Bordertown Video!

[ellenkushner]

 On Friday, producer Dylan Steinberg and I  auditioned a bunch of NYC high school kids (from my friend Linda Ames Key's various school programs, an outgrowth of Vital Theater, where she also directed my Klezmer Nutcracker play) - one of the best afternoons I've ever spent - the passion and spirit of these kids, just amazing . . . Anyway, the best of them are going to be playing runaways to Bordertown this afternoon, for our 2-minute mashup mockumentary/booktrailer.

So I'm packing up right now to head out to the shoot - stopping only long enough to pick up a box of miscellaneous books from Random House, which our editor has kindly collected to give to them (and their "Under-served" school Libraries) . . . arms will be full, as I'm also bringing stuff to Dress the Set.  Dylan's not a fantasy reader, so he doesn't really know what a kid who dreams of elves and adventure would have in her/his bedroom here at home these days.  Since I'll be on the subway, I'm only bringing light, unbreakable stuff - but one little Green Man plaque is a must!  And the silver unicorn ornament Caroline Stevermer gave me from the British Library (?) long ago . . . and a quill pen, of course.  And a copy of blackholly  's Valiant.

Anything else?

Comments

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

This makes me so happy. I could almost wish to be back in high school just to be discovering Bordertown again.

Well, almost.

I hope it's a magical experience!

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

A full Sandman set, if you can find one. I think well over half of the kids who are into faerie punk aesthetics have crushes on Death of the Endless.

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

Aargh. Remind me not to attempt html on a smartphone.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

You were so completely right!!! I'm so glad I read this before I left - I threw one into my bag, and . . . voila!

http://plixi.com/p/96788007

[oracne.livejournal.com]

THAT IS SO COOL. SO SO COOL.

*ahem*

A wall poster/s? "Lord of the Rings" movies perhaps?

[janni.livejournal.com]

I was about to suggest LotR posters.

Anime. Lots and lots of anime. Figurines, posters, etc.

Fantasy figurines in general.

Possibly a set of tattered, not-worn-since-they-were-younger, wings.

Drawing pad, pencils, etc. Lot of fantasy-loving teens seem to be artists as much as (more than?) writers these days.

A wizard wand. Hogwarts gear in general. Harry Potter scarf, T-shirt, etc. Some chocolate frogs.

I should stop now ...

[lynzlynz.livejournal.com]

Anyone who shows up in Bordertown with wings would probably get their head bashed in by the Bloods :)

[janni.livejournal.com]

Trouble is, I bet they don't know that until they get there!

(I wouldn't have, at 15 ...)

[t-windling.livejournal.com]

Actually, I have it on good authority that fairy wings (of the tie-on variety) are currently a popular fashion item in the Bordertown club scene -- even among halfie and Trueblood kids, for whom this fashion statement is ironic.

In general, Soho fashion these days is heavy on velvet and lace -- though usually worn torn and punky (or steam-punky), rather than in a medievel, RenFair kind of way.

Also, 1980s-era red leather gear (once favored by the elfin Bloods) is rarely seen in Soho now, except on the odd old-timer.

[janni.livejournal.com]

I'm hearing rumors that feathered hair (tragically) remains in fashion, though. True?

[t-windling.livejournal.com]

Sadly true. But dreadlocks, and elaborately knotted long braids, are currently popular too, and look pretty darn cool on elves & halfies with long silver hair.