When Lisa Stock agreed to be interviewed for my blog, A Southern Missive, I was ecstatic, and I have to say that she provided a superior in-depth interview. This talented and beautiful lady is a filmmaker, writer and actress working in the mythic arts.  She pulls her stories from a varied background of theater, film, and anthropology. She is the author of the novella The Sun, and the online Victorian allegory Through the Cobweb Forest with artist Connie Toebe.  Her films include: The Medisaga Trilogy, The Silent Nick and Nora, and Brother and Sister.  When not writing or making films she loves to bake and dance flamenco.  She lives online at http://www.inbytheeye.com/ and lives offline in New York City.  Here are my questions and her responses.

1) When in your life did you know you would be a filmmaker?

I was about four!  Watching the Wizard of Oz every year on television captured my imagination.  And I remember asking once when I was very young, what it was – this colorful, musical, frightening tale come to life in a little box in my living room?  My dad told me it was a movie – that they made them in Hollywood and I could do that too.  I never looked backed.

So, your love of film has been lifelong?

Pretty much.  Especially the fantasy and mythic films.  Anything Jim Henson did, I wanted to be a part of.  I love the scope, the movement, and being visually swept away.

2) Your site describes you as a filmmaker in the mythic arts. Describe what is meant by  “mythic arts.”

All of my work is heavily influenced by fairy tales and mythology.  Not only that I use the characters from these famous tales – but also the themes.  Take for instance, the classic Hero’s journey of “separation, initiation and return” – in The Medisaga Trilogy I’ve given that journey to a heroine, Titania, and it will take her through many of the archetypes and lessons that the great classic heroes of mythology went through, such as a trip to the Underworld, a rebirth, and healing.

3) You have several films to your credit. Tell me a little about the films you’ve completed and are working on now.

1. TITANIA – Part 1 of The Medisaga Trilogy, a tale of healing and forgiveness. The trilogy is a retelling of the fairy tale of the Armless Maiden through Shakespeare’s timeless queen, as well as other characters from Midsummer and Greek mythology.  This is my first feature.  Although we’ve shot one scene already, the film is technically in pre-production.  We’ll be shooting again this Fall with production going through next year.  There are several Titania videos to view on the official site at: http://www.titaniafilm.com/

2. Brother & Sister – A tale of transformation.  This is a short film adaptation of both the traditional fairy tale and Terri Windling’s poem of the same name.  This film will be posted to the internet by end of July.  Trailer is available to view on the website at: http://www.inbytheeye.com/BrotherandSister.html

3. The Silent Nick and Nora – A short film noir set in a magic realist world that reimagines detectives Nick and Nora Charles (The Thin Man) in a city of tattoos, compulsions and crimes of the heart.  We’re hoping this film will air on cable in the NY area soon, and will be posted to the internet probably by year’s end.  Both trailers are available to view on the official website at: http://www.silentnickandnora.com/

4. The Sunflower and the Sun God – The myth of Clytie and Apollo told in a mixed media short film.  Entire film available to view on IMDB at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1366957/

4) What advice would you give those thinking of making films? Is there a certain progression/order of steps to follow?

I think of myself as a storyteller first with film being my medium of choice.  I’m a visual storyteller.  I would ask anyone who is thinking of making a film – Why choose film?  Is it the only way to tell your story, is the best way to tell your story, is it the way in your heart to tell your story?  If they say yes – then wonderful!  Stay true to yourself – you’ll find your audience.  That’s one of the best things about the internet – those who share your love of a particular genre, style, or story can find you even if they’re halfway around the world.

What jobs have you had in the film business that helped you gain skills or understand your craft? Is there a book you’d recommend?

I graduated from the Hunter College (CUNY) film program at a time when we were still cutting and splicing film negative (ha!).  But I’ve had an education in the digital age through working in an editing dept at an events company, and on the edit system I have on my computer at home.  A lot of it has been trial and error.  But I’d really recommend an internship, or a P.A. job for those just starting out  – you learn so much outside the classroom and on an actual set.  Go make a movie!

Rather than a book to recommend, I would tell those interested to watch the behind the scenes features on their dvds.  I shoot everything outdoors. I love to shoot in nature!  Three behind the scenes features that have taught me a lot are from: a Brazilian film called The House of Sand, a Russian film called Russian Ark, and any of the commentaries on Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.  Filmmaking is a team effort – truly.  You must be able to work with other people.  If you’re outdoors in 25 degree January weather with three script pages to shoot before you lose your light at 4pm, you’ve got to be able to work together to get it done!

