Robb Cadigan's Blog, page 4

FILMMAKER DAN HORNBERGER: CREATIVITY IN WORDS AND PICTURES

I'm lucky to be connected to a vibrant community of creative talents--writers, musicians, artists, filmmakers--from all over the country. One creative I am forever fortunate to know is the documentarian Dan Hornberger.

For nearly a quarter of a century, Dan has been a 12th-grade English teacher in Reading, PA. By all accounts, he is a beloved, respected teacher. His is the class everyone wants to take before they graduate. You know the type.

But there's more: Dan is also a first-rate documentary filmmaker.  Just a few years ago, he started his own film company -- Rockfish Productions -- and began creating an impressive slate of engaging, important films.

Rockfish's first production, RINK RATS, told the story of a now-dormant street hockey rink in Berks County, Pennsylvania.  A rink full of memories and history.  

Dan's next film, TWISTS & TURNS, gave us the tale of an inspiring woman at work in a pretzel shop, trying to survive against a battered business climate and a city in decline.

Dan's current work-in-progress is a film I am particularly excited about: STANDARDIZED is an exposé of the standardized-testing industry and the negative impact it has on our children's education. STANDARDIZED is an important film, into which Dan has poured his heart and soul, not to mention his years of experience in the classroom. The trailer speaks for itself:

A filmmaker and teacher who insists he is always learning, Dan Hornberger stopped by the blog today for this enlightening Q&A about the creative life.

Hey, Dan, so tell us: when did you know you wanted to be a filmmaker? 
A few years ago, I was inspired to begin a small digital video project. That project turned into a two-hour doc that had a very special, localized audience. It made a lot of people very happy. The digital filmmaking bug bit me…bad. 

What creative work most recently inspired you?
Last year’s Academy Award Nominated Live Short Films all provided inspiration. All five of the films include incredibly strong stories, characters, and cinematography. You can download all of them on iTunes for $7.99. It’s a steal.

In moments of self-doubt, how do you push through?
A combination of stubbornness and anger motivates me. I’m so tired of people in authoritative roles making decisions that are not only asinine but also incredibly self-serving.

Have you ever abandoned a creative project?
Abandon is a harsh word. I like to think I simply put them on the backburner. 

Which of your works comes closest to the way you heard/saw it in your head?
The short film I’ll be working on in 2014, tentatively titled The Lane, has been growing in my head for the last two years. I’ve been working on docs the last few years, but I’ve been agonizing over this because it’s going to be very personal and carefully created. It has to look exactly how I envision it. I’ll let you know if I succeed. 

My favorite documentary is …
a toss up among Why We Fight, Inside Job, and, believe it or not, Mad Hot Ballroom. The first two should inspire Americans to maintain strong levels of cynicism and vigilance. The third, a real joy to watch, reinforces the need to keep strong arts/music programs in public schools.

The last movie I saw was …
The Kings of Summer. Three teenage boys run away and live in the woods for a few weeks. While it’s not flawless, it’s a wonderful metaphor for growing up. It succeeds where The Way Way Back fails.

The next film in my Netflix queue is ...
A High Wind in Jamaica. I saw this film when I was a kid and remember being stunned and angered by the ending. I read the novel a few months ago and want to watch the film again.

The next book on my reading pile is …
The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruis Zafon. Earlier this summer, I finished The Angel’s Game, and now I feel the need to finish the trilogy. Beautiful writing.

The book I can’t wait to read again is …
Every year I teach Lord of the Flies, and I never grow tired of re-reading it. William Golding’s near perfect novel reaches deep into the human psyche and throws it all up in our faces. Dark, sad, perhaps even overly pessimistic, the novel reminds us of the need for compassion and decency.

Does The Great American Novel exist (yet)? If so, what is it?
Mark Helprin’s Winter’s Tale could very well be the greatest American novel. However, most people don’t want to put in the time to read all 768 pages. Plus, reading it requires thought. Helprin’s obvious love affair with New York City is reflected in his beautifully composed sentences. It’s one of the books I will revisit for the rest of my life.

What creative work would we be surprised to find on your bookshelf or your TiVo?
Bookshelf: Arkham Asylum, the graphic novel. The most disturbing, artistic “comic book” I’ve ever read. Simply a classic.  While I don’t have TiVo, I never miss two shows, both of which are on BBC America: Dr. Who and Orphan Black.

The movie I really should have seen by now is …
Well, as of last week, I would’ve answered Lawrence of Arabia. But I was able to watch it in its entirety a few nights ago. I’m certainly glad I did. Now, I would answer Food Inc. I just don’t know if I can force myself to watch it. It won’t be a pleasant experience.

The most difficult thing about the life of a creative is …
Juggling family life with a career with creative projects. Often the projects take a backseat.

