North York, Ontario
31 October 2007
17 October 2007
North York, Ontario
I probably won't even get a chance to post this for another 2 weeks since I'm away from my home computer, but I thought I'd at least get one in while we're here. It's a strange time in the life of 9LoLMM. In the space of five days, my father was operated on for cancer and Leo's mother ended up in the hospital and is still there as we speak. Needless to say, while we're trying to get going on amassing funding for the show, our hearts really aren't into it. We're not giving up, mind you - but this isn't at all how we envisioned this trip to Toronto would be.
What's also contributing to things is that, on Saturday, I have to go down to Florida and take care of my Dad for a week. I don't mind; he's my father, after all. But it will mean Leo has to fly solo in terms of trying to get investors. The only thing for me is, it may give me a chance to work on this next rewrite. The big thing everyone goes on about is that the show's too long. I don't disagree. I suppose, for a two-part movie event, it isn't too long - look at Anne of Green Gables! But, for a stage show, well...anyway, I was wracking my brain trying to figure out how to shorten things down without losing too much in the way of information and layers. And I think I finally have it, but it's got to be done just right - and I haven't had a chance to work that out yet. Plus, I'm really not in a creative space, either. Just too much going on, too much on my mind, and I'm feeling too down. Strangely, I understand how it was difficult for Maud to create during her various troubles - I understood it before, but it's especially relevant for me now.
I hope you don't mind my getting a bit more personal in this entry. But, I decided that if I was going to show you the good stuff, I had to show you the bad stuff, too. It's not all running around getting pictures taken and doing interviews and living la vida loca. I didn't anticipate our family emergencies entering into the picture, but it's what's happening and it is having an impact on us. But rest assured - we still love 9LoLMM as much as ever and we're going to get this on next June come hell or high water.
Actually, I should mention that we briefly met with Kate Macdonald Butler and her associate Sally Cohen today; we hadn't seen them since our January trip. There may be something afoot in terms of a neat tie-in with the show, but I can't talk about it yet. I don't know if it'll happen, but we all seemed intrigued by the idea, so, if it develops any further, you'll hear about it right here.
I want to do a YouTube video from here, but...well, we'll have to see. Talking about this stuff over the computer is one thing; turning a camera on ourselves in the middle of this is another thing entirely!
Well, we shall forage on...I need to pull myself up somehow...it's just hard right now.
I probably won't even get a chance to post this for another 2 weeks since I'm away from my home computer, but I thought I'd at least get one in while we're here. It's a strange time in the life of 9LoLMM. In the space of five days, my father was operated on for cancer and Leo's mother ended up in the hospital and is still there as we speak. Needless to say, while we're trying to get going on amassing funding for the show, our hearts really aren't into it. We're not giving up, mind you - but this isn't at all how we envisioned this trip to Toronto would be.
What's also contributing to things is that, on Saturday, I have to go down to Florida and take care of my Dad for a week. I don't mind; he's my father, after all. But it will mean Leo has to fly solo in terms of trying to get investors. The only thing for me is, it may give me a chance to work on this next rewrite. The big thing everyone goes on about is that the show's too long. I don't disagree. I suppose, for a two-part movie event, it isn't too long - look at Anne of Green Gables! But, for a stage show, well...anyway, I was wracking my brain trying to figure out how to shorten things down without losing too much in the way of information and layers. And I think I finally have it, but it's got to be done just right - and I haven't had a chance to work that out yet. Plus, I'm really not in a creative space, either. Just too much going on, too much on my mind, and I'm feeling too down. Strangely, I understand how it was difficult for Maud to create during her various troubles - I understood it before, but it's especially relevant for me now.
I hope you don't mind my getting a bit more personal in this entry. But, I decided that if I was going to show you the good stuff, I had to show you the bad stuff, too. It's not all running around getting pictures taken and doing interviews and living la vida loca. I didn't anticipate our family emergencies entering into the picture, but it's what's happening and it is having an impact on us. But rest assured - we still love 9LoLMM as much as ever and we're going to get this on next June come hell or high water.
Actually, I should mention that we briefly met with Kate Macdonald Butler and her associate Sally Cohen today; we hadn't seen them since our January trip. There may be something afoot in terms of a neat tie-in with the show, but I can't talk about it yet. I don't know if it'll happen, but we all seemed intrigued by the idea, so, if it develops any further, you'll hear about it right here.
I want to do a YouTube video from here, but...well, we'll have to see. Talking about this stuff over the computer is one thing; turning a camera on ourselves in the middle of this is another thing entirely!
Well, we shall forage on...I need to pull myself up somehow...it's just hard right now.
01 October 2007
Stratford, Prince Edward Island
Well, I guess it's time to get back to it. The show, I mean! Not that we haven't been working on it in other areas - we spent much of last week writing e-mails and making phone calls and thanking people and just generally trying to direct our attention to getting a production funded for next summer. We're also looking into hooking up with a professional dramaturge to help us over the hurdle of consolidating the libretto. I'm still convinced the answer lies in the back of my head, but perhaps an outside source might help jiggle it loose!
As for now, I'm about to go back into the libretto and make the changes we made in the workshop - which for now have only been on paper. I was going to do it yesterday, but I got slammed with some funky flu something where I "only" had chills and fever and not the usual coughy/sniffly/sneezy stuff, but it was enough to pretty well render me useless the whole day. I feel a tad feverish even now, but at least somewhat conscious! Don't know how long it'll last, so I'd better go with it.
Next week we are heading to Toronto to, among other things, look into getting funding for the show. Not to mention reconnect with some people and meet others. Which also means I have to get a recut version of the demo ready before we go. It never ends! :)
Well, I guess it's time to get back to it. The show, I mean! Not that we haven't been working on it in other areas - we spent much of last week writing e-mails and making phone calls and thanking people and just generally trying to direct our attention to getting a production funded for next summer. We're also looking into hooking up with a professional dramaturge to help us over the hurdle of consolidating the libretto. I'm still convinced the answer lies in the back of my head, but perhaps an outside source might help jiggle it loose!
As for now, I'm about to go back into the libretto and make the changes we made in the workshop - which for now have only been on paper. I was going to do it yesterday, but I got slammed with some funky flu something where I "only" had chills and fever and not the usual coughy/sniffly/sneezy stuff, but it was enough to pretty well render me useless the whole day. I feel a tad feverish even now, but at least somewhat conscious! Don't know how long it'll last, so I'd better go with it.
Next week we are heading to Toronto to, among other things, look into getting funding for the show. Not to mention reconnect with some people and meet others. Which also means I have to get a recut version of the demo ready before we go. It never ends! :)
23 September 2007
Stratford, Prince Edward Island
Forgive me for not journaling sooner, but frankly, I needed to decompress! What a day Friday was! And I mean that in a very good way - I think it's safe to define the 9LoLMM workshop as a success!
The day started off with the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, for those who don't know) coming out to interview us for their evening newscast! Was I nervous? Sure - but how many times do you get to be on TV? As for the workshop itself, with so many details, there was a lot of places where things could have gone wrong. But very few did, and it looked and sounded great! The cast did a great job considering how little time they had to pull things together, and considering the many changes that took place as the rehearsals continued on. Let me just publicly thank The Confederation Centre of the Arts and everyone in our cast and everyone on the technical side of it for making all this happen!
I would have to say it was a full house. Only as the workshop started did it occur to me - sure, we find things funny or sad or whatever, but would the audience feel the same way? Especially with the dialogue? But it didn't really feel like anything fell flat - people laughed at things that were intended to be funny and seemed to get a lot of the Maud in-references. As for me, hearing words that I wrote up there, hearing an audience react to it...well, during An Epoch In My Life when Maud and Anne talk about "the realization of dreams pursued" and how "the power of imagination has changed our lives"...well, it felt like they were talking about me. It was quite the emotional moment!
We had a Q&A afterwards...that could easily have been the hardest part. There was no guarantee people were going to like it, understand it, approve of it - and here we had to go up on stage ourselves and field questions and comments in front of a room full of people. But the reaction was really very good. People really seemed to like it, and praised us for how accurate it is, and told us how important a piece it is and how much value it has. And of course, they loved Leo's music! So that was really a high as well. It was pretty surreal - made even more so by the fact that we hadn't gotten much of a chance to eat the whole day!
Then, thanks to our neighbours here in Stratford, we were able to see the CBC interview, which you will find below. Now, you may ask - what's next for 9LoLMM? Well, it's all going to come down to financing. I think we have a really good shot toward getting this on stage in time for the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables next summer. So, if you saw the workshop - or didn't but still believe in what we're trying to do - contact The Confederation Centre of the Arts and tell them you want to see The Nine Lives of Lucy Maud Montgomery playing there in 2008! After all, money might talk, but an audience shouts! And that makes you guys the most important part of the equation. Believe it!
We also were featured in Prince Edward Island's leading newspapers - The Guardian and The Journal-Pioneer - check out the new Press section for scans! 9LoLMM is on its way!
Oh - did I mention we were on TV? ;)
Forgive me for not journaling sooner, but frankly, I needed to decompress! What a day Friday was! And I mean that in a very good way - I think it's safe to define the 9LoLMM workshop as a success!
The day started off with the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, for those who don't know) coming out to interview us for their evening newscast! Was I nervous? Sure - but how many times do you get to be on TV? As for the workshop itself, with so many details, there was a lot of places where things could have gone wrong. But very few did, and it looked and sounded great! The cast did a great job considering how little time they had to pull things together, and considering the many changes that took place as the rehearsals continued on. Let me just publicly thank The Confederation Centre of the Arts and everyone in our cast and everyone on the technical side of it for making all this happen!
I would have to say it was a full house. Only as the workshop started did it occur to me - sure, we find things funny or sad or whatever, but would the audience feel the same way? Especially with the dialogue? But it didn't really feel like anything fell flat - people laughed at things that were intended to be funny and seemed to get a lot of the Maud in-references. As for me, hearing words that I wrote up there, hearing an audience react to it...well, during An Epoch In My Life when Maud and Anne talk about "the realization of dreams pursued" and how "the power of imagination has changed our lives"...well, it felt like they were talking about me. It was quite the emotional moment!
We had a Q&A afterwards...that could easily have been the hardest part. There was no guarantee people were going to like it, understand it, approve of it - and here we had to go up on stage ourselves and field questions and comments in front of a room full of people. But the reaction was really very good. People really seemed to like it, and praised us for how accurate it is, and told us how important a piece it is and how much value it has. And of course, they loved Leo's music! So that was really a high as well. It was pretty surreal - made even more so by the fact that we hadn't gotten much of a chance to eat the whole day!
