Planning for London!

by William Blake

As some of you may know, I was originally planning a trip to the UK for February 2013. Circumstances have changed a countless number of times and I thought I wouldn’t be able to go at all. But, thanks to The American Pavilion Cannes Film Program, I think I’ll be able to make my dream of seeing some of William Blake’s work in person come true (among other dreams of screenwriting, filmmaking, etc.). I’ll be in France for about two weeks, and I hope to tack on a few days in London during my journey back to the States!!!

I’m currently in the process of figuring out my travel arrangements. There are so many different routes to Nice, France, it’s difficult to decide the best way to go. Possibly, I could stop over in New York or Amsterdam or even Paris. I’m hoping my dad (Mr. Globetrotting Lawyer himself) will be able to find me the best deal. Or perhaps I’ll try a travel agent.

The wonderful Naomi Billingsley at The Blake Society sent me a fabulous e-mail detailing all the best ways to see Blake’s work and historical sites in person. She suggested that I make a list of what I want to see, so I’ll be making a number of lists on my blog in an attempt to figure out how to schedule everything into two or three days.

1. The Tate possesses an impressive collection of Blake’s works, but I believe many pieces just returned from Madrid and are not currently on display. I’m hoping that by May this will change. My #1 dream is to see The Ghost of a Flea in person — so I guess I’ll try contacting the Tate and ask them for more information. Naomi pointed out that there are a number of “view by appointment” Blake works at the Tate’s Print Room and that I could make an appointment to see them. I’ll have to browse their online catalogue.
2. The British Museum has some Blake works in their Print Room as well and they are accessible without an appointment.
3. According to Naomi, The Victoria and Albert Museum has four of Blake’s “fresco” paintings on permanent display and a collection of Blake’s watercolors in their Print Room, accessible without an appointment.
4. Naomi also recommended a really amazing page on the Tate’s website detailing Blake historical sites (http://www2.tate.org.uk/williamblake/lambeth/london_intro.html). All these sites seem like they’re in a pretty concentrated area, so I think I’ll be able to see a lot of them!!

From here, I’d like to further explore the museum websites/online resources and figure out how much I can see and what I want to see the most in the few days I’m in London!

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Updates

January 28th

Today, finalized my travel arrangements! On the way from San Francisco to Nice, will be stopping over in Frankfurt. And on the way to London, will be stopping over in Belgium. Will be staying in London for three full days, staying at a decent hotel not far from all the museums and Blake historic sites. Can’t believe this is really happening!!!

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Copyright 2013 by G. E. Gallas

Brief Update

Here is a brief update on my current creative projects and endeavors…!

★ Important Note: “The Poet and the Flea 100 Day Countdown to the Premiere” is underway!! Join us on Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook!

Friday, August 24th

1. Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…
2. Yesterday, received e-mail from Shannon. She has finished the entire first draft of our graphic novel collaboration entitled The First Reich!!! After she does some editing, she’ll be sending me a copy to read — I can’t wait… ヽ(；▽；)ノ

Saturday, August 25th

• Taking a little break…

Sunday, August 26th

1. Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…
2. Received e-mail from a writer interested in collaborating on a children’s book. In the process of scheduling a meeting.
3. Two more Pixel-Flick Alliance meetings have been scheduled — one on September 15th and the other on the 22nd.

Monday, August 27th

1. Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…
2. After some correspondence, have scheduled a meeting with J.R. (jrbiche.wordpress.com) to further discuss his potential web series. Meeting on Monday, September 10th.

Tuesday, August 28th

• Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…

Wednesday, August 29th

1. Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…
2. For Robert Louis Stevenson research, began reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
3. Planning to sign up with OnlineComics.net.
4. Planning to contact Graphic Ladies!? on Tumblr about The Poet and the Flea.

Thursday, August 30th

1. Continued research for The Poet and the Flea.
2. Completed short screenplay The Man Who Never Smiled.
3. E-mail correspondence with potential production company about The Man Who Never Smiled.
4. E-mail correspondence with potential director/producer for Robots Are a Girl’s Best Friend.
5. E-mail correspondence with Brian (Pixel Flick Entertainment). Brian became the new organizer for the meetup.com group “San Francisco Movie Makers,” hoping to get more people interested in the Alliance. Would love to see the Alliance grow!
6. Did not make it to the next round of  The Austin Film Festival Screenplay Contest. As I said before, I just have to keep doing what I’m doing. There are still about 5 more I’m waiting to hear back from. Anything could happen!

Friday, August 31st

1. Working on the script for The Poet and the Flea!
2. E-mail correspondence with potential production company about The Man Who Never Smiled.

Saturday, September 1st - Sunday, September 2nd

1. Taking a little break…
2. Continuing to read Jekyll and Hyde — it’s incredibly different from any adaptation I have come across. Fascinating!
3. Bought a JPLT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N1 textbook from Kinokuniya. Started reviewing the material, and believe it was money well spent. Not sure if I’ll actually take the test, but would be a nice addition to my résumé. If I decide to apply to The JET Programme as a CIR (Coordinator for International Relations), would be very helpful!

JLPT N1 Textbook!!

Monday, September 3rd

1. Continuing work on The Flea…
2. Shannon sent me the entire draft of our graphic novel collaboration, The First Reich. In the process of reading and taking lots of notes. Project will require much period fashion/settings research, but is a welcome challenge!

Tuesday, September 4th

1. Today, I found out some exciting news. I hadn’t realized that anything was announced since I received no e-mail. But I checked the Kaos Films website, and lo and behold. My screenplay Death Is No Bad Friend is one of 292 qualifiers (semi-finalists) in the Kaos Films British Short Screenplay Competition 2012. (This means my script will most likely be read by judge Sir Kenneth Branagh!!) The finalists should be announced sometime around January. Awesome!
2. Continuing work on The Flea and The First Reich.
3. E-mail correspondence with potential director/producer for Robots Are a Girl’s Best Friend.
4. Finished reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I think it was a good experience. Next, thinking of reading The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells.
5. By the way, I’ve just developed a new, little obsession with bats. Just look at their faces below!!  (゜▽゜;) Perhaps I’ll eventually develop a comic or children’s book with a protagonist named “Fluffernutter the Bat”™?

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these bat photographs!!

Etcetera

• The Poet and the Flea: 45 pages of written script (1 page of script = 4-6 illustrated pages), and about 36 pages (1-18, 21-23, 27-30 completed, and 19-20, 24-26, 31-36 in progress) of illustrated work.

To Do:

• Meeting with writer for children’s book on Monday, September 10th (noon).
• Meeting with J.R. on Monday, September 10th (2 p.m.).
• Schedule one-on-one meeting with Brian (Pixel Flick Entertainment).
• Pixel-Flick Alliance Meetup on Saturday, September 15th.
• Pixel-Flick Networking Event on Saturday, September 22nd.
• Work on research, character sketches, etc. for Shannon.
• Schedule second meeting with Shannon.
• Sign up with IMDbPro.
• Apply to the Bluecat Screenplay Competition (before October 15th).
• Sign up with Top Web Comics: Comic Rankings.
• Sign up with OnlineComics.net.
• Contact Graphic Ladies!?

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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.

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Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas