The Colossus of Ainsle

by

TG Jamroz

TG Jamroz

mobilewavefilms@gmail.com

EXT. STREET DAY

2 people are looking up at something.

(They can be of any characteristics, they

are just named “man” )

MAN 1

What is it?

MAN 2

I don’t know

MAN 1

Does he have a permit?

MAN 2

I don’t know

MAN 1

How long has he been at it?

MAN 2

I don’t know

MAN 1

hmmmm...I wonder if

MAN 1 AND MAN 2

I don’t know....

MAN 1

I get it

MAN 2

I suppose it’s some kind of a

statement

MAN 1

regarding?

MAN 2

Man’s inhumanity to man....you

know, stuff like that...2.

MAN 1

I don’t think so

MAN 2

why not?

MAN 1

well I think it’s too whimsical

MAN 2

That’s whimsical to you?

MAN 1

yeah, why not?

MAN 2

doesn’t look whimsical

MAN 1

why sure it does

MAN 2

not to me to me it’s kinda,scary

MAN 1

No, really?

MAN 2

Yeah, really

MAN 1

You are just afraid of it because

you don’t know what it is typical,

fear of the unknown.

MAN 2

Oh, I don’t think so, I don’t think

I’m like that.

MAN 1

we have nothing to fear, but,

something, something

His voice trails off3.

MAN 2

ain’t history a bitch?

MAN 1

for sure, when you can’t remember

it.

MAN 2

Do you think we should tell

someone?

MAN 1

Who?

MAN 2

The authorities

MAN 1

What good would that do?

MAN 2

well, they could take it down, or

issue a citation or something.

MAN 1

Like I said, what good would that

do?

MAN 2

I don’t know, that the kind of

stuff they do though.

MAN 1

Yeah, well, where has it ever

gotten anyone?

MAN 2

Order, Order must be maintained.

MAN 1

For whose benefit?

MAN 2

For the benefit of society and all

those that don’t break the rules.4.

MAN 1

Who makes the rules?

MAN 2

The People

MAN 1

The special interests no, as much

as I might not like this, I don’t

trust them to do the right thing.

MAN 2

Well, maybe your right.

MAN 3

(a person of any characteristics)

Hey!

MAN 1 AND MAN 2

Hey

MAN 3

Nice day huh?

MAN 1

Sure

MAN 2

Very nice

MAN 3

What you doing?

MAN 1

watching

MAN 3

watching what?

MAN 2

This whole thing here.

Points5.

MAN 3

Oh, Ummm, what whole thing?

MAN 2

This!

MAN 1

You don’t see what’s going on here?

MAN 3

Sure, What?

MAN 1

My god man, are you daft?

MAN 3

I don’t think so. I just don’t see

what the big deal is.

MAN 1

Are you being serious right now?

MAN 3

Right now, yes.

MAN 1

This, this Colossus, you don’t see

this?

MAN 3

Well, sure, but Colossus? That’s a

bridge too far.

MAN 2

Could be a bridge.

MAN 1

What?

MAN 2

You know a metaphorical bridge.6.

MAN 1

Well, I think this is a bridge too

far.

MAN 2

See?

MAN 1

See what?

MAN 2

Exactly.

MAN 3

Wasn’t that a movie directed by the

Dinosaur guy?

MAN 1

What?

MAN 2

Yeah I think you are right. He

directed that movie and then he ran

Jurassic Park in that Spielberg

movie.

We hear the sound of a truck backing up

MAN 1

What’ that sound?

MAN 2

I think that’s a truck backing up.

MAN 3

I hate that sound!

MAN 1

Oh no, now what?

MAN 2

I guess go big and bold or go home.

MAN 3

I should go home?7.

MAN 2

I say stay if you want. Why not

it’s a nice night

MAN 1

I think this is gotten out of hand.

MAN 2

You know, what can you do about it

anyway.

The lights fade and rise on another part of

the stage where we see the Mayor about to

give a press conference. Man 1 and Man 2

don hats with Reporter signs sticking out of

them that says Press, like a 1930’s movie.

They also have notepads and pencils.

REPORTER 1

What is it?

REPORTER 2

Why have you left it up?

REPORTER 1

Do they have a permit? Do they need one?

MAYOR

(a larger man, typical big city mayor type

personality)

As I have said before, if a man is to build a colossus who am I to tell them to take it

down.

