Sunday, July 18, 2010

DUSTY 1994-2010



Friday, we lost our little buddy of almost 16 years. Dusty was always there for us, as we were for him -- there's a missing piece to our puzzle now.

I don't want to say much more, just trying to focus on all of the good times we had. Irreplaceable loss sucks, plain and simple.

The "Coldplay" song below keeps coming to my mind. For me, it currently describes the way that trying caregivers see loss in an endless challenge, trying to fix things. From Dusty's perspective, if he knew you were down he would stay by your side and try to "fix" you. It always worked.

FIX YOU - COLDPLAY

When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down on your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down on your face
And on your face I...

COLDPLAY - FIX YOU VIDEO
THE LATE, GREAT, FRED KNITTLE AND Y@H - FIX YOU LIVE

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

HOUSTON, THE SCREENWRITER HAS LANDED

We made it! 1000 miles of road striping and a two-day drive led us here. All pets are safe and accounted for, that's the main thing. The three rescue kittens hung out in Caesar the dog's large kennel, no problems at all. Stay tuned for a post on traveling with pets sometime.

It was hell getting out of South Carolina, the place sucked me dry until the last minute of repairs and painting. There wasn't even an informal goodbye -- van stuffed, and hotter than hades, we rolled out on highway 25, as if we had never met that town.

Houston is big, mostly busy, vibrant, hot, interesting, hot, spread out... did I mention hot? In the two weeks since landing we've moved and unpacked a ton of boxes and have gotten a considerable amount of work done on the home, which we just love. Highlight is an eight-foot waterfall, in the back patio area, which I have been working to maintain.

The most refreshing thing has been the services -- people actually coming when you call them! Getting real service and a "thank you" instead of a stupid look. Yes, believe it or not there are lots of friendly people in big cities. I always knew this but appreciate it a lot more after living in rural SC where people claim they're so nice and friendly -- HA!. More on that when I write my new screenplay, "Escape from South Carolina".

Back to the good stuff -- palm trees, a new, nearby dog park, TARGET on seemingly every corner -- we're in heaven! More than one grocery store, imagine that! People that are good at driving aggressively -- no prob! It's been a long road, in many ways.

I'm still far from being able to hang out with "the fonts". Currently working on a tile backsplash in the kitchen and I have a studio to set up on the second floor. I hope all of your projects are going well.

FADING IN ... SLOWLY!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

SCREENWRITER'S UPDATE - ALMOST READY TO ROLL OUT

Ahhh, fellow bloggies and black fonts, how I miss you so! It's been full-on reno here, in prep to put the SC house on the market and get our butts moved to Houston, where we just closed on house contract #3. The RELO company was a pain in the ass down to the last minute, just like two years before. I won't go into it all, lets just say I'm not impressed when everyone we deal with makes it seem like it's the first time they have ever done their job (because maybe it is?).

On this house, of course the work and things to move becomes three-fold before your eyes once into it all. Fortunately, I was able to recruit an eighteen year old guy I met at Starbucks to help me with the work. Unfortunately, this brought to light what a pain in the ass I must have been when I was also a mouthy eighteen year old! But, we're getting it done and exterior window painting continues this week.

The new house, which I have yet to see in person, has a 2nd floor addition of 500 square feet -- the same size as my old classroom in St. Louis -- so I plan to teach art again, out of that space. This helps me avoid a lease and a pesky landlord, as well as the fact that I can check in on all of our pets during breaks. The economy is slowly creeping back so I hope for a few students.

Just a few weeks and it will be a roll-out with six cats and a dog for 1000 miles, one overnighter. Last time we did 700 miles with three cats and I'm hoping this goes just as well.

Beyond the prep, not much, been sort of living in a bubble of reno. I catch world news when I can and the BP oil ordeal is heartbreaking as well as infuriating. Bret Michaels is still alive and should be on Trump's final tonight. Lee and Crystal will face off on Idol. And that's about all I know.

So, I hope you're enjoying late spring, looking forward to summer, and getting a break where you deserve. I'll write from Houston in a few weeks, god willing, whichever one you praise, lol.

FADE OUT... BUT FADING BACK IN SOON!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

SCREENWRITER'S UPDATE - HOUSE ORDEAL

Hey Bloggies, hoping all is well.

