Bonnie Anne Pinard
My chosen pen name is Paisley Swan Stewart, but I am known as
Swansong or ‘Swannie’ on website communities. My real name is
Bonnie Anne, and I reside in Portland Oregon, where I was born and
raised.
I have many interests and have attempted a lot of wild and crazy
creative projects throughout my 52 years. I studied classical voice in
my youth and took first place in the Oregon State vocal competition. I
was heavily involved with theater through my 20's, where I played
leads and supporting roles. I've been a song writer since my teens, I've
also been a colored pencil artist, owned my own gift-shop/gallery for
10 years. My family produced a full length musical drama for 3 years. I
wrote and directed the play; authored all the original songs and my 29
year old son Nathan composed the musical score. I have been very
happily married to the same lovely man for 30 years, and I am a
woman of faith who gives thanks to the Lord for all these blessings!
Thank you my dear friend for this wonderful interview!
Sandra - How did the idea of write a novel begin?
Bonnie - First I want to thank Sandra for graciously asking me to do
this interview for her site, and I am so happy she and I sort of
stumbled across one another on the web. I love it when I find a new
friend who understands and shares my love for Phantom of the Opera!
My book is entitled Chanson de L’ange in French and The Angel’s
Song in English.
As seems to happen often in life.... the most lovely occurrences are
almost always by accident. I have always been a writer of sorts, but
prior to writing Chanson de L'ange, I had mostly written songs, poems
and short essays. A few years ago I wrote a musical drama based on
the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but obviously, although the play had its
own original spin at my hands, I am not the author of that story! I
never believed myself capable of writing a novel, so it was not
something I had ever considered, but in December 2004 I saw a film
that touched me so deeply... My only response was to begin writing
essay after essay about why the film would not let go of me, even
months after it had left the theater.
This of course was Phantom of the Opera starring Gerard Butler as the
Phantom, and for me to explain how much that film has touched my
life would take pages and pages. The film came at a time when my
family was enduring the catastrophic illness of my son Nathan, who
was in the midst of a more than two year recovery process... recovering
from multiple internal infections after having his colon removed. Not
to get into all of that now, but sometimes when you experience trauma,
you just emotionally and physically shut down. That is what happened
to me, and POTO was one of the things God used to help me recover
my passion, my joy, and my hope, not only for Nathan’s life... but for
my own as well.
Months after the movie had left the theater, I felt energized and
passionate again about being creative. I needed to express my love for
the POTO story, and my novel was birthed from that need.
Sandra - How did you discover your passion for The Phantom of the
Opera story?
Bonnie - As a young girl I had seen the silent film, and I remember
even then, being drawn to the story and feeling sad for the Phantom.
Music was already in my blood at that age, and I loved the creepy
organ! Then later in my teens, I saw another POTO film staring
Claude Raines, and I found myself mesmerized by the whole concept
of hearing music through a mirror, and being drawn by a mysterious
musician into another world. Even at that age, I thought the Phantom
was very handsome in his mask and evening clothes, and I loved the
music he played on the violin. But it when I saw Michael Crawford
perform in the ALW stage play in the early 90’s, the Phantom really
took hold of me as an adult woman. I must tell you that the moment
his figure emerged out of the misty mirror... I was... well I was under
his spell, and captivated by the whole theatrical experience. I had
never seen anything so sensual and romantic... But yet so tragic and
with layers of depth to the song lyrics and compelling story. Add to
that, ALW’s haunting music and Michael’s sexy, majestic portrayal,
and who could resist? I only saw the play one time in in LA, and it has
remained with me all these years; but I have recently discovered that
my connection to the Phantom story is really much more than skin
deep, and that there were subconscious beginnings of my POTO
obsession.
On my website (http://www.chansondelange.com), I tell the story of
Jimmy ( http://www.chansondelange.com/forums/index.php?board=38.
0) a young burn victim encountered in my childhood, when I was
admitted to the hospital for eye surgery. I tell the full story on my
site.... but specifically when I saw Gerard Butler’s childlike portrayal
of the Phantom singing to the monkey music box, I believe a forgotten
memory of Jimmy rose up into my conscious mind, and now I know
for certain that it was Jimmy’s badly scarred face I saw in Gerry’s own
as he lamented the loss of his love. It fascinates me how our minds
file away early traumatic experiences, only to allow them to emerge
again later in life. I love stories and films that cause me to dig deeper.
and force me to ask questions about myself and the world. I am
attracted to books and film that strip away the layers of what is seen, to
explore what is unseen... That is, the secrets, pain, hopes and dreams
within us all. I believe the Phantom story does this, and especially the
2004 film.
