RESTARTING THE MISDIRECTION

I've been away from this project for a very long time, as my focus has been on working and my main actress has been away on tour. However that's noW at an end and having seen Annabel's play last week at Newark Castle, I feel more interest in continuing it.

I bought a lot of costume and props back in February before Charlie pulled out. So there is things I have so its not a case of starting from scratch. I also have the enquiries I made at Nottingham City Artists and feel they still owe me. Over the months since February I've been participating in a lot of Voluntary work. I need to think if there is anything from these places that I can use. I have made connections in Oxfam so that's one possibility.

I've also got the potential to seek help from Guy, whilst Debbie assisted me props for my recent shoot with Charlotte Woolley for Hope Is Eternal. For my future projects I have connected pretty well with Charlotte recently. Unfortunately Marge is going to London.

NEW PROPS AND COSTUME

I bought new props and costume for my new shoot. Hope Is Eternal. My picture is to centre around the medal ceremony of a gymnastic's tournament won by the lead character. I decided to use props to make the picture quite abstract and think this box would be a interesting thing to recieve in addition to flowers.

I'm just trying to determine where we shoot the picture. I hoped to shoot in a training gym, so have made enquiries in our local area but we'll see how it goes. I'm most likely to enlist the help of Guy in the other part of the shoot.

I've also bought trousers for Annabel in the Misdirection, but we need to find a date to get on.

HOPE IS ETERNAL

I completed the Judith shoot with Steph on Monday, meaning I can now concentrate on a new project. As my work with Annabel has to wait I decided I'll move onto making a cover for my story Hope Is Eternal. I have sited Charlotte Woolley as the person to work with.

I am only looking for a cover and that's all. I might look for help from either Marge, Debbie, Victoria or Guy. Guy is still offering to help me which is good. I couldn't really make full use of him on Monday, but he could be useful for this next shoot.

I'd needed to acquire the costume for it first and try and find a location where I can carry out the shoot. There is a couple of Gymnast schools locally that could prove useful. It is not of paramount importance to know any gymnastics, although I believe Charlotte does have skills in this area. The shoot may attempt to use the idea of an article made by the local newspaper from where the lead character is based and from where she is attracting the countries national gymnastics body with her talent.

Not long after the article is written war hits the country and the lead character is forced into refugee status and forced out of her home with her mother. The article is positive and focuses on the lead characters talent. I had thought of it being taken in her gym using a boquet of flowers as props which can have a number of symbollic references.

UPDATE - I acquired a costume from Ebay and made an agreement with Charlotte. Now I just need to sort out the location. I've also seen a prop which is quite good, but i wish things were a little cheaper.

THE MISDIRECTION LATEST UPDATE

I have been moved out my space at TAO due to issues organising it. It wasn't a bad space for decorating, but it wouldn't have been able to do a massive job to it. I could have made it good enough for my shoot, but nothing beyond that.

My lead performer Annabel is appearing in Midsummer Nights Dream and Merchant of Venice around and about the Midlands and towards the South. So I'm looking at some period of availability. Therefore i'm still keen to do a shoot at Nottingham City Artists which i still see as an ideal spot to indicate Joe's workplace. Especially if the doors are shut. For this i will need the help of Alex or Raphael, but we'll see how it goes. I just need their permission really.

I already have the costume and I have some good props such as a old French magazine, a decent old looking bag, a flask, a match box which i picked up back in February. I have since been coming across a number of old and interesting books whilst volunteering at a prominent Charity Shop where all the city's donations are coming in. That's fantastic. I found a old travel guide written in French from the 50's which i feel could be useful.

My plan at TAO was to decorate a room to look similar to the place where Joe's is staying with his uncle. I was going to hire someone to play Joe's uncle and to bring in furniture and props. However I realised we are struggling to find time as it is to fit in this project. I've therefore decided upon three different shoots. The passport shoot and the workplace shoot are already planned. If we can fit in a third shoot taken on a train. It'll only need to be a short journey and I could employ the help of my brother for it who knows trains better than me. Using the books and match box as props, that shoot could work out quite well and would signify a departure.

With what help i use, we'll have to see. I waited for Kelly last time without reply until it wound me up so I should either aim either to work it on my own or with someone like Guy or Marge. I could have a second look at Anna's costume to test if i need to get her trousers. We already have that shirt and shoes so that's okay. Later in June i may see Annabel at her play. We'll have to see where we squeeze to shoot in, but for me I have to ensure that it is possible. Abandoning the TAO makes it more so as it reduces time.

