July(/August?) Updates

Hi everyone!

First of all, I really apologise for the lateness of this update. I wanted to ensure I had something substantial to come back with, and that took longer than anticipated (the theme with this video).

This script has definitely been one of, if not the most challenging I’ve ever worked on. It’s required me to keep returning to the source material to re-think and really iron out the points I want to make, and lots and lots of rewriting. There are single lines I've pored over for weeks. I’m satisfied that this was necessary and worth it as I finally, finally have a final product I feel completely content with. I’ve never done this before, but you can now read the completed script here, exclusive to this Patreon (I’m sure this goes without saying but please don’t share it). I always knew this project would take a while, and wanted to make sure the most supportive of my audience had some small thanks for sticking with me through the journey, so I hope this can serve as that. You may, of course, opt to wait until you can experience the complete video, too. I've also now recorded the voiceover so it's coming!!

Otherwise, for media this month, I first watched Squid Game 3. It was very apparent that 2 and 3 were a single series that were unnaturally divided which didn’t make 3 super strong as its own product. At risk of repeating myself, the quality of the writing in Squid Game definitely took a hit after the first series, presumably as it wasn’t initially meant to continue and didn’t necessarily need to. I’ve always struggled with the female characters as, despite often fantastic performances, they can feel constrained by their writing – one-note or defined by their roles to the men in their lives, in stark comparison to their male co-cast. There was still plenty to redeem the first series and make me a fan, but 2 and 3 were a struggle. They were great entertainment and I thoroughly looked forward to and enjoyed watching them, but the substance didn't quite break through for me.

For a switch up, I also read The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. This is actually my first completed book this year (thanks to all the Umineko reading and re-reading I’ve been doing). The House of Mirth is one of my favourite novels and I knew this one wouldn’t disappoint either. The novel takes its time but slowly sunk its claws into me until I realised I’d become deeply invested in the characters. Edith Wharton writes about 1800s high society New York, its stifling social mores and, in this case, how they (differently) impact on the love lives of some of its men and women. The Age of Innocence is captivating, beautifully written, so incredible at depicting the stifling atmosphere its characters live within that you feel it in your body as you read. I immediately watched the Martin Scorsese film adaptation after finishing the book which I can’t really fault, but it’s such a one-to-one that I felt like I might as well have been reading the book again, and it feels like a sin to experience the story without the full effect of Wharton's writing. It also felt really well-paired with my focus on Umineko this year for how Wharton writes about women’s experiences at the time. A new favourite for sure.

Otherwise, some channels I’m liking are Writing on Games (great video on adaptation) and Currently Hannah (Japan travel vlogger who I’m very late to the party on).

Thank you again for all your patience and I hope to be back with more very soon (really this time)!