50/50 – A Review

Oh look, Seth Rogan plays a stoner.

Unfortunately, that’s not the only predictable thing about this tale of a 27 year old guy who is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who has been in about half the movies of the past year, plays Adam, a 27 year old guy with a sore back, cheating girlfriend, dementia-ridden father and somewhat neurotic mother. His best friend Kyle is a stoner, able to gt his hands on medical marijuana, obviously just the ticket for a chemo patient. The title comes from an internet search after Adam’s diagnosis, revealing his chances of surviving the cancer are 50/50.

Cue the Kleenex.

There’s really nothing original or spectacular about this movie. There’s some exploring of feelings and mortality, plus some stoner moments and a mental breakdown in a car. It tries too hard to be a serious Awards contender, making the characters seem overly melodramatic when they could really be funny, lovable people. In the end, I was just left wondering why these 20-something people were dressed like 70 year old golf fanatics. (My uni training tells me it’s probably a cultural comment on the sudden responsibility of young people dealing with what is seen to be an old person’s disease, but seriously, who was their costume designer?)

I didn’t love it, but it was a good enough film if you don’t think about it too hard (if you’re a physical therapist or psychologist, you will cry tears of frustration). Joseph Gordon-Levitt is quite good though, showing off dramatic skills he’s steadily been honing over the last few years. Given another couple of years, he’ll get even better and hopefully have much better dialogue.

 

6/10 popcorns.

Musings: Caroline Overington novels

Recently I read Matilda is Missing, a novel by Caroline Overington. I’ve also previously read I Came to Say Goodbye and I’ve just started Ghost Child. In the Reader’s Group questions for Matilda is Missing, it is asked why Barry is chosen as the narrator to tell Matilda’s story when he has nothing to do with the family or the case? It’s not only this novel which employs this particular form of narrative, Ms Overington’s other novels do the same; have other people tell the story.

I have my own theory about this. Ms Overington is a journalist. Journalists are supposed to remain disassociated from their subjects and present a broad and unbiased view. Perhaps this is the reason she chooses unrelated characters to narrate? In both I Came to Say Goodbye and Matilda is Missing, the story is told through the eyes of men in their 60s who are only vaguely related to the narrative they tell. Ghost Child is different; the narrative is presented through the eyes of several characters, none of whom are central to the story. It’s an interesting device because it keeps the story in perspective by allowing each character their own versions of the story. We all know the old adage There’s three sides to every story: your side, my side and the Truth. This novel really presents itself as showing a 3D view of the central story; a child has died. The narrators range from the sister of the child to a police officer on the scene, foster carer, doctor and others not directly related to the family. In this way, a broad view is formed of the central plot and each character brings their own bias, so the reader is left to decipher The Truth.

Using unrelated characters to tell another’s story also allows the reader to make their own judgments. I wrote earlier about The Sense of An Ending which leaves the reader wondering if the narrative is actually correct or if the novel is a game to trick the mind. The novels of Caroline Overington could be construed in the same way- is the plot being read what is actually happening or could it be the narrator is messing with our minds to garner sympathy for their plight?

The best way, in my opinion, to view these novels is to remember the journalism beginnings of the author. She’s used to writing from a perspective not of the subject but someone witnessing the event/s and reporting as a bystander. Either this habit is hard to break, or serves the purpose of continuing to present a different opinion from someone unrelated. Either way, I like the style of writing as it adds depth and a ‘humanness’ to the narrative.

When speaking of Caroline Overington’s novels, I also have to mention the names chosen for characters. Years ago, I read a How-To guide for writers. One of the Things You Must Never Do was to create characters with similar names, yet Ms Overington does this a lot. For example, Matilda is Missing has characters named Pat Harrison and Pam Harris, Garry and Barry. Ghost Child  has two children named Harley and Hayley. Now, while the reader isn’t confused by these characters (unless they are reading while very tired), it strikes me as odd. When asked via Twitter why this naming was important, Ms Overington replied, “Don’t you find life is like that sometimes?” Well, no, not in my experience. Giving similar names to characters can confuse the reader as well as look for hidden meaning and coincidences that simply aren’t there or require no thought- they just are. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with it; Stephen King often has the same name for different people in different novels. Maybe having similar names is a common thread between people who have no other similarities yet find themselves intertwined through no fault or cause of their own?

In any case, these novels are inherently about humans and the complexities of The System in which we live and operate under. Life can’t always be planned and Ms Overington’s novels show Aussies as we really are, warts and all. In the end, we’re all in the same boat.

The Sense of An Ending

Warning: Contains Spoilers.

There are two ways to look at Julian Barnes’ Booker Prize-winning novella The Sense of An Ending: a story about four friends, a girl and a mystery or, a mind-tease involving hints and clues but not telling the full (or correct) story. Either way, it’s probably the best book I’ve read this year.

