​These words were spoken by my dentist during a laser procedure on, yes, you guessed, an ongoing assault on my mouth.  Amidst all the torturous deep cleaning, scraping, burning, and choking, I could not help but be reminded of the words of Auric Goldfinger when he had 007 splayed out on the table.
     “Do you expect me to talk?”
     “No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die.”
     Well, I didn’t die, so that’s one positive out of the whole ordeal. It did, however, cause me to ruminate over my blog of several weeks back regarding the untimely death of fictional characters in general and one beloved fictional character in particular. I also happen to be listening to ninety-second movie reviews on the podcast Scrappy-Doo Radio, and, quite frankly, I can’t believe how many fans are upset over the death of Scrappy-Doo.  For every ten positive reviews of Scrappy’s latest film, there is a listener who is so livid; they can barely control the timber or pitch of their voice.
     As stated in my earlier blog post, many fictional characters suffered deaths at the hands of their creators. I mentioned Sherlock Holmes, Spock, and of course, the latest tragedy of beloved icon Scrappy-Doo. The words of Ted Turner come immediately to mind. “Last time I checked, I owned them.”
     While I understand the disappointment and even sadness, I don’t quite get all the vitriol. Everybody dies, including you. Interpretations of fictional characters change over the ages. Compare Laurence Olivier's performance Shakespeare’s Shylock to the more modern and enlightened view of the character. Or, let me present it to you this way. Or, in his own words uttered on screen, Scrappy-Doo is a character that has a very short life expectancy, so any second-guessing on any of your parts will be short-lived.
     So, let’s give it a rest. Let’s watch the film and enjoy it for what it is. And remember the optimistic promise that was made at the very end of the credits.
                                                          “Scrappy Doo will return”

​It’s raining here. At least it has been. And we are expecting a few more inches through Monday. We may as well enjoy it as it will most likely be the last of the rain this year.  Ah, the pleasures of world-wide climate catastrophe.
 
As I write this, an investigation of the accidental shooting of a Director and Cinematographer on the set of a movie continues. Apparently, there was a live round in the chamber. How does this even happen? As far as I understand it, three people were to check the weapon before it ever gets into the actor’s hand.  Just read that there were some nonunion issues. This is important stuff, people. Hire Union and hopefully, this will lead to more stringent safeguards on the set of lower budget motion pictures.
 
As you can now very well see, this will be another of those annoying collections of random words, miraculously transformed into some sort of readable blog post. Or maybe not, that is up to you to decide. As I type it, I am listening to Han Zimmer’s soundtrack to No Time to Die. I like it and the musical nods to one of my favorite Bond films, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Anyway, good stuff. Check it out. 
 
A couple of notable viewings worth sharing. Apple TVs The Foundation is as visually stunning as it is confusing. However, the documentary The Velvet Underground is highly recommended as well as the current season of Ted Lasso which never disappoints. I have also just started Dopesick and so far, so great!  And before we close, one last shout out to Only Murders in the Building. The teaming of Martin and Short is, as always brilliant but it is the addition of Selena Gomez that elevates this original story to new heights. 
 
Okay, I need to find some random video to post here so I will see you all next week.

Back in 1977, I was performing in Summer Stock with a group of talented individuals recruited from around the country. One of these I happened date briefly. She was a talented actress of from LA who had just graduated from ACT. Subsequently, we went our separate ways; me to a life of performing in nightclubs with an occasional writing gig and her becoming a serious and celebrated New York Stage and Screen Actor. Several decades later, I came across an article announcing that Vice Presidential candidate and intellectual heavyweight, Sarah Palin, was being groomed in the acts of poise in diction in preparation for the first debate by this very same actress I knew from 1977.
 
I thought that was as close as I would ever get to the new Amerikkka.
 
Cut to this week and the second, Wednesday, October 13 at roughly noon I receive a text from a LA friend regarding a producer who had optioned a screenplay of mine back in the day. Unmentioned in their IMDB page, the Producer is not only supporter of Donald Trump, Q-Anon, Conspiracy theories but is also an extreme anti-vaxxer who thought nothing will speak to the masses more than advertising a future event with a swastika made up of hypodermic needles. 
 
