Have I Made Myself Clear? #2 | Japan on Film

Hi all! Another week, another newsletter. Apologies for the tardiness of this issues’ release, I’m tardy. In personal news, I seem to have a clean bill of mental health for almost 2 weeks now, which is unheard of for a good 5 months or so! My depressive symptoms have vanished, I haven’t thought about recreating Midsommar in 2 weeks and I’m anxiously awaiting the inevitable crash heading my way.

First off, a new series by YouTuber/Streamers Ludwig and Michael Reeves, who are travelling across Japan from bottom to top (tip-to-tip) without using a map or smartphones - in 14 days. I have been thoroughly enjoying it, especially the moments where they visit a place my very own sweaty socks and thick-soled Converse have trekked.

Almost all of the information they garner is through talking to locals and their Japanese is imperfect but impressive, and it’s given me a real hankering to learn the language and make my way back over there sometime soon.

(bonus japan pics at the end of the newsletter!)

Next, another video essay recommendation. Jacob Geller is another one of my favourite essayists (i actually don’t follow any essayists i dont like so take that claim with a grain of salt), with a penchant for exploring existentialism through the art of video game storytelling - very up my alley. This latest essay, however, is an exploration/retrospective of Indiana Jones and his frequent encounters with Christian divinity and what it can tell us about faith and religion.

Finally, I’ve been using the Opal soundtrack more and more frequently lately (featured in the latest Bow-Tie TV releasing very soon… stay tuned), so I figure a plug is well deserved.

Opal is a short stop-motion/mixed media film written, animated, voiced and composed by the prolific Jack Stauber. Opal treads themes of parental trauma, escapism (more aptly Alice in Wonderland syndrome), narcissism and non-physical abuse; all with a banging soundtrack. Well worth the 12min watch.

Once again, my sincere apologies for the late release. I’ve been very wrapped up in a couple projects I have coming up, namely brand new uploads for the long (intermittently) dormant Bow-Tie TV, my main YouTube channel.

The last two months have been a new rock bottom for me, and I have stood on the precipice of not making it out of them. In fact, this last week, another literal nightmare came true (as has been the theme of this season of my life, spanning the last 3 years).

But I’m happy to say I’m staying above the water right now. Something seems to have clicked back into place, and I have been able to take the hits in stride. I’m back working again and I am really, really proud of what I’ve got coming up. I look forward to sharing it with you very much.

Oh, hey! I got some new photos developed from my Japan trip? Wanna see? No? Well, I’mma do it anyway.