Month: February 2012

Ain’t that a kick in the head

Maximum Z comic books, radio, Radioslot.com, screenwriting, webcomics, writing
Coming soon to a computer near you!

I apologize for the lack of posts over the past few weeks. I’ve been developing a big new project, and now I can finally talk about it.

I’m going to be hosting a weekly hour-long online radio show about writing and movies on Radioslot.com. It should launch in the next few weeks. Keep in mind this is NOT a podcast, which you can download and listen to anytime you want. This will have a designated live broadcast time, and possibly one to two rebroadcasts in the week until the next new show.

Since the show will be done live, there may be a chance for listeners to email questions/comments, which could be addressed live.  Tthe emphasis will be on writing and movies, but knowing me, there will probably also be the occasional dip into assorted other fields, such as comics and webcomics.  I’m also in the process of setting up some interviews.  I had a great guest for my audition show, and hope to bring him and his partner back.

Once everything is finalized, I’ll set up a link.  Despite my cool exterior appearance, I’m actually all aflutter.  Exciting times, indeed.

Suffice to say, my writing progress has taken somewhat of a hit during this time. Maybe about 7 or 8 pages, but I’m hoping to get a little more back on track soon.

-Movie of the Moment – CHRONICLE (2012). This was one of the first 2010 Black List scripts I read, and was looking forward to seeing it.  Putting my enjoyment of superhero flicks aside, this was quite well done.  It took a realistic approach to a fantasy subject, and didn’t short-change either side.

Parts of the script warranted a hard R rating, but those parts were toned down to make it PG-13, and I wonder if keeping it as originally written would have worked better. Case in point – the spider scene  stayed the same, but the script has Andrew doing the same thing to his father in the hospital room. While that would have been pretty messy, but just dropping him seemed not as effective.  I also remember the final showdown (the original script is set in Portland, Oregon) as having more spectacle to it.

Don’t get me wrong. This was a lot of fun and definitely worth your time.

Is it funny?

Maximum Z comedy, screenwriting

A friend read my Chinese restaurant comedy last week. He said he really enjoyed it, adding he “hadn’t laughed that much in a long time.” I’m glad he feels that way. Every comedy writer hopes somebody thinks their work is funny, but his comments got me thinking.  I’ve read lots of comedies, but they usually don’t make me laugh.

This has always been a problem for me.  Don’t know why. The last thing I remember laughing out loud while reading was a Blackadder script.

A lot of times I’ll hear about a script making the rounds that’s supposed to be hilarious.  I’ll read it and wonder “what’s the big deal?”  I guess it takes a certain eye to process and enjoy comedy in written form, but I don’t seem to have it.  More power to those who do.

It’s a lot easier for me to enjoy and appreciate a good joke in it’s intended form, such as a movie or tv show. It also helps to not be the only one watching.  A comedy with an audience of one is never as funny.

It’s even easier to laugh at something audio-based, like a podcast.  Many’s the time I’ve had to stop running because I was laughing so hard at something I just heard.  Would I have this kind of reaction if I had read the bit, rather than heard it?  Hard to say.

My friend said he’d pass the script on to some his industry pals.  Can’t help but wonder if they’ll think it’s funny.