Tag: Hero's Journey

Frazer Bradshaw, cinematographer for House on Black Lake trailer, recently produced a film that's winning indie awards worldwide.  Following is info regarding upcoming film festivals:

Everything Strange and New is screening at BAM in Brooklyn on Sunday the 21st at 3:30 and Tuesday the 23rd at 9:30. BAMcinemafest is in it's first year, but we're playing with just 13 other features, some of which are pretty high profile; the fest is by invitation only.

Next stop is Munich on June 30 and July 2. Then on to Karlovy Vary, an A-list EU festival in the Czech Republic (supposed to be a particularly fun festival, or so says programmers). Playing in Karlovy Vary on July 7 and 8.

A.

The presence of psychic phenomenon resonates throughout my book.  Alexandra has powerful dreams she does not understand and a dream of a diseased woman handing her a trio of spheres, with Ramey Sandeley's eyes blazing through her sunken orbs, is the catilyst for her to make the journey to Black Lake. 

Later,  when Ruth takes Alexandra into the underground, she is told some very frightening pieces of information from  Kevin, a clairavoyant from an ancient Scottish clan who have carried on "the gift" for centuries.  In fact, it is Alexandra's denial of her own gift that has led her to her despair and near self destruction.  It is not until she sees the trio of spheres in the glen that she realizes that her destiny is actually a path that has been laid out, and the road is in fact her own personal truth.

As I finished writing  the book, I realized that although I was very aware of  my own psychic abilities and sought to understand dreams and honor synchronicity and premonition, it was very difficult for me to let go and trust that these indicators were realistic.  However, every step in the writing of the book, photography and filming of the trailer have been steeped in messages and helping hands, none of which would have occurred had I not listened to the messages of dreams, intuition and the blessed souls who met me with perfect timing in my journey and offered their personal gifts.

A.

I've recently seen the first cut of the trailer, edited by Jesse Spencer, and it's stunning.  Frazer Bradshaw has shot visuals that are of major motion picture calabre.  It is now our goal to cut and edit the piece into an alluring alter universe, filled with drama, danger and erotic tension.  I'm searching for French Canadian singers that can bring passion and soul to the piece, drawing out what can only be found in that part of the universe.  I'm also looking for background music to resonate with the intense internal conflict of all characters, and in particular, of Alexandra and Ramey.

At this moment in my journey, I'm filled with awe and appreciate every person who brought their talents to the table to make this trailer a unique work of art.  To visually experience what I imaged in my mind on film and to see the characters come to life is an experience I really can't explain.  I can only intensify the ride and draw in the the best sound effects to create an experience that will move  the audience and drive them deeper into the world of Black Lake.

A.

The last few weeks has been intense as I scrambled to bring together all necessary elements to produce a great film trailer for the House on Black Lake.  Collaborating with brilliant cinematographer Frazer Bradshaw and his incredible producer/director Isaac Ebersole, I created a film script and chose the Chateau Tivoli mansion, Golden Gate Park and Sloat park to recreate the look of the French Canadian contemporary gothic feel of the book.

I was fortunate to bring together an incredible cast to play the characters from the novel.  Wade Gotwals, plays to perfection the rogueish Ramey Sandeley, Morla G. brings to life the broken beauty of Ruth Sandeley, Tosh Yanez sensually captivates as Andre Labat, and little Benny Duskin is a most adorable Sammy.  I play the part of Alexandra Brighten, the world weary woman who must reclaim her power if she is to survive.

The film is now in the hands of editor, Jesse Spencer.  The book trailer promises to be a glorious achievement, due to the efforts of these talents and many more kind and helpful individuals who participated to bring this story to life.  I will be blogging daily to give more details of the production and the individuals involved.

Thanks to each and every one of you who were involved in this project - I love you all!!!

A.

When Alexandra and Sammy arrive at the Sandeley’s house on Black lake, they are bombarded my moths from the carriage lights straddling the front doors to the luxurious mansion.  At the end of their journey, when they  escape from the house at daybreak, the carriage lights are switched off and the bodies of the moths who beat themselves to death seeking light, lie dead, in heaps on the floor. 

The metamorphosis has begun.

The struggle between the forces of good and evil are rich in story telling and folklore throughout the world. Parables, fables and fairy tales depict characters struggling to gain control over a repressive environment. Much of art and literature, past and present,could be interpreted as the expression of the soul's struggle to free itself from hostile forces. In the face of tyranny, self expression will find its way into any creative medium available, and it is often clothed in symbolism.

Witches, cruel stepmothers, wolves, evil kings and queens and other beasts, all conspire to bring down the innocent. Often the protagonist must undergo a series of trials or transformations in order to achieve self actualization. Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz, finds deliverance in the magic shoes she has won the right to wear through a series of trials. When she returns home, she is no longer the innocent girl - she now contains a strong sense of self. Cinderella also attains her freedom through a series of trials that lead her to fit into the glass slipper.

The movie Star Wars fully fleshes out how evil is formed, and the extreme need of the dark side to suck the light from the vibrant to absorb power. Darth Vader, in the trilogy of Star Wars, represents this force. Vader experienced unbearable loss, shame and guilt when, in a fit of rage, he caused the eventual death of his wife. The burned and charred remains of his once passionate and loving nature are covered by a hard black mask and his body put together with artificial limbs covered in black. The only emotions now felt by Darth Vidor are the toxic remains of his self exhumed body. He feeds off the fear of others, and has an insatiable need to control  everything in his Universe. Through projective imagination he is capable of creating a vast army of supporters in harnessing the dark energy forces of the Universe.

Luke Skywalker conversely represents the light. He is the son of Darth Vader, but has been raised by another, so he is not contaminated. He has been taught to view Darth Vader as the enemy, as he represents the death of Democracy in the Universe. Luke Skywalker spends most of his formative years learning how to use his inner strengths to gain power over The Dark Ones. His education is taken in secrecy - and inside a safe haven he learns the Secrets of the Masters. By mastering his internal powers, he draws in the energy of the universe. In this final battle, Vader and his Master are destroyed and the union of Brother and Sister preserved- Democracy and Freedom for the Universe

Homer, in the Iliad and the Odyssey, spends seven years facing horrendous trials, growing and developing as a man, before he finally finds his way home. With every trial, it appears that Homer is a dead man, but he perseveres because the powers of passion and resolve are greater than the forces that seek to contain and destroy.

Stories of the struggle for personal freedom and self expression have been with us since the dawn of mankind. Both ancient and modern, they share the painful burden of the oppressed and the steps that must be taken for transformation to occur. The exposure to truth is the first step towards personal freedom. The journey begins with a commitment to oneself to begin the task of transformation.

The characters of Black Lake, are all moving along this continuum.  One will fall into a pool of darkness, one will be sacrificed, and one will find redemption.  All will be affected as each evolves - and so it is with all of humanity.

If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you.  If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.

Ancient Mysteries