Keith. (I got a thing for great independent film)

“The new film Keith is one best enjoyed by those who know nothing about the plot. The movie’s characters experience twists and turns, flavored with adversity and triumph, that often leave their future in doubt. “(MTV quote – Larry Carroll)

I highly recommend reading nothing and just watching this film. Consider watching it and then coming back to this and commenting…really! Google nothing and DO NOT WATCH THE TRAILER! Heck if you’re daring watch it (as I did) watch the movie and be surprised as how incredible it is after all your doubts) – Like I said I write for those that have seen it, but I”m considering all of you who haven’t!!!! I’m so kind aren’t I? hehe! Anyways, on with my thoughts:

The story is by Ron Carlson taken from his story Keith within his book The Hotel Eden. The screen play was written by David Zabel and directed by Todd Kessler. This movie is classified as drama and romance. The last type of mixture I would pick up and view as a DVD or even as a book however this story is much more. Not to mention perfect as I was hunting for great independent films. Now I haven’t read the short story Keith written by Ron Carlson. However, I ordered the book (The Hotel Eden) as the movie was fantastic so I can only imagine how amazing the short story must be.

However, although I am excited now, before I even watched the movie, I was not impressed. I walked past this movie at the video store so many times, saw Jesse McCartney but saw the whole romance coverish thing happening and moved on. I wanted to see McCartney in an independent film though as I thought he’d do great in the film world (especially independent, call it a screenwriters/directors gut feeling)) after seeing him in Summerland.

Heck..even the summary sounds just terrible and very much like every movie.

Natalie has it all: yearbook editor, scholarship to college, star athlete, reigning social queen. Then Keith enters her life. Secretive and enigmatic, he slowly lures her from her comfort zone. The more Keith holds back, the more Natalie becomes intrigued with figuring him out. In her head, she’s determined to keep him at arm’s length, but in her heart she can’t resist him. As Natalie’s world slowly unravels, both their lives are changed forever in this powerful love story. (imdb)

I have been continuing to add to my knowledge within the film world by watching movies I personally would not watch or even stop to look at. I found this one. Unaware of anything except the summary. It was a great blessing and a true surprise to watch this film and I’m truly grateful I took the time to watch it against every instinct in my body. As it turned out to be nothing of what I thought it was, a lot heavier or thicker than the summary (which I’m thankful for as it made the impact even harder) and a valuable movie to learn from and one that I will say changed me. That’s rare. I”ll never forget it.

The moment the movie started it had me with it’s opening scene…it just caused me to ask questions. Which was solid throughout the film, there was always loads of information that you were never given as it’s written from the main characters point of view. It’s an upside in the sense you are just as confused as she, Natalie (played by Elisabeth Harnois), and you have no idea what’s going on, you want to and the information you do have is just enough to make you pay complete attention to what’s going to happens next. That’s the first great part, the second is honestly the movie feels like you’re reading a book the whole way through and it has zero narration/voice over. Personally I think it’s the honesty and the depth of the characters.

At first glance you think it’s going to be this typical love story of the outsider liking the popular girl, popular girl doesn’t notice him until the throws himself out there, she pretends not to like him while dating the popular jock guy, and secretly falls for him and the outsider gets the popular girl. Technically on the surface, that’s just what it is. But it’s truly written in a more honest way than many other teen flick type dramas.As I usually feel overwhelmed with the teen heightened emotion, teen angst and melodrama within these movies not to mention it’s unrealistic take on the teen world. Bad for our youth…

It’s true the cool girl was with the cool guy at the start and started noticing Mr. Odd one out Keith played by Jesse McCartney, yet you’re following step by step. When Keith didn’t show up for school I was looking for him, I was wondering where he was and why he wasn’t there. When his truck wasn’t in the usual parking place heck I was looking for his yellow (I think 1963) C10 Chevy! It mattered to me.

Keith isn’t perfect, close to it, as there is the cliche of ‘you’re not like other guys’ however he wasn’t really like other people actually and the viewers love him for it so that’s where it’s great. As it isn’t whats expected in the sense he wasn’t the silent brooding type, mysterious so he stood out of the other guys like in most movies. And…the trailer for this film was horrid. Almost didn’t watch it, but thought…it’s independent…it’s probably nothing like the trailer. I was right. I think a few of the fans should make a fan made trailer, I think it’d get a whole lot more hits! Heck maybe I will consider making a trailer! Stay tuned!

Buy the DVD! I got it for cheap in my area bout six bucks or so (Sale!)

Links:

www.thekeithmovie.com

LINKS FOR AFTER WATCHING THE MOVIE:

Another Great Article with a little more detail of director and actor

Keith IMBD

TODD KESSLER

“Companies like Miramax were afraid that we could never pull it off, and they wanted us to make [the character of] Keith nicer and quirkier and cuter. We finally wrestled it back out after being theirs twice…I was able to get the project back independently, although on a very small budget, and get it made the way I always wanted to make it.”

“He prepared intensively. When he was on tour [with his music], I understand that he spent hours in front of the mirror in hotel rooms working on his character, working on his stance – even little details, like how he puts his hands in the pocket of his jacket,” Kessler marveled. “Everybody who sees the movie now is impressed, and the buzz is happening from those who think he’s the next Leonardo DiCaprio.”(MTV quote – Larry Carroll)

So proud of you Kessler! Glad the character never changed on it’s way to production!

'Will' by Gene Cuvier

Hello everyone!

