Protagonist
Four disparate lives intertwine with surprising results in this absorbing documentary, an official selection of the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. A German terrorist, a bank robber, an "ex-gay" evangelist and a martial arts student form the unlikely quartet. In her interweaving narrative, Oscar-winning filmmaker Jessica Yu explores parallels between human life and the formal dramatic structure of the Greek tragedian Euripides.

I watched that trailer and I was all, "YEAH, That looks sah-weet!" While it's far from the beaten path of the "humorous" doc I'm shooting for, I was really interested to hear those stories! Plus, I felt that the more interviews I watched, it may work to improve my skills as an interviewer - to have people be able or willing to open up and tell their stories/opinions/reactions more easily.

First problem - the format. It was very apparent what the director was going for - the four protagonists involved told their stories simulatenously. All four stories followed the same basic arc. Their abusive childhood (different levels and kinds of abuse), their decision to take charge of their destinies (in very different ways), the moment when they face the truth of the reality they've created and finally, the decision to make a more postive change.

Because of the editing, even though each story was profound in its way, I kept getting disconnected. Just as I would get caught up in the narrative, it would cut to a different narrative. And while they shared arc points, it was mostly just annoying, in an "I GET IT," kind of way.

And then there were the puppets.

Now, let me preface that I was excited about the puppets. They reminded me of the marrionette sequences in Being John Malkovich, which I adored. Unfortunately, as a structural element - puppets acting out both classic bits of Greek tragedy and recreating scenes from the "protagonists" lives - was hit or miss...but mostly miss for me. It quickly became just another obstable to connecting to the four narratives.

I will say that there were a couple puppet moments that really worked and were extremely impactful. Writing this is going to come off weird or comical, but it wasn't. It was rather frightening. There was one scene where Joe (later known as the bank robber) was describing an incident with his drunk/abusive father, where as a boy, he stood impotent and watched his father nearly drown his younger brother. While he's recalling this memory, the puppets act it out. It was really quite moving and horrifying. That part really worked.

The other issue was the four men being interviewed. At least three - the robber, the former evangelist and the martial artist - have had a lot of experience with public speaking and telling their stories. Two (at the time of the film) had written books and gone on speaking tours. These were not merely well rehearsed subjects, these were people who are storytellers.

And when you tell the same story time and again, you can hone it and punch it and make it really interesting and exciting to the listener. You know what details to focus on and what words will best convey your experience. I think if I saw the raw footage of these unedited, I would have loved this film. Because, they do know how to tell their stories well.

Applying that to interveiwing people who are shy about sharing their personal opinions on camera...I just don't think I got anything productive out of this film that I can apply to our doc. Unless I decide to use puppets or animation to illustrate a point...?

Lesson...Do not abuse use of puppets or animation to the point you being to annoy or distract your audience.

paper clips

Paper Clips (2004)

Whitwell Middle School in rural Tennessee is the setting for this documentary about an extraordinary experiment in Holocaust education. Struggling to grasp the concept of six-million Holocaust victims, the students decide to collect six-million paper clips to better understand the extent of this crime against humanity. The film details how the students met Holocaust survivors from around the world and how the experience transformed them and their community

While I didn't cry once watching The Bridge (twice), it seems from nearly the very beginning of this doc, I was balling like a baby for the entire viewing.

Perhaps, it was the perfect storm of seeing a community do something so filled with education and value and respect - in a time when our country that seems so hell bent on instilling fear, distrust and hate.

While there were many things I didn't enjoy about the construction of this film (the editing, some of the "re-creations" and the over-produced symphonic soundtrack) - the thing that struck me over and over again was the simple content of the story.

It's a lovely story. While it deals with one of the most henious atrocities in human history (and while part of the filming takes place over another - 9/11), it really underlines the fact of WHY we need to remember our history. And how the lessons from that time can still impact lives today.

In a time of war, of muckracking politics, a failing economy - when fear is the lead story every night...the lesson of tolerance and what people working together can create is worthy of watching.

Twice.

Lesson: Even if your construction seems overly forced at times, a simple, solid story may trump your production failings.

oof

Growin' A Beard (2003)

Growin' A Beard is a hilarious 30 minute documentary that follows the men of Shamrock, TX (and a hairy outsider) as they compete in the town's annual Beard Growing Contest.

