Birthday Humor Quote | Info

Musings
Once upon a time, a bunch of humans did their little human things all around an area of the world now known as Greece. These human things included plenty of creative things. You know the type: music, theater, astronomy ... all of the soft and fickle arts.

Then one day, some creative person got a little restless and thinky. (Ten bucks that they were an astronomer; the folks that are looking at the stars are the ones who always have their heads in the clouds.)

"We've got gods for everything," this person must have thought to themselves. "A goddess of the hearth, a god of lightning, a goddess of persimmon trees, even some random minor deity we picked up from the Mesopotamians a few centuries back for those hard tips at the end of your sandal-straps ... but you know what we don't have? Deities of creativity! What about us poor astronomers, huh? When we're deep in the throes of gazer's block and we really need to look at the stars and get our maps made -- like yesterday, because Prothesmia1 already paid me 24 drachmas for this damn thing -- who can we call on to help out with our problems? Huh? HUH?"

Then the muse Urania smacked him across the back of his head with her globe, and said "Us, you idiot!" And he cringed, and got his map made, and went on to scrawl a blog post much like this one.

So!

A lot of writers talk about "their muse." Recent conversations -- and the triumphant completion of my NaNoWriMo novella2, so that I have time to throw random words at random topics again -- have conspired to get me thinking about muses. And there's a post in there that needs to be written.

See, here's the thing about muses: Most writers have one. The ancient Greeks had nine3. I've got three.

They all serve different roles -- coexisting peacefully, and sharing mindspace with each other and with the other humorous anthropomorphizations that occasionally wander through.

(Such as the Inner Editor, who -- like all good editors -- is at his best when completely invisible, staying hunched over in the hindbrain and polishing up the content as it filters its way out. Ed doesn't have a voice or a personality, and I can't really negotiate with him or talk back to him; he's just part of the workflow as words travel from brain to screen. Anyway.)


There's the muse, of course. That's not her name; she doesn't really have one. She's not a being so much as a force of nature -- and I relate to her as such. She occasionally deigns to be personified, such as my previous post which compared her to a little girl in a playground, but such comparisons are only useful insofar as they illuminate various factors of her essential nature, and are not to be taken as representative of the whole. The muse is -- much like the little girl of the analogy -- flighty; whimsical; occasionally temperamental; scattered, but capable of short sprints of focus; prone to outbursts of creativity followed by lengthy fits of silence; and can be awesomely compelling if she has an idea that just has to be written out right now.4

I have learned to treat the muse much as I would treat a small child -- being willing to accommodate and channel her bursts of energy, learning tricks to ply minimal cooperation from her when she's exhausted and I can't work without her, and keeping a note-taking device handy so that the ideas she spits out in a machine-gun barrage get lost as infrequently as possible.

The muse -- note the "the," identifying her as a muse in the classical tradition; an inspirer of, umm, inspiration -- is my idea chick. Like all good geniuses, she knows that the implementation is much more boring than the idea5. The upside of this is that I get handed a lot of really awesome ideas from which to make beautiful things. The downside of this is that I have to do all the work.


My second muse is the deuteragonist. This is, again, not her real name, since she doesn't have one; it's merely something I made up because I need a break from writing "muse."

Doot's responsibility is to shape ideas -- to give my stories form as they make their way from idea to words. However, she is not an editor. She is an actress, from the deep end of the method acting pool. Her job is to draw me into the muse's story. She can be awfully good at it.

I know when Doot has gotten interested in a story because I will start spending all my time rehearsing it. We'll go over the current scene -- line by line, sometimes racing through to the end, sometimes stopping to dissect a single set of words and pick over them with a fine-toothed comb to make them get the scene where it needs to go. Doot has a hell of an obsessive streak, which is both a blessing and a curse when I'm blocking; sometimes, she helps me craft exactly what I need to write my way out of a corner, but sometimes we get lost replaying the problematic lines and argue in circles until my writing urge dissipates. And when between scenes, she peppers me with endless questions about the story's setting, forcing me to fill in the details that explain why the story is driving in the direction it is.

The Deuteragonist, I should emphasize, is merely a job title, and can be filled by anyone willing to take on the traits. Usually the other character in a dialogue will step in when Doot needs to works her magic. For romantic scenes, dreamflow sometims accommodates me and guest-stars (which, ahem, can help explain why such scenes can take me so long to write). Often, there's no specific manifestation -- just a compulsion to inject myself into the scene and write what I observe.


Then there's Muse. Hoo boy ... Muse.

Muse is a single, definite being. He's an old god, from a time before the written record -- a god whose name died out long ago. Unlike most forgotten gods, who disappear when belief in them wanes, he has patiently survived the aeons by finding a new class of worshippers: the slightly unhinged. From creative geniuses to the flat-out insane, he finds those who are willing to open themselves up to a little flash of divinity -- and then puts ideas in their head, collecting modest scraps of belief as his acolytes manifest his gifts.

Muse is a survivor. Muse is subtle. He is a master of the mind game, full of carefully chosen words with multiple layers of meaning. Muse is a consummate exploiter of loopholes. Muse has ambition. Muse plays a very long game.6

He has a real name. He doesn't give it to anyone, not even me. I call him "Muse" because the Archon -- one of the driving forces behind the events of the TTU setting -- found him inspirational and gave him the nickname. It has stuck, along with his default form as a jet-black anthro-unicorn (as a shadowy counterpart to Kiasu, but I get ahead of myself).

If you've just noticed that Muse is a character from one of my stories -- give yourself a cookie. Now you start to see the complex and ambivalent relationship I have with him. He is a fictional character, but he is so sharp and insightful and devious that he has realized the best way to advance his plans is to freaking metagame himself up a level into his author's mind.7 And it's working. I have begun to realize, to my growing horror, that the largest and most interesting plot arc of TTU really is Muse's story; how he tried (and almost succeeded) to singlehandedly overthrow the will of an entire planet. I won't be able to put the setting down until I've told that story, and everything I'm doing until then is merely to help fully realize his world.

Muse helps me out with writing that has nothing to do with him, too. He gets bored, or it's just his thing, or he's building up favors he can call in later; I don't know. But I can tell when he gets interested. Plots come together. Stakes get higher. Xanatos Gambits crop up. Characters get toyed with.

I never appreciated Old Soul's song "Sleeping With The Muse" until Muse started taking a hand in my writing. "I can taste her bitter smile, and the blood upon her lips ..." The muse doesn't work that way. Muse does. He isn't cruel exactly; he doesn't feed on pain or fear, or enjoy them, or use them (except as tools when nothing else will achieve important goals). However, he's well aware that everyone is merely a pawn in a larger game ... and the game of writing is about making the story interesting.


One of the reasons that TTU has occupied so much of my attention over the last decade is that the setting engages all three muses.

It's open-ended enough that the muse can come up with ideas to hang stories upon. The world's big and deep enough that Doot can drag me into full immersion. And Muse ... well, it's his playground in the first place.

I didn't really expect to find other settings the muses liked enough to devote a novella to and still come back for more. This NaNo handed me one. The setting of "The Time In Her Eye" -- the postapocalyptic near-future Earth called "the Shatter" -- seemed to just fall out onto the page. I reached the end of the story and realized that it was just a prequel. I wanted to keep going -- and I could have, easily enough ... if I were willing to keep up a NaNo writing pace after the end of November.

I'm not in the market to drive myself crazy right now, though. I need a break to catch my breath and hammer at the existing story some more and edit it into presentable shape. (I'll ask for beta readers in a later post, but you may also speak up here if you're interested.) Plus I've got to switch gears and start getting ready to GM a new role-playing game for my gaming group, and the holidays.

The muses won't stop working, though. They never do.

