oodgeroo:bloodline to country

Whilst attending the anzca09 academic conference in Brisbane I got a tip to go and see oodgeroo:bloodline to country a play on at the local theatre. Oodgeroo is a play by Sam Watson and was put on as part of Brisbane’s 150th anniversary celebrations. The play is about aboriginal writer, poet, activist Kath Walker, oodgeroo. One of her sons Denis co-founded the Brisbane black panther party along with playwright Sam Watson back in the 1970’s. So sam is in this piece, contrasting how one family deal with their anger at the treatment of indigenous people by government and other non-indigenous settlers.
There was a q&a aftewards where I asked sam a question designed to get him to reflect on his journey as he is I figured in some ways writing about himself when he writes about denis. The importance of being ‘the teller’ of story in the indigenous community and not the author or owner of the story meant that sam felt no need to disconnect ’self’ from ’story’ when writing he replied.
A few days after seeing the play I am left with ideas of being one own country and each others, about connecting in the present, immediate and also beyond the present immediate through time and space in ways we might not be able to imagine. The piece produced by La Boite theatre company really connected with the Brisbane audience.
And in an example of the power of theatre 2 anecdotes:
Anecdote 1- sam never made it through uni as in his own words he was ‘busy getting arrested’ all the time (incidentally sam said his daughter who did make it through and the character Pearl in the piece who becomes a lawyer are kind of like surrogates for him). A guy in the audience spoke to say he was at the same uni as sam at the same time and had admired him and what he had to face daily as the only aboriginal in a uni of 25,000 but never had the courage to speak to him and tell him how much he admired him. He had follwoed sam’s career from afar over the intervening years and now he was so pleased to be able to now be able to tell him of his admiration.

Anecdote 2- in the early 1970’s kath walker, oodgeroo was on a plane that was hijacked. This event played a big part in the play. The nature of power, struggle, oppression. The actor playing black panther denis walker also played the arab hijacker. After the show he noticed a woman who seemed really affected so went to give her a hug. She it turned out was on this same plane 35 years ago. She was watching parts of her life played back a few feet in front of her.
The power of theatre.

Decibel09 Pitch

Two days of pitch training are being organised by the Arts Council Decibel project. Although I am very comfortable presenting and have a clear idea of what I want to do in my 57 Images of My Father project pitch I am attending these sessions. It’ll be an opportunity to discuss my ideas and get some feedback.  Training is early August for pitch on 15th September.

Warhorse

Went to see Warhorse in its West End run transfer from the National Theatre. The reviews are accurate so the show is a really good show. The full-size puppet horse are fantastic. They get their own ovation at the end and they deserve it. It’s playing at the New London on Drury Lane until September. See details here.

Go see it if you get the chance.

The Wives (many) of Fela Kuti

Just ordered this book about fela kuti’s music and the political and practical context surrounding it’s conception and production.

£65.00 so not cheap. Hopefully it’ll be a useful research source and not me frittering my fee on fela cd’s and books!!
Thinking of changing the working title to Fela’s Queens or The Queens of Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Basically putting Queens somewhere in the title.

Boat Gypsies-progess

My play Boat Gypsies keeps surprising me. New ideas start happening now I have worked out what the characters actually want! I am able to incorporate new ideas that spring up as the characters start taking over.
I usually start writing before I have done much character work and really like working this way. As long as I have collaborators who can ‘read’ early drafts for what they are I am good to go this way. I usually have something interesting on the page, in this instance I had the first half done to a good standard and some idea of where it might go. Through discussion and character development and then some research I can produce some interesting work that keeps me energised through the writing process.
I usually use what David Freeman refers to as character traits to get me going initially with more detailed work happening once substantial progress (to my mind) has been made.
Really enjoying it. Will be done in perhaps seven days ( should say nights as I write at night), done enough to print out and read then tweak, weave, strengthen bits that I have missed during the process. Trying to make my self-imposed end of the month deadline.

57 Images of my Father development

The artist’s briefing for the Decibel09 pitch slot selected project 57 Images of My Father takes place on the 25th of this month. I have a pitch in mind which I think is very representative of the project. It involves me ‘acting’. To deliver the pitch the way I imagine I need to learn how to use After Effects better. Also taking it as an opportunity to learn how to use Motion.
I have another two weeks on my current project Boat Gypsies and then I can start to learn the software packages. I bought the apple pro training series Motion 3 book and already have a number of after FX’s books, mainly focal press ones. After the draft deadline of this month I intend to alternate between ‘57 Images’ Pitch and my ‘Wives of Fela’ project until September.

idea generation

Been thinking recently that I need to start generating some thing more from the  ‘bottom drawer’ ideas I have accumulated. I have a few that I havent read ina  while so need to have a look at them and see what I can do with them, where they might be placed. also need to replenish and generate some more. most are one paragraph, some are treatments.

current projects- update

Update.

Project 1- Rural Touring Project. Additional Showcasing being developed for Decibel09, Manchester and Momentum Festival:Nottingham in October. More exposure of the work, more feedback opportunities which is what I like and need when writing so hoping these happen.

Project 2- The Wives (Many) of Fela Kuti. Backburner but writing/feedback schedule worked out. I am increasing my Fela Kuti collection cd by cd!!

Project 3- Decible 09 Pitch of 57 Images of My Father. Artists briefing on 25th June at Arts Council London. Talking about about how this year’s showcase will work, meet with other artists who are part of the programme.  Decibel staff responsible for the marketing, organisation, production and strategy of the event will be on hand to answer any questions.  ( Hoping to go Everything Must Go at Soho Theatre show afterwards. )

project 4- Didn’t get shortlisted for the BBC drama scheme. Not massively disappointed as I am already up against it with the three projects I currently have ongoing. Feedback likely at some point about my project.

Boat Gypsies-Research trip

Had a really useful trip on a canal boat today. Many thanks to danny kaye my pilot and boat owner. I was mainly trying to sort out how to make the boat sink but have now confirmed my decision to just have a leak. This is much more plausible and realistic.

Riding on the boat was great, I have seen plan views but the actual experience of travelling in one and also speaking to someone knowledgeable coupled with the sights and sounds left me feeling this was a really useful trip.

current projects

I currently have three projects on the go and will find out if its four by the end of this week.

1- Rural Touring Project. Boat Gypsies draft by end of this month as I am in Australia for July actual deadline. Rehearsed reading of a twenty minute extract to rural touring producers third week  of July.

2- The Wives (Many) of Fela Kuti. Two more drafts due by Mid-October for likely October Reading at Nottingham Playhouse for Momentum festival:Nottingham. Presentation is to try and get potential producing partners on board/interested as well as to show a piece of work currently under development to theatregoers generally.

3- Decible 09 Pitch of 57 Images of My Father. Manchester in September. Looking to get a commission to write a draft of the play I am developing

Possible 4th-

Was approached by BBC Drama to pitch for a short film. Not sure how many writers were approached but ten project ideas/scripts will be shortlisted to workshop idea then redraft by end of July. Five films wil be made from the ten. I’ll hear if successful on Friday 5th June. I sent off a scrip so this would be rewriting for me rather than creating something from scratch.

Lots of juggling going on. I am good about making multiple ideas work because I can switch from one idea to another easily and not get too frazzled so expecting to be busy, busy but so far am enjoying it all. trying not ro get too stressed and succeeding so far.