We dropped the contract on the first house in Houston, near the Galleria, because it failed the "hydrostatic inspection". The test is about $350 and I highly advise getting it if buying a home, unless it's brand new. Basically, they plug the waste line outside the house, fill every sink, tub, and drain, and watch the line for thirty minutes. Most of the lines had dropped an inch per minute, meaning water was leaking out under the house (homes are mostly built on slab there, no basements). They included a bid for $15,000 to excavate and install new lines, and by then we had cold feet and moved on.

The search continued until we found Oak Forest, northwest of the city but still close. An older part of town, it reminds me a lot of the midwest in architectural style. Contract #2 failed because the buyer just sat on it, so we moved on. #3 is in action now, it's an exceptional place even with a large studio I could teach from, but we're waiting on response and I don't want to get my hopes up. We'll see.

Other than that, I've been moving a lot of dirt here, cutting weeds -- all the things you wanted to do with your home but don't until you're going on market, in a panic, lol! Been lucky with the temps in the 70's, so we did end up having one week of spring!

In other news, two bloggies got rescue dogs this month, really cool! Seems Sarah Z. writes at a hectic pace, she's always all over my Facebook news board, hehe! John August seems to be taking his blog in a new direction, almost in a "Dear Abby" kind of way to things not even related to screenwriting, and I'm not surprised to see he's good at it.

FADE OUT...

Thursday, April 1, 2010

SCREENWRITER'S UPDATE

Hi everyone, I hope your spring has sprung by now and you're holding fast to those New Year's resolutions of three months past!

Just an update -- we did a whirlwind tour through Houston, Texas, and contracted on a house in the last few hours of the trip. I'm sure our realtor, Tiffany, was relieved, because we had almost convinced her we would never make concessions on the location and ammenities. In Houston you'll live close to town and all the good attractions and have no yard or grocery nearby, or you'll be out on the edge with a yard and a nearby Starbucks and a long commute. We settled for the latter. None of this applies if you have a half a million bucks or more to drop.

The big coincidence is that the production company I'm hoping to work with is a mere ten minutes from the house! Screenwriting friend Sarah discovered the prodco and they requested her script, so thanks to her for turning me onto them in the first place. Just when it looked like I might go back to full-time painting and teaching art, a whole new door has opened in my screenwriting realm.

Of course, having a local address is not going to open the door, but it can't hurt. I have three scripts to rewrite, plus the move, projects at this house and the new one, so I won't approach the company until late in the year.

Concerning the rewrite, if you're not a screenwriter, this process takes longer than the initial "first draft". After getting some valuable feedback you go back into the story and make necessary changes in the script. Three scripts could take me 90 days, tack on the same for the move and renos and I'm looking at October.

As for the three rescued kittens -- Comet, Donner, and Blitzen -- they're domesticated, growing fast, and part of the family, so they're going with us, bringing the total to six cats and one dog. They love running around our screened porch, snuggling, all of them rub on Caesar the dog, it's amazing. Saving those "little bits" is still the best thing I've done all year.

Even though you may have ditched one or two resolutions (who needs to work out everyday or banish carbs?), everyday takes us one step further in its own, strange, and sometimes meaningless way. To quote Britney Spears, "When I drove around in my car, I felt like I was going somewhere."

Profound, lol!

FADE IN!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

FRIEND, FAN, OR AUDIENCE?

With the evolution of "social networking" and changes in very traditional protocols, I feel it is necessary to outline some of the distortion of roles in this phenomenon. In plain english, I'm going to call "bullshit" on a bunch of it, with help from an online dictionary.

FRIEND -- "A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts".
To disappoint Facebook, and many of its users, their term for "friend" does not meet this definition. Most of us do not "know" our Facebook "friends". If you don't "know" someone, it would be strange to "trust" them, you may however "like" something they do or say, and that might make you a...

FAN -- "An ardent devotee; an enthusiast".
Definitely a case of "liking" someone or something without having the comittment of friendship. I'm a "fan" of Jason Reitman's work, such as "Juno" or "Up in the Air", but he's not my "friend", and I don't even "like" him personally since the "Turner - Reitman Stolen Screenwriting Credit Debacle", but I'm a "fan" of his work, which makes me part of his...

AUDIENCE -- "The devotees or followers of a public entertainer, lecturer, etc.; regular public"
In Reitman's case, I'm paying and investing time to be part of his "audience", as I trust his work and that it will be satisfying. There seems to be an agenda connected to "audience" -- one is either trying to sell something, promote an idealism, market their abilities, share their story. There is usually a form of self-gratification involved for the person taking center stage -- the desire to be applauded, recognized for their efforts, or the feeling that they have helped others.

