I got 'The Kubrick Stare' from a little girl.

Kids are great. I love meeting new kids, especially now that Gulliver is growing up so fast and I like seeing kids that are in his next stage of development. Cicada and I were recently having dinner with some of the teachers of art-related classes we are involved in. One of the teachers is a particularly terrific artist and designer, Melissa Esplin and her very likable husband. Anyway, they brought their little girl along who is SO cute.

During dinner, I was trying to catch her eye and pull a face at her, which is my go-to thing with kids that age, and all the sudden from across the table she locks me in this death stare. It was going on so long that everyone started laughing, but she didn't budge, she just kept staring me down for what felt like several minutes. It was so long in fact, that it gave Melissa a chance to pull out her SLR an take a picture from her angle. My angle was much better. I was instantly reminded of what is known of in film-dom as 'The Kubrick Stare.' Stanley Kubrick, the film director, was fond of having many of his characters look up at the camera or another character with this crazy evil stare. It has been a chilling calling card for his films. I am including Melissa's little girls picture, which she was nice enough to send to me so I could share this moment with you, and also a few of Kubrick's stares for Full Metal Jacket, The Shining, and Clockwork Orange......oh and of the man himself.