Category: #interview

#Interview By Lou with Film, Conveyance Director Gemma Creagh @creagh_fish #GemmaCreagh @Tom_Brumpton_PR @glasgowfilmfest #Film #Movie #Horror

Interview By Louise Cannon (Lou) with Gemma Creagh

I recently had the pleasure to interview Gemma Creagh about her film, Conveyance, thanks to Tom Brumpton. Conveyance was shown at The Glasgow Film Festival earlier in the year.
We talk about this, the film itself and more… Firstly, lets start with the synopsis.

After years of living in sub-par rented accommodation, young couple Brian and Suzanne can’t believe their luck when they finally find their dream home – and at a price that’s almost too good to be true. Elated, they move into their brand new, stunning, sea facing South Dublin apartment, but they soon discover that this idyllic spot isn’t quite what it seems. When objects start moving of their own accord, Brian begins to suspect Apartment 19 in the Seaview complex is haunted by a malevolent spirit. He even calls in spiritual assistance in the form of a white witch to attempt to “cleanse the space”.

Suzanne, however, always the sceptic, barely hides the fact that she thinks he is being ridiculous. With tensions escalating between the couple, and as their living situation becomes borderline dangerous, Suzanne and Brian must face an impossible dilemma. How far will they have to go to keep their dream home?

The film has been covered nationally in Ireland following its premiere at the prestigious Galway Film Fleadh in 2024. This includes mentions by RTE Radio One, Irish Independent, Midlands 103, and the Dublin Gazette.

Welcome, Gemma, to Bookmarks and Stages. It’s a pleasure to interview you.

Thanks for having me!

 

  1. What or who inspired you to be in the business of directing and writing films?

I read an obscene amount growing up. Reading, then writing was something I’d always really enjoyed. I loved disappearing into my weird mind and building make-believe worlds. Not only is this a great way to pass time, it helps you figure things out, and was something I just continued doing all the way into adulthood. One day, just out of college, I got paid to write my first article. Then I submitted a funding application and was commissioned to write a web series for RTÉ.

Making films, and working in the industry in various roles, from training, to production, to administration,  hasn’t been easy… and as a writer, I’ve had my work rejected more times than I care to remember. However, I’ve stuck it out, and learned a lot over the years. Directing is quite new to me—this is my first longer-form funded film, and I absolutely adored every second of it. I hope I get to direct another one soon.

  2. Congratulations in Conveyance being shown at the Glasgow Film Festival. How did you all react when you discovered that your film was chosen for such a prestigious film event and how important a stage is the festival for films such as Conveyance?

Thanks so much! Myself and the whole team were all over the moon. The film premiered last July at the Galway Film Fleadh. This is a brilliant, Oscar-qualifying festival—I’d heartily recommend everyone go. The films are wonderful, and the craic is even better. We’d also screened at some lovely festivals around Ireland.

Finally, to be selected for FrightFest at the Glasgow Film Festival was the best international premiere I could have hoped for. This March,  Conveyance screened to a sold-out audience of over 500, alongside a really brilliant lineup of UK horror shorts. We were the only non-UK title, and this was the only short film section in the festival’s main programme. Myself, Chrissie Cronin (Suzanne in the film), and our collaborator Roisín Kearney met some really lovely people from the Scottish film industry. I really hope I get to come back to Glasgow with something else in the future. And FrightFest audiences? Absolutely brilliant.

    3.  Conveyance starts with a black cat, with the camera zooming in, making it look quite foreboding as tension immediately rises.
What was your inspiration behind this rather effective opening scene?

There is a really wonderful script consultant and teacher, Eilish Kent—here’s her website: https://www.eilishkent.com/about-eilish. She gave me my first break in the industry and very kindly offered to take a peek at the script. That cat was her suggestion, as a way to reveal more of Brian’s nature and the issues in his relationship with Suzanne early on. And funnily enough, that cat now gets us our first laugh at every single screening. Thank you, Eilish!

   4.  The food bubbles too much (which adds a bit of light humour) and then you cut to the sea roaring up, you also have the calm, serene, before the malevolent activity, it seems poetic in a way. Is this technique part of your directing style or something that fit together for this film in-particular and how did it come about?

I’m glad you noticed!  Those small moments were there to  create a sense of discomfort between each scene change. We used pre-laps—like the sound of Suzanne violently chopping blood-red peppers, or odd chimes or footsteps—to bridge the scenes and keep the energy slightly off-kilter. Sound played such an important role in all films, but horror especially. The violent transitions are a classic horror tool, so I don’t know if I’d get to bring them with me into a different genre. Come to think of it, they might make a dramedy all the more interesting though.

   5.  There is some paranormal activity in what should have been the perfect, dream house. What pulled you towards making the house uninhabitable in this particular way and do you believe in ghostly spirits?

So I don’t quite believe in supernatural things like ghosts… but then again, our human perspective on the world is limited—who knows what exists?  Plus, I still won’t watch anything spooky by myself late at night. So what does that tell you?

The apartment is beautiful, and of course it’s too good to be true. It’s a very direct metaphor for the stress that  so many in my generation (and the ones coming up behind me) are dealing with. This couple is stuck. On Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, their base level isn’t even being met. So yes, the flat is haunted, and even dangerous for poor Brian at times… but sadly it’s still less bad than the alternatives.

