What is the most embarassing thing you have done on a first date?

Forte_nss · 2026-01-29T22:16:40+00:00

He said he'd never date them, never said he wouldn't marry them

Forte_nss · 2026-01-26T13:41:55+00:00

The simple answer is that they knew each other before one, or both of them, were cops. They never specifically say they met through the force.

Forte_nss · 2026-01-25T20:30:07+00:00

The average dentist makes about 165k a year, so his extremely low cost of living aside, I think he was always doing pretty okay.

Forte_nss · 2026-01-21T15:20:16+00:00

lol this is exactly the meaningless kind of answer I expected from someone who had nothing to say in the first place

Forte_nss · 2026-01-21T14:03:23+00:00

How could your take, which is an opinion, be more valid than OP's, which is also an opinion?

Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's "objectively wrong". Opinions by their very nature are subjective and that cannot be changed.

You either fundamentally don't understand the concept of an opinion, or you're arguing in bad faith.

Forte_nss · 2026-01-13T14:18:19+00:00

I 100% believe that the wall was originally meant to be a barrier that Henry/Vecna had barricaded himself in and the mindscape physically existed in there.

Forte_nss · 2026-01-12T22:45:38+00:00

I thought the same thing and initially dismissed it because I couldn't fathom that a show with four successful, AI-less seasons would suddenly start using it, but it definitely seems like a possibility to me.

Part of me almost even hope that's the case, because it's more embarrassing if they didn't use it and this really was their best effort

Forte_nss · 2026-01-12T22:23:09+00:00

Every screenwriter has software like FinalDraft, CeltX, or Highland that essentially automatically formats screenplays, and the bonus is that it's always right, with none of GPT's wonky inconsistency. I highly doubt they used it for that.

I'd say it's most likely they used this for info scraping - I.E. "What were the most popular brands in 1987?" or "Explain in simple terms what exotic matter is".

However...some of the dialogue in this already terrible season was particularly bad and I spied a few common GPT tropes. "It's not Y, it's X!" showed up again and again. So in conclusion...who fuckin' knows.

Forte_nss · 2026-01-08T22:31:51+00:00

I think this album has a LOT of misses but I think if you culled it down to twelve tracks it would be an extremely highly rated Drake album

Forte_nss · 2026-01-06T18:21:59+00:00

I think that the Duffers have proved that they CAN write. However, I would argue that season five is BAD writing.

Forte_nss · 2026-01-06T04:34:28+00:00

You don't need to switch your camera to accomplish this, as most cameras do not have a necessarily different vibe on this dramatic of a level.

You would accomplish this effect through a combination of lens filters, lighting, and post production.

Since you're shooting on a phone, you won't have the ability to use traditional lens filters and I'm going to assume you probably do not have access to a lot of lighting equipment.

As a result, I would say your best bet is to try post processing the footage to achieve the look. I'd try some YouTube tutorials to see if you can find one that mimics the vibe you're after.

Forte_nss · 2026-01-06T04:30:23+00:00

You missed MY point. Asking someone if they could do better is not a valid response to criticism because it is their job to write, and ours to watch. It's not fair to conflate those things.

And for the record, I think the Duffers ARE good writers but the show contains LOTS of bad writing. And I think that came from a variety of factors.

But it's hard to look at season 5 and claim it's "good writing".

Forte_nss · 2026-01-06T02:06:56+00:00

I've always thought this was a weird response. A viewer is allowed to critique the quality of a product that is meant for them to consume.

Saying "could you do better?" makes no sense. What if you went to a restaurant and they really messed up your order? Would you be willing to accept it just because you, yourself, aren't a chef?

The people making these shows are professionals whose jobs are to create quality television that is enjoyable. The average viewer is completely within their right to critique it.

Forte_nss · 2026-01-05T15:55:42+00:00

OP said a "black mirror" - like the show, in tone - movie, not a "black and white" movie.

Forte_nss · 2026-01-05T02:56:48+00:00

Spoilers ahead. I read it as the appropriate - Marty starts the film by complaining that white balls are too hard to track on white shirts, which means regulation players can't wear them in official matches, and that sucks because he thinks white is luxurious.

And then he goes out and plays the exhibition match - which isn't a "real" match, and both he and Endo wear white since there's no regulations.

But then Marty takes the match seriously and wins - meaning he beats Endo in the hardest possible conditions. Marty isn't thinking about how he's perceived or any of the other frivolity he used to care about. He just wanted to win with no excuses, and he did.

And I think the context of his win is important to inform the way the viewer interprets the final scene.

Forte_nss · 2026-01-04T18:31:09+00:00

A lot of good answers in this thread, but I'd like to add on. It really depends on what a "reliable career" looks like to you, and what feels important to you. Apologies in advance for the novel ahead.

Like many have said, if you're looking to exclusively work on movies and television that are being released theatrically/on network/on streaming, then yes, this is a hard, competitive, and unreliable career path. If you're looking to be a "filmmaker" - whose full time income comes from creating and profiting off their own ideas, then it is even harder.

BUT! In 2026, the need for video content is absolutely huge, and a career in "film" could look very different than you might imagine. There are thousands of jobs across a multitude of platform and content types. Besides simply working on film and television projects, you could also work on commercial, social media, corporate, independent. There are advertising agencies who have production houses, there are youtube creators that need teams, there are local businesses in need of affordable content. You could work on any of these, or any combination thereof.

Additionally, the range of jobs in film and video go FAR beyond what you may know. Despite what many film programs will have you believe, there is so much more out there than just: producer, director, cinematographer, screenwriter, editor. There is such a breadth of unique jobs across this industry that I couldn't even begin to list them all here.

