blondofborg

2009's picks?

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:27:55 GMT

2009's Favourite...?
Song you heard: Heartbreak Make Me A Dancer - Freemasons & Sophie E.B.
Book you read: Glamorama - Bret Easton Ellis (not a 2009 book, but awesome and new to me)
Album you heard: Yes - Pet Shop Boys
Movie you saw: District 9
Movie you saw in your fave genre: Paranormal Activity (Horror)
TV Show you discovered: True Blood
Play you saw: God Of Carnage
Musical or Opera you saw: Avenue Q
Place you visited: San Francisco
Thing you bought: Not sure... WiiFit?
New thing you tried: Writing for stage

We've only been saying it for... like, forever?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:13:20 GMT

Astonishingly insightful, at least by Nine News standards. Of course, we've been saying this forever, but it's nice to see some of the industry's movers and shakers taking notice. I swear, every time I hear some bogan arsehole whinge 'yeah, sure, that wouldn't happen in Australia mate', I want to go the fucker with a knife. I'm just saying...

Cringe factor holds back Aussie film, TV

Courtesy of Nine News, 2.31am 20 Nov.

If a TV show like hit US vampire series True Blood was to be made in Australia, it would be "laughed off screen" by local viewers, says Packed To The Rafters creator Bevan Lee.

Speaking at an annual producers conference, Lee said that the Australian television industry was suffering from a "cultural cringe" factor, with viewers unable to believe high concept stories could happen here.

"I think they're wrong. I think they've formed some tiddely pom view of what happens in this country," Lee told the Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) conference in Sydney.

"It's quite frustrating, I hope to God a show comes around that changes everything."

True Blood, set in a fictional southern US town, has been embraced by Australians, but if it was set or made here local viewers wouldn't accept it, Lee said.

"Vampires in a country town in Australia is equally valid but ... (the audience) would say what a lot of nonsense - vampires in Australia.

"It would be laughed off screen."

Likewise fantasy or science fiction doesn't work locally, he said.

"They go if you're going to come all the way across the universe to invade, are you really going to bother with Australia," he said.

"That's America not us."

One of Lee's previous series, an Australian court series Marshall Law didn't work because he believes Australians didn't believe in the stories, despite being meticulously researched.

Lee said gangland crime drama Underbelly's success would've been a different story had it not been a true story.

"If Underbelly was not a true story, I don't think it would've got the audience it got because Australians have this whole narrative disbelief that big stuff happens in Australia."

Seven Network producer Jo Porter said she believed Australians only wanted to see "middle Australia" represented on television - partly explaining the success of Packed To The Rafters.

"I think it's a case of tall poppy syndrome as well," she said.

"Can you imagine a successful show where it's a wealthy family in Australia. Australians like to see middle Australia."

Lee, the head of creative drama at Seven, also spoke about the future of sitcoms in Australia, and said while Seven would like to produce one, he'd never seen a script that was funny.

"The problem with sitcom writers in the country is they're just not very funny," he said.

"There's always been a will to get a sitcom happening (at Seven).

"Look at Seven, they had Hey Dad for all those years - the most successful sitcom in this country by far, ... but most of the sitcom writers in this country actually talk of it with a sneer on their face.

"One day we'll make it happen."

He said Australians needed to find their own humour - and the ABC had done well with shows like Kath And Kim and Summer Heights High as examples of finding our own brand of comedy.

NaNoWriMo tips

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:38:37 GMT

Several of you are currently in the process of attempting NaNoWriMo and if you're in the majority, are probably falling behind. Some authors were kind enough to donate their tips via Twitter for achieving that crazy word goal!

C. Bushnell - Use SpiceGirls speak.Instead of "Whaddya want?" say "Tell me what you want,what you really really want" +8 words!

Stephanie Meyer - Use "oh my god" instead of OMG. +2 words!!!

J.R.R. Tolkien - My favorite word count cheat? Write a poem in Elvish, then, in the next paragraph, translate it in2 English.

Jim Carroll - It's not easy to stay awake and writing for 30 days straight. I recommend crystal meth and frappuccinos.

Anne Frank - Avoid distractions! When I wrote my book, I locked myself in the attic & refused to let any1 in.

