What is a rewrite?

We all talk about 'rewriting' our scripts. The rewrite is where we spend a lot of time. Second draft. Third draft. Polish. But what *is* a rewrite?

I've been pondering this because maybe I am not actually rewriting. When my draft is finished, I go through it, make notes, cross out dialogue, write new dialogue and create new scenes. Then I go back to my FD file and start acting on my notes: adding, deleting, changing. But this is augmentation, revision, not rewriting...is it? It isn't like I sit down and type an entirely new draft from scratch.

So what *is* rewriting as you do it? What seperates a first draft from a second draft? How much has to be different?

Maybe I need a rewriting class...

Film Friday: End of June roundup

Another month is over, and you all know what that means -- time to look at all of the sequels, remakes and TV to big screen adaptations Hollywood has deemed suitable for rehashing. So, let's check out the deals this month, shall we? (Information courtesy of Done Deals.)

The Brazillian Job -- a followup to "The Italian Job" doesn't have any actors attached as yet. Based on the title, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say they leave Italy.

The Heartbreak Kid -- This is a remake of the 1972 film. This time the Farrelly Brothers will try to add some zany elements.

Piranha -- I've been waiting for this one to pop up. Finally, someone had the sense to remake the 1978 schlock classic. Scantily clad college students plus killer fish equals goldmine!

The Persuaders -- A remake of a 1971 British TV series to star Ben Stiller. What, they haven't gotten Owen Wilson signed up yet??

Swiss Family Robinson -- This one has been kicking around awhile at Disney, but there's a rewrite in the works. I'm sorry, but who could possibly take the place of Tommy Kirk??

Elf 2 -- Okay, so sequel to "Elf"...but so far, no Will Ferrell. Don't count on this one going ahead until they get the Elf himself signed on.

National Treasure 2 -- Obvious sequel, no idea if it will have the original cast, but I'd expect them to be looking for clues in the Statue of Liberty or something...

Underdog -- Live action. Kill me now.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt -- Remake of Fritz Lang's 1956 film in which a reporter sets himself up to look like he committed a crime in order to prove that circumstantial evidence is dangerous. Yeah, because our court system doesn't have any other problems besides that...

Don't Look Now -- Remake of the 1973 film with Donald Sutherland. Don't know who will be in the new one, but expect it to keep the improvised sex scene. I'm sure it has been added to the script.

The Hitcher -- Remake of the 1986 film. Because there is no such thing as a horror movie that shouldn't be remade...apparently.

A Thousand Clowns -- Remake of the 1965 film about an out of work TV-writer who has to get a real job to keep his 12 year old nephew around. Whatever.

Be With You -- another creepy Japanese film remake (this one from 2004). Although, this one has romance in it and doesn't feature crazy ghost people coming out of walls, so it will probably be cool.

The Bourne Ultimatum -- More about Jason Bourne and based on the novel. Yay! Matt Damon won't sign on until he reads it...

The Untouchables: Capone Rising -- Prequel to "The Untouchables" based around how Al Capone got to where he was before being brought down.

Those are the remakes, sequels and TV adaptations for June. We'll see what Hollywood digs up in July!

Writing insight of the day

When I am stuck trying to build my story (before I even get to outlining), I have a set of questions I answer for myself. It's like giving myself a pop quiz about the story I'm constructing. Some of the questions are "who is this story about?" (who is the main character?), "What is it the main character wants?", "What is it the main character actually needs?"

By forcing myself to answer these questions (and there's about 50 of them) I get a better understanding of what I'm writing. Certainly I'll find I can't answer them all at once, but the best part is, that if there is a question I can't answer, I know I need to think about that aspect more before I sit down and really outline the script.

Anyway, just one of the methods I use to craft story. Everyone has their own way of doing it...what's yours? What do you do when you struggle with crafting your story?

I got an idea!

Okay, so I was over at Lee Goldberg's blog reading his article about how much most Hollywood films suck and why people aren't paying to see them and it got me thinking.

How *could* you get people to go to the movies again?

I have a few ideas...

