Rae Roy's Blog, page 42

Theatrical Tuesday – What Genre Do I Write?

[image error]I finally remember what I wanted to post about the other week. And this week’s theme is soul, so it’s the perfect time to discuss this.

For a novelist, genre is of key importance. Indeed, it seems you must choose one main genre such as Romance or Horror and forget about writing a children’s book unless you use a pen name for something else you’d like to do. This limitation harkens back to putting your books on a shelf. It’s all about branding yourself as a novelist.

But I’m a free spirit and I don’t want to write a specific genre.

This is what I love about screen writing. If I feel like writing a horror today and a romantic comedy tomorrow, I can.

Now, I mostly write horror, fantasy, and sci-fi anyway, but every now and then I get an idea for a kid’s TV show, an action movie, a thriller, a sports story, or a historical fiction piece and I want to be able to write it all.

My plays tend to be more dramatic works that have a specific goal beyond entertaining. My movies aim to entertain while subtly saying something about life.

I think the whole idea of being shackled to a specific genre is tragic, though I do understand the why. If Stephen King wrote a normal children’s story, most would have in their mind an idea that it is inappropriate for children. Under a pen name, he’s free to explore that idea, but it would be like a brand new writer on the scene instead of an almost prolific and well-known one.

Today I’m pitching a dramedic TV show about retired life and tomorrow I’m pitching a small creature horror film to local industry experts. I’m nervous and excited about it all. We’re getting closer to the end of the year and my future is still murky though it’s filled with positive potential.

In closing, I write just about every genre and I love it!

And that’s how life’s river flows today.

R~

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Make-It Monday – Exciting Times

[image error]I finished the bulk of my first screenplay this weekend. Unfortunately, it’s falling short of the range of pages it should be in. Fortunately, I have ideas to fix that problem. One idea came from going out to a friend’s photography exhibition on Friday. We talked a bit about my movie and my friends suggested something to add; a pet. I really liked the specific idea they had, but it will also help me make my opening scene better while reinforcing the theme. The other idea came from one of my teachers. I couldn’t see the importance of getting more specific about my one character, but now I see showing more of him will not only give me the pages I need, but I can use his scenes to somewhat mirror what my protagonist is going through and foreshadow things to come. I’m excited to write the next pieces of my feature!

I had a meeting today that might lead to some writing work for me. It was a great meeting and I’m looking forward to the possibility of working with the person. I could tell I would learn a lot from the experience and if it goes well, it could be fruitful for all involved.

I’ve been getting my 10-minute play ready to be read publicly by actors next Monday at the Hot House play reading series! If you’re in the area, please come. It’s $5 to help us fund-raise for our Toronto trip next month, which will likely help us get our careers off to a good start.

When I got home today, it was hard to focus. Hopped up on caffeine and with so much going on, I felt scatterbrained, so I sat down and prioritized my work. I organized my scripts for Hot House. I tweaked both of my pitches and got them ready for the next couple of days where we are pitching to local industry experts. I felt a little better once I got both of those things squared away. Now I must work on memorizing them.

Once I get through this week, I have one major presentation left in April and the rest of my workload looks to be mainly things like a portfolio and resume after our pitching trip in Toronto.

My life has so much good potential right now and good things that are happening that I’m feeling truly blessed. My soul hasn’t felt so peacefully energized in a very long time. It’s fantastic to be chasing my dreams! Actually, I feel like my soul is humming at a frequency it’s never reached before!

And that’s how life’s river flows today.

R~

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Symphonic Saturday – Tune Ups

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There is a lot to check when playing a song.

I think those of us who learned to play music first through sheet music spend more time checking things like tempo, tone (brightly), key, and rhythm.

All musicians will check things like whether or not their instrument is in tune. Some people learn to hear this and don’t need to use electronic tuners.

It’s worth regularly checking my instruments and gear to ensure they’re in good condition and especially with electronics, that they are safe to play. I don’t want to discover that my cable is frayed and I’ve caused myself serious harm.

All this checking seems like a lot of work at first, but in little to no time, it becomes habit.

I meant to post this yesterday, of course, but I was feeling burnt out.

And that’s how life’s river flows today.

R~

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Frisky Friday – A Romantic Checkup

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So, this week, I started a new thing on my blog where all my posts look at the same word from different perspectives. It was check. Today, I’m looking at it from my usual Friday view.