Sandra - What's your opinion about the main character, Erik?
Bonnie - Ahhhhhh.... Erik. Everything a woman could want in a man,
right? Honestly.... I am just now beginning to unravel the mystery of
why Erik is such a powerful figure to me. I would like to share a quote
with you from one of the many essays I have written about Erik. This
is quote from a post I made on GBGALS (a Gerard Butler fansite: http:
//www.gbgals.com/) a couple of years ago:
“These days, when I watch the Phantom of the Opera... as The
Phantom leads Christine down that dreamy corridor, I almost see the
Phantom as another part of myself.... the passionate and artistic part of
myself that I had nearly let die, following Nathan's illness. In the
form of allegory, the corridor represents our own unfulfilled dreams
and desires.... and we must see ourselves taking the hand of that
"other" us. The one whose voice we have ignored.... but the one who
has been calling to us all along.... and whose voice we will hear until
the day we die.”
There are so many facets to the character of Erik, which is why I think
so many authors cannot resist writing about him. Of course he is the
creation of Gaston Leroux, the originator of the Phantom story... But
for some reason, Erik has grown far beyond the pages of Leroux’s
novel... And now he seems to have taken on a life of his own. I find
this to be a huge compliment to Leroux’s original novel; that many of
us relate to Erik on deeper levels than perhaps Leroux intended.
Although I do not have outward physical deformities.... like all human
beings, I bear invisible scars on my heart and psyche, and I am
sometimes crippled by insecurity and fear. I relate to Erik’s passion
for music and his love of beauty, and particularly in the ALW film, I
am so inspired by how the Phantom tries to make his home beneath
the opera house beautiful, proving that despite his condemnation to the
bowels of Paris, he has endeavored to live like a civilized human
being. I am inspired by how he clothes himself as a gentleman; how
he loves the finer things, and by how he refuses just to give up and die,
when all the world would have him shut away for his ugliness. I adore
that he wants to teach Christine and that against the social mores of
that era, he longs to draw out her abilities and make her a star. For
Erik, and for Christine, music is a powerful language which binds
them together in a love affair, not of the flesh, but of the soul. I find
that a powerful element to the story.
I love Erik’s dual nature, which in the 2004 film, we see so clearly in
the masquerade scene as he is drawn again to Christine, who stands at
the bottom of the staircase. In that cinematic moment he is the
powerful maestro in control of the opera, confident and audacious
when he stomps down those stairs... but when his eyes fall on her....
He is undone, and before our eyes he becomes the lost and vulnerable
victim of unrequited love. I love the complexities of Erik... I think he
is what all of us are, deep down inside where no one sees.
Speaking in terms of my personal life.... I am married to a man who is
MY Erik. He is not insane or deformed, but just as the Phantom
wished to encourage and inspire Christine’s gifts as an artist, my
husband, from the first day we met, has done this for me. With each
wild-hare idea I’ve had about recording CDs, writing and producing
plays or writing novels, my husband has always been there to support
my dreams. I would not even be writing this novel were it not for him.
Sandra - What do you think about the possible reality/myth of this
story?
Bonnie - I have always believed that most of our beloved myths have
their roots in some reality. It may be a far removed reality from the
actual myth, but I think that for Leroux to have created a story which
still resonates in our modern times, there had to be someone...
somewhere who inspired him. But then again, we have the Beauty and
the Beast story; the Hunchback of Notre dame... Stories far older than
the Phantom... so what is the origin of those stories? In my opinion,
whether POTO is fact based, or is entirely fiction, is of less importance
than how it speaks to my own heart. I am fascinated by the history of
the opera house and all the legends surrounding Leroux’s Phantom....
but I am more fascinated by how people are moved by this story. The
world has grown so cynical and cold about love... It seems many forget
to value real love, and some don’t even know what the true nature of
love is. I think POTO explores that question, and that to me is more
significant than whether or not Erik really existed. If it were ever
proved that there was indeed a person behind the legend, I wonder if it
would change how people feel about the story?
Sandra - Your son Nathan Allen Pinard has composed some wonderful
melodies for your coming book, how did start this idea?
