MySpace: I never had a myspace but bring back the grunge emo shit116: Reality TV: It’s obviously fake so115: Parents: Parents are good without them I would not be here (But if they’re abusive fuck them)114: Back stabbers: Drop them faster than you can say bye bitch113: Ebay: I’ve only used it once and it was good so I say sure112: Facebook: Needs to chill the fuck out111: Work: Work is good you get money and gain retail horror stories110: My Neighbors: One of them is a drunk so meh but The Best Neighbor is a guy that used to build his own motorcycles but has heart problems so he had to sell them but he’s a chill guy and I love him109: Gas Prices: TOO DAMN HIGH108: Designer Clothes: Too rich for my blood107: College: A good choice for your future but it’s not for everybody106: Sports: The only sport I care about is MLG Gaming105: My family: They cool but highly problematic104: The future: I’m at a big turning point right now so[ Last time I ]103: Hugged someone: Last Saturday?102: Last time you ate: A couple hours ago101: Saw someone I haven’t seen in awhile: Last week I think I hung out with a friend and we watched Willow100: Cried in front of someone: Months probably99: Went to a movie theater: I went to see Spider-Man Homecoming when it came out but next month I’m going to see Jigsaw with @warlord-official so that’s fun98: Took a vacation: I don’t know? When I got out of school for summer vacation?97: Swam in a pool: 2011?96: Changed a diaper: I actually never changed a diaper95: Got my nails done: Never94: Went to a wedding: Two years ago93: Broke a bone: Never92: Got a peircing: Sophmore year I got my lip pierced so...2008?91: Broke the law: I think I ran a red light once so a couple years ago?90: Texted: A day?[ MISC ]89: Who makes you laugh the most: Me cuz I do the dumbest shit88: Something I will really miss when I leave home is: My dog87: The last movie I saw: I was watching the Rugrats Movie on Netflix a little while ago86: The thing that I’m looking forward to the most: Danganronpa V3 and then Jigsaw in October and the Ixalan MTG set at the end of the month.85: The thing im not looking forward to: The next time I have to go to jury duty84: People call me: by my name83: The most difficult thing to do is: Be an adult82: I have gotten a speeding ticket: Never81: My zodiac sign is: Leo80: The first person i talked to today was: My dad79: First time you had a crush: Probably in elementary school? She was partially deaf and my teacher told me to help her out for the year and we got pretty close78: The one person who i can’t hide things from: My friends cuz I gotta let my baggage out77: Last time someone said something you were thinking: I don’t remember cuz all my friends think the same way76: Right now I am talking to: No one75: What are you going to do when you grow up: I wanna do photography maybe teaching74: I have/will get a job: When I graduate73: Tomorrow: I gotta get up early for school72: Today: I did a bunch of school readings71: Next Summer: I’m gonna die from heat again70: Next Weekend: Hopefully I can hang with friends69: I have these pets: A good dog68: The worst sound in the world: When a racist opens their mouth67: The person that makes me cry the most is: Roman from the FH team cuz he’s NOT FUCKING NERFING CENT66: People that make you happy: All my friends65: Last time I cried: Just now boi we goin in hard64: My friends are: Good boys and girls63: My computer is: I have an 5 year old ASUS laptop that I should try to upgrade cuz it runs Overwatch poorly62: My School: MSU Denver61: My Car: I share a Jeep with the family60: I lose all respect for people who: Treat my friends like they’re subhuman59: The movie I cried at was: Death Note cuz it was fucking awful58: Your hair color is: Dirty blonde57: TV shows you watch: The only stuff on now that I’m watching is Rick and Morty and AHS: Cult56: Favorite web site: Tumblr even though this hellsite is full of sin55: Your dream vacation: Japan?54: The worst pain I was ever in was: My wisdom teeth were pretty obnoxious53: How do you like your steak cooked: Rare52: My room is: Very messy and small51: My favorite celebrity is: Gal Gadot50: Where would you like to be: Anywhere not stressed out49: Do you want children: Only if I have an S/O that wants kids48: Ever been in love: Yeh47: Who’s your best friend: I have too many to count but @warlord-official is one of them46: More guy friends or girl friends: I think it’s a tie?45: One thing that makes you feel great is: when my friends are happy or I eat a good burger44: One person that you wish you could see right now: My friend that’s in Japan I miss her43: Do you have a 5 year plan: Nope42: Have you made a list of things to do before you die: Nope41: Have you pre-named your children: I did when I was dating someone and thought we were pretty serious but then I found out she was cheating on me so not anymore40: Last person I got mad at: My mom39: I would like to move to: Japan or somewhere that is cool all the time like Washington maybe38: I wish I was a professional: Photographer[ My Favorites ]37: Candy: Pay Day36: Vehicle: Reasonably priced car is one of the new Jeeps. Super expensive car would be an Aston Martin or Maserati35: President: Obama34: State visited: Georgia was nice33: Cellphone provider: Cricket cuz it’s the only one I’ve had32: Athlete: John Elway31: Actor: Chris Evans30: Actress: Gal Gadot29: Singer: Kesha28: Band: Bradio or Starset27: Clothing store: DXL cuz it’s the only store that sells clothes for Big Boys26: Grocery store: Safeway25: TV show: Hannibal or Future Diary. Rick and Morty is always good24: Movie: Saw, Pacific Rim, Back to the Future, or Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift23: Website: Tumle dot hell22: Animal: Dog?21: Theme park: NONE OF EM20: Holiday: Halloween19: Sport to watch: idk18: Sport to play: I used to do tennis so that one17: Magazine: Shonen Jump or Game Informer16: Book: The Disaster Artist15: Day of the week: Friday14: Beach: I’ve never been to a beach13: Concert attended: Either PVRIS or A Perfect Circle with @warlord-official12: Thing to cook: It’s like a mix of pizza and spaghetti11: Food: A nice burger10: Restaurant: I like Smashburger9: Radio station: I don’t remember the one that plays rock music here but that one8: Yankee candle scent: Something about rain?7: Perfume: There was a vanilla one that I thought smelled nice a long time ago6: Flower: idk?5: Color: a deep blue4: Talk show host: Ellen DeGeneres?3: Comedian: Bo Burnham2: Dog breed: Mutt1: Did you answer all these truthfully? I hope so   

