Dilman Dila

I Write. I make films. I daydream a lot and want to be paid for it. he/him/they Been creating #sff since 2001 but only recently got BSFA 2021 Shortlist. Nommo Awards 2022 shortlist. Support my #scifi films https://www.patreon.com/dilstories

Watch my films with #DilmanShortFilms

#fedi22 #filmmaking #writing #writingcommunity

Public Key

npub1qf0e5aq0zszrtzv3axf3m8lemtf583zw494kqceg9mtuc4z0jaesqd35c8

NIP-05 Address

dilmandila_at_mograph.social@mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsqyhu6ws83gpp43xg7nycanlua456rc382j6mqvv5za47v238ewuc3kdygg

Author Public Key

npub1qf0e5aq0zszrtzv3axf3m8lemtf583zw494kqceg9mtuc4z0jaesqd35c8

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Last Notes

2024-07-28 21:09:53

I remember when AI was short for Artificial Insemination

2024-06-10 21:05:58

I'm trying to read This Is How You Lose The Time War, but I'm struggling to understand what is going on, and I'm not sure if it gets better. It feels like a dense read. I heard so much about it, but perhaps I'm too impatient?
@npub1kt3…5004
#amreading #sff #scifi

2024-06-08 05:22:29

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@npub1hpc…hjn3 At least they are not telling you to help a prince who became an immigrant due to war and have a bag of gold they need some kind of help with.

2024-05-31 10:46:48

I just got a rejection letter and it looks like these guys judged my pitch based on my personality, not my experience, not what I intended to do with their money, but "There was a slight lack of enthusiasm during the pitch, which did not completely convince the jury."
Its my personality, you FFS!
So this confirms what I have thought all along; the machine rewards those who are loud and overconfident and can socialize, and looks down upon quiet introverts people as unable to incapable. F**k!

2024-05-22 15:05:25

First time I'm seeing a cassava flower. On my way home today, I had to use a shortcut through bushes and gardens and found the cassava plants in bloom. Photo taken somewhere in the outskirts of Kampala.
#bloom #bloomswoon #Bloomscrolling
https://cdn.masto.host/mographsocial/media_attachments/files/112/485/326/176/334/711/original/f27bd1ba74f680ed.jpg

2024-05-20 07:54:34

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@npub1c57…awu5 How do you listen? I want to go one-by-one but the link I got led to a 5hr stream

2024-05-19 11:18:59

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@npub10zv…nz7m they are ancestral spirits, according to some people in the West Nile region of Uganda

2024-05-09 21:57:02

According to research by the Havard School of Futurism, by 2030 bananas will officially be called bananum, and strawberries will be strawberrum, because the Large Lying Models will make us believe these are the right words. The researchers quoted Aristotle who said "If you tell a lie three times while drinking a town's water supply, it will become the truth."
https://cdn.masto.host/mographsocial/media_attachments/files/112/413/354/005/818/074/original/969cad2d5988d0a8.jpg

2024-05-07 19:54:20

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@npub1mqx…xqll Big Big World, Emilia

2024-05-04 20:34:29

May the Fourth be with you as we watch the first Star Wars film, this chilly night in the outskirts of Kampala, in the compound of a film studio.
#maythe4th #maytheforce #MovieNight #filmisnotdead #film
https://cdn.masto.host/mographsocial/media_attachments/files/112/384/682/073/384/282/original/9461ac97671f82a7.jpg

2024-04-29 05:09:19

Looks like book submissions are becoming like movie pitches, with moodboards and character sketches and all that. I guess I should stick to working with indie press and small press publishers, just for a peace of mind, because the gatekeeperism of trad publishing is going up a notch....
https://lorrainewilson.substack.com/p/is-there-a-book-submission-arms-race
#writing #writingcommunity #publishing

2024-04-23 00:18:13

When is Fire Day, and Water Day, and Air Day? It seems unfair to the other nations to celebrate only Earth Day.