Then, thanks to our neighbours here in Stratford, we were able to see the CBC interview, which you will find below. Now, you may ask - what's next for 9LoLMM? Well, it's all going to come down to financing. I think we have a really good shot toward getting this on stage in time for the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables next summer. So, if you saw the workshop - or didn't but still believe in what we're trying to do - contact The Confederation Centre of the Arts and tell them you want to see The Nine Lives of Lucy Maud Montgomery playing there in 2008! After all, money might talk, but an audience shouts! And that makes you guys the most important part of the equation. Believe it!
We also were featured in Prince Edward Island's leading newspapers - The Guardian and The Journal-Pioneer - check out the new Press section for scans! 9LoLMM is on its way!
Oh - did I mention we were on TV? ;)
14 September 2007
Stratford, Prince Edward Island
The rehearsals go on, with much adventure. It's become necessary to do a much more scaled down version of the show for the workshop. Plus, it's all confirmed that the show is still way too long. Not that I didn't realize that even after the last rewrite. It's just that getting the show to a length that's acceptable for everybody is now going to require structural changes. Up until now Leo and I have retained the structure, completely cutting out only a few scenes and just making lots of edits to the dialogue. I guess that was a good start. One thing I've realized in the past couple of days is that I do have a tendency to write a lot of exposition and state the obvious - God knows I did that in Undo the Deed. So, now armed with this knowledge, certain dialogue cuts are now presenting themselves quite easily, which of course is a good thing. How I'm going to ultimately fix some of the other problems, I don't know yet, and it's been a bit of a stressful time. I was always warned that the day would come where I'd have to "kill" my "baby", and that it would be painful. I'm going to look at it as growing pains!
Anyway, the workshop is next Friday and it's all been 24-7 for me this week. When we haven't been at the theatre, I've been here creating visuals for the rear projection screen we're going to have - captions, stills, video. It took a while to edit the footage Christopher got from the train in Saskatchewan last month into a useable 3-minute piece. Christopher documented his progress and I'm proud to feature him in this latest installment, which is a bit of a departure from our usual fare but no less interesting and important!
Leo had to go back to L.A. for a few days so I'm flying solo over here. I ran up to Cavendish again to film the sunset, and tomorrow I have to go back and get the sand dunes and other locales. The next video will have to do with...well...getting video! For now you'll just have to get on the train where Maud herself travelled in 1890 - it might even be the same track! Hey, we go for authenticity here!
The rehearsals go on, with much adventure. It's become necessary to do a much more scaled down version of the show for the workshop. Plus, it's all confirmed that the show is still way too long. Not that I didn't realize that even after the last rewrite. It's just that getting the show to a length that's acceptable for everybody is now going to require structural changes. Up until now Leo and I have retained the structure, completely cutting out only a few scenes and just making lots of edits to the dialogue. I guess that was a good start. One thing I've realized in the past couple of days is that I do have a tendency to write a lot of exposition and state the obvious - God knows I did that in Undo the Deed. So, now armed with this knowledge, certain dialogue cuts are now presenting themselves quite easily, which of course is a good thing. How I'm going to ultimately fix some of the other problems, I don't know yet, and it's been a bit of a stressful time. I was always warned that the day would come where I'd have to "kill" my "baby", and that it would be painful. I'm going to look at it as growing pains!
Anyway, the workshop is next Friday and it's all been 24-7 for me this week. When we haven't been at the theatre, I've been here creating visuals for the rear projection screen we're going to have - captions, stills, video. It took a while to edit the footage Christopher got from the train in Saskatchewan last month into a useable 3-minute piece. Christopher documented his progress and I'm proud to feature him in this latest installment, which is a bit of a departure from our usual fare but no less interesting and important!
Leo had to go back to L.A. for a few days so I'm flying solo over here. I ran up to Cavendish again to film the sunset, and tomorrow I have to go back and get the sand dunes and other locales. The next video will have to do with...well...getting video! For now you'll just have to get on the train where Maud herself travelled in 1890 - it might even be the same track! Hey, we go for authenticity here!
04 September 2007
Stratford, Prince Edward Island
OK, so I'm supposed to be shooting videos catching you up on all the latest. I've shot a little bit here and there, but it didn't really work out - and frankly, I've been too busy gearing up for the workshop! I've been kind of stuck in a bunch of administrative stuff, such as making song lists and prop lists and lists and lists and lists. Also, it took me almost three full days to cast the show using the Confederation Centre's theatre company. It was tricky because A) we've got so many bloomin' characters, and B) there's a split in the age groups of the performers, and many of our characters fall into that missing age group, so I had to get creative. Then, because each actor is playing more than one role (sometimes six!), I had to make sure I didn't double them over too close, else they not have time to switch from one character to another. Boring stuff like that. :)
Leo bought a HD video camera last month for the purpose of starting to shoot the video that will be up on the screen. In fact, getting back to documentary videos, my friend Christopher was the first one to actually use the camera when he got some very special footage that I'll let him tell you about when I get a moment to dub and edit that particular video. :) Anyway, it looks like we will actually have some sort of video up for the workshop, so on Sunday we went around and did some test shots in Cavendish and on the way to it. I don't know exactly how it's going to work out...but things are definitely moving forward.
"Tomorrow" (in quotes because it's after midnight as I write) we have a big day ahead of us - our first full day working with the cast. Leo will work with some of them on the music in one room, and the artistic director and I will start running lines with the actors in another room. I hope to start getting some video of that!
If I sound a little on the incoherent side, it's because I'm tired...I guess I should start getting ready for bed and rest up for this big day! I have to say, every once in a while it hits me - usually at the theatre - that "Wow, we're actually doing this!" I see the name of our show on their paperwork and it really sinks in. 9LoLMM is really starting to take on a life of its own now - and it will, even more so, after this week!
OK, so I'm supposed to be shooting videos catching you up on all the latest. I've shot a little bit here and there, but it didn't really work out - and frankly, I've been too busy gearing up for the workshop! I've been kind of stuck in a bunch of administrative stuff, such as making song lists and prop lists and lists and lists and lists. Also, it took me almost three full days to cast the show using the Confederation Centre's theatre company. It was tricky because A) we've got so many bloomin' characters, and B) there's a split in the age groups of the performers, and many of our characters fall into that missing age group, so I had to get creative. Then, because each actor is playing more than one role (sometimes six!), I had to make sure I didn't double them over too close, else they not have time to switch from one character to another. Boring stuff like that. :)
Leo bought a HD video camera last month for the purpose of starting to shoot the video that will be up on the screen. In fact, getting back to documentary videos, my friend Christopher was the first one to actually use the camera when he got some very special footage that I'll let him tell you about when I get a moment to dub and edit that particular video. :) Anyway, it looks like we will actually have some sort of video up for the workshop, so on Sunday we went around and did some test shots in Cavendish and on the way to it. I don't know exactly how it's going to work out...but things are definitely moving forward.
"Tomorrow" (in quotes because it's after midnight as I write) we have a big day ahead of us - our first full day working with the cast. Leo will work with some of them on the music in one room, and the artistic director and I will start running lines with the actors in another room. I hope to start getting some video of that!
If I sound a little on the incoherent side, it's because I'm tired...I guess I should start getting ready for bed and rest up for this big day! I have to say, every once in a while it hits me - usually at the theatre - that "Wow, we're actually doing this!" I see the name of our show on their paperwork and it really sinks in. 9LoLMM is really starting to take on a life of its own now - and it will, even more so, after this week!
28 August 2007
Stratford, Prince Edward Island
Well, I got a little morose after the last entry because I timed out the libretto after those extensive 10 days' worth of revisions and only got 26 minutes out of the thing. I was really feeling pretty fatalistic about it all. But...I got over it. :) Last week I took another whack at it, going over it with Leo, and I made another significant round of cuts. I haven't timed it, but I'm going to guess we lopped off another 15 minutes. At this point, I guess I'm leaving it alone, at least until after the workshop, unless something really inspiring comes along. We're told the date for the workshop will be 21 September. Stay tuned!
Leo and I are starting to spend more time at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Yesterday we auditioned some of the kids and younger folks (it sounds weird to say that, since, at 38, I still feel like one of the younger folks!). Today we met with the cast of Anne of Green Gables en masse and individually in an effort to better determine who is right for which role. I've never been on that side of an audition table before, so it was definitely a different perspective for me. Fortunately, everyone was great, and we sort of have an embarrassment of riches in terms of talent, so getting all the roles cast shouldn't be too difficult. And, due to the scaled-down nature of the workshop, each person will be playing even more roles than they normally might. I find myself wanting to put off the casting task 'til tomorrow, since I haven't gotten enough sleep the last 3 nights and I'm totally dragging! But I'll at least start on it - after today, we definitely have a better idea, so it shouldn't be too hard from there.
Leo's preparation - in this case categorizing all the characters' music - knows no bounds.
The dream's first inkling of becoming a reality - 9LoLMM's casting session on the Confederation Centre's roster.
There is one more bit of news I want to mention, in the form of yet another announcement. Again, I didn't say anything about this before because I couldn't...but it's official: I will be presenting a paper at the Lucy Maud Montgomery Conference in 2008! As did all the other entrants, I submitted an abstract in June and then waited to find out who made the cut. I was a little worried because I chose what I thought might be considered a bit of an out-of-left-field slant (of course I'm not going to tell you what it is...not until the conference gets closer, anyway!). But it's been approved, and I guess I'll be writing the actual paper in the next few months. I really am starting to get the feeling that Maud herself is guiding things over here...call me crazy!
Well, on to casting...if I can stay awake, that is!
Well, I got a little morose after the last entry because I timed out the libretto after those extensive 10 days' worth of revisions and only got 26 minutes out of the thing. I was really feeling pretty fatalistic about it all. But...I got over it. :) Last week I took another whack at it, going over it with Leo, and I made another significant round of cuts. I haven't timed it, but I'm going to guess we lopped off another 15 minutes. At this point, I guess I'm leaving it alone, at least until after the workshop, unless something really inspiring comes along. We're told the date for the workshop will be 21 September. Stay tuned!
