What you're doing this weekend

I was washing dishes and all of a sudden, I had the idea for the next thing I want to write.  I'm in the middle of working really hard on my web series so I've been making notes as the idea fleshes itself out without really giving it any kind of concerted push.  Anyway, while the new idea has been percolating independently, I keep finding myself coming back to the excellent film Safety Not Guaranteed which I watched streaming on Netflix.  Here's the summary:

A team of journalists are dispatched to find out who's behind a classified advertisement seeking a companion for time travel, with payment on return. After tracking down their oddball prey, the team has to decide how best to approach their subject.

Even before it related (structurally) to my new idea, I'd come back to this film with some frequency.  The performances are great and charming, the writing is really good and the film manages to do this magical thing where it really keeps you guessing right up 'till the end (which is the thing I want to figure out how to do for my new story) and, as I've mentioned it to friends, almost no one I know has seen it.  So: watch this movie!

Here's the trailer. (Wordpress won't let me embed video, alas.  That link takes you to YouTube)

ALSO . . .

A few days ago, still thinking about Safety Not Guaranteed, this delightful list floated through my Facebook feed.  I was a bit chagrined not to see Safety Not Guaranteed on it, but also glad to have more great movies to check out. 

AND FINALLY . . .

My friend David's very excellent movie Next Year Jerusalem is recently also available to watch on Netflix.  I wrote about his movie a while ago when it had its theatrical release and the thing I'd add, based on a recent conversation with him, is that the title seems to throw people off - they think it's just for/about Jewish people/issues and that isn't the case.  This is really a movie about the human condition and it is gently and beautifully done.  So check this one out too.