On the Silver Screen

About two years ago, my dear friend and co-conspirator Ethan Norman took me out to Roane State to see a local film made by Brooks Benjamin. Bill Landry, the cathartically voiced narrator from The Heartland Series, was there, as were some other local folks of note, politicians and fans. The idea was to launch a film and arts series bringing money to the lovely easily forgotten area of Rockwood, Tennessee. I don't know if it ever worked. Ethan and I played a beautiful old theatre near there once. A friend of his named Mary Kaye (yep, you read that right) renovated it and has tried doggedly to have concerts there. I felt terrible a few months ago because I couldn't afford to go play a show without Ethan (his family and friends were the only folks who showed up at the last one).

Ethan told me that his music had been featured in the film. What we didn't know was the extent to which it was featured. In the film Twister (a personal favorite at the Whipple household), music is usually featured as a background mood-setting device. It works well, but doesn't have much meaning beyond the fun you have listening to it. In the movie we saw at Roane State, Boys of Summerville, his songs beautifully captured several of the characters' more vulnerable moments. Three of his songs were featured, and were mostly played in their entirety. Contrary to his protests, I nudged him up onstage with the actors and director at the end for the Q&A session.

Also, I experienced something strange. I saw the trailer for Let Me In, a disturbing vampire movie about a little girl, while unwittingly letting the Eels music play from another website. It really made me quite tenderhearted toward the film, even though it's supposed to frighten my nose hairs off.

Fear not, a good blog post is coming soon. There are many goings-on, and I want you to have a well-crafted account of them. Patience. Drink your tea. Listen up.