Well, we had the first production meeting on Thursday last week.  Since then, I’ve been in a number of meeting trying to move things forward.  Dylan has been a star and done the first schedule, Simon [2] and Simeon are working their botties off getting the script in a more stable state and Simon [1] is working out budgets.  Then we speak to distributors and investors, actors and actresses.  It’s all go, it really is.

Cough Splutter

You can tell when your run down though, a simple ru of the mill cold is still troubling me after nearly three weeks, I tell you it’s not on.  I’m sure getting home at 3am and being woken up at 7.30am has not helped me too much either. I’ve printed out the latest script and I sit here trying to get myslef writing.  Come on Chalky, get on with it.

Arrrrrr

Laters,

Chalkster

So over the next week or two I’ll know that ‘No Balls’ is a go.  Its an exciting and frustrating time, as funds dry up I’m just about to hit the real deal, it will though be touch and go for me. One of the best feeling though is the sheer amount of people that believe in the project, that beleive in me.I spent yesterday with Sal, a special effects make up artist who is very, very talented.  She is designing the lady suit for the main actor to wear.  The most impressive thing for me is that she has chased me on the project and wants to get involved early on.  It’s fantastic.

It’s Off

It’s around this time that you learn who your friends really are, the ones that stand by you.  It’s a tough time, the stress is almost unbearable at times and I do try to keep myself calm, but it is not always wuite that simple.  As you will know I also had two crashes recently, and I beleived that all the things I wanted to achieve where about to be taken away form me on the verge.  I was withing moments of being killed, but was not.  The car fared well, I fared slightly less well. My back is awful and my ribs hurt.  I’m not trying to get sympathy right now I’m still going to the gym, just being more gentle.I’m still typing, though that make me ache.  But just because I’m arrying on does not mean it does not hurt and it was not scary.  I struggle to believe anybody would be able to think like that.

Keep on Moving

So I just have to work towards the film and hope that it all happens.  I think it will. you?

Laters,

Chalkster

I’m not sure how often we really realise just how fragile our lives are. A couple of weeks ago I had two near death experiances in a car, and that has made me realise just how happy I am to be doing something that I love.

Filming

For The Last Seven  wrapped on Sunday, which felt awful if I’m honest.  It became a real family event, and I know that I will be working with those guys or most of, time and time again.

Laters,

Chalkster

Yesterday I finished the very first Draft on ‘No Balls,  Scrum Like it Hot‘, Which is the first and on one the most vital parts of film making, I’ve put down how I see the film.  It now gets past over to both Simon and Simeon for a magic touch or two, or thousands in fact.  It’s a strange thing coming to the end of the story, it’s very much like finishing a good book that you can’t put down.  You read and read it, then it finishes all to suddenly and you find yourself in morning for the characters that you have got to know so well.  And guys this is it, there will not be a sequel to this film.  that’s it for these people that have been banging around in my head for the last two and a half years.  I’ve allowed them to come to the surface and engage with me, and now they are gone.  A memory, that I look back at.  I’ve grown these people like children, carved out there personalities and now I have to say goodbye.  Of course I will get to play with them again, on the re-writes and when we film, but I cant help but just feel a small sense of loss. I think I’ll miss Izzy the most, she was the one that really took over in my head.

It goes on

I would not want you to think that, that is it, or that I’m this great writer though, I’m not.  There is a necessity to getting it out of my head and in a place where the real talent get get into it.   By putting the story down in it’s most basic format I give the guys a template that I’m happy with for them to really go to town on. It’s about being able to have something that I’m happy with, it’s the story and the way that I think on the page now, which saves many, many re-writes and so, so much time.  It will be interesting to compare the two scripts in a couple of weeks and see just how magnificently they have changed.  I must admit though, last night I felt waves of emotion and was a little bit teary.

Today

I’ll have a little tidy up and make sense of some of the bits that are not quite right.  But by jove people it’s down on paper!

LATERS!  

Chalkster

Then I think I would have really enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes film, though I suspect the man on the street will think it’s fantastic, as only Guy Richie can do fight scenes quite like that.  The most suprising thing for me is that I expected  RDJ to be the better of the two main actors, when in actuality JL fitted the part better, if only Just.  Not time wasted, more time that could have been better spent.  What does me is that you can make such an average film [T.V. film in my view], which will make £200 + million!  Surly this gives us a better lye of the land.

My Head

Is back in the place that it needs to be right now, I’ve battled with a touch of deprsion most of my adult life, and fall quickly into it from the slightest trigger.  I’m lucky that the people around me understand this and can spot it, my brother in particular is very good at realising and getting me out of the house and into a situation that makes me get out of it.  I had a touch the other day [hence the last post, which I dont remember writing], and he came over realising by my voice on the phone that I was in my bad place.  All he did was force me to take my dog for a walk, and what a difference that makes.  No I didn’t get any writing done that day as such, it did put me in a good place to clear 25 pages the next day.  I only wish I could understand why I get like it.  On the bright side, I now know when it’s happening and can help myself out od the deep dark hole that is depression.  It’s not a nice place at all, bizarrely I feel little sympathy for most people that suffer, and baybe that is because they dont want to get out of the whole.

