Monday 1 , August 2011

passion, honesty and letting go of outcomes

This month, I have some exercises, discussion and film analysis which relate to  passion, honesty and letting go.  I am discusssing Rabbit Proof Fence, which I recently watched for the  econd time. 

What is your current process in your writing, specially if you have a deadline?. Do you, for instance, create panic, then make a plan, then get it done at the last minute? What do you need to believe in order to create more comfort for yourself and still get the work done? IS fear a motivator for you? If so, is there a way to motivate yourself to get work completed without fear. What if there were no losses, only gains, whatever happened?

Can you be passionate or honest in writing if you are attaached to the outcomes like the  deadlines or the expectations of yourself or the judgements of others. What if the judgements of others either meant nothing about you or else were just  useful feedback.

Or is a good story the most important thing? How important is  pleasing an audience? Why?  Or do you believe  writing honestly about what matters to you sand finding a story to tell with passion and honesty is what counts. The News of the World were willing  to do whatever it took  to get the stories they wanted. What are your own limits?

back to top

In their shoes WRITING EXERCISE

Think of views or people that you absolutely detest.  These could be politicans, people you know, figures of power, from past of present. For example I might think of Piers Morgan, who I see as smug,arrogant, right wing,connected with dubious ethics in his role as newpaper editor; or Enoch Powell for his right wing  racist views on immigration.  Anyone that embodies a view you consider wrong, bad, weak.

Write down just what you dislike. What is your feeling? Is it anger? Or Contempt?Now imagine what shoes this person wears. Colour, type, size. Are they polished or rough, new or old?.   

Imagine now that these shows fit your own feet perfectly. Spend a day in their shoes. How do they get up, what is their room like, who do they spend time with. Imagine that they are doing the best they can with the beliefs that they hold. They are not deliberately bad, they are doing the best they can.  Try to be non judgemental as you take on their persona.

The theory behind this exercise is that the strongest writing is not one sided, but is able to see strengths even in the position of the antagonist.

back to top

Rabbit Proof Fence

http://youtu.be/Z0I64yaseEY

This Australian film is the true story of Molly, a mixed race aboriginal girl, based on the account by her granddaughter.

It contrasts a western, patriarchal view of progress and "civilised society",   with the aboriginal focus on prioritising spiritual connection with the land

It explores the policiy of "aboriginal protection" which was a racist policy that took mixed raced children away from their families, and brought them up in camps with the view that eventually their blackness would be bred out.  

Molly, abducted from her mother and driven 1200miles to a camp, travels with her two younger sisters the whole way back to her mother, on foot, thwarting the efforts of police, tracker and the Head of Aboriginal Protection. Her passion, fliexibility and conviction, her non judgmental approach and her resolve is more than a a match of the passion and conviction, resourcefulness and determination of the Head of Aboriginal protection. The film has a very straightforward structure, 

Look at the Molly's journey - what is the event that kicks the story off, what is the decision that sets the second act in motion? What do we hope and fear for throughout the second act.?t is the end of the second act, and what is the surprise that starts the third act.? Is the ending satisfying and why? Who is the most important secondary characters, how are they the same and how do they contrarst to  to Molly?.  What is the theme and how is it played out? Are there examples of planting and payoff ( the  bird is a good example - it is set up early in the film and paid off later). Are there elements of the future, or advertising - for example, we know that the policeman and the tracker will be campling out at a key spot. We know that The Head of Aborigine Protection is contacting the paper to mislead the children, and this pays off later when Daisy believes her mother is at the train station, so goes, only to be recaptured.

back to top

That's all for now folks

I realise this newsletter is hot on the heels of the last one, but I am in the usa with a bit of spare time and decided to make the most of the opportunity.

Let me have your feedback and any ideas for things you would like in the next newsletter.

Julie x

back to top