Pages

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

50 SHADES OF “ROCKSTAR” LOVE FOR E.L. JAMES IN LONDON



FIFTY SHADES OF “ROCKSTAR” LOVE FOR E.L JAMES IN LONDON

copyright www.thetalentguru.tv

AN EVENING WITH E.L JAMES AUTHOR OF 50 SHADES OF GREY ORGANISED BY EMERALD STREET (STYLIST MAGAZINE)
Hosted by Anna Fielding, Editor, Emerald Street  Full Programme at end of article


I must admit I have not been this excited for a long time. While I have not read any of the “50 Shades” books, it is necessary as a talent scout to follow trends and pop culture. Last week I caught an article in the paper that E.L James had signed a movie deal with Focus Features and Universal Pictures. That deepened my curiosity and I knew I needed to find out more about this new phenomena. I read all the reviews I could find online and discussions on TV including today on This Morning with the infamous Samantha Bricks (Daily Mail).

What I can say having heard EL James speak tonight, is that I am in complete awe of the woman. She is intelligent, confident, witty, knowledgeable, worldly, diplomatic and very funny. She was also a very humble and appreciative person, who was very grateful to her fans and also very kind and diplomatic to those that did not like her book. One such audience member who was from what she referred to as the “Kinky” community (BDSM) who criticised her book, but EL James was gracious enough to defer a question back to her on erotica events in the UK. Giving the audience member a chance to promote her erotica company and events.
Anna Fielding copyright www.thetalentguru.tv

Anna Fielding copyright www.thetalentguru.tv

















The Event
I arrived at 5.45 pm at Savoy place (Embankment) very tired from a very long train ride after a hospital appointment hoping someone had received my email asking for a disabled seat. I met a very helpful lady from Stylist who got me to the front of the line. I picked up my complimentary copy of 50 Shades of Grey with a post it of my name for EL James to sign speedily at the end.
EL James and fans copyright www.thetalentguru.tv

I was then led into a 450 capacity auditorium where there were already 200 over excited ladies waiting for the evening discussion to begin. It later filled to capacity with about four very brave men attending too.

El James & A. Fielding copyright www.thetalentguru.tv

El James & A. Fielding copyright www.thetalentguru.tv








Emerald Street Editor, Anna Fielding came first to the stage to introduce the magazine and author, herself donning a short sexy black leather skirt in homage to Fifty Shades of Grey.
Finally EL James comes on to the stage to an ecstatic reception and takes her place next to the lovely Ms Fielding. Anna Fielding gives a summary of the success of the 50 Shades phenomena so far.
El James & A. Fielding copyright www.thetalentguru.tv

Fifty Shades of Grey has topped best-seller lists not just in the United Kingdom but around the world. The series has sold around ten million copies worldwide, with book rights having been sold in 37 countries, and set the record in the UK as the fastest-selling paperback of all time surpassing the Harry Potter series.
{Huge applause ensues and EL James is very gracious}

E.L James gave us her background as a busy TV producer, fan fiction writer, wife and mother. That she had started writing the Twilight fan fiction as die hard fan and she just did it for the enjoyment. She was shocked by the success and was still pinching herself but was having the most fun she had ever had. She was very witty and I my favourite part of the evening were her witty stories since the success of 50 Shades of Grey. I share a few of my favourites.
copyright www.thetalentguru.tv

Story 1

When on a plane travelling to America E.L James got excited when she sat next to a woman reading 50 Shades of Grey. Having not been recognised EL James asked the passenger if she liked the book. She responded  “It’s alright”. EL James then revealed she was the author and the woman got excited and said the book was fantastic! It turned out the woman worked for the airline so EL James and her entourage got pampered including getting lots of champagne.