1. DVD window expands to 12-18 months (or more) after release. The studios have it all backwards -- they need to wait to release a film on DVD rather than rush it out to stores. If people know it will be awhile, it creates demand. Also, have you seen how well Disney's "moratorium" process works? The release a "Platinum" (read: more coveted) animated film on video or DVD (they've been doing this awhile), make it available for about 18 months and then -- *poof*! It's GONE. NO MORE BUYING "The Lion King"...until the *next* time they release it. It builds demand for the film. People are more apt to see in a theater if they know they won't get to see buy it/rent it/see it on TV for many many many months.

2. Create a new film pricing structure. I think the theater pricing model is outdated. Arclight, arguably the best movie theater in L.A. charges up to $14 a ticket during "prime time" film viewing hours. Why? a) no commercials (only movie trailers) before the movie. b) you can pick your seat c) a really generous membership program for frequent movie goers which includes using points on concessions or free tickets d) some movies they offer 21+ screenings -- NO KIDS. Theses are all innovative strategies. Why stop at creative pricing for matinees? Why not charge a premium for certain films? Maybe some "lesser" films should be offered as '2 for 1' bargains. There was a time when double bills were common. Short films should make a comeback and be shown before features. Which leads to my 3rd point...

3. Offer things the average movie goer cannot get by renting or owning the DVD. Sure, some are shown in IMAX, and that's about the best and most unique reason to go out of your way to see a film. But why not offer other perks like: a) offer movie going packages. Some theaters are starting to catch on to "combos" and gift cards like AMC's "night at the movies", which includes 2 tickets, a tub of popcorn and 2 drinks, but theaters need to embrace these kinds of deals. Make it actually a SAVINGS to buy a package (not just that 50 cents it costs to upgrade to a supersize) b) Start upgrading your damn theaters to digital projection already. Yes, it is costly, but hello, people are watching films in digital AT HOME. You want to catch up already?? Digital big screen will attract an audience. c) Multiplexes should offer a "babysitting" theater. Don't want to sit with the kids while watching the latest Pokemon movie? Want to go see something else? Send the to Pokemon, where the lights don't go down entirely and kids are kept in check (sign a waiver of course) and go see a movie in peace. Also, spare the people around you by not having your annoying crying kid piping up every 2 minutes.

Theaters can do a lot to bring people in, but studios have more to do too...

4. Stop making excuses. No one likes to be blamed for your shortcomings. I saw Cinderella Man -- it's a good movie. Face it, your marketing department sucked eggs on promoting the film properly. Stop trying to make it sound "good for us" -- tell me why I'll enjoy seeing it, for crissakes! Studios whine that audiences say they want more family friendly films, but then they don't perform well. Newsflash, just because you slap a 'G' or a 'PG' on it doesn't mean parents will react like automatons and take their children to see it, especially if it looks like torture for the adult. Make GOOD family friendly movies and watch the profits roll in (example: "The Incredibles"). Same rule goes for films for any audience outside men 18-34. Just because a movie has 5 women in it, is labeled "chick flick", does not mean women will flock. Make it a GOOD chick flick and we'll talk.

5. Stop insulting your audience. This is a message to some of my fellow screenwriters: The audience is NOT stupid. If you portray characters which closely represent your audience as being stupid, backward, redneck idiots, it will not do well. People will allow themselves to be poked fun at, if it is genuinely good natured. If you are trying to sell a political agenda, red and blue staters can smell it. Tell a good story and everybody wins.

These are just some of my new ideas for getting people back to the theaters. Your thoughts??

Getting physical

As becoming as I look in my admittedly outdated photo (not *that* outdated, just...not the most current), I find I need to refocus my efforts to lose weight, get into good shape, etc.

So I'm seeing a trainer tomorrow.

Hoo-boy. I don't know if I'm ready for this or not, but considering how much time I've spent recently in front of a PC and not on a treadmill, I think it's time.

This is just the 'consultation' tomorrow. If I like the place/trainer/etc, I can choose to go as often as I like, when I like -- no preset number of sessions, etc. The best part -- they claim that one session a week (plus some work on your own) is all you need to get on the path to wellness. I already have a Bally club membership, so I am not looking to spend too much extra dough, but just as with screenwriting, I find discipline in exercise to be helpful. Setting goals and working to achieve them. Sure, you can fall off the wagon occassionally (like, watch a movie instead of write, eat a Krispy Kreme instead of a carrot), but as long as you keep those deviances to a minimum, the goal can be met.

