Sunday Slackers

Max has dreamed his whole life of becoming a superhero, but did he realise, that at only six years old, he has done more than he could ever imagine; he has saved a man’s life.

With his mother too busy for him and his father non existent, Max is often left to his own devices, playing on the same estate where he was born.

He’s a curious boy, always looking for an adventure. When he sees a stranger on the roof of a building nearby, he goes to investigate. What happens next is life changing for the both of them.

Super Me is a 10 minute drama which challenges the way in which people view their own lives, by looking at it from the refreshing perspective that is Max. It’s written – and will be directed and edited – by Sophie, who is in her final year at Uni. She told me:

“Yeah, this is my final year and my final film whilst at University. During my time there, I developed a real interest in post production, specifically colour grading. In the summer I did a months placement at ‘The Look’ in London which specialises in grading and finishing for TV, film, adverts and trailers and I learn’t so much. I would love to go back to there, or somewhere like it after University and hopefully pursue a career in colour grading for TV and film.

“Super Me was something I’d been thinking about for a while. I wanted to write something which I felt would show the true value of love and friendship, not just between family, but people who can become your family. I guess years of watching Superhero films made me think about who a real superhero would be, and that’s where the story was born!

Did you always want a career in television and/or film making?

“When I was about 13 I took pottery classes after school. The place where I did this was approached by a TV show called ‘Tricky TV’ and were asked if they had any children interested in taking part in their show, as stooges for a segment called ‘wicked windup’. I along with a few of my friends took part. I remember spending the day with the crew and I just thought, wow, this is an awesome job! From then on I had a focus on working in TV although I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do at the time!”

Is there a film making hero who’s inspired you since?

“I guess there are quite a few, but my favourite probably has to be Zach Braff, possibly better known to most as an actor. As a writer/director I think he is great, across both TV and film. His films always seem to have the right balance of comedy and melancholia, which is so hard to do. His most recent film, Wish I Was Here, was partly funded by a Kickstarter campaign, for which I was a backer, and that inspired me to start my own campaign to make my film, which is going to be my graduate project. I’m currently trying to raise some money to help create the film – this is my Indiegogo page!”

An obvious question, but I’m fascinated to know a film maker’s preference – what’s your favourite film?

“That’s a tricky one! There are so many films I love and it always depends on my mood as to which is my favourite at the time. I guess one I always come back to is Fight Club, although Garden State is up there too!”

Where can we keep up to date with your career as it progresses?

“My most recent works usually appear on my website soon after they are made so this will probably be the best source. I’ll be filming Super Me from the 5th March, for four days, although I still need to cast the actors and confirm locations! I’ll hopefully have it all finished by the end April, when there will be a screening. The film itself will probably be shot in Bournemouth, but I am planning to do the screening in Rochester.”

Thanks for taking time out to tell us all about it, Sophie – we look forward to seeing it!

Images: Copyright Sophie Lasson

Sunday Slackers

February 1, 2015February 2, 2015Leave a comment

The internet of interesting things. Put the kettle on and while away your Sunday …

Animals 1: (video) Everybody’s gone surfin’, surfin’ USA (Uplifting Seal Adventure)

Sculpture: Wooden transformation

For screenwriters: Download 9 Oscar Screenplays

Photography: A gorgeous view of Venice

Adult fun: Who’s with me?

Tech: For lazy people

Family Fun: Hilarious, yet also somehow creepy

Animals 2 (video): Unlikely best friends

Art: Ancient mosaics in Greece

Politics: What it means to ‘Like’ and ‘Share’ Britain First content

Stupidity: A lighter, totally unrelated note to the last link 😉

Extreme Sports (video): Don’t try this at home. I know it’s tempting, since we’re having a little bit of white slushy stuff falling intermittently …

Image: Pixabay

Super Sacre to tackle London to Paris Bike Ride

January 26, 2015January 26, 2015Leave a comment

Medway artist Christopher Sacre is setting out on one of his biggest challenges yet – cycling to Paris from London in aid of the disability arts lead charity Shape Arts.

Having established himself on the arts scene locally, Chris’ big breakthrough came in October 2010, after discovering a happy marriage between condoms and plaster. ‘See what this man gave birth to after using 2000 condoms in 22 days’ is an extraordinary installation of 2000 of his plaster ‘babies’ which form the basis of his project ‘Adoption’. Find out more on his website.

Super-busy work-wise and having begun work on the In-SITE Artist Commission, Chris already has another commission lined for for 2016. He says: “I plan to tackle the 300 mile London to Paris bike ride this April 2015, raising money for Shape Arts, which has played an important role in my development as an artist since 2000. Please dig deep and help me to raise my £1500 target!”

Visit Chris’ Just Giving Page here

Sunday Slackers

January 18, 2015January 18, 2015Leave a comment

The internet of fascinating things to while away your Sunday …

Beginning with Sassy Women Alert, as Tina Fey and Amy Poehler do a Ricky Gervais on an unsuspecting Hollywood (and it’s fab to see George has a sense of humour. No wonder we love him so.)

