Two bits of good news and, as we all know, when good news comes we need to celebrate it: (i) the price of Don’t Smile Till Easter is now $20 or (if posted in Australia), $25 and (ii) the US Review of Books has just given Don’t Smile Till Easter a glowing review (hopefully soon to go on this website).
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Don’t Smile Till Easter Book Sales
The sales of the book version of Don’t Smile Till Easter have been going well. It is available in hardcopy from the author for $29.95 ($32.00 if you want it posted). You can also purchase it (e-book or hardcopy) on the likes of Amazon, Booktopia and Fishpond. Even people who don’t usually read books are reading it. It could be the perfect present for Fathers Day – for the bloke in your life who hasn’t read a book since he was at school; for the bloke who respected at least one teacher who made a positive difference in his life; for the bloke who particularly disliked teachers who had no respect for him.
Book Don’t Smile Till Easter
The book of Don’t Smile Till Easter has been adapted from it’s screenplay and is in the process of being published. The book version is just short of 90,000 words and is written in multi-autobiography from the points of view of students, parents and teachers. Each of 15 storytellers state their points of view, which are usually in conflict. The worst kid, the best teacher, united as underdogs, battling for justice. More to follow…
Don’t Smile Till Easter Website and Novel
The Don’t Smile Till Easter Website has been revamped so that it reflects the intent of the Screenplay. Also, I’m writing the Novel version of the Screenplay: 60,000 words so far out of a necessary 80,000 words. So far an enjoyable experience, but hard work all the same.
Being a Teacher
As a character in Don’t Smile Till Easter, Secondary teacher Donny is a success: he does an excellent job of teaching his subjects and in coaching his school’s football team. The students see him as a person whose personal qualities they would like to emulate. Donny treats his students as he would like to be treated: with respect, but at the same time he can joke around. But fate takes a turn for the worse – circumstances and personalities intervene. Donny is teaching the English Syllabus poem Chiron’s Serenade to a single, female student (Jenny) and this poem is of a similar theme to poet William Butler Yeats’ Leda and the Swan – see http://www.online-literature.com/yeats/865/ – due to circumstances beyond his control, Donny is accused of the sexual assault of Jenny and is immediately judged guilty (even though he is innocent). He has the Department of Education, his Principal and even the Office Lady condemning him. Only a couple of people, namely badboy student Lukas and Lukas’ Grandfather Tom believe in him. Donny knows that even when he is proved innocent, a little bit of the mud will always stick.
Liking Don’t Smile Till Easter
It’s wonderful that so many people are visiting the Don’t Smile Till Easter Website, and liking the Facebook Page; thank you. It’s wonderful that some people are liking the proposed film to the extent that they are prepared to contribute their hard-earned money in an effort to see this film produced; thank you for placing your confidence in our Cast and Crew. You are invited to visit the Site’s Crowdfunding & Rewards Page and see the Rewards offered – for as little as $25, you can choose to be part of this project of the mind and heart and receive a personalised Certificate of Appreciation in return. Of course if you wish to contribute more than $25 (for more Rewards) that is your decision. In a world that is too often weary and cynical, Don’t Smile Till Easter provides an opportunity for you to value the triumph of the human spirit over injustice and adversity.
Lukas & His Grandfather
Abraham Lincoln said, “I don’t know who my grandfather was; I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be.” As a character in Don’t Smile Till Easter, Lukas has one advantage over Lincoln in that Lukas does know his grandfather. Even though Lukas has less than smooth relationships with pretty well everyone else in his life, (e.g. his mother, the Principal), his grandfather, Tom, is his rock. Lukas instinctively recognises value in Tom’s age, experience and wisdom. Tom doesn’t try to replace Lukas’ deceased father and doesn’t suffocate Lukas with discipline – Tom sees himself in Lukas at the same age (decades past) and gives him room to make mistakes and find himself. As Lincoln also said, “You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.”
DSTE 5 Days On
Don’t Smile Till Easter (or DSTE for short): 5 days on from the launch of the website there have been over 1,170 hits, which is great. Our Facebook Page, Don’t Smile Till Easter Feature Film Crowdfunding, was launched only about the same time and there have already been over 90 Likes. We also put out a Facebook advertisement, which has reached over 14,000 people and will do so for more days yet. An email is going out today to 66,000 Australian teachers, in that DSTE is a story about teachers and students. All of this considered, the DSTE film will only be produced if enough people think, “This is a good story, worth telling,” and are generous enough to contribute as little as $25. Sincere thanks to those wonderful people who have already contributed to the DSTE production: you have shown that you are prepared to place your faith in our Cast & Crew to deliver the goods.
Don’t Smile Till Easter Film Crowdfunding Website
The Don’t Smile Till Easter Film Crowdfunding site is launched – a big thank you to site designer Heidi for all of her hard work, down to the editing of commas and other punctuation. Of course, we still may have a mistake somewhere but, if so, we’re happy to hear about it. It’s taken a lot of enjoyable, hard work to forward this project to where it now is and it’s going to take a lot more enjoyable hard work to have it go over the finish line. In life and in film, when the going gets tough you have two choices: give up, or push on. We choose to push on. None of us want to die not knowing.