Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:48:38 -0800WeeblyMon, 22 Sep 2014 05:31:46 GMThttp://nathanmcmahan.com/nonblog/name-rantI always get a kick out of people that tell you; you can’t name your characters unusual names.

And I also get a little rankled and annoyed. These folks tell you to let the audience think for themselves and then want to know why you don’t explain something or think you should dumb it down so the audience will get it.

My name is Nathan Raynald. Until I was in College, I knew of only one other Nathan. Even today I may know of only 10 or so, though it is becoming a more and more common name.

My brother is Norris Rayland, my sisters Fawnda LaRayna and Felisa LaRae, and no they are not black. I have a grandfather named Aud, a cousin Rdell, a cousin Bacon and another distant relative named Uriah. I went to school with a Doak McDonald, Warwick Chester, fell in love with a Mallary Schell. I knew a girl named Mitchell and a guy named Salon. I have worked with Metro, Ace, Skylan, Cleat, Erfield, Senator, Rit, Wael, Doc, Strickland, Tran and Schulyer. All first names and all normal Midwestern guys, except for Erfield. 
He was normal, just not from the Midwest. 
I played in a band with a Cutter Worth. And knew a brother and sister named Arly and Arvis.  I have known a lifeguard named Station, Purvis and Katheia, a camera operator named Captain, and producer named Hardly, two collegues Kerwin and Ryder, male and female respectively, a college professor Nuala, and a cheerleader named Sunset.  

I thought Sydney was a really cool girl’s name until it suddenly started to become more and more common.

And the nicknames get even more outrageous.

I like my name. Always have, always will. I like unusual names. Especially when a group of individuals come together and everyone has an unusual name. It happens more often than you might think. But either way, an unusual name gives an actor a great starting point from which to build.

Hurley, Troop, Keanu, Sawyer, Huckleberry, Wyatt, Tripp, Book.

You are making a movie. Two hours of entertainment. Heightened reality whether you want to acknowledge it or not. Write characters you want to live with. You don’t have to like them, relate to them or enjoy them, but you will have to live with them.

]]>Mon, 22 Sep 2014 04:59:11 GMThttp://nathanmcmahan.com/nonblog/my-weaknessesMy weaknesses:
I require sleep.
My magnificence sometimes makes people uncomfortable.
Kryptonite has no effect on me.
Key Lime pie, sushi; but not always in that order.
Easily distracted by dinosaurs.
Difficult time defining the line between perfection and finished.

I have no money, but I also have no debt.
I can now devote all of my funds and my full attention to my awesomesness addiction.]]>