That’s a good question. I once read a book—I can't recall the author's name, just that he was American—titled *Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, and It's All Small Stuff*. One of its core premises is that people tend to take life way too seriously and really need to just relax a bit.
So, I just got back from a run through Central Park; it was actually a great workout... To give you some context on what’s been happening: as I mentioned before, I started writing everything down because my mind was racing constantly with these wild thoughts. It might have been triggered by attending a philosophy seminar at a local community center—a group a doctor recommended I join after she suggested it to me herself. Once I realized how quickly ideas would hit me, I actually ran out of paper and started scrawling notes on my bedroom walls (I eventually wiped most of it off once things settled down). Days were blurring together; it felt like I wasn't even living them, like life was just happening to me without any control. People around me were staring, acting curious, even asking if I was on drugs... I had this overwhelming sensation that the entire world revolved around me, that everyone knew something I didn't. I even felt like I was being watched. Eventually, a friend from college drove me to see a chaplain to figure out what was going on. He spent about ten minutes questioning me about substance use, and I kept insisting I wasn't on drugs, just following my prescription medication. He could tell I was okay and let me go. That friend ended up entering the seminary later, though he fell in love and moved back to study engineering at NYU after a year, but that's another story. The best way to describe my experience is John Nash in *A Beautiful Mind*. That movie captures exactly how I lived, minus the hallucinations. Anyway, I managed to finish the semester successfully thanks to a lot of support from friends and family, and I even passed that one exam that was killing me. I also started seeing a psychotherapist (which is a much better solution for people dealing with issues: a good therapist can help you feel steady without relying solely on meds), and everything returned to normal after the New Year. However, next summer, while trying to wrap up a major project for another class, the stress hit me hard and I started slipping again. I began having these delusions, like a news anchor on CNN was addressing me personally... kind of like that song "I'm Getting Slightly Mad." The breaking point was seeing a message on a random girl's T-shirt at the dermatologist's office: "I want you to be with me tonight." It made me wonder if everything over the last year was real or just in my head—if people were actually sending me these subtle romantic signals. Everything felt similar to the first time, just on a smaller scale: I wasn't writing on walls or questioning everyone, I just fell into a depression and skipped classes for a while. My family freaked out at first (since dropping out right before graduation isn't ideal), but they eventually stepped up to help, and the result was just returning to my previous treatment. As time passed, I started finding my footing again. I have a follow-up appointment with my psychiatrist next week... and I'll be starting that dance class she recommended soon...
As for the causes... from what I can gather, there were several: my sex life, which I've suppressed since childhood due to my Catholic upbringing. Also, reading the Da Vinci Code beforehand really shook the core beliefs I grew up with. But the real trigger was a night of heavy drinking on February 9th, 2006—I remember it clearly because that's when it all started. I went out with friends and we were drinking at someone's apartment. When we headed out into the city, I told them I couldn't have any more because I knew I'd lose control, but they didn't listen. I ended up leaving them in the middle of the night and sat on a bench at a bus stop, basically pouring my soul out to anyone passing by. Then an old acquaintance from elementary school walked up and said, "Man, look what you've done to yourself." I don't remember much after that; I just woke up at home the next day and stayed in bed for a week...
I dealt with some mental health struggles about two years ago, falling into a deep depression due to a few things—failing my classes, drinking too much, and so on. I spent a week stuck in bed before they eventually took me to a psychiatric facility. But honestly, the craziest part happened after that. Because of the medications I was prescribed, I started feeling way too good and became incredibly hyperactive. I found myself questioning people at my university every single day (even the professors), riding the bus around aimlessly, signing up for random elective courses I didn't need... I had this constant urge to write everything down, which I actually still keep to this day... I'll post more later because I have to run.
I found Pulp Fiction pretty boring when I was a kid, so I didn't even finish it back then; it wasn't until much later that I realized it was actually a masterpiece
slyeagle13 said:Chill out, man... What's gotten into you? In this country, nobody can actually make it because the system is totally broken (sorry for the language, but it's the truth). Everything runs on who you know and shady connections. If you want to be a director or an actor and your parents aren't already in the industry, you're basically stuck. That's just how it works here. Unless you have "money to burn" and a dad like Warren Buffett or Elon Musk...
It's the same deal if you try to get into that top-tier drama academy that only takes like 12 people... you won't get in unless you have the right connections (or a ton of cash, though connections still come first).
I don't even know why I'm writing all this. I've never written such a long post before... 🙂 Take it easy...
hehe, this reminds me of an article from http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/USA
"When they aren't talking about politics, they brag about how colorful American profanity can be. They take immense pride in the fact that certain slang terms are nearly impossible to translate into any other language due to their sheer nuance. Half the time, a single versatile swear word can mean practically anything depending on the context."
I’ve been wondering about this too... how hard is it actually to break into directing here in America? And for those who do make it, what kind of movies or shows are they even making? It feels like they've just given up on being successful...
This was my first time catching a movie at the AMC theater in Chicago since they finished the renovations and installed the new surround sound system... Honestly, between the plane noises flying past my head and the actual plot, I was absolutely shredded by this thing... I mean, how does Michael Bay manage to make such a total disaster of a film?
slyrider16 said:I'm thinking about starting a petition and organizing a protest right outside Lightstorm Entertainment's offices...
When do we start... 😁 I found it on Google Earth.
Adam Wright56 said:When it comes to adapting anime into live-action, it’s a move nobody should attempt—not even Cameron. Honestly, it’s something only the Japanese can pull off. Why? Because it’s their art form. The rest of the world can try to understand it, admire it, or spit on it, but I don't think anyone in the West can actually make a good movie out of an anime. The brains of Western producers and directors just function differently.
Never underestimate Cameron. 😉 Sam admitted he was obsessed with Alita—he practically lived and breathed her. And we all know how things turn out when Cameron gets fixated on a project. To top it off, there were talks of Yukito Kishiro coming on board as a co-writer.
I've also started slowly getting into anime. Limiting ourselves strictly to feature films is a real missed opportunity, especially since there are so many incredible short series out there—maybe around 15 episodes or so. Personally, my favorite has to be Elfen Lied...
quietdriver3 said:I watched the anime, and it struck me as the perfect project for Cameron.
If you haven't read the manga yet, you really don't know what you're missing.
Richard Howard2 said:I feel like it isn't quite as strong as the final product of that team effort. Just as an indication of that theory, the Director's cut Abyss is a total disaster. It's almost as if some other director went in and modified it.
That’s exactly the point. You really have to surround yourself with the right people. As for The Abyss, that movie was largely an experiment to push the boundaries of then-new digital technology. I'll admit it’s a slightly weaker entry in his filmography, but coming from Cameron, even a "weak" film is still better than most.
slyrider16 said:Well, true, expectations can be a real bitch (a bitch? 😁). There are certain elements in Cameron's movies that you see in others, often handled by the same crews, but here they just feel right. I'm not entirely sure why or how, but it likely stems from having a rock-solid vision in his head that he sticks to like glue. At the very least, producers don't mess with him; he does things exactly his way.
I actually disagree there, especially regarding the early days. Producers were breathing down his neck constantly until T2. And even after that. Cameron himself mentioned that Titanic was his toughest project ever. They were perpetually over schedule and over budget. In the end, Cameron even gave up his own salary just to ensure the movie was made his way.
quietdriver3 said:And it turns out he turned into a dinosaur.
That's one of my biggest fears—that Cameron might go senile. But it’s really just a matter of time. I just hope he knows when to step back.
Offtopic: For any Cameron fans out there... I built a website about him back in high school. Haven't touched it since :-P You can find it at www.etfos.com/~driftingorca13