You may remember a while back I posted some news about a Murky Depths commision. Well here I reveal the commision is for my story Susie Pepper's Teeth. It will be appearing in Issue 15. You may have heard me refer to Susie Pepper's Teeth before as it started life as a short film script, but one that was unfilmable on a normal budget. Hence fitting the comic strip format perfectly.
The adaptation went smoothly, and hopefully in the run up to it appearing I'll be able to post some script samples, and previews of the story.
Make sure you have some money spare in February to purchase your copy.
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Friday, 6 August 2010
Extreme films
A while ago, the beginning of April to be precise, I wrote this blog http://robinbellwriter.blogspot.com/2010/04/good-friday-catch-up.html which informed you my honoured reader about my upcoming blog on extreme films for IN/OUT magazine. Now if you do read my blog there you may have noticed that it never surfaced. That blog was rejected on the grounds that it didn't fit in with the what their perception fo the blog was, and i agree with them, it was a little silly of me to write it, but i got carried away. Luckily i can get carried away on my own blog, so here for your enjoyment is my brief assessment of Extreme Movies.
EXTREME CINEMA- SICK
I have been defeated by a prime example of extreme cinema. You may not have heard the term extreme cinema, I use it to describe something that you wouldn’t usually see and that may have a mental effect, usually with the audience wishing they could un see some of the visual imagery presented to them.
I’m a fan of cinema that pushes boundaries and could list off a fair few. Harmony Korine’s Gummo is a tough watch but I can’t really explain why. Weird would sum it all up. In the horror genre there is often, as there should be, extreme imagery and themes. Recently Pascal Laugier’s Martyrs took me on a journey as it got more and more extreme throughout, a really confronting and challenging film. And there’s always the films of Miike Takashi, his ‘comedy of sorts’ Visitor Q, which mines extreme material and themes throughout, and his more seriously presented violence seen in Ichi the Killer and Audition.
Gaspar Noe’s Irreversible is told in a vertigo inducing manner with its backwards narrative and swirling cameras, but it’s the grubby nightclub violence and extremely long and hard to watch rape scene which lingers in the memory. Rape in cinema has always been a contentious point but when presenting rape I believe it should never be presented in a light hearted manner. Kirby Dick’s documentary This Film Is Not Yet Rated presents the argument that violence is presented in American mainstream movies as having no consequences, action films aimed at a family audience show people getting shot, but no blood, it’s all for fun. Surely this is the wrong way to present something horrific, with showing the consequences being the right and moral thing to do.
It was a documentary which defeated me in its extreme nature. Made again by Kirby Dick, it was called Sick: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist. It is the story of Bob Flanagan who punishes his body that he feels he has no control over because of his cystic fibrosis. The film has scene after scene of sadomasochism, one involving a nail and a sensitive part of the male anatomy, but this isn’t what packs the extreme emotional wallop. We follow Bob right up until his death, up close and personal. The camera actually records his final hours. I found it all too much, which suggests this is an extremely well made film about a man who lived to the extremes, and didn’t just watch them from the safety of his living room. Even that proved too much for me. Watch with caution.
EXTREME CINEMA- SICK
I have been defeated by a prime example of extreme cinema. You may not have heard the term extreme cinema, I use it to describe something that you wouldn’t usually see and that may have a mental effect, usually with the audience wishing they could un see some of the visual imagery presented to them.
I’m a fan of cinema that pushes boundaries and could list off a fair few. Harmony Korine’s Gummo is a tough watch but I can’t really explain why. Weird would sum it all up. In the horror genre there is often, as there should be, extreme imagery and themes. Recently Pascal Laugier’s Martyrs took me on a journey as it got more and more extreme throughout, a really confronting and challenging film. And there’s always the films of Miike Takashi, his ‘comedy of sorts’ Visitor Q, which mines extreme material and themes throughout, and his more seriously presented violence seen in Ichi the Killer and Audition.
Gaspar Noe’s Irreversible is told in a vertigo inducing manner with its backwards narrative and swirling cameras, but it’s the grubby nightclub violence and extremely long and hard to watch rape scene which lingers in the memory. Rape in cinema has always been a contentious point but when presenting rape I believe it should never be presented in a light hearted manner. Kirby Dick’s documentary This Film Is Not Yet Rated presents the argument that violence is presented in American mainstream movies as having no consequences, action films aimed at a family audience show people getting shot, but no blood, it’s all for fun. Surely this is the wrong way to present something horrific, with showing the consequences being the right and moral thing to do.
