I thought I’d pop in with a little catch-up today because, although it might seem as though I’ve been a bit quiet lately, I’ve actually been rather busy behind the scenes. And, if you know me at all, you can probably guess that a large part of what I’ve been doing involves Practical Magic.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ve been this excited about a film in a very, very long time. And that’s saying something because Practical Magic has been my favourite film since it first came out in 1998. I’ve watched it more times than I could possibly count, I know huge chunks of it by heart, and the soundtrack still gives me all the feels. There’s just something about that film that has always had a hold over me.
The atmosphere. The house. The sisters. The midnight margaritas. The witchy little details. The music. The whole gorgeous, cosy, slightly spooky world of it all.
So, when I started thinking about the upcoming Practical Magic film, my brain basically went into overdrive. And, rather than simply sitting around impatiently waiting for it to arrive, I decided to channel all of that excitement into something creative. Which is where my latest little project comes in.
I’m not going to give too much away just yet because I’m still working on it, but let’s just say that I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about how to create something that feels a little bit magical, a little bit nostalgic and very, very Practical Magic. And it’s been SO much fun.
There have been candles involved. There have been outfits. There have been plants moved around the house for absolutely no sensible reason other than, “That looks more witchy over there.” I’ve been playing around with lighting, filming and trying to create the sort of atmosphere that makes me feel as though I should probably be living in a big old Victorian house with an enormous kitchen, a conservatory full of herbs and a midnight margarita permanently on the go. Sadly, my house is in Portugal rather than on a magical island somewhere off the coast of Massachusetts, but you know… we work with what we’ve got.
What I love most about working on something like this is that it has reminded me why I started making videos and creating things in the first place. I absolutely love having an idea in my head and then trying to figure out how on earth to bring it to life. Sometimes that means I have absolutely no clue what I’m doing. Sometimes it means watching YouTube tutorials at ridiculous hours of the night. And sometimes it means standing in the middle of a room surrounded by tripods, lights, candles and random bits of furniture that I’ve dragged in from somewhere else, wondering whether I’ve completely lost the plot. But I love it.
I think there’s something really lovely about getting completely carried away by something that excites you. Especially as we get older. We can become so focused on being sensible, productive and doing the things we’re supposed to be doing that we forget how much fun it is to just become obsessed with something for absolutely no other reason than the fact that we love it. And Practical Magic has always been one of those things for me. So, yes, I am fully embracing my obsession, and if you’re curious and you’re not following my YouTube channel yet, please subscribe (my last video, below)!
I’m creating something a little bit special, and I honestly cannot wait to share it with you. It’s definitely pushed me outside of my comfort zone a little bit creatively, but that’s also part of the fun. I’ve been experimenting with my camera, lighting, filming techniques and editing, and trying to create something that feels a little more cinematic than my usual videos. Whether I manage to pull off what I have in my head remains to be seen! But even if it ends up being nothing like what I imagined, I’m having an absolute blast making it. And really, isn’t that the whole point?
So that’s what I’ve been up to lately. Being creative. Moving plants around. Lighting far too many candles. Playing with cameras and attempting to make my house look as though Sally and Gillian Owens might pop round for a cup of tea.
I’ll be sharing more very soon, and I honestly cannot wait. In the meantime, if you’re also ridiculously excited about the upcoming Practical Magic film, please tell me I’m not the only one who’s already mentally planning what to wear to watch it! Because if I have my way, there will probably be velvet involved.
Are you excited about the new Practical Magic film? And is there a film or TV show that you could happily watch over and over again without ever getting bored of it?
