nate dern blog

We've moved, sorry for the inconvenience

2010-10-16T15:16:00.000-07:00

Howdy,

This is just a note to say that, until further notice, my (minimal) blogging efforts have been moved here:

http://natedern.tumblr.com/

Gracias,

nate

new web series: Noah and Dru's Novel

2010-04-15T18:32:00.001-07:00

Hey friends,

I've recently been collaborating with a few friends of mine on a new web series called Noah and Dru's Novel. It is about two friends co-authoring a novel together.

In a departure from my usual self indulgence, I actually stay behind the camera on this one. Noah and Dru are played by the very funny Noah Forman and Dru Johnston, two-thirds of NYC comedy powerhouse The New Deal and shot by my hetero life partner Isaac Ravishankara. We're also honored to be a featured original series on UCBcomedy.com.

Take a look at your leisure, eh?

Noah and Dru's Novel - Episode 1 - Ground Rules

http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/6180/noah-and-drus-novel-ep-1

Love,
nate

a prayer in which God is asked to reconsider a longstanding policy

2010-04-07T20:17:00.001-07:00

Hey friends,

Sometimes I make a video that I am so proud of I can't help but tell all of my friends to watch it.

Sometimes I make a video that causes me to pause and wonder if perhaps I shouldn't make it public for fear of possible negative ramifications in the future.

This video falls into the second category. I hope you enjoy/aren't too offended:

a prayer in which God is asked to reconsider a longstanding policy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycTfVygxKC0

Love,
nate

my 150th YouTube video

2010-04-04T18:49:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

Well, although I spent several months since my last production fine tuning this video, I think you'll agree it was worth the wait. I proudly present to you my 150th* YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArO7lCRHnbs

Love,
nate

*I've made more than 150 YouTube videos, but some have been deleted for alleged copyright infringement etc over the years.

Catch-22

2010-01-23T18:50:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading Joseph Heller's Catch-22 for the first time. I started reading it weeks (months) ago and I think it is the first significant novel I've read almost entirely in intermittent ten or twenty minute subway ride spurts. I think this disjointed reading didn't detract too much from my experience, and in fact might have fit quite well with the jarring, non-chronological, and tangled events of the book (The last book I tried to read on the subway was Proust's Swann's Way, an effort which I abandoned 70 or so pages in, although even if I'd been on vacation in a secluded cabin without the distractions of cramped subway cars and worrying about missing my stop the erudite prose still probably would have gone right over my head).

One delightful thing about reading this book was that although I had been aware of it, as well as the phrase it created, for most of my life, I actually had no idea what it was about, akin to the rare pleasure of seeing a movie without having first seen a trailer that spoiled most of the major plot points. And when I say I didn't know what it was about, I mean, like, had no idea. Didn't know it was about war (although I figured that out quickly), didn't know it was an absurd comedy of sorts (once I realized this fact, it greatly increased how much I enjoyed/understood what was going on).

Since finishing it about an hour ago, I've read a few (one) articles about it online. I read that Heller has said that he actually didn't think he was writing a book about war, he was writing a book about bureaucracy and the absurd logic therein. That seems right.

Whenever I finish a book or a movie that really stirs me up and strikes me as significant, as this one did, I feel an impulse to talk about it or write about or do something inspired by it. And here we are. As usual, I don't have any clever thoughts or observations about it. Certainly nothing that hasn't been said better by people who have read more and actually know what they're talking about.

Hmm.

Here are a few passages that I especially liked (Note: my literary power of analysis does not exceed citing a few quotations. I am like a fourteen year-old boy who shows his admiration for Napoleon Dynamite or Old School by repeating the funny lines with his friends):

SPOILER ALERTS TO FOLLOW!

He felt goose pimples clacking all over him as he gazed down despondently at the rim secret Snowden had spilled all over the messy floor. It was easy to read the message in his entrails. Man was matter, that was Snowden's secret. Drop him out a window and he'll fall. Set fire to him and he'll burn. Bury him and he'll rot, like other kinds of garbage. The spirit gone, man is garbage. That was Snowden's secret. Ripeness was all.
p. 440 in my copy

Someone had to do something sometime. Every victim was a culprit, every culprit a victim, and somebody had to stand up sometime to try to break the lousy chain of inherited habit that was imperiling them all.
p. 405

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one’s own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn’t, but if he was sane he would have to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn’t have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle. “That’s some catch, that Catch-22,” he observed. “It’s the best there is,” Doc Daneeka agreed.
p. 46

Hmm. Last thought. Joseph Heller wrote that book when he was 38 or something. I'm 25 or something. Nobody has done anything significant by this time, right? I'm okay to just keep plugging away and sooner or later I'll do something worthwhile? Right? Maybe by 13 years from now? Wait, you say that if I want to do something monumental I never will because I will be trying too hard, but if I don't want to do something monumental I never will because I won't be trying hard enough? That's sort of like, eh, what's that thing called...Murphy's Law? Yeah, that's it. Murphy's Law.

Love,
nate

Wikipedia to charge users in order to keep site free

2010-01-15T16:48:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

Check out this fake news video I just made with the help of a few funny friends:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISUX50FkEEQ

I got the idea to do the video after seeing those increasingly emotional "personal testimonials" on the top of Wikipedia asking for voluntary donations. For what it is worth, I love Wikipedia. Love it.

Love you, too.

nate

Babies

2010-01-03T15:56:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

My latest video is a parody of the trailer for the new Focus Features doc Babies, set to come out April 16, 2010. My version is called Babies: Look Who's Talking Still:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c68dvASusmY

I first got in my head that I wanted to do a parody of the trailer when I saw it before seeing Where The Wild Things Are in theaters. It was just too celebratory and jubilant not too. The four vocal tracks that I to the existing music are basically just what I hear in my head when I watch the real trailer.

