Tripping out

Loverly, isn't it?

So this week I’m on holiday.  Well, not really a holiday.  I’m back in Birmingham, meeting old friends, punishing relatives and picking up Birthday presents.  For a whole week I’m away from Belfast, and away from my laptop – which means I’m writing this now on my mother’s machine.

This got me thinking – as a lot of things do – do I take a break from writing as well?  Or do I keep going with a notebook and pen whilst my family eat dinner and share anecdotes around me?  Certainly that is something that a ‘writer’ should do.  After all, aren’t we all charmingly eccentric?

Then again, maybe a holiday should be just that – a holiday.  Maybe I should be forgetting everything writer-like and concentrating on having a good time with everyone who I’ve not seen in a long time.  That would be a true holiday, that would be a proper break.  After all, writer’s don’t really get that much time off.  We’re always writing, through weekends and bank holidays and days off work.  A break would be a good thing.

Is it even possible to have a break?  I’ve found that even when I’ve switched off, calmed down and miles away from the laptop, I’m still looking for stories.  Im still dreaming up ideas and looking for the next great tale.  This is even when I want nothing to do with writing, or stories, or anything like that.  My mind won’t switch off.

I think it’s really up to you how you approach the ‘problem’.  You can either take a little notebook and spend the time trying to come up with solutions to all of the problems that you’ve accumulated over the last months, or take nothing and let your brain recover, and tackle them head on when you return.

I think it depends on the type of writer that you are.  If you’re the one who likes to obsess, and works best away from other distractions, then take that notebook.  But if you need some R &R, not just from the real world, but from writing as well, then leave it at home.

Birmingham might not seem like a holiday to most, but to me it’s proven an excellent opportunity to just sit back and relax.  This blog was finished over the course of two days, and I didn’t panic, I didn’t stress.  I just got it done.  After all, what’s the point of a holiday if it doesn’t change your routine somewhat?

I’d rather just chill.

So this week I’ve been rather busy.  I’ve been running around with extra shifts at work, with planning for a little project that might yet turn into a big project, and lots of other things meaning that I’ve not been able to do a lot of writing.  Well, any writing.  That calendar is still there, the dates are burning into my mind, but I’ve just not had five minutes to sit down and write.

Well, that’s not true.  I’ve managed to notch up some time on Battlefield 3.  About an hour the other day.  That game is awesome.

And I cleaned the rug.  That took twenty minutes.

Oh, and I played with the cat for 3.5 minutes.

This is me. I'm awesome at this. Not so much at writing.

Should I feel guilty for the above infringements?  I don’t think so.  Yes, I could have spent the time in front of the computer, feverishly typing.  I could have torn my hair out trying to come up with plot twists, or character development, or planning a decent blog title pun.  I eventually gave up.  I’m sorry, it just wouldn’t have been any good.

Everyone needs that time to unwind, and that isn’t a weakness.  It’s part of human nature.  If we didn’t sit down and do what relaxed us – not like that – we’d be far too uptight and too annoyed to do anything of use.  Be that sleep properly, or write properly.

The problem is, planning things out to ensure that you have time to write at the end of it.

I didn’t do that this week, which is why this post is so short.  And bitty, and annoying.

I really apologise.

Never mind, next week’ll be better.  If I stay clear of Battlefield.

 

Dates Don’t Always End Badly

Here's a calendar

I just brought a calendar.  A real calendar.  Not a ‘virtual’, ‘oh, my phone’s got a calendar’ calendar, but a real one.  I’m sticking it up on the wall after I finish this blog.  And I think, as I continue this column for embattled writers (now that’s a good way to describe writers) that a calendar should be one of the first things that you buy for your new writing space.

Yes, even before the comfy chair.

Yes, even before the laptop.

Yes, even before the pen.

You see, writing as a hobby is a frustrating exercise for many reasons.  I won’t list them all here, simply because, reading this, you probably know about most of them.  One of the biggest problems that I find is I have no real deadlines.  No target to aim for.

