MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE (full video on youtube) A little something produced solely to be screened at
@missiontheaterpdx for the NYE Special, which featured amongst many other things a moment in which a giant bottle floated above the audience towards the stage with a message for the New Year of 2026:
āOH, THE OLD NEW YEARS EVE, LOTS OF TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE, YET WHAT MAKES IT REALLY EXCITING IS ALWAYS IN THE PAST. REMEMBER?
ITāS OKAY IF YOU DONāT. YOUāRE NOT LETTING ANYONE DOWN BY FORGETTING.
IT WAS YOURS ALONE ā YOUR ROAD TO NOW.
REMEMBER?
THE RAIN. THE CITY. DROPLETS ON THE WINDSHIELD. DID YOU ALSO USED TO WATCH THEM AS A KID? SLIDING WITH THE WIND, MAKING TRAILS ON THE GLASS PLAIN. IT WAS LIKE IT WAS ALIVE. EACH DROPLET WITH ITāS OWN LITTLE PATH AND ITāS OWN LITTLE WOBBLE. MAKING DISTANCE, OVERCOMING OBSTACLES. LEAVING A TRAIL THEN GONE FROM SIGHT FOREVER.
I HAVENāT LOOKED AT THEM IN THAT WAY IN A LONG TIME.
WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING?
NOW, HERE I AM.
AND THIS IS AS MEANINGFUL AS PUTTING ON THE SHOES THIS MORNING. OR STARRING AT THE RED LIGHT.
IF ONLY I REALIZED IT THEN.
A NEW DAY IS BREWING ON THE HORIZON.
ITāS MUCH LIKE THE ONES BEFORE.
WITH PERFECT THEATER. RADICAL COMEDY. IMPECCABLE DRAMA. DENSE, DYNAMIC AND HOW ELUSIVE THIS EVER-SPIRALLING CONGLOMERATE OF NOW.
AT EASE MY FRIENDS, 2026 IS JUST TOMORROW AND YOU ARE NOT ALONEā
Shot and edited by Brandon Emerson
@jammer.son
Written, directed by Franco Brothers
Original soundtrack:
āIn Portlandā by Johnny Franco and his real brother Dom
with James Powers
@16popsicles on trombone, Jimmy Russel
@yeahbud on bass, Jay Ringer
@jay_ringer on keys, Johnny on acoustic guitar and Dom with the lap-steel.
Recorded at Fort20 with Benny
Mixed by Aaron Peterson
@aaronkmusic
Additional thanks to Casey (Uncle Baby), Rio and Craigslist Steve