     6. What fascinates you about the paranormal and the techniques used to try to cleanse them from a place, like the house in your film?

Growing up, I loved a good ghost story. Horror is a great way to manifest those real-life fears—finances, love, pressure— in the form of some threat and process them through catharsis.

Our film is a bit of fun, but in real life  I’m very wary of people who claim to be psychics or say they have the answers in exchange for money. All our “cleansers” are a bit sillier and are nods to classic horror tropes. Fr. O’Leary is a lighter take on The Exorcist. Marian, our white witch, wants to believe she’s got all the folk horror rituals down. And Greg, the real estate agent, is our nod to the scariest horror of all—unchecked capitalism. He’s a love letter of sorts to American Psycho.

    7. There’s quite a twist at the end. I won’t say what, so it doesn’t spoil it for future audiences, but how important do you think it is to keep viewers guessing and to have it end in a manner that is, in my opinion, unguessable?

I’m delighted you think it was unguessable—that’s a relief! Because for me, as a writer, that ending was inevitable.

When you’re working on a script, it’s easy to get lost in parts or distracted by details. But for me, theme is key. On the surface, Conveyance is the story of a haunting—but at its core, this film is about Brian and Suzanne as a couple. They’ve spent so much time and energy stressed out by flatmates, parental pressure, house-hunting… they’ve missed something big: are they even suited to one another? In the beginning of our story, Suzanne barrels through everything without a second thought. While Brian avoids conflict so much that he misses aggressive cues altogether. This is their journey to discover if they are even really meant to be together.

     8. Have you got any other film projects lined up?

The proverbial drawer is overrun with ideas. I’m not sure which film project will bubble up next. I was very grateful to get Arts Council funding to write a play, and I’m also attached to some very exciting short films with really talented writers. It’s up to the fates to decide which project gets funded next.

     9. Where can people follow you?

You can catch me on LinkedIn and Instagram!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmacreagh/  

https://www.instagram.com/creagh_fish/

“Thank you very much for your time.”

“Thank you so much for the lovely insightful questions!”

#Interview By Lou with Producer/Director, Bear Damen about new film, Synthesize Me @beardamen @Tom_Brumpton_PR #Films #Movies #Music

Interview hosted by Lou
with Film Producer/Director Bear Damen

Welcome to my blog Bookmarks and Stages, Bear Damen to tell us about your latest short film, Synthesize Me. We also discuss, creating films, a music video, working with James Blake on Say What You Will, further films and more..

First of all, let’s find out about the film, Synthesize Me.

Violeta, the young daughter of a widowed electrical maintenance worker, retreats to her mother’s neglected music workshop to play music to remember her. When she causes a widespread power cut tensions rise between father and daughter bringing their grief to boiling point.

A teaser for the film can be found here.

Bear has said the following on the film:

““Synthesize Me” is a personal allegory. While traveling through a liminal town near Mexico City, I realized it was the missing piece of a story idea I had been struggling with for some time. The town’s “unstable currents” and distressed electrical system became the perfect metaphor for two people who rely on the same source yet create something entirely different from it, only to need it to break in order to finally understand each other, even just a little.”

Let’s now plunge into the interview:

  1. You now have quite a body of work in films, such as Song and War Pony, you’re your latest being Synthesize Me.

What or who inspired you to write and direct films?

For the record, I produced War Pony together with friends who brought me on board, I didn’t direct it.
“Oh, wow, that’s still brilliant”.

I’ve been heavily inspired by 90s cinema. And eventually, like many, Paul Thomas Anderson being a very accessible gateway drug to many other movies in my late teens and early twenties. I remember vividly The Matrix really blowing my mind, aWer which I’ll forever be chasing a certain feeling of understanding a character even though the world they live in is fantastical and mysterious.

  1. How did you start out creating films?

     

Music Videos, which I feel are common but for a reason. It’s small films that you can wrap your head around if you’ve never directed before. It’s a great start but you can get addicted to short form if you don’t watch out. If you want to make movies you should just start making shorts and write stuff.

  1. You’ve worked with musician/singer/songwriter James Blake on the video, ‘Say What You Will’. How did that come about and what was it like to work with him?

     

James had seen some of my work and basically asked to jump on a zoom out of the blue. I’m a huge fan and of course said yes immediately. I think we both felt it was fun to work on something that was the opposite of what he’d done so far, which was more melancholic, heavy videos. But in fact, James is a super funny guy. As is his girlfriend Jameela, who co-wrote the video.

  1. Where do you start to create a music video and are there any crossovers in how you go about creating a film?

     

No I think it’s different. You can of course go full narrative in a video, but I love how in a music video you can also play more with abtude and style, and jump into weird vortexes that don’t make sense real quick without anyone asking questions. You should definitely exploit that I feel when making a music video. It’s why the medium is so unique.

  1. Synthesize Me is your latest short film. It tells the story of Violetta who retreats to her mother’s music workshop and plays music to remember her. How do you think music and life events correlate and was it a conscious decision to have the music she plays to be upbeat?