JUDITH SHOOT

In 2009 and the latter part of 2008 i've barely done any work to be honest. In 2008 I came across people on Gumtree who i thought could move my project forward, but it came to nothing in the end. In the year I had begun talks regards working on shoots with Carrie Hill and Sam Clift. However at the same time there was unfinished work still to do for The Misdirection and The Accessor and I also had ideas for a new story called Hope Is Eternal. Too many different ideas going on inside my head confused me a lot. Besides that I left Surface Gallery.

The shoot which is most advanced in its planning at this moment in time is a picture of the character Judith from The Misdirection which I hired Stephanie Fitzpatrick to play. I have acquired costume and after a short time helping out in the kitchen at Ripple, I used my contacts there to be able to use that as a location. Also a media student called Guy Jenkins working there said he'd help out and so there is plenty of signs for progress. Judith is the ex schoolfriend of Joe's who he leaves Anna for later in the story. She works within a tavern which is where she spends much of her time in her role of cooking, serving behind the bar, cleaning and part taking in the general running of the place. I wanted to select a picture that depicts Judith as different from Anna, but also does not show her to be the focus of blame for how the story ends.

Before carrying out this shot i needed to do a little research of the type of menu this tavern would serve and the prices for food 15 years ago. Thanks to help from Howard Jacks and Andrew Peck i found out this information. Victoria also reminded me not to be overly flamboyant with the menu as that's not how it was back then. The picture isn't actually as exciting as being able to cook food and once again there is not many people needed on the shot. However I need something to write on a blackboard and that's basically what i need this information for.

There was some problems around the shoot date as I found myself cameraless, but bought a new one and still have the option to use Guy's help. I need to check the costume with Stephanie and would like to spend some time within Ripple planning. It should go fine though. Any video peice i hope to do would have to be on my camera too.

THE MISDIRECTION - REMAINING SHOOTS

The Misdirection
Roles: Anna (Annabel Bates), Joe (Benjamin Jax)

Scene 1 - Joe's workplace
Scene 2 - Joe's uncle
Scene 3 - Passport Photograph
Scene 4 - On the Train ?

Documentary - Ben's Introduction

The Misdirection
Roles: Judith (Steph Fitzpatrick)

Scene 1 - Blackboard Shoot

Documentary - Steph's Introduction

The Misdirection - plus My Introduction

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS 3

The Misdirection
Anna/ Joe
I have people in place to finish off the Misdirection, but was just waiting for the go ahead to move into my space and to start altering it. The first step was to paint and sweep it and then to start figuring out where to put furniture. In the end the Health and Safety wasn't great at the venue so i collected all my stuff and decided to try other scenes.

The Misdirection
Judith
I've had a bit of progress here. I defined a location a long time ago and the costume should be okay. I had a meeting with Steph at university which went well and I feel a lot more comfortable now about this shoot. It just requires me to do a little bit of research and then it should be ready. I have gained permission to use the space, so hopefully I can work on this soon.

Hope Is Eternal
Charlotte Woolley
For this story i've decided that i will not repeat the format for the Misdirection and will instead try to just make a cover. I have a simple idea for the cover. Will try to focus largely on the positive. I expect to learn lots for this story from my new job. I am open to the idea of working alongside a photographer. I haven't set the lead character or found a costume yet. I have an idea - using either a gym, a boquet of flowers, a picture from Croatia relating to the war (need to email friends) and a article type picture of the lead character. As to who plays the role Charlotte is physically up to it. It depends on her opinion really. I may try to meet her again.

Skin
This story is based on overcoming illness and based partly on my experiences working in a Radiotherapy Department and partly on my grandma. How we make this picture, I'll have to see. Again I'm starting to think of just a cover. The story can be made as a painting, drawing or still on a performance peice. It relates to how the lead character Melanie turns to art as form of a escape after being diagnosed with cancer. She uses art to explore changes to her body (life drawing), to describes her symptoms and her changes and impact it has on her life. At the point of her diagnosis she is a art student, but also a partly works a life model.

This story has changed a bit. It start of with Lia and Liz focusing on a life drawing, but then was a possibility of something with Carrie and Sam and now I may see what Heidi can make of it having been impressed by her of late.