Inspired by the Oscars

Every February, I get super excited towards the end of the month. Why? The Oscars, baby! I’m addicted, absolutely love it. The excitement, the buzz, the fashion, the fashion faux-pas, the energy, but most of all - the inspiration it gives me. You see, since I was about twenty years old, I’ve dreamed of myself up there on that red carpet. Not as an actress or anything silly like that. But as a screenwriter - actually as an Oscar-Nominated screenwriter. What? A girl can have ambition, can’t she?

photo credit: oscars academy awards via photopin (license)

I usually love the oscar speeches by the underdogs, or simply by those that have worked incredibly hard to get there. The ones that talk to the screen during their speech and tell us that we CAN do it. They tell us that if they can do it, we can do it. And I always believe them. I know that I can. I have it in me. I’m sure of it.
I haven’t written any completed screenplays just yet, because I’ve been concentrating on writing novels but it is in my future plan. Maybe I’ll start later this year? Who knows?
As is always the case, this year’s Oscars left me teary-eyed at times, but I love that. I’m such an emotional gal, you know? One of the most emotional moments was during the performance of Glory from the Selma movie. Boy was that amazing. Have you seen it? It’s beautiful. Oh and I must mention Lady Gaga. I mean... WOW, that Sound of Music performance rocked. She was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!! Who knew, eh? If you didn't see it, check it out below.
As for the fashion, there certainly were some interesting frocks - but none of them really blew me away this year. Jessica Chastain’s navy blue dress came pretty close though.
Dougie Howser… erm, sorry Neil Patrick Harris was a fabulous host and certainly did a cracking job - I particularly enjoyed his 'walk of shame’ on to the stage wearing nothing but his underpants, socks and shoes!

Did you watch the Oscars this year? What did you think? Did it inspire you?

Are you a cry baby too?

I’m sitting here crying my eyes out. Not because of something tragic that has happened, no. I’m watching movies… the last one was a real weepy about a kidnapped boy who returns to his family nine years later. It’s so moving I just can’t stop crying. I’m such a softie like that. I’ve even been known to cry during adverts! Yes, that’s me… a weepaholic. I’ve even cried during Eastenders. And no, I do not watch it anymore… it was a case of utter madness one year when we got hooked. We soon unhooked ourselves mind you.

Generally speaking, I don’t like to watch sad movies. I know that’s sad in itself but I can’t bear the heartache, you know? There are certain movies I refuse to watch a second time because of the weepiness content - Pearl Harbour, Titanic, E.T are just a few. 

If it’s a movie that has sad scenes but a happy ending, then that’s great. I’m happy. But if it’s just sad, then why? Isn’t the world sad enough as it is? I want to be uplifted, inspired, euphoric (ok, maybe that last one is a bit much). But this is precisely why I tend to write books with happy endings… I want my readers to feel the same, you know?

How about you? Are you a cry baby when it comes to movies? TV? Which ones make you sob into your tissue?

Thursday Threesome: The top fantasy movies of all times

Thursday Threesome, you ask? Well that should mean my top three... but I'm going to include all my other faves too, because there are just too many others not to mention, right? Okay, so here goes...

1. Harry Potter series

Ever since Daniel Radcliffe came on the scene back in 2001, I've been completely and utterly hooked on this series. Like many others, I devoured the books first, saw each movie at the cinema and then bought every DVD. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson grew up before our very eyes, getting better at acting with each film. I know I will never tire of the Harry Potter series. Will you?

2. Avatar

I saw it at the cinema in all its 3D glory and then watched it on a much smaller 32 inch TV and it was still as brilliant! Avatar has everything, action, romance, drama, fantasy. Its one of the most beautiful fantasy movies I've ever seen. I mean, the Tree of Souls? Gorgeous, just gorgeous.

3. The Tenth Kingdom

Okay, so technically this isn't a movie as such. Its a mini series but its just so awesome, I had to include it in my top three. The Tenth Kingdom is about a young woman and her father after they are transported from New York through a magical mirror into a parallel world of fairy tales, magical creatures, evil stepmothers and self-discovery.

And because there are tonnes of other mega awesome fantasy movies out there, I just had to share some of my other close favourites. Do you agree with me? Did I miss any?

