Monday, January 12, 2009

Inspiration Revisited

I've talked about inspiration before. What inspires you; from where you draw inspiration. I've yet to ask WHO inspires you. If you could pick a list of people you'd like to meet - and why - who would those people be? I've spent a lot of time thinking about this very question... and I think I've come up with some interesting people I'd love to meet and talk to for just a while.

Stephen King - a lot of people may not like his books, but he's a powerful writer - able to captivate his audience and keep them on the edge of their seats until the very last word... and then leaves them wanting more. I would love to have the opportunity to sit down and talk about writing with him.

Tim Curry - he is a master entertainer who has done it all - television, movies, Broadway and London stage, and recording artist. Every project in which he is involved, he brings his vast experience to but always seems to bring something new to it as well. I would love to discuss his inspirations and how he decides which projects he wants to be involved with.

John Douglas - this man spent years working with the FBI... he was the original criminal profiler. He spend most of his career helping to paint a clearer picture of who the criminal was so that the person may be found quicker. I would love to talk to him about how he got interested in that line of work, what the motivation was to keep him going even after the sickest of serial killers, and how it felt transitioning to civilian life once he retired.

Alan Parsons - his ability to look at a piece of music or a band and find ways to make it/them more appealing to an audience has always struck me. I've been a fan of his music since I was little - grew up listening to it all the time because of my mother. And the work he did with bands like Pink Floyd is amazing.

Robin Williams - I would love to just sit down and talk with him about his view of the world. Everyone's view of the world is different because of our experiences - and Robin Williams definitely has a very unique view of the way things are.

Billy Connolly - I'd love to talk to him for the same reason as above with Robin Williams. He's a funny comedian who can mold himself into whatever part he's playing if on television or in a movie.

Quincy Jones - after being such a major influence with a lot of today's popular music, I would love to talk to him about his views of today's music.

Sigmund Freud - if it were possible to speak with him without the need of a seance or ouija board, I think it would be fascinating to sit down and pick the mind of the "Father of Modern Psychology".

Vincent Van Gogh - again, if I didn't need a seance or a ouija board, I would love to talk to him about his inspiration for his art and what it was like as he spiraled downwards into madness, leading him to eventually take his own life.

Every single songwriter in history whose music I enjoy - as a writer, I know inspirations can come from the strangest of places. And I would love to know where their inspirations are drawn from. Sometimes, it's evident - but a lot of the time, it's not.

These are just a few of the people I would love to take some time to talk to. There is so much you can learn about where others derive their inspiration - so much you can understand about their work, their soul... their passion.

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