Although no Krispy Kremes. They are evil incarnate. Sweet, sweet evil.

Deadline freakout

5 days. I've got 5 days to get this spec in decent shape to submit for the ABC Fellowship. Not only that, I need to be coherent on the application. I need to be eloquent and profound. It's too much!

I haven't gotten any of the feedback from my "tough love" friends either. I've cajoled but nada. So, I'll be revising today with some good notes, but probably not a comprehensive set of notes.

The Artful Writer now has a forum in operation. I recommend dropping by and registering. I registered there yesterday and the place is already hoppin'. If I'm in the chat room, I'm TeelaJBrown. Otherwise, you'll see my real name.

Hey, maybe we can schedule a chat sometime?? Okay, enough procrastination...

...or not. My sister just came in the room and deemed it necessary for us to get manicures and pedicures this morning. Dangit, I wasn't ready to go out in public. Now I have to shower and that's 2 hours I'll lose on revising. I am making art woman!! I do not need pretty toenails to make art!

Now she's testy. To the shower I go. See you later.

Radio silence

Sorry it's been so quiet this week. I've been slammed with work, HOA stuff and tweaking my draft. So far the notes have been constructive and overall the feedback is pretty positive. Of course, so far I've given it to people who are kind. I'm waiting to hear from the 'tough crowd' I've solicited for feedback.

Criticism is hard. I always have to remind myself that it isn't personal. I have asked these people to give me their honest feedback and notes so I can make my work better. Still, sometimes it feels like genius to idiot in less than five seconds once someone opens their mouth.

Between genius and idiot, I think I'm floating along as mortal. I'll settle for that.

Finished!

Last night I finished my first draft for my "Lost" spec script. It came in at 52 pages. Clearly I have some work to do on the second draft, but what a great feeling to finish this weekend, when I had hoped to finish. I had to push through about 21 pages or so yesterday, but the pages came (helped by listening to 'Light Classical' on my Dish Network radio dial).

Now to register and rewrite. Only 11 days until the ABC deadline!

Spec progress

Just a quick note, because I'm still writing tonight, trying to reach the finish line. I am almost done with Act IV. I am on page 45 with 12-15 pages left to go. I've already written about 12 pages today and I won't finish until I can get to the end. Then the rewriting starts.

I'm not sure who I'm going to have read this thing and provide comments back. I'll need feedback quickly, since I'm trying to get it in good enough shape to submit for the ABC Fellowship. The deadline for that is the end of the month.

Still, feeling good with the progress today. Dang, I need to do laundry...

Book Meme: My Turn

Rick tagged me with the book meme that's going around the blogs like a virus. Okay, fine, I'll bite.

Total number of books owned: I think I'm at around 300 right now. I shed about 100 books or so between my last two moves, so I could be down to 250. I haven't counted in awhile and books are like weeds a new one pops up every time I think I've got them all.

Last book I bought: Crafty Screenwriting by one of my favorite bloggers Alex Epstein.

Last book I read: Besides the one I just mentioned, I read a lot of screenwriting books. The last non-fiction book I read was Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow (frequent contributor to Boing Boing.

Five books that mean a lot to me:

The Number of the Beast by Robert Heinlein. This was my first real sci-fi book given to me by my father. After all of the other Heinlein books I've read, this is the one I always come back to, simply because it was my first.

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. It's actually a tough call between this one and Cryptonomicon which I also love, but again, I go with sentimentality. My first real boyfriend gave me Snow Crash and it blew my mind (this after he had already turned me on to Pournelle and Niven books). I loan out Snow Crash often -- I just never get it back. I've bought at least five copies of this book since I first read it. I'm currently without a copy.

Mort by Terry Pratchett. I had no idea how funny fantasy could be. I had read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and I knew sci-fi could be funny (this book almost makes the cut for the top 5). Interestingly enough, I was turned on to Mort by Colin Baker at a Dr. Who convention. Yes, in my very young years I attended Dr. Who conventions and took book reading advice from actors. Still, this one was a great one and the entire series of Discworld novels are to this day one of my prized possessions (which continues to grow since the man is still writing them). Mort is actually the 4th Discworld book, but I still recommend it as the best introduction to the series.