I think it can be helpful to check where you are occasionally in the romantic sense. For example, for me right now, I know that I’m somewhat interested in a couple of men, but we’re all busy people and so if we go out, it’s all very casual. I know I’m graduating soon and don’t really know what happens after that, so I haven’t wanted to get too close to anyone. I’m hoping to stay in Ottawa, but it’s possible I’ll have to consider moving and while long distance could be okay with the right person, I know I can’t currently promise anything and don’t want to unnecessarily hurt anyone.

Do you know what your current wants and needs are?

It’s okay if you’re just looking for a bed buddy, but it can be awfully awkward to suggest it and not come off sounding like a pervert…

If you have a partner, if can be helpful to check how they’re feeling about the relationship once in awhile. Try not to do it too often or you’ll cause problems where there weren’t any, and that is SUPER annoying, but I think a good time would be while you seem to be going through a rough patch. Those happen to the best of couples.

I rather like where I am because right now dating is completely free from expectations. I don’t know if anything will turn into more, but I’m not focused on it. It’s just one part among many other parts of my life. Sure, I’m hoping to find that person that really gets me, but I feel like that might be easier once school is done and I have a more set schedule.

In my youth, I was so focused on things like having a boyfriend and not on just getting to know someone and figuring out if we were meant to be friends or were actually romantically compatible. It was as if having the title of girlfriend was critical to who I was. While it’s certainly nice to be with someone, I’m not focused on labels these days.

Right now is all about light-hearted fun for me and just seeing where things organically lead. I like that we can all just do our stuff and connect when we have time without some idea that we should be seeing each other more than we are as if we should be blindly following some Vice or Cosmo article on the subject. I don’t need to follow what other people think the relationship checkpoints should be.

I’m also not eager to get to the drama that often comes with being with someone. Fights over things like garbage cans, what’s for dinner, or what movie to watch I’m in no rush for. I find people over-complicate so much in dating.

Another important thing to check in with yourself about in regards to relationships and dating are your deal-breakers and warning flags.

Abusiveness is my deal-breaker.

What’s a deal breaker? It’s something you won’t tolerate in your relationship.

I also really don’t enjoy being with someone who doesn’t have their own hobbies. It’s not that we can’t have some of those in common, but I need alone time to write and create things. I need me time to think about how I feel about stuff that probably has nothing to do with them. I’ve had that relationship where we had to be together almost every minute of every day and it’s suffocating. It’s suffocating to the point of filling me with anxiety and making me not want to spend time together at all.

One thing that really annoys me?

Being bossed around. I’m picky about who I let dictate to me. I’m not your child or your property. I’m my own person who has her own wants and needs. I have agency. I’m not the woman who responds well to controlling behaviours. This is a warning flag for me.

We all have warning flags often gotten from past relationships. It’s important to talk about them when they’re triggered, so you can give a new person a chance. Just because someone does one thing like someone who things didn’t work with doesn’t mean they are in any way like that person. Our instincts are trying to save us from harm, but there may be no real base for us to feel that way.

See I think I’ve even over complicated things.

If you like someone, show them. If they do things that upset you, talk to them about it. Otherwise, have fun.

And that’s how life’s river flows today.

R~

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Thoughtful Thursday – Checking Myself

[image error]I have had an amazing week and I’m immensely thankful for so many things!

It’s been such a long time since I truly felt valued between job loss, non-supportive people, and false friends.

This week, I received a letter from school saying I had made the Dean’s Honour List for last semester.

I have some potential job leads too, but that’s not all!

I got a bursary and might be getting another one. My insurance company reimbursed me for a payment. I also got a couple dollars in royalties!

I worked on the set for Blind at 17, a TV movie, last weekend and met some really wonderful people. It was my first time on a set! I briefly got to talk to one of the actors, who I was in a high school production of Jesus Christ Superstar with 21 years ago.

Now, some of this is stuff I’ve worked hard for like the Dean’s List. I’ve worked hard on my projects all year, even during the strike.

I applied for bursaries last semester and was rejected, but this semester they say I’m a candidate for some. I applied again this semester and I don’t know the rhyme or reason of why I was selected, but I’m really thankful because it made it a lot easier to pay for the school trip!

We did a career plan earlier this semester. One of the things on my list was keeping my grades up. Check. I have some other things I’ve been working hard on like getting a part-time job, so I’m hoping something happens there soon, but I’m so thankful things are starting to fall in place a bit as it’s been pretty hard for the last couple of years. Actually, it’s been pretty hard since about 2009.

