LISTEN TO IT #1: ALL THE NEW YOUNG PONIES

I have a theory that most embedded YouTube videos go unclicked, if only for a lack of time. It may depend on how long yr friends list is, but if you have say 20 friends and they all post a different music video, yr just not going to watch them all.

So in that sense, there’s probably no point in me starting a new series for new music videos. But I’m going to do it anyway, because music is my passion and there is new music out there worth hearing. And so I’m going to bring it to you when I deem necessary.

Starting with this track from the second New Young Pony Club album.

Watch on YouTube

Their debut album knocked me out with their aloof take on the disco-punk revival. The new album, The Optimist, sounds even more 80s than the first, and actually gets into some unexpectedly weird arrangements to the point where they almost sound like an alternate-world B-52s where Fred Schneieder is a woman and they go to parties to sneer instead of have fun. Only in a good way.

Which means I wasn’t sure what to think of it at first, but it does seem to be growing on me.

Tell me what’s the answer,

This is dF

THERE IS NO “I” IN “MEAT TEAM”

I eat it,

This is dF

DAVID MAMET: DRAMA QUEEN

If you click right here, you will allegedly see a memo that David Mamet wrote to the writers of The Unit (of which he was executive producer) on how to write dramatic television.

I can’t say for sure that he really wrote it, But if it’s a hoax, it’s a jolly convincing one. And it’s a good primer for aspiring writers of any stripe – it’s intended for people writing television, but I dare say a lot of it could apply to prose as well (see: Elmore Leonard).

Sample [All-Caps are intentional]:

EVERYONE IN CREATION IS SCREAMING AT US TO MAKE THE SHOW CLEAR. WE ARE TASKED WITH, IT SEEMS, CRAMMING A SHITLOAD OF INFORMATION INTO A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

OUR FRIENDS, THE PENGUINS, THINK THAT WE, THEREFORE, ARE EMPLOYED TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION — AND, SO, AT TIMES, IT SEEMS TO US.

BUT NOTE: THE AUDIENCE WILL NOT TUNE IN TO WATCH INFORMATION. YOU WOULDN’T, I WOULDN’T. NO ONE WOULD OR WILL. THE AUDIENCE WILL ONLY TUNE IN AND STAY TUNED TO WATCH DRAMA.

QUESTION:WHAT IS DRAMA? DRAMA, AGAIN, IS THE QUEST OF THE HERO TO OVERCOME THOSE THINGS WHICH PREVENT HIM FROM ACHIEVING A SPECIFIC, ACUTE GOAL.

SO: WE, THE WRITERS, MUST ASK OURSELVES OF EVERY SCENE THESE THREE QUESTIONS.

1) WHO WANTS WHAT?
2) WHAT HAPPENS IF HER DON’T GET IT?
3) WHY NOW?

THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS ARE LITMUS PAPER. APPLY THEM, AND THEIR ANSWER WILL TELL YOU IF THE SCENE IS DRAMATIC OR NOT.

Obviously this won’t apply to all situations and all scenes. But for certain types of writing, it’s a good place to start.

Because who's going to argue with the guy who wrote one of the greatest motivational speeches in cinema?

High drama,

This is dF