Off Cut Thirty Five

English writer and novelist Fay Weldon wrote a novel commissioned by the jewellers Bulgari. "The Bulgari Connection" provoked a lot of debate. Many crtitcs strongly argued that this was the end of freedom for the writer - that the floodgates had now been opened to commercially instigated and controlled fiction and that the freedom of the author to choose had been compromised forever. In an article published in The Age in Melbourne on December 22nd 2001 Fay Weldon argued against these criticisms but in the process she articulated some related views relevant to all creative people.

Fay Weldon discovered as she set out to write "The Bulgari Connection" that she was surprised to find she had been set free. "Free from the opinions of publishers, critics and reviewers, and the expectations of readers - all of which," she says, "can weigh a writer down no end." Because it was intended to only print 750 copies, which were to be given away for the opening of the new Bulgari's store in London, Fay seems to have felt that this limited publication would mean a limited response and therefore the burden of being judged by others seemed to have been lifted from her shoulders. As a result she feels her creative process was liberated and the "book took off and all but wrote itself". The end result is something she feels "is as near perfect" as anything she has ever done.

Actors also experience the restraints generated by other people's expectations. On this occasion Fay Weldon was freed by unexpected circumstances but for the actor an intelligent reduction of these influences can lead to a similar freedom of expression.

Fay also suggests that writers "exercise their craft and out of this exercise 'art' sometimes emerges". This is also a good way for actors to think about their own role. Maintaining ones view of the creative process as a craft keeps it in perspective and again removes expectations that can lead to over stated performances. As Fay points out 'art' sometimes emerges from the healthy exercising of our crafts.

December 2001