But First, You Need To Write
I love this cartoon.
Years ago I was at a party (I wrote about this in one of my books) where I met a person who said...
“You’re the filmmaker, right?
I nodded.
“You know I used to write. I just don’t have the time anymore.”
I said nothing.
“I know what you’re gonna tell me. You’re going to give me the lecture about how I should find the time to write. Get up early. Stay up late.” And on and on and on… “That’s what you were going to tell me, right?”
I’m sure I disappointed her when I said, “No. I’m not going to give you a lecture. I really don’t care if you ever write again. That’s up to you. It’s hard work. You either do it or you don’t. Nothing I can say will make you sit down and write if you don’t wish to.”
Suddenly she saw someone across the room she just had to talk to, and ran off.
Over the years I have known so many people who have wanted to be writers, filmmakers, artists of any sort, actually, but they never seem to put in the work.
I get it. Writing, filmmaking, any kind of art, is hard work if you want to get better at it. It takes a long time and lots of (in my case) bad pages, and some really bad early films. But if you wish to do it you keep going. There are many times I don’t want to sit down and work for a number of reasons. But I do. And I can look back 45+ years later. I’m still working at it and I’m still trying to get better.
As an independent writer/filmmaker/publisher of my own books, I don’t have an agent or some company bankrolling me. It’s just me. So you will probably never see or hear me on Fresh Air, or The Today Show, or whatever. And that’s fine. I’m good with that.
Although it would be nice if more people would buy my work. You can check it out at www.angryfilmmaker.com.
Now back to Bizarro.
One of my life’s little pleasures is reading Bizarro. I like and respect everything that I’ve seen Dan Piraro and Wayno do. I follow them on social media and I get Dan’s weekly newsletter. They have this great habit of holding up a mirror to society and pointing all sorts of wonderful things out.
From About Dan Piraro on the Bizarro website (https://www.bizarro.com) - - His single panel gems are a unique concoction of surrealistic imagery, social commentary, and witty plays on words. Indeed, if Salvador Dali, Garry Trudeau, and Oscar Wilde had an illegitimate child, that child would be Dan Piraro.
Dan can be found on Instagram @danpiraro
Dan drew the comics for years, now he does the Sunday comic and his pal Wayno does the Monday through Saturday panels.
From Comics Kingdom (https://comicskingdom.com/creator/wayno) - - Wayno is a cartoonist, illustrator, writer, and musician based in Pittsburgh, PA, who creates the Monday through Saturday Bizarro comic.
He has worked in underground and alternative comics and enjoyed a long career as a humorous illustrator, collaborating with such notable clients as The New Yorker, Nickelodeon Magazine, Rhino Records, Entertainment Weekly, The Guardian, and The New York Times. His comics panel WaynoVision ran online from 2014 to 2017.
Wayno can be found on Instagram @Waynocartoons
If you guys need an irreverent laugh you need to check these guys out.
Even if you think you’re overflowing with talent, it always feels like a risk to share your creations with others.- Dan Piraro, Creator of Bizarro.
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In other news, I finally finished The Wind In The Willows last night, as today is Thursday and Luna and I are heading to the library after I pick her up from kindergarten. The book is due.
I’m actually happy I didn’t read this book when I was younger, I’m not sure I would have appreciated/loved it as much as I do. I hated finishing it, because I have grown so attached to the characters. I’m going to miss them.
So now I need to find my next good read.
I’m still working on my new collection of short stories. Just finishing up a story about a kid who wants to be a mascot when he grows up. It’s been a fun story to research and write. 9Why yes, I even do research on my fictional pieces...) Did you know there is a mascot school? My friend Mo told me to check out www.mondomascots.com as well. There were some really weird, I mean interesting costumes there.
Thank you all for reading, subscribing, and supporting me and my writing.
Don’t let the bastards get to you!
Please Support Independent Artists! Even the crazy ones.
Here’s a short clip of me reading from The A-1 Trophy Company in Santa Monica in 1965. I shared a stage with Jan & Dean, The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, James Brown, the list goes on and on. Check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWebrr-3FOQ
If you want to check out any of my books, and yes, I really wrote them (no AI), as well as my films, or Angry Filmmaker merchandise head on over to my website. www.angryfilmmaker.com
Follow me on Substack - https://substack.com/@kelleybakerangryfilmmaker
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