This was not an issue during my Masters.  I had to have something down by the middle of the week, otherwise I’d be missing valuable feedback from my tutor and fellow students.  This deadline pushed me forwards and made sure that I had something, anything, finished.  Don’t get me wrong, a lot of it was drivel, and the group was subjected to many a horrifically planned sitcom, badly structured play and opening scene of a film that didn’t quite… work.

But now, as I sit alone watching the cat sleep on the sheets that he’s not really allowed on, things can get in my way.   You know, pesky things like part-time work, relationships and bank balances (there was no order there, I’d like to point out).  You know when the rent is due, you know when the bill for the TV will come out, and you know when you get paid.

Or perhaps this is more your taste?

But could you tell me when that competition closes?  You know, the one that you saw last month and thought the play you were working on would be perfect for?  The one that you’ve been pushing towards all month, fine tuning that masterpiece.  Of course not.  Because your loved one’s happiness don’t depend on you finishing that script.

And before you know it, that competition deadline’s sailed by, and you’re left with yet another half-finished piece of work and no desire (or reason) to get it done.

A calendar will help with all that.  Mark down the dates that you want to have things done by.  You might still miss them, it’s true.  But you’ll stand a better chance if you’ve got a constant reminder every time you sit down and type.  Or write (sorry, poets).

A calendar won’t force you to do something, and you may find that you still miss a lot of deadlines.  However, you’ll know exactly what you missed, when you missed it, and you can resolve to fix it for the next time.

And a calendar won’t mean you’ll win the competitions.  We know that we are all going to suffer rejection almost all of the time.  But that doesn’t mean we should give up and not even bother entering.  Nothing ventured…

So there.  My argument for getting a calendar.  Buy one.  Go on.  It’s January, they’re usually cheap.

Phil

Sort your Write Out

Your 'office' doesn't have to be inside

For too long I’ve been walking around this town, wondering what if.  Listening to music that used to inspire me and feeling nothing but a lump in my throat and a disappointment in my heart.  Dreaming that one day I’ll make it big, that the obstacles…

And that’s enough of that.

So right now I’m making a stand.  I’m going to stop moaning, I’m going to stop being all ‘artistic’ and I’m just going to write.  And I’ve decided that this blog shall hence forth be helpful!  I shall write posts that you’ll be able want to read.  They’ll be helpful, and they’ll be inspirational.

And I’m going to start with the most destructive force of all for a writer.  The lack of routine.

Routine is not your enemy.  I know it should be.  I know that the romantic vision of a writer has him waking up in the middle of the night, running to the typewriter and working all night.

But those types of writers just don’t exist. .  Lack of sleep makes you tired and irritable, not inspired and creative.

I don’t know about you, but when I wake up, regardless of what the dream I was having was like, I think, “why the hell have I just woken up?”.  Then promptly fall back asleep.

So the best thing you can do is create a routine.  And the best ways to do that are to:

• Clear a space where you can write.  It doesn’t have to be fantastic, but the less distractions the better.  Writing on your laptop whilst it perches on your legs whilst you try and ignore the kids whilst you watch TV whilst you cook the dinner will not lead to anything anywhere near productive.
• Sort a time when you can write.  Set aside an hour a day where, come rain or shine, you sit in front of your notebook, your laptop, your PC and you don’t move until that hour has elapsed.  Even Facebook gets boring eventually, and you’ll have to do some writing.
• Set deadlines.  I’m going to finish this blog, for example, before 13.30.  But what about that play?  I gave myself 3 days.  And low and behold, it was finished in 3 days.  It was naff, and will require lots more work, but I set myself a deadline and stuck to it.

You’ll find if you stick to these three simple rules, writing becomes much less of a chore (although trust me, some days it will feel like one) but at the end you’ll have something that you can be proud of.

