Chapter 6
Psycho Studios: The Sprinkler
Chapter Six
2.1.2024
Editor – Mr. Z / Content
Research & Editor – Mr. W / Content
Psycho Studios is an independent Film/TV production company. A multimedia
platform with a podcast as well as this newsletter. Feel free to reach out to Psycho
Studios through their website / email.
Psycho Studios – Film/TV Production – Phoenix Arizona
Psycho Studios Podcast [Access on Spotify & our website]
Psycho Studios: The Sprinkler [Newsletter]
Phoenix Arizona
Email – psychostudios66@gmail.com
Website – psycho–studio.com. [Access to our audio only YouTube channel
available here.]
Instagram – psychostudios66
X [Formerly known as Twitter] - @Psychostud666
Forward
Mr. Z & Mr. W are a father & son team that started a production company about
two years ago. They are working on the next phase of the production company
and look forward to being involved in feature film making. They rolled out a
podcast and newsletter to give their audience a means to hear where they are
headed and what they are experiencing. The newsletter [The Sprinkler] is fun,
informative and value add for their psychos! They remind their audience that they
leave politics at the door. They want their energy to be positive and wellness based.
Humor is in their DNA, along with creativity and a thirst for good film, music and
food. They built a foundation on the horror genre, with other genres in their
repertoire too.
We hope you will join us monthly as we explore different ways to enrich our lives
and have some fun with exploring the human race.
We bring old school and contemporary to the table. Topics we explore on our
podcast will be front and center here as well. We will add practical value add life
skills to the newsletter to make it worth everyone’s while!
Mr. Z & I are authentic & lucid and we operate with the credos of “do unto others”
as well as “be cool to one another”.
We want to connect with people, and be present while we enjoy this journey. We
have embarked on something that is moving in a direction that affords us to display
our creativity and love for film & music.
We have a contrasting way in which we were brought into this world and our
perspectives meld in a way that is entertaining, rewarding and beneficial to those
that trust sage advice.
Come with us as we explore ways to live in the moment and appreciate all we have,
rather than what we have not.
Our goal is to move The Sprinkler to a subscription-based newsletter sometime in
2024. We are talking less than $10 per month for a 13-month subscription. The
banner below speaks to what the content will be in each chapter of our newsletter.
We are confident that if our subscribers follow our wellness & practical life skills,
they will save hundreds to thousands annually and reduce stress! The 13-month
subscription will include a special holiday issue & guest writers regarding wellness.
A 13-month printable - electronic calendar comprised of original photography by
Mr. Z is also included.
Welcome psychos one and all!
The Sprinkler
Film – Music – Wellness – Practical Life Skills – Commentary – Plus Some Sports
Headlines
Film
[All scoring is based on a 0-10 scale with 10 being out of this world amazing!]
We look forward to the new year, the many new feature films that will release and a very
productive time! It’s like Vince Vaughn’s character says about wedding bands – music & pizza]
in the movie Wedding Crashers: “It doesn’t matter if its good or bad, it’s wedding music!” Mr. Z
& Mr. W feel that way about movies!
Film:
Night Swim – This feature has heavyweights behind it from Blumhouse to James
Wan. Per Mr. Z this movie has grossed a pretty penny since it’s release.
Mr. W watched this film recently and would give it a 1.5 on a scale of 1-10. The
movie really doesn’t make any sense, the acting is rough around the edges and the
dialogue is a challenge. It appears PG13 horror like this is what many people want.
Yikes!
Edge of Tomorrow – Mr. Z suggested this film to Mr. W. I’m giving it a 5-6. As a
point of thought, I’m not a big sci-fi fan.
TV:
Reacher – TV series – The first season of Reacher was really great, from the acting,
to the story to the dialogue not to mention plausibility and action. If I were to rate
the first season it would have come in around an 8. This second season is
practically unwatchable. The acting, the dialogue and the character arc coupled
with almost no plausibility bring this one in at around a 1.5. Mr. Z thinks I’m off
point here – but he has yet to watch either season!
Fargo – TV series – Season 5 is the first season to not have any connection to the
previous seasons and or film. There are 10 episodes in this season. The cast is
excellent top to bottom. The stars include Jon Hamm, Juno Temple and Jennifer
Jason Leigh. This tour de force of four stars shine brightly through the entire
season!