Yep. That's pretty much the whole of it. With the exception of the hilarity.

The good news is this doc is 30 minutes long. The bad news is this doc is about 15 minutes too long. Oof. File this under SKIP IT.

What sounded like something right up our alley - a silly sort of competition with a bit of tangential history to place it into a (semi) greater perspective....fell a bit flat. And it took like eight years for them to get it finished. Unfortunately, it also felt like it took 10 years to watch.

Honestly, the beard growing stuff was fine, the folks were open and kinda interesting, but all a wee bit two homogeneous. I couldn't tell you their names or even how to tell them apart. The contestants/townsfolk were all kind of the same guy. Nice enough, but you never get to really know them well enough to write home about.

The filmmakers also had the ripe potential back story of a dying town trying to hang onto with its dying tradition. They even lucked into some amazing home footage from 40-50 years back.

It just wasn't there. No hook, nothing even shiny to keep me interested until the end. The whole time it's felt like an inside joke that really never paid off. It's like they reached a bit too far out of the story's own grasp. I doubt I'll remember this doc in a few years when my brain fills up with more interesting (and better told) stories.

The humor felt...stuck. Like the want to enjoy the tongue-in-cheek silliness of the competition, but tripped it up.

I do have to give props to the soundtrack by an Austin band, The Gourds. Great, upbeat covers of Route 66 and some rollicking Irish-inflected instrumentals. Ignore the rock-a-billy bullshit of the title track...the rest is worth a listen.

Lesson: Don't take a 15 minute idea and kill it by turning it into 30.

plug

Mere weeks ago, our good friend, Dave Lykins wrote an amazing original song for the documentary. He'll also be fleshing out the rest of the incidental music once we have a rough cut...some months from now.

Patience. It's not just for breakfast anymore.

First off, I have to tell you, Dave is one of the original good guys. He's a badass. Ex-Navy, former self-defense instructor and all around sweetheart. Not to mention the talent. An actor and singer/songwriter who pairs gut-grabbing lyrics with sweet melodies.

When I asked Dave to write a song for this project, even though he was already knee-deep working on a new album, he immediately said yes. I would like to note that our first brief discussion about the RV trip fostered ideas for possible tunes such as "What's That Smell."

Fortunately, that one didn't quite pan out. Instead, he penned a lovely little rockin' ditty called "Come Along" that amazingly captured the fun vibe of the RV trip and the Quizzo Finals...even though he wasn't there in person. More astonshingly, he wrote it in a very short window to meet his schedule for an album he was gearing up to record in Nashville.

That album was just released and is delightful.

It's called Blurry White Guy and you can check it out at CD Baby or on Itunes! It's one of those CDs you want to put on, crash out on a hammock/sofa/lazy-boy and crack open a beer....or a nice refreshing lemonade!

I prefer the beer.

Although, I've been craving a lemonade. Hmmph. Curious.



Not only do I recommend the album as a whole, I'm thrilled to say that "Come Along" made the cut! It's the 8th track on the CD. My only disappointment (self-inflicted) is that when Dave asked for the name of the documentary so he could include it in the liner notes, I didn't really feel like we had one yet. It's a small thing, but yeah, I wish the awesome-title gods had seen fit to grace me with some inspiration, but they ignored my frantic pleas. Ah...missed opportunity...we meet again!

Anyway, I just wanted to plug Dave's album. And for the record, "Come Along" (as much as I adore it...and I really freaking adore it) isn't even my favorite song on the album! If you are a fan of the likes of Steve Earle or John Hiatt - or any songwriters that leave a little meat on your ribs - do yourself a proper and check it out.

checked by reality

Watched The Bridge last weekend.
I'm still dealing with the debris it left in my brain.

The Bridge
People suffer largely unnoticed while the rest of the world goes about its business. This is a documentary exploration of the mythic beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge, the most popular suicide destination in the world, and those drawn by its call. Director Eric Steel and his crew filmed the bridge during daylight hours from two separate locations for the entire year of 2004, recording most of the two dozen deaths in that year (and preventing several others.) They also taped interviews with friends, families and witnesses, who recount stories of struggles with depression, substance abuse and mental illness.

