I revised my story “A Woman Alone in a Cruel World” this week. It is a fable set in an ancient time. I want my wife to read it before I posted it. She hasn’t read it yet. She says it looks too depressing. Maybe I need to change the title.
“Tom and his Incredible Traffic Model” has been sitting idle for a while now. I hope to get back to it this coming week. It is a humorous piece inspired by years of work as a transportation planner.
I submitted one of my short film movie scripts, “. . . and you said . . .” to a script competition being run by the Show Us Your Shorts Film Festival.
I am looking at a couple of websites for selling my films on-line. One is Mishorts and the other is Payloadz . So far, they both look promising.
This week I watched Steve Hanon’s latest film: The Last of the River People . If you have a chance to see it, I suggest you do. I think this is his best films so far. It is a subtle film.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Abandoned Scripts: What Do You Do When You Can’t Get That Big Star
I have posted a new article I wrote: Abandoned Scripts: What Do You Do When You Can’t Get That Big Star
Excerpt: The filmmaker Federico Fellini wrote scripts planning to have some famous actors play the leads. Many times, he could not get them. I am sure that most writers and filmmakers run into this problem. It has certainly has happened to me. I am certainly no Fellini. If he can’t get someone famous, what chance do I have? With some projects, you can go ahead with different actors, but with others, you have to abandon them. Here are a few of the ideas that I’ve had to abandon.
If you know of anyone who might find this article interesting, please pass this along to them.
I am working on another couple of stories now and will be posting them as soon as they are done. One is a fable set in the distant past and the other is a humorous piece drawing from my experiences in transportation planning.
Please have a look at one of my old stories: The Parasol
Excerpt: The filmmaker Federico Fellini wrote scripts planning to have some famous actors play the leads. Many times, he could not get them. I am sure that most writers and filmmakers run into this problem. It has certainly has happened to me. I am certainly no Fellini. If he can’t get someone famous, what chance do I have? With some projects, you can go ahead with different actors, but with others, you have to abandon them. Here are a few of the ideas that I’ve had to abandon.
If you know of anyone who might find this article interesting, please pass this along to them.
I am working on another couple of stories now and will be posting them as soon as they are done. One is a fable set in the distant past and the other is a humorous piece drawing from my experiences in transportation planning.
Please have a look at one of my old stories: The Parasol
Monday, December 28, 2009
How Would Proportional Representation Change Canadian Politics?
I haven't posted anything new lately because I spent nearly two months travelling through China. The trip gave me new experiences that will find its way into my work soon. I have big plans for 2010 and hope to have more to share with you soon.
I have posted a new article I wrote: How Would Proportional Representation Change Canadian Politics?
It came about as the result of watching a discussion on TV about how to make Candian democracy work better.
Please have a look at one of my old strories: Distraction
I have posted a new article I wrote: How Would Proportional Representation Change Canadian Politics?
It came about as the result of watching a discussion on TV about how to make Candian democracy work better.
Please have a look at one of my old strories: Distraction
Monday, October 19, 2009
Dynamic Lethargy Films - Newsletter - 2009 October 19
Newsletter 2009 October 19
I've been busy the last month and have some new stuff to share with you.
Video
"The Whispers Come" is a short video about being independent. You can watch it here:
http://www.openfilm.com/videos/the_whispers_come/
Story
"Billy's Big Discovery" is a short story about a young boy who wants to be a scientist and make a big discovery. Things do not always turn out the way we would like them to. The first six people who read this all posted comments.Feel free to add more comments. You can read it here:
http://authspot.com/short-stories/billy%e2%80%99s-big-discovery/
Articles
The Guess Who were my favourite band when I was in high school. Here is some trivia about them:
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/176954_guess-who-trivia
I posted a blog about an old idea I had for a movie. I called it "Boomtown - Busttown". It is about a young man who comes to Calgary during a boom, but has trouble when the economy goes bust. You can read it here:
http://dynamiclethargyfilms.ca/blog/?p=47
Song
The song "Happy Birthday" is still protected under copyright, so I wanted to write a happy birthday song that I could use without having to worry about buying the rights. You may recognise the tune.
http://www.loudio.com/Music/Electronic/Happy-Birthday-Its-Your-Day.1049615
Other News
My film "My Most Difficult Case" now has a page on the Internet Movie Database and I added a trailer that you can watch. You can watch it here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1496810/
Someone suggested that I make a movie like "Before Sunrise" ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112471/). I watched it a couple of times and I am now developing a story based this suggestion. It won't be exactly alike, but then there wouldn't be much point remaking a movie that was aready done.
