| Robert J. Sawyer |
[May. 21st, 2009|10:23 am] |
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Author Robert J. Sawyer's new book Wake is the first of his new WWW trilogy about the World Wide Web coming to consciousness. I had the pleasure of interviewing Rob at his home ( which is stuffed full of most excellent space toys) about his book.
Yesterday it occurred to me that it might be fun to bring Rob into the web in animated form, so here is a 90 second animated sequence of Robert J. Sawyer talking about Wake constructed in one evening using the fantastic animation program Moviestorm
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| (no subject) |
[May. 14th, 2009|05:25 pm] |
I had the great pleasure of interviewing Robert J. Sawyer yesterday at his place in Mississauga, Ontario. First, the man has EVERY space toy I have always wanted. The 3' long "Fireball XL5". The huge and detailed Eagle Transporter from "Space: 1999", and "Thunderbirds" 1, 2 and 3.
He also lives with another writer, his wife the poet Carolyn Clink. Haven't lived with another writer in a decade, but it was a very happy decade...until the end.
Rob is also damn smart. He is one of the most savvy writers I know about both the writing and the business of writing. And he's so well read about so many aspects of science and history and literature. It all shows in his books.
And now Hollywood has come calling. His novel, "Flash Forward" from about ten years ago has been made into a TV series for which ABC has just picked up a 13 episode order. VERY EXCITING!
Happily he has promised NOT to go all Hollywood on us. He is unabashedly Canadian. He is also first and foremost a novelist although he is writing one of the first 13 episodes of his series. And the money? Rob says he's going to use it as a cushion so he can write something which is a bit more of a challenge.
I loved the book! Can't wait for the next one! |
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| State of the Planet Earth |
[Apr. 16th, 2009|11:02 am] |
What DOES this collection of real headlines say about us as a species?
Man allegedly stabs brother over pork and beans (AP)- A sheriff's deputy said a 54-year-old man stabbed his 63-year-old brother during an argument in their kitchen over a can of pork and beans.
Man jailed for urinating on woman during flight (AP) - A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to three weeks in jail for urinating on a 66-year-old woman during a Continental Airlines flight last month from Los Angeles to Honolulu.
Wis. nurse called out of surgery and laid off (AP) - A nurse was called out of surgery so a manager could tell her she was being laid off.
Police say 'doc' used vet gear to perform implants (AP)- A Spanish man accused of using veterinary equipment to perform cosmetic surgery is in the doghouse.
All those wishing to board my spaceship OFF Planet Earth, please line-up three-by-three. |
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| Greedlancer Standing On Guard for Thee! |
[Apr. 14th, 2009|02:44 am] |
It's quarter to three. There's no one in the place except...whoops..wrong song.
I'm up late (I'm a morning person by nature...yes, we are an obnoxious bunch) because I'm working on a bid for a contract for the Canadian Department of National Defense.
( Read more... ) |
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| Shopping for Jesus...or Can I have a Dead God on a Stick to go please? |
[Apr. 2nd, 2009|07:57 pm] |
Why is it when you don't want something, you see them everywhere, but when you need something, it's not anywhere?
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) intenselaura and I went looking for a bunch of props for "The Dark Show". We have a scene with a priest and we wanted a nice crucifix for his office. Okay, to tell the truth I wanted a really awful, gaudy, tacky crucifix for his office. I've seen them all sorts of places.
BUT
After a half dozen different used good stores, including some owned by prominent religious groups (you know who you are Sally Ann!) we came up with exactly one cross of any sort. It wasn't large. It wasn't gaudy. It was awful and tacky, but it wasn't a crucifix since the cross was empty, save for an Aryan child praying on it. It will have to do.
I know that Monday, when the shooting weekend is over, EVERYWHERE I go I will see awful, gaudy, tacky crucifixes (crucifixi?) which would have been perfectly lovely for my perfectly horrible "Dark Show".
Pray for me! or maybe that should be prey...for ME! |
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| The Dark Show Shoot...again |
[Apr. 2nd, 2009|10:12 am] |
This weekend I am directing a big shoot for an Internet-distributed series called "The Dark Show". Basically the seven 15 minute episodes are the result of two sick minds who have written a lot of sketches which were, to use a bad pun, just too sketchy for normal shows.
Friday, I am dragging my 81 year old mother out of her house and dropping her off at my brother's house north of Toronto for the weekend. And then we begin.
I have about 30 scenes on our two day shooting schedule. Most are very quick ones without much dialogue. A couple involve some nice lighting effects. One has a knife and blood. And I'm trying to work in as much nudity as possible! EVIL GRIN
intenselaura has been doing a fantastic job on the organizational side. We have lots of actors to co-ordinate, rides, food, accommodation (okay, a bed at Mom's or a spot to put an air-mattress) and much more.