I knew going in that the film starkly showed people climbing over the rail and falling to their deaths. I knew that I was going to witness persons choosing to end their lives in a very final and somewhat public way. As much as we are conditioned by the violence and brutality we see on the evening news, this is akin in many ways to watching 9-11 footage. It's watching a beautiful day turn into something tragic. It's equal parts horrifying and at the same time, oddly familiar. And just seeing it once, certain images will sear themselves into your brain.

This film is not for everybody. It's a gut punch.
But it is also a very revealing statement about living with mental illness.

While I'm still unable to watch footage from 9-11, I watched this film twice over the weekend. Watching as people pace...lean against the rail...look out over the water...then make the decision to climb over in broad daylight with tourists just steps away from them and...let go. There is a certain epicness to it.

It was a somber puzzle that my brain kept trying to figure out.

As a filmmaker, I felt they handled the subject with a lot of respect. The music and editing did not attempt to enhance the emotion - there was no need to. The interviews with the witnesses and family filled out only some of what the image of the fall could not. Conversations with and memories of the victims - some mere moments before, most of them hours, days and years prior to the day on the bridge. It gives you a very small and fractal glimpse into the minds of the jumpers.

Like any conversation about suicide, it makes you think about people in your life that may have been touched by mental illness, depression and suicide.

That's where my brain is stuck. Between an image I saw on the screen and the stories of folks I know who have tried and/or succeeded in ending themselves.


Fortunately, Growing A Beard has arrived to scrub my brain.

In related news, Team Double Secret Probation came out of its summer hiatus and hit Quizzo this week. We came in second to our friendly nemesis "The Baracktobers." By two lousy questions! Arg.

queue

The next docs coming are The Bridge and Growin' A Beard.

While The Bridge is probably the farthest from the type of doc I'm working towards, I'm thinking that it may give me ideas on how to work with a limited material source. GAB just sounds like a ton of silly fun...and it's probably the shortest doc on my must-see list.

holy crap

Can't believe it's been over a month since I posted. August was full of peforming and then closing the play that our theater company was running. Then, to be honest, I was a bit crispy overall and had some family-type obligations that took up my free weekends.

I have been doing my homework though!
Last week I watched two docs - Air Guitar Nation and a pretty offbeat indie called Darkon.


Air Guitar Nation
Every August, the Air Guitar World Championships bring thousands of fans all the way to Oulu, Finland to see the world's best air guitarists battle it out for 60 seconds of mock stardom. For years, the USA was missing in action. Enter the first official US Air Guitar Championships. What starts as a friendly contest above a New York strip club becomes a battle of naked ambition played out on the national and, ultimately, the world stage. captures the explosion of competitive air guitar through the eyes of former world champions, fans and media, and through the personal rivalries of those trying to attain the title of "The best Air Guitarist in the world."

I have to say, I really enjoyed AGN - the way the filmmakers framed the story, I couldn't stop laughing. Although, I keep prefacing my recommendation to folks with, "it's the most stoopid subject matter for a film, but it was so fun to watch." I mean, the idea of filming people playing fake geetars...it's just insanity. And yet, the filmmakers pulled it off. They framed the competition well and focused on a hero and anti-hero (not quite a true villian) - and the most important thing is that they caught the joy and enthusiam of the action.

Unfortunately, Darkon didn't quite affect me the same way.


Darkon
Ordinary folks trade in their street clothes for medieval costumes, faux weaponry and full-contact battles. Darkon, a group that acts out fantasy war games based on complex rules and customs. Padded swords clash, armies advance and a ruler crosses the line, while off the battlefield, participants open up about what keeps them coming back for more.


This is a great story about a really specific sub-culture. Beyond a live-action role playing (LARP) game, it's very specific to these folks creating this particular fantasy. There are a lot of influences: Tolkien, myth, historical figures and battles. Unlike Civil War re-enactments, they are not re-creating, but fantasizing in their creation.

There are parts to this film that I think are marvelous, but as a whole, it left me a bit wanting. Mainly, I think the folks being filmed were waaaaay too aware that they were being filmed and were very concerned about coming off as silly or cultish. There was a bit of stiffness that ebbs and flows throughout. And there are some scenes that were obviously staged to give the audience a more cinematic feel and to raise the stakes. Still, the Darkon folks really did let the doc crew into the middle of the fray. One of my favorite shots was during a huge war battle, a knight/warrior yells directly into the lens, "MOVE THAT CAMERA OUT OF MY WAY." Kudos to the filmmakers for leaving that in. Sweet.

