Tag: neo goth romance

Actors Anastasia Blackwell (Alexandra) and Wade Russell (Ramey Sandeley - filmed at Chateau Tivoli B&B in San Francisco - David Wilson Photographer - Frazer Bradshaw cinematographer

House on Black Lake - filmed at Chateau Tivoli B&B in San Francisco - Actors Morla Gorrondona, Anastasia Blackwell and Benny Duskin -Photograph by David Wilson

Greeting Friends:

Sorry for being  off site  for the last week. I spent the time networking in Los Angeles with my sister, Kathleen, and working with her in sifting through photographs to use in the book's interior. Also, I have been commiserating with Robert Aulicino on the interior design of book and incorporation of visuals. David Wilson shot photographs during filming and I will be sharing these images with you on a daily basis.

The trailer is now complete and ready to be aired once the book is published, which should be very soon. Peter Busboom did an amazing job of creating an evocative film score that creates an emotional journey that is both intriguing and truly frightening in the best sense of the word.

So now we begin the visual journey, and a taste of what is to come. 

We find Alexandra and Sammy welcomed into the Sandeley's home.

Benny Duskin protrays Samuel and Morla Gorrondona the unstable, but alluring Ruth Sandeley. I protray the role of the fragile /nearly broken, Alexandra Brighton, who is about to take the journey of a lifetime.

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.

The first day of our shoot was staged at Chateau Tivoli in San Francisco's Alamo Square area.  Built in 1892 it is one of the most charming of the "painted ladies" of the historic district.  Many famous artists of the past have stayed in the nine bedroom mansion including, Mark Twain, Isadora Duncan and Luiza Tetrazinni - who have rooms named after them.

The house is stunning in its accumulation of artifacts both delicate and fierce.  I was delighted when scouting for appropriate locations to find that the house held the stuff and mounted animal heads, heavy chandeliers, dark hardwood floors, and many other of the elements I described in the book.  The house provided all that was needed to convey the mysterious, lush, and claustrophobic elements of the Sandeley's mansion and the house on the lake.  Thanks to house manager Nico, for allowing us to use much of the establishment to help us achieve the monumental task of over 20 scene changes in one day.

I stayed in the Luiza Tetrazinni suite, used for the trailer's introduction and brash bedroom controntation between Alexandra and Ramey and actors Tosh Yanez stayed in the Mark Twain (used for the very lush and sensual scene with Andre and Alexandra) and Wade Gotwals in the Isadora Duncan.  If there are spirits residing in this old dwelling they are very loving and supportive, as our shoot went smoothly and we accomplished all we set out to do.

The Chateau is a bed and breadfast that can be rented out for special  occasions.  I'd love to go back and spend a week-end of relaxation.

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.