Catalogue of Posts

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Film - "Top Gun: Maverick" (2022)

 

I haven't seen the movie yet,
but I'm sure it will be worth it.

I have seen, however,
some promo videos,
and I thought I'd share the links here.

My daughter, Josie, was in the Air Cadets.
Jo, it's no coincidence,
that I'm going to see this film on Monday, your birthday.
Things to come, so,
a Very Happy Birthday from me.





Tom Cruise takes James Corden for a "Top Gun" day out !
So, Tom is an ace pilot himself,
see for yourself, in -




Tom takes an F/A-18 for a spin,
30 feet above the desert floor.
Is that Tom in complete control of the aircraft ?
What do you think ?







text (c) Katherine Stuart 2022
Dochas Books Film

Friday, May 27, 2022

Screenplay Format #16 - Map of Locations - Part 1


I found it useful to make a file of a map of some locations, so that it would be easier to visualise what is going on in the story.
 
Which includes –
 
            1.  CONTENTS
            2.  MAP OF LOCATIONS
            3.  DISTANCES LIST
 
 
 
1.  CONTENTS
 
eg.








































To make up this file, take the following steps –
 
OPEN
            -  the File    5-NAME-Locations
            -  the File    6-NAME-Map of Locations
            -  Display the 2 Files side by side, using the SPLIT SCREEN Technique
                        (Described in - Screenplay Format 12 – Locations-Scenes List - Part 1)
 
 
In the file    5-NAME-Locations
            -  COPY    from the top line of the    CONTENTS    page, in the First Column,
               to the bottom line of the Second Column
            -  CLOSE    the File    5-NAME-Locations
   
In the file    6-NAME-Map of Locations  
            -  Remove the    FOOTER
               This is to accommodate the Map
            -  Place the Cursor on the top line of the First Page,
               Aligned    to the    Left Margin
            -  Left Click on it to make it a Flashing Line
            -  PASTE    the    CONTENTS
               The Contents will run over several pages,
               depending on how many lines are involved,
               as the format in the second file has not been changed
               from one column, as yet
            -  Change the Heading to –
                        6.  MAP OF LOCATIONS
               This should be on the    6th  Line    of the First Column
 
            I only made a map for the locations in and around Townsville,
            to clarify their relationships to each other.
            So –
            -  CUT    any Locations that you do not want, from this new List
 
            To Move the line –
                                                NAME – White Draft – No Month YEAR
            -  CUT    it, and keep it on the    CLIPBOARD
 
            -  BACKSPACE    all the empty Lines where it was,
               to bring the text below, up under the text above,
               to close the gap
 
            To Change back to 2 Columns -
            -  Place the Cursor on the Top Line of the First Page,
               Aligned    to the    Left Margin
            -  Left Click on it to make it a Flashing Line
            -  SELECT    all the Lines from there,
               down to the Last Line of the    2nd Page    of the    CONTENTS    text
            -  Left Click on the    Layout Tab    along the Top of the Ribbon
            -  Left Click on the    Columns Icon
            -  Left Click on the    Two Icon
               The Selected Lines will be placed into    2    Columns
               in the One Page
            -  UNSELECT    all the    TEXT
            *  This works for 2 Pages of short lined text, into 1 Page
               I haven’t completely worked out how to do this for lines
               over more than 2 Pages, but there does seem to be an easy method
            -  Make    4    Space Lines    at the Bottom of the Page
               in place of the    FOOTER
 
            -  Place the Cursor on the Top Line of the Second Column,
               Aligned to the Left Margin in the Second Column
            -  Left Click on it to make it a Flashing Line
               It may disappear into the centre of the Margin
               If it does –
            -  Place the Cursor on the Box under the 2 Triangles,








               in the middle of the Top Ruler,
               until it is a Single-Headed Arrow
               with the words    “Left indent”
            -  LEFT CLICK    on it and    HOLD
            -  MOVE    the Cursor and the    LEFT INDENT    to the Right
               to the    LEFT MARGIN    of the    SECOND COLUMN
            -  UNHOLD    LEFT CLICK
               If you have the Paragraph Marks displayed (see below),
               that particular one will come into view








               The Cursor should still be as a Flashing Line in front of the Paragraph Mark
            -  Press    ENTER    4    times   
 
            To Re-position the Line of Text –
            -  Press the    UP ARROW KEY    once
               The Cursor should move up to
               the    4th    Line    from the Top
               still Aligned to the Left Margin of the Second Column
               as a Flashing Line
            -  PASTE    the Line of Text from the    CLIPBOARD
            -  If necessary, re-position the Text Line to the Left Margin
 
            -  Press the    DOWN ARROW KEY    once
               The Cursor should move down to
               the    5th    Line    from the Top
               still Aligned to the Left Margin of the Second Column
               as a Flashing Line
            -  Press    ENTER    as many times as needed
               to move the Top Line of the Contents Text down,
               to Align it to the LIne Under the    CONTENTS    Heading
 
