part 1 of ?
Added 2025-10-31 23:39:20 +0000 UTCthis is a first chunk.
I do not currently know:
how many chunks there will be (I'm penciling in "21" but it may be much fewer)
how long it will take to finish (I'm penciling in "December 8th" as a deadline but I'm already behind)
whether this will ever be made public (probably? but maybe not)
whether and how it will change before going public, if it goes public
I'm sorry if this comes off as kind of solipsistic, and I'm going to be very sparing with specifics which may leave you confused. hopefully it can be of value to people regardless.
this is just what I need to be working on right now.
Comments
"Only art can counteract the entropy of the universe and redeem history; only art allows man to transcend time and space and resolve the painful contradictions that threaten to engulf him." --Laurie Robertson-Lorant "Melville: A Biography"
Nathan Clark
2025-11-23 00:59:31 +0000 UTCContrapoints can afford to take a year and a half because she makes a lot more money than me
Ian Danskin
2025-11-09 03:30:36 +0000 UTCContrapoints takes a year and a half. You're allowed a bit of time too, glad you're treating yourself like a good friend.
ari a
2025-11-09 03:17:50 +0000 UTCyou should see a doctor
Ian Danskin
2025-11-07 17:00:48 +0000 UTCLove this direction ☺️☺️☺️
cr0nes
2025-11-05 16:59:21 +0000 UTCI have determined that deadlines are, in fact, good for me, so long as I don't go about them in unhealthy ways. the situation where I have - by my last count - 10 videos in various stages of production that I haven't scrapped but also just stretch out indefinitely, this situation is not good for me. I do well with structure, so I'm doing deadlines again, I'm just basing them on a rough estimation of how much time I think a thing requires and trying not to be rigid with them. they are organizing principles only.
Ian Danskin
2025-11-05 00:00:15 +0000 UTCI love this, particularly that last part. We need more folks like you out there in life.
JinxedJoker
2025-11-04 22:55:10 +0000 UTC"I'm penciling in "December 8th" as a deadline but I'm already behind" Oh no... please don't start that again. <3 "this is just what I need to be working on right now." Absolutely. Good luck with this undertaking, and thank you for sharing.
JinxedJoker
2025-11-04 22:52:14 +0000 UTCeven as im sure that at some point you will make beautiful, important things again, i want to remind you that ~nobody expects this~ i dont expect it (can only speak for myself, but im sure many agree). you have made such important things that influenced so many on a deep level to become better. youve left your mark. '<br> <br>' i am not disappointed. im happy to be able to support someone that has had an impact on my life, no matter what they do now. '<br> <br>' also yes, edit: i realise that probably you werent thinking of your patrons but someone actually important in your life when writing that line, but talking from this perspective is the best i can do. '<br> <br>' (annonying i cant do linebreaks on mobile, ill edit later if i can) <3
Cy
2025-11-04 07:54:58 +0000 UTCSo intrigued.
Kait Hatch
2025-11-03 19:12:01 +0000 UTC<3
Andrew Rose
2025-11-03 03:17:03 +0000 UTCThis definitely resonates with me, though maybe not for the same reason as it will for others. I made the strange decision (or maybe it was made for me) to speedrun life. Graduated high school at 13, got engaged at 20, married at 21, widowed at 33, and at 36 have achieved my final form of kooky aunt with three cats. Because I’ve already done what to date is the most important act of my life (caring for my spouse through her death), I feel like I’ve already achieved self-actualization as a character. As a result, I concluded that my new narrative purpose is to be the support/mentor character who dies at the midpoint to raise the emotional stakes for someone else’s story. This feeling was amplified when I became a co-parent to my partner’s daughter this year. Sometimes people say they worked themselves out of a job; I lived myself out of “main character” status in my own life. I’m not really sad about it, though. Now, I’m like the person who 100%’d a game at launch and is supporting new players on the subreddit.
Lula Hiigel
2025-11-02 16:13:35 +0000 UTCNeat! No, not neat. Kind of sloppy really but that’s why it works as a sort of art piece. It’s good.
Nathaniel Tagg
2025-11-02 14:12:49 +0000 UTCYou’re delivery is so expressive! Opening and closing with visuals of crazy ex girlfriend was great! Rebecca too, made sense of what she went through with story and song. And that particular episode! Not in California anymore. Expecting her moms usual disappointment at her crisis and failure, then being caught off guard by her care, as you talk about weather you believe you deserved the help being a future you “third act” problem For what it’s worth, you DO deserve it.
Ace
2025-11-02 05:28:25 +0000 UTCOh, this is very well-timed for us Packbats. We *have* stopped. Also, what a banger of a short video! Good work! I'm gripped!
The Packbats
2025-11-01 18:20:52 +0000 UTCThe thing with the Darkest Hour, is that not everyone will be able to Seize the Sword.
Chris F.S.
