Fun With Microfilm

 

Hey folks,

I’m behind the scenes here during a brief break away from the Making of the FWL. I’m typing this from the downtown Gainesville library with a cartridge of microfilm in hand. “Micro-what” you may ask. Well, long before sexy CDs, the internet, and all that flashy jazz newspaper articles, magazines, and census information (among other things) used to be stored via this medium. So if I want to read an article in the New York Times from October 9, 1985 for example, I can do this. It’s pretty nifty reading an old newspaper via what is basically a slide show.

Why am I doing this?

The Future Wrestling League is essentially an ongoing writing exercise of historical fiction. The events that took place back in the 80′s will play a critical role in what shapes and molds the overall story of the FWL. Portrarying accurately important or relevant events from that time period helps the reader escape into a world that feels real and legitimate. While the task may prove challenging, the FWL wants to convey a certain amount of credibility in its accounting of 1985 and beyond.

How much research is required to pull this off? A lot, as I am quickly finding out. The library has literally become my second home. Sure, there’s a lot of things I could find out on the internet at home but to get in-depth on certain facts, views, and attitudes I’ve had to go out and dig deeper. Trust me, I’m having fun during this portion of the creative process. If I wasn’t I’d be jumping in a cool refreshing pool right now with a Corona in my right hand instead. I might be doing this anyway, after I leave these hollied halls of literature. For now though, just for you, I’ll make a sacrifice.

I’ll keep digging.

I’ll keep finding fun things on Microfilm.

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