Saturday, August 28, 2004

A long over due update. In which my arm gets a lot better, I attend the blogfather's birthday party, and have some exciting news.

So, first of all, I'd like to say a big thanks for all the good wishes, and offers of cast signing I've received on the comments of my last couple of posts. Fortunately it was a very minor break, and I didn't need a cast. I had to keep it in a sling for a few days, and then use the sling for protection when I was out and about, and it was very very sore, but now I'm basically ok - I've actually just driven to asda and back, although in all honesty, I'm not quite up to driving yet. I reckon by then end of next week I should be ok to drive.

Which would be very helpful as I've got another gig doing a making of documentary - this time it's a film called (for now at least) "the only way out" starring malcolm mcdowell. This should be pretty exciting. It's a four week shoot, and I'm going to be there on the second and fourth weeks, and I'll use the time in between to get started editing the one I did for take 3 girls.

Speaking of which, I saw an early cut of it on thursday, and it's looking pretty good! The central performances are all excellent and it's really, really funny. So fingers crossed for that. The exciting news is as follows, and may, in fact not sound that exciting to anyone else, but for me, it's just about the best news I've had for a long while...

Yesterday I had a really promising meeting with an actor who I want to play the lead in my film. Although nothing's set in because of agents and money and such, he's very keen on the script and it's a part he'd definately like to play. I then spoke to an actress who I really want to play the female lead and she was really excited and I'm going back to london on Monday to meet with her (I got back from a two day stay there yesterday). And earlier yesterday I had a conversation with the guy I want to be the director of photography and he's very up for it. So I basically took a huge leap forward towards getting the movie made in the space of 24 hours. Still a long way to go, but it genuinely seems to be getting there.

And now, as promised to Des a report on A Different Kettle of Fish. On Tuesday last week a night was organised in the Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham to celebrate the birthday of Danger High Postage's own mr Phill "Huxo: The Blogfather" Huxley. Organised mostly by Phill, it was also the djing debut of one of my bestest friends and (in my view) actual musical genius Rich (aka ideosphere). I arrived as things were kicking off, with the mysterious Jersey based dj Phillipe Bergeroo bearing uncanny resemblence to Huxo himself, playing an exciting mix of post-punk and punk funk (including a track by the mighty MC Lars). Not normally my musical cuppa but I really dug it, and it provided an excellent backdrop to the many conversations I had with friends new and old. He was followed by Rich, who pulled off an excellent set despite some incredibly uncooperative equipment. At one point the mixer started switching involuntarily between decks. Not helpful, but despite that the set was ace, and it was the one time during the night when some bonafide customers off the street came in and joined the party, which was otherwise made up of friends, relatives and friends of friends and friends of relatives of the organiser and the dj. Finally a set of punky rocky indie type numbers was played by DJ Jeeva - managed to play an indie pop set without ever playing a record I'd heard before. I am significantly out of touch.

It was also nice to meet people who I've only previously known through the world of blogging - a big hello to Donna, who will shortly find herself in my links!

So I think that's about the size of it. Except to say that Dodgeball, which I only saw because I was killing time as I'd locked myself out of my dad's house (long story) is actually very very funny, and not at all terrible as you might have thought from the marketing material. A stupid comedy yes, but a very knowing one, with some great cameos.

More when it happens! Peace y'all

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

As my bones knit together

I just thought I should post something! Still mending, still feeling a bit uninspired, writing wise... Does everyone know about BBC radio's listen again feature on the internet? It's absolutely marvelous. Check out the comedy and quizes section - many many funny things.

I'm hoping to develop some kind of ability as a blogger sometime soon - in the meantime anyone in Birmingham tomorrow night should come to A Different Kettle of Fish at the Sunflower Lounge on smallbrook queensway and witness (amongst other things) the performance debut of Ideosphere.

Be well and happy folks!

Paul

Saturday, August 14, 2004

Ouch

Ok, so I know I haven't been the most prolific of bloggers in recent weeks, but I'm afraid the slow down looks likely to continue as I have broken my arm. How I hear you ask...

Well, it was either a: whilst heroicly coming to the rescue of a small dog about to be run over, putting all concerns for my own welfare aside or b: falling off my little sister's micro scooter. I'll let you decide...

Anyway, it hurts, and it's poorly timed as it will have a definate impact on my burgeoning career, but I am determined to make the best of it, by getting plenty of much needed rest. It's only a minor fracture and it's apparently quite likely to heal on its own...

With much broken limbed love,

Paul

p.s. Anyone with even a passing interest in cinema should rush out and get hold of a copy of La Nuit Americaine (Day for Night) Truffaut's incredibly beautiful, moving and true to life portrayal of film making...That's enough one handed typing for now!

Friday, August 06, 2004

May I recommend?

As I have no strength of mind left after much watching of footage I thought I'd list a load of random recommendations for entertainment...These are all things I like a lot...

Song:

Ida Red by the Hot Club of Cowtown. Very happyfying texas swing...
She's not there by the Zombies. Ah, hammond organs. How marvelous.

Film:

A Mighty Wind. Very funny.
Everything Kevin Smith's ever put onto DVD with the audio commentary on. Hilarity ensues...

State of mind:

Relentlesly positive in the face of difficulty.

p.s. Could someone tell me how to get more that one post on this page without messing up my template as it is at the moment? If anyone fancies taking on the challenge let me know!



Wednesday, August 04, 2004

Randomcatchingupthoughtshappeningsandexperiences

Once again I feel I have been entirely remiss, blogging-wise. I point to my so-so health and forthcoming huge (albeit incredibly exciting) work load in my defense. I think the fact that I've been pretty wiped out for much of the last week has meant that the ol' brain hasn't been firing on too many cylinders, thus inhibiting good blogging ideas.

I've had some grandfuntimes(tm) since last blogging - the highlight being the trip to Burnham-on-sea that I made with Dave, Graham and Bob (who is a girl, and has no blog, although she should have...) to Des and Laura's in order to surprise Laura on the occasion of the day before her 25th birthday. Des left that back door open and we sneaked in whilst they were out (dealing with this) and leapt out from various parts of the house when they came back. A lovely day was then had, which included a trip to the beach, featuring some aerobie, and some actual swimming in the sea...It's been a long, long, long time since I swam in the sea, and it were grand.

Workwise, I've started ploughing through the 20+ hours of footage I've shot for my documentary on Take 3 Girls (the assembly cut of which is apparently looking great). As I said to my mum earlier today, it's like doing a 10,000 piece jigsaw, which you've got 100,000 pieces for and no picture to work off. Possible, but tough...So reams and reams of notes are being written as I lie on my mattress, which I've dragged down to the sitting room as my housemate is away being thespy in Pembrokeshire. In betweentimes I've been watching making of documentaries on Kevin Smith DVDs and listening to the commentaries on Clerks, Mallrats and Chasing Amy...very entertaining, but it's making me more and more focused on trying to get the picture made.

Fans of Black Country star Carina Round should go here and read Phill's interview with her. Expect more and more links to Phill's articles as he fashions himself as Birmingham's answer to Tony H Wilson...

My heart is filled with wishes of peace and feelings of love for mankind, and an extra dose of these feelings I'd hereby like to offer to all who happen this way...

peaceout.