Sandra Lakeland's Blog

My screenplay is finally done and off it went!

My heart is heavy with its completion though as Heath has been in the news lately, or rather his father has. Mr. Kim Ledger presented the media with Heath's diary from the time of his "Joker" role preparation. It's amazing how after five years he can still make headlines; and rightfully so. He was on the verge of many great things... many more great things, and left this world wanting more.

I never wrote my book intending on much fuss to be made over it. I only wanted to write it because I felt like it was a story that might bring Heath back into the minds of any who read it. And perhaps to make one question who he was if they did not know of him, or what are they missing now with him being gone. My hope is the same if anything comes of my screenplay. To see someone portray the compassion, the sincerity and the brilliance of one we cannot witness again, would be unable to describe with words.

So we will just have to wait and see, and until then... the next journey begins.

I have no clue where the last few months have gone - Christmas seems like ages ago. However, I'm somewhat glad because the last few months have been tough. One thing that has breathed new life into me is my screenplay. I'm getting so very close to the end and feel a great sense of accomplishment in doing so. Not sure where it will take me, perhaps onto something new or perhaps not. Either way, it's telling the story of Georgia Reed the way I really wanted to tell it. Which means it does differ from the book in many ways.
So perhaps, when it's completed, I will share a bit of it on here and you can see Georgia's story in a whole new light (or darkness - because it has turned out quite tumultuous this time around! :)

I know there will be many who do not know the significance of today's date... January 22nd, 2013. Neither will they remember, unless it is mentioned to them in some way, that it was five years ago today that Heath Ledger passed away. However, there will be those who adored him that will be thinking of him endlessly as the sun sets today. My heart goes out to his family and friends as they remember not his tragic ending, but the life he lived. He had become one of the great actors of our time, even in his short 28 years. He too had become a father and worshiped every breath his daughter took. Luckily, we have many photos and films to take time to remember him.
My heart goes out to his many fans today, as well. Something I find truly incredible is how devoted they are, even five years passed. He is still heavily in their thoughts and his name still often on their lips as his memory emanates beauty and kindness to them all. I can say in all honesty that I too have become a fan. I learned many things about him -and his fans- as I researched extensively for my book. My only hope for readers is to imagine what it might have been like to be close to him, and to see him through different eyes... such as I did.

"No way!" I shout out loud,  as I sit here and realize I have free time on my hands now! That deserves a whoop-whoop! I'm excited because now I can get going on my next project and write again. I didn't expect to miss it this much. But I have and cannot wait to get started. So without further adieu....

Well long overdue but... I wanted to take the time to say how grateful I am to have met some remarkable people on this incredible journey called "trying to be a writer".  Most of them have only been via the wonders of twitter and facebook and email, but nonetheless, a wonder to me that such great people are so receptive and encouraging. From the likes of painters such Irene Hardwicke Olivieri, who offered insight into the world of painting and whose work now graces the walls of my home because I think she is brilliant and kind and couldn't see my house without her work in it! Please visit her website -  I promise you will fall in love with it, too. http://www.irenehardwickeolivieri.com/new/index.htmlAnd on to actors, directors and many others who in some way adorn the film industry with incredible talent!  Each have given hope to what I want to achieve with my story -Stuart Lawson, Antony Lane, Marianna Palka, Gigi Garner, Shekhar Kapur, Rochelle Siemienowicz, Mark Romanek, Hybrid Vigor Films, Mike Schoonveld, IFC, Gale Anne Hurd, and Wendy Shepherd. Lastly, to all fellow writers I have met as well.  The list is beyond immense but I thank you all for answering my questions, giving great advice, promoting my work and offering encouragement as we are all in this together!

What a crazy few months I have had! Currently, I'm trying to get settled in a new city, wait - a new STATE! And it's not easy, but I keep my head up and a smile on my face as I "hurdle through all the obstacles". (Olympics on the brain - sorry!)
On top of this, I'm hoping to start the screenplay version of Six Feet in the next month or so. So many changes in the story line are rolling around in my head...things that I think will really make an impact in a script version as opposed to the book. I'm very excited to see how it comes together!

Planning to post a chapter or so in the next few days again of Six Feet as there seems to be a spike in interest lately!