Love,
nate

TwitPrompt

2009-12-20T09:26:00.001-08:00

Howdy friends,

I hope you're all having nice Decembers so far. I'm writing to let you know about my latest project: TwitPrompt.

Here is how it works: everyday I post a new prompt on Twitter that you can Tweet a response to, if you feel so inclined. For example, today's prompt is #Snowmen_make_me_think_of.

If you are the Twittering type, please follow TwitPrompt here:
http://twitter.com/twitprompt

Any feedback would be appreciate.

I hope whatever you are doing, you are happy and healthy.
nate

--
http://natedern.com/

QLP, my one year video log, is over

2009-12-07T20:16:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

Recently I celebrated my 25th birthday, which marked the end of my one year weekly vlog project "Quarterlife Pounder." If you ever have 270 minutes (or so) to put out of commission, you can watch all 53 videos here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/nateonjesuslane#grid/user/D8FA8D90334DFA31

Love,
nate

escalator trick

2009-11-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

Howdy,

In this installment of Monumental Works of Art, Nate Dern does the escalator trick:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQwIFLjAtg4

Cinematography by Graham Johnson.

Love,
nate

My first revenue sharing video on YouTube

2009-11-07T16:15:00.000-08:00

Hey gang,

So, a while back I made a silly choose your own adventure video on YouTube. It recently has been approaching 100,000 views, which in YouTubeVille is evidently just enough views to qualify it for revenue sharing. Such a milestone might not seem significant to some, but I'm pretty stoked about it. So watch, enjoy, click the ad that appears next to the video, and by so doing you will be sending fractions of a penny into my wallet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2ivvPyLF-I

Stomach flu,
nate

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

2009-11-01T09:43:00.000-08:00

Love,
nate

"Data Hoarder" in Wall Street Journal blog

2009-10-20T21:08:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

"Data Hoarders", a parody of AandE's Hoarders, that I directed and edited was mentioned in a Wall Street Journal blog. Check it out...

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2009/10/20/aes-hoarders-the-digital-age-version/

Wall Street!

nate

Video I was in by LandlineTV: Hosting a Health Care Launch Party

2009-10-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

Check out this video done by the funny dudes at Landline that I got to be parodying the Windows 7 Launch Party video:

Also, I enjoyed this comment referring to me:

Love,
homeless nate

Horribly Injured Americans Against Obamacare (video I helped edit for UCBcomedy.com)

2009-09-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

Here is a video that I helped edit for UCBcomedy.com:

What do you think of political parody spoofs like this one? Do they make a difference? Is the only result that people who already agree with this viewpoint will like it and people who disagree with this viewpoint will find it unfair? But could that be said of any political discourse? How do you change someone's mind? Will political satire ever change the mind of people who are undecided in their beliefs? Or is it naive to think that there are people who are undecided when in fact most people's most fundamental beliefs are concretely and irrevocably formed very very early on in their childhood? How do you change someone's mind? Is this a patronizing question to ask? Should I ask instead how could someone change my mind?

Thanks for watching,
nate

video I edited for UCBcomedy.com: House Porsche

2009-09-18T22:06:00.000-07:00

Behold...House Porsche

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLxReBOIJbA

The The Final Destination (next summer!): Death Gets Smarter.

2009-09-08T08:04:00.001-07:00

Hey friendos,

Made this video over the weekend. I need to learn that if I'm going to make a parody of something, I should do it when that something is still relevant.

Oh well. If you've got an idea, you've got an idea, gnome saying?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1itRINOA5wQ

nate

I won Facebook!

2009-09-05T15:24:00.001-07:00

Good news, friends.

Well, for a while there it looked like I was a washed up failure, but things have turned around for ol' Nate: I won Facebook.

Sadly, when you win Facebook, the only thing you get is the inability to add more Facebook friends. Ironic, since having won Facebook this is probably the prime time when Facebook users would want to add me as a Facebook friend, me being the winner of Facebook and all.

So it goes.

24 Years Late: I just watched The Breakfast Club for the first time and I'd like to talk about it, please.

2009-08-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

So. I just watched The Breakfast Club (1985) for the first time. It was for "research" for another project I have going on in my life. If you were here in my apartment with me right now, I'd want to talk to you about it, even though you probably saw it a long time ago and are probably over, or more likely never were interested in, discussing it at length. So consider yourself fortunate that instead of berating you verbally with these thoughts, you only have to peruse them in text form until you decide to click away. Perhaps you already have. Without further ado:

Why oh why is it called The Breakfast Club?

Again, I've never really had a discussion with anyone about this film, so perhaps this is old news, but please tell me it is generally agreed upon that this is a silly title? Five kids all have detention together on a Saturday from 7-3, early on they discuss different "clubs" (social clubs vs academic clubs vs sport teams vs belonging to no clubs), they eat lunch together, they indicate that they may or may not be friends once this day is over, and then they leave, some of them kissing before they do. They never eat breakfast. 7am does seem early, which is what a lot of the internet posts defending the title or attempting to explain the title pointed to, but actually 7am only seems early for those of us who are no longer on the primary/secondary school schedule. That is just a normal school day that those kids went through. Listen, to me, your title should be one of two things: 1) obviously from the story you are telling (examples of this abound: The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, 10 Things I Hate About You), or 2) although not from the story, title is something that compliments or offers a new twist on our understanding of the story (in The Fountainhead, the word "fountainhead" never appears in the book, but that title works because it supports a theme of the book). In contrast, The Breakfast Club toes the line between making sense and not making sense, in a way that aggravates me more than it should. It feels like an attempt was made to go for the first category of title I described above, something directly from the movie, but there is no justification for "Brian"/Anthony Michael Hall signing their essay "The Breakfast Club." Some of the internet posts defending the title cited this as the reason for the film's title, but this is circular logic to me. The Detention Club maybe? The Saturday Club perhaps? It felt like it was going for a title like this. On the other hand, if the intention was to go for the second type of less obvious title, than I think it wasn't taken far enough. Something like, Nothing Better To Do or What We Did To Get In Here or Five White Kids. Speaking of that...