Leo and I are starting to spend more time at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Yesterday we auditioned some of the kids and younger folks (it sounds weird to say that, since, at 38, I still feel like one of the younger folks!). Today we met with the cast of Anne of Green Gables en masse and individually in an effort to better determine who is right for which role. I've never been on that side of an audition table before, so it was definitely a different perspective for me. Fortunately, everyone was great, and we sort of have an embarrassment of riches in terms of talent, so getting all the roles cast shouldn't be too difficult. And, due to the scaled-down nature of the workshop, each person will be playing even more roles than they normally might. I find myself wanting to put off the casting task 'til tomorrow, since I haven't gotten enough sleep the last 3 nights and I'm totally dragging! But I'll at least start on it - after today, we definitely have a better idea, so it shouldn't be too hard from there.
Leo's preparation - in this case categorizing all the characters' music - knows no bounds.
The dream's first inkling of becoming a reality - 9LoLMM's casting session on the Confederation Centre's roster.
There is one more bit of news I want to mention, in the form of yet another announcement. Again, I didn't say anything about this before because I couldn't...but it's official: I will be presenting a paper at the Lucy Maud Montgomery Conference in 2008! As did all the other entrants, I submitted an abstract in June and then waited to find out who made the cut. I was a little worried because I chose what I thought might be considered a bit of an out-of-left-field slant (of course I'm not going to tell you what it is...not until the conference gets closer, anyway!). But it's been approved, and I guess I'll be writing the actual paper in the next few months. I really am starting to get the feeling that Maud herself is guiding things over here...call me crazy!
Well, on to casting...if I can stay awake, that is!
18 August 2007
Stratford, Prince Edward Island
Time time time...see what's become of me...
That's from that song Hazy Shade of Winter, by the way (I only know the cover version The Bangles did in '87; I don't remember who did the original). It's appropriate enough considering the hazy, rainy weather - sort of like a hazy shade of summer! Not that I'm minding...the "novelty" of rain hasn't worn off for me yet...besides, it's 95F back in L.A. and 65F here. Hmm! Which one should I choose? Well, I don't know! Let me think about it for a while! :)
It's the "time time time" part that's more appropriate, and even "see what's become of me" - sitting in my office, relegated to re-timing the edited scenes. Yes, it took me 10 days, which was much longer than I anticipated, but I finally finished this pass of the rewrite. I initially thought it would be enough, but I realized early into it that I may have to make a second pass to cut even more stuff out. I just hope I haven't taken too much out in terms of flavour - I don't want it to sound like a dry history lesson. I've also gone through and rewritten a large percentage of the journal quotes in my own voice. There's a business-end factor to doing so, but it more has to do with relying too heavily on the quotes. As it has been pointed out to me, it's me that's writing this and not Maud. Of course, some quotes are irreplacable, and I'm leaving them in. But I can see where, especially in Act II, most of Maud's dialogue was Quote City, which I have fixed.
I just needed to take a break from Act I, which I am still in the middle of. I feel kind of silly sitting in here talking to myself with a stopwatch!
By the way, something monumental in the history of 9LoLMM is happening today...is probably well happening this very minute. The time has come to start getting footage for the screen. But neither Leo nor I are filming it. I'm expecting some documentation to come next week, the video of which I will post that will explain everything. But it's Canadian, extremely authentic, and the scene that it's being shot for actually took place on 18 August! It's just one of many happy accidents we've encountered so far - and we're not done yet. :) Sorry to be so cryptic, but...well, you'll see it soon enough.
As for the workshop, our meet-and-greet with the cast got rescheduled; it's now going to be on Tuesday. Oh, well. More time to prepare the rewrite!
Now - where's that stopwatch?
Time time time...see what's become of me...
That's from that song Hazy Shade of Winter, by the way (I only know the cover version The Bangles did in '87; I don't remember who did the original). It's appropriate enough considering the hazy, rainy weather - sort of like a hazy shade of summer! Not that I'm minding...the "novelty" of rain hasn't worn off for me yet...besides, it's 95F back in L.A. and 65F here. Hmm! Which one should I choose? Well, I don't know! Let me think about it for a while! :)
It's the "time time time" part that's more appropriate, and even "see what's become of me" - sitting in my office, relegated to re-timing the edited scenes. Yes, it took me 10 days, which was much longer than I anticipated, but I finally finished this pass of the rewrite. I initially thought it would be enough, but I realized early into it that I may have to make a second pass to cut even more stuff out. I just hope I haven't taken too much out in terms of flavour - I don't want it to sound like a dry history lesson. I've also gone through and rewritten a large percentage of the journal quotes in my own voice. There's a business-end factor to doing so, but it more has to do with relying too heavily on the quotes. As it has been pointed out to me, it's me that's writing this and not Maud. Of course, some quotes are irreplacable, and I'm leaving them in. But I can see where, especially in Act II, most of Maud's dialogue was Quote City, which I have fixed.
I just needed to take a break from Act I, which I am still in the middle of. I feel kind of silly sitting in here talking to myself with a stopwatch!
By the way, something monumental in the history of 9LoLMM is happening today...is probably well happening this very minute. The time has come to start getting footage for the screen. But neither Leo nor I are filming it. I'm expecting some documentation to come next week, the video of which I will post that will explain everything. But it's Canadian, extremely authentic, and the scene that it's being shot for actually took place on 18 August! It's just one of many happy accidents we've encountered so far - and we're not done yet. :) Sorry to be so cryptic, but...well, you'll see it soon enough.
As for the workshop, our meet-and-greet with the cast got rescheduled; it's now going to be on Tuesday. Oh, well. More time to prepare the rewrite!
Now - where's that stopwatch?
14 August 2007
Stratford, Prince Edward Island
I know - first I don't journal in forever and now two posts in two days. I should mention that we just got back from Cavendish (albeit through some really intense fog!). It's really wild to just say "Let's go to Cavendish", do it, and then drive home. Like McDonald's, I'm lovin' it. :) We also paid a visit to Maud's grave in the foggy night! How crazy was that? Although, it wasn't like The Haunted Wood - not with our way being lit by street lights, traffic lights, and the Petro Canada across the street!
At any rate, I have some news and I wanted to take a moment to make it official. You may recall that, over the past several months, I've alluded to an announcement I wanted to make but wasn't free to. I can now make it:
We are going to workshop 9LoLMM at The Confederation Centre of the Arts in late September!
We'd been in talks for quite a while about doing the workshop, but there were so many variables and the Theatre was so busy getting up the current season of Anne of Green Gables: The Musical and British Invasion that they couldn't very well tend to another show. But they were definitely interested and we based our move on that, although we did it not having any definite details! Anyway, we met with the artistic director yesterday and she was very enthusiastic. We'll be doing the workshop toward the end of September with the casts from the two shows mentioned above, who we are going to meet this week. We saw both shows last week and we already have an idea of who to cast as who, although our choices could certainly change!
All of this is with an eye toward putting a full version of the show on at the Centre next summer. I won't go into any of that yet...I need room for more announcements later on! :) We also don't know yet if the public will be invited to the workshop. But you know I'll keep you posted, only right here.
As for Leo and I, we're quietly juggling settling in, taking in PEI, and working on music and rewrites. For myself, I'm about ¾ of the way through the rewrite. I'm taking time out to do this update when I should be working on the next scene, which I decided to completely reinvent. I'm just in a long stretch with no songs and it was just getting too "talking head", so for the section featuring The Tangled Web, I came up with an idea to overhaul it, and then Leo added to that idea, so now it's just a matter of writing the reinvented scene. Right after that is the Why Did I Say Farewell scene. You may recall that, last fall, I had written lyrics and then thrown them out, coming up with something completely new. Well, when Leo put music to it, it came out to 4½ minutes. It's not his fault; it's a ballad, and he just put music to what I wrote. It didn't occur to me until we recorded it for the demo that it's just too long and kind of brings the show to a stop, especially because it's a second reprise. So we have to completely reinvent that one, too. That will have to wait until tomorrow!
I have a feeling there will be more frequent posts with more frequent news. So stay tuned! I'd better get back to that Tangled Web scene...
I know - first I don't journal in forever and now two posts in two days. I should mention that we just got back from Cavendish (albeit through some really intense fog!). It's really wild to just say "Let's go to Cavendish", do it, and then drive home. Like McDonald's, I'm lovin' it. :) We also paid a visit to Maud's grave in the foggy night! How crazy was that? Although, it wasn't like The Haunted Wood - not with our way being lit by street lights, traffic lights, and the Petro Canada across the street!
At any rate, I have some news and I wanted to take a moment to make it official. You may recall that, over the past several months, I've alluded to an announcement I wanted to make but wasn't free to. I can now make it:
We are going to workshop 9LoLMM at The Confederation Centre of the Arts in late September!
We'd been in talks for quite a while about doing the workshop, but there were so many variables and the Theatre was so busy getting up the current season of Anne of Green Gables: The Musical and British Invasion that they couldn't very well tend to another show. But they were definitely interested and we based our move on that, although we did it not having any definite details! Anyway, we met with the artistic director yesterday and she was very enthusiastic. We'll be doing the workshop toward the end of September with the casts from the two shows mentioned above, who we are going to meet this week. We saw both shows last week and we already have an idea of who to cast as who, although our choices could certainly change!
All of this is with an eye toward putting a full version of the show on at the Centre next summer. I won't go into any of that yet...I need room for more announcements later on! :) We also don't know yet if the public will be invited to the workshop. But you know I'll keep you posted, only right here.
As for Leo and I, we're quietly juggling settling in, taking in PEI, and working on music and rewrites. For myself, I'm about ¾ of the way through the rewrite. I'm taking time out to do this update when I should be working on the next scene, which I decided to completely reinvent. I'm just in a long stretch with no songs and it was just getting too "talking head", so for the section featuring The Tangled Web, I came up with an idea to overhaul it, and then Leo added to that idea, so now it's just a matter of writing the reinvented scene. Right after that is the Why Did I Say Farewell scene. You may recall that, last fall, I had written lyrics and then thrown them out, coming up with something completely new. Well, when Leo put music to it, it came out to 4½ minutes. It's not his fault; it's a ballad, and he just put music to what I wrote. It didn't occur to me until we recorded it for the demo that it's just too long and kind of brings the show to a stop, especially because it's a second reprise. So we have to completely reinvent that one, too. That will have to wait until tomorrow!
I have a feeling there will be more frequent posts with more frequent news. So stay tuned! I'd better get back to that Tangled Web scene...
13 August 2007
Stratford, Prince Edward Island!
