I was having a conversation with my lady this morning. We got on the subject of 1980’s fashion. I reminisced about the fact how some people, back then, would wear two different color Chuck’s. …You know, Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star high-tops. I always thought that was kinda weird. But, to each their own…
 
You know how one subject leads to the next and the next when you’re having one of those random conversations… Out of nowhere it came to my mind, and I mentioned the fact to her, about how there was a period of time when my friend Donald G. Jackson would always wear one red sock. For him, it was kind of a signature thing. When he had his 1962 Plymouth Belvedere restored, he had the driver seat lined in red and he had one red rim on the driver’s side of the car with no hubcap. Why he did that, I truly have no idea. And, I spent years hanging out and making movies with the man. But??? We even referenced this fact in one of the climatic scenes of The Roller Blade Seven when I lift my pant leg, reveal that I am wearing one red sock, and say, “You see, I have not forsaken my sacred vows.” …Just did that for fun…
 
I got to hang out with my Zen Filmmaking Brother, Joe Estevez for a moment or two a couple of days ago. Always good to see. He’s really a great guy! We used to hang out all the time, but not so much anymore.
 
As he’s always out there acting in movies and willing to do an interview with pretty much anybody… In fact, I believe by this point in his career, he’s probably acted in more films than any other actor in history. Good for him! Me, I’m much more of a recluse. And, I rarely do interviews anymore. I pretty much turn down all the offers. But anyway, a lot of people speak with him about The Roller Blade Seven. But, the fact is, he was only on the set for two days. In fact, that’s when Don and I had first met him… …The first time we met him is when he showed up on our set at The Hollywood Center Building. So certainly, he has his thoughts and his opinions about the film, but he wasn’t on the inside of the process. He doesn’t know what really went on. Yet, I’ve watched interviews with him where people ask him questions about the movie like he holds all the answers. He does not.
 
The reason I bring this up, and the reason I discuss the story of the one red sock, is in all of the reviews, discourses, interviews, and whatever I have read and/or watched on or about The Roller Blade Seven no one even mentions that Red Sock Scene. Though it is one of the most pivotal moments of the film and it goes to the essence of what Zen Filmmaking is all about. Namely, taking the inner workings of the filmmaker, or in this case the filmmakers, and placing that Abstract Something of Suchness on the screen But, the critics and the evaluators have totally overlooked this.
 
Just like it has constantly been questioned, who were the Roller Blade Seven, as there was never a formalized Roller Blade Seven on the screen. But, I have answered that question in several places. …Even on the Roller Blade Seven page of this website. And, the Character of Reverend Donaldo explained it in Return of the Roller Blade Seven. But, no one listens. No one seeks out the subtitles. Everyone just bases their existence on the obvious. But, in Art, (any form of Art), the obvious is never truly obvious.
 
In closing, what I would suggest, is that you should never become lost in the obvious. The obvious is just way too obvious. Study the subtitles, for that’s where the essence of existence truly exists.