Add Some Music...

Thanks to Lianne for memeing me.

The meme is for songs that you are into to right now. Now, I’ve got to confess, I‘m not as into music as I used to be. It used to be almost my whole life, which I guess is kind of sad. I still listen to music every day, obviously, but it’s nowhere near as big a part of my life now. I hardly ever buy new CD’s anymore, which I guess is also kind of sad, so the songs I‘m into right now aren’t going to be radically new, but here goes.

Duffy - Warwick Ave. Hey, this is new, so I’m down with kids really. Gorgeous song - Okay, it’s new music that sounds like old music, specifically Dusty Springfield. Speaking of whom…

Dusty Springfield - A Brand New Me. Getting Duffy’s platter inspired got me into Dusty again. Had Dusty in Memphis on heavy rotation in the kitchen the last week, but this song is the sound of the summer.

The Skatalites - Twelve Minutes to Go. The ska comes out with the sun. Perfect summer music, perfect writing music (no words to distract you,) perfect driving music - just perfect music.

Wake Up Boo! By the Boo Radleys - also summery perfection - found this CD in a second hand record shop. Used to spend far more time in record shops. I almost used to like record shopping as much as listening to it. See also reading about music.

True Faith - New Order - I feel so extraordinary, Something's got a hold on me/ I get this feeling I'm in motion, a sudden sense of liberty/ I don't care 'cause I'm not there, And I don't care if I'm here tomorrow/ Again and again I've taken too much, Of the things that cost you too much. I used to think that the day would never come, I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun/ My morning sun is the drug that brings me near, To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear/ I used to think that the day would never come, That my life would depend on the morning sun... When I was a very small boy, Very small boys talked to me/ Now that we've grown up together/ They're afraid of what they see/ That's the price that we all pay, When valued destiny comes to nothing/ I can't tell you where we're going, I guess there was just no way of knowing/ I used to think that the day would never come, I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun. My morning sun is the drug that brings me near, To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear. I used to think that the day would never come, That my life would depend on the morning sun…/ I feel so extraordinary, Something's got a hold on me/ I get this feeling I'm in motion, A sudden sense of liberty. /The chances are we've gone too far, You took my time and you took my money/ Now I fear you've left me standing, In a world that's so demanding. I used to think that the day would never come, I'd see delight in the shade of the morning sun / My morning sun is the drug that brings me near, To the childhood I lost, replaced by fear/
I used to think that the day would never come/ That my life would depend on the morning sun... just though I’d get that off my chest.

Dinosaur Jnr. - Freak Scene/ Jesus and Mary Chain - Head On/ The Clash - I Fought the Law - When I was packing to move, I spent a happy afternoon listening to my old vinyl 45’s, and that’s the last time I remember getting really fired up by and passionate about music - loving it like I used to. These 3 song stood out. Rock and indeed Roll.
Rubber Ring - The Smiths. don’t forget the songs that saved your life, and the songs that made you cry/ Cos you’re older now and you’re a clever swine, but they were the only ones that ever stood by you.

Says it all really - I’m off to follow The Beech Boy’s advice, and Add Some Music To My Day. *

*okay, I know that’s 9 songs - I’m over compensating here! And I haven’t even mentioned Let’s Take A Chance by Lisa Richards, which I mention every musical meme.

Watch this film

The Sorcerers is my new favourite film. It’s gothic horror set in swinging London -
a violent sci fi/horror about an old scientist (Boris Karloff) who invents a device that links his will with that of a young hipster (Ian Ogilvy) But as he and his wife (Katherine Lacey) control this actions, and experience what he experiences, they become addicted to the vicarious thrills. It easily transcends it’s exploitative (and to be honest, slightly daft) premise with sheer technical verve and the brilliant way it comments on the voyeuristic nature of cinema.

Director Michael Reeves only ever made one other movie - the equally stunning Witchfinder General - before his early death at the age of just 25. The documentary on the DVD makes mentions him in the same breath as Spielberg and Hitchcock, and they’re valid comparisons. Like both, Reeves was technically brilliant and a great manipulator. Like Hitch he had an ability to comment on human nature, and the nature of cinema, within the constraints of genre.

The comparison with Spielberg only serves to empathise what a tragedy his early death. At a similar stage of his career, Spielberg had made Duel and Sugarland Express - 2 really good little films, but just a taster of what was to come.

the god* ate my blog miss...

Okay, I said I’d blog again 'later in the week' last time, although to be fair in didn’t say which week. I have been finding the old writing hard this year - hard to find the time and motivation, what with the hassle of moving and life and stuff. The funny thing is, I never really lost confidence in my ability, but I went through a period where I began to question why I bother. I wasn’t enjoying the writing as much, I thought I’d rather watch a DVD or read a book, or have a nap.

But I‘m settled in the new flat now, and I’m back, back, back. I’m starting to enjoy the writing again, and that’s the main thing - cos lets face it, if it takes ten years to make it (if you do) then you‘d be a fool to keep doing it if you don’t enjoy it. And at least I kept plugging away at it when I didn’t - I‘ve almost finished the new outline of my next metlab draft now, and I‘m nearly ready to start yer actual writing. And at least it isn’t a page 1 rewrite like the last draft so it should be easier than the last draft (famous last words!)

Catching up on the old blogs it looks like a few of you have been through a rough patch writing wise recently too (and that‘s just the ones that are admitting it.) Everyone goes through it, but it’s how you cope with it that counts - as Churchill said, “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasms.”

Happy writing one and all, and keep on keeping on.


*bizzare typo left in for comic effect

normal service will be resumed shortly...

Hello all!

Been going for the Stuart Perry award for non blogging! Been a bit crazy here - moving into a new flat, and finishing my met lab draft before that. Not got the internet at the new place a the mo, so I'll blog some more later in the week.

Later.

Clarity

(Very) Belated thanks to all who recommended film books - Mr Stack’s being particularly comprehensive. “Adventures in a Screen Trade” and “Easy Riders, Raging Bulls” seemed to be them top picks, and they’re both fine books. I should also recommend Blockbuster by Tom Shone, it’s a great antidote to Biskind’s “Star Wars and Jaws killed real films” argument. After all, you can love the Last Detail, Chinatown and Mean Streets as well as Star Wars, Alien, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Even if you don’t agree with his arguement, it’s a great read.

Talking of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, there’s a nice little featurette on the What Lies Beneath DVD about Robert Zemeckis. Tom Hanks says of Zemeckis - “Bob has a great clarity. He’s great at focusing on the ‘red dot’ of what a scene is about and saying ‘how can we maximise that red dot?”

In one of the Potdoll’s film book recommendations, MacKendrick On Filmaking, Alexander MacKendrick states that “Obsurity is rarely a virtue,” and quotes Truffaut: “To those who question whether clarity is all that important, I can only say that it is the most important quality in the making of a film” Clarity. What’s your script/scene about? And is that clear to the audience?

I keep faith

Billy Bragg has a new record out! Hoorah! Read more here, and Listen here.