Richard Dutcher: Your Art is Your Vehicle

fear

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04 Nov 2016

Richard Dutcher: Your Art is Your Vehicle

By Paul Duane

Jessica Wise

founder – The Litas

Devin Townsend

recording artist

Pat Bagley

Pulitzer finalist political cartoonist

Sean Whalen

men’s coach

Robert Clark

National Geographic photographer

Kurt Bestor

Composer, pianist, trumpet player Kurt Bestor

composer

Richard Dutcher

black and white portrait of filmmaker Richard Dutcher

filmmaker

Marianne Willamson

author & spiritual teacher

Steven Wilson

Grammy nominated musician & producer

Peter Breinholt

Singer / songwriter Peter Breinholt photographed by Paul Duane

singer / songwriter

Genpo Roshi

black and white portrait of Zen Master Genpo Roshi

Zen Master Genpo Roshi

Filmmaker Richard Dutcher joins us for a candid conversation about the artist’s life. He shared his journey of overcoming a huge fear in the making of his seminal film, “God’s Army”.

“Bad filmmaking is when you think you have the answers. Or storytelling or any art, if you think you have the answers and you’re just out there to tell people the answers, then you’re full of shit. It’s propaganda and it’s going to be bad art. But if you’re using your art to help you explore, to help you find the answers…If you think of yourself less as an artist perhaps and more as an explorer into these realms that you don’t fully understand yet, things that fascinate you but that you don’t really have a grasp on yet, I think that’s really rich and fertile soil to do your work in.”

 

“Bad filmmaking is when you think you have the answers. Or storytelling or any art, if you think you have the answers and you’re just out there to tell people the answers, then you’re full of shit. It’s propaganda and it’s going to be bad art. But if you’re using your art to help you explore, to help you find the answers…If you think of yourself less as an artist perhaps and more as an explorer into these realms that you don’t fully understand yet, things that fascinate you but that you don’t really have a grasp on yet, I think that’s really rich and fertile soil to do your work in.” – filmmaker Richard Dutcher Hear the rest of my interview with Richard at: http://www.paulduane.net/2016/11/richard-dutcher-your-art-is-your-vehicle/

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Thoughts. Fears. Ideas. Weird. In your mail box:

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24 Nov 2014

Bukowski, BYU, and Bad Cops

By Paul Duane

“If you’re going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don’t even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery–isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you’ll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you’re going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It’s the only good fight there is.”  ― Charles Bukowski, Factotum

This quote has fueled me through innumerable labyrinths of loneliness during my life. I hope it helps you, too.

Listen to the show ↓

 

22 Oct 2014

The things that we fear are a weapon to be held against us

By Paul Duane

On today’s show, the topic was FEAR!  Boo!  I can’t believe that I didn’t think to play this song on the air, so I’ll quote it and give you a great live video of it. So many brilliant things are said that sum up my feelings on the matter of fear:

“The Weapon” by RUSH

“We’ve got nothing to fear…but fear itself?
Not pain, not failure, not fatal tragedy?
Not the faulty units in this mad machinery?
Not the broken contacts in emotional chemistry?

With an iron fist in a velvet glove
We are sheltered under the gun
In the glory game on the power train
Thy kingdom’s will be done

And the things that we fear are a weapon to be held against us…

He’s not afraid of your judgment
He knows of horrors worse than your Hell
He’s a little bit afraid of dying
But he’s a lot more afraid of your lying

And the things that he fears are a weapon to be held against him…

Can any part of life be larger than life?
Even love must be limited by time
And those who push us down that they might climb
Is any killer worth more than his crime?

Like a steely blade in a silken sheath
We don’t see what they’re made of
They shout about love, but when push comes to shove
They live for the things they’re afraid of

And the knowledge that they fear is a weapon to be used against them…”

– Neil Peart, “The Weapon”

Listen to the show ↓

20 Apr 2012

break the spell of the typical

By Paul Duane

Do you ever find yourself thinking, “Hold on… Hoooooooold on here…. what the FUCK am I doing??”

I’m very reticent to post this.  I hate “boo hoo” blog posts. My friend Jory has been urging me to get more real, to be more vulnerable. I thought I was being vulnerable over the last several years of blogging, but apparently only 85%…  85% of the truth still isn’t the truth.  Here we go.

My desk... where all the "magic" happens, or so I hope.

Today has been pretty mundane. I’ve been editing all day long. I skipped going to Metro tonight, I had to pass up on Heather’s invitation to hit The Hotel. Work must be done today.  I wrapped up editing on a boudoir shoot for a wonderful lady that came in 2 weeks ago. Honestly, editing was an arduous process. Toward the end,

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02 Apr 2012

85%, cookies and public nudity.

By Paul Duane

I never have nightmares. Like, EVER.  My dreams, if I remember them, usually consist of story lines like going to Walmart to buy loaf of bread.  White bread.  Not even interesting multi-grain bread.  Whitey white white wonder bread.

Last night was different.

I got in late from a very stressful evening with my family.  I tried to do some work, but I was exhausted. I somehow ended up in my bed. Somehow the lights ended up turned off. Somehow some blankets made it over me.

