Careening Towards the Higher Good, right?

It seems strange to me every time I have fresh resolve, decide on a direction, make a choice, celebrate some small step, that something else happens, comes along or slaps me upside the head to make a change of some sort again.

So, as per my last post(s), I am finally able to see the light at the end of the tunnel project-wise and I am feeling good about that. So, suddenly, as though the message travelled at light speed around the Universe, or at least around my immediate circle, everybody wants a piece of me. Someone needs some writing done, someone else just HAS to see me. A friend wants to hit that new movie with me, and movies are good. After all, that’s what I’m writing.

Then I have a sore throat. I need to take it easy. I nap. I want to shop for Christmas gifts. Maybe I should get my picture taken with Santa this year. I want to help my friend-with-the-walker do some shopping. If I shop online, I’ll have less to mail, and mail I must this year as I’m not going to travel for Christmas – just catch a ferry maybe. So this whole holiday business is happening a lot earlier than usual.

But it’ll be okay, ‘cuz I just got this new temporary assignment that only requires a four-day week, right? No sooner do I sit in my new chair than I get a call for an interview. If successful, it will make it a LOT sooner that I move out of Victoria. I’ve not been offered this job yet, but I go directly into a tizzy anyway.

It’s crazy-making, I tell you! Do I do it to myself, or what? I try to remind myself that there is a grand plan that has nothing to do with me, or where I am physically, emotionally, psychically or physically at the moment. It’s all careening forward to create something for the higher good. Yes it is, yes it is! And if you think luck has anything to do with it, please wish me some, wouldya?

The Work Goes Well

Just checking in to say that I work on this nearly every day, and the ending is shaping up well and nearly done. Then, I go back to Act 1 to do some layering.

Question for ya. Would you rather know who the "culprit" is about the midpoint and watch them interact from that moment on with their blissfully unaware victims, or would you rather wait 'til the end to find out who dunnit?

It's in Print!

When I've been working on something for months by computer only, it's a bit difficult to see the whole picture (pun intended). And, I can read on-screen until the cows come home (I guess that phrase dates me!) without really seeing it.

I believe I mentioned that I had gone into a chat room with my fellow Screenwriting U alumni to ask about structure to find out where I had gone wrong, and the answer was "in the first act".

So, I printed it all out yesterday - ran myself out of ink, but no matter, it's all in print. I began to read. And those first scenes I have not read for a very long time. They're not bad. In fact, I'm quite happy with the front end.

It was so obvious! By page ten I knew exactly what I'd done. And I know I can fix it. I also know I can fix it without changing the rest of the story at all. It's an opportunity to add another layer; to make it better, and I say "Hallelujah" to that!

After such a long, inexplicable sojourn (other than the fear factor, of course), it was right there waiting for me. And now, AND NOW I can see the light at the end of the title. I am writing the final pages, and I know what to do up front, so I can actually see it all coming together in the next couple of weeks. Can I hear an Amen!

This is cause for celebration, people!

Phooey, phooey phear

It's time I confessed. Every time I get close to something good happening, I freak out. It's not really an outward, noticeable kind of freak out. It's the kind I keep to myself, pretty much. I just busy myself with other things. I find other causes, projects, reasons to be elsewhere, doing other things - any other thing. And time slips by, and I worry about time slipping by, but I do nothing to stop the slipping.

One foot in front to the other becomes impossible. And now that I'm officially in my 6th decade, when all this truly started in my first decade, I feel ridiculous. I'm not panicked that I'm out of time. I believe in my heart of hearts that there is enough time, but I know in my case it could better used. Used, not spent. Used to do what I'm here for. Used the way I know I can, and yet...

Five decades of spending time in ways that were so close, but as they say, "no cigar". (Whoever "they" are - right 'T'?) It is time to make like the tortoise, and just keep plugging along. Whether you stay with me or not, I'll be here, plugging along.

Wait. That doesn't really sound joyful enough. And oh, my dear reader(s), there is joy. Such happiness comes from doing it, it makes one wonder why I've put it off! This is me - using time well. Must go write a bit now...tortoise-like... :)

Red-faced Return - well, at least a humble one...

I'm learning a lot from my daughter. She started writing her own blog a couple of months ago, and she is going gangbusters with the topic area - a change in her life.

I am impressed with her commitment, both to the change she is making, and her consistent reports of progress online. We talked about it before she did that, and she said how scary it was for her to think about "putting it out there".

I, on the other hand, did not find the creation of this blog scary at all. I even remember thinking that even if I don't "go Hollywood" in terms of employment, I would at least share the steps to my June trip. I thought that the June trip may serve as my "journey to Hollywood" if all else failed.

