Jacob All Trades #323
Wile E. Coyote, Fascists vs. Wikipedia, Bill Watterson, Maslow's Hierarchy and the Blackfoot People, Positive Media, NYC Tips & Tricks, $2k for Climate Nugs, My Annual New Year's Super Cut Push + More
Two newsletters in a row? Really?! Yes. But, don’t worry (/get excited, depending on how you feel about my newsletter)… I’m confident I’ll be back to once-a-month-ish posting very soon. I just have a couple of timely things to promote here :)
No more preamble from me. Enjoy the newsletter!
HERE’S AN IDEA: MOVIE COMPANIES SHOULD BE RUN BY PEOPLE WHO LIKE MOVIES AND WANT TO MAKE MOVIES
If you’re not already following the story of Warner Bros. CEO (and 80s movie villain) David Zaslav axing completely finished movies instead of releasing them to get tax breaks. It’s a total fucking bummer. This week it was announced that the latest project from a company that might as well have the W.B. stand for “Widget Biz” is a very fun sounding live action animation hybrid Wile. E. Coyote movie with John Cena.
Here’s the description of the film from a recent Vanity Fair article:
Based on the 1990 New Yorker humor piece written by Ian Frazier and adapted by Samy Burch— who also wrote Todd Haynes’s upcoming awards contender, May December—the film centers on Looney Tunes character Wile E. Coyote as he seeks legal action against Acme after the company’s products fail in his pursuit of the Road Runner. Costarring Will Forte and Lana Condor, the project was announced in 2020 and dated for theatrical release on July 21, 2023, before it was wiped from the calendar and replaced by Barbie.
Making anything creative is already hard; making something in the entertainment industry is damn near impossible. And I’m not even talking about making something GOOD. Making something good feels like pulling off a miracle and for some billionaire asshole to not even release it is such a slap in the face to the thousands of artists and technicians who put years of their life into a project.
Or, as the AV Club put it: “Warner Bros. Discovery is another in a long line of entertainment organizations that hate their product. Why does Warner Bros. Discover make movies if its owners hate them so much? No clue! But we expect this nonsense to continue until someone who actually likes entertaining people with moving images takes over the company.”
If you’ve been following this story, you may also know that earlier this year Zazlav/WB literally said they were not going to do this anymore. Here’s a headline from January: Warner Bros. Discovery says it’s done killing shows and movies just for tax write-offs. Ron Howard voice: “In fact, they were not done.”
I don’t know what the answer is here, but I think it probably starts with the FTC busting up some of these giant conglomerates. What do you think?
CONSUMPTION JUNCTION
Three things I’ve read/watched/consumed recently that have been on my mind.
Ksenia Coffman is woman who started reading Wikipedia entries about WWII and noticed what seemed to be a ‘concerted effort’ to Nazi history. She started re-editing the articles and got into digital turf wars with pro-Nazi wikipedia editors. This WIRED article about her is bananas. It’s from 2021 but I finally got a chance to read it and highly recommend.
Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson has a new book called “The Mysteries” which got a glowing review in the New Yorker. Few things shaped my creative voice as much as Watterson’s work — the complete silliness mashed right up against a depth and humanity; hope and cynicism mixed into one. I learned a lot about him from this lenghty review. For example, he was MY AGE when he RETIRED from Calvin and Hobbes. He started the strip at 27-years-old, which seems… too young to be able to make anything so poignant? Almost 30 years later, I can’t wait to read his new book. (FYI, the above image is from a CBR article, bc it had a better pic than the New Yorker review)
This image was circulating on socials a few weeks ago. I’ve yet to found a definative source but it seems like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was adapted (aka stolen and misunderstood) from the Siksikia people (often considered to be part of the Blackfoot). The closest longer description I’ve found is on this blog which outlines how Maslow based his understanding from spending time with the Blackfoot peoples and how their actual perspective listed cultural perpetuity instead of the self as the ultimate ideal.
