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BrainStorm

Creating Media of All Kinds

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Coffee Maker at Reel Pride

Another chance to see The Coffee Maker in Winnipeg! TCM will screen at Reel Pride on Sunday November 12 during a Short Film Competition (IMAX, Portage Place, 7 p.m.). My friend Kellie Thomson's film What Will the Neighbours Say is featured as well, so it should be a fun night. I unfortunately won't be able to make it out, but encourage one and all to attend the festival - some great films all weekend!

I'm feverishly editing Rave Review, but will definitely require a sound edit for the final version. I'm very happy with the performances and the cinematography - just trying to nudge it together to flow more naturally than it does in its awkward rough cut state.

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Using It All

One thing I've learned over the past few weeks is that everything I've studied and practised over the last decade (or 3) is still of use to me now in this new setting of television writer and potential showrunner. An actor/director came in to talk to us and when he was talking about understanding actors, I knew what he was talking about because of my experiences as a director. I could picture myself at a casting meeting or writing to a particular actor's Voice.

When we're hammering out story, I know what a beat sheet looks like because of making the equivalent for my novels. Collaborating together with my awesome co-writers, laughing and disagreeing reminds me of creative nights with my writing group in Winnipeg. One of the shows I'm developing takes place on a university campus, so I can use my experiences of working at the U of M for 4 years, and going to grad school for a year, and my 4 lovely years at a small liberal arts college in Ohio.

When I'm looking for a way to say something in fewer words, the practice of crafting poetry comes in handy.

So there you go - I don't need to put anything behind me or wish I'd known I wanted to be a tv writer 5 years ago (because how could I with the television Renaissance just beginning?) I've been on a path that's led me to now, and I get to throw the fruits of all my prior labour into this big screenwriting salad (hmm, metaphor may have gotten away from me there but I'm going to go with it...).

Working hard, and still trying to get Rave Review edited in time to submit to NSI FilmExchange. Upgraded the memory on my Macbook, which has turned frustration with my machine into awe, though I've had to use QuickTime and iMovie to make the rough cut so far as I'm having trouble installing FinalCut - annyoing.

More soon...

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Nuit Blanche

Took a break from work and checked out Nuit Blanche, a groovy all-night art party last Saturday night. Here are some pics: The Fog, Disco Sauna, Dark Pool and Homage to Gay Penguin Marriage.






























It was a chilly rainy night but thousands of people came out to play - cool.


I'm trying to take advantage of any free time to enjoy Toronto, as soon our multiple writing deadlines will put major constraints on that time. I've ordered extra RAM for my computer, which hopefully will arrive in time for me to use this 3-day weekend to work on editing Rave Review. Also on the agenda: finishing season one of Veronica Mars, and season two of Grey's Anatomy. I've saved the last couple of episodes of season two of Battlestar Galactica to watch right before the season premiere. I get cable on Sunday, just in time for that and for baseball playoffs (go Yankees, natch).

Was severely disappointed in the season opener of Lost last night - what the heck was that?