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The Significant Objects Project, Or, How to Sell Stuff on eBay

TresSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0700

What makes an object significant, and possibly valuable? Some writers wagered that it's the story behind the object, and they set out to test their theory.

The Significant Objects Project pairs writers with an object and asks them to write a fictional story about it, with the belief it will then become significant to someone. Significance, in this case, means that someone would be moved to buy the object on eBay.

If you'd like to read the ~~description~~ story that accompanied the smiley face mug's auction on eBay and to find out its final price (it started at one dollar), read more.

The auction for this smiley face mug significant object started at $2 and ended at $32.08. Perhaps the price went up because of Ben Greenman's story, excerpted below?

"This object is best known from its appearance in the 1939 film No News From The Navy, a comedy starring James Wilton as a hapless midshipman who cannot set aside his seafaring ways, even when he is confined to dry land as a result of an injury. Wilton’s character (who is called, simply, “Sailor”) competes for the affection of a young woman named Evelyn (Mary Hannan) despite the opposition of her father (Gordon Howard) and a larger, determined suitor (Kenneth Lopp). The film is a second-tier comedy, but there is one classic scene. in which Sailor shaves before taking Evelyn out on a date. He is clearly accustomed to shaving aboard his ship, and as a result, he is constantly attempting to regain his balance, despite the fact the floor is level and stable. The critic Leonard Folsom has written that “The unheralded Wilton has a scene that combines the physical complexity of a Chaplin solo with close-ups of inexpressive expression that rival the finest moments of Keaton.” At the beginning of that scene, Wilton uses this smiling mug as his shaving mug, and while he sets it on the shelf above the washbasin midway through, it remains, as Folsom writes, 'an oddly compelling focus of the film so long as it is onscreen, enormous in its diminutive size, menacing in its cheer.' "

To find out how other significant objects fared on eBay, click here.

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Have Cafe Novelists Replaced Boozin' Writers?

TresSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:30:07 -0700

In the past, the writer's life was often a lush life. Many great American novelists - including Ernest Hemingway and John Cheever - were notorious drunks. In fact, according to an article by Tom Shone in the new issue of More Intelligent Life, five of America's seven Nobel literary laureates were alcoholics:

In America William Faulkner and Scott Fitzgerald were the Paris and Britney of their day, caught in the funhouse mirror of fame, their careers a vivid tabloid mash-up of hospitalizations and electroshock therapies.

Rehab wasn't something people did back in the '30s. Neither was recovery-centric memoir writing. When F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a story for Esquire chronicling his struggles, Hemingway told him to cast his "balls into the sea-if you have any balls left."

Ever since rehab went mainstream in the 1960s, Shone observes, the boozing writer stereotype is less typical. Both Cheever and Raymond Carver came out of rehab and kept writing; Stephen King got sober after an intervention. So where have all the overindulgent writers gone?

Magical Penny Scissors to End the Writers' Strike?

GiggleSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 03:00:00 -0800

The writers are striking! The writers are striking! And it's becoming increasingly apparent that the only way to end the dispute is with a pair of magical penny scissors. So can we bibbidi-bobbidi-get on it already? I'm tired of prime time déja vu.

Ask a Writer: Help With My Boyfriend's Kidney-Stealing Parents!

TresSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Conventional Wisdom is a different kind of advice column. Your questions will be answered by people from all walks of life rather than by advice experts. Today, a nonfiction writer will offer her common sense advice. You can submit questions here.

Today's Question: My boyfriend and I have been together for over three years. We live together and plan on getting married someday so you better believe I love him.

His parents are alcoholics. I have always said I knew what alcoholics were like, but after meeting them, I realized I had no idea. His mother drinks nothing but alcohol and barely eats. She weighs 90 lbs and refuses to get help. His dad actually encourages her.

Recently his dad got ill and was put on dialysis but continues to drink and eat bad things and always ends up back in the ER. He was on the list to receive a kidney donation but due to his poor behavior, he was taken off the list. He can, however, be given a kidney if someone he knows will donate. So who have they turned to? Their three sons. They are now pressuring my boyfriend and his brothers to go get tested to see if they are the same blood type.

