When I was attending the University of California, I was determined to experience all aspects of college life, so I volunteered to work for theatrical shows put on by the students from time to time. As benevolent as this may make me sound, I also received units toward my degree for doing so, thus it was a win-win. The problem with working a theatrical production is the downtime between scenes. My job focus was always costumes: quick changes, quick repairs, and downtime. In an era before movies became digital, they were anything but portable. I knew "rich" people who had VCRs and tiny televisions in their vehicles, but even those people were limited by the bulk of VHS tapes.
My solution to the downtime during shows was simple enough: bring a VCR with all the necessary wiring, plus a few tapes just for the variety. What started as a way for me and the rest of the crew to unwind during downtime, quickly evolved into a reflection of cultural staying power. The University of California is quite diverse both culturally and ethnically, yet certain movies always filled the room, while others did not. Instead of the popular romantic comedies or the slapstick comedies of the time, the movies that left standing-room-only in The Green Room tended to be relatable and timeless stories.
While the age of the movie had some effect, it wasn't the deciding factor. The three I remember most were Rocky (1976), Star Wars (1977), and Forrest Gump (1994). Despite two of the three having been released before most of the cast or crew were born, they had staying power decades after their release. What is the common thread between a boxing movie, an epic space opera, and a Vietnam War period piece? All of them contained a charismatic underdog the audience desperately wanted to see succeed.
As a family, we share our passion for art and film with one another. Although my children aren't quite ready for the weight of films like Rocky or Forrest Gump, they have embraced Star Wars. Despite releasing 30+ years before their births, they find the story relatable, and often quote the film, incorporating it into their daily vernacular. My wife and I are no different. We often quote different movies to one another, and speak in a make-shift shorthand that is hard for others to follow. We aren't the only ones.
When children first learn to speak, their words are distorted, often triggering responses from their parents that are irrelevant. When my daughter was around 20 months old, we were still in the process of teaching manners: specifically the importance of "please" and "thank you." Despite her best efforts, my daughter's "thank you" sounded more like "dee-doo," and her "please" sounded more like "peas." Naturally, this prompted her mother to respond with "peas and carrots" from the Forrest Gump archives in her mind, to the amusement as well as bewilderment of our daughter.
Apparently, she was more amused than bewildered, because it wasn't long after my wife first started quoting Forrest Gump to my daughter that she began asking for things, dispensing with the boring attempts at "please" and enthusiastically exclaiming, "Peas-Tedders!"
Of course you may have more food. And "dee-doo" for asking politely.
Apparently, she was more amused than bewildered, because it wasn't long after my wife first started quoting Forrest Gump to my daughter that she began asking for things, dispensing with the boring attempts at "please" and enthusiastically exclaiming, "Peas-Tedders!"
Of course you may have more food. And "dee-doo" for asking politely.