Story 2

The location she chose for the book was the most upscale place she could find in the area of America where the book is based. At the time of writing the book the place had not finished building work. Now fans go the place and take pictures and tweet them to EL James. The place has not become well known.
{Editor Anna Fielding adds an amusing quip that the developers should give EL Fielding a free condo for the promotion she has done for the place}

Story 3

When EL James was writing a sex scene in the Audi, she called an audi dealership to check if there was room to have sex in it. She did introduce herself and explain why she was curious. The car salesman said that you could not have sex in the car. However EL James felt compelled to check herself. She went to the dealership and scoped the place and asked if she could sit in the Audi. Upon seating in the Audi she believed a couple could definitely have sex in the Audi.
 copyright www.thetalentguru.tv

Question and Answer Session (selected audience questions)
What has been your experience since it all took off
ELJ: My reaction was “Sh*t what the f*ck has happened”
{which received a huge roar of laughter and applause by the unashamed audience of admirers}


What has been your favourite experience since becoming a success with 50 Shades?
ELJ: Travelling around the World to places that I have never been, I have been to several places in the USA including Hollywood. I will soon be travelling to Spain and Italy.


You developed the 50 Shades trilogy from Twilight fan fiction, how far have you based your characters  Anastasia Steele and Christian Gray  on Bella and Edward from Twilight?
ELJ: I am a Twi-hard and have read over and over the Twilight series. Since 50 Shades started as Twilight fan fiction the main characters are similar. There even similarities with the book store owner in Twilight.


Since a movie is being made, how much control do you have over it and are you worried that they may not stay true to the book.
ELJ: Yes I am very worried, but I can’t control how people will receive any interpretation of the characters and of my book.


Who would you want to play Christian and Anastasia? My Facebook fan page has ideas of what actors could play them. Do you think your fans have a consensus on who they would want to play Christian and Anastasia?
ELJ: I can’t talk about the film unfortunately. I can say that I have four people in mind to play each character. Also my facebook page members have sent me a very long list of actors they would want to be in the movie including Pierce Brosnan.
{The mention of Pierce Brosnan received a unanimous groan}

The cover of the book is very modern and unique. What was the inspiration for the cover.
ELJ: I had input in the art work for the covers of my books. I wanted covers that did not allude to erotica so people would not be ashamed to read them in public. I have experience of reading erotica in the past where I had to fold the cover so no one would see it out of embarrassment. However that has backfired since my book is so well known and the cover has become iconic.


Have your parents and children read the book
ELJ: My dad sadly passed away. My mother has read it and when we discussed it my mother’s reaction was “why don’t they wash their hands after sex?”
ELJ: My children are fine. They are teenage boys who don’t read and they have their own lives with their young friends. They do know what has happened and they are very proud of me. In fact they have brought me copies from their friends to sign to give to teachers are their school. Although one of my sons did catch my writing one day and caught the word “Nipple clump” and kept saying it. It was hilarious!


I am from the Kinky community and while I am happy that 50 Shades has brought erotica and kinkiness to the mainstream, I felt that Christian as a damaged character took away from the positive things about Erotica and its enthusiasts. I was also disappointed with the ending.
ELJ: I understand why the Kinky community would feel that way, you are entitled to your opinion. However I wanted to create a character that was not perfect. I thought he would be more interesting as a damaged character.


Are you a dominant or subservient person
ELJ: A bit of both


You said you believe in doing a lot of research. Was the research for this book first hand or secondary research {rapturous laughter ensues}
ELJ: A bit of both, primary and secondary research.


Many women have enjoyed your books and felt liberated by them. What is men’s reaction to your book.
ELJ: I feel very embarrassed talking about the book in front of men, I am surprised that men want to read it. I am surprised that there are a few men here tonite. I was cringing when I had a meeting with Hollywood executives when I had to discuss my fantasies. I was cringing the whole time.


What do you think of the term given to your book as “Mummy Porn”. I am young and I get weird looks when they see me reading it and say “but that’s mummy porn”.
ELJ: I can’t control what various publishers or media houses chose to interpret a book and it’s market. I do feel it is a quick and lazy attribution to something based on how people want to interpret something to sell papers. My books are for every age, I have fans who are quite young, mothers and even women in their 70s. There is even a wide range of people attending this event.


