Started to write haiku poems

I remember an English teacher, the brilliant Mr Morris introducing us to this form many years ago. Recently, I have become interested in the structure and brevity of the haiku. To write something in three lines with strict restriction on metre is a real challange and a joy to attempt.

My attempts can be seen on the haiku section of my Grail Questing blog.

The point(lessness) of this blog

The fact that I have decided I will not be pursuing a scriptwritng career but choose to walk away from art of all kind to pursue other directions renders this blog pretty much obselete, taking into account how long it has been running and the utter lack of comment that it has attracted, no one will mourn this fact. I do intend to continue writing for my own pleasure, so maybe the blog will just change a little in focus.

So, what else is hype?

Well, in a nutshell most, if not all of it. Referring to a recent post concerning the way the news covered the Swine ‘flu epidemic…remember that? You really need to think about how hyped news is becoming. As Brooker said it is less about facts and more about opinion, but facts are facts (debatable), but who is expressing the opinion?

U.K news, the reality of reality TV

Ok, let’s hope the swine ‘flu doesn’t become a pandemic slaughtering millions, but I bet the news hopes it does, they are beside themselves to inject as much drama and hype into this as possible. Even if the 160 or so deaths in Mexico are as a direct result of ‘flu, it is 160 in a population of 100 000 000. As tragic as each death is on a personal level, statistically you have more chance of winning the lottery this weekend than dying from the ‘flu.

The news, however, wants to engender a state of panic, with their “what if” scenarios and even at this stage the news readers are at a level of hype completely out of proportion to the facts. What happens if this does become more serious? Where do the news readers go from the level of doom they already occupy? Kate Silverton tearing her hair out in clumps live on the 6 0′clock news or some poor reporter blowing his own brains out on a live feed into the studio because it’s all got a bit too much?

Reported on the news today was the number of suspected deaths related to polution levels in London; a few thousand in one year, reported matter-of-factly, no panic, hype or insanity. You do the maths. News should not be about “what ifs” or as Charlie Brooker pointed out, about opinion. It should report facts.

More people die each year putting their socks on in the morning than have so far died from ‘flu, which is why I am typing this barefoot…It’s just too dangerous to even contemplate pulling on a pair.

A great scriptwriting blog…

…and a whole lot more. A real source of information and inspiration and one I am adding to my blogroll.

Click here

Let The Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in)

Well, I have been pretty scathing of everyone’s “favourite”, Slumdog Millionaire, but Let the Right One In, is a film worth going to see. I will, hopefullly, write a more detailed post but for now here are a few reviews I have found online

cinematical.com
twitchfilm.net
chud.com

Beautifully shot with a stark feel to the cold de-saturated colours, this film explores some difficult and disturbing subject matter in a thoughtful way with a sense of understanding and care often lacking in more mainstream films. Horror, yes, but not in a “just for the sake of it” way. Vampirism as metaphor, there are some endearing sensibilities in this charming and thought provoking film.

There were small aspects which did not quite work, or seemed strange additions, but the overall impact was one of an accomplished piece of story telling.

Robin Hood and Merlin

Mythology is more than story. It should entertain but be more than mere entertainment. It is a receptacle of archetypal themes, a deep rooted teaching from which much can be learned. It should be respected and approached with a responsible awareness of the wisdom and symbolism contained within.

Though, natural that it should, to some extent, evolve and be added to by each generation to speak to each generation, the core should be acknowledged and left untouched and unchanged. Those that seek to re-tell these tales should realise that they must only add branches to the tree and not reshape the trunk; even the responsibility of adding new branches, new threads to the tapestry, requires a deep understanding and respect for the inherent wisdom contained within the core mythology.

Both the tales of Merlin and Robin Hood are precious and important mythological cycles linked to these islands and Northern Europe, to mess with them irresponsibly, ignorant of their true meaning is no different to rewriting Australian Aboriginal Dreamtime mythology, or distorting the true messages of any religion.

The BBC has commissioned both Robin Hood and Merlin as prime time series’, written by people wholly unfamiliar and unconcerned with the legacy each represents. Ignorant of their meaning, they have subverted and diminished the mythology and overlaid the usual BBC obsession with political correctness. Rather than add anything of value they have corrupted valuable material. Their Robin Hood is little more than a dreadful pantomime and their Merlin strays so far from true characterisation as to render any true resonance pitiful.

Unconcerned to strive for deeper meaning, sacrificing integrity for bland entertainment, mythology for fabrication, and true story telling for second rate and irresponsible scriptwriting.

Unbelievable!

I am lost for words. How an average film like Slumdog Millionaire can sweep eight Oscars is beyond me. A case of Emporer’s new clothes, perhaps? Whatever, it kind of makes one want to reconsider seeking employment in the field of scriptwriting.

slumdog millionaire

A “feel good” movie…Well, apart from the obvious comment that your first chance of escaping the slums ends with being hung by the arms, beaten senseless and having a car battery clipped to your toes isn’t exactly what I would suggest as a way to make you feel good, there are other things to consider, namely, not why this is seen as a feel good movie but why it is being considered a good movie. All credit to the actors who do a great job and to the scenery which helps the film but the script and the plot are nothing out of the ordinary, nor are they good examples of the genre. The main plot is, ultimately, a tired, two-a-penny love story that has been repeated many times in cinema and has been accomplished with much more affect than in this film. The bad boy brother who finally redeems himself with self sacrifice thrown in, all a bit hackneyed. The final “phone-a-friend” contrivance was so painfully predictable I considered asking the cinema for a refund.

The whole concept that each answer was known by the main character because of experiences in his life was pushed too far to be realistic. Why, for instance, would having a Colt revolver pointed at him by his brother furnish him with the knowledge that Samual Colt was the inventer of the revolver? (They don’t print it on the barrel!) The fact that Samual Colt wasn’t, strictly, the inventor more the man who put the revolver concept into some form of mass production is overlooked. No, I can not understand the hype this film has generated nor the awards it has received.

It is a sad reflection on audience expectations.

Second Comedy detective novel published!