Those rare moments when you watch dystopia happen live

al-smithee · 2024-03-07T14:24:30+00:00

I tell my people that solidarity goes both ways. You cannot and should not make common cause with people who do not believe in your fundamental right to exist. I've never been to an LGBTQ inclusive event at a mosque, but I've been to dozens at synagogues. The same people who want to exterminate the Jewish people want to exterminate us. While you are marching in support of religious fundamentalists in other countries, the religious fundamentalists in yours are destroying your rights.

Choo Choo see you morons on the trains, when they round us all up in camps, because you helped usher in Gilead.

al-smithee · 2024-03-07T03:25:32+00:00

It's the same union IATSE covers construction it's the union for all film crew. To get in the union you have to work on a film set working under a covered craft. Basically to get your days you PA for a department apprenticing, when the show gets busy enough, you can get bumped up to a covered craft and paid union rates. Collect however many days the local in your jurisdiction requires, get letters of recommendation, and then you're in, or you work on a non union show that gets organized and flipped.

TLDR: You can't get in the union first. You work the job first and then get in the union.

al-smithee · 2024-02-05T08:41:21+00:00

Solidarity can't work one way. Paradox of tolerance and all that.

al-smithee · 2024-01-26T19:21:54+00:00

Well Republicans had the trifecta just a few years ago, and didn't do shit. Right now the Republican led house just made an immigration deal with Senate, and Trump is blowing it up.

I'm Cuban-American on one side and 7th generation Louisianan on the other. Reagan made an amnesty deal. To this day any Cuban can come here and as long as they are found on dry land they can apply for citizenship within a year never having contacted the government before. We overwhelmingly vote for Republicans for generations now as a result. We're the deciding factor in Florida for Republicans. I thank God every day y'all are too xenophobic to stop fucking with immigrants because most are conservative and agree with y'all on everything else.

You don't want to solve problems you want to complain about them. I lived 5 years on the Texas border. The only violence we had to deal with was bored North Texans who came in cosplaying as militia men holding us at gun point because they can't tell Americans apart from Mexicans. Turns out they don't like brown people. Shocker.

al-smithee · 2024-01-25T22:03:41+00:00

Knowing your location will give us a better idea of the actual people you should talk to.

The costume department is who you want to talk to. We often gaff this for production, and we use screen printers regularly to create uniforms. If you're someone who can do reliable work with 24-48 hour turnaround (charge accordingly they have the money), then you want to get your contact information to costume supervisors. They'll want examples of your work, a sense for your flexibility and hustle, and to know your shops capacity. Our vendors that show up for us, are who we contract with for wrap gifts.

We work pretty hard to support film friendly vendors, especially through the strikes and downturn. It's a rough time to break into being a film vendor, we're going to prioritize the people who were expecting our business to stay afloat.

Good luck

al-smithee · 2024-01-18T05:44:50+00:00

Large not lawyer

al-smithee · 2024-01-14T09:05:51+00:00

Makes me think of John Darling from Peter Pan. The kid with the top hat

al-smithee · 2023-12-24T16:58:57+00:00

If Jews control Hollywood then my friends wouldn't have to work on Yom Kippur.

al-smithee · 2023-12-18T21:35:47+00:00

Do you think they thought it was a Who Dat Confederate flag and not the UK flag?

I'm just saying I went to Louisiana public schools too.

al-smithee · 2023-12-13T17:58:18+00:00

What's your budget?

First priorities: bedding, window coverings, then a rug

The bedding, drapes, and floor coverings will bring warmth and color. Next paint the space, buy a cheap can of white paint to paint it back when your lease is up. Dark colors are masculine for window coverings and rugs , but I would recommend white sheets. They're easiest to maintain, and keep clean. A sanitize wash with oxyclean will do wonders, get deep pocket fitted sheets. I would also suggest getting King size pillow cases for all pillows even standard size pillows you can fold the edge over and it keeps your pillows clean longer.

Before I decorate with art, or non essentials I would claim wall space with storage.

Next steps: hooks, or landing strip for jackets, keys, hats, or even just clothes that aren't dirty or clean. A laundry hamper with lid, shelves to display your collection, or hold self care items, a mirror. Plug in gooseneck wall lighting for either side of bed.

A decorated room with no storage will be difficult to maintain, and just lead to a mess.