The Script

Is very nearly at the point of it’s first draft, ready to have life breathed into it by both Simon and Sim, it’s looking siprisingly good even if I do say so myself.   I look and it and it feels like there is a journy and a structure, as that the bit that I do, I have to say I’m very, very pleased.  For the moment anyway!

Laters,

Chalkster

And I’m just trying to finish the structure of our feature “No Balls, Scrum Like it Hot“.  It’s nearing the end of my part of the process and I’m raked with self doubt brought on by mind dulling hangover [I really didn’t drink all that much], realisation that this is really going to happen and  that it has to be good.  If it’s not good, then I let everybody down.  Well accept for the people that want me to fail, or that don’t believe I’m capable of making it happen.  Being as pro-active as I am and driving leaves me open to a lot of danger in this field, and it makes it very very hard for me to have moments like this.  As it happens I would have liked to have had the script finished before Christmas and I’m sat here on around fifty pages.  Leaving me around twenty five more to right by the time I go to bed tonight.  I do have most of it in my head, and that is the vital thing,

ORGANIC

It’s also interesting how things change as your writing them, ou get to know the fictional people that you have invented and start building relationships with them in your head.  Some make themselves much more focal and others that you though would be.  It’s a very funny thing, and I can imagine it;s even worse for my two co-writers who now take it over from me, or do so after tonight.  It’s all very weird, and whilst  I worry myself sick about weather it is any good, I know in my heart of hearts that we are onto something just a little bit special.  I wonder if I’ll look back in 2012 and this will all be a very distant memory.  Who knows?  I don’t.

Still I’d better get on with it!

Laters,

Chalkster

Firstly two things that need to be mentioned, first that I’m always shocked when people die young, far too young I noticed on the BBC today that Britney Murphy died Yesterday at the tender age of 32, sometimes life is so much more fragile then we really think.  My thoughts go out to her family and friends.  The second thing is tat I’m reasonably chuffed that Rage Against the Machine got the Christmas Number One, its jsut a shame it was all orchestrated on FaceBook, which takes the punch out of things a little.

Ah, the Rant!

Indeed, as anybody that knows me, knows that I have issues With FaceBook, and how so many people blindly join the site even though there are many, many political and ethical reason for not doing so.  It is however a choice of conscience or lack of.  It’s all about freedom of choice and you can if you wish, give up a good chunk of your human rights and let huge companies and governments monitor  you with far greater ease.  I think it’s foolish and naive, what people are willing to give up for easy communication.  It just shows how lazy people are getting and I do believe that the masses are going to suffer in the long term for their lack of foresight, or just ignorance.

But What Really Bugs Me

Is that I’m loosing touch with friends who only communicate through FaceBook, it’s true.  One argument is that I should forget my principles and ‘Just get on it’ because it is easier for people who blatantly don’t give a fuck about their ethics let alone mine.  I miss out on finding out my friends are getting married, that they have had new born’s; all sorts of things! It’s just so disappointing.  Look, I get that you don’t care [generic], I do, I can even understand the draw of social networking, it allows you to see what everyone is doing, every last move.  It means that you can watch people, it’s like big brother, it’s wrong but I understand it.  Privacy its no longer an issue, I don’t think people want it anymore, people want to be exhibitionists; you want everybody to know what your doing.  You are a STAR, you have you own page a window for everyone to look at [not too difference to my Blog as it happens.  But WHY does everyone want me to give up on my ethics just because they have?  I am not and NEVER will be on FACEBOOK, and I’m really sad that this means that I loose touch with friends as it is now their ONLY way of communicating.  I’m easily contactable, I like to drink coffee and have a chat, Take phone calls… I like to write.

The thing is

I don’t think it’s a fad, I cant see the evil regime disappearing.  I’d just like to go a day in my life when people don’t mention the word, when I was on set there was basically no conversation that happened without somebody mentioning FB.  My picture appears against my will, friends have put my number on the site. NO, NO, NO, go ahead you can be on it, but get it-in your heads - NOT ME.  Yes I’d love to see the photo’s of your kids, email them to me, or show ‘em to me.  Everyone can see them if I put them up; that means you don’t care who, send them to me and I know you have at least made the effort.  And the more people ostracise me for my choice the more resolute I will be.

I got a card

From an actress that I auditioned once, I think she is really rather good, and we stay in touch, when i find the right part for her she will get a very good shout at it.  She sent me a Christmas card this year.  I’ll tell you what, she will be remembered much better for that then a nudge or a poke or whatever you call it.  Making an effort is just, so very important.

This is not an attack on you

Just realise that we can stay in touch  and be the strong friends we always were,just by making the effort we always have.  It actually means sooo much more.  I cant however promise not to tell you “I told you so”, when FB is exposed for what it really is.

