Raw Footage

 Last week Melanie Simmons filmed Dan Wilson and me doing a scene from THE GRAPES OF WRATH.

Tom Joad, just released from prison, heads home for the first time in four years. He comes upon Jim Casy, a former preacher who has evolved from a "burning busher" to someone who sees "religion" in more human terms ... in that instead of "putting it all on God and Jesus" .... that all people "got one big soul everybody's part of."

Casy's personal dilemma triggers the path that Tom Joad takes ... it is an insanely great role as is the role of Tom Joad. Henry Fonda as Tom Joad, and the great John Carradine as Casy. The film, however, butchers the beginning, but the two actors are TREMENDOUS.

Dan was in BLOOD DONE SIGN MY NAME, which is how we met. Later that year he said he wanted to film the scene for his reel for a site we use to get film/tv work, ACTORS ACCESS. One thing led, though, led to many other things, and we didn't get around to filming until last week. Dan had met Melanie, a terrific actress who is also proficient with a video camera, and there's a very strong probability, the three of us will be working together again and hopefully often. We had a fantastic time on this shoot.

A hefty chunk of the quality of my Casy comes from Dan's input, who grew up as a Christian who went to church three times a week, but like the character Casy, came to "see things" differently.

I, of course, grew up as a heretic, perhaps heathen. My family went to a non-denominational church, and I managed to elude 95 percent of the Bible study. My views of religion have always been ethereal/socalist, and thus when i read Casy's lines, I had, literally, a soul mate.

Still, it took some prodding by Dan to deepen Casy's dilemma, and i'm totally grateful. When one can learn about process, a character and oneself in the same moment, that's an excellent day.

Whispered Essence

A mammoth jar

Lurks at the tail end

Of winding copper wire.

Patience, though often

Its own reward, will

Soon be compensated

When gravity prompts

Vital drops of liquid

that had once been vapor,

But has been cooled,

To finally plunge south.

Burns your tummy as
You holler hi-de-ho.

Lights go spinning

And all is quite well

Even though a massive

Headache is on the way.

You wanna dance?
Pay the musician.
You wanna sing?
Take another shot.

As always a little

Goes a long, long way.

Same with espresso.
It’s all about the gist.

Remember too much 

Is way too much.

Big Daddy meets Brick

Halfway on the landing.
Romeo spots Juliet in the crowd.

Red's bus heads toward

The border, one side his pain;

The other his release.

When it comes to the best.

No one waves a flag,

Chews the scenery,

Tries to dominate focus.

Instead, they animate

Just enough

To offer a hint,

A subtle clue:

Allowing what’s underneath

To blink and murmur;

To inform, then activate

Another journey on

That whispered essence.