My point in all of this -- "friends" should not have to serve as an "audience". If you invite your true friends to your recital, that is different, and fine in my book. "Fans" are not "friends", they can become friends if you get to know them and gain their trust, but it's a two-way street, it takes an investment on your part too.

This observation comes from a "friend" thinking I've become an "audience" or "fan", which is not true, so I've notified them that there's no redeeming quality to their one-sided communications, I have other things to do than root for them (so weird because they're not even promoting a product or anything worthwhile, they seem to need a fanbase for their life).

Likewise, to every clerk at Starbucks trying to push their instant "VIA" product on me, explaining I could save a trip by making my own at home -- I go there because my dog likes to sit outside and meet people. I'm not a "friend, fan, or audience" of Starbucks, my dog likes your patio, and you could be selling mud, for all he cares.

To a few blogs I've followed for almost a year -- somehow I could show up and post and you couldn't take the time to post on mine, which is just common courtesy. It shows that you think I'm a "fan" and there's no reason to respond or trade the gesture. Good luck with that.

Shout out to Sarah Z., who not only has provided meaningful blog content, but has exchanged posts with mine, and through our online work together has definitely gained my trust and let me get to know her, meeting the definition of "friend". I'm also a "fan" of her work, and I hope to be in the "audience" when her film makes the cut.

I'm taking inventory, looking out for any "friends" who think I'm their "audience", I really don't have the need for it, you shouldn't either.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

VIRTUAL REALITY OF SCREENWRITING

I've been on a long, yet short, eight-month journey in the world of screenwriting. I spent long hours in training and achieved goals in a short amount of time. It's been a lesson that you really do set your own pace in this life.

Screenwriting as a craft is invigorating -- a challenging environment where you have to put a virtual world into the least but most descriptive words. It's a mind game that worked my brain like never before, and it makes me look at black fonts over white pages as an incredible gift.

Screenwriting as a profession is subjective -- screenwriters walk a fine line on the edge of an abyss. When people don't understand your words or practices and the meaning behind them it can be the ultimate frustration. People, in general, do not enjoy being told that they are not communicating correctly.

The future of screenwriting is bleak -- less spec scripts are selling, there are battles over writing credits. It's as if Hollywood cares more about a known name being tagged than what the content of the script is, or who actually wrote it.

I know a lot of people who love to write and if it's your passion then you should keep on with it, regardless of the market conditions. There will always be a need for screenwriters, especially in television and for smaller prodcos. And, if you hit the writing Lotto, your spec might make it in big Hollywood, it's always something to shoot for.

For now, I'm stepping out of the virtual world of screenwriting and back into my reality of renovating and prepping for the move to Houston. It feels good being productive, with my hands on a brush, and being able to look at the results. The black fonts have been replaced by colorful swashes on the wall and ceiling.

I'm not giving up on screenwriting -- I have three good spec scripts which will get more polished, and I'm looking forward to contacting the local prodco when I get to Houston. But for now, efforts have to stay focused on actually getting there.

I would never regret making the time investment I have in order to learn how to write a script, and it didn't cost me one penny, that was also a goal. I'm certified and qualified in a myriad of things, all of which I'm proud of, and screenwriting has added perspective to my life.

But -- I'm an artist and instructor, students always said that was my true calling. In that realm I've had my most exciting moments and successes, and I supported myself for over twenty years with it. Decorative painting is "sexy", all about moves and motions, processes that lead to a visual end result that everyone can enjoy, if done properly. It's fast-moving, especially in my classes -- given just a few days to convey a lifetime of painting experience to students so they can go out and do business. It's exciting and very rewarding, so I'm looking forward to teaching again.

Good luck in your writing, or whatever you do.

Goodbye virtual, hello reality!

FADE OUT, BUT NOT AWAY!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

WTF?

Is it complacency going down here, or just a state of mind, or age? Do people actually stand up for what they believe in anymore, or just what is profitable? Do people care, or just care about what affects them? Do you give a fuck anymore, or is this my own, middle-aged state of mind as everyone goes through, questioning the midst of a journey?

A combination thereof, I assume.

In the 1980's, we bit our nails over the cold war, while enjoying excess in one of the worst mortgage circumstances ever. Nobody pulled together, we weren't out there for a cause... compared to today, we sucked more then than ever. X-S, that was it -- if you were there, try to get it, and all you could of it.

