A few years ago a friend recommended the book 'The Artists' Way' by Julia Cameron. This friend knew I was struggling with a deep loss of creativity...I was finally feeling the effects of stopping writing, music and filmmaking to follow the almighty dollar (well, Euro actually).
I read the book, and while a lot of it was a bit too 'naval gazing' for me it did start me out on something that I really think has changed my life.
And it relates to the first step of The PRICK Principle - Profundity.
The exercise sounds simple - write 3 pages of a journal a day. This is a completely private journal, not like the public blogs on the net. A place where you just write what you are thinking. It is bloody difficult. 3 pages is a lot. And you do it every day, whether you want to or not, whether you have anything to say or not.
And you know why this is about profundity? After doing these journal entries for a few days or weeks you start to really examine your thoughts and you life. You really get down to the things you feel and see - about your relationships, your art, your work, your friends...you name it. It is very calming, and yet intense.
I've been doing these journals for quite a time - I have a stack in the basement - and I feel that more than anything, this exercise started me on a path of recovery. I've recovered a sense of passion about my creativity. I've finished several scripts, written a filmscore, several articles and actually made 5 short films in the last year.
So - Profundity - seeing below the surface, deeply into things - starts with your life. And a journal, a real, private journal where you are honest with yourself, can take you there. A lot of people can't be honest with themselves, because of the lies they tell and live.
I think you can.
btw - you can pick up the artist's way here: The Artist's Way
Sunday 28 May 2006
Wednesday 24 May 2006
Monday 22 May 2006
In the can!
Pepe Martinez, Martin Nuza, Sabrina Perez Lungen, Passerby, Rebecca Figueras, Adnan Laoudy
It was 4 long days, but we have finished off the prinicple photography for the Inquisition.
(btw - I wrote a blog entry 2 days ago and it seems to have disappeared!).
I think we got some good footage but it is now down to my skills as an editor to pull this thing together.
A word about the cast.
Our two main actors are actually actors! That is a big change.
Sabrina Perez Lungen played Beth. Maybe it is a case of the director fawning over the lead actress but, she was amazing. She brought something to every scene - she thought about her character and how she would be. Zooming in to get the focus on her I couldn't help but be taken by her face - she has a great power and it really comes across.
Pepe Martinez played the priest and also was a real pleasure to work with. Pepe gives great face (as we say) - having him staring into the camera was enough for most takes! I think Pepe has a great spark on camera - with training I think he could be a good film actor.
The rest of the cast were (as they would be the first to say) amateurs, but they did a great job none the less.
Adnan Laoudy was 'The Boy'. Rebecca Figueras was 'Amaranta' - our other witch. And Nicola Howes played 'Amanda' - the little sister. Nicola too approached her character with insight and intelligence.
Martin Nuza - who wrote this thing - also produced. He did a good job of finding us locations and extras.
And now we are done. I have a mountain (ok, 3) of tapes to go through and try and hone out a film.
Wish me luck!
It was 4 long days, but we have finished off the prinicple photography for the Inquisition.
(btw - I wrote a blog entry 2 days ago and it seems to have disappeared!).
I think we got some good footage but it is now down to my skills as an editor to pull this thing together.
A word about the cast.
Our two main actors are actually actors! That is a big change.
Sabrina Perez Lungen played Beth. Maybe it is a case of the director fawning over the lead actress but, she was amazing. She brought something to every scene - she thought about her character and how she would be. Zooming in to get the focus on her I couldn't help but be taken by her face - she has a great power and it really comes across.
Pepe Martinez played the priest and also was a real pleasure to work with. Pepe gives great face (as we say) - having him staring into the camera was enough for most takes! I think Pepe has a great spark on camera - with training I think he could be a good film actor.
The rest of the cast were (as they would be the first to say) amateurs, but they did a great job none the less.
Adnan Laoudy was 'The Boy'. Rebecca Figueras was 'Amaranta' - our other witch. And Nicola Howes played 'Amanda' - the little sister. Nicola too approached her character with insight and intelligence.
Martin Nuza - who wrote this thing - also produced. He did a good job of finding us locations and extras.
And now we are done. I have a mountain (ok, 3) of tapes to go through and try and hone out a film.
Wish me luck!
Wednesday 17 May 2006
No one expects...
Oh it's been a crazy time!
From tomorrow I am directing a short written by a Gibraltarian screenwriter, Martin Nuza. The script is about the Spanish Inquisition and features a host of local talent.
The film is called 'Inquisition' (ooo where do we come up with them!). A directory will be set up soon enough with all the usual goodies - photos, bios, etc etc.
From tomorrow I am directing a short written by a Gibraltarian screenwriter, Martin Nuza. The script is about the Spanish Inquisition and features a host of local talent.
The film is called 'Inquisition' (ooo where do we come up with them!). A directory will be set up soon enough with all the usual goodies - photos, bios, etc etc.
Saturday 6 May 2006
Reiki moments
My wife is heavily into Reiki. She is a Reiki master and practitioner, with a pretty good practice down here in Southern Spain.
So, when we were in Japan it seemed natural, and important, to visit a couple of Reiki sites. One day in Tokyo we went out to the Buddhist cemetery where the man who started Reiki, Usui, is buried. It was a very powerful experience, even for me as someone who knows very little about Reiki. His monument is an impressive obelisk, reminiscent of 2001, A Space Odyssey!
A collection of photos can be found here.
