Archives for February 2016

Film nerd moment: my favorite director Shinya Tsukamoto just got his early work re-released in HD.

The Tokyo Fist re-release is especially exciting. But first, let me explain…

Who Is Shinya Tsukamoto?

Shinya Tsukamoto is a Japanese cult director who works on his films as writer, director, producer, lead actor, cinematographer, editor, and art director, because he likes to have all the fun himself. He’s supported his independent productions by working as a major actor in Japanese cinema.

He has said his early work is about the relationship between the body and the city, and how we become disconnected from our bodies living in the city. For this reason, Tsukamotos films are a visceral experience. While other films draw you into your head, you feel Tsukamotos in your body.

If you’re interested in Tsukamoto, I highly recommend Tom Mes book Iron Man: The Cinema of Shinya Tsukamoto. It is one of the best books of film criticism I’ve ever read, and I reference it again every few years for inspiration.

The Films

My personal favorite of Tsukamoto’s films is Tokyo Fist.

When I first saw Tokyo Fist, I had to track down an old copy on ebay that had the subtitles burned on to the image with spelling errors. It was the worst presentation possible, yet the film was so powerful, it managed to break through all of the limitations of it’s distributor.

After I saw it, I thought “if I ever become a famous filmmaker, I’m going to track down a print of this film and re-release it in HD.” Looks like someone beat me to it, and I couldn’t be happier.

If you’re interested in getting into his work, Bullet Ballet may be the most accessible.

Tetsuo: The Iron Man will be the weirdest film you’ve ever seen…

And A Snake of June is a strange exploration of sexuality.

Shinya Tsukamoto is one of the greatest directors in the world.  I’m glad his films are finally getting the release they deserve. Check them out.

Read more: Watch the 2016 Documentary Nominee Trailers

After releasing a short film that mentioned bug-out bags and emergency kits. I had a number of people ask me: what should I put in my bug-out bag?

I didn’t know how to answer them, until one cold night in Virgina the power went out during a snow storm. The temperature started dropping, and I realized it could be days before power came back on. Thankfully, it was only an hour, but it made me aware of the single most important question to ask yourself in prepping:

What are you preparing for?

When trying to figure out what you need, just ask yourself one question – what scenario are you preparing for? Go through that scenario in your mind and notice each item you see yourself using. Once you’ve got your list, run a drill and see what equipment  you actually use.

For a long time, my bag was built around power outages or natural disasters in Virginia. In Texas, extreme cold isn’t really a worry, so I keep different items in the house.

The bag in my car is built around the premise “what if my car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and my phone is dead?” It’s got a solar-powered charger, water, a poncho, thermal blankets, and a couple other goodies.

It’s also got everything I need to stay over a friends house. I travel frequently, and have had friends invite me to stay when I didn’t even have a change of clothes with me. Now, I just keep a bag with all that stuff in the back of my car. While this isn’t a survival tool, I’ve found myself in this situation enough that I’ve prepared for.

This is a survivalist way of thinking that you can apply to other areas. As you go through the day, just notice what you need, or wish you had. Over time, you’ll find you need less and less, because you’re prepared.

The Zombie Apocalypse

A lot of survival blogs write as if they are preparing for the zombie apocalypse. I don’t think the world is going to end anytime soon, but the zombie apocalypse does cover every possible scenario – viral outbreak, civil unrest, failure of basic services, etc. I get why people use it.

Prepping for the zombie apocalypse requires a greater investment of time and money. Because I don’t think that scenario is likely, my bag is not geared for it. I suspect many people focus on the zombie apocalypse, not because they think it will happen, but because they enjoy LARPing the end of the world.

Don’t let extreme survivalist attitudes turn you off from preparing for more likely scenarios – like a power outage or losing water in your building for a few days. Their lists of suggested items can be useful as a starting point, but if you test your scenario, you’ll know how much of that stuff you really need.

What should I put in MY bag?

Again, I have friends who are into survivalism way more then I am, but because I made a short film mentioning it, everyone asks me about it. At one point, I looked into starting a business making pre-made bug-out bags, because so many people were interested.

I ending up not doing that because I discovered 1) the economics of it didn’t work for me, but more importantly 2) what you put in the bag depends on your situation. The bag I’d use in Texas is not the same bag I’d use in Virginia. The bag I’d give to a friend with no survival training is not the same bag I’d give to an experienced outdoors-man.

As a rule of thumb – it’s better to have a few pieces of equipment you know how to use, then a bunch of gear you’ve never tested. Minimalism. Just go back to that question – what are you preparing for? – and then take only what you’ll use.

Once you’ve got your scenario, prepare for contingencies. What if you cut yourself? What if it’s raining? What if the emergency occurs at an unexpected hour?

Prepping as a life skill

This way of thinking can apply to other situations. Right now, I’m finishing editing a documentary film, and thinking through distribution scenarios. What if I have to self-distribute? What I can’t license the footage I want? What if someone doesn’t like the film’s message and comes after it? Same mindset, different problem.

Happy prepping.

Read More: How To Make Moving Easy Using Lifestyle Minimalism