Lessons for Writers: James Cameron’s Film, Aliens (1986)
Consider the Ripley Elevator Scene from Aliens. Rewatching the movie recently and this scene stuck with me. It’s the kind of scene missing from bad action movies. Think about it. […]
Lessons for Writers: Dialogue Makes Characters
Lessons for Writers: In the movie Back to the Future (1985), Doc says the phrase “If my calculations are correct” in reference to his time travel theory. In Iron Man […]
New Film Score Essay: Star Wars — A New Hope
Presenting my next film score essay–Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. There are fewer film music composers finer than John Williams. This material was originally researched with the idea […]
Call of Duty: WWII: The Score
I’m spinning Call of Duty: WWII on iTunes, composed by Wilbert Roget II. This is giving me chills! Damn, so poignant and cutting. At first listen, it reminds me of […]
John Williams – Star Wars: The Last Jedi
I really can’t let go of summer, but this music will sweeten the onset of winter. If I can write words half as beautiful as John Williams’ music when I’m […]
My Tribute to Heather Heyer
I deeply mourn Heather Heyer. To me, she represents my generation’s finest aspirations. It isn’t our tech that makes us special. So many of my friends, my cohorts, my college […]
New Writing on Climate Change
The Tampa Bay Times, the top newspaper in Florida and one of the best in the nation, has published my guest column promoting the vital work of the Southeast Florida […]
Breaking: John Dos Passos Society Conference 2018
Third Biennial John Dos Passos Society Conference (June 20-22, 2018, Lisbon, Portugal) Abstract Submission Deadline: January 31, 2018 Graduate students wishing to be considered for supplemental travel funding must submit […]
Time Burnishes the Chiles Legacy
Sick of U.S. politics today? Tired of the daily deceptions, the smallness? Read about real statesmanship. Explore the story of Walkin’ Lawton Chiles, governor and U.S. senator from Florida. He […]
A Big Sea Adventure
“Sailing takes me away to where I’ve always heard it could be.” The sun in your face. The wind at your back. I think if I can commit that feeling […]