joshua chamberlain

lessons from Mike Nichols

I finally finished reading Mark Harris’s biography, Mike Nichols: A Life. A few takeaways: “I passionately believe that in art, certainly in theater, there are only two questions…The first question is: ‘What is this, really, when it happens in life?’ not what is the accepted convention…but what is it really like? And the other questionContinue reading “lessons from Mike Nichols”

a question worth asking

What does it look like when you really try at something? Not the half-hearted attempt used to prove something to someone. I’m talking about the balls-to-the-wall, pull-out-the-stops, go-for-broke effort. What does that look like for you?

the doodle game

I had a blast listening to Wendy MacNaughton’s Draw Together podcast this week. The second episode introduces “The Doodle Game,” an easy way to tap into creative flow. You begin by scribbling on a piece of paper, then adding features and details to what you see in the mess you’ve created. After all, drawing isContinue reading “the doodle game”

listening to listen

It seems like most of the time, when I listen to a podcast, it’s to get something out of it. I’m on the hunt for tidbits of creative advice, insight into a craft, or equipment for living life in these trying times. Rarely do I listen just to listen. Marc Maron’s interview with David ChangContinue reading “listening to listen”

we wear the mask

It’s both chilling and appropriate that Facebook announced its name change and shift in business the week of Halloween. ‘Tis the season for all the mischief that accompanies wearing a mask. And Facebook has always been in the business of mask-making. It’s fair to say that most of us on the internet wear masks thatContinue reading “we wear the mask”

tonight and tomorrow

The other day, I had a conversation with a friend about the future. I told him how for so long, I’ve labored under the delusion that perhaps the most selfless act of love to be performed for a child is preventing them from ever existing. This is a belief I’d arrived at after spending muchContinue reading “tonight and tomorrow”

a pretty good answer

If you read this blog semi-frequently, it’s probably no surprise that I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about death. In regards to the question, “What happens when we die?” this is one of the best answers I’ve come across (and it comes from a late night talk show…)

pushing the button

I worked a party at an expensive house in Hollywood this week. The front door was fifteen feet tall and latched automatically. Instead of twisting a knob, you had to push a button on the wall to unlatch the door and exit the house. One of my co-workers came to me, asking how to getContinue reading “pushing the button”

two midnights

Back-to-back watching is always one of my favorite things. It’s my belief that the texts you engage with can speak to one another and engage in conversation within you. In my own recent viewing, I’ve found that the limited horror series Midnight Mass pairs exceptionally well with Duncan Trussell’s The Midnight Gospel. While these twoContinue reading “two midnights”

home in October

I love the month of October. Each year, it feels like a return to someplace familiar. As Kerouac says in On The Road, “Everybody goes home in October.” Thomas Wolfe agrees: All things on earth point home in old October: sailors to sea, travellers to walls and fences, hunters to field and hollow and the long voiceContinue reading “home in October”