Hey Matt…Where’ve you been?

I have been really lame the last few weeks, not updating you on anything, not writing an opinion, not reviewing books or movies and worst of all, not updating the weight battle. Well, there are good reasons for all of this: I am really freaking busy.

We had some organizational shifts at work a few weeks back. “Organizational shifts” are a nice way of saying layoffs. It was tough, because several of the people that were let go were friends of mine. In fact, three of the five members of my team were laid off. So that pretty much sucked. I miss all of you. I hope that things are going well.

But with the people leaving came new work, new responsibilities and new project loads, leaving me little time to write anything other than the big stuff (see next paragraph). When I get home I want to zone out, watch TV, and during my lunch break I just want to play stupid games or watch funny movies.

The big stuff: I have been trying to write the book I have been talking about, as well as the script for my Faust adaptation.  They are going REALLY well, so if you are interested in reading any snippets please let me know – I always want feedback. The working title of the book is: “The Power of Suggestion;” potentially a science fiction rag. No, there are no aliens or lasers. It is about someone who is trying to find characters for his book. While doing that he begins to make up stories for people he sees – and through a series of events, he learns that what he is thinking of is coming true and that he has the ability to “make” people do things. It will potentially end up having him in an underground prison with no contact with humans, until his friend becomes president (which the main character thought up), turns into a dictator and lets him out. I am sort of playing with the idea of making it a “series” meaning that the first book ends with him in prison. It’s all grey right now, but that is where I am going.

Hmmm...writing is difficult.

I have also taken up biking. I have been training to do a few big rides over the next several months, recently picked up a bicycle of my own and have enjoyed several 10+mile rides. Well, mostly – still getting used to the major pain in my crotchal region. The weight hasn’t been coming off so easily, but I am hoping that the bike commuting 2 days a week will help me shed some of that excess baggage.

My last training ride

You can visit this site to donate to the Tour de Cure. It is a 100 mile ride I am doing with friends in May to help kick diabetes in the face. I think that’s the tag line. If it’s not…then it really should be. http://main.diabetes.org/goto/mattandhisbike

I will also do some training blogging as Jeremy and I get ready for the Seattle to Portland in July. Holy moley…this is gonna get nuts.

Mother Phoeker

This was produced in November 2009 by Ghost Light Theatricals as part of The Oedipal Duplex (two new plays based on Sophocles’ classic work).

Cast/Crew
Director: Beth Raas
Sets: Julia Welch
Costumes: Rachel Kunze
Sound: Dan Yost
Oedipus: Jalyn Green
Jocasta: Erin Sheehy
Priest: Jesse Putnam
Creon: Matt Gilbert
Teiresias: Jen Ross
Shepard: Jesse Putnam
Messenger 2: Geb Brown
Chorus: Kasey Brockwell, Val Brunetto, Becky Chong, Vittoria Micalizzi, Carolyn Wilcox

Please contact me for the full script.
Mother Phoeker script (PDF)

We Three Kings

My first full length play. Yet to be produced mind you!

Summary:

Randal has nothing but memories. WP has nothing but his own whims to keep him company. After their respective plane crashes, the two are forced to become friends to survive. As tensions mount and no end is in sight, they begin to question the existence of “Fate” and what it may hold. As the scales tip and all seems to be crashing down, an unexpected visitor shows up on the island.

Randal has been reunited with his brother, Rudy, but is still pondering the idea that this isn’t possible. How could three men end up marooned on the same island? How is it that three planes could have gone down and no one has found them? With Rudy comes the story of civilizations demise and how different reality is from their perception. Randal is quickly taught that while time has stopped for him, the world has continued. He is forced to ponder the questions: “Is what we see actually the truth?” and “Do we actually have the ability to change the past?”

Cast of Characters

RANDAL PORTER. Early 30’s Male. Stock Market Analyst. Strong. More needy then he gives off. The quintessential “older-brother”.
W.P. HAMILTON. Mid 20’s Male. Short-Order cook. Eccentric, young, naive.
RUDY PORTER. Late 20’s Male. Clothing Salesman. Randal’s Brother. Has lived in Randal’s shadow his entire life.
VERONICA PORTER. Late 20’s Female. Randal’s Wife.
MOM. Randal and Rudy’s Mother. She is schizophrenic.

Time
Anytime. Any Season.

The Place
An island.

Please contact me for the full script.
We Three Kings Preview (PDF)