Not much has changed in 30 years.

Or maybe 3000 plus years, because Anthony and Cleopatra didn't do it much different, and they learned from their ancestors.

Maybe it's the thing of friends dropping like flies, which is weird, because flies stay around until you swat them, and even then, you miss. "Friends" are like that, you usually can't run them off -- unless you move on, then they're gone, quick. I hear a lot of that from blog friends these days -- they're astounded about the way friends come and go. I hear you, friends.

I've mailed daily with a friend for over nine years, we have seen each other only a handful of times -- actually the guy was a student in my art school and we bonded over life and business. In fact, he was here weeks ago, on his U.S. tour -- stayed a few nights, we downed wine, talked biz... a bit different than before but fine. Well, after he left we have mailed maybe twice. He's pretty bitter and "different" about life, the economy... I can relate but I can't, our lifestyles have grown apart. He'd rather spend time being hateful on Facebook than discussing new business ideas with me. See ya, bud.

Well, tomorrow the sun rises, and for some of you, that is right now. And like all the other times it has risen, it's another chance for us to do our thing. We're okay, we're still doing what we believe in, and we'll make it another day, whatever god you praise, willing.

Good luck out there, peeps!

FADE OUT!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

MOVING TO HOUSTON - CRIME

I've spent the past few days not packing, not looking over the RELO package, not on completing home renovations... instead I've been researching Houston with a lot of help from "the Google", especially "Google Maps" with all of its satellite imagery.

Why? Because I don't want to "get my ass shot off", as we urbanites say in commonspeak. Like in St. Louis, my prior stomping grounds, "don't go north of Delmar (Avenue), might get your ass shot off!"

Well, Houston being the 4th largest U.S. city (as every damn Houston website touts, as if I could care!), I don't know where their "Delmar" is but I'm sure they have plenty of them, and it's my job to learn where that is and to keep my family away from it. Keywords which will help me:

"An up and coming neighborhood" -- this moniker is usually applied to an overpriced loft in a "shoot 'em up" part of town. It seems artsy, until you're on the phone with 911 constantly!

"Revitalized" -- same as above.

"Affordable housing" -- even in this down market, I see nothing good is affordable in Houston. As always in America, the level of cash you lay out is your ticket away from poverty, gunslingers, and late-night frat parties (just not cool once you're over 40 and married).

Other key signs --

Closely knitted new construction in a very old part of town, which usually means they bought a bunch of crackhouses, tore them down, and then built. That means your neighbors the next block over might be crackheads.

Cars parked in front and backyards, visible on satellite imagery from the google.

Bail Bond shops up and down the street -- another google shocker.

I'm a bit overboard about this but I always pride myself on learning a lot about a city before I move there. I have a trusty flood plain map (seems 80% of the town floods during hurricanes) and a crime map on a website (half as bad as the one I saw for L.A., so that calmed me a bit). My motto is "safety first", things can happen anywhere but it pays to be up on things.

FADE OUT... but not forever!

Monday, February 8, 2010

"UP IN THE AIR" SCREENWRITER CREDIT DEBACLE

I posted about the film "UP IN THE AIR" at that link.

The film was adapted from Walter Kirn's novel. Screenwriter and director Jason Reitman claimed that he "found" the book and wrote the screenplay over the years.

Enter Sheldon Turner, screenwriter -- who wrote the first draft. How is that? Seems that he was contracted for this long before Reitman was ever involved.

What? Yes, it gets more confusing. Apparently, the project was in the works for years. When it came down to the screenwriting credit, that is, whose name would go in that coveted slot, it was ruled that both Turner and Reitman would share the credit.

Reitman claims he never saw Turner's draft, but amazingly, both scripts have similar key elements which are not in Kirn's novel.

Having won at "Critic's Choice", Reitman spoke, refusing Turner the right to do such. At the "Golden Globes", Turner had figured out he better get to the mike first if he wanted to speak, and he did. Reitman gave him a dismissing eye and spoke as well. It was all very embarrassing.

Need I mention Reitman's look of disgust when "Avatar" won another award at the same event? Yes, there's a pattern, an unprofessional one.

I don't have a personal agenda, just want to make clear -- Reitman dissed Turner. We're dealing with ethics here, when someone shows a lack thereof then they are likely to do it again.

Watch your ass around this guy... and a few others, as "Avatar" and "Nine" have some of the same screenwriting credit issues.

