Historically speaking If you leave aside plots, the need to pack events into neatly paced blocks of action, continuity issues, language and location, most of the difficulties to do with depictions of historical events are related to how actors do not generally look like their characters. Take for example The Man Who Would Be Bond … Continue reading Shock of the real
Writing
A Bond’s deeds are his word
Never been much of a James Bond fan. I blame the constant repeats over school holidays when the only other choice on TV was football. The villains were melodramatic and their goals so overblown and their henchmen so expendable. If I were a super villain who invested a lot in training my posse at Bad … Continue reading A Bond’s deeds are his word
Friends like these
I've been re-watching Sherlock because what the hey and also summer programming in Australia partly consists of repeating Sherlock and little else new or entertaining. Any who, I realised this program was misnamed. Sure it features the rude, scarfed, and cheekboned Holmes with and without the 'ear hat' but the main thing it is not … Continue reading Friends like these
The Crux of The Crucible
I went to see The Crucible at The Old Vic via CinemaLive at Cinema Nova. This is my second such expedition. I saw Frankenstein with Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch the same way a while ago. This play-as-film but is a play thing works. It doesn't feel too cinematic yet I don't seem to notice … Continue reading The Crux of The Crucible
Book & Movie Relationships
The movie of the book will never be ok for some People will say (whatever) film leaves out plot devices, or characters, or the casting is wrong, or the location isn't correct. While such criticisms may or may not be accurate they do not reflect the essential source of the unease about the movie/book relationship. Our … Continue reading Book & Movie Relationships
Investigating and some nonsense about writing
One of my favourite books is Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco. No. Don't roll your eyes. I geddit. I have to let you know I have a deep and abiding love of The Wind in the Willows and reveal that I did waste a few teen hours in the alien realm of Sweet Valley High and many … Continue reading Investigating and some nonsense about writing
Doctor Who: Concepts for Writers
Writers need to consider specifics in the creation of their narratives. For instance, they need to put a bit of thought into names and plot developments. But apart from this, there are the large concepts that should at least be thought about, if not addressed directly. Some of these concepts are time, emotion, relationships and environment. … Continue reading Doctor Who: Concepts for Writers
One out of Four Aint Bad
A lot has happened for a new year. Three rejections and one acceptance and we're not even half way into January. It's easy to be happy with a submission acceptance. It is, after all, kinda the objective. Right at this moment, it's the best thing in the world to know someone else sees something of … Continue reading One out of Four Aint Bad
Big Bad Truth Tellers
Once upon a time, the villain of the piece was the King of Lies, who would lead the main character astray, away from the truth and light and all good things. Sounds epic, biblical even, doesn't it? Thing is, this has changed. The King of Lies has lost his crown and I'm not sure when exactly. Perhaps … Continue reading Big Bad Truth Tellers
Writing Resolutions
I'm not one for New Year's resolutions. Or New Year. Or resolutions. Not really. But change is order of the day. I guess change is the order of every day in some way. As Boethius and as Christopher Ecclestone says in 24 Hour Party People to Tony Wilson (Steve Coogan): "Inconsistency is my very essence" - says … Continue reading Writing Resolutions