The Mayor continues to mime speaking as

the “reporters” in front take the focus.

REPORTER 1

He thinks he is a man of the people

REPORTER 2

Could be

REPORTER 1

Oh, you don’t think this is a political thing?8.

REPORTER 2

Well, I’m sure it is, everything is. What are you going to ask him? About the budget, or

the crime? Or that damn Colossus.

REPORTER 1

Well the prudent thing to do would be to ask about that budget. But it’s so dry, I know

my readers want to hear about his opinion on that Colossus. It’s been all over social

media.

REPORTER 2

Yes, it has been. But we should really educate the people on what is in that budget.

RERPORTER 1

Do you what to be entertaining and keep your job because you get clicks, or do you want

to be so....didactic. You in this to feel good or sell papers?

The lights shift back to the whole group, the

reporters turn their focus back to the Mayor.

REPORTER 2

So, Mayor, don’t you think that should be taken down? Isn’t that an eyesore?

MAYOR

We should be careful what we label things. One man’s eyesore is another man’s or

woman’s art.

REPORTER 1

Are you saying Mayor that we should let these things go on?

REPORTER 2

Shouldn’t this require a permit?

REPORTER 1

Shouldn’t it be controlled by some kind of zoning laws?

MAYOR

As Mayor, I am fully aware of the legalities and the bureaucracy that must be maintained

and fed. The point is that these issues have to be my idea. I will not be schooled by the

press. But, I am here to announce, I am going there tomorrow.

Loud murmurs and excitement among the

press

My re-election is upcoming. I look forward to discuss this with the people.9.

Lights out. The hats and notepads are gone.

Back to the street we see the 3 men

watching in amazement

MAN 1

I saw it on the news.

MAN 2

Yes, yes me too. I guess it got some unwanted attention.

MAN 3

I heard some of the politicians railed against it.

MAN 1

I heard that some of them washed their hands of it, but the Mayor said he will come here

today.

MAN 2

Really? Why? There are so many other problems to address in this hell-hole.

MAN 1

Yes, the other day someone was smoking on the train. I had to get out and switch cars at

one stop because it was just this huge billowing amount of smoke.

MAN 2

One of the many problems we should be talking about instead .

MAN 1

I know right?

MAN 3

So, what’s gonna happen now?

MAN 1

I suppose they will have to take the rest of it down.

MAN 2

Yes, I am sure of it.10.

MAN 3

It’s too bad it got damaged like that. It seems they were doing it with the best of

intentions. I hope no one got hurt.

MAN 2

Like I said, unwanted attention.

MAN 3

Do you think what the Mayor coming will make any difference?

MAN 1

A photo op!

MAN 3

You don’t think he cares?

MAN 1

He cares about being re-elected

MAN 2

Sure

MAN 3

I think he cares.

MAN 1

About what?

MAN 2

Himself?

MAN 3

He said he did!

A moment of awkward silence

MAN 1

Regardless, I think I am going to climb it.

Man 1 & Man 2 react intensely. Man 1

grabs a parachute from the side stage and

puts it on his back.

MAN 2

Oh my God! Is that a parachute?11.

MAN 3

That’s so high! You might hurt yourself!

MAN 1

Just imagine if I can get that high, I can see the whole area. See where my house fits into

the plan of the neighborhood. Whose with me?

Silence

Man 1 shrugs and walks away.

MAN 3

Should we join him?

MAN 2

I don’t want to get involved, besides, I’m afraid of heights.

Man 2 walks away, but not far enough

offstage where he can still see and react to

Man 3.

MAN 3

Right.

A moment, man 3 hesitates, he does not

know what to do.

MAN 3

Hey look its the mayor! Maybe I can present him with my proposal in person! Wow he

has a parachute on too!

Man 3 rushes off. Man 2 comes back

onstage after he hears the noise and looks

around, cheering, hushing, more cheering.

He has forgotten something, but the sound

of the crowd has gained his attention. He

gathers his belongings and goes to leave

then stops when he hears a big Ahhhhh from

the crowd...he turns and steps towards the

direction of the sounds of the crowd.

Blackout

This was a very small part, but very interesting part of the Documentary. I will post the section I am talking about below.

