Write, write, write

If you ever find yourself in need of a spark of creativity, a kick of imagination - then I can only suggest you enter The Twilight Zone. My all-around-brilliant wife presented me with the complete definite collection of The Twilight Zone, a whopping 28 DVD pack containing all of Rod Serling's 156 episodes. Do yourself a favor - get them!

"There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone." Thus the opening narration of every episode ... and each and every episode truly does take you there.

I'd seen many Twilight Zone episodes over the years - but never the lot of it. As I watch them now I see countless iconic actors early in their careers. I see episode after episode stacked with brilliantly inventive ideas - they've made best use of what they had available then and, because the stories are so well written and presented, they're as inspiring now as they must have been mind-boggling then. And if you think this ole black-and-white stuff is probably more than a bit dated - think again! Even my teenage kids love watching them - and/or love listening to me tell them individual episodes.

When you watch The Twilight Zone, you'll also discover many familiar elements. You'll soon realize that more than one generation of screenwriters have borrowed again and again from the series. They've taken sometimes entire concepts, sometimes just bits and pieces and built them into their own stories... nothing wrong with that, by the way - I wrote about "stealing" in this blog > Stealing allowed - De Niro style.

So there you have it, folks. Ring in the new year with a creative explosion. I dare you to enter ... (wait for it ... wait ... now it comes) ... The Twilight Zone. Just had to say it - can you blame me!?