Seraph7

I worked as usual and then rushed home because it was Oscar Night. I would have to check the results but I think I did alright on the sweepstakes we were doing at work. We'll see. The King's Speech did very well. Best Actor for Colin Firth, Best Picture and Best Film. I would have liked Geoffrey Rush to get something as I though he was really good as Logue and the project was close to his heart as well. I think he's down as one of the producers. I'd have to check that.

I really wanted Fincher to win Best Director but it wasn't to be. Or Social Network to get Best Picture. I wonder if we'll get a surge of people milling in to see 'The King's Speech' now. There's always one or two films a year that really have legs in terms of the audience. It's good for us even though it means we're super busy at work, but with the way the economy is going anything that means I have guaranteed work is good. Even though I have limited patience with work and generally being there.

Andrea came this weekend with Amber and Kwesi turned up. It's strange how tense I am round them and how inferior I feel around my siblings. I feel like they look down on me because I have little to no money and I still live at home. Trust me I would love to have a decent career and be able to start my life properly but that's not going to happen while I work there. It is not a great feeling being lowest on the totem pole in my family, but that is what I am and always have been. I don't feel like I'm allowed to have a voice or an opinion about things so I work and write and keep out of the way.
I just really need to try to look for something more lucrative and concrete. The only trouble I find is that all the vacancies I see want qualifications and experience that I simply don't have.

I need to try and get some of these scenes down on 'Songbirds'. I would like not to go beyond 100k on it especially since I seriously need to get on with the freaking sequel and soon. I'm going to try and do some serious brainstorming sessions when I can because I would like to be able to properly plan thing out.
According to the website Scrivener for windows should be out by April or thereabouts so I can start trying to use that. I really hope they've sorted out that lagginess!
I fail at completing my Social Network prompts. The HP crossover is a real mess. If I'm going to do this then it can't be scrappy. I have no confidence about it at all. I still don't know if I I'll finish the Cameron/ Erica one. I think I need to work on the characterisation on that one. Not to mention all the GK fic which is still reproachfully lying there on A03 waiting for me to get my arse into gear and complete it.

I'm not having a very productive month at all. Reading wise I didn't manage to hit my target of 20 books.

The Accidental Millionaires - Ben Mezrich
Beyond my control - Nancy Friday
How to be a Great Lover - Lou Paget
True Grit - Charles Portis
The Soldier and the Unicorn - Helen Louise Carroll
Wolf Hall - Hilary Mantel
Apassionata - Jilly Cooper (this is a re read, I admit. I love the book a lot even though I couldn't stand Abby at all. Flora was way better and I adore Marcus Campbell-Black)
Scandalous - Tilly Bagshawe

After a long, long day at work I finally got to watch 'Black Swan'. I still don't quite know what to think about it to be honest. It was good, don't get me wrong, but very unsettling. I think I'd also forgotten just how squeamish I can be , so that was something was having trouble with.
I've really only got disjointed thoughts on it at the moment.

* I think Natalie Portman did a good job, I really do. I would not say I'm a big fan of hers but the character really stuck with me. She wasn't very sympathetic but you went on the journey with her and fair props for the dancing as well. I'm always struck with admiration for the sheer physical effort involved in dancing ballet. I know for a fact my body simply couldn't do it, let alone well.
* God, Vincent Cassell's character was a Grade A prick, but strangely enough I still found him attractive. I dunno there's just something about that man. Objectively, he's not conventionally handsome at all but I so would. In a heartbeat. Even though he would be very bad for me.
* I think it worked mostly because Portman really showed the duality that was always there. That 'sweet little girl' trapped in that sugar-pink world by her mother and the paranoid terrified woman lashing out.
* I liked Mila Kunis's character, but you could see she was a bit of a minx.I really think given the chance she would have stabbed Nina in the back in a flutter of an eyelid.
D'ye know what? I would love the see the fic from this fandom, I really would. I don't think I would ever attempt to write for it, but I'd read the hell out of it.

On the subject of fandoms and fic, I still can't believe I'm dabbling in The Social Network fic. I think it's because the fandom is just really enthusiastic and welcoming, before I knew it I was tapping away at a couple of prompts. Gen Kill is always going to be my fandom love but it's nice to plunge in elsewhere. I think I appreciate the fic more when I do come back than when I permanently camped out in one place.

I really want to see 'Never let me go' now as well. There is a possibility they might nominate it as British Film of the Month at work so we'll actually get it.

I was browsing at Gawker, and one of the post was discussing a new series by the guys that brought us 'Mad men' about Louis XIV, entitled 'Versailles'. John Hamm, aka Don Draper would be taking the title role.

Mad Men writer to tackle 17th Century court next

Now I don't know what to think about this to be honest. I love the time period which is why I eventually set my stories there. I would like to see more fiction and series set in the time period. I'm not sure if I would enjoy it though. What you think? Who do you think should be cast. I hope they are going to tackle the whole of his reign from the beginning but I'm not so sure.
I'm still waiting impatiently for 'The Borgias', which if they do it right should be amazing. I have already talked of my feelings about the last season of 'The Tudors' and the Grad- A hash they made of that. I have such high hopes and I don't want to be disappointed.

I'm going to have to go to work soon , but we shall discuss at length once I get back.

Incidentally, before I leave I have to say that I was on the search for King Kong fic based on the film by Peter Jackson, but it was in very short supply. Has anyone heard of any or got any recs? I just want to try something new. I must try and watch the rest of 'Tom Jones' tonight after work and perhaps I might re read 'Captain's Surrender' by Alex Beecroft. I really loved it so I should do a proper review at some point.

Starting to put up bits of my Eastern Promises/ Generation Kill crossover at AO3 as well. Here's some links if you're interested.

In too Deep