Saturday, March 31, 2012

2012 Movie Madness Challenge - March Report




Time for my third status report for the Movie Madness Challenge.


Here is my code for the films:


New to me - N
Repeat viewing - R


I'll also be including how I viewed the films:


DVD
VHS (yes, we have a lot of those, and a VCR)
Network TV
Pay TV
In theatre






Richard III
DVD
N






Cat People
DVD
N






Darwin's Darkest Hour
DVD
N




Arn
Pay TV
N




Local Hero
DVD
R




Thor
DVD
R




The Hunger Games
Theatre
N


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Total movies for March - 7


Total movies for 2012 - 22


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Only 3 films away from the first milestone. Considering that I'm currently revising a manuscript while prepping for a photo shoot, which will provide three book covers / three book trailers, that's not too shabby.


25 Movies: Movie Newbie


50 Movies: Movie Fanatic


75 Movies: Movie Critic


100+ Movies: Movie Master

Friday, March 30, 2012

5 on Friday - Set 112



Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.





Not only am I giving the writers' group workshop this weekend and working on the costumes for my Scorpius book covers / book trailers, my day job overtime has started up. Since life seems to be hurtling along at highway speed, let's have a Cars set this week.

1 - Let's Go!



2 - Since You're Gone



3 - Tonight She Comes




4 - Moving in Stereo



5 - Heartbeat City


I just love this one. SO much.




Wednesday, March 28, 2012

The Serialists - Scene 91




I'm posting with The Serialists which appears on Wednesdays.


To recap this dark fantasy story so far:


As a small boy of seven, Scorpius was fetched from the nursery where he'd been raised to live among the nobility - fetched not by his family, but by a falconer to serve as his apprentice.


Scorpius soon learned that a close encounter with a dragon was preferable to the cruelties of the nobles he'd once hoped were family. His master did whatever he could to shield Scorpius from the world outside their cottage, but the falconer was merely a servant who must obey his own masters.


An attempt on the life of a young noble while on a hunt sent the falconer and his apprentice on abruptly different paths, bringing Scorpius into the service of Lord Thibault's noble house.


We now continue with Scorpius at age nineteen.


You can follow the progress of this story arc by clicking on the Works in Progress link just under the blog header.


Scene 91


“You asked me to choose a bride,” Lord Thibault said.

The tension in the duke’s drawing room tightened like a wire noose embedding itself into Scorpius’ neck.

“Well, I have chosen her. She comes with a dowry of gold and jewels, but no land. Her people will deliver to the House of Pruzhnino a sceptre of power unparalleled among the kingdoms.”

The fervor burning in his master’s eyes held them all in its hypnotic sway. “Our House will be held highest in the annals of glory as the first of any generation to control the dragon.”

After a tomb-like silence, Scorpius being certain the duke could hear his nervous swallowing, Pruzhnino uncrossed his arms, making his way over the patterned carpet to stand before his son.

“Do they know of this choice of yours?” he said, so casually it made the hair on Scorpius’ neck stand on end.

Lord Thibault drew himself up tall before his father, only the clenching of his jaw giving himself away. “I am your son, Your Grace,” he said, inclining his head warily. “I seek permission to join this House with another.”

When his words failed to provoke a blow, Scorpius’ master raised his head to meet his father’s gaze. “It’s true--I beg you to consider that which has never before been attempted. And yet, Father, I would have this union arranged in accordance with our customs.”

Scorpius’ heart seized tight in his chest as Pruzhnino’s expression darkened. The ornate drawing room seemed only a heartbeat away from igniting in the shrieking flames of that mountain pass, among the Sibiu.

“There is a reason that no other noble house has attempted a union with the Sibiu,” the chancellor said in his calming tone.

Unable to stop himself from glancing at the man who’d revealed to Scorpius his secret Sibian heritage, he saw that the chancellor took note of Scorpius’ attempts to sidle unnoticed closer and closer to the confiscated swords atop the duke’s desk.

“A formal one, you mean,” Pruzhnino said. “There isn’t one noble line without its Sibian bastard.”

Scorpius forced himself to stare at the floor. If the duke or his master were to discover their chancellor was one of these bastards because of any clue Scorpius gave away, he would never forgive himself.

“Yes, and that reason is fast becoming pointless, Father,” Lord Thibault said. “We bury ourselves further and further into The Troubles, and no one has ever found a way out of it. Well, if our Houses fall, the Sibiu fall with us. Yashtii’s people agree with me. Let it be our House  that leads the way out of the mess we’re in.”