I would also like to mention, since I previously commented on Christina Bale in a blog post, that he never ceases to amaze me. Making the effort to come to Colorado to visit the victims of the shooting in Aurora was beyond words, except one...human.

Nine cities in two months! Phew! I know it sounds like a book tour or something but it's nothing of the sort. Instead, it's moving and travelling and all the wonderful things that go along with that! Yes, living out of a suitcase has its advantages, but it will be good to get settled down in the near future.

I (hopefully) have a new and exciting project coming up in the fall. Of course it will involve writing but on a different scale. I'm really looking forward to it though and can't wait to get started. Patience...


So while I'm living in transition land, I'm trying to spend as much time as I can with family and friends and enjoy every minute! Just praying that my sanity and energy keep coursing through body in high numbers!


Don't forget to watch "Casanova" on Ovation tonight. They will be airing it back-to-back. It's a funny movie that I think really shows a fantastic side of Heath. I know that as the premiere of the latest Dark Knight film approaches, he will be in the thoughts of many as they remember one of his greatest performance of all time.

I know it's all over the news today, but I really wanted to say how touched I was in watching Christian Bale on the MTV Movie Awards last night. He is such the strong and silent type (not to mention very private) and for him to get emotional over seeing shared clips of a dear friend and colleague, whom he obviously enjoyed working with and misses terribly, was extremely moving to me. He let us in to a little part of his soul last night and the world was in awe. And still is today...

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1686426/christian-bale-heath-ledger-dark-knight-mtv-movie-awards.jhtml

MAN, with Shady Grove on my brain because of wanting to get to an unplugged session so badly it hurts, I decided I just HAD to post the chapter from my book that takes place there! So here you go... Georgia and Heath sharing a meal together at Shady Grove...can't you just feel the magnetism between them? oooo....yeah!

