Protected: Photos from Veterans’ Row
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Author: jdmathes
A Film Clip from A One Man Show
I wanted to share a two-minute clip from the short film I wrote, A One Man Show, which was produced by Human Pictures in March. It’s for [Redacted]. I’m not allowed to say who had any hand in it publicly yet. They can neither confirm nor deny the existence of said film, but if it …
The Long Road to Fresno – A Story
I wanted to share my short story with everyone. It appeared in reSentencing Volume One from Tufts University. Enjoy: The Long Road to Fresno * After breakfast, I hike up a one lane road to the top of the bluff above the dorms of the prison camp. I’ve been assigned to work at the electrician …
The Poster – In the Desert of Dark and Light
On Halloween
Thrilled to have this published at Litro Magazine. I wrote it as a part my PEN America Writing for Justice Fellowship. A big shout out to Caits Meissner for her inspiration. Also a shout out to Claire O’Connor who made me aware of this great lit site. * A couple of photographs from the location of …
On Making In the Desert of Dark and Light – Part One
Beginnings * On New Year’s Eve 2019, also my mother’s birthday, I signed a contract for the option of a short script, In the Desert of Dark and Light. It was a proof of concept to help raise money for the feature. Jason Gurvitz, founder of Green Dog Films, had read a query I’d sent …
Read More “On Making In the Desert of Dark and Light – Part One”
The Sentences That Create Us
Throughout history, prisoners have written about their experiences. A few served a long apprenticeship to reading and writing and getting rejected, and then reading some more and writing some more to discover how to write their stories. I think of Edward Bunker’s five unpublished novels before the sixth was good enough. He’s not the only …
Single-Dad Selfies w/Kids
In my composition classes, I teach a section on photographs. We look at the different ways photographs convey meaning as well as composition. One of the topics is the intent of the photographer. Why did they frame the photo that way? Why did they choose that subject? What are they trying to reveal to you? …
On Seeing Black on Dark Sienna on Purple, Rothko, 1960
The three dark colors, at first glance, stand as independent blocks. But stand and stare into the painting. Scan it as if looking for something you lost like your keys, your cellphone, or meaning in your life. The colors shift and fade and take on varying shapes as the mind tries to create order and …
Read More “On Seeing Black on Dark Sienna on Purple, Rothko, 1960”
A Liquor Store in California
Here is a video I made for Robert Wrigley’s 70th birthday with a poem I wrote base on Allen Ginsberg’s “A Super Market in California.”