All types of kids (all of the types of white relatively good looking kids, that is)

So I suppose it can be attributed to being an artifact of the times or whatever, but if one was going to write a blog entry about one's first time watching The Breakfast Club (which I seem to be doing) then I think it would be impossible not to at least mention this fact. I mean, especially for a film that is about taking five strangers from different backgrounds and showing that they have more in common than they think, it might have been a bit more ambitious to choose a slightly more representative cross section of American society at the time. But hey, at this point it is what it is. I'm mainly sharing my viewing experience, not offering an earnest plea for how the movie should have been made. By the time both the teacher and the janitor were also good looking white dudes, it just seemed like it wasn't simply a grave oversight, but actually possibly an active effort to keep this film white. That being said, this film wouldn't be a classic and hold the place that it does in popular culture without doing a few things pretty damn well...

Ambitious decisions

Despite the misgivings shared above, there were some things that I really admired. For example, it takes place in one location: a school. Not only that, most of the "action" takes place within the library. Action has been placed in quotation marks because not much action actually occurs, which is also ambitious. I imagine watching this film (pre the teen romantic comedies of the 90s and way pre mumble core films about youth) back in 1985, there was a tremendous feeling amongst middle class teenagers of being able to relate to these characters in a way that previous films might not have had. I imagine movie goers might have even exclaimed things like, "Hey, they're just like us!" or "Hey, they're just sitting around the school talking about stuff - that is what we do!" or even "Hey, they're making jokes, smoking weed in detention, and throwing lunch meat on library statues - aka what we did yesterday!" And while at times there are punches of 80s music that now feel dated and hilarious, there are also long stretches where there is no musical scoring at all, just the dialogue, something that I admire a lot. Music, sometimes more than anything else, in movies tells the viewer what emotion he or she should be feeling at this time. Without music, there is more onus on the viewer to decide how he or she feels about what is on the screen at that moment. At the beginning of the film especially, there is a long break in music between the opening credits and the first time it kicks in again after we've been introduced to all of the characters. During this stretch, there is nothing to entertain us or get us drawn in but the individuals and the unremarkable dialogue we're observing on the screen. I think that is ambitious for a mainstream film.

Length of the essay

They are supposed to write a 1000 word essay. The essay that is read at the end is probably around 90 words. This is fine, but for crazy people like me, if this isn't addressed at least, then inevitably I will notice it and it will take me out of the movie going experience. I was unable to enjoy the satisfaction of the ending because I was just thinking, "Wow, that was way less than 1000 words." Again, ending with an Anthony Michael Hall 1000 word voice over would probably be a bad call, but if you're going to make such a big deal about the length of the essay at the top of the film, then you at least need to address it. One line is all I need. "Well, this isn't quite 1000 words, but here goes..." Again, I am a crazy person, so keep that in mind.

Phew. Aren't you glad you weren't here in person for me to say all of this stuff to you?

Thanks for reading. Please feel free to tell me why I'm wrong.

Love,
nate

Empire Autos Extends Cash For Clunkers!

2009-08-25T07:46:00.001-07:00

Hey friends,

I wrote this for a sketch class I'm in right now. Let me know what you think.

Clunkers,
nate

The Lonely Island parody parody: Like A Sauce

2009-08-07T08:18:00.001-07:00

Hey friends,

Because the nation demanded it! A parody of The Lonely Island's "Like A Boss." We proudly present "Like A Sauce," a song about a guy who thinks he is a sauce.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLvM91nLW8M

Written by and starring Nate Dern. Directed/visual effects by Isaac Ravishankara. Cinematography by Sam Ellison. Music recorded and mixed by Matt O'Malley.

Love,
nate

Post-it Super Sticky Notes: I wear my feelings on my Post-it.

2009-07-31T20:35:00.001-07:00

Hey friendos,

I made a video for a Post-it Notes video contest with a little help from the http://stacyanne.tumblr.com/

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION,
nate

finished reading Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 recently

2009-07-17T20:53:00.000-07:00

Howdy.

Finished reading Fahrenheit 451 recently. It was the first time I'd read it. Also, feels like I haven't read any book front to cover in a while. Enjoyed reading it. Definitely worthwhile. Glad I did. You should read it, if you haven't. A good book about books. Here are some choice quotes to entice you:

Grandfather's been dead for all these years, but if you lifted my skull, by God, in the convolutions of my brain you'd find the big ridges of his thumbprint. He touched me. As I said earlier, he was a sculptor. 'I hate a Roman named Status Quo!' he said to me. 'Stuff your eyes with wonder,' he said, 'live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in facgtories. Ask no guarantees, ask for no security, there never was such an animal. And if there were, it would be related to the great sloth which hangs upside down in a tree all day every day, sleeping its life away. To hell with that,' he said, 'shake the tree and knock the great sloth on his ass.'

Here is another good one:

Do you know why books such as this are so important? Because they have quality. And what does the word quality mean? To me it means texture. This book has pores.

And the one that seems the most likely to stick with me:

You're afraid of making mistakes. Don't be. Mistakes can be profited by. Man, when I was young I shoved my ignorance in people's faces. They beat me with sticks. By the time I was forty my blunt instrument had been honed to a fine cutting point for me. If you hide your ignorance, no one will hit you and you'll never learn.

Yes, this last one stays with me.