Writing Screenplays that Sell by Michael Hauge. This was the first screenwriting book I bought which made me feel I could actually be a writer. I was further encouraged when I listened to him speak at the very first Screenwriting Expo in 2002.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It may seem corny to you, but I was already a voracious reader when I discovered the Anne Shirley books. I would say that prior to seeing Anne of Green Gables on PBS (which, tragically, may have its funding cut because they can't seem to stop serving a liberal agenda -- okay, I'll stop) I had already fallen in love with this character and the story. It made me want to tell stories.

Hmmm, who should I tag with this meme... 5 others, the rules say.

E.B. Langton
Kid Sis
Joshua James
Moviequill
Moses

Anybody else can jump in too!

Hollywood Momentum

This should provide some new entertainment. Let's learn all about the assistant life!

(Hat tip: Defamer)

Bomb Threat at WGA?

Defamer had the breaking news. Turns out it was a hoax (not surprising).

I wonder how many times people have been talking about films (as bombs)and it has been mistaken as a terror threat...

Miscellaneous

I've been pretty stressed out lately because of my job situation. Things got better today. Can't really discuss it, but I think I'm close to knowing my fate and it is a huge relief.

Even better, I finished Act III last night. I need to do a rewrite on those last four pages, but still...

I'm 75% done with my first draft! And that's reason to celebrate.

May not be posting tomorrow -- busy day and I plan to write Act IV tomorrow night.

See you Friday.

Coming attractions

I had no idea that I'd get this kind of response regarding my political leanings. However, I am happy to continue the conversation. I should have a pretty lengthy post regarding this topic later tonight. I wish I could have it done sooner, but today is THE BIG DAY at work -- the contract is signed and we are meeting with the new outsourcing company. I'll be in meetings all day.

So check back later tonight or tomorrow for my explanation of my politics and more.

One last note: Act III is almost complete. I have two scenes to go. Of course, this isn't the end. I still have Act IV and the Tag to write. Still, I'm on page 35 and just knowing I only have about 20-25 pages to go is pretty satisifying. Act II was disturbingly short so I had to go back and flesh it out a bit from what I had in my outline, which I had not expected. Fortunately, that little detour didn't really slow me down. It's all good.

Odious people

Never become numb to the ugliness in the world. Despicable grandparents charged with sexual assault. The grandfather raped his 13 year old granddaughter while the grandmother merely said she "got what she deserved."

Blog stuff

Still updating the blogroll. Since I use the service to track blogs that have been recently updated, it isn't seperated out like I'd like it to be. Here's the rule of thumb (for now): political blogs on top, california blogs in the middle, screenwriting blogs on the bottom half. The very bottom of the list is the 'probation zone'. Post or you're toast. If you are in the probation zone for more than 2 months (meaning, you haven't updated your blog) you will be dropped off the blogroll. I have added anyone who currently links to me or has requested a link. As should be obvious, I am not responsible for any of the material on any of the linked blogs in the blogroll. Read them at your own risk or pleasure.

If you want on the blogroll, please be sure to ask. All I ask in return is a reciprocal link. Hey, thems the rules of this here blog-o-verse.

Seriously considering a different layout since I've grown tired of the green header. If I ever get any time to play, I'll see if I can design my own. Someday I might even be able to move off blogspot, but don't count on it being any time soon.

Half done!

I finished Act II yesterday. I'm pushing forward today. I think I'll need to go back and add a scene to Act II, but I'm focusing on moving forward. If I stop to rewrite anything I'll get stuck there, analyzing what has already been written. I don't want to deal with that until I finish the 4th Act and the Tag.

I'm definitely in a better mood today. Reaching a goal will perk you up. Plus, I feel like a real Californian today. I woke up to the earthquake this morning -- my first that I've actually felt. Since it wasn't very powerful here, it was more exciting than scary. Did you guys feel it? How did you react?

