I am still groggy as hell

Last Updated on Tuesday, 9 September 2008 02:34 Written by Martin Tuesday, 9 September 2008 02:34

It’s nearly a week since I went in for the operation (nasal polypectomy Simon, not a vasectomy you cheeky ****) and I am still not feeling great. I guess a general anaesthetic just knocks the stuffing out of me, as well as the blood loss.

I have spent my time mainly sleeping but as I have mentioned before, catching up on some old and unwatched DVDs. I have an “Alien” boxset from, I think, 2003 which has new special editions of all four of the films as well as behind the scenes interviews with most of the cast and crew and all of the directors. Well almost all of the directors…

David Fincher (Se7en, The Game, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodiac) directed Alien 3 but does not appear in any of the behind the scenes material. Does anyone know why? I can see from the interviews that a hard time was had by all but especially Mr Fincher. He came in as a second choice director at a time when there was no completed final script still as Fox (20th Century) did not like where the first director and his script were going. But I would love to hear his viewpoint on the whole affair too. If anyone knows where I can find an interview with him about it I woud be most grateful!

It is interesting to see how all of the films tie together in their make up though. All were made by Fox but all directed by completely different directors. However, a lot of the “back room” staff actually remain constant, or at least overlap. Especially on the production side and some of the model making teams, and randomly the chief make up supervisor.

Is funny seeing the american guys struggling to work in the “english” conditions at Pinewood studios. With it being “so cold” and such “terrible weather conditions” to work in. But I find the funniest how James Cameron (Aliens (ie Alien 2)) was not happy at all with the english tradition of a tea break in the morning and another in the afternoon. This involved a tea lady walking on set for 15 minutes at a time and all the (english) crew stopping what they were doing to make sure they got what they wanted before she had left.

Was also interesting to note that Ridley Scott commented how, after “Alien” and subsequently “Bladerunner”, he will not make another science fiction film as he feels he has defined what these are now and cannot surpass his own work. Conversely he did also say that this was a good thing, as it would have to be a great story to make him want to do it now. Maybe I should put my story under his nose when it is completed, anyone have his contact details?

I’m off to watch “Alien: Resurrection” (Alien 4) now, catch you later…

ps I have a second interview tomorrow afternoon, have I mentioned that yet?

Dark Star: Chronicles

Last Updated on Wednesday, 7 July 2010 02:51 Written by Martin Tuesday, 2 September 2008 12:42

Well, it has begun…

I have a writing project which has been waiting in the sidelines to be launched.

The website, I hope, will be launched in October but the blog about the whole process has begun.

To watch my ups and downs through this creative process, just jump over to my Dark Star: Chronicles blog.

For the benefit of those not interested in my writing side, I shall not post too much in here about it.

I hope to blog in here (and over there) on a much more regular basis now, especially as I have no work plans for the next two weeks, following the operation this Wednesday.

It’s Good to Touch

Last Updated on Wednesday, 7 July 2010 02:51 Written by Martin Sunday, 31 August 2008 11:38

…the green, green grass of home.

You can’t beat the feeling that you get (as a welshman) when you see those two rising towers of the (second) Severn Crossing when you have been away for more than, ooh I dunno, say an hour…

The only downside is that you then have to rifle through your pockets for the loose change (will they ever just have it as a round bloody figure?) and that the Celtic Manor (resort) is only a few bends in the motorway away…groan…what an uninspiring sight, especially as a Welsh architect(uraldesigner).

Anyway, yes, I am home safe and sound and (fairly) happy.

It is late now though so won’t write much other than to say that tomorrow I have an interview with another architectural firm and that my writing targets (for Dark Star) have been based around a 1st September start, and that is tomorrow…

So I guess tomorrow will see the launch of the first details regarding Dark Star…I bet you can’t wait can you? *yawn* LOL