Latka’s Guide to Life
Those of you of a certain age will remember the show ‘Taxi’ and this is a great clip where Latka gives people advice on everything you need for a happy life…
Wax On – Wax Off …
If you hire anyone for a lookalike prop…erm choose wisely! Any guesses as to who this is supposed to be?
Find the answers to this waxwork and more at the link below!
LINK TO BAD WAX
Regrets? Don’t wait to put dreams into action is the advice from those who looked back.
Hands up who wanted to be an astronaut when they were young? Hands up who wanted to be an actor? Hands up who wanted to be their own boss and run a company selling something they were passionate about?
I was really interested in an article I read in the newspaper this week about the regrets people had when they were dying written by a lady who used to be a palliative care nurse.
Maybe this is digressing from my original intent for this blog but then again it’s the reason I am pursuing book and film as a vocation… I asked a similar question a few years back after a tough period in my life. ‘Am I pursuing the life I intended to or have I let life just happen?’
The Top Five Regrets of The Dying by Bronnie Ware
The first one that was repeatedly told to her was this:
‘I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.’
You might want to read that back again and take a moment to contemplate it, even visualise yourself at the end of your life (unless you are immortal it’s one thing we all share right?) looking back upon your days and saying it. Now return to the present moment and ask yourself ‘How do I feel about that statement, will it be me?’ (And how does that feel?) or ‘Am I on the right track and heading towards some of my dreams?’ (And how does that feel?). If you want to, when you get a few minutes you could list your dreams and scribble two columns and weigh up best and worse scenarios ‘What if I have a go at this….?’ ‘What if I don’t try?…..’ and do take the poll at the bottom of this article if you get time.
Sometimes I’ve been accused of being a dreamer and trying to pursue the path of a writer even when the rewards are meagre but deep inside I know that it’s not about the money it’s about creating and contributing something whether it’s a story, a song or anything that is new. If I hadn’t fought against the tide and taken a chance then I would never have seen my first book sale, had 22 cast and crew give up their time because they believed in the story or received a phone call from someone famous who loved it so much they wanted to send their agent a copy. Am I richer in the bank? No. Am I richer in heart? You bet.
You don’t have to give up your job, I’m not suggesting you take these things lightly but like a plane a few clicks off course if we don’t correct the flight path then you are going to be WAY off course when you look back in five, ten, twenty years. The good news is that the same is true for correcting, it only takes small steps to start turning it again. There are so many different people that not one cap fits all, you may be someone who has to do a complete ‘U-Turn’ to achieve it or you may be (like me) someone who decides to plot a more staggered escape route and dig away to freedom. The key thing is that you BEGIN the process, begin to adjust the flight path.
I have so many new book ideas to add to my releases but not enough time and at 44 I’m probably halfway through my life if I’m lucky. Time is one currency we all have the same amount of, 24 hrs in a day, 7 days a week no matter what size your bank balance you can’t buy it back or spend it quicker, it’s set. How you use it is your choice.
I have seen so many unhappy people who on the surface had everything. In 2001 I was invited to Necker Island by Sir Richard Branson (It was a kind gesture and another story in itself ) and I was so excited and appreciative. There were some other people there who had paid £50,000 roughly to be there for their vacation and I could not see the excitement, sure they were glad to be there but the ‘wow’ factor had been replaced with ‘this is sort of normal’ and according to research after 6 months of any fortune or change of wealth you plateau and adjust into a familar feeling. Basically If you’re not right ‘inside’ then don’t look outside for answers.
For others I met who sat under a cloud stressed in their offices maybe they could have downsized their life instead of chasing the bigger car, the bigger house, the promotion that would take even more of their social time (guess what number 2 regret was … that’s right ‘I wish I didn’t work so hard’).People who are unhappy affect those around them, for want of another term ‘negative vibes’ will suck the positivity from you. On the other hand I expect we can all name a few people we’ve been around that leave us feeling energised and ready to take on the world. I have met people who simply appreciated watching a flower come through in Spring or a bird nesting in their garden with so much pleasure they seemed to be experiencing a magical moment that you envied as you watched them. Usually these people have discovered what they want to do in life, what really matters. It’s the latter group we need to seek out where we can and ask ‘Why are they content?’. We all need to get to know a Mr Miyagi and believe me they do exist.
The truth is it’s down to the person on their own to find a path. It’s wise to seek counsel but that’s all it is, another persons two cents! We need to weigh up advice but ultimately make our own choices (A bit like Billy Elliott but you wouldn’t want to see me in a tight gym slip no sir, thank goodness I chose writing!). I remember reading that it was ‘decisions not conditions’ that would shape us (I think it was Tony Robbins). We can’t change the recession on our own, we can’t change that bitter co-worker into a happy bunny, we can’t afford all the luxuries we want beyond our means but we can do one thing, we can make better decisions to pursue the life we want to.
I’ll end with a quote from Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple: “Your time is limited; so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
Martyn Tott is the Author of ‘Six Magic Numbers’, ‘Five Still Missing’ and other books available in paperback and e-book (also soon in audio).
Timothy Spall Signs Up For BBC Lottery Drama
Timothy Spall Signs Up For BBC Lottery Drama.
Very interested to see this news recently.
Last year I sent the BBC Drama Dept a copy of my novel ‘Six Magic Numbers.’ I got a reply after a while from the Head of Independent Drama Development. They were very polite and said although it was a very interesting and extraordinairy story they already had a production green lighted. I was curious as my story is about someone who loses a jackpot ticket and then ends up in a cult in another country.
Months later this was released in the press, it’s being written by the very talented Kay Mellor. I can see the lottery connection of course but that is where the ‘theme’ ended. My novel was more about the aftermath of losing a jackpot ticket. Coincidentally I had also sent a copy of the novel to Timothy Spall who I think is amazing and will star in this production. I never heard back from him but his agent assured me they forwarded my book (along with a copy of my second one to read on his boat).
Looking forward to seeing The Syndicate anyway.
Click below to see more about The book I sent in
BBC News – Lord Smith talks about UK film industry proposals
BBC News – Lord Smith talks about UK film industry proposals.
I was trying to find out recently what Lord Smith’s Government review meant for independent film makers.
I don’t think there is a formula for a ‘hit’ like Cameron seems to be hinting at, time and again small productions have come from nowhere and swept the boards whereas a hyped blockbuster has been left at the starting gates then plummeted like a belly flop from the high board.
I have always found there are loads of very talented people and untapped genius willing to help, the problems are more in the area of funding and distribution and networking.
I was very lucky to work with a team on my first trailer for a book in 2009. It cost me £1,500 including the 22 cast and crew working on expenses (petrol and a sandwich!) and some favours from friends because they believed in the project.
So Lord Smith if you have a department ready to put budding newbies in touch with a selection board please let me know.
A place for independent book writers and film makers!
There are so many people out there now investigating digital technology and I am one of them. I’m not an expert but I do have some books published and short films thanks to it.
I have created this blog to discuss my findings and invite others to share their experiences, tips and advice for others wherever they are, it can be quite a complicated path but I have found that there are so many people who will help and show you stuff that you can then go onto do yourself …
Anyway, that’s my opening blog. I am going to see what happens and put together something on my latest adventures soon.
