Moving on...

You know what it's like - the net.  It's insidious... before you know it you have way too many 'blogs' and can't find the time to service all of them.  So I'm moving on to just one - my WORDPRESS blog.
http://francesmacaulayforde.wordpress.com
See you there!

The plan...

Hopefully, you and yours have had a lovely holiday

and may I wish you all the best for 2010 too.

Well, although it was very hot (36 deg while we ate a hot turkey dinner on Christmas Day) I've had a lovely break over the festive season from having to earn our rent but also, (most unusually for me) writing. I was just too exhausted to think creatively or even edit!

My Writing plan for the new year is to firstly finish the draft I'm half-way through of my feature 'No Strings' and send it out to my list of six possible producers or directors which I carefully identified last year.

I then plan to focus on another draft of my novel variously titled 'Toy Soldier', 'Competing' or 'Kathy's Clown'. I want an updated draft to send to a manuscript editor and published writer who I hope, will agree to mss edit my book before also(hopefully) sending it out to publishers.

Poetry always sneaks in and keeps the ideas flowing... I'm inspired everyday by people and things around inviting me to word-map them. Often the idea is cohelested in a poem, then expanded into a short story eventually finding its final identity as a script. Not always though - sometimes, the spark works at its best as a poem.

So, a book of poems and short stories may be nice to work on too... I certainly have plenty of book ideas and lots of poems and stories written since "Hidden Capacity ~ a poet's journey" was published in Ireland in 2003.

My very talented daughter Jessica McCallum held her first exhibition at His Majesty's last month and sold all but two of her paintings. I was asked to 'write' to a few of the pieces and also for permission to use those poems which inspired some works. Now, quite a few who attended have asked about a book of the images with the words, so we are seriously considering doing one.

Watch this space.

I'd like to make myself but also invest in short films made by my peers, this year. Just as I did last year, I can only afford small amounts but know when you're making on a zero budget, even $50 is a hugely helpful gift. And there are sooooooooo many talented film-makers out there, trying to get their visions on screen, so if you too, can afford to help even in the smallest way - don't hesitate. Every little bit helps.

Naturally, I'd like to see as many of my scripts being used as possible... and hope, like last year, I continue to get offered contracts to write or adapt books, stories and poems for others.

Visual Poems are also on the cards: I'm currently experimenting with reading and recording my poems which my daughter Jess, will add visuals to... so the collaboration continues. I've uploaded a couple of readings only to You Tube ready to have visuals added. We inspire each other and enjoy creating together - it reminds us of our time at Northern Youth Theatre which resulted in a new production every three months.

Talking of new productions: I now have a beautiful little grandaughter I intend to cuddle lots, who inspires me to write stories and poems for as well - so there's another book project!

And that's my plan so far for the New Year - I'd better get to it!

What's yours? Hope it includes lots of writing - we need writers!

May your Muse amuse you mightily in 2010.

:o))

Exciting News for Arts across the spectrum...

The ABC have launched an ARTS GATEWAY - encompassing multi platforms for multi art forms - even POETRY - such WONDERFUL news.

http://if.com.au/news/article/RKYSMPBNAN.html

Let's hope the Arts Community get behind them and contribute their stories and art - without content, there's no gateway.

Frances Macaulay Forde

http://www.abc.net.au/arts/genre/film.htm

Excellent Blog - David Bordwell

Excellent discussions on film - books etc... he has his finger in the pie.
WARNING: You could get lost in his site with so many good links too!

http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/?p=5822

Have fun!

Frances Macaulay Forde

Another novel to be adapted for Disney

Creative Screenwriting:
Peacocks and AirmenScreenwriter Ann Peacock (Nights in Rodanthe) will adapt Eoin Colfer's novel Airman for Disney and ImageMovers.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010150.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Although I applaud Hollywood looking for new stories and sticking with proven screenwriters, I still fantasize about of one of my 'spec' scripts being snatched by a full-monied studio, from the ether filled with struggling minions who dream big!

Like that 21 year old guy on the Gold Coast who wrote the scenopis for Batman...

Frances Macaulay Forde

"Sabre One" - I've got a modern-day pirate script too!

For all you producers out there: I predict there'll be a rush of modern-day pirate movies in the next couple of years so any Australian Producers, please take note: I've got 'Sabre One' just waiting for the right set of eyes!

Frances Macaulay Forde

Noted from Creative Screenwriting E-bulletin:

Billy Ray Shivers Somali TimbersScreenwriter Billy Ray (State of Play) will write a movie based on real-life captain Richard Phillips, who was rescued from Somali pirates by Navy SEALS.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010307.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

AFC On-line Production Book 2008.

For your interest, this is a catalogue of short films 2008 made published by the Australian Film Commission in which my film "Love You Mum" appears on page 46.

http://www.afc.gov.au/downloads/pubs/shorts08_web.pdf