Alone

It's really gratifying to see the little blog community that has formed in the last few months -- the few of us who band together through comments and mutual links as fellow screenwriters or aspiring screenwriters. In my daily struggles and frustrations I no longer feel alone.

And yet, in another way, I am as alone as I have always been. The one thing I have noticed jumping from one screenwriting blog to another is that I am decidedly different in one thing -- not gender, or style or genre. I am a conservative Republican.

There, I said it. I hope that having admitted my political affiliations (which should have been rather obvious from my other blog links) that you will not deem to dismiss me or my work. I do not wish to alienate those of you whom I have met in the last few months. But I do feel as if I am a minority in this community. I am always happy to see when other writers release their political frustrations, but I refrain from comment or debate simply because I do not wish to be considered for my politics first. I consider myself a writer, period. I have no political agenda nor do I wish to convince you or convert you. I am not an evangelist nor am I a fundamentalist. I'm a conservative.

But I do stand alone among you. I do not want pity or sympathy. I know my odds in this town where I stay mostly closeted in my political views, for fear of facing a backlash. I'm the one smiling and nodding wordlessly when confronted with anti-Bush rhetoric at gatherings. And this sometimes makes me lonely.

Tonight I'm lonely. I just want to tell great stories. I want to write without agenda but not be judged by anyone else's. Is that asking too much? Can I attend a class or a social gathering and not be subjected to the snarky or acidic commentary on the politics of our country? Apparently not.

I've thought a lot about whether to address this on my blog. If you search through the archives, you will find that I was passionate during the election, but my focus shifted after the first of the year. I found the truth of my blog, what it meant for me and it wasn't politics. There are plenty of other great blogs to visit and read about this right or left political viewpoint. The number of blogs about struggling writers is small and I am happy to be in the midst of those who also share their thoughts, feelings and actions in the writing world.

I think I'm also just feeling moody tonight. Feeling like I won't finish my spec by month's end as I let the stresses around me close in. Hopefully I'll be able to shut them out this weekend and focus on crafting pages.

I appreciate your patronage. I appreciate your blogs, if you have them. When I discover another great writer, I add them to my blogroll. I'm barely keeping up these last few days. If I've missed you, let me know. It's nice to feel not so alone.

Time

It's one of those days when you can hear the tic-tic-tic of the clock as the day soldiers on toward a close. The office is quiet. Ocassionally I hear someone's voice drift down the hallway, but overall there is silence and the palpable feeling of worry and dread.

People are interviewing for jobs this week, trying to stay with BUC (Big Unnamed Company) and avoid the uncertain future of being sent off to a vendor company. We are all interviewing against each other, so conversations are short and do not dwell too much on our current situation other than to note how much it sucks. As I walk past my employees I can see them clicking through job search websites. They don't even try to hide it anymore. I can't blame them for looking, and they can't blame me for my curiosity.

After my own intervew three hours ago, I had the perfect opportunity to get some writing done, but I just couldn't shake off the heavy malaise that surrounds us all, not even to do what I love.

So now I'm blogging. I needed to do *something*.

My outline is done. My spec is started and Act I is finished on the first draft. I'll work my way through Act II tonight and hopefully I can get a few scenes written. Optimistically I'd like to see me finish Act III by next week. Trying to set the bar high but within reason. I won't start class again for three weeks, so I have to use the time between now and then to push ahead, especially if I want a pretty decent awesome draft to submit for the ABC/Disney Fellowship.

Phone rang. Nope, they hung up. Even phone calls are in short supply today. I need to call the dentist to schedule my cleaning.

I'm taking suggestions for what to spec after I finish this one. Note: I am less inclined to spec CSIs, Law & Orders, or The O.C. Everything else is in bounds.

I'd like to finish another TV spec before breaking a new feature or rewriting my first screenplay. At least I've got two TV samples to send out that way while I keep writing other stuff.

Ugh, I need a nap.

Lost fans!

You've probably already seen it, but I thought I'd link to it here: The Oceanic Air homepage. I recommend clicking around the site, particularly on the home page -- there is an area which can be dragged to see a distress message and a script page.

Looks like they write "Lost" in 6 Acts! Good info when writing a spec...

Movia mania

For the first time in a very long time, I saw a film every day this weekend. It was great.

