Video Poem - Deliberate Strangers

Deliberate Strangers

Is it hard to know someone?

Misunderstood

Alone but unique

This was the last video poem for 2011. I hope you got something out of this particular poem. If so, please let me know your thoughts.
I hope you've enjoyed what I've presented this year. I've tried to mix them up and I've enjoyed making them. They will return in January.


Next post,


the last in the series for 2011 of the Greatest Written Films.


Until then
take care

=]

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Poem - A Missing Link

A Missing Link

Please help us with our enquiries

We are curious

We are fearful

We are keeping an open mind

Was never quite active enough

Yet still missing in action

And has been for some time

(elusive time)

Have you seen anything out of the ordinary?
In the vicinity?
Anything at all?

We are taking our mind for a fast walk

In order to jog our memory.

  

Yet the search goes on

We must continue to investigate

And we must always hope

God forbid

It is too horrible

To think the worst.

There is only us

There is only our voices

So we can never allow the trail

To turn cold

If you pray

Include us

Something like this

Should never happen again

Again.

Though we know it will.

What is the media campaign after all

But just another story.

The circumstances were terrible

Tsk tsk,

I know you’re glad it’s not you

All we are asking

Is to Never be forgotten

Now, where were we?

Next post,

The last video poem for 2011, Deliberate Strangers.

followed by

the last Greatest Written Film Review for 2011.

I hope to see you then.

=]

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Post 100. The good, the bad, the disappointing and Beyond.

One road back. Many roads forward.

So, in almost two years, what is the Good?

I've met you! Yes, there are some fantastic people in the so-called blogosphere and in the net world in general. Some of my strongest support comes from people I've never met. I think this is wonderful. It demonstrates that there are some nice people in the world, and it really keeps me going.

The other good thing is that it keeps pressure on me to return each week, usually posting some original work such as a poem or video poem, the occasional story and my script related film reviews. Output can never be a bad thing.

It also keeps up an online presence in the hope that one day, a publisher will take interest.

2011 saw the introduction of my video poems. They are something I enjoy making, though time consuming. I find them challenging and creatively rewarding. I hope to keep going with them in 2012. (See them all here. )

This was also the year that my novella Bottomless River was accepted for publication. (For more info see here.)

It will be getting a local release in 2012. I hope this kick-starts bigger things.

The Bad.

Blogging, even only once a week, takes away from my writing. My time is sparse these days.

My pregnant partner came off second best in a tête-à-tête with a car in June 2010 (read about it here ). Fortunately she recovered after six months and the baby was not harmed. It did impact heavily (excuse the pun) on my home workload however, which again reduced my writing time. I'm still yet to finish my seventh novel, which I was hoping to do so by the end of 2010. Considering how things could have turned out, believe me, I'm not complaining.

And so my beautiful baby girl Tilly came along in September 2010, (see TillyCams). I'm her primary carer so she keeps me very busy. I also work part-time in television (approx 25hrs a week). My writing has suffered as a result, having successfully completed six novels in six years. That's all come to a screaming halt. (It was easier when I was working full-time!)

I hope in a year or so when Tilly is older I'll be able to get back on track.

The Disappointing.

Despite keeping up with submissions, I am still yet to find a publisher (or agent) for my six novels. Rejections are par for the course, of course, but some days they do weigh upon you.

There are so many writers out there, and in a changing landscape, publishers are wary. We've seen some of the big players go under (Borders) and this has left a lot of people unwilling to take on new writers. It's an insecure period for the industry. Yet I'm persisting as I believe in what I do. I know that there are many writers better than I, but I also know that I have a lot to offer. There is definitely a place for me. I like to explore the emotional complexities of people, no matter what genre I write (and I've written in quite a few), so my characters are truthful, multi-layered and not always likable. As John Lennon sang, Gimme some Truth. This is a motto I strongly relate to.

