Direction.

I would like to pay tribute to someone who I have only recently became aware of, (recent as in today) Mr Alan Ball.
Now don't feel bad if you have no idea who he is, because I didn't either. Although I did know, and cherish his work.

Ball was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Frank and Mary Ball, an aircraft inspector and a homemaker. He attended high school in Marietta, and went on to attend the University of Georgia and Florida State University, from which he graduated in 1980 with a degree in theater arts. After college, he began work as a playwright at the General Nonsense Theater Company in Sarasota, Florida.

Ball is gay and has been called "a strong voice for [the] LGBT community". In 2008 he made Out magazine's annual list of the 100 most impressive gay men and women. Alan Ball has, in numerous interviews, discussed his Buddhist faith and how it has influenced his film making. In an interview with Amazon.com Ball commented on the iconic scene in American Beauty with the plastic bag, stating, "I had an encounter with a plastic bag! And I didn't have a video camera, like Ricky does... There's a Buddhist notion of the miraculous within the mundane, and I think we certainly live in a culture that encourages us not to look for that." Ball has also discussed how his Buddhism has shaped themes in Six Feet Under and True Blood which he has substantially contributed to. Ball keeps a collection of Mascaw parrots, much to the ire of his neighbor Quentin Tarantino, who in March 2011 sued him under the Californian Civil Code  section 3479 over the "obnoxious pterodactyl-like screams" they make.


Now Just in case you hadn't realized, Ball is a top bloke. Not only for his crazy antics. But for his amazing work. 

My two favourite pieces of filmic art is the opening credits to True Blood, and the opening credits to Dexter. 
Oh guess who created both of those? 
Isn't he amazing. 

Each intro is so unique and artistic. Aside from the fact that it makes one uneasy, it is so engaging, I have never seen anything that compares to his work.
If you read my blog, or listen to what I say, you shall know that I have recently discovered short films. Well I'm no expert but if that can be considered a short film, It's the epitome of Filmic Artistic brilliance. 


Everyone should check out his excellence.