Previously I never would have thought that "shoving your ignorance in people's faces" could possibly be a good thing. But Mr. Bradbury has convinced me that it could be. I recently made a video that I posted on YouTube talking about why I don't like to go to parties. When I'd finished making it, I was nervous about posting it because it felt a bit too earnest and I was afraid that I'd regret having others see it. In the end I posted it. Sure enough, there were a few points that I had attempted to make that people objected to in the comments section, some objections that I foresaw, but more significantly also some that I hadn't expected. So to continue Mr. Bradbury's metaphor, the objections that I foresaw were blows that I was expecting and was prepared to deflect; the objections that I didn't expect, however, were the ones that got through the defense I'd prepared, made contact, and left me a different shape than I was before.

To be clear: this isn't a celebration of ignorance, it is a celebration of being brave enough to put your ignorance out into the light so that the world can show you whats wrong with it, and its a celebration of being open to being shown your own ignorances. We all have many.

And now here I am again, feeling as if I've been a bit too earnest, not really said anything worthwhile while thinking I have. I've never taken a literature course. I don't have anything particularly intelligent to say about Fahrenheit 451 or Ray Bradbury, I can't pretend to be able to offer any new insights to literary theory. I really don't have any business at all posting a blog entry about this or any book. Don't listen to me. If you've read this far I apologize.

So. Should I post it?

I'm telling a story at the Heeb storytelling event!

2009-07-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

I'll be telling a story at the Heeb magazine storytelling event this Wednesday. So will some other folks. Here are the details:

Heeb Storytelling returns to 92Y Tribeca with 7-minute Jewish stories from:

Simon Rich (SNL writer),
Nate Dern ("Beauty and the Geek" alum and comedian),
Scott Raab (celebrity journalist),
Louis Katz (comedian),
Mindy Raf (comedian/writer),
and Doree Shafrir & Jessica Grose (Postcards From Yo Momma).

The event will be hosted by Hannibal Buress,
one of New York Magazine's "Ten New Comedians That Funny People Find Funny."

$10. For tickets call 212-601-1000 or www.92Y.org

When: July 22, 9:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Where: 92Y Tribeca, 200 Hudson Street, New York, NY
More Info: heebmagazine.com/events

Should be fun,
nate

QLP #33: Does anybody know anybody at a party?

2009-07-13T13:34:00.001-07:00

In this installment of QLP I discuss the possibility of being yourself at a party. Note: Nate is an introverted dork, so keep that in mind when considering his perspective on the subject.

"Toy Soldier" - a video comic by nate dern

2009-07-07T22:39:00.001-07:00

Hey friends,

I tried something new! I drew a few drawings. Then I took these drawings and I scanned them into my computer. Then I colored these drawings in Photoshop. Then I took these colored drawings and put them into Final Cut Pro and I added a some sound. Take a look.

QLP #31: Daniel Radcliffe interviewed by Nate Dern / What are your summer must do's?

2009-06-30T07:35:00.001-07:00

Hey friends,

New video in which I interview (wink wink) Daniel Radcliffe, the star of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

Woo!
nate

Choose your own adventure type video: Email Sign-Offs

2009-06-27T11:19:00.001-07:00

Hey friends,

This week I made a YouTube choose your own adventure type video involving email sign-offs. I've embedded the email below, but I think that the interactive annotation bubbles might work better on the actual page, so may I suggest clicking here.

Please watch and let me know what you think. Let me know what you like, what is fun, what is confusing, etc.

Love,
nate

QLP #30: Does where you live define you?

2009-06-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

I'm in a UCB comedy video!!! --> "American Apparel: Everyday Sexy"

2009-06-14T12:53:00.001-07:00

Hey friends,

I'm pretty excited about this one. I got to play the part of Dov Charney, the founder of American Apparel, in a video for UCBComedy.com. It was written and directed by my friend Todd Bieber. I also edited it. Check it out:

Thoughts?

nate

THE END OF THE WORLD: an improvised apocalypse

2009-06-09T09:38:00.000-07:00

Hey, if you're in New York City between now and June 30th you should come see THE END OF THE WORLD.

Description:

An improvised sci-fi extravaganza centered on the end of the world. Inspired by a single suggestion, the actors spend the first half of the show creating scenes that lead up to an apocalypse. Then in the second half they create the new world that rises up from those ruins. Expect generous doses of zombies, robots, dystopian governments, the four horsemen and paste that may or may not be made of people.

Featuring: Benjamin Apple, David Bluvband, Adam Bozarth, Katelyn Cunningham, Kirk Damato, Crystal Delahanty, Nate Dern, Brian Faas, Frank Hejl, Lauren Hunter, Matthew Little, Benjamin Ragheb, Alexis Saarela, Christopher Scott, Natalie Short, John Trowbridge

You can make reservations online.

Hope to see you there.

nate

QLP #28: What is indie?

2009-06-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

QLP #27: Do something new.

2009-06-03T12:50:00.000-07:00

Chipotle commercial: Death by Guac

2009-05-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

I'm in this web ad for Chipotle:

Love,
nate

QLP #26: Do we matter?

2009-05-25T08:43:00.001-07:00

word wall results

2009-05-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

I recently posted a question asking folks:

If you were going to spell out a single word with big wooden letters on the wall of your new apartment, what would it be?