 
            To Realign to a Whole Page of    2   Columns –
            To Display the Paragraph Marks –
                        -  GO TO    the    Home Tab    in the Ribbon above
                        -  LEFT CLICK    on it, if it is not already displayed
                           The    Home Ribbon    will appear
                        -  LEFT CLICK    on the    Paragraph Icon    (in Split Screen Mode)
                           A Menu will appear
                        -  LEFT CLICK    the    Show / Hide Paragraph Marks    Icon


                          The hidden Paragraph Markings should appear
 
            At the end of the last text, there should be the words –
                        Section Break (Continuous)
            -  Place the Cursor anywhere on these words
            If not –
            -  Place the Cursor in front of the last    Paragraph Mark
           
            -  Left Click on it so that it is a Flashing Line
            -  Press    ENTER
               The    Section Break (Continuous)    and / or    the    Paragraph Mark   
               will move down One Line
            -  Continue to Press    ENTER    until the
                        Section Break (Continuous)    and / or    the    Paragraph Mark
               is on the Bottom Line of the Page
               This Realigns the Whole Page    to    2    Columns
               and the Lines will move accordingly
           
            To Remove the Paragraph Marks –
            -  Left Click on the Paragraph Mark Icon, in the Ribbon
 
 
 
GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES ON THE MAP
 
I found, that it was also necessary to indicate some major geographical features on the map.
 
eg.       Listed Such –
 
________________________________________
 
Mountain
M.  Mt Stuart
 
Lake
L.    Ross Lake
 
Rivers
R1.  Ross River
R2.  Ross Creek
 
Islands
Is1.  Ross Is
Is2.  Magnetic Is   
Is3.  Palm Is   
        (out of view, NW of Townsville)
 
________________________________________
 
 
 
Labelled such –
            M  -  Mountain
            L   -  Lake
            R  -  River
            Is  -  Island
 
If there are more than one of each –
eg.       Is1
            Is2
            Is3
 
 
 
LOCATIONS NOT DISPLAYED ON THE MAP
 
And, I found that putting all the locations that are in the Contents, on the map,
would make the map too congested.
So, I opted not to put some in.
Instead, I marked them in the Contents, in this way –
 
            -  Using Upper Case Letters instead of Numbers
            -  With an asterisked reference to –
                        Either,
                                    -  a general area of the map
                        Or,
                                    -  near another Numbered Location on the map
                        -  Aligned Right to the Right Margin of each Column
 
eg.
______________________________________
 
G.    Post Office                                                            *(CBD)              
22.  The Townsville Bulletin                            *(near 20)
______________________________________
 
 
And,
            -  a Note at the end of the List
Such,

           *(    )  or  *    -  not displayed
 




 
© Katherine Stuart 2022
Dochas Books Film

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

The 2 Mels #4

 

Be careful, 
those who care about the real Mel Gibson.
His understudy has taken over.

But, there is only so much
chemical enhancement
plus mental and physical exertion
that the human body can take.
The understudy will go the way
of Michael Jackson.
This is going to happen,
because he is already struggling
                                                                                                 big time, health-wise
                                                                                                 with the work load.

                                                                                                 So, when it does,
                                                                                                 don't be sad for him, 
                                                                                                 as he said to me,
                                                                                                 "I want to die."

                                                                                                 And know, that the real Mel
                                                                                                 is still very much alive and well.

                                                                                                 Take care.


text (c) Katherine Stuart 2022
Dochas Books Film 

Friday, April 29, 2022

The Corner Cafe



Hi Guys.

So, something else that I've been doing,
is a collaboration with my landlady, Gigi,
to develop an in-house non-commercial cafe
for those living in the building here.

Amongst other things,
Gigi has decided on the design of the signs,
and I've painted them.

Gigi has vast experience 
working in, and running cafes and restaurants,
being a chef herself,
and she is teaching me how to 
use the equipment
to make these things on the menu.


So far, 
I've mastered making 
all sorts of small lattes,
out of powdered milk
and instant powders or syrups.
with a battery operated milk frother.
And I'm onto cappuccino
at the moment,
based on those ingredients, 
and equipment, too.
A case of starting at the bottom.

This is feel good,
progressing slowly, but well.



                                                                  


                            





signs (c) Katherine Stuart  and Jiraporn Sangsriphen 2022
text (c) Katherine Stuart
Dochas Books Film

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Screenplay Format #15 - Locations List

 
This List is a general overview of all the Locations in the Script, with –
            -  A brief description of how the Location relates to the story
               To give context
                        -  Particular Locations of note, within the Main Location
            -  Dates of Scenes
               To give a time frame
                        -  References to descriptions of all the Locations in the Book,
                           from which the Screenplay is adapted,
                           whether they are in the Script or not
 
I set this List up, basing it on the Locations / Scenes List, such –

Contents -














































Details -









































To make the Locations List, follow these steps –

1.  DELETE

-  DELETE    the empty file that was previously set up as –
                     5-NAME-Locations   
 
                                                                                                                                   
2.  COPY & PASTE

-  COPY    the whole file - 
          4-NAME-Locations-Scenes
-  PASTE    it in the same place
-  RE-NAME    this file as -
          5-NAME-Locations–COPY
             Keep this file name while working on the entire file,
             so as to recognize it as a work in progress
-  Within this working file,    RE-NAME    the Heading as –
                     5.  LOCATIONS
 
eg.