While the crew had full access to the fantasy side of the story, all but one of the LARPers kept the camera crew at a pretty sizeable distance when it came to their real-world lives. You get flashes of home and work, but you don't get to see too much of the reality and other parts of their "normal" lives. It's mainly focused on Darkon and for 86 minutes...it gets a bit "Cliff Clavin" at times.

When they do show folks in the real world, it's mostly with them doing things that they are, well, bored by. Work, laundry, etc. And to the point, while this may be the only outlet that interests these folks, it made the people seem somewhat one dimensional at times.

In an effort to show how committed and/or serious they were to the "game," there seemed to be a lack of a sense of humor throughout. When I say humor, I don't mean to ridicule or mock these folks, but to get a sense of the LARPers sense of humor. There are tiny bits of it scattered, but you really don't get a feel for it.

The two main LARPers they worked with did an alternative commentary track which I found much more lively, relaxed and full of the sense of humor that was missing from the doc. Then again, at a certain point in the conversation, the Darkon-speak got really self-referential, to the point that I felt left out.


It made me wonder if us theater-types ever do that to our "civilian" friends.
How annoying. Oof.

Although, I did learn a lesson.
Never trust elf mercenaries.


These are both worth renting, by the way!

clackity-clack

Still have to schedule with Geo to view footage...but I am working on the script - specifically on how to open the film. It has to be quick and concise and get the story out in a way that is enticing to the veiwer.

Right now, I'm hedging my bets a little and plan on using some of the one-on-one interviews (quick edits) as a jumping off place. Followed by folks randomly (overlapped narration over titles/stills) reading off questions from actual quizzo events.

The lessons I've learned from working on SKALD stories is really coming in handy. In that competition, you only have 7 minutes to tell a complete story. It's a constant battle to edit (and re-edit) to clarify and condense the story. You don't want (or have time for) a lot of "drag" in a film this short. You need to cherry pick and highlight the details that make the story vibrant, fun and interesting. The more I hone the script now, the less time we'll waste in editing (the most time-consumming work to be done.)

In the meantime, I thought I'd attached this short little vid that Geo made right after we got back. This is one of the reasons why we had trouble shooting in the RV. It was like riding a rollercoaster at times (especially in that back bedroom.) Most docs that have RVs in them, I'm finding that in almost all cases, the solution was to shoot when the RV was at rest. Wish I had known that before the trip!

Shooting for those films took place after they were done driving for the day or had stopped/parked for sightseeing/lunch/etc. Which makes me wish that we had done a little more of that at the gas-up/rest stops. We didn't want to add to our 16 hr travel time (and to be honest, the DSP folks were still getting used to having a camera on them. )

One reason most doc have hours and hours of footage - is that it takes a long time for folks to relax and be themselves in front of a camera. Thanks to machinations of Mr. Aston Kuchner and the gentlemen of JACKASS, nowadays, everyone is concerned of being "punked" or looking the fool on video.

I'm not calling out who's "surfing" in back. We all pretty much looked that miserable when we were back there trying to get some shut-eye.

In other news, Ravin was asking about a title for this film so he could put it in his liner notes for his forthcoming CD. I've been dashing my brain, but I still think it's too soon to settle on one. Much like a nickname, I think it will present itself when the time is right.

homework

To get my brain in gear for editing and pacing, I'm currently watching documentaries like they were going out of style. Which is fantastic, because I love them. Even crappily made ones...mainly, because I spend the time figuring out why it's crappy.

Is the subject matter? The editing? The way the shot is framed? The pacing? Is the narrative too plodding and repetitive?

I'm the kind of gal that learns way more from the mistakes I've made than by my successes. So, watching a great documentary, sometimes it's harder to keen why it's a successful film. But a poorly executed documentary, you can figure out what to avoid (when possible) and how to fix mistakes.

For example, I already know that all of the video we've shot at Quizzo night and The Riddle can't be used with the sound on it. Mainly because both were set in bars which played a lot of loud music. Music I don't have the rights to...nor have the budget to acquire. So I know that those shots will have to be overlaid with narration, edited with other sequences that have usable sound, or covered by incidental music.

It may turn out that the video we shot in the RV doesn't have great sound due to the engine and a/c noise. Again, that may have to be "covered" or at the very least, captioned.