I asked the question because my girlfriend and I happened to come across some big wooden letters. How does someone just happen to come across some big wooden letters? That, my friend, is a tale for another time...actually we just found them online. Not much of a tale, I guess, seeing it written out like that. Anyway, this is what people said:

@s from my Twitter post:

YES
plastic
WALL
what up
antidisestablismentarianism
curse word of your choice (Mine would be "shitfire" or "clusterfuck.")
balldickulous
wall
create
smile
gobbledigook
imagination

Comments on my Facebook status:

your name (Mine would be Nate. Yours would not. Unless of course it would.)
HAKUNA MATATA
YES
JEDI
CUNT.
WALL.
LIVE.
THIS IS WOOD
WALL
WONDERWALL
good
CHIEF
shalom
TRUTH
FIREWALL
HONEST
shazam!
BLOODCLOT!
relax
your favorite number spelled out in lowercase letters (Mine would be "three.")
L'Chaim...
NAMASTE
Fly
Viva
Revolución!
salaam alaikum
PLATYPUS
swine flu
a word that represents a goal you have, but not obviously (Mine might be "Penguin.")
elaborate
dracula
dontcutdowntreestomakeasign
big letters
CHRISTMAS
TWINS
Banana hammock
Fly
*sup*
Wonderwall
BREATHE

Quite the list. Before asking y'all the question, my answer was "Lugubrious." My girlfriend's answer was "hello." I'll be sure to post if we end up making it happen.

Thanks to everyone who answered or read.

-nate

QLP #24: What injuries have you suffered from?

2009-05-10T22:14:00.000-07:00

Strong Takes: It's the end of the internet as we know it

2009-05-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

New Strong Takes is up:

it's the end of the internet as we know it

Inspired by a comment made my Rupert Murdoch about starting to charge people to look at news sites online.

QLP #23: Who would you fight?

2009-05-03T19:25:00.000-07:00

NNN: The Red Tie Mafia, short form improv comedy

2009-05-01T15:24:00.001-07:00

StrongTakes: Silent, but not deadly

2009-04-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

I read an article that said something about "silent heart attacks" being on the rise and, well, that inspired this StrongTakes:

Silent, but not deadly

Let me know what you think.

HOT LURVER
nate

QLP #22: Should you choose a career that helps others?

2009-04-27T08:00:00.001-07:00

NNN: Grandma Tells a Joke

2009-04-23T22:07:00.000-07:00

QLP #21: What is your funniest memory?

2009-04-21T12:03:00.001-07:00

NNN: Mets game

2009-04-18T21:16:00.001-07:00

QLP #20: What's this week's question?

2009-04-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

NNN: Thoughts While Traveling

2009-04-11T19:00:00.000-07:00

QLP #19: Should we care about what others think of us?

2009-04-06T22:41:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

New QLP...

San Francisco love,
nate

vid i edited on UCB Comedy: Cadbury Egg Emergency Meeting

2009-04-04T10:07:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

I helped edit this video for UCB Comedy.com. Check it out out out:

Lurv,
nate

NNN: Editing for UCBComedy.com

2009-04-03T05:01:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

Love,
nate

StrongTakes: How to keep your video from getting deleted from YouTube

2009-04-01T06:48:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

New StrongTakes up online:

How to keep your video from getting deleted from YouTube.

Let me know what you think.

Keep it Strong,
nate

video I helped edit for UCBComedy.com: iPod Shuffle

2009-03-30T14:17:00.001-07:00

Hey friends,

I helped edit this video for UCB Comedy.com. I'll be editing more stuff for them in the future, so be on the look out.

Lurv,
nate

QLP #18: Does power corrupt?

2009-03-30T13:24:00.001-07:00

Hey friends,

Does power corrupt? That's this week's question on Quarterlife Pounder. Plus an alien!

Lurv,
nate

NNN: Accidental Matching

2009-03-27T06:33:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

New Nate News Ninute:

Puppy love,
nate

Want to see Nate do improv? Well, get out your calendar...

2009-03-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

Want to see me do improv? Well, then get out your calendars! Here are some upcoming shows that you could check out if you're in the New York City area:

3/27/09 Friday Dynamic Duos Grad Show 7:00 PM, Magnet Theater (254 W. 29th Street)
Cleveland Prevails, my two person improv group with my friend Joe Miles, will be performing at our Magnet Theater "Dynamic Duos" graduation show. We'll do a ten minute set and five other teams will do the same. Should be fun.

3/31/09 Tuesday UCB New Team Harold 6:30 PM, UCB Theater (307 W. 26th Street)
My first New Team Harold performance! I and the rest of Doug Moe's UCB 501 class will be performing the Harold, a long form improv structure.

4/28/09 Tuesday UCB New Team Harold 6:30 PM, UCB Theater (307 W. 26th Street)
I and the rest of Doug Moe's UCB 501 class will be performing the Harold at our second and final New Team Harold performance.

5/5/09 Tuesday Magnet Level 2 Grad Show 8:30 PM, Magnet Theater (254 W. 29th Street)
I and the rest of my Magnet Level 2 class will be performing at the Magnet Theater! Hey!

5/26/09 Tuesday UCB New Team Harold 6:30 PM, UCB Theater (307 W. 26th Street)
My first New Team Harold with Michael Delaney's UCB 501 class. I'm stoked.

6/2/09 Tuesday Magnet Musical Improv Grad Show 8:30 PM, Magnet Theater (254 W. 29th Street)
Musical improv! Thrilling. Come see me sing (woah) with my Magnet Level One Musical Improv class!

6/7/09 Sunday UCB Musical Improv 201 Grad Show 4:00 PM, UCB Theater (307 W. 26th Street)
More musical improv, more thrilling. Come see me sing and make the funny with my UCB Musical Improv 201 Class!

6/23/09 Tuesday UCB New Team Harold 6:30 PM, UCB Theater (307 W. 26th Street)
My second and last New Team Harold with Michael Delaney's UCB 501 class. Not to be missed.

love,
nate

commercial parody: Divine Justice by David Baldacci

2009-03-24T15:06:00.001-07:00

Hey friends,

This is a parody of an ad that I saw for one of Mr. Baldacci's books, not a parody of him or his writing. The ad said, "David Baldacci is a master of plot, character, and dialogue" which seems like a selling point for a book, but really, when you think about it, that should be a prerequisite for any published author. Written for and workshopped in my Eric Drysdale's UCB Sketch 101 class. Let me know what you think.

