First of all, I hope all this writing I’m doing for the Artist’s Way is going somewhere. I spent about 2 hours each morning writing and writing yesterday and this morning. I’ll be doing more tomorrow as well. You can thank me now for not sharing the details of that little project. Yeesh. Let’s just leave it there. Most of it is stream of conscious shenanigans that even I don’t want to re-read. In fact, I filled out an entire journal to date and have since thrown it in the fireplace to be burned at the next fire. That’s where it belongs. The good stuff I cull out of there in a nice little white book anyway – ideas for photos and collages and stuff like that. But most of it? Fire fuel.
While on the topic of The Artist’s Way, I have now hit Chapter 4 – the week where you do “reading deprivation” – no reading for entertainment/procrastination purposes. I’ve decided to give up reading the celebrity blogs, news blogs and sitting in front of the TV while hitting refresh on Twitter every few seconds. Since I’m not reading any novels at the moment and don’t read the newspaper, I think what I’ve identified is going to work in that regard. It’s just for a week…and the point is to fill your time with something creative instead. I’ll use this focused time to work on my cards. I’ve FINALLY come up with a graduation photo idea! Yay!
This evening we watched the making of The Heart of Darkness. Francis Ford Coppolla’s wife documented all the behind the scenes stuff for a movie that went WAY over budget in time and in expense. They initially thought it would be shot in 16 weeks. It went over 200 days. They fired the first leading man (Harvey Keitel. Can you imagine firing that guy? Have you ever seen Bad Lieutenant?) replaced him with Martin Sheen, who went on to have a heart attack more than half way through shooting the movie…the obstacles just kept coming and coming and coming. By the time it was Marlon Brando’s turn to do his bit for the movie, he was spoiled, arrogant and ill prepared – a complete dud. I love the behind the scenes stuff – you actually get to see the work and process that leads up to the final product. You get to see how people persevere and carry on despite the hassles and nightmares. It was amazing the film was ever made in the first place, let alone all those bits of film edited together made an excellent movie. Another good one to watch is the behind the scenes for Jaws - another miracle the movie got made with all the stumbling blocks that came Steven Spielberg’s way.
Every time this year I get discouraged about all the weed whacking I have to do in the garden, I’ll stop and think about how Coppola had to deal with his turd of an actor and still made a great movie. I can make a great garden, too! And I’ll do more tomorrow…and the next day…and I’ll make good photos even though many of them won’t be perfect. I’ll be glad every time things don’t go quite right that I didn’t have to work with Brando – I’ll tell you that much.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
What an awesome idea- burn it- kind of burning man style- imagine how awesome that will feel!!
And the movie with the poopy people and all the junk they had to deal with- such a signal!
) You can make a great garden, a great job for yourself, the sky’s the limit… 
) You go girl- there’s no stopping you now….
Katherine Hepburn, when asked what she thought of Marlon Brando as a method actor said, "He is a brilliant actor , but somewhat limited as a human being"
(one of my favorite quotes)