SCREENWRITING CREDIT DEBACLE LINK

Friday, February 5, 2010

SCREENWRITER TAXES - 2010 DEDUCTION PLAN

I hope you got a tax refund! Now is the time to look into the future and protect your hard-earned cash during 2010.

*Business - if you're not writing off expenses as an official business, then you should be. Go online and google "ficticious business name statement" and your state, think of a unique name, fill out the form and bam -- it's on paper. Then keep all of your receipts and follow my recent post on filing taxes, that easy. Especially if you have a day job, because owning a business will lower your taxable income (as well as that of your spouse).

*Home - buy one if you can! It's a buyer's market, in some areas you can get a deal, plus write off the mortgage interest on your taxes. If you have a day job and good credit, buy before quitting that job for a full-time screenwriting career -- it's hell getting a loan when you're self employed.

There is a $6500 credit for anyone who contracts for a home by April 30 and closes before June 30. Since we are moving to Houston we might try to make that window, why pass on the cash?

*Renting? - if there's no other choice, then be sure to set up your dedicated space for the home office writeoff!

*Deductions - again, buy what you need, and of quality, but don't overdo it, deductions lower your taxable income but they don't put dollars in your pocket. It's not how much you make, it's how much you spend. In these times it pays to be frugal, and chances are you may not have a choice.

*Move - if you're moving to L.A., or anywhere else, conform to the IRS guidelines so you can deduct at least part of your move. In short, if you "have" to move because of a job, much of it is deductible. What's that mean? Get a job out there, then move, not vice-versa!

*Get Married - don't lose composure, lol. I'm not blogging relationship advice here, but the fact is that married couples enjoy many benefits in the taxation aspect. If you are planning on it anyway, you will be happy to know that you can lower your spouse's taxable income, get on their work healthcare program, and qualify for a higher standard deduction if you're married.

Wishing you profits in 2010!

FADE OUT!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

SCREENWRITER PAYING TAXES (OR CLAIMING LOSSES!)

The time has come -- the annual trip into the books, receipts, shoe box, however you do it. I put thousands of people into business in my art school, and one of my favorite parts was telling students how to pay taxes, or moreso, how not to.

Disclaimer: no cheating, I won't tell you to cheat, just how to get what's allowed, if you push the numbers or facts it's you and the IRS, don't refer to this screenwriting blog in that convo!!

*Do your own taxes -- it's common sense, saves money, and is easier than ever, namely with Turbo Tax Home and Business from any Office Max for less than $100. It's YOUR money, you need to understand taxes. Tons of dummies in small business have a full-time accountant, which would compare to me having a full-time chef! You need to check their work, therefore, save money and just do it yourself! Plus, the CD is a write-off!

*Not rocket science -- everyone has to send in a 1040, EZ or long. To cash in, all you need with that is a 1040C, Profit or Loss From a Small Business. With that comes Form SE, which means self-employment, the half your employer used to pay, now you pay all of your social security. That's it!

*1040C Business -- Simple, your gross is at the top, if you made a dime, and all of your expenses are added below, then subtracted, lowering your taxable income. Easy!

*Deductions -- big NOTE here -- deductions are not dollar for dollar, you have to spend about three bucks to save a dollar. This means buy only what you need, quality stuff, but don't go overboard unless you really raked it in that year, which puts you in a screenwriting minority!

Paper, brads, ink, business cards, internet fees, bank fees if that account is specific to your craft, the movie poster you had made, Final Draft or whatever program you use -- pile up those receipts and enter into the appropriate box. Paid $60 to be on Inktip.com? Put that in the "advertising" box.

*What not to deduct -- clothes, unless it is a uniform. You can bet that "Tronguy" writes off his weird suit and batteries if it's a business! Lunches, unless you're dining with John August and you flip for the bill, even for his Austrian White wine, but neither I nor the IRS will believe you -- perpetual nice guy John would insist on paying. Entertainment is a surefire red flag for a deduction, don't go there. If you insist on writing off movie tickets and your Netflix subscription, as long as they are for your education and profession, you might want to enter that in a box other than "Entertainment"... but that is pushing it, and don't dare write off the popcorn!

Remember "risk vs reward" on deductions, if you push the envelope an audit is going to take up a lot of your nerves, time, and money... plus maybe add some "cell time".