It was a documentary which defeated me in its extreme nature. Made again by Kirby Dick, it was called Sick: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist. It is the story of Bob Flanagan who punishes his body that he feels he has no control over because of his cystic fibrosis. The film has scene after scene of sadomasochism, one involving a nail and a sensitive part of the male anatomy, but this isn’t what packs the extreme emotional wallop. We follow Bob right up until his death, up close and personal. The camera actually records his final hours. I found it all too much, which suggests this is an extremely well made film about a man who lived to the extremes, and didn’t just watch them from the safety of his living room. Even that proved too much for me. Watch with caution.
Monday, 19 July 2010
The Golden Brad Awards
Hello,
Some good news before i go on holiday for a week. The first round advancements have been made and looks who's in the final 150.
http://moviescriptcontest.com/winners/top150_shorts.html
CLUE: You'll find my name there.
It's shortened to 100 on the 25th July, the day before I get back from holiday.
EXCITED!!!
Some good news before i go on holiday for a week. The first round advancements have been made and looks who's in the final 150.
http://moviescriptcontest.com/winners/top150_shorts.html
CLUE: You'll find my name there.
It's shortened to 100 on the 25th July, the day before I get back from holiday.
EXCITED!!!
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Competition
In a moment of Costa coffee inspired madness i posted up a competition on Twitter. Here's the tweet.
COMP: Favourite Rolling Stones album? if anyone matches my favourite i'll send them a story i wrote about Art Garfunkel
So reply to me on twitter or in the comments here for a chance of winning.
Yes i think i may have gone mental.
In other news there's an interview i did with Spaceships over Deeside on their blog.
www.thereisspaceshipsoverdeeside.blogspot.com
Have a look at that if you are so inclined, and find out about there Herzog/Deneuve EP. I have a spare copy if you want a listen.
COMP: Favourite Rolling Stones album? if anyone matches my favourite i'll send them a story i wrote about Art Garfunkel
So reply to me on twitter or in the comments here for a chance of winning.
Yes i think i may have gone mental.
In other news there's an interview i did with Spaceships over Deeside on their blog.
www.thereisspaceshipsoverdeeside.blogspot.com
Have a look at that if you are so inclined, and find out about there Herzog/Deneuve EP. I have a spare copy if you want a listen.
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
It begins...
I have begun to send out my childrens novel to literary agents. I have chosen a select few from a quite large list and as the title of the blog states, it begins. This is at once, very exciting, and completely nerve shredding.
Also though, this gives me opportunity to pick up something creative as well, as The Lodger article for VWORP VWORP I have that, but also I have picked up my radio script again and am working my way slowly back into that.
Whilst also keeping my fingers crossed for some more comic strips to come off for me, there are plenty of ideas ruminating. Then next is getting some of my films ideas finished.
Lots of finger crossing. But first there's lots of waving as I wave of my first packages of my novel going out to be judged tomorrow.
Also though, this gives me opportunity to pick up something creative as well, as The Lodger article for VWORP VWORP I have that, but also I have picked up my radio script again and am working my way slowly back into that.
Whilst also keeping my fingers crossed for some more comic strips to come off for me, there are plenty of ideas ruminating. Then next is getting some of my films ideas finished.
Lots of finger crossing. But first there's lots of waving as I wave of my first packages of my novel going out to be judged tomorrow.
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Recent Reads
I've recently had a bit of a douglas Coupland binge. First re-reading his first book Generation X. I first read this when i was 16 and didn't get as much out of it as i did this time as i approach my thirties.
Then i read Life After God. This blew me away, one of the greatest books I've ever read, my favourite quotes from this book, coming up over the next few days.
Monday, 28 June 2010
Murky Depths
By the title of this blog you'd assume I'm going to trawl through the darker recesses of my mind. I'm not, fortunately for you. Instead I have exciting news. I have a comic strip appearing in Issue 15 of Murky Depths. I'm not going to say too much just yet because it's not out until Feb 2011, so between then and now I'll drip feed you some info.
Here's the Murky Depths website if you want to have a look
www.murkydepths.com
Here's the Murky Depths website if you want to have a look
www.murkydepths.com
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