Monthly Archives: February 2024

Film

Of Wanderlust (2003)

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Of Wanderlust

“Of Wanderlust” was my very first short film (a student project). This psychological thriller was shot in the Fall of 2003 on Mini DV (SD). 20 plus years ago. Back then HD was just coming out and was truly out of reach, for small productions . . . Shot over two days in Weston, CT, the film features Armand Anthony in the lead role, Griz; Noelle Holly as the traumatized Regan, Mike Williams plays the frustrated lover, and the now-defunct Karibi Fubara, Jake, the witness. I spent five months laboring on the film: writing, producing, directing, and editing both footage and sound. The film had a nice festival run during 2004-05. It got me to visit the States, and it even collected awards on the way . . . More than once, audiences asked me why not turn this story into a feature . . . The story does not really abide to the short-film formula. It has a commercial tone and the structure of a compressed feature. They had a point. The truth, however is that I’m not sure this story has the spine to carry a 90 mn arc and remain both interesting and suspenseful. Maybe someone out there… ? This short film was designed to be a business card . . .

Blog, Books We Live by

PEN America

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There was a popular series of illustrated books when I was in England in the late 80s’. It was an unusual series. A silly-looking guy, with thick glasses, and red ski hat, walking around with a walking stick, a backpack, and a white and red stripped shirt, through complex imaginary landscapes. That was the world of Wally, as in “Where is Wally?” Everyone read those books, spending hours to locate for “the silly guy” buried in the various scenery.

When the series was transferred to an American audience, the name was changed to Waldo, which is a weird adjustment, since the new name conveyed nothing of the original title. A Wally is a Wally, not quite an idiot but a stupid or silly person. Waldo carries no meaning whatsoever. Basically the English cheekiness was lost in translation.

Attached is a photograph from a PEN America event back in January 2024. Can you find the Wally/Waldo in the picture? Clue: This Wally attended the event, and his face landed on the main photograph of it. He is standing, clearly a victim of imposter syndrome, along the crop of the best young emerging writing talent in NY. Next to him, Ayana Mathis.