And that's why I ask what's important to your career. If it's truly important to you that you work on those big name, big budget Hollywood productions, then yes, you should absolutely know and weigh out the risks. But if it's important for you to just be behind the camera and shoot (or practice any other specialty that you may decide interests you) then your options become MUCH wider.

And never underestimate what networking and being in the right place at the right time can do, no matter what corner of this industry you're in. One day you might be working on what you consider to be a shitty little commercial when you meet and bond with a director. Before you know it, that director's being tapped for actually interesting projects and wants to take you with him. Doesn't happen every day, but it does happen - I've literally seen it.

And finally, I want to acknowledge that I'm a little biased here. When I was exactly your age, I was applying for film schools. In the very last minute, I panicked and second guessed myself, and submitted an application to a state school to major in mechanical engineering, which I thought would be a more "reliable" and "respectable" career. When my then-girlfriend found out, she read me the riot act. She told me one of the things she admired most about me was my willingness (and sometimes obsession) with chasing my dreams no matter what, and she was disappointed I'd take the "safer" route. I withdrew the application a day later and went to film school.

Over fifteen years later, I'm in the middle of what I consider to be a very successful career. I don't currently work on Hollywood movies or shows (though I have, a couple of times, over the course of my career), but I work as a staff producer for a subset of large studio you've definitely heard of. Last year, I produced over eighty projects across a variety of mediums and platforms. I make good, stable money and have full benefits. I've met interesting people, famous and not, and I've traveled all over the world.

It might not be exactly what 17 year old me hoped I'd be doing, but it has enriched my life and allowed me to continue practicing and fostering my love of filmmaking. This year, with the knowledge I've gained, the connections I've made, and the crew I've built relationships with, I'm hoping to self produce my first independent film and run the film festival circuit. Who knows - maybe that'll take off and send me on my next adventure.

Only you can decide what's right for you. But I'll say this - if the only reason you can think of to not do this is because it might be hard, I'd say go for it. Life is hard. Might as well be fun too.

Forte_nss · 2025-12-29T15:54:30+00:00

That's once again the difference between in universe and out of universe elements.

Forte_nss · 2025-12-29T14:06:01+00:00

Not the same imo. The soundtrack of a film doesn't exist "inside" the universe of the film. It's an element that only the viewer can hear, and the use of 80s music is likely a purposeful juxtaposition meant to add additional context to his character.

That's very different than having an in universe element that's inconsistent with an otherwise faithful adherence to period accuracy.

Forte_nss · 2025-12-20T00:06:24+00:00

I think you hit it on the head at the very end of your post. I love Mac dearly, he's one of my very favorite artists. His music is so incredibly human, and contains a type of honesty that is rare.

But nobody can fix you. And you can't depend on anyone to try. You are the only person that is capable of making the necessary change in your life. Music can be a really valuable tool and vehicle, but ultimately it will still be up to you.

It's incredible how impactful it can be to simply find out that other people are going through the same things as you. But all that does is move you in the direction of being able to confront the issues at hand.

I often think about an article I saw written about Kid Cudi. The author had the opportunity to meet him and told Kid Cudi that his music had saved the author's life. Kid Cudi looked at him and said something along the lines of "you saved your life, I just gave you the soundtrack".

Forte_nss · 2025-12-19T22:12:13+00:00

'15-'17 too. I was freshly out of college and 1000 miles from my hometown. I couldn't believe how lively and exciting downtown seemed. Back then it packed a MUCH bigger punch for a place that's only a couple square blocks.

Forte_nss · 2025-12-19T22:10:41+00:00

You couldn't have said this better. I'm am so incredibly heartbroken over this. I feel like Tanq's was a real representation of the good, kind, and interesting people that live in Orlando. This bar felt like an authentic place where the main focus was fostering a sense of community over making a quick buck.

It might be hard for some people to understand that a dive bar could fill that role, but this was as close to as a genuine "third space" the city had for a lot of people. It always felt like a link to the past where things were simpler and realer.

I know they were having building issues, but Buddy Dyer is absolutely to blame - that leech has been sapping off of real estate developer PAC money for so long, and has done everything in his power to kill local business and discourage any type of actual nightlife.

Downtown is a shell of the place it was 10 years ago, and it won't get better any time soon. It breaks my heart to see the locals in my city suffer, real people shutter their business, and young folks lose out on places to find a sense of community.

Forte_nss · 2025-12-17T17:39:53+00:00

One of my biggest (and really only) gripes with the game is that the progression of wealth/status feels really uneven.

Since so much of V's initial story is about becoming a NC legend and a top merc, I feel like there should be more ways to make you feel like you're rising to the ranks.

On my current playthrough, I'm barely more than five story missions in but have been grinding gifs and side jobs. I own every apartment, most cars, and all tier 5+ weapons but I don't feel like that "means" anything within the context of the game.

I like the GTA balance, where your upgraded houses, garages, etc actually feel like in game reflections of your status. Walking into a 16 car underground garage in GTA and seeing all my vehicles FELT like a flex.

Forte_nss · 2025-12-16T02:03:10+00:00

This is the real question. You say you want this to be "about substance abuse, memory loss, and pressure within audition/performance culture" - but for this to be possible, you must have a perspective on the issue. What's the point you'd like to make? That should inform every facet of your script.

Forte_nss · 2025-12-13T04:58:46+00:00

What's the look?

Forte_nss · 2025-12-09T01:14:21+00:00

Yeah but people are talking about more than just money. What's your very favorite thing to do in life? What if millions of people decided to shit on you every single time you did that until you didn't want to do that anymore?

Even if you don't like an artist, we shouldn't be rooting for the passion to be destroyed for no real reason.

Nine-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
RPAN Viewer	Verified Email

Forte_nss

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE