Thursday Tasters o4.16.15

Welcome to Thursday Tasters!

This week continues right where we left off last week in some serial killer story I started.

I had a secret place I kept the photographs and video tapes. I had a small darkroom in one of the rooms of the basement. I enjoyed traditional photography; fine art, nature, and landscape photography. I occasionally showed my work in galleries, but my favorite portraits were work that would see the light of day. I could probably pull it off as a model dressed up for the scenes as Thomas Coltraine often does. Or John Hasselburger. But that would be risky, too risky. But it did work out that I had my own darkroom to print these images. Digital was another stupid way to go and I will not touch it for my "work", too much to trace.

I got up off the floor and went into the bathroom, preparing the bath for her. I watched the bathtub fill until it was at the desired height. I carried her in and dropped her into the bathtub. She sank down a few inches to the bottom. I went back into the main room of the basement and collected the knife I had used to end her life. I threw it in the bath with her to remove all evidence.

I would let her soak for awhile, a long while. I would start the long process of cleaning up my mess that would take most of the night.

Thanks for reading and please comment, I love reading your comments! I will get around to reading yours Friday or Saturday :)

You can read more great authors here.

Its 2015, do something fabulous!

Hearts & Stars,
~Siren X

Thursday Tasters

Welcome to Thursday Tasters! This is my first posting for this particular blog hop. 

I am going to share with you the beginning of a story I wrote quite a bit ago.  I didn't forget about it, its always been in the back of my mind, but I've been busy working on my first novel. Then today, I was searching google Drive for a document, and I came across this and smiled. Perfect for the sharing...

Her scream echoed against the cold, plastic covered concrete... And then it ceased to exist. Her body, a bloody mess laying helpless. Soon it would be stiff and cold as rigor mortis sets in. They always seem heavier that way; so much harder to move. I’ve become used to it by now, I’m able to move them easier into their bleach bath and into their final resting place.

Still on my knees with her between them, I removed the few blood soaked strands of hair away from her face. She was pretty, especially now. She put up a good fight, but she was no match. I like it when they fight, it makes it more fun than when they just cower and scream. I try to guess which ones will be fighters, complemented by a bit of screaming. I missed her already; my only comfort is that the next one would be better still. I like that challenge, finding a girl better than the next, it drives me.

I got up and found my camera sitting on the shelf, she was too pretty to not take pictures of. I wanted to remember this one. I had taken some video of her when she was still alive. I had to be extremely careful doing this; any evidence left is never a good thing. But I couldn't help it, it was a bad obsession caught inside another bad obsession.

And I will stop there.... Thanks for reading. I will do my best to read the others, trying to work out a new schedule with all this new blog hopping and commenting. And by the way, this story has no title as of yet.

Please check out the other great authors here.

Its 2015, do something fabulous!

Hearts & Stars, ~Siren

       

Creative Update

I always have a lot going on. I still have 5 kids afterall. And I'm in a new, busier city where things are way more fast paced than the south. However, my creativeness has not dissipated. 

Getting my website still remains top priority because I just need to get my portfolio up there. I'm hoping once I do that it will be easy to maintain. I'm then hoping I can update blogs on a regular basis. Most blogs just need a post or two to catch up. However, my Vampire Vegan blog needs a lot of catching up and I don't work on it because it seems so daunting. I have 5 months of vegan-ness to catch up on, plus recipes. And a cooking show for it would be nice. 
I work on these tasks, but only for so long before I get bored and need to write, photograph, plan a film, or do some kind of art. I have 5 kids and I need a creative outlet to balance myself. If I don't create, I find I can't function in life or society. I get in this weird depression. If only I could get paid for my art.

So, my current list of creative things I'm working on:
First, I am very much into writing my side story to my novel about Armani. I really do not know what I am doing with it; if I will put his story into my novel or what. Its becoming longer than orginally planned. It was supposed to be a fantasy that was planted into the main character's mind, but now it is taking on a story of its own. Any suggestions would be great!

I have been thinking of re-releasing my poetry chapbook from 2000. Back then it was self-published, using Kinko's and a stapler. Lulu.com didn't exist. So, I was thinking of fixing it up, adding a few poems, and publishing it again. Maybe do a short sample version on paper that I DIY put it together again, an artistic way, but much better than before. And then give those copies away as a sample.

I'm in the middle of storyboarding a short, so I can film it. But I am taking my time with it. Everything created for it; storyboards, etc, will all need to go in my portfolio for my MFA review. So, it has to be decent and not rushed. 

I am also writing another short film that will be shot as stills. And I will be drawing the images, using video editing software as the way to add motion. Should be interesting, but as I am starting it, I'm realizing it might take a long time to get to the point of filming. 

I've also been inspired to write some poetry. So, I set time aside for that. Or I try to. I always get ideas at the worst time, when I am most busy. I also starting to work on a series of paintings. I need to paint to relieve stress.  