** Special shout out to Dave Foley [News Radio fame] is outstanding as the get shit
taken care of counsel to Jason Leigh’s character.
If you haven’t seen season five, or if you strayed from Fargo the series based on the
most recent previous seasons it is strongly suggested to get back to this season!
Based on story, acting and pace this one comes in at a strong 8! [Mr. Z has not
watched this]
More Film:
Pieces – please refer to our February podcast for details about this horror gem. This
one [for its time] lands around a 7.
Graphic Horror List:
[These films are from the 1970s-1980s and are over the top. These are not meant
for kiddos to say the least!]
Pieces [We talked about this classic gem in our February podcast] / Check out the
Wendy’s food placement in this gory retro flick!
Driller Killer
Maniac [Original and remake with Elijah Wood]
Slaughter High
Blood Sucking Freaks
Mausoleum
Last House on the Left [original]
Texas Chainsaw Massacre [original]
The Hills Have Eyes [original]
Don’t Look in the Basement
Tool Box Murders
I Dismember Mama
Torso
Deranged
Dawn of the Dead [original]
Mad Men; this amazing TV series will be a subject of discussion in our next
newsletter. Mr. Z is rewatching the entire seven season run and we will share our
thoughts on this brilliant and poignant AMC classic. I’ve watched all the seasons
probably three times!
Music
Mr. Z and I support Spotify whenever we can. We are going to share a playlist in
this newsletter. For those of our readers that have Spotify, you should be able to add
it to your playlist easily by utilizing the links. For those psychos not using Spotify,
you can peruse the playlists and load those songs on whatever music service you
use. Mr. Z has eclectic taste with varying genres. Mr. W is more straight forward
rock n roll, both old and new.
There was a surprisingly large number of new rock albums released last year.
[Covered in our previous podcasts &newsletters]
Some artists with new albums we will be checking out the first quarter of the new
year:
Kid Cudi [Check Kid Cudi out on Ti West’s X – he is really good in it!]
Green Day
Saxon [This one I cannot believe! If this is the Saxon from the 80s – it will be
interesting for sure!]
Static – X
Judas Priest [Really? I cut my metal teeth on early ‘Priest!]
& Lenny Kravitz [recent Oscar snub]
We will give all of these a listen and share our thoughts on the music and the like.
We are hopeful these are new albums and not re-packaged – remastered old tracks.
Mr. W’s playlist:
Give this one a listen – Titled “Sunday Classics Part Deux”
Mr. Z’s playlist:
Wellness
Let’s look at six easy techniques to give your mind the rest it deserves:
For many, the frenetic pace of day-to-day life is exhausting. This kind of pace and
always “thinking” is a real negative for our well-being. Some of these will seem like
broken record time. More importantly, the repetitive nature of these suggestions
should show everyone these techniques can and will work. It’s about changing our
mindset, getting out of our comfort zones and taking care of ourselves!
1] Breathing – there are many types of breathing techniques out there. Hit Google
and read up on them or watch a YouTube video. Keep it simple. Do it consistently.
RELAX. A few minutes a day for most can reset our brains to the positive.
2] Get our hands, feet what have you dirty – This can involve any form of
gardening. Plant something. What about starting an indoor herb garden? Get
outside and wash that car – what about waxing it? Run around outside barefoot!
3] Let’s get our senses to work – Is there a particular smell that you love or that
brings you warm thoughts? Vanilla? Lavender? Mint? Keep those smells fresh and
handy by way of essential oils, incense, candles or fresh elements in a crock pot.
Music is another way for many to get their senses to work. Get out of your own
head!
4] Try this breathing technique – Vagal Breathing; The vagus nerve is the longest
cranial nerve in the body. This nerve can be a powerful element to help us switch
off. This type of breathing can immediately put mind & body to rest. And it’s so
simple!
A] Sit quietly/eyes closed
B] Gently breathe in for four counts
C] Breath out for the same four counts / pause for one count
D] Repeat this for five minutes
5] What about scheduling worry time? This one is unique for sure, but being
promoted by many experts and those who have tried it. Schedule time daily/
weekly for the things you “worry” about or are over thinking about. 10-15 minutes
tops. Once you are out of that scheduled time, and a worry or over thinking
thought comes to mind – tell yourself you will wait for your scheduled time to think
about it.
