Author: Colin McMahon

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Arts

Like Dickens in the digital age

It is interesting to think that some of the most famous writers such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain and Charles Dickens published the bulk of their work as episodic content in magazines. Imagine going to a kiosk and paying a nickel for chapter seven of Great Expectations. This is the type of model that brothers Kent and Paul Stetson are using as a basis for the release of their new book: Meat Cove.

“We wrote it together, it’s 50/50,” Kent Stetson recalled. “I do most of the composition although every now and again Paul writes up some stuff, but like he says, it all sounds like a police report. It’s really good though; it’s full of all the facts and information you need.”

Like most collaborative duos, the Stetson brothers each bring something to the table. Kent Stetson has an award-winning career as a playwright as well as valuable insight as a fiction writer, while Paul Stetson has the real-life knowledge of a police officer. Both these backgrounds are invaluable when writing a gritty mystery novel like Meat Cove which follows the story of RCMP Sergeant Waldron MacKinnon, aka. Gandhi,  a crime-fighting adventurer from Prince Edward Island. Yet collaborations in themselves, while bringing a new set of elements to the table, are not unique to the world of publishing. The hook is in the Stetson brother’s innovative distribution method.

Meat Cove will have a completely digital, pay-by-chapter release.

“I always loved the notion of Dickens’ releasing all his great works chapter by chapter in popular magazines for which he was paid,” says Kent Stetson, “And I thought: Dickens in the digital age, what could be better?”

As Kent Stetson points out, the literary world is a changing place and many publishers today have to compete, some with great difficulty, to get their product into the public eye. With this method of direct release, the publisher is bypassed entirely and people are able to pay for only what they want. The first two chapters of Meat Cove will be issued free of charge, and other free chapters will be revealed along the way.

For those out there who are not wild about the digital reading experience, don’t panic, the Stetson brothers have ensured that there is an option to print and create your own material copy.

Kent Stetson laid out his intentions that this was not simply an experiment but the future model of distribution for the brothers’ projects down the road: “We have three planned. They’re all based on Atlantic Canadian town names. This is Meat Cove, the next one is Plaster Rock, and the third one is Cow Head.”

Names like these have been chosen not simply because they convey the setting but also because they directly contribute to the down and dirty style of writing that the Stetsons are putting forth in the series.

Meat Cove is out now and available for download at MasterBookWorks.com.

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Arts

ARTiculate: The book was better

The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Twilight, A Game of Thrones: the book was better.

Everyone has a friend with that exact reaction to movies based off of books. It may even be your reaction.

The blockbuster film industry is currently dominated by literary adaptations. The top-grossing films of the year so far are The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises and The Hunger Games; all based off of literary works.

Odds are if you’ve been to the movies recently, you’ve seen an adaptation.

But are they worth it? Can a two hour film ever measure up to the personal investment of a book or a graphic novel?

The larger question and the one to focus on is this: can the two even be compared? As author Richard Schickel once said, “A great novel is concerned primarily with the interior lives of its characters as they respond to the inconvenient narratives that fate imposes on them. Movie adaptations of these monumental fictions often fail because they become mere exercises in interior decoration.”

Therefore, critical success of a film adaptation is not connected to how closely it follows its source material. While the blockbuster series Lord of the Rings managed to remain very close to the books, the films possess their own identity that is independent from the literature that inspired it. The Two Towers and The Return of the King both deviated from their source material more than the Fellowship of the Ring and it is interesting to note that both of those films were more financially profitable. The Return of the King, arguably the film that breaks the most from its source material, won more academy awards than the first two films of the series combined.

Likewise, the film adaptation of Shrek, which shared excessively little with its literary origins aside from its green protagonist, has spawned a profitable series of four films, two of which that were very well received by critics.

Now examine a film like The Golden Compass. This film loses the religious overtones of the book but follows the events very closely. This film was not only received poorly by critics but was also a financial flop that ended up costing the studio millions.

