The Zero with 1000 faces happened ten years ago in 2012 (sort of a subversion of the monomyth). I actually took all of these pictures down soon after, but then it got to be rather nostalgic for me and… I realized it really was for fun and really should be treated as such. And, in retrospect, most people have more pictures of themselves and their kids on instagram these days.

So I should be vulnerable and just share the fun.

For some time, I’ve been using photos on this site and my portfolio that came from a photoseries. I don’t use the word “epic” often, but… Let’s say as with everything I touch and everything Mark touches and especially everything we’ve touched at the same time, this series escalated quickly. This was right in the middle of our Cold Brewed shooting schedule. Here’s how it went down:

My phone rings. I see the contact name is Mark 9 and answer immediately.

Mark: Got a new lighting rig and arrangement that I want to test out, but I need something that changes and moves around a bunch. You up for a challenge?

Lancelot: [silence. I’m thinking…]

Mark: Day… in the… studio?

Lancelot: New lighting set up?

Mark: Yeah, it’s–

Lancelot: What if I tapped into my old thespian and modeling skillset and tried to give you as many faces as possible?

Mark: So… you’d… wait. Like trying to get me to mix it up as you mix it up?

Lancelot: Yes. You’ll keep me on my toes, making sure the faces are all different. I’ll keep you on your toes so you switch your style.

Mark: Sounds fun.

Lancelot: We’ll call it… [Dr. Evil voice] THE ZERO WITH 1000 FACES.

Mark: [Quiet for awhile, then:] Okay.

Well we got into the studio and I brought exactly four billion props and costumes.

We had a limit:

two hours.

We had a goal:

one thousand photos, all different faces.

They range from the classy:

To the absurd:

…with a heavy emphasis on the absurd.\

Again, two hours to get as many as we could.

Here’s the thing. I often take myself too seriously on here. Often. Plus a blog is a hard way to get at the facets of your personality. This series was a way for me to lighten up, play, and have fun with Mark for a couple of hours. We did get 1,000 photos and I tried for 1,000 faces. Mark narrowed them down to 400 or so of the best, custom-editing each photo based on the emotion it depicts.

I give you (to my infinite pleasure, shame, honor, and surprise)…

The Zero with 1,000 Faces

Happy early birthday, Joseph Campbell (March 26th).

You see what Kiddo has to put up with? She’s the one shaving me off screen. She’s a patient woman – four year anniversary was this February. Thanks for having fun with us, Kiddo.

Happy Early Birthday, Mr. Campbell. I was born only a few months before you died, so it was impossible, but I still wish I could have met you. Here’s my thousand faces aspiring to their own journey.

To crossing every threshold,