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Songs Seduce…

Posted in Books, Children's stories, Illustrators, Music, Pinterest, Writing, tagged Children'sBookWriting, EarPieces, Memories, Music, Music&Memories, Pinterest, PoeticPeople, TummyTreats, YouTube on April 14, 2015| Leave a Comment »

The last couple of hours have been spent enjoying my favorite songs playlist on YouTube (and more) and adding them to my Pinterest board called ‘Ear Pieces’.

Previously it was favorite ‘Tummy Treats‘ (must be something to do with lunchtime) and before that updating my ‘Poetic People’ and ‘Children’s Book Writing’ boards.

It’s very seductive!

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #Pinterest #PoeticPeople #TummyTreats #EarPieces #Children’sBookWriting #MusicMemories

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Sphinx Productions, 1985

Posted in Film Friends, MOVIES, Perth City, Scripts, Sounds, Writing, tagged FilmTVInstitute, Mid-WesternTV, PeterAquilina, VIDEO:ShatteredWindos on April 9, 2015| 2 Comments »

In 1985, I met Peter Aquilina through production & direction courses at FTI and set up Sphinx Productions to gain professional experience in our chosen careers of film and video.

We worked well, Pete was technically amazing I had loads of admin experience but both of us wanted the freedom to direct and produce our own stuff. On our ‘zero’ budget, we knew we had to start small.

As Functions Manager of the Riverton and Kelmscott Hotels and High Road Tavern in the early 80’s, I ran a talent quest ‘Best in the West’ to attract patrons into the venues. On top of the $1000 cash prize, I offered the winning talent a promotional video – a big deal in those days.

So, the first music video I wrote, produced and directed was named for the song called ‘Shattered Windows’ – remember, this was 1985 and music videos were all the rage.

The song was written and performed by two excellent (and very cute according to my 8 year old daughter) Break-Dancers. But they didn’t want a dance video, they wanted to showcase their music.

I wrote a script, weaving a visual story but also to work professionally with a blueprint. Over about 5 or 6 weekends spent with friends and borrowed equipment, we got it all shot and edited just in time to enter the FTI Film Awards.

While shooting the zero-budget video, we used four locations; a street in North Perth, The Old Perth Railway Station, the burnt-out Swan Brewery (with permission) and the Mid-West TV studio where Pete worked at the time.

Although it’s not a perfect copy I’m still pretty proud, all these years later. I’d love to know what happened to the talented Break Dancers.

My film-partner, 18 year old Peter Aquilina won the FTI Young Filmakers Cinematography Award in 1985.

He’s producing amazing screen work all over the world but with much bigger budgets, now…

@FrancesMForde ##FrancesMacForde #PeterAquilina #VIDEO:ShatteredWindows #FilmTVInstitute #Mid-WesternTV

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Monday-itis.

Posted in Africa, Love, Poetry, Writing, tagged EasterMonday, KitweNorthernRhodesia, POEM:Unconditional on April 6, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Kitwe, Northern Rhodesia, 1963.

Feeling melancholy today.

I haven’t organised the usual Easter Egg Hunt, my daughter did it instead while I was working.

Haven’t in fact, seen my children or grandchildren this long weekend because they’re all away – perhaps that’s it.

It’s Easter Monday and for us, the only distinguishing event over the long weekend was bacon for brekky yesterday – a real treat! Oh, and the chocolates on Friday.

I’m also missing my parents.

Unconditional

You always helped me move

on to new adventures,

strengthened by your love.

That moment

when I realized

you weren’t asleep,

I couldn’t cry.

I wanted to,

thought I should,

but I couldn’t shed tears

for all those years

when I was loved

unconditionally.

When I knew

no matter what I did

or said, you would always

love me – be there for me.

Put a plaster on my hurts,

fix me up with kisses, give

words to make me feel better.

I’ll never forget your strength.

How your arms encircled me,

the safeness of a oak tree,

dense, caring and complete.

I need that care now!