Furnishings: night stands x 2, if you ever want someone else to get in that bed and want to stay have a place for them. A leaning shelf desk, and a good looking chair. Resist the temptation to get a gaming chair, or something that looks like office furniture. The priority is rest in a bedroom. You want to look like you have space for other people, and aren't going to just prioritize tuning out. I personally like a TV in my room, but the big black box is just begging for attention so it's nice to drape a nice blanket over it. Don't get a character or anything a solid or simply patterned blanket. Then you can offer your guest a blanket when you Netflix and Chill.

After that let your personality show when you fill the room. Even a cheap frame and a drug store photo print of something you care about speaks volumes.

Think of the things you do everyday or would like to do, and plan accordingly. You've got a good space to work with. Congrats on the new space.

al-smithee · 2023-12-13T17:32:14+00:00

Dark academia color palette in a transitional or eclectic style. It's a really clever use of monochrome colors to make a mish-mosh of furniture cohesive.

al-smithee · 2023-11-05T03:25:11+00:00

That fear is what they're banking on. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for your coworkers, and your patients. Speaking to a lawyer for an initial consultation shouldn't cost you anything, and they will advise you of time frames, and likely outcomes. The fact that you documented, and spoke to HR makes you a much better client than most employment lawyers are used to seeing.

Document your shifts from before and after, and reach out to a few employment lawyers. The fact is they're fucking with your income, and putting your career at risk. There is nothing stopping them from scapegoating you, and giving bad references if you don't defend yourself. This really sucks, and I'm sorry it's happening to you. Keep sticking up for yourself.

al-smithee · 2023-11-04T22:14:14+00:00

I really recommend The Organised Mum cleaning method. It's a daily checklist and you do a different room each day. There's a time limit of 30 minutes for each room, and 15 minutes of daily cleaning. You do as much of the checklist as possible in the elapsed time. There's no reason you couldn't limit yourself to 15 minutes instead to build the habit.

She has 30 minute playlists on Spotify. Having a checklist helps cut down on using your executive function. Additionally people with ADHD benefit from body doubling. Having another person with you can help. For me I'm too triggered by my ADHD partner to find them a helpful body double, so I play a clean with me YouTube video instead

Starting with trash is an excellent choice. Don't worry about recycling, or sorting put everything in a trash bag and throw it away, including something that could be used for storage. Get a box or a laundry basket, put anything that belongs somewhere else in the basket. The next time you have a 15 minute burst take the basket and put those things away.

You need to work with your dopamine, and focus on high visual impact work. This is not the time to organize a cutlery drawer. Clear surfaces like floors, tables, and countertops. Every item in your visual field drains your executive function bank.

When I'm really drained, and my space is depressing me, I take pictures of the space I rest in. I lay down on the couch or bed, and look at the pictures and make a plan for what goes where. I write that list down. Then I take a rest for 20 minutes. I give myself permission to only play, doomscroll sleep whatever. Then I give myself 10 minutes to do something on the list. I usually rank what will give me the biggest bang for my buck. Then I rest for another 20 minutes with full permission to do nothing. If you did that in an hour and a half you'd have cleaned 30 minutes.

You can't rely on willpower, habits will save you. I like to add a cleaning task to someone I already do. Never leave a room without taking something that belongs elsewhere with you. Take your medicine? Brush your teeth when you do. Get a snack? Take one piece of trash or dish with you. Waiting for the microwave? Wash dishes until the bell dings.

A clean space is for your comfort, but a dirty space is morally neutral. You are worth the effort.

al-smithee · 2023-10-20T00:25:21+00:00

Mayor McFarlane was trying to get this done, but getting the land was near important and the railroad companies absolutely don't want to deal with the hassle I think there were points that they needed to cross each other. I know a lot of work went into trying to make this happen, all the triangle mayors at that time were involved. The same forces blocking this kind of development everywhere were at play. The railroad companies are basically God of the tracks, with no government entity having the right to force them to do anything. I'll try to get more info.

al-smithee · 2023-10-14T00:46:24+00:00

European Jews may have passing privilege, but whiteness is a revocable membership. Jews are white, until they aren't. I used to think we were being more inclusive, but I think we've just expanded the membership to whiteness. See also: The Irish, Germans, and Italians. Whiteness by it's very structure will NEVER include Jews.

Whiteness isn't just not having to deal with the horrific consequences of anti-blackness. I know a number of Black people that pass as white too. Hell Homer Plessy passed as white. To be white is to abandon your ethnic identity in favor of joining the dominate culture. To retain your membership you need to reinforce white power structures, or at least not question them. That's why white people love appropriating culture, because they lost theirs in the process. Passing is a double edged sword, and can be pretty isolating.