[the1975hqs]

The Flask, a 17th-century former coaching inn at the top of Highgate Hill in north London, has seen its share of poetic outsider figures. Dick Turpin purportedly hid out in the stables. Byron, Shelley and Keats dropped by after visiting the opium-addicted local resident Coleridge. Now Matt Healy, leader of the pop interlopers the 1975 and cutting a Byronic dash himself with a wayward thatch of curls and rose-painted leather jacket and jeans, is in the Flask’s cellar-like back room.

He’s explaining how the Wilmslow band’s heavy presence at this year’s Brit awards — nominations for best British group and album of the year, plus a live appearance — is proof that rank outsiders can upset the mainstream.

“It’s an important moment for us because we’re a subversive act to have broken through on such a level that the Brits would want us to perform,” says Healy, 27, staring intensely over the weathered wooden table. “I’m not from the Brits’ world. I shouldn’t be there and everyone needs to know that. I couldn’t get arrested until I was 23.” He thinks about this for a moment. “Actually, I did get arrested when I was 23, but you know what I mean. I suffer massively from impostor syndrome.”

A cynic might point out that as far as impostors go Healy is an unusually well-connected one. His mother is Denise Welch, alumna ofCoronation Street and Loose Women, and his father is the actor Tim Healy of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

“I answered the phone to Harold Pinter once,” Matt Healy offers. “My parents did make following a creative pursuit seem like a viable life choice, but Coronation Street doesn’t buy you currency in rock’n’roll. It’s a curse, actually. When people say my parents bought my connections I think: ‘Yeah, the best person to get you a record deal is Curly Watts. Mention Gail Tilsley to Universal Records and you’ve got a No 1 album in America.’ ”

Forming the band during lunch breaks at Wilmslow High School in 2002 when they were only 13, Healy, guitarist Adam Hann, bassist Ross MacDonald and drummer George Daniel went under a variety of names before settling on the 1975. They vowed to reflect a young, internet-bred generation’s relationship with music where there are no guilty pleasures any more, just an endless world of choices from which to cherry-pick. This approach — of combining everything from shiny pop and gothic introspection to overblown stadium rock, and aligning it all to the terminal oversharer Healy’s emotionally wrought lyrics — led to such glorious moments as playing a concert in Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis, to an audience of one.