The remake I would love to direct is …
The Uninvited. The 1944 original, starring Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey, is a great, old ghost story. A film with the same title was made a few years ago; however, the stories were entirely different (and that film was idiotic). I’d like to update the ’44 version, keeping a comparable storyline but using some of the terrific tension builders similar to the techniques employed in The Woman in Black. I must add that Robert McCammon’s Boy’s Life would make a memorable mini-series on HBO, Showtime or AMC. I don’t care who obtains the rights, just PLEASE let me direct it.


My big thanks to the talented and always insightful Dan Hornberger for stopping by the blog. To learn more about Dan's films, visit www.rockfishproductions.com. And if you care about what's happening in our schools, keep your eye out for STANDARDIZED, coming soon.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please check back regularly for more about the creative life. And join my email list to stay up to date on my debut novel, PHOENIXVILLE RISING, coming in October 2013.

IF YOU BUILD IT, WILL THEY COME? (Writer Worries)

Several years ago, I took part in a week-long summer program at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. I still stay in touch with my excellent instructor from that week, Geoffrey Becker (author of HOT SPRINGS and BLACK ELVIS), and some classmates, including Jael McHenry (author of THE KITCHEN DAUGHTER). The workshop was terrific and Iowa lived up to its status as an inspiring haven for writers and readers alike.  Best of all, the work I did in Iowa was a catalyst for my new debut novel, PHOENIXVILLE RISING.

That’s not what I want to talk about.

On my way home from Iowa, I made a side trip to the cornfield that served as the setting for one of my favorite films, FIELD OF DREAMS.  (The movie, of course, was adapted from W.P. Kinsella’s book, SHOELESS JOE, written in part at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. But I digress.).

I loved every minute of the visit. I played a little pick-up baseball on the diamond, watched parents and kids play catch in the outfield, took my turn emerging from the rows of corn like Shoeless Joe Jackson, and sat on those iconic bleachers along the first-base line.  And all the while, that famous line ran through my head: 

“If you build it, they will come.”

Come on, say it with me.  In your best James Earl Jones voice.

“If you build it, they will come.”

It took me years to write PHOENIXVILLE RISING.  Hours and hours at the keyboard, too many drafts to count. Lots of blood, sweat, and tears. I think it shows on the pages. I feel good about the work (well, as good as most writers feel about their own writing). Early reviews are promising.  

So, now that the thing is built, I want to be sure that everyone who cares about it, knows about it.

As you can probably tell, my summer has been devoted to the ins and outs of book marketing.  Not only marketing this one book, but developing a “brand” or “platform” as a writer.  Most of my time in recent years has been spent writing and editing -- now I’m exercising some old marketing muscles that have been dormant for a while.

I’ve been experimenting with different ways to spread the word about PHOENIXVILLE RISING. Some work, some don't, some you can't tell. (That's marketing, folks.) Every day, strangers are signing up for my email list, hundreds of people are visiting my website every week, early readers are finally getting their hands on the book and saying nice things.  

I’m building a platform.  A website, a blog, social media, interviews, public appearances ...

I worry that I’m doing too much, too soon -- over-marketing, coming on too strong.  I don’t want to make people sick of the book, especially before it even comes out.  

And I worry that I’m doing too little, not reaching enough potential readers, getting lost in the cacophony of internet noise and information overload.

These are my concerns.  But there is one worry above all else.  

The worry that still keeps me up some nights, wondering if I’m doing enough, or doing too much:

Now that I’ve built it -- will they come?

We’ll find out.  October 2013.

SETH HARWOOD TALKS WRITING, CREATIVITY, AND THE BEST 5 (OR 6, OR 7) BOSTON CELTICS OF ALL TIME

This guy knows what he’s doing. Seth Harwood has published four crime novels -- YOUNG JUNIUS, THIS IS LIFE, and the bestselling IN BROAD DAYLIGHT and JACK WAKES UP -- that hit you hard and leave you begging for more, even as you’re picking yourself up off the ground.

Armed with an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a fertile imagination jam-packed with kick-ass stories, Seth entered the game running. In 2006, he was the first crime author to serialize his work as a podcast-only novel.  That novel, JACK WAKES UP, and Seth’s engaging podcasting style made for a dynamic duo that was hard to resist.  I discovered Seth through these podcasts and grabbed every bit of his writing I could get my hands on.  

Now we’re in for a treat!  Seth stopped by the blog for a fascinating Q&A about the creative life. A teacher and constant champion of new writers, Seth has given me some great advice and inspiration over the years. The world is changing, kids, and Seth Harwood is a writer leading the way.  

Hey, Seth, thanks for being here.  Can you tell us when you knew you wanted to be a writer? And when did you know you were one?
Looking back now, I can see I’ve always wanted to be a writer. Even before I could scrawl, I would dictate stories to my mother or the babysitter who would write them down in these little construction-paper books that I would illustrate. Later, I wrote in journals, tried to tell serialized stories to my classes, and crafted detailed narratives in my head for hours while I played with action figures of one form or another (He-Man and G.I. Joe were favorites.) 