Bonnie - As I alluded to in questions above, since the Autumn of 2003,
Nathan has been quite ill. He is doing well now, but at the time of the
2004 POTO’s release, Nathan was very ill, recovering from a severe
case of ulcerative colitis/cronns disease... which led to the removal of
his colon in December of 2003. By 2006, he was still recovering from
the life threatening infections that followed the surgery; from 7 trips to
the ER; and from the severe symptoms. Due to his illness, Nathan was
forced to move back home, and for some months he just lay in bed and
watched TV. My love for the POTO film led me the the GBGALS
fansite, where I encountered a spirited group of women and made
some great friends. In GBGALS first year on-line, a Convention was
planned to take place in Las Vegas, and a friend of mine actually paid
for me to attend. A talent show was planned as part of the Convention
entertainment, and on a whim, I thought I would sing something from
ALW’s POTO.... But as I was trying to decide which song, and having
no luck finding a decent accompaniment track.... all of a sudden one
day, I was inspired to write my own song based the Phantom story, as
told in my book. These things just sort of take you by surprise, and as
I mentioned in previous questions, I had lost all desire to create or to
sing or to do anything. Now suddenly, there I was with my little tape
recorder, composing a song... which I wrote the music and lyrics to in
less than 10 minutes.
The first thing I did was to sing the song for Nathan, who actually
liked it. It was late Spring of 2006, and Nathan had hardly touched his
music studio, but knowing that he desperately needed his music to
help him out of his depression, I asked him to compose the
accompaniment orchestration for my song, Chanson de L’ange. It was
difficult for him. He was tired and weak, but just as I knew it would,
working on my song energized him, and he composed a beautiful
accompaniment for Chanson de L’ange. Then I had the idea to
compose an entire soundtrack for the book.... as if it were a film, with
various musical themes representing scenes, events and characters
from the book. Nathan and I began work on this CD, and 6 tracks
were completed by the Convention. This is an on-going project now,
and with upgrades to his studio, Nathan has been improving the
quality of his work. Six tracks are featured on my site, but this is the
link to Nathan’s site where you may listen to all the music he has
composed to date: http://www.nathanallenpinard.com/
Sandra - Could Nathan tell us what inspired him to compose this
music?
Nathan - “Hm, it's tough to say what inspired me. I knew for all the
heavy Phantomesque music it would obviously include heavy pipe
organ with a slightly dark/orchestral feel. But I also wanted a more
modern approach into how I orchestrated things. I have various
influences in music, specifically in the film score genre. So I would say
in those terms, that I wanted more of a Danny Elfman meets Jerry
Goldsmith feel. Overall in the music, I try to convey a scene, rather
than an actual emotion. But often times I succeed in doing both.”
Sandra - You have met Gerard Butler during a convention, can you tell
us how it happened and how is Gerard in person?
Bonnie - Oh my gosh, that is such an amazing moment. Do you have a
few hours? Just kidding... For those who would like to read the entire
story and don’t mind registering on my site, I have posted it on the
FORUM ( http://www.chansondelange.com/forums/index.php?topic=6.
0) One of the things I love about the internet is that it gives one the
opportunity to make friends with many different people who would
not ordinarily be part of one’s social circle. GBGALS has become a
real community for me, and as Nathan was going through his trauma,
those ladies were right there with me; praying for Nathan, encouraging
me... Calling when Nathan was readmitted to the hospital shortly
before the first Convention took place. I found so much support
through this group of women, and especially from the site’s owner and
administrator, Dayna:aka Dr. Em.
Now, I only know part of this story, but for whatever reason, Gerard
decided to pop in at the first Convention in Las Vegas that year. I was
sick with a bad kidney infection, which hit me suddenly on the second
day of the trip, so the whole experience was very dreamlike.... But let
me back up a bit. I did perform my Chanson de L’ange aria at the
Convention’s Friday night Talent Show, where a videographer had
been sent by Gerry himself to document our event... so my
performance was filmed. The young man who did the filming then
showed his footage to Gerry, who was in town for the annual Cine-
Vegas film festival. My understanding is, that between Jereme’s video
and a little coaxing from Gerry’s PA, Tonya.... Gerry decided to pay us
a visit. Fast forward to Saturday night. I was invited to come on stage
to be presented with an award for winning the talent show. Feeling
very ill and dizzy, I managed to get up to the stage, where Dayna spoke
about my song and why I had been chosen for the award. Tonya made
mention that the award was VERY heavy, and needed to be carried up
to me.... And the next thing I knew, Gerard James Butler himself came
strutting into the room and joined me on the stage!
