Get free downloads of my music and connect with me at: http://www.tombertram.co.uk
Monday, November 4, 2013
#MusicMonday - Tom Bertram - Kiss You (One Last Time) - [Official Music Video]
Get free downloads of my music and connect with me at: http://www.tombertram.co.uk
The Weinstein Company Picks Up ‘Peaky Blinders’
British gangster series is produced by Caryn Mandabach
LONDON — The Weinstein Company has acquired U.S. television and SVOD distribution rights to British period gangster series “Peaky Blinders,” which is produced by Caryn Mandabach (“Nurse Jackie”), created by Steven Knight (“Eastern Promises”), and stars Cillian Murphy.
The deal, which was inked by distributor Endemol, covers the first three seasons, with an option to acquire further seasons.
The series premiered on BBC Two on Sept. 12 and has achieved an average all audience consolidated viewing figure of approximately 2.4 million across the series, and an average market share of 9.54%, which is an increase of 13.3% on the channel benchmark for the time period.
The series is set in England’s second biggest city, Birmingham, in 1919, and centers on the Shelby family, who lead a feared gang called the Peaky Blinders, named for their practice of sewing razor blades into the peaks of their caps. Until now they have made money from illegal bookmaking, protection and the black market, but when a crate of guns goes missing from the local arms factory, Thomas Shelby (Murphy) sees an opportunity to move up in the world.
The cast includes Sam Neill, Helen McCrory (“Hugo,” “Harry Potter”) and Annabelle Wallis (“Snow White and the Huntsman”).
The second season of the skein, which is produced by Caryn Mandabach Production and Tiger Aspect Production, will start production in January.
Source: variety
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Twilight is Forever
Ellen Page: Beyond Movies
The young actress goes beyond the pale in a revolutionary new computer game, writes Ronan Price
"It was the most difficult acting job I've ever had," says Ellen Page. "The concept is huge and there are incredible action sequences, locations all over the world but there's also this beautiful drama within."
The 26-year-old Canadian actress talks excitedly about her latest project, lapsing occasionally into luvvie speak – "incredibly challenging," "fulfilling experience" – but there's no doubting her enthusiasm and sincerity. Thing is, she's not discussing a new movie or become the latest Hollywood star to cross over into a big-hitting TV series.
Instead, Page has spent months in a mostly empty room making a videogame with craggy-faced thespian Willem Dafoe called Beyond: Two Souls. Their wardrobe consisted of nothing more than black catsuits covered in tiny grey balls. Their props were frequently just lumps of wood or metal.
"It was strange because it felt so foreign to me," admits Page of the set-up in the motion-capture studio. "It sort of felt like jumping off a cliff a little bit. Maybe that's what I did, jumped, I guess."
Frankly, it was not a good look for an Oscar-nominated actress – even her face was dotted every day of the shoot with the grey balls – but the effort was worth it because she humanises the most extraordinary game of 2013.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Ficpeeves and Hard Limits
We, fanfiction readers, are a particular bunch. We all have our quirks and oddities, and this is apparent when you take into account what we will read and what we refuse. I’m not sure how it is in other fandoms (Apparently, there is NON-Twilight fanfiction out there? Huh. Who knew? Not interested, thanks.), but some of us are very rigid in our tastes.
Everyone has their “ficpeeves” – things that make you want to smash your e-reader and rip out your own hair. I recently asked friends to share theirs with me. The answers were diverse, as I expected. From fanfiction clichés to weak characterization to unrealistic plotlines, we are all bothered by something. For me, I take issues with sloppy grammar and punctuation, especially if the story has another person acting as the “beta” (the second pair of eyes whose sole purpose is to catch those mistakes). And I also get really annoyed by the author overusing one particular word. Just as an example, I’ll use the word ‘said’. There are so many synonyms for that word. Suggested, told, exclaimed, demanded, argued, wondered, mumbled, etc. If one word is used over and over and over, it stands out and takes the reader out of the story.
I remember a few months back, one night on twitter, where many people were participating in an airing of grievances, if you will, about ficpeeves. Most of the ones mentioned were the clichés we see used in story after story. And most of them had to do with phrases that come up time and again in “lemons” (sex scenes), such as tongues that battle for dominance over the other during a particularly racy kiss.
Most of these annoyances are read with a laugh or roll of the eyes, but sometimes, if extreme enough, they cause a reader to “flounce” (throw the story down in disgust before finishing, never to return).
