Wednesday Poem

ADVICE TO WRITERS

Even if it keeps you up all night,
wash down the walls and scrub the floor
of your study before composing a syllable.

Clean the place as if the Pope were on his way.
Spotlessness is the niece of inspiration.

The more you clean, the more brilliant
your writing will be, so do not hesitate to take
to the open fields to scour the undersides
of rocks or swab in the dark forest
upper branches, nests full of eggs.

When you find your way back home
and stow the sponges and brushes under the sink,
you will behold in the light of dawn
the immaculate altar of your desk,
a clean surface in the middle of a clean world.

From a small vase, sparkling blue, lift
a yellow pencil, the sharpest of the bouquet,
and cover the pages with tiny sentences
like long rows of devoted ants
that followed you in from the woods.

Billy Collins

Congratulations!

boomWell done to the maggots who have just completed their six-week beginners’ creative writing course tonight. An excellent bunch of writers in all with so many interesting characters and stories. Watch this space! Congratulations is also due to last week’s bunch who completed their six weeks in beginners’ acting. A rowdy lot they turned out to be once they got to know one another! A great time was had with both groups and we look forward to the follow on courses as well as launching our new introductory courses in drawing and screenwriting. Oh yes, it’s going to be a very creative spring here at Act The Maggot. Sure we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Learn to draw in relaxed surroundings?

lecorbusierAct The Maggot is delighted to offer a brand new Drawing for Beginners class this Spring. Want to learn the basics of drawing? Chill out and have fun in a beautiful room with no distractions, just pencil and paper. Sketch away in good company. Good for the head and the heart. Join us on Tuesday nights in Temple Bar, 7.30-9.30pm – April 25th to May 30th (€180). Limited places. actthemaggot@gmail.com to book your spot.

Wanna write for the movies?

robertmckeeAct The Maggot is thrilled to announce a new departure in our creative writing department. We are offering a brand new six-week course in Screenwriting at the end of April. This course is designed for the film and TV buffs among you. It is specifically aimed at those of you who have never tried it before. Here’s a thing. Imagine how alarming it might be if you did the maths on how many hours you actually spend watching feature films, short films, sketch comedy and episodes of TV shows per week. Content is everywhere now. We cannot avoid it. All is not lost, though. Let’s throw our oars in and make our own content. Let’s put those hours to good use and get creative. Imagine how much you have already learned about character and plot without really thinking about it. Yup. It’s time to tell the stories that you want to see up there on the screen.

NEW March/April evening classes booking now.

tootootNewsflash. Act The Maggot is offering a bunch of new, fun evening classes at the end of March and after Easter, 2017. Take a look around if you are interested in Creative Writing, Beginners’ Acting or try our brand new Introduction to Screenwriting. Also, if you have some acting experience already and fancy getting up on stage, consider joining our Improvers Acting class where you can focus your energies on a character and work on a monologue for performance. Later in the Spring, we will be introducing a new Acting – Level 3 class and a fun Drawing for Beginners class. There is also talk of a Creativity Retreat somewhere beautiful in Ireland. C’mon join the Maggot Machine! Keep your eyes peeled for our posters about town and on our Twitter and Facebook feeds for more news and info on creative happenings in Dublin and beyond. Happy Weekend. Read our testimonials to help make your decision.
wilde

One Moment Meditation

Curious to know and understand more about mindfulness and meditation? Want to learn in some easy steps? Take a look at this really helpful video explainer on how to meditate. Think about joining us on one of our Mind Yourself Mornings this year.

Casting Call

casting-call-image-3
Casting for Student Short Film

Hally: Female: late 30s: detective
Jack: Male: late 30s: detective
Malcolm: Male: 20s: murder suspect
Therese: Female: 20s: murder suspect

It’s for a short that will be filmed on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th March in Dublin. It’s a detective drama with practically all the scenes taking place in an interrogation style room.

The auditions are taking place on Wednesday 15th February from 6.30-9pm in Pulse College, 20 Ringsend Road (opposite the Maxol Station), Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 4.

For further enquiries, contact Emma: emmajackson1985@hotmail.com

Friday Poem: When I Met My Muse

When I Met My Muse

I glanced at her and took my glasses
Off –- they were still singing. They buzzed
like a locust on the coffee table and then
ceased. Her voice belled forth, and the
sunlight bent. I felt the ceiling arch, and
knew that nails up there took a new grip
on whatever they touched. “I am your own
way of looking at things,” she said. “When
you allow me to live with you, every
glance at the world around you will be
a sort of salvation.” And I took her hand.

Stafford, William, An Oregon Message, 1987

Last-minute Maggots apply here!

So we are almost ready for lift off with the 2017 maggot machine and we are excited about the numbers and variety of people signing up so far. There are a few remaining places on next Thursday’s Beginner’s Acting class and the following Tuesday’s Creative Writing class. Read up on us and take a look at the testimonials to inform your choice. Each course is six weeks only and costs €180. Send us a mail to actthemaggot@gmail.com if you want to hop aboard.

Have fun tackling your fear of Public Speaking

BEGINNERSDid you know that the average person ranks fear of public speaking higher than the fear of death?! This fear could be hurting your personal and professional life. So many people share this fear and the only way to get over it is to face it. The real learning and growth occurs when we are outside our comfort zone. It can be tackled in a fun, frivolous and social way. Join the beginner’s acting class and get up there with everyone else, have lots of fun and meet like-minded people. If you want to know more about what happens in a typical acting class Beginner’s Acting Class. Be sure to email us at actthemaggot@gmail.com to reserve your spot. Demand is high and the next course starts January 26, 2017. Read our testimonials to help make your decision.