Me loves me some Shane Mack

Every now and then a great movie can introduce you to a great soundtrack and, from there, to a great new artist. That's what happened to me when I watched the 2007 movie Shelter, a beautifully-shot love story set in California about two young men, Zach, and his best friend's brother, Shaun. Shelter is short, sweet and it probably has two of the most brilliantly natural and "real" performances I've ever seen on screen. It has also has fantastic music.

The movie's soundtrack featured quite a few songs by the Texas-born singer-songwriter Shane Mack, including Lie to Me and More than this (a personal favezies.) Since watching Shelter, I've become a big Shane Mack fan and try to listen to some of his music when I'm sitting down to write Popular or really anything to do with Cameron or Blake. More than this is probably the one I've listened to the most.

Anyway, I strongly recommend an i-Tunes creep for Shane's music and having a look at the trailer for Shelter (below.) 

Also - have a great weekend!

Sarah P's new music video

Sarah P, whose fantastic single Today, was written for the stage production of Popular, is back with her new music video for Movin' On, filmed in Belfast.

Well done Sarah!

And here's an interview with the lady herself back in summer and a new one will be posted here soon, too!

"Popular" in music: An interview with Sarah Patterson

Today, I'm pleased to post an interview with Sarah Patterson, a young recording artist from Belfast, who also appeared in the autumn 2011 theatre version of "Popular". For her scene, Sarah performed one of her new songs, "Today", inspired by the storyline of Cameron and Blake. And here she is in all her fine glory to answer some questions today.

 

1. So, Sarah, you're fifteen years old and you're already producing records and music videos. That's pretty awesome. Tell us how it all got started and did you always know you wanted to go into music?

I've been singing and acting all my life.  I've been going to Belvoir Players since I was three years old and I love being on stage.  I haven't always known that I wanted to go into music as my teachers have told me it isn't a very wise career choice but at the end of the day I've always loved to perform and if I can, I will.  I started uploading cover songs to youtube last year and was approached by an independent record label with a development deal but it would mean gigging on the mainland and I was just about to start GCSEs.  I decided to do it from home in the first instance.  Recording in Belfast and doing a few gigs here and there. 

2. How many of your songs are available on i-Tunes right now?

I have two original songs on iTunes now but I'm working on an album for release next year. 

3. Sarah, you read Popular this summer and actually appeared in the theatre show, singing your song Today at a house party. How did the storyline of Cameron and Blake inspire the song? I can remember sitting listening to it the first time you played it and being totally blown away!

I'd had an original that I'd written a few months previously in mind, however, when I was warming up in the green room [during rehearsals] I just had an urge to write something.  I thought about what (among many things) would be going through Cameron's mind about Blake.  I was trying to imagine what they'd both be thinking and never saying to each other.  So in short the song was very spontaneous and just sort of wrote itself. 

4. Your filming the music video for Today early next year, with the cast of Popular. Excited?

Extremely excited.  It will be great crack and a chance to reunite with all the popular cast and characters.  The producers are excited too as they've felt a real buzz around Popular which they hope to capture with the video for Today.

5. Your school, Victoria College, is one of the inspirations for Mount Olivet Grammar School, the school in Popular. How similar are they?

Very.  It's full of Merediths but they don't know it (unless they've read the book).  When I read the book and the script I recognised a lot of the characters immediately.  Having said that I love Victoria College and wouldn't have it any other way.

6. What's next for you? Apart from the irritation of GCSEs. Don't worry too much, by the way. We had a surprise quiz from our Biology teacher and we answered 'synapse' for all 31 questions. And I got a C, so, you know, how hard can they be? (Probably shouldn't take all the credit; I prayed HARD. It was my substitute for actual work.)

Hopefully an album and a lot of gigs next summer and stage work with Popular (director permitting).  I'd like to be uber-rich and famous some day but a wise old man once told me 'it isn't arriving at the destination it's the journey that's important' and I've had a pretty good ride so far. 