Love,
nate

QLP #17: What if we could change the speed of our lives?

2009-03-22T18:53:00.000-07:00

Hey poohbas,

New QLP. In this one I dance in a park. Not to be missed.

Lurv,
nate

NNN: Extra in CollegeHumor video

2009-03-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hey Rajas,

I was an extra in a College Humor video recently, and that is the Nate News in this week's Nate News Ninute:

Farts,
nate

StrongTakes: The Conspicuous Times They Are A-Changin'

2009-03-16T06:48:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

New Strong Takes inspired by an article I read in the New York Times about rich folk having to slightly scale back on their extravagances due to the economic climate. For your consideration I present to you...

The Conspicuous Times They Are A-Changin'.

Let me know what you think.

Love,
Mello Costelvis aka nate

QLP #16: Are people born good or evil?

2009-03-15T16:08:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

New QLP...with a little help from John Steinbeck's East of Eden...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAFsONpzXJE

I am sleepy.

Let me know what you think. Do you like the new format? Confusing? Pretentious? Let me knowowowow.

loveeeeeeeeee
nateeeeeeeeee

QLP What superhero would you be?

2009-03-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

Hey lovers and friends,

What superhero would you be? That's the question inspiring this week's QLP:

Lurv3000pointOH,
nate

QLP How do you get over a break up?

2009-03-02T15:47:00.001-08:00

Hey friends,

New QLP, new format. How do you get over a break up? I share some advice that I've heard over the years...

In other news, I have had a sinus infection for a couple of weeks now and seem to be getting worse. I'm going to an ear, nose and throat doctor tomorrow. If you have any wisdom about sinus health, please share it.

Sinusitis love,
nate

StrongTakes: Gmail, hold the e

2009-02-25T20:17:00.001-08:00

Gmail POP Troubleshooter Utility Screenshot, originally uploaded by dannysullivan.

Hey friends,

Did you heard that Gmail was down for four hours the other day? It's true. I wrote a StrongTakes about it: Gmail, hold the e.

STRONG LOVE,
nate

new song: "12 favorite internet items"

2009-02-24T17:51:00.000-08:00

Hey amigos y amigas,

New song! I put a bit more work into the video itself than I usually do for my songs, so hopefully its a more enjoyable viewing experience. Let me know what you think:

LOVE A TWO STEP STEP,
nate

QLP How do we reconcile our online world with our physical world?

2009-02-23T22:19:00.000-08:00

New QLP! How do we reconcile our online world with our physical world? Short answer: I don't know. Longer answer: watch this...

jajajajaja
jajajaja
jajaja
jaja
ja
nate

Nate News Ninute: Getting Over the Flu

2009-02-23T22:18:00.000-08:00

New Ninute! Bizow:

QLP! What's in a name? Flu Edition!

2009-02-16T13:55:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

The flu is still keeping me down, but I managed to churn out this week's QLP:

FLOOZY LOVE,
nate

Debut of Nate News Ninute, my weekly comedy news show!

2009-02-13T13:51:00.001-08:00

Hey friends,

I seem to have come down with the flu. Don't tell my mom - she told me about a million times to get a flu shot and I kept putting it off. Fortunately I'd already recorded and edited the debut episode of the Nate News Ninute, a weekly comedy news show I'm going to start doing on YouTube:

Please subscribe! Please rate! Wait, you don't have a YouTube account?! Then sign up! It is free and easy to do.

And as a reminder, I'm still doing Quarterlife Pounder, my weekly talk show where I answer YOUR questions. This week's episode, which comes out on Sunday before I go to bed, is answering the question, "What's in a name?"

I hope you are all happy and healthy and free of influenza.

FLU LOVE
nate

guitar swing gone wrong (parody)

2009-02-11T14:47:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

At some point I noticed that there are an awful lot of "guitar swing gone wrong" videos on YouTube. I get a kick out of them so I decided to make a parody video:

LOVE BOB
nate

QLP Is it possible to truly know oneself?

2009-02-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

New QLP is online:

TONKA TRUCK FULL OF LOVE
nate

FREE improv show this Monday at The Creek! 8PM! UCB Harold team folks!

2009-02-06T09:45:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

So, I've got an improv show coming up! I'm pretty darn excited about it. This is the deal: I'm going to be doing a show this Monday Feb. 9th at 8 o'clock at The Creek (in Long Island City) on a team with some folks who are on Harold teams at UCB. And the show is FREE! In case you desire to know still more, here are additional words:

The Creek is going to start doing this thing called The Kaleidoscope, a night of improv comedy with teams made up of individuals from different experience levels who have never performed together before and who will (potentially) never perform together again. Here is the team I'm on:

Kevin Hines (The Scam)
Brian Faas (The Fucking Kennedys)
Paul W Downs (Whorenado)
Grace Aldrige (Safeword)
Sarah Claspell (In A World)
Brian Barrett (Bastian)
Nate Dern (Swartzlander)

And here is the Facebook page with more info:
http://tinyurl.com/bs948o

Anyway, I'm excited/nervous. Come if you feel moved by the spirit.

LOVE
nate

QLP 02.01.09 Does free will exist?

2009-02-02T18:23:00.000-08:00

Hey amigos,

Does free will exist? That's the question on this week's Quarterlife Pounder. Kellen discusses Tich Naht Hanh's concept of "habit energy" and Colby sings a song called "plea from a wanton addict" as a response to Harry Frankfurt's "hierarchical mesh" theory of human desire and free will. Fun stuff!

ULO (unidentified loving object)
nate

Quarterlife Pounder 01.25.09 Is steadiness a good thing?

2009-01-28T23:27:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

New QLP!