AN INFORMAL POLL
Just for funsies. You’ve got to vote to see the stats :)
JOIN ME FOR A PANEL ABOUT POSITIVE MEDIA
I’ve been asked to speak at CGU’s Claremont Positive Media Network on a panel about positivity in media. The panel is this coming Wednesday (11/15) at 10am Pacific (1pm Eastern). If you’d like to attend the panel, here’s a zoom link.
DO SOMETHING
Well, we’ve hit 2.0°C of warming. In case didn’t know, humanity might be able to survive on planet earth if we can keep warming to 1.5°C. My 2024 goal is to divest DGA pensions from fossil fuels. I’m working with a great org called Make My Money Matter in the UK to do a knowledge share and learn how they’ve successfully lobbied many pensions to divest.
If you are a member of an entertainment union (DGA, WGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE) and you don’t want your pensions fueling the destruction of our home planet, please join me. You can follow on Instagram at @DivestDGA, @DivestWGA, @DivestSAG, @DivestIATSE and sign up for more info at divesthollywood.org
CO-WORKING + BRAINSTORMS
This past week’s co-working session was so fun! A little under a dozen of us (including comedians, writers, creative directors, a musician, lit manager, photographer, and editor) did two 20-min sprints. At the top of the meeting and between the sessions we did some quick chatting/networking. In fact it was so much fun, I’m doing it again!
Thanks to all who attended and many others who sent support! Someone said it felt like ‘study hall’ or ‘zero period’ so I am rebranding it Study Hall (sorry, ‘zero period’).
I’m also going to try out an open brainstorm. Show up with anything and I’ll put my brain on it for 5-10 mins (depending on how many people show up). If you like the way I think, let me think for you… for free! Here’s a link to the event — only six slots are available so that we have enough time for everyone’s brainstorm.
WORK I AM JEALOUS OF
I attended a Q&A with director Amber Schaefer earlier this week and wanted to share her short NYC Tips and Tricks. It’s such a brilliantly simple idea + execution and it made me mad (and inspired) that the way my brain works is to write shorts with a million locations that would have to be shot over 3-4 days.
After watching Amber’s NYC Tips and Tricks I’m going to challenge myself to write something this simple and elegant. There are so many fun folks I’d love to work with.
CREATIVE RESOURCES
A grant that asks “Inspired by deez Nuggs?” Yes. The Earth Alliance is giving $2,000 per grant to multiple creators who want to make climate content. You can pitch pretty much anything as long as it fits into one of the following five categories:
Critter Costars
The health of animals and their habitats is tied to the health of humankind. How might we celebrate the wonder of nature in our own backyards?
Roam at Home
Vacationing closer to home can significantly reduce individual emissions. How can we celebrate the fun in lower-carbon travel—from documenting train travel to exploring our neighborhoods through a traveler’s lens?
Date Your Fridge
Food waste is a leading carbon emitter, and it’s something we can reduce in our own kitchens. How might we take a second look at what’s in our fridges?
Climate Futures for All
How might we fold in principles of environmental justice into our work—by educating followers, sharing the mic, and using our talents for good?
Death to Greenwashing
Rampant misinformation has sown doubt about climate solutions and action. How might we combat it with science- and evidence-based content on our own channels—while being authentic, honest and funny?
Applications are due November 24th, 2023 and all you have to do is write a short paragraph explaining your pitch. It took me five minutes to apply. You should too!
I MADE THIS FOR YOU
It’s nearly mid-November, which means it’s time to remind you about my hour-long supercut of (nearly) all the movie New Year’s Eves edited into chronological order. Here’s the trailer:
And here’s the full video:
If you’d like to use this at a New Year’s Eve party or event, please let me know (I’ll send you the files for free!) and if you have a theater, screening room, or museum and would like to screen it, that’s rad too.
Alrighty, that’s it for this issue. Feel free to leave a comment or share the newsletter using the links below.
Party on,
Jacob
I always learn a lot from your blog. Keep calm and carry on.