5) Where can my readers find some reviews of your films?

Faezine – http://faezine.com – The Titania Journals
Dantes Heart Journal of Myth – http://dantesheart.blogspot.com/2008/12/titania-first-scene.html

My work will also be featured in the Fall ‘09 issue of Faerie Magazine.  Do check out the website press page for more articles coming out later in the year!

6) What schools would you recommend for filmmakers?  What regular college classes are good for those interested in filmmaking?

Other than the practical courses in filmmaking – I really loved my film history and theory classes.  These gave me a whole new perspective on story telling through film, and what you can accomplish narratively and visually with film.  It’s a relatively young art form when placed next to, say, theater.  The earliest filmmakers grabbed a hold of this medium and experimented in so many ways.  I think that spirit is wonderful and contagious and probably why film has advanced so far in just a little over a hundred years, and who knows where it will go in the next hundred…

7) Tell me about your creative process?

I never know where my inspiration will come from, but once it does, I dive into the deep end.  I have a tendency to work “backward” from most filmmakers.  I will bring my cast on very early and cater rewrites to them.  (My cast for The Medisaga Trilogy has been with me since 2006.)  Scenes will play out in my head, I’ll scribble down lines of dialogue, and collect images that inspire me.  I put them all in a folder, do a lot of brainstorming, carry it around in my head and heart for a year or so and then one weekend I’ll sit down at the computer and it will all come spilling out of me into a script.  That script will, without doubt , go through several revisions – but I don’t count my drafts like some writers do.  Sometimes I’ll just change one line, sometimes I’ll change 20 pages, or cut a character out entirely.  When it’s done, I’ll know.  But things will also change during rehearsals, shooting, and editing.  A film has many “lives.”

For me, actors and crew are also storytellers.  As a director, I know exactly what I want – but I like to give cast/crew room to breath – be artists and have some freedom when bringing a role to life, or shooting a scene.   Otherwise, if I had only let them do it as I saw fit, I may have missed out on a brilliant spark of inspiration on their part.  My job as a director is bringing them to a place where they feel confident and comfortable with the material, with me, and each other to let their own creative ideas come through.  All of my stories are deeply personal, but I also hope each cast member, crew member, and audience member will find their own story in my films too.

On the Titania film page there’s a behind the scenes documentary which gives you a glimpse of our creative process.

8. Please tell me all about your acting experience and thoughts on acting in films like yours as well.

I’ve been an actress for over 30 years.  I sometimes write a small role for myself in my films too.  It’s just too much fun!  (That’s me playing Nora in The Silent Nick and Nora, and I’ll also be in The Medisaga Trilogy).

But I’m glad you asked this question – particularly in relation to the fantasy genre.  When casting – I always call those in for auditions who have had the strongest theater training.  Film and theater acting are entirely different – but I look for those who are comfortable with formal language and body movement, and find theater trained actors to have the broadest imaginations.  They have to – they have little extemporaneously to work with on a stage.  So, although they will pull in their voices, and restrain their movements a bit for a camera close-up – story wise, theater experience gives them an ability to make fantasy very real.  I like to rehearse a lot  before going on set too.  I want the actors to be as comfortable as possible with their character’s extraordinary situations, and play them real.  When you have a story that is so “fantastic”, if your actors overplay it, the audience won’t believe it.  Fantasy film lovers are sophisticated people, yet willing to suspend their disbelief and walk into the world you’ve created without question.  But they still look for integrity and sincerity.  And those are the two things I put at the top of my filmmaking list no matter how far away from reality the story drifts.

Here is a shot of Lisa Stock in the new beautiful Greek & Roman art hall at the Metropolitan Museum Art. April 2009.

Lisa Stock at MMA April 2009

The CD of original songs is progressing. My friend and co-founding member of Angus Dubhghall, Tom McCandlish, is going beyond the call of duty to help me get this done. Not only is he recording me playing guitar (and some bass) and singing my songs, he has graciously consented to sing some of my songs himself. As Tom is the best vocalist I’ve ever worked with in the many bands I’ve been a member of, I was flattered that he would help me out. His will be the voice you’ll hear on what will likely be my first song on Youtube and iTunes: The 6th Street Blues.  Here are the lyrics:

6th Street Blues by Rickey E. Pittman

I’ll tell you a story
About a man you might know,
Lost in the city,
And lost in the cold,
Hangover misery,
Whiskey and gin,
Left-over heartbreaks
And memories and sins.

