Running Ahead of Me

My October Post

2009-10-31T15:13:00.003-05:00

This month was not the bee's knees, but it was close. Maybe we could call it the ant's ankles.

On the good side of things, I have a new job. I start on Thursday. So almost exactly two years since I was (ex)terminated from the TV world, I now have new life in the fascinating world of Computer Aided Drafting.

On the bad (dark) side of things, I haven't written anything since July (this would be the reasoning behind my cryptically short posts the last two months). That should change with the change of jobs. I feel like I'll have more time and less distraction.

We'll see.

My September Post

2009-09-30T22:13:00.000-05:00

This month was better.

My August Post

2009-08-29T23:06:00.000-05:00

This month has sucked.

Dexter Season 4

2009-07-24T00:22:00.009-05:00

I can't Wait!

John August's Superheroic Scene Challenge

2009-07-22T14:01:00.002-05:00

I wrote a scene for John August's Superheroic Scene Challenge. I can't seem to get it to work on his blog, so it likely will not qualify and will never appear on his blog. So I'll post it here. And no one will read it.

I call it SUPERZEROS.

EXT. MUSEUM OF UBIQUITIES -- DAY

A dilapidated building that looks like it should be in a museum of antique museums.

AT THE ENTRANCE

MARBLE COLUMNS bracket tremendous OAK DOORS.

DETERMINED MOM lugs her BRATTY KID up the cracked steps.

BRATTY KID

I don't like dinosaurs no more.

DETERMINED MOM

Well, they have other stuff.

BRATTY KID

Dad can afford to take me to a movie.

DETERMINED MOM

Well, it isn't his weekend. Trust me, you'll like this place better.

BRATTY KID

Dad can afford to buy me two boxes of Goobers.

DETERMINED MOM

Well, maybe next weekend I'll conveniently forget to pack your Adderall, and then your dad can shit a --

BRICKHOUSE

THE STAFF OF SEEING in his cinder block hand, CRASHES through the oak doors, sending splinters the size of baseball bats raining down around the quibbling mother and son.

A dark wet stain grows on the little boy's jeans as the mother pulls him to the ground.

Brickhouse BOUNDS over them and POUNDS down WASHINGTON AVENUE, charging the gathering POLICE BLOCKADE.

THE MUFFIN MADAME and LYRICO sprint through the gaping wooden hole.

THE MUFFIN MADAME

He's gonna tear up the whole city!

LYRICO

He's mighty, mighty. Just lettin' it all hang out.

MR. MAMMORY tip toes up behind them. BABY BOY hangs loosely in the Baby Bjorn between his massive breasts.

MR. MAMMORY

Shhh. I finally got him down.

THE MUFFIN MADAME

Where's Sporadicus?

LYRICO

I just called to say I love you.

TWO BLOCKS AWAY

the blockade cops OPEN FIRE on Brickhouse. The bullets RICOCHET off Brickhouse like you'd expect them to ricochet off a man made of stone and clay.

MR. MAMMORY

I'd love to be made of bricks.

THE MUFFIN MADAME

You should be proud of what you have. I know plenty of woman a lot tougher than that jackass.

MR. MAMMORY

I'm not a women, I just have breasts.

LYRICO

Ooh what a funky lady. She like it, like it, like it, like that.

MEXICAN JUMPING BEAN plummets from the sky, CAPTAIN SPORADICUS on his back.

They SLAM into the ground, but Sporadicus SPRINGS UP smiling.

Mexican Jumping Bean lies on the ground panting.

MEXICAN JUMPING BEAN (SUBTITLE)

I have never jumped so high before. Maybe this man should ride me more often.

They look down at him.

MR. MAMMORY

Did he say menudo?

LYRICO

Cuando estoy contigo no se ni quien soy no se ni como hacer.

BRICKHOUSE

TOSSES a SQUAD CAR over his shoulder. It TOPPLES past the Superzeroes.

CAPTAIN SPORADICUS

I'll take him from the front, Mammory, you get him from behind.