The narrator is a sixty-something year old man named Tony who says “what you end up remembering isn’t always the same as what you saw”. Memory sets the tone for the rest of the story; the first part tells of Tony’s schooldays when he and his friends met Adrian Finn- a smart kid who likes to mess with your mind. But, like any mind-game played by true genius, you only realise it is a mind-game once you’re out of it.

Three friends and a girl named Veronica make up the narrative of Part 1. Their story becomes deeper entwined in Part 2, where Tony is now in his sixties, divorced and retired. He is told of a bequest, a strange ending to a life he knew nothing about. On a journey to find the purpose of the bequest, Tony finds out much more than he was supposed to know- the biggest mind-game he’s ever been involved in.

However, only the reader knows it’s a mind game, and only after the last page has been turned. Or is it?

(Here’s where the spoilers start.)

Once upon a time, Tony and Veronica were together. Around the time they broke up, they slept together. Tony later discovers his friend Adrian is now with Veronica, until the time Adrian kills himself in a melodramatic show of philosophy. Believing one cannot choose to begin life but one can choose when to end it, Adrian’s death becomes the background to the rest of the story. Years later, when Veronica’s mother dies, she leave a sum of money to Tony along with Adrian’s diary (now in the hands of Veronica). In the attempt to get the diary which is “rightfully” his, Tony becomes part of Veronica’s own mind-games once again.

Therein lies the beauty of the story. Tony is smart, but holds less than the full story (if indeed, his memory can be relied upon). The ending is perhaps not the bombshell promised; I made the mistake of putting the book down and coming back to it later, during which time the ending had already occurred to me. Still, the ending seems nice and tight, until you start reflecting on it and the entire novella starts unravelling itself again.

Tony discovers there is a child connected to Veronica. The ‘child’ is now about 50 years old and mentally handicapped. The narrative tells the reader that the man is named Adrian, looks like the Adrian of Tony’s memory, calls Veronica his sister and his mother recently passed away. Here is when the mind game starts: could Veronica actually be the mother and her pregnancy is the catalyst for Adrian’s suicide (echoing an earlier scene in the story from their schooldays?) Was the affair with Veronica’s mother and her pregnancy the final straw? Or is Tony misremembering both his own dalliance with Veronica and actually, the child is his? Or worse, the child is actually his but with Veronica’s mother?

Time and memory are themes in the novella; the opening paragraphs talk about time and how memory distorts and warps it. By the end of the narrative, it could be as straightforward as it seems or it could be that all the players have been part of Adrian’s mind-games.

Either way, it’s brilliantly written, a story for writers (Atonement by Ian McEwan is another written-for-writers novel) with quotes I would love to highlight and share in regular conversation. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to read it again…

The Journey

Writing, like everything else, is a journey. Last night, I had a bunch of things going through my head about writing. Now, I have insecurities like everyone else. Last night I was thinking that maybe I really am a terrible writer, like those people who audition for those reality singing shows and are really awful but think they’re fantastic. What if that’s me and I’m just fooling myself?

At 1am, this was just a random train of commentary from a stressed brain and nothing more. I could pay loads of money and attend courses and retreats but in the end, writing comes down to me.

I’m a fan of the Brontë sisters’ writings as well as other classic literature. Back in ye olde days, women weren’t allowed to be published so they used pseudonyms. Not only that, but publishers were rather more lenient than they are today. If you could get a publishing deal, you could make a very decent living out of it; Frances Hodgson Burnett did very well out of her writings.

These days, there are so many other avenues available, including self-publishing, so anyone who wants to can get their work out there. Is that a good thing? Yes! Two examples: Recently, someone in my uni course secured a deal to publish a children’s book she’d written. Months of to-ing and fro-ing later, the publisher wanted her to basically rewrite the whole thing to fit in with their “look”. She was devastated at not having her own voice anymore. (It’s ongoing; maybe one of them will cave and get her vision published.)

The second example is a random novel I saw on the iTunes store. It was a free novel, available to anyone who wanted it. I didn’t read the novel, but I did read the comments. A lot of people commented on the lack of editing but praised the general storyline. Once people read her novel, they were able to buy sequels from the iTunes store for a few dollars. It’s a win-win situation- she has complete control over her story (albeit she may want to look into having some professional editing done), the first story pulls in fans who then buy the sequels. The author retains more per book than she would through a physical publisher and her work is accessible to anyone with an iTunes account. (While iTunes does take about 10% of sales, a physical publisher takes about 90%).

The beauty of writing is that it is very personal. Whatever style or genre you write, there’s always a fan base for it. While you do need some good marketing skills to get your novel out there, getting the writing done in the first place is a journey within itself.

The Girl Effect: How to Change Lives

This video says it all: A girl’s life is not her own.