CHORUS 1
He sang Blues,
Please don’t leave me,
I can’t be alone tonight.
Blues,
Please don’t leave me,
You said you’d be there till I died.

I once met a woman,
Out late one night,
6th Street in Austin,
In dim neon light,
Heart-aching lonely
Sad music that they played,
She pulled me closer
And this is what she said,

CHORUS 2
She said, Please,
Please don’t leave me,
I can’t be alone tonight.
Please,
Please don’t leave me,
Stay until the morning light.

He might be a legend,
He might be a ghost,
He might be homeless,
But he paid the blues the most.
He’ll wake in some alley,
Behind some dark bar,
Broken and broken,
With too many scars.

CHORUS 3
He’ll sing Blues,
Please don’t leave me,
I can’t be alone tonight.
He’ll sing, Blues,
Please don’t leave me,
You said you’d be there till I died.

This afternoon, I was watching Bolt with my grandson. Bolt tells the story of the canine star of a fictional sci-fi/action show.  The dog (whose voice is John Travolta) believes his powers are real and he embarks on a cross country trek to save his co-star (Penny) from a threat he believes is just as real as the show he stars in and the character he portrays. This song by Jenny Lewis is part of the sound track and I was so impressed with the song that I decided to try to add this upbeat song to my children’s programs somehow. Lewis is an actress and musician. Her website is here:

From Bolt Lyrics for “Barking at the Moon”(There Is No Home Like the One You Got) by Jenny Lewis

I have got so much to give,
I swear I do,
I may not have nine lives,
But this one feels brand new.

Yes, I’ve lived a good one
I have tried to be true
There are some things
I never realized,
Till I met you.

How the wind feels on my cheeks,
When I’m barking at the moon,
There is no home like the one you’ve got
Cause that home belongs to you.

Woo woo, here I come,
Woo woo, back to you,
There is no home like the one you’ve got
Cause that home belongs to you.

Well, I was in the trouble bad,
I was so confused,
I may not see in color, babe,
But I sure can feel blue.

I have been a lot of things,
They may not all be true.
My experience was so mysterious
Till I met you.

Now the sun will rise in the east,
But I’m barking at the moon,
There is no home like the one you’ve got
Cause that home belongs to you.

Woo woo, here I come,
Woo woo, back to you,
There is no home like the one you’ve got
Cause that home belongs to you.

There is no home like the one you’ve got
Cause that home belongs to you. (Repeat again slowly)

To Live’s to Fly: The Ballad of the Late, Great Townes Van Zandt by John Kruth A Review by Rickey Pittman

This is the second biography I’ve read of Townes Van Zandt. And though I found many points that overlapped with the previous biography I reviewed (A Deeper Blue), I found To Live’s to Fly: The Ballad of the Late, Great Townes Van Zandt by John Kruth (Da Capo 2007) an interesting and illuminating read.

The book contains a great section of photos, and the biography is carefully researched.  With 27 chapters and a Postscript, the book has a good structure and if you’re a fan of Townes, the book is a page-turner that is not easy to put down.  The last hours of my day were spent reading it, and the past few nights, I found myself dreaming about Townes Van Zandt and scenes in this book.

The author works hard, and I think successfully, to let us gaze into the life, mind, and heart of the Texas Troubadour. His songs are worked in chronologically and in a way that provide insights not only into Townes, but also into the lives of those who surrounded him.  After reading this book, I realized how little I really knew about the folk singers of Texas and Nashville.

Anthony DeCurtis, contributing editor for Rolling Stone magazine says of this biography: “Townes Van Zandt was an ornery, unpredictable genius, a songwriter whose gift offered him salvation and damnation in equal doses.  In John Kruth he has found a biographer well-suited to his eccentricities and rough edges, a man who understand him and who brings light into his dark places.”

I think this is a good summary of this biography. If you’re a Townes fan, you need to read Kruth’s book. I liked the book so much that I ordered the two CD copy of Live at the Quarter. It will be interesting to see how this book and CD change my own Americana show.