It's truer than true - Leo and I are here on PEI at long last! And it's wonderful. Although we didn't need any reminders that we love this place, reminders abound. The weather is gorgeous (OK, we've had three days of rain in the nine we've been here, but hey - we could still be sweltering in drought-ridden Los Angeles!), the scenery is breathtaking (it's great just from our window but there's an incredible beach just a short walk away that is out of this world when the tide goes out), and we are back in full 9LoLMM mode. There's much to tell you, and I suspect I'll be able to make another big announcement any minute now, but Leo doesn't call me Chronology Boy for nothing - first I must present you with the latest two videos. The first one, which I worked especially hard on, documents our 3,500-mile move in 4 minutes, so don't blink and don't look away! The second...well, it's the next phase of the show. So enjoy those, and stay tuned right here on Maud-TV for some exciting developments. All I have to say is, it's such a relief to be here, to work on the show 24-7, and to not have to kill myself doing a job I can't stand! (Let's apply The Secret here and decree that I won't have to do any more of those!)
In case I haven't mentioned it, I love Canada. There are some small things I'm having a little trouble getting used to (soda doesn't come in 2-litre bottles, and stuff like that), but I don't think it's overstating it at all to say being here is a dream come true for me. AMJ in PEI for LMM!
Here's those videos - it's good to get you guys caught up! :)
It's truer than true - Leo and I are here on PEI at long last! And it's wonderful. Although we didn't need any reminders that we love this place, reminders abound. The weather is gorgeous (OK, we've had three days of rain in the nine we've been here, but hey - we could still be sweltering in drought-ridden Los Angeles!), the scenery is breathtaking (it's great just from our window but there's an incredible beach just a short walk away that is out of this world when the tide goes out), and we are back in full 9LoLMM mode. There's much to tell you, and I suspect I'll be able to make another big announcement any minute now, but Leo doesn't call me Chronology Boy for nothing - first I must present you with the latest two videos. The first one, which I worked especially hard on, documents our 3,500-mile move in 4 minutes, so don't blink and don't look away! The second...well, it's the next phase of the show. So enjoy those, and stay tuned right here on Maud-TV for some exciting developments. All I have to say is, it's such a relief to be here, to work on the show 24-7, and to not have to kill myself doing a job I can't stand! (Let's apply The Secret here and decree that I won't have to do any more of those!)
In case I haven't mentioned it, I love Canada. There are some small things I'm having a little trouble getting used to (soda doesn't come in 2-litre bottles, and stuff like that), but I don't think it's overstating it at all to say being here is a dream come true for me. AMJ in PEI for LMM!
Here's those videos - it's good to get you guys caught up! :)
24 July 2007
18 July 2007
North Hollywood, California
Already the 18th and this only the first entry this month? I'm so slipping. But I have an excuse. OK, several excuses. But first, we are going back into "the studio" tomorrow (actually Leo's place) to record 4 new songs, ones we didn't do during the main May-June session. Leo wants to do this while we still have access to the same "cast", for uniformity. And the reason we won't have access to the same "cast" from here on out is...Part I of the announcement I can finally make!
Goodbye L.A., hello PEI! That's right - Leo and I are leaving Los Angeles behind and relocating to Prince Edward Island. Next week! It really doesn't make sense to try to produce a Canadian musical from here, especially at this point in time, and, truthfully, we're both sick of L.A. Have been for a long time. Two years ago we sat at the beach in Cavendish and asked ourselves exactly what there was to stick around for in L.A. Even then we couldn't think of much of anything. It's been one thing to visit PEI and feel the magic; I hope that same magic will be there once we take up residence. One of the first things I plan to do is hook this computer back up and get busy on the rather extensive rewrite I'm going to have to do. I timed Act I and it was almost @#$!$%* long, and I know Act II isn't going to be any better. I've had my confidence shaken this week by the first negative feedback we got about the show and part of me feels overwhelmed, wondering what to cut and how to make it all interesting, and how to make it make sense while cutting it down to an appreciable length. Which is all the more reason I think it's time to be able to breathe in the PEI vibe. I never really wanted to write the libretto from Los Angeles in the first place, but it's the way it turned out, so I'm glad we're finally going and that I'll get a chance to write about Maud on her own soil. I've been so busy going through everything I own these past few weeks - consolidating, throwing out, recycling, donating...getting rid of essentially 2/3 (if not 3/4!) of everything I own since we can only take so much with us. So busy, I haven't allowed myself time to feel excited about this move - just stressed! But I'm feeling some of it now. The excitement, I mean. I really do adore the Island and I can understand what Maud meant when she said she did some violence to her soul by leaving it. It's going to be amazing - as will Part II of the announcement, which I can't make just yet. I should be able to soon, although I don't know if I'll be able to before we leave. But it's part of the reason we're going, and I have to tell you - it's gonna be great to devote my full attention to the show for the next couple of months instead of squeezing it in between work and ten million other distractions. Let's just say I've seen to it that I'll be able to. :)
So, tomorrow, four more songs. In a way, I think it isn't the best timing to record these now when we're planning an international move. On the other...it's kind of nice to get back to it, although, 6 weeks past the main sessions, it's also going to feel weird! You better believe there's gonna be more video - although not nearly as much! I'll try to post it before we leave.
In the meantime...hard to believe Friday it will be one year since I started writing the libretto. If we can get this far in a year, then we can get this show on its feet in the next year, right? Right?
This is where you're supposed to agree with me. :)
Already the 18th and this only the first entry this month? I'm so slipping. But I have an excuse. OK, several excuses. But first, we are going back into "the studio" tomorrow (actually Leo's place) to record 4 new songs, ones we didn't do during the main May-June session. Leo wants to do this while we still have access to the same "cast", for uniformity. And the reason we won't have access to the same "cast" from here on out is...Part I of the announcement I can finally make!
Goodbye L.A., hello PEI! That's right - Leo and I are leaving Los Angeles behind and relocating to Prince Edward Island. Next week! It really doesn't make sense to try to produce a Canadian musical from here, especially at this point in time, and, truthfully, we're both sick of L.A. Have been for a long time. Two years ago we sat at the beach in Cavendish and asked ourselves exactly what there was to stick around for in L.A. Even then we couldn't think of much of anything. It's been one thing to visit PEI and feel the magic; I hope that same magic will be there once we take up residence. One of the first things I plan to do is hook this computer back up and get busy on the rather extensive rewrite I'm going to have to do. I timed Act I and it was almost @#$!$%* long, and I know Act II isn't going to be any better. I've had my confidence shaken this week by the first negative feedback we got about the show and part of me feels overwhelmed, wondering what to cut and how to make it all interesting, and how to make it make sense while cutting it down to an appreciable length. Which is all the more reason I think it's time to be able to breathe in the PEI vibe. I never really wanted to write the libretto from Los Angeles in the first place, but it's the way it turned out, so I'm glad we're finally going and that I'll get a chance to write about Maud on her own soil. I've been so busy going through everything I own these past few weeks - consolidating, throwing out, recycling, donating...getting rid of essentially 2/3 (if not 3/4!) of everything I own since we can only take so much with us. So busy, I haven't allowed myself time to feel excited about this move - just stressed! But I'm feeling some of it now. The excitement, I mean. I really do adore the Island and I can understand what Maud meant when she said she did some violence to her soul by leaving it. It's going to be amazing - as will Part II of the announcement, which I can't make just yet. I should be able to soon, although I don't know if I'll be able to before we leave. But it's part of the reason we're going, and I have to tell you - it's gonna be great to devote my full attention to the show for the next couple of months instead of squeezing it in between work and ten million other distractions. Let's just say I've seen to it that I'll be able to. :)
So, tomorrow, four more songs. In a way, I think it isn't the best timing to record these now when we're planning an international move. On the other...it's kind of nice to get back to it, although, 6 weeks past the main sessions, it's also going to feel weird! You better believe there's gonna be more video - although not nearly as much! I'll try to post it before we leave.
In the meantime...hard to believe Friday it will be one year since I started writing the libretto. If we can get this far in a year, then we can get this show on its feet in the next year, right? Right?
This is where you're supposed to agree with me. :)
20 June 2007
North Hollywood, California
And then there was one. One year, that is! Let me state and affirm to the Universe that it is our absolute intention to put on The Nine Lives of Lucy Maud Montgomery one year from tonight!
Given how much work still needs to be done, and the increasing number of unknowns in that equation, the phrase "Yeah, right" has been popping into my head more and more. So I'm doing my best to remember what Leo said recently - a year ago, none of this existed. There was only a treatment, and not a word of the libretto was written. There wasn't a note of music written, and the demo itself just came into existence after a long time of just being an image in our heads. So, if we can manifest that much in this past year, then there's no telling how much we can manifest in the year to come. Let's do it, y'all!
Last year on this date, Leo and I stood at the Macneill homestead where Maud grew up, and visited Lover's Lane for the first time (which is when the picture for the above banner was taken). Next year...well, in the meantime, happy 99th anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables!
Though I wish I had something more monumental to commemorate the date (I do plan on playing me some lottery today - all those 9s, and there's something magical about 6/20!), I at least can finally present to you the video of the demo's recording and mixing process. It was a little more intricate to make than just pointing a camera at myself or Leo, which is why it took so long. But it's a little piece of art unto itself, and I hope you enjoy it! As for the demo, it is now starting to make its way into the hands of those who it needs to be in the hands of. Thus begins a whole new phase for 9LoLMM!
Sorry for the delay with this latest installment of the video journal - with any luck you'll find it was worth the wait!
And then there was one. One year, that is! Let me state and affirm to the Universe that it is our absolute intention to put on The Nine Lives of Lucy Maud Montgomery one year from tonight!
Given how much work still needs to be done, and the increasing number of unknowns in that equation, the phrase "Yeah, right" has been popping into my head more and more. So I'm doing my best to remember what Leo said recently - a year ago, none of this existed. There was only a treatment, and not a word of the libretto was written. There wasn't a note of music written, and the demo itself just came into existence after a long time of just being an image in our heads. So, if we can manifest that much in this past year, then there's no telling how much we can manifest in the year to come. Let's do it, y'all!
Last year on this date, Leo and I stood at the Macneill homestead where Maud grew up, and visited Lover's Lane for the first time (which is when the picture for the above banner was taken). Next year...well, in the meantime, happy 99th anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables!
