Author: jstueart

Live Words: Yukon Writers Festival, April 28-May 8

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In conjunction with the Young Authors Conference, Live Words brings five authors up to the Yukon, and this year they are offering a few more appearances in Whitehorse and the communities for readings and workshops.  Yay!   I applaud Joyce Sward and other organizers for their efforts to bring these writers to the community.

Schedule as follows:

LIVE WORDS

YUKON WRITERS’ FESTIVAL: Tues Apr 28 – Fri May 8
with writers:
Shelley Hrdlitschka, Celia McBride, Arthur Slade, Shyam Selvadurai, Candace Savage, Kenneth T. Williams

WHITEHORSE EVENTS
Reading: Kenneth T. Williams, Tues Apr 28, 7 pm, Blue Feather Youth Centre, free
Reading & Reception: Guest writers, Wed Apr 29, 7 pm, Beringia Centre, free
Young Authors’ Conference: Thurs Apr 30 & Fri May 1, 8:45 – 3:15, FH Collins
Lecture: Bird Brains: Inside the Lives of Ravens and Crows, Candace Savage & Sun May 3, 7:30 pm, Beringia Centre, free
Writing Workshop: Shyam Selvadurai, Mon May 4, 7 – 9 pm, Whitehorse Public Library. 667-5239 to register (limited space), free.

COMMUNITY EVENTS
Readings & Music: Guest writers & music, Sat May 2, 7 pm, St. Elias Convention Centre, Haines Junction, $10 adults, $5 students, children 12 & under/seniors free.
Readings: Shyam Selvadurai -Tues May 5, 7 pm, Teslin Library; Wed May 6, 7 pm, Carcross Library; Thurs May 7, 7 pm; Carmacks Library; Fri May 8, 11am,
Faro Library, free
Lecture: Bird Brains: Inside the Lives of Ravens and Crows, Candace Savage, Mon May 4, 7:30 pm, Northern Lights Centre, Watson Lake, free

For more information call 667-5239.

And the Young Authors Conference website:

http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/events/youngauthors/Pages/conference2009.html

24hr Playwriting Contest: deadline for registration April 9th

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color-swallow-1--catherine cheekGang of Writers!

You say you want to write a play!  Or a spoken word piece!  Come to the 24hr Playwriting Contest that happens April 18th-19th from 11am on Saturday to 11am on Sunday at the Westmark.  For 50 bucks you get a room for the night, free breakfast, free coffee and snacks, free yoga, and free dramaturges who sit around waiting to tow your plots out of the ditch, free your scenes, and otherwise encourage you.  You can’t find a sweeter deal for writers!

Deadline for sign-up is April 9th at 5pm!  Call Nakai at 667-2646 (#2) and someone will take your info off the phone call, or come by Nakai’s office in the Whitepass Station on 1st street and get a registration form.

Come and enjoy the frenzy of community writing in  a nice shwanky hotel.  Turn your play in on Sunday 11am with the rest of the writing crew!  And sign up for our later Cabaret (in May) to see a scene performed from your play.  Prizes will be awarded by our judges!  There are TONS of good prizes.

Come Play with Us!!

Jerome Stueart

Producer, 24hr Playwriting Contest!

—picture by Catherine Cheek

2 bedroom Bungalow in Indiana: $56,900

jstueart6 Comments

blmfld-front-good-flowers-5x7-72007Who needs a timeshare when you could have a summer home! Hey, I’m advertising for my birthmom in Indiana. She’s trying to sell this nice home. Mark, the realtor at Harrah Realty, describes it like this:

428 South Washington
$56,900.00 – #6961

SAVE ON GAS MONEY! Walk to downtown banking, shopping and restaurants from this conveniently located 2 bedroom, 1 bath bungalow. Full walk-out basement, large family room that could possibly be used as a 3rd bedroom, handicap accessible. Backyard playhouse with electric, phone and computer hook-up and window air conditioner. Great for small office. Make your appointment with Mark today.

treehouse-blmfld-72007That “backyard playhouse” is enormous and fun, two stories.

If you’re interested, contact Mark at Harrah Realty. They’d–my birthmom and her sister–would love to sell this home. With the economic situation, of course, many people were trapped in the transition: living in one home while selling another. But I’m trying this to see if I can make a difference— figure it can’t hurt to advertise in Canada, on a science fiction writer’s website. You never know–someone might be looking for the perfect little home in Bloomfield, Indiana.   Maybe Aliens!

Okay, if Canadians do buy it, technically they’ll be “aliens”… hmmm.


Knowing: People Stuck in a Plot (a movie review)

jstueart16 Comments

knowing4Having just seen Knowing, the film starring Nicholas Cage as a man who’s been given a sheet of numbers predicting every accident that will happen, I’m having a hard time with Ebert’s review. Ebert gave it four stars. I would give it two.