Poor sound will kill you faster than a boring subject matter. Word.


Anyway, I'm knee-deep in my homework, bellied up to the bar watching films I haven't seen in years and lots of new ones as well.

Specifically, I'm focusing on films that have one or more of the following elements or themes:
1. Road Trip
2. Underground/Offbeat Group Conventions
3. Obsessions
4. Friends working towards common goal
5. The "Big Stupid Idea"


Examples of films I've been watching or have queued up are:
Pop and Me (1)
Where Are We? (1)
American Movie (3, 4, 5)
Trekkies (2)
Crumb (3)
King of Kong (3)
Supersize Me (1, 5)
Mad Hot Ballroom (2, 4)
The Young and the Dead (5)
Fast, Cheap and Out of Control (3)
This is Nowhere (1)
Growin' A Beard (4, 5)
The Journey (1)
Air Guitar Nation (2, 3)
30 Days (v.2)

For the record, I think most of these are great documentaries...I'm not focused on watching poor ones, I'm just not ruling them out.


I've seen a few other movies that I haven't listed here that would fit the bill like, Unconventional, Spellbound, and Word Play. I might re-rent those at some point. I'm steering clear of any mocumentaries for the time being.

If the .05 people who read this want to suggest a doc for veiwing, please post it in the comments! Much appreciated...

back in the saddle

Apologies to the .05 people who might be following this blog. After the trip to Atlantic City I was traveling much of the rest of June for work and then immediately went into intensive rehearsals for a play that just opened last week.

It is (finally) a new day, which means that I'm ready to turn my attention back towards the documentary.


I still need to schedule time with our cameraman, Geo, to look at the footage we currently have of the trip and see what's useable - sound and picture-wise. Hopefully, that will happen within the next couple of weeks. (He travels quite a bit himself and I've been completely swamped up 'til now.)

Our still photographer, Kristine, sent me proof sheets from the trip. I plan for the film to be a mix of video and stills with narration (and original music.) She got some great shots! (although I'm having trouble loading them here...curse my luddite ways.)

In other utterly fantastic news, my man Dave Lykins emailed me the original song he wrote with the documentary in mind. It's called Come Along and it couldn't be a better fit for this project. It's more spectacular than I had ever imagined it could be (and I had my standards up pretty high.) Having the original music is going to give up a huge leg up on how we edit the peice, so I'm extremely grateful that he's finished it and that it sounds so phenomenal!

With a song stuck happily in my head and with contact sheets to peruse, I'm thrilled to report that the quizzo doc slowly takes it next step towards fruition!


Stumbling, baby steps...but steps none-the-less!

Eve

It's been a hellva day.

Yesterday, my car died. I think, for good. We'll see. I'm trying not to stress about the car or money or all the things that are sitting in judgement in the back of my brain.

Last night, Double Secret Probation (that's our Quizzo team) played in our last game before heading out tomorrow. We won!...by a narrow, narrow margin. It was a great night to end on before the trek. Geo and K both brought cameras last night...and folks at the bar were buzzing both about our (insane) plan to attend the Finals and the doc.

This morning my extremely generous neighbor loaned me her car and all my errands - including dropping off my dog at my dad's. I'm hoping she won't be too much of a handful for him. We also had RV orientation and picked up the behemoth that we'll be trekking in. I'm packing now...waiting to hand the car keys back to my friend and then hopefully getting some sleep so when I get up at 3am to shower and take the trash out (I'm waaaay too beat to do it now), I'll be able to either drive or help navigate our way east.


Not sure that I'll be able to post much on the road, but I'll try!

Here's to an open road and safe passage to the coast!

T-Minus 4

The countdown has begun

We're four days away from climbing into the RV and heading towards AC. It all seems so confoundingly insane to me - but every person I tell this story to - the trip, the finals, the doc - gets so excited by the idea (and trust me, I'm underselling this crazy scheme) - that I'm thinking we must be onto something. The rampant enthusiasm quite honestly baffles me - but solidifies my idea that this doc needs to happen.

In terms of hitting the road, I'm fairly unprepared at this stage - I need to spend tonight getting my ducks in a row. Between making sure I don't leave any unattended fires at the office, making sure my dad is ready to watch my dog (in 9 yrs, I've never had to ask him to watch my dog as she's kind of a handful) and, most importantly, prepping my doc needs (releases, interview questions, shot list, tech needs, etc.), plus all the normal trip prep (pack, bills, where to park the car, etc.)

