The making of Life Just Is

I've been following this film for quite a while so to discover there are two books coming out about the film piqued my interest. The first one is about making the film and the other is the script. This isn't the normal "here is the script" book but it also has the first draft so you can see how the film evolved from the first idea to what was actually filmed.

London, 13th December 2012 – To tie in with the release of the debut feature film LIFE JUST IS, the film's writer-director Alex Barrett will be publishing two books, available in both printed and digital versions. The books will be officially launched during a special event held at the Shortwave Cinema on Thursday 10th January 2013 at 18h30.

LIFE JUST IS: DIRECTOR'S JOURNAL

Graduating from a university film course in 2005 at the age of 21, Alex Barrett had an idea: he wanted to make a feature film. Flash forward seven years, and the idea has been realised as his debut feature LIFE JUST IS, nominated for the Michael Powell Award for Best British Film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2012. But how did a young graduate with no industry connections manage to get a film made, sold and distributed? And why did the process take so long? And what was the toll it took?

LIFE JUST IS: DIRECTOR'S JOURNAL offers all these answers and more. Giving an unparalleled exploration of what it takes to get a debut microbudget film made, the journal presents a fascinating glimpse into the conception, development, production and postproduction of a film.

Alongside its insight into the development of a film, LIFE JUST IS: DIRECTOR'S JOURNAL also builds a vivid picture of the development of an individual. Edited as it is from seven years of daily entries, Barrett's passions and frustrations are laid bare in full, while his honest, open and engrossing journal entries are filled with anecdotes, musings, reviews and thoughts which slowly build into a coherent philosophy of film and of life.

Throughout the production of LIFE JUST IS, writer/director Alex Barrett has been documenting the process of the film's creation. In keeping with this open exploration of the making of the film, LIFE JUST IS:SCRIPTBOOK presents not only the final draft of the script, but also the first draft, thereby offering a unique insight into the film's development.

LIFE JUST IS tells the story of Pete, Tom, David, Claire and Jay, a tight-knit group of friends who share neighbouring flats in London after recently graduating from university. As they hang out, throw parties and navigate the new responsibilities of adult life, romantic tensions and existential crises begin to simmer beneath the surface.

ABOUT WRITER-DIRECTOR ALEX BARRETT
Alex Barrett is an independent filmmaker whose films collectively have been selected for over 50 international festivals, including such prestigious events as the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Hamburg International Short Film Festival, and the Tribeca Film Festival. In addition, his work has enjoyed a number of non-festival screenings, including showings at the BFI Southbank, Riverside Studios, Brixham Theatre and the Victoria & Albert museum. To date his films have garnered eight awards, including 'Best Lo-Budget Film' at the London Short Film Festival and 'Stoli Emerging Filmmaker Award' at the Babelgum Online Film Festival. His work has been described by the writer and broadcaster Sarfraz Manzoor as 'witty and profound', while Sight & Sound contributor Brad Stevens has called his first feature, LIFE JUST IS, 'one of the most promising debuts in contemporary cinema'. The feature was released in the UK in December 2012, after being nominated for the Michael Powell Award for Best British Film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2012. www.alexbarrett.net.

LIFE JUST IS SYNOPSIS

Pete, Tom, David, Claire and Jay are a tight-knit group of friends who share neighbouring flats in London after recently graduating from university. As they hang out, throw parties and navigate the new responsibilities of adult life, romantic tensions begin to stir beneath the surface. When Jay begins a relationship with the much older Bobby and Pete goes on a quest to discover the meaning of life, their friendships are put to the test. www.lifejustisfilm.com

Is it just me?

Miranda Hart has decided to share a wealth of awkward experiences and embarrassing stories and provide a Miran-ual for life in her brand new book Is It Just Me?

In order to allay her fears that we all come-a-cropper in life, she is asking you, the Great British public, to get in touch and share your pain because a problem shared is a … well something we can all laugh at.

Publishers Hodder And Stoughton, have launched an initiative entitled ‘No It’s Us Too’ which offers readers the chance to appear in an e-book, sharing their own cringe worthy tales.  Launching in July, the ‘No It’s Us Too’ mission will see Miranda choosing her favourite Twitter stories, the best of which will be illustrated and featured on a special ‘No It’s Us Too’ tumblr and then anthologised in e-book compilation in September.

All you need to do to get involved is tweet your embarrassing stories to @NoItsUsToo using hashtag #IsItJustMe and the best ones will be published by Hodder in the No Its Us Too! eBook compilation.

In her brilliant first book Is It Just Me? Miranda Hart confides hilariously uncomfortable truths about her life and offers inimitable advice for how to navigate those unexpected delicate moments. Witty, wise and ‘such fun’, this is a much-needed manual for the avoidance of embarrassment - it is, in fact, a Miran-ual, for all those out there who often wonder ‘Is It Just Me?’