The problem with being a writer, and the problem with having a blog about being a writer, is that it’s very difficult to keep a routine.  So I’m going to make sure, that every Thursday, I update this blog.  No one will read it, and no one will care.  But it’ll help me keep a routine.  And it’ll help me sort my write out.

Phil

Burnt

There’s something new on the horizon.

Something big and scary.  And hopefully exciting, depending on your point of view.  Me and a select group of people are trying to create a sit-com.  Now this alone isn’t a new thing.  I’m sure that people have tried before, and people will try in the future.

I find these types of post are easier to read if it’s divided up.  And to keep me entertained, I’ve entered your brain and asked the questions that you want to ask.

Just what is it?

We’ve got a cracking script created by Brian Charity, with a little help from myself, set in a crematorium.  It’s very funny, very dark and a little bit wrong – but in a good way.

So what are you going to do with it?
We want to make a pilot.  Taking the idea and an inspiring example of the recent Coast Movie, we want to make a pilot on a nothing-to-less-than-nothing budget, which will hopefully then get picked

up and commissioned by a TV channel or production company.  We feel the time is right now as Coast is currently in post-production, and we won’t be stepping on anyone’s toes.

In this post (and as a full PDF at the bottom of it) is a copy of the call for help that we’ve sent out recently.  We’re looking for people based in Belfast (or able to get to Belfast) who might be able us get this off the ground.

Go on then, what do you want?

At the moment we are looking to get together a production team.  What we need at the moment is:

• Someone with some film making/video experience, preferably with access to their own equipment.
• A sound man – once again preferably with their own stuff.
• An editor – although this might not seem like an important thing right now, decisions made at the moment will ultimately affect this individual.
• Anyone else who thinks they might be able to help us.

I’m an actor.  Do you want me?

Right now we’re not looking for actors, although if anyone wants to register their interest with us please do, and we can keep in touch and let you know when auditions roll around.

Sounds great.  How can I get in touch?

The first step should be emailing behindthesofaproductions@hotmail.com.  Do that.  Once we have some people interested we’ll organise a meeting were we can explain our plan and let everybody meet everybody.

If you’d rather speak in person, please email me your phone number and I’ll give you a ring.  Sometimes, it’s good to talk.

The PDF is available here

Phil

That Writer’s Lab Video

As promised, the video from the Tinderbox Writer’s lab

The master is over now, so I’m moving on to what will be a never ending supply of competitions.  Next on the list is the NI Screen New Talent Focus call, so it’s back to writing for the big screen after the theatrical theme of the last month or two.

Phil

Tinderbox Writers Lab and Me

Ok all, get ready for some name dropping.  Big style.

First of all, an explanation.  Tinderbox Theatre’s Writer’s Lab is an opportunity for writers of all shapes and sizes to have an idea developed and moulded with full dramaturgical support, as well as other professionals in their fields.

This years theme was media in context of the theatre, and it was presided over by Hanna Slattne (Tinderbox’s dramaturg) and Conan McIvor, who provided the media know how.  Justin Yang was also brought in to help with sound and technical requirements.  There were pieces from Frankie Mcafferty, JP Coneghan, Lisa Keogh and Alistair Spence, as well as mine.  Each one was given some time during the four-day week to be set up and have a scene run.  Each scene would then be changed around and played with – both from a story point of view and a technical one.

For me it was a chance to see my work being performed by professional actors and have the support and the time to really move ahead the project.  My idea was to use facial tracking to create a large image in the ‘coffee shop’ where the play is set.  There are a few pictures scattered around of the different ideas that we had, as well as a video that I’m currently putting together of the scene as a whole.

My idea was to take an actor’s performance and then track it, changing it enough to make it look different, representing some kind of manevolent force controlling her.  You can see my previous plea for help here.  When I posted this I wasn’t sure of how difficult the process would be, but after some running around Hannah and Conan recruited Justin, who did the unthinkable – he created some software for me!  Using this software were were able to play around a little more with the idea, and we got some really good results.

