Introduce Yourself

Introduce Yourself

Hello everyone!

Welcome to the Introduce Yourself group.

I thought it would be nice to get to know a few more personal details about some of the people we all interact with on Spout.  So here is where you can share more about yourself, if you feel so inclined of course.

Well I'll start out.  My name is Brian, but many people call me "Rizzo".  I grew up around Grand Rapids, MI where Spout is actually located.  Actually I am from Jenison, but then went to college at Calvin College in Grand Rapids.  I actually didn't hear about Spout until after I had moved to Chicago after college, which is where I still am at.

Like probably the majority of the Grand Rapids population, I am from Dutch descent.  Although Risselada doesn't sound like a Dutch name, it is.  I grew up with a great family, wonderful parents, and two younger brothers.

Growing up I didn't do anything too unusual.  Watched at lot of TV, played a lot of video games.  Never have been very big into sports though.  Don't really follow professional sports or anything like that.  I did play soccer every year until 8th grade though.

In high school I played Trombone and was all kinds of school bands like marching band, orchestra, jazz band, playing for musicals.  I sang in a church choir too.  And eventually I learned the bass guitar which I played with different groups here and there.  I was also a big Mac geek.  And occasionally a trouble maker, usually more subversive than malicious.

In college I first intended to study film, but then became extremely interested in theatre as well.  We had a fantastic theatre program at our college in my opinion, and luckily enough an amazing group of classmates with a lot of talent and ambition.  Theatre became my major, although I still took many film classes.  I made several videos while in college as well and had a great time with that.

Throughout my time in college I became infatuated with improv, as in theatrical improv.  I figured out pretty early on in college that I wanted to move to Chicago eventually because this is really the birthplace of current mainstream improv as performance and is still the epicenter.

It's hard for me to remember when I first became extremely interested in film.  It may be when I finally turned seventeen and was able to start renting any kind of movies I wanted to.  The thing about film as an art form is that it can encompass almost any other kind of artwork out there.  It seems to have the most potential and possibilities.  It's quicker and easier to experience than a book, but can be just as absorbing.  Unlike a play, it will essentially be the same every time you see it.  This makes plays more fresh, but allows movies to be discussed by people from all different times and places as long as they have seen the same movie at some point they have usually seen the same thing (which of course is what pisses me off when movies aren't presented in a consistent format).

Currently I'm still doing improv.  My main team is called Very Real Cops (just ask me if you are ever going to be in Chicago if we happen to be doing a show).  I'm working for an insurance company in the Loop which is working out fairly well for me.  I've been involved in a good church community here.  Trying to watch a lot of good movies of course.  And always searching out new good music to go out and see or fill up my ipod with.  And in a week I'm moving out of my current apartment and parting ways with my roommates.  I'll be moving into my own tiny little studio apartment, but am pretty excited about it.

Well that's quite a bit about me.  Hopefully this doesn't all sound too self-indulgent, but my purpose of this group is really to hear more about all of you.  So please let us all know!

Re: Introduce Yourself

I should also say the way that I found out about Spout was through one of my very best friends Adam, or SkyPilot.  He's been on couple of the podcasts and used to be more active here.  But recently he moved and no long has a computer so I guess that's his excuse for his recent absense.

Let us all know about how you found out about this place too.

Re: Introduce Yourself

I *wondered* where SkyPilot went... maybe we should take up a donation to get him a laptop or something? Hmm...

I'm Ingrid. I always wanted to be an Ingrid, so decided to be Ingrid here at Spout, where the name means something. I have nothing in common with THE Ingrid, except maybe a propensity for not always following social norms. Not that I *mind* social norms, just don't feel the need to step in with them always.

So reallly I'm Julie or Juju. Online I'm usually Juju.

The Spout founders and Spout folks and the folks who work for them are friends and clients of mine. I'm not doing much work for them now, but my firm is. Our designers are the folks who work hard on this interface and on Spout swag, and Spout experiences. Everybody working on Spout is working their heart out. Exciting to watch it grow. Hope you like it, or will speak up to say what else it could and should be, like Rizzo here does, bless his heart.

