endurablegoods

Christopher Fleming Smith 

Creative Copywriter -- Marketing Mechanic -- Filmmaker

PORTFOLIO
TWITTER
LINKEDIN

+++++++++++++++++++++

Oh, man... This blog is still here? Dude, c'mon.

What's the German word for an "An old blog that you can't delete but probably won't ever update again"?

++++

In the future, our Orderly Pretty Chill Society will be powered by science-based sorcery and the holy cryptocraft of blockchain benevolence. #blockchain #ledger

BUG - A Germ Phobia Too Far?

If you’re like most of us, you’re probably going to catch a cold this time of year. Maybe the flu, a nasty cough or just some low-grade annoying fever that keeps you on the fence about calling in sick to work. Face it, you’ve got a good chance of coming down with a nasty bug this winter. But if you’re lucky and end up with the ever-so-trendy Zika Virus, at least you’ll get some screen time on your local news.

Of course, that’s not the government’s fault, right? Zika Virus wasn’t designed and released by a shadowy network of world leaders to thin the world’s population, right?

Maybe we’re the subject of dangerous biological testing? And now these GMO-tweaked mosquitoes are running amuck, spreading Zika Virus across the world! Perhaps other experiments are still going on and microscopic bugs have invested our bodies and are replicating! Burn everything!

Or maybe it’s all in your head?

+++

Join an unhinged drifter recently discharged from the military and a down-n-out waitress dealing with a wreck of a life as they form a freakishly intense bond when dealing with an invisible infestation of intelligent killer bugs.

Directed by Hollywood legend William Friedkin (The French Connection, To Live and Die in LA, The Exorcist), and featuring the massive talent of Michael Shannon supported by Ashley Judd and Harry Connick, Jr., Bug delivers a tight psychological thriller that smolders for a bit then leaps in psychotic fits and starts taking you on an uncomfortable journey into paranoia and madness.

Grab some tinfoil and enjoy the show.

Watch BUG at TubiTV!


(Article written as part of Tubi TV writer application)

Antique Laser Pointer

I had no idea what this was when I bought it at a sidewalk sale at ATA. The woman said it was some kind of "pointer thing" and immediately dropped the price from $10 to $5. Whatever it was looked pretty cool, had a nice case, and I was in the mood to spend $5. I took the mysterious sci-fi movie prop home and checked in out.

First off, it's important to note that this thing is heavy and well-made. This was clearly a serious tool back in the day. Heck, the box even locked (key was included). I did a little research and learned that this Ednalight Electric Projection Pointer is considered by some as the original "laser" pointer.

You'll notice a bunch of heavy black wire. One side plugged into the wall and the other side (4-5 feet long) powered the pointer. Half expecting it to explode, I plugged in the device and tried it out. A very simple affair, the pointer had a single button set expertly in the smooth, high-quality metalwork.

Oh, I have to admit I was pretty excited. What was going to happen! I mean, with all this power and the heaviness and craftsmanship involved. This thing was going to throw a blinding bolt of pointing madness! No one cared about safety in the 60's! This is probably radioactive. I pressed the button. 

After about three minutes of testing, the device was already getting warm and I was over it. 

 

Now Approaching, Dunsmuir Station...

Waxy Yellow Buildup

Writer/Editor at Reddit -- My Application

Several weeks ago I applied to a Writer/Editor position at the World Famous Internet Website, Reddit.com.

I'm a long-time member of the site and spend (probably) too much time poking around the various sub-Reddits, front page, and Reddit TV. I've learned a lot from the community and would be excited to be a part of it as it grows into something huge.

Check out my application content below. I think I'll get a call, don't you?

 

++++

Via Reddit/jobs/:

To Apply Please include a cover letter, resume, and 2 writing samples of your choice. In addition, please create 3 new pieces adapted from any content on reddit within the last year. The more variety in the nature and structure of the articles, the better.

Two Writing Samples
- A Tragic Distance
- The Ride of Your Life?

Three New Pieces
- Writing For Reddit

Bonus Video!
- Elevator Sign Warning

Mildly Interesting 

- My photo got the #1 spot in Buzzfeed's "19 People Whose Pets Might Not Be Street Legal"

++++

Of course, I also sent my resume, a link to my online portfolio, a link to this blog, and a link to my LinkedIn profile.

 

Born Slippy .NUX

Via Wikipedia

The ".NUXX" mix was released as its own proper single in the wake of the 1996 Danny Boyle film Trainspotting, where it could be heard in the final scene. The movie stoked immense public interest in the previously little-known track, helping the single peak at Number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in July 1996.[1] The track became known as simply "Born Slippy" by the general public, despite the fact that "Born Slippy" is the title of the completely different 1995 track.

And the rest should be self explanatory.

#brandasfuck

Nearly every day I walk by a place by Mission and Chavez that does passport photos, miscellaneous shipping stuff, and headshots. But not *just headshots; World Class Headshots. So I made a t-shirt with the hashtag #brandasfuck for an as-yet undetermined project. The End.

Promotional Idea for "The Day I Almost Died"

A couple months ago I had the good fortune of being 1st AD for two episodes of a new TV show called "The Day I Almost Died."

The basic schtick of the show was recreating real instances where someone does something dumb/dangerous and they end up almost dying. Good stuff! The episodes on which I worked included a guy falling down a mineshaft, an illegal fireworks mishap, and a snowmobile accident among others. 

As I told people about the show I noticed that discussions immediately veered toward the exchange of personal anecdotes of near-death situations. "Let me tell you how I almost died..." It seems that nearly everyone has "almost died" - and are excited to share their story. With that understanding, I put together a campaign designed to capitalize on peoples' inherent need to share their brush-with-death tales while promoting the show.

Campaign Overview

Build a custom The Day I Almost Died (DIAD)-branded YouTube channel to collect an array of stories of peoples’ near-death experiences. Leverage channel content and community to promote 1st season of the show. 

After creating a slick-looking YouTube page with existing art/assets and setting up the backend metrics and such, you'd need a single full-time manager and a bit of administrative support to get it up and running.

Through smart phones and YouTube webcam capture, we would collect hundreds (if not thousands) of amateur video clips. This content would be tagged, made shareable, and featured as deemed necessary. With basic social media promotion and TV network support, the DIAD channel would gain a considerable audience. Throw a few contests in there and watch the traffic!

Apart from the primary benefit of getting more eyeballs on the current programming, I put forth these bonus points:

• Indigo Films would be able to “mine” thousands of submissions for the best new stories for Season #2 and onward. This will save time sourcing material for future seasons.

• DIAD could promote YouTube channel during TV programming and drive more free submissions into the mix. More submissions = more raw material for Seasons #2 – ?

• Indigo Films and ID Channel will reach new audiences and strengthen existing ones. 
  
  

Unfortunately, the budget wasn't there and I was too late in the game to make it happen. However, it's a great idea and once the series is renewed I'll likely re-pitch.

The Day I Almost Died should air in July on the Discovery Life channel. Check your local listings! 

Download THE DAY I ALMOST DIED proposal 

 

SF Movie Examiner - Reposted Articles

Many years ago I was posting articles to SF Examiner.com as their "Movie Examiner." Unfortunately, the platform went through a major overhaul which "disappeared" much of my content! To get it re-published I needed to go through a bunch of hoops and work with their atrocious UI/UX/FU scene.

So instead, I cut-n-pasted each article, re-sourced the imagery, and did my best to re-link all the rotted urls. Tedious, but worth the effort.

Have a look!