I am furious about this. Besides the fact that they are alcoholics (and yes, I know it's an illness), they are mean. Their sons break their necks to please them and get nothing in return. My boyfriend and his brothers had a horrible childhood and I can only hope the rest of his parents' lives are half as bad as what they put their kids through. I know that if his dad receives a kidney, he will go back to drinking and not take his meds and it will have all been for nothing. How can I intervene? Or should I?

- Worried For My Boyfriend's Kidneys and Sanity

To hear a nonfiction writer's advice, read more.

Dear Worried,

What a painful situation for both you and your boyfriend to be in. Of course you feel protective of the man you love. Unfortunately, this is a true life or death situation involving his father, who for better or worse is one of your boyfriend’s most significant relationships. You did not mention whether your boyfriend is seriously considering giving his father his kidney, or if he has asked for your advice. I will assume so, since you’ve written this letter.

My first instinct is to tell you to be very careful about putting yourself between your boyfriend and his family. If you encourage him not to do this (or even consider it) and he later comes to regret that choice, it could damage your relationship and your future together.

Your role is to love and support him while he makes this difficult choice, regardless of what he decides to do. Don’t come down too strongly against his parents, even though it sounds clear that they have been abusive to their children. Being raised in an alcoholic family is very psychologically complex, often leaving children with feelings of guilt and responsibility that seem confusing to others. Groups like Al-Anon exist for the people that love alcoholics to help give them perspective and support by talking to one another in a safe place. You could encourage him to find a local chapter and attend a meeting. Perhaps they could help your boyfriend explore why he would be willing to get radical surgery to help a man who is not helping himself.

Rather than building a case against his family, you could help your boyfriend gather and process information about the surgery. He needs to seriously consider the physical and emotional risks he would experience by giving up a kidney. He should meet with his father's doctor to find out what his own health risks would be, what the procedure would be like, and what his father's prognosis would be if he does continue to drink. Maybe you could accompany him to that meeting.

Sometimes the best way we can help the people we love is by helping them help themselves.

Signed, A Nonfiction Writer

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More Actors Come Out to Join the Picket Lines

Molly — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:30:26 -0800

The striking Writers Guild members were joined on the picket line by veteran and current TV as well as movie stars yesterday. While most of the focus thus far has been the effect of the strike on our television, the movie writers are out there too. Jack Black and Ben Stiller were there holding down the film actor front. Can you handle Ben's Blue Steel? Some of our favorite Friends Lisa Kudrow and Matthew Perry were on the front lines with adorable Mila Kunis and some of the people whose show may be most affected by the strike, Scrubs' Zach Braff and Donald Faison. Meanwhile, Jay Leno kept it nonchalant showing up on his motorcycle - he's been put in a particularly hard position this week with his show, leaving NBC to think about other options. Click here to check out the latest news on the strike. Into week two with no sign of this strike ending anytime soon, I just hope that the writers keep getting support for as long as they are out there on the line.

To see more of the actors joining in the strike including Mary Lynn Rajskub, Kathy Griffin, Jim Belushi, Jason Alexander, Mila Kunis, Jon Cryer just read more

View 25 Photos ›

Images include Ben Stiller, Matthew Perry, Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Lisa Kudrow, Jay Leno, Jack Black, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Kathy Griffin, Jim Belushi, Jason Alexander, Mila Kunis, Jon Cryer, Ray Romano, Brad Garrett, Minnie Driver, Laura Linney, Lily Tomlin, Seth Green, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Felicity Huffman, Nicollette Sheridan.

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Governors Ball Chair Says the Party Will Go On

YumSugar — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:12:31 -0800

Even if the Writers' Strike doesn't end soon - fingers crossed, Buzz says it could potentially end this week - Governors Ball Chair Cheryl Boone Isaacs is confident that the Oscars will happen and that the ball will go on. While at the Governors Ball preview, I was able to sit down and chat with Cheryl. When asked about the Writers' Strike she said:

The Oscars will happen and the ball will go on . . . What we all wish is that there's a resolution to this conflict, that there's a win-win for as many people as possible, and that Hollywood can get back to work.

I have to say, I definitely admire her positive outlook. I imagine that staying positive is the only way to deal with the situation. After all, with over 1,000 people needed to pull off the event, six months of planning and organizing, two weeks of preparty decorating, and tons and tons of money spent, it would be devastating to think otherwise. Could you imagine planning a party that might not happen?

To see what she has to say about pulling off such a big event during a high-stress time in the industry, read more

And if you're interested in the actual look of the ball, stay tuned: We'll have exclusive pics for you soon!

