Writing 29 pages of a screenplay per month #1: A sporting finish and may the force be with you

The screen-writing part of the 29 challenge is probably the hardest part for me. It’s not that I don’t enjoy screen-writing, it’s something I've always wanted to do, but it’s just finding the time to sit down and write.  And this month was one week shorter as I started the challenge on the 11^th, so I'm even more pleased that I got the pages written!

This month has been a bit unconventional with writing 29 pages. Around the middle of August I started writing a web series called Team Talk Something or Nothing, which is a sports show with a twist. It’s an idea that I first had at uni, but then the format and title just didn't work, so I scrapped the idea. Years later I start thinking about it again, change the format, the title and style and it starts to flow. Before October I had written ¾ of the series, so it was a case of writing additional episodes and extending others to meet the page limits I set. Of course nothing is perfect on the first draft (except Erin Brockovich, which the version they use in the film is the first draft), so I'm going to leave it a month or so and then look at it again with fresh eyes. I’d already started making notes on how to improve it, but I thought if I keep tweaking it, then I’ll never get a first draft complete.

The second part of the screenplay writing this month is for one of my uni friends, who will discover in a few days that I have written a couple of short scripts to do with Star Wars. Why Star Wars? Well my friend shares his name with an up and coming actor who has been cast in the new Star Wars film. 

The actor is also in the series Girls, so whenever that show is aired, my friend gets more twitter followers. With references from our uni course, and an unusual travel guide I'm sure my friend will find it entertaining. 

New film #3: Teaching life lessons

Tuesdays with Morrie is a great memoir given to me by my best friend Alice. We both loved the book, and it made us a bit emotional as well. Months ago I stumbled across the film listed on my tivo, and we both thought that the film was worth a watch. So tonight we finally watched it.

The book and film is about Mitch Albom who reconnects with his college professor Morrie Schwartz, in the last few months of his life. They hadn’t seen each other in a long time, but it was if no time had passed in their relationship. The film explores both their lives and Morrie teaches Mitch life lessons that can’t be taught in a class room.

It was a great adaptation of the book, and had me weeping around the 1 hour mark. Alice on the other hand needed a box of tissues for half the film! It makes you realise how important your teachers past and present are. I graduated in 2008, and ever since once or twice a year I email my shorthand teacher to tell her all that’s been happening to me and my course mates. This film reminded me it’s time to contact her again. Have you kept in contact with any of your old teachers?

New film #2: The random journey to the end of the world

For my 2^nd new film to watch, I watched with my friend Kayleigh; Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. We usually watch Rom-Coms, so it was a change of style for us.

The film starred Steve Carrell and Keira Knightley and was about the world ending in 21 days due to an asteroid called Matilda hitting earth. Rash decisions are made at the start of the film, when Carrell’s wife leaves him and many quit their jobs, and Knightley misses the last flight home to see her family.

What followed is a calmer journey to the end of the world, albeit with random characters along the way. The film was quirky, and in some ways confusing as to what the film was aiming to do, but I guess if the world was really going to end then you thought trail would be quite random! Keira Knightley and Steve Carrell, although you wouldn't think it work well as a pairing. And there were great cameos from Connie Britton and Martin Sheen as well. We are learnt that there are quite a few British named places in America, who knew there's a Somerset over the pond?! It certainly got me thinking which friends I would like with me if the world was going to end. Who would you like by your side?

Learn a phrase in a different language #1: It’s all Greek to me

As I've said previously in this blog I did journalism at uni. So it only seems fitting that one of my course mates would teach me the first phrase in a different language.

I’d like to introduce to you my friend Hayley; she’s the one on the left in the picture. At uni we gave each other the nickname of ‘journo rock’, as we’d send each other our articles for proof reading, and to see if we were making sense or rambling rubbish. She also got engaged recently to Jonathan, so this phrase seems fitting.

So the phrase is 'I love you' in Greek, which  is Σ 'αγαπώ and Hayley learnt it from a lovely lady when she was in Greece. You need to think sack of poo when you say it. And for a bonus part of the phrase if you want to say I love you very much, it’s sag a po poli.

Phrase one done and dusted, and with my auntie being from Chile and work colleagues from Singapore, Bulgaria, Brazil and Greece, there’s going to be a lot of variety!

Try new foods #4 and #5: The flying cheek of it

I’m a big fan of Australian MasterChef, forget the British one, the Australian one has bigger challenges and better food! Recently they had a challenge that involved cooking pigeon, and when booking a work dinner I saw pigeon was on the menu, so of course I had to try it. The picture isn't great, but it tasted pretty good. The meat was firm but not too chewy, and was perfect size for a starter.

For my main course I had Ox cheek, and my phone was playing up so no picture of it I'm afraid. It tasted great; the meat was very soft and flaky. With the gravy that went with it being quite rich, this meant I got full quite quickly. Next time I won’t be having two meat courses, but will definitely have both meats again.

I ate at The Tickell Arms, which is a great pub restaurant in Whittlesford near Cambridge. Let me know if you've tried any unusual meats, and what ones I should try next.

New film #2 and New food #3: Judgement popcorn

In the final part of celebrating my birthday twice, I went to see The Judge; starring Robert Downey Jr and Robert Duvall. It’s a film about a city lawyer (Downey Jr) going back to his home town to represent his dad (Duvall) who is the town judge and suspected of murder. It was nearly 2 and half hours long, but the film didn't drag at all. The film also explored family relationships and how they can sometimes be complex. There were good solid performances from all the cast, so I wouldn't be surprised if it comes up at award season. One thing though that my friend Jen said, the first 10 minutes or so, although shot well did feel like a car advert!

To go with the film I tried Worcester sauce and Sun Dried Tomato popcorn. If you like a bit of heat in your popcorn, then it’s for you. And eat throughout the film, if you eat this popcorn all at once then you mouth maybe on fire!

Reconnecting #2: Quorn

When it came to food at uni, I had it sussed in the first year, as I was on the catered package which meant having 2 meals a day at the student canteen, and I worked there for 2 semesters so I got extra free food as well.  Meaning I barely had to cook.

In 2^nd year however I was cautious when it came to cooking. I could cook, but my mum was always somewhere in the house to check if I cooked meat through. Obviously my mum wasn’t at uni with me, so to save the risk of getting food poisoning I had Quorn throughout my 2^nd year! Strangely I haven’t had any since until my friend Jen cooked a Quorn family roast yesterday.

Quorn still tastes the same, but my cooking skills have advanced so I have more meat options for meals. Did you have any unusual cooking habits at uni?