Update 3/23/2010:

WHEN YOU’RE STRANGE wins award at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin, Texas. Read the article here.

Update 3/15/2010:

WHEN YOU’RE STRANGE – the first-ever documentary on The Doors, will open in the following extended cities on April 9, according to Doors manager & film producer Jeff Jampol:

New York City – Los Angeles – Boston – Philadelphia – Chicago – Dallas – Houston – Seattle – San Francisco – Nashville – Madison, WI – Houston –

Word has it that it will also open in New Orleans on 4/16, and in Albuquerque, NM in May.

See the new and updated site, and follow The Doors on Twitter!

Earlier Post:
Earlier this week, I blogged about artistic passion–a fitting precursor for today’s post. Why? Because today I’m giving updates on When You’re Strange, the Doors documentary I’ve been waiting to see for over a year.

When You’re Strange will be released in 8 cities on April 9th. Once word spreads, more cities should follow. Atlanta is 1 of the 8. (Excuse me for a moment while I do the Snoopy Dance down Peachtree Street…)

The cities are: Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Chicago.

Whether you’re a Doors fan or not, these 4 artisans were an influential part of our history. Seeking, questioning, and expressing how they saw the world, even when others didn’t understand them. Particularly Jim Morrison. Whether the public liked them or not, “got” their message or not, they remained dedicated to their art and made music the way they wanted to make it. In today’s world of pop culture and celebrity (and everything for sale in between) I must say, that element of sticking to one’s convictions is a rare and precious thing.

And while I’m talking about artists who stick to their vision, let me add here that When You’re Strange is written/directed by Tom DiCillo, an award-winning filmmaker as well as one of my favorite artists on the planet. For a complete listing of his previous films, click here. (These are all in my DVD collection, by the way.) You can view the trailers for his other films on the main blog page, links are to the right.

And did I mention that When You’re Strange is narrated by Johnny Depp? Yep. I think he’s an ideal choice for a narrator, seeing as how there is a soulful and reverent quality about him.

So if you’re near one of these 8 cities, help spread the word and go see this film. More cities will follow, and let’s keep the word spreading.

Links:

My original blog post on the topic

When You’re Strange website

Writer/Director Tom DiCillo’s Blog for updates

When You’re Strange soundtrack listing

Hey all,

Know it’s been a long time since I’ve posted a blog (I am so trying to blog more) but now there are several topics in my head just wanting to spill out. Today’s blog post is the first of (I hope) many more to come.

Artistic Passion. This might be a phrase we hear on occasion, something that might cross our minds once in awhile, or something we strive for in our own work. And even if you’re not an “artist” per se, we all yearn for passion or love in our daily lives, do we not?

Each time I sit down at the keyboard to write, I am reaching toward something–a drive to create, to dance and enjoy my time with the characters roaming around in my head. This passion is what keeps me going, even when sometimes the words feel like pulling teeth.

And then there’s the passion we see in others. I think this is just as important as yearning for our own–to try to surround ourselves with people who are wanting to create something–a song, a poem, a book, a photo, a home–because it keeps us in tune with the muse and inspiring energies.

This past weekend, I went to Savannah, GA, for the Irish Festival. Two years ago, I happened to catch the last 10 minutes of a music set from Roger Drawdy & The Firestarters. And in those 10 minutes, something in my imagination came to life. I saw it then, and I saw it once again this past weekend–this band *is* creative passion in humanized form.

I think that’s what draws me to watch their shows and listen to their music. When they perform, they are in complete and utter bliss. You can see it on their faces; that energy and passion for their artistic pursuit comes alive. It inspires. (Actually, it literally does inspire…the lead singer was the inspiration for a character I created in my third book.)

We all have to devote time to our craft, whether it’s singing, writing, living, being a parent, whatever task is most important to you. Some days that’s easy; some days it’s like trudging through molasses. But it’s that spark that keeps us going. In Savannah this past weekend, I saw that spark light up the stage. They were one of the last acts of the day, and when we did leave, my husband said, “They were worth waiting for.” Earlier in the day, I heard people near me whisper, “Don’t miss the Firestarters! They’re amazing on stage!”

I couldn’t agree more. Other artists do inspire me, and that energy helps me to create. Seems like one of the most beautiful cycles of life there is :)

So devote some time to your passion today. Write something. Listen to some music. Take a photograph; see something in a new way. Hug a small child and become part of their universe for just a spell. See what happens; see how your own creativity grows.

Til the next post, I’ve put some pictures below from the Irish Fest…

Elaine

Hello all,

Greetings from a snowy Southeast USA. I love having a desk near a window. I can look outside and see fat white flakes falling past dark green pine needles and woodsy clusters of trees and think “Aaaahhhhh. Relief.”

Of course, I wouldn’t be thinking that if it weren’t for my jump-drive. Or flash drive. Or whatever you want to call those little things – the external drives where you can keep your important documents so as to back them up and be able to access them from any USB port.