Sarah Palin - My real life sex w/ Todd lasts a minute & a 1/2. To add Xtra words I lie about 4play ;)

J. K. Rowling - Pacing 1self is 4 muggles. Finish all 50k words by the 15th, leaving plenty o time for sequels & lawsuits.

Maya Angelou - In 'Aliens from Planet Zyx' I had a character recite the 1st act of Hamlet on a dare. Hella word count bump

Gibson - Deaf characters r great. They force other characters 2 constantly repeat themselves, thereby adding words

The Real Melville - Give a character a peg leg. You'd be surprised how many extra words U can get from sound effects alone!

Stephen King - The number 1 tip for increasing word count? "Adverbs," he said slowly, succinctly, solemnly.

And so I have not read any Stephen King since Salem's Lot... or Carrie, depending on how bitchy I'm feeling.

Unwanted Facebook 'friend' requests

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:37:01 GMT

Fabulous song by Kate Miller-Heidke regarding those unwelcome blasts from the past on Stalkerbook. I've seen it performed at a cabaret night once and after seeing a friend's latest LJ post, thought I'd track it down and post the lyrics. Enjoy!

They say every one should have their heart broken, at least once.
That that is how you grow emotionally.
Well, I have been misused by many many many men,
but nothing can compare to how you treated me.
At times it really felt as though the pain was here to stay.
And though it’s many years ago, I feel it to this day.
And now you wanna be my friend on facebook…

Are you fuckin kidding me?

All the memories are flooding back to me now.
All the ways you stole the light from my eyes.
I travelled so far just to get away from you!
Till this mornings friend request surprise.

At times it really felt as though I’d never smile again.
You narcissistic ass hole, oh you nasty nasty man.

And now you wanna be my friend on facebook… Are you fucking kidding?

I dont wanna know what kind of cocktail you are
or which member of the beatles or which 1950’s movie star.
I dont give a toss if you’re a ninja or a pirate,
I’d suspect you’d be a pirate but i dont wanna verify it.
and I dont give a shit what your stripper name is or if your Kitty had a litter..

Look, just follow me on twitter.

I dont care about your family tree and i certainly dont want you poking me!.. again.

And now you wanna be my friend on facebook…

Click ignore.

Book Ideas They Couldn't Make Up, Even If They Wanted To, Which They Don't

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:25:34 GMT

These are concepts for real novels, rejected by a literary agent (as paraphrased and commented on by the agent) who may have my new favourite literary blog. You can check out the blog at www.therejectionist.com

#6 scares me, a lot!

1. Some Neighborhood Children (improbably appellated Neato Burrito, Jack Stripes, and Molly BuBolly) must thwart a gang of card sharps/horse thieves bent on foiling the aspirations of Father Christmas to bring presents to the good children of Beamersville. Also, there is a SEQUEL in the works in which said children must restore the Magic to Chris Chringle's (sp) Sleigh so Christmas is not Stolen from the Children of the World. There are also three more books in the Kristmas Kids (tm) series but they aren't written yet.

2. A physicist/rocket scientist is employed as a military air traffic controller except that he discovers all of the military aircraft are actually ALIEN SPACESHIPS which he must DO BATTLE WITH using only his physical prowess as a former high school football star. Also one pistol.

3. A handsome hero is killed in a shootout with a deranged serial killer, who also dies. Girlfriend of hero continues with post-tragedy life, only to realize a great number of persons are still being tortured/dismembered using same methodology as dead serial killer. Girlfriend realizes dead serial killer is now UNDEAD serial killer, must do battle with forces from beyond grave in order to save small town from Satan, etc. Newfound faith in God aids her in this activity. Also contains erotic elements.

4. A deranged maternity-ward nurse desperate for a child of her own kidnaps a baby from her unit. BUT THEN THE BABY TURNS OUT TO BE JESUS.

5. A yacht sails into a BLACK HOLE (?) populated by CANNIBALS (??!!!?) and emerges in an ISLAND KINGDOM where the enterprising crew of aforementioned yacht encounter a former U.S. army general, who has likewise sailed through aforementioned black hole a number of years earlier, and conquered aforementioned island kingdom. Trains of nubile slave girls ensue. Also, treasure.

