Stephen Embleton

Now that we have proven that we are real, physical, and in a physical environment, let’s look at what is not physical. No, not what isn’t real. The Facts – Non-physical: You make something “good/bad” by giving your opinion about it. Yes, you really are thinking that this is crap. I think, therefore I am. We would like to think that that phrase in some weird way sums it up. OK. How about … what you think, is real to you. But, what others think, is merely opinion. Therefore it is assumed, and not fact. I had a dream that I was flying. Prove that I didn’t have that dream. Emotions are real. Tell a child that their hamster died.   And as I pointed out earlier, we are only interested in what we can reference as fact. What we think and feel can not be entered as something that is real. But on the other hand, what we express and how we express it is real. Therefore, emotions (although felt mentally) are expressed physically. Emotions are things that make people act or react in their own u...

“ Beliefs ” definition (Oxford): 1. the feeling that something is real and true, trust, confidence. 2. something accepted as true, what one believes. 3. religion, something taught as part of this, Christian beliefs. Now look at definition 1. I want a big red marker underlining and circling and starring the word “feeling”. Adding to the world’s conflicts: If we could ask you to think of a religious (not spiritual) belief that has not caused conflict at some stage in history…insert blank here. A true spiritual belief doesn’t feel the need to justify or get angry, doesn’t get your back up when argued against, and respects other’s individual beliefs. Now read definition 1 again. Isn’t that how it feels (or should feel) if you trust your beliefs? The definition doesn’t say something that you fight for. It doesn’t say something you judge others by. Religious dogma hinders spiritual progress. You cannot penetrate through the dogma or imposed belief systems to get to Spirit. Process: Let us st...

The Facts – Physical: Your body is real and what you experience is real. Yes, you really are reading these words on the screen. Remember, assume nothing. You can feel the chair under you, you can see the screen with your eyes, and I’m sure it’s got an ozone kind of smell to it. You can go as far as tasting it to prove the next sense that you have. You can even hear the words spoken as you carry on with the physical experience. Other people are real and what they experience is real. Find someone close by (sitting next to you; in the other room; stick your head out the window to find a passer by. Now smack them on the shoulder, or if they are far away, tell them that they ride elephants on Sundays. Other people can affect you or not. Their reaction should be pretty real enough. Maybe so real that it affects your personal Reality. Nature is real and all that is in it is real.  Pick up an axe. Yes a real axe. Stand at the base of a huge Redwood. Now for some environmentalists, that is ...

PART 1: INTRODUCTION For the purpose of this exercise, let’s, by some stretch of the imagination, take it that this is reality. Let’s forget about what everyone thinks and assumes. In fact, let’s assume nothing. Let’s not assume that there is an alternate reality. Let’s deal with what is. Let’s not assume that the dream world is reality. Let’s just dream our dreams. Let’s not assume that there are other dimensions beyond our imagination. Hell, let’s not use our imagination. Let’s not assume anything about what happens after death. Because that assumes that when I die I get another chance or I get punished/rewarded for my life. That’s opinion. Let’s not assume that your body is not real. Give yourself more credit than that. I mean you being a pain in the ass is pretty real. Let’s not assume that this is not reality. And for this notion to be completely contained, let’s not assume that God exists. Now, this doesn’t mean that we are taking an atheist stance, it just means that we are bein...

29 March 2009, my political cartoon portraying the hypocrisy of the ANC government's stance on Tibet and the Dalai Lama – pressured by the Chinese government – was published in the Sunday Tribune. "No Freedom Fighters Allowed" Artwork March 2009

 BIG BROTHER 22 September 2008 You broke the ice, you paved the way You lived life to the edge, you did it your way. You covered sex and drugs and rock ‘n roll Pretty hard core but still a gentle soul. Big footsteps I followed and resolved I must, As a kid brother I said “In Big Bro I trust.” You showed me how grand the world can be. You showed me how to bloom and be free. I may have started out by living through you, Comparing, trying to be more like you. But I saw you weren’t trying to be someone else, You were just being you and no one else. Long and short hair, a broken bone, a bullet or two: Sometimes I’m grateful I never kept up with you. You showed me the world can be pretty damn rough “Have no fear,” you smiled, “they just act like they’re tough.” “Don’t let fists, knives or people with guns, Stop you from smiling and having some fun.” “The world has no limits, so you shouldn’t either. Live it to the fullest, no matter the weather.” I know that one day, when one of us goes,...

07/04/2007 Planning the ultimate "Job": Simple. Nothing fancy. One shot and it's done. In and out without anyone suspecting anything. But is it what it seems? Is it as simple as we assume? And can they really do it in one shot? After coming up with the ultimate "job", our main character sets about getting the right crew for what seems to be an armed robbery. One shot and they are outta there. But as we are taken along for the ride we realise that it's not what it seems. The "ultimate" job is in the shoot. The film shoot. What could the ultimate shoot be? From start to finish - all one shot! Take the camera from one angle to the next, seamlessly, with no special effects or cuts. The question is: can they pull it off? Download Script

In 2003 I got to see the Hollywood machine in action and got to personally work with (the formidable) Wolf Kroeger (Production Designer of "The Last of the Mohicans", "First Blood", "Equilibrium", "Reign of Fire" etc). I learned so much from Wolf, particularly the fickle nature of the business and standing your ground in your artistic vision. This was for the 2005 Warner Bros film  "Racing Stripes" out on location for 6 months in the KZN midlands. I did the design and illustration on the circus convoy (hardly visible in a storm sequence) at the beginning of the film – a simple airbrush style – as well as other elements in the film, including the racetrack branding, signage and posters. At first we started a P. T. Barnum style to the circus artwork, but Wolf was inspired by Cirque du Soleil and we pivoted to a slicker look. I got to visit the sets, see the machine of filming on a massive scale as well as seeing my artwork on the vehicl...