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Sugar Bits - New Contract Presented to Striking Writers

PopSugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:33:41 -0800

The studios offered the striking writers a new contract that promises increased earnings when work is viewed online. The writers took the "New Economic Partnership" contract to mull over until talks resume on Tuesday. It sounds like they are at least taking steps in a more fair direction, right? - BuzzSugar
Drea de Matteo and boyfriend Shooter Jennings welcomed a baby girl named Alabama Gypsy Rose on Wednesday, adding a country twist to the wacky celebrity baby name trend. Congrats to the family! - E! News
More on the strike: Conan O'Brien is personally paying all of his nonwriting staff their salaries as the strike continues, following in the footsteps of David Letterman. Conan is definitely feeling the holiday spirit. - Variety
Rodney King was shot in the face and arm yesterday, but his wounds are not life-threatening. Thank goodness he's okay - the man has been through enough already. - TMZ
In response to the lawsuit filed by her ex-husband, the billionaire Ron Perelman, Ellen Barkin is calling his actions "frivolous" and a "cynical abuse of the legal system." At this point they must just enjoy calling each other out in the press. - People
Akon has been charged with assault stemming from the June incident in which he threw a 15-year-old boy from the stage into the crowd. Akon really gets himself into trouble with teenagers. - TMZ

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Sugar Bits - Ellen DeGeneres's Dispute with Writers

PopSugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:30:56 -0800

Ex-writers from Ellen DeGeneres' former sitcom are speaking out after she crossed the writers' picket line to film her talk show, saying that Ellen was rude to and unappreciative of her writing staff as soon as the cameras stopped rolling. Somehow we're still surprised to hear about this other side to Ellen's goofy and kind persona. - Page Six
Amy Winehouse's husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, has been arrested on assault charges stemming from an incident in which he and another man allegedly beat up a bartender. As part of the investigation Amy and Blake's London home was raided by police yesterday. Wow, and we thought that she was the main troublemaker in that marriage. - Reuters
The former headmistress of Oprah's South African girls school has denied that she was aware of any attempt to cover up the allegations of abuse. Since Oprah already decided not to renew her contract, it sounds like the woman is just trying to clear her name. - People
Dennis Quaid and his wife Kimberly welcomed twins born by a surrogate yesterday, named Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace. Congrats to the happy couple! - ET Online

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The Writers Win Awards Also

PopSugar — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 10:30:33 -0800

This weekend turned out to have something for everyone in terms of award shows. While The Grammys and The BAFTAS seemed to have stolen the show so to speak in terms of flash and star power, it's also important to remember who makes it all happen. The writers! Without them there would be no movies to watch or songs to sing. Luckily they have their day to shine as well and shine they did at the Writers Guild Awards Friday in NY. The two big winners of the night were Little Miss Sunshine and The Departed. Guess this narrows the race for The Oscars a bit. To see who else won for TV and more, click here for the full list of winners.

For more pics including Jane Krakowski, Christopher Meloni, Kristen Chenoweth, John Leguizamo, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Gilbert Gottfried, Robert Duvall, and Seth Meyers just read more

View 26 Photos ›

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Sugar Bits - Hope for Writers Afters Directors Reach a Deal

PopSugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 09:45:00 -0800

The Directors Guild of America avoided a strike of their own by reaching a deal with the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers regarding how they are paid when content is purchased online. Fingers crossed this will pave the way for the Writers Guild to finally come to a similar agreement! - BuzzSugar
Dr. Phil has expressed regret over issuing a statement on Britney's mental state, though he maintains that his visit was at the request of her parents and that he went as a friend of the family, not as a psychologist. Maybe when he stops talking about it altogether it will seem less shamelessly self promoting. - USA Today
Josh Groban's Sundance experience just got a whole lot cooler when he was asked to perform a private concert at a benefit Brad Pitt is throwing at the festival. Who knew that Brad was a Grobanite? - Page Six
Daniel Baldwin, who has recently been known more for his run-ins with the law than his acting, welcomed a daughter named Avis Ann Baldwin yesterday with his wife Joanne. Congrats to the happy family! - People
Shrek is heading to Broadway this Fall and the director says the show will reveal new information about the characters. Maybe there were be some JT/Cameron reunion action at the premiere? - AP

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