Ceara Comeau's Blog: Lessons From A Struggling Writer - Posts Tagged "series"
Lights, Camera... Action!
Movies. TV has always been a big part of my life, I can still remember the educational films that were on TV in the late 90s that have honestly shaped my life and career. As I began writing many of those films drifted away from my memory and my writing career took hold of my mind.
As a writer, I always complained about book-to-film adaptions. The films, more often than not, missed EVERYTHING that the book was trying to portray. There have been very few adaptions that have actually made me think, "Hmm that wasn't bad." For this reason, I often scoffed at the idea of my books being put on "the big screen".
This past year has given me a whole new perspective of the term "direction". With all my events being either canceled or severely postponed, I needed to find a new avenue to go with my books. And let me tell you. I tried everything. I posted more on YouTube, assisted other authors, and even tried posting about my latest writing endeavors, but nothing seemed to be working well. That is…until I had my first event in a year. I was table buddies with a fellow author, Killarney Traynor. And although we didn't put up a "Sold Out" sign, we had a wonderful heart-to-heart conversation--one which may have even changed our lives for the better.
We started to talk about how our lives were changed within the last year and I even mentioned how I was looking for a new avenue for my writing. A few years ago, I even played around with taking one of my old "Amber Oak" mystery stories and turning it into a screenplay. At the time, I was just messing around, didn't take it seriously. But, Killarney heard my ideas and she LOVED them.
Fast forward to the end of the weekend and we decided to start working on films together!
"So, what changed your mind about book-to-film adaptions?"
Well, our conversation did actually. It made me realize that book-to-film adaptions can and SHOULD happen! But, it should be writers themselves who make their books come alive. No, not everything can be put into the film, but the important stuff can! Besides, who better to write a screenplay than the author who pretty much lived it? As I am writing this, I'm already writing my third screenplay and the more I write, the more I learn! My hope through this new adventure is to encourage other writers to expand their horizons. There are so many possibilities out there with writing in fact, they're endless!
As a writer, I always complained about book-to-film adaptions. The films, more often than not, missed EVERYTHING that the book was trying to portray. There have been very few adaptions that have actually made me think, "Hmm that wasn't bad." For this reason, I often scoffed at the idea of my books being put on "the big screen".
This past year has given me a whole new perspective of the term "direction". With all my events being either canceled or severely postponed, I needed to find a new avenue to go with my books. And let me tell you. I tried everything. I posted more on YouTube, assisted other authors, and even tried posting about my latest writing endeavors, but nothing seemed to be working well. That is…until I had my first event in a year. I was table buddies with a fellow author, Killarney Traynor. And although we didn't put up a "Sold Out" sign, we had a wonderful heart-to-heart conversation--one which may have even changed our lives for the better.
We started to talk about how our lives were changed within the last year and I even mentioned how I was looking for a new avenue for my writing. A few years ago, I even played around with taking one of my old "Amber Oak" mystery stories and turning it into a screenplay. At the time, I was just messing around, didn't take it seriously. But, Killarney heard my ideas and she LOVED them.
Fast forward to the end of the weekend and we decided to start working on films together!
"So, what changed your mind about book-to-film adaptions?"
Well, our conversation did actually. It made me realize that book-to-film adaptions can and SHOULD happen! But, it should be writers themselves who make their books come alive. No, not everything can be put into the film, but the important stuff can! Besides, who better to write a screenplay than the author who pretty much lived it? As I am writing this, I'm already writing my third screenplay and the more I write, the more I learn! My hope through this new adventure is to encourage other writers to expand their horizons. There are so many possibilities out there with writing in fact, they're endless!
Balancing Act
June flew by so fast that I honestly didn’t even have time to stop and think about what valuable lesson the month held for me. I guess that’s what happens when you are working on two big projects! Speaking of which, I have some pretty awesome news regarding them.
I’m pleased to report that the third book of my trilogy is halfway finished…well the first draft that is, but hey, it’s progress! And, I’d say that’s pretty good considering the summer film project I’m working on with one of my closest friends, Killarney Traynor.
Along with the title, “Author”, I can now also include on my growing resume: producer, costume designer, assistant director, props, film marketer, and actress. In just a few short weeks, we will start the filming of a summer short series titled, “The Sadie McAllister Files”, the coolest thing about this series is that it’s also in the same genre as my “Amber Oak” series that we are in the process of.
Unlike these summer shorts, we have BIG plans for “Amber Oak”, this coming September is the month where we plan to start getting paperwork together and making Amber official! There is still a lot to be done with it besides the paperwork, but we are continuously moving forward with our artistic goals!
I’m pleased to report that the third book of my trilogy is halfway finished…well the first draft that is, but hey, it’s progress! And, I’d say that’s pretty good considering the summer film project I’m working on with one of my closest friends, Killarney Traynor.
Along with the title, “Author”, I can now also include on my growing resume: producer, costume designer, assistant director, props, film marketer, and actress. In just a few short weeks, we will start the filming of a summer short series titled, “The Sadie McAllister Files”, the coolest thing about this series is that it’s also in the same genre as my “Amber Oak” series that we are in the process of.
Unlike these summer shorts, we have BIG plans for “Amber Oak”, this coming September is the month where we plan to start getting paperwork together and making Amber official! There is still a lot to be done with it besides the paperwork, but we are continuously moving forward with our artistic goals!
Acting Authors
Another month in the books, and what a month it was! I started filming the short YouTube series, “The Sadie McAllister Files” with my Book Sisters Productions partner, Killarney Traynor. It has been a month full of filming, set design, and interviews!
And in the mix of all the excitement and packed schedules, I had some time to sit down with the actresses of this series and talk to them about their characters and life outside of the film. One, in particular, struck a chord with me.
I was speaking with Elsa Kurt, another fellow author. And one question that came up was how she felt acting and writing actually work together. Last month I talked about how writing and filmmaking could go hand in hand, but what about the acting part? Elsa believes that acting and writing help each other out. And I got to thinking about the origins of how I began writing, I remember being thirteen years old and listening to music in my parents' big backyard. I’d find myself jamming out to whatever song I felt fit a scene I was trying to write. The next thing I knew, I would be acting out a character with my “invisible” acting partner (which usually ended up being a tree or an unsuspecting squirrel).
Throughout this month, I have found myself reflecting on that time. And during the moments where I have to actually act in a scene for “The Sadie McAllister Files,” I feel like I’m in my backyard again, but I traded in the squirrels and trees for lights, camera…and of course, people.
And in the mix of all the excitement and packed schedules, I had some time to sit down with the actresses of this series and talk to them about their characters and life outside of the film. One, in particular, struck a chord with me.
I was speaking with Elsa Kurt, another fellow author. And one question that came up was how she felt acting and writing actually work together. Last month I talked about how writing and filmmaking could go hand in hand, but what about the acting part? Elsa believes that acting and writing help each other out. And I got to thinking about the origins of how I began writing, I remember being thirteen years old and listening to music in my parents' big backyard. I’d find myself jamming out to whatever song I felt fit a scene I was trying to write. The next thing I knew, I would be acting out a character with my “invisible” acting partner (which usually ended up being a tree or an unsuspecting squirrel).
Throughout this month, I have found myself reflecting on that time. And during the moments where I have to actually act in a scene for “The Sadie McAllister Files,” I feel like I’m in my backyard again, but I traded in the squirrels and trees for lights, camera…and of course, people.
