CLOSET

Today is a closet opening day.

I’m emerging from such closet not to reveal a hidden fetish or a funny class I’ve been taking, but regarding my admiration of a TV series

This TV series is set in a post-apocalyptic present day timeline. The show features a hodgepodge of selected characters (from different backgrounds) who band together to survive and sometimes do battle against nastier characters and complete headcases. Let’s just say, this is the ultimate man eat man world scenario.

The show is dangerous and exciting in places; some characters get bumped off (and replaced with newer ones), there’s some fun bits and in places, plus some really clever areas of writing and film-making. There are also witty and lengthy talking parts that could give Seinfeld a run for its money.

Oh, sometimes zombies crop up now and again.

That’s it! - I said the ‘z’ word. Despite my distain of the horror genre, I actually think AMC’s TV adaptation of The Walking Dead is actually a pretty darn good show.

Anyone who knows The Walking Dead enough will know it is more than just about zombies. Even the NBC network allegedly wanted to produce the show originally with the undead excluded.

“oh, it’s scary!”

The scare factor relies on suspense and as much fake gore that one would see on an episode of BBC’s Casualty. The waddling corpses seen on the show are extras in layers of makeup and no more terrifying than the orcs from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings film series. Like the orcs n goblins, the 'walkers' get arrowed or struck down - except there’s a bit more mess and sometimes bullets. I dislike scary stuff and horror, but the fear level in this show isn’t so bad.  This is also the only ‘zombie apocalypse’ medium I will give any attention to.

Saying that in addition, you won’t ever witness me take part in any Zombie walks or consumerism protests outside Cabot Circus. I don’t consider myself a zombies fan and The Walking Dead is very much the casual and short extent.

Perhaps, in short I should have really just said that I am okay with The Walking Dead and left it at that…

GEEK

OK. So here’s the scoop. I am putting together a film, a yet to be named film project which covers the topic of ‘being a geek’.

Gotta type this and run. Busy day today...

Why Geek? Pretty much the term ‘Geek’ is now a badge of honour and no longer a term used by the popular crowd to use as a hurtful slur on others. Being a Geek is there along with being a boffin and a whizzkid with something to feel having credentials about.

For me being a geek is important to me and who I am. It is where the ‘Hero’ part of my name came from especially when I used it as my stagename during my stint in wrestling. In short, I was identified with as the real life Comic Book Guy (a Simpsons character) and the name stuck with me since. I feel my 24 year long journey as a Transfan has moulded me into the guy I am today and has granted me inner cultural capital.

I’ve spent some of this Saturday filming a 3 minute pilot for the movie with all sorts of things. I have no idea yet how I will structure the pilot or whether some of the footage will end up in the final draft of the movie. In making these films, more than enough footage is better than not enough.

What I ask of you guys in cyberspace is your assistance. If you consider yourself a geek or have a take on being a geek, film yourself maybe on a webcam or DV cam for a minute or longer and talk about it. You’ll get a chance to be in a film and look good being in it. What I am also looking for is background too, stuff like ‘geeky’ surroundings that would be interesting on camera and maybe to show off too. I am looking to collage everything into a spiked punchbowl of geeky beauty and make a film that aims to educate, entertain and inspire (I said that in my pitch).

As for a name for this film project, no idea yet like I said before but I am welcome to suggestions and will possibly put up a cross-posted poll to decide the winner.

Gotta post this and run. I would love to hear back from any of you. More updates to come.