Advice for Writers from an Award Winning Author

There’s a New York Times Bestseller entitled, Still Alice, a novel by Lisa Genova (Simon & Schuster). For anyone with a parent suffering from Alzheimer’s, this is a must read. Though there are many things I could say about this novel, I chose to do an entry for my blog about her writing this book and the advice she has for aspiring writers. Here is the quote from the Discussion Question section.  She says:

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

I know so many aspiring writers whoa re sitting in a holding pattern, with a work completed, waiting to find a literary agent.  They’re stuck, unable to give themselves permission to write the next book because they’re waiting to find out if their work is “good enough,” waiting to find out if they’re a ‘real writer.”  This state of waiting, of not writing and self-doubt, is the worst state any writer can be in.  My advice is this:  If you don’t find a literary agent falling into your lap quickly enough, if you feel like your work is done and is ready to be shared with the world, self-publish. Give your work to the world. Let it go. And keep writing. Freedom! I was recently in my car listening to Diablo Cody, who wrote the  screenplay for Juno, on NPR and when asked what advice she had for aspiring screenwriters, she said, “Self-publish.”  I yelled alone in my car, “Woohoo! See? Diablo Cody agrees with me, and she’s just been nominated for an Academy Award!”

Explain Your Writing Schedule

I have a newborn baby boy, so these days it’s catch as you can.  But for Still Alice, I wrote in Starbucks every day while my then six-year-old daughter was in school.   I found writing from home too difficult. There were too many distractions—phone calls to return, food to eat in the fridge, laundry to do, bills to pay.  You know you’re procrastinating when you’re paying bills instead of writing the next scene!  At Starbucks,  there were no excuses. Nothing else to do but write. You can’t even daydream there for long without looking crazy.  So you just put your head down and do it . . . My time to write was my time to write . . . I think having a limited number of hours each day to write kept me hungry to get back to it.  I never dreaded it or experienced writer’s block.  Every day, I couldn’t wait to get back to Starbucks, drink chai tea lattes, and write.

Stories of the Confederate South: A Review by Cassie A Barrow, published in Confederate Veteran, July/August/ 2009.

It is essential in today’s society to have books that tell the story of the Confederacy to a younger audience. To do so successfully, the writer must be witty, entertaining, yet relate the truth about the time period, even in fiction.  Stories of the Confederate South is such a book that has a menagerie of different accounts pertaining to the War Between the States. This publication is perfect for middle school-aged children.

Stories of the Confederate South contains ten short fiction stories that deal with varying details of the war. One narrative gives the reader a glimpse of the war against Southern women, while another tells of a present day bias for a Southern boy in the North. “From the senseless death and suffering of children to the strength of Confederate women, Pittman recounts the events of the War from the unique and unforgettable perspective of a Southerner,” as stated in a promotional leaflet for this publication.  Author Rickey Pittman does an outstanding job once again in his writings.  Mr. Pittman is also the author of the children’s book, Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House.

Here are the lyrics to song #9 for my CD of original songs. The melody and chords I had written years ago, but the lyrics only tonight. I’m excited! Only one more song for my first CD of original music.

“Look How Lonely”: A Song by Rickey E. Pittman

Verse 1
I guess we didn’t think the worst could happen,
I guess we didn’t think we’d bleed,
We put our hearts on the line,
Thinking love would not be denied,
Now look how lonely we can be.

Verse 2
Something’s broken now inside me.
Something that no one else can see,
Yours was a love I threw away,
Nothing left now for me to say,
But look how lonely, I can be.

Verse 3
I’m not looking for easy answers,
I’m not looking for your return,
I just hope before my dying day,
That maybe I’ll hear you say,
Without you how lonely I can be.

Verse 4
If I knew my world would end tomorrow,
Tonight, I’d find you and I’d say,
You were the one and only love,
The one I’m still dreaming of,
And look how lonely a man can be.

Verse 5
I tried to drown you in my memory,
But pills and whisky don’t ease the pain,
Your goodbye was a knife,
That cut the chord binding our lives,
Now look how lonely we can be.

Without you, there’ll never be a me.

An important part of any author’s or musician’s life is the promotion of his work. This year, I’m signed up for author events at these Sam’s Clubs. Almost always, Sam’s will have high traffic.  So here is my Sam’s Schedule in Louisiana and Texas:

9/5/2009       9:30 to 11:30 Jackson, MS
10/3/2009 9:00 to 11:00 Longview
10/3/2009 4:00 to 6:00 Shreveport

10/3/2009 12:00 to 2:00 Tyler
10/10/2009 9:30 to 11:30 Alexandria, LA
10/11/2009 2:00 to 4:00 Monroe
10/17/2009 2:00 to 4:00 Dallas

10/17/2009 10:00 to 12:00 Plano
10/18/2009 2:00 to 4:00 Ft. Worth
10/18/2009 10:00 to 12:00 Dallas
11/28/2009 9:30 to 11:30 Slidell
11/28/2009 2:00 to 4:00 Gulfport
11/29/2009 2:00 to 4:00 Harvey
11/29/2009 10:00 to 12:00 Kenner

A Deeper Blue: The Life and Music of Townes Van Zandt

by Robert Earl Hardy

A Review by Rickey E. Pittman

My recent interest in the life and music of Townes Van Zandt began with a recording on one of my Oxford Magazine music CD’s.  The song was “Nothin’” and it was sung by Townes himself. A haunting, almost terrifying song, I couldn’t get it out of my mind, so I memorized it and now it is part of my own Americana music show.  This song was followed by hearing an interview of Steve Earl on the radio, discussing his new CD, Townes on which he performs his favorite songs of the late Texas songwriter.