To say I was in shock is an understatement! Nothing like that has ever
happened to me. If you think the man is handsome in film and
photos.... In person he takes your breath away! I had no idea what I
was doing, it was all just so unreal, but he was very kind as he
complimented the performance of my song, which he had apparently
seen for himself on the video. He presented me with what they called,
The Butler Award.... And I just stood there like a loon... High fever,
chills, feeling utterly out of my body. When I did not try to initiate any
physical contact with him, Gerry, being the sweet guy he is said to me,
“Now come and get your hug.” And the next thing I knew, he was
hugging me, and I even got a little kiss on my cheek. It’s very strange
meeting someone who has portrayed a character you love as much as I
love the Phantom, because immediately you have to separate the man
from the roles he plays. He’s an actor... A human being, and not an
icon. Gerry was very gracious to me that night, and to all of those in
attendance, but I shall always believe he came to our convention to
send home a message to all his fans, and that is; that he appreciates our
support and cares about us.
Sandra - When will be published your book?
Bonnie - I just completed the first draft of the book on May 19, 2008....
And can you believe I started it back in February 05? It took me over 3
and 1/2 years to finish the story. For someone who did not attend
college.... this was a huge undertaking. I am currently working on the
second draft, which is very difficult but also quite rewarding. When I
wrote the early chapters, I had no idea what I was doing... And
working through those chapters now, with extensive rewrites and edits
has been really tough. I don’t know if other writers do this, but you
have a tendency to form an attachment to your words, and when you
read them again after not visiting them for years.... It’s quite a shock.
At first I just sort of sat there and thought, “Why would anyone want
to read this rubbish?” I realize now that the story must become the
diva... the star, and NOT the author, therefore, some of the early
chapters barely resemble their first incarnations. I’ve had to throw
whole sections out, and write completely new text to replace the
rubbish parts. I have no idea how long this 2nd revision will take....
But I am hoping my book will be published and available for sale by
the Summer of 09. Meanwhile, interested readers can visit my site for
updates, my blog and an eventual podcast. (http://www.chanson de L’
ange.com)
Sandra - Tell us what do you think about next Phantom sequel.
Bonnie - Unlike many diehard POTO fans, I am excited about the
prospect of a sequel, and I will not cast judgments against it until I
have heard some of the music and storyline. I kind of feel sorry for
ALW, who seems to always have people harping on him about his
projects and music. I think the man is genius whose music, especially
his POTO music, really touches the heart. I think it is lovely that he
obviously relates to the Phantom on a personal level, and I have
nothing but respect for him. So what if some of his shows have been
less successful than POTO. He is an artist and he is compelled to
create art. Some works will be of better quality than others, and
although he may never again achieve the greatness of the original
Phantom show.... Why should he stop trying just because some people
don’t like the idea of a sequel? I would like to believe that the man
would not even attempt a sequel unless he has been inspired by his
muse. I for one cannot wait to see what he comes up with, and I really
do hope it is brilliant. As I said earlier, the Phantom character has
outgrown the pages of one book... And perhaps there is enough magic
left in that mask for another huge hit. For Andrew’s sake, and for the
sake of fans who do want more POTO, I hope so.
I feel the same way about all the Fanfiction sequel’s and prequel’s out
there. I think it’s wonderful that artists and writers are inspired to
write their own take on the story and characters. I hope I have brought
something to my interpretation of POTO that is unique and
entertaining in a different way from all the others. I know I have
poured much of myself into Chanson de L’ange, as I am sure the other
authors have done with their own work. I am anxious to get my book
out there with the rest!
Sandra - Can you tell us about your future projects?
Bonnie - At this point, I am looking at a lot more work launching this
book. I have lots of research ahead; deciding which publisher to go
with. There is a huge learning curve involved, and then I must put my
energies into promoting the book and Nathan’s accompanying CD.
Nathan and I will soon be producing an audio preview of the book,
where I’ll be reading a selection from the story; featuring his music,
commentary and just some friendly conversation. I am looking
forward to this because it enables me to use a bit of voice acting.
Meanwhile, of the 6 tracks featured on my site, only one, Waltz With
Death is complete and ready for the CD. The other five are merely
samples of what we want to do. This means that Nathan and I will be
working on at least 8 or 9 more songs for the finished CD. I am very
excited about this, because Nathan and I really enjoy working together.
Once Chanson de L’ange is fully realized... Who knows what I might
fall into next? I would like to think that with the experience gained
from writing this book... I might move onto authoring a fully original
novel.... But I’ll just leave that for future consideration. In any case, I
know I will be creating something for the rest of my life... Whether it
be another book, the script for a play, more songs or something I
haven’t even thought of... Well that’s the fun part; the process of
exploring the extent of one’s capabilities!
Please, don't copy this text without my permission.
