I know, I know, I’m late to the game here. Fangoria’s Chainsaw Awards show streamed live at the end of May, but I finally caught it. Lots of great films got lots of love from the horror community, and the one I was rooting for took home the big prize: MALIGNANT (2021) won best wide-releaseContinue reading “MALIGNANT (2021) at Fangoria’s Chainsaw Awards”
Author Archives: Jacob Given
How to Get Started Writing
When I have trouble getting started writing, I begin a sentence with the phrase, “when I have trouble getting started writing…” By the time I’ve finished my thought, I’ve got a good start to a blog post. It works every time 80% of the time. It’s Sunday, I woke up late, they can’t all beContinue reading “How to Get Started Writing”
Why We Love Protagonists
We love protagonists because they “protag,” as Brandon Sanderson puts it. Protagonists are dynamic and experience growth, or at least change. In his BYU lectures on sci-fi/fantasy writing, Sanderson points to three areas that protagonists can grow to create a compelling arc: competence, likeability, and proactivity. In Star Wars, Luke grows in competence, while HanContinue reading “Why We Love Protagonists”
Friday Roundup (#2)
It’s Friday, and I’ve got a roundup. Movie: RRR (2022) Directed by S.S. Rajamouli, RRR may be my favorite movie so far this year, narrowly beating out EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE. In fact, the two films have a lot of similarities, including expansive, epic storylines and highly stylized action choreography. RRR, though, is justContinue reading “Friday Roundup (#2)”
FINDING FRANCES (2017)
While technically an episode of Nathan for You, FINDING FRANCES (2017) follows the format of a feature-length documentary. Nathan Fielder decides to help a Bill Gates impersonator (named Bill) from a previous episode find the love of his youth, Frances. Like any Nathan Fielder project, it involves increasingly absurd, awkward, and roundabout attempts to accomplishContinue reading “FINDING FRANCES (2017)”
To Pod or not to Pod
I produced and cohosted a podcast for several years called PTR (which stood for both “Poststructuralist Tent Revival” and “Philosophy Theology and Religion,” you can guess the SEO on the Tent Revival title was… subpar). I don’t have an interest in continuing to do a theology and/or philosophy podcast at the moment, but I’m gettingContinue reading “To Pod or not to Pod”
Movies in Bad Taste
On a recent Patreon episode of Colors of the Dark, I heard a new (to me) term: para-cinema. In the same way that the paranormal lies outside the accepted bounds of normality and parapsychology lies outside the accepted bounds of psychology, paracinema lies (supposedly) outside the accepted bounds of (what many consider) cinema. Paracinema includesContinue reading “Movies in Bad Taste”
I Should De-Clutter
A cluttered room raises my stress levels, as does a cluttered mind. Clutter, physical or mental, calls for your attention all the time, reminding you that you should be doing something else. It prevents focus and presence. A clear environment keeps you at ease, as does a clear mind. There’s nothing left to be done.Continue reading “I Should De-Clutter”
Why I Have an Ugly Blog
Several times I’ve been tempted to update the look of this site, to add new features, to add an email list form… but the most important thing for me right now is to write every day. So, I’m keeping my ugly blog for now and continuing to write. Site improvements can come later, but theyContinue reading “Why I Have an Ugly Blog”
July Theater Watchlist
It’s Saturday and I have writer’s block, so when in doubt, I just write about movies. Here is what July looks like in theaters for me: NOPE – Jordan Peele, UFOs, what else do you want? I’ve seen the trailer for this so many times over the past few months, and every time, I’m soContinue reading “July Theater Watchlist”
Jacob N. Given 