Friday night I saw Lords of Dogtown which if you've seen the documentary is more of the same. If you haven't seen the documentary, I recommend it as I also recommend this film. The young actors, most are 'unknowns' or 'hardly knowns' are compelling. Catherine Hardwicke is a fine director and Stacey Peralta wrote a servicable if not exactly a gripping script. There's plenty of drama and tension to keep you wondering how it will all end, even if you have seen the doc. It's easy to forget the real history as you watch these boys go from scrapping along Venice Beach to fame on the skateboarding circuit.

Saturday night I took in the first film of the Cinespia season. On Saturday nights during the summer (this summer it is every Saturday) they show films on the side of the mausoleum at the Hollywood Forever cemetary. Before the show started, they informed us that we were surrounded by the remains of 95,000 people (good thing it wasn't a zombie movie on the bill). They showed Twentieth Century which is widely considered to be the birth of the screwball comedy. Starring John Barrymore and Carole Lombard the film is quick and smart and still resonant today, 70 years later. Seeing a movie out under the stars surrounded by thousands of other film lovers is a real treat. Pack a picnic dinner, show up early and pay 10 bucks each. It's well worth it.

Today I saw Cinderella Man which I found to be a well done 'feel good' film that makes me want to call my grandparents and apologize to them for having to live through the Great Depression. Russell Crowe is fantastic, there's no two ways about it. I think Akiva Goldsman cranked out some cheesy lines (it was hard to hear Renee Zellweger say 'You're the champion of my heart' without snorting my diet coke all over the seats, but somehow I restrained myself). The boxing scenes are really vibrant and exciting, a credit to Howard for keeping them constantly in motion without using 'shaky cam'. I suppose critics will call it the first 'Oscar contender' of the year, and they are probably right. In any case, it was a good film which I enjoyed.

So, a good weekend, and I got some writing done (I know, can you believe it). I have phone interviews tomorrow. Wish me luck.

The Day Job

So, as previously mentioned, I work at BIG UNNAMED COMPANY. I've worked for BUC for 9 years, most of that time in Florida, but the last 2.5 years here in L.A. BIG UNNAMED COMPANY is outsourcing most of the IT department (and if you are up on current events, you might even be able to guess what this BUC is) and so I face an uncertain future. Fortunately, I got scheduled for an interview for a position still within BUC and not at the outsourcing company. If I don't secure a position here, I will most likely end up working for the vendor. The question is, do I still want to be doing this kind of work? I'm a supervisor of the computer help desk and I have to admit, my job isn't really all that strenuous. I have time to write in the evenings. Still, do I stay on this path or do I take a significant paycut and start at the bottom of the latter in 'the business'. I hate being faced with these kinds of dilemmas.

Spec script is written through the end of Act I. I'll be writing Act II tonight.

From the comments

Here's a comment posted anonymously on a previous post:

do you use people you know as characters in your writing? are there people you won't use as characters (peole with certain relationships)?

do you write them as you know them, or do you change them for what you're writing?

I often use attributes of people I know in my writing. I've written characters who resemble in part relatives or friends of mine. I would never try to copy someone in real life, because I think that is unfair, unless I were making a biographical film. However, I think that attributes of that person (mannerisms, quirks, behaviors) are fair game and I use them often. I always make sure to use those attributes to enhance a character, not completely define him/her. I also make sure that I'm not demeaning anyone I know with the use of that characteristic.

Does anyone else have an opinion on this topic?

You are all priceless.

Seriously, I feel like doing a 'Mastercard' commercial right now. Cost of UCLA writing class $350. Copy of Lew Hunter's book: $14. Being told by actual writers to improve your writing and forget worrying about your grade: Priceless.

I incorporated a couple of the minor suggestions from the instructor but I have basically decided that I'm happy with my outline and have started writing pages. I hope to have the first draft finished by next week. I'm already 20% there (hmm, maybe I need to steal David's completion bar for my spec).

I appreciate all of the feedback, encouragement and advice. I respect working writers immensely. I also respect my fellow students and newcomers, because this ain't as easy as it looks.

Enough with the love, back to the writing.

