Avaliegh’s Amazing Adventures – Avaliegh learns about Imagination
Children’s poem/story on imagination
Performed by Val Cole
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Op: Mary Cox
Performed by Val Cole
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your short story about?
My story is about believing or not, in Witches. Seven-year-old Katy, believes her Mom who says ‘Witches aren’t real’. Flix her younger brother definitely believes in all things scary. Especially when a real live evil witch knocks loudly on their door and Katy lets her in. The ugly Witch knows someone in the house doesn’t believe in witches and she intends to find out whom.
2. What genres would you say this story is in?
The genre is fiction juvenile, ages 6-10 years
3. How would you describe this story in two words?
Invasively – scary.
4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
None
5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
‘Blue Ain’t Your Color,’ Keith Urban
6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?
Going Solo. Roald Dahl
7. What motivated you to write this story?
I saw the contest come up in my emails and I noted it closed in just few hours. So I quickly wrote this little story and sent it in. I didn’t edit it and I regret that. I have since done so, and it reads better now.
8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?
Roald Dahl. Wilky Collins
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Writing is my greatest passion and has been nearly my whole life. I also enjoy, renovating houses, designing jewellery and creating wax art.
10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?
I have wanted to enter a contest for a while, but usually I miss out due to time restraints. I was not about to let this opportunity pass.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Yes. Find out what makes you truly excited in life and follow that path. That is what you will excel at. If you don’t want to create a story more than anything else, simply don’t. You will be good at something and while you think you want to be an author you won’t find your true calling. Never let life get in the way of living your truth. Life is short and very precious, grab each moment and run with it. You will soon know where you want to be and it will probably surprise you when you find it!
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Op: Mary Cox
Performed by Val Cole
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your short story about?
It’s about one hundred words. Well, not about: it’s one hundred words exactly.
2. What genres would you say this story is in?
Bad Kafka
3. How would you describe this story in two words?
Mortality Hornswoggled?
4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
‘Psycho Ward Saloon’. A cult classic without the creepy sycophancy of cults.
5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
‘(I’m A) Chew Toy In The Jaws Of Despair’ aka ‘The Love Theme From Psycho Ward Saloon’. If Colt Ramen’s mournful yodel after the final verse doesn’t bring you to tears, there is just no hope for you.
6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?
Do songs by Tom Waits count as audiobooks?
7. What motivated you to write this story?
An annual literary competition in the local newspaper. It took the cake. Now we have frosting. A scoop of ice cream and I’ll be all set.
8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?
I’ll let you know once my dad gets his results back from ancestry.com.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Defying long odds.
10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?
See: Defying long odds.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
That sounds like the makings of an exciting, high-priced webinar.
******
Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Op: Mary Coxhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHu2MglG8RU
Performed by Val Cole
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your short story about?
The stories we tell ourselves to avoid hard thoughts.
2. What genres would you say this story is in?
Women’s fiction maybe or even a parable
3. How would you describe this story in two words?
gentle misdirection
4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
Wizard of Oz
5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Oh no favourites really. I like new and classic songs.
6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?
Picking a favourite is impossible. I love reading. If I finish a novel, that is my fave until the next one.
7. What motivated you to write this story?
I’m fascinated by the kind of self-talk we use to smooth over harsh things.
8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?
Kurt Vonnegut
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Gardening, permaculture, crafts, cats
10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?
Stories come alive when they are performed. I thought my story deserved that.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Keep at it. Don’t be afraid to accept criticism and revise, revise, revise.
******
Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Op: Mary Cox
Performed by Val Cole
Author Website: http://www.stevie-turner-author.co.uk
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your short story about?
This short story is part of a novel to be published in July. It tells the tale of Gerrie Hermann, an 20 year old aspiring rock musician from South Africa, and Sophie Woods, a penniless naïve student from Manchester, England. Gerrie is from a rich diamond-merchant family and wants UK citizenship to further his musical career. He offers 19 year old Sophie 30,000 pounds if she would marry him. Sophie accepts the deal and both are prepared to go their separate ways after the wedding, but fall in love instead. Gerrie’s parents are furious with him and cut off his allowance. Sophie becomes pregnant, gives up her student place at University, and takes part time work in a supermarket to make ends meet.
