Continue reading

Bristol based singer songwriter Jane Taylor (www.janetaylor.co.uk) is coming to the Alton Maltings to perform a very special Valentine’s concert and jointly help raise funds for Key Changes Music Therapy – a local charity (www.keychanges.org) Local resident Julian Fisher came across Jane Taylor on a visit to Dartmouth when she played at their annual music festival. Instantly captivated he would later appreciate why the music press, numerous radio DJs and industry pundits across the country love her songs. She is quite likely the best kept, worse for it, secret. Her work in the debut album Montpellier won huge acclaim and... Continue reading

Billy Billy Boxer (smell baggy toots) was born of Amy and Zac on 1st March 2004. At 6 years and almost 3 months old he lived a full life loving everything and everyone. Billy came to us at exactly 8 weeks of age. A small, lively and ever so cute puppy. His father, Zac was enormous and we learnt prone to leaning on his owners. Something we later enjoyed with Billy when watching TV. Billy was loved by everyone, well nearly... his affection for cats was well known to our numerous 'neighbourly' feline friends. I always said, ‘Billy loves cats... Continue reading

Last week I finished the script and couldn’t quite believe it. On the computer my accomplishment didn’t do anything for me but when I printed and bound it I enjoyed a great sense of achievement - not to mention the use of half a ream of paper! Yep, weighing in at 185 pages it is of course in need of a trim. But rather too many than too few pages. I have an idea where the axe will fall and following a few rereads some cuts will be important to help increase the story’s pace. So far 3 people have... Continue reading

Dear Blog, First an apology... Once again it’s been quite a while since I updated you on my progress. What can I say but there’s been a few distractions. It’s not that I’ve been unfaithful or anything, no really. In fact I have been diligently writing Compass, scene after scene after scene. It’s huge pleasure seeing the story unfold but with my enthusiasm comes a side effect, one that is self inflicted - page overload. My brother-in-law, the film director, helpfully reminded me that each page works out, give or take, to roughly 1 minute on the screen. Ouch..! My... Continue reading

Can do better 6/10. It's how I would score my blogging abilities... full of promise but lacking commitment..! Ouch! I wouldn't want me as a teacher. But failing to update my blog hasn't paralleled my completing Compass. Well, at least not exactly. Admittedly I've not achieved as much as I had hoped but I mention this because it’s OK to have other priorities. I keep telling myself. Writing is not a job for me it’s a pleasure - thank god, otherwise I'd poorer than I am now! Having set myself a (revised) target of end April... I must crack on. Continue reading

MESSAGE FROM JANE TAYLOR Just to let you know that I’ll be coming to Totnes to play a gig at the beautiful Woodshed in the grounds of Bowden House Fri 26th March from 8pm. A log fire, hot chocolate, fairy lights and music to warm the cockles, what more could you ask of a chilly evening in March. Hope to see you there, Jane PS The JT St George’s concert still has tickets available if you fancy a complete treat. Expect a Gospel Choir,Brass band, Strings, grand piano, an African marimba and lots of very special guests and friends, all... Continue reading

With the script getting perilously close to completion (gulp!) but only in its first draft (sigh!) I decided to seek expert opinion and a check up on my facts. One area where I struggled not too long ago (The answer is closer than you think) is quite possibly the most important of the entire story. So when I happened to find myself in the home of a wonderful lady who by (my) good fortune is a senior midwife (sorry if that's the incorrect hierarchy), I jumped at the prospect of her reading my script. A recent new TV series, Trauma... Continue reading

With a fair proportion of the script completed, coming in at around 100 pages, I printed a review copy for my brother-in-law, René Bjerke (IMDB - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0084805/). Since IMDB doesn't do him justice, with quite a few pieces of work missing from the entry, I will add here that he is a film script writing, film directing genius...a classic auteur of the movie making process whose work and style is about telling the story through its characters... it is no surprise therefore that he is known by the many of the Norwegian cast and crew as an actors' director. I... Continue reading

Message from Jane: We've landed ourselves a truly beautiful gig in Cornwall. It's in a venue called 'Canglaze Caverns' and it in a cave!! Carnglaze consists of three underground caverns set in 6.5 acres of wooded hillside of the Loveny valley at St. Neot, near Liskeard.I'll be bringing all my fantastic string players with me and playing new material as well as songs from 'Compass' and 'Montpelier'. It would be lovely to share this one with you. It's 450 seater venue, so it's a proper night out and everything. Here's the details: Fri 30th April Canglaze Caverns St Neot, Liskeard,... Continue reading

Last night, whilst waiting for my daughter Amy as she trained, I spent the best part of 2 hours scripting the final short scene. Perhaps the most difficult scene in the story but one I had covered off in my treatment, as was appropriate, with the last but one soundtrack from Jane Taylor’s album, Compass. It has all the hallmarks of being a phenomenally moving scene, mixed with anticipation, dread, fear, wonderment and utter sadness. So for my treatment I allowed a brief description to move along with the album track and predictably it brought many, including me, to tears.... Continue reading

