Howye, you doing alright? Couple of new eyeballs on here so welcome. Good to have ya.
Since we last conversed, I’ve been to Windsor castle and back. That journey started with an email in April. From a good friend of mine, Polly Bennett.
You might not know Polly. But chances are you will have seen her work. Or you’re about to.
She helped Rami Malek get the moves like Freddie in Bohemian Rhapsody. She did something similar for Austin Butler with Elvis and Naomi Ackie as Whitney Houston.
Suffice to say this gal knows what she’s doing.
So, I get an email asking would I “understudy” some parts. Basically first sub. For a concert for the Queen she’s directing. And I went “The Queen? Why not?”
I’d never been to Windsor. So I went to Windsor.
To say I had a good week would be a royal understatement.
I met some wonderful people and saw incredible performers (and horses) from all over the world. All those people came for one reason – to pay homage to a woman who has been there through thick and thin for 70 years.
Regardless of anyone’s feelings about the Monarchy in the U.K., Queen Elizabeth II is some woman for one woman.
I got to go on as Lord Horatio Nelson. Yep, an Irish guy playing a legendary sailor from Norfolk in front of royalty – you couldn’t make it up.
And I met Tom Cruise back stage. And he was kind enough to laugh at my wig joke. I just felt the need – the need for a wig joke.
You know yourself.
Hope you enjoy this month’s bits and bobs.
Thanks for reading.
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Quotes that popped for me this month:
“Your outcomes are a lagging measure of your habits” James Clear (from Atomic Habits)
“The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven” John Milton (from Paradise Lost)
“Peace of mind, freedom from pain and fear, in a word your freedom. For what would you sell these things?” Epictetus (Greek stoic philosopher)
“It’s easier to cope with a bad conscience than with a bad reputation” Nietzsche (German philosopher)
READING
Wading my way through these at the minute.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
I had heard a lot about this book over the years. I’ve no reason why I half avoided it. But 20 pages in I’m hooked. This is a systematic approach to getting 1% better every day from someone who lives it and breathes it. In his own words “Human behaviour is changing moment to moment…this book is about what doesn’t change. Lasting principles you can rely on year after year”. His own personal story is incredible too.
The Expectation Effect by David Robson
I listened to a podcast David Robson did with Chris Williamson. The thing that got me to press play was his claim that the brain boosting effects of caffeine were found primarily to arise from our beliefs about its benefits. Wait a sec here….thinking a shot of coffee was going to supercharge my afternoon was all in my head? That’s just the start. If you’ve ever wondered how the power of the mind can have physiological effects on the body, then dig in.
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
Still picking through a couple of chapters every week (they’re short). A couple of days ago a good friend was struggling on a work project. Despite repeatedly appealing to her colleagues better natures, everyone seemed to be looking after number one. I reminded her of Law 13 according to this book – when asking people for help, appeal to their self-interest, never to their mercy or gratitude.
LISTENING
Now that #honesty is launched I’ve had the brain bandwidth to try and take in a couple of podcasts.
The Joe Rogan Experience – Douglas Murray
I like Joe. I like Douglas. I don’t always agree with them, but I enjoy the ideas they put out there. I really enjoyed Douglas Murray’s The Madness of Crowds during lockdown and it even inspired an episode of #honesty. Here, they get into the cultural wars and a variety of topics in between. Well worth a listen.
Crossing the Line Podcast – The Creators of ITV’s hit TV show ‘Des’
As someone who is trying to get a couple of TV shows off the ground this podcast was interesting for a couple of reasons. Firstly, to know the road ahead ask those coming back. Secondly, Des is a belter of a TV show with some great performances in it, not least David Tenant in the title role of serial killer Des Nilsen. And a guy called Alex Bhat, who was in an acting course I did, was in it too. And he’s brilliant. There. Three reasons. What more do ya want?
The Tim Ferriss Show – Balaji Srinivasan
Tim Ferriss is the 4-hour work week book guy. Balaji is an angel investor and serial entrepreneur. And also one of the sharpest minds out there. They talk about the future of Bitcoin and Ethereum, how to become noncancelable, the path to personal freedom and a hell of a lot of other things. Strap yourself in if you’re on a long drive or journey.
WATCHING
I don’t know about you but I must have seen the original Top Gun at least 50 times. Back in the pre-internet streaming days you recorded it on VHS from the telly and binged away ‘cause there was f*ck all else on. Interestingly Tom Cruise (did I tell you my Tom Cruise story?) is almost the same age as Paul Newman when they played together in another decades later sequel, The Color of Money. But he doesn’t look like Paul Newman did at 60. He’s aged…ah….better. As sequels go, it’s a good one, depending on which way you’re coming at it. For me, seeing the likes of Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise, older and less sure of themselves – or at least their characters Iceman and Maverick – was a nod that the years don’t wait for anyone. I squeezed my arms wife with tension, I laughed, I cried. All was well in the world once more (for a couple of hours at least).
In keeping with the royal theme this week, for one of my acting classes we got to do a scene from this movie, which features Kristen Stewart playing Diana. Now, this wouldn’t be my cup of earl grey normally, but, Kristen Stewart knocks it out of the park as Diana. Literally the best screen version I ever saw (and there’s been more than a few lately). Or maybe it was because I was in the Windsor vibe. Decide for yourself maybe.
There was a time when Jack Charlton made a lot of people, living on a small remote island on the western edge of Europe, believe that anything was possible. Even winning the world cup. This documentary looks at the life of an extraordinary man who came from ordinary beginnings to reach the highest peaks as a footballer and a coach. It also looks at how dementia robbed him of his memory in the final years of his life and how family feuds can go unresolved – even to the grave. A gorgeous piece of film.
A conversation that made me think: Having a shared goal
The one thing, above all, that struck me during my week in Windsor working on the Queen’s Jubilee was this – there were a lot of people, from a lot of different walks of life, different cultures, different beliefs, backgrounds and faiths coming together for one reason. To celebrate someone they really respect and admire.
Put all those people in a room and you’re going to get some tension, ego and my way or the highway vibes.
But people were willing to let certain things slide, drop their guard a little and in some cases pretend they didn’t hear a stray sentence or two. Because it was all for someone they really respect and admire.
A collective higher goal has a second to none knack of getting everyone to pull in the same direction.
I think I’d almost forgotten how powerful that is.
MAKING
Apart from self-tape practice, I can’t say I’ve been writing or creating a lot lately. There are some ideas floating around for #honesty series 2 as well as a new (old) idea about two supernatural detectives that has been a constant companion for a couple of years now, but again, I’ve yet to sit down and try to commit something concrete to paper.
I’ve given myself a deadline of the end of July to block the world out for four or five days and just glue my rear end to a chair and stop procrastinating.
I will though.
Oh, and there is some exciting news on #honesty which I’ll share next month.
CAN I HELP?
If you think I can help with something or have any feedback drop us a line on inneroscarwinner@gmail.com
Thanks for reading.