1.08.2008
TRAMBLINGS...
How's everyone? Much of the same on this end except for a serious family illness that will keep me in northern California for awhile. (One good thing about this damn strike, huh?) I've been here for a week after a quick return to L.A. to stock up on warm clothes, books and the files I needed for the book project. Because L.A. has actually been cold I had a bunch of new sweaters that have come in handy. You already heard about the coat but I also managed to find a long, black down jacket for $30 that I've officially moved into. It's my new address. The illness, of course, is daunting, scary, humbling and fucked-up. Good days and bad days as we deal but I have been seriously overwhelmed by the love and kindness people have shown my family. All positive thoughts and energy are welcome.
Since I was seven years old and I stapled together scratch paper to make my first "book" writing has been a refuge for me. I am trying to get back to that place during some of the down time but it's hard. My mind wanders, and for lack of a better description I can't get my mental marbles to roll in the same direction. I can actually visualize a gang of colorful marbles in my head all going every which way. The Crown Prince suggests that I take it easy and not be too hard on myself but, frankly, I'm never hard on myself so I need to get it together and be productive.
I went through my files yesterday, tried to find the seed of what got me going on this story. I had a great hour or two where I re-read pages I haven't opened in over two years. I also found notes from THE FINISH PARTY that were very helpful. They still make a lot of sense so I'll spend this evening typing them up in a sort of cheat sheet reference file. My fingers are itching, my mind is jumping to create, so it's just a matter of me taming the marbles or at least getting them to sit still and be quiet.
The wedding stuff is coming along (a nice distraction for everyone) though it looks like Sonoma or Napa may have to fill in for Santa Barbara, my first-first-first choice. I love Santa Barbara (and I always have) but it just as easily serve as a honeymoon locale. The Wine Country is just as beautiful and only an hour away from my family. We'll see.
The past couple days I've been watching Academy Screeners with the family. (A perk of WGA membership). So far I've received 3:10 TO YUMA, JUNO, THE SAVAGES, SWEENEY TODD, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, LARS AND THE REAL GIRL, MARGOT AT THE WEDDING, AWAY FROM HER, KNOCKED UP, DAN IN REAL LIFE, DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY, INTO THE WILD, ZODIAC, THE KITE RUNNER and THERE WILL BE BLOOD. Loved 3:10 TO YUMA (but in the interest of full disclosure one of the screenwriters is a friend of the Crown Prince), JUNO, LARS and AWAY FROM HER. MARGOT AT THE WEDDING made me want to pull out my own teeth. DAN IN REAL LIFE and THE SAVAGES held my interest but that's about all. KNOCKED UP was just not that funny to me. I know people went crazy for the movie but it didn't work for me. But, what do I know, SUPERBAD had me in hysterics.
The screenwriter of JUNO has gotten a tremendous amount of press and she deserves all the accolades. Just so well-written. The actors were great. I especially loved Jason Bateman, he just captured that broken-down weariness you see in the eyes of husbands who have one foot out of their marriage. Jennifer Garner was also impressive with her wound-up sadness. I think I'll watch again.
In the meantime, NYC/RAGAZZA pointed me toward two essays written by the creator of BROTHERS & SISTERS. Part One covers how his WORK drove him from L.A. (He was ousted from his own show). PART TWO focuses on the perils of living and loving in Los Angeles. The New York versus L.A. argument rarely covers new ground but he makes points that are shape enough to shave with. Take a look.
WOMEN'S MURDER CLUB ran it's last new epiosde on Friday the 4th. That was the last one completed before the strike. There were some repeats during the month of December but, unfortunately, mine wasn't one of them for those of you who missed it. It's also not available online but, hopefully, one or the other will change in the next few months. THE WIRE is back though and that is ALWAYS good news.
Lastly, when I decided to make the transition from author to TV writer, I had a mentor who was just amazing. I met with her weekly for six months and she always had time for me no matter what was going on in her life. She helped me with my RESCUE ME spec, read the LAW & ORDER: SVU that I'd completed before I met her, and gave me notes on the original one-hour drama I'd written the year before. She was great. She also talked a lot about opening an entertainment consultancy and this week she did just that. Visit her new WEBSITE (isn't she sooooo cute?) and if you're thinking of making the jump to television then you don't need to look anywhere else. Seriously, this woman was hugely instrumental in me getting a job on WMC. Good luck!
Until next time...
