Month: March 2009
the poet and the filmmaker
Posted by on March 28, 2009
The poet puts his can of beer by the foot of the microphone stand and reads his poems at quick speed.
Later, in question time, when asked why he reads his poems – would he like someone else to read them?
he says: No, it has to be me reading my poems out. I need to hear the sound of my voice.
(He holds a different microphone and has a different beer, now in a bottle)
I sit/lie uncomfortably on a bean bag and pour the last drop of beer into my mouth and listen to him
and think: He demands it is his voice alone that must read his work..
I tiptoe on the line of industry which tends to like the separation of author and speaker and homemade filmmaker who lets herself write, direct and act.
to self: there is something a bit selfish in the idea of only I must read my words, but think of art and music, all the singer songwriters – no one accuses them of being selfish because they sing their own songs.
Or the painter who paints her own painting.
the film industry likes:
The writer (writer’s guild)
The director (director’s guild)
The producer (producer’s alliance)
The actor (actor’s guild)
(looking forward to drawing next one or two without words again – come back tomorrow or monday)
opening the discussion
Posted by on March 26, 2009
but what is a lesbian film?
is it –
The moment of revelation
woman a: I love you
woman b: the feeling is mutual
The narrative drive all built to that moment of release
when, after heterosexual confusion, a woman comes to her senses??
(can it not be more than that?)
OR
The world as seen through the prism of lesbian experience.
- The world as it is – dyke view.
AND do all lesbians see the world the same way?
woman d: are we totally alike?
woman c: i’m not sure
I think we need more lesbian prisms.
But we should train ourselves to be tolerant
of each prism being unique
and hopefully unlike what you expected.
a delicate attempt at blog contention
Posted by on March 18, 2009
First attempt at a blog that is in reference to something someone else wrote – and criticising it
(inner critic): say who it is
(me as little terrified boy) wearing a t-shirt with label – “Newbie to world of critical blogging” – (to self): Do I have to? Ok …ok..
(me outloud): John Patterson (Guardian Film Writer) – sometimes I love his angry comments about inane films and problems with the film industry..
So as a liker of a lot..I also equally don’t like what he said about writers who choose to direct..he doesn’t like it – he comes out with some anti writer/director cliches.
(angry internet aficionado): link link!
(inner critic): yawn, this is quite an over talked about issue in most blogs on film. Go ahead, keep writing your scripts that you want to direct.
Be an auteur – we all know you want to be…it’s fine.
(me) in new t-shirt with label – “Don’t know why I”ve drawn myself like this today!” : OK I won’t say anything.
But was John talking about people who want to write/direct as part of the art (yes I’m using that word) of making film/tv whatever.
Or was John saying it’s an ego thing – separate the person who writes on paper from the person who writes with film.
Oh John, indeed – the idea of the camera stylo, the auteur, the art not always the big business…It can be film industry too…
(inner critic): That’s enough now. Just stop.