I am working on other projects, but it still seems I have more to do here, and I am thinking about what I should do

This substack started with this project, so we will update new information here. I am workin on 2 new documentaries, and hope you are interested in those as well!

I was asked to write some songs for a Goth That Scottish Play, and I made some fun hard rock songs…search The Platinum Tears on July 1st on your streaming services for this single.

Some client content

Music video for Ike Reilly and the Great Lake Jumper!

we are working on putting together a new Substack that deals with The Murals, Henry Varnum Poor, Carl Sandburg, Louis Sullivan, New Deal Art, American History, and more~! More materials to list and talk about!

I am old school enough now to see the return of the DVD and physical media. This is the way I used to consume media, until the streaming services. Many a cultural phenomenon was born via the media you could take home and own like “This is Spinal Tap”. The problem with streaming services is that titles expire due to rights, and are on and off platforms.

I am working on several projects in different states of development, and wanted to watch “The Double life of Veronique” again for a film I am working on called “The Dime Cafe”. This film was made by one of my favorite filmmakers, Kieslowski. I thought I had it on VHS, but now I am looking online, and would rather buy a copy on DVD, than pay to stream it.

This is a new image featuring the Steam Punk Sally character in a still from the series within the film. I have made two short experimental films using the Steampunk Sally character that have screened at a festival in Georgia!

It is loosely based on the different formats of Dr Who, which I have been watching old school episodes on ROKU….(love the ROKU)

From a Storyboard for this part of the film….that I have little money, and no actors for yet! But I have ideas! Finding the right actor to play the lead role has been a difficult adventure so far. I need to go see more shows, live theater, been working front of house at shows too much, so it has cut back on my attending shows to find actors.

I am in full production mode, and have a list of music videos, the new documentary, and this film to get up on their feet this summer. It all moves so slow, but I have made some headway in the edit of the videos. I am looking at booking another live show to do my music/film hybrid show.

As I have been posting, as an indie artist, you just must do. Try. Can’t wait for it to be perfect, because it never will be.

The First Star Documentary truly is a sprawling epic. I need money for re-enactments and to do this justice, but for now I will do what I can. I look at the outline and it is big, and thinking this might need to be done in episodes.

Here are my top 5 pieces of advice of that struggling artist.

1. Create without judgement. Do not stop because you are unsure of yourself.

2. Keep going in the face of jobs, family, doubters. It is very satisfying to see it through (even thought things ALWAYS take longer than you think)

3. Find your own style and voice. There is an audience out there for you.

4. Dont be afraid of failure and mistakes. A big one here. I have failed and been rejected so much, it doesn’t matter to me at all anymore. I guess I have a soul callas.

5. Do the best you can with what you have. You can read all the books, and buy the best camera. An artist friend has told me for years. It’s not the tool it’s the way you use it. Would Picasso be able to create with just a pencil and a piece of paper????

Bonus: I took a class at Second City a couple years ago. The way they suggest working is to just create a lot of stuff, and eventually something will stand out. So if you want to write a story, just pick 100 topics, places, and a prop. And then see if that stirs anything in any combination. It is creation by volume. You have to work at it everyday.

Good luck! Please subscribe and share your art!

This is from my trip to Penn State to film an expert at The Henry Varnum Poor Land Grant Frescoe Murals. I took the Amtrak like I like to do, and took a video I made …

Read more

I just had a great screening at Southern Illinois University. Took the 6 hour train trip from Chicago and threw my bike on the train. I biked to the event and back to the hotel….

They have amazing archives here. Henry Varnum Poor is a big part of the project. He married the writer Bessie Breuer, and for some reason, her archives are here. Really, it is a collection of family correspondence, and letters with other famous people. I didn’t know much about her before this trip , and she is not featured in the project. But, her writing and presence in all of these people’s lives alone, really comes through the papers. They have boxes and boxes of items. I was shocked. Peter Poor (Henry’s son), who is seen at 90 in my film, when I met him, is seen at 5 in photos, letters home from school, and other communication. I said “wow” out loud several times looking at the archives. They saved every letter from Peter, it really is amazing to read his account of going to camp. This man was an artist and Documentary Filmmaker in his own right. I will do a separate post about the archives and what I found.

I spent several years making The Murals Documentary. I am always amazed at the amount of interest and information available about this topic. I am working on a new project about the first star on the Chicago Flag (Fort Dearborn), among other projects. I was hoping to find some connections to the Fort Dearborn story. I was amazed at all the connections I found. Of course going straight downstate from Chicago, I basically took the route native Americans had for a very long time. I also am near where GEORGE ROGERS CLARK marched across this area during the Revolutionary War. As I mentioned in an earlier post Clark Street in Chicago was named after this General from Virginia.

I was at the reception for the screening and the viewing of the WPA art at SIU, when I stumbled around the corner and found this.

Gustafo Dalstrom painted the Herrin Post Office Mural that was Saved by Mary Emma Thompson in 2011. She was the first person Interviewed for this Documentary Film project, was interviewed by WSIU, and they gave me permission to use part of the interview in the Documentary. So my newest documentary project is directly intersecting with this one. Also, saw towns named after Native Americans who were involved in the Battle of Fort Dearborn. Which reminds me, the train on the way here, went right by the park named for this incident and the train travelled over the ground of that said Battle. A full circle moment almost, They talked to her in the interview about this Mural she saved, by this artist, in the interview I used in the film. The subject of the Mural in the Post Office is…..GEORGE ROGERS CLARK….maybe it’s me and my werid brain, but it is a coincidence I think…Mary Emma was from this area and wanted to screen here, it took a few years longer than planned, but we did last night!

Carl Sandburg was one of the original folk singers in this country and he is depicted in the artwork featured in the documentary by Henry Varnum Poor, holding a guitar. Many people do not know that Sandburg was a musician, among many other things.

The song has been performed post screening events.

I have been thinking of ideas to get the work out there, and not wait around for permission. I have always been this way. If it works it’s cool, but I have gotten over my skis a few times, and it’s not cute. I have done that with film, plays, music….you do learn though when you bite off more than you can chew…

I had a one act play in NYC a couple years ago in a festival. I have kicked around making it a full length play for said time….and tonight, I finally just inserted the new scenes and finished a draft….if don’t right I think it is surprising, and topical, and funny…..that is a big if….

“The Proposition”

A white, self identified woman, and a working class Latin-x man, are challenged to confront their own biases, stereotypes, and fear, and are forced to try to find a way to survive a night in the city together.

I like to put two very disparate characters together, and let them find their commonality instead of their perceived difference, and this is what I have done here.

Here is a sample scene:

SALAZAR
No, that was that place across the
street. Nobody cleans here it looks
like.

VICKIE
Well, I hope they do the
silverware.

SALAZAR
Least of which the spoons.

Vickie begins to rub the spoon with a napkin

VICKIE
You know I read that Tesla used to
wipe his Silverware 27 times, or
use 27 napkins or something before
he ate when he was in a restaurant.
Imagine that he was going on about
microbes before we knew about them.

SALAZAR
The car guy?

VICKIE
Do you know anything?

SALAZAR
Sounds like a bunch of old white
people. Do you know about
Montezuma?

VICKIE
The only thing I know I think if I
eat anything else here I am gonna
get his revenge.

SALAZAR
He liked cocoa, chocolate. He drank
alot of it, gave it to the Spanish
when they arrived.

VICKIE
Arrived?

SALAZAR
There is a difference between
indigenous people and people that
came from Spain to colonize my
people's lands.

VICKIE
My people?

Sorry for the weird Substack formatting. I want to have a reading now, I did one on Broadway at a rehearsal studio, and the scenes worked, now I have to do another one.

I screen where they want us now. Now it is about getting the word out, even though I have moved on to other projects. I find new stuff out about these subjects all the time, and it seems that people like the subject.

Here is a short trailer for the screening coming up at SIU in a couple weeks!

There are many scientists and philosophers now arguing that maybe time is happening all at once. Or it has happened before, or will again. I get that, and understand that the reasons for being are elusive sometimes. But it is undeniable I think that history that can shape us. When I start down the rabbit hole, and see where things came from, I can start to understand where we are going, or at least where we are.

Take for instance the new Documentary I am working on “The First Star”. A story of the first star on the Chicago flag which represents Fort Dearborn. You discover things you never knew and that informs the now.