I support the work of designers and coders through research and writing. I try to give them all they need to know to make great stuff. It's good work.

I am a rabid knitter. So you'll find me at the "knitting flicks" group. I learned to knit during one of life's life-death encounters, and so somehow knitting is like breathing for me. Gotta do it. Yes, I do knit while watching movies (but not always, and not all of them). And I knit without looking at the knitting, so often have to rip back what I tried to knit while watching. If the movie isn't great, then the knitting is better. If the movie is wonderful, the knitting suffers. How's that for a rating system?

My movie life often has to do with my real or perceived need to escape from my real life once in awhile. So you'll find that my leanings  are toward romantic comedy, older films, films about places far from where I live. I used to be functionally conversant (could find restrooms and order the food I wanted) in French and Italian, and so like to watch films from those countries, to remind me how much language I have forgotten or never knew. I do appreciate "great cinema," by which I mean films where the director, the writers, the storytellers, actors, artists, are in charge and making an impact. I suppose that's how I sort films, by who seems to be running the show, the artists? Or the accountants? (Some of my best friends are accountants, I swear.)

What else? Navy brat, born in Washington D.C. Lived overseas for awhile. Married to a retired college professor and poet, daughter is an artist and high school art teacher, two dogs, two cats.

Nice to be here.

Re: Introduce Yourself

Hey everyone!

My name is Emma, I'm 15, currently a sophmore in highschool. I found out about spout from my dad, ChangeWarrior . 

I'm not a huge movie fan or anything, just an anime fanatic. My favorite non-anime movies would be Spider-man and Spider-man 2. I'm very excited about the release of the third movie, I've already ordered tickets for the midnight showing the day it comes out.

My favorite movie ever is Grave of the Fireflies. I spend most of my free time watching anime, making cosplay, going to conventions, and doing other anime-related things.

... I don't think I have alot of depth as a person >_>;  

Re: Introduce Yourself

Hi, all, thanks for the invite! These groups are great because I don't have to think in terms of seventeen syllables.

My real name's Marc. I'm in my 30s. I grew up in Lancaster County PA. (Yep, that's the home of the Amish, and nope, I'm not Amish myself, which are the two questions that usually come up.) I live in Philadelphia. I came here after college to go to grad school (cover story) and be in a rock band (real reason).

If someone were to tell me definitively that I had been a Buddhist monk in a previous life, it wouldn't surprise me in the least. I've always been fascinated with East Asian culture, art, music, folklore, philosophy, and design -- you name it, pretty much everything, with the notable exception of cuisine; my tastes run Mexican on that. I'm just a tourist along for the ride!

I have a soft spot for genre film, especially horror. In my opinion, the most exciting work in this field for the last ten years has been coming out of the East Asian countries. It reminds me a bit of the early 1970s output of the U.S. but with more artistic merit and thematic consistency. It's rare for me these days to watch a film in English.

I'm a writer by trade, which keeps me plenty busy at odd hours of the day and usually the night, so I don't always have a chance to swing by Spout, but when I do, I'll try to pop in here.

Re: Introduce Yourself

I'm Joe and my terribly original handle on Spout is josephkuzma. Took me hours to decide on that one. Truthfully my first choice was swordfishtrombones but I think it was too long or something. If you get that reference, you're my new friend.

I learned about Spout in Paste Magazine (best magazine... ever).

I'm a sleep technician by trade so you'll notice all my postings are nocturnal and I'm a new father so they'll also be sporadic at best.

As far as movies go my favorite of all time would be Dr. Strangelove (thus the avatar). Following that (in absolutely no particular order) are Brazil, Seven Samurai, Leon: The Professional, King of New York, Donnie Darko, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars (and, of course, Empire & Jedi). Least favorite movie: The Dreamers - I liked The Last Emperor but this makes me want to beat Bertolucci with a sock full of Sacagawea dollars.

Greatest television show of all time? Family Guy.