After seeing what was possible using tech that normally would be far beyond my reach I’m now confident that the project can start to gather steam and get going.  I’m currently working on my dissertation, but once all that’s out the way there’s only one thing I’m going to be looking at

I’d like to thank everyone involved.  Everyone gave feedback and I’m sure the work has improved substantially because of it.  The video will be up soon (this post is intentionally vague because I know it’s coming).

Phil

So, am I a Writer yet?

I call myself a writer.   It’s an annoying trait.  If you met me at a party, I’d probably introduce myself as such.  Yet, I’ve had little success.  I’m yet to receive a commission.  So what right to I have to label myself that?

If someone was to look at my bank account, between fits of giggles they would probably notice that at the moment I receive no income from writing.  ‘Ah,’ they would say, wiggling a finger in a patronising way, ‘you may claim to be a writer, but you appear to really be an employee of a well known mobile telecoms company.  You Sir, are a fraud.’

There’s a fact there that I can’t argue.  I do currently have a day job.  It’s a necessity at the moment.  If I want to live, I have to work for the man.  Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to sit at home and write.  And one day I’ll be able to do that.  But until then – should I want to eat – I’m going to have to put in the hours elsewhere.

So why do I insist on calling myself a writer?  Why do I tell people that I write, that writing is my career, when in fact I’m clearly a shop assistant?  Surely ‘aspiring writer’ or ‘amateur writer’ would be more fitting?

I find all of those adjectives a little self-defeating.  If I had chosen law as my profession, and had done all of my exams, done all of the years of work experience, and gained the knowledge I needed to do a bloody good job, would I go around introducing myself as an ‘aspiring lawyer?’  Not a chance.  I’d be in there, throwing my (partially clammy) palm into other people’s and introducing myself as a Phil Hurst, lawyer.

Three years ago I knew that I wanted to be a writer.  So I gained experience.  I talked to the right people and listened to the right podcasts and gave up a well paid job.  I moved across a sea (Irish) and got a loan out to take part in a Masters in Creative Writing.  I didn’t just sit at home, watch TV and wonder if I’d ever be able to write something as funny/poignant/exciting as the programme I’d just watched.  I put my money where my mouth was an jolly well went for it.

But I was still an ‘aspiring writer’.  No one wanted to give me money.  Then recently, something changed.

Now, I’m not saying that I’ve earned the right to call myself a writer. I don’t think it’s something that one can earn.  It’s as if I realised that suddenly, it’s OK to have faith in my ability.  It’s OK to e-mail and write to agents, production companies and other writers (as long as you’re not too cheeky and can deal with a few hundred rejections). I can pitch ideas, I can help with other scripts, and I can make an impact on anything I’m involved in.  From somewhere confidence bubbled off the page and into my soupy brain.

And that’s what it all boils down to.  Confidence.  One day, one of those e-mails is going to lead to a cheque.  I don’t know which one, and I don’t think it’ll let me give up the day job.  But it’ll be the next step in a career that I know, despite all the bull, I’m going to enjoy.

And when I send those e-mails out, do you think I’m going to be introducing myself as an ‘aspiring writer’?

Not a chance.

And neither should you.

 

Phil

Plea for help – Facial tracking/modelling

Hello,

Taken from 'Facial Tracking Study'

Although the magnificent Phil Legg is also helping me with this, I’m posting this in the hope that someone else might be able to help.  I’m looking for some advice on a project I’m working on for Tinderbox Theatre’s Writers lab, and could do with some techy knowledge.  If you’ve found your way here from twitter, if the idea below is something that you think you can help with, please do contact me phil.hurst@live.co.uk.

As a guide, I’d love to create something like this or this live on stage, linking the output to a TV screen/projector.  I’m looking at the plausibility of it all at the moment, and how it would relate to a real theatre space.  The lab is an experimental space where for an afternoon we can play around with ideas such as this, and it really exciting to take part in.