That would do, I suppose, but it just doesn't feel honest to me. The goal is not to attend a conference in LA, the goal is to have a movie produced by a Hollywood company. I took the course in order to do that - not to "just" attend three days of meetings with producers for the fun of it.

And so, learning more than a little about commitment from my daughter, I'm embarrassed to say that I dropped the ball. You devoted readers may know that at those meetings in June in Hollywood, I actually had one producer ask to see my script.

This may not seem on the surface like such a big deal, but it's everything to a writer. Nothing can happen until someone out there is interested in having a look at what you have written. She related to the story I pitched her on three different levels, and I remember thinking about the stories I'd heard and how important it is to find the right person for the right project - someone who can relate! And there she was (is...hopefully). And I dropped the ball.

You see, I had gone to LA to meet these people without having a completed script - or even a near-completed script. Coached by the best, I understood that all I had to do was say I was completing a re-write, and would get it to her in 4-6 weeks. At first I was determined. Then I ran into problems with it. You see, it's a little shorter than it's supposed to be. Or at least I knew it would be if I finished it, so I struggled with what was missing. I didn't want to add stuff for the heck of it. That's not good storytelling.

I got into online chats with colleagues from Screenwriting U, and determined that I had pretty much managed to end Act 1 on page 10. So now I know that it's the front end that is making it short. Okay.

Okay.

Okay...

Months have gone by and I still haven't completed this script - this story, for which I have found the right producer, potentially. The story she asked for in June. Now you see why I'm red-faced.

And I think it's a little to do with a lack of commitment to this blog. I'm not doing anything, so I'll just leave it, and let it remain blank for weeks and months. It also has a lot to do with fear, no doubt, and I'm going to talk about that next time. Here's hoping "next time" is soon. No. Here's committing that "next time" is soon.

Health-related Delay

Last post was July 5th, I see. This is September 4th! Oh my goodness. It's just not fair to have spent that two months not getting any part of anything done. Kind and gentle reader(s) - the "s" is a hope of mine - I have missed you. I have missed doing anything to warrant an update. I have missed writing. I've only managed to put up a couple of short pieces on my favourite reading site. My story, "Invisible Challenges" just posted on "Life as a Human" kinda describes what my standard state has been the last couple of months.

http://lifeasahuman.com/2010/home-living/lifestyle/invisible-challenges/

I am, however, on the mend, and beginning to feel my mojo once again. With any luck at all, I can begin sharing news of my brilliance shining light on Hollywood executives soon! Wouldn't that be cool? Don't you give up on me. I'm one determined Pegster! Cheers to all.

Really Writing...

At last, I am into the swing of things and pounded out 25 pages this weekend. What a great feeling. There is hope of completion now, and I'm anxious to get some readers on it.

I also sent a scene off to an expert for an accuracy check. It feels good to be on it. Tra-la, tra-la...

Holy Smokes - It's the end of June!

Oh my dear readers! My sincere apologies. Much has happened since I returned home, not the least of which is some script progress. A good deal of planning has gone on, and my beat sheet has been beaten around by others, and I've not begun the true writing of scenes.

A beat sheet is a step by step, scene by scene accounting of what will happen through the story. It's a great idea to get things lined up this way, and while the script is in this form, you can usually spot the things that are "out of place", or find the weakest points. After while it began to feel like analysis paralysis, so I began to write scenes.

Of course, writing the dialogue and "hearing from" your characters will change the beat sheet again, and I'm carrying on as though I'm in my right mind. I have two weeks before the timeline I gave myself, so I'm quite happy to say that it's going well. By "going well" I mean I'm not spending hours looking at a blank screen. I feel like writing, and it's flowing well enough. The only other issue is time.

Thank goodness for Canada Day! Enjoy!

Back in Canada!

This sunny morning, I feel a little stunned by it all. Was it real? Am I tired? Where do I start? And all this is mixed in with the joy of thinking I'll be seeing family soon. Hurray!

Monday June 7th was travel day. Packed up, shuttled to airport and flew back into the country about sums it up. I did, however, take a batch of pics of a movie set as they were setting up. You can check these out (and others from the trip) on Facebook.

Sunday June 6th - I didn't get to post this on the 6th because our WiFi was down, but since I wrote it, I thought I'd share:

Last night in TinselTown

Here I am at the end of this amazing experience. The weekend weather has been hot and sunny, and I've done a whole lot of whatever-I-want. We've eaten Mexican, Italian, French, and whatever-we-want. I've shopped for a few-too-many souveniers, taken pics, swam, conversed, sang, and laughed. I've made friends and learned a lot. I thought I'd top it off by getting a star on the Walk of Fame.