 














 
 

3.  DETAILS SECTION
 
            -  DELETE    the Headings for, and all,
               the Book and Screenplay Page Numbers
            -  DELETE    all the Scene / Section / Sub-section etc. Numbers
                        -  REALIGN    any text lines if necessary
 
UNDER EACH LOCATION HEADING –
            -  Type in a one-line description of the Location’s relationship to the Story
            -  DELETE    all the    Scene Tag Information    EXCEPT    the    YEARS, Month, etc.
            -  Change the    YEARS    text to    BOLD
                        -  INDENT    each    YEAR, Month, etc.   
                           to be     1 Tab    Right    of the    Left Margin
            -  BACKSPACE    any lines starting with    See …” 
               to the relevant    YEAR, Month, etc.
                        -  PRESS ENTER    2    times   
                        -  PRESS    -    (hyphen)
                        -  PRESS ENTER    2    times
                           This tags the    “See …”    line, to the     YEAR, Month, etc.
            -  DELETE    any    YEAR, Month, etc.    that is repeated, and does not have,  
               any tagged    “See …”   lines
            -  CUT    and    PASTE    text lines
               to organize the    YEAR, Month, etc.s
               into Chronological Order according to Time
 
eg.     
 
1.  Original entry in File    5-NAME–Locations-COPY
___________________________________________________________________________________
 
                                                     3.  The Oval Office
                                                     See book pages 1 – 2, The Oval Office
       1.1.3    The Oval Office (INT. DAY or NIGHT, 22 YEARS EARLIER)               6                      6
                   – 1942, May/Jun                                
194.6.1.1    The Oval Office (INT. DAY or NIGHT, A WEEK OR SO AGO)             330                  407
                   – 1942, End May/Beg Jun                                                      
                   Lifted from    Sc.  1.1.3    p.  7                            
194.6.1.2    The Oval Office (INT. DAY or NIGHT,                                                   330                  407
                    A FEW MOMENTS LATER) – 1942, End May/Beg Jun
                    Lifted from    Sc.  1.1.3    p.  7   
                                          1.1.1    The Oval Office (INT. DAY or NIGHT,                                                   2                      2
                                                       A COUPLE OF YEARS EARLIER) – 1961 - 63                                                        
                                          1.1.2    The Oval Office (INT. DAY or NIGHT,                                                   4                      4
                                                      A COUPLE OF YEARS EARLIER) – 1961 - 63
       1.2.1    The Oval Office (INT. DAY or NIGHT, 2 YEARS EARLIER)                 379                  485
                   – 1961 - 63
          1.1    The Office of The US President, LBJ, The Oval Office                         1                      1
                                                      (INT. AFTERNOON) – 1964                               
    1.1.3.1    The Oval Office (INT. AFTERNOON, TO THE PRESENT)                   6                      6
                   - 1964
                                             1.2    The Office of the US President, LBJ, The Oval Office                          376                  480
                                                      (INT. EVENING) - 1964
                                    ___________________________________________________________________________________
                         
                         
                          2.  Altered entry in File    5-NAME-Locations-COPY

                            ________________________________________________________________

3.  The Oval Office
The Oval Office, The White House, Washington DC.
            1942, May/Jun                       
            1961 - 63                                                                    
                                               1964  -  See book pages 1 – 2, The Oval Office
                                                 
                                   ____________________________________________________________________________________
                         
                         
                         
                         
                        OTHER LOCATIONS
                         
                        All the above locations are    Scripted Locations,
                        in that they are places where    Scenes    need to be filmed,
                        that are written in the    Script.
                         
                        However, there can be other locations that are equally relevant,
                        in that they are mentioned in the story,
                        but pose more as backdrop or backfill,
                        and can be included in the finished film,
                        such as, using Archived Newsreel Footage,
                        as will be discussed later, in the Montage List.
                         
                         
                        These should also be included in the Locations List -
                                    -  Label their Headings with letters not numbers
                                    -  Place them in the Details Section
                                       in line with your   Major Location Perspective
                         
                        eg.
                    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
                         
                         
AUSTRALIA & REGION
 
THE CORAL SEA
A.  The Coral Sea
             1942, 4 - 8 May  -  See book pages 156 – 157, The end of the Battle of The Coral Sea 
 
 
NEW GUINEA
B.  Port Moresby
Where Companies A & C are posted, after the events in Townsville, joining the rest of their regiment, the 96th Battalion.
             1942, Mon 16 Jun
 
 
CAIRNS REGION
4.  Cairns Region
Aunty Edie’s home lands.
            - Djabugay Aboriginal area.
            1902 – 1920
 
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
                         
                         
                         
                         
                        4.  CONTENTS SECTION
                         
                                    -  COPY    and    PASTE    the additional Location’s Headings
                                       into the    CONTENTS
                                       in their respective order, the same as in the Details Section
                                       (see    CONTENTS    above)




                        This is the File    5-NAME-Locations    completed.

                         
                         
                         
                         
                        © Katherine Stuart 2022