Remember The Elephant Parade? This is way cooler, The Gromit Parade! I would love to see this.
Category: Groovy
The power of the iPad: drawing
Last weekend I bought an iPad (2). The iPad is great for a lot of things, but one of them surely is drawing. And then especially drawing for people who aren’t particularly good at it, like me.
Yes I drew the sneaker below, but you could have done the same thing, as it has just been a matter of tracing the lines on a photograph and color them in. (don’t tell anyone that secret though!) I admit you could have done the same thing on a laptop in Photoshop but it is so much easier to just do it on the iPad, not the least because it is instant on and it fits better on your lap.
Anyway, here are a few drawings I made tonight (can you guess what my favourite color is? Yes ok). And I will write a bit more about my experiences with the iPad soon. It’s also a great thing to write blogposts on.
Bill Nighy in Wild Target trailer
Just because it brings a smile to my face. All three of them (Rupert Grint, Emily Blunt and Bill Nighy) are great at comedy.
And this is a rather pleasant watch too! (Link em up! – How groovy is that man!)
But yeah – do that!
Perhaps it is quite a good ehrm idea
More than 50 charities are supporting a UK campaign to levy a Tobin tax on transactions between financial institutions, which can be used to help fight poverty, protect public services and tackle climate change.
I think it is a brilliant idea. And this man is also just very luvely.
More about Robin Hood Tax here.
(Short film written and directed by Richard Curtis)
A Groovylicious Sunday: Bill Nighy on set of Statuesque
While I am in the middle of getting very exited about my upcoming trip the the USA, yesterday made September even more magical. I knew BIll Nighy was going to star in Statuesque, a new short film which tells the story of a love triangle between two living statues and an admirer who observes his object of affection every day among the Christmas shoppers – but is unaware that he too is being watched.
It is a silent short film written and directed by Neil Gaiman, who wrote Coraline and Stardust. Statuesque will be broadcasted on Sky around Christmas.
Neil Gaiman twittered and wrote on his website that he was going to start shooting this movie in London, and actually wouldn’t mind people to come down and watch the process.
I didn’t need much encouraging to push my pack-my-suitcase duties aside for a while and get on the London overground to Watford yesterday. When I arrived, Bill was already dressed up and ready for his scenes.
He looked pretty marvelous in his 60’s style Chicago gangster suit, his dark sunglasses makes him a perfect Blues Brother, but in the scenes he replaces his dark shades with some normal ones which turns him into a quintessential British gentleman with umbrella and all.
It was fabulous to watch him “at work”. And special, I have only seen him perform “live” on stage in a play where everything is rehearsed and goes smoothly. But here he had to improvise a bit, do the same scenes a couple of times, and think about continuity and things like that. Absolutely Intrigueing to see him at work.
His scenes took a couple of hours after which they moved on with other cast members. I am sure that he will be shooting more scenes, but don’t currently know when these will be shot and where.
September has started off in a major way having the chance to watch this, and I think I will continue to smile throughout the rest of the month.
Where do we go from here?
That, my friend is the question I am trying to find an answer to.
In the meantime, enjoy this lovely song by Sandrine. You might recognize it from the film Last Chance Harvey.
Download free Coldplay album and sing
Now I am not a major fan of Coldplay, but I do love some of their songs.
The friendly chaps of Coldplay have just released a FREE live album. Yes you read that right, FREE and LEGAL.
You can download it here (for as long as it lasts).
And even though you might not be their greatest fan, it is worth downloading for the live version of Viva La Vida. If that huge crowd singing along on this song doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what does.
The album is in MP3 format.
The Boat That Rocked – review
And finally finally it was the day where The Boat That Rocked entered the harbours of London. The anticipation was high, this was after all a Richard Curtis movie with Bill Nighy in it. A winning combination, right?
