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Letter From The Founder
In Charlie Schifano’s essay this week he offers us the definition that ‘a writer is someone who finds it hard to write.’
Well that may be so but reading through this weeks batch of essays and creative writing I can’t help but note that the STSC stable make it look easy. Effortless prose, conversational tone (which is hard to do without sounding either flippant or pretentious) and erudition and learning worn lightly.
As always I am proud to be a part of this as the host/compare (and active participant of course) and I am still amazed at both the depth and breadth of talent that this venture has managed to attract. And with a recent uptick of new members it seems that more talented creators are swinging by all time.
Which means that our second Symposium (out on 1st July) is bound to be amazing. The topic is nostalgia and I- hopefully like you- can’t wait to dig into it. So until then…
Live well,
Tom.
Essays
The Number by Craig Burgess
Usually I would dismiss a list post out of general principle but Craig undeniably makes some great points with these bullet points here. A numbered list of arguments against The Number is the exception that proves the rule. Don’t be a slave to the metrics.
The Threshold of the Spiritual Age By Pr0ph3t
‘It is reflexively easy for the carefully trained modern mind to reject all of this with a chuckle. I understand and cannot do all that much about it. Like any prophet, I can only relay the Word that I have heard.’
A beautiful meditation as always. We now expect no less.
bookmark #434 by Deepansh
‘but, if you ask them: how do you feel in this moment right now? they won’t have an answer or enough articulation to try to reach it. unable to quote a news headline to justify their views and unable to rely on some sordid humour or a popular joke to suggest their disposition, they’ll sit there, dumbfounded.’
Yet again Deepansh is right on the money. An excellent piece here.
weekly digest: it’s okay to call this movie “total gibberish" by MaryAnn
Newsletterception- a weekly recap featured here in our weekly recap. But fortunately for us new member and long, long time film writer MaryAnn knows her stuff with all things cinema so this digest (and her Substack in general) are well worth the time to delve into.
Fiction Has Risen by Cody
As they say, it ain’t arrogant if it’s true. And Cody ‘Big in Japan’ Clarke lays it down here. A fascinating take on novels and films from someone who has walked the walk in both mediums for years now.
Why so serious? by Simon
An important lesson on what we can learn from 3 year olds. We need to take this reminder to heart and ponder it much more frequently I suspect.
Inspiration and Presence by Rob
‘The problem is that inspiration, while powerful, is short-lived. I like to think of it as kind of like a “Nitro boost”. Great for a quick shot of energy under the right circumstances, but it can’t carry you the whole way.’
An essential discussion on inspiration and influence from the ever insightful Rob. All creators need to check this out.
Be the Her Hyena by Trilety
Utterly, utterly unique. I’m fascinated to see where Trilety’s writing goes. I’ve never encountered anything quite like it.
Radio: In Search for Lost Treasures by Frank
Frank gets it. As a pulp fan myself his essays are always a delight and this one on radio has now opened up several new rabbit holes of exploration for me. I suspect every podcaster on earth could learn a lot from reading this piece and then studying the Golden Age of Radio.
Can you learn parenting from a book? by Charlie Becker
Book smarts or street smarts? Or both? A nuanced and skin in the game argument from Charlie here using his own parenting experience. And yes this article is about more than parenting.
Reflection #4 by Clint
Two weeks felt a ling time to wait for another reflection from Clint. These are always a delight and issue #4 is absolutely no exception. Long may this continue.
A Difficult Time Writing by Charles Schifano
‘Of all the various ways writers are described, in fact, I’ve always appreciated a rather blunt formula: a writer is someone who has a difficult time writing.’
Simply put, this discussion of the craft of writing with reference to Joan Didion is up there with the very best of Charles work and as regular Omnibus readers will know that is a very high bar indeed.
Travel Diaries #29 - Vancouver by Gavin
Gavin sneaks in just under the wire with another fantastic travel diary here. I always smile, I always learn something, I always feel my wanderlust stirring, which is the definition if good travel writing.
Fiction/Poetry
The Programme by Thomas J. Bevan
This is a reworking of the first piece of fiction I ever published on the internet. The old version held up pretty well but it need some cleaning up and the ending needed to be stronger. So here it is. Enjoy.
Topographic Love by David
Prose poetry so it goes into the fiction/poetry section. Although of course a lot of work here blurs the lines between mediums. As it should be. So what we have here is a short and vivid piece about the topic of trainers of all things. And it works incredibly well.
Podcasts
Is that a hellmouth or a sales funnel? (Tragedies of Modernity #9) by Thomas J. Bevan and Craig Burgess
I can’t remember why I titled it this, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. I do remember that we talked about the importance of regional accents vs the scourge of Youtube voice at some length as well as about how all art is performance art and that getting stage time under your belt (as it were) is the key to getting better.
Midsommar Dreams by Madspace
A vintage Madspace episode- complaints about traffic and potholes, air conditioning, Father’s Day food line up, childhood memories, Candyland and more. How ling until it all descends into Falling Down? Well, that as always, is the big question, isn’t it?
Two Ecks (The Wednesday Audio #58) by Craig Burgess
I don’t know about you but when I find something pleasurable or worthwhile I like to rush through it as fast as possible to save time and maximise ROI. In this spirit Craig has kindly sped up the Wednesday Audio to 2x aka two ecks. So it’s the same Wednesday Audio we all know and love (/tolerate) but now with faster talking and sharper intakes of breath.
TJB Film Recommendation
The Duellists (1977)
D. Ridley Scott
W. Gerald Vaughan-Hughes
S. Keith Carradine, Harvey Keitel, Albert Finney
How a director could create a debut film as accomplished, assured and memorable as this is quite beyond me. And then he followed it up with Alien and Blade Runner to make a run of three films that surely must stand as among the best run of three in cinema history. Extremely impressive. And we won’t speak about the subsequent unevenness of Scott’s oeuvre in the 21st century.
So. What we have here- as the title implies- is a Napoleonic epic that covers the prolonged feud between two officers as it grows and deepens over the years. Keitel is a pugnacious psychopath who may or may not have a (valid) reason behind his hatred for his foe. Or he nay just be spoiling for a fight and using contemporary ideas of honour and virtue as a mere pretext. Keitel, of course, relishes this role and absolutely delivers as you would expect given his body of work. But it’s a cast against type Carradine who stands out here. This is without doubt his career best performance. He is able to convey nervousness and trepidation without it coming across as cowardice. He is reluctant and weary but doesn’t back down. He just wants a quiet life but will still do what he must. Now a lot of the characters depth and interest comes from the writing (based on a Joseph Conrad story) and Scott’s direction but Carradine makes the most of these assets.
So in this debut you have the understanding and the feel for history that comes through in later films such as Gladiator (2000) already at the fore. You have developed character, captivating settings as well as wit, understated style and an assured sense of pacing. It is all there from the start. A fantastic film, this.
Thanks as always for reading/listening and thanks in advance for pressing all of those various buttons at the bottom which help the Omnibus spread further.
Also I can again confirm that Craig and I will be recording a new episode of the Tragedies of Modernity podcast tonight at 8pm GMT. We’ll host it and record it live from the STSC community and then post it via this Substack tomorrow.
If you want to join us live and listen in and post questions/comments/heckles in the podcast channel chat you are more than welcome. You simply have to sign up to the community first.
I look forward to seeing you over at the Social Club.
Cheers!