Drift Reality > Washington, DC > September 2003

September 25 - It's been over a week since I've written but there has been a very good reason for this - I haven't had any power because of that bitch of a hurricane that came on Thursday night. It looked like the trees were big knobby grandmother fingers playing cats-cradle with the power lines.

Shooting has gone on this past weekend and we got some excellent footage from downtown DC as well as from a housewarming party at Pouria's house, which was supposed to be an American-style party, but quickly degenerated into an Iranian dance circle. Later in the night, a drunken Jiyan was forcefully pushed in the middle of this circle and ended up looking like an idiot, as usual.

I got into an argument with two of the crew members (I like to call my friends crew members) last week because one of them made the boisterous claim that 50 Cent was, and I quote, "brilliant." The other made the claim that Eminem was, and I sadly quote once again, "brilliant."

The 50 Cent backer's argument went something like this: "So, you think you are a smart person right," to which I responded, "Yes." He then said, "Well, 50 Cent is making millions of dollars more than you." To which I responded, "Is he smarter than your parents? Because he sure as shit is making more than them also." My friend's parents are a college professor and a radiologist. He had no answer to this one.

My basic claim was that although they may be construed as being opportunists and excellent businessmen in their own right, brilliance would be marked by an individual's contribution to society and their influence on the shared perception of a culture. I'd like to hear how you define brilliance in the forum.

In the meantime, I'll end this entry with the chorus from 50 Cent's "Wanksta." Brilliance? I'll let you decide:

You said you a gangsta
But you neva pop nuttin
You said you a wanksta
And you need to stop frontin'
You go to the dealership
But you neva cop nuttin'
You been hustlin a long tyme
And you ain't got nuttin

September 16 - Well, we had our first shoot this past weekend and it was an overwhelming success. I want to say thanks to everyone who participated in making it such a great experience. Basically, with the exception of being hassled a few times by cops and airport security (we DID get clearance to shoot there beforehand), everything went as well as I had envisioned. Siavash (the lead character) and Hooman (his cousin and accompanying lead) were tremendous, and Pouria and George (guys behind the camera) were also excellent. Right now, we have a shared vision and we are just playing off of one another's energy. That being said, I think what will make or break this documentary is if everyone can maintain this energy when things lose their initial flair, but I have a good feeling about it. This coming week, we have two shoots scheduled (weather permitting) for Saturday and Sunday, so I'll keep you guys updated as they happen.

September 11 - Thought for the day - I think that human fear hasn't necessarily evolved as quickly as other human emotions. My friend was driving along the highway the other day, zipping in and out of traffic while smoking a cigarette, and I calmly thought to myself, "If someone in front of us decides to make an erratic move, we will get into a fatal accident and I will probably die." Then, I got bored thinking about this and decided to look through his CD booklet. Later that night, I was walking into the bathroom to take a shower and I nearly stepped on a spider. I shrieked like a little girl and jumped back as if avoiding the pit to hell.

September 9 - Sometimes, things just seem to go well in my life and I have nothing to bitch about. Lately, the weather has been great, I've met a great person to spend time with, my job is going well, and I've been making progress on the documentary I'm working on. No one really likes to read about my happiness though so I'm going to bitch about pop culture. I was watching some lame ass boy band at Gold's gym the other day (for some reason, they torment me by having a play list that jumps between Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears) and then the Monday night football game came on. I found myself wishing that the boy band were, through the grace of God, transposed onto the football field with no pads or helmet. Then, in my fantasy, all the football players on both teams simultaneously tackled them. As their brains oozed out of their heads, the Monday night football theme came on and John Madden said, "How about that!" Then I got put in at quarterback for the Redskins. Ahh. . .the solace of my fantasy world. . .

September 6 - Thought for the day: I don't really care that Madonna kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Now, if Britney and Madonna had stripped down to their knickers and started rolling around while Aguilera smacked them both on the ass with a spiked paddle, then that would have been cool.

September 5 - The Redskins won!!! On another note, if you are a girl and you are watching a football game with a guy, please please please please please please please don't say things like, "Wow, he has a cute butt in those tight pants," or "He is hot!" The thing is, us men are fans of many of these players and it somehow taints our strictly platonic appreciation of the game to hear about how our favorite players are sexy. Also, don't you understand that these athletes are more than just good looks and chiseled physiques? They are artists, and painters, and chefs, and philanderers. They are much more than what you see on television and it objectifies them to simply look at them as a uniform and an ass. Just cut it out!