I’m not going into all that, but suffice it to say that I’ve been waiting a really long time to have a really good week.

And that’s how life’s river flows today!

R~

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Warrior Wednesday – Checks

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Awww, I really thought I had posted this. I guess you’re getting more than one post in quick succession.

One of the things I’ve learned as a martial artist is how to quickly read a situation.

This ability to check over a swath of elements in a heartbeat bleeds into other areas of my life. In the summer, a friend’s bush caught on fire. Before one of the other guests had even finished what she was saying, I leapt up, grabbed my water bottle, and put the fire out. Instantly, I knew there was a fire and I glanced briefly around for anything with water in it. I didn’t think, I just reacted with an appropriate response.

That automatic and appropriate action is something we attempt to train in the dojo. Some people get there slower than others, but most eventually are better than the average person at parsing through a bunch of data and taking action.

On the weekend, I was able to do work I’ve never seen before, in part because of this training. I feel that it helps hone my ability to see opportunities that others overlook.

This ability to check things over quickly is also helping in my writing because I can quickly figure out a problem and connect it to the related pieces.

In many of my kata, there is the time before I draw the sword. I’ve been told we are checking to be sure we need to draw our sword. Symbolically, it’s saying we should never be quick to take a life.

Many people learn to do this while driving. There are constantly possible places cars, bikes, pedestrians, and more could be coming at you from. Most of the time, drivers can know there is someone backing out of a driveway while knowing many other things are going on around them and they’ll only react to something important like a siren or an obstacle like a dead animal.

There are tons of things like this in life. I don’t remember every moment I’ve had to retie my boots in a day. It’s not important now. I learned to tie my shoes before I ever even set foot in a classroom. I learned to read before then as well. My brain has been trained to memorize the steps for many things like driving down a road and tying my shoes. I’d be unable to handle my day if I had to consciously think about those behaviours that I’ve trained to react to without thinking about it. I have too many other things I need to think about that are far more important right now like the best way to write scene headers or the best way to write to someone about a potential job.

I do check a lot of things in martial arts though. Particularly near grading time, I will check things I think I should be doing automatically correct, but may have unknowingly become complacent in like my footwork or whether or not my sword is where it should be. Sometimes it’s really best not to assume that you’re doing anything right at all. I think this speaks to the beginner’s mindset.

This type of checking can extend to almost anything. If you show up to watch a debate firmly entrenched in one side, are you really open to seeing that your view of something may be mistaken? Not likely. There are times I believe it’s best to leave all my preconceived notions at the door and pick up whatever hasn’t been altered on my way out.  It helps me with martial arts and writing. I may need to try it with music in order to reach a new level.

And that’s how life’s river flows today.

R~

Theatrical Tuesday – Checking

[image error]There are a lot of checks that go into making a movie.

There is so much checking actually that each job is often broken down among several people. Assistant Directing, for example, has a First who is on set with the director and they do things like watch how it shows on screen and they also tell everyone over radio to be quiet or that we’re moving on from a scene. The Second one makes call sheets and other paper work. The Third one travels with the actors and relays when they leave or reach a destination.

A lot of people check on the actors from every department. Some check if they’re hungry or thirsty. We checked if they had dry socks, if they needed Hot Paws to warm their hands or feet up, or that they were wearing their clothes properly.

When I wasn’t working in wardrobe, doing things like taking pictures of outfits or making the department binder, which is basically a check list of the items an actor/actress wears on a given day. By day, I mean script day, not necessarily filming day.  In wardrobe, we had the script broken up into days based on what wardrobe they wear. This was for continuity as many times the filming days were quite different. There were scenes all throughout the script that happened at the rapids, for example, and those took place in different parts of the story, but they were all filmed on shooting day one because that’s when the permit was for.

The filming days were broken down into about 10 minute film segments. I think bigger budget films probably do things differently as they take a lot longer to produce. This was a made for TV thriller called Blind at 17. I don’t know when it’s coming out, but I’m going to try to see it because I was involved to a degree and I acted in a musical in high school with one of the main actors.

I saw so many lists this weekend. It was like my old project management life, my new screen writing life, and a dash of my high school life all came together.

My placement hours are done at this point. Another thing off my checklist for the year.

And that’s how life’s river flows today.

R~

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Make-It Monday – Checks and Balances

[image error]I’m sorry I dropped off the blog-o-sphere at the end of last week. I couldn’t think of what to write on Friday and had to go to bed around 8 pm, which is about 4-5 hours too early for me.