It has Ees to real life as it’s a story drawn from personal experience. And I think a lot of people relate to a parent that didn’t quite understand their world. This film is about how sometimes all has to break down in order to take one step towards understanding each other.

The music she plays is just what I love, poly-rhythmic synth music. Like Steve Reich inspired music for synths. It’s just what I heard in my head all the time.

  1. In the screener I was privy to watch, there are quiet moments of scenic shots as well as when viewers see the actors. What are the challenges of filming such scenes to keep audiences engaged in the film?

Shooting with intention. Or at least that’s what I tried. So that you feel that the perspective of Eve and distance to the characters is deliberate and hopefully you feel you’re in the hands of someone who knows what he’s doing.

  1. When there’s a power-cut in the small town, the differences in how grief is handled by Violetta and her father are stark. What motivated you to show different ways people react and how important it is to show that one event, such as a power cut can have a knock-on effect in creating tensions?

Under pressure you see how buried emotions surface. The father shows clearly that he doesn’t want to deal with it and has some mental drawer he’d rather stuff it in. Just as he does with his tools. Violeta is a young girl that’s still clinging on, she’s a bit sloppy and irresponsible which I normally. They both needed this to happen to understand each other’s stakes better. Violeta seeing that her dad has a ‘boss’ that kind of decides both their fates, and how he’s struggling to make life work for her too. Quite literally as she depends on electricity for her art. He now sees how his daughter is an artist. Even if he takes everything away, she will always do that even without power. She’s more powerful than him in that way.

He realizes that before the light comes on. The light indicating they have to move on.

  1. You’ve travelled around a fair bit of the How has this influenced the style in which you tell stories and what type of stories to tell?

I think it definitely made me feel more like a world person. I’m trying to avoid the word citizen as it sounds corny as hell.

What that does is that I don’t feel I have to tell ‘my life’ or ‘my country’ or ‘my people’ to the world. I feel I can belong everywhere when it comes to storytelling and chameleon my way through that. It has pros and cons.

In terms of type, I’m definitely a Spielberg devote in that I want to create a wide opening of my stories o that everything can latch on, and hopefully a film then takes them to a place they’ve never been or never dared to go before.

  1. You are currently developing another short and also a feature film. Can you tell us a bit about those, the release dates and where people can view them?

Still have to shoot my new short, but the script is done. I have a feature in early development and I’m working on a comedy with a friend.

  1. Apart from the difference between a short and feature film, what other differences do you have to navigate and how do you go about doing that, in the likes of the way you work, how you’re funded, how you pitch to have films released?

A short you can now do anywhere, if you can write compact. Which is hard. A feature will cost a lot of money, even if you do a micro budget. It’s not something coming out of most people’s pockets easily. And the latter only works with improvisation and locations that are accessible. Which requires good writing. All doable, not easy.

Funding in the Netherlands is all government funding based. Which can be a little problematic slow and makes people be good at writing for funds, which is not always a good thing…

Funding indie in the US is private funding mostly. Which hinges on the producer’s network. It’s just hard. And it’s not getting any easier.

  1. Where can people follow you and your filming work?

Instagram @beardamen and I’m @beardamen everywhere including bluesky.

Thanks so much for this interview!

#Interview hosted by Lou with Catherine Yardley about her book, Where the Light is Hottest and more… @Balavage @rararesources #ReadingCommunity #WritingCommunity #ActingCommunity #Books #Theatre

Interview by Lou with Author, Catherine Yardley

Welcome to Bookmarks and Stages, Catherine. Thank you very  much for the opportunity to interview you about your book, The Light is Hottest, hopes and dreams, the creative industry and more for my slot on the Rachel’s Random Resources blog tour.

“Thank you! I am honoured to be included.”

Catherine Yardley is the author of Ember and Where The Light is Hottest. She’s also the editor-in-chief of Frost Magazine and a freelance writer who’s featured in The Bookseller, Mslexia, Metro, Huffpost, Writing Magazine and Writers’ and Artists’ amongst others.

Where The Light is Hottest

Natasha Jones has everything – a successful acting career, an Oscar, a wonderful husband and beautiful kids. But what does she have to go through to get there? From humble beginnings in a small town, Natasha’s path to stardom is paved with setbacks, heartaches and moments of doubt.


In the glittering world of fame and fortune, where dreams are spun from starlight and ambition fuels the relentless pursuit of success, one woman’s journey stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Beneath the facade of glamour lies a story of unwavering determination and unyielding courage.

Where the Light is the Hottest is a gripping tale of ambition, perseverance and the enduring power of hope. Through Natasha’s journey, we are reminded that the road to success is rarely smooth, but for those who dare to chase their dreams, the rewards are beyond measure.

Without further ado, let’s begin with the first question…

  1. Who or what inspired you to write books?

My main inspiration to write books was all of the amazing books I read growing up. Enid Blyton and Beatrix Potter. Then Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I never thought I would be talented enough to write a book. I am glad I decided to be stubborn and go for it! Lots of things inspire me. Real life, my real life experiences and things I read about. I am interested in people and I love telling stories.