Laters,
Chalskter

I’d not really noticed that we are nearing a new decade, and I’m once more thrown into a reflective mood.  Such a lot has happened over the last ten years.  Most notably is that I’ve my own house, a dog and the career that I’ve been longing for is just stuttering into gear.  I’ve some old friends kicking around, but mostly spend time with some tat are perhaps a bit newer, more because of the direction my life has gone in, what I now do is all encompassing, and that tends to bring in people with similar interests and desires.  The nineties was all about music, the noughties slowly became about film.   I’ve reached a pretty high stage of my career in sales, only to feel that it was totally the wrong thing to be doing, leaving me feeling empty and unaccomplished.

 Relationships

I’ve grown to be very good friends with my brother over the last ten years, we were brothers before, now we are best friends, who without I would never be able to be doing this whole film thing. I’ve had some flings, lived with a young lady, split up and been left with the sweetest dog in the world, something that would never have happened on my own, and whilst I write this she is curled up on my lap, helping me feel in a good place.I’ve gone through one of the most stressful job ever, only to give it all up and heap another chunk of stress on myself, all be it self imposed this time.  But most of all I think I’ve grown up, really grown up over the last ten years!

Whats ahead?

Well lots of stress, I’m either going to have a great decade or loose my house.  All the signs look good, we have serious interest in our first feature, I have selected and met a very promising Director of Photography and all being well she will chose to work with us.  There have been almost countless approaches from Producers, and we are looking to start shooting on the first of June in Oxford.  I’ve immense pressure from above to have a script yesterday.  We start location scouting early Jan, and hopefully breaking down the budget…. It’s really bloody exciting.  And trust me if we get this right, it could be huge!

So I’m guessing that this will be the last from me till 2010

So for those of you that read this blog [its ten years old next year!], I guess it a thank you and I hope that you and yours have a brilliant Christmas and that twenty ten [Tenties?] brings you everything that you could wish for and a few nice surprises.  Keep our eyes open for spoilers on ‘No Balls, Scrum Like it Hot‘.

Laters,

ChalkStar

Well, we wrapped up filming The Last Seven yesterday morning at seven in the morning which I suppose fits in nicely.   Bazza found me listed on IMDB the other night too, which has made me really quite chuffed.  I’m just waiting for my other details and credits to update.  I’m also trying to get Chop listed for the people that have worked on it.

SLEEP

I slepped for a good nine hours last night and my back can feel it though I feel the most human that I’ve felt in a very long time; we tend to live of very little sleep wheen we are filming.  It’s been a great experiance and I’m convinced that I and the others that have beleived in me, are on to a real career in film making.  How quickly it all happens? No?

Idiots

I’m always amazed by people that have no idea, over the course of The Last Seven I was plagued by the stupidity of the ‘chinless wonder’.  A mate of one of the producers who was employed to drive.  Now the general rule of low budget film making is that we all chip in outside out remits.   Not him, though he is moving to London to become a film maker.  Actually to him that means extreme inappropriate behavior and facebook usage.  Oh and butting into every important conversation and gumming up the works of anything that he could possible get involved in, like ruining the food preparations/orders.  This came to an utter climax when after five or six pints he drove the rig van across London to drop an aspiring actress off.  One that he would never sleep with.  This left the van miles away from where we left it. Making everybody’s job more difficult the next day.  I for one would question his involment in anything ever again.  Possibly including breathing.

No Notice, No Rent

So Dave did his best to burn bridges when he left, he gave me no notice, no rent and even left rotting food in the fridge.  It all suggest that he is not a very nice person at all, I have to question everything and anything he has ever said or done.  The thought was that we were friends, how deeply mistaken I was.  It’s something I will not forget in a hurry.  Why cross people unnecessarily? The sock cocker!

Getting on with it!

Films GO!

laters,

Chalkster

The American spelling and lack of it [organisation that is].It the steady march to producing my first feature film I’m grabbing any job in the industry that will forward me the opportunity to learn and earn.  Currently I’ve taken on the position of Assistant Producer, for the next for weeks I’ll be working on a reasonably financed film with some interesting cast members.  The script is half decent, and for a change is properly formatted, if the dialog a bit clunky.  It certainly justifies the budget and that is often not the case.

Sad, bad and Glad - Oh and Shite

Or Something like that is the Title of an independent feature financed by screen south.  It is soposed to follow the stories of three siblings in their dysfunctional world.  I went to see a screening in Oxford with the OFVM, I thought it may be interesting to meet the producer and ask some prevalent questions.  As it happens, Si and I sat at the back [second mistake], we could not get out without looking rude, and rude is what I wanted to be.  What a total bag of SHITE, £300,000 of lottery money went on that dirge.  I only found out after the screening that it was a comedy!  How did they spend that much money I ask you.  How do I get my life back, over two hours spent with the film and listening to what now appears to be a monotone useless producer, who had nothing helpful to say. 

Now Don’t Get me Wrong

I’m actually pleased I went, I feel so much better about my projects now.  If that can get made, with some quality actors [who appear to have directed themselves], then I’m pretty certain we have a bright future ahead of ourselves.

Laters,

Chalkster