Category: Random

Indie #4 – Roger Drawdy & The Firestarters – Irish Band

I was fortunate enough to see them play at the Savannah Irish Festival in Feb 08. I saw them by coincidence. Or perhaps not. Read blog archive on this topic.

They perform heavily in the Midwest. While I love America’s heartland as much as anyone, I’ve never had the desire to live there. However, on occasional Friday evenings I find myself wishing I could be in an Irish pub, drinking a Black & Tan, and seeing this high-energy band perform again.

The passion they have for their craft is both mesmerizing and inspiring. So many of us go through the daily motions of life, never taking time to savor the moments. This band radiates with an energy and hungry passion for life that’s on fire. Upbeat tunes one moment, soulful ballads the next. Haunting lyrics, beautiful melodies.

My manuscript-in-progress has Irish themes, so this band has become the book’s soundtrack. Their songs are the backdrop as I type out pages, hoping to keep the muse nearby. Often the storytelling lyrics help shape a mood I’m trying to create with a character.

My thanks and kudos go out to Roger Drawdy, who has displayed infinite patience with my music, Irish culture, and miscellaneous book research questions. You are an artist, in every sense of the word, and I am continually awed and inspired by your talent.

View their website.

View their MySpace Page.

Happy Monday!

Indie Recommendation #3 – Jindabyne. Starring Gabriel Byrne and Laura Linney.

This film only played a few weeks in Atlanta during a busy time for me, and I was upset to discover that it disappeared quickly, making me wait for the rental. However, it was worth the wait. (FYI – So is Delirious, Indie Recommendation #1)

“Jindabyne” takes a writer’s driving question “What If?” and makes an interesting case from both viewpoints. What if all you want is a happy time away with your family, yet you come across something tragic? Do you ignore it and go about your business? Do you embrace that tragedy into your heart and do something? What if public pressure gets in the way? Can these opposing viewpoints tear apart a family, and if so, how?

In many ways, this reminds me of a Woody Allen film (although without the angst). It’s one of those moral questions type of films, the type where you should gather with friends and sip cognac afterward while you discuss your opinions.

I do admit that Gabriel Byrne and Laura Linney are 2 of my favorite actors, and I’d pretty much go see them in any movie. But this one is worth viewing, if only to ask yourself that question:

What would YOU do?

Indie #2 : Bonneville, 2006.

I’ll be honest. This is well and truly a “chick flick.” But if you can get past that fact, and a few items in the script which may not be realistic, this was a film about everything I love. Friendships, travel, remembering a loved one, and adventure. While not her work, this movie reminded me of Kris Radish’s books.

Starring Joan Allen, Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Tom Skerritt. Even the song, “Catch the Wind” by Donovan was perfectly timed during this film’s scenes. I think this one has left theatre but will eventually be on rental. Get friends together and watch. This is a good one.

And let’s face it, Tom Skerritt, even at 75 years old, still has one of the most attractive faces on film.

Until tomorrow!

I’ve discovered this harsh truth in recent weeks. Precious works of art–whether books, films, songs or paintings—are so often glossed over because the world isn’t aware they exist.

Corporate words like “budgets” and “numbers meetings” thunder down the mountain, washing away any hope of “fresh artistic view” or “brilliant film which sparks conversation.”

Why is this? My recent observations are with film, but film isn’t the only area affected. A writer friend of mine recently walked into a bookstore to discover her newly released book wasn’t even on the shelf. Upon inquiring, she discovered the bookstore never had time to remove the stock from the shipping box. So all the promo she did on websites, radio shows, bookmarks, postcards—if the bookstore doesn’t put the book out, what’s an author to do? In this case, she volunteered to put them on the shelves herself to ensure sales.

Last week, I drove to Midtown Atlanta to do a bit of book research. There’s a wonderful café there called Après Diem where I wanted to set a book scene. Going there to meet friends would freshen up the scene description and revitalize my taste buds on their delectable dishes.

With a few hours to kill between work and meeting up, I figured I’d see a movie at the adjacent Landmark Art Cinemas, one of two ‘art’ cinemas in the metro Atlanta area. One called “Flawless” struck me and I figured, why not? I’d never heard of this movie. Never seen a preview. All I knew was that it was about a jewel heist and it starred Michael Caine and Demi Moore.

When the movie was over, I walked outside and saw my friends sitting on the café patio. I waved and told an entire patio of people, “You have GOT to see Flawless! It’s amazing!”

And that’s what is so strange. This was one of the most intelligent, well tied-together films I’d seen in theatre in a long time. I had chills on the back of my neck at the ending, and how everything interrelated. It starred Michael Caine and Demi Moore, along with a few other stars whose names I don’t remember. Why did this film get no press? Get no previews in theatres? It only played for a week.

Publicity was also a challenge for Tom DiCillo’s latest film, “Delirious.” What baffles me is that I am a huge Tom DiCillo fan. I’ve bought every film on DVD. I have the CD to one of his films. I have 2 of his books. And yet, “Delirious” opened in Sept 07 at the same Landmark Cinema where I love to go. And I never knew it.

Why wasn’t there one preview, one ad, one poster? How could I have missed it? I check showtimes for that theatre every few weeks, trying to determine what alternate movie to watch on weekends. Perhaps the week “Delirious” came to Landmark I was fogged out with bronchitis. Who knows?

So. My theme on this blog in the coming week will be those indies, books, and pieces of art which got bypassed by the masses, but hold their own value.

Indie Suggestion for Today: Watch the DVD “Delirious.” The DVD is available now at Blockbuster, but I also encourage you to watch the extended/features version which comes out on 5/6/08.

It’s wonderful. I’ve watched it 3 times since Thursday. Heartwarming, soulful, and spotlighting the tender moments of the human condition. Put it in your Queue now on Netflix. Mark your calendars for 5/6 to rent or buy it.
Click to learn more about writer/director Tom DiCillo.

More tomorrow!

Happy Mid-Week, all!

Tonight I had the pleasure of seeing a wonderful film which intrigued and thrilled me all at the same time. It’s called Flawless, starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore. Other famous actors are in the cast as well, but nobody I can name at this point.

The odd thing is, I never saw a commercial or preview for this movie. It’s only playing at a few artsy film houses in Atlanta, a huge metro city known for its megaplexes. The only reason I even managed to catch this little gem was because I was meeting friends at the cafe next door, and I wanted to feature that cafe in a book scene I’m writing. So I figure hey, I’ll see friends, have some nice food, refresh my memory on the cafe surroundings, see an artsy film, etc.

I was pleasantly surprised at how intelligent this film was. Some parts were slower than others, but I had chills down my neck, spine and feet when this was over. It was like seeing how a beautiful quilt is made up of strands of material, all woven together. I highly recommend you check it out if you get the chance.

My wish: for someone to write a screenplay like this one, but feature a main character as a writer. Most writer-roles are dysfunctional, maniacal, or not authentic. More on that tomorrow!

Meanwhile, check out the movie!

Click here to see when/where it might be playing near you.

Click here for the official site.