So that's the first 9 days of my 14-day vacation! I am SO glad I'm going to see the kids and that we have Ryan's first brithday to celebrate! Travelling tomorrow. See you soon!

One Day Off, kinda...

This is actually my June 5th blog. I didn't get it up last night because the wireless at the hotel was done. Such is life in this modern world...


No Producer's Conference for me after all, and I find myself not really all that disappointed. I had a fun day of shopping, napping, & working. When the rest of the gang got back, we all went out for dinner and Hal bought mine. It was fun, and so nice to be with 5 five others from the group. I look forward to Sunday. I've just got a few more gifts to pick up, and I want to get some pics of the architecture. The building pics will be used in an article for Life as a Human. I've got a page there, too.

I'm still very excited about the script request and that's the focus of the work until it's ready. Here's a pic of instructor Hal and me as we walked back from dinner.

Day 3 - Bingo!

This 3-day event has come to a close on the best possible high note! The last thing this afternoon was a pitching session, where we got to tell three producers about our scripts, and get feedback on the pitch itself. The last one our table got to speak with was a woman who works on budgets under $2 million. We all went around. She said my story was compelling, and I said it was doable for that budget, and that was it - she was on to the next writer. At the end she talked a bit in general and slid in this sentence so quietly I wasn't sure I'd heard it. "I'd like to read your (motioning towards me) script, because I worked as a journalist in the past, I have a child, and I can identify with a small town. I like this."

Blink.

What'd she say? Did she say what I think she said?

Yes she did! BIG GRIN.

I was the only one who got asked on the spot. (She said, humbly.)

Every other producer we met except one took our one-sheets with them, and most of the script requests will come from that, so I don't know what else will come up for me. There will be lots for the others in the class, that's for sure. There are tons of good projects.

Gary says that this gal makes a lot of movies, so that sounds pretty cool to me. She said she sometimes partners with writers (which I think means there won't be money until it makes some, I'm not sure). It doesn't matter. A LOT of these people have just said, Get something MADE and you'll have a lot more luck going in.

She could change her mind as soon as she reads the one-sheet for all we know, so it's one of those mini-successes that we take a moment to celebrate and then move on. Also it means I'll be writing my ass off when I get home, as the script is not ready.

Two fellow writers offered straight away to read it for me, which is awesome. There is so much support in this group. I'm so happy, I just may go out and buy a purse!

No Bull in Hollywood?

Got someone to take a pic today that I could post. Great day today. SO much good stuff! And I'm a bit too tired to really blog about it.

I'm definitely able to go to the Producer's Conference this weekend, so that is tres cool. Someone named James has cancelled out, so I may get to be a Jamie this weekend!

Day One

Most interesting! But it's late and I'm tired, and I have no permission to publicly blog about the people or the details, which means there won't be anything on Facebook either. Some interesting points of view, some insights, and some fun.

Went out for a bite this evening, and we saw the crowd leaving Gramin's Chinese Theatre after the premiere of SPLICE. there was a huge lineup of limos, but no one we knew hopping in. We can only hope that one of them was the writer! We also saw Spiderman on the street, and the grand entrance the stars make to the Kodak Theatre when coming for the Oscars.

One of my colleagues was unable to make it, so it looks like there may be a spot for me at the Producer's conference this weekend. That would be terrific! I don't get to play tourist, but I get more of what I came for, and that was the reason I was staying thru 'til Monday originally, anyway.

So there you have it. A full day, a sigh, and so to bed. Oh! I forgot to tell you that I am taking the photos for the event. It's a challenge with no flash, but I've managed to catch a few. Some are totally messed up. ah well... Tomorrow's another day!

And We're Off!

It is so much fun to meet the people I've been working with for the past several months. Gab, gab, gab - laugh, laugh, laugh. So many talented people in one place! What a joyous experience. Tonight we met the man who is gathering the producers for us to meet. He's had something to do with a few small movies - one of them was Minority Report! Great, great feeling within the group. Me breathing a long sigh of jitters gone to comfort in a few short hours (or minutes actually). Very cool! And over dinner, they helped me with my pitch. How about this? Arsenic and Old Lace meets Fargo.

Today's High Spots

An appointment with my agent for lunch tomorrow is a high point. One of my friends called it "hoidy-toidy". I must admit it ALWAYS feels good to say I have an agent, but when it happens, or how it happens is just as plain and ordinary as a cheese sandwich. I was writing with Alex at the time, and he had met these wonderful people before at an international conference in Banff, Alberta.

