Dreaming of toys

Mock Back Cover  –  Frances Macaulay Forde © 1994

Just read about this deal between Michael Bay (of  ‘Transformers’ fame) 451 Media Group and (Chinese Media/Toy manufacturers) Alpha Animation, in ‘Variety’.

Does it mean my dream is possible; one day my ‘Mr Panda Lives Next Door’ Books/TV Series, could be taken to dizzying heights and merchandised?

 

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #CPB:MrPandaLivesNextDoor   #AlphaAnimation #ChineseToyDeal  #Transformers  #MichaelBay

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Chlamydia Rap

One of the most fun assignment I’ve ever had was for our largest Hospital’s Emergency Department in 2006.

Way before EK Chase (I’ve just discovered) seemed to adopt my idea for a One Direction song ;  I was commissioned to write a series of 30 second ads to be played on the in-house TVs.

They wanted to get boring facts ‘out there’ to resonate with the target audience of drug users and drunks who, when inebriated practiced dangerous habits – particularly the younger ones.

Well, I’ve worked with and written for teenagers quite a bit, so I guess I was a natural choice.

SYNOPSIS:   

The first five 30 second advertisement scripts generally tell the story of Chlamydia using toys as characters in a party atmosphere at the dolls house, with soundtrack music provided by —–.

Hands obviously (in shot) hold the toys as they enact the scenes: going up or down stairs, break-dancing etc. Full-sized beer cans are scattered around the dolls house.   

The humorous use of toys with full sized items should provide a comedic edge together with the further juxtapositioning of a serious message in between the seemingly frivolous.

I was paid well and applauded for what I gave them, however the production team didn’t meet their criteria so in the end, my scripts weren’t actually filmed.

All that effort wasn’t wasted – I know the ideas were adapted and used in various ways for workshops and conferences etc.

My “CHLAMYDIA RAP” dissolved the whole office of Medicos into stitches (pardon the pun) – and I still like it:

CHLAMYDIA RAP

Listen here! Y’all need to know
Chlam – ydd-ee-ah Trach – o –mat – is is
as common as ‘the clap’ is.
It’s spead by sex without a hat,
don’t even know when you’re got at
– s’real dangerous for bubs ‘n testies,
‘cos it’s sneaky ‘n snarly ‘n silent as
‘til your eyes go pink ‘n your bum goes red.
Before y’know it – you’re real sick in bed.
Just pee in a cup – then give it up.
We’ll tell you by text so no-one knows
–one shot anti-be, ‘n away you go.

Frances Macaulay Forde © 2006

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #ChlamydiaRap  #CommercialScripts

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Film friend…

Alan Iverson Credits.

 

Alan Iverson‘s website is quite impressive.  It clearly shows the projects he’s worked on, projects available for development and super easy to navigate.

I’ve read ‘Ghost Town’ and look forward to producers (it’s never just one these days) coming on board to develop the series, so I can say to Alan; “I knew you when…”.

If you’ve got a project you’d like Alan to work on with you, contact him through his website.  He’s a top bloke – a hard working and conscientious team player!

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #AlanIveson  #FilmFriend

 

 

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From Trashy Novels Golden Threads Are Spun

Always so meticulously informed. I enjoy that you are a blatant fan of screenwriters and follow their work with a passion, skewering (is there such a word?) your reviews, with their work as your starting point. Thank you.

 

#FilmMafia/Movieland   #FrancesMacaulayForde   #GoneGirl   #BenAfflec   #GillianFlynn   #DavidFincher   #Movies   #Reviews  #MovieReviews  #Scripts

Film Mafia

Gone Girl **** (out of five)

I remember still, very specifically, my decision to cease reading Gone Girl, the huge bestseller of 2012 by Gillian Flynn: it was making me depressed. Its worldview really got to me, and I was feeling grim and prickly because of it. Its depiction of the most basic human relationship, being “the relationship”, was bleak and nasty. A day or two without reading anymore of it, I felt better. Besides, it was badly written.

David Fincher’s extremely faithful adaptation of the book, scripted by Flynn, has left the same cold metallic and yucky taste in my mouth, but in a good way – indeed, in a really good way. I was reading the book over at least a week, but I can take feeling prickly and shifty about relationships for an afternoon, rather than going to sleep with it night after night. Also, the world…

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“Woman of Flowers”

Quite a few years ago now, I was sent Libby Hathorn‘s book ‘Woman of Flowers’ to consider for adaptation to screen by the publishers Hachette Australia.

Georgiana Molloy moved to Western Australia with her  new husband in 1829.  WA was very different to the gentile English countryside  and Georgiana had a lot of trouble settling in.  The eminent botanist James Mangles asked Georgiana to collect specimens for his research.  A new world opened up for her and she thrived, loving the native plants and documenting them carefully.  Her samples were packed with such care, Mangles sent them on to colleagues who actually managed to grow and study new species from the meticulously packed seeds.

Meticulously researched, Libby’s book provided both a factual and fictional view which I loved after reading it as a subject for adaptation.

