08 February, 2009

the scattering

I feel like I should be writing at least one blog a week...not only to keep my name out there--ha, ha--but to keep my goals and dreams always foremost in my mind.

You know those quizzes that will occasionally make the rounds on Facebook and MySpace? One of the questions is usually, "What are you most afraid of?" For me, the answer is always "Not meeting my goals, failing to make my dreams come true."

Well, that...and aliens.

But if I had an Oscar in my hand, I think I could face an alien. First of all, I could throw the eight-and-a-half pound statuette at it to give me a little bit of time to escape. And maybe it would hurt, if thrown in just the right way and at the right place. Where are aliens weakest, I wonder?

An Oscar would not only mean a life-long goal achieved, it's also a lifesaver. See? It's a good thing, as Martha always says. :)

Still no word on SERPENT RISING. Your continued good juju to the Universe is much appreciated, my friends! It may be a while. There's never a set time for these things...you just have to wait. I do know they start filming on 2nd March, so that gives us some idea of when they'll let me know! I also know that Julian Lee will be playing Paul and Sean Young will be Geraldine. (Sean Young!) They're still in talks with John Savage, too. :)

I had great advice from my boss this week. He asked, "If the universe doesn't think you can handle the waiting, how will it know you can handle getting the role and having that potential change in your life?"

I had been pretty cranky last week. I'm not a patient person, and I was letting the waiting get to me, unfortunately. But when Bob said that...wow...that really opened my eyes.

Not so cranky, anymore! Also just not dwelling on it. I'll get the news when I get it.

There are a lot of projects coming up to look forward to, other than SR. For one, a new detective show has been written and will be produced for HDNet...I believe. I don't have all my facts straight! Troy, if you're reading this, you can leave a comment to correct me!

Anyway, it's sort of  like House (the Fox show) for detectives. And I am going to be playing the main guy's partner. I've read the first script, and I really like it. I'm not featured much in that one, which is fine. "It's not always about me!" Tee-hee! But it's a good script, and that'll be a lot of fun to work on.

Another project I may potentially be attached to is a children's cartoon (Pixar-like animation). It's being developed for Noggin TV (Nickelodeon's 24-hour commercial-free channel). It's very cute...it features kids from many cultures...it's adorable. I think what they have in mind for me is an occasional guest voice. They added a line for the first show...something like, "Thanks for all the fruit!" So, things like that. I'm not picky! I just want to work, work, work!

Except in porn. I will put my foot down on that!

I'm building up my voiceover reel, and my film reel. I'm even learning how to edit it myself. So it may be a while before I have it up, but it's going to look good. Once I get the hang of it!

I've recently attached myself to a project that I believe needs to be made. It's a film called The Scattering based on a book called "because they never do" by Patrick Monaghan. It's a true story about Patrick's great-great grandparents who escaped the Famine in Ireland, each thinking the other dead. They run into each other in Rhode Island...it's an amazing story. Not just a love story, but history--and you know how much of a sucker I am for that. Patrick tells me that there really hasn't been any movies about the Famine...which is a shame. It's a part of our heritage that shouldn't be forgotten.

Richard Harris was originally attached to the script, before his death. Yes--Richard Harris! The film has spiraled down since then, momentum  and interest slowing. Everyone was sure this would be an Oscar-winning role for Harris, and I think they just didn't have the heart to continue without him.

But not anymore.  I am now an Official Fan, and you will hear me discuss The Scattering in the future! I've promised Patrick to help in any way I can--and he knows I'll be begging for an audition when the time comes. ;)

I've read the script, which is wonderful...I've seen the powerpoint presentation with music that will be used in the film by artists like Loreena McKennit...and the book "because they never do" should be arriving in the mail any day now.

I urge you to visit www.blackthornscribe.com to learn more about this story. And keep in mind, every bit of it is true.

"An Scaipthe"
(The Scattering)


Her branches stripped bare
Swept clean by the raging storm
Her children scatter beyond the sea
She grieves.


She grieves hidden by a pervasive, perpetual darkness
Ireland wasn’t dying
She was ending.


And so with a son’s promise to his mother
They leave.


They leave promising someday that they will return to her
And she knowing all the time that they never would
Because they never do.


And then they are gone, forever gone
Scattered beyond her shores
Scattered beyond the seas
Scattered.


And so she waits.

Silently.

Broken.

Alone.

I'm considering using this as a monologue for my reel. I wanted to do a scene from the script, but there's not much in the way of female monologues. And finding a gentleman with a good Irish accent isn't exactly easy. ;)

Okay, I need to get started on household projects now, and stop dreaming about film projects!

Thanks for reading!

The Blackthorn Scribe Project


The Blackthorn Scribe Project

6 comments:

  1. Hang in there, chickie-doodle. You are just at the point in an actor's life when they are an "over-night" sensation! You've been working at this for over 10 years now, so that's just about right. Right?

    BTW - we're in your favorite place - TuPELo, MS!!!

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  2. TuPELo!!!!!

    "Sean, I'd say the best one came from Tupelo, Mississippi. I'll tell ya now that grown men cry and Irish girls are pretty."

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  3. Christa,
    Okay, so you sound like one busy lady! A couple comments from a very fan-girl teenager:
    NOGGIN!?! That's like, BIG! I love Noggin! (The-N is better because it's more for my age but Noggin is sweet for kids!!!!)
    Loreena McKennit?? OH MY she sings my favorite poem-turned-song... "The Lady of Shallott". Talk about a voice on her!
    I haven't read that book but it sounds really good.
    (I'm glad you won't do porn cuz that's gross)
    ANYWAY. SR sounds really cool! So does that TV show! Lucky gal you are!
    God bless!
    Megan

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  4. MEGS!!!!!

    Love Loreena McKennit--and you *know* that The Lady of Shallot is one of my favourite poems, being a big Anne fan.

    Hopefully Noggin picks it up...but it's *really* good, I have no doubts!

    Guess who I just finished watching on the Grammys?! They were fantastic!!!

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  5. Christa,
    Great Blog! Enjoyed reading it. If you need a reader with an Irish accent I'd be glad to help.
    Your Dad (from Lint Roller)
    David Gordon

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  6. Hey, David! You know, I just might...! Will I see you this Saturday at the CASA meeting, or the cold read workshop?

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