Chapter Eight-Six Feet from the Ledge


Since it was only going to get warmer as the morning hours went on, I decided to show him the trail that runs alongside the lake for now.  We stepped down onto the trail around Lady Bird Lake and walked for quite a while amongst the continuous flow of people passing by on foot and mountain bikes.  Not one person looked at Heath differently than they did me.  I found this very strange but I was so at ease in his presence, it didn’t seem to matter.  Our conversation was ongoing in some parts and in others we just walked in a rather comfortable silence.  Occasionally, our arms would touch and my heart would stop just at the warmth emanating from his skin.  He asked a lot of questions about me, like what my family was like, and did I like growing up with a big brother.  He told me he grew up with mostly girls.  He then moved onto questioning me about my most recent years, asking about my years at college and my job at the café.  Throughout our walk, I pointed out many details about Austin, attempting to be a decent tour guide.  It was mostly things we could see from the lakeside trail and then things that would pop into my head, but he would only nod and continue asking me things about myself.  I thought this was supposed to be a tour.  “When I was growing up, Austin was very different.  It has become a pretty big place now with lots of diverse people,” I mentioned, trying again to redirect the subject away from me.  He nodded again and started another question.  “How old were you when you started painting, Georgia?”“I was about 12 or 13, in middle school, when I realized how much I enjoyed it.  Then people started to tell me I was actually pretty good at it.  One painting I did in 8th grade was even entered in the school district art competition.  I won second place.”  I had forgotten about that for years until now.  I let out a small laugh.  He also wanted to know how long Vanessa and I had been together.  “It’s been just over two years,” I said trying to refocus because I was feeling a little guilty being here with him, especially when I remembered how it felt to touch him.  “She and I get along really well.  She is the positive and upbeat one in our relationship and always keeps me on my toes.  She is my best friend and my soul mate.”I didn’t realize I was smiling when he remarked, “You get a very peaceful look on your face when you talk about her.”  We had continued walking in silence for a few minutes when suddenly he stopped and lightly touched my arm with his fingertips.  I thought I was going to pass out.  “Georgia, what is your biggest dream, with regards to your art, I mean?  Because I know you want it to be your life, just like any other artist.”  I didn’t have an answer for that question.  That was more difficult than the rest.  “I haven’t even thought about the big picture, so to speak.”  I laughed nervously, still trying to recover from my near fainting spell.  “I don’t even have one great work yet that would put me over the top, you know?  I only have nine completed works that I can think of because it usually takes me a while to do one.  I tend to get easily frustrated with them.”  I voiced my immediate hope though, “So I don’t know really, but I guess a good start would be getting to exhibit in this show.”  I looked up at him after I said this.  “That would only be the beginning,” he said with a little wink.  “You really are very good.  I shouldn’t have to tell you that though,” he said as he kicked some dirt from the trail onto the grass.  It was a similar action that someone might do when they were nervous.  Why would he be nervous?“Are you hungry?  I found this great place yesterday just on that road over there.  Can I buy you some lunch to thank you for being such an excellent tour guide this morning?”  I haven’t been on many tours in my life but I would imagine that most of the guides don’t spend the majority of their tours answering questions about themselves.  Plus, he seemed to only look past the sights I showed him and he didn’t comment on any of the interesting facts I was proud enough to remember.  He wasn’t a very good tourist, I thought.  “You don’t have to buy me lunch, but we can go wherever you like.”  I am pretty hungry though.  In between my mom calling to add a nice twist to my anxieties, and trying to deduce my mirage of seeing you three times now, uh, yeah, I kind of forgot to eat breakfast this morning.  That part I kept to myself.  “Great!  It’s just over on that road, down that way a bit.  I think it’s called Shady something-,” he laughed.  “Okay, so maybe not the best of names but I enjoyed it a lot.”  He sounded so excited that I agreed to have lunch with him.  My imagination was getting much better.  I looked up and hadn’t even realized how far we had walked.  We were at Zilker Park now and he was pointing towards Barton Springs Road.  “Oh yeah, Shady Grove …it’s one of my brother’s favorite places to eat when he comes back to Austin.  I like it, too.  Sure, we can go there.”  It was still kind of early for lunch, but it should be open by the time we walk over there.  We had walked for a couple of hours.  How did time go by so quickly?“If you came here yesterday, we can go somewhere else around here, if you want,” I suggested as we walked into the sunlit patio entrance.  “I really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere was brilliant.  Very lively…so if you don’t mind?”  “Sure.”  I didn’t see how anyone could ever say no to him.  There were a few people already sitting outside in the shade, working on some iced teas and Frito pies.  I wonder if anyone will recognize him here.  Surely our waiter or the other people dining here will.  The people on the trail this morning didn’t have enough time just in passing us, I reasoned to myself.  We were sat near a big oak tree that gave us some lovely shade.  The sun was much higher now and the heat was starting to sink in.  Our waiter was named Jeff and he welcomed us in a normal manner and walked away with our drink order.  He never looked at Heath strangely.  Maybe he doesn’t recognize him.  “What did you have here yesterday?” I asked as I looked around to see if anyone was noticing him.  He had removed his cap and didn’t have sunglasses on so it shouldn’t be too difficult.  “I had a hippie sandwich, I think that’s what they called it…and it was really good but those Frito pie things look interesting.  I might try one of those this time…with another one of those sandwiches.  I’m hungry after all that walking!”  He looked up from the menu and winked at me.  “What about you?”  I can’t help myself from staring.  