6. A just-barely-future world in which liberals have turned into flesh-eating zombies, governed by “President Yomama” (we were about to feel sorry for this gentleman until he threw that one in), who is also secretly a zombie, and in league with an ARMY of nuclear-family-hating traditional-value-crushing liberal flesh-eating zombies who are trying to keep the white man down and take over the world, except they can’t do it, because liberals are such bumbling incompetents. We will bet our entire Support Team this dude is voting Palin in 2012. Whether or not she’s running. OOOOH, SNAP.

7. A secretary in a multinational pharmaceutical corporation discovers she is actually a PRINCESS FROM ANOTHER UNIVERSE and subsequently embarks on an interplanetary voyage of self-discovery. We were kind of excited about this one, as we have always secretly suspected we, too, are a princess from another universe; but we’ll never know if it’s good, because, uh, it’s written in Sanskrit. No, really.

Chris' mass abridged blog update!

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:48:05 GMT

Okay, it has been ages since I have updated LJ. This I blame mostly on Facebook as it can't talk back. Realistically, it's more been real life going crazy busy in the last few months. So I'll keep this to a summary.

- "The Arcadia Trust". AWESOME news for anyone who doesn't know. I've had a literary agent request the full manuscript and it's currently under review. Could lead to nothing, or could lead to some representation. But at least it's a very nice validation. Will just have to see if there are others who feel a violent queer romance between a vampire and a werewolf with BDSM overtones, set against a backdrop of murder and supernatural politics is a literary winner. Wish me luck!

- US Trip. Just got back from an amazing three weeks in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas. All were amazing, with Las Vegas probably edging ahead as the most fun, for all its artifice and sham. San Francisco was the only one of the three in which I felt 'I could happily live here.'
LA was a pleasant surprise, being nowhere near as superficial as I was expecting. Probably my least favourite of the three, but still somewhere I'd love to return. In many ways, like a larger, friendlier version of Brisbane or Sydney.
The coastal drive up to Monterey and San Francisco was incredible, and has to be done at least once before you die. Just trust me on this! San Francisco itself was kind of mind-boggling, like a city in which homophobia never existed. This isn't true, of course, but I've never been in a city where gays felt so much a part of the mainstream, to the point that some of the cultural subversiveness normally associated with the LGBT community is lost, or so it felt. While the ghettos certainly exist, in San Francisco, who or how you love simply doesn't seem to be an issue. Thankfully, there's still a little subversiveness to be found. Let's just say Folsom Street Fair was highly educational! Photos upon request :-p
The Las Vegas strip has to be experienced to be believed. I don't think I've ever seen such a colossal monument to both human ego and imagination. More fascinating is that away from the strip it's a completely different town, with touches of the American mid-west, and a staggering unemployment rate of 15%, and a suicide rate 40% higher than the national average. It's an odd feeling to see such economic success and failure side by side.
Disneyland takes the disappointment of the year award. I want two days of our trip back :-p

- Uni. Non-fiction writing... gaaaarrrgh! I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! There's a reason I don't do this nonsense! Why the hell is this a core subject? Hating reality soooo much right now!!! Phew. Had to get that out.

That's enough for now, before this ceases to be a 'non-long' post :-p

Stirring up Schaudenfraude in Adelaide

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:26:40 GMT

Shameless plug.

Avenue Q has just confirmed it will be playing in Adelaide from January 1 to February 14 at Her Majesty's Theatre, for anyone concerned.

Showbiz has 'Early Bird' tickets available from $62.50 (A-reserve) at www.showbiz.com.au if you book before September 20.

Adelaide, for once it doesn't suck to be you!

Czeching out & more Avenue Q news

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:45:15 GMT

Ah, Live Journal, how I've neglected you. Damn Facebo-- I mean, real life.

Anyhoo, a couple of interesting points. Two months after their fiasco in Moscow, the Czech Republic have announced their withdrawal from the Eurovision Song Contest, after it failed to reach the final in three attempts. To be more specific, they came last (with one point) on their first attempt, second last on their second attempt, and this year enjoyed the dubious honour of 'nul points'. But, to their credit, the Czech's aren't blaming 'political voting' or crying foul. Oh no, they're simply bowing out citing 'a lack of viewer interest'.

In other words, their songs were shit.