--
1. If you got this joke, give yourself 5 Baxil Points. If you got it without looking it up ... get out of my brain.
2. Obligatory victory fanfare, +33 EXP, Item Gained: ☆NANO2009
3. Further reading: Wikipedia. I would like to note that, while the ancient Greeks had muses for History and (yes) Astronomy, and no less than three for poetry, there wasn't one single muse for either visual artwork or for non-theatric prose. If they really want to sell the product in this secular age[*], they need to expand!
4. Like the little girl of the previous post's analogy, sometimes she is also taken away to a place which neither of us quite expected, and I have to sprint to keep up. After I manage to nab her again, we have a nice sit-down and a lengthy lecture about responsibilities, which she completely disregards because there are beautiful butterflies on the branch just outside the window.
5. "I have discovered a truly marvellous proof of this, which this margin is too narrow to contain."
6. As proof, I would like to point out that everything you're reading now -- this entire monster of a post, including the catchy but completely irrelevant Greek opening, and all of the footnotes, including this one -- was written purely for the sake of bringing that line into being, with sufficient context to give it meaning. I am not making this up. This is a Muse post, start to finish.
7. This is not even to get into the discussion of whether Muse-the-real-being might have introduced himself to me in fictionalized form and gained himself another worshipper toward whatever ultimate plan he has for this Earth. That is COMPLETELY his style. asdfjkl@@&***

Current Location: ~/brainstorm
Current Mood: writing fatigue
Current Music: Final Fantasy X OST, "To Zanarkand"
Tags: writing

(Leave a comment)

 

The first official event was a lecture on Paul Hindemith by Luitgard Schader, curator at the Hindemith Institute in Frankfurt, Germany. Dr. Schader’s informative lecture was a prelude to the Hindemith Cavalcade that ran throughout the duration of the congress. This series was the brainchild of Louise Lansdown, viola professor at the Royal Northern Conservatory of Music in Manchester, England, whose students were the performers. Later that afternoon the first concert of this series, “The Concertos,” commenced with performances of Kammermusik No. 5, with violist Ian Fair; Konzertmusik, op. 48, with violist Kate Moore; and Der Schwanendreher with violist Ruth Gibson. Pianist Tim Abel accompanied all performers. The performances were polished and strong. Unfortunately the room for the performance was a very small classroom; the acoustics suffered and the balance was bad between violists and piano.

A fabulous afternoon recital was given by violists Jutta Puchhammer-Sédillot (president of the Canadian Viola Society) and Karin Wolf (president of the German Viola Society). Wolf opened the recital with performances of Mendelssohn’s Sonata for Viola and Piano and Britten’s Lachrymae. Wolf’s playing was delicate and penetrating. Puchhammer-Sédillot followed with York Bowen’s Sonata No. 2 for Viola and Piano and For Oleg, a solo work by South African composer Peter Klatzow. Puchhammer-Sédillot’s tone was rich and dark and conveyed the deep emotion of the Klatzow work. Outstanding piano accompaniment was provided by Nina Schumann, faculty pianist at the University of Stellenbosch.

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the lecture-recital “Traditional Compositions & Instruments from South Africa and Africa” by Kobus Malan and Anthony Caplan because of a concurrent lecture, “Classical Music in Soweto,” by Michael Masote. Masote and his wife have worked tirelessly for decades to bring classical music to Soweto, and Masote outlined the history of classical music performance there, as well as the progress being made. The overwhelming sense of optimism and forgiveness was palpable.

The evening concert began with performances by South African violist Valery Andreev. A native of Russia and teacher of viola at the University of Pretoria, Andreev performed Suite Afrique by South African composer Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph, who was in attendance. The suite was intended to evoke various dances and rituals of southern Africa. Andreev’s performance was spirited but a bit rough.

Jutta Puchhammer-Sédillot followed with a stirring performance of Brahms’s Two Songs, with South African mezzo-soprano Violina Anguelov and pianist Elna van der Merwe, also from South Africa. The evening’s concert concluded with a very interesting work for narrator, strings, clarinet, indigenous instruments, and the voice of revered South African folk artist Madosini Latozi Mpahleni. The work, The Songs of Madosini, co-written by Hans Huyssen, is a musical biography of Madosini’s life and music. Madosini is a world-renowned folk musician and master of the uhadi (bow), isitolotolo (jaw harp), and umrhubhe (mouth bow). The audience gave the performers a standing ovation, and it was a fitting conclusion to the first day of the congress.

Day two – Tom Tatton

Tuesday was the fairest of days with wispy clouds and a gentle breeze. 9:00 a.m. saw some twenty-two violists from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, and other locations around South Africa sprinkled with a few congress attendees work on improvisational techniques using African folk tunes and exciting repetitive rhythmic patterns. The glowing cheeks, booming voice, and broad smile of Kolwane Mantu from the Soweto String Quartet soon brought out the natural energy and youthful exuberance of the young viola players.

Three substantial master classes (ninety minutes each) were spread throughout the day: Christine Rutledge with her kind and positive suggestions, Jerzy Kosmala with his ever sage advice and situational humor, and Tim Deighton, who instantly connected with each young violist, concentrating on gesture and all its implications. What struck me was the common positive and encouraging words from three generations of master teachers: the youthful energy of Tim, the knowing and supportive approach of Christine, and the grandfatherly advice from Jerzy. Throughout the week we heard mostly Hindemith in the master classes, but Christine worked with a youngster on the D Minor Suite of Bach, and Jerzy heard a young student perform the third Suite of Reger.

Two complete sessions of the Hindemith Cavalcade were included on Tuesday; the first concentrating on the songs and lesser-known chamber music, and the second included the short works for viola and the lesser-known string quartets. Each Hindemith concert (and throughout the congress) was preceded by short commentaries on each work to be performed by Luitgard Schader from Germany. The former concert included Frankenstein’s Monster Repertoire for quartet and the hilarious spoof on Wagner’s music, Overture to the Flying Dutchman as played at sight by a second-rate concert orchestra at the village well at 7 o’clock in the morning, for string quartet. I must say that the RNCM students performed and understood the humor and comedy in both works and conveyed such nicely! The latter concert included the expected Trauermusik and Meditation and—out of order, inserted into this concert—was the Trio for Viola, Heckelphone, and Piano, op. 47.

What a courageous accomplishment this entire project was for Dr. Lansdown and the students of RNCM. The students included performance experience from freshman to graduate students with the latter carrying the more difficult load. Their performance level, while not always of seasoned professionals, was nevertheless incredibly high, and the challenge was understood and embraced by all. What we sometimes missed in polish and nuance was more than made up in enthusiasm and musical excitement.

11:00 a.m. David Dalton gave his sterling talk on William Primrose. Always interesting and inspirational, David was in fine form. At the 3:00 p.m. hour we heard Barbara Paull, a British-trained physiotherapist who practices in Canada. What a broad smile and perky personality! She knew her stuff. I now have exercises for my upper body and understand that when I swim, the backstroke is better for my neck and left shoulder than the crawl. What a wonderful talk we heard on Bach performance practice by Christine Rutledge at 4:15 p.m. We were treated to a performance of the first Fantasie by Telemann and the C Major Suite by Bach. Each movement was preceded by sensible performance practice commentary. Here is a performer who thoroughly investigates the music she plays.

The opening half of the Tuesday evening concert included three different duets played on the oboe, performed by Kobus Malan, principle oboe of the Congress Orchestra, and on three different African instruments, performed by Anthony Caplan. The first piece was titled Umrhubhe Geeste. The umrhubhe is a single-stringed instrument, which is bowed, hit, or plucked. The balance of the oboe was unequal against the umrhubhe, but it was an interesting piece nonetheless. The balance in Nyatiti Magic was better. The nyatiti harp is of Ugandan origin. This most interesting piece seemed very African with a suggestion of Latin rhythms. The last piece, Wood and Clay, was with oboe and udu, and the most interesting piece of all. The udu is a clay-pot drum with a membrane stretched across the broad opening and a side hole. The deep resonating udu, well-matched balance, active rhythms, and tonal variety made for an exciting musical whole.