Princess Bride

Ella Enchanted

The Chronicles of Narnia

Willow

Neverending Story

Lord of the Rings

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Corpse Bride

Pirates of the Caribbean

Hocus Pocus

Hook

Nanny McPhee

Mary Poppins

The waterbabies

The Golden Compass

Legend

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Enchanted

Inkheart

Dragonheart

Alice in Wonderland

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Stardust

Aquamarine

Splash

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Edward Scissorhands

The Wizard of Oz

Eragon

The Dark Crystal

The Snow Queen

Snow White - The Fairest of Them All

Merlin

The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns

Practical Magic

Conan the Barbarian

Clash of the Titans

Gremlins

Ghostbusters

Big Trouble in Little China

Mannequin

Beetlejuice

Big

Teen Witch

Casper

The Borrowers

Arthur and the Invisibles

Bridge to Terabithia

The Seeker: The Dark is Rising

The Water Horse

Bedtime Stories

City of Ember

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

Because my books are aimed at kids and young adults, I've not included any really scary fantasy movies but I know there are tonnes of super cool ones out there! So what do you think of my list?

I'm working on a movie!!

I'm currently working on something super exciting... something I've dreamed about doing since I was a kid... something awesome.... yep, I'm about to start working behind the scenes on an amazing movie. Yes, that's right... a movie!
The Right Juice is an independent, heartwarming movie set in the Algarve, where I have lived for the past 26 years. It's a wonderful story with some wonderful characters.  I finally met the cast and crew yesterday and I can honestly say that they are all totally awesome. Admittedly I was pretty nervous considering this is my first time working on a movie set (I have been an extra on a couple of commercials but that's hardly the same!) but I needn't have been. I was really made to feel like one of the team. Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you what I'll be doing... I've been taken on board as the Script Supervisor so I'm responsible for continuity and taking tonnes of notes about every single scene as well as various other stuff.
Needless to say, I'm going to be super busy over the next seven weeks so I will very have little time to post so please bear with me. Don't lose interest. I will be back! And if I do get the chance to post on my days off (when I'm not sleeping!), I certainly will!
I'd you'd like more information about The Right Juice, check out their website http://therightjuice.net
As this is an independent production, more finance is needed, so if you'd like to donate to this AWESOME project, check out the website and please give what you can (even five dollars/pounds/euros will make a difference!). You can also follow the movie on facebook, http://facebook.com/therightjuice

An emotional soul

One of my all time favourite movies was on TV this afternoon. Hope Floats, with Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jr and Gena Rowlands is just adorable. Harry is such a beautiful man with such a beautiful voice! And not only is Sandra so gorgeous, she is a fantastic actress to boot. It's a sad film, of course, but with a happy ending. I just love happy endings. So much so, in fact, that I can't bear to watch anything that doesn't have one. I hate watching, or reading, anything that will leave me feeling depressed or sad. Unfortunately, I am such an emotional soul that I am highly affected by such things. A little bit like that wonderful character, June (was it June?) from The Secret Life of Bees. The sister that bursts into tears at the slightest hint of sadness.
I can cry at the drop of a hat - show me a sad picture, a moving commercial or a tragic scene in a terribly acted soap opera and I'll well up. My husband laughs at me every time I do, but I can't help it!
I dislike watching the news too often because it upsets me so much. There's just too much sadness, violence, death and pain all over the world. Of course I love to watch it when it's about something good and positive. The rescue of the Chilean miners, for example, was wonderful... although it's on the news a little too much even now that they're all safe and well. It won't be long until there's a movie about the whole saga, I'm sure.
And don't get me on 9/11. That's just too much to bear. I try to watch films or TV documentaries about it but, by the end, I have a head ache from shedding so many tears for all those poor souls who lost their lives, those that were injured and for the thousands and thousands who lost family and friends. I can't bear the thought of it... but I do because we mustn't ever forget them. I went to see Ground Zero in 2008 and it was a very moving experience. Hard though, to stay dry eyed.
Although I do feel a little silly walking out of the cinema with my eyes streaming, I don't regret being this way. It does you good to have a good cry now and then, don't you think?