  1. Your novel, ‘Where the Light is Hottest’, is set in the acting world. You were/are an actor yourself. Many actors write within all sorts of genres.
    What made you choose to use your knowledge and experience to write a novel for readers to gain that insider’s perspective in fictional form?

I previously wrote a non fiction book, How To Become a Successful Actor: Your Essential Guide to Becoming an Actorpreneur. I wanted to write a novel and the easiest way was to use my own experiences. Writing fiction is a beautiful thing because you can take things that happened, and then write about them in a fictional way. Pablo Picasso said that art is the lie that helps us understand the truth. I can create a true-to-life experience of the acting world better through fiction than real life, which might not be quite so interesting!

  1. Natasha, the main character, is ambitious, has setbacks and accomplishments and builds resilience. How much of Natasha’s life reflect your own experiences and in what way?

Natasha is more ambitious than me. I paused my acting career after sustaining a really bad injury on a film set. Natasha would have kept on going. Natasha comes from Scotland like me, and studied acting. A lot of the stuff in the book happened to me in a way or was things I saw or heard. I never did nudity because I am a bit of a prude, but Natasha ends up doing that on her own terms. She is stronger than me in many ways. She is incredibly resilient. I love that about her. Natasha is also loyal and a good friend. I am too. Friendship is everything.

  1. Where the Light is Hottest is about going after your dreams. Natasha has real resilience and determination to do this. Have you got dreams you pursue, if so, what are they and how do you go about chasing them?

That’s a good question. I do have dreams and I go after them relentlessly. Natasha and I have that in common. My dreams are more writing based these days. Based around book deals and things I want my books to achieve. I recently wrote for The Sunday Times which was always on my list of dream publications. I would still love to write, produce and act. It’s just hard to fit it all in.

  1. How important do you think it is to promote such strong, positive yet emotive stories set around the acting world and what do you hope readers will take away from this?

I think a lot of people think that books set in the acting world are not relatable, but it is a job like any other. It can be tedious and boring. The actual work is not glamorous at all. I think people will get whisked away into a different world, but it is more of a realistic look. It is not Jackie Collins, which I love. It’s glamorous but Natasha is just a normal person trying to make her way in the world. Most people are too scared to go after their dreams. They are more scared to be successful than they are to fail. I think it is important to promote these strong, positive stories that resonate with people to show that you can be terrified and brave at the same time.

  1. Do you, as an actor and an author feel the challenges within the creative industry affects you in any way and how do you overcome them?

Definitely. They are two incredibly hard professions. Maybe even the hardest. There is no clear path and no guarantees. The challenges are vast but the highs are like nothing else. The privilege of telling stories is huge. I love it. These professions are more of a calling. You have to be like Natasha and relentlessly go after your dreams and take failure well.

  1. Do you feel there is any sort of bridge between acting and writing novels where one helps to do the other?

I think all writers should take acting lessons. Being an actor is a fantastic skill. You learn that everything about a person tells you something about them. From how they hold themselves, how they speak, and how they dress. There are a lot of actors who write, and it is obvious that the skills can cross well. Writing as an actor is also a brilliant idea. Making your own projects will help you stand out.

  1. How do you feel when there are unfavourable comments about actors who also happen to choose to write books and how do you overcome the negativity and keep going?

I am lucky that I have not had much negativity. I brush most things off to be honest. I am happy with myself and my life. My dad would always joke when we were growing up that if we were making fun of him then at least we were leaving someone else alone. I think of that a lot now. How there are a lot of people who want to be negative and take their pain out on other people. It is rarely personal, and at least they are leaving someone else alone!

  1. Have you any plans for writing more books or are there any acting jobs you can tell us about that are on the horizon?

There are a lot more books coming. I am very excited about it. There are some other projects coming too. Not much I can talk about, but I am feeling very privileged and happy at the moment. Hard work pays off eventually. In the creative industries it just takes a lot longer!

You can follow Catherine Yardley on these links for social media and her website:

https://x.com/Balavage

@catherineby.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/frostmag

https://www.threads.net/@frostmag

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063463605581

https://www.tiktok.com/@balavage

Website: https://catherinebalavageyardley.com/

#Interview By Lou with Award Winning Actor, Author, Director, Comedian, Michael Obiora on new @ITV @ITVX drama, #OutThere and more… #TVDrama #Thriller #Comedy #Books #MichaelObiora @Tom_Brumpton_PR

Today I welcome the award winning actor, author, director and comedian, Michael Obiora to Bookmarks and Stages. In the interview as you scroll down, you’ll discover his latest role of being Scott Foley in upcoming 6 part ITV/ITVX drama, Out There, which also stars award winning actor, Martin Clunes. We also cover a new book, comedy and so much more in what is a fascinating, deeply insightful interview.
At the end you’ll also find some useful links, including the trailer to Out There and where you can pre-order his new book.

Michael Obiora started acting in Grange Hill. From there, he is now known for tv roles like Lloyd Asike in Casualty, Ben Trueman in Hotel Babylon as well as having parts in Midsomer Murders, Death in Paradise and more… His latest being Scott Foley in the upcoming ITV drama, Out There.
Thank you for joining me and my blog, Bookmarks and Stages to be interviewed.

