EYE CANDY : JOHNNY DEPP January 27, 2010

          

 GQ / FEBRUARY 2010  ISSUE :  JOHNNY DEPP 

The sheer pleasure of it. Shirtless? Never shy about that. Tattoos. The days of an arm that read Winona Forever, replaced forever with wino.  Not to mention the countless other eye candy.

Being a stylist, I can’t argue that EDWARD SISSORHANDS, was a stroke of genius. Just think how fast I could be with that get up. People would zip through so fast I could eat a decent lunch. (never happens in reel life) / knee slap. Now, SWEENY TODD : THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET, goes to my days of when I was a barber on the East Side of Chicago. But you didn’t hear that from me.

Brings me to my favorite reel men stories of, DONNIE BRASCO, PUBLIC ENEMIES. My grandmother dated Frankie Capone, Al’s nephew. Think of the colorful history I could have had … Sorry, Poppa. Gram’s father, Irish, put the kibosh on that. He couldn’t blame it on that he didn’t like Italians, Gram’s mother, Italian. 

Even more sublime and theatrical, WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE, BENNY AND JOON, ED WOOD, SLEEPY HOLLOW, FINDING NEVERLAND, CORPSE BRIDE, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, ALICE AND WONDERLAND.

Just sexy, BLOW, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO.

Ultimate sexy, Captain Jack Sparrow, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN:THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL; DEAD MAN’S CHEST; AT WORLD’S END. Saw this for the first time on a cruise ship – Guess which cruise line?

Can’t deny the draw when they stick in a writer, or a rare book dealer, THE NINTH GATE, SECRET WINDOW.

Ultimate favorite, CHOCOLAT. Have seen it enough to recite it. Want to live in the Chocolaterie . Secret indulgence in the night. Makes me feel very French.

Do I  have a crazy fascination? Kinda like posters all over the wall?

All his idiosyncracies, Private Island, crazy death stories, only make me want more. I’ve always loved a Johnny …

The Seven Rays Adaptation – Update January 7, 2010

 

 

 

One thing I can now do well is spell the word adaptation. 

Adaptation: Is the evolutionary process whereby an organism becomes better able to live in its habitat or habitats. 

Adaptation: A composition rewritten into a new form. 

I did write the screenplay.  I wanted to have a feel for looking at someone else’s work and deciding how to interpret it.  I made notes in my book (sorry to deface).  I started back to front.  I found that the small increments of scenes led me to keep it lean.  

Jessica Bendinger is pretty tight and eloquent with her words. Not much that I can do, but show my enthusiasm for her work.  

A magic window opens  when time stands still,  you realize you have honed your passion to coincide with your work,  and all is right with the universe. 

1) Notes /Outline. It’s puked out. 

2) Break it down and explain it. 

3) Go back to it and see if your explanations can change it.  Which will take a little longer than the puke.:)

GRACIOUS ONE:  I hope you have a chance to read this book.  Tell a young man or woman.  Join the contest and give your perspective. 

COMPETITIVE ONE:  I hope to win.  (Or at least place, or have anyone in the biz talk to me, or a nice note)  

You can see that the GRACIOUS ONE is more my style, but I must have a COMPETITIVE ONE in me.  Eh?   

Thank You, Marvin V Acuna.  Thank You, Jessica Bendinger.  Thank You fellow supporters.  Is that what it’s like at an awards ceremony? Eh, THE SEVEN RAYS ?  

http://www.thesevenrays.com

 

THE SEVEN RAYS November 30, 2009

The Seven Rays : a new novel by Jessica Bendinger http://www.thesevenrays.com 

Jessica Bendinger is a screenwriter, director, producer, and author extraordinaire.

Jessica did a study under psychic Sonia Choquette. To say I dreamt of this before I read it is an understatement. I believe in conscious awareness of intuition and have studied it through various sources . And now is the time for it to start becoming mainstream. 

I applaud her courage in crafting such a story that spreads light.  If everyone doesn’t realize what this is, take a gander at the novel. It delves into awareness of what the future holds. You are more than you think you are.

The cover of the book alone is enough to want to display on a shelf.  The depth of the knowledge of psychic intuition is given to us from a beginning awakening of  the characters . Their descriptions and revelations of personal abilities have been executed to the Sevens for these powerful individuals.  The twists and turns of the plot lead into each other as easy as the rays of light, leaves you turning the pages and wondering the outcomes of these young adults.

There is an adaptation contest that runs until Feb.15 2010. Check it out on the website. It has a $20.00 fee.  Small change to be part of such a fresh challenge. I haven’t picked out which scene I want to adapt yet. I may write a whole screenplay and then decide … BRING IT ON! Best of luck to all.

UNBUTTON DOWN THE FRONT November 12, 2009

I go into the room. Told to appease myself until they are ready. Unbutton down the front …

They expect all this from only a drink of water? Good thing this is a low lit doctor’s office. I have to bring an entourage, because I don’t go to the doctor. This little Indian man, really looks like a Medicine Man. Reluctance fading.  