MEXICAN JUMPING BEAN (SUBTITLE)

Yes, the shemale is best from behind.

Captain Sporadicus snatches a WALKIE-TALKIE from his UTILITY BELT, tosses it to Lyrico.

LYRICO

What's the frequency, Kenneth?

CAPTAIN SPORADICUS

I got them at the dollar store. Can they even change frequency?

A ROOKIE COP

DASHES past them, SCREAMS.

A RED BRICK

HURTLES over them, SMASHES into the cop's back.

BABY BOY (O.S.)

So, The Sporadic Wonder is gonna take a wrecking ball to Brickhouse.

Mr. Mammory looks down to find the infantile old man wide awake.

MR. MAMMORY

Jeez, he's gonna be up all night now.

CAPTAIN SPORADICUS

I'm not going to hurt Brickhouse. I'm going to save him.

BABY BOY

Cause you could hurt a man made of masonry?

CAPTAIN SPORADICUS

I am a son of Zeus. If the power strikes me right --

MEXICAN JUMPING BEAN (SUBTITLE)

I checked on Wikipedia, Zeus didn't have a son named Sporadicus. But we all know how reliable Wikipedia can be. Am I right?

They all stare at Mexican Jumping Bean in confusion.

THE MUFFIN MADAME

We have to get this guy in some ESL classes.

AN EXPLOSION

rocks the ground around them. They look up to see

AN ARMORED VEHICLE

protruding from the roof of the museum.

CAPTAIN SPORADICUS

Listen, just because you're older than the rest of us, doesn't mean --

BABY BOY

Yeah, I'm old, but I ain't senile. You're going about this all wrong.

CAPTAIN SPORADICUS

What do you mean?

BABY BOY

I mean that Doctor Diego has some reason for using them to destroy things. Maybe he's sending a message to the world.

CAPTAIN SPORADICUS

Crazy mad scientist kidnaps the Earth's superheroes and brainwashes them to send a message. So he's Michael Moore now.

BABY BOY

And what do you think is happening?

CAPTAIN SPORADICUS

I think I'm letting a senior citizen cursed with a pecker that never even began working keep me from my destiny.

Captain Sporadicus shoves his chin in the air, RACES toward the WAR between Brickhouse and the Police.

Baby Boy's BOTTOM LIP quivers.

LYRICO

This is what it sounds like when doves cry.

Baby Boy SHRIEKS in anger and indignity.

MR. MAMMORY

Great. I already gave him his last bottle. Now what're we gonna do?

Lyrico and Mexican jumping bean STARE at his chest.

He looks down to see TWO WET CIRCLES forming on his breasts.

MR. MAMMORY (CONT'D)

What the hell?

The Muffin Madame slings her arm around him.

THE MUFFIN MADAME

Don't worry, hon. It's perfectly natural.

She holds up her hand.

A MUFFIN

appears out of thin air.

THE MUFFIN MADAME (CONT'D)

Her ya go. Bran is good for the milk.

Captain Sporadicus, SINGED and BEATEN, runs up to them, SCREAMS.

CAPTAIN SPORADICUS

My powers...I thought they were working today!

LYRICO

Because you had a bad day. You're taking one down. You sing a sad song just to turn it around.

The Superzeroes SCUTTLE away from the museum as debris falls from the sky like a gully washer in hell.

Brickhouse RAMS into the FEDERAL BANK TOWER sending it toppling over onto the few remaining POLICEMEN.

Determined Mom and Bratty Kid cower behind what remains of the oak doors.

DETERMINED MOM

I wish we'd gone to the movies.

BRATTY KID

I wish dad was here.

Back on IndieTalk

2009-07-12T14:25:00.003-05:00

I've been away from one of my favorite places for about two years.

IndieTalk.com

I can't really explain why. Well, I could but I choose not to.

Anyway, I'm back now. Come join me.

So Um, About That First Draft...

2009-06-22T10:55:00.007-05:00

The one for the Secret Screenplay Idea.

I finished it.