I did not know that Clark Street was named after George Rogers Clark from Virginia. At one time Virginia claimed the territory around Chicago because Clark set off to drive the British from the area around the Revolutionary war. This street was an old Native American Trail where they hunted Mastadon’s 10,000 years ago. Now the Cubs have a stadium on the street, and businesses line the street. Such a different and vast history. There is one small marker in Chicago (a controversial one, now behind an electrical box) that talks about Rogers involvement in the treaty that ceded land to Chicago. Nothing about his campaigns here. There is one in Vincennes Indiana, a huge memorial with Murals celebrating his accomplishments. I found a stamp that was issued for the 150th anniversary of Rogers exploits and ordered one!

The now is that Clark street is and has always been an area where people’s energies connected. I have lived here for years, and never knew the story of who the street was named after. The stamp shows that people have recognized that history before, but it was forgotten. I think we should remember so we can see how things have changed, how people’s thoughts and beliefs have changed. I understand the elephant in the room is what happened to the natives that lived here for 10,000 years. Is there room for all the stories?

Is there a middle ground between cancelling monuments and honoring those they are set up for? The Clark statue at Virginia, the plaque in Rogers Park, The park honoring Ronan, have come under scrutiny….as a wise Historian in Galesburg by the Sandburg historic site once told me “Be careful on judging those people from a different time with today’s standards and morals”

I have been making indie films for a decade now. I started working in the documentary field, because I found people like to watch films about things they know about. I have found that people will give you the time of day for a subject they know, maybe not for your crazy characters and unknown actors. The screening for the Chicago Northwest Historical Society at the Edgebrook library was successful because people were actually interested in the subject. An audience that cares about the subject is always rewarding, even if the audience is small.

It always amazes me how people learn about Henry Varnum Poor for the first time and his great out put of work in the 20th century. The audiences are fascinated by him and Sandburg and Sullivan (the last two more people are familiar with it seems)

I worked on videos for the album I released this summer of a live album and my first studio slide guitar song $5. Which ended up being the most listened to song I created this year.

My solo show was a great success, the audience really laughed and supported me. I was almost shocked by it. I am looking to take in on the road in 26.

I already have screenings set up for The Murals in 26, and working on a new Documentary. I have a few other things I have been writing and want to film, and hope to do the some solo show fest in the new year.

Be healthy, and happy, and creative in the New Year!

Project 2036

1. Access to healthcare for all, non- job related. We are the richest country in the world, let’s act like it. I didn’t say “Free for all”, I said “Accessible to all Non-job related.

2. High speed rail across the country, rivaling the best ever created, designed and built by Americans with American Supplies

3. Carl Sagan books must be read and available in all schools.

4. Colonization of the moon with American Designs and technology

5. An open welcome to all in the world to join us in everything we do.

6. Unlimited and free access to food for all, paid for by all.

7. Mandatory history lessons for all Government employees, put together by the top 10 % of historians and universities. All perspectives will be studied. Starting with the history of Europe, then the history of Native Americans, the history of the Cosmos, and the history of the spoken word.

That is as far as I have gotten. What should we add? In a positive way? No fear. No leaving people out.

I have learned over this last 10 years of doing this type of work that the projects choose you. You meet people along the way who understand what you are doing and why you are interested in the subject. You also encounter great apathy. But you must always be moving forward.

I was making my indie films and realized people might like a film about a subject that they care about, because they don’t much seem to care about the crazy indie film characters. There were even actors who were in the films and didn’t come to any screening.…..I am not John Waters, so I figured try something else….

Then I started doing little social media videos for clients and my other projects. Keep up the editing practice. How to tell a story.

(short commercial break…consider subscribing and supporting my work…..I only ask this because someone online told me to ask, and said “don’t feel bad about doing it”)

Ken Burns just released his latest project after working on it for 10 years. His current project just lost $10 million dollars due to the budget cuts to PBS funding by the current people (who think they have some type of power, and eventually will be replaced by people who will fund him)

I am not doing projects at that level. I joke I am like an 80’s college alternative rock band, going from city to city to spread the word on the people and art I am making projects about. Word of mouth, local funding.

I have had screenings of my projects over the years. People have come. No one goes to anything after the pandemic. It always amazes me when people show up. I like to build community. This helps a tiny bit.

Tonight is another screening for my two year old Documentary called “The Murals.”

Someone saw it this summer at a local Documentary film night, and insisted we screen it in the Edgebrook, IL Library for the Northwest Chicago Historical Society. So I said Yes! Let s do it and spread the word. (I did make a couple tweaks for my own liking so that each time I screen the film is a bit different.)

