Another State of Mind

Another State of Mind is the not prominent documentary about Youth Brigade or B.Y.O. Records (Better Youth Organization) that the new film Let Them Know is. I haven't seen that film yet but people on the org are excited. However, I did watch Another Stand of Mind (obviously) the other night when I had gotten home. Reading the description on the sleeve came as a surprise (even though I had read it many times at it slowly made it's way to the number one slot, then being shipped in the mail). There are not a lot of punk movies, documentaries in particular that are there to record history as it unfolds. The filmmakers (Adam Small and Peter Stuart) capture a true and honest look at what it is to be a punk, be in a punk band and on tour in the 1980's.
With only only one production assistant the filmmakers chronicles the first international tour of (now) legendary punks bands Social Distortion and Youth Brigade. The tour funded by BYO--Youth Brigade's Shawn and Mike Stern--begins in Los Angeles as the bands and road crew introduces themselves and perform modifications of an old school bus in which they purchased to go on tour in. Mapped out is 30 or so shows lasting about 35 days.
From the get-go, this tour was doomed. From shitty promoters paying the bands in rolls of coins (San Francisco), bus breakdowns (most of tour but easily fixed until they hit the Midwest and east coast), to being stereotyped to the point where the bands (with local help) climbed the fire escape to enter the building where they were playing later to avoid the burly biker men outside and being refused service based on looks alone (Canada).
This documentary captures well what it is to be punk, to color your hair blue and walk around with safety pins in your ears through the use of interviews with LA punks and with locals who hang out with the bands after the show.
Just as the bus is entering DC it breaks down for the final time. It's towed to the Dischord House, but the members who didn't bail on the tour in Detroit are falling apart. Three members of the crew split to stay with a friend and Social D returns home to LA. Youth Brigade is the only band left but the tour is now over, so they return to LA riding in the back of the truck the filmmakers rented. Looking back over the experience, Shawn Stern had this to say, "Yeah, I'd say it was worth it."

Wonderfalls: The Complete Series

Everyone holds that show in the heart that never should have been canceled, whether it had been short or long-lived. The one in mine is Wonderfalls, a brilliantly written poignant comedy ranging in drama from time to time. The show stars Caroline Dhavernas as Jaye Tyler, a graduate of Brown University in Philosophy who works retail in a gift shop along side Niagara Falls.
In the pilot episode of this very short-lived TV show (4 episodes aired) Jaye starts to hear voices from inanimate objects that have mouths. Any animal that has two lips and is in the right position will began talking at random, giving her instructions on what to do in her life damn the consequences, which usually hurts her emotionally until the plot of the episode has come to the end and it’s revealed she has actually helped someone somehow in their life; sometimes helping herself.
When Wonderfalls originally premiered in the spring of 2004 I was really excited to watch the show and see how the lives of the characters evolve. Returning back to campus after spring break I was devastated when I tuned into Fox on Fridays to learn the show would no longer be airing, despite how funny and relevant the show was to certain audiences. Knowing now what day a show airs is that important: Friday nights being known as the death slot, Fox destined the show to fail, never allowing it to find an audience that would tune in weekly.
Years later the entire series was released on DVD, due to enough demand and the fact that a whole series worth had been bought and paid for, the episodes shot before the Fox executives decided to pull the plug. DVD bonus features include commentary from executive producers and creators Todd Holland and Bryan Fuller and actresses Caroline Dhavernas and Katie Finneran on select episodes, a music video for the title song I Wonder Why The Wonderfalls by Andy Partridge.

30 Rock: Season 1

What’s that old saying? Life imitates art. That doesn’t seem to be the case with the hit NBC show 30 Rock. This sitcom created, written, produced and starring Tina Fey is more autobiographical than it seems. Tina Fey plays Liz Lemon, the head writer of The Girlie Show or as it was renamed in the pilot episode, TGS with Tracy Jordan. For years before the entertainment star was stepping in front or the camera for the little screen, and later for the big screen Fey was the head writer on Saturday Night Live.

On 30 Rock, she brings with her Tracy Morgan who plays none other than Tracy Jordan, a troubled and erratic fallen movie star. Executive producing is Lorne Michaels, producer for SNL and several films starring SNL alum. The SNL connection doesn’t stop there. Numerous ex-members (Chris Parnell and Rachael Dratch) from SNL make cameo appearances throughout the season.

There is another saying that Tina Fey followed well and that is, write what you know. 30 Rock is based off the on goings behind the production of Saturday Night Live, whether that deals with actor and writer problems, upper management and adding the one aspect every show on television will have; dating.

Just like SNL, 30 Rock parodies pop culture and real life keeping the show fresh but up to date with current events, even though it time stamps the dialogue. The twenty-one episode long season kept us reminded of the upcoming 2008 Presidential election by numerously name dropping the candidates, which was relevant in 2006 when the show premiered.

Alec Baldwin, Judah Friedlander and numerous other comedians and young actors round out the cast.