7. Tell us where people can get your songs!

On iTunes  http://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/sarah-p/id460381254

or Amazon  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005JN0VRK/ref=dm_dp_adp

links are there on my fb page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Patterson-Music-therealsazzle/216982728317116

Thanks, Sarah! And we'll keep you updated with news of her new videos and the rumours that Popular will be experiencing a theatre revival very early in the new year!

All Hail the Queen

Catherine McAteer is a former student of Down High School, the same school attended by the author of "Popular," Gareth Russell, and her on-stage best friend, Robbie Dagher. Catherine is a classically-trained musician, who is also a member of the acoustic folk band, "Ellipsis". Catherine has also modeled professionally and this year competed in the Miss Northern Ireland pageant and featured prominently in the 2010 Belfast Tourism Ad campaign. She has worked with Gareth before, playing Saint Veronica of the Veil in the Northern Irish production of his play "Magdalene", and her other on-stage works include versions of "Agnes of God", "Blood Brothers" and "Steel Magnolias". Next week, Catherine will be back on the stage playing Meredith Elisabeth Anne Harper, the queen-bee of south Belfast and the lead character in "Popular." 

Catherine, your character of Meredith often divides reviewers and readers of "Popular." How much of a villain do you think she really is?

Catherine: Give me the names and numbers of these people who refer to her as a "villain," please. They need to be punished. Meredith Harper is an extremely complex character and I think "villain" is definitely an unnecessary and potentially evil description of such a beau young lady. I can admit that some of the things she says are rather blunt and maybe some times (very rarely, of course) a little harsh, but I think it's evened out by the way she says them. She's an incredibly humorous and witty character and she says a lot of things many people secretly think, but don't have the guts to actually say out loud. And despite her wealth, beauty and overall amazingness (definitely a real word, by the way), Meredith has actually had to deal with a quite a few issues in her life, which may be why her exterior can appear so cold at times.

You auditioned for the parts of Meredith and her dizzy hanger-on, Catherine O'Rourke. What made you prefer the part of Meredith over Catherine?

Catherine: I think the main reason as to why I preferred the part of Meredith is because I have played parts similar to Catherine in other productions in the past, and I wanted to challenge myself in a role that I haven't had much previous experience of. Of course, also after reading more extracts from the play, I just loved every word that came out of Meredith's mouth and I was extremely drawn towards her character and thought it would be so interesting and really fun to play her. 

Meredith has a very complicated attitude towards feelings and friendship, but her posse repeatedly defend her to outsiders as being a genuinely good friend. Who do you think her closest friend really is and how deep do her feelings for them run?

Catherine: I think without a doubt, Meredith's closest friend would be Cameron Matthews (played by Robbie Dagher.) Her feelings for him run exceptionally deep, both in comparison to her feelings towards the rest of the group and other characters in her life. She and Cameron have an almost unnaturally perfect connection with each other - they truly understand how each other work and they generally have the same feelings and attitudes towards things in life. When you get to know more about Meredith, you realise that despite the way things may look on the surface, she is extremely loyal and protective over the people she loves - and Cameron is one of these very lucky few!

Tell us a little about acting opposite Robbie, Emma, Claire and Lucy, who play your on-stage clique.

Catherine: I feel very fortunate that my on-stage clique is just as fabulous in real life as they are in the play. On-stage, it's extremely refreshing having such a diverse range of personalities to work with. I think it brings an edge to the play, as the audience get to see five very different characters on all gel together because of one connecting factor - fabulousness. Off-stage, working with Robbie, Emma, Claire and Lucy is just as fun and we all get on extremely well. I think that's definitely contributed to the closeness of the group when they perform. We laugh constantly, whether it's at ourselves or at someone else (more likely) and that element of humour is definitely brought through on stage. 

Favourite line as Meredith?

Catherine: Now that's a very difficult question, Gareth! Everything Meredith says is fabulous. However, if I had to pick one line that always stands out to me, it's when Meredith responds to Pip's (played by Daniel Steele) awful flirting with the line, "You make me pro-choice."

One reason why people should come and see "Popular" next week?

Catherine: Because your lives will then be complete.

