Feb 07 2010
Twiddling Knobs and Dory Thoughts
Two productions are coming to a head in the next two weeks. Not a feature film you understand, not even a paying job but two local amateur productions.
For the village group the “Luvvies” I am sorting out the sound and lights for them. What a great group of people they are to work with, they enjoy what they are doing and that is infectious in a way that most of the time working with pros is not. I find myself coming away from the rehearsals with a smile on my face and a giggle in my throat. They are not even seasoned am-dram folks just friends having a great deal of fun. The production dates are the 19th and the 20th if you would like to come along and tickets are available from the Mistra here in Evie.
Shameless plug over J
The second production coming up is for the Orkney Drama Festival and again I am twiddling knobs and stuff for the Arts Club third age group. That is a much more serious production and I hope for the sake of all the cast and the director that it does well in the competition.
That lot aside it looks like one, maybe even two of the filming jobs I had planned for the start of this year have been hit by budget cuts. Not sure just yet if that means I have to shave dramatically the shooting costs or if they are going to get canned altogether. I know times are hard for everyone but past downturns have proven again and again that cutting back in promotion is the wrong thing to do. When a recession hits if you stop advertising and letting people know you are still there they will think you have gone under. I have been in this business for over 25 years I have seen it happen before. Never mind it will give me time to work on my wartime DVD series that starts shooting in the summer. The pilot programme out this year and then two more a year until I am either too old or too knackered to carry on filming LOL.
Still looking for good dialogue writers for a radio play I want to produce here. I have found some excellent writers here in Orkney but so far not one who has done or feels like trying a radio play. Subject is anything to do with Orkney past present or future for that matter and to be timed at either 28 or 58 minutes. Do let me know if you feel up to the challenge or know someone who is. If it goes in to production it is a paying gig … You know real money, folding stuff and all at union rates…
One excellent bit of news is that it looks like I have finally sold my boat on the Thames. That means I can buy a small one up here. So if anyone has a small Dory they want rid of let me know please.
Just realised that this blog today has mostly been about work … Maybe I am growing up at last … Na never happen J
I’d love to be able to see the” luvvies” play- sounds like lots of fun for all concerned! Maybe you can put a bit on Youtube?
Look no further than our very oxn dragon lady—”stromness dragon”
I have an idea for a radio play
What do dragons sound like when they are being dragonish?
More seriously, all the best with your projects, amateur and pro and hope you get the dory of your dreams. Would a yole qualify as a dory? I think not but the change might do you good.
That’s a much happier-sounding blog, Mr Islander! Good for you. And you should certainly contact Stromness Dragon for your script. Good luck with the boat.
As soon as the young Dragon popps through my door clutching a script we can cast it, record it, and then broadcast it.
After that we sell it to Radio 4 and then start all over again.
I’ll put it on my list of things to do…..
…which I imagine looks rather like one of those very long scrolls beloved of Town Criers