Cheating

So, I've been kinda blocked. Not completely, but my usual Flow has been more like a Trickle. Sometimes only Drips. The rewrite is killing me. Starting to doubt my skills as a writer. Realizing I might be...a hack.

Meanwhile, the rewrite producer calls and emails me all the time, wanting to see progress.

So late Thursday night Andy finds out he has to go to LA for work the next day, dealing with the trailer film-out for the movie. He made me go so he could take the carpool lane.

I took the car time opportunity to talk to Andy about the Outsider Holiday script. We brainstormed. He gave me some really good ideas, which spurned a nice back and forth. I started getting excited.

Up in LA, we first had a screening of the film-out at Technicolor and then ate lunch at the Universal Cafeteria. I kept my eyes peeled for Jane -- not that I think I'd be able to identify her from her tiny website picture, but you never know. She's from Iowa, too. I just realized that. Shout out to the corn-bred!

Then we were back and forth to different offices and post houses, then headed home. Headed straight out to a club, something we hardly ever do these days. But it was Bassnectar. Caught up with a bunch of friends we don't see much anymore. Lately we've been social hermits.

So Saturday morning I start writing down the stuff we talked about in the car brainstorming sessions. And....magic.

It's back. I'm back. I'm not a hack.

Of course, this is my "cheating" script. I almost feel guilty working on it when I have a producer breathing down my neck for something else.

But I need my confidence. I need to write. I need to get flowing. I think I'm realizing that it's not me, per say with the problem but the rewrite itself. Ok, let me rephrase: I know the rewrite has problems. That's what I'm trying to fix. But maybe the route I'm taking with it has a huge problem that I'm not seeing.

Because all of the sudden I'm 1/3 of the way through a very thorough outline for Outsider Holiday and I've barely worked on it. the story is just coming together. I am seeing complete scenes in my head. My themes are clear. Almost all my ideas seem to fit into it like a glove. It's practically writing itself.

Except it isn't the script I'm supposed to be writing right now.

Updates

You don't know how many posts I've started and abandoned. I'm having one of those months where I hate nearly everything that comes out of my mouth. Well, technically it's coming out of my head via my fingers. Semantics.

I'm working on my re-write, the Autism Movie. It's tough. Very tough. It's one of those scripts that has a good film inside of it, but right now it's like a bunch of books laying all over the floor. Trying to make order from chaos. Tough subject matter. Trying to push the drama, but not go over the top with it. I'm making progress, but it's going so. slow.

We (me + A) got roped into doing visuals at a little club on June 2. It's fun to do visuals now and again. But right now my mind is elsewhere (writing). And the style is high techy/Tron style shit which we don't do that much of so I've got some work to do to get ready. I did have one good idea for it, though: Pong. A's got an old mid-70's era Pong game that we're gonna set up and add to the mix...and allow folks to play. think key on black, key on white, key on both. heh. should be interesting as a video layer.

A's been busy helping to get the feature he DP'ed ready for the film out. Sarah Landon and the Paranormal Hour. Release date is October 26. Right now they are getting a trailer ready to run during the Nancy Drew theatrical. A's convinced that the world is going to end before October 26. Or that his mother is going to die. She's always said that once she's seen his name credited as DP on the Big Screen that she could die happy.

We spend so much time in this biz dealing with failures, projects fizzling, cancellations and No's in general that when something does happen it's hard to believe it's true.

Ok, back to me. I mean, it is my blog.

Once I'm further on my re-write, I'm going to start again on my Outsider Family Holiday Comedy. Maybe because it's so opposite of what I'm working on right now. And, outside of the re-write, I've started to feel like I'm Funny again*. A is much more helpful to me when I'm writing funny stuff. He's pretty funny himself--one of the reasons I keep him around. I admit: A man that makes me laugh is the ticket to my heart. He can be pretty dry. Sometimes so dry people don't know he is joking. It's a good thing he has me around to laugh. I'm dual purpose: instant audience and bodyguard. Laughing, thereby saving him from bodily harm. Oh, and I'm pretty. So, there's always that.

So...anywhere...where am I going with this post? Anyone remember?

Me either.

New on my iPod: MIKA. Can't. Stop. Listening. I don't care for most pop music these days, but this kid. O. M. G. I'm sure there are some who will hate the style, but I love it. I can't stop listening. The album, his debut (he's 22 or so) is "Life in Cartoon Motion." MIKA. iTunes store or amazon to hear samples. Do it.

I would tell you about the movies I've seen but I'm embarrased to be so far behind.

Alright. Enough ramble-torture. Poor readers.




*Ok, actually not today. Right now I feel very un-funny. And I'm only posting this because it's been far too long!