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Monday, February 27, 2017

EGOTs for Egos?

EMMYS.
GRAMMYS.
OSCARS.
TONYS.

Big name awards. Big shows. Red carpets. Who wore it best(s)/worst(s)? But are these award shows promoting fairness -- or just inflating already inflated egos?

This is a fight I don't have a dog in -- I rarely watch movies in the theatres. I like actors and actresses generally, but don't know crews or backstage people from extras. Everyone could wear black suits and pants on a sound-stage with a green-screen and I would probably still be invested in the actions, adventures, period dramas, comedies -- whatever they wanted to put before me.

As an author, specifically one who indie-publishes on a shoestring of less than $100 per book, I understand that awards help spread word of your work. But for the big winners of last night's award show -- didn't the box office do that?



But I listen to the celebrities who get up and accept these awards. They appear floored to receive them. They really do need the validation IN ADDITION TO their box office success and the fact that they are celebrities and that they have publicists and make-up artists and costume designers and acting coaches and people who supported them -- not just allowed them, but financially SUPPORTED them -- following their dreams. Awards ceremony winners experience such a high. It must be incredible.

But then there are all the people who don't win. Who never win. Who never get nominated. Who never get noticed. There are people involved in scandal and people whose work doesn't get noticed because the names in top billing are involved in scandal. For every highly paid and highly glamorized celebrity icon, there are hundreds and thousands of poor dreamers who are never going to amount to anything in Hollywood or on Broadway. Winning is as much luck and politics as actual politics.



Since we're not going to stop doing award shows, we need to consider more categories. We need stronger minority representation. And we need to stop comparing apples to oranges. La La Land and Moonlight (I have seen promos of both but the entirety of neither) were created for different audiences. Different things make them GOOD. And neither film, from what I understand, is simply GOOD. So maybe we need categories for best fantasy film, best historical realism, best movie to make you cry and best film for laughs? Why do we need to declare one fruit of our labor to be the best? So what if judges want apples one day, oranges the second, and lemons the day after? Should one show get to sweep the whole fruit basket?

While we are adding categories, perhaps it is time to add gender-non-conforming to actor and actress categories. But that creates other questions. When a cis-person plays a transgender role, what category would they belong to? And while I'm asking ridiculous questions: is it more difficult for a straight actor to perform a gay character than for a gay actor to portray a straight character? And should we recognize that? I say we need to because some actors get typecast and then have difficulty getting away from certain roles. Careers can be damaged from coming out -- or going back in -- and shouldn't this difficulty be recognized?

How can we support all in the arts with award shows that clearly designate winners and not-even-nominateds? How do we get rid of gender categories all together without returning to a world where only white men win? I know we will keep having award shows as long as people watch them, pay to have them broadcast on TV, and as long as actors and actresses seek validation. Still, I wonder -- are we are missing the point?
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Images above are courtesy Pixabay, where attribution is not required. That said, Pixabay and its contributors have no foreknowledge of my opinion or article and are free to not agree or not be associated with the content found here.
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Phyl Campbell is Author, Mother, Dreamer, and Dr. Pepper addict. Right now, she's in over her head.                    

Other articles of interest:
Finding Pink Elephants
A Muse Meant
Quick and Dirty Publishing Guide     



     Check out her author page on Amazon. 



Thursday, February 23, 2017

Faces For Radio / The Mona Lisa Song

Watch me perform Faces For Radio LIVE and a capella* Saturday at Rustic Cup (12-4 Open Mic). I will try to get someone to take me Facebook Live again, too, but in life there are no guarantees! I post the lyrics here so I can tell people they can follow along.


Faces For Radio


Mona Lisa -- MorgueFile
They say Mona Lisa's not beautiful
Some even think SHE is a HE
Well, that never bothered DaVinci
Their secrets still stare back at me


You said I've got a face for the radio
I'm someone to hear, never see
But tonight when you hear someone that you know
Do you swear that it's real or a dream?


 
Tower -- MorgueFile
Maybe consider a tower
Four walls reaching clear to the sky
That's how I imagined your lost love
How your walls rose as you said "goodbye"


You said I've got a face for the radio
I'm someone to hear, never see
Tonight when you hear someone that you know
Do you swear that it's real or a dream?