To be honest, I love most of the shows on the G4 channel.  However, I was dismayed when I saw the trailers and advertisements for a show named Human Wrecking Balls, which is in its second season.  I’m glad I missed the first season, or else I’d have written this a year ago.

If the executives in charge of programming or development were out of ideas, perhaps they should have set up a forum on their website for their viewers, since they’d most likely receive input that would most closely mirror what their viewing audience would most likely want to see anyway.  Instead, the powers-that-be somehow decided that Human Wrecking Balls, which features two beefed-up brothers smashing and destroying shit with their hands and legs would make for a compelling half-hour of television.  The first episode of the new season features the guys demolishing a closed-down gas station.  This involves knocking down the gas pumps (and literally kicking the shit out of them), smashing windows and pulling down the sign with a rope.  Wow.  Entrancing.

While I’m not knocking the brothers’ ability to wreak havoc on inanimate objects no longer deemed useful, and I acknowledge that a great amount of strength is necessary to do so, I am questioning the decision as to who the hell thought this would be an interesting half hour of my life to watch waste.  That these “challenges” required a second season to prove I-don’t-know-what-exactly is beyond me.

Lest I be labelled a hypocrite, let me happily state that all my viewing content is not purely for educational or intellectual stimulation.  Best example I can think of: MTV’s Jackass, which is simply a regular dude’s fantasy of stupid things one would do with equally fearless/dumb friends in their leisure.  I would have loved to have engaged in some of their inane behavior, but the prospect of pain, possible permanent physical damage, and a lack of willing participants quickly doused those aspirations.  God bless the collective of folks who decided “let’s put this bullshit on MTV and see where it goes.”  I’m completely against MTV’s programming simply for it’s endless feedback cycle of featuring pretty and pretty-dumb people who make asses of themselves for “entertainment value.”  Still, I again happily admit that sometimes watching white dudes subject themselves to mostly stupid but sometimes intriguing stunts and behavior suits my needs when I want to take a break from the higher levels of science, art, or even sports.  Especially since I can watch them do it and remain unscathed.  You can learn from your mistakes, but I also prefer to learn from other people’s mistakes as well.

Which is why I cannot learn anything from watching Human Wrecking Balls.  Sure, I’d like to “break stuff” too, but why televise it?  If anyone was to pitch a show about me doing jack shit all day long and pay me for it, would I accept?  Sure, given that I don’t make myself out to be a total schmuck or anything which would happen one day during a course of filming.  However, I would want at least some sort of redemptive value to come from someone, anyone watching my show.  Which is not to say that Human Wrecking Balls does not appeal to some guy’s innate desire to just break shit, but where does that leave you?  Like someone going to a strip joint alone, just to go, 9.9 times out of 10 that person will end up 1) drunk, 2) broke, 3) horny.  That’s a sad combination, but how exactly can I relate going to a strip club to watching this show?  Because, unlike watching Jackass (and yes, that is equally brainless television), I like to think of Jackass simply as ‘impromptu, unscripted, physical, occasionally slapstick humor’.  I do not see how to give any far-fetched, wordy or even half-assed excuse to watch Human Wrecking Balls.  And these guys have received awards for this kind of destructive behavior?  I can’t get a job doing what I love to do, which is write, but two beefcakes can get a series on cable tv about flat-out destroying things with their hands?  That’s called skill??  I’d actually like to see them put all that shit back together when they finish ripping it apart.  Now that would be something worth seeing.

I haven’t made the necessary connections to get either my writing or my ideas produced for a series, whether on cable television, community access or otherwise.  I guess I wasted my time going to college to learn how to read and write (somewhat) and I should’ve just hit the gym and started taking out my aggressions out on things, and made some friends in any film & television department of Whatever University instead.

In summation, let me just say this: Give me something to write and I’ll write it.  Or, give me something to break, and I’ll break it.  But for Christ’s sake, please give me something more intelligible or socially redeeming to watch instead of Human Wrecking Balls.  Jackass warned me not to try their stupidity at home , which serves as a public service announcement (for morons, but nonetheless); Human Wrecking Balls is just televised fodder for…hmm, I don’t know.  I guess they can’t just show 30 straight minutes of commercials, but maybe they should.

Democrat Hill Job Postings for November 30, 2009

Posted on 30. Nov, 2009 by clotureclub in Jobs

From our friends at HillZoo.com

Health Policy Fellow

The Office of Congressman Ed Towns of New York is currently seeking an experienced and organized health policy fellow to assist the Congressman and his Deputy Chief of Staff in policy research. Duties will include investigating constituent requests, drafting responses, preparing press mailings and assisting in research on health care policy. This is an exciting and demanding time to be involved in health care on Capitol Hill and you will find this experience rewarding.

The position is unpaid, full- or part-time, and available for the spring of 2010. Potential fellows will need to email a cover letter along with a resume and a writing sample to the attention of Megan Cornish, Legislative Assistant/Intern Coordinator, 2232 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515, at megan.cornish@mail.house.gov.

This was posted Monday November 23, 2009

* * *

Transportation Fellow

The Office of Congressman Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland is currently seeking an energetic, organized, highly motivated Transportation Fellow to assist the Congressman and his staff in the overall day-to-day operations of his Capitol Hill office. The candidate must be a strong writer, possess excellent verbal communication skills, and have an interest in and experience with handling transportation issues.

Duties of the fellow will include, but are not limited to, researching issues related to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, meeting with constituents, attending hearings and briefings, and drafting correspondence.

Although the position is unpaid, fellows are treated as full participants in the Congressional office. To apply please send a cover letter, resume, three references and a short writing sample to MD07.fellowship@mail.house.gov.

This was posted Friday November 20, 2009

* * *

Interns – Spring 2010

The Office of Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey (NY-22) is currently seeking spring semester interns in the Washington, D.C. office. These positions are unpaid. Applications will only be accepted from individuals currently enrolled in an academic program. Responsibilities would include drafting constituent mail, conducting tours, attending briefings and hearings, conducting legislative research, preparing memos for legislative staff, and answering phones, along with daily office operations.

These positions are ideal for students looking for Capitol Hill exposure. New York ties preferred, but not required. Please send a cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample to corey.williams@mail.house.gov for further consideration.

This was posted Friday November 20, 2009

* * *

Interns – Spring 2010

The Office of Congressman John Adler (NJ-03) is currently seeking unpaid interns for the upcoming spring semester. This is an ideal internship for candidates interested in learning about the legislative process and public service. Responsibilities include drafting constituent letters, answering incoming calls, conducting legislative research, tracking bills, leading and scheduling Capitol tours, and contributing to daily office operations.

Interns will also have the opportunity to attend hearings and briefings as well as conduct tours of the Capitol. This is a prime opportunity for college students and recent graduates seeking Hill experience. New Jersey ties are preferred but not required. Please send a resume and a cover letter detailing interest in working for Rep. Adler toNJ03resumes@gmail.com

This was posted Thursday November 19, 2009

* * *

Legislative Counsel

Ohio Democratic member on the Education and Labor, and Science and Technology Committees, is seeking a legislative counsel to handle a diverse legislative portfolio. Relevant prior Hill experience required. Candidates must demonstrate an especially strong writing ability, and be comfortable with policy development. Strong candidates will also possess an ability to work independently and identify specific policy goals and strategies for

the Member. An advanced degree as well as Ohio ties, are a plus. Email resumes todistrict11resumes@mail.house.gov. No calls or walk-ins please.

