A Liz


God, I feel so tired from working hard. I think I need one of my famous 3 month holidays again. At least though, I think I am finally on the road to success. And I've also decided to probably return to study. Apologies to Fly Boy ZG for not even getting one day into my 'pretend uni stories' though. I WAS supposed to talk about uni like I was still going...it would have been a great joke. Hell, I'll still do it actually.

I got this CD, because you know that Me + Ballads = Love Forever.



Doesn't really live up to it's name though. Plus, 'Heard It Through The Grapevine?' That's downright jaunty.

HOWEVER...Side 2 has...are you ready???

Phil Collins - Against All Odds.

Yes, it's my second-favourite power ballad ever (behind How Can We Be Lovers If We Can't Be Friends). Today I had it locked on repeat for three hours in the background. So, I guess I listened to it...about 40 times today. And it's still awesome.

I've decided Sky must sing it in the final scene of Sky's Magical Mystery Tour.
- posted by CD GALLAGHER @ 8:48 PM

 
In the Sky with diamonds


Well, here's the first draft of the opening scene, which was published at Lizjournal a few days back.

I'm really not sure I've used the correct script-writing 'conventions', which is stupid, because I took a class in it. I did look back over some of my old scripts and storyboards, but I still couldn't really tell how to do it. I'm not 100% sure I was even doing it right back then, because I remember my teacher telling me as much.

Anyway, doesn't matter. This is just for a rough idea isn't it. Also, I've mixed the script and storyboard together so this is irrelevant anyway.


OPENING SCENE (First Draft)

* Shot of bus zooming around Erinsborough as 'Magical Mystery Tour' plays. (Version to be re-recorded as a duet between Stu and Summer).

(Background: 'Roll up...roll up for the mystery tour...')



* Overhead shot of Ramsay St
* Zoom into Sky's House
* Frontal shot of Sky's House.

Narrator:(Liam) Sky was a very lucky young girl. She didn't know it yet, but she had a ticket that was about to bring magic and mystery into her life...

Sky opens front door and walks down her driveway towards the bus stop.



Sky stands there. Looks side to side.

Narrator: Sky was waiting for her friends, Summer and Stu. For they were to join her on the magical mystery tour...where magic and mystery would await them. But where were they, on this magical and mysterious morning...?

(Coffee Shop. Stu and Summer are walking and arguing)

Summer: (Annoyed) Stu, you SAID you would come
Stu: (Angry) Well I've changed my mind
Summer: You're just upset because they won't let you drive!
Stu: That's right I am.
Summer: You are so immature you know
Stu: Why don't you just shut your pie hole Summer!

(Back to Sky)

Sky: (Anxiously) Where ARE they? They're going to miss the bus

Narrator: It looked liked Summer and Stu were going to miss the bus. Stu didn't want to go on a magical mystery tour and Summer couldn't convince him to change his mind. Luckily, there was a bit of magic in the air...

(Summer and Stu walking)



Summer starts singing. Stu joins in. (Song still to be written).

Musical number

(Basic idea here is that the song changes Stu's mind. Via magic.)

At end of song, fairy dust falls from sky. Stu looks up, is inspired.

Stu: Let's catch that bus!
Summer: Yeah!

(Back to Sky at bus stop. Bus rolls up)

Sky: (Getting on bus) Hang on...my friends aren't here yet!
Bus Driver (Mark Holden): Sorry Kiddo...it's time to roll!

(Summer and Stu are running in the background)



Stu: Wait!

They reach the bus just in time. As the door opens, and Stu climbs the stairs, he glares at the driver

Dramatic music

Stu:(Menacingly) So...YOU'RE the driver then?
Mark: (Looking Stu up and down) Yeah. Who the hell are you?
Stu: You might have heard of me. I'm Stuart. STUART PARKER.

Mark gulps.

Stu: Yeah. That's RIGHT.
Mark: Look dude...I don't want any trouble. I know you know the roads better than anyone...I mean, let's face it, you're a legend around here. But, I've got a job to do. And you'd better just let me do it.

(Pulls lever to close door. Hits Stu and he steps forward)

Stu: Yeah, well...I'll be watching you. If you ever change into the wrong gear, or turn down the wrong road, you're going to regret it. Is that clear?
Mark: It's clear dude, it's clear. Just chill out...this is a magical mystery tour remember!

Stu gives him one more stare then walks down the bus towards Sky's seat. As he sits down he remembers Summer.

Stu: Summer!



(Summer is still outside, behind the shut door)

Mark: Are we all set to rock and roll!?
Sky & Stu: NO!
Mark: Let's go then!

'Magical Mystery tour plays' as the bus drives off, leaving Summer behind, standing there.

Sky and Stu stand up in their seats, and look back out the window at Summer. Then they look at each other.

Stu: Ah well.

Narrator: And so the Magical Mystery Tour began...

***************
- posted by CD GALLAGHER @ 11:11 AM

 
It's getting better all the time...


