#EdFringe #Interview By Lou with Julie Lake and Annie MacLeod about their show #ForgetMeNot #wildflowershow @julie__lake @anniemacleod @GreensideVenue

Interview By Lou with Julie Lake and Annie MacLeod
of Forget Me Not

Welcome to Bookmarks and Stages to talk about your fascinating show, Forget Me Not, which you’re performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

If you’ve ever watched Orange Is The New Black, then Julie Lake would be a familiar name. Since then she’s been more a creator of work on-screen and in music.
Annie MacLeod is and award-winning music and songwriter.
Together, they talk about their show Forget Me Not, motherhood, being in their 40’s and re-inventing themselves and more…
Here’s the synopsis of Forget Me Not. You can find the Edinburgh Fringe link to their show at the end of the interview.

Synopsis

Orange is the New Black’s Julie Lake and songwriter Annie Macleod join forces in Forget-Me-Not, a true story of motherhood, lost love and hauntings set to original music and heart-exploding harmonies. Two estranged childhood best friends reconnect in midlife – both mothers, stifled by traditional roles and longing for more creative freedom, adventure, sexual liberation and a deeper sense of self. Through storytelling and song, they rediscover the power of their bond, finding the healing and freedom they’ve been searching for all along. A moving, magical celebration of motherhood, creativity, resilience and the transformative power of female friendship.

Now, let’s check out he interesting answers they gave about their show and more…

Julie Lake: Who or what inspired you to act and how have you seen your career progress from being in the successful, Orange is the New Black?

I caught the acting bug at five—I wanted to be wild and expressive, but also connect with people in a way I couldn’t offstage. I was shy, secretive, and terrified of revealing too much. Writing used to scare me—I thought it might expose me as crazy or stupid. But since Orange is the New Black, I’ve shifted into creating my own work: pilots, screenplays, music—and now a live play. Turns out, sharing my inner world isn’t fatal. Just… occasionally awkward.

Annie MacLeod: You’re an award-winning music and songwriter. What or whom inspired you to take this career path?

I’ve loved music and theater since high school – Julie and I performed together as teenagers, and I always dreamed of being on Broadway or performing as a musician. But I took a different path, became a nurse practitioner, and poured myself into caregiving and motherhood. For years, I made music in the cracks of my life, stealing moments when I could. But once my kids were out of the baby phase, I had this wake-up call—like, what happened to my dreams? I knew I needed to reclaim them. Our play tells the story of that transformation.

Julie Lake: The play explores motherhood and the complex privilege and joy surrounding this. How would you describe the complications and what is it about this that makes it important to highlight?

When I became a mom, I slipped into a role that didn’t feel like me. I’d been a lifelong artist—filming a pilot at eight months pregnant that got into SXSW. But after my son was born (and then Covid hit), I disappeared into nonstop caregiving. I cried if I left him for an hour. I was secretly writing music, but had lost the courage to share it. I thought it was all over. Annie helped me find myself again. She saw me when I couldn’t. My song “Oldest Friend” says it best: “Be my witness when the fog becomes too thick, when I can’t see beyond these lines. Tell me something, that you see in these dry bones, when my worn heart has lost its shine.”

Annie MacLeod: How did you come up with lyrics and music to convey the complexities of motherhood, so the story really penetrates into you audiences? There’s a song in the show called The Sacrifice that poured out of me during a time I was reckoning with how my own mother’s pain shaped my experience of motherhood. My dad left when I was a baby, and my mom—who struggled with depression—sacrificed everything to raise me. But in the process, she gave up her own desires, her light. I grew up thinking I had to shine bright enough for the both of us. That sadness, that ghost of unfulfilled womanhood, made its way into how I mothered. Writing Sacrifice was the only way I could process it—through poetry and music. The song helped me turn something generational and heavy into something healing.
“I am your lifeline, but I’m not drowning too. You say, I come from you. Oh, I come from you.”
That’s what I want to offer my kids—and maybe the audience too.