Why?

Because my computer has decided to die yet again. It’s been ill lately; my neighbor who works wonders for the price of beer (Note: this is a great thing) had given it some updates the last time it fell ill, and unfortunately, it has come closer to dying again.

Sooooooo…

1. Yes I’ll be talking to the neighbor once more, and picking up his favorite brew.

2. I’m looking into another laptop because mine is old anyway.

3. I am not pulling my hair out because I had everything backed up. I even had my recent novel changes on a jump drive.

The solution? I am borrowing hubby’s laptop and plugging in my jump drive into his USB port. Voila! Instant material, like it never left me. I even got some writing done today.

It may sound simple, but trust me. Take the time. Back your stuff up. On CD, a jump drive, anything. It’s handy on a jump drive b/c then you can easily work off of another machine. But definitely back your stuff up! I have been able to get some things done today because I didn’t lose any recent changes.

My high school English teacher used to say, “Stupidity won’t kill you, but it sure can make you sweat!”

True. So don’t sweat. Back your stuff up and keep on plugging…

Elaine

Hope everyone had a great holiday season, and that you’re all ready to enter 2010 :)

For the writers out there, this might mean stepping up the word count, finishing that manuscript, joining an organization or critique group, or perhaps attending a conference. For those who don’t hear character voices in their heads (oh, how quiet that must be!) the resolutions could be anything…but this seems to be the time of year where we all look back, then we look forward.

I once heard someone talk about this topic, and her approach stuck in my mind. She said our lives are like driving a car. We need to use our rearview mirror; we need to keep tabs of what’s behind us so we know how to navigate forward. BUT our rear view mirror (aka our past experiences) can’t become our primary view source. We need to keep our eyes ahead, looking at the new, making sure we navigate to where we’re going.

It’s good to remember some pieces of the past (particularly for a writer as it is great fodder for fiction). But if you constantly watch that rearview mirror, what happens? You crash into a tree. It’s all a balancing act, so as we approach the end of 2009, look back. What went well? What didn’t? What would you change if you could do it over? What would you like to add into the mix?

These are things we should put in our recipe for 2010. (Yes, I’m using food analogies. I’m hungry and have yet to eat lunch…)

So, I ask yet again…What’s on your 2010 list?

My primary 2 resolutions are:

* Do a set word count every day. I don’t have a problem in making time to write each day, but the word count tends to vary depending on mood. I want to put a word count on each day. If I miss a day (as life will sometimes cause us to do) then I’ll make up that wordcount by the end of the week.

* Remember that negativity always blocks out the voice of the muse. It’s like a kid covering his ears and singing a song to himself. You can’t hear that inner voice, that inspiration, if your mind is cluttered with negativity.

Hope everyone has an incredible new year, and here’s to a great 2010 :)

Elaine

Hey all,

Yes, I’m back on the Indie path. Time to promote more good films! And the next one on the list is:

Indie # 14 – Mississippi Son

Written and Produced by Don and Leslie Wilson

Edited and Directed by Don Wilson

http://www.mississippison.com/

Buy the MP3 album here. (If the link doesn’t work, go to amazon and search on ‘mississippi son’ and you’ll get the result.)

I’ve been battling a sore throat and stuffy sinuses for a few days now, and stayed home sick from work today. By mere chance, I happened to catch this documentary on the HALO channel.

The result? I am in awe. And immediately after posting this blog, I’m going to go buy the MP3 album as well as the DVD.

This documentary was made in 2007, 2 years after Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It examines the life, culture, and people who dealt with the storm and how they are coping several years later. The film offers a slice of life and a greater understanding of the Gulf Coast people, which is one of the many things I admire about this film.

I’m from the Gulf Coast area myself but no longer live there. Since I’ve left, I’ve encountered numerous people who don’t understand the Gulf Coast way of life. This film offers a bit of explanation and peek into the hearts of its resilient water-loving people.

Some key points that resonated with me:

* People who barely got 10% of the value of their homes to rebuild, and yet they rebuilt anyway. People so connected to the land that it’s a primal bond; it can’t be separated, even by Mother Nature’s worst tantrum.

* Musicians who needed some semblance of normalcy after the storm went out and gathered boards, wood, random tree branches, anything they could find. They built up an area for a stage, and they played/created music that they played to the Cypress trees. They now have a cult following, but they went out and played music–in the midst of despair–because they were dedicated to their art and they needed to embrace it in order to survive. I highly respect and admire that attitude and dedication.

* That complete strangers reached out to help and for a sliver of time, there was what used to be known as ‘community.’ Not “us” and “them”.

I highly recommend this film. Granted, I’m a bit biased on the post-Katrina issue. I wrote a poem right after the storm hit and am now trying to market my women’s fiction novel set in New Orleans post-Katrina. But it’s more than that. I admire any artistic medium that brings out the best in us, that inspires us to survive–no matter what.

So go check it out :)