Now that the first draft of scene 1 is done (which I will post soon) and I have already managed to include my all-time favourite saying, 'Shut your pie hole', now the challenge is on to insert my second all-time favourite saying:

'What do you think this is, bush week?'

Yes, that's going to be said at least 5 times actually. It could even be it's own movie, Sky's Bush Week. I don't actually know what Bush Week IS, but presumably it's an event where not very much is done.

And, inspired by Jess Patrick from Ausculture, Sky will at some point during the magical mystery be running into some Yogic Flyers (these are people who fly, and practice yoga and politics, for those not in the 'know'). See? The whole thing is practically writing itself.

I have to have 3(+) pieces of 'creative writing' ready by next week to submit for a course I want to do, and I'll definitely be including Sky's Magical Mystery Tour in there! (I'm only sort of joking). Actually, that is such a stupid idea that I might just do it. Will keep you informed on that.

I've also managed to land myself what could loosely be termed a writing 'job', designing and writing a monthly newsletter for a particular business. (Paying? Yes, possibly!) I think I'm just going to give myself a column - Crystal's Life Lessons, because I can. Actually, I probably very well can't, but I will try. I might start my own column here as well. And then I'll be publishing my own magazine (readership = one). I just mention all this because, you know, now's the time to jump on board and ride the train to fame and fortune off the Gallagher-Starr name! I've put that 'Help Wanted' notice up for a reason!

This whole 'write whatever you want' blogging is very freeing and excellent. It's like the early days of the Love Pavilion, with Lizzing included! I like it.

*******

Message for Fop: Update please!
- posted by CD GALLAGHER @ 2:01 PM

 
A Liz


Someone has already taken the name Crystalstarr at Gmail. Well this is annoying and inconsiderate isn't it. I don't really want to have to use my old fake name when I have a brand new fake name.

Hmm. You know, come to think of it, Crystal Starr sounds like some kind of Rainbow Brite character. And if you added my actual middle name, Dawn...that's...that's way too much of the crystals and the dawns, and the stars. May as well just go for Moonlight Sparkle or something.

I'm going to have to think about this some more.
- posted by CD GALLAGHER @ 11:49 AM

 
This is not a test
Hello, unsuspecting 'customers'.

This is my new direction. This and only this. I apoligise if you don't like it but it's kind of stiff.
- posted by CD GALLAGHER @ 9:39 AM

 
How it all began
We first came up with the idea of a film staring Sky Mangel back in April.



We had the poster, but the ideas I came up with at the time were a bit unoriginal.

Ideas for plots for Sky Mangel: The Movie:

Ok, I've been thinking...some ideas....

*Sky discovers she's been cloned in a lab!.

*Sky wants to become a popstar! it's destination London!...no...Italy!. No, ok...she...finds out she's really a princess!

*Sky travels back in time!

*She's running a radio station! With pirates!

*She attends a space camp! Alright then...she fights the forces of evil...there's futuristic robots...

*Alright then. Sky is an undiscovered genius. One day she's working as a janitor, and there's this equation on the board....

*A theme park with dinosaurs

I'm really quite stuck. I want to do a road trip movie, but that's about as original as the ideas I've already put. But really, Sky has to go on a vacation of some kind, because otherwise it would just be an episode of Neighbours.

Hmmm.



A month or so later, the sequel idea was a little bit more successful:



Synopsis for Home-Run Sky:

It's the summer time, and school's out! The Ramsay St gang have a great three months planned...Lemonade stalls, soapbox races, and plenty of tree climbing! However, one day they return from swinging on tyres over the lake to find that their club house has been burned down to the ground! With all their summer plans ruined, Sky comes up with a new project - putting together a baseball team!

There's just one problem - the gang can't play! Despite Sky's best efforts to whip them into shape, this gang of mixed-up misfits just can't win a match! It's fun and laughter at first, but soon the gang run into their worst rivals - The Anson's Corner All Stars. The All Stars challenge the Ramsay St Rookies to a game, and Boyd says yes! But how can the gang become a world class baseball team within a fortnight, to defeat the Anson's Corner mob??

Sky knows there's only one option...they need to convince their Neighbour Kevin Costner, a former pro baseball player, to come out of retirement! But this time he says he has retired for good! However, after a bit of pleading from the gang, Kevin proves the old adage that good Neighbours become good friends, by agreeing to coach the kids!

It's not easy, but after a few wacky training sessions, the gang start to get the hang of it! However, complications arise when Kevin begins a romance with Boyd's mum (she's not dead in the movie). Boyd doesn't want to accept Kevin into the family, and becomes disobedient at training, eventually quitting the team! 'You're not my real dad!'

Can Sky convince Boyd, their best pitcher, to re-join the team in time for the big game? And will Boyd ever come to terms with his new family? They'll be down by 14 runs at half-time, but when Boyd shows up at the last moment, you know that with an angel in the outfield, and a backfield in motion, that this team are in a league of their own!


Luckily though, we've finally found our true calling - remaking the Beatles films with Sky in the lead role! It's so simple I don't know how I didn't think of it sooner.
- posted by CD GALLAGHER @ 3:54 AM