what is ia
Indoor Animal is an independent newsletter launched in December 2024 by a human being named Tim Papciak. On Mondays, he shares one link to one music video to help spark creativity in other creative types that'll hopefully last through the week. On Thursdays, he recommends a book, movie, show, art piece, or link to some dusty corner of the internet that he believes either 1.) adds to the human experience, or 2.) serves as a coping mechanism in the year 2025. (Note: this is not, and never will be, self-help content.)
On a TBD schedule, he will also share some of his own creative projects in whatever stage they are in when he presses the "publish" button.
who is this human named Tim
In the past, I've used my unique perspective to shape an opinion about not-yet produced intellectual property (IP). Production companies, studio and network executives, and film financiers have paid me for my opinion. I've read a lot of bad writing that was never produced, and some that still was. I've also read a lot of really great writing that was never produced. And some that miraculously was. In short, the industry defies logic and most of what gets made is not deserving of the time and effort and money it takes – and most of it does not deserve your attention.
While doing all of that, I also wrote a whole bunch: books, screenplays, pilots, poems, short films, essays, and more. Some of it was bought by people or companies in exchange for money I use to pay my bills and taxes. But, the vast bulk of it sits on the laptop I am typing this on in neat little folders, waiting for the chance that it may – or may not – see the light of day. Now, here, I want to share some of these projects with you in whatever state they are currently in, because... Just because.
why is Tim doing this
The industry feels like a mess right now. Things are being made, but they come and go so quickly that almost no one cares. Still, audiences click play on this or that and they watch or pretend to watch or listen in while doing something else. There is already an insanely large library of amazing stories out there in the world, but no one tells you where to find them. Even finding something worth your time on a streaming platform you pay for monthly can take too much time. Consumer culture has dictated, and continues to dictate, what gets our attention. Algorithms play a significant role now. The attention economy has bummed me out, because it's just business: them noodling constantly on how they can spend the least amount of money while getting your attention for the longest amount of time.
As a result, we often rely on word of mouth to find new, quality shows and films and podcasts and what have you. We know this. Companies know this. But instead of pumping their bags, to borrow a phrase from the also messy world of crypto, by promoting their middling shows, I want to direct people to and promote stories that I believe are worthwhile, that I think add to the human experience, that I hope reminds each of us that we are free to choose differently.
The companies and their overlords want us to be domesticated, to only know of one or two places to go to spend our time, to pay attention. (Notice those terms: spend, pay. This is why it equates to advertising dollars and subscription fees, i.e. money for them.) But out in the physical forests of the world, movie theaters, bookstores, the internet (just because it's digital doesn't mean it doesn't have a physical presence), there are still wild things and wild places and, most importantly, wild people.
what could happen next?
Reply to the email newsletter to have a conversation with me and I will try and connect folks who want to connect with others. There will even be chances to get together in person in the future. Because this is what we are all looking for, isn't it?