This is the incident I wish to address.
 
This producer is now residing in Texas and has just scored two points for both fascism and anti science. Of course, her response to the controversy was to be expected.
 
“I regret that the symbol caused hurt, which was clearly not my intent,' said Vivano-Langlais in the statement.
'However, I stand on my principles, regardless of the cancel culture authoritarians.”

 Just what are Viviano’s principles? Well, we know she is a Trump supporter., so obviously she is in support of rape, misogyny, third world authoritarianism, racism, and the spreading disinformation. Trump awakened a hidden sickness in this country, one that we will be dealing with for quite sometime. 
Well, better her than an uncle at Thanksgiving dinner. However, it is a painful reminder that our careers are going to cross paths with all sorts of people. Even ones that wish to overthrow our Republic. 

A lot has been said about setting your schedule to write and sticking to it. Experts are keen to remind us that it is best to have a set time of the day, a place, and to write for whatever amount of time you can afford. I believe there is something to all this. Hemingway was a morning guy (first light) and got it done so that he could get to drinking by lunch. Vonnegut also got up early, wrote till eight am, and then had his breakfast, returning shortly after so that he could get to the swimming pool by 10. Whatever you decide is best for you, do it and stick to it!  Occasionally things happen, so forgive yourself and move on.
 
If you set a goal for yourself with a word count, go easy on yourself. I always say 1000, but 500 to 750 words are more realistic. If nothing comes, don’t panic. I am a great believer in Morning Pages (courtesy of Julia Cameron). It is a string of consciousness type of writing which is purging your guts out on the page. I recently returned to the practice, and I’m glad I did. These pages are not to be reread but only to act as a literary cleanse of your creative colon.  Try it, and you’ll be surprised at how many ideas can come from this little exercise. And, if you are mucked up, try reading The Artist’s Way by Cameron. I’ve been through it several times, and it never ceases to help.
 
And finally, if you are still stuck, try walking. And while you are taking your stroll, live in the moment. Enjoy it, and try not think about your project. That will come naturally. Just get outside and do it. 
 
And read, not be confused with watching television. It would help if you had a book open on your bed stand right now. Please read it. Every time you feel the desire to kill your emotions with the television, open your book. This holds doubly true for smartphones. Give it a rest. Schedule some time away from it. Practice a musical instrument, read some poetry or Shakespeare. Leave the Bejeweled Blitz for a long car trip.
 
Okay, there you have it. Now stop reading this and go write.   

Everyone is talking about it. They simply can’t help themselves. A beloved fictional and film icon has up and left us; killed off by unscrupulous producers in his prime. 

Sherlock Holmes – died at Reichenbach Falls
Spock died of radiation poisoning.
Batman’s back was broken, and Superman's dead…kind of.
Kirk was murdered in cold blood and Hercule Poirot died from heart complications
 
Yeah, just recently and you are most likely upset. Well, beloved characters in fiction and media die.

SHIT HAPPENS.

And believe me, I understand the universal disdain for spoilers. Movie taddlers need to be punished in much the same way that gangsters punish stoolies. But as for all this noise about the killing off of a beloved fictional character, get over it!
 
Hey, we have to die, why not them? I am sixty-seven and death is relatively around the corner for me. And all of us don’t have the option that our fictional counterparts have. Our cells can’t be regenerated by a Genesis Planet. We can not exist in an alternate timeline nor can we reappear when the angry public rises up and demands that more stories are published. The wonderful thing about death in fiction, is the creator can always change his/him/they/them/their mind. So, everyone take a deep breath, relax. 
 
In some instances it can even be a combination of things. Spock died to rejuvenate a franchise and because the actor wanted to put the character eternally to rest. Only Christ and money are the only ones that can really bring back the dead.
 
So, please, relax. Enjoy. In a couple of years, it will be as if this never happened. It may turn out to be all a dream.  Perhaps an alternate timeline.