Full interview under the cut

“We were a band with an identity crisis,” Healy says. “I was going around telling people we were the ambassadors of a generation who approach music in a non-linear way, who don’t think in terms of genre. The only problem was nobody was interested.”

Gradually, word got out. The 1975’s self-named debut from 2013 was a hit. When the preposterously titled I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It went to No 1 in 2016, the 1975 became Britain’s biggest cult band. Now here we are on a rainy January lunchtime and the wildly entertaining Healy is grappling with his conflicted feelings on stardom.

“Can you even be a rock star today?” he asks, talking as much to himself as to me. “The only way I can be a rock star is to be a humble egomaniac. I am saying: love me, with no top on, in a pair of leather trousers, but that obnoxiousness comes with genuine fragility and fear because it’s important for people to feel personally addressed when it comes to art. I’d rather talk about a part of myself that I have a profound distaste for than paint myself in a good way.”

What part of himself does he have a distaste for? “I’m constantly apologising for being pretentious and egotistical,” he says. “And I don’t like it that I can’t have platonic relationships with women. I don’t know why that is. I don’t sexualise women and I’m not misogynistic, but perhaps I’m such an atheist that the closest I can get to divinity is the feeling you have when a woman likes you . . .” He puts his hands over his mouth. “Oh no! This is all going a bit Ron Burgundy!”

Healy does tend to let his mouth run away from him in a way not dissimilar to Will Ferrell’s portentous character in Anchorman. In an interview with The Times in 2014 he pondered on whether he might actually be the Messiah. Last year he got into hot water after recalling Taylor Swift coming to one of the 1975’s concerts. Reflecting on the hysteria surrounding her, he wondered if it would be emasculating to be her boyfriend. The celebrity blogger Perez Hilton picked up on it and interpreted it as an insult against Swift. It also started a rumour that Healy was Swift’s boyfriend.

“Imagine what it is like being Taylor Swift,” says Healy now. “A guy you met for five minutes gets so badgered by questions about you, he inevitably says something that can be misheard as a shade. It made me realise how mental her world is.”

Healy is like your loudest, silliest friend who became famous by mistake and is still working out what you’re meant to do. When he tells of sharing a Saturday Night Live green room with Larry David, Ben Stiller and Bernie Sanders or recalls Dolly Parton calling him a cutie, you sense his awe.

“Mate, I’m just a snot-nosed teenager from Wilmslow and I’ve taken that world with me. The guy who used to do our merchandise is now my assistant, but I can’t call him my assistant because it’s Dan from maths who I used to sit next to. I’d like to say that backstage is like a meeting of Ginsberg, Blake and Lennon. Actually it’s more like The Inbetweeners with us playing Fifa and calling each other dickheads. Put me in a room with famous people and I’m rubbish. When David Byrne was in the dressing room next to ours I was the most uncool person in the world. I was lingering by the door, waiting for David Byrne to come out. Then he appears just as I’m opening a bag of Haribo, I’m shocked, they split open and go everywhere, he walks past me without saying anything and I’m just a dick with a bag of sweets.”

Then there are the fans, who are for the most part teenage girls who identify deeply with Healy while also finding him extremely attractive. “I do take my artistic responsibility seriously because with some of my fans it gets heavy,” he says, looking serious for a moment. “Someone sent me razor blades she tried to kill herself with. She was giving them to me to make sure she never did it again. Kids draw me all the time. I used to have my own emotional baggage. Now I have to buy a suitcase on every tour just for all the emotional baggage I get sent.”

Is that a burden? “No because I totally get it. Fundamentally what people want is human connection. Regardless of religion, or whether the world will come to an end, or what worlds may have come before, the only thing that will actually, definitely happen is interaction with another human being.”