Literature/Film: With the hype surrounding a certain film due out next month, it seemed a good time to share one of the funniest and wittiest Twitter feeds around – Fifty Sheds of Grey.

Space: The cultural significance of space exploration

Tech?: 21 times people used the internet before it was invented.

Animals: Cats and Dogs trying to decide who’s boss.

Freelancing: Dispelling a few myths about self employed people (such as writers!)

Photography: The simple beauty of children and animals

Music: John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ made into a comic strip

Miscellaneous: Mr Men’s and Little Misses for modern day Britain

Music 2: 7 Elvis tunes borrowed from classical music

For writers: Honesty in Writing and a toolbox of practicality

Fun: 7 people who totally nailed it!

Thoughts for the week – The Final Frontier!

Sunday Slackers

January 11, 2015January 12, 2015Leave a comment

The Internet of Fascinating Things …

Being active online means coming across far too much good stuff than I can personally read during the week or can be shared on my Twitter and Facebook timelines without annoying the hell out of friends and followers. So I’ve decided to collect them all together in one handy blog post that I can enjoy at my leisure, along with the hope that you do too 🙂

Miscellaneous: Bikeshedding and Parkinson’s Law – In thirty odd years of employment, I’ve come across this a lot! I’ve been to meetings where the only decision made was – the date of the next meeting! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson%27s_law

For writers: Two heads are better than one http://www.bang2write.com/2013/06/4-reasons-2-heads-are-better-than-1-by-gareth-meredith.html

Nature: An excerpt from Chasing Ice – the largest ice glacier calving filmed. Awe inspiring and yes, scary. http://uk.businessinsider.com/largest-ice-glacier-calving-filmed-2015-1 and some ice pictures to show up close how beautiful it cab be http://www.boredpanda.com/natural-winter-snow-ice-art/

Music: You know that joke about someone’s singing sounding like cats? http://www.reshareworthy.com/boys-choir-sing-funny-song/#xqUKpalS67mwzoZ5.01

Creativity: Cassy’s 100 ways to get creative. What are you waiting for? http://www.cassyfry.com/2015/01/100-ways-to-get-creative.html/

Humanity: Restore your faith in 4 minutes flat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btiDHCuWyBA

Animals: Literally shaking a tail feather https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bt9xBuGWgw

Festival: The first South Coast Jazz Festival, 23-25^th January, support it if you can. http://www.southcoastjazzfestival.com/

Practical joking: I started laughing at the description, then got mildly hysterical as it went on, which became maniacal cackling. http://www.thepoke.co.uk/2015/01/09/limbo-stick-prank/

Quote of the Week:

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain

Image: Pixabay

He was singing in the street when two random guys walked up and created something utterly epic

May 17, 2014January 20, 2019Leave a comment

This … all kinds of creative going on

Spiritbath

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Creative writing and heroic adventures

October 9, 2013January 20, 2019Leave a comment

The last weekend of the Rochester Literature Festival approaches!

Rochester Literature Festival

We’re halfway through but there’s still lots more to do!

Whether you’re an experienced writer or a fledging, stretching those itchy pen fingers for the first time, we have three opportunities coming up for you to hone your skills and find inspiration from like minded people. You’ll find links to the booking forms highlighted.

Firstly, Write Around Town, led by our friends Barry and Sam of ME4Writers. Join them on a tour of our fair city, and let its stories unlock your creativity with creative writing exercises.

Next, the Potlatch – bring something to the table. Pen(s) and paper are a must, together with your favourite book, or part thereof, that you feel interprets our Other Worlds, Other Voices theme.

Our final workshop is led by Philip Kane. In From Sorcery to Starships, Philip will help us to craft and explore a world of our own creation that can…

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Other Worlds, Other Voices Festival: A summary of events

September 15, 2013January 20, 2019Leave a comment

The full programme for the Rochester Literature Festival ‘Other Worlds, Other Voices’. Individual events can be booked, or a Festival Pass that gets you into everything for less than booking the events individually. Fantastic value, if I say so myself 🙂

Rochester Literature Festival

Three award-winning writers feature in our very first Rochester Literature Festival, an eclectic and imaginative ten-day programme of events inspired by the overarching theme, ‘Other Worlds, Other Voices’. The festival begins on 3rd October to coincide with National Poetry Day and runs to 13th October.

The festival opens with multi-award winning, Guyana-born writer Maggie Harris reading from a selection of her moving, resonant work in celebration of Black History Month in the first of two events in association with Medway Libraries. Maggie Harris is now based in the county of Kent and she has won countless accolades for her work, both at home and abroad. She will also be leading a participatory poetry workshop on Saturday 5th October.

In the evening of 5th October, Rochester-based Sarah Hehir, who won the 2013 BBC Writer’s Prize for her radio play ‘Bang Up’, first broadcast on Radio 4 in August, will attend a…

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