But we can't say that now, can we? It's just unfortunate to see another country leave the contest after such a small number of attempts. Not only are there now 40+ countries in the thing, but many of them are actually starting to take it seriously. I know this is a frightening development for the ESC, but it seems to be the current trend. If it continues, we could be looking at an actual song contest by 2025.

Or that could be ambitious.

Locally, I have to say, based on some of the doom and gloom stories I've heard, Avenue Q seems to be doing better than previously suggested. The Canberra season has just been announced, so it seems the tour will continue for now.

Avenue Q closes in Melbourne August 2, opens in Sydney August 8 and Canberra October 24.

One more...

Wed, 27 May 2009 10:50:51 GMT

Probably the best Avenue Q TV spot I've seen so far.

http://9am.ten.com.au/video.htm?vxSiteId=4a40990c-a06c-401b-8663-6f890bb8f3dc&vxChannel=9am%20Just%20Added&vxClipId=1427_9am777-lg1-270509&vxBitrate=300&CMP=LEC-DANCEgetVideoLink

Meet Australia's Avenue Q

Wed, 27 May 2009 05:00:45 GMT

Avenue Q doing the rounds of media appearances this week prior to the first previews in Melbourne.

http://au.truveo.com/avenue-q-performance/id/1628897519

http://au.tv.yahoo.com/video/-/watch/13640282

http://au.tv.yahoo.com/video/-/watch/13640273

Very interesting article

Fri, 15 May 2009 12:42:01 GMT

http://www.lesbilicious.co.uk/tv-film/eurovision-is-the-world%E2%80%99s-campest-content-ready-to-get-serious/

Not overly in depth, but still well worth a read.

Oh, and anyone else who watched the first semi-final tonight, please tell me I'm not alone in thinking Belarus was robbed?

Eurovision First Semi-Final results

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:59:27 GMT

Despite promising myself I wouldn't wiki-spoil, I caved and had a peek today. Pleased I did, as the results are a little depressing. Congratulations to the usual suspects :-p

Finalists are:
Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Turkey, Israel, Armenia, Romania, Portugal, Malta

Only the last two are a surprise. With the exception of Malta, all these countries made the final last year.

Eliminated:
Montenegro, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Belgium, Andorra, Belarus, Macedonia.

Again, none of these countries made last year's final either. Whether I spoil the second semi will depend largely on how bored I am at the time.

Feeling better

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:40:17 GMT

Not sure why, but feeling more at ease with the world now. If I weren't so damned optomistic about people I'd qualify for a Daria award.

It's like that...

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:24:31 GMT

http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=231

Yup, that would about sum up my feelings on life about now. Not sure about 'nobody'. Just find myself missing the people that do. Feeling kind of isolated and unable to communicate right now.

Not sure if it's me, or the people around me are just stupid :-p

I'm not sure how but I missed this...

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:05:49 GMT

I'm willing to bet most people who read have already seen this, but anyway. I laughed.

For the Shirley Manson/Garbage fans who read

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:37:13 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5bQg8GT_XA&feature=related

Enjoy.

Life Sucks... but only for... about a month it seems

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:21:23 GMT

In amongst all the theatre doom and gloom news from Broadway and the West End, it was nice to hear a more optomistic note ring out from London's theatre scene.

Avenue Q, which is one of the few big 00's shows to survive the January/February cull, was scheduled to close in London on March 28 after a respectable West End run of 2 years, 10 months. It has been announced that due to a surge in ticket sales, the show will remain closed only until June 1, when it will reopen at the Gielgud Theatre.

A new musical production of Calendar Girls will replace it at the Noel Coward.

No word on how the show is selling in Australia, but rumours lead me to beleive producers are pleased with sales to date. Only Melbourne and Sydney confirmed at this point.

What's Your Personality Type?

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:42:27 GMT

You Are An ENTP

The Visionary

You are charming, outgoing, friendly. You make a good first impression.
You possess good negotiating skills and can convince anyone of anything.
Happy to be the center of attention, you love to tell stories and show off.
You're very clever, but you are not disciplined enough to do well in structured environments.

In love, you see everything as a grand adventure. You enjoy taking risks for love.
And if things don't work out, you're usually not too much worse for the wear!

You would make a great entrepreneur, marketing executive, or actor.

At work, you need a lot of freedom to pursue your own path and vision.
How you see yourself: Analytical, creative, and peaceful

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Detached, wishy-washy, and superficial

What's Your Personality Type?