6] Be good to yourself – this is one Mr. Z and I promote quite a bit. Give yourself a
break. Be kind to yourself. Stay in the moment. Forgive yourself for things in your
past that are bothering you. Learn from your mistakes and move forward.
Journaling can be an effective tool here, listing the positives about your day, your
circumstances and yes even positives about you the person. Consistently doing this
daily – weekly can generate a positive rhythm in your brain!
Note:
Let’s not forget about having a positive mindset. The benefits of this type are many
and include both mental and physical well-being. This starts with expectations, and
doing an inventory about where you land with positivity. This is not about being
fake or phony and that nothing ever bothers you. Staying positive is about
appreciating what you have, and where you are as opposed to what you want and
where you wish you were. It’s about removing ourselves from the constant
negativity that is the news, so much of the social media out there and yes, limiting
our interactions with those that are consistently negative and toxic.
Know thyself! Take inventory of your expectations of yourself. Journal!
We want all of our psychos to take care of themselves!
Practical Life Skills
We are sharing two great skills to harness which increase efficiency in our lives as
well as money savings. Combining time management along with critical thinking
will help with stress reduction, planning and budgeting!
Number 1 skill Time management
Time management is a crucial skill that involves efficiently organizing and utilizing
your time to achieve specific goals and tasks. Here an elaboration on key aspects
of time management skills:
Goal Setting:
Define clear and achievable goals, both short-term and long-term. These
goals provide a sense of direction and purpose, guiding your daily activities.
Prioritization:
Identify tasks based on their urgency and importance. Use techniques like
the Eisenhower Matrix, categorizing tasks into four quadrants (urgent and
important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, neither
urgent nor important).
Planning:
Develop a daily or weekly schedule to allocate time for different activities.
Use tools like planners, calendars, or digital apps to organize tasks and
deadlines.
Breaking Tasks into Smaller Steps:
Large tasks can be overwhelming. Break them down into smaller,
manageable steps to make progress more achievable and trackable.
Time Blocking:
Allocate specific blocks of time to different types of activities. For example,
designate a block for focused work, another for meetings, and another for
breaks. This helps maintain focus and prevents multitasking.
Avoiding Procrastination:
Procrastination can lead to stress and missed deadlines. Identify reasons for
procrastination, address them, and use techniques like the Pomodoro
Technique (working in short, focused bursts with breaks) to stay on track.
Learn to Say No:
Understand your limits and be selective about taking on new commitments.
Saying no, when necessary, helps prevent overcommitment and ensures you
can focus on your priorities.
Delegation:
If possible, delegate tasks to others. Delegating frees up your time for more
critical responsibilities and helps build a collaborative environment.
Regular Review and Adjustment:
Periodically assess your time management strategies. Evaluate what is
working well and what needs adjustment. Flexibility is key in adapting to
changing priorities.
Healthy Work-Life Balance:
Ensure that your time management practices contribute to a healthy work-
life balance. Schedule downtime, rest, and leisure activities to recharge and
avoid burnout.
Mastering time management skills requires practice and self-awareness. It an
ongoing process of refining strategies based on your experiences and the demands
of your personal and professional life.
Number skill 2 Critical thinking
Critical thinking is a cognitive skill that involves actively analyzing, interpreting,
and evaluating information to make reasoned judgments and decisions. It& a
process of thinking deeply, logically, and systematically. Here& an elaboration on
key aspects of critical thinking:
Analysis:
Break down information into its constituent parts. Examine the elements and
relationships between them to understand the overall structure and meaning.
Evaluation:
Assess the credibility and reliability of information. Consider the source,
evidence, and context to determine the validity and relevance of the
information.
Problem Solving:
Approach challenges systematically by identifying the problem, gathering
relevant information, generating potential solutions, and evaluating the best
course of action.
Open-mindedness:
Remain receptive to different perspectives and be willing to reconsider your
own beliefs or opinions based on new evidence or reasoning.