When Gerrie’s band has the chance to support a famous rockstar, they have to find forty thousand pounds to fund their part of the tour. Gerrie has a plan, but the consequences of this plan are more far reaching for the couple than they ever would have thought, and unbeknown to them will affect both of them for the rest of their lives.
2. What genres would you say this story is in?
I would say Drama and Family Relationships primarily.
3. How would you describe this story in two words?
Women’s fiction.
4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
Out of Africa.
5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Stairway to Heaven, by Led Zeppelin.
6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?
The Go-Between, by L.P Hartley.
7. What motivated you to write this story?
A guy I used to know wanted to stay in the UK and married an English girl. They are still together after 15 years, and so I think they fell in love!
8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?
William Wordsworth.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Rock music.
10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?
An unusual promotional opportunity.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
A one or two star review is just one person’s opinion of your work. Don’t let it affect you too much, as there are many others who will give it five stars.
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
Author website: http://www.lindavpalmer.com
Performed by Val Cole
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your novel about?
Mia Tagliaro was born with the ability to communicate with the dead, the reason her parents sent her to a weekend camp for kids with similar talents when she was just eight. With the help of seasoned psychics, she learned that she wasn’t a freak at all. There were lots of other people just like her, most especially a boy camper her age named TC, who got vibes from the living and the dead. By the end of their stay, Mia and TC had shared more than just secrets about their “sidekicks,” their nickname for psychic abilities. They shared a first kiss and a vow they’d never lose touch.
That was then. Now eighteen, Mia is quite comfortable in her skin and frequently passes along messages to the living from departed friends and family. She also helps the police with missing persons’ cases, loving the rush she gets when the lost are found. Though she hasn’t heard from her first crush, TC, for nearly a decade, Mia still thinks of him. So it’s quite a shock when they run into each other at a school dance. Tall, handsome, and athletic, TC, who calls himself Cooper now, seems just as amazing as she remembers. Then he tells her that his sidekicks deserted him years ago and actually uses the word “freak” when talking about them. Even worse, he lies when he says they can be friends again. Just when Mia is ready to give up on him, the ghost of Cooper’s dad begs her to try a little harder. But how can she reach a guy who not only thinks she’s weird, but deliberately keeps his distance?
2. What genres would you say this story is in?
YA/NA paranormal romance
3. How would you describe this story in two words?
Determined heroine
4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
This changes from day to day. At the moment, it’s Divergent. I’m hooked on Tris and Four.
5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
If Ed Sheeran opens his mouth to sing, that’s my newest favorite song.
6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?
Jane Eyre. I do love a good Gothic romance.
7. What motivated you to write this story?
A TV series about psychics. I began what iffing immediately.
8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?
Author Richelle Mead. Her Vampire Academy series is perfect, and that is very hard to do.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Music, books, movies, anything paranormal (but not scary).
10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?
I wanted to hear it read with enthusiasm and passion.
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Matthew Toffolo
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: Kimberly Villarruel
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
Watch the 140 Character Short Story: PRANK CALL:
Story read by actress Maya Woloszyn
Get to know writer Lucas Ruderman:
1) What is your very short story about?
My very short story is about a middle-aged man who has absolutely had it with these prank calls. He gets the old “Is your refrigerator running?” and the little kids laughing trying to remain serious. Fed up with the constant annoyance, he immediately answers his next call with an angry greeting. This is followed by several curses and crude phrases. He is satisfied with his outburst until he hears the frightened and scarred sounding tone of his mother’s voice. This of course is followed by a lecture about how he was raised much better than he had portrayed.
2) What motivated you to write this story and submit it to the festival?
My father used to get prank phone calls all the…
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