Though I wish I had something more monumental to commemorate the date (I do plan on playing me some lottery today - all those 9s, and there's something magical about 6/20!), I at least can finally present to you the video of the demo's recording and mixing process. It was a little more intricate to make than just pointing a camera at myself or Leo, which is why it took so long. But it's a little piece of art unto itself, and I hope you enjoy it! As for the demo, it is now starting to make its way into the hands of those who it needs to be in the hands of. Thus begins a whole new phase for 9LoLMM!
Sorry for the delay with this latest installment of the video journal - with any luck you'll find it was worth the wait!
07 June 2007
North Hollywood, California
I have just spent the evening in hell! And on the beach, and at a train station...
In other words, it's been AMJ in the mix! Leo and I decided that 4 of the songs required sound effects, so tonight has been my night to attempt mixing them in. Some of the effects I downloaded from the Internet, and others were provided to me by my good friend Christopher David Trentham - a rail fan who hooked me up with proper train sounds appropriate to 1890! I think the mixes sound OK...I'm going to have to sleep on them...and of course play them for Leo tomorrow. He may think I've put too much hellfire and damnation into Eternally Lost!
And yes - the general mixing with Johnny is done. It was another 2:00 night, but it got finished!
And next week...we turn the demo loose on the world.
I have just spent the evening in hell! And on the beach, and at a train station...
In other words, it's been AMJ in the mix! Leo and I decided that 4 of the songs required sound effects, so tonight has been my night to attempt mixing them in. Some of the effects I downloaded from the Internet, and others were provided to me by my good friend Christopher David Trentham - a rail fan who hooked me up with proper train sounds appropriate to 1890! I think the mixes sound OK...I'm going to have to sleep on them...and of course play them for Leo tomorrow. He may think I've put too much hellfire and damnation into Eternally Lost!
And yes - the general mixing with Johnny is done. It was another 2:00 night, but it got finished!
And next week...we turn the demo loose on the world.
04 June 2007
North Hollywood, California
Are we really putting on this musical in a year and 16 days? I can't honestly say I know exactly how, but, to paraphrase Anne (in the movie, at least), we intend to "if hard work can do it". We've been working pretty hard the past three weeks - and I have a strong feeling it's only just beginning!
But, very soon, we will have a completed demo to show for it. We'd better - Leo's scheduling the listening party for a week from today! :) We finished recording the vocals on 26 May (including my contribution - you bet I was nervous, and I thought I could have done better, but Leo and Johnny the Sound Engineer said I did fine), and we had three intense mixing sessions last week - including two that ran into "the wee sma's", to quote Maud. There's another one coming tonight, and I assume it will run about as late. We may need one more after that, but that should do it. We did the harder, more involved songs first and saved the simpler ones for last. Much as the constant creativity has rejuvenated me - my spirit was really getting stifled only doing the data entry job - I am about ready to be done with this now. Not only do we have to get demos to producers "toot sweet", but there's a lot of other stuff that needs to be done and a lot of preparations that need to be made...
I have to say, it's been a little bit of a challenge speaking up for myself in terms of the mixing. For example, I got very used to listening to Leo's orchestrations without the percussion. And I've found, as I've been introduced to the percussion, that quite a lot of it - especially the higher end stuff - adds a rather modern sound to the proceedings, whereas I would like things to sound as period as possible depending on the scene. So I've had to be a bit of a butt with pretty well every song to get that across; thankfully there's been general agreement and we've EQ'd a lot of it so it's more ingrained in the mix, and, thankfully, Leo's often felt the same way about cutting percussion out of certain parts - sometimes before I even say anything. Of course, you have to give in sometimes - but, for the most part, we end up on the same page.
I admit, Leo and I had one struggle about one simple line - one simple word, actually - Leo wanted it one way, but I wanted it another, so I asked the singer to record both ways. It's a spoken line, ironically enough. Leo needed to satisfy the rhythmic integrity of his orchestration, but I needed to satisfy the integrity of the character and the situation. We both were holding our ground and things got a little tense. But, after I had a chance to sleep on it, I found a way to fix it to where we both end up satisfied, although it won't reflect in the demo - it wouldn't do to bring the singer back in just to say one line. So we're leaving it for now. I hate to be stubborn and ornery (OK, on one level it's kind of fun), but I've always been very big on artistic integrity and I've had more than one battle over the years regarding it. I edited our Drama movie in high school and the A/V teacher told me I shouldn't do the end credits the way I was doing it; after it was done he told me he was glad I didn't listen. When I was in radio, I recorded a spot one way, but the rest of the staff sassed me about it and recorded their own version; when the client heard both, it was mine that was chosen. I may not have any kind of formal training in matters of art, but I know when something's wrong, and I know when something's right. And, to be fair to Leo, he was also battling for artistic integrity. Actually, occasional scuffling aside, I think that's why we work so well together - if one collaborator has that kind of integrity and the other doesn't, you'd have one collaborator with passion and purpose and another that doesn't care or is just going after what's commercial or what's going to make money. So I'm very grateful that we're both passionate and purposeful about our work, and it's well worth the occasional scuffle. Anyway, I'm happy we finally agreed on a way that satisfies both of us. All this so we can bring you the best musical we possibly can!
In closing, I finally get to post what I had wanted to post a couple of weeks ago, but didn't want to do without express permission - Leo and I are both very thrilled and honoured to have an actual television and Broadway star on our demo in the role of Ewan: Fred Applegate. Not only did he star as Officer O'Toole in both the stage and theatrical versions of The Producers, he played the lead Nathan Lane role in the London production! We were actually very lucky to get him while he was in between jobs - next week he's off again! But, most importantly, especially for all us LMM and Anne fans, who do you think he once worked with on stage? Megan Follows! So, you see, it all ties together - and rather a good omen, if I do say so myself!
It's meant, I'm telling you.
Still have to compile all the video I took during the recording (and now mixing) sessions and fashion it into the next video installment - I plan to have it up by the weekend, so be on the lookout!
Are we really putting on this musical in a year and 16 days? I can't honestly say I know exactly how, but, to paraphrase Anne (in the movie, at least), we intend to "if hard work can do it". We've been working pretty hard the past three weeks - and I have a strong feeling it's only just beginning!
But, very soon, we will have a completed demo to show for it. We'd better - Leo's scheduling the listening party for a week from today! :) We finished recording the vocals on 26 May (including my contribution - you bet I was nervous, and I thought I could have done better, but Leo and Johnny the Sound Engineer said I did fine), and we had three intense mixing sessions last week - including two that ran into "the wee sma's", to quote Maud. There's another one coming tonight, and I assume it will run about as late. We may need one more after that, but that should do it. We did the harder, more involved songs first and saved the simpler ones for last. Much as the constant creativity has rejuvenated me - my spirit was really getting stifled only doing the data entry job - I am about ready to be done with this now. Not only do we have to get demos to producers "toot sweet", but there's a lot of other stuff that needs to be done and a lot of preparations that need to be made...
I have to say, it's been a little bit of a challenge speaking up for myself in terms of the mixing. For example, I got very used to listening to Leo's orchestrations without the percussion. And I've found, as I've been introduced to the percussion, that quite a lot of it - especially the higher end stuff - adds a rather modern sound to the proceedings, whereas I would like things to sound as period as possible depending on the scene. So I've had to be a bit of a butt with pretty well every song to get that across; thankfully there's been general agreement and we've EQ'd a lot of it so it's more ingrained in the mix, and, thankfully, Leo's often felt the same way about cutting percussion out of certain parts - sometimes before I even say anything. Of course, you have to give in sometimes - but, for the most part, we end up on the same page.
I admit, Leo and I had one struggle about one simple line - one simple word, actually - Leo wanted it one way, but I wanted it another, so I asked the singer to record both ways. It's a spoken line, ironically enough. Leo needed to satisfy the rhythmic integrity of his orchestration, but I needed to satisfy the integrity of the character and the situation. We both were holding our ground and things got a little tense. But, after I had a chance to sleep on it, I found a way to fix it to where we both end up satisfied, although it won't reflect in the demo - it wouldn't do to bring the singer back in just to say one line. So we're leaving it for now. I hate to be stubborn and ornery (OK, on one level it's kind of fun), but I've always been very big on artistic integrity and I've had more than one battle over the years regarding it. I edited our Drama movie in high school and the A/V teacher told me I shouldn't do the end credits the way I was doing it; after it was done he told me he was glad I didn't listen. When I was in radio, I recorded a spot one way, but the rest of the staff sassed me about it and recorded their own version; when the client heard both, it was mine that was chosen. I may not have any kind of formal training in matters of art, but I know when something's wrong, and I know when something's right. And, to be fair to Leo, he was also battling for artistic integrity. Actually, occasional scuffling aside, I think that's why we work so well together - if one collaborator has that kind of integrity and the other doesn't, you'd have one collaborator with passion and purpose and another that doesn't care or is just going after what's commercial or what's going to make money. So I'm very grateful that we're both passionate and purposeful about our work, and it's well worth the occasional scuffle. Anyway, I'm happy we finally agreed on a way that satisfies both of us. All this so we can bring you the best musical we possibly can!
In closing, I finally get to post what I had wanted to post a couple of weeks ago, but didn't want to do without express permission - Leo and I are both very thrilled and honoured to have an actual television and Broadway star on our demo in the role of Ewan: Fred Applegate. Not only did he star as Officer O'Toole in both the stage and theatrical versions of The Producers, he played the lead Nathan Lane role in the London production! We were actually very lucky to get him while he was in between jobs - next week he's off again! But, most importantly, especially for all us LMM and Anne fans, who do you think he once worked with on stage? Megan Follows! So, you see, it all ties together - and rather a good omen, if I do say so myself!
It's meant, I'm telling you.
Still have to compile all the video I took during the recording (and now mixing) sessions and fashion it into the next video installment - I plan to have it up by the weekend, so be on the lookout!
21 May 2007
North Hollywood, California
It's a Maud Maud Maud Maud world! Last week was an absolute blur - but a productive one. We had 4 recording sessions in 3 days and essentially finished 13 songs, with at least as many vocalists, if not more. Video will be forthcoming, but first we have to get through this week's onslaught, which may or may not be easier, even though there are less sessions! (Only three this time.) But, by the end of the week, we should be done...and then it will be up to me to fashion a demo. Knowing how to edit and having the technology for it really comes in handy!
One thing I have to say is that it's really amazing hearing the songs fleshed out with vocals. I mean, it was one thing to write them on paper, and even another to hear Leo set them to music on his piano and then orchestrate them on his home studio. But to have the voices singing and saying what they're supposed to say...well, I could close my eyes and really see this show on stage, just the way it should be. I'm happy to say things are going well, with no real technical glitches so far. Let's keep it that way!
