Birthday Boy...

Tim Clague's Birthday bash...

Happy Birthday to a man who never gives up... BAFTA nominated Tim, is constantly finding new ways of spreading his writing and directing talent, making low cost films through his serial Mr. Vista, this amusing take on the life of a man on the edge is at worst worth dipping into, but at best worth following with regularity. 

Tim's latest project in the form of a feature called Circumference, by far his most ambitious project to date; if you have to label it, Tim calls it a love story.  He has nursed and nurtured this film since pussy was a kitten and finally everything is in place to heavily market the concept and try to bring the film into being.  With a production company attached (White Lantern Film) and a noteworthy casting director, they are on the case.  A press pack is available, so if anyone reading this would like to be involved in some way, shape or form, why not contact him and say Rosie says Hi!  

The Team are looking to raise a minimum of £110,000 seed money to give the film a chance of commercial success; this is reckoned to be the magic film formulae number for making indie movies see a return on the money, the successful 'London to Brighton' raised £80,000.  If you would like to see your Company's name appear on the film credits, or more simply if getting your name on a film credit is on your list of 99 things to do before you die, then don't hesitate to get in touch with him; Tim is a very straight 'what you see is what you get' kind of guy who holds a passion for new writing and new ways of seeing and doing.  I once described him to a potential funder as a man born with a 'can do' attitude.  In fact, following an interview with Tim three years ago for a feature article in an Arts Magazine, he proved to be instrumental in invoking the Muse in me, and Prequel to Cannes was born.

So I shall be joining in the lunchtime celebrations today with Tim and other filmies and luvvies... Love and peace... Rosie

Wahoo...

It works... finally, having been shown how to post a link by Kristen and several times by others, and failed to grasp or apply it, I have conquered it... now I can apply a link...  I shall be found linking away... www.timclague.com; www.projectorfilms.com; 

Flat as a pancake...

As in the tyre on my car...

Some days just when you have the end of the road in sight, you need to turn another corner and the new road disappears into the distance. 

After spending a wonderful evening yesterday with James and Graham, consuming a concert picnic tea  that should have been laid out on the lawn at Upton Country Park with the sounds of the BSO concert in the background, instead it was spent in their homely dining room on account of God emptying his bathwater again.  Eventually this morning I awoke, or rather arose, somewhat sluggish in manner, I think it was the Gin, Lime and soda jelly what did for me, hence I took a while to get into my stride. I popped along to the farmer's market only to return and discover a flat tyre. Thankfully, it was early enough to catch Freeway Tyres, just a couple of miles away from the village.  

I stopped for petrol and was reliably informed by at least five people that my tyre was flat.  One very kind workman drove into the station to tell me as he had seen me traversing the roundabout, no doubt with sparks flying off the wheel.  Whilst it was extremely heartwarming, not one of them offered to change the tyre and furthermore for anyone who has ever driven a car with a flat tyre, the change in the drive is unmistakable; think army tank and you're somewhere near to understanding the lack of smoothness of the ride.  Some men must truly think all woman are blonde when it comes to cars!

Anyhow, suffice it to say it threw the day completely off rota and in an attempt to revist the aura of calm which I woke with this morning, I decided I needed to blog... plus mid-way I've just had a call from the builder pricing the extension, that turns out to be double the original quote and he won't guarantee the figure!!! Calmmmmmm..... still, better now than at the finishing line!

My days and nights are currently consumed with thoughts of Sequel to Cannes and I am in need of finalising the script competition rules.  At least with the technical help of my great friend Paul, the website is now up and running on www.prequeltocannes.biz ~ Sequel to Cannes also shares the same site ~ it just seems daft to have two actual websites to update, even if I do have around ten domain names.  The website is a sharp learning curve and is a work in progress; I guess it will be around the end of August before I will have everything up-loaded and I will be content with the visual look of it.  I have been surprised how much I have enjoyed re-visiting or learning some of the technical aspects and am now seriously considering accepting the MA place I have been offered at Bournemouth University which incorporates screenwriting with learning in more detail the technical processes and tasks of shooting a movie, we only fringed upon this on the BA degree course.  If I do start it will be in September 2010, I just feel I have too much on the boil this year.

I am filled with the sense of a tide of change. I cannot explain from where or why this feeling has entered my life, but I do feel that life changing events are about to take place.  I sincerely hope this means some success with the writing, or maybe it is a result of the strange mood which has decended on my two day a week part-time work, but something is in the air, I feel it...

Enough now, I have websites to plan, screenwriting rules to write and a script to re-write.  The countdown to Sequel to Cannes has started... just ten days away... Yipes...

From Chick Lit to Dixie Flicks

A Maelstrom of weather and emotions invoke and evoke the Muse...

This scene of casual creative chaos is a record of a wonderful literary day spent at Upton Country House, invoking the Muse. After a bit of a writing lull, well a drought actually, I decided earlier this year that I would treat myself to a few writing events if they came along.  It is really important to water oneself now and again, as well as watering others in the form of the creative workshops I deliver, the next one I shall be delivering, is 'writing for radio' in August.

On the day that God chose to empty his bathwater, I trundled along to this one, organised by the Poole Arts Development Unit, called 'Lit Up' and drew inspiration and support from published writers, as well as from the literary agent Carole Blake; a formidable woman, a well respected heavyweight from within the publishing world's circle of trust.   There is only one way to describe her and I hope she will take this as a business compliment, she comes across as a 'no shit' kind of person.  Someone who you would definitely want batting on your team rather than the oppositions.  She was obviously seizing the opportunity to re-promote her paperback book 'From Pitch to Publication' and at the discounted price of £12.50 she was happy to sign her name, sadly for those in attendance only between the book's pages and not on a contract.  It got me thinking just how little the publishing world can have changed, her book was published over ten years ago so the same principles, i.e. contracts, approaches to agents/publishers, format, manuscripts submissions et al, remains the same.  

