Saturday, November 18, 2006

Can't think of a smart all-encompassing title

We nipped over to Sheffield this afternoon (yes, I know, I should move back there, it would reduce my carbon footprint enormously - believe me, it is on the list of possibilities for October '07) to see my bro-in-law Duncan's show at the Site Gallery. A collection of photographs, paintings and videos from his trips to Russia, it is utterly engaging and totally lovely. Unfortunately, today was the last day - I really wanted to spend more time with the videos, and also looking at the masses of tiny pictures, which are both narrative and narrative-less; they are not arranged to tell a story in the conventional sense, i.e. read from left to right to make sense of the images as a story develops, but the human mind is both trained for and longs for a way to make sense of what it sees, so tries to impose a narrative, which at times can work and at other times just doesn't fit. Some blocks of pictures seem to tell a story, others are just tiny yet luscious slices of colour. I have my favourite, then a moment later I have a different favourite, then another ... at least this is an early stage of the project so hopefully I'll get to see the pictures again soon.

I've just been star-gazing out of the loft window - the light pollution isn't too bad here, and it's a nice clear night so I was hoping for a meteor or two, but not a single one in sight. This weekend is Leonid time, and the peak is apparently due at 4am or so on Monday morning although there should be some action a few days either side of the peak. If I haven't seen some by bedtime tomorrow, I may well have to set my alarm for Monday morning.

Is anyone else doing nano? My word count this year is totally embarrassing, and I am ultra-shamed by the news that Susan-Lori Parks has a project called "365" which will come to fruition in 2007. She set herself the task of writing a play a day for a year, hence 365 new plays, and she did it - and these plays will be performed over the next year by all sorts of theatre groups, mainly in the USA but in other places all over the world as well. I'd love to see some. If for no other reason than to kick my backside into "writing every day" gear. I thought of a challenge too - write a short a day, every day, in 2007. It can be a short anything - short film, short story, short play - micro-fiction would count, as would things like "Gone in Sixty Seconds" - anyone want to play?

3 Comments:

Blogger Stacie said...

titles can be over-rated! :-)

6:30 pm  
Blogger Lianne said...

Hmmm, I know my own limitations and I don't think I could do a short every day - well I might, but I probably wouldn't get much else done. But completing one short of any format every week I might manage. I think that would spur me on with other things without taking over.

10:51 am  
Blogger Tim Clague said...

Hadn't heard about this! It will help with our pitch of 365films.com

7:02 pm  

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