Last Word Of The Year

"And we'll see you all again next year!"

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Inside Of Me

My favourite films become part of my DNA. It's the same with music. I am more complete because of the art that resonates with me. I have a stronger sense of who I am.

For me, all it takes is a clip of Chaplin going for a leisurely walk, or It's listening to some Ennio Morricone late at night. These simple things remind me of who I am, where I've been, and the journey I'm on.

There are few pleasures as great as revisiting the films you hold dearest. They're like old friends who you've been longing to see. You know everything about them and they know everything about you.

It's hard to say why your favourite films are your favourite films. Out of the thousands you see, some just hit you in a different way. Once they're with you, they stay with you.

I could recommend you films any day of the week, but I could never guess which ones will stick. It's like finding the perfect partner, there are no rules, no pattern, your heart loves what it loves.

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'The Artist's Voice' - FREE Kid In The Front Row E-Book

I have just published my first e-book. It's called 'The Artist's Voice' - and is written as a tool to help you get past your creative blocks and all those little ways we sabotage our work when it comes to doing what we love: creating art.

You can download it at this link. The e-book is FREE to all and I encourage you to share it with as many people as you can. Download it, print it, email it to friends, stick it on your kindle; my only hope for the book is that it gets out there into the world and helps a few people with their creativity.

This is the first e-book I have published through the blog; so I am really interested in your feedback, too. Thanks all! Have a great new year!

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Life / Afterlife

Is this really all there is, and then when we die, nothing? Surely there must at least be a disco.

I hope there is a heaven -- my only concern is that it will be an extremely long journey to get there. I can't afford a trip to Australia, let alone the afterlife.

If I do reach heaven, I hear that it's a paradise; filled with love and happiness. However, once there, what if someone at the dinner table doesn't pass the salt, would this not lead to conflict? And if there wasn't any conflict, wouldn't that be even more annoying? I am convinced that heaven will be full of dead people giving questionable glances and contradictory body signals. Worse still, they may not even have salt with meals at all.

Of course, I may end up in hell rather than heaven. What would happen if I killed nine people in a shopping mall and then immediately rugby tackled a terrorist, saving the lives of five thousand people? Would that mean heaven? Hell? Or somewhere in-between, like Wales?

There is also the risk that I won't get into heaven if I don't fully accept God. How can I be believe in a higher power when Rebecca Black got 50 million hits on YouTube?

The Buddhists believe there are several heavens, which means It's much easier to find a good deal on an apartment. Once settled, you also have plenty of places to take a trip, depending on whether they have aircraft in the afterlife.

In most of the major religions, as well as in some of the minor ones, heaven is said to be a place where the negative aspects of Earthly life no longer exist. This of course means that only the positive parts of life make it to heaven. But what could these be? Love, sex and friendships are fraught with negativity and arguments, so what will actually be waiting in store for us when we arrive? The only purely positive thing I can think of, is ice cream. This also makes sense as hell would never stock ice cream, as their fridge-freezers have a tendency to over-heat. This news sadly means that Lactose Intolerant people won't be allowed into heaven, but most people will agree, this is no great loss.

Glad to be of service with my intelligent guide to the afterlife. I'm available for speeches.

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The Kid In The Front Row Disaster Filmmaking Competition

Writers! Directors! Actors! This is a competition for YOU!

The Kid In The Front Row Disaster Competition

Here's the deal: 

The world is about to end. A poisonous gas has descended over the planet, and everyone is about to die. With this knowledge and realisation, you pick up your video-phone, and capture the final two minutes of your life, and in fact, the last moments of humankind on the planet. 

Maybe you leave a calm message of love. 

Maybe you witness the pandemonium.

Maybe you're in denial of the whole thing. 

Here's the rules: 

All films must be NO LONGER than TWO MINUTES.

All films must take place in ONE SINGLE SHOT ONLY. NO CUTTING. NO EDITING. 

There are no limits on how many characters you have or how you tell your story. It could be one person talking to the camera, or it could be someone documenting events on their phone. Be creative!

Here's your opportunity:

Are you a writer? Write an amazing scene about the last moments on Earth as recorded by a character on their smartphone. Get it made. 

Are you an actor? There's no excuse! Even if you don't know any writers or directors, you can pick up your phone and make a movie!

Are you a director? How would you stage this scene? How can you use a phone and actors to make it compelling? Show us! 

Here's the deadline: 

SATURDAY 14th JANUARY 2012. 

Here's The Outcome:

You upload your video to YouTube. 

You send the link to:

There will be shortlists for awards: 

BEST ACTOR (one award, not separate gender-categories)

BEST DIRECTOR

BEST SCREENPLAY

BEST FILM

Now -- your film may have no script, it may have no actors. Don't worry about it. Your job is to make the best film you can make and send it to me. 

After I have made the shortlists, the final choices will be made by a judge or judges from the film industry, who I will name nearer the date. The previous judge for a KITFR competition was Joe Leonard (Editor on 'Glee', Writer/Director 'How I Got Lost')

Good luck... get writing! get directing! get acting!!

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