I've Seen Things

I'm an Irish writer. I work in film. I write screenplays. I like to write about things I've seen and things I'm doing. I love writing strong characters in exciting stories.

[norinamac]

Female Focus: Bigging Up The Women

Inspiring year for women with @EllenPage's speech @HRC and now @EmWatson 's @HeforShe speech @UN_Women and #tobeagirl campaign @WaterAidUK

— Norina Mackey

(@norinamac) September 23, 2014

[norinamac]

ScreenPlay (Part 3)

It was an absolute pleasure to be one of the first women interviewed as part of a four year research project; "Calling the Shots", which investigates the involvement of women behind the camera in the UK film industry. "Calling The Shots" was launched at ScreenPlay by the researchers; Professor Linda Ruth Williams and Dr. Shelley Cobb, both of whom are based at the University of Southampton. What a wonderful highlight for the festival! My interview was just one of around 50 they intend to conduct with female film professionals and the interviews will be added to the archives at Bectu's History Project, so it was quite an honour to be a part of such a grand venture. Linda and Shelley have bravely taken on a mammoth subject and have a very exciting four years ahead of them.

Another feather in the festival's cap was having The Film Review filmed in Mareel for BBC News, in which film reviewer Mark Kermode discusses his loves and hates of current flicks with Gavin Esler presenting. Along with a few of the Beeb pro's, the programme was even filmed using cameras, equipment and film crew from Mareel.

My final workshop of the week was held exclusively for the youth groups Maddrim of Shetland and SKAMM from Edinburgh. Together they like to call themselves MaddSKAM (they're a funny bunch). I must admit that I was very impressed by both their willingness to learn and their commitment to the tasks I set out. MaddSKAM are a lovely group of teens - intelligent and creative, and I would love to work with again some day.

[norinamac]

ScreenPlay (Part 2)

Held my second screenwriting seminar yesterday evening at Mareel as part of the annual Shetland Film Festival. The session was completely sold out! Had a wonderful evening with a fantastic bunch of keen, talented participants! Had a surprise visit from BBC Shetland who also sat in on the seminar and picked my brains in an interview afterwards. A delightful evening!

[norinamac]

ScreenPlay (Part 1)

Extremely excited to host my first session at ScreenPlay: Shetland Film Festival tomorrow. Check it out! Flew up to Shetland this morning from London especially for it. Feels good to be back.

[norinamac]

I produced this MTV music video for Jet Set Films. Very exciting to see the names of the two co directors, Alexander Braniff-Taylor and Amy Mathieson, here on the MTV website. This is also the official music video for the feature documentary film 1 Way Up on which I also worked as assistant producer. The film is being released this Friday in UK cinemas! 

[norinamac]

Adventure With Character

Having recently relocated to Shetland with my partner, my family decided to pay us a visit to experience our new lifestyle. Not having been there for more than three weeks when they arrived, I was desperate to give them the best of Shetland despite my limited knowledge of worthwhile places to take them. It didn't take long for me to remember the Underwater Shetland promotional leaflet which I had acquired on the ferry journey to Shetland, as I eagerly sought further knowledge of what was to be my new home. It was exactly what I wanted and the experience didn't let me down. I booked the slightly longer 3.5 hour Noss trip and was so glad I did because any extra time you can get on this trip with the colourful hosts, Robbi and Alan, is time well spent. I'll skip past the obvious friendly and welcoming attitudes of both hosts because I'd like to focus on the qualities they possess which is rarely found in other tour guides because, to be super cheesy about it, it comes from within. Alan and Robbi are genuine people to begin with, they haven't been told to smile at the patrons, they do it naturally because they want to. They're passionate about Shetland and what they can show you and teach you on this tour and their enthusiasm is contagious. You can't help but be infected by the wonder they feel for this environment and it's diverse collection of wildlife inhabitants, regardless of the hundreds of times they have taken people on this same trip. Their brains are seeping with information throughout the trip; Alan is a story teller, he loves to tell tales of Shetland's history - places, people and events, Robbi is the biologist who enjoys explaining what we're looking at in the most animated and enthusiastic manner that would outshine a pantomime dame on stage. She doesn't lecture you, although she easily could, but provides an interactive dialogue with her guests where every question and comment is welcomed, respected and responded to, regardless of how basic or ignorant it may be. They're an endearing couple with a lot of passion and belief in what they're offering with this trip.