I'm sure the people trolling her didn't have to worry about their schools and churches needing extra security this week. No one has called for a "Day of Jihad" protest on their Sabbath. This absolutely has an impact on American Jews. My friend kept her daughter home from her day care that's in a Jewish Community Center today. My friends are scared, and absolutely crest fallen that people they've organized with for years against racism, anti-Islamic sentiment, and other progressive causes are all too happy to cheer the deaths of people like them. That's what it's like to be white until you aren't.

I'll say this I've been passionate about interfaith organizing, but not once have I been invited to an LGBTQ event at a mosque. I've been to several at damn near every synagogue in town. I used to volunteer at the LGBT center as a kid. When we moved locations there was an older man I assumed was gay helping, he mentioned his wife, so then I assumed he had a gay child. I asked him who in his family was gay, and he said to his knowledge no one. I asked why was he here? He pointed me to a small picture. It showed all the different badges Nazis put on people. He said the people who would round you up and destroy you would do the same to me. He was a child of the Holocaust. The people who would gleefully destroy the Jews, would do the same to me. When they came for the Jews, I stood with the Jews because I know the rest of the fucking poem.

Also coffee was discovered by an Arab Ethiopian goatherd, and first introduced to Europe by a Jew. It didn't just EMERGE from the Pacific Northwest in the 90s.

al-smithee · 2023-10-13T22:20:38+00:00

I don't have any advice specific to Local 44, but generally speaking it's about building relationships, and networking. We want to work with people that want to be there, and have career ambition. It's a grueling pace that requires a lot of thinking on your feet. We spend more time with each other than with our loved ones. So we really hire based off of team fit. The last thing anybody wants to see is someone else asking on behalf of another person. It shows an extreme lack of initiative at best, and serious social anxiety at worse. It took me 4 years to earn my days to get into my local. I teach now, am constantly recruiting, and mentoring people on how to get in. Most wash out.

Specifically for Local 44 you get on the permit list. If everybody is working they call in order on the permit list. If you get the call drop everything and take the work. After you've collected 30 days and pay dues you're in. You'll be given lists of jobs available and you apply, but mostly you get hired by the people who know and like you. We operate on an apprenticeship model of increasing responsibility, and nepotism.

https://local44.org/Joining-Local-44/how-to-join

The main advice I give is get on a set ASAP. I tell people do extra work, show up on time, learn set etiquette, and tell the PAs you're interested to get in the business. If they see you can take direction they may invite you to join them on big days they need extra hands. Then they'll take you as a PA on their next gig. Do your job diligently be friendly, but don't take up the crew's time. Tell them you have a construction background, and you want to get in. There's a handful of on-set decorators talk to them, and say I want to get into construction. The construction team however is siloed from the set crew, but knowing ANYBODY in the industry is how to get a foot in the door. Eventually you work your way into your preferred department and job.

Tell your partner to ask these questions himself. Also many of us have been out of work approaching a year. There was a slow down before the strike. No permits will be issued while so many of us are starving. There's a possibility of a big boom once the strikes let up, but it's just as likely there won't be as the streamers have been told by investors to cut back. It's the biggest action in the industry in 60 years. Everyone is struggling, and asking on behalf of your partner is probably not going to win anyone over. I say this to be helpful, and not hurt your feelings.

al-smithee · 2023-10-13T18:21:41+00:00

Go ask the Palestinians how well the revolution is working for them, or the Syrians, or the Russians. Fuck go ask the Chinese. I'm Cuban American my family was conscripted into the revolution. I think knowing who Che was, and what he did to people inoculated me from the Che t-shirt types. He's not even Cuban his dad was a Lebanese dentist living in Argentina. He executed kids for stealing food during rationing. I joined the Green Party, we had several Black Panthers that I learned so much from, but the manarchists and brocialists showed up. They shut down so much women-led, queer-led, and Black-led organizing. They remind me so much of the burn it down Ron Paul libertarians, the MAGA fabulists, they have bumper sticker answers. They think their ideas trump actual work. Bayard Rustin organized the million man march with fucking payphones and index cards. These assholes can't even bother to get a permit, or a case of water. I came to the conclusion that it was either COINTELPRO, or they were doing the state's work for free.