I am writing this post to raise awareness ad motivate people to be part of the solution. Education is a freedom- it releases children from lives of poverty, unhappiness and disease. As educated women who make our own choices and live lives in a free country, it is our responsibility to spread the message and do our bit to ensure girls have these same choices.

I have donated $50 to this cause already, and plan to make regular donations as I’m able.

http://www.globalgiving.org/girleffect/

Authority Marketing: Using an Expert to Sell Your Product

Today I read this article which talks about failings in logic. In particular, take notice of the section call Appeal to Authority.

This is a technique used a lot in marketing. Think of a popular brand of toothbrushes- 9 out of 10 dentists recommend this brand, according to the ad. There’s also a spate of advertising to do with kids’ nutrition. Recent ads are showing mums who are also nutritionists selling products that everyday mums should put into their kids’ lunchboxes. (Those of you who watched The Gruen Transfer on August 31 know what I’m talking about).

Therein lies the question: how effective are these endorsements? Experts are a fantastic way to sell your product. If you’re looking to buy a product, for example, a book, you’ll probably read some reviews written by people who have read the book. The same applies to any product- you want to be assured that you aren’t wasting your time and money by purchasing the product. There are a bunch of websites allowing people to review every product imaginable, which helps you decide if it is the right product for you. Let’s say you’re buying a service. The service provider has a website with a heap of testimonials from satisfied customers. There is a chance that these have been made up but generally, the more information about the person, the more likely you are to believe it because they are more real to you.

Example:

The plumber was on time and everything was fixed perfectly.
-Pamela

The plumber was on time and everything was fixed perfectly.
-Pamela S, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.

Perhaps the most well-known example is celebrity endorsements. This is when a celebrity advertises a product (for a fee, of course, but you’re supposed to forget about that part). Personal trainers from TV weight loss shows are a good example- they advertise everything from courses to weight loss products to herbal treatments for joint pain. For some reason, people trust celebrities (particularly if they are successful in their career, like a sportsperson) so the celeb promoting a product is going to engage the consumer more than a nobody. Sometimes, this works as an advantage for community safety; remember Dr Karl Kruszelnicki’s ads for micro-sleeps while you’re driving?

So if you’re running a business, how can you cash in on this Appeal to Authority?

Use Testimonials: they are very effective. Contact past customers and ask for a few lines of their experience. Make sure you tell them that you’re planning to use this on your website/brochure/newsletter etc.

Connect with an Expert in a Complementary Area: If you’re a professional photographer, team up with a professional makeup artist so you’re both selling your services. The idea is that you’re selling both the photo and the experience of looking amazing. Similarly, if you’re a graphic designer, consider teaming up with a friendly copywriter to sell a package deal…

Last but not least: Solve the problem. The mums-who-are-nutritionists are solving the problem of what to put in your kids’ lunchbox. You want something healthy that they will eat. By using a nutritionist mum, she knows what kids want as well as what you want for them.

It’s All About ME!

The Golden Rule of Copywriting is:

What’s in it for me?

This is the basis for your sales. The customer sees your ad (whether it be website, newsletter, brochure etc) and immediately, they need to know why they need you. This is where good copy can make a sale. Let’s see an example.

Bad Copy

Our company makes the finest cupcakes, from a secret recipe handed down generation to generation. We delight in using the freshest ingredients and our cupcake chefs are the best in the country. We know this because we have been awarded the prestigious Cupcake Award 3 years in a row.

Good Copy

Your tastebuds are in for a treat! Using a secret cupcake recipe from generations of mums, you’re promised the freshest ingredients from the best cupcake chefs in the country. You’re tasting the winners of the Cupcake Award for the past 3 years.

Mmm… cupcakes. By changing the “we” to “you”, you’re bringing the customer into your world and then you can begin the hard sell. When writing copy, ask yourself, “What’s in it for me?” You’ll see your business in a different light because you’ll see it how your customers see it. You might have all the qualifications in the world and some pretty stuff to sell, but it won’t sell itself. Customers want to know why they need to buy your product/service.

(No, I do not have any cupcakes so please don’t ask!)

 

 

The Ego-Centricity of New Media

Recently I wrote some web copy for a company that makes personalised children’s gifts and toys. The aim of the copy was to impart how fun and special a gift is when it has the child’s name on it.

Anyone with kids knows this to be true. It’s even more special when the gift has the exact spelling of the name… but don’t get me started on that! Although my name is not unusual, it was uncommon when I was a kid and I didn’t have anything with my name on it. My friends Amy, Stephanie and Melissa all had necklaces, notepaper, pencil cases and pencils with their names on it, but I was left out. These days, it is easier to find products with my name on them (I have a mug from Movie World with my favourite cartoon character and my name!) but does having personalised products make you ego-centric?