Why did I have to go to bed so early?

I had a call time to be on a movie set for 6:00 am, which meant that in order to get there on time, I had to wake up at 4:30 am. I’ve rarely ever been awake for that time. Indeed, I’ve seen it so rarely that it could have been a figment of my imagination the other times.

The set work was very cool and I’ll talk more about it tomorrow. I did get to work with some very awesome people, some of whom were from L. A. Maybe I’ll see them again sometime. I did everything I was assigned and helped out other departments when I wasn’t needed in my own. I worked 13 hours the first day and 7 the second. I was originally supposed to work more, but I was no longer covered for insurance because I got the amount of hours I need to graduate.

I spent a lot of time checking and rechecking my work to be sure I did everything I was supposed to. I really didn’t want to screw up.

Also this weekend, I made my first royalties. How much? Forty-five cents. It’s not much, but it’s in the green instead of the red, so it’s exciting.

Tonight, instead of having class this morning, we had Hot House, which is a play series where actors read our plays. Mine will be later this semester, so all I had to do was be there, which was a great thing after such a busy weekend schedule.

When I got home, there was a check for me. I got a bursary!

I’m in a lot of pain after the weekend, but some things are looking hopeful.

And that’s how life’s river flows today.

R~

 

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Thoughtful Thursday – Making Time for Gratitude

[image error]It can be hard in our busy lives to make time to be grateful. It’s in our best interests to slow down enough to do so because it helps you manage things like stress. And there’s tons to be stressed about in this world all the time.

Today is one of those days where it’s hard for me to feel thankful about anything.

I’m staying home to hopefully get over this cold and not pass it around the class. I was up late last night sneezing and blowing my raw nose. Ever notice how a runny nose starts to feel like lava on your skin? Yeah, that was me last night.

I really want my house to be nice. That’s part of the reason I’ve been painting it and gathering up anything I can sell. Progress on this is going so slowly it’s maddening.

I’m having one of those days. I seriously just wanted to write a letter to a friend with her extremely late Christmas card. Then I barely touch the table I’m writing on and my cup of cranberry juice spills all over me, my beige thin corduroy chair, and the floor. So now I guess I’m off to do laundry.

At least I found my glasses? Because they were hiding on the floor tucked just underneath the skirt of the cover.

Is this the universe telling me to slow down? I mean, I wasn’t doing much already. I was going through my bookshelves and organizing stuff. My next plan was food then working on my feature film.

Should I just go back to bed?

I mean, I can’t really because I need to do laundry now.

So what am I grateful for? At least I have a house even if it’s not what I would like it to be right now.

What are you thankful for today or this week?

And that’s how life’s river flows today.

R~

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Warrior Wednesday – Patience

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It’s a strange time. A time where some of us may be ultra vigilant.

This afternoon, there was a young man on the bus. His clothes were tattered. He was mouthing words to himself, occasionally smiling, other times seeming as if praying, and once in awhile whistling like a bird.

I felt concerned.

I couldn’t help but think, “Is he planning to do something harmful?”

I felt relieved when he got off before the school.

Then I realized it’s so easy to get caught up in our emotions. I mean, I was convinced this dude had a bomb on him or something.

But he didn’t.

There are so many times we can see something and mistake it.

His clothes? Well, he also had a hard hat with him that I didn’t initially notice, so he probably has the kind of job that is hard on clothes. The mouthing to himself? Well, perhaps he was practicing what he was going to say to someone, maybe even a proposal. The smiling? Happy about how his work day went or his evening plans. Praying? Maybe he was just closing his eyes for a moment because he was tired after working all day. And if I could whistle exactly like a song bird, I’d do it often too because it’s pretty damn cool.

One of the things about being a writer is that I need to be able to see multiple sides of people or situations. I also need to be observant. The downside is it can lead me to judge someone.


Another thing I noticed about him? He had kind eyes full of life and happiness. That’s something you don’t see with people who do horrid things generally.


I need to notice things as a martial artist too, but I also need to be able to discern when something requires action. Often that means being cautious, which is something I can’t do if I’m in a hurry. Sometimes speed is important in martial arts, but many times patience is far more important.

It keeps us from making the wrong decisions. If you have to spend a lot of time rationalizing why it’s okay to do something, it’s probably not.

Is there a time you were too quick to judge someone unfairly? How did it turn out for you?

And that’s how life’s river flows today.

R~


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