It looks like there will be another Flight 93 movie, this one apparently more authentic and thoughtful than the propaganda that was on A&E. It will open tomorrow.
It's simply titled United 93.
I've been told that the contents were approved in advance by the families of the passengers and crew. The director's credentials seem much more impressive and fairer than in the other movie.
The director's approach seems fresh. He cast unknown actors, made them study the lives of their roles through reading materials and family contacts, and had them pretty much improvise their lines in a panic situation. Of course, authentic script was used when re-creating the telephone calls and ATC communications. To add to the authentic feel, some of the crewmembers in this movie were played by actual United Airlines crewmembers, with full support from the company. The use of real United insignia in the movie further indicates the airline's approval.
Since I am writing my novel in a way that Martha, Sarah's first love, ends up as the sixth flight attendant on United 93, I will make sure to watch the movie, and have a better understanding of Martha's last moments. Martha may have lived a short, hard life, but she did not die in vain, and I want to show that.
United 93
27 April 2006
16 April 2006
"The Original Eight"
As I do research in the aviation industry in order to write my novel, I keep finding some interesting tidbits.
Early airlines sometimes hired male stewards to load/unload baggage and assist the pilots, but it took a while for women to enter the world of airlines. The first airline to hire women as flight attendants, or "air stewardesses," was Boeing Air Transport, and this happened on May 15, 1930. Ellen Church was the first to enter service, and there were seven others hired alongside her. The requirements were stringent; for starters, they had to be registered nurses - and single. Military salute was required whenever the pilots boarded and deplaned. Boeing Air Transport, of course, merged into United Airlines - Sarah's workplace starting in 1999. It's nice to know that I am making Sarah carry on the tradition of these very first flight attendants.
United Airlines website has more information on these early flight attendants. Being single was a requirement at United until 1968! It's nice to know that social norms have become more tolerant, to a point where transgender women are more than welcome to work as flight attendants. The rising tide of feminism, activism by the Association of Flight Attendants, and increased need for flight attendants to staff the ever-larger aircraft, all contributed to the welcome change.
And as I wondered why United didn't name its planes after flight attendants, I found that back in the 1970s-1980s, United did have a 747 that was named The Original Eight, honoring Boeing Air Transport's eight pioneering flight attendants. For the aviation buffs: its registration was N4712U.
Early airlines sometimes hired male stewards to load/unload baggage and assist the pilots, but it took a while for women to enter the world of airlines. The first airline to hire women as flight attendants, or "air stewardesses," was Boeing Air Transport, and this happened on May 15, 1930. Ellen Church was the first to enter service, and there were seven others hired alongside her. The requirements were stringent; for starters, they had to be registered nurses - and single. Military salute was required whenever the pilots boarded and deplaned. Boeing Air Transport, of course, merged into United Airlines - Sarah's workplace starting in 1999. It's nice to know that I am making Sarah carry on the tradition of these very first flight attendants.
United Airlines website has more information on these early flight attendants. Being single was a requirement at United until 1968! It's nice to know that social norms have become more tolerant, to a point where transgender women are more than welcome to work as flight attendants. The rising tide of feminism, activism by the Association of Flight Attendants, and increased need for flight attendants to staff the ever-larger aircraft, all contributed to the welcome change.
And as I wondered why United didn't name its planes after flight attendants, I found that back in the 1970s-1980s, United did have a 747 that was named The Original Eight, honoring Boeing Air Transport's eight pioneering flight attendants. For the aviation buffs: its registration was N4712U.
Off to the Bay Area again
A few days ago, I booked my trip to the Bay Area, in order to work on my novel.
This trip will happen over Memorial Day Weekend. I will be visiting various nooks and crannies in Berkeley that I missed last time. In addition, I will return to Sarah's high school, Oceana, one more time, to explore parts of the campus that I missed last time. I will also add a trip to Skyline College in San Bruno, since I decided that Sarah will spend a few years there before applying for a flight attendant position.
I may also spend time exploring the Bay Area nightlife. I'm looking for something similar to West Hollywood's The Palms bar, a relaxed trans-friendly lesbian hangout. So far, I've been unsuccessful. My options seem limited to either Diva's, a transgender strip bar located in the seedy Tenderloin district, or Power Exchange, a sex club with a large transgender clientele. Both are worth a visit, if only to get the details of Martha's experiences as a teenage sex worker right. But for my own well-being, these are horrible places, because I simply don't want to be a fetish object for a whole bunch of male losers to jerk off to. There is also the possibility of my car being vandalized, surely at Diva's, and possibly at Power Exchange as well.