Copyright by Ladyghost.
Swansong or ‘Swannie’ on website communities. My real name is
Bonnie Anne, and I reside in Portland Oregon, where I was born and
raised.
I have many interests and have attempted a lot of wild and crazy
creative projects throughout my 52 years. I studied classical voice in
my youth and took first place in the Oregon State vocal competition. I
was heavily involved with theater through my 20's, where I played
leads and supporting roles. I've been a song writer since my teens, I've
also been a colored pencil artist, owned my own gift-shop/gallery for
10 years. My family produced a full length musical drama for 3 years. I
wrote and directed the play; authored all the original songs and my 29
year old son Nathan composed the musical score. I have been very
happily married to the same lovely man for 30 years, and I am a
woman of faith who gives thanks to the Lord for all these blessings!
Thank you my dear friend for this wonderful interview!
Sandra - How did the idea of write a novel begin?
Bonnie - First I want to thank Sandra for graciously asking me to do
this interview for her site, and I am so happy she and I sort of
stumbled across one another on the web. I love it when I find a new
friend who understands and shares my love for Phantom of the Opera!
My book is entitled Chanson de L’ange in French and The Angel’s
Song in English.
As seems to happen often in life.... the most lovely occurrences are
almost always by accident. I have always been a writer of sorts, but
prior to writing Chanson de L'ange, I had mostly written songs, poems
and short essays. A few years ago I wrote a musical drama based on
the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but obviously, although the play had its
own original spin at my hands, I am not the author of that story! I
never believed myself capable of writing a novel, so it was not
something I had ever considered, but in December 2004 I saw a film
that touched me so deeply... My only response was to begin writing
essay after essay about why the film would not let go of me, even
months after it had left the theater.
This of course was Phantom of the Opera starring Gerard Butler as the
Phantom, and for me to explain how much that film has touched my
life would take pages and pages. The film came at a time when my
family was enduring the catastrophic illness of my son Nathan, who
was in the midst of a more than two year recovery process... recovering
from multiple internal infections after having his colon removed. Not
to get into all of that now, but sometimes when you experience trauma,
you just emotionally and physically shut down. That is what happened
to me, and POTO was one of the things God used to help me recover
my passion, my joy, and my hope, not only for Nathan’s life... but for
my own as well.
Months after the movie had left the theater, I felt energized and
passionate again about being creative. I needed to express my love for
the POTO story, and my novel was birthed from that need.
Sandra - How did you discover your passion for The Phantom of the
Opera story?
Bonnie - As a young girl I had seen the silent film, and I remember
even then, being drawn to the story and feeling sad for the Phantom.
Music was already in my blood at that age, and I loved the creepy
organ! Then later in my teens, I saw another POTO film staring
Claude Raines, and I found myself mesmerized by the whole concept
of hearing music through a mirror, and being drawn by a mysterious
musician into another world. Even at that age, I thought the Phantom
was very handsome in his mask and evening clothes, and I loved the
music he played on the violin. But it when I saw Michael Crawford
perform in the ALW stage play in the early 90’s, the Phantom really
took hold of me as an adult woman. I must tell you that the moment
his figure emerged out of the misty mirror... I was... well I was under
his spell, and captivated by the whole theatrical experience. I had
never seen anything so sensual and romantic... But yet so tragic and
with layers of depth to the song lyrics and compelling story. Add to
that, ALW’s haunting music and Michael’s sexy, majestic portrayal,
and who could resist? I only saw the play one time in in LA, and it has
remained with me all these years; but I have recently discovered that
my connection to the Phantom story is really much more than skin
deep, and that there were subconscious beginnings of my POTO
obsession.
On my website (http://www.chansondelange.com), I tell the story of
Jimmy ( http://www.chansondelange.com/forums/index.php?board=38.
0) a young burn victim encountered in my childhood, when I was
admitted to the hospital for eye surgery. I tell the full story on my
site.... but specifically when I saw Gerard Butler’s childlike portrayal
of the Phantom singing to the monkey music box, I believe a forgotten
memory of Jimmy rose up into my conscious mind, and now I know
for certain that it was Jimmy’s badly scarred face I saw in Gerry’s own
as he lamented the loss of his love. It fascinates me how our minds
file away early traumatic experiences, only to allow them to emerge
again later in life. I love stories and films that cause me to dig deeper.
and force me to ask questions about myself and the world. I am
attracted to books and film that strip away the layers of what is seen, to
explore what is unseen... That is, the secrets, pain, hopes and dreams
within us all. I believe the Phantom story does this, and especially the
2004 film.