This afternoon we are going on a prop-buying spree at Value Village, the Goodwill stores etc. A crucifix, a priest's collar, a plastic table cloth (so my mother's table doesn't get ruined with fake blood), a couple of shirts for an actor to be stabbed in (hence the blood), T-shirts for the proud grand-parents of a dead baby, you know, the usual stuff...okay, the usual stuff if what you are shooting is called "The Dark Show"... |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 26th, 2009|04:49 pm] |
Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Craigville— mighty Canada Post has struck out. |
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| Boston looking doubtful |
[Mar. 25th, 2009|04:25 pm] |
intenselaura and I have been looking forward to going to majes party, but it may not happen now. Life as a freelancer means one is constantly at the mercy of clients, and worse, their accounting departments.
FINGERS CROSSED for tomorrow's Canada Post delivery. |
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| On not talking... |
[Feb. 25th, 2009|07:50 am] |
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Not talking is preferable to talking while consumed by fury. |
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| Arisia |
[Jan. 15th, 2009|12:21 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | Anticipatory | ] |
Off tomorrow morning to our third Arisa science-fiction convention in Cambridge, Mass. While it doesn't have super high-profile TV guests, it does have a fantastic core group of highly intelligent fans. Laura, with the help of Xtina, has already gone through the program mapping out her weekend. I prefer sitting on my nice, tall, comfy Hyatt bed and going through everything Friday afternoon and evening. I do know I want to see the R-rated "Buffy". The woman who did "Buffy" last year at the sing-along is REALLY hot, so I'd hate to miss her. EVIL GRIN
Mostly I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of very cool people I mostly know from LJ.
I think we are in room 637, so if you are passing by, do (as the English say) knock us up. See you there! |
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| Mea Culpa Claus |
[Dec. 2nd, 2008|08:18 pm] |
 Dear Santa...
Dear Santa,
This year I've been busy!
In March I put gum in seasleepy's hair (-12 points). Last Tuesday I had a shoot-out with rival gang lords on the 5 near LA (-76 points). Last Thursday I bought porn for starandrea (-10 points). Last month I pulled jasra's hair (-5 points). Last Sunday I ruled Canada as a cruel and heartless dictator (-700 points).
Overall, I've been naughty (-803 points). For Christmas I deserve a spanking!
Sincerely,
staircasewriter |
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| But Hitchcock never did this... |
[Nov. 24th, 2008|09:38 am] |
Day one of directing "The Dark Show".
("The Dark Show" is a massive project, roughly the size of shooting a feature film. When it is complete it will be seven webisodes of fifteen minutes each. Each episode has a theme and lots of short, edgy and, yes, dark sketches. How many? There are 287 named characters. There are over 80 locations. It is a big project. Happily it is also a project which can be shot in little chunks of one or two sketches per shooting session.)
Saturday night one of our actors calls "The Dark Show" producer Crystal to say he has a plumbing crisis (not a metaphor for some bowel trouble but an actual plumbing problem). He can't make it. Crystal has already told the back-up actor earlier in the day that he won't be needed, so he made other plans. Her best attempts to get him to come fail. Which is astounding because Crystal is very cute and very persuasive.
So we have no actor to play this role.
Uh....role in the loosest sense.
Left with no other alternative, I take one for the team and the part.
"Hitchcock used to have cameo's in his films too..." I tell myself.
It doesn't help.
So Day one of my directing of "The Dark Show" I spent two hours, wearing only gray briefs and socks, on my hands and knees, with a lace doilie draped over me and a compete tea service on my back, as a human table.
Ah, the glory of show business.
Fuck you Hitchcock! |
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| To all my American friends |
[Nov. 5th, 2008|08:40 am] |
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
It is good to have you back.
We've missed you, dammit!
Love and hugs,
C...for Craig or Canada... |
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| Landmark |
[Nov. 3rd, 2008|06:29 pm] |
I have been married twice.
I have also been divorced twice.
Relationships are just damned difficult.
So when I see one which seems to be a good partnership between two extraordinary people, I think it is due some applause.
Therefore: hanrow and seasleepy here's to you! One year of many, many to follow! I wish you much luck...er, joy....er,...happin...ah, hell, it would just be really nice if SOMEONE I knew stayed together for a while!
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| Canadian Election |
[Oct. 14th, 2008|11:01 pm] |
As of writing (11PM) it appears the Conservative Party under Stephen Harper have been re=elected. Happily, from my stand-point, it is another minority. This means he'll either have to be even more ruthless to keep the lunatics in his party silent for another year or so, or he'll have to go.