This was posted Thursday November 19, 2009

* * *

Congressional Press Interns Wanted

Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) has immediate openings for unpaid press interns to help in a fast-paced communications office. In addition to general administrative duties, responsibilities include assisting in planning and executing press events, drafting press releases, conducting press research, helping with new media and assisting with preparation for interviews and tele-town halls. Rep. McDermott represents Seattle and surrounding areas and is a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Internships are available immediately but candidates interested in beginning Spring semester are also encouraged to apply. Please send cover letter and resume to ed.shelleby@mail.house.gov. No calls or walk-ins please.

This was posted Thursday November 19, 2009

* * *

Intern Vacancy Announcement

The Office of Congressman Ed Towns of New York is currently seeking energetic, organized, highly motivated interns to assist the Congressman and his staff in the overall day-to-day operations of the Washington office.

Duties of the intern include investigating constituent requests, drafting responses, opening x-rayed mail, answering telephones, greeting visitors, and preparing press mailings. Research projects will be assigned as needed. Interns will have an opportunity to attend committee hearings and witness firsthand the legislative process.

The position is unpaid, full- or part-time, and available year round. Potential interns will need to email a cover letter along with a resume and a writing sample to the attention of Megan Cornish, Legislative Assistant/Intern Coordinator, 2232 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515, at megan.cornish@mail.house.gov.

This was posted Thursday November 19, 2009

* * *

Interns – Spring 2010

The office of Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy seeks spring interns for Washington, DC office to begin in December/January. Responsibilities include answering phones, responding to constituent correspondence, giving tours of the United States Capitol, attending legislative briefings, and performing administrative tasks.

Ideal applicants will have excellent writing skills, a positive attitude, and the ability to work in a fast paced environment. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and brief writing sample to ohintern@yahoo.com. Please include your availability.

This was posted Thursday November 19, 2009

* * *

Interns – Spring 2010

Congresswoman Betsy Markey (D-CO) is currently seeking interns for the spring of 2010. Interns will be responsible for general front office duties including, but not limited to, answering phones, logging office correspondence and working with constituents. Interns will have the opportunity to attend briefings and assist with legislative research.

Applicants should be enthusiastic, reliable and hard-working with strong writing and communication skills. Colorado ties are preferable but not necessary.

Interested candidates should email their resume, cover letter and short writing sample to jeff.jay@mail.house.gov

This was posted Thursday November 19, 2009

* * *

Spring Internship

Spring internship opportunities are available in the office of Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY). In addition to assisting front office staff with general administrative duties, interns will have the opportunity to work closely with legislative staff on researching new legislation, drafting constituent correspondence, as well as various other projects. Applicants should have strong written and verbal communication skills, be detail oriented, organized, dependable, able to multi-task, and have a positive attitude.

New York ties are preferred but not required. If interested, send a resume, cover letter, and short writing sample toNY18Internship@mail.house.gov.

This was posted Wednesday November 18, 2009

* * *

Unpaid Interns – Winter/Spring

The Office of Representative Judy Chu seeks motivated full-time and part-time unpaid interns for the upcoming Winter/Spring semesters in the Washington, D.C. office. This is an ideal internship for candidates interested in learning about the legislative process, passionate about serving a diverse constituency, and committed to public service. Responsibilities include drafting constituent letters, answering incoming calls, conducting legislative research, tracking bills, running flag requests, leading and scheduling Capitol tours, and contributing to daily office operations.

Ideal candidates are mature, detail-oriented and motivated. Candidates should also possess an ability to prioritize multiple tasks under tight deadlines, work well with others and have a good sense of humor. Bilingual Spanish and Mandarin speakers are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should send a resume, a cover letter detailing interest in working for Rep. Chu, and a one- to two-page writing sample to ca32.internapp@mail.house.gov. Applicants will be evaluated on a rolling basis. No walk-ins or phone calls please.

This was posted Tuesday November 17, 2009

* * *

Unpaid Interns

Northern California Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-12) seeks full time and part time unpaid interns for mid-December 2009 through March 2010. We are looking for personable, hard working and motivated individuals with excellent oral and written communication skills.

Job duties will include, but are not limited to, attending briefings, conducting congressional research, answering phones, and assisting staffers with general administrative duties. California ties are strongly preferred, but not necessary. Please email a resume, cover letter and writing sample to Gina.Gribow@mail.house.gov.

This was posted Tuesday November 17, 2009

* * *

Congresstional Interns Wanted

Arizona Democrat’s Washington D.C. office seeks legislative and press interns for spring 2010. Responsibilities of Legislative Interns include handling constituent phone calls and mail, providing tours of the Capitol building, attending Congressional briefings, legislative research, and other administrative duties as needed.

The Press Intern will work directly with the Press Secretary. Responsibilities include writing daily news clips, drafting press releases, assisting with interviews and tele-town halls, press research, and coordinating media opportunities with local and national press. Arizona ties are preferred but not required.

Applicant Instructions:
Interested applicants should send a resume, cover letter, writing sample, references, and dates and times of availability toInternsAZ01@gmail.com.

This was posted Tuesday November 17, 2009

* * *

Interns – Spring 2010

Learn about the inner workings of Congress with a fun and fast-paced office! Congressman Xavier Becerra, Vice Chairman of the Democratic Caucus and a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means has opportunities for unpaid Interns for the Spring 2010 quarter/semester in his Washington office. Responsibilities include general administrative tasks such as answering phones, sorting mail, entering constituent information into Capitol Letters, and running errands. Interns also assist legislative and press staff with researching and analyzing issues for hearings, speeches, and talking points. Interns may have an opportunity to draft constituent letters, Dear Colleagues, press releases, briefing memos and statements for the Congressional Record. Applicants should be motivated, detail-oriented, and possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Applicant Instructions:

Spanish speakers and those with ties to Southern California are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants should send a cover letter and resume to noel.perez@mail.house.gov.

This was posted Tuesday November 17, 2009

* * *

Interns for the Spring 2010

The Washington, DC office of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) is looking for unpaid interns for the spring semester. First-hand experience in her congressional office will provide interns with an unparalleled knowledge and understanding of the development of public policy and governmental affairs. An internship with Congresswoman Slaughter also offers unique insight into the legislative process and parliamentary procedure as she is Chairwoman of the powerful Committee on Rules. Responsibilities include drafting letters to constituents, attending committee hearings, writing summary briefs, researching various issues for the legislative staff, and assisting with office duties, including answering phones and sorting mail.

Interns are an integral part of the team and are given substantial opportunities to learn and grow in a fast-paced and active office. Candidates with upstate New York connections are especially encouraged to apply.

Applicants should e-mail cover letters and resumes to Maria Joy and must be available at least two full days per week. Start date is the first week in January.

This was posted Friday November 13, 2009

* * *

Press Office Interns

Moderate Midwestern Democrat is seeking full or part-time interns for a busy Press Office. Duties will include compiling daily press clips for the Senator, completing press-related research projects, as well as drafting letters and press releases.

Experience in communications is preferred, and early-morning arrivals are a must. Please send a resume and cover letter to INPressIntern@gmail.com for consideration.

This was posted Thursday November 12, 2009

* * *

Legislative Intern

The office of Representative Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) is looking for a Legislative intern to join her fast-paced Washington, D.C. office. This intern will have the opportunity to respond to constituent correspondence, attend Committee hearings, learn about the legislative process, and provide assistance to the legislative staff.

Representative Fudge understands that the primary obligation for any intern is their academic progress. Because of that, this office offers a flexible working environment which allows the individual to schedule themselves responsibly while also meeting the needs of the Representative and her staff. Duties include but are not limited to: research, preparing memoranda, taking meetings, and assisting in the daily operations of the congressional office. This internship involves assisting the Legislative Staff with projects ranging from helping encourage other Members of Congress to co-sponsor legislation to assisting drafting documents that could be used in floor statements or legislation. This work varies greatly from internship to internship, depending on what issues are before Congress, and what issue the Member is working on. Cleveland ties are not required but are a huge plus. Current undergraduate students are also encouraged to apply.