Playing Blake Hartman

Adam Gillian is a former student of the Royal Belfast Academical Institute, which, weirdly, given how catchy its name is, is locally shortened to "Inst". Despite the fact that the story of "Popular" is set in Malone and Adam resides in Malone, the genius of the auditioning process lead to him being cast as one of the very few characters in the novel not actually from there. Instead, Adam, who is active in the local music and musical theatre, was cast as Blake Hartman, a native of New Canaan, Connecticut, who transfers into Mount Olivet Grammar School, south Belfast, and becomes entangled in the messy world of the BT9 cliques. Today, Adam's here answering some questions about Blake Joshua Elijah Hartman.

1. Adam, you're playing Blake Hartman in 'Popular'. Who is he and what attracted you to the role?

Adam: Blake Hartman is the 16-year-old, eldest son of an American pastor, who has moved to Carryduff, Northern Ireland (without even knowing that the north and south of Ireland are two different countries ... jeez). Originally from New Canaan, CT, his father has relocated after a problematic divorce, and has moved to Northern Ireland with his 'kid brother', Jack. Blake played tennis for his high school, and is therefore quite athletic. He is confident but not cocky, charming but not sleazy and works best in one-on-one friendships. In many ways, he is the epitome of the American teen, and he himself is somewhat aware of this. He is in Malone now, and come hell or high water he will be making friends. Little does he know what Malone has in store for him... I suppose what attracted me to the role of Blake is the amount of similarities there are between he and I. Where Blake could be seen as the anti-hero, I very much see him as a good guy who means well but gets crosswired along the way and loses his direction.

2. Tell us a bit about your new song 'Run to Me' about Blake's experiences in 'Popular'. 

 

Adam: Well when I read the book and got more and more into the storyline and into Blake's head, I saw a lot of potential for a great song. He is a hopeless romantic and his relationship with Cameron is one of such bittersweet tenderness that it lent itself very well for lyrics and ideas. I enjoy songwriting quite a lot, so I felt I'd try my hand at writing in the mindset of a character. After a few weeks of playing around with ideas and lyrics I finally came up with 'Run to Me'. Lyrically it would be from Blake's point of view, how he feels about Cameron, how he wants to be the one holding him and basically says everything Blake can't say in the book/play. All being well, it will be recorded very soon and available to hear on iTunes, and there will hopefully be copies of it to grab on the night!

3. 'Popular' is set on the Malone Road and, obviously as an American transfer student, it's not a setting Blake himself is initially familiar with. But, because of his friendship with Cameron, he gets drawn into its wider network. What do you think his attitudes to the clique system at Mount Olivet really are?

 

Adam: I think Blake is quite surprised at how tight the cliques really are in Mount Olivet. He does find them trivial and somewhat petty and pointless, but he also sees how much it means to Cameron to be part of Meredith's group, and almost finds it endearing. Blake can get quite jealous of the girls being close to Cameron, in a selfish way but it never really causes many problems between Cameron and him. Sure, there were cliques in his school in America but never to the extent of the ones in Mount Olivet! The popular, or "plastic" kids got over themselves by the time they left Middle School and went into the big, bad world of High School. Then it was every polo-shirt wearing boy and flip-flop wearing girl for themselves!

4. In the theatre version of 'Popular,' we see a few new scenes and a side to Blake that we don't see with his storyline in the novel. I'm thinking especially of the scene with Cameron's birthday present and his scene with his younger brother, Jack (played by Ross White). How much do you think the Blake of the book and the Blake of the play differ?

Adam: The Blake in the book and the Blake in the play are similar yet totally different. The added scenes allowed for a far better insight into his personality and how he felt about a lot of things and consequently added more depth to his character. The Blake in the play is a lot more aggressive when he needs to be, but at the same time is polite when the occasion calls for it. He is compulsively friendly and does his best to please everyone. But it is this compulsive need to please others that leaves him in a mess. He would rather others were happy than himself; his best and worst quality and ultimately his downfall.
 

In the book Blake almost has the Edward Cullen factor, in that he is the dreamboy that the girls want, but his downfall leaves him with nowhere to run and therefore he can easily be hated. I feel that the play gives him a chance to redeem himself. I may be biased however, people may still hate him!