If you think you can give me some pointers on how it might be possible, or if you have something that you would like us to try, please get in touch.  My level of technical expertise is limited at best, but I’m sure it’s possible if the right people know about it.  With help, I’m sure that we can create a new way of presenting a performance.  Hopefully as well we can play around with people’s perceptions of a ‘live’ performance.

The Idea

Background

The play takes place in the future, where almost all media coverage is created and distributed by Firecracker Corporation.  The corporation is looking to branch out in to the commercially viable coffee shop business, and the audience play the role of special guests to the grand opening of the shop.

During the opening however, the shop and everyone in it are taken hostage by two protestors opposed to this expansion of Firecracker.  Firen and Gwined are staging a protest in order to draw attention to what they see is a company overstepping its boundries.

The Scene

Sophie is a Firecracker employee in the store.  She is handcuffed to the coffee shop bar but still has an amount of freedom.  Under instruction from Firen she has logged into the store computers, which has (unknown to all characters) allowed her to become controlled by an outside source.

When Firen and Gwined leave to check the security of the building, the outside source (Margeret Atrill) takes the chance to speak to the audience.

The Technology

Ideally, the scene requires some kind of facial recognition or motion tracking software to record the movements of the actress playing Sophie.  These images would then be relayed to the various media outlets in the coffee shop, in order to create the idea of an outside influence impacting on her behaviour.

The ‘controlling’ figure/face is something that can be changed, and it is the plausibility of this that I wish to address in the lab.

** Update **

The most accurate, yet annoying summing up comes from my little brother @mark_hurst so, you basically want to create Holly From Red Dwarf?

Yes Mark, but with an actor in front of the edited image.  Plus, wasn’t Holly just an actor with a wig on?

What condition my condition is in

Hello ya’ll.

First of all, I think I should clarify the purpose of this blog.  For those of you reading on Facebook, I wouldn’t expect any overly witty or clever statements.  I’ll keep that for my status updates.  I’m writing this in order to keep my head in one place, and to create a history I can look back on when someone asks me what I was doing on any particular month.

That, and shameless self-promotion.

Right, so it’s been over a month.  What have I been up to?

Creative Writing Masters

It’s dissertaion time!  I’ve just got my marks for the second semester, which places me on a narrow ledge between a 1st class and 2nd class result.  So it all comes down to my dissertaion, which is a huge project for me.  It’s the first time I’ve attempted a full length stage play (by which I mean an hour and a half or so) and I’m suitably confused by the whole process.  Luckily after weeks of false starts and messy scenes I’ve got most of the characters down, and the plot is suitably depressing.  But there’s a happy ending.  I’ll be filling you in on this more next month.

Tinderbox Writer’s Lab

If you can make head of tail of this, I'll buy you a Mars bar

Tinderbox Theatre are dedicated to new writing.  I’m a new writer.  So it only makes sense that I’m currently working on something with them to test out in their Writers Lab later this year.  It’s all about using media in a theatrical context.  My idea takes a play and places it in a coffee shop.  So if you like coffee – for whatever reason – I’m sure you’ll hate what I’m going to do to a coffee shop.  But that’s something that’s in development.  The closest you’ll get to figuring it out is by looking at the flyer that I’ve made.

Hopefully you an at least agree that it’s a little intriguing.  What is a Margaret Atrill?

Behind the Sofa Theatre

It’s getting there.  Had a phone call from Edel at the Arts Council the other day, and we’re looking forwards to hopefully putting forwards a proposal to get some money to set up the big project.  Of all the projects this is the one that’s the least likely to get off the ground, simply becuase it’s the most complex.  But I’m not going to jinx this by mentioning it in any detail.

That’s about it so far.  I’ve applied for a few jobs and can’t wait to get some feedback from them.  And I’ll let you know, obviously.

Phil