Inquisitiveness:
Cultivate a curious mindset. Ask questions, seek additional information, and
explore different viewpoints to gain a comprehensive understanding of a
topic.
Logical Reasoning:
Apply sound reasoning to draw logical conclusions. Identify patterns, make
connections between ideas, and avoid fallacious reasoning.
Decision Making:
Make informed decisions by considering all available information, weighing
pros and cons, and anticipating potential consequences.
Creativity:
Integrate creative thinking into critical analysis. Generate innovative
solutions and consider unconventional perspectives to address complex
issues.
Effective Communication:
Clearly articulate your thoughts and reasoning. Communicate ideas in a
coherent and persuasive manner, considering your audience and adjusting
your message accordingly.
Self-awareness:
Reflect on your own thought processes and biases. Be aware of personal
assumptions and actively seek to minimize the impact of cognitive biases on
your decision-making.
Continuous Learning:
Embrace a mindset of continuous learning. Stay curious, seek new
information, and be open to acquiring new skills and knowledge.
Problem Identification:
Recognize problems or challenges by being attentive to inconsistencies, gaps
in information, or areas where further investigation is needed.
Reflection:
Regularly reflect on your own thinking processes. Consider how your
thoughts and decisions may have been influenced by biases or assumptions.
Critical thinking is a versatile skill applicable in various aspects of life, including
education, work, and personal development. It involves a combination of analytical,
reflective, and creative thinking, enabling individuals to approach problems and
decisions with a well-rounded and informed perspective. Cultivating critical
thinking skills requires practice, self-awareness, and a commitment to intellectual
growth.
Look for our tips and tricks on buying a used vehicle from private parties in the
coming podcast – newsletter.
Got stuff taking up space in your place that you don’t use anymore? Try Offer Up –
it’s easy and can generate some walking around money. Or donate those items!
Commentary
For the commentary this month we speak to parenting. And a little more.
Parenting, this is something I am [Mr. W] extremely passionate about. I was a
single parent while raising Mr. Z and will be sharing parenting suggestions, tips and
some scolding in future newsletters.
Mr. Z & I were at our local In N Out Burger over the weekend. It was a beautiful
day outside, and we ate outside. There was a table of three young children [4-6
years old] and a handful of parents. The children were so misbehaved, obnoxiously
loud and playing around the large rock landscape in reckless fashion. The
inconsideration of the parents for the rest of the customers sitting outside was so
pronounced! The parents were in appease mode, there was no discipline to speak of
and at times rewards were dangled to get the kids to cooperate. Mr. Z & I bit our
tongues, and enjoyed their tasty burgers. The truly sad thing about this is the
impact this has on society. The children are not at fault, as much as it appears they
are on the surface. The parents are 100% responsible for their children’s behavior
at that age. When we see children acting like that in public, we can only imagine
what that looks like behind closed doors. The impact terrible parenting has on our
school systems, teachers, other children and ultimately teenage and adult
consequences is staggering. We see parenting being stereotyped on TV, in
commercials, in TV series and movies too. Parenting is not the challenge or
extreme undertaking so many express. It’s about treating the kiddos like little
people. Talking to them. Consistency. Routine. Good diet. And unconditional love.
Punishment? Why does their need to be anything punitive with children? Time
outs, spankings, yelling and worse are no solution. They are part of the problem.
Children are our future as cliché’ as that may sound, it’s also the absolute truth.
Let’s take a deep breath, and remember it’s on all the parents out there to raise
good citizens.
“Children are mirrors, they reflect back to us all we say & do”
Pam Leo
Other
Texting and phone usage while driving continues to be an issue across this country.
Please stay safe out there for yourself, family and those around you – stay off your
phone when piloting your vehicle!
[Friendly reminder – please do not use your phone when you are fueling your
vehicle. There have been instances when an electronic spark of sorts can ignite the
fuel vapors causing an explosion. Why take the chance? Keep your phone in your
vehicle while fueling.]
Plus, Some Sports Headlines & Potpourri
Potpourri
Mr. Z & I want to give a shout out to Chuck Harding! Chuck heads Light Pulse
Studios and has his premiere for their limited TV series coming up in February.