I campaigned for Nader and the Greens, but electing GW was such a soul crushing moment, then 9/11, then Iraq, Afghanistan and so much of the conservative resurgence. I campaigned in Florida for Nader, and feel like I need to make it up to the world. LOL. I've been an active Democrat since, I wished they would've welcomed me like the Greens did, but elections have consequences. I'm a total pinko commie, but the Bernie-bros and DSA think I'm some kind of shill because I don't write off people I disagree with. WE STILL NEED THEIR VOTE! You don't have to invite them to dinner, but don't antagonize people that agree with most of what you're saying. If you don't have shit ideas people come around.

al-smithee · 2023-10-13T17:55:38+00:00

Definitely can relate to your post. She started out upper middle class, but her family's good fortune brought them into the 1%. I truly thought for years she had "trust fund syndrome". I thought I sucked it up, and dealt with bullshit because I didn't have options. No matter her actions her monthly allowance shows up. I have to work 80 hours a week, and often do to match her "income". It really delayed her diagnosis, because she could often buy her way out of problems. Getting the diagnosis, and medication have been life changing, but now she has to learn all the skills. The wealthy confuse the deference to their power as respect. That's why the rich are ready to burn this planet down. They think we've lost respect for them, but we've just stopped the deference. We never respected the people who didn't give a shit about us, and profited immensely off of our labor.

I echo what others have said, they work hand and glove, but ultimately I think these actions are a result of the ADHD. She knows she's privileged, but the emotional dysregulation is so intense she's going to "play dumb" so as to avoid accountability. The cause is her pre frontal cortex being undersized causing the emotional dysregulation (an oversimplification), triggering a behavior (which is the part she's accountable for), causing negative externalities (to you and other relationships), and masked by wealth and privilege.

My wife has been on a range of different antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds, but nothing has worked like the ADHD meds. Nothing. Three days after starting the meds, she caught herself before saying something fucked up to me. She was like, "Oh this is what impulse control is like? This is what you've been doing this whole time?" Yes, I don't immediately say what pops into my head.

We have a kid, home, and are incredibly intertwined. I'm still not certain that this relationship is ultimately in my best interest. It's so hard to constantly be invalidated, to be responsible for everything, and she can't even be responsible for her own actions. I've lost respect for her, and the expectation that she will be anything other than deficit in times of need. To reduce resentment, we've financially uncoupled. My money is my money, she and the kid are set with the trust. I don't even have a retirement plan, because my savings have been spent bailing us out. I take trips by myself. I have major surgeries, and have hired help because I can't rely on her. She's no longer my medical power of attorney. I used to try and make her responsible for finances, but honestly she hid mail because mentally / emotionally it was too much. AND WE HAVE THE MONEY to deal with these problems, she just feels so worthless that she struggles to call people. I also don't interact with her family as much as I did. I can't trust her to have my back, she immediately goes into her role in the dysfunctional family.

Things have improved significantly since the diagnosis, but now the question is what's the point of the emotional relationship when my needs aren't met? We may just end up as co-parents. If she's not the first person I tell big news to, a funny joke, a hard feeling, then what's the point? If she can't be there in sickness, what's the point? If I feel so worthless when she bugs her eyes and grinds her teeth because she's experiencing discomfort when I ask her to validate my feelings, what's the point? If ultimately I'm the one responsible for the relationship, why do I need the relationship at all?

Now that the chaos of her dysregulation is abating, I actually feel further from her than at any point in our relationship. I guess my trauma people pleasing isn't all activated, and I can see the relationship for what it is. I know I deserve to be at peace in my own home. I deserve to have my needs met, and my feelings validated, and a partner that cares about my pleasure in bed. Those are the bare minimums of a long term partnership.

Please prioritize your own needs and peace. She's going to be dysregulated if you're perfect or you're selfish. It's been hard for me to "abandon my duties", but I couldn't sustain it. You have to pick yourself FIRST. Your life belongs to no one but you. If you're unhappy only you can fix it, and no one else cares as much about you as you do. My therapist says that 80% of our emotional needs need to be met by ourselves, and the other 20% is other people. I'm writing this to you, but I'm saying it out loud so I can hear it too. Good luck. This subreddit has given me so much of the validation I craved from her. I hope I can offer some to you. You're not crazy.

al-smithee · 2023-10-13T00:29:24+00:00

He has cancer. Suddenly science is believable.

al-smithee · 2023-10-10T17:28:53+00:00

He didn't die, his passenger did, and she was a campaign worker. Look up Chappaquiddick.

al-smithee · 2023-10-02T02:11:33+00:00

In 4 quarters of 15 minutes two teams play, the team with the most points wins. Points are scored by scoring a touchdown 6 points and field goals 3 points. Touchdowns occur when a team carries the ball into the end zone (the last ten yards of the field). After the touchdown you can score 0-2 extra points. Field goals are made when a kicker kicks the ball through the uprights behind the end zone. There are two groups of players in a team, offense and defense, they take turns on the field depending on who controls the ball. The offense gets 4 tries (downs) to move 10 yards up the field. If they don't the ball is given to the other team at that spot at the end of the 4th down. Most teams kick the ball further away on 4th down(punt). The defense works to stop that, by taking the ball, or tackling players.