A few days later we popped down to Kyoto (thank you Shinkansen!) and climbed Mount Kurama. Kurama is where Usui had his enlightenment. The mountain, not found in any tour books, is pretty incredible. It is still a Buddhist center, and the entire thing is covered with Temples and Shrines.
Photos from that day are here.
Coincidentally, there was a massive exhibit going on in Tokyo at the National Musuem on relics of Tendai Buddhism, which is the branch that Usui followed. Seeing 800 year old items that belonged to the men who first spread Tendai Buddhism throughout Japan (centered on Mount Hiei) was a once in a lifetime experience and I think it was fated that we were able to see it. What made the day even more special was the (unexpected) generosity of complete strangers – two separate Japanese ladies gave both Marcie and myself tickets to get in to the special exhibit. Completely out of the blue. Quite wonderful.
So, when we were in Japan it seemed natural, and important, to visit a couple of Reiki sites. One day in Tokyo we went out to the Buddhist cemetery where the man who started Reiki, Usui, is buried. It was a very powerful experience, even for me as someone who knows very little about Reiki. His monument is an impressive obelisk, reminiscent of 2001, A Space Odyssey!
A collection of photos can be found here.
A few days later we popped down to Kyoto (thank you Shinkansen!) and climbed Mount Kurama. Kurama is where Usui had his enlightenment. The mountain, not found in any tour books, is pretty incredible. It is still a Buddhist center, and the entire thing is covered with Temples and Shrines.
Photos from that day are here.
Coincidentally, there was a massive exhibit going on in Tokyo at the National Musuem on relics of Tendai Buddhism, which is the branch that Usui followed. Seeing 800 year old items that belonged to the men who first spread Tendai Buddhism throughout Japan (centered on Mount Hiei) was a once in a lifetime experience and I think it was fated that we were able to see it. What made the day even more special was the (unexpected) generosity of complete strangers – two separate Japanese ladies gave both Marcie and myself tickets to get in to the special exhibit. Completely out of the blue. Quite wonderful.
Wednesday 3 May 2006
Tokyo - pt 1
Now that we are back from Japan I can sit down and write some impressions.
First, on one of our first days there we went out to Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park. The Shrine (see the day out in pics here ) is in a beautiful green area. I was warned before going to Tokyo that it was a concrete jungle. I found the opposite - that there were surprisingly large green spaces. Maybe coming from Spain I am used to brown dirt. I don't know. But the shrine is impressive and it was a great introduction to the historical cultural aspects of the city.
We stumbled across an Ayumi Hamasaki concert. I have been a fan of hers for years, but to be honest we couldn't figure out how to buy tickets! Oh well. I have the live concert DVDs.
Around the corner is Yoyogi Park. The park is also huge, but for me the big attraction was the live bands playing.
We caught a set by The Pink Panda. They were snappy uptempo JPop. Which I love. The singer(MaYou) is also terribly cute. Also saw a set by a band who's name is perhaps one of the oddest ever - A.N others after the 20th (click on the 'PC' link). I bought 3 of their singles. I found the music to be almost prog-rock. Very cool.
Across the street we stumbled into Tokyo's Earth Day celebrations. A huge area was covered in stalls selling food, earth friendly products and handing out information. There was also a stage where we caught a few live acts. Much to my disappoint there was very little food that was vegetarian. Since I consider vegetarian/veganism a good thing for the planet it seemed an odd ommision. There was a little woman handing out stuff on being a vegetarian, but that was it. We bumped into a guy (Hi Sanjay!) who was a vegan and kindly set me an email listing the good restaurants in Tokyo.
Also missing from the Earth Day booths was anything about Japan's practice of whaling. Japan consistently uses deceitful and underhanded techniques to ensure its whaling continues. It is one of the few things I hate about Japan.
But I digress.
From there it was down to Chibuya. And then back to the hotel, knackered.
First, on one of our first days there we went out to Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park. The Shrine (see the day out in pics here ) is in a beautiful green area. I was warned before going to Tokyo that it was a concrete jungle. I found the opposite - that there were surprisingly large green spaces. Maybe coming from Spain I am used to brown dirt. I don't know. But the shrine is impressive and it was a great introduction to the historical cultural aspects of the city.
We stumbled across an Ayumi Hamasaki concert. I have been a fan of hers for years, but to be honest we couldn't figure out how to buy tickets! Oh well. I have the live concert DVDs.
Around the corner is Yoyogi Park. The park is also huge, but for me the big attraction was the live bands playing.
We caught a set by The Pink Panda. They were snappy uptempo JPop. Which I love. The singer(MaYou) is also terribly cute. Also saw a set by a band who's name is perhaps one of the oddest ever - A.N others after the 20th (click on the 'PC' link). I bought 3 of their singles. I found the music to be almost prog-rock. Very cool.
Across the street we stumbled into Tokyo's Earth Day celebrations. A huge area was covered in stalls selling food, earth friendly products and handing out information. There was also a stage where we caught a few live acts. Much to my disappoint there was very little food that was vegetarian. Since I consider vegetarian/veganism a good thing for the planet it seemed an odd ommision. There was a little woman handing out stuff on being a vegetarian, but that was it. We bumped into a guy (Hi Sanjay!) who was a vegan and kindly set me an email listing the good restaurants in Tokyo.
Also missing from the Earth Day booths was anything about Japan's practice of whaling. Japan consistently uses deceitful and underhanded techniques to ensure its whaling continues. It is one of the few things I hate about Japan.
But I digress.
From there it was down to Chibuya. And then back to the hotel, knackered.
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