No one in their right mind would necessarily put screenplays and shamans in the same sentence. But, to what do I live for, other than to surprise and delight (and sometimes mystify, but that's another story).
Last Thur, if you recall, I submitted my first crack at a screenplay for Chambers. Upon receipt, the producer could only muster "wow. OK. I'll see what evil you have wrought." He was being kind, for, in my idiocy, I submitted Act 3 only, due to the fact that I'd printed that section, and so when I went to PDF the thing, it captured only my latest file. Cue the air in the balloon whizzing out, a long, drawn out sigh of deflation, ending with me on the ground, holding said wilted balloon. Cut to Monday, wherein I've passed way too much nervous gas, wondering about his thoughts on my baby, when I'm informed
"well, an Act 1 and 2 would be helpful."
So it was that I re-saved and sent the entire thing. Note to self (and all other wanna be screenwriters, double check your file). And on a side note, yes, I've gone through self-flagellation as I embarrassed the home team.
But, as I am wont to do, I pick myself up, dust off the speckles of shame and sally forth, this time, right in to the proverbial Shaman's den. Book 2 in the series, you see, has the Native American world as the backdrop. As such, I've got all kinds of cool Earth, nature and life spirits that are with us, guiding us (aiding or abetting) as I see fit. Since I'm neither NA or Shaman, I have been writing what I imagine to be the nature of things (pun intended) but have no factual data. (You would not believe the dearth of resources on the NA view of things. History yes. Oral traditions and deeply-held spiritual beliefs, no. Don't get me wrong. My action adventure book is still just that. It's the overlay on top of a cool world where things do go bump in the night.
"I just had a vision of you from my Shaman," said the woman I was with. Her spirit has a name, but I won't reveal it here. It's special, and I respect that. But trust me, I love it. I've got to come up with something as cool. Now, I know you want to know the vision she had, but I'm not comfortable sharing it, since it has to do with me (sorry, you People-reading-Enquiring-minds-want-to-know). BUT, the good news, is that there were several communicating with her at the same time, and they had other almost-as-cool things to say.
I'm now back at the library, classical music playing on my iphone so I can take the themes and parlay then in to something that's readable.
I won't leave you empty-handed however (I'd hate that myself). The Spirits had two worlds of wisdom.
1. Stay in your feet.
Translation. Be present. The Shaman liked that I was present, open, vulnerable. I was willing to be completely honest, holding nothing back. She could tell, and evidently, so could the Spirit.
2. Let go of your fear.
The Shaman told me the story of having a fear. Hold out your hands, place the fear inside, walk to the door (or balcony, or window) and let it go. Once you let go of your fear, you are free to explore, embrace and move forward (I actually didn't know I had any fear that I needed to throw off the balcony, but I'll save my further enlightenment for another blog).
I was then introduced to another Shaman, which I am incredibly excited to meet in person. I spoke with her on the phone, ever so briefly, and when I got off, Shaman 1 said, "you don't need to say anything. She probably already knows all about you." Huh. If only marriage were so easy.
Last Thur, if you recall, I submitted my first crack at a screenplay for Chambers. Upon receipt, the producer could only muster "wow. OK. I'll see what evil you have wrought." He was being kind, for, in my idiocy, I submitted Act 3 only, due to the fact that I'd printed that section, and so when I went to PDF the thing, it captured only my latest file. Cue the air in the balloon whizzing out, a long, drawn out sigh of deflation, ending with me on the ground, holding said wilted balloon. Cut to Monday, wherein I've passed way too much nervous gas, wondering about his thoughts on my baby, when I'm informed
"well, an Act 1 and 2 would be helpful."
 |
| Russian Shaman |
But, as I am wont to do, I pick myself up, dust off the speckles of shame and sally forth, this time, right in to the proverbial Shaman's den. Book 2 in the series, you see, has the Native American world as the backdrop. As such, I've got all kinds of cool Earth, nature and life spirits that are with us, guiding us (aiding or abetting) as I see fit. Since I'm neither NA or Shaman, I have been writing what I imagine to be the nature of things (pun intended) but have no factual data. (You would not believe the dearth of resources on the NA view of things. History yes. Oral traditions and deeply-held spiritual beliefs, no. Don't get me wrong. My action adventure book is still just that. It's the overlay on top of a cool world where things do go bump in the night.
"I just had a vision of you from my Shaman," said the woman I was with. Her spirit has a name, but I won't reveal it here. It's special, and I respect that. But trust me, I love it. I've got to come up with something as cool. Now, I know you want to know the vision she had, but I'm not comfortable sharing it, since it has to do with me (sorry, you People-reading-Enquiring-minds-want-to-know). BUT, the good news, is that there were several communicating with her at the same time, and they had other almost-as-cool things to say.
 |
| My Shaman was blond, and wore cute leggings |
I won't leave you empty-handed however (I'd hate that myself). The Spirits had two worlds of wisdom.
1. Stay in your feet.
Translation. Be present. The Shaman liked that I was present, open, vulnerable. I was willing to be completely honest, holding nothing back. She could tell, and evidently, so could the Spirit.
2. Let go of your fear.
The Shaman told me the story of having a fear. Hold out your hands, place the fear inside, walk to the door (or balcony, or window) and let it go. Once you let go of your fear, you are free to explore, embrace and move forward (I actually didn't know I had any fear that I needed to throw off the balcony, but I'll save my further enlightenment for another blog).
I was then introduced to another Shaman, which I am incredibly excited to meet in person. I spoke with her on the phone, ever so briefly, and when I got off, Shaman 1 said, "you don't need to say anything. She probably already knows all about you." Huh. If only marriage were so easy.
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