"We've got a looooong waaaaay to gooo-ooooo!"

French & Saunders Mamma Mia

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:17:36 GMT

For those who haven't seen it. Also featuring Joanna Lumley, Matt Lucas and Alan Carr.

Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT_vRUFp4l8&feature=related

Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-EdJw7cy6Y&eurl=http://tss-blog.com/

Siren for Strangers

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 06:40:35 GMT

A response to a post on this blog from somebody I don't know always raises my interest. What is it that leads us to read a complete strangers rantings and thoughts? Did you just drop a particular topic into LJ search and stumbled upon my semi-informed opinion, or are you a serial reader? Do you keep reading the blog? Do you enjoy it? Does it offend you? Do I have stalkers? Oh such questions to be asked!

Curiouser and curiouser, dear Alice.

What... AGAIN????

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:15:27 GMT

More theatre-ness playing Brisbane in 2009. Unknown if this will tour as yet.

http://www.qpac.com.au/events/CATS09

Isn't there a nice violin factory you should be playing?

Georgia makes a hasty exit - could it be the west's year?

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:15:24 GMT

Georgia have announced their late withdrawal from the Eurovision Song Contest after the EBU and Russian organisers asked them to change the political lyrical content of their song.

This could put a minor dint in the Eastern domination of the contest. Countries can only vote in the semi-final in which they compete. While it's not good to lose a country, this now gives the west another edge in the first semi final, where the countries will be....

EASTERN BLOC
Armenia (will go through almost certainly)
Belarus (probably not, nobody likes a dictatorship)
Bosnia & Herzegovina (may struggle without Croatia or Serbia to vote for them)
Bulgaria (not unless it's a great song)
FYR Macedonia (ditto)
Montenegro (did poorly last year, and have no Serbia or Albania to vote for them)
Romania (will probably go through)

OTHERS
Andorra (looking good for the first time with Spain & Portugal to vote for them)
Belgium (hasn't been in a final in years... could be their year)
Czech Republic (only their third contest and the last two songs were crap, so doubtful)
Finland (merci Sweden et Iceland, deux point!)
Iceland (see above)
Israel (really good chance)
Malta (not impossible... renouned for crazy voting)
Portugal (good chance of benefitting from the Iberian friendship society)
Sweden (haven't even chosen their song yet but have a good chance of qualifying)
Switzerland (wouldn't surprise me if they made it)
Turkey (this one's a given)

In addition, the three 'automatic final' countries that can vote in this round are the UK, Spain and Germany. That said, the second semi-final remains heavily dominated by strong eastern countries, and includes Russia in the voting.

So, You Think You Can Bitch?

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:52:09 GMT

Time for a little game in the true LJ tradition. Take a newspaper article. Any you can lay your hands on from the last day or two, and write an LJ rant about it. Be thoughtful, be funny, be profound, be offensive, be whatever you like, but just bitch with gusto. Oh, and don't worry too much about the facts. This is about getting your ranty-pants on. Imagine you're a journalist for News Ltd. There, got the idea now? Good!

Once all the rants are in (best to comment on this entry rather than posting or emailing them all over the place), everyone who enters votes for the top 3 in order (you cannot vote for your own), until we have a winner of So, You Think You Can Bitch?

Give it a go! It's what LJ was designed for in the first place.

Eurovision + Andrew Lloyd Webber = Oh The Horror!

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:16:58 GMT

Okay, I don't get this. This year's Eurovision will re-introduce jury voting, giving the UK their first real shot at a good placing since 2002. And they throw it away by letting Andrew Lloyd fucking Webber write their song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eADt1lFpmCA

Attitudes to Fantasy/Horror/Sci-fi/Speculative Fic

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:57:16 GMT

Discussion point. Fantasy, horror, sci-fi and speculative stories across many formats can have a bit of a hard time being taken seriously and getting recognition in the wider marketplace without gazillions of Hollywood dollars lumped into marketing. I'm referring to these stories in terms of prose, film, television, multimedia and theatre.

What's the reason for this? What's the problem? Particularly in reference to the Australian marketplace. Is it just an Australian thing, or is it wider spread? Do you think Australians are less receptive to these genres than most? Why/why not?