Against his better judgement, I'm sure, he took me along to this conference and here was the couple from LA that represent talent "behind the camera". "That's us," I thought. What I knew about the film industry at the time wouldn't have filled a thimble. So, when introduced, I asked what they did, and when they told me, I said, "Oh, great - we need one of those!" They were speachless with my bold advance, I was blissfully unaware, and finally the female in this partnership said, "I'll read something, then. But you have to send it. I'm not carrying it home." Hurray. Agent...check! And there it was.

In the end, it's just like you hear over and over again in the industry. Is this person someone I want to work with? When the answer is yes on both sides, magic can happen. So tomorrow is lunch with friends, really. The new bit for me is that a third party is invited along tomorrow. Interesting...

When I got out, I ate in a 50's diner with actual juke boxes at the tables, I checked out a shoe store the size of New York City (no lie) and enjoyed this street performer. This, and young people spinning on their backs on the stars of Hollywood Blvd., plus movie characters wandering around makes you realize you're in Tinsel Town. Cool!

Vacation Day

Oh, how wonderful it was not to have anything to do today. I was out, exploring, shopping a bit, went for brunch, napped, had a swim, had my Screenwriting U phone call. I begin to feel the R&R... wonderful. And today I found this wonderfully perfect ass!

Only in America

Here I am in beautiful downtown Hollywood. You can see my logo...I love my logo... in the foreground, and I guess you'll have to take my word for the fact that the, no THE Hollywood sign is over my left shoulder waaaay in the background. This is taken from the four-story plaza that is now my neighbourhood. They've got everything from COACH (designer handbags) to Crepes. I had a tropical fruit crepe. The phenomenal thing about that is they brought me the whole can of whipping cream, and left it on the table! I haven't experienced that before.

Here's another thing I'd not experienced before today. Sniffed by a drug dog! I don't know if someone questionable was on board, or whether they'd heard about BC bud, but two officers and their dog - not a coochie-coo sweet kind of dog, believe me. I think maybe a cross between an Alsasion (or however you spell it) and a German Shepherd.
"Single file please. Keep to your right." If anyone had been packing, they must have rightfully shit themselves. I saw the trio come up the outside steps to the plane. They RAN up those steps. I didn't stay to see if they got anyone. The dog let me by with my pecan cookies, so I just kept on going!

Phone call with my group tomorrow morning. I'm glad to be here, even though most of my clothes don't work. I packed for spring instead of summer. It's hot and humid. I have kind of a hippie dress with me, so I guess I'll be wearing that ALL the time. It's now nearing midnight, and I still have windows wide open. Goodbye cool, wet weather!

Sea West Lounge

I used to be a lounge lizard. Hanging out in the lounge made me feel, on some strange planet, part of the "in crowd". I was with it. I was happening. In actuality I was sitting in a dark room, on who-knows-whose filth, drinking my face off. It has been nearly 30 years since I did that, since I felt that way, until today.

Today, I feel again that I am part of the in crowd. I'm in the lounge, but it's not dark at all, and nobody's drinking - not alcohol anyway. There's Starbucks, and specialty teas, cheese, and almonds, juice, cakes and cookies. There's a flat fee for all this at the door. This bit of heaven, this quiet haven away from the three tours of pre-teens on board, away from boistrous party groups, away from crying children and spilled soft drinks.

This is the latest service offered by BC Ferries on the larger ships between Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island and Tsawwassen on the lower mainland. They call it the Sea West Lounge, and signage at the door warns against loud conversation and boisterous behavior. I don't believe I've spent a better ten dollars in my whole life!

Plus, I'm here with the business people, with the singles who don't want to be shuffled along with the crowd, with the quiet ones, and today that's a beautiful thing. And I'm on my way. This ferry crossing begins a two week vacation that I truly need. This two week vacation contains my Hollywood meetings. This is what I've been working towards, and I feel ready. My attitude is good. I just need some rest, and there is time for that. Clever woman that I am, I worked that into the plan. Stay tuned, Gentle Reader, we're getting close now!

Three more Sleeps!

With the Hollywood meetings looming large, we had another conference call about what we need, and the almighty "One-Page" reared its head again. The first one I'd done way back had way too much in it, so I didn't even re-visit it. I just started over. I got a short, zippy pitch written and off to colleagues for critique. It only seemed to fit the bill for one of the three who read it. They needed a little bit more. So now that is out there to two additional fellow writers who hadn't seen the first one, and my first e-mail back said, "May I be brutal? Call me." Uh-oh.

On Tuesday evening I have a one-on-one call with the instructor to review this item. It's a marketing tool designed to make a producer want to read your script. If the first line doesn't grab them, they won't read on, and so forth. So it needs to be brief but tweak the curiosity, or help the producer see that you've got a character who would attract an A-list actor, or be easy to make for a million dollars, or something appealing to his/her business sense.