I blame the internet. Everyone can have a blog (like the one you’re now reading), multiple social media sites and a web presence (otherwise known as a Google footprint). Do I think people read my blog? Yes, I know they do- the stats on the Dashboard tell me so. Do people read my statuses on Facebook? Do they read my Tweets? (probably not since I haven’t bothered with Twitter for over a year!) Why do I care?

For me, writing a blog is a way of keeping in touch with my friends and clients (potential, current and former) as well as getting my thoughts out of my head so I can concentrate on other things. Randy Gage uses his blog as a way to sell his courses, books and other products. He’s the top of his field at what he does (former copywriter and now motivational speaker on creating abundance). For so many other people, a blog is a way to publish their own weird and wacky stories. There is so much garbage on the internet, because people now have a voice to share it with the world. These ideas aren’t new, there’s just another way to reach a whole new audience.

People crave attention. From the moment we do something awesome like catch a ball, calling “Watch me, daddy!”, we are creating a need to be noticed, prove we are special, a reason we stand out in the crowd. Personalised gifts do indeed make us feel special, a trend which continues into adulthood as we move into social media pages and blogging. Somehow, in the midst of all this, our ego is being fed with each comment, reply and viewing of the page.

You love me! You really love me!

The Anti-language of Film

For context, I’m currently studying Screen History at uni, which focuses on the Westerns genre of film. One of the required readings was about the language used in Western films, and it was interesting enough to send my blogging on a Saturday afternoon.

According to Jane Tompkins, the actions in Westerns are the focus, not the words. Only actions and objects count, not the talking. Often within the Western genre, any talking is usually a put-down. It’s a pity I didn’t read this at the beginning of the unit, I’d have paid more attention to the films to see if it was true.

In any film, the plot is usually driven by talking. For example, Limitless is narrated by the lead character Eddie Morra. At the beginning of the film, he is standing on a ledge, about to jump to his death. Through his narration, the viewer is led through the circumstances that led to this moment. As with these sorts of films, the plot takes almost the whole film to reach that first point. In contrast, a film like Die Hard is just about the explosions. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

In Westerns, the plot follows a very narrow band of story (unless it’s a genre crossover, but that’s another story) and this is, in part, what defines it as a Western. Bad guy + good guy + shootout = justice prevailing. The hero of a Western speaks actions: “Put down that gun”, “Go on, shoot”, “take the horse”. Westerns attempt to communicate with minimal words, which is interesting because the Western is arguably the most well-trodden film genre (have a look on youtube for early Westerns such as The Great Train Robbery). Maybe fans of Westerns are there for the scenery and not the chit chat? (With the Coen brothers’ True Grit, I was definitely only there for Matt Damon…)

Tompkins goes on to say that males in both Westerns and society don’t say much; language is reserved for females. When a cowboy doesn’t speak, he is sexy, virile and full of integrity. The Western genre is a revolt against language, making the anti-language inherently male as opposed to the Victorian era of femininity and romantic languages (never mind that Victorian literature was dominated by male novelists…) In essence, not speaking shows the hero as having power over his self, his emotions and his situation. Clearly this power is essential in the Western genre… how else would we expect the hero to win?

This brings me to the point of this entry: how do real life females expect our men (or heroes) to communicate? Sure, chocolates and flowers speak volumes, but what about their voice? With regards to film, do we subconsciously equate a “talkie” film such as Limitless or Inceeption  with a thinking movie? Are audiences getting smarter with the advent of time?

Tompkins, JP ‘Women and the language of men’, West of Everything: The Inner Life of Westerns. Chapter 2, pp 47-67

Words Are Powerful (well duh)

Everyone remembers something someone once said to them. In almost every celebrity interview, you’ll find the question “What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?” People also remember the bad words- who remembers being bullied at school or being told they’re stupid?

Today I had my hair cut. As the hairdresser chopped off those locks, I heard the voice of my first boyfriend say, “You’re so vain…” This stems from a phone chat we had after I’d gotten a haircut and I said I liked it, I thought it looked nice. He told me I was vain and to stop looking in the mirror (which I wasn’t doing, but how would he know? We were on the phone!) Strangely, I hear this every time I have a haircut. So if I see a hairdresser every three months (give or take), over 17 years, that’s about 68 haircuts, so 68 times I’ve heard this voice tell me I’m vain because I like the new hairdo.

Don’t tell me words aren’t powerful.

Words are overused and misused and can hurt. They can stick with people for a very long time (I’m not talking about the written word either) or they can be said in jest but remembered forever more. Not just the hurtful words and the advice, but small things that probably shouldn’t be remembered. If I called that boyfriend today and asked him, he probably wouldn’t remember telling me that (never mind that he spent half an hour every morning getting his own hair just right!) Words do count so choose them wisely.