Here we are, with part 4 of The Alchemist, my VHS-shot mega-epic from the halcyon days of 1991. Last time we saw our heroes, David Harwood (me) had been chloroformed by Darren Johnson (Tris), mainly because of the fact that Darren is now possessed by the spirit of a 12th century Alchemist with the ability to store his mind inside a piece of metal. This episode- to be honest- is even more exposition (which brings us to almost 15 minutes of pure exposition- I have got a little better, storytelling wise…), but by the end of this, we’re finally on the move and heading towards the majesty of the chase sequence. Trust me- it’s worth the wait…
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Slap-Bass Odyssey
Contrary to what this blog might suggest, there has been a lot going on in life. I’ve just gotten to the end of an ultra-wearing run of subbing, plus I completed a fairly gigantic article, and now entered the hallowed phase known as “Well, if I haven’t heard anything, that’s probably good news…” One pleasent side-effect of the subbing was that I was around while the What’s On TV film desk was clearing out their DVD cupboard- and was able to pick up a fantastic amount of swag as a result. Having recently fallen under the spell of fantastically bizarre Brit comedy The Mighty Boosh, I was flirting with the idea of getting their DVD box set- and was then able to grab the first season for free! Huzzah! Plus, I’ve been sampling the second season of Arrested Development, and I’ve got a gigantic stack of movies and TV to watch- and Twin Peaks: Season 2 is finally winging its way towards me on DVD. Admittedly, my multi-region DVD player is finally starting to die, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it…
In other news, I’ve recommenced a rewrite on the book. I’m no longer certain if anything I’m doing is actually working, but I figure all I can do is slog through this version, get to the end, and see what I end up with. I’ve got to get myself writing more regularly, and in order to do that, I’ve got to finish what I’m currently working on.
Tomorrow will be another epic journey into London, which should hopefully include 28 Weeks Later, a small-scale, gritty indie film all about a man struggling with his relationship problems and where his destiny truly lies (along with a brief subplot about a black costume that’s actually an alien symbiote), and hopefully a ride down one of the fantastic-looking slides that are currently pretending to be works of art in the Tate Modern. Life is full of surprises…
ECHOES FROM THE PAST: The Alchemist, Part 3
So, we’ve had a mysterious apparition, our heroes have dug a big hole, and recovered an interestingly shaped piece of metal. You’ve seen some suspicious acting, and some even more suspicious hair. We now enter the traditional part of every one of my stories- the “let’s sit down and explain the plot” section. I will freely admit- it’s damn slow in parts (at some point, I’m going to use iMovie and cut a new version of The Alchemist to tighten it up a bit…), but be patient. The chase sequence isn’t too far away.
The story continues…
(And as soon as I get a chance, I’m going to give some serious details about the making of The Alchemist. It’s a fun saga, and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.)
TV Eye: New Who – “Gridlock”
Okay, we’re in week 3- and the special effects budget is obviously going into overdrive. Some brief Who thoughts follow– and, as usual, fear the spoilers…
ECHOES FROM THE PAST: The Alchemist, Part 2
Last time on The Alchemist… there was a gratuitous steal of footage from 2001, some menacing lurking down a mine, a truly horrendous piece of exposition (for which I can only offer my most humble apologies- I was young!), and the first of many oddball dream sequences to come. When we left our erstwhile hero, he had just agreed to take part in a seance to contact the spirit of a medieval Alchemist who’d been abstractly reaching out via a friend’s dream. As you do.
The story continues….
ECHOES FROM THE PAST: The Alchemist, Part 1
It’s happenned. My friend Tris has been threatening to do this for a while, and now the baloon has gone up.
He’s put The Alchemist on Youtube.
The Alchemist is the one-hour, no-budget sci-fi fantasy epic that I shot on VHS camcorders in early 1991, when I was the tender age of 16. It’s the first major project that I undertook that I managed to see all the way through to completion- it’s shot through with all my obsessions at the time, it features some wonderfully wooden acting from both myself and Tris, and- like so much of my fiction- it’s basically a tremendously convoluted excuse for a great big chase sequence (which manages to last almost twenty minutes. Take that, Michael Bay!).
It’s rickety and full of problems, but it’s also something I’m still monumentally proud of, and I’m going to be presenting it here, divided up into seven chapters by Tris, hopefully over the next seven days. If you really want to watch the rest of it, you can follow the Youtube links, but this gives me the chance to have my very own cliffhanging serial.
Thrill to the effects. Marvel at the acting. Boggle at my haircut. Shake your head at my gratuitous steal from 2001.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you part one of The Alchemist…
TV Eye: Horton Hears a Who- Week 2…
More shennanigans with week 2 of the third season of Who- and this time, it’s wearing a ruff… (Fear the spoilers…)
Jelly and Ice Cream
I’d like to be effusive and full of observations on life– but I’m two days into a run of subbing, and I already feel like my brain is turning to porridge. It’s always so difficult to get anything done at times like these, and after a weekend that mainly consisted of ferenetic tidying, I think I’m starting to realise I have my limits. I need to sort this, though. I need to work on getting a different financial set-up where I can earn decent money through routes other than subbing– because at the moment, runs of more than a couple of days mean shutting my life down. With a two hour journey to and from work, it’s a long day. Getting through it feels like an acheivement– I’m trying to push myself further, but it’s downright tricky.
At the least, there’s George to help me out with a bowl of Jelly and Ice Cream when things get too tough.
Now, I’m going to chill out, and think happy thoughts. Today was lots of stress, and intensive detail work. Tomorrow will be better…
TV Eye: Horton Hears a Who…
Call me a glutton for punishment. I’m certainly not going to be going into Torchwood-level depth here, but it’s Season 3 of New Who, and I’m back, wading in, and probably slightly disturbed by what I find. Fear the spoilers…
Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory…
I’ve got a new monitor for my computer. It’s my yearly tax write-off spend, combined with the urgent need to celebrate our liberation from the horror of the Flat. It’s a 22-inch widescreen, and suddenly my desktop area is collosal. I’ve gone from feeling like I can barely fit everything on the screen, to looking at lots of programs hanging in lots of empty space. Plus, anything I’m watching on the computer now looks freakin’ fabulous.
I’m especially glad it turned up ultra-quickly (ordered yesterday, arrived today…) as I’ve got some seriously busy days ahead of me. Reviews, articles, and a visit from my Dad- there’s lots to do, and not enough time.
Continuing with Black Man by Richard Morgan. Violent, political, and frighteningly good. It’s the kind of thing that just leaves me thinking:- I’ve really got to rewrite my novel if it’s going to stand a chance of being this good…
Saxon Bullock 