Author Archive: Eric San Juan

Martin Scorsese + HBO = Win

How awesome is this? As if I haven’t praised HBO enough in recent days, The Hollywood Reporter, err, reports that Martin Scorsese, he of GoodFellas, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull fame, will direct the pilot for a new HBO series set in 1920 Atlantic City. Written by Terence Winter, “Empire” is set in 1920 at the dawn of Prohibition and chronicles the life and times of Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), the undisputed ruler of Atlantic City, who was equal parts politician and gangster. I need know nothing more than that. Scorsese, Prohibition-era Atlantic City, and HBO? I’m in. I’m watching. I’m there.

The Joy of Painting

My new hobby is painting. I’m not very good at it. That doesn’t matter, though. It’s calming. Relaxing. Therapeutic. And so talent be damned, I sit out back with brush in hand, some music on, a drink nearby, and I paint. Most of my August weekends were spent painting, and damn was it a great way to wind down and get my head cleared. So I thought I’d share the few pieces I’ve done. After all, aren’t self-indulgent, “hey everybody, look at me!” posts exactly what a blog is for? This is “Florida Sunset,” and you might recognize this photo as the inspiration. It’s a bit sloppy. Intentionally so; I wasn’t trying to capture detail, just impressions. I thought I’d try to paint an object…
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In between projects … and glad

It has now been several weeks since I have been neck deep in a major project. And I’m glad for that. Sometimes I let myself get swamped in an effort to alleviate my perpetual boredom. All those writing projects I posted about a few months ago are on temporary hiatus as I get my head cleared. The comic anthology is finished and should be ready for order any day now, so that’s off my plate. I’m not seriously working on any music projects right now (though I have some potential releases in the queue). Yes, the Year of Hitchcock podcast chugs along, but that’s an obligation from which I cannot escape at the moment. Otherwise, though, I’ve set everything aside for some family, relaxation, and…
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Thank you, HBO, for making TV awesome

I recently finished watching all five seasons of HBO’s The Wire, a critical darling that pretty much no one saw. The show has been lauded by some as the best drama in television history, a level of hyperbole that at first I did not easily swallow but which I’ve come to completely understand. What began as a cop show with profanity became one of the most powerful pieces of social commentary of the last 40 years. And that’s the truth. When it comes to my relationship with HBO programming, these revelations are beginning to become routine. I’m one of those obnoxious people who all but gave up TV. About seven years ago I stopped flipping through the channels and ceased paying attention to television. Before…
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