For my own good, in addition to novel-related points of interest, I will also visit Sonoma Valley, Santa Rosa (Charles Schulz museum), my former home neighborhoods of Concord and Walnut Creek, and Oakland's Museum of California as well. I will have 2 1/2 days in the Bay Area, and I wonder if it'll be enough.
My base will be the Hilton Garden Inn hotel on the north side of San Francisco's airport, just like before. A business hotel is a good bargain during a long weekend, and this one has free high-speed Internet access in the room, which will allow me to continue my activities on my blog and in my online writing class. I loved my stay there last time, and I look forward to this stay as well.
This trip will happen over Memorial Day Weekend. I will be visiting various nooks and crannies in Berkeley that I missed last time. In addition, I will return to Sarah's high school, Oceana, one more time, to explore parts of the campus that I missed last time. I will also add a trip to Skyline College in San Bruno, since I decided that Sarah will spend a few years there before applying for a flight attendant position.
I may also spend time exploring the Bay Area nightlife. I'm looking for something similar to West Hollywood's The Palms bar, a relaxed trans-friendly lesbian hangout. So far, I've been unsuccessful. My options seem limited to either Diva's, a transgender strip bar located in the seedy Tenderloin district, or Power Exchange, a sex club with a large transgender clientele. Both are worth a visit, if only to get the details of Martha's experiences as a teenage sex worker right. But for my own well-being, these are horrible places, because I simply don't want to be a fetish object for a whole bunch of male losers to jerk off to. There is also the possibility of my car being vandalized, surely at Diva's, and possibly at Power Exchange as well.
For my own good, in addition to novel-related points of interest, I will also visit Sonoma Valley, Santa Rosa (Charles Schulz museum), my former home neighborhoods of Concord and Walnut Creek, and Oakland's Museum of California as well. I will have 2 1/2 days in the Bay Area, and I wonder if it'll be enough.
My base will be the Hilton Garden Inn hotel on the north side of San Francisco's airport, just like before. A business hotel is a good bargain during a long weekend, and this one has free high-speed Internet access in the room, which will allow me to continue my activities on my blog and in my online writing class. I loved my stay there last time, and I look forward to this stay as well.
13 April 2006
Under pressure
Sounds bad, but actually it's a good thing.
When I logged onto my class, I found that I had to submit 3,200 words of writing by midnight tonight. And given that I had workshopped my existing 65 pages or so of writing, and that most of it is in bits and pieces, I decided that I had to come up with almost all of the 3,200 words from scratch.
Deadlines are a wonderful thing. From making almost no progress over the past few months, I cranked out 12 double-spaced pages in just 3 nights. I just need to do some last-minute reading before submitting this evening; it will surely be a very rough draft, but at least I have something to work with.
I will have another three weeks from tonight to submit another 3,200 words, and three more weeks for a third installment of 4,200 words. It'll add up to 40-50 pages of fresh material. I'll be happy with the results - lots of new material, and valuable feedback from classmates.
Right now, I am tackling the time period from Sarah's high school graduation, to her first public appearances as a woman, to her futile job search, to her community college years, to eventually her flight attendant training. I'll see what I can crank out.
When I logged onto my class, I found that I had to submit 3,200 words of writing by midnight tonight. And given that I had workshopped my existing 65 pages or so of writing, and that most of it is in bits and pieces, I decided that I had to come up with almost all of the 3,200 words from scratch.
Deadlines are a wonderful thing. From making almost no progress over the past few months, I cranked out 12 double-spaced pages in just 3 nights. I just need to do some last-minute reading before submitting this evening; it will surely be a very rough draft, but at least I have something to work with.
I will have another three weeks from tonight to submit another 3,200 words, and three more weeks for a third installment of 4,200 words. It'll add up to 40-50 pages of fresh material. I'll be happy with the results - lots of new material, and valuable feedback from classmates.
Right now, I am tackling the time period from Sarah's high school graduation, to her first public appearances as a woman, to her futile job search, to her community college years, to eventually her flight attendant training. I'll see what I can crank out.
10 April 2006
Class starting this week
My next writing class, Novel III at UCLA Extension, with Dennis Foley as instructor, will finally start this week.
Facial paralysis and a hectic work schedule has brought my writing life to a complete halt. I wish this will change over the next ten weeks.
I am even planning on another Bay Area visit in order to work on my novel. This will be a huge change of pace from my current life, where I work late every night, and don't even get weekends off.
It will be a very fruitful ten weeks.
Facial paralysis and a hectic work schedule has brought my writing life to a complete halt. I wish this will change over the next ten weeks.
I am even planning on another Bay Area visit in order to work on my novel. This will be a huge change of pace from my current life, where I work late every night, and don't even get weekends off.
It will be a very fruitful ten weeks.
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