|
Post secondary education involved an attempt at electronics engineering technology until pent up creativity in the lab drove me crazy. I switched to theatre at the University of Ottawa, wanting deperately to be an actor. Non-acceptance as an actor there was frustrating, but life compensated as I was recruited into a professional stunt company. I was the 1st student in the history of the department of theatre to be accepted into the American Musical and Dramatic Academy with a scholarship. I was forced to decline for the cost of the education and lack of financial support. I completed university --and ended career as professional stunt performer-- with a degree in English, too depressed from declining the scholarship and a failed relationship with a student within the department, and a severe dislike for the technical side of theatre. Following the degree I was shown an ad in the TV guide for the Institute of Children's Literature. I thought "What the hell". Midway through the 1st course I bumped into Rob, an equally frustrated filmmaker. We were both working for White Rose (retail chain here in Canada). I showed him the story "Degree of Courage", telling him I wanted to turn it into a movie (a teacher at the institute stated "Basically, you're a visual writer"). He read the story and agreed, as long as he was allowed to direct it. I said, "what the hell," knowing zip about movie production or directing people. But seeing him at work and the effervenscent atmosphere on the set (spare bedroom at my parents's house), I thought, "Wow. I want more, but how?" Frustration, again. Instinct led me to the phone book. I called the number to a local film coop, and joined. Frustration gave way to a new environment. I could write, produce, direct and edit stuff. Woohoo! That lead to making my one and only attempt at a film (as opposed to mini DV and HD movies) "She Shoots, He Scores". It would work its way to 3 festivals one in which it was shown before "Princess Bride". An advanced course in writing was completed through the institute, and a novel "Water Boy and the Prom Queen" was close to being published by a house in New York. The editor noted I would need to tighten the story, but by that time, I preferred the appeal of movies thinking people would rather see a movie than read a book. Rob and I liked "Degree" so much we formed a partnership, and followed it with "Mind Joust" (military and paranormal stuff), released in 2004, and "Silent Touch"(psychic stuff), released in late 2005. Rob was an actor in each movie since "Mind Joust". We share responsibilities for the tech side of things (if you can believe it) being a 2 - person crew. I am the writer, fellow producer, director, editor and fellow special visual effects creator. I am editing our most recent effort, the feature miniDV movie "6 FOR 7" (Military, government and ETs). Again, I wrote, produced, directed, editing, and acting in it, though not stating how many parts. The personal challenges confronted since we started this feature are as long to list as this entry. Suffice to note I am recovering from yet another depression. Being hypersensitive, an empath, and a psychic makes my senses blow everything out of proportion. At least several people agree with what I am seeing of their situation and I am being paid for that view. Oddly enough, keeping a daily journal about what I view as being more than what one person should go through in one lifetime continues to bring comfort, and has done so since 1979. I stopped the journal in August 2006, when "6 FOR 7" was officially a production and professional and personal life was a daily struggle and too chocking to write until June 2008.
I thought life would ease up after joining this site, but no such luck. Seems life is forcing new thresholds. One hit finances less than a year ago, but it pales in comparison to not being with the person whom I feel was like the once in a lifetime relationship, and the main source for 1 poem, 2 arcticles and 2 stories to date and all posted here.
Thank you for reading and I hope to continue contributing.
|
Bookmarks
Share
Save
[