It ain't as good as I hoped. But I finished it.

INT. WORK ROOM

Nick BANGS the keyboards, tries to make sense of what appears on the screen.

NICK

Sweet! Act One is done!

He raises his fist in solidarity for all other screenwriters sitting alone in a room.

INT. WORK ROOM -- DAYS LATER

Nick TAPS the keys with a dancer's grace, smiles.

NICK

Act Two, I'm through with you!

His cheeks flush red as he realizes that he's a huge dork.

INT. WORK ROOM -- WEEKS LATER

Nick SLAPS his palm to his forehead.

NICK

Act Three, why are you being such a fantastic pain?

He stares into

THE BLANK NOTHINGNESS

and his soul DISSOLVES.

You see, since my Secret Screenplay Idea (t'ain't new no mo') is a apocalyptic tale, I was zooming along ninety-to-nothin' on the open freeway when I slammed into an abandoned car on the clogged bottle neck of Act Three. The only chance I had of finding the other side was negotiating little gaps in the wreckage.

It turned out that Act Four was just as treacherous, if not more so. The problem getting through the borderland was the fact that I'd spent so much time laughing about how easy it was to get through the first two acts that I found myself lacking in the solutions and weapons departments when the baddies attacked me in the middle of Act Four.

I made it through the wilderness. Somehow I made it through. Yet I can't help but feel that I haven't found a new utopia or even a safe haven. I feel more like I've found a dilapidated house with a basement full of flesh starved zombies.

Guess we'll see when I get to the second draft (after tackling draft numero dos of "The Next Big Lance", of course).

Knowledge of Squat

2009-06-15T11:11:00.001-05:00

A lot of people tend to think that I think I know everything. While I admit, my opinions can sometimes be delivered with a bit of arrogance and a touch of snark, I don't for one second think I know everything...or really anything for that matter.

This is why I don't post about how to write. Cause I really don't know how to write. I'm just banging keys on a keyboard, trying to make sense of what appears on screen. There's quite a few nameless bloggers who are also keyboard bangers, who think they know everything. I just want them to know I hate them, and I'm tired of their blogs. You people are idiots and do not deserve my readership.

This morning, I read one blog post that said it was gonna teach me about something that it never mentioned again and another that was trying to point out the differences between two movies and ended up just talking about the similarities. These people are trying to teach me how to write. I don't try to teach them how to be coherent and make sense. So what gives them the right to teach me how to write?

I shall repeat: You people are idiots and do not deserve my readership.

I'm tired of people who don't know squat pretending that they know squat. I am hereby taking a stand and telling you that I don't know squat, and until I know squat I won't pretend that I do.

Do Not Flush Hand In The Toilet

2009-06-03T06:33:00.002-05:00

No matter how great the temptation.

So Um, About That Second Draft...

2009-05-23T09:35:00.006-05:00

Someone once told me that when you finish a draft, it's a good idea to set it aside for a month or so and move on to something else.

With "The Next Big Lance", I was planning on only giving it two weeks and forgetting about the something else.

But then, last week, I opened up a Word doc and started outlining the plot for my New Secret Screenplay Idea (which I feel is still too juicy -- or evil -- to even mention by name). Then on Wednesday at work, I opened up Notebook (don't have Final Draft there, and Notebook windows are easier to hide on my screen) and started writing.

Yesterday, I finished the first act.

This one is flowing out of me. I've only had a couple of other writing experiences like it:

When writing the script for "Sometimes They Come Loose". I feel it is my best short film, and I've had quite a few people tell me the same.

When writing "Baby Got Bacchus". A short script that has yet to see production or even a second draft, but people who've read it have given me a lot of good comments.

And when writing "A Friend in the Business". A feature length script that will never see production or a second draft. I wrote it in 2003 or 2004 over a single weekend. I was telling a friend about it and he said, "Sounds kinda like that Julia Roberts movie, Notting Hill." I rented the flick and sure enough, I'd written Notting Hill about five years too late.

I mention these instances to prove a point. Writing just goes better when it flows.

