Stuck in LA, that’s what. The good news is that we’re three scripts and two records in on the animated series. The better news is it’s really, really funny. Kudos to Dave, Brian Kelley, Steve Luchner, Mosier and myself for three really hillarious episodes thus far. Kudos also to Chris Bailey, our director, who’s come up with a distinctive look for the show that seperates it from anything else out there. And huge kudos to Brian and Jeff (and Mewes) who’ve brought it all to life so well. I think it’s going to be a well-received show.

That’s pretty much what we’ve been solely doing for the last two weeks (there was also this thing on Mtv, I don’t know if anyone saw…).

From the papers this morning it would seem that the ‘Dogma’ protest isn’t going to die down anytime soon. I’m sorry, but anyone expecting a controversial film is in for a huge disappointment (though, as Breck pointed out somewhere below, I’d taken Buster’s word about that many moons back, and so far, he’s not proving very prophetic; what happened to you, Mike? Must I look for a new soothsayer?). I’m still shaking my head over the charges that I’m pissing on anyone’s beliefs, though. And I assure all concerned: the word ‘hump’ never pops up in ‘Dogma’.

To that point, the passage that was discussed below as well – about the quote from the earlier draft of the script – was not denying the Virgin birth; that is, in fact, one of the touchstones of the Catholic faith. But what the line DOES maintain is that AFTER – LONG after – the birth of Christ, Mary and Joseph had other children. This is not something I’ve made up or an idea I’ve trailblazed; many Christian faiths acknowledge the Biblical references to Jesus’ brothers and sisters as biological – not figurative. There are books out there on the subject, a recent one of which purports that one of the Apostles was a sibling of Christ (which Apostle it was, exactly, escapes me right now). Like any Catholic worth his salt, of course I believe Mary conceived Jesus without having known a man’s touch. However, I wasn’t aware – and I’m still not positive – that the Catholic Church objects to the idea that Christ had younger siblings; I just think it’s something they don’t necessarily include in their dogma.

If you ever get a chance, check out the talk-backs over at Aint It Cool News whenever ‘Dogma’ comes up. With the exception of the occasional Buster dig (two mentions in one post; gotta love a law book editor), I guess we’re pretty insulated from the venom (and I do mean venom) of the folks who don’t care for me or the flicks I’ve been involved with. As much as it depresses or frustrates me, I commit myself to reading the bile all the time – just to maintain perspective. And while I never usually comment on the bullshit that’s floated out there about me and mine, I would like to chuckle at the conspiracy-theorists who think we’ve trumped up this ‘Dogma’ outrage ourselves. Let me tell you something: no one – not me, not Scott, not even Harvey ‘I Love Press’ Weinstein himself – NO ONE needs the headache that comes with any of this bullshit. It’s no fun to regard strangers with caution, for fear that any one of them may be some of the letter-and-postcard writers who’ve deluged the Miramax offices with the hate propaganda I’ve been privy to. There are some frightening people out there that the crafty few with bigger fish to fry may not realize they’re inciting to violence. When all of this blows over one day, I’ll post a few of the particularly scary missives that make you think twice about leaving your home/office/bedroom. It’s one thing to protest the content of a movie; it’s another thing completely to warn someone to invest their money in a flak-jacket, because a group is organized, armed, and ready to do battle on behalf of God.

Which strikes me as the most bitter irony in this whole mess: I believe in God, they believe in God. Aren’t we on the same side (which, in light of the flak-jacket comment, doesn’t say too much for me)? But while it seems I’d like to spread God’s word (admittedly entertainingly; please recall – Christ Himself used this method as well: He imparted God’s word via parables, aka STORIES… albeit without the dick and fart jokes), they’d like to spread God’s wrath (and a few folks’ internals as well, from what the threats contained within the letters have said).

I guess it’s true what they say about good intentions and asphalt.

On a much better and more hopeful note, Jen’s started dilating (sp?). It’s now only a small matter of time before we bring an innocent into what’s lately seeming like a very ridiculous world.

Does anyone know if they make flak jackets for newborns?