1. You started your tv acting career when you were a child on favourite teen school programme Grange Hill, how did this give you grounding for building the successful acting career you have now as an adult and were there different or similar challenges you faced in transitioning from being a child actor to coming of an age of seeking out and auditioning for more adult roles?

Most of my appreciation of the foundation Grange Hill gave me as an actor has come from hindsight. Notwithstanding that, even at such a young age I was aware how lucky I was. The things I took in my stride were things like the jargon used on set to describe certain processes.
By the time I was twelve, set lingo like “turning over,’ “sound speed,” etc were second nature to me. In my early twenties I remember being on set with actors of a similar age – or even older – who had just graduated from drama school, and I could see how daunting some of them found the whole process.
There’s a fearlessness and naivety one has when they’re so young. So actually, working from such a young age was incredible for my confidence.

In terms of making the transition from child star to adult actor, again I was lucky. I worked solidly from the age of nine until about twenty-two. I had heard about how difficult it can be to make that transition, but it was not my experience at all. The hardest part for me was dealing with my first bout of unemployment as an actor. Again, that was something I’d always heard of; “ninety-nine percent of actors are out of work,” etc. But it happened the other way around for me – instead of going to drama school, then coming out and struggling to find work as most actors do, I had built up years of professional experience. Which ironically made it very difficult for me to process having no work lined up.

2. Very excitedly, you are about to star in new drama, “Out There” with the wonderful Martin Clunes, which tells the story of county lines, community, rural life, modern farming and grief & loss.

What attracted you to these themes and how important do you feel it is that this story is told?

I’d describe Out There as a UK version of Breaking Bad, and Ozark. I think Ozark is one of the greatest TV series ever made, so that was enough for me.
All good stories have universal themes – so that in itself is enough to make a particular story important.

3. You play Scott who is ex-army and embodies intellectual charming charisma, yet evasive when it comes to questions about himself. He seems quite complex in personality.

How did you get into character and did you do any research for this role?

Coincidentally, not long before filming there was a particular individual – who Scott reminded me of – that was causing myself and my family a lot of stress. I felt an enormous amount of anger towards this person. But the more I got into character, the less anger I felt. I still dislike that individual, but playing Scott made me feel a lot more empathy. Similar to that person, Scott finds himself in a desperate situation. People aren’t necessarily able to show the best side of themselves when they’re operating from a place of desperation. Being an actor has definitely made me a more empathetic person in general.

4. You’re a parent, has the themes had any impact on your parenting in any way and what does it make you think differently of the dangers some people encounter?

Being a parent has changed the way I think about almost everything.
Sometimes it gets to the point where I have to actively compartmentalise my sense of danger, or any anxieties I have.
I have very little judgement towards how people parent their children. It is incredibly difficult being a parent, and I genuinely believe most people are trying their best.

In Out There we see the road it appears Martin Clunes’ son is going down, and we also see that he is a good kid, with a good father. When a young boy or girl ends up in a particular situation one often comes to stereotypical conclusions – bad parenting, etc. But like many things in life, things aren’t always as black and white as that.

5. There are times when you aren’t acting, but writing novels, which happen to be critically acclaimed such as “Black Shoes” and “Vivian’s Couch”, what or who inspired you to write books?

Quite Simply; Necessity Is The Mother Of Invention.
Even though I have now written three books it was never my intention to become an author. I started writing because as my profile increased with Hotel Babylon, it became more and more apparent that I had a platform. I’ve always been aware how lucky I was to occupy any of the spaces I earned, so I just wanted to maximise it. I started by writing the parts I wanted to play.

6. You will have your first children’s book, published in March 2025 called “Zee Zee The Humble Bee”, teaching balancing celebrating her talents and being humble in a rhyming story, can you tell a bit more of the plot and what age group it’s aimed for?

Zee Zee The Humble Bee is about a confident young bee that is the fastest in her hive. From a young age I learned that often people don’t want to see other people happy, or win in any way. So I wanted to write a fun rhyming story about the joys of learning, teaching, and being humble. It’s aimed at kids up to age seven, maybe even older because I also consider it a book for adults.

7. When you were 11 and on Grange Hill, your teacher commented rather harshly about you smiling, telling you about how you weren’t on camera in the school corridor.

How did that make you feel and inform you of your choices now as a parent to encourage your children to follow their dreams?

Her comments to me completely informed this book. Zee Zee The Humble Bee is a love letter to my younger self, and more importantly a love letter to my daughter.

When my teacher made that comment I was devastated. I became an incredibly angry, and paranoid child after that. The idea of my daughter’s confidence or personality being altered in a similar way, at such a young age is unacceptable to me. I wish I had somebody to speak to about the way the teacher made me feel at the time. This book is me addressing that, and it’s also a book for adults who, whilst navigating the messiness of life may pick up bitterness. This is not a judgement call but rather me highlighting something that I think is somewhat inevitable.
Maybe life gets less fun as we get older, maybe we get more weighed down by our baggage. But children are so beautiful, and free, we can teach them humility – or anything else – in a loving way.

Our childhood years are our formative years, and adults have a responsibility to be mindful about the way we speak to children.

8. This January you are starring in your own written and directed stand-up
comedy “Joe Kerr: Laughter is Therapy.”

What inspired the title and how therapeutic do you feel it is for people to laugh
and what do you gain out of making audiences laugh?