All right...one more week of intensity. I will also be adding vocals to our demo. Wish me luck!
It's a Maud Maud Maud Maud world! Last week was an absolute blur - but a productive one. We had 4 recording sessions in 3 days and essentially finished 13 songs, with at least as many vocalists, if not more. Video will be forthcoming, but first we have to get through this week's onslaught, which may or may not be easier, even though there are less sessions! (Only three this time.) But, by the end of the week, we should be done...and then it will be up to me to fashion a demo. Knowing how to edit and having the technology for it really comes in handy!
One thing I have to say is that it's really amazing hearing the songs fleshed out with vocals. I mean, it was one thing to write them on paper, and even another to hear Leo set them to music on his piano and then orchestrate them on his home studio. But to have the voices singing and saying what they're supposed to say...well, I could close my eyes and really see this show on stage, just the way it should be. I'm happy to say things are going well, with no real technical glitches so far. Let's keep it that way!
All right...one more week of intensity. I will also be adding vocals to our demo. Wish me luck!
10 May 2007
North Hollywood, California
Moving right along. Today was the first "official" recording session for the demo - in quotes to signify that Leo's been recording for weeks, but it's the first session that's involved other people. In this case, the percussionist (OK, drummer - but when Leo's talked about putting drums into the score, I've interpreted it as turning into some boppin' thing, which is not what he means and not period-appropriate! He just means some cymbal things and drum brushes and stuff like that), and the sound engineer. I don't know yet how it went, but I do know that we've survived our first major near-catastrophe - last night Leo called to tell me that something was wrong with his system and he couldn't record any more tracks. Fortunately, it was just some MIDI problem, and when I checked in with him during the session, everything was good to go. Next week we begin the vocals. Would have liked to start them this week, but you know how it goes...
I'm going to be reducing my hours at the data entry place so I can concentrate more of my attention on the show, and, specifically for the immediate future, the demo. There's just a lot to be done and I haven't had much chance to tackle it...
Although, we did some make some headway in tightening up the show, at least. My turn is coming, since I have a complete rewrite to do, but when we started getting times on the songs, some of them were coming in over 5 minutes and that wasn't sitting well with me. It's fine on your standard musical, but with all the ground we have to cover...well, we had some discussions about it, and Leo made some changes on a few of the songs and brought them down in length, which made me feel better. Keep in mind, I'm going to be making more changes than even he will with the dialogue! But also, there are a couple of songs where his only crime was putting music to what I wrote, so, if they're going to get shortened down, I'm going to have to consolidate the lyrics. Generally, I try not to ask him to do something I wouldn't be willing to do myself. I just can't do my part of it for a couple of months yet. Right now all I could do is give it an hour here and an hour there, and I just can't write like that. I don't want the quality of the show to suffer because I'm in too much of a hurry.
All that being said, I want to go on public record and say that Leo's compositions are phenomenal. I might have said that before, but it's a sentiment that bears repeating. You guys are gonna be blown away - I guarantee it!
Moving right along. Today was the first "official" recording session for the demo - in quotes to signify that Leo's been recording for weeks, but it's the first session that's involved other people. In this case, the percussionist (OK, drummer - but when Leo's talked about putting drums into the score, I've interpreted it as turning into some boppin' thing, which is not what he means and not period-appropriate! He just means some cymbal things and drum brushes and stuff like that), and the sound engineer. I don't know yet how it went, but I do know that we've survived our first major near-catastrophe - last night Leo called to tell me that something was wrong with his system and he couldn't record any more tracks. Fortunately, it was just some MIDI problem, and when I checked in with him during the session, everything was good to go. Next week we begin the vocals. Would have liked to start them this week, but you know how it goes...
I'm going to be reducing my hours at the data entry place so I can concentrate more of my attention on the show, and, specifically for the immediate future, the demo. There's just a lot to be done and I haven't had much chance to tackle it...
Although, we did some make some headway in tightening up the show, at least. My turn is coming, since I have a complete rewrite to do, but when we started getting times on the songs, some of them were coming in over 5 minutes and that wasn't sitting well with me. It's fine on your standard musical, but with all the ground we have to cover...well, we had some discussions about it, and Leo made some changes on a few of the songs and brought them down in length, which made me feel better. Keep in mind, I'm going to be making more changes than even he will with the dialogue! But also, there are a couple of songs where his only crime was putting music to what I wrote, so, if they're going to get shortened down, I'm going to have to consolidate the lyrics. Generally, I try not to ask him to do something I wouldn't be willing to do myself. I just can't do my part of it for a couple of months yet. Right now all I could do is give it an hour here and an hour there, and I just can't write like that. I don't want the quality of the show to suffer because I'm in too much of a hurry.
All that being said, I want to go on public record and say that Leo's compositions are phenomenal. I might have said that before, but it's a sentiment that bears repeating. You guys are gonna be blown away - I guarantee it!
05 May 2007
North Hollywood, California
We finally got some news yesterday that we've been waiting for since March! I still can't go into it, as it all needs to be confirmed, but it's a lot closer to materializing than it was even 48 hours ago...hallelujah! Something about getting this news and finally having the bowling ball removed from my stomach seemed to have removed a block I'd been having...specifically regarding adding the last two lines for It's In My Nature. I know I was working on it 4 weeks ago, but I got stuck and pretty well remained stuck. Every time I tried to think about it, my brain just locked up. Of course, part of that is due to my job. Yet, once we got our news...well, again, I was taking a bath, getting ready for work...I wasn't even thinking about the song, really. And suddenly the perfect lyrics popped into my head. It was kind of like, "Why didn't I think of that before?", but I could also tell that it wasn't meant to come until that moment. I'm just glad I can finally remove that from my plate - especially with more things being added to it as we speak!
Despite having to give up a lot of time for school and church work, Leo's really made a lot of progress on the demo this week. We're supposed to start recording the vocals and percussion next week, although I don't know exactly when. What this means for me - aside from juggling my work schedule so I can be there (and they're just going to have to understand!) - is having to go through each song to notate who's going to "play" who, not to mention determine what's not just "simple" singing - there's a good deal of dialogue and sort of half-spoken/half-sung things that need to be delivered correctly, and it's not immediately obvious in the libretto which is which. That, and I'm going to have to do a bit of directing during these recording sessions. All of which ought to be interesting!
I'm also seeing that I'm going to have to do a major rewrite this summer. Some of the songs are turning out to be longer than I envisioned. While I think some of them could be shortened, that's going to involve more lyrical changes from me...other songs need to be as long as they need to be, which means having take dialogue out of other scenes. I intentionally wrote the libretto with a lot of layers, but if I don't thin it out a bit the show will be way too long...and, as the months pass by and I've had a chance to sit with the initial draft, I'm seeing plenty of places where things could be tightened. But I think it'll be July before I can get to that, once...well, I'm not going to tell you right now! :) Believe me - when the time is right, I'll tell all!
Also this summer, we'll have to start filming things for the screen which can only be filmed in summer. The interiors won't matter, of course...but every outdoor scene has to be filmed in the appropriate season - and I purposely wanted to reflect each season, since even Maud didn't live in pastoral spring and summer environs all the time. There's really only three major sequences I can think of that have to be done this summer - possibly four - but, since I've noticed that the leaves start to change already in late August, we're going to have to get this footage in early August...mid-August at the latest. Of course, that's only 3 months away...!
Lots of 9LoLMM stuff happening right now...and lots more coming...so stay tuned!
We finally got some news yesterday that we've been waiting for since March! I still can't go into it, as it all needs to be confirmed, but it's a lot closer to materializing than it was even 48 hours ago...hallelujah! Something about getting this news and finally having the bowling ball removed from my stomach seemed to have removed a block I'd been having...specifically regarding adding the last two lines for It's In My Nature. I know I was working on it 4 weeks ago, but I got stuck and pretty well remained stuck. Every time I tried to think about it, my brain just locked up. Of course, part of that is due to my job. Yet, once we got our news...well, again, I was taking a bath, getting ready for work...I wasn't even thinking about the song, really. And suddenly the perfect lyrics popped into my head. It was kind of like, "Why didn't I think of that before?", but I could also tell that it wasn't meant to come until that moment. I'm just glad I can finally remove that from my plate - especially with more things being added to it as we speak!
Despite having to give up a lot of time for school and church work, Leo's really made a lot of progress on the demo this week. We're supposed to start recording the vocals and percussion next week, although I don't know exactly when. What this means for me - aside from juggling my work schedule so I can be there (and they're just going to have to understand!) - is having to go through each song to notate who's going to "play" who, not to mention determine what's not just "simple" singing - there's a good deal of dialogue and sort of half-spoken/half-sung things that need to be delivered correctly, and it's not immediately obvious in the libretto which is which. That, and I'm going to have to do a bit of directing during these recording sessions. All of which ought to be interesting!
I'm also seeing that I'm going to have to do a major rewrite this summer. Some of the songs are turning out to be longer than I envisioned. While I think some of them could be shortened, that's going to involve more lyrical changes from me...other songs need to be as long as they need to be, which means having take dialogue out of other scenes. I intentionally wrote the libretto with a lot of layers, but if I don't thin it out a bit the show will be way too long...and, as the months pass by and I've had a chance to sit with the initial draft, I'm seeing plenty of places where things could be tightened. But I think it'll be July before I can get to that, once...well, I'm not going to tell you right now! :) Believe me - when the time is right, I'll tell all!
Also this summer, we'll have to start filming things for the screen which can only be filmed in summer. The interiors won't matter, of course...but every outdoor scene has to be filmed in the appropriate season - and I purposely wanted to reflect each season, since even Maud didn't live in pastoral spring and summer environs all the time. There's really only three major sequences I can think of that have to be done this summer - possibly four - but, since I've noticed that the leaves start to change already in late August, we're going to have to get this footage in early August...mid-August at the latest. Of course, that's only 3 months away...!
Lots of 9LoLMM stuff happening right now...and lots more coming...so stay tuned!
03 May 2007
29 April 2007
North Hollywood, California
What a mystery, the creative process.
Earlier in the week, Leo was trying to set It Doesn't Pay to Be Invariably Cheerful to music. But he was running across trouble - and I couldn't blame him, since it's one of maybe two songs I wrote where I didn't have a predetermined rhythm in my head. He'd tried to rewrite some of the lyrics in Spokane but I didn't like them, and the tune he'd come up with sounded incredibly Jewish to me, so we were both sort of scratching our heads.
