Manic Expression

Some people are so good at what they do that you never think about them doing it. How many of us sit there during a movie and say to ourselves, “This is really well edited”? No one says that. You know why? Because good editing doesn’t draw attention to itself. Good editing has a flow to it that feels natural. Good editing is invisible.

In a little over two weeks you guys will be treated to the first Manic Expression Podcast Plays. You’re in for a treat, I’ve heard the rough cut. Even with the FX not all in place and a few lines that need to be redone, I can tell this is going to be something special. Who do we have to thank for that? So many people. Les provided us with some beautiful music. Alexthed is our announcer / master of ceremonies. We have wonderful performances by BigBlackHatMan, Decker Shado, Hedonistic Actor, and many more. pbMiranda wrote an amusing little piece to balance out my bleak tale (in Woody Allen terms, she wrote Annie Hall and I wrote Interiors). This is truly a collaborative effort where a dozen or more talented people made the whole thing work.

And without That Long-Haired Creepy Guy, it would have been for nothing.

If the Podcast Plays will have an unsung hero, its Creepy. No one worked as hard on this project as him. While balancing life and work, he managed to squeeze in hour upon hour of time spent at his computer, taking these elements that all of us gave him and beautifully weaving them together. Think about what a disaster this could have been: I’m acting opposite no one. I can’t hear or see the other actors, all I can do is read my lines and react to what I think the others might do. On top of that, we all have different microphones. Decker prides himself on his very professional mic, while all I had was the mic on my webcam. This should sound like shit, and yet it doesn’t. It sounds like we were all in the same room, playing off each other. We can thank Creepy for that.

The Podcast Plays have provided me with a thrilling experience. Hearing others read my lines, watching this production come together, has been incredible. But for me personally, the best thing to come out of the whole shebang is working with and getting to know Creepy. He’s a great guy. Always there when you need him, selfless, enthusiastic when others would be apathetic. Creepy is the kind of guy we should all be so lucky to have in our lives.

And while I’m not sure he’d appreciate me saying this, he isn’t as Creepy as he’d like us all to believe. Despite Midnight Wank Theater and his blogs about porn stars, Creepy isn’t someone I’d cross the street to avoid. Quite the contrary, I’m honored to count him among my friends. This guy makes us all look good. The fact that someone with his talent chose to be a part of our community is humbling.

So on June 16th, when that counter on the front page runs out and the very first Manic Expression Podcast Plays goes up, remember that while the actors and musicians and yes, even us writers, are the talent you’re hearing, none of it would have been possible if not for That Long-Haired Creepy Guy and the skill with which he edited this thing. Remember, on that day, thank him in the comments. And let me take this chance to thank him as well:

My friend, you helped make a dream of mine come true. I can’t thank you enough. I love you, man.