If you think this is easy, you are mistaken. Believe me.

In regards to progress on the re-write course assignments, I did get #7 done, and that leaves 8, 9, and 10. I'll be able to get back to these once this one-page is done and I'm on the road. It's good that I'm nearly ready because it's almost time to go. I will keep you apprised as I go. Cheers for now!

Oh - BTW, I have a new story posted on LifeasaHuman - could give you a giggle: http://lifeasahuman.com/author/pegainsley/

Assignment 11 Complete & Posted

It feels SO good to be back in the game. Now 7-10 to catch up. Just wanted to let you know I did get some real work done today, and thought I'd also share some visuals...

This will show you what I wrote on the Beat Sheet big sheet, and what it looks like now i.e. 5 pages of beats (scenes) for the movie! The red scribbles? You wouldn't really expect that I would publish it all for anyone to see do you? Especially that all-important final scene!

Finally...a BREAKTHROUGH!

If you are still there, gentle reader, I can finally report that I'm on my way again. And now there are only 10 more sleeps before I leave home and begin my 2010 vacation which includes the all-important activities in Los Angeles. Hollywood, even.

There are two kinds of being stuck for this writer.

One is just the regular there's-a-blank-page-and-I-can't-go-on, which is normally handled with good old-fashioned procrastination. Laundry to do, bathrooms to clean, plants to transplant all become more important when you're that kind of stuck. Eventually you just sit down and write the thing because while you are planting plants and upside down in toilet bowls, your mind is working on something that you can write down.

This particular term of stuckedness was not this variety at all. It was a deeper, scared-y-cat, I-can't-do-this kind of stuck. When you believe that you can't do it, your mind doesn't work on anything at all, and in fact you think you'd better just lie down rather than clean the house. This is the worst kind of stuck, because you don't really see a way past. The energy I have been using for sheer determination has run out. I'm tired.

In desperation I called out to my former writing partner, long since lost to cancer. No, he didn't answer, and no, I didn't feel his presence. I didn't even think about him again. I just sat down and began to add the ones, then the twos, and compared them with the script I've already written, which gave me some threes, and before you know it, I had broken through! Four straight hours and the elusive "beat sheet" is done!

I was so happy I did a little happy dance around the apartment, even though it was after 11:00 and I actually chortled, and laughed out loud, and yes, I remembered to thank Alex, justincase, and Zoooooooom! I am back to loving what I'm doing!

Assignment 11 came out today, and I "only" need to make up 7, 8, 9, and 10! And meantime I'm making lists of what to pack, and trying to get other things ready for my trip. And that's okay! I feel now I have a complete story, and guess what? I can see the humour in it!

Through Process to Progress

This is the next photo I have for you. Progress! Still nothing to write home about, but I said I'd share my journey, so I'm writing to YOU about it.

And to quote the great fictional character Forrest Gump, "That's all I have to say about that."

'til soon, Peg

Thought I'd share a little process...

Some assignments go easier than others. Some parts of screenwriting just flow; others lump-bump along until the poor writer screams with frustration and comes to the conclusion it's impossible to write a whole movie anyway.

As you may guess from my infrequent posts of late, I fall into the latter category. Not to leave you out of my struggle, I thought I'd share some of the techniques I've tried.

I have tried starting at the beginning, I have tried starting at the end. Then I was struck with this wonderful idea - just make a wee note about every single thing that happens in the story, and put all the notes together on a story board of sorts. Along the way, I've happened across a few more twists for this twisty tale. So the photo shows where I am currently - I haven't quite got everything up there, but...

You will see there is a great empty patch in the middle, so I am still creating things, building relationships, infusing characters with more levels for their interaction, making them interact with each other, or more, different characters, building entertainment value and elevating quality. Well, I'm not quite caught up on all of that, but the weekend is here and I will be. As it says in my profile, I'm determined. Stay tuned for progress on the story board...

PS: BTW, this isn't a real storyboard - this is more like a get-those-scenes-up-on-the-wall board. And I do realize that I'm not explaining what a real storyboard is. I'm just not up to it right now. If you're really curious, there's always Google.

Great to be back at Script Work!

It's not the joy of getting assignments done so much, as it is the joy of discovering what the assignment is meant to show you. I think that must be the sign of a well-constructed course. Or a writer hungry for instructions. Or both.

Thinking about the part each character plays individually brings another level to story. If I keep discovering more levels, I don't know when the actual script will get written. I have a decent starter kit, but the opening scene has already changed, which changes the all-important first ten pages, and because of what I'm inventing for the characters, the rest will change quite a bit too. My hope is that with all the groundwork in place, the script may pretty much write itself. Then all I have to do is wordsmithing. Tra-la.

