PIVOTAL SLICE: on writing & composing

David and Jade debunk the cringey corporate buzzspeak we all dread to hear as artists, and discuss how the principles of business can be applied to building a following.  

CHAPTERS:

16:05 - Finding your unique story

30:45 - Writing a mission statement

40:30 - Marketing and self-promotion

Support us on Patreon NOW and you can suggest a topic for an exclusive mini-episode, available only to Patrons! Subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/pivotalslice 

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Music: ‘The Magnificent’ by David Mackenzie

Follow your hosts:

https://linktr.ee/davidmackenzie

https://linktr.ee/jade_green 

We’re overjoyed to be joined by Caitlin Durante! Caitlin is a writer, comedian and co-host of the hugely successful Bechdel Cast, a podcast about the representation of women in film. As a stand-up she has performed all over America as well as the Edinburgh Fringe festival. She teaches screenwriting workshops from her home in L.A., drawing on her knowledge as a story analyst and script expert. Jade talks to Caitlin about her writing process, tips for forming solid characters from a range of backgrounds, and how (shock horror) James Cameron’s Titanic does not have a good screenplay!

Find out more about Caitlin’s classes on her website: https://www.caitlindurante.com/

Follow her on social media: @caitlindurante

Find out more about David’s new course, Zen and the Art of Composing: https://www.facebook.com/zencomposing or email [email protected] 

Support us on Patreon NOW and you can suggest a topic for an exclusive mini-episode, available only to Patrons! Subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/pivotalslice 

Email us at [email protected] and follow us on Instagram @pivotalslice 

Music by David Mackenzie/Stantz

Follow your hosts:

https://linktr.ee/davidmackenzie

https://linktr.ee/jade_green 

Our guest today is writer and podcaster Zoe Fox, who founded ‘The Curl Squad’ with the intention of sharing stories about natural curly hair and empowering underrepresented women to become the best versions of themselves. Through conversation, community and self-development, Zoe inspires her audience to face their fears and overcome limitations that may be holding them back. In her podcast, she speaks candidly about the incredible challenges she has overcome – including experiencing a life-changing injury – and shares how she has found strength and meaning in the healing process.

Find Zoe’s work here: https://thecurlsquad.com/

Follow her on social media @thecurlsquad

Have a look at Jade’s new website, open for submissions through February: https://www.orangesjournal.com/ 

Support us on Patreon NOW and you can suggest a topic for an exclusive mini-episode, available only to Patrons! Subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/pivotalslice 

Email us at [email protected] and follow on Instagram @pivotalslice 

Music by David Mackenzie/Stantz

Follow your hosts:

https://linktr.ee/davidmackenzie

https://linktr.ee/jade_green 

Today we are digging into David’s process of writing music. He has been working as a composer for over two decades and shares his wisdom, including tips for breaking through creative barriers and incorporating self-development practices into your work. David draws inspiration from many sources, and his recently launched brand fuses classical and electronic sounds. We’ll be playing a selection of his new releases throughout the episode.

You can buy David’s tracks on Bandcamp: https://davidmackenzie.bandcamp.com/

Follow him on Instagram: @david_mackenzie_composer

Subscribe to his Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/davidmackenzie 

MUSIC

‘Break Out’ – Stantz 

‘Tendril’ – David Mackenzie

‘The Inciting Incident’ – David Mackenzie

‘Be All and End All’ – David Mackenzie

‘Luminosity’ – Stantz 

Support us on Patreon NOW and you can suggest a topic for an exclusive mini-episode, available only to Patrons! Subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/pivotalslice 

Email us at [email protected]

“Where I come from, the birds sing a pretty song and there's always music in the air.”

We’re mixing things up by putting our host, fiction writer Jade Green, in the hot seat. David talks to Jade about her process for planning and outlining a novel, how to form daily habits and set realistic goals, and the similarities between writing and running. 

Jade is currently working on her second novel, a multi-generational story about three women coming face-to-face with their unresolved trauma. 

You can read her most recent short fiction in Occulum magazine: https://occulum.net/2021/12/12/the-art-of-complaining-jade-green/ 

Follow her on Instagram: @jade_green_creative

Donate to Jade’s fundraising page for the Bath Half Marathon (raising money for Somerset & Avon Rape & Sexual Abuse Support) here:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jade-ohalloran

Support us on Patreon NOW and you can suggest a topic for an exclusive mini-episode, available only to Patrons! Subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/pivotalslice 

Email us at [email protected]

MUSIC

‘Break Out’ – Stantz 

‘Deep, Deeper Still’ – David Mackenzie

‘Luminosity’ – Stantz 

Happy writing!

A very special guest joins us for an episode delving into the elusive process of comedy writing. Bill is known for his work as a writer, producer and showrunner on the ‘classic’ era of The Simpsons, as well as contributions to Futurama, Regular Show, Portlandia and his own creation Mission Hill.

More recently he has made a name for himself as a connoisseur of fast food, becoming an Influencer of sorts and taking on popular chains as well as local cuisine in his hometown of Portland, Oregon.

We will also debut a brand new comedic, surrealist composition from David Mackenzie.

MUSIC

‘A Glimpse Above the Clouds’ – Stantz

‘Luminosity’ – Stantz

‘The Shark’ – David Mackenzie

‘The Invincible’ – Stantz 

‘River’ – Stantz

Follow your hosts:

https://www.instagram.com/david_mackenzie_composer/
 
 https://www.instagram.com/jade_green_creative/

Join our Patreon for exclusive downloads and curated content:
 
 https://www.patreon.com/pivotalslice

Email us at [email protected]

Live, laugh, love!

On this episode we will be getting fluid as we talk about dance and movement with guest Lucie Lee, a dancer, artist and choreographer based in the North of England.

Lucie leads an impressive life, balancing being a mother with running her business, teaching and studying for a PhD. Her work incorporates themes of psychology, meditation, neuroscience and digital technology, which makes for a fascinating discussion. 

MUSIC

‘A Glimpse Above the Clouds’ – Stantz

‘Luminosity’ – Stantz

‘In Praise of Shadows’ – Stantz

‘Macroverse’ – Stantz

‘River’ – Stantz

Follow Lucie Lee’s work:

http://www.lucieleedancecompany.org.uk/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJmEI4tgUdCSdInq6yc_Qnw

Follow your hosts:

https://www.instagram.com/david_mackenzie_composer/
 
https://www.instagram.com/jade_green_creative/

Join our Patreon:
 
https://www.patreon.com/pivotalslice

Email us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

At the behest of the Halloween Gods, your hosts have put together this frightfully fiendish special episode where they discuss all things horror!

Joining them to talk about indie horror filmmaking, and his new movie ‘Sacrilege’, is Bristol director David Creed. As a spooky bonus they will also play music from Indian short film ‘Twenty-five’, and exclusive sound design from an immersive theatre production.  

MUSIC

'Break Out' - Stantz
'Twenty-five Suite' - David Mackenzie
Sound design for 'Veil of Despair' (unreleased) - David Mackenzie - Available exclusively on our Patreon
'River' - Stantz

Follow David Creed’s work here:

https://www.badbloodfilms.com/

Watch Twenty-five here:

https://youtu.be/TbrFyXfC9gA

Follow your hosts:

https://www.instagram.com/david_mackenzie_composer/

https://www.instagram.com/jade_green_creative/

Join our Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/pivotalslice

Email us at [email protected]

Love and scares x