Julie Lake: What is your acting process to convey the theme of grief of futures so the audience can feel something of what you feel and get the point across about this?

Honestly, I just hope I can get through the show without crying too much. I want the audience to really hear the story and feel their own feelings—not mine. So while I’m performing, I’m often trying to hold back. The truth is, there’s no way to fully explain in words or tears the depth or duration of what Annie and I went through. All we can do is tell the truth of what happened and trust the audience to connect it to their own experiences. And the songs do a lot of the emotional work for us, too – they’re really the emotional landscape of this show.

6 . Julie and Annie Re-invention is a big and fully loaded theme running through the musical. How complicated do you think it is to re-invent yourself in your 40’s, what are the positives and the challenges?

Both of us made big shifts in midlife—Annie left her career as a nurse practitioner to pursue music full-time, and Julie leaned into song-writing and performing her own music for the first time at 40. Doing this as mothers was especially hard. Our culture treats anything outside caretaking or earning money as selfish—but it’s not. Reclaiming your wholeness, your voice, your creativity, is one of the best gifts you can give your kids. It’s modelling. We want our children to see what it looks like to live in alignment, not abandon yourself. That’s not selfish—it’s brave, and it’s deeply loving.

Julie and Annie: What do you hope the audience will gain from watching your show?

We hope audiences—especially mothers—leave our show feeling seen, inspired, and reminded of their creative spark. Forget-Me-Not is a love letter to the parts of ourselves that get buried in caregiving, shame, and self-doubt. We want women to feel less alone in their struggles and more empowered to reclaim their voices and dreams.

We’re also launching workshops and women’s circles specifically for Artist Mothers—to keep this conversation going beyond the stage. It’s about building a community where creativity and motherhood can coexist.

Are you an Artist Mother too? Start here to join the tribe: https://annie-wtb3mkl5.scoreapp.com/

Julie and Annie: What inspired you to take your musical to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and what are you excited most about?

Julie: I’d always wanted to go to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, but I thought that ship had sailed, that I was too old. But when we started to conceive of this show, it just came to me again, that we could apply at least? And then when we got in I flipped out, I’d have to leave my babies to do it, face so many fears, play my music for people for the first time, but I knew in my gut it was the right next step for us. And I know we would have never made this show without the looming deadline of the fringe. It was too hard, too much work, too emotionally taxing, I mean we did 30 drafts, composed 6 songs, staged the play in NYC with our magnificent director, Peter Cook (Never Sleep Alone). I’m so proud of this show that we’ve created, and whatever else happens at the Fringe is just gravy at this point.

Forget-Me-Not runs August 1–9 at Greenside @ George Street 11:40AM.

Tickets to the show: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/forget-me-not

Where can people follow you on social

Artist Mother Quiz/ Join the tribe!: https://annie-wtb3mkl5.scoreapp.com/

Wildflowers Website: https://wildflowersshow.com/

Julie Lake Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie__lake?igsh=ZTVocWF1NHpzZDVm&utm_source=qr

Annie Macleod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anniemacleod?igsh=MWp2ZmpwN29zOTZrMw%3D%3D

Wildflowers Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thewildflowershow/?igsh=bWo0MXlzZXJmazB5&utm_source=qr#

Julie Lake TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@julie__lake?_t=ZT-8yNvJCdWAiD&_r=1

#Interview by Lou – What does Comedian, Robyn Perkins and Psychologist, Dr. Keenan have in common? Free #EdFringe show – Shrink Wrapped A Psychologist Analysis Live On Stage. @CountingHouseEd @lhcomedy #WhatsOnEdinburgh #ShrinkWrapped #Comedy #Psychology #RobynPerkins #DrCarolyneKeenan #ComedyForTheCurious #LifeHacks

Interview hosted by Louise Cannon with Comedian, Robyn Perkins
and Psychologist, Dr. Carolyne Keenan
Shrink Wrapped: A Psychologist Analysis Live On Stage

Comedy For The Curious – Shrink Wrapped
The Lounge at Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
31 Jul – 24 Aug 20:45
1 hour

Welcome, Robyn Perkins and Dr. Carolyne Keenan to Bookmarks and Stages.
Thank you for your time in answering all my questions in an in-depth, fascinating manner.