There is a noticeable trend. Success in adaptations is found more through their capturing the spirit of the book rather than its exact plot. That’s not to say that every film adaptation that took liberty with its origins was a success (for example, Cat in the Hat) but in general, films that find their own voice, rather than relying on the voice of their source material, are more financially and critically successful.

“Some of us have great original ideas,” said filmmaker Frank Darabont, whose biggest films include The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and The Mist. “And some of us depend on adaptations.”

So while the book may be better: does that matter so much when the film has found its own story to tell?

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Arts

Back in Black

Go to the cinema up the street some time and look at what’s playing. Montreal has a huge selection of movies but right now there’s a semi-slump in the film calendar. So unless you feel like seeing The Dark Knight Rises again, you’re probably giving the cinemas a wide birth. Have no fear however, there are other options.

The 8th annual Montreal International Black Film Festival begins on September 19 and runs until September 30. During this time, people from all walks of life can treat themselves to an incredible selection of films unavailable anywhere else. There are two films in particular being highlighted by this year’s festival, and they do an excellent job showcasing the diverse styles of filmmaking on display.

First there is the opening film, Winnie, which stars Terrence Howard and Jennifer Hudson. This emotional drama chronicles the life of Winnie Mandela, an extraordinary activist as well as the wife of Nelson Mandela. Those who saw Invictus a couple years ago will remember the incredible job that Morgan Freeman did playing the South African political hero. Winnie, however focuses on the time Mandela spent in prison and deals primarily with how his wife continued the fight and threw her own spirit and tenacity into the battle for South African freedom. For those film buffs out there, you may want to note that director Darrell Roodt will be on hand for the premiere.

The closing film of the festival is a much darker piece. The Central Park Five is a documentary about the lives of five black and Latino individuals who were wrongfully imprisoned for a series of rapes which took place in New York City. This film showcases the failure of police, media and society as a whole to ensure that justice was done. It paints the stark and brutal reality of prejudice that still exists in the first world.

Activist and musician Harry Belafonte, who will be receiving the 2012 Humanitarian award at this year’s festival, will be there opening night for a screening of his biopic film Sing your Song as well as an in-depth Q & A session. Also speaking at this year’s festival is best selling author Stedman Graham.

There are over a hundred films on display, one for every type of moviegoer. For more information on showtimes and tickets visit www.montrealblackfilm.com

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Arts

Laughing with the sensual side of heartbreak


Have you been to a burlesque show recently? If you’re like most students, your answer might be ‘that’s not really my thing,’ but now is that time to change all that. On Sunday Sept. 16, Lady Josephine and a small troupe of fellow burlesque dancers are proud to bring something different to your night out with Lovers and Other Strangers at the Upstairs Jazz Bar and Grill.

For a minimal fee, students will be able to experience a night of sensual striptease set to the music of renowned jazz musician Stephen Barry. As Lady Josephine explains, she sees her show as a tribute and companion piece to the jazz singer.

“It grew out of my love of Stephen Barry’s music, really. The stories that he talks about in his songs are such beautiful stories that really mean something and that’s what a great burlesque act is,” she said.

For those still on the squeamish side about burlesque, Lady Josephine is quick to point out that this show will be the exact opposite of a dirty dive.

“Don’t expect it to be like a strip club at all because it really is an art form and it’s a very theatrical show that has a sexual side to it. The word burlesque originally means to make fun of,” she said, “expect to laugh a lot.”

Lovers and Other Strangers will use its unique art form to soften the blow of a subject that many find difficult to deal with. When one thinks of unrequited love and heartbreak, the shows that first come to mind are often Greek tragedies. Yet with burlesque, the presentation will allow for a night of laughter and enjoyment.

“That is what’s incredible about it,” Lady Josephine remarks, “it’s taking the whole spectrum of people we have in the world and celebrating their bodies on stage. You should expect to see semi-nude women who are really proud of their bodies but also able to be really self-aware and poke fun at themselves.”

Burlesque is entertainment that does not exist just anywhere. Lady Josephine said she feels very confident that anyone in attendance of Lovers and Other Strangers won’t go home with a heavy heart. Tickets are on sale now for twenty dollars in advance, or twenty-five at the door.

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