500 Miles To Hollywood

April 10, 2008 9:44 AM

Mortified is a group in various cities that allows people to "share their own adolescent journals, letters, poems, lyrics, home movies, stories and more." It's embarrassing, to be sure, but it's frequently also hilarious (NSFW). Recently they've set up a page to share videos of live performances, and the latest is my favorite so far. "500 Miles To Hollywood" features Elijah Wood, James Denton (Desperate Housewives), Busy Phillips (Freaks & Geeks), Kevin McDonald (Kids in the Hall) and Curtis Armstrong (Revenge of the Nerds) "helping Jason Smith fulfill his dream and bring a 2-decade-old screenplay to life."
posted by ktoad (19 comments total)

One entry was an act in this TAL.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 9:48 AM on April 10, 2008

They have published a book: Mortified: Real Words. Real People. Real Pathetic.
posted by ericb at 9:52 AM on April 10, 2008

And, as mentioned on their frontpage, there is a new book Mortified: Love Is a Battlefield by David Nadelberg.
posted by ericb at 9:54 AM on April 10, 2008

I. HEART. KEVIN. MCDONALD. This did not disappoint.
posted by piratebowling at 9:57 AM on April 10, 2008

wonderful... I was jovial!
posted by HuronBob at 10:01 AM on April 10, 2008

And the follow-up story about his dad was awesome.
posted by grubi at 10:14 AM on April 10, 2008

That was incredible!
posted by MythMaker at 10:42 AM on April 10, 2008

This is excellent. Mr. Smith must have felt like a million bucks that night, embarrassment and all.
posted by genefinder at 10:44 AM on April 10, 2008

Best line..."Drizzle is totally in love but still totally cool." I hope to pull that off someday.
posted by Hugonaut at 10:52 AM on April 10, 2008

Mortified is part of a national trend of diary/bad old writing readings, many of them open mic events where average joes stand up and share their worst adolescent writing. There's Brooklyn's Cringe (run by blogger Sarah Brown, with a book coming out this summer), Seattle's Salon of Shame (not linking because I organize it — look it up if you're interested), Teen Angst Poetry in Vancouver, BC, What's Your Damage, and many others.

Part of what's so awesome about reading at one of these events is the deep, therapeutic catharisis you get from sharing something so awful, so private ... and hearing the audience's response you realize that the lonely anguish you thought you alone experienced as a teen was totally ubiquitous and everyone else was freaking out about the same stupid shit. It's a highly recommended exerience.
posted by arielmeadow at 11:25 AM on April 10, 2008

arielmeadow--> I didn't realize there were so many similar events/organizations. Thank you for the links!
posted by ktoad at 11:30 AM on April 10, 2008

Here is a link to the Seattle Salon of Shame.
posted by maxwelton at 11:33 AM on April 10, 2008

Yep, ktoad. Here are a few new stories about the trend:

• NPR: Sharing Private Shame for Public Laughs
• AP: What's embarrassing is funny in 'cringe readings'
• Seattle Weekly: Teen Angst Becomes Grist for Local Literary Mill
posted by arielmeadow at 11:35 AM on April 10, 2008

Some things on the internet actually *do* make me lol
posted by found missing at 11:36 AM on April 10, 2008

i.e., I lol'd
posted by found missing at 11:37 AM on April 10, 2008

Great! Stairway to Winnipeg for some more CanCon.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 11:46 AM on April 10, 2008

"I hate Drake" was so good that now I hate Drake.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:23 PM on April 10, 2008

True Power!

Great find! I have the first book but have been procrastinating on finishing it.
posted by spec80 at 12:27 PM on April 10, 2008

"if people can't live without you you will never die"
posted by rheasloan at 6:30 AM on April 11, 2008