I changed my website to add a DONATE button so people who wanted to support me could do so. I also added a UNDONATE button so people who did not want to support me could do so as well.
I hope you enjoy my work. If you know anyone who might find these interesting, please pass this along to them.
James Beattie Morison
www.dynamiclethargyfilms.ca
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Boom town – Bust town
During the late 1970s and early 1980s Calgary was experiencing a huge boom and people were moving here from all over Canada. I was one of those people. In 1982/1983 the boom went bust. Many people lost their jobs. While I did not lose my job, I was very worried at the time. The story is partially autobiographical, but I made life for my character harder than I had it.
The story begins with a young engineering graduate named Richard moving to Calgary. He says goodbye to his best friend Brian, who is staying in their hometown. Richard plans to work in Calgary for a few years, get some experience, make some money and then go back home for his real career.
Calgary turns out to be different from what Richard expects and it takes him some time to adjust. He feels like he is the only one who is having difficulty. A few years go by and he is more established and comfortable.
Then one day the company lays him off. This is a shock to Richard. He has always seen his self worth in the work that he does. Now he has nothing to give his life value.
In the film, his wife’s first appearance would be when he loses his job. She comes home from her work. It is bright and sunny outside. The camera follows her into the house. She goes to the living room, which has the curtains drawn and the lights off. Richard is sitting in a chair with his head in his hands. She asks him what happened. He tells her he lost his job. The camera backs out of the house the way it came. Now, outside, the sky has clouded up and rain has started to fall.
The rest of the story follows Richard as he starts his own business with a friend. More importantly, he shifts the focus of his life away from his work to his relationship with his wife and his friendships.
At the end of the film, Richard is still struggling financially. Brian, his old friend from University visits from back home. Brian tells him of a career opportunity in their hometown. Richard thanks his friend, but says, “My life is here now.”
The story begins with a young engineering graduate named Richard moving to Calgary. He says goodbye to his best friend Brian, who is staying in their hometown. Richard plans to work in Calgary for a few years, get some experience, make some money and then go back home for his real career.
Calgary turns out to be different from what Richard expects and it takes him some time to adjust. He feels like he is the only one who is having difficulty. A few years go by and he is more established and comfortable.
Then one day the company lays him off. This is a shock to Richard. He has always seen his self worth in the work that he does. Now he has nothing to give his life value.
In the film, his wife’s first appearance would be when he loses his job. She comes home from her work. It is bright and sunny outside. The camera follows her into the house. She goes to the living room, which has the curtains drawn and the lights off. Richard is sitting in a chair with his head in his hands. She asks him what happened. He tells her he lost his job. The camera backs out of the house the way it came. Now, outside, the sky has clouded up and rain has started to fall.
The rest of the story follows Richard as he starts his own business with a friend. More importantly, he shifts the focus of his life away from his work to his relationship with his wife and his friendships.
At the end of the film, Richard is still struggling financially. Brian, his old friend from University visits from back home. Brian tells him of a career opportunity in their hometown. Richard thanks his friend, but says, “My life is here now.”
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
New articles posted 2009 September 23
Since retiring in August I have finished some short articles and published them on the web. I hope you will enjoy them.
A Fleeting Moment of Tranquility is about a memory from my childhood.
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/151015_a-fleeting-moment-of-tranquility
Five Differences between Canadian and American Health Care Systems was inspired by the current health care debate in the United States.
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/143539_five-differences-between-canadian-and-american-health-care-systems
A Fleeting Moment of Tranquility is about a memory from my childhood.
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/151015_a-fleeting-moment-of-tranquility
Five Differences between Canadian and American Health Care Systems was inspired by the current health care debate in the United States.