Robyn Perkins is a multi-award winning comedian with hit shows such as Comedy for the Curious. She is said to like investigating life. She tackles big emotionally charged subjects and brings it back to the audience with relatable humour and anecdotes.

Dr. Carolyne Keenan is a fully-qualified, licenced, registered psychologist who is founder and clinical director @ Lotus Psychology Ltd. She has also featured on BBC Radio 1 in programmes such as the popular, Life Hacks, The Independent, Psychology Today and more…

The idea of bringing comedians on-stage together in a group therapy type of scenario, with a psychologist really analysing them, sounds a fascinating and original show. It’s a pleasure to interview you both about this, covering what you hope audiences will get from this, what psychologists really think of clients and so much more… The answers truly are fascinating and insightful.
Firstly, we will check out the synopsis and then on to the Q&A before details on where you can catch Shrink Wrapped in Edinburgh.

Ever been deep in a therapy session and gone: I want to know what the hell she’s thinking? Well now’s your chance… with comedians in the hot seat. Join award-winning comedian Robyn Perkins and real-life psychologists (Dr Ruchi Sinha, Dr Carolyne Keenan or Dr Edel McGlanaghy) for the most entertaining therapy session you’ll ever witness. Guest comedians perform their best material, before submitting themselves to gentle psychological probing in front of a live audience. Don’t worry, we’ve got more safe words than a BDSM convention.

Without further ado, let’s begin with the questions I have for you:

Robyn, What gave you the idea to have a comedy show around the topic of therapy and then add in real psychologists into the mix?

It actually started in Adelaide when I had one of our psychologists on Comedy for the Curious (my science comedy panel show, also in Edinburgh). During the show, the psychologist (Dr. Ruchi Sinha) just read all of the comedian guests, from a psychological point of view. After the show, we chatted about how that would make an incredible show on its own, and the raw idea was born. From there, I have developed the idea into a full-blown panel show, developing the structure into what it is today.

Dr. Keenan, how did you become involved in this show and how is it being in the mix of a comedy show and at the same time giving your psychological opinion in front of a live audience?

I was invited to be part of Shrink Wrapped because I had already been a guest expert on Robyn’s show Comedy for the Curious. We had been working together for a while when Robyn came up with the concept for Shrink Wrapped. I’ve always believed psychology shouldn’t just stay in clinic rooms or textbooks, it should be part of everyday life. When Robyn described the show and the concept of combining comedy with psychological insights, I thought it was brilliant.

Being part of a comedy show is exciting and I love meeting all the comedians. It’s different from my therapy work but it uses the same skills- listening deeply, noticing patterns, and reflecting back what I hear. The difference is that on stage, we’re exploring these insights with humour, warmth, and openness in front of a live audience. I love that it makes psychology accessible and fun, while also highlighting the very real human truths that comedy often touches on.

Dr. Keenan, can you give an example of what do psychologists think of their clients, since that is a little of what’s billed in the show that makes it sound so interesting?

People often wonder what psychologists really think about their clients. The reality is, we’re human and often I’m thinking very similar things to what you might be:

“I wish they could see how great they are.”
“They really need to get rid of this idiot, they’d be so much happier.”
“I wish they would focus less on how much their favourite influencer has helped them and give the sessions we have been having some credit!”

In Shrink Wrapped, the audience gets a playful glimpse into how psychologists analyse behaviour and language. For example, a comedian might make a joke about not feeling good enough growing up and I might explore whether that contributed to their attraction to a job where they are constantly seeking immediate and positive approval from an audience. It’s done with kindness and humour though, not judgement, which is what makes it so engaging.

Robyn, Shrink Wrapped has done hugely well at the Adelaide Fringe having sell-out shows. What can people in Edinburgh expect and what do you hope they take away with them at the end of the show?

