Ip Man 2

I've now finished and mailed off my interview with the amazing Donnie Yen, star of 'Ip Man 2'. The film is about Bruce Lee's martial arts teacher and Donnie plays the lead part. Filled with action this really is a must see film, which is due for release here in the UK on 7th March.

I still have to complete interviews with two other stars of the film, Sammo Hung and Darren Shahlavi who plays the menacing 'Twister' Milos. If I succeed in completing all of these features it will be the first time that I've ever had four pieces of work in one magazine and I'm really hoping that all goes well and that I can pull it off.

For a taster of the film see this link. If you have trouble with it just copy the details and past them onto your browser, this then works immediately.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkw_UxsxW6g

Update

I ran my interview with Michael Jai White past his publicity company and then submitted it to Combat on Thursday morning for consideration. I was absolutely delighted when I heard back the same day that it had been accepted. The editor tells me that it will be in their March Edition, which will be in the shops from 25th February, and will also be on their website from 28th January. I'm very excited and definitely up for more in this line of work.

Interview

I was delighted when the interview with Michael Jai Write over his new film Black Dynamite finally went ahead on Monday 10Th January. It went really well too, the film studio rang at the agreed 5PM and I was put through to Michael bang on time. What a great guy! With black belts in seven different martial arts he was ideal for Combat Magazine, who'd commissioned me to write it.

There I was with a fleet of pens by my side, a stack of paper, two recording devices, Michael's voice carrying confidentally over the loudspeaker and my well prepared interview sheet in hand when disaster struck. Without warning an awful hum came over the phone and I could hardly hear a word. Grabbing the handset I was able to hear him enough to write everything down freehand, so the disaster was averted.

What did I learn from this? To be prepared for anything. Well tested recording devices and spare batteries aren't enough, you can literally be torpedoed from any direction. Who could imagine a problem with the phone line and what a tragedy it would have been if it had all gone wrong.

The feature's now written and I've also run it past the publicity company. This morning I've sent it off to the editor, along with their stills from the film. Now I'm just waiting, with baited breath and jagged fingernails. Here's hoping all goes well.

Details of Michael can be found on his home page at:

http://www.michaeljaiwhite.com/

A Great Start To The New Year

I had some great news yesterday, that my short story "The Cult Of Adam" has been accepted for the Monk Punk Anthology. My friend and fellow writer Geoff Nelder also has a story in this, so I'm doubly pleased. Copies are going out to the Editor Ellen Datlow and to other Year's Best Compendiums, so it's all very exciting! On top of that I heard this morning that my ghostly poem "Roman Roads" is to be published at Kalkion.

Yup, what a great start to the year.

Hiccups

A few disappointments recently were two interviews that my editor put me onto. The first was with Simon Crane, Stunt Coordinator. Simon has just finished work with Angelina Jolie on her new film "Salt" and has worked on such wonderful films as "Men In Black", "Hancock", "Troy", "Mr & Mrs Smith", "Terminator 3", "The Mummy", "Titanic" and "Saving Private Ryan" to name but a few!

Managing to leave work early I was all set for the agreed time of 6pm. The film studio rang me to say that the interview would actually take place at 7pm, as this coincided with Simon's lunch hour. At 7.30pm I received an email saying that they would ring shortly and then at 8pm I had another email saying that it had been cancelled as something had come up and it couldn't be rebooked. As a great admirer of Simon's work I was disappointed to say the least but these things happen. All I can do is keep my eye open for more of his amazing work and keep my fingers crossed for future opportunities.

A week later I had a second interview, this time with Michael Jai White. Michael, whose film "Black Dynamite" is due for release here in the UK on 24th January 2011. Having been in such brilliant films as "Universal Soldier", "Spawn" and "The Dark Knight" I was really up for this one; particularly as Michael is also a black belt in seven different martial arts! On the morning of the interview I learned that this one had been cancelled too, hopefully to be rebooked sometime in January. I really look forward to that, as Michael will be a an absolutely amazing person to interview.

So what has this taught me? That life as a writer is not an easy one. It is, however, a fantastic one; to have such amazing opportunities really keeps you on the edge of your seat. Onwards and upwards, as they say.

Coming Of The New Year

On Christmas Eve I heard that the Christmas Edition of Screaming Dreams Estronomicon had been published. It was great to see my work in print and this can be downloaded at:

www.screamingdreams.com/ezine/christmas2010.pdf

As usual the Editor, Steve Upham, has done a splendid job and I have to say that the artwork is extremely impressive to say the least. I really enjoyed the other stories and it's great to see my work amidst them.

Now it's back to work. I have a short story called "The Cult Of Adam" to finish off and I have started another, "Seven Steps To Gesthsemane". A hot cup of tea is besides me, it's silly o'clock and I'm loaded for bear. Life really is great, being a writer.

James Beaton recently wrote an article about Taekwondo Grand Master Kim Bok Man and had it published in Martial Arts Illustrated not too long ago. As a friend and former private student of GM Kim's I have had a fair few interviews with him published in a variety of magazines over the years. I was delighted when James asked my permission to use some of my photographs and it was the first time that another writer has ever used my material, although several of my shots are on GM Kim's website with an acknowledgement to me. It was a good article and great to see more publicity about this incredible martial artist, who was one of the building blocks of Taekwondo.