(Very right, as I have seen it three times now and it isn’t over yet)
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Two kisses …
You know how it goes with film premieres and me. I never really want to go but I always end up going. And they always start out bad and then they tend to end, well, better. Sometimes they end great, and sometimes they end like “wow”.
Did I just say “wow”. Oh yes, wow doesn’t even get close. And I know I am too old for this shit, but bugger that. Today will be a memorable day. This was the premiere of The Boat That Rocked.
And be warned, there are images of that man inside.
And then – the letter came
Life has its funny ways.
It’s called Groovy
Very. Groovy. Indeed.
Update: I reshuffled the design a bit an incorporated the new logo. It’s not completely finished yet but far enough to use it. I have called this design “Quentin” – very appropiate I think.
I am not so sure about the background it seems a bit wild, but for now – wild is good.
SweetArts: Down is Up
I have long struggled taking this decision. I was jumping between the following two options:
No! No! No! Don’t be bloody ridiculous. Are you insane? Don’t do it. He will think you are stupid. It’s just not done. You can’t do things like that. Do-no-do-it. No! Don’t!! You will be doomed forever and he will never ever want to hear from you again.
and
OK. What have I got to lose? I don’t want to spend the rest of my life thinking: why did I not at least give it a try? What is the worst that can happen? That I don’t hear anything in return? Or that I get an angry letter from his agent telling me to bugger off, or saying “How dare you! Who do you think you are?”. Would that weigh up against the fact that I then don’t have to wonder about it the rest of my life?
Thoughts like these have played ping-pong in my head for a long time. I think the thing that eventually made me make my decision was the fact that all the people I have met the last couple of weeks, the very experienced producers (who are used to reading scripts) and the casting director: they all loved the script. It gave me confidence.
So last week I decided to risk it. I sat down, wrote a letter and posted it. Today I got the answer from his agent, and this is what it literally said – *he* would *love* to read the script. Shall I repeat that – *HE* WOULD *LOVE* TO READ THE SCRIPT! No I don’t quite believe it either.
Now *HE* is also a very busy man, so it surely won’t get any further than him reading the script. But bloody hell – *he* (the best actor in the world) is going to read my script!
(I won’t mention his name here, but people knowing me just a little, know who *he* is)
Oh and one more thing: there will 24 actors coming for audition tomorrow. 24!! I just checked a few of them and these are people that have been in things like Dr. Who and James Bond movies. I think I am going to pack my bag and run away now, this is becoming way too scary! Scaring the willies out of me this is!
I didn’t know I was looking for love
I swear. True, and I am quite sure, ever lasting love.
From the moment I decided I wanted him, truly and utterly wanted him, until the moment where he actually sat down on my lap, I guess only a few hours went. I met him, had a very brief talk with him and that was enough. He swept me off my feet. Completely. I invited him to join me on my cafe visit. We have spend all afternoon together and pages full of script were written without any effort.
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Love – It is what it is
Room is declutterized and looks about twice the size now. I should do this more often.
This morning the postman delivered 2 more cards in my mailbox. I had some time to photograph them and to add them to the gallery.
May I present you:
Imagine Love, Actually
Love and Bill, Actually
Love Actually, in a stitch
Love lifts us up
Love Davy Actually
I simply can’t tell you how big the smile on my face is, when I look at how creative you all have been. It is simply amazing and I love them all equally much, actually.
I am sitting here and wonder how on earth I have been able to convince you out there to send me fantastic cards like these, it is billiant (which is spelled correctly).
I am about to dive into the next short film meeting, but before I go, I want to cite a poem that was on one of the cards I received (and thank you so much for sending it!). I had never read it before but I absolutely love it, and it is one of those poems you wish you had written yourself. It is also a very true poem. It is by Erich Fried.