The concept of Shrink Wrapped seems to intrigue most people, but I think it is the structure behind it that gives the show it’s depth. I have worked with a few psychologists to refine a list of topics we explore across the shows (eg. Conflict, Trust, Romantic Relationships, etc.). Each show tackles a few of the topics in a group therapy session between 3 comedians and a psychologist.

Because the discussion is based in real therapy concepts, the show inherently flips between serious and funny, emotional and light hearted. Equally, I have chosen comedians who are, by nature, quite vulnerable on stage so the chat will occasionally reach emotional moments. However, with 3 comedians on stage at one time, this also means we are desperate to crack a joke if it gets too intense. It is the ebb and the flow of these moments that really makes the show special.

Additionally, since we are talking about real events and real people, we have found that audiences relate to at least one of the comedians on stage, in an ‘I do that’ or ‘that’s me’ kind of way. We are hoping that this can also spark conversations about mental health in a positive and fun way. I know using humour to explore mental health is not a new concept, but watching 3 comedians talk about their mental health in the form of a live therapy session is new territory we are excited to be exploring.

This year in Edinburgh, we are doing the Free Fringe (free entry with donations after the show), and while you cannot book ahead, based on feedback we have had about the show, we are expecting to be just as busy as Adelaide.

Dr. Keenan, what do you hope the audience will have learnt and take away with them by the end of the show?

I hope the audience leaves with:

A sense of relief – realising we all have quirks and struggles, and humour can be a brilliant way to explore them.
A new curiosity about themselves and others – understanding that behaviour always makes sense when you look deeper.
A feeling of connection – seeing comedians open up about their lives helps us feel less alone in our own messy human experiences.

Ultimately, I want people to feel entertained, uplifted, and inspired to reflect on their own lives with more compassion and humour.

For both Dr. Keenan and Robyn, how did you convince 8 comedians to be on stage doing some form of group therapy with 3 psychologists present. Was this an easy or hard task to do?

Dr. KEENAN: I think comedians are naturally curious and brave, they’re used to being vulnerable on stage and they quite like talking about themselves! When they realised this show wasn’t about picking them apart but about exploring their material and personalities in a fun, supportive way, they were on board.

Also, Robyn’s energy and the framing of the show as “science comedy” rather than “group therapy” helped. It wasn’t about fixing them – it was about exploring some of their material through a psychological lens. That made it feel safe and exciting rather than threatening.

ROBYN PERKINS: Similar to what Dr. Keenan has said – as a comedian we love talking about ourselves! But more than that, comedians are curious by nature. I have been overwhelmed by the number of comedians who have asked to be on the show. It’s been fantastic! No convincing necessary!

For both Robyn and Dr. Keenan, what did you both learn from doing this type of show that you would take forward into your careers moving forward and would you do something similar again in the future?

Dr. KEENAN: For me, it reinforced how powerful humour is in making psychological concepts accessible. People learn best when they’re engaged and laughing. I also learnt that psychology belongs everywhere – not just therapy rooms but in arts, media, and entertainment. I regularly take part in BBC Radio One’s Sunday evening show Life Hacks where we take topics that impact the listeners and explore the psychology behind them. We often have call in questions so I’m comfortable thinking on my feet and making these insights accessible and actionable but doing it in front of a live audience on stage has helped me practice those skills and feel even more comfortable with it.

I’d absolutely love to do something similar again. Bringing psychology to audiences in creative ways is something I’m deeply passionate about, and Shrink Wrapped has been a perfect example of how that can work- long may the show continue!

ROBYN PERKINS: I have learned I probably need to do more therapy! I have actually learned a lot about myself, both from comments about me and my set, but I’ve also learned things from watching others. I am hoping this show continues far into the future.

What made you choose Edinburgh Fringe for Shrink Wrapped and what are your plans for where this show can go next?

I go to the Fringe every year, and do the global festival circuit, so it was a no brainer to bring it to EdFringe! Through at least December, we are performing monthly at Top Secret Comedy Club in London at the moment. We will bring the show back to Australia next year. But also, we are looking to potentially start touring the show around theatres and the rest of the UK. The possibilities are endless!

