AN ORIGIN STORY - BY NATALIE GREEN
Hi Will!
I sent in my completed application for the Lars Knudsen documentary this morning and LARS EMAILED ME BACK almost right away expressing his interest, so this might actually be happening!!! I pasted my application below. Let me know what you think.
Lars said the next step is to get each participant to make a short video answering a few questions he will send this week (so keep an eye on your email). I still think we should keep the actual project a surprise, so we must figure out what to tell the others to convince them to make their videos. Let’s discuss at lunch on Thursday.
I really hope Lily commits to joining The Book Club. I put her on the application just in case (fingers crossed).
Ok. I’ll let you read what I sent Lars. I hope I did us proud. Love you so much and I can’t believe this might be a real thing.
Kisses,
Ana
Sonderende Videoproduktioner // Livsbekræftende ApS.
Application for feature in “The Plot Thickens” (working title)
Documentary Director - Lars Knudsen
Today’s date: Feb 22, 2010
Full Name: Ana Smith
Contact Email: A.Smith@HeraldDaily.Com
Is Applicant over 18 years of age? Yes__X__ No_____
Is Applicant/Organization available for all filming dates (May 15 – July 31 2010): Yes.
Occupation: Award-winning daily columnist for “Connections” at The Herald; Recipient of the Golden Trumpeter Award (2000-2009) for excellence in commentary; Town Crier Award (1996/1999) for distinguished work as an intern; and Vanguard Award (2010) for lifetime achievement for writing excellence – youngest recipient ever.
Name of Club/Organization/Association: THE Book Club (Fun fact: We may have been the Original Book Club! I had this idea a good 16 months before Oprah ☺).
Please tell us a little about your Organization: Our Book Club is a monthly sanctuary from the craziness of the outside world. We have been meeting regularly for almost fifteen years and have read everything from American Classics, to British Classics and even an Irish Classic or two! Each month we meet with a fully themed dinner, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. We discuss the books, reflect on life, and question our perspectives. Our Book Club has seen each other through multitudes of events over the years – losing parents, losing lovers, one significant scandal (which we will refrain from mentioning during the documentary), job promotions and losses, even one of us getting some major awards for excellent work as a writer (see above). We share laughter, sometimes tears and love each other through our challenges and triumphs.
Participant Details (please tell us a little about each member):
Ana Smith - I would consider myself the Queen of our court. I’m the glue that binds the book. I bring the tough questions, provide the historically accurate gourmet menus each participant must prepare, and never miss a literary connection. As a writer, reading books is my life - no book is too long, no subject is too challenging. I am always striving to be a better and stronger version of myself. I am Jo March, with the drive of Lady MacBeth.
William Lee Nothnagel III - Our “Lord Chamberlain”. He is the Laurie to my Jo - though he’s more of a witty Professor Bhaer. Sophisticated and brilliant - think Henry Higgins if he were a sweetheart - Will is curator of Greek Antiquities at the History Museum and always selects his books with the deepest amount of care. He never shies away from choosing a classic and is one of the best-dressed and best-read men I know. He is organized and driven and has impeccable attention to detail. Will and I met doing theatre in college so he will be a natural on camera.
Robert Novum Smith Jr. (my dashing husband) - our Knight in Shining Armor. Though he still has the build of a collegiate athlete (he and I met during crew practice at Northwestern) he really has the heart of a poet. Sensitive and sweet, he is here more for the people, food, and discussion than for the books themselves. Sometimes I get the feeling that hasn’t read every book we’ve taken on, but his heart is always in the right place, and we never end up with leftovers when he’s around. He’s got the looks of Mr. Darcy, the athleticism of Darry Curtis, and the loyalty (and appetite) of Old Yeller.
Jennifer Mclintock - Our damsel (in only moderate distress). This dear longtime friend once had a full-ride law scholarship to Northwestern and currently works as a paralegal in one of the top law offices in the city. Jennifer has been friends with Will since childhood. She’s whip smart, tends to say what’s on her mind and has never missed a Book Club (though occasionally punctuality is elusive). She is one part Jane Eyre, one part Anne Shirley, one part Hester Prynne. She is probably as close as I will ever come to having a sister.
(Currently we are vetting an additional member Lily Louise Jackson. A Summa Cum Laude from Kenyon College. She has won national awards for debate and writing. Currently she is an assistant editor at the Herald alongside myself. She is hip and young and brings a fresh perspective to everything she does. Lily has the independence of Jane Mae Crawford and the questioning spirit of Scout Finch.)
Are all featured participants over 18 years of age? Yes__X__ No_____
Please Note: All participants MUST sign Indemity/Liability Waiver before participating in Documentary which will grant exclusive use of all footage to the filmmaker(s). All edits are to the sole discretion of the filmmaker/director.
All selected participants will be notified by Wednesday, March 10th 2010 and filming will begin on or about Saturday, May 15th 2010.