My first attempt was My Reward,which you’ll find on YouTube. I had a strong idea of how I wanted to present it
but what I didn't have was the skills, equipment or even a decent place to film
it. With my phone and a darkened bedroom I produced what you’ll see if you
haven’t already. It received very strong reactions from everyone and I've
subsequently met people who've seen it and got some very encouraging feedback. The
most humbling was when I was with a friend, her phone rang and she told the
caller that she was with me. When she hung up I asked who it was and if I knew
him, “No, but he knows you!” she said.
It isn't an easy watch and the
subject is maybe not the most popular at the moment, men in power are being
vilified by the #MeToo movement and barely a day goes by without someone being accused
of some predatory act. I'm all for that and I know my kind and we are
a flawed species, but I think that the “in power” part is more toxic than
the “men” part. You know, many of us are just trying to get on with doing the
right thing while the goal posts are dancing around the field.
Anyway, I took another of my
stories, Hungry and tried to film it with the help of a friend. It was tough, we both
have jobs and families but we worked late into the night trying to realise a
plan that wasn't that clear in my mind. And he had only really used his camera to
document his kids growing up and the odd social gathering. It is him I have to thank for the name I gave my vision. We were having a few beers after filming and he asked what the bloody hell I was trying to do. I told him that it wasn't poetry, it wasn't monologue, it wasn't theatre, it wasn't...
"Yeah, yeah! Now I know what it isn't. BUT what is it?"
"So, it's literature with performance," I explained. "It's Performance Literature!"
My friend opened his eyes wide and exclaimed, "Oh right!" and that was it.
The video for Hungry remains 85% complete but I promise I’ll regroup with the experience I've gained and get it done.
"Yeah, yeah! Now I know what it isn't. BUT what is it?"
"So, it's literature with performance," I explained. "It's Performance Literature!"
My friend opened his eyes wide and exclaimed, "Oh right!" and that was it.
The video for Hungry remains 85% complete but I promise I’ll regroup with the experience I've gained and get it done.
There was also the matter of
the music, I used a fabulously atmospheric piece for My Reward by a band called
This Will Destroy You then I received a terse message from the representatives
of the band and a red strike on YouTube. I would need to have original music.
So, I had a vision, some
stories and little else. I organised a storytelling event for World
Storytelling day at a local hotel. I would invite people to tell their stories
and I would present one of mine. Now, I don’t mind telling you, I was a wreck. I
have spoken to crowds, given lectures and seminars, I even did some theatre back
in the day but this was different. These stories were different, I couldn't
fail them, the stories that is. I took a deep breathe, a big gulp of adrenaline
and did it. It wasn't all I wanted but it did make me realise what I wanted. I wanted
to do a live show.
I knew I wanted to perform
these stories, reclaim storytelling from little kids, they get enough things
already. You know storytelling is one of the most ancient forms of
communication. Once it was news, morality, entertainment. Once, storytelling
was Netflix. No! storytelling WAS the internet. I wanted a new age of
storytelling.
But, I didn't yet feel that I could
carry a whole show on my own. I spoke to other writers, one in particular I know
could carry a live performance (you know who you are!). I knew I wanted a show,
a performance, not just a reading. And, the more I knew, the more I knew
nothing!
Until it all clicked into
place, I knew exactly what it would be. And all I would need to realise this
was, well, just about everything. So, I went shopping for a musician…
... Part 2
... Part 2
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