It's frustrating when people request to read my work and I am unable to give it to them. Many have asked me over the years about self-publishing. Yet I'm not ready to go down that route. It works for some, but at this stage, for me, I would consider that a failure. Perhaps in another couple of years I will feel differently. But then again, I've waited my whole life, so what's another few years?

See what happens shall we? Hopefully during the course of the next 100 posts, something exciting will this way come.

So thank you to you, for your support (ongoing-hint hint).. and I'll endeavour to keep providing original creative works. While I like to explore the dark side of people, I also have a passion for life and try to keep it fun.

I'm looking forward, not back.

See you in post 101~!

Coming soon,

My last Video Poem for 2011, Deliberate Strangers.

and in December,

my 2004 convict drama film, Irons.

Until then,

=]

Irons and other short films and books available at my Official Website

Facebook represents all that is bland in the world.

Facebook = bland = new world language.

You know it's all over when Darth Vader's online.

Facebook represents all that is bland in the world.

More than that, it represents the undeniable fact that the western world, soon to be the entire world, has become homogenised. Slowly, we have abandoned culture to embrace communication. And lost our identity in the process.

Go to any Western country now, and discover that there isn’t anything new to discover. Only the scenery is different. See how things used to be. Countries have to promote past traditions in order to entice tourism, when we all know that it’s an exaggerated front. The Austrians aren’t really wearing long white socks, yodelling and doing a jig on a mountain top. 

The Hills aren't this Alive.

The Dutch don’t really wear clogs. The Kiwi's aren't really shagging sheep (despite some evidence to the contrary). The Scots aren't all wearing kilts and demolishing black puddings by the Loch Ness monster load. You can get a burger and chips anywhere. And Aussies don’t throw shrimps on the barby. (We call them prawns for a start and would much rather fry up a snag (sausage) ).

Good on ya Paul!

Even accents are becoming pale. A generic language and culture that we can all understand.

It’s great that we’re all getting along, but at what price?

Over to you.

Run Forrest, Run!

This was my 99th post.

Next week, 

A reflection on 100 posts.

Coming soon,

Deliberate Strangers, the last video poem for 2011.

And in December, for the first time online, 

my 2004 short convict drama film, Irons. 

=]

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Poem - Sorry, but...

Sorry...  but…

I’m sorry.

I didn’t mean it.

But that’s how it came out.

I’m sorry

That you reacted that way

And I’m sorry

You escalated matters.

I’m sorry

That I left you out.

I’m sorry

I didn’t respond the way you wanted me to.

I’m sorry

It brought on your depression

And I’m sorry

That I kept up my spirits.

I’m sorry

That you allowed it to take over your life

Because it didn’t take over mine.

Perhaps you should take some responsibility for your reactions

Because I can’t say sorry for that.

_________________

I don't know about you, but I hate it when people say Sorry but.... It negates the apology. If you're going to say But..., don't bother apologising in the first place. 

Maybe that's just me.

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Coming in early December, 

something a little different and perhaps a bit special, a short film I made in 2004, the 17 minute convict drama, Irons.

It's a period piece, set in New South Wales in 1826.

I'm adding a few new audio elements that we didn't have the luxury of at the time.

But it's the same film that played in several International Film Festivals.

I'll hope you'll stick around for it. It was almost a year out of my life and

cost five years of savings. (Probably the reason why I haven't made another since).

=]

Until next week,

Video Poem - Her Teenage Universe

At fourteen...

Voiceover by Marie K at Bellavox Productions.

A big thank you to all involved.
The teens did a great job, under 'embarassing' conditions.


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Next post,

a new poem,

Sorry... but...

Poem - Ode to a CRAP RAP

oDe  tO  A  cRaP  RaP

Let’s get Down with that

Coz baby you’re the one I wanna tap

Your body was Made in Heaven

Better than 7 -11

I had to steal you off my Bro

But it don’t hurt

If he don’t know.

So I’m writing you this song

Saying Honeyz, you can come along

On my Groovy Train

My package will give you a brain drain.

You are the Mit

To my Baseball Club

Get it? My Club?