5. Okay. Usually I ask people who their favourite character is in these interviews, but to mix it up a bit, who is your personal least favourite? No pressure, but I will instantly be judging you. Obviously.

Adam: Wow, see what you did there. Cunning. Well I've gotten on very well with the cast and they are terrific people, their banter bus never stops! If I had to pick my least favourite character it would have to be Meredith. I get that she's radiant (obv) and she's beautiful and all the rest, but she pretty much epitomises everything I don't like about her world - at the risk of sounding like an Indie or, God forbid, Coral. Meredith is the one person Blake's charm and compulsive politeness does not impress and he's left with nothing to offer. I'm sure they get on later in the series.. lol jk, he will forever hate her!

6. One reason why people should come and see 'Popular' in September 2011:

Adam: You get to see what the kids of BT9, 'BT Fine' and 'BT Beau' really get up to with daddy's credit card and an interest for scandal!

Adam can be seen on stage at the Belvoir Players' Studio Theatre playing Blake Hartman in "Popular" by Gareth Russell from September 6th to 10th 2011. "Run to Me" will be available on i-Tunes soon.

"Popular" cast (2011)

"A brand new theatre adaptation of Popular will be coming to the Belfast stage in Belvoir from Wednesday 6th to Saturday 10th September for its first run! Adapted by Gareth Russell from his novel, which was published by Penguin on 7th July 2011, Popular is being co-directed by the author and by Pamela Mills. The show will start at 8 pm every evening and there will be a Saturday matinee on the 10th at 3 pm."

So here is a sneak peak at the Belfast cast and follow this blog for more information about the book, the play, interviews with the cast, photos from rehearsal and in character, as well as news on the original music being composed for the show by two of our cast members - Adam Gillian, who'll be on this blog soon talking about his role playing Blake as well as his new song inspired by the novel, and Sarah Patterson, who'll be performing her brand new song Today on-stage in Act 2, Scene 3 of Popular. By the way, if you're interested in more of Sarah's stuff, check out her Facebook page! 

CAST of POPULAR, 2011

A thought-provoking tribute to a troubled singer

"When you love someone who suffers from the disease of addiction you await the phone call. There will be a phone call. The sincere hope is that the call will be from the addict themselves, telling you they’ve had enough, that they’re ready to stop, ready to try something new. Of course though, you fear the other call, the sad nocturnal chime from a friend or relative telling you it’s too late, she’s gone." - Russell Brand

I've had a difficult relationship with the differing reactions to the deeply tragic death of the singer, Amy Winehouse, who was found dead in her north London apartment yesterday at the age of twenty-seven. On the one hand, part of me is irritated and a little repulsed by the outpouring of mawkish, over-the-top sentiment that's predictably exploded over Facebook on the same day when news that ninety-seven people have been slaughtered by a mentally deranged terrorist in Norway is going more or less unremarked upon. Alright, you could certainly argue that Amy Winehouse's voice, talent and music meant people felt a connection to her that they just don't feel to the young people whose youth summer scheme on an island off the coast of the kingdom of Norway was turned into a terrifying bloodbath. But even so, to be moved to hysterical outpourings at the news about Amy Winehouse and then to not even pay tribute to the horror in Norway seems tasteless and thoughtless.

But on the other hand, Amy Winehouse's death is a tragedy and had people reacted in a way which showed at least a general awareness that another tragedy had occurred on the same day in another country, I'd have absolutely no problem with her fans and admirers expressing their genuine sorrow that such a gifted young woman came to such a premature and unnecessary end. I'm irritated and upset by the lack of mention for Norway, but I also understand people's need to express their sadness that the life of someone whose art brought joy into their lives has passed away. 

What I can't understand are the Facebook statuses and groups which mention her death in a negative way. You know the ones I'm talking about already. The ones which turn her death into a joke less than twenty-four hours after it happened and the ones who, to quote my friend Pamela Mills, have completely forgotten that Amy Winehouse was somebody's daughter, somebody's sister, somebody's friend. Even worse are the ones which climb on their metaphorical soapbox to proclaim that somehow she "deserved" her death because she was a drug addict who had failed rehab and failed to kick her habit.

