Here's a fact few of you may know. In the past year, my favorite movie has become Love Actually. Shout out that it's girly all you want, but it is some of the most clever and touching writing around. Certainly better than a lot of the more serious films that have come out around it. When I decided to become a film major (long, long ago), it was so I could make movies exactly like this. I always knew my interests as a filmmaker and playwright lay in this area. All I've ever wanted to do as a writer was make people feel what this movie made me feel: the spectrum of emotion. Seems like a tall order now. And I've been able to write lately are scary stories and softcore filth. Bah.

I had seen it before, but I was reminded of Love Actually at a recent get together with Catpants and the Doc. Doc was cooking, as usual, and Catpants and I sat on the couch and had our little girl-talk during the movie. It was then that I realized (and subsequently told Catpants) that romantic comedy, clever, touching, heart wrenching romantic comedy, is the work I want to do as an actor and as a writer. Romantic Comedy is the perfect place to make jokes about anything, but you can also stick in good monologues and whatnot.

All that aside, as the winter approaches, I am left with my normal ACHING for the Christmas Season (it is especially important to me this year, as it will be my last in Texas, for a while anyway). I think I will be reliving this movie a lot, before the season, and during. I invite you to do the same. Its quite brilliant. Below is my favorite quote (on posterboard!), and the result of a quiz from the Love Actually website, www.loveactually.com. Its a quiz that tests your LQ (get it?) and tells you what kind of lover you are. I challenge you ALL to leave your results in my comments.

Mark: [on sheets of poster board] -With any luck, by next year -

-I'll be going out with one of these girls-

-But for now, let me say -

-Without hope or agenda -

-Just because it's Christmas -

-And at Christmas you tell the truth -

-To me, you are perfect -

-And my wasted heart will love you -

-Until you look like this [picture of a mummy]

- Merry Christmas -


MY LQ

The Loyal Lover- You're a Lover you can lean on. Loyal, with a heart of solid gold.