Of course, if you stay tuned, you may find that this is not the way it goes at all, but this we will discover together. Anyway... assignments 4, 5, and 6 are completed and have been posted for feedback from a colleague. Now I must take the time to get some groceries in the house and then I need to back-track to assignment 3, which is the full screenplay beat - by - beat. When I accomplish this, the darn thing may just be able to write itself. Ever onward, I am proud to report this progress, and I remain truly yours, gentle reader.

Back Online at Last!

It has been awhile - I feel behind in everything, so it's time to get that rectified. I am tackling life - as we all do - one task at a time, one day at a time, one assignment at a time. Who said, "Life is what happens when you're following a dream," or some such thing.

Things to deal with - day job deadlines, day job blues, day job effort required beyond belief.

Body - killer throat bugs - desire to sleep, and sleep - age itself -

Mind - interest in project, high - number of assignments done, low (see above)
- attention required to a friend's accident - concern taking up mind-space
- attention required for children - for friend moving to new house -

Home - always left 'til last, but order brings joy, so will do that first

Then I'll get on with assignments. One month until the Hollywood Meetings begin!

And the O-project? E-mail to update, inform of activity and request for time.

So now you're caught up. This read can't have been much fun, and I will improve, as I do, with age. Please grant me the gift of patience. Cheers to all!

In the Light of Day

Okay, now we have direction, we will get on with the next assignment. It is to have another look at your beat sheet. A beat sheet is the story, step by step, scene by scene. I never really did have a full beat sheet, as things kept changing, and before I got to the end of the story, beat by beat, I would be moving things around, or changing the flow, and so now here goes.

I am very much looking forward to getting this finished (I did get a start on the weekend) as I really need to know the story from front to back and inside out by the time I get to Hollywood.

As the end of April nears, I realize only May remains to do the work necessary.

That's okay. I get done exactly what I need to get done to have the level of success I'm supposed to have in June, and that's a high level!

I love you for being here. Bye bye for now...

Decisions, Decisions, & Inspiration

If this title seems a little odd, then you've already peeked into my current head space. What a ride this is.

With a partner to critique my re-write work, it brings to light amazing insights - like why am I trying to make this thriller into a dark comedy? The answer to that is so I can have the next Fargo. This begs the question, who told you you're on par with the Coen Brothers? Do you really think that the first thing you sell is going to be the next "Fargo?" Where that is not impossible, is it reasonable? or even the least bit realistic?

The only producer I pitched "SERIOUS" to told me that Dark Comedy is a tough genre to write. Maybe I should work with some others before moving along to that particular challenge. I'm supposed to be going to Hollywood with my "most marketable project". Is that really going to be a dark comedy?

I go back to my earliest learnings from John Truby. ALL scripts need humour - no matter what genre. As my re-write partner points out, Hitchcock used ironic humor in even his most suspenseful plots and moments. The fact that I have some ready-made humorous elements is a good thing. The audience will enjoy themselves more as a result, whether they came in expecting to laugh or not.

The script I have is a decent (and not-been-seen-before) thriller that can be made for a million dollars, which seems like a great place to get one's first deal. I've heard stories of people who feel insulted by the offer of Writer's Guild minimums. I, personally would kiss the feet of anyone offering me that - cripes, it's $80K!

So, where is this coming from? I finished one of three homework assignments yesterday and got my feedback. I also just got off the phone with Hal and my Hollywood Meeting group. He went through the steps a writer goes through to get somewhere, and what I got from that is that you are where you are. He told us what to focus on while you're on each level, and I'm no where near writing like the Coen Brothers. If I prove myself wrong, great. But for now I need the best work I can create, in the most marketable genre.

My decision is that my thriller remains a thriller, and I no longer need to keep trying to push it into the shape of a Dark Comedy, when I don't really know what that is, other than Fargo is a great example. I am laughing out loud now. What a skit. And it is one of my goals while working with this thriller to make sure the comedy is found and brought to the forefront for people to enjoy.

Also, just so you know, had you ever told me I would be writing a thriller, I would have been very surprised. But I kinda like the twists and turns of suspense, and people getting into trouble, and people being trouble, and making trouble and finding trouble. So, onward.

The call was inspiring to me because this teacher has laid out a map to follow. If we follow it, we will succeed. It's that simple. All the times I've decided in the past not to succeed are gone. To follow this map will bring me much joy - at every step. I know it won't be easy, but nonetheless, the steps are there.

I am currently at Step 1 of 10. I have been at step 2 many times, and even toyed with step 3 once, only to freak out at how little I knew and decided to stop trying.