Scorpius held his breath as a timepiece ticked, ticked in the heavy afternoon.

© Julia Phillips Smith, 2012

Friday, March 23, 2012

5 on Friday - Set 111



Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.





As I work hard on the pre-production for my Scorpius book cover / book trailer shoot coming up next month, my thoughts went to Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms. Which led me to this week's set.

1 - Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits



2 - Wild Theme / Local Hero soundtrack - Mark Knopfler



3 - The Road / Cal soundtrack - Mark Knopfler



4 - Storybook Love / The Princess Bride soundtrack - Mark Knopfler featuring Willy DeVille



5 - Money for Nothing Dire Straits featuring Sting

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Serialists - Scene 90




I'm posting with The Serialists which appears on Wednesdays.


To recap this dark fantasy story so far:


As a small boy of seven, Scorpius was fetched from the nursery where he'd been raised to live among the nobility - fetched not by his family, but by a falconer to serve as his apprentice.


Scorpius soon learned that a close encounter with a dragon was preferable to the cruelties of the nobles he'd once hoped were family. His master did whatever he could to shield Scorpius from the world outside their cottage, but the falconer was merely a servant who must obey his own masters.


An attempt on the life of a young noble while on a hunt sent the falconer and his apprentice on abruptly different paths, bringing Scorpius into the service of Lord Thibault's noble house.


We now continue with Scorpius at age nineteen.


You can follow the progress of this story arc by clicking on the Works in Progress link just under the blog header.


Scene 90


“I don’t expect you to understand, Father,” Lord Thibault said as Scorpius rose to his feet. “But how can it be so--that I should be the only one to have considered such a course of action?”

Scorpius braced himself for the duke to lash out once more at his son’s impudence. Strangely, Lord Thibault’s boldness only seemed to soothe his father, who crossed his arms and said, “Go on.”

“The fables that warn of the Sibiu’s ability to call forth the dragon are not stories, Father.” Extending his arm to indicate Scorpius, Lord Thibault locked gazes with him for a suspended moment. The master who could meet anything with a cavalier grin had only resolute warning in his eyes. “My man is a witness to it.”

Blinking back the dread that stopped his tongue, Scorpius squared his shoulders and held his ground as Pruzhnino turned his attention to him.

Forcing himself to speak in a measured voice, Scorpius explained all he had seen in the hidden mountain pass. He told the duke about the rejected offer from his master until Scorpius used the dukessa’s dragon ring as surety. He described the sacrificial stabbing of the Sibian, the praying of the men, the eerie playing of the pipes until the great dragon itself appeared in the air above them.

A withering gaze from the duke raked Scorpius from head to foot before Pruzhnino turned back to his son and said, “The Sibiu still have your mother’s ring in their possession?”

Bowing slightly, Lord Thibault said, “They do, Your Grace.”

The duke was so quick, his master gasped to find himself half lifted off his feet, the neck of his doublet in his father’s iron fists. Before he could stop himself, Scorpius’ hand flew to his hip, where his sword no longer hung. Thank the gods no one but the chancellor had seen what amounted to an attempt on the life of Pruzhnino.

Gazing over in fear at the chancellor, Scorpius was met by a gaze dark with grim reassurance.

“They will trace that ring to this House,” the duke said.

“Let them,” Lord Thibault said.

“I will do no such thing.” Shaking his son before shoving him away, the duke moved to join the chancellor.

Recovering his balance, Lord Thibault drew himself up and once again carried on his conversation as though nothing was amiss. “The stories are not stories, Father. We have amongst us a means of drawing forth the thing which every kingdom in every land fears above all else.”

The duke and the chancellor turned to give Scorpius’ young master their full attention. The air crackled with all that was forbidden.

“It was my man’s idea to give them the ring. I’d forgotten that it bore a dragon upon it. They took it as a sign, and thank the gods they did. Otherwise they may never have called what cannot be called.”

“And what should that mean to me?” the duke said. “Other than to draw up a plan to retrieve your mother’s ring before word reaches any other House that it’s in Sibian hands?”

Once again the duke raked his gaze over Scorpius like a swipe from a claw. Scorpius’ heart pounded in his chest. Did his master know what he was doing?

If this all blew up in his master’s face, where would that leave him? The rage at being at the mercy of these struggles for dominance, at having his fate decided by whichever set of nobles held the winning hand, pushed down the fear that threatened to choke him.

He remembered the look on his master’s face as they fought in the mountains. “You forget that I’ve never had the luxury of choice, my lord,” Scorpius had said.

Lord Thibault stared down his father the duke and his chancellor. What choices did his master have, other than to obey his father’s will and that of his House?

Still, Scorpius calculated how far he’d have to dive to retrieve the swords from the duke’s desk, if it came to that.

© Julia Phillips Smith, 2012

Friday, March 16, 2012

5 on Friday - Set 110



Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.





Travis' 80's set last week is completely responsible for this week's tune selection. Why that should be so, when track number one was released in 1979, track number two was seeding early ground in 1977, while track number three came out in 1990, I leave to you...

1 - Candy-O - The Cars



2Psycho Killer - Talking Heads



3Love My Way - The Psychedelic Furs



4Suicide Blonde - INXS



5She Sells Sanctuary The Cult


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Serialists - Scene 89


I'm now posting with The Serialists which appears on Wednesdays.


To recap this dark fantasy story so far:


As a small boy of seven, Scorpius was fetched from the nursery where he'd been raised to live among the nobility - fetched not by his family, but by a falconer to serve as his apprentice.


Scorpius soon learned that a close encounter with a dragon was preferable to the cruelties of the nobles he'd once hoped were family. His master did whatever he could to shield Scorpius from the world outside their cottage, but the falconer was merely a servant who must obey his own masters.


An attempt on the life of a young noble while on a hunt sent the falconer and his apprentice on abruptly different paths, bringing Scorpius into the service of Lord Thibault's noble house.


We now continue with Scorpius at age nineteen.


You can follow the progress of this story arc by clicking on the Works in Progress link just under the blog header.


Scene 89


Riders met them on the approach to the long road that led through the estate. There was nothing for it but to coax their mounts forward, surrounded by the duke’s men. The disapproval of his master’s father dimmed the cheer of the sunny afternoon, preventing even Lord Thibault from mustering his customary grin.


By the time they’d dismounted to enter the echoing corridors, Scorpius wondered if he was in fact being delivered to the duke for judgment. The fact that Lord Thibault was hemmed in by guards alongside him certainly confused the issue.


How would anyone here know what had happened between his master and himself, anyway? Yet the guards flanked them forward and back, on the left side and the right.

They all turned the corner heading for the duke’s drawing room, every man pulling himself a little taller, taking a breath for courage before crossing the threshold.

Fanning out across the back of the room, the guard halted as Lord Thibault and Scorpius stepped forward. Together they bowed, Scorpius bending lower in a reverence. Two of the guard placed the swords they’d confiscated upon the duke’s desk and backed away as Lord Thibault’s father rose to his feet.


The Chancellor stepped out of the shadows to round the enormous desk as though clearing the way for his master, the duke. Scorpius raised his eyes to lock gazes for a brief moment with the Chancellor, whose grim expression did nothing for the sinking feeling in Scorpius’ gut.

Black boots polished to an impossible shine came to a stop before Lord Thibault.

A crisp gesture from the Chancellor sent the guard turning on its heel to file out through the golden double doors. Only when the click of the door handle drenched the room in heavy silence did Lord Thibault straighten.

His Grace the Duke of Pruzhnino swung a jeweled hand.

Scorpius’ master sprawled on the patterned carpet, his shocked grunt hanging in the air.

“I don’t need to tell you there was a dragon sighting,” the duke said. “Do I?”

Lord Thibault touched the back of his hand to his bleeding lip. “I was aware of it.”

“Were you planning to inform me as to what it was you were doing in the very path of that thing?”

“Not really.”

Scorpius saw the glint of fury light the duke’s eyes a split second before he swung again. As though time had somehow slowed, Scorpius flung himself down in time to cover his master’s body with his own. The duke’s powerful blow drew a cry from Scorpius but did not dislodge him.


Only the wrenching yank of the duke’s hand grabbing his hair managed that.


Fighting the urge to grab the duke’s wrist in order to take some of the pressure from his scalp, Scorpius raised himself to his knees but it did no good. A few sharp shakes from the duke and tears clouded his vision.

“Please, Papa!” Lord Thibault called, a note of real fear exposing itself in his voice. “My man seeks only to protect me.”