It's all a bit of a whirlwind in my head.

Wednesday - at Quizzo. Our last game before we head out!
Thursday - our 3 designated RV drivers have orientation/training...then we pick up the RV!
Friday - Hit the road!
Saturday - Film in AC, attend finals, shoot more! (mayhaps play a few games of chance!)
Sunday - Head home.
Monday - Recouperate



Rain or Shine

We're meeting up at 4am on Friday with the intent to be on the road by 4:30am. Hopefully, avoiding the majority of the Chicagoland/Gary rush hour. This means, we should arrive in AC sometime around 7pm or so. Not sure how long stops to gas up with take (or how often they'll occur.) So it could be later than that....due to the weather.



Right now, the forecast for Friday is Scattered Thunderstorms (in Chicago) from Fri-Sun - which means we'll be leaving and coming back thru some pretty crappy weather. It looks like much of our route to Jersey will be stormy/rainy on Friday. Makes me a little nervous as 1/3 of the RV driving team. But, as long as we take our time and pay attention to the road, we should be good. The good news is that Saturday in AC (when we'll need to get the most footage) is going to be party cloudy and in the mid-70's.


I'm prepared that we won't be able to film during the actual Quizzo Finals, as it's at a casino and they are kinda anti-video cameras in those places. But, we should (fingers crossed) be able to bring in some still cameras, which is why I'm basing part of the look of the film as still shots...who knows if we'll be able to get audio....?

A lot of our local footage will be shot after we get back, but I'm getting itchy and excited to start the ball rolling with the filming!



*For the record, I'm not sure if we'll take the Skyway, as it doesn't seem worth it to pay $12-15 (RV price) to cross the bridge when it won't save us that much in time or gas at that hour in the am. I just threw it up since that glowing neon is one of my favorite signs of home from many road trips of yesteryear.

Ground Zero

What is Wry Potato?

Wry Potato is the production company I've created to produce a short (yet to be titled) documentary about a trip some friends of mine are taking from Chicago to Atlantic City.

In a rented RV.
For 48 hours (not to mention the 14 hour trek...each way.)
To compete in the National Trivia Association's Quizzo Finals.

This whole scenario - meeting up to play Quizzo, what lead to the trip, the trip itself - is all based on a friendly lark of sorts. In a way, it's rather incomprehensible that this trip is even happening.


Which is the reason that convinced me this needed to be documented.
And why not document the documentary in a space that keeps me quasi-accountable?



Why the hell am I wasting my precious life reading this and/or care?

Well, I suppose you either:

1) Know me personally
2) Know someone who I've sweetly cajoled into helping me with this project
3) Know someone who knows me and followed their link/reference.
4) Have an odd fixation on potatoes and/or the word "wry"
5) Are a curious and/or lucky sort and stumbled upon this blog.



Do you have any experience making documentaries/films?


Yes and no. I went to film school (like 20 years ago) and then dropped out about 6 months shy of my degree. I haven't seriously picked up a camera since that time. In the past 20 years, I have become a luddite in the digital age. Which increased my distance.

The two people I am most creatively inspired by are Errol Morris and Studs Terkel. Mainly because they have spent lifetimes giving voices to everyday folk - be they a scientist or a street sweeper. I believe there is power in a person's story. There is the power for people to connect, to learn, to illuminate. The more I know about your story, the more I can relate to you and vice-versa. And the truth is, everyone has a story. Some are humorous and others heartbreaking, but it's the craft of telling it that draws folks in.

If you asked me what I personally think would solve many the problems in the world - war, poverty, hate, homelessness. I really do think it lies in honestly listening to people. If you connect to someone on a personal basis, they are no longer a number or a statistic. When you know their voice, their cadence, their humor, their anger, their disappointments and challenges, you really can connect and the opportunity arises to make a change.



Although, this project isn't that grandiose. This is more a challenge to myself to pick a camera back up and be creative. I just want to make a fun little movie about whatever it is that is making this trip tick in my brain. Ultimately, my goal is to submit it to a few film festivals. My partner in crime, Geo, is already talking about what our next project should be...but the first goal is to get this shot, cut, in the can and out into the ether.


Wish us luck.