2024-04-21 12:45:59

#silentsunday #trees #nature
https://cdn.masto.host/mographsocial/media_attachments/files/112/309/239/151/601/243/original/c11b9b7c0a091056.jpg

2024-04-05 07:52:31

#writerscoffeeclub Apr 5: What's the best thing about being a writer?
Well, being allowed to daydream on the job.😁

2024-03-24 15:11:52

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@npub1e7p…nvup been a while since I watched a horror, will look for this. But yes, the content warning here is silly. It's a horror, and that word alone is content-warning enough! It's like going to a strip club and you get a warning about nudes.....

2024-02-23 07:48:02

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@npub10n9…tjug I find hooks to be a little tedious sometimes, so I try to engage the reader throughout the chapter rather than put everything in the hook.
If the book is enjoyable, with or without end-of-chapter hooks, the reader will keep turning the pages. But if your chapter was dull, whatever the hook, I won't keep reading. So in writing, I use the same philosophy

2024-02-11 09:53:25

Anyone know an art director/production designer willing to train/mentor? I stupidly built a film studio in Kampala, now struggling with studio set constructions. Talking to someone experienced might help.
They could be based in anywhere, but I'll apply for grants to bring the person to Uganda, so maybe those in USA or in a European country where their Embassy might help is welcome. 🙂 Otherwise, any volunteer via online classes is welcome!
#art #filmmaker #artists #film

2024-01-23 11:14:28

So for those of you who love the story behind the story, about why writers wrote this or that, I've written this blog post about my second collection of stories, Where Rivers Go To Die, which is a finalist for the PKD Awards and longlisted for BSFA.
https://www.dilmandila.com/this-year-starts-with-big-good-news-for-my-writing
#writing #books #writingcommunity #sff #amreading #reading
@npub1kt3…5004

2024-01-20 10:37:34

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@npub1kkp…5sfx Thanks! Hoping I get voted into the shortlist of this one, though ;-))

2024-01-20 10:01:28

So the good news continues as my book, Where Rivers Go To Die, makes it to the #BSFA longlist for Best Collection, shortly after it became a finalist at the Philip K Dick Awards. Yay!
The BSFA this year is a very long list with lots of good books to discover and put on your reading list for 2024.
https://bsfa.co.uk/bsfa-awards-longlist
#book #books #reads #amreading #sff #writing #writingcommunity #scifi #amreadingsff
@npub1kt3…5004 @npub13vy…lczv

2024-01-11 07:24:57

I'm overwhelmed by all the engagement that my post about being nominated for Philip K Dick Awards generated. I haven't stopped smiling since yesterday, seeing all these strangers, over 1000 strangers, being happy for me and congratulating me. (1k? I thought such numbers are a rarity in Mastodon) I still don't know why people are being nice to me but it makes me happy 🤗❤

2024-01-10 04:05:32

Oh my God! Oh f*ck! I wake up to this big news and all I can say is f*ck! I went to bed having read something about Philip K Dick Awards (I can't even remember what I read about it!) and I wake up to learn that my book, Where Rivers Go To Die, has been nominated for this and its a big deal to me and all I can day is f*ck! What a way to start the year!
https://www.norwescon.org/2024/01/09/2024-philip-k-dick-award-nominees-announced/
@npub1kt3…5004 #books #sff #book #writing #writingcommunity

2024-01-09 09:03:07

When I was 20 I thought by the time I hit mid-40s, I'd be a world famous writer and filmmaker, but well, here I am, only mildly successful but getting a lot of praise for each story from the very few who find them. Uhm.... So, I turn to teaching, and mentoring. This is one of the classes I give, and it's online so you can sign up, if you ever want to get into #screenwriting
https://academy.lolwe.org/class/screenwriting/
#writing #writingcommunity #filmmaker #art

2024-01-08 06:47:45

I made a list of some great comedies that you can watch on the internet archive, some from 1904, which is a great little film that was a meme even before anyone thought of the internet.
https://www.dilmandila.com/great-comedies-to-watch-on-the-internet-archive
#film #comedy #humor #filmreview

2023-12-30 15:39:44

I just binged on Silo, the Apple TV series, and it's so hooking. Kind of a fresh take on dystopia. Now I want to read the books, they are by Hugh Howey, and I wonder if they are worth a read? Anyone got an insight?
@npub1kt3…5004 #writingcommunity #amreading #bookreview #sff #scifi

