SIN's Weekly Digest

Music This Week

“ Better Days “ has officially been released. I love this song for many reasons, one of which is that it was written by my favorite songwriter, Bianca “Blush” Atterberry, and it also marks a new sonically expressive era for singer Naomi Sharon. This comes after the release of “ Miss That “, also written by Blush.

I added it to my “ on repeat “ playlist on Spotify. Also, featured here is some of the music I’ve been listening to this past week.

Movies This Week

Of all the films I’ve seen this week, HOKUM was really satisfying. For about two minutes after the initial scene opening to the film, I had this sensory experience, something about the darkness in the theater and the way the lighting was set up while our main character sat at a computer screen, writing… like I am now.

This film felt like an intellectual horror film, not because of the words in the script or a high-brow style of acting, but in the way it takes horror tropes and enhances each of them so much so that it feels entirely fresh and new. Of course, I love the hues, the browns, the greens, the nature, and the vintage style of the main setting. I’m not sure how long it’ll be in theaters but there’s something about the sound design heard through large speakers that really made this movie an intriguing and eerie watch! (Damn, I have to use this in my letterboxd review...)

I also saw an early screening of Mortal Kombat II, which is in theaters today! This one continues the story effortlessly, and if you enjoyed the first outing, you’re in for a fucking treat! The action was exquisite, and the story was very coherent.

Sentimental Value was a therapy session, a film that I will return to several times over. It’s best for a slow day, a Sunday, or while it rains. It’s easily one of the best films I’ve seen all year. Perfect in my eyes.

Books This Week

I’ve been rereading “The Will to Change “, my first reading of it altered an aspect of my thinking at age 22, and I’m hoping that at age 37, there’s more. I picked it up at the top of this year, so… expect a write-up on what I took from it this time around, maybe in the fall after I’ve gone over my notes.

Henry Dumas… I’ve been so silent about him over the years, but I’m ready to talk about him…. soon, here. I’d occasionally leave a flower that I plucked from the parks here in New York City at the location where he was killed as a silent tribute, but I want to give him a full write-up eventually, and so, I’ll save what I want to say until then. If you’re interested in his work, start with “ echo tree.”

After I finish the second film feature screenplay, I’d like to move slowly into TV, this book is helping me understand “ great television “ but most importantly, helping me figure out where to put my full attention. TV (The Book): Two Experts Pick the Greatest American Shows of All Time by Alan Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz offers some of the best essays and deepens the understanding of what makes a television series iconic.

Favorite Quote or Affirmation

I read a quote this past week by Carl Jung that said..

"The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely."

I’ve been meditating on that….

Have a beautiful weekend, and thank you for spending your time here with me.