#20 Seinfeld, Marylin Monroe and going silent on Instagram.

10 things to share over coffee

1. A letter from me

Hello, everyone,

So happy to see my little newsletter audience growing slowly but surely every week. It's still very much at the beginning. I've barely written 20 posts, but I feel like I'm slowly getting into a groove. I won't say I have found a good writing routine, as it's been a bit hit-and-miss.

Some weeks I can balance my many tasks, including writing, while it all falls apart at other times. But it's all good as long as I am moving in a generally roundabout forward direction. Sometimes I manage leaps and bounds; other moments, I'm moving at a snail's pace. It all evens out at the end of the year as long as there's movement.

At least this newsletter has been started, and that's a massive success in itself, as I've been thinking about it for the longest time. It began with a room full of friends, who have now brought other friends and acquaintances.

So now there is quite a crowd in the room which is getting exciting. I need to keep practising my act. I'm like a stand-up comic honing my set. And it's a huge buzz!

2. What I've been watching

Last week I heard about the documentary Jerry Seinfeld: Comedian which follows the background of stand up comedy and how it all works. After the success in his show, I found it fascinating to see how Seinfeld craved the world of stand-up. Seinfeld loved writing and honing his material in front of live stand-up audiences in small comedy clubs, and that's what he went back to doing after his sitcom wrapped up.

The 2002 documentary also traces the then-up-and-coming Orny Adams as he navigates his career as a new comedian. It's a fascinating look at the nature of comedy, the real craft and dedication behind it and the industry's history. This documentary is a little dated, so I wondered if it still works like this for comics. 

So that led me to Seinfeld's interview series Comedians in cars getting coffee, which sees him picking up high-profile comic stars in vintage cars, taking them out for coffee, and generally talking about their careers and comedy. Although a little self-indulgent and dull, seeing the banter and shop talk between the stars is fun.

3. This week's obsession

While watching the highlights of the Oscars last week, because who really watches the whole thing anymore these days anyway, I thought I might look at one of the movies neglected by the awards this year. Which lead me down into a fascinating Marilyn Monroe wormhole.

I watched the excellent arthouse movie Blonde starring an amazing Ana de Armas as Marylin. Based on a novel by Joyce Carol Oates, the film creates a wonderfully eccentric retelling of Monroes' life. The movie is sometimes uncomfortable to watch, with many graphic sex scenes, violence and triggering moments for anyone who has suffered a miscarriage.

As someone who is interested in screenplays and cinema, I enjoyed seeing how the director, Andrew Dominik used techniques like blending black and white and colour, new camera techniques and surrealistic filters and camera angles to show the mental state of Monroe. You really get a sense of the insanity of Marylin’s mental state which was altered by her use of prescription drugs, depression and the hyper reality of being a Hollywood star being continually mobbed by the press.

The movie reveals so many fascinating facets of the Marylin story, from the nature of her childhood, the schizophrenic heart of Hollywood, her mental illness, depression, drug use, and the way the star system abused her and ultimately destroyed her.

Also on Netflix is the equally fascinating documentary The Mystery of Marylin Monroe: the unheard tapes, which investigates the nature of her untimely death. Investigative journalist and author Anthony Summers spent three years collecting tape-recorded interviews with people who knew Monroe or had knowledge concerning her death. The result is a fascinating look at Marylin Monroe's last days, filled with intrigue and scandal.

4. What I've been listening to

I've been continuing my deep dive into the 1970s. This week I want to add some more Warren Zevon to our playlist. He's the quintessential 70s singer-songwriter who created this bad-boy image with clever lyrics and fun songs.

If he wanted to, Warren Zevon could have had a great career in music theatre as every one of his songs is filled with different character voices and tell the most vivid stories. Go over and listen.

5. Newsletter love

I want to share one of my favourite arts newsletters and blogs, which are a constant source of fascination and inspiration for me.

The Magellian, formally known as Brain Pickings, has been around for sixteen years, written and run by the astounding Maria Popova; it's filled with fascinating articles about the most talented writers, philosophers, poets and thinkers of all time.

I recommend their free Sunday newsletter. I love it!

6. Poem of the week

The Poem of the week is from west Indian poet Derek Walcott.

Love after love is about finding inner peace, self-acceptance and tranquillity.

The time will come

when, with elation,

you will greet yourself arriving

at your own door, in your own mirror

and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was your self.

Give wine. Give bread, Give back your heart

to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored

for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf

the photographs, the desperate notes,

peel your own image from the mirror.

Sit. Feast on your life.

7. Podcast crush

I discovered the Australian podcast from the Double J radio station on the ABC this week.

Listening to this one made me feel a little less homesick for Australia. I loved listening to the conversation between Myf Warhurst and Zan Rowe about whatever has been on the news in Australia.

Bang on is a great little find, filled with bubbling energy, intelligent analysis and generally fantastic company. It made me realise how much I miss Australia.

8. Yet another celebrity podcast

I also have been enjoying The problem with John Stewart. It's an ongoing look at world politics through the comic lens and cutting satire of John Stewart.

The latest episode dedicated to the political shenanigans is filled with exceptionally excellent banter between the ridiculousness of the current US and UK political landscape.

9. Common place quote

A few weeks ago, I binge-watched the fascinating Martin Scorsese and Fran Lebowitz interview series dedicated to their love of New York. Pretend It's a City is filled with glorious recollections, banter, ramblings and reflections on life in the big apple.

I was reminded of the sharp wit of Fran Lebowitz, which reminded me of this week's quote, which sums up the acidic, trite style of Lebowitz's writing and speech. Which I enjoy in small doses, as I find she can be a little too much of the same thing. Scorsese loves his friend. And I hope there is another season of Pretend it's a city.

'Think before you speak. Read before you think. This will give you something to think about that you didn't make up yourself – a wise move at any age, but most especially at seventeen, when you are the greatest danger of coming to annoying conclusions.'

-       Fran Lebowitz' Tips for teens' Social Studies (1981)

10. News from this week

This week in Italy Instagram literally went silent, and it made me realise how used we are to having music as a soundtrack to our lives, even online.

If you haven't heard about it, there is a current disagreement between the Italian music copyright board (the SIA) and Facebook and Instagram.

This has meant Italian music cannot be used on either of the platforms. And here in Italy, it has resulted in most posts' music being deleted. All of the music controlled by copyright in Italy has been removed.

It's been bizarre to see stories without the voice-over or music. I haven't even been able to add my favourite tunes to my stories, something I used to relish.

Here's hoping an agreement can be reached soon, as many creators are incredibly frustrated and penalised.
 

I hate to be long-winded, so I will stop here.

I'll try to share something worthwhile, well thought out and new here every week, perhaps more often if I get frisky or in some karmic writing zone.

Thanks for subscribing, and be sure to send this to a friend or someone you think might enjoy this.

Speak again soon.

With love and light from RDB

P.S: If you are enjoying the free newsletter, why not consider subscribing to my paid version too, which is currently dedicated to my travel memoir, Sicilian Descent. You will get a weekly serialised version of my book exclusively for you. 

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