*Vehicle -- a big deduction, yet so often misunderstood. If you drive for a coffee, it's not deductible. If I drive from here to California and back for a look around, not deductible. If I have a home office as my primary workspace, then drive to speak with the newspaper editor about my column -- fully deductible! What does this mean -- consider claiming a "home office" as a deduction, which I will cover later.

Example -- from your home office to Office Depot to get paper, and back -- deductible. From home, to O.D., to Starbucks to screw off and drink coffee -- only deduct the miles to O.D. and back. Creativity rules, meaning use your head, try to separate your "work" missions from your "screwing off" ventures, you need to do that more in life anyway!

You'll deduct actual mileage or cost, meaning gas and such... this is a blog so I'll skip the details, just follow the software prompts. AND, never claim more than 50% business use of a vehicle, especially as a screenwriter, unless that sucker has a logo with "Buy My Screenplay" on it and you only drive it for meetings and material runs!

*Home Office -- your primary workplace, right? Really rough example here -- say 100 sqft of your 1000 sqft apartment, home, trailer, etc. is your "home office". You're about to deduct 10% of your rent, mortage, utilities, etc., plus the cost of improvements, like painting the room! YEAH! Warning -- this can effect taxation on the resale of your space, but who cares, you need the money NOW! Do read all of the details in the software but I'm not kidding about how this well-deserved deduction can save your ass in a time of need!

By now you're getting the point -- if you need it for biz, it's deductible. The 1040C figures into your regular 1040, and if you have a "regular" job it is going to probably lower that taxable income... unless you're in the minority of well-paid screenwriters.

You need to understand your taxes, to read the program inside and out, to hit the IRS website -- even if you have an accountant, because on two occasions their errors almost cost me a few thousand bucks. Hey, you're a screenwriter, you like to read, and most of the regs are written better than the average script, so you'll enjoy it!

Next post, I will give you tips on planning for the year -- when to buy a new house, whether or not you are a first-time buyer. How to plan your move to L.A. so you can deduct it. Why you should get married! Yep, get over it screenwriter, once you read that you'll be making a beeline for the altar!

FADE OUT!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

AVATAR - SCRIPT & TRAILER... & WHY I WON'T SEE THE MOVIE!

Can't believe your eyes, can you? No, I won't be going to see "Avatar", and I thought I'd give you ten reasons why, so here's the countdown!

#10 - Because someday I'll see it on cable, which I already pay for.

#9 - It will probably give me a headache.

#8 - We have enough conflict on Earth right now, I don't need to pay to see more of it.

#7 - The characters are a rip-off on "The Blue Man Group", same color and look, isn't there going to be a lawsuit over this?

#6 - Because it will irritate a roomful of people who are shocked that I passed on it -- "Oh man, you've GOT to see it!!" No, I don't have to, or got to.

#5 - Video games have reached a state where you can see things like this AND interact, which is much more fun, even if I don't play video games.

#4 - Effects driven films are not my thing, even if there's a good story, which is rare, but I hear it's a good story... but everyone swore I had to see "Jurassic Park" too.

#3 - In the trailer, I could tell that some of the effects are generated effects, too "video-gamey."

#2 - I like to support underdogs. James Cameron is no underdog.

#1 - Because most everyone else has seen it, and I would feel like I was blindly jumping off a bridge with the masses, going to see it "just because I have to."

Here's the AVATAR SCRIPT

Here's the AVATAR TRAILER

Saturday, January 30, 2010

HOUSTON

That's right -- we're Houston-bound!

Did I sell my script, find a job, or what? Nope. My wife was offered a lead position at the new headquarters in Houston, and I strongly encouraged her to take it. It's the next best step for her career, and we were set on getting out of this rural nowhere at any cost, so why not get paid for the move? Yep, includes relo pay and benefits.

Mind you, we just went through this less than two years ago, to get from St. Louis to here. It wasn't an easy task on such short notice and believe me, as far as what they pay you to do it, you're lucky to break even.

I've been to Houston, once, must've been about 12 years old. I don't know much about it -- don't care -- as long as I don't have to drive ninety minutes to get to a TARGET anymore. Plus, they have IKEA. And, we'll be even closer to the ocean.

And, they have a movie scene! Yep, prodcos and all. In fact, a screenwriting friend just had her script requested by a reputable prodco in Houston (shout-out to Sarah, good luck!)!

One thing is for sure -- before you move somewhere, you see everything that is good about the place. The people seem different in a good way. Once settled in, you start finding out about all the bad things -- in the local news, from neighbors, etc. And what was different about the people starts to be irritating. I've lived all over the U.S. and a few places in Europe and this never fails.