It is a movie about whether events in life are random or predetermined and wants to be a movie about what you would do if you knew the end of the world was happening.

If you want to see the answer to that, go watch Deep Impact–a better film.

Knowing doesn’t uncover the “end of the world” plot until late in the movie. This movie is about  whether all events are preordained.  And should a coded sheet of these events fall into our hands–does it  indicate that higher forces are communicating with mankind–revealing these accidents?  But alas, it’s not to actually change them.  The list is stuck in a vault for fifty years. What’s the point of revealing numbers only to hide them away? Nicholas Cage would have us believe it is to give those numbers to his son, fifty years later. For what reason–there is no reason. Since Cage cannot do anything to affect or change the events, the paper communicates nothing but “proof” that someone knew what would happen.

Knowing is saddled with a predetermined plot too. The characters only talk about the plot; when they arrive in a scene, they say only what needs to be said to move the plot along, which I always find hard to believe.  When the sister enters the movie, her reason to be there is to tell us that Cage is estranged from the family, to establish that he is running from religion, to emphasize that the family is worried. The writers even realize that there is no real interaction in this scene because they have her tell Cage that he didn’t even ask “how are you? How’s your week been?” before telling her to leave. The characters know it is an awkward scene. All of the scenes are like this–leaping from plot point to plot point.

The revelation that the numbers are actually dates is so unnatural as to be funny.  It doesn’t happen because he actually strives to figure them out–he is drunk, it’s an “accident.” This plot is so much about determinism that it tries to get away with unbelievable coincidence. The author can always say–“Well, that was my point!” But that’s just bad writing. If you need coincidence that badly, then your characters are just puppets.

Cage is a morose father, drinking himself into a stupor every night. He’s supposed to be a MIT astrophysicist. Man, where did they get this classroom? That’s MIT?? It’s small. Only twenty students are there, most look around high school age. It’s supposedly his first lecture of the year–it’s completely philosophical, cosmological, lasts for ten minutes or less, with brilliant students who repeat back knowledge to the professor, and then our brilliant professor blanks when he’s talking about whether the world is random or not, and dismisses class. I never believed him as a professor. And I didn’t believe that was MIT, or any other university.

The worst foreshadowing happens here–when he takes up the models of planets and talks about them.

SPOILER: Cage is supposed to have worked on solar flares, was an expert in the field–but he doesn’t work on them now? He doesn’t mention this fact till the end of the film, when it becomes important. But one would suspect that the scientists who have already discovered that a major solar flare is coming would want to consult with the man who has solar flare knowledge.

This movie is full of Christian references to the inevitability of mankind’s destruction. You are sledgehammered over the head with it at times. Cage as prodigal son, makes the predictable return to his pastor/father. There’s even a convenient Christian message scrawled on a van in the last sequence–so that during watching destruction you might make a decision. The kids are taken in a “rapture” which makes angels look like a$$holes because they wouldn’t take Cage with them and save him too, or anyone else in those huge ships of theirs.

Take away the thin veil of science fiction and this is mere theology. Down to the “new adam and eve” and “tree of life” in the last frame… a very tired science fiction ending (we’ve seen it so much that On Spec and other sci-fi magazines reject all stories with “adam and eve” endings). Those people left behind are riotous and murderous, not many shown as kind; as destruction swoops down, you are made to think we are all sinners, murderous thieves. The writers have stacked the deck–giving us no choice on how to read the plot. Nobody really has a believable choice.  That may be honest theology, or philosophy–but it doesn’t make a good movie.

How to do a House Party Right

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bghome2I attended a house party Saturday night–sort of like the one pictured here. I’ve heard of things like this.  Anne-Louise Genest explained a bit of the history of the kind of music she was playing with Sammy Lind and Nadine Landry that evening–how it might happen in a kitchen. The intimate setting was right. Miche and Hector had opened their home–moved back the furniture, rented folding chairs, made snacks. There was a charge of $15 at the door to pay back the hosts and the musicians for what turned out to be a beautiful evening.

It was planned well–limited to 25-30 people; people brought their own drinks; and the music was a mix of bluegrass/cajun with fiddle tunes throughout. There were two 45 minute sets, with a half hour break in between for mingling and snacks. And a lovely wandering dog in the midst giving out love to whomever reached out for her.

I remember back in 2002, a night in someone’s home after a party was drifting into the evening.  Folks would bring out guitars. It was a lucky moment, but only the six of us experienced it. Kind of a convergence of good fortune, talent, a long evening to linger around guitars.

But you can create a moment and plan it well too. The only difference between that moment in 2002 and this one in 2009 was the event that was created. Saturday was a performance in an intimate setting–aimed to be the focus of the evening. They asked friends (and a sister) who were performers to perform for us, rather than all of us hoping guitars might pop out after a dinner.  The performers were spotlighted.

