Return of the Blog…and Blondie!

Posted in Diary of a Directrix
November 7th, 2010 by Devi Snively (The Directrix)

blondie in concert 2010I got the nicest e-mail from a fest buddy last week.  I wasn’t aware that he even followed our blog, but he wrote out of the blue to ask me if everything was okay, citing the lag in entries the past few months as possible cause for concern.  He’d been following our adventures and was “inspired by our refreshing optimism” and “humorous candor” in recounting the “trials and tribulations of the post-post-modern-semi-struggling artist.”  Wow, who knew? 

journey-as-destinationHe shares my belief that the journey is every bit as important, if not more so, than the destination.  He told me, “I hope things have not taken a downturn” and offered his assistance in any way in the event that I’d hit a rough patch, then confessed,  “It’s selfishly motivated.  I need my indie film cheerleader” back. “ Aw, shucks (and I’ll forgive the icky cheerleader reference) The truth is, I am deeply moved.  Thanks, Man!

dear-diaryIt was also a good reminder about the journey versus the destination.  All artists should really document their experiences – whether in private or online (preferably both, knowing that not all details are for public consumption – a lesson many on FB would benefit from learning…)  I’ve learned so much from reviewing old journals that, in retrospect, reveal with such clarity things that might have felt muddled at the time of writing them.  Sometimes it’s reassuring to know one’s been down a similar road before and she’s, in fact, headed in the right direction.

socratesThe fact is, things have not taken a downturn at all.  It’s quite to the contrary and I’ve admittedly been a bit overwhelmed trying to juggle the influx of activity.  But that is no excuse.  So thanks, Friend, for the gentle Socratic reminder.  The unexamined life is not worth living.  It’s not just what we do, but why we do it and how we grow from it.

So, I’m gonna try and catch up over the next week, sharing some of the more important highlights of the journey since neglecting the blog…

blondie 2 smToday I flash back to August 8th which turned out to be a night to remember.  I finally got to see Blondie in concert!  Much like our heroine in Paige & Hadley’s Prom from Hell, I grew up on my bands and concerts.  Yet somehow, I never got to see one of my all-time faves – Blondie.  Debbie Harry was (and still is) one of my idols.  I daresay she is at least partially responsible for my penchant for serious bleach and her music still plays in my home, my car and iPod with great frequency.

blondie 3 smBut I never could have guessed the impact of seeing her (and them) live in concert.  It was a religious experience.  They began with D-Day, one of a few new tunes they’d share off their upcoming album “Panic of Girls” reminding us all they’re not living in the past.  But their creative DNA shone through – there was a familiarity to this new music as well.  That voice that accompanied my youth, my young adulthood, my now.  Home.  I was covered in goose bumps and got choked up to  see and hear this legend right in front of me.

blondie panic of girls albumAt 65, Deborah Harry is still sexy, still rockin’, still inspiring, still my goddess.  I was 13 again all night long as we danced and sang along to one amazing hit after another – far more rockin’ than they ever sounded on vinyl even.  She dedicated a totally hot remix of “Rapture” to the Ramones (it almost sounded Black Sabbath-y ramonesin places – the whole ampitheater was on fire) and “Maria” to “..all the girls – and anyone who wants to be a girl.” She is the perfect girl, mind you, dancing non-stop in her white tutu, black biker jacket with tails, bare feet and the perfect shade of shocking blond hair.

I felt tears streaming down my face and didn’t even feel compelled to hide it.  It felt like enlightenment, passion reborn, the purest form of inspiration – true love.  Blondie had just given me another gift. transvision_vamp_velveteenSee, Paige & Hadley’s Prom from Hell, is a loosely autobiographical account of my high school experiences.  Our main character Paige idolizes a blond rock goddess known as Dora Mouse, the front-woman of punk pop band Delphiniums Blue (an A.A. Milne reference for poetry enthusiasts)  She is Blondie, of course, (okay with just a touch of siouxsie-1Siouxsie Sioux and Wendy James thrown in for good measure) and Ms. Harry reminded me what it’s like to be a teenager and feel the awe and adoration of her rock idol.  You know, we don’t ever have to lose that.  It all came rushing back in an instant.  Forever young.

debbie-harryA few days later, Sundance contacted me with the news that we’d made it to the next round of consideration for their writers lab and could I please send the most current draft of the script.  Thanks to Blondie, I whipped out the final revisions in no time.  i infused Paige with my rediscovered passion.  The missing link had finally been found.  Thanks, Deborah Harry!  You continue to inspire me.  It’s been a pleasure growing up with you and once we have more financing in place, expect a call from me (or my producer, I suppose, I’d likely sound like a babbling fool.)  We need a rockin’ soundtrack and I so hope you are a big part of it.

2 Responses to “Return of the Blog…and Blondie!”

  1. 網站設計 says:

    hooray. your writings on theater and writing much missed!

  2. Theron says:

    One way or another, the tide is high. It’s like you’re dreaming, no?

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