Pierre does Rogan; Watching Project Hail Mary; Last call for Easter scripts!
3 Things this week and an exclusive look at a new script
Thanks for spending some time this weekend with Things I Wrote Down. Here are three things that stood out this week online, and an exclusive excerpt of one of my new scripts.
Pierre does Rogan
It’s been talked about all week, the big interview that was supposed to make him Prime Minister (which we now know he never did, because “we don’t leave the country” when we campaign in Canada).
Pierre Poilievre, the “could be” PM of Canada someday, did a two hour interview on the biggest podcast in the world: The Joe Rogan Experience.1 It got attention all over (you’ve probably noticed on social media) and was discussed by major publications like The New York Times and The National Post and made news for multiple reasons, including his move not to attack his political opponent, Mark Carney, on foreign soil.
I had some flights and drives this week, so I listened to the whole thing. Here are a few of my takeaways:
All politicians should do long form. When I listen to longform interviews I realize how lame the soundbite news economy is. It’s great to to hear full thoughts, get insight into comms style, hear the banter, and all of it in the full context of the conversation. To me there seems no downside (unless you hide behind sound bites).
PP’s explanation of the House of Commons with its traditional green-grass ground of discourse (hence the green carpet) where the common people debate and perfect policy, prosecuting the government’s ideas was a highlight. It made me proud to be Canadian and proud of our system. It also made me wish we were more aware of it and think that we need to remember we’re not a Republic like the US. X, other social media channels, and the advertisement-driven news cycle make Canadians think our system works like America’s. It’s easy to lose sight of what we are and that the bare knuckle politics of the US aren’t really how we do it here.
Deregulation and slashing bureaucracy is so appealing, let’s just do that, okay? Unleash Canada. Who cares what your party is. I’d pretty much vote for anyone who actually did that. Can you relate?
As a born and raised Albertan living in Ontario, it was so refreshing to hear someone speak about the oilsands positively and with a view of their nation-changing potential.
We all have so much more in common (interests, dreams, humour, values) than we do that’s different.
His statement that “Canadians do evolution not revolution” was a great line.
The language gets a little salty, but it's an interesting watch in this political moment. Check it out.
Watching Project Hail Mary
I shared recently that I was re-reading the Andy Weir space novel Project Hail Mary in prep for the smash hit film which went to wide release this week. It’s breaking records (the biggest opening for a non-franchise film; the first film to be screened in the stratosphere) and winning fans. How cool to see.
There are so many laugh-out-loud moments in the film that are in the book. But there was a special voice cameo from Meryl Streep that got massive laughs and was one of many joyful moments.
If you want a heart-warming, science-and-math-loving film, this one has it all. Two big thumbs down from me! (If you read the book or see the film, you’ll understand why that’s a good thing 👎🏻👎🏻).
Last call for Easter skits!
As you may know, I write for the Skit Guys, plays that are produced in churches across North America on Sundays (especially around big holidays). But what you may not know is that the platform just went through a big rebrand and is now known as 231 Worship.
If you’re looking for last minute Easter content for your church or faith community, go check them out.
I have two new Easter scripts this season to add to the library. They’re easy to produce and ready to bring some laughter and hope to your services. The first one was an idea that I first started to work out here on TIWD as I launched into my reading of Acts and started asking Qs about the Holy Spirit and AI. It’s called, Why Are You Looking Up? and is a snapshot of the moment when the disciples were staring at the clouds in the moments after Jesus ascended.
The other new script is Operation Empty Tomb, a new story in my Even Angels series. In the script Rapha and Tromos, two angels, have just rolled away the stone at the garden tomb and are ordered to await the arrival of the disciples. They’re shocked when they see it’s the women who have the courage to visit the garden and who will be the vessels God uses to announce the resurrection.
This is cutting it close, so the timing may not be right… but if you ever need a great script to bring your service to life, check out 231 Worship. There are amazing plays, skits, and other resources by awesome writers from around the world.
A snapshot of my new Easter skit
I don’t often share my plays here in this space. Today, as we look forward to Easter, I thought I’d drop the opening of my new skit Operation Empty Tomb. Here’s a sample.
Tromos rubs the small of his back and then rotates his shoulders. His body is sore. Rapha watches him with a smirk on his face.
Tromos: What?
Rapha: You gonna make it?
Tromos: I’m fine.
Rapha: Is the great Tromos sore?
Tromos: That stone was way heavier than it looked, okay?
Rapha: Too much time commanding, not enough time in the field.
Tromos: Someone’s gotta keep the heavenly host in line.
Rapha: So are we done here or what?
Tromos: No.
Rapha: Why’d they send you down here to do the heavy lifting anyway?
Tromos: There’s something else going down.
Rapha: Shouldn’t you be at the command center leading the battle that’s raging around the disciples?
Tromos: You ask too many questions.
Rapha: The Son of God just literally rose from the dead. They need to know! The hounds of hell are raging against them right now. The two of us could fly over there and wreak havoc against the enemy!
Tromos: You don’t think the same thought hasn’t crossed my mind? I could use the catharsis of causing carnage. But our orders are to wait it out here.
Rapha: For what?
Tromos: The disciples are coming.
Rapha: Leaving their hideout? Is that wise?
Tromos: Grief will compel them to come. They had so little time before the Sabbath fell to even honor the Lord in burial.
Rapha: No way. They’re too scared. They’ll think it’s too risky.
Tromos: Some of them will come. At least that’s why we’re here. If they do.
Rapha: Any guesses?
Tromos: It’s gotta be John.
Rapha: That’s what I was thinking.
Tromos: He was there at the cross. The whole God-forsaken time.
Rapha: Stayed until they took down the body.
Tromos: I’ve been meaning to commend you for your restraint, Rapha. I know it took everything in you to keep your sword sheathed. You kept your orders.
Rapha: I don’t question God the Father’s command. But I don’t understand it. The devil and all his angels filled the clouds and we could have ended it then and there. Did you see them just gloating?
Tromos: Walked right into Heaven’s trap.
Rapha: A trap? Looked like they succeeded in their centuries-long plan to overthrow the Godhead to me.
Tromos: Well, the tomb’s empty, isn’t it?
Rapha: True.
Tromos: He’s risen.
Rapha: He’s risen indeed.
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I mostly just see clips of his podcast online (the only other full interview I’ve ever watched was his fascinating interview with the songwriter Jewel, which took me about three weeks to consume, because it’s tough to find the time to listen to three+ continuous hours of content) 😂