This week’s lazy Sunday selection …
Art: Sort of – people who didn’t know they were art until it was too late!
Business: 5 Reasons Darth Vader made a great leader
The physics of productivity: Newton’s Laws for getting stuff done
For writers: 10 Blunt Tips from Geoff Dyer – who has to feel like he’s bunking off from something!
Film: Raiders of the Lost Ark sweded – by 11 year olds
The internet of fascinating things to while away your Sunday.
Literature into Film: The Top 10 Shakespeare films
Animals: Sweaters for penguins – gotta love the Penguin Books one!
Creativity: A messy desk is a sign you’ve got it
Trickery: Illusionist fun
Life: The hidden danger of comparing yourself to others
Art: Modern day painted ladies
Game of Thrones: (Spoilers Alert) George’s original plans
Nature into Art: Fantastic Fungi
Star Wars: Snow Sculptures
Travel: The fun side of the London Underground
Perspective: How to destroy your understanding of time
Heroes can come in all shapes and sizes…
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
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 …
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!
If ever there was a must – see music film, this is it. Powerful stuff (that’s just the trailer!)
The next Seasonally Effected session is at Cafe 172 (formerly Dot Cafe) on Wednesday, April 30th from 7pm.
Expect an eclectic mix of poetry, song, storytelling and more – and get there early to bag a seat, because there was barely standing room available last month.
Photo: Nikki Price
A rapper and beat boxer over from Sheppey joined in what was considered the Best SE Ever, particularly with the impromptu group chorus of Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley’s, not Handel’s). And a new genre was born, with Thomas and Umpdeep now much in demand for their combination of spoken word and drum beats.
Slots are fully booked for this month but if you’d like to take part next time, contact Roy Smith via email seasonallyeffected@gmail.com. Podcasts of previous sessions can be found here: http://seasonallyeffected.wordpress.com/
Roy is running a free workshop on Thursday evening, May 1st (7pm, coFWD) for any artists, writers or creatives interested in working on his augmented reality game ‘ The Real Medway & Swale’ – contact him at realmedwayandswale@gmail.com.
Photo: Nikki Price
A new family friendly extravaganza of festivities is taking place on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April, when the area surrounding Sun Pier in Chatham will come alive with arts and culture between 11am and 5pm each day.
Overlooking the pier, Sun Pier House is opening the doors to the new Sun Pier Gallery and Tearoom for the first time. With panoramic river views, it’s set to become a scenic retreat in the busy town centre and will launch with a large exhibition of work by the 15 resident artists: ‘Presenting, Sun Pier House’ will incorporate a variety of art, craft and fashion.
The weekend also witnesses the launch of the first charter boat trips in a generation from the newly refurbished Sun Pier, with the Sailing Barge Edith May and Jetstream Tours providing unique river experiences for all ages. On dry land you’ll find the inaugural Sun Pier Arts Market, a new outdoor market set to take place regularly throughout the year. Stallholders will be offering a variety of work to buy, food to sample, activities to try and classic carnival games for all the family.
The Rats Bay Shindig has been instigated by the managers of new creative venue Sun Pier House, with the intention to bring some much needed life back to the west end of Chatham High Street. Over the course of the two days there is a full spectrum of entertainment on offer, including art workshops, live music performances, river trips, dance classes, exhibitions, history tours, evening functions and a Sunday night cult film screening. It’s a weekend not to be missed!
For enquiries please contact Heather Burgess on 01634 812 805 or heather@sunpierhouse.co.uk
In the past two years, the Medway art scene has seen a massive boom of activity in the west end of Chatham, with Sun Pier House, Printed Wonders, Coalshed Press and the Nucleus Hub all based there. This is set to expand further, with news that Medway Council was successful in its bid for funding from the Coastal Communities Fund. Granted £598,525, the council bid states:
“This project aims to drive the regeneration of Rochester and Chatham High Street by developing business units within existing but currently redundant space around Sun Pier House and The Arches. The area will be provided with incubation space and social enterprise support provision for cultural/creative industries. The project aims to stimulate activity in the creative arts and provide specialist training for the unemployed through an innovative “Art for Work” programme, providing access to employment in this growing business sector.”
For join in a conversation about the fund, search #coastalcommunitiesfund on Twitter.
Jaye Nolan 