My dream:

I had a dream that I was hired to

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01 Jan 2012

What I’ve Learned – wrapping up 2011

By Paul Duane

One of my favourite columns in Esquire magazine is called “What I’ve Learned”. It’s 2 page feature… a great portrait of the interviewee, and then a page of bullet-point statements summarizing that person’s life’s lessons. Here’s my version.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

  • Often the people I initially judge as jerks, end up being some of my most dear friends.
  • ALWAYS listen to your conscience and do what it says, even if it will break the hearts of people who you love.
  • You know those girls who, when you first meet them, drop hints of sexuality? You know, like they are dangling a carrot in front of you? RUN LIKE HELL. Inevitably, dealing with such a woman will be bad news.
  • love … IS … God
  • We attract what we already are. The world is a mirror. Thus, you can make a decent, quick assessment of a person by looking at who their friends are.
  • Before you can overcome something, you have to go through it. There is power in admitting you are angry, lonely, needy, etc.  You have to just BE in that shit for a while and acknowledge your present shitty state before you can transcend.
  • Safety first – then teamwork… 50%.
  • There is a certain divinity in doing exactly what pleases you, other people’s opinions be damned.
  • DONE is better than PERFECT.
  • Indecision is a cancer that will destroy your life.
  • Indecision is usually a symptom that you are not being honest with yourself.
  • When in doubt, ask yourself, “What Would Adam Carolla Do?”
  • It’s a good custom to get drunk with someone that you are just getting to know.  Alcohol will lower inhibitions and let you see what’s behind the mask.  If you just find a relaxed, sleepy version of the person that they were before drinking – you have found a worthy friend.
  • Mushrooms are a beautiful thing.
  • I still haven’t found the balance between over thinking things, and not thinking things through enough.
  • Environments are powerful.  Never underestimate the power of who / what you are surrounded with. Take steps to weed out the negative forces and consciously replace them with people, places, and things that inspire you.
  • Trust your nature. Most of the forces out there are trying to destroy the trust you have with yourself. The public education system, the political rhetoric, religion… all these things will detach you from your inner knowing if you are not careful.

 

01 Jan 2012

Occupy 2012

By Paul Duane

Happy New Year everyone!

This morning as I logged into Facebook and read status updates, there were a few of the expected “oh my god I am sooooo hungover) status updates, but aside from that – I noticed a lot of optimism about the possibilities 2012 holds.  This makes me very happy.

I’ve noticed something, and I’ve spoken with a number of other people who feel something similar: there is a current of energy in the air right now.  I feel a distinct sensation of there being a cosmic window, of sorts, that has opened.  A mystical worm hole, in a way – that if you will just do what it takes to step through it, massive forward progress will happen at an astounding rate. It’s a window that is open now, and it will close soon.   Do you feel it too?  Do you feel a particular urgency to get moving on a project right now?  There is an energy that’s beckoning us to get our asses in gear and do some awesome things – NOW. That’s one of the reasons I took up a pen name – it’s time to write with my full voice, without censure.

Speaking of speaking without censorship and speaking without cesure – I’m going to brag and call you to action: My first financial transaction of 2012 was a donation to the Wikileaks / Julian Assange defense fund.  So should yours.  If you are reading this, there’s a good chance that you are a fellow lover of truth.  Wikileaks is one of the few forces in the world that has done anything to hold the major power brokers of the world accountable for their actions.   You deserve to know the truth. Rise up and demand to be told the truth by your corrupt government. Take whatever measures are necessary to get corrupt politicians out of office.  And for god’s sake, support those who have make progress in tearing down the charade of lies. Send a few bucks over to Wikileaks:

Friends of Wikileaks  https://wlfriends.org/

Occupy your BRAIN and HEART and SOUL:

The Revolution will not happen from the top down. No single politician can wield a revolution. The Revolution will happen from the bottom up. It can never be a top down endeavor. You cannot mandate virtue in people.  Virtue is something that is revealed to you. It’s a spiritual epiphany to catch a vision of what it looks like for YOU to live a life of virtue. It can only be personally realized, never institutionalized.   The Revolution takes place one person at a time. It takes place when you learn to overcome fear and be honest with yourself.  Once you banish fear from your heart, your motives change  – a lot.  You see, there are only two primal forces in the world: Fear and Love. Which one is governing what you are doing and thinking RIGHT NOW? Look at the chair you are sitting in. Why do you have it?  Is it there because you are afraid of spending money on a new one, or do you truly love that chair?  Look at what you did last night. Did you do it because you were afraid, or avoiding something, or were you fully engaged and doing it because it’s your truth, being led by love?  Everything can be boiled down to fear and / or love.   The Revolution will happen as I stop doing things out of fear, and let love be my motive. The Revolution will happen when you do the same thing.  The Revolution will happen when your friends see you shifting from fear to love – they will see a new energy in you.  They will crave that energy; everyone does. The energy that radiates from a person who is motivated by love is contagious and universally appealing.  It is an inspiring and healing energy. You’ll inevitably inspire someone to make the shift from fear to love. Self honesty and honesty with one’s fellow man are the fruits of such a transition of motive.  Marriane Williamson described The Revolution perfectly:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Go, GO, GOOO!!!   Do that thing that you’ve been feeling urged to do! Take action NOW.  The time for liberation is now. This is one of the energies of 2012. Do not delay.  We are being called to rise up, cease playing small, let our light shine, and render the oppressive power structures moot.

Happy New Year!

Let’s do this.