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/143539_five-differences-between-canadian-and-american-health-care-systems
Monday, September 21, 2009
Bleeding Heart: I Have No Face
This story idea came to me years ago during another economic downturn. Some superhero movie was out and gaining attention. I thought, “There are all kinds of super heroes who fight crime and evil, but there is no super hero to fight unemployment and poverty.”
I created a super hero called “Bleeding Heart”. That was to symbolize his “super empathy”. My first snag was “What kind of super powers could he have that would help people find jobs, escape their addictions, find happiness?”
Some people suggested that this story would work better as a “campy” comic book. However, my vision was of a darker story.
The story begins with a ruthless business leader hectoring his underlings. Later when he leaves to go home a street person accosts him asking for money. He rejects this harshly and tells him to get a job.
That night, while out for a walk, a bolt of lightning strikes him. After he is unconscious for a long time he makes is back home with out any trouble. Undressing, he finds that his blood has soaked into his undershirt. The image it creates is of a heart with blood dripping from it.
He is distracted the next day at work. Looking out of the office window, he sees street people and others walking the streets below. He does not fully understand his power of empathy yet, but he realises that the he can feel their pain, their despair, their anger. He decides to dedicate himself to helping those in need.
Meanwhile, trouble is brewing. In a small room, a man is strapped to a table while another “figure” “works” on him. Bit by bit the figure wears away the man’s drive and sense of self worth. At the end, the figure asks the man on the table to look at his face in a mirror. The man on the table says, “I can’t, I have no face”. The villain has created many faceless men.
Bleeding Heart starts to come across these faceless men. They no longer have an identity and to those around them they don’t exist. He realizes that someone is robbing these men of their ability to cope in the world.
Bleeding Heart searches for the villain to find a way to save the faceless men from their fate. Finally, he corners the villain on a rooftop.
Bleeding Heart asks the villain “Who are you and why would you do such evil to the faceless men”. The villain responds, “I am not a man, but the personification of despair.” He goes on, “I live in the dark recesses of all men’s minds. You can never stop me.”
Bleeding Heart tries to catch the man, but grabs only thin air. There is no trace of the man called despair. A profound sense of hopelessness comes over Bleeding Heart as he wonders how he can save the men with no faces.
I created a super hero called “Bleeding Heart”. That was to symbolize his “super empathy”. My first snag was “What kind of super powers could he have that would help people find jobs, escape their addictions, find happiness?”
Some people suggested that this story would work better as a “campy” comic book. However, my vision was of a darker story.
The story begins with a ruthless business leader hectoring his underlings. Later when he leaves to go home a street person accosts him asking for money. He rejects this harshly and tells him to get a job.
That night, while out for a walk, a bolt of lightning strikes him. After he is unconscious for a long time he makes is back home with out any trouble. Undressing, he finds that his blood has soaked into his undershirt. The image it creates is of a heart with blood dripping from it.
He is distracted the next day at work. Looking out of the office window, he sees street people and others walking the streets below. He does not fully understand his power of empathy yet, but he realises that the he can feel their pain, their despair, their anger. He decides to dedicate himself to helping those in need.
Meanwhile, trouble is brewing. In a small room, a man is strapped to a table while another “figure” “works” on him. Bit by bit the figure wears away the man’s drive and sense of self worth. At the end, the figure asks the man on the table to look at his face in a mirror. The man on the table says, “I can’t, I have no face”. The villain has created many faceless men.
Bleeding Heart starts to come across these faceless men. They no longer have an identity and to those around them they don’t exist. He realizes that someone is robbing these men of their ability to cope in the world.
Bleeding Heart searches for the villain to find a way to save the faceless men from their fate. Finally, he corners the villain on a rooftop.
Bleeding Heart asks the villain “Who are you and why would you do such evil to the faceless men”. The villain responds, “I am not a man, but the personification of despair.” He goes on, “I live in the dark recesses of all men’s minds. You can never stop me.”
Bleeding Heart tries to catch the man, but grabs only thin air. There is no trace of the man called despair. A profound sense of hopelessness comes over Bleeding Heart as he wonders how he can save the men with no faces.
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