All of this fed into I Like It When You Sleep . . . , its title an expression of Healy’s desire to make an album as over the top and emotionally unchained as possible. The funky, Prince-like Love Me is his response to becoming an icon of sorts; Ugh! is an expression of disgust at his former cocaine excess; The Ballad of Me and My Brain is a depiction of being driven insane by fame; and Loving Someone is a celebration of companionship that has become something of an anthem for the LGBT community. Healy says the album is the product of a band facing up to the crisis of finding themselves, after years of indifference, very popular indeed.

“We freaked out!” says Healy, excitedly, of their sudden success. “We spent ten years in my dad’s garage without anyone caring who we were. Nobody would sign us, so our manager formed a label and signed us for 20 quid in his kitchen, while making pasta and pesto. And then it happened. We were on tour for two years, suddenly it was time to make the second album and we didn’t know if we could do it. George had a breakdown and had to get help. And what was there to write about? I knew I couldn’t release a single called God, Aren’t Threesomes a Nightmare?”

He considers this. “Not that I was having threesomes, but nobody else was sharing our experiences so I had to go deep. What are the fundamentals? Fear, religion, struggles with addiction, my relationship with my mother, dealing with death . . . And I can’t change who I am. When it comes down to it I’m a gaunt, insecure person who is writing about being young and doing drugs.”

You can’t help but like him. He may be completely self-obsessed, but at least he has the grace to acknowledge it. (“I don’t think I’m Marc Bolan, but I like the fact that you might think that I think I’m Marc Bolan.”) And there’s something generous about the way he wants to give you everything he has to offer, whether you are a fan watching him preen on the stages of the world or a journalist wondering if, after an hour and a half of non-stop chat, he might feel like stopping soon. He is a rock star born in an age when being a rock star without a degree of irony is no longer viable.

“I started out in a band because it made me happy,” he concludes. “Then all this stuff happened, I got scared and I didn’t know why I was doing it any more until I remembered: because it makes me happy! This is my life. I would be selling flowers on Brent Cross roundabout if it weren’t for the 1975.”

[jo-the-schmo]