Is It Just Me? is published on 11 October 11, 2012. 

Visit the official tumblr site at miranda-isitjustme.tumblr.com

Stoke Newington Literary Festival

This 1st-3rd June, the Stoke Newington Literary Festival provides a refreshing alternative to the union jack teapots and misty-eyed monarchy-lovers.

For centuries Stoke Newington has been at the heart of the UK’s radical thinking and rabble-rousing. It has been the home to international icons of dissent and revolutionary writing including Mary Wollstonecraft, Malcolm McClaren, Daniel Defoe and Edgar Allen Poe. This year’s urban alternative to Hay sees it keeping true to it counter-cultural roots with debates about our post-riot communities, media reform and the future of the book.

The eclectic line-up features ‘punk poet’ John Cooper Clarke as its headliner on Saturday 2nd June, plus Jackie Kay, Nick Cohen, Wilko Johnson, George Alagiah, Suzanne Moore, Mark Billingham, Danny Wallace, Josie Long, Robin Ince and The Gruffalo, to name but a few of the star turns that will be appearing at venues across N16 over the festival weekend.

Hollywood screenwriter (and Stoke Newington resident) Tony Grisoni will be screening and discussing ‘Kingsland’, his short film which is cast and filmed locally and which features a perspective of the area that most people never see.

The School of Life are holding three events on Saturday which offer to show you how to change your life in radical ways - specifically looking at how to find fulfilling work with Roman Krznaric, change the world with John-Paul Flintoff and sort out your sex life with author of The New Joy of Sex, Susan Quilliam.

Hackney commentator par excellence Iain Sinclair sits in with noted London novelist China Miéville and urban explorer Laura Oldfield Ford (Savage Messiah). Ken Worple presides to discuss the Olympic Legacy.

Indie music fans are spoilt for choice again this year, as Stoke Newington Library’s very own Richard Boon (aka The World’s Coolest Librarian: he used to manage The Buzzcocks and is generally credited with ‘inventing’ indie music as we know it) pulls together a star line-up including David Quantick, James Brown, Paul Morley, Richard King and Pat Long for his Juke Box Fury and Indie Music events.

Our kids’ festival features a visit from The Gruffalo as well as family events in which kids can learn to write their own stories or draw their own comics. Additionally, the festival is going into 3 local schools on Friday 1st June, ensuring that as many kids as possible get to meet an author.

Festival director Liz Vater says: “We’re already being billed as one of the most exciting literary festivals in the UK, which is a huge honour considering we’re only in our third year.  We set up to raise money for literacy initiatives within Hackney and already have some exciting projects in development. It’s going to be a fabulous weekend with loads to see and do, for the whole family.”

With some free events, and most tickets between £3-£8, it’s a great way of getting some brain food as well as having a fun-filled weekend without leaving the capital.

‘Just like Hay-on-Wye. But in Hackney.’ Time Out

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Fox has just released the first two images for the upcoming true story of the 16th American president. Abraham Lincoln.

It seems that there isn't a trailer for the film out at the moment. That doesn't seem to be a problem as I have tracked down a trailer for the book that the film is based on.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter reveals our 16th President was actually a 19th century version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Lincoln's mother died when he was just nine, but the young boy didn't immediately learn the truth behind her death. Once he found out vampires were responsible, Lincoln did everything he could to avenge his mother's death, dedicating his life to putting an end to all bloodsuckers.

Ripping into UK cinemas August 2, 2012

Switched

Amanda Hocking is 26 years old, lives in Minnesota and had not sold a single book before 15th April 2010. She has now sold over one million ebooks. She is a self-publishing phenomenon.

Her bestselling Trylle Trilogy is now to be available in paperback and ebook formats with additional, unseen and exclusive content. Acquired through a fierce international auction, Pan Macmillan will publish Switched, the first in the trilogy in January 2012. Followed by Torn in March and Ascend in April. Amanda Hocking’s previously unpublished and highly anticipated new Watersong series, will also be published by Pan Macmillan from September 2012.

Amanda explained her decision to sign with Macmillan globally to her many fans on her blog, ‘I want to be a writer. I do not want to spend 40 hours a week handling e-mails, formatting covers, finding editors, etc. Right now, being me is a full-time corporation.’

Switched introduces the reader to Wendy Everly. She first knew she was different the day her mother tried to kill her, accusing her of having been switched at birth. Although she’s certain she’s not the monster her mother claims she is, there is a secret she keeps from everyone. Her mysterious ability to influence people’s decisions, without knowing how, or why.

When handsome newcomer Finn turns up at her window, her world is turned upside down. He holds the key to her past and is the doorway to a place she never imagined could exist...

Published in ebook and paperback formats on 5th January 2012, £7.99
Followed by:
TORN, 1st March 2012, £7.99
ASCEND, 26th April 2012, £7.99