Dyslexic but hectic writer: the four Cook books
Despite the imminent start of the Edinburgh Fringe, non-comic creative endeavours continue in Edinburgh and elsewhere.
I have blogged about Jason Cook before. If he were turned into a pill, cocaine and speed would seem like sleeping tablets.
Despite being dyslexic, his fourth crime novel is about to be published. He has a new children’s book out. Pre-production goes ahead on a feature film. And he is involved in another feature film which is currently shooting in Scotland.
“You are an Associate Producer on this film that’s shooting in Edinburgh,” I said.
“Yes it’s not my film but I am supporting them. They’re an Indonesian film company. I’ve worked closely with the producer on other projects before in Oxford and London. This one is a love story about an Indonesian man and woman who fall in love in Scotland. We’re shooting iconic places around Edinburgh now – the first week of the Fringe – with a crew of 21 from Indonesia.”
“And you have a fourth novel coming out.”
“Yes. On August 12th. Cocaine: The Devil’s Dandruff, the fourth and final instalment of my quadrilogy about The Cookster, – a young boy gets sucked into the underworld and gets pushed around like a chess piece in an international smuggling ring.”
“The title of the film of the first book was going to be The Devil’s Dandruff,” I said.
“Yes. The first film will have a different name now. The working title is The Devil’s Dandruff.”
Jason’s children’s book – Rats In Space
“My head hurts,” I said. “Your children’s book Rats in Space. That’s a planned film, too.”
“Yes. We’ve just had an animatic done for the Rats in Space film – first draft drawings of the scenes. We’re working with King Bee Animations at Elstree Studios.”
“Are you appearing in the Indonesian film?” I asked.
“I auditioned for the part of a pervert, so maybe. Did anything come of your appearance in Ariane Sheine’s music video?”
“No,” I laughed, “It was rather overtaken by political events at the General Election. I had hoped that it might be my entrée into the glamorous world of well-paid porn – perhaps granddad porn – but sadly not. I am not an actor. Any tips?”
“When I was young,” he told me, “I fancied being an actor. I was at a nightclub and I was approached by an agent who told me: You’ve got the look we’re looking for. Would you mind coming down for an audition? I thought it would be interesting to be an actor.
“I went down to a dress rehearsal in Camden Town so the director could meet me and take some trial shots. I went through reception and into the office studio.
Jason – Could he have had a big ginger part in Hollywood?
“OK Jason, I was told, take your clothes off and we’ll get things ready for you. There was lots of clothing lying around. I wondered which costume I would be in. So I took my clothes off down to my pants and I was given a dressing gown. The director came through, shook my hand and said: Thanks for coming down. Come through and meet the crew and actresses.
“I thought: OK. Great. This is all good.
“You can take your robe off now, he told me, and your pants.
“I said: Sorry??
“We walked through curtains and there was a set with three naked girls on a bed and all the crew were there, including a woman spraying water on the girls.
“The director said: OK, you can get on the bed.
“To be honest, I was a bit nervous. I said: What sort of film is this?
“It’s a porn film, of course, said the director.
“I said: I didn’t know it was a porn film. I thought I was going to be an actor.
Determined Jason Cook did make it into the film industry
“You WILL be an actor, he said. You’re going to be the first ginger porn star and you’re going to be in Hollywood. It’s called Ginger Cocks Does Blondielocks. You will be the first ginger porn star and you’ll be absolutely massive in America. It’s the ginger porn version of Goldilocks & The Three Bears – Ginger Cocks Does Blondielocks.
“I came out thinking: Hang on, I want to be in the film industry, but not that way!”
“Indonesia is the future,” I said.
SO IT GOES - John Fleming's blog 