Doing it

I'm following @whatinfreenation 's example and do all dem questions (no one cared or asked for this but imma hit you) 200: My crush’s name is: I'm lonely and scared of relationships 
199: I was born in: Dayton, Ohio (Fuck me)
198: I am really: chronically depressed and anxious 
197: My cellphone company is: AT&T
196: My eye color is: blue-gray
195: My shoe size is: Women's 5
194: My ring size is: idk people just give me them
193: My height is: 5'2 (I'm smol)
192: I am allergic to: people 
191: My 1st car was: I choose not to drive 
190: My 1st job was: babysitting except I get no money 
189: Last book you read: In Cold Blood
188: My bed is: covered in clothes
187: My pet: is many, I have many pets
186: My best friend: is a little shit
185: My favorite shampoo is: MOTHERFUCKING DOVE ORANGE BLOSSOM YAS BITCH
184: Xbox or ps3: I have an Xbox but I prefer PlayStation 
183: Piggy banks are: Cute
182: In my pockets: I'm wearing exercise pants 
181: On my calendar: I don't have one but if I did it would be empty 
180: Marriage is: Scary
179: Spongebob can: love forever
178: My mom: is a bitch (yell at me if you want)
177: The last three songs I bought were?: I use Spotify
176: Last YouTube video watched: Game Grumps play Breath of the Wild episode 33
175: How many cousins do you have?: I'm Italian I have no fucking clue, too many
174: Do you have any siblings?: Yes, I am the youngest of 5 girls
173: Are your parents divorced?: never married, I was born out of wedlock (how scandalous)
172: Are you taller than your mom?: the same height, we all short
171: Do you play an instrument?: yes! I play several!
170: What did you do yesterday?: Cried myself to sleep [ I Believe In ]
169: Love at first sight: Fuck no
168: Luck: eh
167: Fate: not really 
166: Yourself: Definitely not
165: Aliens: I mean probably 
164: Heaven: Nooo
163: Hell: I wish
162: God: I don't have religion 
161: Horoscopes: I think they're neat
160: Soul mates: Kinda?
159: Ghosts: yeah, I believe in ghosts for a lot of reasons 
158: Gay Marriage:OMFG YES I AM SO GAY AND SJEKDJEJSKKS
157: War:Is horrible, why do we have to be like this?
156: Orbs: what?
155: Magic: I wish! [ This or That ]
154: Hugs or Kisses: Hugs, last time I was kissed...it wasn't great for me
153: Drunk or High: 420!!!!
152: Phone or Online: Online
151: Red heads or Black haired: All hair, no hair, all the same for me
150: Blondes or Brunettes: whatever you want boo boo
149: Hot or cold: hot
148: Summer or winter: Summer
147: Autumn or Spring: SPRING
146: Chocolate or vanilla: Vanilla usually but chocolate is really nice 
145: Night or Day: Night
144: Oranges or Apples: Apples
143: Curly or Straight hair: I love curly hair!
142: McDonalds or Burger King: I'm trash and hungry 
141: White Chocolate or Milk Chocolate: I just like milk in general
140: Mac or PC: ehhhhh
139: Flip flops or high heals: Heels, I like to kick people with them on
138: Ugly and rich OR sweet and poor: I'm ugly and poor
137: Coke or Pepsi: Coke 
136: Hillary or Obama: Obama is a G
135: Burried or cremated: Idk yet 
134: Singing or Dancing: Fuck you
133: Coach or Chanel: I'm poor
132: Kat McPhee or Taylor Hicks: idek
131: Small town or Big city: Big City
130: Wal-Mart or Target: I go to Walmart but I wish it was Target
129: Ben Stiller or Adam Sandler: who cares?
128: Manicure or Pedicure: I need short nails
127: East Coast or West Coast: MOTHERFUCKING WEST BITCJ
126: Your Birthday or Christmas: Christmas, I hate my birthday 
125: Chocolate or Flowers: Chocolate 
124: Disney or Six Flags: Disney!
123: Yankees or Red Sox: I don't do sportsball [ Here’s What I Think About ]
122: War: again, is fucking terrible
121: George Bush: Obama was cool so idec
120: Gay Marriage: IS JUST AS VALID AS STRAIGHT MARRIAGE OR MARRIAGE BETWEEN PEOPLE OF OPPOSITE SEX
119: The presidential election: was a train wreck, we should've felt the burn
118: Abortion: Needs to be legal in all states, by making it illegal we are putting more people at risk of harm 
117: MySpace: 3 old 5 me kinda
116: Reality TV: Do whatever you want TV I'm not your mama
115: Parents: my dad is cool, my mom is crazy, step mom is chill, step dad can go FUCKING DIE
114: Back stabbers: need to cease from stabbing 
113: Ebay: gets rid of my dad's crap
112: Facebook: ok I guess 
111: Work: I just wanna help people
110: My Neighbors: I don't know them
109: Gas Prices:I don't drive 
108: Designer Clothes: eh whatever
107: College: I want to go but I'm really dumb and not good at anything
106: Sports: Color Guard is my favorite sport
105: My family: is oddly chill for Roman Catholics 
104: The future: A thing I try to hope will be better [ Last time I ]
103: Hugged someone: a few days ago, I was sad
102: Last time you ate: I am eating right now