The show is titled Heartbreak and Lullabies, break a leg Chuck and company! Mr.
Z and I look forward to watching the pilot for this interesting concept. Thanks
again for the invite Chuck!
Random funny – Burger King is requiring its employees to tell customers “You
rule!” and to make sure they give those customers the adorable cardboard crown!
The execs at BK must think this will leap frog them ahead of their rivals: Taco Bell,
Wendy’s, McDonald’s & Chick-fil-A! They should bring that creepy “King”
character back and challenge their rivals to a WWE match. We would see Ronald
McDonald, Wendy & the passive people in the Chick-fil-A commercials in a battle
royale vs the King!
Sports Headlines
- Green Bay Packers are done for this season after falling to the Niners in the
divisional round. Packers head coach LaFleur is seeking to replace his
defensive coordinator as well as his strength and conditioning coach.
- Milwaukee Bucks are kicking off a new era a little more than half way
through the current NBA season. Doc Rivers is their newly signed head
coach to replace Griffin. Rivers will be courtside on 1.28 as the Bucks take
on the Nuggets in the mile high city. Bucks are 32-14 with 36 to go in the
regular season.
- The Daytona 500 will kick off the roundy-round race season. The 66 th
running of the Daytona race will see the green flag on 2.18. It’s always been
interesting to me that this race kicks off the season, and it is THE race of the
season, kind of like playing the Super Bowl at the start of the NFL season.
- Mr. Z wanted to remind all our psychos to stay tuned for the Summer
Olympics in Paris. The torch will be lit on 7.26.
Interesting Individual of the Month [IIM]:
Sir Isaac Newton
How about these apples?
- Unhappy Childhood and Solitary Personality: Isaac Newton& unhappy
childhood, marked by being abandoned by his mother, likely influenced his
solitary and untrusting nature. Scarred by the experience, he remained silent
about some scientific discoveries, had no hobbies, and never married.
- Mother& Farming Ambition: Newton’s mother initially wanted him to be a
farmer, but he showed academic promise.
After a brief attempt at farming, he returned to school, eventually attending
Trinity College, University of Cambridge.
- Apple and Universal Gravitation:
During the bubonic plague in 1665, Newton returned home and, inspired by
an apple falling from a tree, formulated his law of universal gravitation.
- Lucilian Professor and Poorly Attended Lectures:
Newton became the Lucilian professor of mathematics at Cambridge, but
showed little interest in teaching, and his lectures were often poorly attended.
- Royal Mint and Pursuit of Forgers:
In 1696, Newton became warden of the Royal Mint, combating
counterfeiters and overseeing the replacement of old coins with more reliable
currency.
- Alchemy and Bible Analysis:
Newton had a serious interest in alchemy, conducting secretive experiments.
He also analyzed the Bible to find hidden messages about the universe.
- Parliamentary Service:
Newton served in Parliament from 1689 to 1690 and again from 1701 to
1702, but his contributions were limited, with reports of speaking only once.
- Intellectual Rivalries:
Newton had fierce rivalries, particularly with German mathematician
Gottfried Leibniz, over the invention of calculus.
- Knighthood and Legacy: Newton was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705,
became wealthy, and published significant works.
He died in 1727 and was buried in Westminster Abbey, leaving a lasting
legacy in science and mathematics. Thank goodness he made the choices
that he did! When we reflect on his life, and the struggles he was up against,
his interesting path helped many different fields of endeavor.
Closing
Thank you for taking the time to read Chapter Six of Psycho Studios “The
Sprinkler.” We always look forward to sharing thoughts on film & music and more.
Future issues will be part of a monthly subscription fee on or around Spring of
2024. For less than $10 per month you will enjoy all our great topics and more
specific practical life skills that will save you easily 5-10x the subscription cost &
reduce stress! Details will be available on our website when we roll this piece out
later in 2024.
Be safe and stay psycho!
We would love to hear from our audience. Comments, feedback & suggestions are
welcome!
Email us at - psychostudios66@gmail.com
Reach us at our website - psycho-studio.com.
Find our podcasts, newsletters and more on our website! We make announcements
on Instagram and X when we drop new content!
Mr. W ~ Mr. Z
Psycho Studios ~2.1.2024