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...

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

"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