Distraction or inspiration?

Working as a screenwriter is hard. Imagine, if you will, inventing a location, populating it with believable and fascinating characters, and having it all fit into 110 pages which will capture what a story might look like once it's turned into a VISUAL form by a huge group of strangers called a Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Art Designer etc etc etc.

My head is about to explode and the deadline is the end of next week.

But I'll tell you what is the most difficult? Even worse than the tyranny of the blank computer screen (and this is what screenwriting is ALL ABOUT, so there's no point in whinging, but it's my blog, so I will) - the worse part is when I have to sit with the people who are paying me, and I have to listen to them discuss (for hours on end) the ways in which my characters could be better formed, and my story better constructed. They are often right, and often helpful, but that still doesn't lessen the bizarre hatred I feel for these "advisers" and "script doctors" and "consultants" who tell me that the character I've created is doing something out of character in my story.

Never before have I realised to what extent my experience as a mother can help me in a business setting. Keeping calm, cheerful, understanding and thankful in the face of hours of nerve-rattling disagreements - looks like it's my specialty.

The best part of screenwriting? Meeting amazing new people in the name of research. Anni - writer and artist extraordinaire - is my current inspiration, and has also introduced me to the joy of Miranda July:

Infomercial

NOUN:

A (television) program that promotes a product in an informative and supposedly objective way.

Here, here and here.

All upfront as "Sponsored by Nuffnang" and I don't for a moment believe they are lying in their posts. I actually like and use the product they're spruiking. But it's important to realise that when you write a gushing commentbox attached to a post such as this you become the equivalent of those clapping, smiling infomercial audience members. Only you're not getting paid, only enticed with the possibility of free goods. Not sure if it's worth it.

In which I return to my roots

No, this is not a post about having the roots of my hair touched up so as to cover up the grey. Although I did go to the hairdresser last week, and I must admit that it really cheered me up.

In this post I return to my commentbox roots.

I was first attracted to blogs because of those lovely little boxes at the end of each post. This past week I had occasion to disagree with a style blogger and I was about to move on without writing a comment because I feared the consequences of disagreeing with her.

I'm not talking about her tracking me down and, you know, beating me up, just that merely disagreeing with a blogger these days can often result in other readers' somewhat aggressive comments. I should point out here that this has never actually happened to me, but I've seen it happen to others, and I'm sensitive. In short - I have been worrying for two days now about the comment I left on this stylist's blog, even though it was very polite, not at all personal and received only a polite (although somewhat icy, remember I'm sensitive, overly so, always have been) response.

Have you ever had that niggling suspicion that disagreeing with a blogger in her commentbox is being mean? Do you think it's better not to write a comment at all in that case? AND - if so - does that explain the general trend in the Australian mummy and beauty blog spheres to adore each other to such an extent that everything becomes a love-fest of mutual admiration rather than an interesting potpourri of difference and genuine interest in the other point of view?

I have written very few commentboxes in my blog-life which made me cringe at a later date and wonder at my motivation. But lately I've been feeling cranky with the world, and I can feel it rubbing off on my commentbox persona. I think the problem may have started because I'm following many style blogs solely for research purposes, and these style bloggers have slowly become a part of my own style world, often to my own dismay. I'm following nailpolish addicts' blogs even as I inwardly sneer at their hobby (nobody, but nobody, is as obsessive as a nailpolish blogger). I'm following Australian style bloggers whose personal style actually makes my skin crawl, and yet there I am, day in, day out, apparently addicted to their regular posts even though they remind me how much ugly fashion there is in the world.

Do commentboxes take on a different meaning now that so many Australian style blogs are monetised ? Certainly if a personal blogger takes photos of herself in different outfits I would never ever write a remotely negative comment. But what if that blog is the blogger's business? And what if that outfit she's wearing, and the entire post, is in fact an advertisement (albeit honest) for a specific brand of clothing? So what is the etiquette in this case? Is it OK for the blog's readers to post only positive comments out of politeness?

I'm not certain. But I'm too scared to find out. I'm sensitive you know.

E x

When a man loves a woman

Here's my favourite trailer for "Drive" - I highly recommend this film. It's a superb character study, a very romantic love story, and you can just close your eyes during the couple of violent episodes (it's only make-believe you know).

(P.S. The trailers for "Drive" have been the subject of some controversy, which is ridiculous in my humble opinion. Oh, and the claim of antisemitism was a surprise to me as I hadn't picked up on that at all.)




Ryan Gosling's performance reminds me of John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever". Have a look at this clip, especially his expression when he's driving in the car with Stephanie after she's been crying. And then, when they sit on the bench and she kisses his cheek - the look on his face and the tears in his eyes are so wonderful.

By the way, this post also counts as a style post as these two men are incredibly stylish. I love how the clip below includes Travolta's complaint that his father ruined his hairstyle.

Cat eye

A perfect example of how the right pair of glasses can magically add interest and style to an outfit.

I recently purchased cat eye spectacles and will soon post photos, they are part of the Betsey Johnson range.

25 ways to wear a scarf

Thought you'd love this!

E x

Oktoberfest guest post (!)

If anyone out there has been wondering what good ol' Eurolush has been up to since the move from Europe back to the US this summer, this blog post will update you on just that very subject. (If no one's been wondering--and you have no idea who Eurolush is--know these things: she is someone who discusses herself in the third person. She has no concept of portion-size. She has eaten her weight in pastries. She takes gulps from the cup of life/glass of beer. There.That's all you need to know.)

Really, though. Let me assure you all that, I, the-artist-formerly-known-as-Eurolush, have been keepin' it real back in the good ol' US of A.

As you can plainly see, Mr. Lush and I are acclimating well to our new lives in California. Together, we're embracing our new environs, fitting in as best we can, and leaving all things "Germany" behind.

FACT: You can take the Lushes out of Germany, but you can't take the Germany out of the Lushes. NEIN! So don't even try.

My trusty sidekick, Tex, is also here to report in that life in Northern California is, while not quite as interesting as life in the German countryside, quite nice. There are nearby parks to visit and a big backyard (complete with squirrels.)

All in all, the Lush Family is doing well. Life is good. We are happy.

My old blog is still up--and occasionally I visit it to remember what I once had. It's bittersweet, really. But I'm moving on. Slowly but surely.

Wherever you are, I hope life has been good to you, too. I wish you happiness and health--and all the best in everything you do.

Love to you all.

XX E

PS-All photos from Saturday night's Oktoberfest here in our little city--where Mr. Lush and I tore it up real good, so to speak.

PPS-I hear there are lots of mushrooms in these Northern California forests!