And now for something completely different.....

Ok, whoever is reading this.. I apologise for what I am about to do. You see, some of you may or may not know that I am now a Film student! I should have done this a long time ago.. I can assure you, it's a hell of a lot more fun than Law.

I have successfully completed Film 101, Scriptwriting, and I'm currently doing, Film Editing and Music for Film. Thanks to Bex and Bif for lending me their MacBook and thus allowing me the pleasure of discovering GarageBand. If anyone out there, musically inclined, has never had a play..... get it anyway you can. It's awesome.

Anyway, as part of one of my many hundreds of assignments, I had to post a synopsis on the 'Blackboard Forum' about John Williams as part of my Music for Film subject and it got me thinking... 1. I friggin love the man and 2. Man, I haven't updated my blog for a while.

As I made a decision to diversify this blog (on all things non-cancer related as I come up to my 1 year anniversary of being in remission) I thought I could share my thoughts on John Williams also.

So... that said, I am about to bore the crap out of you, by ranting and raving about someone who I consider to be the greatest composer of all time. I can hear all the Americans applauding as I write this, but as a Hong Kong-Pom-Australian-New Zealander, I can assure you no geographical bias. I am simply a lover of all things John Williams.

I believe this love affair started when I was about 7 years old. I would sit, glued to the TV and play my beta video tape of E.T over and over again. Yes, I loved Elliott.. but that was back when I also thought Olivia Newton-John was the height of 'cool' and I would ride my bmx whilst listening to Madonna's 'Holiday' on my walk-man, so contextually speaking.. it's all relative.

It wasn't until I was in my teens, that I finally realised, every movie I had ever loved as a kid and then, as a teenager, turned out to be scored by the same guy! Jaws, Star Wars, Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind, Superman, all the Indiana Jones films, Empire of the Sun, Born on the 4th of July, Home Alone, Hook, JFK, Schindlers List, the Jurassic Park films, Seven Years in Tibet, Saving Private Ryan, The Patriot, the Harry Potter films, Minority Report, War of the Worlds (and the list goes on). Unequivocally, I announce John Williams to be the greatest interpreter of film into music in modern history.

Proof of this statement is that today (nostalgia for my glorious youth aside) I cannot watch the famous scene where Elliott and E.T fly past the full moon on his bike as the stunning 'Flying Theme' crescendos (wow I am actually getting chills even as I write this!) without feeling tears prickling my eyes. The music sweeps you along the film, it's immense highs, lows, the chase scenes and the final devastation as E.T leaves. It is so wonderful, I still listen to the soundtrack today. At the 20th Anniversary of the film, the cast re-assembled at a huge theatre in LA and in what could be a first (certainly, I have never heard of this being done in recent times) they had John Williams and a full symphony orchestra play the soundtrack to the film live, in front of the audience (watch the bonus footage on the dvd if you can.. this was no easy feat!). Spielberg removed all soundtrack from the film and as a testament to John Williams, he was able to conduct the orchestra in perfect unison with the movie that was playing to a huge audience behind him. The result? The audience got the full blown effect of the stunning score and there wasn't a dry eye in the house at 'lights up'. To have been there to witness that... wow!

Talking about iconic themes... you cannot go past 'Jaws' as the quintessential benchmark for film scoring. John Williams, in all his brilliance composes a theme for a shark (no easy feat - go on.. I dare you to give it a try!). In the bonus footage of the 20th Anniversary edition of the dvd (Jaws is my favourite movie ever) there is an amazing scene where John Williams is sitting at his grand piano. Steven Spielberg has been called in to hear what John has composed. When John starts to play those simply, yet exceeding low, chilling piano notes, Spielberg is stunned to silence... and history is created in that moment.

Proving not to be a fluke... the collaboration between Spielberg and Williams continues to this day. Williams' filmography speaks for itself.

Other musical standouts being:

* Schindlers List (I defy anyone to get through the final scene where Oscar flees the Czech camp with a ring and petition of his innocence signed by the Jews whose lives he saved, without balling their bloody eyes out).
* The iconic and wonderful Indiana Jones films
* The Star Wars movies
* And another personal favourite of mine, Seven Years in Tibet. Williams is able to successfully translate his music into different cultures sublimely.

Ok, I guess that's enough (told you I would rant) this is a blog post, not an essay.

On a finishing note... if you are ever stuck to get a present for someone, who happens to be a film nut, or just a lover of music... buy them the definitive 3 cd collection of John Williams' greatest work. They will get a shock when they recognise 90% of his scores off the bat and it always makes for great fodder for any quiz night enthusiasts.

Enjoy :)

A Year On...

Hey gorgeous people,

I woke up this morning and a strange thought crossed my mind. My god... a year ago I was having chemo! (unintentional rhyme people, I do not wake up and 'rap'). Hard to believe last July, I was bald, living in Melbourne and sick, sick, sick. Firstly, can I just say how bloody glad I am to be here! (Can I get a FUCK YEAH!). Secondly, I have no idea where the time has gone. It has literally flown by. Its a strange thing, looking back on it retrospectively and there are some things I wanted to share with you all.