Sandra - What's your opinion about the main character, Erik?
Bonnie - Ahhhhhh.... Erik. Everything a woman could want in a man,
right? Honestly.... I am just now beginning to unravel the mystery of
why Erik is such a powerful figure to me. I would like to share a quote
with you from one of the many essays I have written about Erik. This
is quote from a post I made on GBGALS (a Gerard Butler fansite: http:
//www.gbgals.com/) a couple of years ago:
“These days, when I watch the Phantom of the Opera... as The
Phantom leads Christine down that dreamy corridor, I almost see the
Phantom as another part of myself.... the passionate and artistic part of
myself that I had nearly let die, following Nathan's illness. In the
form of allegory, the corridor represents our own unfulfilled dreams
and desires.... and we must see ourselves taking the hand of that
"other" us. The one whose voice we have ignored.... but the one who
has been calling to us all along.... and whose voice we will hear until
the day we die.”
There are so many facets to the character of Erik, which is why I think
so many authors cannot resist writing about him. Of course he is the
creation of Gaston Leroux, the originator of the Phantom story... But
for some reason, Erik has grown far beyond the pages of Leroux’s
novel... And now he seems to have taken on a life of his own. I find
this to be a huge compliment to Leroux’s original novel; that many of
us relate to Erik on deeper levels than perhaps Leroux intended.
Although I do not have outward physical deformities.... like all human
beings, I bear invisible scars on my heart and psyche, and I am
sometimes crippled by insecurity and fear. I relate to Erik’s passion
for music and his love of beauty, and particularly in the ALW film, I
am so inspired by how the Phantom tries to make his home beneath
the opera house beautiful, proving that despite his condemnation to the
bowels of Paris, he has endeavored to live like a civilized human
being. I am inspired by how he clothes himself as a gentleman; how
he loves the finer things, and by how he refuses just to give up and die,
when all the world would have him shut away for his ugliness. I adore
that he wants to teach Christine and that against the social mores of
that era, he longs to draw out her abilities and make her a star. For
Erik, and for Christine, music is a powerful language which binds
them together in a love affair, not of the flesh, but of the soul. I find
that a powerful element to the story.
I love Erik’s dual nature, which in the 2004 film, we see so clearly in
the masquerade scene as he is drawn again to Christine, who stands at
the bottom of the staircase. In that cinematic moment he is the
powerful maestro in control of the opera, confident and audacious
when he stomps down those stairs... but when his eyes fall on her....
He is undone, and before our eyes he becomes the lost and vulnerable
victim of unrequited love. I love the complexities of Erik... I think he
is what all of us are, deep down inside where no one sees.
Speaking in terms of my personal life.... I am married to a man who is
MY Erik. He is not insane or deformed, but just as the Phantom
wished to encourage and inspire Christine’s gifts as an artist, my
husband, from the first day we met, has done this for me. With each
wild-hare idea I’ve had about recording CDs, writing and producing
plays or writing novels, my husband has always been there to support
my dreams. I would not even be writing this novel were it not for him.
Sandra - What do you think about the possible reality/myth of this
story?
Bonnie - I have always believed that most of our beloved myths have
their roots in some reality. It may be a far removed reality from the
actual myth, but I think that for Leroux to have created a story which
still resonates in our modern times, there had to be someone...
somewhere who inspired him. But then again, we have the Beauty and
the Beast story; the Hunchback of Notre dame... Stories far older than
the Phantom... so what is the origin of those stories? In my opinion,
whether POTO is fact based, or is entirely fiction, is of less importance
than how it speaks to my own heart. I am fascinated by the history of
the opera house and all the legends surrounding Leroux’s Phantom....
but I am more fascinated by how people are moved by this story. The
world has grown so cynical and cold about love... It seems many forget
to value real love, and some don’t even know what the true nature of
love is. I think POTO explores that question, and that to me is more
significant than whether or not Erik really existed. If it were ever
proved that there was indeed a person behind the legend, I wonder if it
would change how people feel about the story?
Sandra - Your son Nathan Allen Pinard has composed some wonderful
melodies for your coming book, how did start this idea?