Should you be interested in working in the DC office of Representative Marcia L. Fudge please send a copy of your resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Mr. Clifton Williams. This is an up-paid, four month internship. No calls or drop-ins please.

This was posted Monday November 9, 2009

* * *

Spring 2010 Interns

Senator Gillibrand seeks highly motivated interns with an interest in public service for Spring 2010 . Students from New York State or enrolled in a New York school are strongly encouraged to apply. Interns must be available for a minimum of 15 hours of work per week between the hours of 9 AM and 6 PM, Monday through Friday.

The office requires a complete application which must be FAXED to the attention of the Intern Coordinator at 202-224-1560. The application and contact information may be found on Senator Gillibrand’s website. 2010 Spring applications will be accepted through November 13th, 2009.

This was posted Monday November 9, 2009

* * *

Spring Internship

SPRING INTERNSHIP: Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) is seeking applications for full-time and part-time interns to start immediately. Duties will include, but are not limited to: conducting research, drafting letters, attending hearings and briefings, conducting Capitol tours, data management, constituent correspondence, and general office duties.

A successful applicant should have strong communications and writing skills, knowledge of Microsoft Word and Outlook, high academic achievement, an aptitude for learning new things quickly, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. The internship is unpaid, but is a fantastic opportunity for individuals who are interested in pursuing a career on Capitol Hill or in public policy. Students with New Hampshire ties are strongly encouraged to apply and will be given first preference. Email a cover letter, resume, and 2 short writing samples (1-3 pages each) to carly.katz@mail.house.gov.No phone calls, faxes, or drop-ins.

This was posted Friday November 6, 2009

* * *

Spring 2010 Interns

The office of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is now accepting applicants for Spring 2010 interns. Interns will aid our administrative and legislative teams. Responsibilities include: taking phone calls, processing constituent mail, and performing other special projects for staff. Applicants should be enthusiastic, reliable, hard-working, and have strong writing and communication skills.

Interns will have the opportunity to attend briefings for the legislative staff and assist in the constituent correspondence process. Preference will go to applicants who can start in December. Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter and 2-3 page writing sample to FL20DCinternresumes@mail.house.gov. The deadline for applications is December 1, 2009.

This was posted Tuesday November 3, 2009

* * *

Spring Press Internship – Unpaid

The Office of Senator Joe Lieberman has an opening for a Full time Spring Press Internship in his Washington, DC office. The position is unpaid.

Duties include assisting communications staff with daily press operations including tracking media coverage, drafting press releases, compiling press clips, conducting background research, and performing administrative tasks. A successful applicant will possess strong writing, research and communication skills, and should have background or interest in journalism or communications.

A sense of a humor and positive attitude are a must! Please send a cover letter and resume topress@lieberman.senate.gov.

This was posted Tuesday November 3, 2009

* * *

Intern – Spring 2010

Progressive Florida Democrat seeks an intern to start in January and work through the Spring semester. This fast-paced House office is a strong, hard-working team environment and provides interns with a full Capitol Hill experience.

Responsibilities as an intern in the office include sorting mail, answering phones, performing administrative duties, handling constituent requests, legislative correspondence, attending hearings, conducting tours of the U.S. Capitol and working on special projects.

Applicants will need a good attitude, and a strong work ethic. First priority will be given to applicants who can work at least 30 hours a week. Please send resume, writing sample and cover letter to resume.dc@gmail.com. Florida ties are a plus, but are not required. This position is unpaid.

This was posted Tuesday November 3, 2009

* * *

Spring Semester Internships

Spring Semester Internships are available in the office of Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY). In addition to assisting front office staff with general administrative duties such as answering phones, distributing mail and giving tours of the Capitol, interns will have the opportunity to work closely with legislative staff on constituent correspondence, legislative research and other various projects. Applicants must be highly motivated, flexible and have strong written and oral communications skills.

New York ties are preferred but not required. If interested, please complete an application by going to http://lowey.house.gov and accessing the “Internship Information” page through the “For Students” link.

Applications should be faxed to (202) 225-0546 by December 7th. For more information, please emailNY18.Internship@mail.house.gov.

This was posted Thursday October 29, 2009

* * *

Policy Intern

The office of Representative Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) is looking for a policy intern to join her fast-paced Washington, D.C. office. This intern will have the opportunity to respond to constituent correspondence, attend Committee hearings, learn about the legislative process, and provide assistance to the legislative staff.

Representative Fudge understands that the primary obligation for any intern is their academic progress. Because of that, this office offers a flexible working environment which allows the individual to schedule themselves responsibly while also meeting the needs of the Representative and her staff.

Duties include but are not limited to: research, preparing memoranda, taking meetings, and assisting in the daily operations of the congressional office. This internship involves assisting the Legislative Staff with projects ranging from helping encourage other Members of Congress to co-sponsor legislation to assisting drafting documents that could be used in floor statements or legislation. This work varies greatly from internship to internship, depending on what issues are before Congress, and what issue the Member is working on. Cleveland ties are not required but are a huge plus. Current graduate or law school students are also encouraged to apply.

Should you be interested in working in the DC office of Representative Marcia L. Fudge please send a copy of your resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Mr. Clifton Williams. This is an un-paid, four month internship. No calls or drop-ins please.

This was posted Thursday October 29, 2009

* * *

Unpaid Interns

Congressman John W. Olver (D-MA) is seeking unpaid interns for his Washington, DC office for the spring semester (January – May, full or part time). Intern duties include answering the phone, writing letters, attending legislative briefings, and assisting staff members with special projects.

Congressman Olver is a member of the Appropriations Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. Candidates from the First District of Massachusetts are especially encouraged to apply. Prospective candidates should submit a resume (with 2 references) and cover letter to allison.caffrey@mail.house.gov.

This was posted Wednesday October 28, 2009

* * *

Internship available in a Democratic Southwest office Immediately!

Congressman Ben Ray Lujan (NM-03) is seeking un-paid full-time intern for his Washington, DC office starting immediately until December or January and should be motivated, flexible, and detail-oriented individuals. New Mexico ties are a plus, but are not required.

Intern responsibilities include answering constituent phone calls, leading tours of the Capitol, sorting mail and faxes, writing letters, and assisting experienced staff with projects in diverse issue areas. Candidates should be outgoing and possess strong oral and written communication skills, an ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment, and a good sense of humor. Please e-mail a resume, cover letter, and a 1-2 page writing sample to linda.serrato@mail.house.gov

This was posted Thursday October 22, 2009

* * *

Interns – Full or Part-time

Congressman Jared Polis (CO-2) is seeking unpaid interns for his Washington, DC office (full or part time) for immediate placement as well as for Spring 2010. Interns are responsible for a variety of administrative and legislative duties. Responsibilities include answering telephones and greeting visitors, assisting with the correspondence program, attending hearings and briefings, and assisting staff with research and special projects. Candidates should possess strong organizational and communication skills, and have the ability to manage multiple tasks on a deadline.

This position will provide an excellent opportunity to gain an up-close perspective of the legislative process while developing a solid understanding of how a Congressional office operates. Interns will gain valuable hill and office experience and have access to many unique hill opportunities.

If you are interested, please email internsco2@gmail.com with your resume, cover letter and a writing sample.

This was posted Wednesday October 21, 2009

* * *

Interns – Full or Part-time

Congressman Scott Murphy is seeking unpaid interns for his Washington, DC office (full or part time). Interns are responsible for a variety of administrative and legislative duties. Responsibilities include answering telephones and greeting visitors, assisting with the correspondence program, attending hearings and briefings, and assisting staff with research and special projects. Candidates should possess strong organizational and communication skills, and have the ability to manage multiple tasks on a deadline.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample to Blake Anderson atBlake.Anderson@mail.house.gov.

