A Good Day's Work
Leftovers for President
dictated but not read
Did you know the founders of Netflix tossed a coin to decide if their business would be a DVD or dog food delivery service?
Wrapping up another semester teaching Screenwriting this week. I always enjoy teaching good habits and story structure, opening young eyes and minds to how things they love work, watching that weird point in the middle of the semester when they realize how hard it really is to write, that second weird point around November where they understand how hard rewrites can be, and then seeing how happy they are at the end of it when they have a short screenplay of their very own that has gone through 2 rewrites with notes (iykyk).
Though I must say, I feel a little bit of futility this go ‘round because I have no idea what kind of world I’m actually preparing them for. The AI nonsense train has enough coal to get from Tidmouth Sheds to Misty Island at least. And as long as the folks with the folding money are more fascinated with process than result (which seems to have enough diesel to get from Vicarstown to Ulfstead Castle), this will not change.
Say what you will about the folks who used to pay for the making of the movies, they used to at least love movies. They also loved making money, of course, but they also loved movies. They enjoyed their product and they took pride in it. But I don’t think a lot of the current crop even watches the movies they produce. How could they? There aren’t enough hours in the day at the rate they're producing.
So for what kind of world am I training these kids? As long as the technotwats have rainforest to burn, they will ChatGPT their way to produce content. And why shouldn’t they? You’re only half-watching while scrolling or folding laundry anyway. What’s the point? Why tilt at windmills?
Why?
Because they’re there.
If the process is the point, then I will care about the process. I will create discerning consumers who will not settle for the dog food their brain is being fed.
I start each semester with a quote from Paddy Chayefsky:
Stop thinking about writing as art. Think of it as work. If you’re an artist, whatever you do is going to be art. If you’re not an artist, at least you can do a good day’s work.And from Brendam Docks to Gordon’s Hill, tilting at these windmills is a good day’s work to me.
- Patrick, 12/3/25
now playing
Talk to You Later
The final month is upon us! Only thirteen (13) episodes remain for every Monday-Friday from now until December 19th (nineteenth) on all of these fine platforms:
TikTok: @unkn0wnp3ngu1n
Instagram: @unknownpenguin
YouTube: @unknownpenguin
friends of the unknown penguin
Hey Glitterbomb! by Kari Ginsburg
You know what makes a great holiday gift? A book that gives you advice on achieving your best self without making you feel bad about the you that you are. You know who wrote such a book? Kari Ginsburg wrote such a book. You know where you can buy this book that Kari Ginsburg wrote? You can buy it by clicking on this very sentence you’re reading right now! SCIENCE!!
live on stage
Tinker Bell
available through Dramatic Publishing
True North Theatre (Orono, ME) - January 9-18, 2026
Toms River High School East (Toms River, NJ) - January 23, 2023
Clinton County Youth Theatre (Frankfort, IN) - January 29-31, 2026
Trinity Theatre Company (San Diego, CA) - March 6-8, 2026
DeSales University (Center Valley, PA) - March 17-April 7, 2026
from the vault
We Need Your Help to Save the Future
Unknown Penguin’s final 48 Hour Film was our entry in the 2023 Yes We Cannes! competition. All I will tell you is: my girls wanted lines this time.
END OF LINE