In my early twenties I was living in New York City. I started to write in earnest. Something told me it was important to do this, that I should do my best to pursue a writing life. That was a pretty crazy period for me, characterized by too much weed and a few other substances. (Read my short stories if you want to know more.) - ROBB'S NOTE: Check out Seth's story collection, A LONG WAY FROM DISNEY  - Through the haze, I stayed committed to writing. The practice has had a lot of ups and downs and still does, but I often allow myself to believe that I’m a writer now.

Believe it or not, it wasn’t getting my MFA from Iowa or publishing my first book that made me feel I was a writer. It was reaching my first audience of strangers through my podcasts. Knowing those people were out there, that they wanted me to write more for them to hear, that’s what made it real.

Who or what inspired you as a child? … as a teenager?
As a child, James Bond, Alfred Hitchcock, Conan Doyle. A teenager, comic books: X-Men, G.I. Joe, Daredevil.  

What creative work most recently inspired you?
DRIVE, both the movie and the book. What a short epic. Also, “Choctaw Bingo” by James McMurtry. 

In moments of self doubt, how do you push through?
Take a walk. Or seriously, these days I just say “f--- it” and go do something else. I’ll get back to the story sooner or later.

Have you ever abandoned a creative project?
Yes. To date I have a few novel or novella projects that are on the shelf. They need to be. Not every idea is going to pan out all the way to the end. Though that’s not to say I won’t hijack a part here or there and recycle it. I’ve done that already, actually. 

My favorite character in fiction is …
Philip Marlowe

The last concert I saw was …
Some classical music out at Tanglewood this summer with my family. We nerded out for a while. 

The next book on my reading pile is …
THE TOWN / PRINCE OF THIEVES by Chuck Hogan, though it’ll probably get kicked aside by THE NEW FATHER, or HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS, HAPPY CHILD. I’m serious.  

The book I can’t wait to read again is …
HOMICIDE by David Simon

Does The Great American Novel exist (yet)? If so, what is it?
It does. Several of them. There will be more, but I’d say the main one I think of is THE GREAT GATSBY, traditionally. Cliché or not. For crime, it’s THE LONG GOODBYE. No question!

More recently, America has changed a great deal, as we know. I’d say the new “Great American Novel” would be something by Richard Price, either CLOCKERS or LUSH LIFE, though those would be less popular picks. 

I was reading recently that the Great American Novel is a song by James McMurtry called “Choctaw Bingo.” Also, in a sense the long-form TV series today operate like our novels, so I’d be comfortable picking "The Wire" or "Breaking Bad." 

What creative work might we be surprised to find on your bookshelf or TiVo?
LETTERS TO A YOUNG POET by Rainer Maria Rilke? It’s a must read for any young creative, I’d say. 

Facebook and Twitter: friend or foe to a creative?
Yes, definitely! Both, alternatively. What a double-edged sword!

In addition to writing, how do you express your creativity?
Hitting a heavy bag. Used to be basketball, but my back has gone to crap. 

The most difficult thing about the life of a creative is …
Keeping any money in the bank.

The all-time starting lineup for the Boston Celtics is …
Bird, Russell, McHale, Reggie Lewis (RIP), Cousy. I’d put KG at the top of the reserves, and Paul Pierce has made a great case for himself to be the two, but I’ll stick with Reggie because people should remember him. I want to say Sherman Douglas should be a reserve point guard, but of course that’s just crazy. This is highly biased to those players I’ve seen, those in my time.  

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How about that? Good stuff, right?  If you haven’t already, go grab some Seth Harwood books today. You can listen to all of Seth's novels as FREE podcasts on sethharwood.com and iTunes. (That's where I first got hooked.) His new novel, IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, is one of my favorite reads of the year. And be sure to check out CrimeWAV.com, a podcast series of free crime stories hosted by Seth himself.  A Boston boy now making his home in San Francisco, Seth is a great guy -- and I'm totally with him on PRINCE OF THIEVES, Chandler, Richard Price, and HOMICIDE. OK, that's it, gotta go listen to some James McMurty right now ...


If you enjoyed this blog post, please check back for more about the creative life.  And join my email list to stay up to date on my debut novel, PHOENIXVILLE RISING, coming in October 2013.

MY FIRST REVIEW (WOW!)

Although my debut novel, PHOENIXVILLE RISING, won't be released until October, I wanted to share my very first review here on the blog.

New York Times bestselling author William Lashner, creator of the Victor Carl series and THE ACCOUNTING, got hold of my novel. Here's what he had to say:

"PHOENIXVILLE RISING is a beautifully written love letter to the American industrial town.  In a novel spanning centuries, and centering on three hard-luck kids, Sketch and Tara and the unforgettable Boo -- clear-eyed and reckless and insanely-loyal Boo -- Robb Cadigan gives us a timeless story of the enduring legacies of love and friendship. Noir and romantic and richly emotional, PHOENIXVILLE RISING is superb."