Print Flamingos

On Wednesday evening was the launch party of issue 4 of the marvelous Flamingo magazine. It was held at The Print Club in Dalston, London http://www.printclublondon.com/

The gallery was packed with creatives and delicious ales and of course the new issue. I was very excited to see the magazine in print, not only because Flamingo is a true indie magazine and also has great articles, it smells great, that new magazine smell, but I had an article printed in the issue. I was ecstatic to say the least. I tried to contain my cool but I did squeak slightly with delight.

I had interviewed Doug Weir from the BFI about film restoration back in October and couldn't wait to see it in print. I have had poetry printed and few things on websites but this is my first article printed in a magazine.

Flamingo is a fantastic magazine, I urge everyone to pick up a copy of issue 4, The Future Craft issue. It is full of articles and illustrations about crafting from brewing your beer, knitting, writing taxidermy and gardening. The magazine really does do what it says in the cover 'a magazine that celebrates doing-it-yourself'.

http://www.flamingomagazine.com/

Once Upon a Time There Was a Blog

Once upon a time, there was a girl. An ethnically confused girl. She was consumed by films, loved everything about them. Making, writing, reading, watching, breathing film. To let out the extra steam of wanting to talk about film, amongst other things, she decided to write a blog.

After writing her first post:http://bit.ly/X0GWDe her blog was launched onto the mystical land of the Internet.

But as we all know life isn't a fairytale so I will continue as I usually do.

Once again I had to be reminded about my blog's anniversary. Last year I completely forgot what day it was, turned out it was actually the 17th March and NOT February as I had thought. I know I'm late again with the anniversary post. The only reason I was reminded about it this year is that I saw my sister's lastest blog post, the crafty crazy http://beardtoday-gonetomorrow.blogspot.co.uk/ had its anniversary today.

So much has happened this past year (mostly film) and just to see what, where and why, have a look in my history. I promise to do a proper revue next year. It'll be bigger next year as it will 3 years of ethnically confused babble and film obsessed rants. What more could you want?

I want to thank all those around the worlds who have been popping back to see what I'm going on about, its very much appreciated.

Next year I think I will have to have some sort of celebration that distracts from the usual St Patrick's day goings ons. Maybe some fireworks. Or if there is budget restrictions, maybe some sparklers.

Here's to another year of ethincally confused film fiction reality babble!!

The Afternoon Movie: Swiss Family Robinson

This Saturday has been a lazy day, well I've done all my 'chores' that needed doing. Washing clothes, bedding, vacuuming and descaled the kettle so now its time for a film, or what used to be, The Afternoon Movie. Or some might call it The Afternoon Family Film.


Last week I taped one of the classics, the Disney film, Swiss Family Robinson starring John Mills from 1960. This film had/has everything. The perfect mix of adventure, animals, pirates and cross dressing. Adapted from the book (1812) of the same name by German writer, Johann David Wyss, tells the tale of a Swiss Family who are shipwrecked in the East Indes while sailing to Austrailia to start a new life.

The family, in the film, Mother, Father, sons; Fritz, Ernest and youngest Francis survive on the island along with many different animals. They build an amazing tree house and encounter pirates. The elder sons build a boat and sail around the island to explore it but end up saving Bertie, a cabin boy captured by the same pirates. After discovering he is actually a boy in disguise, they take her back to their camp/tree house and safety. At the end of the film there is a fantastic battle between the family (if you can believe) and the pirates.

In the novel there was another son, Jack but I think for the purpose of the film, his personality and Francis' was pushed together. Less people to cast maybe.

There has been plenty of adaptations, nothing recently though. I'm not sure if a modern retelling would work. The last adaptation was in 1998 and it was a TV series made in New Zealand and an US TV movie. But I'll always love the 1960's version.

I remember watching the film when I was very young. We had taped it over and over and used to watch it all the time, along with the likes of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, it was one of the most watched taped films we had. Luckily it was on the other week as I couldn't find it anywhere on youtube. Sometimes you just get the urge to watch 'that' film from all those years ago.