I have a stack of scripts and stories I have written over the past few years.
When I sat down and read them they all left me with a feeling of sadness. It was a clear illustration of how my creative mind tends to work; dark/moody.
So Joe Kerr came out of me wanting to write something upbeat, funny, and positive. That still didn’t end up being the end product! So I now realise that the gift of it all is that performing is therapy for me. It doesn’t necessarily have to be funny, but expressing myself makes me feel better.
I’ve never had a problem showing my emotions – that’s what makes me a good actor. My emotions are so readily available. But I think it’s a gift and curse. It’s a pathology.

In Joe Kerr, the comic – Joe – performs his stand up routine on stage, despite the fact that hours before his set his father dies. This actually happened to me in real life. When I was sixteen years old I was the lead in a play at the Royal Court theatre. It was an enormous deal, and to this day remains one of my proudest moments. Hours after my dad died I went on stage despite the protestations of my fellow cast members, and the play’s director. But cancelling the show wasn’t an option for me. Being on stage felt like the safest place for me. I actually felt fortunate that it was an option. Obviously that experience will remain with me forever, and the more I ruminated over it, the more the Joe Kerr film took shape.

9. You joke about many stereotypes, the British accent, the way some language is used, how did you develop the punchlines to make it funny?

The jokes about the British accent came from the amount of time I’ve spent in America over the past fifteen or twenty years. Obviously race relations are famously polarising in America, it never seems to recede. But one thing that has always given me a feeling of safety is the way a lot of people react when I open my mouth over there. Who knows what goes through people’s heads but I’m sure on sight at the very least it’s “that’s an African American male.” And then when I speak, “Oh… he’s…British..? Black… British?” Suddenly people are less suspicious of me. They seem to perceive me as less of a threat. I think that’s funny.

10. Your comedy is topical and edgy about sexuality, how people view you when you’ve had a taste of fame.

What makes you choose what material to keep and how do you choose your boundaries as in how far you want to push the topic in the comedy?

Writer’s tend to advise, “write what you know,” and I think in general that’s good advice.
Most of the stories in Joe Kerr are anecdotal. I guess writing them through a character gives one more of a pass. So in terms of choosing topics I feel I can get away with more when speaking as a different person. But comedy is a lot of truth said in jest, therefore comedians have to be brave by virtue of what they do.

11. Humble is a theme in your children’s book and in your comedy in very different ways, how do you ensure you stay humble?

To be honest up until writing Zee Zee The Humble Bee I’ve never really liked the word humble. In my experience people use that term to put others down, or to disguise their jealousy.
I’m not particularly interested in humility because I think it’s hard to quantify. Somebody can literally call somebody humble because they like that person. Some people label others arrogant simply because they don’t like that person. And people have prejudices towards different people for all sorts of reasons. And once somebody has an idea in their head, they can easily find a way to justify that idea.

What I would say is that the older I get, the less competitive I am. And now that I’m a dad my life is easier than before. It’s harder in that there are more tangible pressures. But at the end of the day – and I mean literally when we’re putting our daughter to sleep – as long as her stomach is full, and she feels safe, I just don’t care about anything else. To care about somebody else’s wellbeing in every sense of the word, is humbling.

12. Does the different strands of your careers of actor, author, comedian aid each
other in any form and if so, in what way?

Absolutely! These all keep my creative juices flowing. And the more that
happens, the more chance I have of getting into the state of “Flow.” It’s a
difficult state to describe, but when I find myself in that space, I feel euphoric.

13. What’s next for you in your careers?

Alongside the film I’ll be putting out a comedy album version of Joe Kerr:
Laughter Is Therapy very soon. I’ve written another Joe Kerr comedy special.
I’ve written two more short films that I’ll act in and direct. I’ll be releasing a
book of poetry soon, and another children’s book. And I’ve completed two
other short films that I’ll be releasing over the next year.

Out There will air on ITV1/ITVX from Sunday 19th January, 9pm
Watch the Official Trailer here: Out There

Zee Zee The Humble Bee can be purchased from many bookshops, here are a few

Troubador Publishing      Waterstones   WH Smith     Coles Books     Amazon

#Interview by Lou with #author Margaret Amatt about #Christmas #Book – Mix-up Under The Mistletoe @AmattAuthor @rararesources #BlogTour

Mix-up Under the Mistletoe

Interview by Louise Cannon with Margaret Amatt

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Set your sights on a Christmas in the Highlands of Scotland in this Glenbriar series book, which can be also a standalone festive read. Today I am getting all festive with the Rachel’s Random Resources Blog Tour with Mix up Under The Mistletoe with an interview with the author, Margaret Amatt. Discover more about her writing, how she ensures she gets the balance right so her book can be standalone and part of a series, her characters and what she is doing for Christmas this year and more… Here, I have to say a huge thank you to her for taking the time to send in her answers so quickly and for her lovely comments, which you’ll see along the way. First check out the beautiful cover and the blurb and then we will crack on with the interview and how this book could be in your hands for a present or for your own pleasure.