Going to the Hollywood meetings in June will be a full-on Step 2 and may well lead to Step 3. Meanwhile, there is writing to be done, re-writing to be done, and lest we forget...Project "O" to deal with.

Back to the Drawing Board

I didn't write here yesterday, as I just had to go to bed and sleep for 12 hours.

To report on the fancy new logline I was so excited about...no one else was! It's such fun being in learning mode. When you get the theory into practice a lot of things might happen. You might fail. If you do, it's probably a good thing, because you'll keep trying to improve what you have.

If everyone liked what you threw out your first coupla tries, and you were actually able to go on with next steps, what on earth would you do? Next steps might get one caught up on one's homework or something. That would never do.

I am choosing the coward's way out - I'll use the less than stellar log line and just get on with other homework, as soon there will be no catching up, and that won't do.

I will stop chatting with you now and do that - actually take the next assignment, and do it. Catch you later!

One Short Evening for Woman, One giant leap for Screenwriter

It may not seem gigantic to non-screenwriters. In fact it may look totally ridiculous when held up as a shining accomplishment. To other writers who tackle short stories (I believe one of the most difficult written art forms there is) it may seem like nothing happened tonight at all, but to the screenwriter... this is big - golden - a coup!

I am talking about the logline - not to be confused with the pitch, although I always do. Yesterday I left you with a pitch and today it was scrapped thanks to input from a fellow screenwriter with a whole lot more pitching expertise than me.

You may at this point be anxious to read the logline, but not until I've gained advice from colleagues who know about such things.

And don't forget, 24 hours from now this logline may be scrapped too. Re-writes are a way of life, and this is the beginning of the re-write process. And I'm determined to begin here, even though I am now three (count 'em) lessons behind.

I am happy with the tone of this one. I have changed genres, you see. My LA project is going from a thriller to a Fargo-like dark comedy. It's a difficult change that will be a lot of work, but with the sparks created by discovering something new (thanks to colleagues, generous fellow writers) and writing it so it makes you giggle, it becomes imminently do-able. And for today, it feels like a giant leap for this screenwriter.

Isn't there something about the Rubber hitting the Road?

This is it, folks! We're caught up now. You're with me in the present. It's time for action. Steadfast, organized action. Every day something must be done. Today I worked on my re-write homework on the bus, at lunch, and after work, but still didn't get it posted. I also wrote one e-mail to support the Omni pitch(which we will hereafter refer to as the O-project), and sent a new, brief pitch line to my Hollywood Meetings "twin" sister.

Truth be told, I did indulge in two telephone visits, and was sucked into Idol gives back a little bit. Just so you know, I've experienced three days of hellish deadline pressure at work. But hey, I'm still in a good mood, and I got SOMETHING done today that serves the goal.

Last e-mail check revealed some prep work that needs doing prior to a Hollywood meetings teleconference this Sunday. Tra-la, tra-la. Here's to tomorrow evening being more productive, and then the weekend cometh.

Say, what do you think of my mini-pitch line?

Peter wants to prove a psychologist guilty...(pause)
while the real murderer "helps" his teenage son.

More soon...

Steadfast, organized action...
Every day...

Hollywood, Here I Come

Oh my goodness! This title just reminded me of Al Jolson's "California Here I Come". If anyone else knows this song, please leave me a comment. I was raised on Al Jolson. 78's for heaven's sake! If I have any young readers out there who don't know what a 78 is, it's something we called a record, and that particular record was made of something that alcoholics could melt down and drink when things were tough.

To return to this opportunity, the alumni of the writing class was invited to three days of meeting producers in Hollywood! How could I say no to that? Only twenty writers and we will meet twenty producers, each of them likely willing to take a one-page of our most marketable script. What an amazing experience this will be! We 20 who will attend the session are coached between now and then so we have the absolute best chance of impressing someone through this process. Coaching brings with it some occasional homework and a few teleconferences. Good!

The other way to impress these producers, of course, and perhaps even get a "script request" is to have amazing material. Everyone knows that in order to produce amazing material, one must re-write. Unless you know what you're doing, a re-write may not do any good at all. I used to just revise words, and fix holes in the story if I could see them.

But it's way more than that. Examining structure, re-thinking character, evaluating action, enabling brilliance, elevating quality in a lot more ways than just looking at words. Tough to do on one's own, so, since there's not much going on (ahem) and I want to have the best product I can have in LA, why not sign up for re-writes too?
Assignments are 'only' twice a week, and we trade critiques with a partner for an even better chance of being the best. Nothing to it.

Did I mention I work full time, too?