Let’s go do da Dub

Step

One Two Three

I look at you Hot and Spicy

And I don’t wanna wee

Ho Bunny, I got it all goin on

So you gotta be strong

If you want make it out

Of my Love Trap

But don’t do that

Be weak

I like my bitches meek

I’ll be your Golden idol

Better than American Idol

I’ll be your Oscar winner

And you can thank me in your speech

After dinner.

Eeek!

So come on sweet nectar

I’ll drink from you, blood and all

Let’s turn out the lights and

Do it against the wall.

You’re so sweet, I’d make love to you in a ditch,

But I’ll give you some satin sheets

Coz chicks like you are for keeps.

I finally found Love

And I didn’t have to pay for it

I can throw away my Glove

Coz Angel Box, You’re da Shit!

So Hop onto my Pole

And we’ll ride into the Sunset.

LOL

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Next week,
Back with a little genuine material,
A new Video Poem,
Her Teenage Universe.


Until then,
=]

Greatest Written Films - Magnolia

MAGNOLIA (1999) is by the film’s creator own admission, his masterpiece. Something I agree with, though many critics site THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007) as the better film.

Paul Thomas Anderson had such a success with BOOGIE NIGHTS (1997) (and many of the cast return here), that he was given free reign with his next project, an ambitious opus on character with interweaving threads. Initially he wanted a small film, but it literally ‘blossomed’. All of the characters are associated in some way, though their journeys remain uniquely separate, such as the petals of the Magnolia flower. Some of the characters include a nurse played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, a child genius, a TV show host, a wealthy man who is dying (played by Jason Robard’s in his last film role) and a memorable performance by Tom Cruise as Frank T.J. Mackey, a loathsome sexual self-help guru for men. I’m not a fan of Cruise but in this he is hilarious yet tragic. The casting throughout is perfect.

All are in battle with the self. Tortured, isolated, lonely and in search of redemption and yet none seem to realise that they are indeed connected. The film’s other themes are coincidence, set out in the incredible prologue and the implausible made plausible, such as the frog rain. There is nothing more outlandish than real life. These themes are also metaphoric for certain people coming together, such as the cop and the drug addict. Everybody’s searching. Everybody seeks to be noticed. To be understood. This really opened up the scope of small things made grandiose, leading the way to films like CRASH (2004).

Incidentally some have seen the spellbinding frog rain scene, which is incredible and unique in cinema, as a reference to the Bible. Anderson claims it came from a story told to him by Philip Baker Hall who experienced the phenomenon in a storm while driving in Italy. There are various records of this occurring in history (though in heavy rain) but some still struggle with this scene. I find it astonishing.

This is a bold film. There is a scene where the main characters each sing a different part of a song, especially created for the film by Aimee Mann, even though they appear in the scene on their own. This doesn’t happen anywhere else in the piece and takes place in a tense dramatic period. Each of the lyrics relate to the characters own story. Somehow it works. In lesser hands it would have been laughable. I’ve never seen it attempted before or since.

Anderson creates his mosaic from his desire to work with certain actors and even wrote parts especially for them. He went away, isolating himself in a small cabin for two months and came back with this artistic powerhouse, refusing to alter a word. At three hours, it is an amazing labyrinth of angst, suffering, fear, longing and regret tied up in exquisite soul bleeding dialogue. In some ways it is the nephew of NETWORK (1976), a film Anderson showed to the cast before filming, also an ensemble piece centering around a Television show as Anderson also worked on a quiz show before making his foray into film.

Brilliant in direction and acting, the film was nominated for several Academy Awards, including script-writing, but lost to AMERICAN BEAUTY, a good film, but not in the same league. In the same way that THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994) was overshadowed by THE ENGLISH PATIENT at the Oscars, time has revealed the error. This is by far a more complex and artistically successful film. I’ll go as far as saying MAGNOLIA is one of the best American films for the past thirty years, certainly in terms of script. Let’s hope Anderson has many films left in in him yet, though (as he also believes), may never top MAGNOLIA.

  

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