2025-11-01 17:29:08 +0000 UTCVery compelling
Richard Jackson
2025-11-01 16:26:38 +0000 UTCMichael: Don't knock rationalization. Where would we be without it? I don't know anyone who could get through the day without two or three juicy rationalizations. They're more important than sex. Sam Weber: Ah, come on. Nothing's more important than sex. Michael: Oh yeah? Ever gone a week without a rationalization? -- The Big Chill Don't knock the three act structure. Where would we be without it?
PC Escobar
2025-11-01 15:43:04 +0000 UTCThis is very Emotionally resonate. Thank you. I trust you will make beautiful things again.
Isaac Ege
2025-11-01 14:57:30 +0000 UTC🫂
Zylla's Athenaeum
2025-11-01 14:04:23 +0000 UTCThis gave me chills, really beautifully done.
Gordon Chamberlain
2025-11-01 13:38:51 +0000 UTCfive years ago I bet everything on studying in the UK and getting a visa here with the hopes of building a career. I wanted to be a filmmaker. I’ve just booked my ticket home and my visa runs out in a month. This has just voiced exactly the thoughts I’ve been circling through. I don’t know if it will be fine, but I know the part of the story I’m at.
Daniel Osswald Claro
2025-11-01 11:22:13 +0000 UTCHoly shit this is like it's written for me at this exact moment of my life and I know it's very much not, but it's currently very applicable. Thank you!
Charlotte KL
2025-11-01 09:33:28 +0000 UTCLove it. As someone who can only really understand their own life by viewing it through the lens of narrative structures, it helps hearing others do the same. The opposite of solipsistic, made me feel connected. Hope you're doing well!
DukePebbles
2025-11-01 06:46:00 +0000 UTCMy balls are solipsistic.
Johnny 5
2025-11-01 06:15:02 +0000 UTCSending good vibes to you man ✊
Vinicius Vendramini
2025-11-01 05:09:49 +0000 UTCIt made me feel strong things. I want to see where this goes.
Lucas Du Berger Deret
2025-11-01 02:36:50 +0000 UTCI just got through a need to do nothing phase. Railing against it just burned energy and yielded nothing. Wherever you go with this it will undoubtedly be insightful and engaging and I look forward to it. Thanks.
Matt Welland
2025-11-01 02:14:30 +0000 UTCDamn that hits home. Happy to see you found a topic to cover and as always nailed it and resonated hard with everyone. Don't worry about date for next part or how many parts or even if another part of this should be what's next. Just keep being you. The one we all love for who they already are.
Forged by Geeks
2025-11-01 02:06:24 +0000 UTCI feel like I'm currently hurtling toward this point in yet another story and I'm not sure I'm gonna have it in me to get back up. It's nice to know I'm not alone, at least
Sylvan Thomas
2025-11-01 01:41:19 +0000 UTCThis is very resonant with me and it feels as real as anything.
Brian Moon
2025-11-01 01:21:40 +0000 UTCI fucking love this. That's all. Thanks for being a part of my life Ian.
Clay Plumridge
2025-11-01 00:49:56 +0000 UTCI really connect with this right now. Your writing always seems to find me when I need it.
tiredlyrebird
2025-11-01 00:44:48 +0000 UTCIf this is where you need to be, this is where you need to be. Honestly, I think the message works regardless of the context. I think that framing your own life is something a lot of people can use as a mechanism for thinking about where they are.
Josh Grey
2025-11-01 00:42:18 +0000 UTCYeah. Like everyone is saying: This looks great as is so far. Seriously. Sometimes you just have to stop before you can pick yourself back up. I honestly don't remember if you ever mentioned it but I can't help but seriously suggest you make your next game Breath of the Wild since the theme of how do you move on after you lost and everything is gone goes so hard rn with this video. Maybe play it again if you already have? At the very least, it can be a nice-- well, breather when everything has gone to hell in a handbasket.
Dallayna Vokan
2025-11-01 00:24:34 +0000 UTCI'm so here for this; no matter how many chunks there turn out to be. Ready for Ian's Introspective/Solipsistic Era. Keep speaking truth to anguish my guy!
ObediahJellyFish
2025-11-01 00:05:37 +0000 UTCStopping is the end of act two is hitting really fucking hard rn. Thanks for continuing to look for your act 3 man.
Kristian Gregory
2025-10-31 23:59:44 +0000 UTCFor a moment I thought there was going to be 4th wall breaking part about adventure game videos not doing as great as expected.
CaitSeith
2025-10-31 23:53:48 +0000 UTCI’m sitting here trying to type a response. As is typical with your work, I don’t have one. Whatever this ends up being, I adore it. Looking forward to what comes next. Good to hear your voice again!
Woody Sims
2025-10-31 23:48:05 +0000 UTCholy moly this looks like it's gonna be something excellent
LeBonk
2025-10-31 23:44:48 +0000 UTCDon't let this be any sort of pressure on you at all. But for what it's worth -- yeah, I think I need something like this right now, too. Thank you so, so much for your work.
h2g2guy
2025-10-31 23:44:40 +0000 UTC