Love,
nate

Strong Takes: funky president

2009-01-22T07:34:00.000-08:00

Hey Internet Buddy,

After a brief hiatus, Strong Takes is back and better than ever. Earlier this week I electronically published a piece called "funky president." Please enjoy.

Wait wait wait . . . you've never read Strong Takes before? It is a pretty cool little thing. Here is the deal: each piece starts with a real snippet of news from the mainstream media and is then followed by the author's original riffing on that idea. Perhaps a fake continuation of the story, perhaps a scene inspired by the content of the article, satire, parody, whatever. Hopefully its funny. Then, and this my friends is the really cool part, you the reader have the opportunity to have a Stronger Take. That's right, you can add what you think would have been a funnier riff on the original news clip, or even add to what was already started by the other author. Earlier this week another writer had a piece about imagining what the letter that George W. Bush left for Barack Obama in his desk would have looked like. I had a Stronger Take where I imagined my own Bush letter. It was fun. You, dear reader, could have this type of fun. Just go visit Strong Takes. I write a biweekly piece under the alias Mello Costelvis.

GRATITUDE,
nate

Quarterlife Pounder 01.18.09 Barack Obama?

2009-01-19T14:07:00.000-08:00

Hey fre-fre-friends!

New QLP! Colby sings a song called "Oba-ma-ma!" Exciting!

Obama!

nate

01.11.09 Who is your favorite fictional character?

2009-01-13T20:44:00.000-08:00

Hey children of the world,

New Quarterlife Pounder is up. New segment called QLP Fake News, a commercial about Nutrament, and Colby sings a song called "banana, mint, pine tree." Here ya go:

LOVE TRIBE,
TRIBE LOVE,
nate

Quarterlife Pounder 01.04.09 Why do we make New Year resolutions?

2009-01-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

I'm back in Brooklyn! But before I left Colorado, I finished recording this week's Quarterlife Pounder. I've just returned from the editing studio (the desk in my room) and now I'm at the upload port (my roommate Isaac's room...for some reason the internet signal is stronger in his room). Please enjoy:

LOVE MOON CHEESE,
nate

Quarterlife Pounder 12.28.08 What do you like about the holidays?

2008-12-28T13:59:00.001-08:00

Hey friends,

This week's episode features an interview with my mom and grandma and a live performance of "Point Free" by Colby Barone.

Also, this week's QLP is a loooooong one. Let me knoooooow if you think 8 minutes is tooooo loooooong fooooor a webshooooow.

Here ya go:

LOVE MARTIAN,
nate

Stand-up in Colorado! This Saturday 12/27 at 8 PM at Cup of Joe in Kittredge

2008-12-25T23:17:00.000-08:00

Hey Colorado friends,

I'll be doing a little stand-up shindig this Saturday 12/27 at the Cup of Joe Cafe in Kittredge. I'm not exactly sure what the scene is going to be like, but hey, if you're in the area please stop by. It might be fun. I'll do some songs and whatnot that you've possibly seen online, but I'm going to be doing some brand spankin new stuff, too. Brand spankin; that is my promise to you.

LOVE SAUCER,
nate

Strong Takes: terminal illness

2008-12-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

I've got a new Strong Takes piece online. It is inspired by my five hour delay at JetBlue's new Terminal 5 at JFK last night. If you have a minute, please enjoy terminal illness.

LOVE PORTAL,
nate

Quarterlife Pounder 12.21.08 What would be the movie title for the story of your life?

2008-12-21T20:46:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

Quarterlife Pounder is online!

LOVE YAMS,
nate

Hot Coffee: "We're Under Attack!"

2008-12-18T16:23:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

Howdy howdy howdy, there is a new Hot Coffee Show on the innnnternet! "We're Under Attack!" There is a fun little song at the end. Wowza:

We're Under Attack! from Robbie Mitchell on Vimeo.

LOVE ROOOO,
nate

Quarterlife Pounder 12.14.08 What quality do you want to cultivate in yourself?

2008-12-15T01:25:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

Sorry this one is a little late. I haven't gone to bed yet, so in my book that still counts as Sunday:

Second night in a row I've been up past 5 o'clock in the morning. Working on video projects both nights. Spirits are high. Lack of sleep isn't a bad thing when your waking hours are spent doing what you want to be doing. Spirits are high. Our shoddy internet connection has made tonight's uploading process take about two and half hours, but hey, ain't no use in crying. Spirits are high, spirits are high.

LURV,
nate

this is it, my 2008 Project Direct submission

2008-12-14T08:57:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

Space travel! Memories! Skateboards! Lip balm! Cheeseburgers! All this and more in my 2008 Project Direct submission, "this is it":

Love gobble gobble gobble,
nate

New Hot Coffee - We Are Adults

2008-12-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

There is a new Hot Coffee Show online! I sing a song as one of the Jonas Brothers, Chris has an extended and fairly amazing dub session, and a whole lot more - all in Episode 5: We Are Adults.

LOVE
nate

new Strong Takes: Help from the Homeless

2008-12-09T13:33:00.001-08:00

Hey friends,

Every two weeks I write a piece for Strong Takes, an online publication featuring comedic news-based commentary. I have a new piece posted. It features the current economic climate, advice from a homeless person, and a cute picture of a guinea pig. Check it out:

help from the homeless

Let me know what you think!

Love,
nate

Quarterlife Pounder 12.07.08 Who is your favorite band?

2008-12-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

The second episode of Quarterlife Pounder is here:

Gulps of love,
nate

Hot Coffee Show - behind the scenes vid: a trip to the psychic for some financial advice

2008-12-04T20:22:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

Not all of the scenes that we do at Hot Coffee Show make it into the podcast (look for a new one this Monday, by the way...). Here is a special behind the scenes video of one such scene where Jim Cramer makes a visit to his psychic for some financial advice:

Hot Coffee Show: behind the scenes - episode 4 (count darkness) from Robbie Mitchell on Vimeo.