There’s much to agree and disagree with Kermode’s film critique. How can anybody say they loved Hudson Hawk..!!!? But we all have our weird likes and dislikes so I was intrigued recently by his remarks for the film Up in the Air starring George Clooney. Just so it’s clear I thoroughly enjoyed this film and whilst I haven’t had time to post a film review it easily scores 4 stars Continue reading

Thursday 10th June 2010 St George's Bristol, Great George St, BS1 5RR Box office: 0845 40 24 001 A hugely entertaining evening to be had with Jane Taylor and special guests in one of the most beautiful venues in the country. Expect a full on Gospel choir (the real thing), brass band, strings, steinway and a vocal duet with a marimba! Tickets available now from £7 www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk Continue reading

Actually I don't write a diary, well not as such. I just wanted to know what it felt like writing to an inanimate object, kind of like writing to your bank but on balance (no pun intended) more satisfying. But seeing as I've started... I must apologise my dear Diary for my tardy level of entries made in 2010. Quite unforgivable and a shocking start to the year, which by all accounts started so well in the script writing department. I'll not labour on the problems caused by the snow but with good intentions and nowhere to go I embarked... Continue reading

My first blog entry for 2010 and I’m delighted its about the thrill I’ve experienced these last few weeks. As I move into what must be the second half of completing my script the process is not only getting easier but unbelievably satisfying. My on-screen characters are developing in ways I didn’t think possible. Not because of their limitations but the perception of my own as a writer. I’ve written many articles and yes it’s a pleasant feeling to complete a task, develop rounded, well formed arguments, raise questions, pose theories and introduce doubt but perhaps you will have already... Continue reading

For film lovers at least Avatar has been on the radar for the last 6 months with a slow burn marketing campaign built around its director James Cameron. For everyone else Cameron’s last ‘appearance’, Titanic released in January 1998, was better known for having helmed a film that reportedly almost bankrupted Hollywood, with auctions to raise funds from the sale of film props, but going on to achieve the highest box office taking in movie making history. With Sunday magazine editorials and movie mag features concentrating on one aspect, his return, the story was of a multi award winning, billionaire... Continue reading

Is this really how it is for writers? OK, so I keep asking if this or that is normal – no doubt boring the pants of seasoned writers – but I don’t know what is a typical writer’s day. Surely however I shouldn’t be having this much fun? It’s not a drag, it’s not been tough and it certainly isn’t tedious. After each session of writing I can only describe my feeling as being on a high. Composition and structure are coming through which I have to say is a blessing. And the dialogue, well, this is just pouring out... Continue reading

For my age I think I'm one of the 3 people NOT to have read Maurice Sendak's beautifully illustrated book... yes, I've just seen a copy. Apparently its sold close to 20 million copies worldwide. There's no doubt he'll shift a few million more thanks to the film starring the voice talents of James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) and Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland). Its a simple story of a mischievous boy, Max, who goes awol from home (a side step from the book), taking a boat into his imagination, where he lands in a world filled with large... Continue reading

Is this the correct way for writing a (movie) script? Am I about to land myself a stinker? Continue reading

Whilst I recommend buying her albums, Montpelier and Compass – a wonderful Christmas gift – you might like to see her live. So here’s where you’ll find her playing and details of how to stay tuned. DECEMBER 2009 Thu 17th December 2009 PORTSMOUTH Drift in the City. 10 Isambard Brunnel Rd, Portsmouth. PO1 2DU www.driftbarportsmouth.com JANUARY 2010 Sat 23rd ORPINGTON, GREATER LONDON, The Hall, 7 Station Rd, BR6 ORZ Fri 29th TOTNES, Bowden House, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 7PW www.woodshedcollective.co.uk FEBRUARY Sun 21st BIRMINGHAM, Kitchen Garden Cafe, 17 York Road, Kings Heath Birmingham B14 7SA £10 on the door, £8 in... Continue reading

A chance stroll through the City of London brought me to Ropemaker Street and up ahead, looming large and then larger were two glass buildings. The images may not do them justice but trust me, they are substantial. My eyeful of window panes dwarfing the skyline reminded me of the collapsing buildings in the movie 2012. Imagining as I tried, these edifices falling over and into each other, as depicted in the film, I could not fathom how the creative sfx geniuses or indeed the director thought a twin engined aeroplane could survive passing in-between. Perhaps I'm thinking too hard..!? Continue reading

I can't tell you how many times I've read Compass my 'work in progress' script. Its not that I don't want to tell you, although I wonder if it’s embarrassing to admit a number pushing 60 or more..!? So as you would expect, and hope, I know the storyline back to front and you might say, inside out. And yet as I complete the scenes I became concerned that the ebb and flow was becoming a tad staccato, losing the fluidity of a story that is complicated by its moving back and forth with the memories of its main character,... Continue reading

I'm late to the table for this film as it ends its 2 week stint at major theatres. But it served its purpose for what was nearly 3 hours of crash bang wallop. However, let me say right away that as a popcorn disaster movie it entertained, and kept my daughter and I from looking at our watches - no mean feat for any film once passed 90 mins. That's not to say that we were riveted to our seats throughout since I suffered an sfx wearisome overload by 120 mins. The extraordinary luck that keeps our protagonist from a... Continue reading