2023-12-24 12:24:32

This year I published my second collection of short stories, and all are eligible for the Nebula Awards. Since nominations are open, please consider my stories! I've provided free reading samples to three of them. I like all the stories, but these three make for splendid holiday reading!
Fragments of Canvas
https://www.sfwa.org/forum/topic/18694-fragments-of-canvas-by-dilman-dila/
Where Rivers Go To Die
https://www.sfwa.org/forum/topic/18695-where-rivers-go-to-die-by-dilman-dila/
The Flying Man of Stone (Novella)
https://www.sfwa.org/forum/topic/18696-the-flying-man-of-stone-by-dilman-dila/
@npub1kt3…5004 #writing #writingcommunity #sff #books

2023-12-11 05:33:33

Its now a year since I joined Mastodon and since it is fashionable to do so, here is me celebrating my one year anniversery via my blog @npub1ftl…sw8y (give it a #follow for more!) It isn't just a repeat of what everyone is saying about how awesome the fediverse is, but it turned out to be about a brief history of me on the internet and the fedi is an experience very much like my first ventures.
Perhaps you have similar stories?
https://www.dilmandila.com/love-mastodon-history-of-my-life-on-internet
#blog #blogger #mastodon #wordpress

2023-11-04 13:51:03

Since #fedibookfair is happening this weekend, let me tell you about my book, it's a collection of short stories, which some people say are horror. Where Rivers Go To Die. I love the cover, and it should convince you to take a look.
https://cdn.masto.host/mographsocial/media_attachments/files/111/352/601/503/513/198/original/403716a4fe410299.jpg

2023-11-02 08:02:55

I can't believe I sat up the whole night working on a screenplay, 15 hours straight from 3pm to 6am. I had a deadline.
But now you know why TV films suck....
#writingcommunity

2023-10-18 00:40:07

Rain all day today spoilt my fun in Accra. I had to stay indoors for a large part of the day. But in the morning I went to see an artist gallery, and a carpentry workshop with these fancy fantasy coffins..... strange thing to see on a travel trip, but the coffins in Ghana are worth writing home about! 😊
You can follow my blog @npub1ftl…sw8y where I will be telling you all about my #travels in Accra.
#travel #blog #writing #writingcommunity #writerslife #writerslifestyle
https://cdn.masto.host/mographsocial/media_attachments/files/111/253/207/240/984/093/original/55257ace4c3e499e.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/mographsocial/media_attachments/files/111/253/208/496/929/457/original/206bc9890c4ff3f9.jpg

2023-10-14 09:10:52

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@npub1k24…26zw @npub1ftl…sw8y Thanks! Might be a server issue perhaps. @npub14rp…3dyy any ideas?

2023-10-14 08:52:42

Does anyone have any experience with the #activitypub plugin for #wordpress I have installed it and I can see my profile @npub1ftl…sw8y but when I hit 'follow' I only get a 'follow requested' and I can't see how to accept this request on the wordpress dashboard, or make it that people don't need to request a follow. Any ideas?

2023-09-26 05:56:33

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@npub1qsp…xyhn I make short films regularly, and you can see some in #DilmanShortFilms or some on my pinned posts.
They are mostly short science fiction and horror filmd. I crowdfund for the productions https://www.patreon.com/dilstories or you can buy me coffee at https://ko-fi.com/dilmandila
Have a lovely day #sff #shortfilms #sciencefiction #horror #patreon #crowdfund #film #filmmaker

2023-09-23 05:06:35

Question. I'm writing a scifi novel about a 15yo boy with severe disability. He crawls rather than use a wheelchair as his family mistreats him, believing he is demon possessed, kept him in solitary confinement since birth. He, and the reader, is confused whether he is human or a creature, and he wonders: "Am I bipedal, or quadrapedal?" But.... would this be considered offensive to people-with-disability? (I'm one, for context)
#writingcommunity #writing #sff

2023-09-11 07:43:14

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@npub1kkp…5sfx @npub1qwf…tac7 I could give this a try, though living in a different time zone from others sometimes makes time travel impossible for me....😊

