Thursday 24 June 2010

Editing

Editing still. Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!! Will it ever end?

Friday 18 June 2010

The Manchester Day Parade


On Sunday, it's the Manchester Day Parade, starting at Castlefield, along Deansgate, up via St. Peter's Square and back again. Starts at 2pm, finishes at 4.
I'm taking part with 1,800 other people. Our group, Juba do Leao is one of the many many local participating groups. It will be fascinating, colourful, jubilant and many more things besides as it is celebrating all the differences that make up our city. So various and varying nationalities will be represented, different ages, different ways of performing, making music, strutting and shuffling and spinning and towering. All heights, widths, voices and hair dos will be on show. Manchester is fantastic for its festivals and this Parade will act as a vast bringing together of many of them. Hope the sun shines.

And I cannot decide on what to wear...

Saturday 12 June 2010

Summing up.

Why are some weeks more emotionally driven than others? This weeks has been a wet week. Couldn't bear to watch after half time of the England v. USA match. Had a long bath listening to Billie Holiday then watched Finding Neverland. Watching it reminded me of when I saw it at the cinema with Miranda. Many tears from me. Tonight, many tears from both of us. So many, my eyes have shrunk and I'm drained. What is this about? I think this has been necessary after the week we've both had. M full of exams, me full of Tessa and her family. And the film is about what life is about in a way that takes us to a place we want to go to.
And J.M.Barrie. A friend gave me a book, 'Inventing Wonderland' by Jackie Wullschlager. It's a must. It is about Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, J.M.Barrie, Kenneth Grahame and A.A.Milne and is fascinating into why they wrote what they wrote because of the times they lived and their backgrounds. What I liked is the humanity of the book. We understand a time, place and system. And I think that is good.
All this is symplifying the film and all these authors. Is this the problem with blogs or the way I'm writing? It's selfish. It's making me think and that I hope becomes unselfish because if I'm thinking then hopefully that makes me respond more sympathetically to situations and people and hopefully grow. Rambling.

Friday 11 June 2010

Film and Television

Watched a programme about Bobby Moore last night. Of course, England winning the 1966 World Cup cropped up. Very interesting seeing our country a few decades ago, hearing people speak, the politeness and respect and the unassuming way of many. Of course, there were problems in the FA and clubs but being a footballer seemed to mean wanting to play the game. Let's just say, they weren't very well paid. Oh, and everyone loved Bobby Moore. You could see why. Cue more tears. Not just from me.

But then watched the film, "Wolf Creek." I was expecting werewolves or shades of The Hills have Eyes. In fact, the film took its time, we got to know the three main characters (a little patchily, but the effort was there) were treated to some stunning views of landscape and skies, good pacing and then the horror. Nasty.
And based on a true story, but I'm guessing an imagination was used at some points.
Set in Australia, a vast, vast, country where people can do what they want, I'd say, if far enough off the beaten track. Not somewhere on top of my favourite countries to visit. Or just don't head inland.
This film definitely won't be used as a promotional video for the place, however spectacular the scenery.

And today. Last few pages of LC to go over, then back to the beginning. Must rewatch Groundhog Day...

Thursday 10 June 2010

Emotions

This is hopeless. Listened to Vanessa Redgrave talking on Radio Four about her latest film, "Letters to Juliet" which is about finding a lost love and then talking also about losing her daughter Natasha who died after falling on a ski trip and banging her head and then both her brother and sister's recent deaths.
Now I'm writing about Tessa's dad and I'm in floods.
And it's raining!!

Not going to show myself in public today, that's for sure.

The film festival last night was good though. Every film had something positive about it, some excellent music, some fantastic 'eyes' - great shots and observations and some surprising takes on what we feel we know. Some charming animation and I also laughed at both documentaries and drama.

Writing this has actually made me smile thinking how quickly we can go from one emotion to another. Don't feel angry thankfully...but now it's back to Leaving Coty which I am renaming. I'm adding, through a new angle, some of Meeting Coty to it, so it is absolutely watertight, complete in itself. One or two bits still to do, then a full read through again to see if it strengthens or weakens it and then a fine edit again. This will end, it will, it will.

Wednesday 9 June 2010

Short Film Festival

I'm one of the judges at the Ellesmere Port Short Film Festival later today. Should be interesting to see, hopefully, some original minds at work. Love that. Seeing, hearing something I haven't experienced before and being surprised, affected, changed in some way. And how short is a short?

Monday 7 June 2010

The River Wharfe


The River Wharfe in Yorkshire is volatile and highly deceptive. I've written a short story about a particular point where it narrows into a fast churning gulley of water known as The Strid. It's easy to think you can jump from one side to the other; the stones are tantalisingly close. Many people have slipped on the wet uneven stones, fallen in, been dragged under by the currents, bashed against the curves of the rock and caught in their pockets until spewed out and left to drift, more often than not under water to resurface down stream.

On Saturday, an extremely hot, beautiful day, further downstream, where many paddle, swim and push out in rubber boats, an eight year old boy drowned. People had taken picnics and barbeques. They were eating locally made icecream and playing ball. Children were splashing and collecting pebbles. Ducks were swimming. He fell into a deep section of water.

The brown peaty river is treacherous. It is cold. The shallows quickly give way to great depths. And there are channels of strong currents.

A few years ago, one hot summer's day,I swam across with one of my daughters. It was fun. It was fine if a little cold, then just as we reached for a rock on the other side, a current grabbed us. It was frightening, but I tried not to show my panic. We reached the stone ledge. The force of the current was a shock. I was relieved when we were back on the other side.
Wikipedia says that The Wharfe is the/one of the most dangerous rivers in the world. Here, at Bolton Abbey, it flows through flat green fields and beautiful surroundings, with towering hills and the stunning Strid Woods. It is paradise. And the river lures you in.
I think everybody's thoughts must be with the family of the young boy. It is hard to comprehend how tragedy can strike so suddenly when the sun is shining and everyone is happy. This is a Yorkshire Beauty Spot. I know it really well and it still shocks me.