A phantom wind
A shadow cast from a tree
The beach at sunset
A single daisy in a field
A foggy graveyard
An empty bench in the middle of an abandoned park at midnight
They all sound mundane to most, but to an artist, they are deliciously inviting. The world is changing, evolving around us. We have no choice, but to grow with it or perish. No sunset is ever the same, no expression on a child is ever duplicated in another.
Perhaps it’s life who has the last laugh, desperate to challenge our artistry for her mere amusement.
Mother Nature gives us these inspirations knowing we’ll return the gift uniquely changed once touched by our imaginations.
As we began to take a closer look at certain arts we were able to see the seeds that bloomed into the grand flowers.
1924: The grim reaper decides it’s time to take a long, overdue vacation from his job as death-collector. Where else would you book your trip, but with the man who owns the world, and just so happens to be his next victim! Why not kill two birds with one stone?!
To read this silly, little idea would cause one to shudder. But imagine if you will, the original idea coming from a brilliant Italian Playwright named Alberto Casella.
And, voila! You have a 1929 Supernatural/Comedy fit for Broadway called:
“La Morte in Vacanza.”
Then, add Walter Ferris, a former English teacher from Yale to the equation in order to adapt the Italian work into English and we have, “Death Takes a Holiday”, a 1934 film by Universal Studios.
Are we done? Not by a long shot. Another artist looked at the same idea with a different set of eyes. Fast forward to the year 1998 and bump Ferris with four Screenwriters: Kevin Wade, Ron Osborn, Bo Goldman and Jeff Reno then add Director, Martin Brest and while you’re at it, throw in Brad Pitt. (Why? Cuz he’s Brad-freaking-Pitt!!)
And Sir Anthony Hopkins….
and look out, you have “Meet Joe Black.” A Dark-Fantasy/Romance that will stand the test of time. Seven different artists, one idea. Amazing to watch the flower bloom.
Or how about an idea in 1968 which spawned a short story that was put in a drawer and forgotten until 1973 when American Author Anne Rice, decided to expand on that idea. She turned it into a novel at the encouragement of one of her husband’s students. It took her five weeks to complete the 338-page novel, doing research on vampires during the day and writing at night. When she was done, she’d created a masterpiece. Vampires…certainly not the introduction to the fictional dark species but most definitely a unique perspective. Matter of fact, contrary to popular belief, Bram Stoker can’t even take credit for originality. The Vampires roots are older than “Dracula.”
and yes….Francis Ford Coppola’s as well; (Although thanks for Gary Oldman)
https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/…/10(2)26-32.pdf?.
WHAT STOKER SAW: AN INTRODUCTION TO
THE HISTORY OF THE LITERARY VAMPIRE
M. M. Carlson
When Bram Stoker’s Dracula first came out in 1897, it was an immediate success, a horror writer’s “stroke of genius.” But Stoker’s novel was not a work based on Stoker’s imagination alone. Two elements contributed to the success of his novel: a great deal of historical and ethnographic research, and an extensive, already existing body of vampire fiction.
Please feel free to check out the website we left to learn about the origin of literary Vampires.
Now, let’s look at Vampires through Anne’s eyes again; the spark that started the fire.
A San Francisco journalist, Daniel Molloy, (who is referred to in the novel as boy) sits down to do an interview with a 200 year old vampire, Louis de Pointe du Lac. He begins the story of his life as a human in a town just south of New Orleans where he owned a plantation. As the interview progresses, he explains to Molloy, his journey into vampirism and darkness. Enter his creator, Lestat de Lioncourt. *Inion swoons*
So, a San Francisco journalist that interviews a vampire… Sound nutty to you? Can we picture Diane Sawyer interviewing Dracula?
Fast forward to the year 1994 and the film adaptation on the big screen thanks to the collaboration of several artists: Author Anne Rice, Screenwriter/Director Neil Jordan and the phenomenal cast of Artists: Antonio Banderas, Tom Cruise, Kirsten Dunst and yes….once again Brad Pitt. Okay, this feels like the right time for a Montage…A Brad Pitt Montage. So here goes.
For your enjoyment; And ours!!
You’re welcome ladies!! Where were we……ahh yes, ARTISTS! The other artists involved. Costume Designer, Composer of the musical score and many, many more sharing their artistry towards the idea to create a unique work of art.
We have often heard that there is no more room for originality. But each and every day, we are amazed at fresh innovative ideas brought out by fellow artists. Whether it’s original or merely their version of an idea as seen uniquely through their eyes. And, maybe that’s what it all boils down too, different perspectives.
After all, we artists should see in life, what others miss.
We are the third eye of the Universe.
And with this gift, we have a responsibility to all those who take part in our dreams by showing them what we see….inside of us. That is why writing is vulnerable, because you pour out your soul for all to see. But, oh what a feeling when they come into your world and embrace your vision. Synchronicity at it’s finest.
Inion N. Mathair 