The Light In Amir's Eyes

By Amir Said

I was one paragraph into a new spec-script that I'm writing, when I called my son (Amir) to come check it out. After briefing him on the initial scope of the story, he went back to watching Sport Center, and I wheeled around back into my spec-script.

No fewer than 5 Sport Center commercial breaks later, I was done with the entire breakdown of the story. At this point, I called for Amir to come back so I could go over the story with him. He came back, grabbed his chair, and rolled up next to my desk. Then I divulged the full story to him. As I read component after component, critical detail after critical detail, the light in Amir's glowed. Amir was born with this light in his eyes. It's a subtle brightness that is as easily warm and engaging as it is rigidly stern and cold. Indeed, the light in Amir's eyes is beautiful. But in the 12 years that I've thus been blessed to know my son, I have never seen the light in his eyes illuminate the way they did earlier this morning. As I read out loud my spec-script to Amir, the light in Amir's eyes expanded and graced his entire face. With each layer of detail that I announced about the story, the sheen of Amir's light shined ever so crisp; and the smile on his face erupted, widening deeper as I continued to read to him. At that moment, I witnessed Amir realize that he too is a writer...

Amir Ali Said (my son)

Bolt of Writing

By Amir Said

Anytime. The right time. I cook it up 24/7. But it's during The Late Shift when I really dig in. That's when huge bolts of writing strike out of me. That's when I curve the day's notes and ideas into frames... I turn the frames into broad images... I turn the broad images in to specific chips of glass that fall and fold into stories that reflect things. Simple things. Sincere things. Cool things. When it occurs like this, I don't know when I'll I stop, I don't even care. I'm poised. I got-a grin on my face, and tightness in my eyes.

After this bolt of writing passes me, I get hungry. Not for "food" food. More-like somethin' to read. Somethin' interesting to learn or relearn. So I do a random email check; always somethin' there to remind me of the surprises that may one day be fortunate familiarities. From there, I grab in a few lines from one of my other websites. Then as if on key, it's time to play Madden, again.

The Late Shift: Julia Allison

By Amir Said

After tuning up a scene from a script I'm writing, I pushed back from my desk, slapped on my sneakers, exited my crib, and jumped in my ride... Off to the nearby Pathmark (major NYC supermarket) for a re-up of water and Haribo gummie bears. Even though Pathmark is a 24hour outfit, they have this curious practice of gating off some aisles from customer access. So I'm looking for band aids, and of course, their locked up. Forget schlepping back up to the front of the store for a rep to come "unlock" the aisle. So I wheel around, and go back towards the candy section. On my way, I pass by the magazine section (limited as it is). I stop, then I back track to the magazine section. "That's a fine ass cover shot of Vida Guerra," I think to myself. I get in closer and grab the magazine. That's when I notice that is Wired magazine. That's also when I realize that it's not Vida Guerra on the cover, it's a seductively solemn looking beauty known as Julia Allison...

Off the strength of that magazine cover image, (and the fact that Wired is a cool magazine), I'm on my way back home with water, Haribo gummie bears, and some new reading material. Back at my desk, I carve up Wired's cover story: "Julia Allison", and basically, here's what I take away. Honey-girl, a Georgetown grad, makes a b-line for the New York media scene. Scoffed and rejected, (though not discouraged), she bucks the "established" media landscape and begins to slice out her own "private" piece of fame. Now, the interesting part is exactly how she does this. Through a relentless campaign of creative self-promotion and keen internet savvy (know how and know who), she's been able to create her own lame to fame, and most likely, prosperity.

To see the full Wired article and run-down on Julia Allison, check out the August '08 issue of Wired magazine...

But you want my take on Julia Allison? Here it is: she's one of the baddest motherfuckers online, unbridled genius. I don't care what any of her haters have to say. Three cheers and big respect for anybody who breaks into the game, after being told to sit it out on the sidelines.

Wired magazine cover
Tell me she doesn't look like Vida Guerra, on first glance.

Anyway, you can check out what she's all about at any one of her MULTIPLE websites/pages.