Summer Story – #1st episode
First Summer Story poster
Today is actually the first day since I returned home from California that I am allowed to enjoy my drop lid writing desk. The sun is rather friendly than August -hot and the workers tending to the new building in front of the one I live in, are finally taking a day off. If only the whole week would be made of Sundays… I confess that when it comes to creating with words, I am rather addicted to this desk. I need it like I need the air. Yes, I get plenty of ideas while being outside or hanging with other people but in order to materialise them into a short story or a novel, I need to feel the old, familiar oak wood under my forearms. I was seven when my parents got it for me at a furniture exhibition. It’s the very place where I learned how to write the alphabet letter, pened my first literary piece, later, my first novel, the short stories included in “Four Doors and Other Stories”, both English and Romanian versions. I might have also written a couple of love letters. Sitting at this very desk, my father- my first editor and critic, told me that one of the most unforgivable sins in a literary composition was….word repetition and that I should avoid at any costs. Luckily, both English and Romanian are rich languages, making it easy to follow his advice.
One more thing I need to add before getting to the Summer Story. For as long as I can remembered, I always enjoyed doing things differently. The conventional, beaten paths were never really for me. I admit, I walked them (being a good student, going to high – school and then to college) but if it wasn’t for my authoritarian parents, who knows where I’d be right now. Although they were plain middle class people and lived by its rules and values which did their best to pass on to their sole offspring, I always believed that it’s more to life than having a job, a family, a house and a car. While other children my age were getting satisfaction in playing and going to school, I joined a literary circle. Then created and ran the high-school magazine. Then became one of the youngest radio hosts on Bucharest independent radio stations. Got my own TV show.
It goes the same with my writing. Having tapped into so many forms of communication media and arts, I was never going to be satisfied with just being a published author. This was going to be just a starting point. The first idea I had was to create some sort of artistic movement, by gathering artists from different forms of expression (music, visual arts, fashion, design, dancing, theatre, litterature) and invent performances that would combine them into something new and exciting for the audience. There are two things that would bound these people together and also show in their shared endeavour: talent and originality, on one hand, and the desire to empower people, to inspire them to follow their dreams, on the other. The second idea was that I could act myself. I’m not very much into sitting and reading or watching people who sit and read out loud or talk for hours. After attending a couple of introductory workshops in the actor’s craft, I decided that if one day the odds were in the favour of my idea, I would take some private lessons, get up on stage and act.
Luckily, the odds were in my favour. In less than 11 days, “A Summer Story” will premiere thanks to the vote of confidence and support of Redd’s, the most popular beer among educated Romanian women. Preparations started a month ago. Acting classes, brain storming with my stage partners – Fernando Mihalache, a most amazing accordion player, Cosmin and Catinca, the wonderful Argentinian tango dancers from TangoTangent – Argentinian Tango School and Dancing Club, Catalin – my dear friend who is preparing the video projections. Guest lists, media lists, press release, media partnerships, Facebook event, acting classes, learning the monologue by heart. Not being able to fall asleep, saying my lines with my eyes closed, thinking about what my character would do and feel in that particular situation.
“A Summer Story” tells the journey of an advertising professional towards self-discovery. It is inspired by “Dreaming”, one of the summer pieces. One day, the 30 years old woman realises that her life – despite having a lover and a well – paid job, doesn’t fill her anymore. She writes an application for holiday leave and elopes to the seaside. The ending is open. My aim is not to urge people to quit their jobs but to have the courage to follow their dreams and natural gifts (we all have at least one). And if this means a 9 to 5 job, it’s perfect.