All three of those examples have earned positive feedback (even "A Friend in the Business" sounded like a Hollywood movie). And that makes me happy for the future of this one, because I really love the idea, the characters, the theme, etc. It also makes me happy because I get the feeling this could be the script that gets people to notice me.

So, if anyone was waiting to read the second draft of "The Next Big Lance", you'll have to wait a little longer. Sorry, but destiny calls.

Star Trek: A Guide to Flipping a Scene

2009-05-16T18:38:00.005-05:00

Kelly and I took in the new Star Trek flick on Thursday. I really enjoyed it, and I left with the impression that there will be a day, very soon, when J.J. Abrams becomes one of those rare directors, like Spielberg, who achieves house-hold name status.

But aside from that, there are a couple of scenes in the film that, from a writing standpoint, left an impression on me.

SPOILERS BEYOND

Both scenes involve the Star Trek staple of beaming people from one place to another. And both are fairly simple set ups for bigger, more important scenes. In lesser hands these scenes would be would be unremarkable.

In the first scene, Kirk and Scotty are being beamed aboard the Enterprise. Since their mission is covert (they're there to confront Spock, who is acting captain), they are being beamed into a secluded area of the ship. So, they get on board, blast their way on to the bridge, and confront "that pointy eared bastard". Right? Well, like I said, in lesser hands...

But here's what they did to make what could have been a throw away scene into a memorable scene. When they arrive on the Enterprise, Kirk is alone. He calls out for Scotty. The only response is a knocking sound coming from inside the metal tube he's standing next to. As soon as Kirk realizes Scotty is in the tube, the tube is filled with water and poor Scotty is flushed out towards a large turbine. Kirk has to save him by opening a valve. That act alerts the crew that Kirk is back on board. Kirk and Scotty are ushered on to the bridge where Kirk has his confrontation with Spock.

It plays as a quick comedy / action scene, and it is. But it serves a greater purpose.

Actually two purposes:

One, it keeps the viewer intrigued by adding suspense. Imagine if they'd just beamed aboard and stormed the bridge with phasers set to stun. How many times have we seen that in the innumerable space adventure films since Star Trek first beamed into American homes back in 1966? No one would care about that scene. The way they handle it makes it serve the purpose of keeping the viewers interest. But more importantly...

Two, it keeps things moving by economically by getting the characters where they need to be faster. How much time would the "storming the bridge" scene have taken? Again, the way it is handled, Spock has the guards march the intruders on to the bridge. No extended, unnecessary, boring fire fight between people not trying to kill each other. Instead we get to the point.

But speaking of fire fights...

In the second scene, Kirk and Spock are being beamed aboard the Romulan ship to confront the alien baddies and save Earth. Right before beaming them, Scotty says he's sending them to the cargo bay...that is if the Romulan ship designers built it using common sense. Sure enough, our heroes end up smack dab in the middle of armed Romulans, and so ensues a real fire fight. There are no phasers set to stun here. There's real danger. So instead of having to sneak around the ship for a couple of minutes, we get beamed right into the action.

The reason I found both of these scenes noteworthy is that both scenes flipped the action in a humorous way to not only make the moment more interesting but to also keep the pace of the film moving. It also doesn't hurt that both scenes involved the comedic stylings of Simon Pegg.

As I enter into a second draft on The Next Big Lance, I want to start utilizing this tool in my own writing -- give simple scenes a little flip to make them more interesting and more mindful of the pace of the script.

Who's Hungry? by David Ochs

2009-05-13T15:22:00.002-05:00

Who's Hungry? by David Ochs

In kind of a dark mood today, so it was nice to find this twisted, little tale on Cartoon Brew.

Awesome!

Triumphant!!!

2009-05-04T20:34:00.002-05:00

I should've mentioned this already...

I finished the first draft of "The Next Big Lance".