LOVE
nate

Nate on Jesus Lane - the last one

2008-12-03T08:14:00.000-08:00

Howdy friends,

I recently finally finished the last installment of the Nate on Jesus Lane video log I did during my year in Cambridge. Thirty-three installments in total. Here is the last one:

Nate on Jesus Lane - #33 - the last one from Nate Dern on Vimeo.

Everlasting gobstopper,
nate

upcoming show...FREE!...stand-up at the Sage on Thursday Dec. 11th

2008-12-02T15:05:00.001-08:00

Hey friends,

I'll be doing a ten minute set during an evening of stand-up comedy at the ever illustrious Sage Theater. It will be a couple hours of comedy with me and some other up and coming NYC comics. Should be fun. The details:

Thursday Dec. 11th
10:00 PM
Stand-up at the Sage Theater
711 7th Ave (Times Square)
New York City, NY
Cost: FREE!

Would be raaaaadical to see you there.

Love pots,
nate

Premier of my weekly webshow! QUARTERLIFE POUNDER

2008-11-30T19:13:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

Today is the start of my 25th year of life. To get me through the year, I'm going to be doing a weekly web show. I'm calling it Quarterlife Pounder.

Each week I'm going to discuss a different question with my friend Kellen Johnson and then my good buddy Colby Barone is going to add some musical insight. We'll do some other stuff to, like Nate News updates and other special reports and presentations. It is going to be silly and sweet and tender and sloppy and you should check it out.

I hope you are all doing well and working hard and being kind to each other.

Play fair, be nice.

Love,
nate

Hot Coffee Show - behind the scenes video!

2008-11-28T21:20:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

Here is a BEHIND THE SCENES video from Hot Coffee Show, the weekly improvised comedy podcast that I do. If you like seeing friends laughing with each other, you'll like this viddddddeo:

Hot Coffee Show: behind the scenes - episode 3 (Youkilis) from Robbie Mitchell on Vimeo.

LOVE
nate

two new songs! I am not a hero AND bald man, blind man

2008-11-26T23:31:00.001-08:00

Hey friends,

Two new songs online...

"I am not a hero"

"bald man, blind man"

FUN!

BE WELL BE WELL BE WELL!
nate

Stand-up tomorrow (11/26)! Also, New Hot Coffee Show! Ep. 4!

2008-11-25T13:10:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

Reminder, if you're in New York City, I'm doing stand-up tomorrow night. Would be good to see you there! The details...

WHEN: November, 26 2008 - 8:00P (get there at 7:45 to make sure you get a ticket)
WHERE: Stand-Up NY
236 West 78th Street
New York City , NY 10024
COST: $15

Also, Hot Coffee Show episode 4 is up and online! Check it out out out:

Hot Coffee Show, Episode 4

ROCK
nate

I'm doing stand-up next Wed. 11/26 at 8PM at Stand-Up NY!

2008-11-19T11:10:00.000-08:00

Hey friends,

I have a show at Stand-Up NY on Wednesday November 26th at 8:00 PM (the day before Thanksgiving). The details:

November, 26 2008 - 8:00P
Stand-Up NY
236 West 78th Street
New York City , NY 10024
Cost: $15

More info: I'll be doing an 8 minute set. There will be some other amateurs doing short sets and also a few pros doing some slightly longer stuff. Should be good. It would be rad to have you there. If you want to come, show up at 7:45 PM to get a ticket, which will cost $15 in cash at the door. This is a bringer show, which means I need people to show up for me, so if you can make it please say that you are there to see "Nate." If you're able to come, please say hello. It would be nice to see you. Send me a message if you have any questions about the show.

Here is a map of the club's location: http://tinyurl.com/5xza6e

Hope you're happy and healthy and working hard and lalala,
nate

new Hot Coffee Show online! Episode 3: When You Coming Home?

2008-11-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

Heeeeeeeeeeeeey friends,

New Hot Coffee Show is online! ---> Episode 3: When You Coming Home? --> Check it out! You might just hear me do a SPOT ON Obama impression (not actually that good, don't get your hopes up, but still worth checking out).

http://hotcoffeeshow.com/

I hope you are having a nice day.

nate

Hot Coffee Show - an improv comedy podcast!

2008-11-10T21:04:00.000-08:00

Hey friends!

Some college friends and I are starting a podcast! What is a podcast? I don't know! But what we made has current events, riffing, songs, laughing, and a helluva lot of audio effects! Check it out:

http://hotcoffeeshow.com/

I’m really proud of it! Put it on and clean your room! Smile and laugh with a loved one! CHA CHA CHA!

LOVE LOVE LOVE
nate

new video: Nate and Greg (Human Giant video contest)

2008-10-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

I have a new video online for the Human Giant video contest...

Love,
nate

Top Nine Favorite Pixies Songs

2008-08-24T19:44:00.000-07:00

Since this is the fifth and final entry in this evening hour of silliness, I thought it should be something special. I now present to you the world premier of Top Nine Favorite Pixies Songs, a video that has lived in the Nate Dern closet for a few months now because it was initially deemed “too dumb” to be shown to other humans by the Nate Dern Review Board. The board is feeling a bit lax tonight, so let’s take advantage of their generosity before it is too late.

Ode to a Dropped Push-Up

2008-08-24T19:35:00.001-07:00

Thou still unravish’d pop of icyness,
Thou abandoned bringer of Orange and Cream,
Young child, who canst yet express
The sweet joy with which you teem:
What unfulfilled treat haunts about thy shape,
Of porches or playgrounds, or of both,
In Childhood or the Nights of Summer?
What slippery gloves are these? What clumsy cloth?
What melted puddle? What struggle to escape?
What lips now smack? What a sad bummer.