The adventure takes you from Lerwick to Bressay sound and around Noss. The fascinating yet peculiar cliffs bare the multiple rock types they are formed of, an understandable reason for Shetland's reputation as a geologists playground. We were lucky to have a calm sunny day allowing Alan to delicately steer us under the impressive "Giant's Leg" rock arch. Puffins flew by, gannets dived for fish and the great skua chased our boat until a brave Robbi held out a biscuit for him which he happily took from her outstretched hand mid flight. The breathtaking proximity of these magnificent birds was thrilling. Perhaps the more dreamlike part of this adventure was observing the bird colonies on the cliffs of Noss - both terrifying and magnificent. Thousands of birds fight for space in this densely populated habitat. In the boat, we came face to face with the younger birds at the bottom of the cliffs; the lower in rank. Age and power increases with altitude on the cliffs, each jagged ledge above the other a higher class. Layers of flying birds swooped and soared above us, feathers floated down and excrement dropped into the sea, or onto the unfortunate lower class birds at the bottom of the cliffs. I found the gannets quite exciting. They are large, strong birds who use their beaks to skillfully and elegantly sword fight together with lengthening necks; an impressive greeting ritual. Their impressive wing span impresses in flight and adds to their grace and beauty.

I suspect the underwater sections of this trip might be Robbi's favourite. Live video from an underwater camera are examined on a monitor inside the boat. We didn't know what to expect or what we might see but Robbi identified life in every corner of the screen and didn't hold back with sharing her knowledge with us which was wonderful. From anemones to sea urchins, crabs to starfish, we saw much more interesting creatures than I had anticipated. Possibly the most enlightening of all was at the very end of our adventure with Alan and Robbi when they put a few drops of sea water onto a microscope. The image was fed into a monitor which exposed several otherwise invisible micro organisms swimming around in those few random drops. Life is everywhere.

Underwater Shetland is a wonderful learning experience. Alan and Robbi couldn't be more generous with their information, their time and of course their home - the Galathea boat.

[norinamac]

Disco Babies review - from big smiles to stifled tears

Tuesday 8th April, Oxford House, London.

Aggressive music accompanies equally aggressive dance moves. Flashing disco lights and dazzling costumes add to an initial shock to the senses. Everything becomes faster and more frantic, the competitors more desperate; the intensity swells. This is the in-your-face opening to Disco Babies. Produced by Silversmith Dance Theatre and directed by Lorraine Smith whose inspiration came from her time spent in the competitive world of disco dancing when she was a child, as well as taking inspiration from Channel 4’s documentary Strictly Baby Disco. The opening shows us a prologue for what’s to come. The smacked on smiles are just another aesthetic of the disco performance. Behind the teeth and the glamour lies a more complex emotional side.

Each of the four performers are well cast to suit their characters. They really nail childish cruelty with simple things like throwing someone's sweets at one another. The initial fun is rapidly replaced by irritation which leads to upset while the perpetrator becomes more sinister; the innocence of being openly mean. The competitive aspect is present throughout but also brings with it a sense that it’s just another piece of the costume and not necessarily who these kids really are. This same level of child-like believability is not maintained throughout the piece and these talented performers have the ability to do so.

A powerful scene with Lauren Okadigbo and Gina Biggs needs mentioning. Okabigbo really shines in this dramatic scene as she sits on the floor at the edge of the stage. While Biggs appears to be the main attraction as she hyperventilates into a paper bag and essentially has a mental breakdown centre stage, she fails to distract from the withdrawn little girl watching on in fear and confusion from the sidelines. Okabigbo’s subtlety fuels the intensity and seriousness of what is quite a fragile scene.

The female performers have spectacular disco costumes. They’re the real deal and I don’t feel like there should be room for loose ends in this department, but there is one. Performer Chris Mead has clearly pulled the short straw with his costume which contains a baggy grey tracksuit bottoms with a strip of sequins down the outer side of each leg; a sad attempt for a costume. A silver sequined bolero over a black mesh vest is the better half but overall he could have been mistaken for a pantomime Aladdin.

There is a lovely duet beautifully danced by Chris Mead and Morena De Leonardis. The intricate fluidity of the choreography is compelling and the pair are perfectly tuned with one another. The duet provides the production with a change in pace which works well for the overall structure.

Every scene is separated with a blackout which is quite jarring and unnecessary. It breaks up the atmosphere  which is a shame. A more fluid transition would certainly be beneficial in creating a more wholesome feel to the production. 

Silversmith Dance Theatre’s Disco Babies is a strong production with a lot to say. The array of emotions dealt with are expressed well by this small company’s performers who each excel throughout. A little tweak here and there will make this show a must see.

[papaija]

Royal Ballet (London) in rehearsal for a new ballet of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale

[norinamac]

I really want to see this!