Carole gave a very charismatic speech, endearing in places, I imagine not a description one would automatically associate with her or mix in the same sentence, to arrive at the same old chestnut, which is in spite of all the 'how to' tips, what actually grabs any agent or publisher is a gripping story, well told with an original, preferably unique, voice.  The main learning points I came away with`~? Perseverance, a strong belief in your own work, and the importance of sending it out to the correct publishing house or literary agent, these are the stuff that bringeth the writer in with a chance, basic ideologies we aspiring authors have had recounted to us endless times but for unpublished authors worthy of mentioning again.  

Then of course, there is the timing factor to consider.  As in Life, timing is everything. Carole recounted a manuscript which had 'done the circuit' and been rejected by every major publisher and almost sent to the abattoir, but a steadfast belief in the manuscript by both author and agent meant that after a decent period of mourning it was resubmitted to a publishing house with a new commissioning editor in place, hot to make a name for him/herself ~  identity was hidden to protect the guilty.  

Present it too soon and it is classed as 'Before its time' or 'doesn't fit into any genre or category, too late and it falls into the pile where 'manuscripts go to die', recycled paper waste or contenders for the Turner prize ~ award winning stuff like 'slush pile door stops' a mountain of manuscripts super glued to form the shape of a paper Christmas tree ranging from 4 foot to 100 feet, followed by an epic burning on Hampstead Heath, straight out of a scene from 'Wicker man'.  

Not a lot for Writers' to consider then when nurturing their babies before they send them off to potential slaughter or Resurrection.  Carole was last seen clicking her heels across a very damp walled garden, clutching her raincoat and cash box under her arm whilst dragging her unsold books behind her, leaving chunnels of furrowed earth in her wake. Food for thought... write about what you know?

The hottest author on the block at the moment, Lucy Clarke spoke about her foray into the publishing world with her book called 'Surf Wax and Vodka Jelly'.  Don't you just hate young, hip gorgeous looking women with surf shacks full personality?  I suspect her 27 years of experience living on this planet and the obvious talent she has for re-telling a story, played more than a helping hand contributing towards her success, but nonetheless an author with personality clearly helps when embarking on book signings.  A clear distinct voice, maximised to appeal to a specific type of audience (20 - 40 age group), never have I felt so old as to be not included in this hip age group. Lady in Lavender I am not!!!!!  I have ordered said book online in an act of aging purple rebellion.

I did receive some fabulous constructive feedback in a 1-2-1 discussion about my script and the first three chapters of my novel, so encouraged and renewed, I shall again take up the pen ... that is of course after I have resolved the issue of the Prequel to Cannes/Sequel to Cannes website which urgently demands my attention...

Top tip for unpublished authors, do your research and once you have found your voice, exploit it and shout it from the top of the highest slush pile; just remember to jump clutching the manuscript before flaming match meets tinder dry paper...

Rosie xx

Spoiled Rotten...

Trick or Treats... 

It isn't every day that a girl of advancing years can knock on the door of a young talented writer and award winning playwright and be treated to a breakfast of smoked salmon, jams, breads and croissants, whilst his partner is hard at work.  "Come into my Bedouin tent" or similar, were the words that greeted me. At the bottom of the garden stood an octagonal tent fit for a sheik. Equipped with the 3 S's, self sufficiency and summer, every need, well almost, has been taken into account and catered for, including the lighting; I wouldn't expect anything less as Graham is a whiz with all matter of things electrical and what he cannot do with his conduit isn't worth bothering with.  The non-organic apple I brought for my god dog, was tossed in the air like a ball and it is fair to say that anything non-organic is of little interest... the result? a glossy coat that is silky and sleek - let this be a lesson to us all.

Our Saturday breakfasts are treasured, when Graham can join us he does and it is a delight, but relaxing in the company of a writing soul mate is a luxury of indulgent proportions. Friendships are, or should be, about equality, trust and honesty and whilst we could occasionally be accused of a love-in, it is usually short lived as we both understand the need to be critical about behaviours in life as well as about our writing, so truthful feedback wins every time, born out of respect for each other as a wordsmith and friend. Talking through ideas for stories, novels or plays are like a mental workout, the energy James generates is infectious and whenever I reflect on what he has done or is about to do, I feel ashamed that I have more freelance time yet generate considerably less, both in quality and volume.

Invariably, we exchange real life episodes of a day in the life of the last month, a tribute to that wonderful film 'Crush' and the gag sad F**k of the week.  When forced to, I recall or retell some incident from my autobiography 'Rosie moments', yet to be written of course, but will include such events as 'Robins Breast Drip Trays', 'Frequent Lactose Intolerance', 'My daughter's schools orchestral weekend and I got to have the drug addict to stay, yes, the very weekend the school guinea pig chose to commit Harri Kari whilst in our care', 'The scenic journey through Dorset with an unfolding commentary on the history of Rook Pie, ably given by our chauffeur which made us late for a function' ... and the like... 

I left with dates in my diary:  an invite to watch 'The Young Victoria' in the Bedoin tent, The BSO proms in the park our annual ritual together with champagne and canapes lording it up, and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.  Good friends, lots of laughs, these will be the memories I shall keep long into the future when I am rocking in my chair in the nursing home... God and a lot of luck willing...

Go hug a friend...