Ficpeeves are very different than hard limits (a phrase we know from E.L. James’ Fifty Shades Trilogy, that has taken on its own meaning in regards to reading preferences). A fic hard limit is something that you just won’t read. Usually it’s subject matter that makes the reader too uncomfortable or strikes too close to home, but sometimes strictly preferences. Again, I polled some friends and the answers varied from huge age gaps between romantic couples or abusive parents to stories that are written by teenagers and inserting real life personas as characters.
A big thing for many Twi-fic readers is that they like “canon-pairings” and won’t read anything else. Edward has to be with Bella, Jasper with Alice, Emmett with Rosalie, Carlisle with Esme, etc. These are the pairings Stephenie Meyer wrote and what we fell in love with. But there are loads of stories out there which change it up. Jasper and Bella, or *cringe* Alice and Charlie. I am obviously a huge fan of canon couples. I CAN be flexible but I feel that, no matter who the other couples are, Edward and Bella always have to be together. This is why I read fanfiction. I love their love.
My own personal hard limit revolves around Edward (as does my whole world, according to hubby). I have a very strong attachment to this fictitious guy. One may even say I’m obsessed. And I’m very protective of him. He must not die! I cannot read stories where the author kills off my beloved Edward. Unfortunately, you don’t often know these things until the end and it’s too late.
(One thing that should be noted, when you read stories written by your friends, all bets are off. I leave my comfort zone time and again for friends. It’s a true testament to how much I love them.)
I tell you these things with humor. In all honesty, fanfiction is free and the authors are all bravely sharing a part of themselves with us. That should be kept in mind. There is a lot of hate out there and I don’t understand that. I’ve tried my hand at writing once or twice and it is not easy! Even the most horribly written stories have some merit. Try to find that next time you want to bash a fic.
Everyone has their “ficpeeves” – things that make you want to smash your e-reader and rip out your own hair. I recently asked friends to share theirs with me. The answers were diverse, as I expected. From fanfiction clichés to weak characterization to unrealistic plotlines, we are all bothered by something. For me, I take issues with sloppy grammar and punctuation, especially if the story has another person acting as the “beta” (the second pair of eyes whose sole purpose is to catch those mistakes). And I also get really annoyed by the author overusing one particular word. Just as an example, I’ll use the word ‘said’. There are so many synonyms for that word. Suggested, told, exclaimed, demanded, argued, wondered, mumbled, etc. If one word is used over and over and over, it stands out and takes the reader out of the story.
I remember a few months back, one night on twitter, where many people were participating in an airing of grievances, if you will, about ficpeeves. Most of the ones mentioned were the clichés we see used in story after story. And most of them had to do with phrases that come up time and again in “lemons” (sex scenes), such as tongues that battle for dominance over the other during a particularly racy kiss.
Most of these annoyances are read with a laugh or roll of the eyes, but sometimes, if extreme enough, they cause a reader to “flounce” (throw the story down in disgust before finishing, never to return).
Ficpeeves are very different than hard limits (a phrase we know from E.L. James’ Fifty Shades Trilogy, that has taken on its own meaning in regards to reading preferences). A fic hard limit is something that you just won’t read. Usually it’s subject matter that makes the reader too uncomfortable or strikes too close to home, but sometimes strictly preferences. Again, I polled some friends and the answers varied from huge age gaps between romantic couples or abusive parents to stories that are written by teenagers and inserting real life personas as characters.
A big thing for many Twi-fic readers is that they like “canon-pairings” and won’t read anything else. Edward has to be with Bella, Jasper with Alice, Emmett with Rosalie, Carlisle with Esme, etc. These are the pairings Stephenie Meyer wrote and what we fell in love with. But there are loads of stories out there which change it up. Jasper and Bella, or *cringe* Alice and Charlie. I am obviously a huge fan of canon couples. I CAN be flexible but I feel that, no matter who the other couples are, Edward and Bella always have to be together. This is why I read fanfiction. I love their love.
My own personal hard limit revolves around Edward (as does my whole world, according to hubby). I have a very strong attachment to this fictitious guy. One may even say I’m obsessed. And I’m very protective of him. He must not die! I cannot read stories where the author kills off my beloved Edward. Unfortunately, you don’t often know these things until the end and it’s too late.
(One thing that should be noted, when you read stories written by your friends, all bets are off. I leave my comfort zone time and again for friends. It’s a true testament to how much I love them.)
I tell you these things with humor. In all honesty, fanfiction is free and the authors are all bravely sharing a part of themselves with us. That should be kept in mind. There is a lot of hate out there and I don’t understand that. I’ve tried my hand at writing once or twice and it is not easy! Even the most horribly written stories have some merit. Try to find that next time you want to bash a fic.
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