This was posted Tuesday October 20, 2009

* * *

Interns – Full & Part-Time

Congressman David Wu (D-Oregon) seeks full- and part-time interns to work in his fast-paced, team-oriented Washington, D.C. office starting in December 2009/January 2010. Interns assist staff with constituent services, administrative tasks, public policy research, and more.

Applicants must have strong written and oral communication skills. Ideal candidates can work three or more days a week. We accept students receiving school credit as well as graduates seeking work experience. Northwest ties a plus, but not required. Please fax cover letter and resume to 202-225-9497, Attn: Intern Coordinator.

This was posted Friday October 16, 2009

* * *

Capitol Hill Internship – Intern With Rep. John Barrow

The Office of Congressman John Barrow is looking to immediately place one intern in his Capitol Hill office. If you are interested, contact Luke Moses, Legislative Assistant, at luke.moses@mail.house.gov.

This was posted Thursday October 15, 2009

* * *

Internship Opportunity – Congresswoman Matsui

Congresswoman Doris Matsui of California’s 5th district has an internship opening available in her Washington, D.C. office. The position is part-time (2 or 3 days per week) and is available immediately. Ideal candidates will be available to work through December.

This position will provide an excellent opportunity to gain an up-close perspective of the legislative process while developing a solid understanding of how a Congressional office operates. Internships are open to college and graduate-level students and are unpaid, although the office gladly assists interns who wish to petition for academic credit. Interns will gain valuable hill and office experience and have access to many unique hill opportunities.

Duties include attending Congressional committee hearings and legislative meetings, conducting tours of the Capitol, assisting with research, and drafting correspondence. In addition, administrative tasks such as mail processing, data entry, answering telephones, and assisting our legislative staff when needed will also be necessary. Responsibilities and projects are tailored to each individual’s interests and a concerted effort is made to ensure that students’ educational and professional goals are met.Please submit applications for an internship in our DC office as soon as possible.

To apply, please email or fax your resume and cover letter with ‘Attention Internship Coordinator’ in the subject line. 
Email (preferred): matsui.interns@gmail.com 
Fax: (202) 225-0566

This was posted Wednesday October 14, 2009

* * *

Fall Congressional Internships

Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI) is seeking full and part-time Congressional Interns for his Washington, DC office for September 2009 – January 2010 (start/end dates are flexible). This internship position will provide individuals with the opportunity to work in a fast-paced Congressional office held by the Dean of the House and the former Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Duties include answering phones, leading U.S. Capitol tours, and assisting staff members with research and special projects. Projects are tailored to interns’ interests and a concerted effort is made to ensure that students’ educational and professional goals are met. Interns will also gain the hands-on experience needed to land future legislative jobs on or off the Hill. There will also be frequent opportunities to attend legislative hearings and briefings of personal interest.

The ideal candidate will be a college student or recent graduate who is motivated, detail orientated, and possess strong communication and writing skills. Michigan ties are preferred, but not required.

Interested applicants should submit a resume, cover letter and an online application form to Jenny Harp, Intern Coordinator or fax to (202) 226-0371.

This was posted Wednesday September 30, 2009

* * *

Interns – Congressman Mike Doyle

Democratic Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA) has openings in his Washington, D.C. office for unpaid interns wishing to gain experience on Capitol Hill.

Day to day responsibilities include: answering constituent correspondence, leading tours of the U.S. Capitol, answering phones, conducting legislative research, and assisting with press activities.

The ideal candidate will be a college student or recent graduate who is motivated; is detail-orientated; possesses strong organizational, communication and writing skills; has a positive attitude; and has the ability to manage multiple tasks and work well under pressure. Pittsburgh or Pennsylvania ties are a plus. Selection is based on an applicant’s educational background, work experience, and an interview.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to doyle.interns@gmail.com.

This was posted Tuesday September 29, 2009

* * *

INTERN POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Moderate Democratic Congressman from Georgia seeks candidates for unpaid, full or part-time fall 2009 internships to aid legislative and administrative staff. Duties will include the following: attending hearings and briefings, responding to constituent inquiries, researching legislation, conducting U.S. Capitol tours, and basic administrative responsibilities. Qualified candidates must be highly organized, responsible, detail oriented, possess excellent communication and writing skills, and be able to multi-task. Georgia ties and/or an interest in agriculture or financial services are preferred. All interested applicants should send a resume, cover letter, and a brief writing sample to gaintern@gmail.com, or fax materials to 202-225-4628.

This was posted Wednesday September 23, 2009

* * *

Intern for Fall Semester – Immediate Opening

Midwestern Democrat seeks an energetic, mature intern for the fall semester to start immediately. He/she must be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. The intern will assist staff with data entry, sorting mail, answering phones, giving tours of the Capitol and general administration, as well as occasionally attending briefings and conducting research for legislative staff.

Applicants must be self-motivated with an excellent phone manner and diplomatic attitude. Ohio ties are preferable, but the position is open to all qualified candidates. Please send your cover letter and resume to erin.ward@mail.house.gov

This was posted Monday September 21, 2009

* * *

Unpaid Internship

“Progressive Midwestern Democratic Congressman seeks candidate for unpaid internship to aid legislative, press, administrative staff. The internship will take place from November – December, full or part-time.

Duties include drafting constituent response letters, conducting legislative research, compiling and entering data, attending hearings/briefings, basic administrative responsibilities, and potentially writing press releases.

Applicants should be goal-oriented and have strong writing and communications skills. Students with Illinois ties preferred, but not required.

All interested applicants should send resume, cover letter, and two brief writing samples toDaniel.Kadishson@mail.house.gov, or fax to (202) 225-5396.”

This was posted Friday September 18, 2009

* * *

General Internship

The office of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz an opening for a General Internship: to aid our administrative and legislative teams.

Responsibilities include: taking phone calls, processing constituent mail, and performing other special projects for staff. Applicants should be enthusiastic, reliable, hard-working, and have strong writing and communication skills. Interns will have the opportunity to attend briefings for the legislative staff and assist in the constituent correspondence process. This is an unpaid internship. To apply please fill out our online form.

This was posted Thursday September 17, 2009

* * *

Press Internship

The office of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz an opening for a Press Internship: available to college students or recent graduates in Washington, DC. Duties include assisting communications staff with daily press operations including tracking media coverage, drafting press releases, compiling press clips, conducting background research, and performing administrative tasks.

A successful applicant will possess strong writing, research and communication skills, and should have background in journalism or communications. Experience with web application a plus. This is an unpaid internship.To apply please fill out our online form.

This was posted Thursday September 17, 2009

* * *

Interns for Fall 2009 – Rep. Martin Heinrich

Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-01) is looking for outstanding intern candidates for the fall semester, preferably with New Mexico ties. Interns will receive firsthand exposure to the legislative process, and will get the opportunity to attend hearings and briefings on a range of issues.

Along with standard duties of answering phones, sorting mail and general office assistance, interns will help full-time staff with a wide variety of policy and communications projects. Interns are expected to represent the office in a professional manner and be prepared to work in a fast-paced environment. This position is unpaid.

Please submit a resume and cover letter to Catherine Melsheimer.

This was posted Wednesday September 16, 2009

* * *

Press Secretary

Senior Democratic Member of Congress seeks a pro active Press Secretary. This is a job for a person who is eager to work for a Member who has a very active press agenda.

Candidate responsibilities include: developing and implementing overall communications strategy, including substantial constituent outreach; pitching stories nationally and locally in a large open media market; writing press releases, statements, op-eds, email updates and newsletters; planning press events; and helping to manage website and email program.

Ideal Candidates will have impeccable writing skills and strong political instincts. Applicants who are recent graduates who have no prior press experience will NOT BE CONSIDERED! Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Is this job for you? Please come with an enthusiastic attitude, a great sense of humor, and the ability to multitask and prioritize. If you are bi-lingual that is a plus. Please e-mail resume, two writing samples, and a list of references toResumebox@mail.house.gov. Minorities are encouraged to apply.