Strong Truths has been on ‘hiatus’ for a while! It’s great to be back! Thank goodness to the publishing and  the world of technology as it is due to the changes in these areas that have allowed me to revive Strong Truths. I apologize to all my contributors for such a long wait. But I thank you for your patience and belief in the project. I owe it to you guys to continue with Strong Truth[ [Publishing] and I believe Strong Truths is a much needed community!

I am looking for new contributors visual artists and those of the written loves of course. I am also looking to receive new work from current contributors as years and months have passed since and it’s time to update the collection!

With all new work I will create the first publication from Strong Truths! To answer the question of Strong Truths 18+.,yes it will be here shortly in addition to the revival of Strong Truths. I am working on blog and sister website as well. More updates will be coming I just wanted to say hello and get in contact with everyone as I revive the ST world! Hope to hear from you guys!

Why were we on hiatus?

Amount of contribution of work Firstly, although we had a large list of contributors we had only one or two contributors send in 10+ works (all written). Other contributors would contribute 2-5 or so. Which really minimized our sections (by author).

Employees Although we started out with one and move to three and then five, we went back down to three as employees working for free are hard to keep as it’s a whole lot of work and you must be dedicated to the arts and have true belief in the project. So editing took a long time and community building even longer.

Money! Lastly, the biggest obstacle was money, in order to produce a book you need money for an actual physical copy of the book, as well as money to promote the book, market and distribute and also have something to reward each contributor with.

What’s Gene working on?

I am working on updates, a new world for Strong Truths via website and blog. This blog is being transformed into our complete Strong Truths Community! It will most likely stay at this address. I will consider moving it onto the ST website server to integrate it within the website, however. I currently like it separate and I think the layout will work just fine for the community until it grows of course. I’m willing to hear your thoughts as always so comment below if you’d like.

Be weary of people offering free critiques.

You heard me right. It seems that today, everyone and their brother/sister/aunt/uncle/niece/nephew/cousin/etc. is offering free critiques, many are the winning result of some kind of contest. Well, my advice is…be weary.

If a writer submits his or her work for a critique, they should take the feedback received  lightly, after all, it’s nothing more than a reader’s insight. Unless, of course, you get a detailed critique from a bonafide company. Even if it comes from an agent, it’s only THAT agent’s opinion you’re getting.

There’s this old saying: “If you put 10 editors in a room and ask for opinions – you’ll get 11.” And this is so very true. The only person who can perfect the story/novel is the author for they are the ones with the idea to start with.

Of course, there’s universal rules for grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and so on, and anyone can learn these if they have the inclination. My point is, don’t trust just anyone with your work. Too many ebooks are being pirated, plagiarists are multiplying worse than the Easter bunny and writers are a dime a dozen. Make your work YOUR work, and make it stand out. And if you want a free critique, ask someone you trust. Someone whose work you admire. You’d be surprised at the poor calibre of critiques I’ve received.

I’m in need of great ideas to award those who donate money. If you check out the page you will see the more money someone contributes the more ‘perks’ they receive. I”m looking for ideas of great VIP perks. Mine are a little lame I think, I’m working on adding to them. However, I need your fantastic youthful minds. I started a way where each donator can sponsor one of you guys, the contributors! However I’d like to reward them. Perhaps it can be prints of your work, a poster, a framed poem, etc. If you have any great ideas it would truly help me out, just comment here or email me at strongtruths@ymail.com.

I was thinking of a way to keep them spreading, something they can boast about or show their friends. A cool Funders card, or I sponsor so and so…Please please toss out some ideas. Check the page as well. Something great they can brag about, that’s free for them due to their donation! It’ll keep the buzz going!!

I have sent invites to all of you to join to show yourself as a contributor and part of the team!

Yes, I am still working on the new website, it is so much better than the current one. However, I have little time to work on it being one person and having a nice stack of bills to pay (sigh…adulthood), therefore working takes a lot of my time. I wish to be doing this for most of my time, helping you guys, publishing your work! I hope you are still with me as I know it has been quiet! Hopefully with IndieGoGo we will be able to change the size of us and get this book published and the website completed!

Hit up the site, and use the sharing tools.
Grab this widget too: <iframe src=”http://www.indiegogo.com/project/widget/6643?a=28324″ width=”220px” height=”390px” frameborder=”1″ scrolling=”no”>

Other Links to network with Strong Truths

www.twitter.com/strongtruths

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strong-Truths/261111595322

www.myspace.com/strongtruths

www.strongtruths.deviantart.com

Let’s celebrate:

Inner Will

Every step feels like death but you’ve never felt more alive.
grinding your soul for its will to survive.

If you would like to see a sneak peek of Gary’s work please visit our website.

If you would like to follow our step by step creation please stay with us here or visit us
at twitter.com/strongtruths.

Well I haven’t heard any complaints so I suppose it’s a grand idea! As I sure know it is!

A week ago I posted a post title ‘Changes for 2010.’ I mentioned that we may combine the website with the blog for simplicity as I am working a lot on Strong Truths and the site is way too time consuming to manage in addition to this blog.  So we’re moving! I started working on it already, it shouldn’t take to long as it will be created using wordpress. I’ll send everyone a link to join! It will become more of a community!

I hate that I have bounced you around for those of you who started off on the blog and your accounts we’ve moved to the website. However, although I loved building those pages, it’s too time consuming at this time and I’m down to mainly myself doing all of the work.  So this is not just to help me out, but to help us out, so there is the key word ‘focus’ for the work surrounding Strong Truths.

Thanks! I’ll be in touch!

Gene

Enjoy!

This is the last day for music week! I will definitely do it again!