A Still, Small Paw
Plus, Bishop implores Trump to have mercy on gay children.
It’s been a minute. How’re you doing? You holding up okay?
In late November I had surgery on my left leg — my surgeon used a metal brace, screws and even concrete to leave me with an 18 inch scar and a stronger, healthier leg.
When I went into surgery I believed that my doctor was competent and would do a great job; I believed that his instruments were clean and the technology would work; I believed that the twelve people in the operating room that day had my best interests at heart.
Lucky for me and my leg, all of that was true.
However, what if we’re heading into a future where the things that you and I believe — things like justice, competence, fairness, truth, and equality — are baldly marched before us as examples of things that no longer have meaning?
Is it possible that nothing means anything anymore?
To me, this sounds like the very definition of a dystopia. So while I recuperated over the past two months, I read classic dystopian stories and watched some dystopian movies — from Snowpiercer, The Road, Hunger Games, Severance, Black Mirror, a few episodes of The Twilight Zone, The Handmaid’s Tale, Brazil, Solyent Green, Silo, Children of Men, THX 1138, to George Orwell’s 1984.
For good reason, the above movies and shows are all downbeat, cold, depressing, and darned if somebody doesn’t always get beaten up, badly.
But these stories are supposed to be this way, right? Their goal is to critique, provoke and warn us about a society that has gone terribly wrong.
Still, I began to wonder, would it be possible to tell a dystopian story that is warmer and leaves us with some hope. A story that guides us, and maybe heals us. That, like David Foster Wallace said, “…locates and applies CPR to those elements of what’s human and magical that still live and grow despite the times’ darkness.”
“In dark times the definition of good art would seem to be art that locates and applies CPR to those elements of what’s human and magical that still live and grow despite the times’ darkness.” — David Foster Wallace
So I also spent my time in recovery writing a new film project that, I hope, like “Not Losing You,” has the power to help and to heal, with a focus on trans and LGBTQ youth in middle America.
It’s called “A Still, Small Paw” and I wrote it as a short film (it’s 34 pages long) with an eye toward shooting it later this year and possibly releasing it widely on YouTube. Since our recent project, “Not Losing You” got a combined millions of views on TikTok and YouTube, I’ve been impressed by YouTube’s reach along with the nearly 5000 heartfelt comments we got, mostly from trans and LGBTQ youth. (Interesting fact: as a streamer, YouTube has a market share greater than Hulu, Max, Prime and Disney combined.)
While I was writing, I also tried to find a dystopian metaphor that would work in my story that reflects how trans and LGBTQ youth are feeling (especially after Trump’s harsh executive orders on Monday). Anti-trans legislation, the lead up to the election, and now the executive orders, have taken a profound emotional toll on trans and LGBTQ youth — and they need all the help and support we can muster for them.
The title for the script is taken from the Old Testament quote, “…a still, small voice.”
The log-line is: In a divided world teetering on the absurd, A Still, Small Paw follows the family of a small-town Oklahoma veterinarian as they confront a dystopian government mandate to eradicate small dogs.
If you’re interested in reading the script, I’d be honored for you to do so. (I copyrighted it so I’m okay giving out the password widely): Here’s the link: go to www.astillsmallpaw.com and in the upper right corner click, SCRIPT LOG-IN, then input the password: wapWAP1
If you have a chance to check it out, shoot me a private email and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
**
I’ve got a new hero, and her name is Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde.
It seems yesterday during the inaugural prayer service, Bishop Budde addressed President Trump directly and, “implored him to have mercy on gay, lesbian and transgender children as well as undocumented immigrants.”
If you get a chance, read this New York Times gift article about this incredible moment and watch the video.
Later, when he was asked if he liked her sermon, Trump said, “I didn’t think it was a good service.”
Thank you for sharing. You are intreped, endlessly creative and inspriing. Glad you came through the surgery and are looking ahead to another meaningful project. I avoided the whole inaugaration so am grateful to hear the Bishop (and later the Pope) admonish the president for his mercilessness.
A Christian must be the voice for the poor, hungry, and oppressed. She spoke the words that are deeply rooted in the Bible and should be the norm for all Christians. I thank her for that reminder, especially to those sitting in the front pews, to live the faith and not distort the faith.