After reading all the self-help, motivational and inspirational books the Cancer Society send me and well-meaning friends and co-workers pass onto me, I felt like I had finally come out the other side. That I had really, truly made it. Aside from the three monthly check ups and the five years of hormone treatments (Tamoxifen) I am on the Up, through the tunnel, hit rock bottom and now climbing back up the great metaphorical hill of life.. and all the other cliched bullshit.

And to a degree... I am. But (and yes my dear readers, there is always a BUT) sometimes I don't feel like celebrating.

Its like the strange calm after a storm. Where the wind has died down and there is nothing but the smell of lingering rain as the sky clears and you are able to finally stand there and look at the devastation caused.

I look ok on the outside. The scars have healed, my breast (albeit smaller than the other one) is still there. My hair is growing back nicely and I feel pretty good. I'm susceptible to lots of things going around (colds, flus etc) but I am told the chemo compromised my immune system so that's a bit of a no brainer.

Generally I am feeling very positive. I have made some huge changes and finally booked my ticket to the USA. I had planned to head there before I got sick and now... well, I know better than anyone not to put off till tomorrow what can be done today - or whatever the fuck that saying is.

My advice and message to people out there who know someone going through what I went through, is just because the fight is fought and the battle is won, don't stop the messages and communication. In fact, one the storm has passed, its more important than ever to show your support.

Once a cancer patient is told they're in remission, they are ushered out of the hospital that was their home over the last year. They have to say goodbye to the nurses, doctors and staff, who have been there through thick and thin. They have to say goodbye (often last goodbyes) to fellow patients, many of whom will lose their own battles and they are cast back into the wide, wide world.

There is an expectation for survivors to get back on the horse and get on with living.. but its not quite as simple as that. You do not feel as strong as you were before - in fact, you feel downright vulnerable. You feel unsure of just how much celebrating to do, in case IT comes back. Even if you are positive, like me, and excited about the future, that terrifying thought lays at the back of your mind. Like a dormant bear.. hibernating.

So, reach out again people. Never stop. You have no idea how much it means. The world can feel a big lonely place, when you are pulled out of it and reinstated 12 months later and everything has continued without you, as normal.

Really makes you question who you are and the impact you truly have.

If my friends and family are a testament to who I am... well I am pretty proud of that.

Love you all

Ems xxx

DJ CUPBOARD & BEXY BOO

Hi Guys
Sorry for neglecting my blog. Due to the overwhelming outcry and threats, I have finally posted another entry..... ha, yeah right! No, I just told Bif and Bex that I would put them up on my blog. Both of them being quite shy, I am not sure they hugely appreciate my posting their picture up in the eternity of the information superhighway, but there it is! Love you guys!

Well I would like to let you know how the hell I have been these past... wait... 9 months (holy shit that went quick) but frankly, I would probably bore you and I just don't have the energy, but I will soon, dear reader... I will.

At this point, I'd like to give a shout out to a certain guy (you know who you are) who has given me more than he knows. He's super special and I'm so stoked to have him in my life.

I want to tell Sam and Gareth how much I miss and love you. So excited for the future for you guys!

I want to tell Kate that she rocks.

I want to tell Kitty that I am always right beside her and she will yet, rule the world.. oh and next time we play for my yacht in Cannes for your Scottish Castle - see ya Friday night. Same bar.. same pool table.

I want to tell Craig and Saskia that you will overcome this tragedy stronger than ever and that we should all aspire to be as in love as you two are.

James and Ruthie BBBBBBBBBB... have a bloody Guinness for me in Ireland. Give my love to Damien and Ems11 and hurry back, we have a birthday to plan!!

Back to me...

It would seem that this 'fatigue' monster they talked about does in fact, rear its ugly head many months after all the treatment has finished. He is a rare and insidious monster, never quite in your face, but sometimes lurking behind you. He appears randomly and comes and goes as quickly as an awkward one-night-stand (for which, I am truly grateful). I endured such an attack this morning which rendered me in bed for the day. Not quite so tragic as it allowed me the time to do something important, like write this blog.... sleep.... eat an apple... sleep.... oh yeah, and I also changed the colour scheme of my blog.... think I may go back to sleep now.

Much exciting news to come.. hence the bright colour scheme. I considered changing the name of my blog as Fuck the Lump just doesn't apply to my life right now... but I couldn't think of another title that fit. "Fuck the Bump (on my head from getting pissed and falling down last Friday night)" just doesn't have the same ring to it. "Fuck the Dump?" Nah... never go there.. awful smelly place. "Fuck the Jump?" Doesn't make sense and I have nothing against Van Halen.

So Fuck the Lump it remains.

Sending so much love to you wherever you are in the world. And if I haven't told you lately, I treasure you.

xxx