Bonnie - As I alluded to in questions above, since the Autumn of 2003,
Nathan has been quite ill. He is doing well now, but at the time of the
2004 POTO’s release, Nathan was very ill, recovering from a severe
case of ulcerative colitis/cronns disease... which led to the removal of
his colon in December of 2003. By 2006, he was still recovering from
the life threatening infections that followed the surgery; from 7 trips to
the ER; and from the severe symptoms. Due to his illness, Nathan was
forced to move back home, and for some months he just lay in bed and
watched TV. My love for the POTO film led me the the GBGALS
fansite, where I encountered a spirited group of women and made
some great friends. In GBGALS first year on-line, a Convention was
planned to take place in Las Vegas, and a friend of mine actually paid
for me to attend. A talent show was planned as part of the Convention
entertainment, and on a whim, I thought I would sing something from
ALW’s POTO.... But as I was trying to decide which song, and having
no luck finding a decent accompaniment track.... all of a sudden one
day, I was inspired to write my own song based the Phantom story, as
told in my book. These things just sort of take you by surprise, and as
I mentioned in previous questions, I had lost all desire to create or to
sing or to do anything. Now suddenly, there I was with my little tape
recorder, composing a song... which I wrote the music and lyrics to in
less than 10 minutes.
The first thing I did was to sing the song for Nathan, who actually
liked it. It was late Spring of 2006, and Nathan had hardly touched his
music studio, but knowing that he desperately needed his music to
help him out of his depression, I asked him to compose the
accompaniment orchestration for my song, Chanson de L’ange. It was
difficult for him. He was tired and weak, but just as I knew it would,
working on my song energized him, and he composed a beautiful
accompaniment for Chanson de L’ange. Then I had the idea to
compose an entire soundtrack for the book.... as if it were a film, with
various musical themes representing scenes, events and characters
from the book. Nathan and I began work on this CD, and 6 tracks
were completed by the Convention. This is an on-going project now,
and with upgrades to his studio, Nathan has been improving the
quality of his work. Six tracks are featured on my site, but this is the
link to Nathan’s site where you may listen to all the music he has
composed to date: http://www.nathanallenpinard.com/
Sandra - Could Nathan tell us what inspired him to compose this
music?
Nathan - “Hm, it's tough to say what inspired me. I knew for all the
heavy Phantomesque music it would obviously include heavy pipe
organ with a slightly dark/orchestral feel. But I also wanted a more
modern approach into how I orchestrated things. I have various
influences in music, specifically in the film score genre. So I would say
in those terms, that I wanted more of a Danny Elfman meets Jerry
Goldsmith feel. Overall in the music, I try to convey a scene, rather
than an actual emotion. But often times I succeed in doing both.”
Sandra - You have met Gerard Butler during a convention, can you tell
us how it happened and how is Gerard in person?
Bonnie - Oh my gosh, that is such an amazing moment. Do you have a
few hours? Just kidding... For those who would like to read the entire
story and don’t mind registering on my site, I have posted it on the
FORUM ( http://www.chansondelange.com/forums/index.php?topic=6.
0) One of the things I love about the internet is that it gives one the
opportunity to make friends with many different people who would
not ordinarily be part of one’s social circle. GBGALS has become a
real community for me, and as Nathan was going through his trauma,
those ladies were right there with me; praying for Nathan, encouraging
me... Calling when Nathan was readmitted to the hospital shortly
before the first Convention took place. I found so much support
through this group of women, and especially from the site’s owner and
administrator, Dayna:aka Dr. Em.
Now, I only know part of this story, but for whatever reason, Gerard
decided to pop in at the first Convention in Las Vegas that year. I was
sick with a bad kidney infection, which hit me suddenly on the second
day of the trip, so the whole experience was very dreamlike.... But let
me back up a bit. I did perform my Chanson de L’ange aria at the
Convention’s Friday night Talent Show, where a videographer had
been sent by Gerry himself to document our event... so my
performance was filmed. The young man who did the filming then
showed his footage to Gerry, who was in town for the annual Cine-
Vegas film festival. My understanding is, that between Jereme’s video
and a little coaxing from Gerry’s PA, Tonya.... Gerry decided to pay us
a visit. Fast forward to Saturday night. I was invited to come on stage
to be presented with an award for winning the talent show. Feeling
very ill and dizzy, I managed to get up to the stage, where Dayna spoke
about my song and why I had been chosen for the award. Tonya made
mention that the award was VERY heavy, and needed to be carried up
to me.... And the next thing I knew, Gerard James Butler himself came
strutting into the room and joined me on the stage!