I thought it would make a good TV Series but discovered that a local company was busy doing a lot of research on the same subject, seemed well advanced with plans to do something similar, so I judged it not the right time.

6 years on, others have since documented Georgiana’s wonderful achievements over the years, particularly the ABC National Radio but nothing like I envisaged.

As I’ve said, I’d love to give her a new life – a dramatic screen life.  

So any producers out there – maybe now is the right time!

 

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #LibbyHathorn  #GeorgianaMolloy  #WomanOfFlowers  #WAWildflowers  #WAPioneers  #Books  #AdaptationToScreen  #AdaptingBooks

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Short film: ‘Kanowna’

Locally made short film I thought I’d share:

Kanowna (2010)

Western Australian Goldfields 1902, A Police Trooper discovers he has done the unforgivable by fathering a child to a Japanese Prostitute which triggers a series of events that threaten to destroy him. Based on actual events.

Starring:

Dustin Clare
Peta Sergeant
Ben Khaw
Clarke Richards

Written and Directed by Chris Richards-Scully

Produced by Michael Facey

Production Company: Archangel Pictures in Association with Fighting Chance Films

archangel-pictures.com

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #Kanowna2010  #ArchangelPictures  #ChrisRichards-Scully  #MichaelFacey

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Adapting my novel to screen.

My novel started life way back  in 1986 as ‘Competing’ then became ‘Kathy’s Clown’ and finally ‘Toy Soldier’.

I’m still not sure what to call it… the story just won’t go away but I have had to adapt working ‘docs’ for each and it’s getting very confusing so I must settle on a name soon!

This 3 para Synopsis will give you an idea of the story and characters:

SYNOPSIS:  ‘Kathy’s Clown’

The Army Reserve is a volunteer group that consists of weekend soldiers.  Peter Watts-Brown is their Colonel.  He has made his hobby his career – his day job with the Department of Agriculture, pays the bills. He enjoys playing games – with the army, with money, with women.

His favorite opponent and total opposite at work and play is Colin Williams.  Colin is in line for promotion which Peter feels he deserves. He also wants Colin’s wife Kath.  Both have a team entered in the Blackwood Marathon held in the South West.  Each needs the validation of crossing the finishing line before the other. Both will do anything to win.

When one of the girls who works at the Research Center is murdered, the games turn serious. Both are prime suspects – now the real war games begin.

Because I’m busy re-writing my novel and also adapting it to the big screen, I thought I’d tell you how many different documents I’ve worked on concerning the same story and characters without reward.

For example, publishers usually require either one or the first three chapters however, Film Producers ask for so many different ‘docs’ it can be quite mind-blowing if you don’t know the purpose of or how to construct each format.

No 1: 1st draft Novel manuscript.

I’m not at all sure which number draft I’m on now as I’ve been working on it for so many years and changed computers so many times since them, I’m sure a few have been lost in the myriad of saving-method evolution.

In 1985 I wrote the first draft of 92 pages in three months when my very generous brother Paddy lent me his computer.  (I also managed to write a book of children’s stories  in the same 3 months.)  It meant I got the idea down on paper and the characters set in my mind.   Every couple of years I revisited it.

While at University studying for my degree in 2000, my Screenwriting units required different ‘docs’ for a feature script.  I thought using my story ‘Competing’ would be easier because I already knew the ending.

It actually wasn’t because I had to re-imagine my story for a visual medium – the polar opposite of most novels.  Luckily, I am a visual thinker so I was half way there…

No 2.  Logline.

The Logline is the hook.  If you can’t fit the premise of your feature on one line, perhaps you’re not completely clear on your idea.

‘Competing’ Logline:  Peter Watts-Brown plays games expecting to win but Colin Williams won’t let him; at work, at home or the Blackwood Marathon.  

No 3:  ‘Synopsis’.

The synopsis is a snapshot of the story and characters meant to reel in the investors, so it has to be ‘sexy’ and can be any length, from 3 paragraphs to a 1/2 page,  1 Page or 3 Page Synopsis.

No 2: ‘Scene Breakdown’.

The Scene Breakdown gives a description of each scene or sequence, some in full as examples with dialogue but mostly just action to illustrate the flow of the story, which in this case finished at 29 pages.

No 4: ‘Treatment’.

By March, 2001 of my final year at Uni, I had a 19 page ‘Treatment’ sometimes called an ‘Outline’ of the story, which showed what happened in each scene written as narrative in story form, with no dialogue.

No 5:  Feature Script

When I left Uni I decided to actually start writing the script but then half way through, because of the different medium, I naturally found the story was changing to suit.  So back I went to the novel to do another re-write because I wanted both to ‘marry’.

That’s why I’m really not sure how many versions of the novel exist without going through all my old discs – some are even the old 4 inch square ones – and I can’t play them!

Since then I’ve done a Transmedia masterclass with Jeff Gomez and realized the differences make versions interesting – each should add new aspects of the ‘world’ I’ve created of story or characters.