My grandparents used to host Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys in their home. I don’t know how my grandparents knew them—I vaguely remember that Alpha and Jeff Stueart were friends of Bob Wills. But they played music in their home in between gigs around Texas and Oklahoma in the 30s and 40s, a time of Western Swing. I don’t remember that my grandparents ever played music themselves. My grandfather dug ditches and my grandmother was a cook, but they loved music and were good hosts. They opened their home to other people who would enjoy that music as well. They were dirt poor. But they knew the value of music.

We can’t always have a convergence of singer/songwriters at our dinner parties. But we can host a House Party and bring in performers that are coming through town. I bet we can do that with small theatre too. It had great planning and Miche and Hector created an evening I won’t forget.  I’d rather go to concerts like this, I think, than sit in a large auditorium.  Here I was a few feet away, and food and drink were handy.  Like an Irish Pub, in some ways.  But in your home.

House Parties eliminate having to make the modern choice between a night at home with the family or going out to a show. It takes us back to a place where we relied on each other. They brought the show to their home, and brought us to their home too. As Laurel Parry (now known as Larry) said to open the night. “Either we’re very cutting edge or we’re reviving an old practice–or maybe a bit a both.” Blogs have talked about this new phenomenon before and websites telling you how to host a gig like Concerts in Your Home.

But I think the one at Hector and Miche’s went really well. Maybe they were cutting edge, maybe just wanting to find an intimate way to have music in their home. Maybe we only remembered something we forgot we needed. I’m just glad that, clapping and stomping our way into the night, we all remembered it together, .

To Watch or not to Watch: a review of the Watchmen

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watchmen-poster-groupMy title refers not to whether or not you should watch the film, but about the dilemma of the characters–to watch over others or not.

You should see the film. It’s good to understand the gritty basics of superheroes and why they do what they do, and what kinds of mortals these heroes be.

I’ve bought the book, but I haven’t done more than skim it to see how close it comes to the movie.  I think the movie is faithful to the book.  But for those who haven’t read the book–like me–here’s the skinny on the movie:

The movie explores a history of superheroes in America–as if they really existed. The opening credits are brilliant.  All the moments of American history have as a background these groups of superheroes–mostly non-superpowered costumed vigilantes.  We won Vietnam, Nixon has won a third term as President, it is 1985.  We are in a cold war, but Andy Warhol is painting Night Owl not Marilyn Monroe.

Someone is killing off costumed superheroes who have retired.  Since an Act of Congress, superhero groups and persons have been outlawed or disbanded.  One of the superheroes has become a megamillionaire trying to create green energy; others have just retired without revealing who they were.  The threat of nuclear war is ever present.  One hero has superpowers, Dr. Manhattan, created in an accident (like all good heroes), and he is approaching godhood, barely concerned with humanity, but seeking to help find a way to help the world find an energy solution too.  He is the reason the Russians don’t attack–they are frightened of his nuclear abilities.

These heroes have mixed pasts.  They are more vigilantes, no longer asked to keep vigil.  There is no strong moral code guiding them.  Except for Night Owl, very few of them know what a moral code is.  For Rorschach, whose mask constantly changes shape–a fascinating thing to watch–humanity is disgusting, all the baser natures breeding and leaving nothing of value.  For him, he doesn’t care about humanity–they are all criminals waiting to happen.  When he searches the streets to find answers to who killed the Comedian (who dies in the first few minutes of both the film and the trailer), he beats people up to get his answers.

The movie is more complex than a whodunnit.  And this is what I love about the story.  It will complicate your ideas of justice.  And heroes.  And what responsibility is taken up when you take up a costume and “crimefighting,” and what kind of person needs to have that role, and what person doesn’t need to have it.

The movie shows us heroes who want to do something to help the world, but are filled so much with their own problems that they just don’t have the teamwork, the focus–they aren’t even on the same page.  You thought the Fantastic Four squabbled, but this is chaos.  It’s gritty real, though, at what a “real” group of heroes would be doing–all idealism, but with their own agendas.

If you liked Dark Knight, you will enjoy Watchmen.  It makes you think about vigilantism–what decisions you are allowed to make on behalf of others, and what decisions you shouldn’t make on behalf of others–even to keep them safe.

The movie is also visually stunning.  The sequences on Mars, the blue Dr. Manhattan, the fighting sequences–we’ve come a long way through the Matrix and out again.

The movie isn’t perfect.  I’ve never seen a worse Nixon–he looks plastic, as if he is wearing a mask himself; there are poor choices in music–Leonard Cohen singing “Hallelujah” during a sex scene; the sex scene itself seems a bit long.  But these are small things in a long movie that, overall, satisfies.

