RODNEY DANGERFIELD IN BACK TO SCHOOL © METRO GOLDWYN MAYER.
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Dylan Thomas (1914 – 1953)
The “triple lindy” dive was made famous by Rodney Dangerfield in Back To School. The dive is fictional, but the heart of the film is fully realized in this underdog scene. Rodney proves he’s still got it even at his age. While being grilled by his professors he exclaimed: “I don’t take shit from no one. I’m gonna pass this test. I’m staying in school! Who’s next?!”
Some days I have to remind myself “progress, not perfection.” For 27 years I’ve managed to work in nearly every capacity a graphic designer can muster, from Graphics Editor on the UGA Bulldog student newspaper to Museum Intern and then onto Broadcast Designer and currently Creative Director. I’ve faced many challenges, but one thing always rang true: never give up. No matter what.
Most days I take a moment to recall a memory that molded me into the rock star I am today. =) Out of all the broadcast design and visual effects work I’ve worked on it’s the old-school techniques and obstacles that I cherish. I’ve woken up 3 hours before dawn anticipating the sunrise we captured in time-lapse with a Latvian master DP at the height of autumn who constantly demanded: “Leaves!”
Back when we shot on film, and the falling leaves were real leaves gathered 20 miles from the shoot, they were dropped by yours truly. It’s quite a challenge to dress a live location selling it as an autumn scene when Mother Nature decides to hold off dropping the leaves a week later than forecast by our own expert meteorologists.
I’ve had some amazing mentors along the way, and passed on the knowledge by teaching other artists my craft, the tricks of our trade. Some of those tricks became realities when companies like Red Giant believed in a handful of concepts I had been kicking around and decided to give me an opportunity of a lifetime. Three or four months later I was given some news that rocked my world.
Surprise. The hunch that started it all became realized, and we got to share it with everyone. Even better, it was free.
“Whatever happened to playing a hunch, Scully? The element of surprise, random acts of unpredictability? If we fail to anticipate the unforeseen or expect the unexpected in a universe of infinite possibilities, we may find ourselves at the mercy of anyone or anything that cannot be programmed, categorized or easily referenced.”