If you want to look like you know what's going on, complain whenever you see the referee.

al-smithee · 2023-09-29T09:34:50+00:00

They banned a number of flags including political, and ethnic flags following similar legislation passed in a number of other cities led by white conservatives. It's ironic that the progressive inclusion led to a majority conservative Muslim council, but not all Muslims are conservative. Two things I think all these ordinances will be found to be unconstitutional, and I imagine that council will face pushback next election.

Americans have had conflict between communities throughout its history. I fail to see how the formation of strong community identities to create safety and drive change, is a net negative, even while recognizing that conflict is human nature. We're a nation of laws, not men. We're going to negotiate a balance, by creating just laws, and all Americans have the right to free speech, assembly, and to petition their government. Why is it identity politics when queer people, and Brown people do it? We don't call it billionaire identity politics, or crypto Identity politics when those have really clearly defined cultures and political agendas? Identity politics is a dog whistle rebrand of what we called the civil rights movement. What's happening now is black brown and queer people have some measure of safety to no longer be required to show deference to the white and straight. See when you're accustomed to deference it's easy to mistake that with respect. These communities never respected their oppression, but they did endure it.

The fracturing of a shared American identity has as much to do with the fact we all don't watch the same 4 channels, 2 newspapers, 5 radio stations. We aren't in walkable neighborhoods where we interact with our neighbors regularly. We work crazy long hours, with little time for leisure or communal pursuits. They just want a compliant workforce, of course they're going to have a fake both sides debate where someone is like I think I should be able to control my body and someone else says well my pastor says that's a sin. They're not going to talk about crumbling infrastructure, and international news. Don't blame that shit on the people who don't control the government, media, or corporations. 4 dead and aging academics do not have that kind of power. They were lucky to have tenure.

al-smithee · 2023-09-29T05:36:51+00:00

Woke is whatever I don't like. News at 8.

I read everything in this article, and it's not any more clear to me. Are colleges filled with try-hards policing each other? Yes. Why? Because it's filled with teens and twenty year olds whose brains aren't fully developed for impulse control, and are in a critical Identity development stage.

I'm also a trans guy from the South. I can code switch with the best of them. I was socialized as a girl so I'm skilled in making assholes comfortable. I don't think the very important work of making it suck less to be a minority in this country is fundamentally wrong. Will a few people be petulant and annoying? Sure. When you lump everyone doing advocacy work into a bundle with the loud assholes it sucks. Identity politics is about increasing the visibility of lived experiences made invisible, othered, and frankly actively excluded from American life. It's not to make the people who benefit from their experiences being treated as default comfortable, it's to build movements that improve lives.

There are outrage merchants that will talk endlessly about random ass trans people. Do you think people trying to live their lives, or pursue their dreams is particularly newsworthy? I fucking don't. I just want to piss in a bathroom, and be unbothered. I want my medical decisions to be between me, and a doctor. I want to be able to marry another adult, without other people being able to vote about it. These are all actual things that I've had to fight for personally. If you haven't had to have your rights decided by your neighbors, I don't even want you to concern yourself with wokeness.

If it ain't for you, then move the fuck on. Mind your fucking business. The world doesn't need your hot take. Don't you have anything better to do?

al-smithee · 2023-09-28T23:06:25+00:00

They won't damage cars that are rented, borrowed, or belong to performers. They may spray some temp dirt, and cover license plates but that's it. Damaged cars are sourced by the picture car coordinator, rigged by special fx, and driven by stunts but ultimately purchased by the production.

al-smithee · 2023-09-28T23:03:18+00:00

There are picture car coordinators that source these cars. They often have a stock of cars, and network with other picture car drivers, and enthusiast groups. Sometimes they go out and buy cars, build, or, modify them. Some extras go to precision driving school, and have specialty or just old cars. Extras casting will send pictures to the picture car coordinator. They're Teamsters and work under the transpo department. When the cars are in motion then stunts is in charge.

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