Where can people follow you on social media?

Dr. CAROLYNE KEENAN

You can find me on Instagram @drcarolynekeenan

Linked In (2) Dr Carolyne Keenan | LinkedIn

My website is www.carolynekeenan.co.uk

ROBYN PERKINS

www.robynperkins.com

Instagram @robynHperkins

Further Details about Shrink Wrapped:

Shrink Wrapped – A Psychologist Analysis of Comedians Live On Stage

#Interview By Lou with director, writer, producer, actor, musician Brandon Bernath about short film, Illionaire @brandon_bernath @Tom_Brumpton_PR #Films #Movies #Music #Illionaire

Today, I have the privilege of interviewing Brandon Bernath about new short film/music, Illionaire. It has been screened as part of the Dallas International Film Festival and at SXSW London. We also talk about inspiration, influences and what he is doing next, which sounds an exciting opportunity with his band, THE ABOMIC TOMS, which have featured on the BBC. Their most recent single, “RUN” landed placement in Amazon Prime’s hit new action/drama series, “Motorheads”. There are also links at the end for how you can see the film…

Brandon Bernath an accomplished writer, director, actor, producer, and musician based out of Los Angeles.

He has appeared in films such as “Queen Of Manhattan” alongside Rainey Qualley, (“Delilah”), Taryn Manning (“Orange Is The New Black”), & Drea de Matteo (“The Sopranos”) and “Shot In The Dark” with Jacqueline Toboni (“Grimm”), Austin Hebert (“Jack Reacher: Never Go Back”) and more…
Brandon was nominated for Best Actor at the 2017 CineFashion Film Awards for his role in the comedy short “The Selfie That Changed The World”.

He has been recognized in numerous publications for his work, including Rolling Stone Magazine NPR, & American Songwriter Magazine. He has collaborated with major brands and companies such as,L’Agence, Choose Love, Warner Records and more…
Brandon’s next project includes creating a series of shorts for the online fashion brand Vague Studios.

So, without further ado, let’s get down to business with the interview.

Brandon Bernath, who or what inspired you to become a director writer, producer, actor and musician and how do you manage to pull all those passions and talents together to make them work for you?

BB: I am a director, writer, producer, actor, and musician. I fell into acting at a young age and then pursued my studies in college and then law school. Coming back into acting 7 years later was a big struggle and forced me to create my own projects to star in, which led me to pursue more directing and producing opportunities. I am a project based artist. I find it easy to multitask in the mediums of art. Whatever the project is I find it natural to pivot to another medium if needed.

Your latest film, Illionaire follows rising New York rock and roll musician, Zoe Fromer and 3 demons in pursuit of Illionaire. How did you come to calling it Illionaire?

BB: Illionaire is the title of Zoe’s song.

The first time we see Illionaire, he is like a comic book character/hero in look and the way he acts. What inspired this characterisation?

BB: I have a deep desire to create real life looney tune characters that are relatable. I am deeply influenced by American genre films and American aesthetics.

You play with surrealism and humour in the acting that then turns into a rock music video like in feel and look. How did you arrive at the decision of this genre to play out the storyline?

BB: The genre is a surrealist comedy with sci-fi elements. I feel that is my aesthetic that I am exploring at the moment; a larger than life absurdist viewpoint based on American tropes, like greasers, burgers, fast cars, shiny colors, and rock and roll.

What is next for you and your very varied career?

BB: I am writing, directing, and producing more short content for fashion brands. I am finishing a feature script, and getting ready to open up for Billy Idol and Joan Jett at the kia forum in September with my band THE ABOMIC TOMS

Where can people watch Illionaire and where can they follow you?

BB: Here is my instagram https://www.instagram.com/brandon_bernath/.
Here is a link to the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVobflw1UZY&list=RDzVobflw1UZY&start_radio=1

#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!

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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…

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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/