The title of this post is the punchline to the classic joke “How many studio execs does it take to change a lightbulb?”
In other words, “How about this other option (that probably has nothing to do with the original concept)?”
I bring this up because the struggle with developing the action-comedy spec continues, now with the added concern that too many aspects of the story are too similar to other more well-known films. That is something I’m definitely trying to avoid, hence the struggle.
It goes without saying that the last thing I want is for somebody to read this and think “This is just a ripoff of _____”, so recent brainstorming sessions have all been about coming up with alternatives that still work within the concept of the story but are also unique enough so as to feel like a fresh take.
Another key part is that the details that need this attention are a key part of the story, so if they don’t work, the rest of it more or less falls apart – which is also something I’m hoping to avoid.
I’m not crazy about how challenging this one is or how long it’s taking to develop, but I’d much rather take the time to really fine-tune things and make sure everything works on all the appropriate levels than crank something out and not be happy with it.
I also wholeheartedly accept that no matter what the final choice is, it’ll involve a lot of rewriting to accommodate it. Then again, the overall story is still a work in progress, so either way there’s a lot of writing in my future.
Despite all of this, I’m still psyched about the story and really am having fun with putting it together. It’ll be quite interesting to see what the end result is.
A bit more of progress on the outline for the action-comedy spec, including coming up with some much-needed story details.
Things had been feeling very rudderless as I struggled to figure things out, and the pressure I was putting on myself wasn’t helping. So I did the most sensible thing and took a step back with a focus on the basic foundations of the story.
What needs to happen? What building blocks have to be in place? Is there enough “there” there to make this a workable story? Would everything work the way I’m hoping it does?
I wrote out the most basic outline I could think of, including combining pre-existing plot points with potential alternates (or at least additional details), and laying things out in a “A leads to B, which leads to C, etc.” sort of way.
This resulted in a bit more clarity regarding the progression of events as well as the filling-in of a few more blanks between all of them. Having a better idea of how the path should look tends to yield better results.
It’s not a lot, and there are still many gaps to be filled, but it’s a start of sorts and it definitely helps. Just overcoming this can be considered a victory in terms of writing and confidence in the ability to move things forward.
There are a lot more steps to go, but this feels like things are getting back on track and I hope to keep the mini-momentum going.
While my short film is now in the hands of the editor, that allows me more time to get back to working on the outline for the new action-comedy spec.
It’s coming along, but choices have had to be made in terms of how far to take things regarding the story and how things play out.
Do I play it safe and hold back, or do I throw caution to the wind and go all out?
Believe it or not, this was a tougher decision than expected. I don’t want to overdo it, but I also don’t want things to be boring. There’s pushing the envelope, and then there’s way over the top.
But then again, this is an ACTION-COMEDY, with an emphasis on both parts, so maybe there’s some kind of middle ground that would work.
It also helped to get the opinions of a few other writers, who all said for this kind of story, you pretty much have to ramp things up, but to also not let things get out of control, which makes it feel like you’re throwing everything at the wall, which reeks of desperation – which I do not like, or want.
What I do want is for the reader/audience to really get the impact of everything that happens because it all works within the context of the story while also reinforcing/supporting the action and comedy. Not an easy path to navigate, but I feel up to the challenge.
So that’s the plan. Most likely it’ll be initially putting it all together in a simple and straightforward way, then go back and figure out the best/most effective way to have each scene and/or sequence showcase the action and comedy when applicable. Sort of “How can this be more exciting and/or funnier while still accomplishing what it needs to?”
I also suspect that once everything is in place, that’s when the real fun begins. Even with all of this figuring things out, I’m really enjoying putting this one together and look forward to unleashing it on the world when it’s ready.
I’d originally planned to repost this because I liked what the topic was discussing. It became especially pertinent after reading the first line. The past repeated itself this week with my fantasy-comedy also not advancing to the quarterfinals in PAGE this year. It stung a bit – especially after an earlier draft accomplished it two years ago. But it is what it is, and I’ve gotten past it as I focus on more important stuff. In the meantime, enjoy this post from July 2016.
Before we get to the gist of today’s post, let’s address the elephant in the room: my western did not advance to the quarterfinals of the PAGE contest.
Honestly, I was a little surprised; I thought it would have done better. After a brief wallow in disappointment, I shrugged my shoulders and moved on. It’s just another one of those things over which I have no control. I still have a ton of confidence in this script and might submit again next year. Also waiting to see how it fares in Austin and the Nicholl.
True, it was a rather lousy way to start the weekend, but over the next couple of days, I managed to redirect my focus, which included a nice long run that involved traversing the Golden Gate Bridge, and attempting something I’ve always wanted to try:
Making a pineapple upside-down cake (from scratch, naturally).
Guests were coming over for dinner, and I’d made pies for them before. But this time, I wanted to try something entirely new and preferably a little challenging. I’d say this falls into both categories.
I scoured the internet for an ideal recipe, found one to my satisfaction, and followed the directions to the letter. The result? It looked like it was supposed to, and that’s where the similarities end. A little too sweet and the center was still kind of goopy. Nevertheless, my guests still liked it, and K & I split the last piece after they left. Not bad for a first attempt.
Why did it not turn out the way I expected? A lot of reasons. The oven’s a piece of junk. It didn’t bake long enough. The ingredients and the amount of them probably need to be tweaked. No matter what, I know now that I can adjust all of these next time and get closer to the results I seek.
Except for the oven. It will forever remain a piece of junk until it dies. Which can’t happen soon enough. But I digress.
Notice all of the comparisons you could make between baking and writing a script? Trying something new and long-sought-after. Seeking advice and guidance. Following the guidelines. Doing what I was supposed to. An okay-but-was-hoping-for-better initial result. Planning ahead on what to fix/adjust for next time.
If a less-than-determined baker ended up with the cake I made, they’d probably denounce the whole process, give up entirely and probably buy pre-made stuff at the supermarket. But we’re made of sterner stuff. We hit a snag or some kind of unforeseen development, and we compensate as best we can. We learn what not to do next time. Sometimes you end up with something jaw-droppingly amazing, and sometimes you end up with something totally inedible.
With this whole experience behind me, I can now focus on projects of the immediate future, which includes another round of editing and revising a script, and making a pie or two for a dinner party this coming weekend.
It’s my intention to have the results of both of these undertakings be totally and utterly irresistible when they’re done and ready to serve.
First and foremost, a huge thank you to all the donors to the crowdfunding for my short film SHECKY. We hit 50%, which has helped:
-secure the location
-book the actors
-assemble the crew and equipment
Production is set for the end of the month, but you still have the opportunity to help with funds for post-production. Even if it’s just a couple of bucks, every dollar makes a huge difference.
Like with the crowdfunding, perks and tier rewards are available, including script notes, professional feedback on your film or acting reel, along with the opportunity to be a producer on the film.
“A new homeowner discovers he’s being haunted by the ghost of a comedian telling the same terrible jokes over and over, who refuses to leave – or stop.”
If you’d like to be involved with seeing this thrill-omedy become a reality, contact me here with the subject “Project Shecky” for the details and Venmo link.
Maximum Z 