I need to feel safe again,

to sail into your harbour of care,

find you there, waiting

with open arms, accepting

all my faults, all my mistakes

and letting them go.

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #EasterMonday #POEM:Unconditional

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So Where Has All The Reading Gone?

Posted in Writing on April 5, 2015| 1 Comment »

I have to agree with Nick – I am reading less books. My reading time is swallowed up by judging (lots of reading), research on the internet, blogging/reading/writing, Pinterest, grandchildren, day-job! Not so much Facebook anymore and I am certainly buying more e-book (less shelf space needed) but find I have to take a screen break quite often… Loved this article – has made me re-evaluate. Thanks Nick.

Nick Earls

I’m on the road at the moment with a book for younger people – 8-12-year-olds my publisher says, and they would know more about that than I do (though it already has some adult readers too). Like anything I write, at some level it got written because the urge to write it was an itch I couldn’t scratch any other way but, at a pragmatic level, it’s no bad thing it’s being targeted to that demographic.

Why? Because they read. They have time to do it, many of them like to do it, people buy them books and they read. I don’t mind what platform they choose to do it on – whether the book be e or p – but most of them still opt for the paper version. If a child shows an interest in a book, if the family has money for it, there’s every chance that…

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Size doesn’t matter…

Posted in Animals, Children's stories, COMMUNITY, Illustrators, Love, Music, Poetry, Scripts, Short Stories, Sounds, Writing, tagged Inspiration on April 3, 2015| Leave a Comment »

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #Audiences #KeepWriting #Inspiration

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Dreaming of toys

Posted in Books, Children's stories, MOVIES, Other blogs, Scripts, Toys, Writing, tagged AlphaAnimation, ChineseToyDeal, CPB:MrPandaLivesNextDoor, MichaelBay, Transformers on April 2, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Just read about this deal between Michael Bay (of ‘Transformers’ fame) 451 Media Group and (Chinese Media/Toy manufacturers) Alpha Animation, in ‘Variety’.

Does it mean my dream is possible; one day my ‘Mr Panda Lives Next Door’ Books/TV Series, could be taken to dizzying heights and merchandised?

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #CPB:MrPandaLivesNextDoor #AlphaAnimation #ChineseToyDeal #Transformers #MichaelBay

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Wisdom Wednesdays – Keep Digging

Posted in Writing on April 2, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Hear – Hear!

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Begorrathon: Vaccuming

Posted in Begorrathon, Ireland, Love, Poetry, Romance, Sketching In Ireland, Writing, tagged IrishPoems, Love, PoemsWrittenInIreland, romance, SketchingInIreland on March 29, 2015| Leave a Comment »

St Mary’s Road, Midleton, Cork. 2003

Vaccuming

With every pull toward your body

you expect obedience.

Expect each tiny micron of dirt

to be sucked up and away.

Look at the attention you give stairs…

How do I become like stairs?

@FrancesMForde #FrancesMacForde #Beggorthon:2015 #SketchingInIreland #IrishPoems #PoemsWrittenInIreland #LovePoems #Romance

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Meet Sarah Garnett from The Footpath Library

Posted in Writing on March 26, 2015| 2 Comments »

Wonderful work!

WordMothers - for women writers & women’s writing

Interview by Nicole Melanson ~

Sarah Garnett is Founder and Managing Director of The Footpath Library, a truly unique library that gives away books to homeless people in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. The Footpath Library gives away 2500 books a month via mobile services and libraries it installs and stocks in homeless shelters and refuges.

Sarah is an Australia Day Ambassador, a 2013 NSW Australian of the Year Local Hero finalist, and a recipient of the 2013 Courage to Care Local Hero Award. She was also the subject of an episode of Channel 9’s program Random Acts of Kindness. Prior to her role as MD of The Footpath Library, Sarah had a successful career as a corporate communications and documentary producer.

The Footpath Library

Facebook: /TheFootpathLibrary

Twitter: @footpathlib

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

I was a video producer for 20 years before a chance meeting took me in another…

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