I've been anxiously anticipating Jason Reitman's third film, Up in the Air, from the moment I first read about the project. With George Clooney on board I was practically giddy, so imagine how excited I was to have the opportunity to talk to the director himself when he stopped in San Francisco during his promotional tour.

The film is one of the many buzz-worthy December movies, and it opens in limited release this Friday. Reitman talked about everything from Clooney to the economy to how he handles garnering so much acclaim for his first three films. Here are the highlights:

• On traveling: I love travel and there’s a reason I started doing this movie — even when I started doing commercials I’ve been a psychotic frequent flier, so I enjoy it. I enjoy having the itinerary, going to the airport, I enjoy the being nowhere and unplugging which being on an airplane allows you to do.
• On whether or not he fell victim to one of Clooney's pranks: No, there wasn’t, I’m sorry I wish I had a better story. But we were making a movie at the end of the day. And it was a shorter shot — maybe he’s used to these Ocean movies where they have time for fun, but we were hauling ass, so no fun stories.

To see what Jason had to say about working with his father, Ivan Reitman, and how he's grown since making Juno, just read more.

• On whether he intended to make a film about the current state of the economy: No. First of all, it’s based on a book, so I found the book seven years ago and I started adapting it and it basically took me six years to write, and I never intended to make a movie about the economy. The economy doesn’t interest me as much as [it's] just sort of a backdrop or metaphor for human connection, which was more important to me and that’s what I wanted to tell a story about. But certainly as the world changed and we went from an economic boom to one of the worst recessions on record, I had to take it seriously and scenes that were originally humorous were scenes that I had to make authentic and real and dramatic. And that’s why I started to use real people for people who’ve lost their jobs, people who actually lost their job instead of actors. I never wanted to be Michael Moore, as much as I respect him as a filmmaker. He has a tendency to try to give you answers and try to push people to believe something, and my point of view is to push people to be as open-minded as possible and not judge, so I think I have agenda-less films and hopefully they act more as a mirror so you simply see yourself in it.
• On using "anti-heroes" in his films: I don’t know why I'm drawn to anti-heroes but I certainly am, I made three films. The first one [Thank You For Smoking] is about the head lobbyist for a big tobacco, second one’s [Juno] about a pregnant teenager, and the third one’s about a guy who fires people for a living. So for whatever reason I guess I’m somewhat contrary and I enjoy humanizing tricky characters. There was a line in the Thank You For Smoking book that said working for Greenpeace is easy, working for the Red Cross is easy, try working for big tobacco — that’s a job. And I can’t help but think the same way to a certain extent about filmmaking. Humanizing good people is kind of boring and I don’t really see the value in it. Showing romance of two people who are just kind of charming and deserve each other, what’s the work in that, what’s the value in that? Humanizing tricky characters for me is exhilarating and making audience films out of indie subjects excites me. At the end of the day I don’t know why I’m drawn to it.
• On why Up in the Air is more deeply personal than his previous films: Each one of my movies is addressing a question I have for myself. Thank You For Smoking was about being libertarian and having a heart at the same time, Juno was about the moment you decide to grow up and it was personal for me. I had a child right before I started Juno and I felt like I was going through all the character’s experience and I was constantly drawing on my own emotions while making that film, but this was a script that I wrote over six years, and six very important years. When I first started writing I was single, I was a commercial director, I basically had zero life responsibility, and over six years I became a feature film director, I got married, I have a beautiful daughter, and I started to learn what was important in life, at least for me. And when I first read the script (because I would never go back and reread I would just go forward over those years), so five years in when I finally went back and read it, it was like watching myself grow up and watching myself re-evaluate what was important to me and I could watch my own sophistication change. So to have a film that speaks to so many questions I have, and perhaps the most important question of all — where do you find purpose in life and what do you want in your life, who and what do you want to play your life with? That makes it exceedingly personal, and you never know, maybe two years from now I’ll say this was the most important film, but I can’t help but think that they are very transformative years in my life and they get encapsulated in this film. You don’t have a question, you just have a camera.
• On other actors he'd like to work with: I really love Laura Linney, I really love Rachel McAdams, love Joan Allen, I love Matt Damon, I think he’s actually really great . . . who else? I like Jonah Hill a lot, I like Seth Rogen. I mean, everyone I’ve worked with is great. Right now it becomes one of those hard things where, do you ever have that thing where you have old friends and you meet someone new, and then you have that new friend then you want to spend all this time with your new friend, but you also want to spend time with your old friends? I think that’s kind of how it is with actors. I got all these actors that I’ve already worked with that I really want to work with again. I worked with Rick Allen again, and Allison Janney, and Anna Kendrick is phenomenal and I want to work with her again, and Danny McBride. And then there’s the new group, and it’s like, if I work with the person I’ve already worked with, it’s like I already know how great they are and I know won’t be disappointed. I do get excited about working with new people.
• On writing roles for actors: It’s kind of cool, I never know if people are going to say yes, there are plenty of people that will certainly say no, but there is a very good chance of them saying yes and that’s an exciting way to work. This movie I wrote for eight of the actors that are in it. It was cool to write for George and for Vera and for Anna and Danny and Zach and J.K, and Bateman, to know that they’re going to show up, it’s a cool feeling to have as you’re writing.
• On working with his father Ivan Reitman for the first time: It's interesting because I avoided working with my dad for a while because I was so sensitive of being accused of the idea of nepotism, and it’s been important to me for so long to establish myself on my own. I remember when I was 19 years old I started a desk calendar company to pay for my first short film just so I could say one day my daddy didn’t pay for my first short film. And I really established myself through the film festival world, starting at Sundance and lots of film festivals and really took on a different style of film from my father and made my first two movies on my own, and really it was once after the second film that I felt, "OK, I think I’ve established myself as a director now and I’m going to go do a movie." But it’s something I’ve been looking forward to because I love my father and we have such a strong bond and I look up to him as a filmmaker and a storyteller, so it was great and when I see the credits and it says produced by Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, my heart swells. It’s really really cool.
• On how he's grown as a director: There’s nothing like "Oh, that was the day I learned to do this," it’s more so you just become a more sophisticated filmmaker. I mean, look, the job is this: I have an idea and I want the audience to feel something specific. I want at each moment to articulate something in a way so that I make you laugh here, and make you envious here and I make your heart swell here, romance here, you feel heartbroken here, and as a director you get better and better at nailing those moments specifically. So when I look back at Thank You For Smoking, I see broad strokes but some of the detail work is not as strong as my last film. And that’s just over three films, so my only hope is that as I continue to make more and more films I’ll get better and better at making them, because you make 2,000 decisions a day as a director, sometimes more, even if you’re not even thinking about it, even if you’re responding to something. So you just become better at making these tiny, tonal decisions that if you add them up almost like a binary thing, they amount to the feelings so that when the joke happens or the line happens or the moment happens or when the song comes in, the audience feels it right there.
• On handling success and awards show buzz: Well look, first of all it’s wonderful. And film festivals are really how I establish myself as a director, and I counted on them to give me legitimacy. So when a film festival honors me it really hits home for me, and as far as moving forward — I never a make a movie with the intention of some sort of award or nomination or whatever it is. I really just try to tell movies that are in my heart and I know when I respond to something — I read a book or an article or something and I have an instinctual response to it and I just try to follow that all the way through and I’ve been lucky. So far, [I've made] three movies people seem to like, but there’s a bad one waiting around the corner for me. Honestly, it happens. And my hope is that as long as I make movies for the right reasons, the ones that fail won’t hurt as much as if I made a movie for the wrong reasons, like I made it for money or something big, then I imagine the failing would hurt more.