The Chicago Flag is very popular and present where I live mainly right now. Thinking it was a good subject that would interest people was a good idea. However, as I started working on it, it seemed way too big. I decided to focus on the First Star, ironically, the last one added to celebrate Fort Dearborn. Now, that is manageable I thought, but after a year of research, I am still trying to piece the story and the lessons together!

When you research these stories, you start to see the ties that bind everything together, stories, people’s lives, history. You can see the events that shape the future.

I am trying to understand what was going on in 1812 when the Battle of Fort Dearborn took place. The Native American (Indian) people who lived here. The way they lived. Why the white Europeans came to this area and how? As an example, I just learned Clark Street, which is home to Wrigley Field and cuts through the city and I have lived and worked near for years, was named after a Virginian, George Rogers Clark who captured a lot of the Northwest Territory in battle vs the British. Clark street runs along where an old Native American trail went to Green Bay and was a mail route from Fort Dearborn to Fort Howard in Green Bay. Wooly Mammoths walked these grounds 10,000 years ago and the Potawatomi did too.

It really blows your mind to think about all the history you can’t see. That is lost to well, history.

What happened to that plaque. I was saying last summer it seemed kind of out of date with that language. One of the many mysteries I am discovering. More in another post.

I have been thinking a lot of the importance of the documentary I made I have been screening . “The Murals” features great American artists from the 20th century, and the integrity, creativity, and patriotism of the artists really comes through. It feels as though those values are lacking today.

The use of public money to make public art, we still see, and value today, might be a weird idea for today’s leaders. Imagine doing something for others, for people after you, to lift up the country. These leaders after WW2 understood that. We have gotten so far from those lessons.

I have a library screening I am negotiating, and a screening at SIU in February. People want to see this film, but unfortunately, Amazon is no longer letting indie filmmakers upload Documentary Films to Amazon Prime. So if you know of a good platform to stream documentaries, let me know.

I have other ideas about this subject, even though my attention has turned to a new documentary idea and some film, theater ideas. My solo show went so well, I was almost shocked by the response as I documented in my last post. I am working on making sure I have different ideas in different stages of Development.

I am doing another show, this one a music based show October 17th. I decided to do a kind of Halloween show, do some of my dirgy music, and screen some weird visuals to go along with it. I am going to showcase some ideas for Loop Rider my streaming tv series idea….experimentation. I actually wrote a theme song for this idea, and I think I will play it live and do some crazy visuals with that….

I have been working on my ETSY photo shop and also shooting some commercial social media stuff for a local pub. Got to make $, and I don’t mind grinding….it’s this out of pocket stuff I hate to do

…

Now I believe that solo show as therapy session is not interesting, but something that is entertaining and makes a few points I think is good.

I am trying to make it an audio visual experience and cut a loop of my train videos to play as I did the show, to give you the feel of being in a city.

I rewrote some material from the first time I did the show and added a whole lot more. The idea is that everything is a level of abstraction and living in the city is its own unique modality.

People you don’t know become characters in the book of your life. Have I become one of those people? I talked about some of those people, that people knew. The audience was on my side, and the reaction was uproarious and supportive. I was a bit take aback by that. There were a lot of technical problems, so that got people on my side. The song I sang at the end stopped and I continued sining a cappella with the audience clapping along. It was super cool, and unexpected.

I have a lot to think about with this show. I am a filmmaker and street photographer, but have so much performing and acting experience, I love to do it. I also feel I have something to say about the state of our society. That is what I talked about. It makes me think a short book may be a good idea along with some other ideas in different stages of development.

I am thinking and working.

The award is given in the name of actress Mariann Mayberry, I will put the description below! It’s an honor and I take it quite seriously.

I just screened the Documentary “The Murals” at a Documentary Night, I have a solo show I am performing at Yippiefest in August. The idea I have to use the award towards is called “The Dime Cafe”

I have it outlined, and been working on the script. I want some good actors in this, that is what Steppenwolf is all about, the acting! I saw Gary Sinise in a scene from Forest Gump last week on tv….and I was like oh…yeah….this was a cute movie, and his acting just took it to a whole new level! His gravitas is striking. This scene at the bar was like wow! “Happy New Year Gump!”

More later.