GUITAR SOLOS NOW ILLEGAL! How to WRITE ABOUT DRUGS and make FILMS THAT DON’T SUCK.

Should guitar solos be illegal? Can we write about drugs tastefully? How do you make a film that doesn’t suck? This week on Holy Lung Radio Hour we answer the important questions, as we welcome special guest and dear friend Cole Miller.

Cole is a short story writer, currently a BFA student in PSU’s Creative Writing Program, but we met in the context of film making. 2 years ago, in a theater arts class at Portland Community College, he directed me in a scene from the nutty professor.

We also listen to one of the mock radio commercials we made in class, where I attempt some voice acting. The class was taught by my acting mentor, the estimable Barry Hunt (Portland area actors & film makers definitely need to get involved with Hunt’s Sowelu film and theater collective).

We look back at the time Cole and I later collaborated on a 48 Hour Film Project team, where we wrote, shot, and edited a (very cringe worthy) short film in 48 hours. Discussing the lessons we learned from making the film–from the screenwriting to producing and acting, we try to pass on the wisdom we’ve gleaned from our mistakes.

Actors Jeremy Jules Edwards and Hailey Henry

Cole brings up an important question: should guitar solos be illegal? Spoiler: I end up agreeing with him. Ironic, since just last week i did a guitar themed show.

Later on (around 30:00), we each read a piece of work. Cole reads a prose poem; I read a short memoir. Coincidentally, we both read pieces about addiction, drugs, and specifically, copping dope in the Tenderloin of San Francisco.

We also discover Cole does a spot on William S. Burroughs impression.

Our discussion goes on to explore the ways in which artists can write tastefully about addiction, drug abuse, depravity, while avoiding tropes and looking like a Charles Bukowski wannabe.

Love,

dj jules

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