Ocean -- MorgueFile
Maybe consider an ocean
Blue and green swells to skies so blue
And maybe without your pollution
My blue heart can find someone true

You said I've got a face for the radio
I'm someone to hear, never see
Tonight when you hear someone that you know
Do you swear that it's real or a dream?



No Dogs Allowed -- Except on Leash -- MorgueFile
Please forgive
any unintended insult to canine companions!
Animal magnetism
Just more proof that you haven't a clue
Why don't you take back your leash -- oh, you animal
You're the only thing you know to do

You said I've got a face for the radio
I'm someone to hear, never see
But tonight when you hear someone that you know
Do you swear that it's real or a dream?



Faces for Radio
Faces for Radio
Faces for Radio [repeat and fade]

Special thanks to Michael Zaragoza for the rhythm section I hear in my head. You need to come here!  PA's not that cold -- I swear!
*I downloaded a drum app on Google Play called Drum Beats. I can make the lyrics fit with Indie at 120 #16. It isn't what Michael composed, but it might keep me from going too fast. ;) 


Phyl Campbell is Author, Mother, Dreamer, and Dr. Pepper addict. Right now, she's in over her head.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Other articles of interest:
Finding Pink Elephants
A Muse Meant
Quick and Dirty Publishing Guide     
                                                                                                                  Check out her author page on Amazon. 


Tuesday, February 14, 2017

His Story / Her Story

These are the community stories created by First Friday participants at Creative York

His Story

Once upon a time, there was a young man in York, PA who loved Wolfgang chocolate. But the real story was just how sweet he thought the lady in the competition was. How could he show her his true feelings? Ah, he knew the answer-- build her a house of candy. The house had Gummi Bears and Snickers bars and it even had a hot chocolate fountain. He then thought of making her a candy cane crown, because she's the most beautiful princess he’s ever seen.
When he shows it to her, she gasps and says “That is a very interesting candy house. Can I go in?”
“Of course,” he said, “if you will be my princess.”
“Well,” she replied. “I’d rather be your queen than your princess.”
The man was undaunted by her reply. “My love, your title does not matter. But no matter what, we will love animals and children.” Then he was silent for a minute. “But in thinking about our relationship,” he said, “You should know I am ONLY a jester.”
And the woman did not mind that the man might not be a prince or a king. She loved his kind heart. And she didn't ask for much. All it took to make her happy was for someone to give her a bouquet of flowers once in a while.
Still, she did not want him to think she was so easily won. “I am not for ultimatums, kind sir,” she said. “But I would like to share this lovely candy house with all the townspeople. They, too, must see how creative you are. And what a gift you have given me to share. Thank you for showing me what love is.”
So they moved into the candy house, which to them felt just as grand as a castle, and invited all the townspeople and animals to live there with them.The man became her personal jester, but he made everyone laugh. They were very happy.
They put signs around town that said, “free love here.” Their signs attracted a crowd of lonely souls. But because the man and his princ- Queen - shared their own blessings with others, they all lived in happiness forever.
The End -- or is it just the beginning?


*Please pardon any mistakes I made in interpreting what was intended to be written, and any clarifications or embellishments I may have made -- if you inspired me and I got carried away, then the night was a success!!       


Her Story

On a cold cold night in February, there was a house made of candy. In the house lived a witch. The witch had a kind heart.
The child's heart was not as kind. The child put the witch in the closet. The witch escaped out the window. The witch ran to the other side of the yard to see what was on the other side of the fence. She found a purple doggie digging a hole.
The dog dug so deep, he found a supersonic broom to escape on. And the witch escaped with him. The dog flies into the night with the witch. And they hear the music of David Bowie.
At the sound of Under Pressure, the girl’s unkind heart melted into liquid chocolate. The doggie, named Nelo, tried to eat the girl’s melted chocolate heart and became vegan. Nelo shared the heart with some other dogs. They were named Dublin, Bianca, and Mick. Unfortunately, the dogs who ate the chocolate heart turn evil every time they hear songs by David Bowie or Queen. They turn into crazy zombies! When they hear the songs, they start to scream “We will, we will, eat humans!” [Cue guitar solo]
Then, the child whose heart had turned into liquid chocolate floated down from heaven and turned the zombie dogs into cuddly puppies. The witch couldn't help but fall in love with the cuddly puppies. The puppies grew into even cuter dogs and had even cuter, cuddlier, puppies of their own. To this day, the witch and her ridiculously cute and cuddly puppies roam the earth.
The end -- or is it just the beginning?