His dark eyes just burrow into mine whenever we make eye contact, like he is just as taken with me as I am with him.  “Um, that sandwich sounds good.  I will just have that, thanks,” I answered still in a daze.  The waiter came back for our order and still nothing unusual about the way he observed my lunch companion.  I looked around as he departed and noticed the place was much fuller now.  I noticed a couple of diners look over at us, mainly at Heath, for a little longer than they should have maybe.  There!  Someone is going to recognize him now for sure!  Nothing…they all just went back to their own conversations.  I started to feel a little frustrated even though I wasn’t sure what to expect if someone did recognize him.  I could tell my face was giving my thoughts away.  “You seem to be a bit tense all of sudden, Georgia,” he said with concern.  “We don’t have to eat here if there is somewhere else you want to go.”  So eager to make sure I was happy.  “It’s not that.  This place is fine.  I was just wondering about something,” I said this as our eyes met again, but then I quickly looked away.  I won’t be able to ask him one word or care what the answer is, if I get lost in those eyes again.  “You can ask me anything.  It seems only fair after the interrogation I put you through this morning,” he joked.  Would he answer any question I asked though?  I can at least try, for my sanity’s sake.  “You said you came here yesterday.  Did anyone look at you…strangely…when you were here?”  I still kept my eyes on the table when I asked this.  “No,” he responded.  “Should people be looking at me strangely, Georgia?”  Just then our lunch arrived but suddenly, I wasn’t hungry anymore.  “Well, it’s just that…how do I say this?  Well, it’s just that you are Heath Ledger.”  That was all that I could manage to spit out, as I realized he had never told me his last name.  “Yes, well, I know that and you know that, but does it really matter if anyone else figures that out?” he asked convincingly as he started to eat his food.  I thought about that for a minute.  It did matter because I was counting on some overly inquisitive bystander to notice that a supposedly deceased actor was sitting across from me.  However, he doesn’t seem to be worried about my sanity at all.  “That doesn’t seem very fair to me though.”  I can’t believe I said that out loud!  He looked at me sadly and put his sandwich down.  “Are you unhappy being here with me, Georgia?” he sounded disappointed.  “No,” I said quietly.  “I’ve had a really good time with you today.  You have been kind enough to walk with me and let me buy you lunch in appreciation,” he said sincerely.  “I know I asked you a lot of questions, simply because I wanted to get to know you better.  But I don’t want to upset you.  That is not what I came here for.”  Those last few words struck me very hard.  He has come here for something.  After a long pause in which he kept his eyes on mine, I attempted to apologize, “No, I’m so sorry, Heath.  You are right.  It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.”  I was ruining everything, even though his tone before didn’t imply anger.  He has only been nice to me and I have been rude to him on two occasions now.  I started to eat my sandwich and he met my gaze with a smile.  “It’s getting pretty hot out here now,” I said with hopes of forgetting the last few minutes ever happened.  “The heat doesn’t bother me much.  It was quite hot back home in Australia.”“I have never been there but I’ve heard it’s beautiful.  My brother went there on his honeymoon a few years back.”  Christopher could only say good things about Australia when he got back.  “He said the beaches were the most beautiful he had ever seen and the people were all so friendly.  He promised to take me and my mom there one day.”“You should hold him to that promise.  There are so many wonderful places to see there.  I miss it a lot,” he said in a proud, yet sad way.  He went on to enlighten me with stories about where he grew up, his very close-knit family and all the great friends he truly admired and missed.  Some of the stories made me laugh harder than I have in ages.  He was a really good storyteller and seemed to get loads of pleasure at how amused I was by them.  After a long break, in which I was letting my sore abdominal muscles rest, we finished our lunches and paid the bill.  Heath broke the comfortable silence.  He leaned into the table and said in a much quieter voice, “Hey, do you have any plans this afternoon?”  I looked at my watch out of habit.  Another couple of hours had passed.  Unbelievable.  “I really need to clean my apartment and probably should check my messages.  I’m sure Vanessa has called today.”  Oh shit!  “I better get home and call her!  I was supposed to have lunch with her today!”“It’s a long walk from here.  Let me call a taxi for you.”  He went inside and had the hostess call a cab for me.  Even though I was stressing about what Vanessa might be thinking, I couldn’t keep my eyes from following him into the restaurant and hoping to God that he was going to come back.  He did.  “They shouldn’t be too long.”“Thanks.”  I started to wonder if this was going to be the end of our time together.  If it was, it made me incredibly sad.  But as we walked over to the parking lot to wait, I heard my name.  “Georgia?”“Mm, hmm?” I answered softly, still in thought.  “Could I come back to your apartment with you and see some more of your paintings?  That is if you would want to share them with me,” he added the last part with a slight grin.  There was that charm again.  Is he asking to come back to my place?  I’m sure it’s not in the usual sense but he actually wants to spend more time with me.  “Um, sure.  That would be fine.  I only have a few more lying around though,” I joked to hide my shock.  “My mom and Vanessa have the rest at their houses.”The cab arrived shortly after and we both climbed in the back.  Neither one of us said a word for the few minutes it took to get back over to my street.  

As April 4th is already on the calendar in Australia, I would like to take a moment to mention today is a very special day to me and to many. Heath Ledger would have been 33 years old today.
My heart goes out to his loved ones and friends as they will be thinking of him today and remembering all of the wonderful birthdays they shared with him.
And I would like to say thank you. Thank you, Heath, for teaching me to see the world differently and inspiring me to write a story that gives us a little taste of the wonderful and caring person you were. I will forever be grateful.