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I want to thank PBS for airing the Woody Allen documentary on television this week. The documentary is three hours in length and part of PBS’ American Masters series. Often I find myself rambling at holiday meals. I stuff my face (my parents are by far the world’s best cooks), think of ways to lovingly tease my brother (I’ll never grow out of the habit), and ponder conversation topics that will solicit the most participation. I already know I’m going to use this Woody Allen documentary as cannon fodder come Thursday, so I’ll share a little with you all as practice.

The first night of the documentary focused a lot on how Woody Allen became the household name he is today. He talks about starting out as a writer, having no intentions of acting. He also had no intentions of being a comedian who performed before an audience. He wanted to be the guy behind the scenes. But people who met him recognized his tremendously entertaining delivery of jokes and lines. Woody was pushed to grow, and thus today we have Woody the writer, actor, director, producer, and personality.

Something else Woody talked about that really struck me was perspective. He explained that early in his career he simply wrote from the male perspective. Not until Hannah and Her Sisters did he really start exploring the female experience. His most recent film, Midnight in Paris, toyed with the idea of perception more than some of his other films. Not only did Woody explore female and male experience, but also simply (and simultaneously complexly) the individual experience with the universe, time, and self-exploration.

Not everyone at my turkey day table will want to talk about Woody Allen, but I’m hoping the topic will be more riveting than the annual conversation about my future.