I have also finally installed ProTools on my laptop, after both my Macs are not working. So, I am messing around with creating some electronic music. I'm excited. Hoping that some of my poetry will lead to good lyrics. I know how to do sound for film on ProTools, but music with ProTools is a bit new. So, I have to decided it is best to read the sections on creating music in my ProTools guidebook. 

I am still working on my clothing designs, but no plans to actually create them yet. I totally don't have time to sew and my machine is still in storage in Atlanta anyway. But I at least get detailed designs down on paper. 

I am designing a t-shirt line, too. This will be put up online sooner than later. 

Other things I have going on include having to re-read every textbook and note from my film program for my review. I was a screenwriting focus, but have decided to switch to a directing focus. So, since i can't take more classes until i pass this review, it is all on me to know my shit for directing and execute it with my demo reel. I want to go into my review knowing every aspect of film that I need to know as a director, so they have no reason not to pass me. I want them to see how serious I am. 

My hope with this update is to now update more frequently and not just with my Six Sentence Sunday writing.

Hearts & Stars
~Siren

Photo Time!

Moon & Clouds

I took this last week during the full moon. I loved how the moon was shrouded in the clouds and so perfectly surrounded by the tree branches.

I have so many photos, I need to try to post them in my blog. Especially all the ones still on my camera from months ago. I haven't been focusing on photography as much.

Update on Things

I am always super busy - that is no surprise with 5 children, a long To-Do list, and many blogs that I do have and don't post often enough in (I don't know how many to be exact, i don't feel like counting them right now).
I'm still working on my novel, however, very slowly - the one I started for NaNoWriMo. I am more focused on writing the perfect summary/pitch for it and getting a Kickstarter campaign going for it. Trust me, I'd much rather write the story. I entered the NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza contest for it, but my pitch, unfortunately, was not one of the 25 randomly selected pitches. But at least it got me going on writing the best pitch possible for it. I do plan on turning it into a graphic novel and a tv series. I have to admit that the Twilight graphic novel has gotten me excited to turn my novel into one and the tv series is actually where the story came from. I figured I'd write the novel first then write the series.

I'm also working on getting my website back up. That really needs to get done.

I'm trying to work on a short film with my friend from AAU for a short film contest that ends in March. One character/one location - simple, engaging, and thought provoking, and shows that we can tell a damn good story. I bought two new video cameras and NEED to use them, so the hubby and I want to make a film. Still working on an idea for that - I'm thinking Memento meets Donnie Darko.

I am having this really bad urge to draw and paint. And have dedicated fridays as art friday. I basically broke my calendar down and each day I work on something in particular. This is the first week and so far I've failed to do the things I was supposed to on their designated days. I will try again next week, I guess. Thinking about taking a painting class to hone my painting skills.

The last five weeks I have been doing Six Sentence Sunday, using my novel for material. And I love it. I have so much fun crafting paragraphs into 6 sentences. So that is a keeper and something I have to do every week. I just have to make time to comment on others' posts, so that maybe they will comment on mine and build a fan base.

I'm thinking about dropping everything for the month of April and doing ScriptFrenzy, rewriting one of my scripts. If I go back to grad school next year, I won't be doing anything, so now is the time.

Speaking of school, I have to plan out my next few months if I really am going to do my midpoint review over the summer. The thesis book has to be done by July. Which doe entail me making a film for my portfolio and figuring if I want to stay as a screenwriting focus or switch to directing. I also need to re-read all my film books and know it all, I'm not screwing around if I go back.

I need to do some photo work, give myself a new project and get all the pics off of my camera. i took many fall leaves shots, but have yet to do anything with them. I know the 6x6 deadline back in Rochester is coming up. Image City doesn't have any juried shows right now. I need to look around Atlanta for calls for entiries. I thought about signing up for a show at the cafe I hang out at, but I don't know how far out the wait is and if I want to bother with having to come here for it, if I were to move to another city. Moving is always a possibility, hopefully Cali.

I'm working on trying to organize my computers and have apps in my browsers for everything I use as far as websites, but so far it seems to slow my browser down and I don't have that many apps. I figure if I could just click a button and be brought to fbook, tumblr, etc., it would be helpful.

Other thoughts for projects that I have been playing with are a fashion line based on music/movies/tv. Each article of clothing would be titled after a song or something. I did this once with My Chemical Romance songs and created this beautiful dress that was inspired by a line in their lyrics. 30STM would be the first line, since I have been listening to them a lot lately. I also got a twitter account for writing twitter length vampire stories, which should be fun. I also want to write more short vampire erotica stories - oh, you know it will sell :)

Other things: the hubby told me about a site called Skillshare, where you teach classes in person wherever you want. Thinking about putting a few together to put up on there; specifically screenwriting. I've always wanted to teach and this is a good start to build my teaching resume. I also in the future want to start a digital filmmaking school website, teaching film online with paid classes and free tutorials and such, kinda like Digital Photography School. I also need to figure out what tattoos/piercings I want. My #5 has stopped nursing, so now I can focus on my body art! I'm excited to have my body back and have a feeling that most tattoos will be lyric/some kind of text inspired. I'm writer, its only natural to have words tattooed on me :)
I was thinking of applying for an arts and crafts instructor at Zoo Atlanta for their summer camp. As of today the position was still open and I have every qualification they have listed. Its a toss up because I want to go back to work, but then my older boys are home on summer break too, so I would need to figure something out for them - although my oldest probably wouldn't mind being away from me for most of the summer, he is going through the "parents are not cool" phase. i wonder if they could go to work with me and be my assistants.