I'm Not Dead And Lance Lives

2009-04-26T21:38:00.006-05:00

If anyone was wondering, I'm still alive. I've been rather unwilling to blog recently. I kinda feel like things are up in the air in quite a few aspects of my life, and I just want to keep quiet about them for now. I guess I don't want to stick my foot in my mouth on this blog yet again.

I will be brave, and tell you that I'm nearing completion on my first draft of "The Next Big Lance". In the final act, and feelin' it. Pretty sure it'll be finished this week. A year ago, I said I was gonna shoot this movie before I turned thirty-two. That ain't gonna happen (foot in mouth). I'll be lucky if I get half-way through a second draft by then. But completing a first draft in four months (I physically typed the first scene heading "INT. PRISON REC ROOM" in January) is nothing to sneeze at...cause I am definitely not allergic to that.

BTW, click on the steel suitcase with the amusing bumper sticker to the right. ---------->
That's a link to the new site for Rob Kroese's(aka Diesel) as yet unpublished, first novel. He's a very funny writer (click on his nickname and prepare to laugh), and at the site you can sign an "interest list" which I'm told won't really make you interesting, but a boymanchild can dream can't he?

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-03-25T19:58:00.006-05:00

Where the Wild Things Are Trailer

I can not stop watching this.

SCINTILLATION

2009-02-16T14:34:00.006-06:00

SCINTILLATION from Xavier Chassaing.

From the Vimeo page:

This is an experimental film made up of over 35,000 photographs. It combines an innovative mix of stop motion and live projection mapping techniques.

via Cartoon Brew

Happy Frank Valentine Day

2009-02-14T12:49:00.002-06:00

In The Next Big Lance my antagonist's name is Frank Valentine. So I thought I'd take this day to talk a little bit about how I see him.

He's a pretty bad man. He's a person who'd shoot video of a man on fire before he'd ever give a thought to putting the fire out. In fact, I'd say he'd never even think about putting the fire out. But he might think about starting it.

Everyone on this Earth is here to serve his purpose. If he feels like manipulating your situation might improve his situation, look out. If he feels like your demise might better serve his means, I feel sorry for you.

His parents were not rich, but they weren't poor. They weren't mean or abusive, but they showed Frank discipline. They aren't too conservative or too liberal. They're the typical American family with traditional values. In fact, if you ever met his parents you'd probably think they're only son is a kind, caring, intelligent, well-adjusted human being. But you'd be wrong.

Frank is everything that he and others accuse Lance of being -- he's just extremely good about hiding it.

And even though his last name suggests otherwise, Frank is not a person you'd want to spend this day (or any day) with.

Let The Sun Shine In

2009-02-12T12:04:00.000-06:00

My Brilliant Ad Ideas

2009-02-11T10:15:00.004-06:00

Have you noticed these spots that take classic movie scenes and turn them into ads for Direct TV? This is just a small part of a bigger trend to take something that we already know and love and make it kinda, sorta new only to sell us something that is kinda, sorta newer than something that we already know and love.

They don't bother me as much as they probably should -- it's not like they're releasing special editions of these films with newly enhanced product placements like Spielberg did for that Walkie-Talkie company a few years ago. But I've been thinking -- I really don't feel they're taking it far enough. They could step up their game and take the bastardization to a whole new level.

In that spirit that I've come up with a few classic movie lines that could be updated as slogans. If you work for or own a small ad agency and need some new ideas in order to score a big account, then consider these freebies. If you work for or own a big ad agency, I gottsta get payed, Yo!!!

Let's say KOHLER wants to market a new glass toilet. Can't you just see the ad?

INT. BATHROOM

A GIANT TURD

SPLASHES in the toilet -- DAD sighs in relief -- reaches for the flusher -- his eye twinkles.

DAD

OH, Timmeeee!

TIMMY -- chubby, little blonde-haired menace -- comes rumbling in.

WHOOSH

The choco-float circles the drain once, twice -- zips down the pipes -- dissappears into the floor.

Timmy looks up at his dad -- wonder blankets his face.

DAD

Here's lookin' at poo kid.