101: Saw someone I haven’t seen in awhile: today, I'm visiting my mom and 2 of my sisters
100: Cried in front of someone: A couple months ago, I don't like people seeing me cry...
99: Went to a movie theater: like 2 months ago
98: Took a vacation: 5 years ago
97: Swam in a pool: last summer
96: Changed a diaper: I help my sister babysit 
95: Got my nails done: never
94: Went to a wedding: my dad's wedding 4 years ago
93: Broke a bone: I haven't done that yet
92: Got a peircing: I'm getting one soon
91: Broke the law: I am very dank
90: Texted: 6 hours ago [ MISC ]
89: Who makes you laugh the most: my Best Friend KD
88: Something I will really miss when I leave home is: my ability to cry in my room
87: The last movie I saw: A Time to Kill (I can't think about that)
86: The thing that I’m looking forward to the most: Possibly not feeling depressed? And finishing my fanfic!!!
85: The thing im not looking forward to: What I do after the fanfic is done
84: People call me: Jo or Mojo
83: The most difficult thing to do is: To look at yourself and tell yourself that you are worth it when you don't feel like you are
82: I have gotten a speeding ticket: nope
81: My zodiac sign is: Capricorn 
80: The first person i talked to today was: my sister May :3
79: First time you had a crush: I was like 10
78: The one person who i can’t hide things from: I can hide something from anyone I do it all the time
77: Last time someone said something you were thinking: Everyday I'm with KD, we are turning into the same person 
76: Right now I am talking to: Tayah 💜💚💜
75: What are you going to do when you grow up: I either want to be a makeup artist, drama teacher, or art teacher
74: I have/will get a job: I want to, don't know if I'll live that long hahahahahah
73: Tomorrow: might be better
72: Today: I don't like visiting my mom
71: Next Summer: I'll be with my mom
70: Next Weekend: I'll be with my mom
69: I have these pets: many dogs and cats
68: The worst sound in the world: that sound that Music stands make against smooth tile 
67: The person that makes me cry the most is:
66: People that make you happy: my Tumblr friends💜💚💜
65: Last time I cried: last night
64: My friends are: Anyone who's nice to me
63: My computer is: not mine
62: My School: Can suck my dick, Lord Travis Richardson III
61: My Car: doesn't exist 
60: I lose all respect for people who: Hurt people out of amusement 
59: The movie I cried at was: A time to Kill 
58: Your hair color is: naturally it's a light brown 
57: TV shows you watch: Sleepy Hollow
56: Favorite web site:...Tumblr...
55: Your dream vacation: Naples, Italy
54: The worst pain I was ever in was: Panic Attacks
53: How do you like your steak cooked: medium well
52: My room is: odd
51: My favorite celebrity is: DAVEED DIGGS
50: Where would you like to be: in with New York, North California or Oregon
49: Do you want children: I want to adopt
48: Ever been in love: I don't feel love
47: Who’s your best friend: KD
46: More guy friends or girl friends: It used to be guys but now they scare me
45: One thing that makes you feel great is: Makeup
44: One person that you wish you could see right now: Anyone who can help me feel better
43: Do you have a 5 year plan:
42: Have you made a list of things to do before you die: No, because I can't think about dying too much ;-;
41: Have you pre-named your children: I promised my sister that if I adopted/had a baby girl her name had to be Winnrie 
40: Last person I got mad at: Myself
39: I would like to move to: anywhere but here
38: I wish I was a professional: Makeup Artist [ My Favorites ]
37: Candy: Gummy Bears :3
36: Vehicle: motorcycle 
35: President: OBAMA
34: State visited: America is weird
33: Cellphone provider: I don't care
32: Athlete: I don't follow
31: Actor: Lin Manuel-Miranda
30: Actress: PIPA SOO MY BB
29: Singer: does Daveed count?
28: Band: Queen and Black Veil Brides
27: Clothing store: Hot Topic
26: Grocery store: Jungle Jim's (it's an Ohio things)
25: TV show: SLEEPY HOLLOW
24: Movie: Tangled
23: Website: always Tumblr 
22: Animal: panther
21: Theme park: King's Island
20: Holiday: Halloween 
19: Sport to watch: WGI
18: Sport to play: MARCHING BAND
17: Magazine:History
16: Book: history text book
15: Day of the week: Thursday 
14: Beach: I don't do water
13: Concert attended: I've never been...
12: Thing to cook: Pasta!
11: Food: all food
10: Restaurant: all of them
9: Radio station: nope
8: Yankee candle scent: wedding cake 
7: Perfume: I wear Captivate
6: Flower: Bleeding Hearts an baby's breath 
5: Color: Purple and Green
4: Talk show host: Jimmy Fallon and John Oliver 
3: Comedian: Gabriel Iglesias 
2: Dog breed: Mutt Wuppy 
1: Did you answer all these truthfully? I have no reason to lie I guess ?