Perhaps now you understand why I keep putting it away and coming back to it…

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #FILM:Competing  #FILM:Kathy’sClown  #FILM: ToySoldier  #BOOK:Competing  #Transmedia  #Novel  #Books  #Manuscript  #JeffGomez  #Treatment  #SceneBreakdown  #Outline  #Synopsis  #FeatureScript  #Script  #Logline  #BlackwoodMarathon  #BlackwoodValley  #Marathon

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“These Final Hours”

Just back from the hometown premiere of this movie  ‘These Final Hours’ with an extra bonus Q & A session after the movie with  Writer/Director Zac Hilditch and Producer Liz Kearney.

Definitely not my usual fare, this film wallows in reality; the reality of knowing you’re dead – or will be in a couple of hours.  And absolutely nothing can be done about it except make bloody sure you spend your final hours exactly as you want – and be with whoever you want, when the end comes.

It’s dark, the premise is miserable; the ending foretold at the beginning and the cast of characters reacting predictably, except for the unlikely hero on his final journey.

Winner: The Age Critic’s Award Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) 2013 Best Australian Feature.  Screening Director’s Fortnight 67th Festival de Cannes, 2014  where it received a standing ovation!

The film is shockingly human, traumatizing and confronting-ly honest.  The characters disturbingly ‘real’ with outstanding performances by the leads, ably supported by many others – all perfectly cast.

Angourie Rice  has a HUGE career ahead of her and although I’ve not seen Nathan Phillips before, I’ll look out for him now.  He and his young co-star created magic in this film and made me cry.

I loved the guessing games and familiarity of home but hated the destruction provided by special effects and cinematography worthy of a much higher budget.

In other words, worth the $14 or whatever.  It opens on 31st Thursday this week at various cinemas.

Congratulations Team TFH – bloody well done!

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #FILM:TheseFinalHours  #ZacHilditch  #LizKearney  #AngourieRice  #NathanPhillips  #Film  #WestAustralian  #WAFilms  #TheseFinalHours  #LocalFilm  #ShotInWA  #Cannes

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Film: ‘Calvary’

Today we saw  ‘Calvary’, the second in a trilogy of stories masterfully written and superbly directed by John Michael McDonagh   The first was ‘The Guard’   which is the highest grossing Irish film of all time!

Both films starred the empirical Brendon Gleeson who has no less than 6 more films in production at the moment and one already completed since ‘Calvary’.  And no wonder – I cannot imagine an Irish film without him now…  but each of the cast fitted their characters perfectly – another film I could not fault.

The story is confronting, full of black humor, lovely Irish accents and scenery beautifully shot around Sligo and Easkey – places my husband took me to because his mother came from there.

If it’s showing where you are, make the effort – it’s a refreshingly different take on some taboo subjects tackled with wry wit and a large dose of ‘reality’.

I wholeheartedly agree with everything  David and Margret had to say, and think this film will break the ‘highest earnings’ record too.

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #JohnMichaelMcDonagh  #MOVIE:Calvary  #BrendonGleeson  #MOVIE:TheGuard  #ABC:AtTheMovies

 

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Still Life

On Sunday, we took advantage of a free double pass from ABC’s RN Ideas Network  to see a preview screening of the movie  “Still Life”   at Cinema Paradiso in Northbridge, one of a couple of ‘alternative’ cinemas in Perth, Western Australia.   The critics have waxed lyrically with the film garnering awards at Venice, Edinburgh and other international festivals.

And may I say “Thank you, Uberto Pasolini”  the guy who also brought us “The Full Monty’ –  we loved it!  It’s  what I deem a typically well done ‘British’ film in that it is character-driven; character-centric and deliberately slower-paced compared to an American style of ‘commercial’ film-making.

The British seem to take their time, to allow an audience to absorb all the emotion, subtext and context, give them time to think about what they’re absorbing.  I see it as a form of audience respect.  Just like ‘Philomena’, ‘The Railway Man’, ‘Quartet’ etc as I’ve mentioned before in a previous  “Top 10 Movies of 2013”  blog post…

Although the subject and lead character seem dismal on the surface, this film is not slow and when the ending came I, as audience didn’t want it too.  My mind was full of questions about what happens next to others we had met in the last 2 hours…

Two days later I’m still thinking about the questions and beautiful clever human touches inserted perfectly into the visual narrative, making dialogue almost obsolete.

As a screenwriter I couldn’t fault the completed circle of story-telling carrying me so effortlessly, or the clues in the frame perfectly placed and plausible to the point of my being able to forget the production and direction involved – except to applaud it with everyone else, at the end.

Yes, a near-capacity cinema audience clapped loudly at the ending as they do when they are particularly moved, demonstrated clearly by how many sat and waited for all the credits to finish, before leaving.

I suspect we wanted our swollen, tear-filled eyes to reduce a little before the harsh glare of sunlight exposed just how much we were affected by such excellence.

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #MOVIE:StillLife  #ABCRadioNetwork  #UmbertoPasolini

 

 

 

 

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