2023-09-10 12:22:06

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@npub1hpc…hjn3 The good one that used to work was adding "congratulations" or perhaps "happy birthday" to posts. Always made the algorithm go crazy. I saw someone using "congs" to push a message about registering for medic when Trump was sabotaging obamacare.
Also putting in words like "Yay!" or "I did it!" because Mr Algo wants people to share in your joy 😊

2023-08-31 09:30:38

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@npub1hpc…hjn3 @npub1ctz…zyq5 @npub1fyr…nfva Its one reason I don't like following mainstream news outlets. They will always side with the establishment, however wrong. The Bongo regime was propped by France, and that means Europe + Western countries would not object whatever goes in Gabon, and the Guardian for all its claims to being independent, I've never come across anything of it criticizing anything the EU countries support.

2023-08-31 06:34:10

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@npub135d…tg9k @npub1ew9…qf5p Thanks. Following them. Are you based in West Africa?

2023-08-30 17:55:51

There's a coup in #Gabon and I didn't know about it! Mastodon has to fix its news problem otherwise it's beginning to feel like a silo of sorts..... or perhaps its just that the African presence here is very limited?

2023-08-03 05:32:43

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@npub1kyv…mvht 4. Beat him up in revenge for that time he refused you a 1% payrise

2023-07-19 06:49:12

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@npub1ul2…5sjq I am going to Durban South Africa to pitch this film I'm working on. I have been sending emails to industry players requesting to meet them, but very few even bothered to reply. Then yesterday a big time producer sends me an email, not even a reply, just emails me out of the blue requesting to meet with me and I am confused for a whole moment. I check my emails to see if I had emailed them before. Nope. They made first contact. Don't want to count my unhatched chicks but this is soothing

2023-07-16 22:16:38

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@npub1k24…26zw In a romance. They must have that hot scene, regardless of plot. Put it there for the sake of it 😊

2023-07-16 16:58:27

#WritingWonders 16. How comfortable are you with writing kissing and/or intimacy scenes?
Oh-oh. I once wrote a romance novella for a publisher launching an imprint like Mills and Boon. The biggest comment I got from the editor was "Dilman, this is a romance. You have to give your readers a hot-hot-hot scene! Saying 'they kissed' and 'they made love' is a big cheat and a big no-no!"
Uhm.... well, in films I do sex scenes without batting an eyelid. But in prose...... I don't know why I avoid it.

2023-07-02 09:01:34

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@npub1k24…26zw Problem is if I nap during the day, then it's like I've used up my sleep for the whole night and I'll be tortured awake until the wee hours.... perhaps let me take a walk to clear my head 🙂

2023-07-02 08:38:48

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@npub1k24…26zw I'm on hibiscus tea... but might switch to coffee because my eyes are telling my brain to shut down for a bit. I don't normally drink coffee but people say it keeps you awake so....

2023-07-02 08:32:28

It's a quiet Sunday morning here. I spent all of yesterday writing a 5K word treatment for a feature film, and today I have to write a 6K non-fiction essay for an academic publication. I can't say I'm having a fun weekend :-((
#writing #writingcommunity #DilmanShortFilms

2023-06-13 12:53:18

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@npub17df…m5wm Would be glad to look at your list, though most US orgs don't support outside the country

2023-06-13 11:02:55

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@npub17df…m5wm Exactly! The gatekeepers I guess just make up these silly questions to justify their existence. Shouldn't they be judging stories based on, well, the stories? But grant applications are so effing annoying, yet it's how I survive as an artist.

2023-06-13 09:45:35

Writing an application for a TV series project, and the questions are annoying! "expand on the authenticity of your project" like wtf does that even mean? It's a story. And the question I hate the most, "why are you writing this story" I'm being tempted to reply that, "well, because you have put out a call for writers to submit their projects, that's why I'm writing it, you fuck" but I might just say, "I'm a writer. I write. That's my work."
So exhausting!
#writer #writingcommunity #writerslife

2023-05-26 10:49:32

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@npub17df…m5wm @npub1405…fe88 Yes. I keep thinking of it, film for the visually impaired. I once made a documentary about such a person and always wanted a description for them, but never got the resources to do it Will look into this service! Thanks a bunch for the recommendation

2023-05-01 06:58:05

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@npub18v7…0f4s Its a scene in a horror comic