We were also in a quandary because I said the song needed to sound more '20s, since it takes place in 1924. But all the '20s songs we had access to were happy happy happy. Which is when I suggested making the song sound happy, even though it's got these discouraging lyrics. I was actually serious, but Leo, while finding the concept interesting, decided to go another route - doing this major/minor thing with the melody, creating a duality between sounding up and sounding down. And damned if that didn't work. We were still in a dilemma over chunks of the lyrics, but when he came up with the reinvented (and non-Jewish!) tune, it clicked for me, and I told him I'd gladly rewrite the sections if he settled on a completed melody, which he did. So I took my MP3 player and recorded him playing it on the piano, and tonight sat down to familiarize myself with the melody and rewrite my lyrics.
I was going pretty good there for a while...until I got stuck! And suddenly I found things conflicting with each other, or repeating, or not quite saying what I wanted to say, and before I knew it, almost three hours had passed by while I fumbled over myself. What made it especially frustrating was that I kept sensing I was almost there, and I didn't want to get up until I finished it, and yet, I couldn't make that last little bit of it work.
In situations like that, I always remember the teacher I had in 6th grade - whether taking a test or just doing a normal homework assignment, she would advise us to move on if we got stuck on a problem, and come back to it later. So I threw up my hands and decided to take a bath.
Naturally, as soon as I got in, the ideas started flowing along with the water; I don't know why, but I often get ideas in the bath or shower - or in the bathroom in general! So I got out, dripping, to tap down the new line, but it didn't work with the melody the way I thought it would. Well, back to the bath. But then it came to me - and again I had to grab the towel and plug in the new words. This time it worked - and I finished the song!
Maybe the water represents fluidity of ideas - who knows. All I know is that I finished a song...and that only my face is clean at this point! So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to wash that writer's block right out of my hair!
But before I do, I'd like to give a shout out to Mayra from Puerto Rico, who surprised me with an e-mail of encouragment today. ¡Hola, Mayra! :) A few weeks ago someone from Korea commented on one of the YouTube videos, and Yuka still puts stuff up about 9LoLMM on the Japanese LMM site. It's awesome to know people from all around the world are finding out about our show - but it's also good to hear when individual people are looking forward to 9LoLMM, because it really drives us to do our best in a more personal way. So, thank you, Mayra - we'll do ya proud! :)
Now, wish us luck this week for our further developments...developing! There's so much I want to tell you about what's coming up, but we've been in one heckuva holding pattern this month...we need movement in the Force!
What a mystery, the creative process.
Earlier in the week, Leo was trying to set It Doesn't Pay to Be Invariably Cheerful to music. But he was running across trouble - and I couldn't blame him, since it's one of maybe two songs I wrote where I didn't have a predetermined rhythm in my head. He'd tried to rewrite some of the lyrics in Spokane but I didn't like them, and the tune he'd come up with sounded incredibly Jewish to me, so we were both sort of scratching our heads.
We were also in a quandary because I said the song needed to sound more '20s, since it takes place in 1924. But all the '20s songs we had access to were happy happy happy. Which is when I suggested making the song sound happy, even though it's got these discouraging lyrics. I was actually serious, but Leo, while finding the concept interesting, decided to go another route - doing this major/minor thing with the melody, creating a duality between sounding up and sounding down. And damned if that didn't work. We were still in a dilemma over chunks of the lyrics, but when he came up with the reinvented (and non-Jewish!) tune, it clicked for me, and I told him I'd gladly rewrite the sections if he settled on a completed melody, which he did. So I took my MP3 player and recorded him playing it on the piano, and tonight sat down to familiarize myself with the melody and rewrite my lyrics.
I was going pretty good there for a while...until I got stuck! And suddenly I found things conflicting with each other, or repeating, or not quite saying what I wanted to say, and before I knew it, almost three hours had passed by while I fumbled over myself. What made it especially frustrating was that I kept sensing I was almost there, and I didn't want to get up until I finished it, and yet, I couldn't make that last little bit of it work.
In situations like that, I always remember the teacher I had in 6th grade - whether taking a test or just doing a normal homework assignment, she would advise us to move on if we got stuck on a problem, and come back to it later. So I threw up my hands and decided to take a bath.
Naturally, as soon as I got in, the ideas started flowing along with the water; I don't know why, but I often get ideas in the bath or shower - or in the bathroom in general! So I got out, dripping, to tap down the new line, but it didn't work with the melody the way I thought it would. Well, back to the bath. But then it came to me - and again I had to grab the towel and plug in the new words. This time it worked - and I finished the song!
Maybe the water represents fluidity of ideas - who knows. All I know is that I finished a song...and that only my face is clean at this point! So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to wash that writer's block right out of my hair!
But before I do, I'd like to give a shout out to Mayra from Puerto Rico, who surprised me with an e-mail of encouragment today. ¡Hola, Mayra! :) A few weeks ago someone from Korea commented on one of the YouTube videos, and Yuka still puts stuff up about 9LoLMM on the Japanese LMM site. It's awesome to know people from all around the world are finding out about our show - but it's also good to hear when individual people are looking forward to 9LoLMM, because it really drives us to do our best in a more personal way. So, thank you, Mayra - we'll do ya proud! :)
Now, wish us luck this week for our further developments...developing! There's so much I want to tell you about what's coming up, but we've been in one heckuva holding pattern this month...we need movement in the Force!
23 April 2007
North Hollywood, California
And we're bookin' along. Never at the pace I want to be bookin' along at, mind you, but that's just how I sort of am in my life in general! Never fast enough! Especially as I get older. But never mind that...
The important thing is, Leo's been making astounding progress the last couple of weeks. Not only has he been recording like crazy for our demo, but he wrote a lot for the remaining tunes over the weekend when he was in Spokane for Bugs Bunny on Broadway! My legacy will be that most of the libretto was written at my former place of employment. Leo's will be that the music was written in Toronto, Burbank, San Antonio and Spokane!
Anyway, it turns out we have different approaches to recording music. Now, mind you, he's the one with all the classical training and writes symphonically, while my experience is writing pop songs that require more knowledge of looping than it does about actual music. When I want to do a song, I usually pick out all my sounds first before I record anything, or at least get it narrowed down and then see how they sound together. Leo's process so far has been laying down a piano track as a guide, and then, by his own description, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at it and seeing what works and doesn't work. And often, he will come back to a composition after a couple of days and not only shape it and edit it, but reconstruct the entire thing, throwing out his original ideas.
It's been a bit of a challenge when he plays his work for me because of this, because when I hear it I've been regarding it as a finished product. But I've slowly been learning to understand that what he's doing is work in progress. Still, it's hard for me to not want to make comments and suggestions, because sometimes the songs sound different than I envisioned or it's evoking something different than I intended, or I don't like this instrument or it doesn't sound period enough. I'm difficult to please; what can I say. :) But I have to say that he's been doing phenomenal work, and currently it seems the demo will be done in early May, which comes as a relief. We've got 14 months and I find myself becoming more and more aware of time being of the essence.
Speaking of time, the only thing I'm really a bit concerned with at this point is the length of some of the songs! We've got so much ground to cover with the show as a whole that I feel most of the songs can only be so long, since we can't put on a 4-hour show. But, there's still a lot of dialogue than be cut out and/or tightened, so I've decided just to let the songs' lengths slide for the purpose of the demo. We won't really know how long the show is until we start our readings this summer, and we can go from there when we find out. Again, I tend to come at artistic ventures as finished products rather than works in progress...and how many finished products in art do you know of that didn't go through several incarnations before becoming finished products? So this is one of the lessons I'm learning from the demo process, and I guess the whole dang musical...
I still have to finish the two-line ending for It's In My Nature...Lord knows I've tried but it just seems to flummox me for some reason! The only up side is that, since the song is on the demo and it's going to be recorded soon, I have no choice but to finish it. Again, it's frustrating to not have this stuff come out perfect the first time! Ah, for those days last summer and autumn, when I was fired up to write the libretto almost every day and words just flowed like a stream trickling through Lover's Lane...
And we're bookin' along. Never at the pace I want to be bookin' along at, mind you, but that's just how I sort of am in my life in general! Never fast enough! Especially as I get older. But never mind that...
The important thing is, Leo's been making astounding progress the last couple of weeks. Not only has he been recording like crazy for our demo, but he wrote a lot for the remaining tunes over the weekend when he was in Spokane for Bugs Bunny on Broadway! My legacy will be that most of the libretto was written at my former place of employment. Leo's will be that the music was written in Toronto, Burbank, San Antonio and Spokane!
Anyway, it turns out we have different approaches to recording music. Now, mind you, he's the one with all the classical training and writes symphonically, while my experience is writing pop songs that require more knowledge of looping than it does about actual music. When I want to do a song, I usually pick out all my sounds first before I record anything, or at least get it narrowed down and then see how they sound together. Leo's process so far has been laying down a piano track as a guide, and then, by his own description, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at it and seeing what works and doesn't work. And often, he will come back to a composition after a couple of days and not only shape it and edit it, but reconstruct the entire thing, throwing out his original ideas.
It's been a bit of a challenge when he plays his work for me because of this, because when I hear it I've been regarding it as a finished product. But I've slowly been learning to understand that what he's doing is work in progress. Still, it's hard for me to not want to make comments and suggestions, because sometimes the songs sound different than I envisioned or it's evoking something different than I intended, or I don't like this instrument or it doesn't sound period enough. I'm difficult to please; what can I say. :) But I have to say that he's been doing phenomenal work, and currently it seems the demo will be done in early May, which comes as a relief. We've got 14 months and I find myself becoming more and more aware of time being of the essence.
Speaking of time, the only thing I'm really a bit concerned with at this point is the length of some of the songs! We've got so much ground to cover with the show as a whole that I feel most of the songs can only be so long, since we can't put on a 4-hour show. But, there's still a lot of dialogue than be cut out and/or tightened, so I've decided just to let the songs' lengths slide for the purpose of the demo. We won't really know how long the show is until we start our readings this summer, and we can go from there when we find out. Again, I tend to come at artistic ventures as finished products rather than works in progress...and how many finished products in art do you know of that didn't go through several incarnations before becoming finished products? So this is one of the lessons I'm learning from the demo process, and I guess the whole dang musical...
