Saturday, August 29, 2009

32 questions about books and reading!!

I stole this from my bro's blog Stinkbrown who stole it from someone etc etc go see Gone baby gone for details!!!!!
1) Which author do you own the most books by?
Stephen King, I have em all and have read every single on of them except Tommyknockers and Dolores Claiborne.
2) Which book do you own the most copies of?
Don't usually buy more than one copy of a book that's worth buying. Although I already had a generic copy of The shining when I came across a first edition at a second hand book sore.
3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
In context to the big things in life ending a sentence with a preposition of a conjuction is the least of them.
4) Which fictional character are you secretly in love with?
I don't have many secrets!!!!
5) What book have you read the most times in your life? (Excluding picture books read to children.)
The Phantom Tollbooth. It is just such a clever book for children and adults alike!!
6) What was your favourite book when you were ten years old?
Croos between The Machine Gunners and The Cay
7) What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?
Twilight.'(Read well before the movie hype!!!!!! It's not that it's bad it's just that I have read some really good books, see next question!!!!
8)What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
Very hard question this year. Considering I've read A clockwork Orange, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Needful Things and a heap of quality Hard Case Crime books I would have to say The curious case of the dog in the night-time. Maybe because I'm a teacher but it had a definate effect on me!!!
9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
I would never want to force anyone to read!!!! Do it cause you want to!!!!
10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
Stephen King for being so underrated in his development of the character!!!!
11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
I am Legend, but done with the original message and story.
12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
The Da Vinci Code, opps too late!!!!!
13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
I dreamt I was a writer and I was arguing with a producer of the millions I would receive for my work!!
14) What is the most lowbrow book you’ve read as an adult?
That would have to be either of Bruce Campbell’s book. If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B-Movie Actor
15) What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
Pet Semetary. My wife was/is pregnany during the reading!!! Yes Ryan you did warn me!!!
16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you’ve seen?
We will rock you!!!
17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
Russians but only when black!!
18) Roth or Updike?
Barely heard of either so don't care!
19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
This is sad now, I’ve never heard of either.
20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Interested but uneducated in all but been to Shakespeare's birthplace and visited the Chaucer theme museum in Canterbury.
21) Austen or Eliot?
Neither!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
21a) Hammett or Chandler
Tough one, both interesting but must be honest as I'm not fluent in either!!!!
21b) Okay, McCarthy, Cormac V Palahniuk, Chuck
Read No country for Old men but only for Coen reasons so also uneducated!!!!
22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
Not embarressed, just having got to yet!!!!
23) What is your favourite novel?
Changes weekly. About 5 Kingy's fill the top 6 spot though!!!
24) Play?
The Tempest
25) Poem?
Insert dirty limerick!!!!
26) Essay?
Essay?? Hated them at uni so no comment!!!
27) Short Story?
These walls thy sphere by Ryan Lindsay or any from I sing the body the electric by Ray Bradbury
28) Work of nonfiction?
Rebel without a crew by Robert Rodriguez, inspirational!!!!!
29) Who is your favourite writer?
Stephen King for his contant ability to get me hook within the first chapter!!!!
30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Changes by the year from J.KRowling to Dan Brown and now Stephanie Meyer!!!!!
31) What is your desert island book?
Either It or The Stand by Stphen King. Both lengthy and worthy books.
32) And… what are you reading right now?
Log book You only look twice by Ian Flening
The Voyage of the dawn treader by C.S Lewis (Bille Brown as Coriakin will rock!!)
Michael Stahan - Behing the helmet - Michael Strahan (Thanks Rowey!!)
1599 -A year in the life of William Shakespeare by James Shapiro
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In other news my script Soap has been submitted for funding in South Australia and Ryan and I are awaiting news on that frint!!!
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In 40 minutes my wife will be 4 weeks from producing a child!!!!!!

Until then hail to enquiry!!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Film's fickle nature

At some 1 to 2 years ago my brother sent me a bunch of short stories he had written. They were an eclectic bunch in the vein of Gates of Eden by Ethan Coen. Each one had its own flavour and tickled me in some way.

Last X-mas I was celebrating with my family and was also fortunate enough to have been at the premiere of my first short film The Pessimist in Brisbane. Boxing day I was sitting around with both brothers drinking talking the usual stuff, movies, comics and books. Well this year we covered my movie as well and the prospect of any others I might interested in. I do have about 3 short scripts and another feature length one. However my mind for some reason thought about one of those stories mentioned earlier.

It was about a dude with OCD who has to wash his hands every hour on the hour. That premise alone has potential but the kicker for me was what would happen if he was caught in a bank robbery? Ryan hadn't finished the story and as he is want to do moved on to another more impressive project.