“He did a piss poor job of it.”

“I beg Your Grace’s forgiveness,” Scorpius said.

“You do not have it,” the duke growled, shoving Scorpius forward.

“Well, he has mine, and he’s my man.” Lord Thibault regained his feet, shaking off the last few moments as though none of it had happened. Shooting a glance down at Scorpius, he flicked his head up as if to say that Scorpius should join him.

“You were consorting with the Sibiu,” the duke said, taking a few strides away from his son, stopping to turn. The look that promised retribution on his face turned Scorpius’ insides to jelly.

© Julia Phillips Smith, 2012

Thursday, March 8, 2012

5 on Friday - Set 109



Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.





Anyone hankering for some Annie Lennox? Me, too!

1 - Sex Crime - Eurythmics



2 - Love is a Stranger - Eurythmics



3 - There Must Be an Angel (Playing With My Heart) Eurythmics



4 - Don't Ask Me WhyEurythmics



5 - Into the West - Annie Lennox





Okay, most of these were technically Eurythmics, but whatever.

Scorpius will return next week

I'm currently in the midst of revisions for the full-length version of Scorpius' tale. Not long now...


I'm looking at an end-of-May release date. Stay tuned. 

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Six Sentence Sunday - 6




Writers are encouraged to post six sentences from a work-in-progress or published piece. Sign into the Linky at Six Sentence Sunday, and visit other SSS participants.


This snippet from SAINT SANGUINUS takes place when Cavan, the son of the village wise woman was a boy of thirteen.


Here he watches as a spell launched against his rival--Peredur, future warrior for their 6th century Welsh village--shoots off in an unexpected direction.

~~~~~~~~

The sword master took his time and methodically drew a bloody pattern in his young student’s skin. When Tanwen finally arrived with her brother, dismay marred her features. I don’t know why that angered me, but it did.

It almost distracted me from the show Peredur performed so beautifully, his fellow students flinching in unison with every turn of the knife blade.

Peredur knelt there for a moment once it was over, breathless and shaking as the sword master rose and turned away.

Eventually Peredur pushed himself up, turned and quickly wiped his face as Owen walked toward the bench--this I hadn’t predicted at all.

Friday, March 2, 2012

5 on Friday - Set 108


Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

I'm in a ballet frame of mind this week, so here are five rather dreamy pieces I've always loved.


1 - Dulcinea variation - Don Quixote, composed by Ludwig Minkus


Danced by Svetlana Zakharova



2 - Peasant pas de deux - Giselle, composed by Adolphe Adam


Danced by Natalia Osipova and Vyacheslav Lopatin

The main piece of music I'm showcasing here ends at the 2:50 mark.




3 - Kingdom of the Shades - La Bayadere, composed by Ludwig Minkus


Danced by Paris Opera Ballet

I just get the shivers when this piece starts. This piece, once begun, is somewhat of an ordeal for the first line of dancers. Once it begins, we're watching something incredibly special.



4 - Entrees des fees (Fairies entrance) - Sleeping Beauty, composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky


Danced by Paris Opera Ballet

I especially love the way this scene announces with fanfare that we're about to be treated to a cherished piece of dance history. Not only are the fairies arriving at court accompanied by courtiers in the story, but they carry the history of this piece from the 19th century to us now, in a chain of performances that has been passed down and down across time.

The music I'm showcasing begins at the 5:07 mark.



5 -Morning Dance - Romeo and Juliet, composed by Sergei Prokofiev


The piece I'm showcasing here ends at the 1:41 mark.  Of course, longtime readers of this blog will know that the tragic music soon following is what I listened to while writing my vampire novel.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Thursday Thirteen - 245 - 13 Ballet Moves

My adored art form of ballet is made up of many individual steps that are mastered by dancers over time. Choreographers put these steps together in an unlimited array of variations, and the manner in which the steps work together then becomes the language of dance.

Here are thirteen of my favorite ballet steps.



1 - Tour jete



2 - Fouettes



3 - Develope



4 - Adagio (slowly and with fluid movement)



5 - Partnering



6 - Tour en seconde



7 - Triple tours en l'air



8 - Saut de Basque (the turn in mid air which he does at the very beginning of this clip)



9 - Grand battement



10 - Poisson or Fish dive (takes place at the 2:20 mark)



11 - Bouree



12 - Pirouette



13 - Brise vole