Abel Brainz Digest, Vol. 8 - June 27, 2023

It's officially Summertime!!! 

Summer and Spring have always battled for the number one season, but as I grow older, the season we're in is my favorite. Except maybe Winter. Sorry, Jack Frost. 

June is almost done and how did I not mention Pride Month??

Love is love and this Lonely Island song is some of the smartest satire ever. 

I got to perform at the Community Night at Dad's Garage last week and I had a blast. I love improv for many reasons, but it's mainly for the creative connection to other human beings. Art is amazing and for me, it's a reminder we're all just doing our best on this spaceship Earth. 

Here's some cool stuff!

- Speaking of space, click here for the nasa website. It's got tons of videos and pictures. And it's FREE! 

- This article on creativity is so dope and it speaks to what I like to talk about in classes I teach. Btw, in case you missed it, Austin Kleon is a big reason I do this newsletter. 

Teacher stuff

I watched AIR a few weeks ago (LOVED it) and so I rewatched the docuseries, The Last Dance (currently streaming on Netflix). There's a quote in the series that is, in my opinion, the key to improv. (and life)-

"Most people struggle to be present... trying to get here now... Most people live in fear because we project the past into the future. Michael's a mystic, He was never anywhere else... His gift was that: He was completely present. And that was the separator." 

- Rare Air author Mark Vancil. 

DISCLAIMER: Improvising will NOT make you a better basketball player. 

Jokes aside, maybe acting is a profession where we can be the "best" if we're the most present. But since it's art... nothing is good or bad. It just is. 

MOVIES!

- My wife and I took the kids to the movies for the first time!!!!

Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse was a lot of fun (and a bit frustrating) and a 5 and a 2 year old sat through all of it*!!!

*DISCLAIMER: NOT ALL 5 OR 2 YEAR OLDS WILL SIT THROUGH IT. 

- Re-watched Blade Runner: 2049 and it's still great. Denis Villeneuve can do no wrong in my book, and I'm hyped for Dune Pt. II. 

Shows!

- Nobody say anything about Season 2 of The Bear. Please. 

  Heard.

- Finished Ted Lasso and that is some good writing. Fuck you and thank you, Ted Lasso for making me sob uncontrollably during Season 3 Episode 11. Parenting, man... parenting. 

Okay, that's about it, for now. 

Thanks again for reading! This is definitely a labor of love, and if you're so inclined to throw a few bucks at the venmo (@Abel-Arias) I'd be humbly grateful. 

Forward to any like-minded folks and click here for all the past volumes. See you next week! 

Much love, 

Abel