Mix up under the Mistletoe Cover

She’s always on the outside looking in,
but his door might just be the one to open for her this Christmas.

‘Her name’s Tilly. Tilly Thorpe. She lives in London.’

To stop his family from speculating about his love life, travel company CEO Rafe Harrington casually drops Tilly Thorpe’s name as his girlfriend. After all, they’ll never meet – she’s just a name he saw on a rival company’s website.

But when Rafe arrives at his family’s home in Glenbriar for Christmas, he’s shocked to find ‘his girlfriend’ waiting for him.
He has some explaining to do and so does Tilly.

Why did Rafe’s family welcome her with open arms when she’s little more than a spy? Someone who’s trying hard to please her superiors, hoping it’ll bring some desperately desired happiness to her lonely existence.

Rafe isn’t a big fan of the festive season, but neither he nor Tilly can ignore their instant spark. With bad weather forecast, now is the ideal moment to discover some magic. Tilly’s never felt this at home anywhere, but none of it’s real, and that’s not why she’s here.

With time running short, can they seize this unexpected chance to fall in love not only with Christmas but also with each other?

Margaret Amatt

Welcome Margaret Amatt to Bookmarks and Stages.
It’s a pleasure to introduce you to my blog readers.

 

  1. Who or what inspired you to write and set books in Scotland?

I was born in and live in Scotland, so it felt like a natural place to write about. My first series was based on a real-life Scottish island that I love to visit, but I was always frustrated at the lack of books written about it, so I decided to write my own! This current series is a fictional place, based loosely around where I live. The locations are so beautiful that I really enjoy writing about them.

  1. This is part of the Glenbriar series, that can also be read as a standalone. How do you ensure it works for readers who have followed it from the beginning and those who are diving in from a later book?

That’s a really great question and I don’t think anyone has ever asked me that before. It’s actually one of the trickiest things to do when writing a series like this to get the balance right. I can’t bring in all the characters from previous books to later stories as it would clutter up the main story, so what I try to do is think of every book first as a standalone story. That way I make sure it has a plot readers can follow with knowing what has gone before. Then I use characters from previous books as side characters. I choose the ones I think would work best and I try to show them in their ‘new’ life, so it’s almost like an epilogue to their story that readers of previous books will enjoy. I occasionally hint at them having had an interesting life or story, so that readers think, ‘Oh, I wonder if there’s a book about them!’ and hopefully go and check it out.

The crucial thing for me is just to have the recurring characters feature when necessary and if there’s a point to it, not just for the sake of squeezing them in! This is also how I introduce characters for future books. They often appear as a side character in one or more books before they get a story of their own. Some readers are very quick to pick up on this and will message me asking if a certain character will be getting a story of their own.

  1. The blurb talks about it being partly about a character who is someone who’s trying to please her superiors but seems desperately lonely. It’s a common occurrence of people wanting to please those above them, but how do you feel this affects a person and those around them?

Another great question!

For this particular character, she’s had a tricky upbringing where she didn’t get the nurture and love she needed as a child. She started working for the business she’s in shortly after leaving school and it gave her life a structure and purpose which she hadn’t really had before. For this reason, more than anything, she became attached to it and felt like she should have loyalty to it as it was the first place she’d really made connections with people – even if they were not all good.

In answer to the question, it’s affected her whole life up until now as she’s trapped in a cycle of wanting to please her superiors in order to get the approval she craves, but not completely convinced what they’re doing is right.

It’s a very tricky situation and one she learns to deal with as the story goes on, though I can’t say too much about that as I don’t want to give spoilers!

 

  1. How did you gel the feelings of the characters, especially Rafe not liking Christmas with this turning around a bit as all converged together, such as them meeting and the festive period upon them without it sounding too twee?

Such great questions! And you are so right in wondering, because often it’s wholly unrealistic for people to suddenly go from hating Christmas to loving it over the course of a few weeks. In Rafe’s case, he’s not a full-on Christmas hater, so he wasn’t too tricky to convert! He’s more of a cynic and he’s kind of let the joy of Christmas slip out of his life, seeing it more as a pointless distraction than something he absolutely hates. His conversion back to being a Christmas lover starts when he meets Tilly, because she’s from a completely different background. Rafe is from a loving family while Tilly grew up without parents in a disrupted childhood setup. When he starts to see Christmas with his family through her eyes, he remembers how magical and what fun it can be.

Hopefully I’ve made it convincing rather than twee!

  1. Do you like Christmas and how do you plan to spend it?

I enjoy Christmas and try to keep it simple and stress free. To me, the joy is more in the build-up than the actual day. I love Christmas events like markets, the pantomime, Santa train, reindeer parades, and even just looking at the decorations in towns and other people’s houses. It’s also lovely to see family and friends, either and parties or just for little visits to hand over presents. My favourite thing is probably decorating the Christmas tree with my husband and son and seeing it twinkling in the corner once it’s done. 🎄

Purchase Link

https://mybook.to/mixupmistletoeAuthor

About the Author

Margaret is a bestselling Scottish author and chocolate lover who has been writing stories for over twenty years (possibly more if you count her primary school efforts). Her early works will never see the light of day and are locked in dusty vaults on some old floppy disks. But after all those years of practise, Margaret released her first novel in 2021. It was the first of a ten-book series set on the gorgeous Scottish Isle of Mull. Margaret is also the author of the acclaimed Glenbriar Series ,based in the fictional Scottish town of Glenbriar. This is an ongoing series with more books coming in 2024 and 2025.The stories are unashamedly romantic, but with lots of drama and an eclectic mix of characters. Each book can be read as a standalone, but followers of the series will enjoy catching up with the characters.

