Although Finding Penrose features a beautiful friendship between a black man and a white woman, this story is not abo
When I was writing this story, I had soft background music playing,
songs unfamiliar to me, so I wouldn't stop writing to sing along.
Spotify delivered a serendipitous, melodious mix...
...until suddenly, a powerful voice broke through, stopping me in my tracks.
Aloe Blacc's Voice Gripped Me
Here's How I Would Use This Song
1. In a tense, nail-biting scene when Tiki (Penrose) is helping his father to escape the hunters who have shot him in the legs and arms, Tiki tells his almost crippled father to hold on tight to him as he tries to drag his father away, so these lyrics would fit beautifully:
I can be
Your shoulder to cry on
You will find
Comfort in my arms
I can be
Your shelter on solid ground
Hold on tight
Hold on tight, hold on
2. When the hunter tells Tiki (Penrose as a boy) that his father is dead, Tiki wants to go to his father, but the hunter won't let him, these lyrics would be amazing:
When you feel like crying
Go on, let it out
Just remember
The sun is shining behind the clouds
It won't be long
'Til your pain's gone
So hold on tight to me
Hold on tight, hold on
3. When the hunters leave the savanna and Tiki goes through a transformation and changes his name to Penrose, he is forced to walk behind the wagons to stop any tusks falling off. His heart is breaking and he desperately wants to go back to his father in the field behind, but he is tied to the wagon and can't escape. At this point, these lyrics would be so powerful:
When the rain come
And the sky's falling down
In your darkest hour
When there's no one around
It won't be long
Keep your head strong
Hold on tight to me
Hold on tight, hold on.
(Earlier we see his father telling him to keep his head strong so this moment is powerful.)
4. When Penrose escapes his goat herding slavery and hides in Miss Ad's pick-up and he is spying on the passing countryside, these lyrics will be fab:
Where's your smile gone 'cause
It don't shine no more
There's a light on but
You don't open the door
If you're struggling
Let me know where you're at
Life gets heavy
And that road can be long
(Again, a powerful moment here as Penrose stares out from under the canvas at the passing road going to Joburg.)
5. When Miss Ad and Penrose decide to make a dash to Durban to get away from a racist neighbour who is threatening to leak his secret about having no 'Dompass' ID, these lyrics would work well:
Times of worry can
Get the best of us
And I understand
How you could lose your trust
Let me show you that
Here is where you belong
(This could play again when they are sitting at the Home Affairs office waiting for Penrose's ID.)
6. And in the climax scene, when all hell is breaking loose around Penrose and he starts remembering his past and his father in particular, these lyrics would fit so well:
I can be
Your shoulder to cry on
You will find
Comfort in my arms
I can be
Your shelter on solid ground
Hold on tight
Hold on tight, hold on
All from the same song but broken up! Have a listen and you will see what I mean…
Listen on Spotify
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The most important reason I want to be involved with producing my script is because this story is very important to me. I don’t want a producer optioning the script and turning the characters into people they weren't. Especially the main characters in the story, who were members of my family and thus very important to me!
I'd love the opportunity to directly connect with readers and build a passionate community around Finding Penrose. His story deserves a wider global audience who resonate with the failures of humanity. There is so much excitement about Penrose's legacy, so we invite you to subscribe to hear more news about both the book and film project.
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