What it is
It is nonsense
says Reason
It is what it is
says LoveIt is unhappiness
says Caution
it is nothing but pain
says Fear
It is hopeless
says Insight
It is what it is
says LoveIt is ridiculous
says Pride
It is careless
says Caution
It is impossible
says Experience
It is what it is
says LoveErich Fried
It’s Enchanting
Times Square, New York – drawing with light
I have had a lot of silly ideas throughout the years but having people send me cards on the “Love Actually” theme is definitely one of the best ones ever. When I came home yesterday I found two more cards and they both brought a big smile to my face.
I present you:
Love Actually
and
Love Christmas Actually
I love them! They are so cool! And Enchanting! They both have Bill on them!
It’s great to see how creative people have been. And just to let you know how powerful those cards are, one of them did not even have a stamp on it (I won’t mention any names … :-) but Royal Mail did not care, they probably Love Love Actually Actually so they delivered it anyway.
Today I will start writing on the cards that I will send in return and I will post them as soon as possible. I hope they won’t be too delayed.
Enchanted was rather fun. Patrick Demsey is lovely and Amy Adams who plays the princess is perfect in her role. Great to see New York as the location for this film, and the mix of animation and real life acting was original, even though I think they could have joked around with that a bit more. It’s a feel good family Christmassy movie.
I just read that Patrick Demsey was in About a Boy too. I have seen that film several times (it’s the only film in which Hugh Grant proves he can act), but I never recognized him in it.
I have to get back to rewriting my feature script too, I received my tutor’s notes on it yesterday. The story line is fine but I need to make the two main characters talk less and do more. Having them not kiss before the very end is a tough challenge too!
Have a great one
I want to be just as silly as him when I am 58.
Handsome. Funny. Intelligent. What a man.
Happy Birthday to Bill.
And happy birthday to Jill, who also has her birthday today, and who chose to celebrate it in London. We drank tea (the milky way) yesterday and it was a pleasure to meet her. It is funny to meet bloggers in real life, you read each others blogs, you already know quite some things about each other and conversation is easy. We walked from Notting Hill to Leicester Square, talked a lot, we waved at Big Bill and it was good. Happy Birthday to Jill.
I am at home today, waiting for my new laptop to arrive. Somehow Dell is a bit annoying as they didn’t really want to deliver it on another delivery address. It doesn’t matter, I have some things I need to take care of here, so while listening to the soundtrack of Love Actually (which is a joy) I take care of some things on my todo list.
Tomorrow I have a first meeting with 2-3 people who like to make a short film in December. I am exited and I really hope we get to make something.
While listening to the soundtrack of Love Actually, this song came by:
Sound no longer available.
I have seen the film a million times and know this song is popping up somewhere in the film (it’s a beautiful song), but I can’t picture the scene.
Can you? (without having a look at the film!)
Yeah OK
When trying to sleep last night I was rethinking my previous post and thought – when are you actually gonna grow up (because I really did shout “yes” in the tube and people did look weird at me) .
I couldn’t come up with an answer, I just thought and realized once more that my life wouldn’t be worth living without passion. And yesterday’s post was a passion post.
Today I won’t mention his name I promise, I just want to say one thing.
It’s with 2 L’s.
And he’s dangerous indeed.
(Larger)
Over the moon and into space
Remember the post I just wrote with the pathetic:
“I will soon make and publish my plan on how I will try to survive the rest of December being a person who hates Xmas.”
Forget it. That problem has solved itself already.
Remember what I wrote about Richard Curtis?
Standing up again
We have received 10 responses from 50+ aged actors with gray hair who can raise and eyebrow “Roger Moore” style, and who want to be in our short film. Don’t you just love a job description like that.
We will see some of them to check that we can work with them and will then pick the one best suited for the role.
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Rock ‘n Roll heroes
There are several options here.
- You can wonder why I have just spend a whole evening creating this. But hey, if you don’t know be my now, you will never ever ever know me.
- You can guess who they are if you don’t have anything better to do.
- You can click here for a larger version.
- Or you can play a bit yourself. If you do, please put your link in the comments because we wanna see it!
Sleep tight.
Don’t let the bed bugs bite.