To say I was in shock is an understatement! Nothing like that has ever
happened to me. If you think the man is handsome in film and
photos.... In person he takes your breath away! I had no idea what I
was doing, it was all just so unreal, but he was very kind as he
complimented the performance of my song, which he had apparently
seen for himself on the video. He presented me with what they called,
The Butler Award.... And I just stood there like a loon... High fever,
chills, feeling utterly out of my body. When I did not try to initiate any
physical contact with him, Gerry, being the sweet guy he is said to me,
“Now come and get your hug.” And the next thing I knew, he was
hugging me, and I even got a little kiss on my cheek. It’s very strange
meeting someone who has portrayed a character you love as much as I
love the Phantom, because immediately you have to separate the man
from the roles he plays. He’s an actor... A human being, and not an
icon. Gerry was very gracious to me that night, and to all of those in
attendance, but I shall always believe he came to our convention to
send home a message to all his fans, and that is; that he appreciates our
support and cares about us.
Sandra - When will be published your book?
Bonnie - I just completed the first draft of the book on May 19, 2008....
And can you believe I started it back in February 05? It took me over 3
and 1/2 years to finish the story. For someone who did not attend
college.... this was a huge undertaking. I am currently working on the
second draft, which is very difficult but also quite rewarding. When I
wrote the early chapters, I had no idea what I was doing... And
working through those chapters now, with extensive rewrites and edits
has been really tough. I don’t know if other writers do this, but you
have a tendency to form an attachment to your words, and when you
read them again after not visiting them for years.... It’s quite a shock.
At first I just sort of sat there and thought, “Why would anyone want
to read this rubbish?” I realize now that the story must become the
diva... the star, and NOT the author, therefore, some of the early
chapters barely resemble their first incarnations. I’ve had to throw
whole sections out, and write completely new text to replace the
rubbish parts. I have no idea how long this 2nd revision will take....
But I am hoping my book will be published and available for sale by
the Summer of 09. Meanwhile, interested readers can visit my site for
updates, my blog and an eventual podcast. (http://www.chanson de L’
ange.com)
Sandra - Tell us what do you think about next Phantom sequel.
Bonnie - Unlike many diehard POTO fans, I am excited about the
prospect of a sequel, and I will not cast judgments against it until I
have heard some of the music and storyline. I kind of feel sorry for
ALW, who seems to always have people harping on him about his
projects and music. I think the man is genius whose music, especially
his POTO music, really touches the heart. I think it is lovely that he
obviously relates to the Phantom on a personal level, and I have
nothing but respect for him. So what if some of his shows have been
less successful than POTO. He is an artist and he is compelled to
create art. Some works will be of better quality than others, and
although he may never again achieve the greatness of the original
Phantom show.... Why should he stop trying just because some people
don’t like the idea of a sequel? I would like to believe that the man
would not even attempt a sequel unless he has been inspired by his
muse. I for one cannot wait to see what he comes up with, and I really
do hope it is brilliant. As I said earlier, the Phantom character has
outgrown the pages of one book... And perhaps there is enough magic
left in that mask for another huge hit. For Andrew’s sake, and for the
sake of fans who do want more POTO, I hope so.
I feel the same way about all the Fanfiction sequel’s and prequel’s out
there. I think it’s wonderful that artists and writers are inspired to
write their own take on the story and characters. I hope I have brought
something to my interpretation of POTO that is unique and
entertaining in a different way from all the others. I know I have
poured much of myself into Chanson de L’ange, as I am sure the other
authors have done with their own work. I am anxious to get my book
out there with the rest!
Sandra - Can you tell us about your future projects?
Bonnie - At this point, I am looking at a lot more work launching this
book. I have lots of research ahead; deciding which publisher to go
with. There is a huge learning curve involved, and then I must put my
energies into promoting the book and Nathan’s accompanying CD.
Nathan and I will soon be producing an audio preview of the book,
where I’ll be reading a selection from the story; featuring his music,
commentary and just some friendly conversation. I am looking
forward to this because it enables me to use a bit of voice acting.
Meanwhile, of the 6 tracks featured on my site, only one, Waltz With
Death is complete and ready for the CD. The other five are merely
samples of what we want to do. This means that Nathan and I will be
working on at least 8 or 9 more songs for the finished CD. I am very
excited about this, because Nathan and I really enjoy working together.
Once Chanson de L’ange is fully realized... Who knows what I might
fall into next? I would like to think that with the experience gained
from writing this book... I might move onto authoring a fully original
novel.... But I’ll just leave that for future consideration. In any case, I
know I will be creating something for the rest of my life... Whether it
be another book, the script for a play, more songs or something I
haven’t even thought of... Well that’s the fun part; the process of
exploring the extent of one’s capabilities!
Please, don't copy this text without my permission.
Copyright by Ladyghost.