I still have to finish the two-line ending for It's In My Nature...Lord knows I've tried but it just seems to flummox me for some reason! The only up side is that, since the song is on the demo and it's going to be recorded soon, I have no choice but to finish it. Again, it's frustrating to not have this stuff come out perfect the first time! Ah, for those days last summer and autumn, when I was fired up to write the libretto almost every day and words just flowed like a stream trickling through Lover's Lane...
08 April 2007
North Hollywood, California
You know, lyric revisions and additions are harder than they seem! I struggled for 3 hours last night to try and add a simple six lines to It's In My Nature. Aside from the fact that I seem to be writing through a fog, I felt like I couldn't come up with anything that either wasn't already in the song, or it didn't go with the two themes that the song is based on. I jotted down a few things but wasn't thrilled with any of them, so finally I moved on to More Important Things. Wouldn't you know the one line I needed for that one popped right into my head! In fact, I came up with four possibilities in case Leo didn't like the original. Go figure! But it was reassuring to know it wasn't an overall block. Sometimes I find it hard to get ideas that make perfect sense in my head out in a tangible form. This happens with lyrics for my own songs, too. Anyway, that left 1917, which was a little harder just because I had to try and unify four different viewpoints, but that came, too. Which brings us back to It's In My Nature. Reading the journal didn't help me with what I was looking for, so I found an e-text version of The Alpine Path, and that gave me an idea! Of course, by then it was past 2:00 in the morning, so I decided to leave it 'til today. Or...tomorrow. I have life stuff that needs taken care of today. But at least I think I know now how to end that song, which I didn't know before, and that's put my mind at ease.
The recording of the demo is set to commence this week, probably even tomorrow. I find myself starting to freak out about not having enough time to get a producer and get this thing on stage in its proper form at the theatre we want on 20 June 2008, but I'm mentioning it here as a form of letting go of it. If any of you have seen The Secret...well, I've long been trying to change the way I think, and that concept would tell me to focus on what I want and not on what I don't want. So we will début on time exactly the way we envision in the place we envision it, and that's that! I am making this public declaration to the Universe!
Now if this other stuff would happen that we've been waiting on...!
You know, lyric revisions and additions are harder than they seem! I struggled for 3 hours last night to try and add a simple six lines to It's In My Nature. Aside from the fact that I seem to be writing through a fog, I felt like I couldn't come up with anything that either wasn't already in the song, or it didn't go with the two themes that the song is based on. I jotted down a few things but wasn't thrilled with any of them, so finally I moved on to More Important Things. Wouldn't you know the one line I needed for that one popped right into my head! In fact, I came up with four possibilities in case Leo didn't like the original. Go figure! But it was reassuring to know it wasn't an overall block. Sometimes I find it hard to get ideas that make perfect sense in my head out in a tangible form. This happens with lyrics for my own songs, too. Anyway, that left 1917, which was a little harder just because I had to try and unify four different viewpoints, but that came, too. Which brings us back to It's In My Nature. Reading the journal didn't help me with what I was looking for, so I found an e-text version of The Alpine Path, and that gave me an idea! Of course, by then it was past 2:00 in the morning, so I decided to leave it 'til today. Or...tomorrow. I have life stuff that needs taken care of today. But at least I think I know now how to end that song, which I didn't know before, and that's put my mind at ease.
The recording of the demo is set to commence this week, probably even tomorrow. I find myself starting to freak out about not having enough time to get a producer and get this thing on stage in its proper form at the theatre we want on 20 June 2008, but I'm mentioning it here as a form of letting go of it. If any of you have seen The Secret...well, I've long been trying to change the way I think, and that concept would tell me to focus on what I want and not on what I don't want. So we will début on time exactly the way we envision in the place we envision it, and that's that! I am making this public declaration to the Universe!
Now if this other stuff would happen that we've been waiting on...!
07 April 2007
19 March 2007
North Hollywood, California
A slight break in the action before heading back to data entry. I actually dubbed off the audio of the Anne movie and loaded it into my MP3 player! Hey, it makes me feel good, and it kills over 3 hours of monotony!
Anyway, Leo seems to be making up for lost time and is attacking Act II with vigour. Me, I'm realizing that I'm going to have to start making myself do 9LoLMM work no matter how draining my job is, because there's just plain out stuff that needs to be done and it's piling up like crazy. I'm especially going to have to do those lyric revisions Leo's been asking for, because he's doing a lot of talking about getting a demo recorded in April, which I of course agree should happen! But that can't very well be done with unrevised lyrics, can it? Also, Leo created a couple of places where new lyrics actually have to go, so that certainly has to be done before any demo can be recorded. A demo, of course, is for the purpose of approaching producers, as well as other folks. So it's very important that it gets done!
I also have to go back through and figure out exactly what needs to be filmed for the screen - and, more importantly, when. The indoor stuff doesn't matter, but the outdoor stuff naturally does! I mean, if it were something that could be done here in Los Angeles...let's face it, this place doesn't have seasons so you could film something in December that's supposed to be July and who would know the difference! But you couldn't go to Lover's Lane in December for July scenery, could you? The most important thing here is that the summer stuff has to be filmed this summer. We could get away with August, as long as it's done before any leaves start changing colour. So I'd better get off my keister, quit crying exhaustion, and figure this stuff out!
You guys are going to have to hold me to these declarations!
A slight break in the action before heading back to data entry. I actually dubbed off the audio of the Anne movie and loaded it into my MP3 player! Hey, it makes me feel good, and it kills over 3 hours of monotony!
Anyway, Leo seems to be making up for lost time and is attacking Act II with vigour. Me, I'm realizing that I'm going to have to start making myself do 9LoLMM work no matter how draining my job is, because there's just plain out stuff that needs to be done and it's piling up like crazy. I'm especially going to have to do those lyric revisions Leo's been asking for, because he's doing a lot of talking about getting a demo recorded in April, which I of course agree should happen! But that can't very well be done with unrevised lyrics, can it? Also, Leo created a couple of places where new lyrics actually have to go, so that certainly has to be done before any demo can be recorded. A demo, of course, is for the purpose of approaching producers, as well as other folks. So it's very important that it gets done!
I also have to go back through and figure out exactly what needs to be filmed for the screen - and, more importantly, when. The indoor stuff doesn't matter, but the outdoor stuff naturally does! I mean, if it were something that could be done here in Los Angeles...let's face it, this place doesn't have seasons so you could film something in December that's supposed to be July and who would know the difference! But you couldn't go to Lover's Lane in December for July scenery, could you? The most important thing here is that the summer stuff has to be filmed this summer. We could get away with August, as long as it's done before any leaves start changing colour. So I'd better get off my keister, quit crying exhaustion, and figure this stuff out!
You guys are going to have to hold me to these declarations!
15 March 2007
North Hollywood, California
All right - finally, here's Part III, and sorry for taking so long to get it out there. It's almost old news at this point! Sort of.
Things are still bubbling along, at least from the music perspective. Leo had to go to San Antonio last week to do a Bugs Bunny on Broadway gig but took his scores with him and started in on Act II. We even discussed some ideas via cell phone when I went to pick him up from the airport and he was stuck on the runway after landing. It's come to a stop the last few days, though, because the relatively young Fr. Lawrence, a priest at the church where Leo is a music director, dropped dead over the weekend, so you can understand how Leo's attentions have had to go toward funerals and such. But the show must go on; I didn't know Fr. Lawrence well, but he seemed pretty cool for a priest and I think he of all people would appreciate that sentiment. Rest in peace, Father...
As for me, I had to give up tracking journal entries for now because it was just too difficult trying to do it in 15-30 minute bursts here and there. I'll get back to it when I can, of course. In lieu of that, I did start going through the libretto and marking passages that could potentially be edited out for timing purposes or just, as I've discovered, overall tightening. So far, we've had no idea exactly how long the show would be as written. It's meant to be a bit epic, and I tried hard to write things succinctly, but there's just no way of knowing until more of the songs are done and we can time those and then read through the scenes and time them. What's going to kill us, though, is the time needed to transition between each scene! I had written a lot of layers into the scenes, so I've been looking for places I can strip off a layer or two and shorten things down. Some places to make cuts are really obvious and other things are just impossible to cut at this point. I'll let you know as we go along!
I've still been feeling very frustrated about having to work and not being able to put much or any attention into the show (Leo needs me to make lyric revisions and I'm just so not there these days); however, there are a couple of exciting developments getting closer on the horizon that are helping me through. Of course, I can't divulge them at the moment...suspense suspense...but you know I will as soon as I'm able to.
All right, here's your video - I've got to get ready for work! *sniffle*
All right - finally, here's Part III, and sorry for taking so long to get it out there. It's almost old news at this point! Sort of.
Things are still bubbling along, at least from the music perspective. Leo had to go to San Antonio last week to do a Bugs Bunny on Broadway gig but took his scores with him and started in on Act II. We even discussed some ideas via cell phone when I went to pick him up from the airport and he was stuck on the runway after landing. It's come to a stop the last few days, though, because the relatively young Fr. Lawrence, a priest at the church where Leo is a music director, dropped dead over the weekend, so you can understand how Leo's attentions have had to go toward funerals and such. But the show must go on; I didn't know Fr. Lawrence well, but he seemed pretty cool for a priest and I think he of all people would appreciate that sentiment. Rest in peace, Father...
As for me, I had to give up tracking journal entries for now because it was just too difficult trying to do it in 15-30 minute bursts here and there. I'll get back to it when I can, of course. In lieu of that, I did start going through the libretto and marking passages that could potentially be edited out for timing purposes or just, as I've discovered, overall tightening. So far, we've had no idea exactly how long the show would be as written. It's meant to be a bit epic, and I tried hard to write things succinctly, but there's just no way of knowing until more of the songs are done and we can time those and then read through the scenes and time them. What's going to kill us, though, is the time needed to transition between each scene! I had written a lot of layers into the scenes, so I've been looking for places I can strip off a layer or two and shorten things down. Some places to make cuts are really obvious and other things are just impossible to cut at this point. I'll let you know as we go along!
I've still been feeling very frustrated about having to work and not being able to put much or any attention into the show (Leo needs me to make lyric revisions and I'm just so not there these days); however, there are a couple of exciting developments getting closer on the horizon that are helping me through. Of course, I can't divulge them at the moment...suspense suspense...but you know I will as soon as I'm able to.
All right, here's your video - I've got to get ready for work! *sniffle*
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