 

#Inteview By Lou with JB Ghuman @jbGhumanJr on Short #Film #PassivePower Soon to be screened at @ASFFest #FilmFestival in the #UK @Tom_Brumpton_PR

Interview with JB Ghuman on short film, Passive Power
coming soon to Aesthetical Film Festival
Conducted by Louise Cannon (Lou)

This is a rather different sort of interview for Bookmarks and Stages, but nonetheless interesting, mixing positive messages with music and having success in a film for Netflix a few years ago, find more about that in the interview. At the end of the interview is a link to a short trailer for PaSSive PoWers.
The music film “paSSive poWers.” By JB Guhman is set to screen at the Aesthetica Film Festival in the UK in November following a successful screening at Awareness Film Festival in LA.
Ghuman is best known for writing/directing the feature film “SPORK” (#1 on Netflix, HBO Award, Tribeca Audience award, BFI London Sutherland Trophy nominee), “The ART oF BEiNG” an experimental feature which premiered as the centrepiece in SUNDANCE & “The CROWN With a SHADOW” an animated film that starred the late great Paul Reubens (Pee Wee, his last work) & Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice of the Spice Girls).
Here’s a quick synopsis and then we will go into the interview with JB Ghuman.

Synopsis

A sonic visual 8K 3D 360 VR collaborative experience aimed at putting focus on the more subtle energies of human coexistence otherwise deemed as meekness. Or as filmmaker / artist JB Ghuman JR has dubbed them, the “paSSive poWers.” Combining breathing / chanting / sensory & cerebral exploration into an immersive cinematic experience. Shot on the incredible 11K Insta360 TITAN Camera.

Passive Power 3Speaking about the film, JB has said:

“In a world of surface based “selves”, I just wanted to make something that focused on what’s beneath it.”


Welcome JB. Ghuman to Bookmarks and Stages…

  1. Why do you think the Self-Help market continues to grow and is so huge?

Oh gosh… I’m not sure to be honest. As an artist / storyteller, I tend to just emote from my own personal place but I’d image the human “existence” is simply a bit similar, so… everyone is just looking for a deeper understanding in general, I’d imagine.

  1. What exactly are “paSSive poWers” and what research and/or prior experience/knowledge did you have to create this?

“paSSive poWers” are those forms of “efforts” we each make within ourselves that otherwise tend to come across as meek yet when in action, takes a lot of strength to actually do. Forgiveness, Compassion, Inward perception & so many more. Sounds fluffy and sweet on paper but in practical life… it’s super hard. For all of us. Esp in the face of other humans who can act otherwise. Argo: it takes a lot of power to be passive. For me at least. Given all research is merely an expression of my own journey while observing others along my way.

  1. You’ve done film, breakdancing, writing. What makes you tick and want to continue down this creative path?

I suppose curiosity. I’ve always been a bit possessed with observation. I guess maybe from there I tend to find new ways to just emote & express. I’ve been writing poems since a toddler. Not that they were any good but… a’dunno. It’s always sort just been my way existing for as long as I can remember, to be honest.

  1. What inspired you to create a video that hits upon the types of words, phrases and actions of the more “traditional” self-help materials that are out there and turn it into something with a more upbeat, eclectic trance sound?

Ha… “traditional self-help” lol. I grew up since my early youth using movement as a form of silent expression. Breakdancing was the start though today it’s kinda morphed into my own personal form of expression of movement. A yank here, a swing there, a vibration made… as long as I’m in sync with the rhythm, then it just feels good. That “feels good” place in my mind is equally an awesome place to think, ponder and rationalize. So, figured I’d curate this film and share such an approach.

  1. Your creation for the video is quite ghostly like, what was the intention behind this?

Unsure to be honest. I’ve always had my own connection to personal “inner space” in sort of ethereal yet haunting way… maybe it reflects out into my work.

  1. You’re bringing “paSSive poWer VR” here to the UK. Where can people see your show and what do you hope audiences will get out of it by the end of it?

Yes, and I’m suuuuper stoked!! My film will be on display for any to jump in and experience from Nov. 6th thru Nov. 10th at The Lab within the Hospitium Museum Gardens. More info can be found at www.ASFF.CO.UK / search paSSive poWer.

  1. One final question… You’ve had work featured on streaming giants, such as Netflix, so people may be familiar with your work. What was that like in-terms of knowing so many people had the opportunity to watch your creation?

Aw, it has felt and still feels… amazing! Like, all ego aside it’s an incredible feeling hearing from random people how this or that made them feel inspired, seen, etc. This lil’rock called Earth we all share has given me so much joy, countless inspiring works and revealed so many beautiful artists to share space with. It’s a nothing but gratitude when I get to give even a thimble back in return.

The trailer for the film can be found here.