I am a hardened atheist, an ardent Democrat and a sarcastic prick. I love Kurt Vonnegut, Tom Waits, Stanley Kubrick, Akira Kurosawa & Richard Dawkins. I have a 9 month-old daughter who keeps me busy (and awake) and I have a wife who keeps me busy (and awake). I have a cat named after Jim Morrison (or Van Morrison - it depends when you ask me). I am so attached to electronic objects that I've named my iPod and my Xbox (Zaphod and HAL respectively).

Is that enough?

Re: Introduce Yourself

Fun!  What a concept!

Contrary to my picture, I'm not an apple.  I just don't have a good picture right now.  My name is Kylie.  I'm a Grand Rapids native, and that's where I am today.  I only moved away for a few years to attend the University of Michigan (GO BLUE) and work in Detroit.  Once a position opened up at my job in GR, which is for the state (I'm a civil rights investigator, I kid you not), I moved back. 

My friend Joy (aka Ms_Maxwell) invited me to Spout.  She used to work for them but doesn't anymore.  This transient economy and all.  She knew that I really - and I mean REALLY - love movies and figured this would be a good website for me to poke around on.  She was right.  I haven't been very active recently, but that's because I spend an awful lots of time doing community theater.  That Musicals group is co-owned by Joy and me, and that's for very good reasons.  I am most active with the Grand Rapids Civic Theater, though I have also worked with Circle and Heritage Theaters.  I mostly do backstage work, having progressed to stage manager, but I also occasionally act and just yesterday, a high school production of Little Shop of Horrors that I co-directed opened at Rogers/Wyoming Park High School.  I'm currently typing under the euphoria of such a night :-)

What else?  I like traveling, shopping, playing games, listening to music, and writing creatively.  But I love watching movies.  I'm all about watching things in general, which makes movies and theater such good matches for me.  I like the whole experience of sitting back, getting comfortable, and allowing the story to take hold.  I used to be a reader for the same reason, but lately no time means no books.  Though.........I am of course anxiously awaiting Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  Anyways.  Also, I like all types of movies.  I'll watch anything just about.  Unless it's got Pauly Shore in it.  I have my limits.

Oh, the pippin part of the spout name refers to my favorite hobbit.  I am a big fantasy geek, hence that Fantasy group.

That's me in a nutshell.  Fantastic idea for a group.  Spout's a bit different as an overall website than some other networking type sites.

Re: Introduce Yourself

Re: Introduce Yourself

 Indie

Virgo.  .....and I hate talking about myself.  I have a hotsauce company with a couple of friends from college.  We have 29 national awards including top honors Americas Best  competition in CA.  We have been on QVC with the sauces and our cookbook....  we've been on the news.  Playboy, Newsweek, etc.

The pic. is a photo I took when we were being filmed for a documentary in Hollywood that is due out any day now.

I have no background in food industry, and went to school for acting back in the day.  I planned to do movies with a production co. which turned into the hotsauce company.  And we are getting back to movies, hopefully just really in a kind of backwards-like fashion.  I like to write, too.  AND normally I'm okay at it - when I'm not writing about myself. 

As far as watching movies.  I love them all.  I like a lot of frivilous oldies like Bell Book and Candle, What a Way to Go, that kind of stuff.  Hitchcock ---Marnie (because apparently I have bad taste).  I love modern horror, which I gravitate to almost supernaturally.  I like psychological thrillers also.   I am really feeling Tarantinos pulpy Grind House currently, and I am sad its not doing well..... Grind House Grind House Grind House.   PLANET TERROR!!!!!!!!!!!   I like comedies, ALL MOVIES except movies like Cat Woman.  Bad Is Bad in my book. ... unless its art -GRIND HOUSE!

I do leave a place in my heart for the B-rated, like Troma or the trashy like John Waters -- but it is touch and go between what I think is good/bad and just bad/bad.  Know what I mean?

I am a nervous talker and I hate talking about myself, like I said earlier.... so

THE END

Re: Introduce Yourself

superdrive0:

... I don't think I have alot of depth as a person >_>;  

Awwww, I doubt that's true!

Anyways I'm glad to have someone who seems to know a lot about anime.  I've been getting more interested in it in recent years.  Hopefully we can help you find some good movies!

Man I really have to see this Grave of the Fireflies soon I guess.