*Please pardon any mistakes I made in interpreting what was intended to be written, and any clarifications or embellishments I may have made -- if you inspired me and I got carried away, then the night was a success!!

Chain of Events

I'm creating posts about the writing games I have created to save lengthy explanations in individual emails to panels or forums where I might offer them.


                                                                Chain of Events



What is it?
I started Chain of Events as a prompt in the Flash Fiction After Dark game, but it can take as long as multiple rounds of FFAD and I realized it could stand alone. This game is community storytelling at its finest. 


 

                                                                                             
How do you play? 
Participants sit in a circle or around a table(don't have to, but it helps). They write the first line of a story (I have some story starters, if needed)on strips of paper I provide (one per person). When their line is written, they attach the ends to make a chain link and pass to the next person (if they use a story starter, they will have an extra link). The next person adds a line to the story on a second/next link, attaches it, and passes it on. Play continues until the chains have gone full circle. Then, final results are shared. 

          
            "Her Story"                      "His Story"      


Who is the target player? 
This is a writing game for the whole community. Anyone that can write a sentence (or even just a phrase, or with parent help) is encouraged to take up a pen and play!


How many can play at once? How long does a game take?
I introduced this game at the February First Friday event at Creative York. First Friday is a drop-in event, so instead of many stories coming full circle, those who dropped in -- over 40 participants -- added their links to create two stories. Like FFAD, time for Chain of Events also depends on the number of participants. I see the game running 30 minutes to an hour.

Read the stories created here:

                            His Story / Her Story



 I'd love to hear your ideas and suggestions for Chain of Events!

Phyl Campbell is Author, Mother, Dreamer. Right now, she's in over her head with book projects whose
(author-self-imposed) deadlines pass her by. She waves at them and only cries a little as they pass. Sometimes Mother and Dreamer get in the way of Author, and sometimes Author catches up. Check out Phyl's author page on Amazon. 
Other articles of interest:
A Muse Meant
Finding Pink Elephants

Flash Fiction After Dark

I'm creating posts about the writing games I have created to save lengthy explanations in individual emails to panels or forums where I might offer them.  The videos are the results of individual rounds of play.

                                                                  "Star Struck"
                                                                       

Flash Fiction After Dark

What is it?
FFAD is a game I created (and it continues to evolve and improve each time I play it). I describe it as Cards Against Humanity (or Apples to Apples) with only the prompt cards. I also describe it as host aided community storytelling. Some people compare it to a written improv game or a game like Who's Line is it Anyway? 

How do you play? 
Participants write their own responses and either the host shares the responses collectively or the participants share their own. As host, sometimes I read only and exactly what is written on the cards. Other times I use the responses to fill in parts of a larger story. 

                            "Pet Care"

Who is the target player? 
I have played this game with teens only, adults only, and a mixed-age group. 
                          "Favorite Holiday"

How many can play at once? How long does a game take?
Time for FFAD depends on the number of participants. Having less than 5 is not ideal. This is a game of the more, the merrier! Games are played in rounds, so could run from 15 minutes to an hour. I have had an adult game go for two hours without it feeling tedious. And one six year old who would have happily played all night if we'd have let her.  
                              "Western"

                  "Last Thing on the Shopping List"

                     "My Parents Made a Mistake"



I've even started making gameplay cards -- just like a real game show host!

I'm building collections of both holiday themes and generic prompts. I'd love to hear your ideas and suggestions for FFAD!

Phyl Campbell is Author, Mother, Dreamer. Right now, she's in over her head with book projects whose
(author-self-imposed) deadlines pass her by. She waves at them and only cries a little as they pass. Sometimes Mother and Dreamer get in the way of Author, and sometimes Author catches up. Check out Phyl's author page on Amazon. 
Other articles of interest:
A Muse Meant
Finding Pink Elephants