When I first laid hands on Gail Carriger’s Soulless (Orbit, 2009), I began to wonder if the book had been written specifically to irritate me.

1. To start out, the novel is urban fantasy. Already we’re on bad terms.

2. Also, there are vampires.

3. Too, werewolves.

4. And romance!

5. In case that’s not enough, Carriger mixes in a Victorian setting and a hint of steampunk. Neither of these inherently annoy me, but combined with items 1-4:

6. The novel is heavily weighted down by trendy genre elements.* In my experience, this usually leads to books that are poorly constructed, badly integrated, and the literary equivalent of a chess club stereotype wearing star-shaped sunglasses – trying much too hard to be cool.**

Soulless should be like combining salmon and chocolate while I, in this metaphor, am an ichthyophobe with no sweet tooth. However, it appears that skilled chefs can pair salmon and chocolate. And sometimes a novel that’s full of everything wrong can go terribly, tragically right.

Soulless is the first book of the Parasol Protectorate, with the next book, Changeless, due from Orbit on March 30, 2010. The novel begins when a young Victorian woman, Alexia Tarabotti, finds herself alone in a library with a vampire. For any other unmarried miss, this situation would be frightening. However, Alexia has no soul which means that vampires can’t eat her and, in fact, her touch temporarily turns supernatural creatures into humans.

There are three types of supernatural creatures in Carriger’s universe: werewolves, vampires and ghosts. Werewolves come in packs, and vampires come in hives, but somehow this vampire doesn’t seem to come from anywhere. Alexia gets caught up with the Bureau of Unnatural Registry, or BUR, in helping to investigate this strange appearance as well as a number of strangely coincidental disappearances.

In the interview at the back of the book, Carriger reports having asked herself, “if immortals were mucking about, wouldn’t they have been mucking about for a very long time?” She considers the cultural implications of supernatural interference: “Those absurd Victorian manners and ridiculous fashions were obviously dictated by vampires. And, without a doubt, the British army regimental system functioned on werewolf pack dynamics… [and then I] realized that if Victorians were studying vampires and werewolves (which they would do, if they knew about them)… technology would have evolved differently. Enter a sprinkling of steampunk…” (p. 364)

In my opinion, most traditional urban fantasy fails because it doesn’t consider the long-term, global ramifications of its conceits. This isn’t helped by the fact that a great deal of urban fantasy poses a secret underworld filled with werewolves and vampires (or fairies and elves) who covertly affect the real world. Small-scale stories revolving around this conceit can be fine, but secrets are difficult to keep, and many stories pose so many supernatural events of such import that it strains credibility to believe that magic could remain a secret. Buffy – to take an at-hand example – made a joke of it. But non-humorous texts are out of luck if they want us to believe that people die every night from vampire bites and yet no one ever notices.

Carriger’s world is one in which vampires and werewolves are fully integrated. They interact with and affect politics and society, and in turn are affected by them. For instance, there’s a post specifically designated for a werewolf to advise the Queen, but simultaneously the alpha werewolf is constrained by high society mores.

Soulless also benefits from the fact that Carriger doesn’t seem to have approached the elements of her book as disparate. As she says, Victorians investigating magic lends itself to steampunk; one genre element follows from another, creating the sense of a fully integrated world.

The novel’s action-oriented main plot takes place against a Jane-Austen-like background. Alexia, the product of her mother’s first marriage to a – gasp – Italian, is a spinster with a number of unflattering traits, such as her blunt speech and tan complexion, all of which make it clear she’ll never find a proper English husband. Nevertheless, she falls in love with one of the country’s most eligible bachelors, the werewolf alpha Lord Maccon.

No, wait. She doesn’t fall in love with him. She can’t stand him. No, I’m sorry. I mean, he can’t stand her. Wait. He’s in love with her – that’s it. It’s just that he’s strong and manly, but also messy and uncivilized. While she’s proud and intractable, but also busty and tenacious. Wait, are we reading Pride and Prejudice with Werewolves?

Soulless’s treatment of romance in its early chapters is the novel’s only major misstep. The text improves once Lord Maccon and Alexia acknowledge their romantic feelings – although there is one awkward, late-chapter sex scene that occurs in the middle of an action sequence, which could have been dramatically shortened while still serving its purpose as a release valve for romance and humor. But the early romantic sallies are winceably cliché. As soon as a male character gazes upon the heroine with a passage like–

Miss Tarabotti might examine her face in the mirror each morning with a large degree of censure, but there was nothing at all wrong with her figure. He would have to have had far less soul and a good fewer urges not to notice that appetizing fact. Of course, she always went and spoiled the appeal by opening her mouth. In his humble experience, the world had yet to produce a more vexingly verbose female. (p. 8-9)

–we readers know where we’re headed. We don’t need tingling near her abdomen or stirring he can’t explain, interspersed with fury! at his lack of manners and yet–! to guide us along the way. Carriger so facilely avoids other clichés that it’s a shame this one mars the text.

Overall, though, the Austen elements are charming. Carriger’s Victorian voice is sharp and funny. Witty observations provide a plethora of humorous clashes between action sequences and rigid etiquette. The descriptions of Victorian fashion are very nice for those readers with a weakness for bustles and lace, and I suspect I’m not the only one since the book is marketed with a Victorian dress-up doll flash game.

If there’s one weakness the Victorian voice lends itself to, it’s the underdevelopment of Alexia’s mother, step-father and sisters, who play the compliant foils for unconventional Alexia. Their insipidness is fine at the beginning of the book, but grows less convincing as their roles increase near the end. Still, this is a small complaint and easily remedied. Hopefully Carriger will toss them a few lines of character development in one of the sequels.

Other characters are created quite well. Alexia, for instance, is a fun and well-portrayed heroine, full of vigor and flaws. She, her friend Ivy, and their friendship are memorably captured in a few sentences: “Ivy Hisselpenny was the unfortunate victim of circumstances that dictated she be only-just-pretty, only-just-wealthy, and possessed of a terrible propensity for wearing extremely silly hats. This last being the facet of Ivy’s character that Alexia found most difficult to bear.” (p. 33) Lord Maccon and his assistant, Professor Lydell, are good characters as well, although Lord Maccon is at times brushed in with slightly-too-broad romantic strokes and could use a little more development within his archetype. The best character is the vampire Lord Akeldama, an outrageous gossip-monger with a penchant for gaudy attire whose underlying intelligence and immortal weariness are deftly revealed as the novel progresses.

In the end, Soulless is not a profound novel. It imparts no revelations about the human experience. I don’t expect it will change anyone’s life or that I’ll remember the plot intricacies in ten years. But it was a fun, adventurous romp that diverted me for a few hours. I might even read it a second time. I will certainly pick up book two of the Parasol Protectorate and I look forward to meeting Alexia Tarabotti again in 2010.

–

*It seems possible that Carriger began writing with the intent of forecasting what tropes would be popular a few years down the line. If this is the case, kudos to her for guessing correctly.

**It should go without saying that any of these things can be done well. It’s just that while 90% of everything is crap, I find these tropes to suffer from even worse odds. Nevertheless, here are some successful examples: Octavia Butler’s Fledgling (vampire), N. K. Jemisin’s “Red Riding Hood’s Child” (werewolf), Benjamin Rosenbaum’s “The Ant King: A California Fairy Tale” (urban fantasy), and Paula Guran’s anthologies of romantic fantasy which contain Coates’s “Magic in a Certain Slant of Light,” Parks’s “Moon Viewing at Shijo Bridge,” and Copley-Woods’s “Desires of Houses” (romance). Michael Swanwick is famous for combining disparate genre elements with strength and grace, and I was recently impressed with new writer Tina Connolly’s “Moon at the Starry Diner” for successfully condensing an epic plotline and several incompatible tropes into a short story.