To keep this in check, I won't learn too much about the place too quick, I'll ride that naive wave a bit... and make sure I change the channel when "COPS" comes on!!

FADE OUT!

Friday, January 29, 2010

INKTIP.COM

In this Thanksgiving 2009 post about
INKTIP.COM
(post at link)
I announced the entry of my script, "CLUNKER", into INKTIP.COM

Sixty bucks, a fax of my release, and almost two months later and I'm ready to share some info.

For starters, site admin Jerrol LeBaron seems on it. My fax was confirmed quickly, as well as my uploads, in no time I was "out there."

But let's go back in time, screenwriter, to your logline, maybe what you put together last, in an attempt to describe your entire story in one sentence -- if it sucks, your script is going to nowhere on Inktip, or anywhere else for that matter.

I loathe loglines, quote me here -- any wine or woman that can be described in one line is not of value. If someone described Rome to me in one line I never would have went there. But, loglines are an evil necessity of the biz, because execs only have so much time and they don't want to waste that time on a bad screenplay.

My lesson learned -- write the logline before the screenplay, unless you know it is so high-concept, so simplified, that there's no need to.

Anyway, Inktip offers a lot of visibility and options. You get to post your logline, treatment, script, choose the genres, budgets, number of actors, locations -- everything essential to the film. And all of that info is accessible to execs and prodcos, reportedly over 5000 members.

Prodcos can do a search on the site -- they may search for genre, budget -- it's like looking for a home to buy on realtor.com. They generally know what the budget is, but might be open to different genres, locations. When your listing comes up on a search, you're notified. That DOES NOT mean they looked at your listing, it simply means it came up in a search. You'll get the company name and can imdb.com it, but don't dare contact -- read the rules of the site.

You'll have stats on who searched, who accessed the logline, and finally, who downloaded the script, should you be so lucky. Finally, the other day, this happened to me, and I was happy to see the name of a prolific actor / producer / director listed there, with a long IMDB. The rest is up to destiny, or the quality of your writing.

You'll get emails from the site -- many, reminding you to upgrade to a newsletter, and I could do without this. BUT, you get an email newsletter with at least six prodcos, stating what they are looking for, and a chance to "apply" with them. My comment -- who could imagine so many prodcos were looking for horror flicks?

All in all, for $60, it's a pipeline right into Hollywood, and cheaper than two entries into those "one too many" screenwriting competitions. There is a lot more more I could tell you, but bottom line, it's cheaper than printing drafts and queries, if your screenplay means that much to you I highly advise you get onboard.

FADE OUT!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

QUICK BLURB

A new thing around here, the "QUICK BLURB", and this one comes from watching Obama's "state of the union" speech tonight.

If you've kept up with presidential speeches over the years, you have to admire this guy's candor, regardless of your beliefs, because it is conveyed in a language and style that no other president has. Not to degrade any of our greats -- there have been many. And I couldn't applaud it if it were just words, not backed by belief, but it's rather sincere.

Leadership is not about self-interest, it's about what's in the best interest of the people. And helping others, like what America is doing for Haiti, and many other countries that have accepted the call -- they're all doing the "right thing".

Come together.

FADE OUT!

I WILL BE BACK -- THEREFORE I AM

I tried to stay off the blog for a month, while "CLUNKER" occupied the main post spot. Apparently, I couldn't do it, falling a few days short. Seems I love to write.

So, happy 2010, all. Seems a lot like 2009 after all the smoke and hypomania clears, doesn't it? But, for true artists, hypomania never goes away, and that's why I'm back to posting!

A lot has happened in a month, and I'm not going to blow all of that in one blog post, we do want to conserve our resources here. Just as in screenwriting -- can't do all the good jokes in act one, to follow with nothing. Screenwriter note -- that's referred to as "top heavy", not a good thing, at least in writing.

What's in store, for sure? A move -- yep, you'll find out where, how, why -- all of it. A career change -- AGAIN! The progress of my rescued kittens! My ongoing love-hate relationship with home renovation! All about TRIGGERSTREET.COM! "CLUNKER" and where it has gone in a month! If INKTIP.COM is a hoax, or not. Could you be a READER, and why would you want to (it's all about the pain!)?

So, an update, screenwriter tip, and insight into "hypomania", which you can find on "the google". Plus a "trailer" for the upcoming stuff. Thanks for being loyal!

FADE OUT!