Sorry, this post is everywhere, but so is my brain, there is a lot to catch up on.

New Ideas

I have been doing much writing lately. I could easily spend my days writing and nothing else. I finally feel like a writer. I'm having a dilemma because I have a script due at the end of November, but I also signed up for NaNoWriMo. I have three ideas for a novel. But I also want to just keep working on my fictional blogs. I don't know if I can ring them into a novel status. I'm really focused on them and excited about them.

This post is not so much about film as it is writing. although, these blogs will be turned into scripts/films. I started a blog for my serial killer script, which is fun to pretend to be him and write like him, but challenging since he is a heart surgeon. I also started another set of three blogs, of which I created a new user and listed the three blogs under it; tentively titled Vampire Romance. It is based on the novel and series I want to write about a woman who falls in love with a vampire (surprise!) and his sire (another surprise), but she is also being hunted by a mafia type gang of vamps. (spoiler!)Unlike other vamp stories, she will be allowed to have both of them at the same time.

Anyway, these blogs are of Karlea - hers will be fun, have photos, and be about everything; Jake - his will be all music reviews and journalistic, until he meets Karlea; and Vaughn's will be all music industry related also until he meets Karlea.

I have big plans for these blogs to include photos and videos. Which is a whole project in itself, dressing people up in character. I also want to make facebook, delicious, and twitter accounts. A lot to keep up with!

Need to make a schedule!

I have another blog that is secret, that I need to do some of this stuff with. Not all of it applies.

After watching a short film today, I was inspired with a new idea for short. Its a basic story; guy abuses his girlfriend and his roommate always comes to her rescue. They fall in love and must tell her boyfriend, which does not turn out well. Still working on the kinks and twists.

Also just had another idea for a serial killer script. A woman, after being diagnosed and treated for schizophrenia in a mental hospital, tries to keep her life together after she is released, amidst a city living in fear as a serial killer roams the night streets. As, her life falls apart around her, her only friend and sponsor helps her to keep going, even as she starts to have hallucinations. She eventually realizes that he is the only one in the world that cares about her and her schizoprenzia. She falls for him, even though he is several years older than her and one evening they admit their feelings for each other sharing an intimate night together. She wakes up from horrible dreams, hallucinating, noticing he is missing from the bed. She searches the house for him and sees things that indicate that he is the serial killer plaguing the streets, but she does not know if she is really seeing this or hallucinating. She isn't hallucinating and becomes his next victim; the ultimate prize that he has been planning for - he changed her meds and that's what made her hallucinate, in an attempt to try to get her to kill with him. He was the one that made her life fall apart piece by piece just so she would become closer to him.

Art Update

So, i am working on many things, which I know isn’t good to work on so many different things, but I cannot help it.

Since moving, I have not really focused too much on photography – sure my kids and some skyline images, but all with my crappy iphone 3gs camera. I just recently picked up my DSLR since the move on Saturday to photograph my son’s first soccer game. I used my telephoto lens and was quite surprised it worked so well because when the 28ft moving truck arrived in Atlanta, the first thing that fell out when opening the door was – you guessed it – my telephoto lens. i watched in horror as it bounced several times on the pavement before catching it. i would have tried it right away, but was too busy moving things, then i forgot it took a tumble. i know, i’m a horrible photographer. however, i am very happy i do not have to purchase another lens – rock on tameron lenses!

So, I was reminded on Saturday on how much i love my telephoto lens – it took beautiful images of the game and of extreme closeups of my kids. I will post these soon.

I will also take photos for the next juried exhibition at Image City Photo Gallery due in November and find places here in Atlanta to exhibit my work. And create new images.

As far as the stuff i do have going on: I am trying to dedicate a post a week to all of my blogs (6 in total i think).

Still working on a rewrite of my serial killer script. Finally, working on the thesis script I am writing with my director friend from school. (exciting!) Working on another short script that i am hoping to make my directorial debut with in the next few months. And working on a scriptless experimental film that plays with light and shadow. I signed up for NaNoWriMo, so I’ll be writing my first novel in november. i always wanted to write one, but never had the drive. maybe if it is in a short amount of time, i will accomplish it. I also might be doing a 3 day short film challenge this week.

Lots of film stuff happening, but i think it is what i need. There are so many opportunities here for film.

I am dying to do some traditional arts: drawing, painting, printmaking. and some fashion/costume design. hopefully, soon i can fit it in. it will be my free time from doing film and photo