“ I’m here, because I’ve had some allergies.” The doctor bobs his head up and down. “Over the counter doesn’t seem to be doing the trick.” He starts to talk for me. “You’ve had a cough. Un Hugh. Your head is not clear. Oh. Your breathing is a wheeze.”

These words tantalize me. I’m under his spell. “You need way more than over the counter. Inhaler. Nose Spray. Antihistamine. Steroid. Take this at night and this in the morning. Don’t mix it up. You have Asthma and severe Allergies.”  Really? My mother likes to quote that, I wait until the last-minute that I think Jesus will not arrive, and then I seek medical attention.

My entourage leaves to go the waiting room. The doctor and I are face to face. He hands me his card. “I know your history now.” He points to his head. “It’s all taken note of. If these medicines don’t help, we will try other things. Feel free to page me any time. Even in the night. I hope you begin to feel better.” The rush. The urgency. He is in tune with my health. He is a Medicine Man.

I leave, with all the papers in my hand, that lead me to true breathe. I will have to drink a lot of water to take all this stuff …

Even in the night.

I recollected this story back. Here’s what it came out as. “ He says that if my medicine doesn’t work out, that I can page him in the night.” ”Was anyone else in the room when he said this?” “No, but he is just in tune with my health. We were one.” Rolled eyes. ”He’s been our doctor for quite a while. I don’t recall ever being told we can page him in the night.”

Unbutton down the front …Your cough will go away real soon.

CLOSE … BUT NO CIGAR November 8, 2009

All scheduling cleared. Movie companion ready. One theater. Sold Out …

Yep. PRECIOUS. A movie I really want to see and I’m going to it. The ache to watch this is great. 

Late night showing. ”You can’t go see that movie by yourself at night.” Yet, I traveled to other countries by myself long ago. Okay, so I clear it to bring my sis.  “I really don’t want to see that.” Her husband decides to take me. Great, my brother-in-law, just the two of us. ”I’ll go, because Mariah Carey is in it.”

I want to run off into the night. Circumstance tells my brother-in-law “That would be great.” He is a bald, Phillipino man, pure muscle, and about twice my size. Can’t argue that he’s a good candidate to be with.

We drive. He talks the whole time. In real life that never happens. Both way too busy.  The theatre is busy. We park. I follow under his shadow. Almost in.”Do you see that sign?” Never looked up just stayed behind him. “Sold out, after all this?” He turns and we are back out on the street.

My heart drops. I feel like a kid that wakes up to no presents. Deflated intentions.  Then a slow smile spreads across my face. I am damn proud for this movie, PRECIOUS. My step quickens behind him.

All is not lost. Besides, today my mom gave me new shoes, and my sis gave me a gently used purse I admired.  I will try again next week …

November 5, 2009

I CAUGHT A DRAGONFLY November 5, 2009

I never had a thing for bugs. All of a sudden, it’s  like an obsession. I  look at my writing, that includes a lot of these creatures, and I begin to wonder about my desire for them …

He sat right on my garage floor. Magnificent green. His wings fluttered, but he did not move. I grabbed one of the kids buckets. He allowed me to scoop him right up. Good luck?

He made his way into another container. Holes and all. Grass clippings and a piece of zucchini. Some ladybugs. That lasted a day. I asked the kids if they wanted me to build a bigger house or let it go?

They shrugged and said “ A bigger house would be okay” and went about their business. I became consumed with a plan. I got moss, an orchid, and had thought about capturing bugs for it. I gently placed him in something big enough to fly around in. He seemed happy for a short while …

Kids say “Mom, you killed the dragonfly”. Without any feeling to him being dead, just more about pointing out it was my fault …My heart sank. “No, he probably needs some water”. Kids say “ His tail is bent” and carry on their business. My shoulders hang. I put the plants on the laundry windowsill. I can’t get rid of the dragonfly.

Did you ever see the movie FUNNY FARM with Chevy Chase? Madolyn Smith Osborne finds a stuffed squirrel who becomes all of her writing inspiration. Never said I wasn’t an eccentric …

A friend gave me a definition @WizardParadox Dragonfly new light and joy. They have a short life span thus making the most of now is important. It is an air creature symbolic of change in thoughts and finance.

Cool explanation.;)  I will not be happy until the day comes, for a beautiful greenhouse all my own, to let creatures roam …

OWN YOUR THEME October 29, 2009

I think I heard this in the Blake Snyder teleseminar with Marvin Acuna … I wish I had the chance to know him.

It seems that Blake thought he had the FAMILY theme. I would say with the amount of work he did he owned his theme. I think that if you know your theme you can tie different genres to that.

I have to say my theme has got to be TRAGEDY. No matter what genre, I tie TRAGEDY, as my common denominator. I like to think mythical/fantasy is my strongest genre, because it is what I like to study up on.

The personal link for me to TRAGEDY starts with I was born on Pearl Harbor Day (after the fact). My sister was born on Sept.11th(before the fact). My sister now deals with the fact of a child with brain cancer. While this is TRAGIC, I have never seen a more resilient child, NOR one as intelligent. You can see where some might think we relish in the TRAGIC.

I just like to think of it as a place I draw from. I fight it every step of the way, by various means, because I know I am stronger than TRAGEDY …