productivity

So close I can taste it

Maximum Z Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Dark Shadows, Doctor Who, editing, Johnny Depp, Movie of the Moment, plot, productivity, rewrite, Richard Walter, screenwriting, story, subplot, writing
Not my first choice for a celebratory meal

You know that feeling when you’ve been working on something for a very long time, and then you get to the last part? The little voice inside you saying, “Don’t stop! You’re almost there!”

That’s where I am with this edit/polish.

One scene remains to be rewritten. I did a lot of last-second rewriting throughout the whole thing over the past couple of days, but this one’s pretty important – wrapping up some minor subplots. It would be too easy to fall into the trap of putting too much into it, so this is going to take some planning.

It was a challenge to go through this as both writer and editor. Not only did I have to make sure everything was working in terms of the plot, story, character development, and that kind of thing, but also had to keep an eye out for spelling mistakes, overuse of prepositional phrases, repetitive dialogue, etc.  End result – leaner, tighter, faster-moving pages.  I hope.

Also nice – page total down 4 to 111, and I already know a few things here and there that could be taken out, or at least changed.  Part of that will also depend on the feedback and comments I get from the select few I’ll ask to read this latest draft. Count me among those who appreciate constructive criticism.

-Movie of the Moment – DARK SHADOWS (2012). Entertaining, but poorly written. Too much tell, not enough show. Lots of set-ups without payoffs, and vice versa. Characters disappear for 30+ minutes. Didn’t like the ending either.  Just because you like the guy who wrote PRIDE, PREJUDICE & ZOMBIES or ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER doesn’t mean you should have him write your movie. Incidentally, the trailer for the latter made K laugh harder than anything in the movie we came to see.

I thought Johnny Depp did a pretty good job as Barnabas, but I wonder how he would do in a non-quirky role. (Although I am interested to see the forthcoming LONE RANGER, but not because of Depp).

Not necessarily something I was looking forward to, but glad I only paid $6 to see it. Also – way too many trailers!  Ben Affleck’s ARGO looks really good. Adam Sandler’s THAT’S MY BOY looks like total shit.

-If you’re in the Westwood area of Los Angeles this summer and want to get really serious about writing a screenplay, you can’t go wrong by clicking here.

Maybe next year

Maximum Z Drive, Girls With Slingshots, Moneyball, Nicholl Fellowship, productivity, rewrite, screenwriting, The Script Adventurer!, webcomics
So close to being done, but just not enough

Based on my recent productivity, or lack thereof, I don’t think the DREAMSHIP rewrite will be ready for the Nicholl deadline.

At first I was pretty disappointed in myself. I’d set a goal, but fell short.

But while it’s taken longer than I wanted, I’d rather take the time to make sure it’s a solid piece of material, and not “good enough for now”.

And it didn’t help that my work schedule the last few weeks has been all over the map, which completely messed up my chance to just take some time to sit down and write. But it’s starting to calm down a bit, so I’ve been able to make a little headway. Latest example – 3 pages yesterday.

Besides, if things work out the way I’d like them to (re: agent, manager), I won’t worry as much about making next year’s deadline.

-In case you missed the most recent edition of The Script Adventurer!, it’ll be on again this Sunday at 7PM PST. I had the pleasure of talking with Danielle Corsetto, creator of the webcomic Girls With Slingshots. I got a very nice email from her afterward saying it was one of the most complimentary interviews she’d ever done, which I guess is saying something.

-Movie of the Moment – I forgot to post this last week, so another twofer.

-MONEYBALL (2011). Loved it. A great look at behind-the-scenes baseball. Especially poignant to me since my daughter loves the A’s. Very worthy of a Best Picture nomination; seemed more like that kind of movie than THE ARTIST or HUGO, which now come across as lighter, fluffier works.

-DRIVE (2011). Loved this too. An extremely quiet movie that simmers with suspense in a lot of scenes. Not as gory as I’d been led to believe, but a lot of make-you-squirm scenes both on- and off-camera. I was surprised Albert Brooks had such a small part, but I agree that by playing completely against type, he was (no pun intended) criminally overlooked for a Best Supporting Actor nomination.