Well with a gut full of white rum I asked Ryan if he minded me taking that premise and turning it into a short film. I am much more visual!!!! He slurred his acceptance and the topic moved on. Four weeks later I had a skeleton of where I thought the story might go and wondered what he thought so far. The returning email was so full of red comments that before we knew it the story now titled 'Soap' is co-written by us (similar to Good Will Hunting sic).

We had the script as tight as we could get it without outside opinions and ventured into the scary world of producers and directors. I sent feeler emails out to about 5 producers and only one offered to even read the script. After reading it she was interested and we had a producer giving points and leading to a point where we could attract funding. Then there was a stalemate and Ryan and I couldn't offer any fresh approach and the producer had moved onto a new venture. And good luck I say.

So one day I'm trolling websites about short films and I stumble onto www.australianshortfilms.com and while looking on the message board I notice a guy David Ockenden has written a thread about being a South Australian and looking for new writers and scripts. I checked him out on www.imdb.com and he checks out. I send him a direct email and he lets me know he'll get back to me. 3 weeks go by and nothing. Then I get an email from his producing partner Matt Pearson expressing interest in Soap with him producing, Ockenden directing and the Lindsay Bros. writing. Well a weeks worth of re-writes and back and forths and I posted the contract to Ryan today with my signature and he'll post it to Matt with his and God willing we might see the production of Soap before the end of 2009.

So yeah sometimes things just happen.

On another but still exciting note The Pessimist won Best Indy Film at the QLD New Filmmakers Awards (BIFF) as well as best sound last Friday. It can be seen screening next in Venice next month.

Until then hail to the trolling.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Qualities to aspire to.

I'm am going to have another scan for our baby tomorrow (It's week 32 already) and will be doing that every two week til week 36 then weekly.

We have a checklist of things to buy, do and finish.

The nursery is complete. We have bought a cot (thanks mum!!), a change table (thanks Poppa), a stroller (thanks other mum and dad!), had a built in wardrobe installed and painted the walls a lovely pale green (neutral).

Some would be forgiven for thinking that take care of it. But then there's clothes, nappies, washers, towels. The list literally goes on and on.

Then there is the anxiety for mum and dad's to be about the actual birth process. Yeah dad worry too, we like to be in control and this is something we just have to stand and witness!!

Annaliese and I (mostly her) are pretty organised and have this list covered.

Now that I don't have to worry as much about this stuff my mind constantly drifts to the important issue of what kind of father am I going to be?

As a teacher I need to wear many hats including, educator, nurse, psychologist, mediator, confidant, cousellor, role model and in some cases father figure. Over the 6 years I have been teaching I have developed a style that suits me and hopefully one that most of my students appreciate. When I get sworn at and it happen frequently, I need to be patient, firm and understanding. I could let it upset me and get angry, frustrated or sad but I need to take into account what the situation is for that particular student. Did he have breakfast that morning? Was he kept up all night with irresponsible parents? Is he frustrated by his inability to understand what other students find easy? I'm not saying I should let them off scott free but simply yelling at them often has the adverse affect. They get screamed at when they are home so are used to dealing with that and ofter shut up shop and makes the situation worse. If I calmly explain the consequences of their actions they are usually more willing to follow a direction. Plus for future interactions you have developed a relationship where you aren't the evil enemy and they will ofter respond to you.

SO!!! More importantly what sort of father do I want to be? I'm assuming it will dependant on the personality of the child but I know I need to be careful not to be their bud!!! I need to find that blend between a friend who the kid can feel comfortable with and trust always but also a father who has to lay down the law when it is broken and kids will always do that.

On a less serious note I would love for my kids to follow the Kangaroos (the Giants would the cherry on top!) but I am also aware of not forcing the issue or even broaching it. Push and they are likely to hate AFL and a little part of me. I just have to hope subliminal messages are affective that they claim to be!!!

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On another note every Sunday mark the next week in the pregnancy, next Sunday will be week 33 out of 40. Every Sunday when we wake up we read 'Up the duff' and the current week. It focuses on the what is happening for the baby and the mum. I loving having this update to look forward to. This Saturday just gone I thought, there isn't a book that really speak to the dad to be and gives him information. I would title it 'You've put the bun in the oven, now what?

I would still included info about how the baby is doing. But instead of using fruit analogies like it would be the size of a grapefruit I would use man talk like sporting equipment, the size of a cricket ball, squash ball, can of beer etc. I would also let men know what is expected of them from getting the nursery reading, to behaving when bub arrives. I might write up a draft in the coming weeks. When my brother publishes one of his books I'll get him to put in the good word to look at mine!!!!

I guess I better pull up stumps!!!

Until then hail to the bun in Annaliese's oven!