When Apple finally invents a helper robot, they won't be able to brand it "iRobot" for copyright reasons, so they're gonna need an ad that is as memorable as the one's with the disembodied hand. Picture this:

INT. LIVING ROOM

WIFEY, wears a heavy terry cloth robe -- paces back and forth -- cell phone to her ear.

WIFEY

Are you sure you don't mind? I emailed you the grocery list.

She glances down the hallway at her bedroom door -- bites her lip.

WIFEY (CONT'D)

Okay. See ya in thirty minutes. You're the best, hon.

A sly smile turns the corner of her mouth up -- she WISKS open the robe, revealing

A BARELY THERE NEGLIGEE

The robe hits the floor -- Wifey bounces into the

INT. KITCHEN

She beams as she glides about the room -- grabs a bottle of champagne -- a long stemmed glass from the cabinet -- a jumbo package of D batteries from a drawer.

INT. HALLWAY

Her bare feet POUND down the hard wood floor -- she whips into the bedroom -- SLAMS the door behind her.

INT. BEDROOM

Wifey reclines on the bed -- PANTING.

THE LONG STEMMED GLASS

A robotic hand pours the bubbly -- gracefully hands the glass to Wifey.

THE ROBOT MAN

Spins at the waist -- starts up

THE VACUUM CLEANER

pushes the machine back and forth across the deep shag carpet.

WIFEY

turns to the camera -- whispers breathlessly:

WIFEY

I love it when a man comes together.

Last but not least, what if Dell comes out with a new line of clothing that lets you check your email and browse the web while keeping your nakedness covered? How's this for a memorable spot?

EXT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

A line of mini-vans -- moms waiting on kids -- snot-nosed brats dart in and out of the motionless vehicles.

INT. MINI-VAN

LINDA sighs -- crosses her legs -- watches

A YOUTUBE VIDEO

on her sock.

THE BACK DOOR

SLAMS open -- BILLY and SUZY leap in.

Linda CHUCKLES at the video on her sock.

SUZY

Whatchya watchin' mom?

LINDA'S HEAD

spins around three times -- she VOMITS pea soup all over the kids.

Suzy SCREAMS -- green, slimy tendrils drip down Billy's face.

BILLY

Mom?

LINDA

(Demonic Voice)

Your mother buys socks at Dell!

Blog Updates

2009-02-10T11:56:00.002-06:00

I've imported all the posts from my old blog to this blog so now you can go back and read what I've been thinking since January of 2005.

I'll need to spend some time removing some duplicated items and junk.

School Art

2009-02-10T10:59:00.006-06:00

Here's a few things I've done for school. They'll never hang in an art gallery, but they're getting me A's.

Destiny Calls

2009-01-26T13:21:00.000-06:00

A couple of years ago I came up with an idea for a script that involved a lot of time travel. I spent about six months melting my mind with the possibilities and improbabilities of moving through time. The one thought I came away from those six months with was that I'm probably not be smart enough to write a movie about time travel.

Which of course means that there is no way I could ever write for LOST (sometimes I wonder if I'm even smart enough to watch LOST). This show is just flabergastingly brilliant!

Last Wednesday's season premiere was a fine example of what I've always loved about this show -- elaborate yet intimate storytelling. This show has always succeeded, in my opinion, because it has been able to balance large concepts -- smoke monsters and polar bears, land locked slave ships and underwater hatches, freighter folk, losties, tailies, others, original inhabitants, and a mysterious scientific community that has ties to pretty much every character on the show -- with small moments like Hurley had with his mom in the second hour of the premiere.

This is going to be a great season. The only downside will be that every episode will bring us closer to the end.

Tonight!!!

2009-01-21T13:36:00.000-06:00

New Years Eve 2008

2008-12-31T19:06:00.003-06:00

2008 wasn't a great year, but it wasn't a horrible year. My usual m.o. is to focus on the negative, but I'm trying to break free of that.

So what was good about 2008?

1) I got a house.

