It’s strange how much of a routine this is becoming for me. Of course, nothing is particularly routine these days due to all the various events, directions, and lines that people script in to fill each of them. I am getting used to going to sleep each night, looking over the script for tomorrow then waking up the next morning prepared to perform it. Constantly checking my phone throughout the day to remember all my lines and directions, and setting aside my potential embarrassment or discomfort as I do what the script says.
I’m sick of this project already though. It certainly opens my mind to alternative activities and options for each minute of my day, however, it also limits me to only the specific one determined by someone else. I want to just end it but I also want to know what would happen if I did this for even longer – a month, perhaps, or more… Is this even possible or would I go completely crazy? People are on my case to get other things done, but just this living takes so much time. Every day seems to drag on extra long. Maybe I just need to embrace more that this is all an art project and take each experience for what it is. But oh, to just wake up and do whatever I wanted all day without any prior plan, led only by my spontaneous whims and urges… I look forward to this day, whenever it comes.
[LAUREN wakes up.]
Within moments of waking up, LAUREN dashes to her computer. The page from last night is still loaded: http://plus1plus1plus.org/subtle-bodies-series/propose. Without thinking she works the last remnants of her slowly disintegrating dream(s) into a proposal for the series, and emails ADAM.
Upon hitting SEND she feels a cold chill and becomes nervous, wondering if perhaps she didn’t fulfill the criteria of the proposal, and just sent a bizarre inappropriate dream cycle to this stranger.
LAUREN: Oh maannnn.
She re-reads the call for work and her proposal. She calms down. It matches. It works. She smiles, and lays back down for a little bit, mind empty. Psychic dolphins fill the next batch of morning dreams…
LAUREN: [Waking up again, texts her mom.] 3:30pm is no good, how about 5:30pm (7:30 your time)?
[LAUREN downloads the most embarrassing ring tone she can find for her new phone. She hums it throughout the day.]
[LAUREN attempts to buy a plane ticket to Boston.]
[Setting: afternoon, somewhere others would not expect LAUREN to go. LAUREN arrives. She stays there for a while.]
[It is hopefully raining and Lauren starts singing and dancing in the rain As people gather to watch she questions whether she could make a career from street performing.]
[Diablo enters]
[Setting: 3:30pm. LAUREN's cell phone does not ring.]
[Setting: 5:30pm. LAUREN's cell phone rings.]
LAUREN: Who is this?
SUE: How did you know it was me?
LAUREN: I didn’t. That’s why I said who is this? What, do you think I check the caller ID or something?
[LAUREN tries to take her car to the body shop, but finding it closed, makes plans to do so tomorrow.]
[LAUREN codes for many hours.]
One Comment
The script today was VERY touching and affecting. There’s been an aspect of this project that’s felt like participation implies a certain kind of honor and trust on the part of the scriptwriters. And while I was anticipating something voyeuristic or a vicarious power, it became quickly evident that a more sympathetic/empathetic feelings ruled; that you wanted to script fun or fascinating or comforting activities (and not awkward or unkind activities, like one might unleash on a SIM character). Even knowing that Lauren could refuse to follow a script or modify, it’s been HUGE privilege and trust to hold in our hands.
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[...] instructions that day and instead took a day off to recharge. This was probably in response to a post a few days ago where I expressed my weariness with the project. At first, I wanted to take it off because I felt [...]
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