Addiction is a disease. Yes, undoubtedly people could and should say that the story of Amy Winehouse is a frightening modern morality tale of a young girl who was caught up in an environment which actually praised permanent hard-core drug use and shunned the very idea of rehab as pathetic, even laughable - as her most famous song proclaimed. But to say that Amy Winehouse was therefore deserving of her death is only marginally more disgusting than it is idiotic. Gifted, troubled, haunting, pitied and admired, what happened to Amy Winehouse was a very, very sad story.

The actor and comedian, Russell Brand, who knew Amy Winehouse through a mutual set of friends, has written a moving tribute to her and her death. And thanks to my friend Robbie for passing it on. For the full article, which I really recommend, click here.

The return of "Evita"

One of the greatest musicals of all time, Evita is returning to Broadway this spring. Evita, which was made into a movie starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas in 1996, was originally written by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice and premiered in the West End in 1978. It was taken over to Broadway a year later, where it starred Patti LuPone in the title role. It has been performed in countless amateur and professional productions across the world ever since and, to date, it is one of the most financially successful musical theatre productions in history.

The Fifth Year Indie Posse

"Every school has one of these and they vary only in degrees of how annoying they are..."

Although they spend their whole life trying to prove they don't care about cliques and popularity and all that kind of lame, cool-kid stuff, Coral Andrews' circle of friends are about as cliquey and judgmental as they come. If you want to measure  it, just mention any type of music that's actually in the charts or a recent X Factor winner. Rage against the machine, fo' sho'.  

GROUP STATS

Clique Nickname: "The Hipsters," "The Indies" or "The Zoo" (Note: The last one was created and used solely by Cameron Matthews and Imogen Dawson, BT9ers.)


Clique Leader: Coral Andrews (16)

Other Members of the posse: Joanne Sexton, Paula Flockley, Eóin McEveritt, Patrick O'Shay, Philip Rodgers, Pauline Saville and, on the fringes, Hector Colliner, Callum Quigley, Alice Fenchurch and Patsy Harris.

Trademark/s: One guy or girl who secretly self-loathes themselves because they've fallen in love with one of the popular kids; a searing hatred of Simon Cowell, one accessory that clashes totally with everything else they're wearing, the exchange of far too many song lyrics with one another to prove how much they love each other and at least one guy friend who believes that wearing skin-tight trousers makes him genuinely attractive, when the reality is that skinny jeans make anyone who wears them instantly look like a castrated ferret. 

Never Without... Their i-Pod, skins or maybe a copy of "The God Delusion" to show how liberated and independent they are.


Group Heroes: Any philosopher so obscure that no-one else has ever heard of him. Same goes for their taste in music.


Favourite Belfast Haunts: The Empire, Fresh Garbage, outside City Hall

Most Frequently Spotted in school: The music rooms


Least Frequently Spotted in school: The sports fields


Most Infamous Quote: "I hate how soulless and evil capitalism is." - Joanne Sexton, whilst plugging earphones to her i-Pod.


Least Likely to hear them say: "I think it's really great how excited people are getting about Kate Middleton" or "I'm saving up for a Barbour jacket."


Key Phrase to avoid in conversation with them: "Isn't it great what the X Factor is doing for the music industry?"


Other Profiled Groups: The Upper Sixth Popular Girls, The First XVs

Great new musician

OK, so I say new. New to me anyway and thanks to my sister Jenny for introducing me to this guy's music. 

Tyler Ward is a really cool American musician with a great voice and I was actually listening to some of his music last night as I finished off the manuscript for Popular's first sequel. (Big thank you, by the way, to Kerry Rogan, Eric Spies and Coco Pannell for the texts, BBMs, banter and encouragement last night.  And in Coco's case, prayers - I am fairly confident God could refuse her nothing.) 

Anyway, Tyler Ward's cover of California Gurls and Love the way you lie are awesome and I'm pretty sure that in Popular, Mark Kingston, Blake Hartman and Catherine would love his music. 

You can follow Tyler on Twitter here and on Facebook here.