The more I think about it, the more I love having this house. Not just because it is cozy and it makes Kelly happy. But also because it may be one of the smartest investments I ever made or will make. The house is smack-dab in the middle of a fast growing development in a city that ranks as the fastest growing in Texas. In five or six years, if we decide to sell it, my feeling is that we will get a lot more money than we put into it.

2) It was a great year for movies.

I enjoyed Cloverfield, Be Kind Rewind, The Strangers, Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express, Kung Fu Panda, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, and Seven Pounds.

I also enjoyed Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I maintain that it was a fun Indiana Jones movie, and I personally feel that complaining about a new Indiana Jones movie is like complaining about having too much pizza.

Three films were really fantastic:

The Dark Knight proved once again that the Batman story is hands down the best comic book hero ever dreamt up. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button proved that David Fincher is the best director working in Hollywood today. And Wall-E proved that Pixar can do no wrong.

I really want Wall-E to win Best Picture. It is by far my favorite film of 2008, and it is currently in a bitter battle with E.T. for the top spot in my all time favorites list. But I'd be happy if it's at least nominated -- if The Curious Case of Benjamin Button wins, that is.

3) I decided to take steps to secure my future.

In the past, I knew I was talented, I knew I was a hard worker, but I also knew that I didn't have a college degree.

People always want to tell you that having a degree doesn't matter, but it does. It may not matter if you're lucky enough to be noticed by a Hollywood executive that is willing to pave your way into the business at their own risk. But for those people who never had that kind of luck, having a degree matters.
For years, I banked on getting lucky like that. I always held the belief that some super agent would stumble upon one of my videos on YouTube and would show up at my door with a multi-million dollar contract in hand. Ok, maybe the dream was never that extreme, but it was nevertheless a little delusional.

So this year, I decided to go back to school. And I am currently sitting pretty on a 4.0 GPA and am striving to keep that up througout the entirity of my eight quarters. I will never stop dreaming of being a successful filmmaker, but I need to make sure that I can pay the bills and afford to make films on the weekend.

4) I started writing The Next Big Lance.

It may not turn out great, but it is definitely a step in the WRITE direction.

So happy New Years Eve to all my 5 readers, may 2009 be great for us all!

On The Verge

2008-12-28T05:10:00.000-06:00

When I started writing THE NEXT BIG LANCE, I told myself this time would be different.

This time, I would do extensive work on building my characters. This time, I would come up with an outline that had the elements to elevate my first draft. But most importantly: this time, I would NOT give up halfway in.

And...

This time, I did an in depth biography on my protagonist, Lance. I also did bios on my antagonist, Frank, and my main supporting character, Sam. I did a ton of research regarding Lance's character. I did less research for Frank and Sam, but I did enough. I now feel like Lance, Frank, and Sam are real people. I feel like once I start writing Lance's story in screenplay form, he will live, breathe, surprise me, make me laugh, and do all the things great characters need to do.

This time, I spent eight months revising my outline over and over again, never hesitating to kill an idea I did not think worked. Tweaking and adjusting, getting to a point where I felt like I could sit down and just pour the story out onto the page. I now have an outline I feel proud of. I think all four acts are strong. I know that having this outline will put me in a place to write a solid first draft.

This time, I refused to give up. I'm not gonna lie, there were times when I stumbled. I went a good portion of the Summer not really doing anything for this project (I never completely dropped it -- it always remained in the back of my mind). But then came a point earlier this Fall where I kicked everything back into gear (I'd be remiss if I did not mention the little nudge I got from Unk).

Now I am about to type FADE IN:.

And I'm terrified.

What if all the extra work is for nothing? What if my outline is actually weak? What if my characters come off as wooden? What if this script turns out to be crap? What if? What if? What if?

But now is the time when I have to really muscle through it. Who cares about all those "what ifs". I could just as easily be asking myself, "What if this turns out better than I ever imagined?" But it does not matter either way. The only way it will ever turn out to be anything is if I write it. If I don't write it, it won't suck or be great. I'd rather take a chance at it sucking, than having it not exist.

So here I sit on the verge...