Experiencing Interruptions?

An American Screed

"Just when you thought your worst nightmare was over"

An American Screed was conceptualized to examine some of the crazy facets of American Life during the Pandemic Months of 2020-21. The time was defined by much more than a virus. Prepare for Disruption launches us down that dark country road in February, after which we receive a Welcome to Your Isolation. With the stage set, it’s off to Wall Street bliss with Do The Dead Cat Bounce, and then we careen west and time travel to The Battle of Portlandia (in the year 2034). Returning to sober reality we pay respect to Thirteen Names that everybody should know. On the more uplifting side, we celebrate The Legend of Tony Fauci and sit in lock-yaw rigor as we Enter the Kraken. If that wasn’t enough, we’re then Canceled and sent into The Ninth Circle, in which the traitors are tormented. By that point most will have been completely Triggered.

  • Craig Trumbo
    Director
  • Craig Trumbo
    Writer
  • Craig Trumbo
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Music Video
  • Runtime:
    39 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 27, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Austin Lift-Off
    Austin, TX
    United States
    March 31, 2023
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Craig Trumbo

Craig Trumbo operates VuJa de Industries, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. In addition to woodworking enterprises in the visual arts, he writes and produces music videos and short films addressing today's pressing social and political issues. Recent projects have included material on climate change, gun violence, and the war against Ukraine. He also composes and plays all musical parts in his films.

Additional works can be seen on his YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRetch

Regarding his pathway to this point, Trumbo offered some insight.

"It was actually a bit of a segue, beginning to create original music and accompanying videos, and eventually dramatic shorts. After all, the band folded during the pandemic. While my base motivation may have been to simply maintain some creative outlet, one must first have something to say before bringing pen to paper, lens to CCD. My passions for the environment and social justice therein found an outlet. This collided with my professional background in photography and more recent efforts in music and production. And having worked, studied, and taught in journalism for some 25 years left me a hopeless news addict. So, to quote Chrissie Hynde:

"The phone, the TV and the news of the world got in the house like a pigeon from hell"

Stay tuned, more to come . . .

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Having spent some of my previous career in the area of public health, I was aware of the scientifically conservative culture of the CDC. It's was easy to criticize then -- as well as more recently -- but it's important to keep in mind that the agency was attempting to operate under the Stinking Cloud of Orange. So when Dr. Nancy Messonnier, in the top levels of CDC leadership, said in February 2020 that we should prepare for disruption I took it seriously. Very seriously. The Orange Stench was traveling at that particular time, but it effectively sacked the Doctor on it's return (she's now dean of a prestigious school of public health).

Having watched my father's death from COPD/emphysema, with a stretch on a ventilator, I updated my advanced directive.

The following months were gripping. I was in a fortunate position to avoid most all direct human contact. At least I'm a natural introvert. So I watched it all from the sidelines. As if the toll of sickness and death weren't enough, we also had to endure all the other crap, from an attempted coup to the misinformation and culture wars: “It’s the tide. It’s the dismal tide. It’s not the one thing.”

And so here we are, in some ways on the other side and in some ways not. Just when you thought your worst nightmare was over, perhaps it's time.