Vacation Location: Off World

The first week of break has been very relaxing. Apart from a few meetings regarding up coming projects, there hasn't been a too much activity and that has been wonderful! I have taken the time to explore new worlds. There is a British phenomenon by the name of Dr. Who that I never really knew anything about so, I decided to educate myself. In my down time, I have been indulging in a binge watch of the television series. The verdict? New fan inducted. I started with the 2005 re-launch of the series. At some point I will need to watch the original episodes which began airing in 1963 and ran until 1989. In the meantime, I'm in the middle of season 4 of the re-launch and very impressed with the writing and the acting on the series. Let's face it, Sci-Fi/Fantasy can get really cheesy really fast if not crafted well but this team is winning. I admit, I may be a little partial because many of the actors are fellow alums of a couple of my schools. Christopher Eccleston, who plays The Doctor in season 1, trained at Central as did Catherine Tate who plays The Doctor's Assistant and leading lady in season 4. David Tennant, The Doctor starting in season 2, trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now called the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) which is where I did my last Master's. So, there might be a smidge of bias from me but, I am certainly not the only one who gives the series a thumbs up. Dr. Who has masses of fans all over the world.

If you don't know Dr. Who, here's a quick intro: The Doctor is a Time Lord from another planet and can travel through space and time. He most often travels with a companion that comes in the form a human female and assists him in all his crazy adventures. He spends time fighting alien invasions, solving mysteries, exploring other worlds, species and history and generally saving the universe. There was even an episode that took him to Shakespeare's world and was filmed at the Globe, another place with a special connection for me.

On Saturday I did manage to tear myself away and spend time with my friend Remi. We met for lunch and then went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Remi and I both grew up on the Star Wars films and going to see this new addition was a trip down memory lane. I promise, no spoilers, but it did spark conversations about our reactions to the films when we were kids, the toys we remember and the thrill of this iconic piece of pop culture. Oh and by the way, Carrie Fisher aka Princess Leia, also trained at Central.

Star Wars, Dr. Who. The popularity and endurance of these stories is a testament to our need for the fantastical. Before the space age, there were stories like Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Frankenstein, Dracula, Grimm's Fairytales, Arthurian legends, Greek mythology and a slew of other epic tales involving wild adventures and bizarre creatures. As humans, we like our escapism from the everyday but we also need to hear of great feats of mankind over things we may not equal. It stirs us to confidence and imagination. So, to the creators of Sci-Fi/Fantasy, keep telling us your stories. Keep those creative wheels churning. We need your grand sagas to keep us from the "darkside" and help us slay our monsters. We need inspiration to take on heroic journeys to save the universe and, often, ourselves.

That's it from me this week.
Check out some of your favorite stories from other worlds, whether, on the screen, on stage or in a book. Let your mind go on an adventure and see what motivations can be gained. Going off world every now and then can be so refreshing.

Take care!
-m