Harper has now failed to win a majority in three successive elections. The PMO has been ruthless at keeping the message focused on Der Leader. Okay, Canadians saw Stephen Harper and they STILL don't like him. There is a better than even chance that he's out as leader. I don't see anyone as right wing AND as chillingly intelligent to succeed him.
Dion should be done. He reminds everyone I know of their first year economics professor. A nice guy, yes. A leader, ah, not really. The campaign was a disorganized mess. I'm calling this job Iggy's to lose. Bob Rae. Bright. Intelligent and totally unelectable in Ontario. My personal favourite for the job would be former Ontario Education Minister Gerard Kennedy. Have you been practicing your French young man?
Jack...ah Jack. Thanks for playing. We have some lovely Lee Press-on nails as a parting gift. Buh-bye. Jack's biggest problem is Jack's ego which pops out at inopportune times and makes him just look like a strident, shrill bully. Sorry Jack. I had great hopes for you. Chow...sorry, couldn't resist!
Elizabeth May should probably stay another round as Green Party leader. Her party had their platform stolen by the Liberals, then tossed on an economic tempest the likes of which haven't been seen since the Great Depression. When the economy tanks, EVERYTHING else takes a back seat including the environment. I don't like it any more than she does, but that too is reality. Have you thought be becoming a liberal Liz? There's going to be an opening at Stornaway soon.
And Mr Duceppe is bored, bored, bored by Ottawa. And who wouldn't be? He's done his time. By my calculations he could have shot and wounded half a dozen people in a drive-by, pleaded not guilty, served his term and been on parole by this time. Life in Ottawa is a contradiction in fixed terms!
I'm not thrilled by the outcome of this election, but I can sleep tonight knowing the Canada I believe in is safe from the unchecked ravages of a Straussian Idealogue who would trample on civil liberties to further his extreme agenda. |
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| It's the STUPID, economy! |
[Oct. 7th, 2008|12:26 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  cynical | ] |
The advantage to being a poor starving writer is that I really don't have much to lose as the economy melts down. I simply think of this as the rest of society coming down to my level.
The thing is...all this economics stuff is just made up.
No, really. The so-called economy is no more real than any improv scene.
For an improv scene to work, everyone must agree on same basic elements. Ditto economics.
The more invested everyone is in keeping the reality going, the stronger it becomes. Ditto economics.
If something happens to break the reality, the entire scene is in jeopardy. Ditto economics.
I could go on, but you get the idea.
Willing suspension of disbelief keep both improv scenes and the economy rolling.
Ridiculous? Let's take a fundamental part of the economic system. GOLD.
Gold is a pretty. It is shiny, a good conductor of electricity and half the title of a pretty good Austin Powers film. Otherwise, the stuff is useless for construction, energy production or even as a tasty side dish for chicken. It isn't even particularly scarce. Yet, we all BELIEVE it has value, so it has value.
The problem is, that for many people, the willing suspension of disbelief has morphed into a fanatical belief in what amounts to a collective delusion.
Step One to curing the financial crisis, admit to ourselves that, unlike Gravity, Thermodynamics and Nude Twister, there are no absolute immutable LAWS of Economics. Humans created this system. We can fix this system. We just need collective belief.
Clap if you believe in the economy! |
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| Five authors divided by three days equal one insane interviewer |
[Oct. 2nd, 2008|10:13 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  tired | ] |
I'm wiped!
I interviewed five fantastic authors in three days.
Joan Barfoot "Exit Lines" Set in a retirement home it is funny, and poignant and spot on dealing with issues of aging the baby-boomers are about to run into. Great characters. A lot of fun. Familiar territory for anyone in the sandwich generation.
Mark Richardson "Zen and Now" is a spiritual sequel to the 1960's classic "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". A great first book from the editor of the Toronto Star's Wheels section. If you like the original, you'll enjoy the story behind it and meeting the real people behind the characters in the book, plus a new set of characters as Richardson takes the same ride across the American mid-west.
Nino Ricci "The Origin of the Species" is set in Montreal and the Galapagos Islands. Might be his best since "Lives of the Saints".
Patrick Lane "Red Dog Red Dog" is, at 69 years, his first novel. Lane is best known as a poet who has the added perk of being married to the writer Lorna Crozier. Amazing first novel..dark, dark, dark but amazing.
Irvine Welsh "Crime". This author of "Trainspotting" not to mention one of the actors in the movie along with that Ewan MacGregor chap...did he ever amount to anything? Irvine takes a Scottish detective who has just solved the brutal sex-slaying of a child and drops him in South Florida where he stumbles on what may be another pedophilia ring. GREAT READ!!!
And now I am back to my own writing!
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