What do you think of the reaction you have had, the comments and reviews?
ELJ: I stopped reading anything about me two months ago, and that includes my reviews whether positive or negative.

The evening ended with a book signing and a bit of chat with EL James. I was delighted that she took the time to chat with me and tell me I had a beautiful name. I loved every bit of this evening!

El James signing my copy of 50 Shades - copyright www.thetalentguru.tv

Programme

17:30 – Doors Open

18.00 – Lecture Theatre opens

18:30 – Discussion with EL James hosted by Anna Fielding, Editor, Emerald Street

19:00 – Audience Q & A

20:00 – Book signing

21:00 – End of event


© 2012 Photos and article by London Guru (part of Talent Guru)
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of  London Guru (part of Talent Guru).

Sunday, June 17, 2012

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY 2012




Dance with my Father – Luther Vandross


POEMS FOR FATHER



A Father and a Dad Are Not the Same



A father and a dad are not the same:
One can be a dad and not a father,
Or one can be a father and not bother
To earn through love the more endearing name.
Some find fatherhood a bit too tame,
Leaving all the details to the mother,
Or dumping the sweet burden on another
Man with just a passing twinge of shame.
You have been our dad so many years
That you've become the landscape that is home,
The mountain that we look to from afar.
No matter where we go we're not alone,
For you remain within to still our fears
And be the word that tells us who we are.



A Little Girl Needs Daddy



A little girl needs Daddy
For many, many things:
Like holding her high off the ground
Where the sunlight sings!

Like being the deep music
That tells her all is right
When she awakens frantic with
The terrors of the night.

Like being the great mountain
That rises in her heart
And shows her how she might get home
When all else falls apart.

Like giving her the love
That is her sea and air,
So diving deep or soaring high
She'll always find him there.



Before I Was Myself, You Made Me, Me


Before I was myself you made me, me
With love and patience, discipline and tears,
Then bit by bit stepped back to set me free,

Allowing me to sail upon my sea,
Though well within the headlands of your fears.
Before I was myself you made me, me

With dreams enough of what I was to be
And hopes that would be sculpted by the years,
Then bit by bit stepped back to set me free,

Relinquishing your powers gradually
To let me shape myself among my peers.
Before I was myself you made me, me,

And being good and wise, you gracefully
As dancers when the last sweet cadence nears
Bit by bit stepped back to set me free.

For love inspires learning naturally:
The mind assents to what the heart reveres.
And so it was through love you made me, me
By slowly stepping back to set me free.


For You I Feel an Overwhelming Love

For you I feel an overwhelming love,
All the more because you're far away.
Though all the continents of Earth may move,
Here is my love, and here my love will stay.
Each time I feel my fortune go adrift,
Realities like rocks poised in my way,
'Ere I feel that fearful, shuddering rift,
Some memory of you holds them at bay.

Dad, your love can still my heart uplift;
After all these years, my spirits sway;
Your strength and courage still my fears remove.




Tuesday, June 12, 2012

THE TONY AWARDS 2012: FULL LIST OF WINNERS

 

THE TONY AWARDS 2012: FULL LIST OF WINNERS

The Tonys opening number with Neil Patrick Harris

Best Play: Clybourne Park
Best Musical: Once
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre: Newsies


British actor James Corden wins best actor at Tonys

Best Revival of a Play: Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Best Revival of a Musical: The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess




Ricky Martin who stars in Evita (and Glee) looking hot at Tonys red carpet
Best looking leading men, Mathew Morrison (Glee) & James Marsden (X-men)
Hugh Jackman wins Lifetime Achievement Award for contribution to Broadway

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: James Corden, One Man, Two Guvnors
Best Performance by an Actress in Leading Role in a Play: Nina Arianda, Venus in Fur
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Steve Kazee, Once
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Audra McDonald, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess

Best Book of a Musical: Once
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: Christian Borle, Peter and the Starcatcher
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Judith Light, Other Desert Cities
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Michael McGrath, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical: Judy Kaye, Nice Work If You Can Get It