It has a lot of gratuitous violence–but I think the violence says a lot about these heroes.  They’ve become numb to it, to the choices they make regarding other people.  The world is something to clean up and guard.  Silk Sepctre II says that the law that disbanded superheroes was the best thing to ever happen to her–she never wanted to be a superhero.  Her mother, the first Silk Spectre, made her.  She hated the clothes. And the responsibility.

The end will keep you talking for weeks.  I promise you.  It is no easy ending and the movie leaves you wrestling with decisions.  Go see it.  Justice isn’t an easy topic.  Our conversation afterwards at Tim Horton’s involved youth who tag buildings with graffiti, but it could have been anything we were upset about.  To what ends does vigilantism aspire?  How far would you work outside of “the law” to get “justice”?  It sparks a lot of difficult conversations.  I’m sure I came across like an idiot–but i tend to let myself talk to see what I might say.  Cause only when I’ve said it, do I get to evaluate whether or not I believe it.

So, go see the movie and see what you start talking about afterwards.

Yukon Writers’ Conference: Deadline March 15th

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Hey Everyone, just wanted to note the upcoming deadline for the Yukon Writers’ Conference happening April 3,4,5 here in Whitehorse.  If you are thinking of NOT going, let me give you some reasons to come.

We don’t often get to hear and work with writing professionals here in the North. Normally, you would have to go south to get this convergence of writing instruction.  The conference brings up six people you would never get to talk to otherwise.  I would never have ten minutes alone with Shawna McCarthy in Toronto or Vancouver.  She would be surrounded by other writers more important to Canada, and her time would be scheduled to meet the needs of hundreds of people.  Here, we can chat.  I can even buy her a Cranberry Wheat Ale.

This is not to discount in any way the professional writers we have here in the north–including Lily Gontard, editor of Yukon: North of Ordinary, who will be a speaker and participant in the conference.  I’m only highlighting the fact that she and other editors will be together pooling their knowledge in this conference–a rare occurence.  You can still, of course, get great writing instruction from any of the professional writers who live here—but you have us every year!  hehe.  And we’re gonna be there learning at the conference too!  We want to take advantage of this conference made to help writers in every stage.

Sure, you say, this conference is for people who are going to make a living writing.  I just want to write for myself. Actually, this conference, with its seminars, is aimed at a broad audience.  You will pick up many writing tips from these editors who have seen writing in every stage imaginable.  You will pick up tips to help you where you are.  While they do know the market and know how to get people ready for publishing, they are here for all writers to help you make your writing into what you want it to be.

If you are at all interested in possibly publishing, this is YOUR conference. While the conference accommodates a wide audience, these editors and publishers have expertise they want to share with writers in the North who seek to move their writing to a public level, who want to share their writing and Northern sensibilities with folks down South.  Highlighting a collective experience of over 70 years in the publishing industry, these seven voices (six from the South, one from the North) have a wide range of insight and a diversity of opinion on what makes a work publishable and how to make a story or article most effective.

We have 40 people–at least– in the Yukon working on novels.  You have completed a first draft.  Revising can be difficult–and editors know how to revise. I love hearing writers talk; they know how to create–but usually have experience with only their texts (discounting those who teach–who have seen a lot of other writers’ stuff too).  But editors and publishers can tell you what to do after you’ve created.  Their experience with thousands of manuscripts lead them to a wider knowledge of how to get different stories moving, how to motivate different writers.

It’s 90 bucks, which covers a weekend full of learning.  Hearing any one of the six editors from down South could cost you much, much more–just in travel expenses.  Contact Marcelle Dubé at mdube@northwestel.net or come hear her and Mitch Miyagawa read Thursday night a Whitehorse Public Library at 7:30 and ask her more about the conference there.

I hope to see you there.  The Deadline is March 15th!  Go now.  Sign up.

Realms of Fantasy Saved!

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Seems the Fantasy magazine Realms of Fantasy has been saved.

This just in from the Facebook group “Save Realms of Fantasy”:

__________

Subject: Realms of Fantasy has been bought!

Howdy folks,

Realms of Fantasy is not dead.  It was just resting.  The announcement reached my email a few minutes ago: Realms of Fantasy has been bought by Tir Na Nog Press and will continue to provide the fantasy and literary community with fabulous stories and artwork under the editorial direction of Shawna McCarthy.

Thanks to all of you for joining us in supporting the magazine.  I know our efforts were appreciated by Shawna and Doug.  For more information you can check out the relevant articles on Doug’s Live Journal and SFScope.com (links have been provided on the Facebook page).

If you have yet to subscribe to Realms I highly recommend you do so now–and bring a friend!  If you were already a subscriber you should also bring a friend!  Print media is taking a beating these days.  The only way fine mags like Realms will survive is if we continue to support them.  We just took a big step in the right direction–now keep on trucking and subscribe!

A thousand thanks,

The Mods

__________

Congrats to everyone who supported RoF in this crisis.