The Six-Month-Course + Pitchfest

Yes, I did it. I signed up for six months of every-day homework...(well, there were a few breaks where students critiqued each other's work. But overall it was a busy six months, and fun, and challenging, and some of it was downright hard.

Did I learn? Yes! I learned so many new techniques, and gained so much information about what makes a script sell, that I wondered why I ever thought I could write a script before. Really!

At the end of the course, there was a PitchFest in Vancouver, and I thought I'd take a few ideas out for a spin. Mostly I have product left from when Alex and I worked together. That's Alexander Kirkwood, a retired US airforce pilot with three degrees - one in directing. Alex was the one who first introduced me to screenwriting. We worked together for many years, and there is a lot of projects to show for that time together. Knowing what I know now, and re-reading some, I was able to just toss them. Others I offered up at the Pitchfest, as it would bring me much joy to see on onscreen credit for Alex's family. We lost him to cancer.

The thing about taking ideas out for spin is that some of them might be liked. One US production company rep actually talked enough about the romantic comedy that I got some great direction for the re-write. It interested him, and he said he'd like to read it once I re-write.That's great because I wouldn't want him to read the current version anyway.

In addition, I am quite busy enough.

The other project that got some attention is a 1/2 hour family show. Omni would like to see it. But there's work to do. They want me to bring along partners, and maybe even some talent. Yikes! I cannot drop this ball, and yet there is a see-saw of comings and goings in terms of progress. Ever onward, no nmatter what. I will not fail to submit.

So, that brings us to early March 2010, the end of Pitchfest. I have my work cut out for me, so away I go, right? No, not quite. There is another opportunity not to be missed. I'll be going to L.A. in June!

That First Course-on-the-Phone!

Ah. It was soothing ointment on my dried, shriveled soul. It was better than the first sip of nourishment for a desert traveler. It was more like how that traveler feels two hours later when he can drink all he wants. I was so thirsty.

I liked what I heard.

There was so much good information in that two and a half hours that I really felt like more. And, like all free teleconferences, it ended with an invitation to pay for more, with a healthy discount. How could I refuse? I was still thirsty!

It is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Hal Croasmun is one of those rare individuals who actually cares enough to spend time. He has spent time researching, experiencing, and testing what makes screenplays sell, and he is willing to share. I've never met anyone so eager to spend SO many hours with writers. He genuinely wants to help. And I have a lot of time for people like him. And money, too. Heck, it's the American way.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the peeps north of the 49th, the Canadian way is apologetic. We end up feeling sorry that we've made a lot of money. We can't help but feel that it's just wrong somehow.

(Cancel that, Universe! I don't want you to get the idea that I, Peg, feel like that. Not me. I'd like to make a lot of money and experience all that entails.)

Stay tuned, gentle reader, we're getting ourselves up to present day current developments. I'm busy with family this weekend, and will blog as and when I can. Thanks for being here. I'm loving it!

Where does this journey begin?

I could get dramatic and refer to the fact that at age four I began writing phonetically. Pffft! So does everyone.

I think I'll just KISS it and begin last fall, when I felt like writing scripts again. This would be my third foray into the world of screenwriting, and let's hope the third time's a charm. What do I really do to get involved again, as I must keep my day job this time. The first attempts, I was not so sensible.

I know. I know, and we're not going to dwell in the past, remember? There I was thinking, "How do I do this?" I began searching online and signed up for a writer's newsletter. In one issue, there was an ad for a screenwriting contest. With nothing to lose but the $40 US fee, I submitted an entry.

That was an okay thing to do. Nothing happened with the contest, but having done that I was open for a lot of web ads concerning screenwriting. I could not believe my eyes the day I saw a FREE tele-seminar about doing a rewrite. I knew in my heart of hearts that the screenplay I'd submitted to the contest really needed that kind of attention, and I thought, what better place to start? It's just one phone call, and I can use whatever I learn to work on re-writing the romantic comedy ASHES.

I marked this very important day in my calendar, I told all my friends, I got excited, I looked forward to it, and finally I dialed the number at the appointed time. My life has been richer and crazier and busier and love-lier ever since!

There is such joy in beginning. I don't really know who said that. I believe it happened when a number of fine minds were gathered in a room to change the world, or make a film, or something.

Anyway, there is...joy in beginning. Then you get caught up in the world of "keeping at it", "staying the course", "keeping it up", or, heaven forbid, actually finishing. I've come to believe that if you want joy in living, you don't ever really finish.

I am now ready to experience success as part of the joy of living, and see it as never being finished. Unending success. How cool would that be?

The reason I feel compelled to begin this blog is that I want to share my thoughts along the way. I won't dwell on past experiences, but I don't promise not to share from the past if it helps me make a point. For now, let's just GO!