After the immersion of music, I decided to learn about Van Zandt’s life, so I ordered two Townes Van Zandt biographies: To Live’s to Fly by John Kruth, which I’ll review in a future post, and A Deeper Blue: The Life and Music of Townes Van Zandt, written by Robert Earl Hardy and published by University of North Texas Press. I just finished reading Hardy’s book so I wanted to write a short review.

I’ve always loved to read biographies, and I found Hardy’s book to be a page turner, one that kept my interest throughout the read. I learned that many of the songs I had loved through the years and incorporated them into my show had actually been written by Townes Van Zandt—”Tecumseh Valley,” “Snowing on Raton,” and many others. In A Deeper Blue, the anecdotes and conversations are carefully chosen and powerfully and sometimes sadly, illuminate the life of this Texas troubadour. It was interesting and sometimes surprising to read of the many musicians I’ve known of and respected who were woven into Van Zandt’s milieu—Guy Clark, Emmy Lou Harris, Steve Earl, Jerry Jeff Walker, and so many others. Hardy was thorough and careful in his research, and to his credit, though the author was honest, direct, and revealing, he never came close to voyeurism or paparazzi cruelty in his evaluations or revelations.  The chronology of Townes’ life was woven carefully with photos and the threads of songs (with origin and anecdotes), lyrics, and performances. When I finished the read, I felt I had looked inside the mind and heart and music of Townes Van Zandt. Townes was, in Hardy’s words, “the embodiment of the troubled troubadour” (2).

The book’s inside jacket provides a succinct summary of the book’s contents: “A Deeper Blue traces VanZandt’s background as the scion of a prominent Texas family; his troubled early years and his transformation from promising pre-law student to wandering folk singer; his life on the road and the demons that pursued and were pursued by him; the women who loved and inspired him; and the brilliance and enduring beauty of his songs, which are explored in depth.”

This past Saturday night, after the Scots-Irish band I’m in (Angus Dubghall) finished our performance at Enoch’s Pub in Monroe, I talked with the pub’s owner Doyle Jeeter, who had some good stories of his own to share of Townes Van Zandt.

I purchased this biography to learn about a great musician, and Hardy came through. Overall, I would have to highly recommend this biography.

I really am working hard on my songwriting. Here is song #7 for my CD I want to have made this summer. I’ll be “field testing” these songs on some audiences soon. I’m thinking of adding a couple of traditional songs that I’ve got my own arrangements for to the CD as well. We’ll see about that. I started to make the song be about a Confederate soldier who had a sweetheart in Columbia who had heard about Sherman burning the city, but I couldn’t make the lyrics work, so I kept the chorus and made it a song about a lost love.

“Did Spring Come Early to Columbia?”
Song lyrics by Rickey Pittman

CHORUS:
Did spring come early to Columbia,
Did the dogwoods remind you of our love,
Was the fragrance of magnolias in the air?
Are the birds singing now like they used to,
When our love was strong and I had you,
Did Spring come early to Columbia this year?

VERSE 1
We fell in love at first sight,
Didn’t care if it was wrong or right,
But didn’t know how hard a heart could break,
I tried so hard to keep your love,
But when it came to push and shove,
I guess you had to let me go.

CHORUS:

VERSE 2
We broke the rules and rolled the dice
Won with sevens, hit snake eyes twice,
I played for keeps in a game I couldn’t win,
So crazy in love that I didn’t care,
I called the bluff on the devil’s dare,
You dealt the cards and I did the sin.

CHORUS:

VERSE3
They say once love is gone, the demons dance along,
They fill your heart and they teach you their songs,
And their sadness will fill your voice and eyes,
I guess you’ve got your demons too,
Hidden lies, brutal truths,
So let me ask you one more time.

CHORUS:

VERSE 4
The air is cold, it’s still winter here,
I haven’t seen you in two long years,
But I still think of you every night,
Goodbye was tough, but living’s worse,
I don’t know if I can stay the course,
I need spring again, and you with me tonight.