How's everyone? Much of the same on this end except for a serious family illness that will keep me in northern California for awhile. (One good thing about this damn strike, huh?) I've been here for a week after a quick return to L.A. to stock up on warm clothes, books and the files I needed for the book project. Because L.A. has actually been cold I had a bunch of new sweaters that have come in handy. You already heard about the coat but I also managed to find a long, black down jacket for $30 that I've officially moved into. It's my new address. The illness, of course, is daunting, scary, humbling and fucked-up. Good days and bad days as we deal but I have been seriously overwhelmed by the love and kindness people have shown my family. All positive thoughts and energy are welcome.
Since I was seven years old and I stapled together scratch paper to make my first "book" writing has been a refuge for me. I am trying to get back to that place during some of the down time but it's hard. My mind wanders, and for lack of a better description I can't get my mental marbles to roll in the same direction. I can actually visualize a gang of colorful marbles in my head all going every which way. The Crown Prince suggests that I take it easy and not be too hard on myself but, frankly, I'm never hard on myself so I need to get it together and be productive.
I went through my files yesterday, tried to find the seed of what got me going on this story. I had a great hour or two where I re-read pages I haven't opened in over two years. I also found notes from THE FINISH PARTY that were very helpful. They still make a lot of sense so I'll spend this evening typing them up in a sort of cheat sheet reference file. My fingers are itching, my mind is jumping to create, so it's just a matter of me taming the marbles or at least getting them to sit still and be quiet.
The wedding stuff is coming along (a nice distraction for everyone) though it looks like Sonoma or Napa may have to fill in for Santa Barbara, my first-first-first choice. I love Santa Barbara (and I always have) but it just as easily serve as a honeymoon locale. The Wine Country is just as beautiful and only an hour away from my family. We'll see.
The past couple days I've been watching Academy Screeners with the family. (A perk of WGA membership). So far I've received 3:10 TO YUMA, JUNO, THE SAVAGES, SWEENEY TODD, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, LARS AND THE REAL GIRL, MARGOT AT THE WEDDING, AWAY FROM HER, KNOCKED UP, DAN IN REAL LIFE, DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY, INTO THE WILD, ZODIAC, THE KITE RUNNER and THERE WILL BE BLOOD. Loved 3:10 TO YUMA (but in the interest of full disclosure one of the screenwriters is a friend of the Crown Prince), JUNO, LARS and AWAY FROM HER. MARGOT AT THE WEDDING made me want to pull out my own teeth. DAN IN REAL LIFE and THE SAVAGES held my interest but that's about all. KNOCKED UP was just not that funny to me. I know people went crazy for the movie but it didn't work for me. But, what do I know, SUPERBAD had me in hysterics.
The screenwriter of JUNO has gotten a tremendous amount of press and she deserves all the accolades. Just so well-written. The actors were great. I especially loved Jason Bateman, he just captured that broken-down weariness you see in the eyes of husbands who have one foot out of their marriage. Jennifer Garner was also impressive with her wound-up sadness. I think I'll watch again.
In the meantime, NYC/RAGAZZA pointed me toward two essays written by the creator of BROTHERS & SISTERS. Part One covers how his WORK drove him from L.A. (He was ousted from his own show). PART TWO focuses on the perils of living and loving in Los Angeles. The New York versus L.A. argument rarely covers new ground but he makes points that are shape enough to shave with. Take a look.
WOMEN'S MURDER CLUB ran it's last new epiosde on Friday the 4th. That was the last one completed before the strike. There were some repeats during the month of December but, unfortunately, mine wasn't one of them for those of you who missed it. It's also not available online but, hopefully, one or the other will change in the next few months. THE WIRE is back though and that is ALWAYS good news.
Lastly, when I decided to make the transition from author to TV writer, I had a mentor who was just amazing. I met with her weekly for six months and she always had time for me no matter what was going on in her life. She helped me with my RESCUE ME spec, read the LAW & ORDER: SVU that I'd completed before I met her, and gave me notes on the original one-hour drama I'd written the year before. She was great. She also talked a lot about opening an entertainment consultancy and this week she did just that. Visit her new WEBSITE (isn't she sooooo cute?) and if you're thinking of making the jump to television then you don't need to look anywhere else. Seriously, this woman was hugely instrumental in me getting a job on WMC. Good luck!
Until next time...
Labels: Family, Movies, THE FINISH PARTY, Writing