Minor setback

I received some new notes on my outline from my instructor. Things he hasn't commented on in the last two weeks suddenly have given him concerns and I'm frustrated. I'll have to take time out from writing script pages to address possible concerns with my structure (fortunately I fixed one thing he questioned as I was writing the pages). I may only be 10% done writing script pages, but it feels like losing momentum to go back and focus on the outline.

Still, this *is* an outline writing class, so if I want to get an 'A', I'd better deal with it. Ugh.

It has begun

Weekend is going well, in case, like me, you are home slaving away on the next 'Great American Screenplay or Novel' and are home to read this. (Wow, nice run on sentence there Shawna. You call yourself a writer??)
As a matter of fact, I do. I have started the spec. I know, most of you are thinking BFD. Can't say I blame you, but it's always momentous when I start thinking about writing or talking about writing or (the worst) writing about writing and I actually start banging out my crap draft. The crap draft is what spews forth when I start typing. It comes before the really horrible draft which usually leads to the just lousy draft. The lousy draft is what I end up working with to form a first draft.
Went to an arena football game today and played pool. Sometimes it's good to live life and not be holed up away from it. I'm working on that aspect of my existence.

So, what burning questions can I answer for anybody? Doesn't need to be about writing either. Some of you have been hanging around long enough, you must be *dying* to hear me tell some tale or other of myself. I just don't know what you want to hear...

Film Friday for 5/27

It is almost the end of the month, so it's time to recap all of the new sequels, spin-offs, tv shows made into films and remakes that were given deals this month. All info can be found at Done Deals. So, what do we have for May?

• Rush Hour 3 - apparently we need more Chris Tucker paired with Brett Ratner. At this time, Jackie Chan has not signed on. Perhaps he's had his fill of Michael Jackson impersonations?
  
• All of Me - Originally this was made in 1984 with Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin. Now Wanda Sykes will star. I think I'll pass.
  
• The Prone Gunman, Rider on the Rain and Honor Among Thieves - I've grouped them together because I had never heard of them. They are remake projects all being produced by John Woo and appear to all have starred Charles Bronson in the 50s and 60s.
  
• Kung Fu Hustle 2 - I guess it did well.
  
• The Power of the Dark Crystal - I'd list this as one of the more interesting projects for the month. I really loved The Dark Crystal as a kid, so there's a little geek part of me that is happy. We'll see if it actually gets made.
  
• Tekken - Video game adaptation. This is in rewrite.
  
• The Rum Diary - While not technically a sequel, since Johnny Depp is going to Play Hunter Thompson again in this adaptation of Thompson's book, I'll throw it in here.
  
• Shutter - remake of a scary Thai film. Asian horror films are still hot!
  
• Day of the Dead - Sure, why not, we keep recycling all the other Romero zombie films.
  
• Adventures in Babysitting - NO NO NO!! And to think I respected Lynda Obst! This is a travesty, and if Hilary Duff gets anywhere near it, I'm gouging her eyes out.
  
• The Ring 3 - Hey! New character, same stupid girl in the tape!

That's it for this month. I'll update if there are any relevant deals on Tuesday, but it looks like a trend is developing, a very unsettling trend. The studios are now dipping into the 80's for remakes. This can only bring very bad things. If anyone breathes a word about remaking 'Ferris Bueller' for a new generation, I'll sic Ed Rooney on them. Ed will teach them a lesson.

Long, lost weekend

I wish I could say I have exciting plans for the weekend, but I can not as I do not. My sister and I will be making the 'big push' to finish our domestic painting this weekend, a project that started a month ago. I might get out of the asylum long enough to see a movie or do some shopping, but I see your head nodding. I'll end the boring details there.

No, I will not be drinking myself into a stupor, despite what the post title might lead you to think. More likely, I'll be finally starting to write script pages for my 'Lost' spec. The outline is complete and I'm ready to breathe some life into this sucker.

Can I just say I don't know if the 'Alias' finale was the most awesome thing I've ever seen or the lamest thing? If done correctly, next season could be a real head trip. If they fail to make sense out of it...let's just say I do not see a Season 6 in their future. That is all I'll say on the subject. For now.

HOA woes

My primary job (what I get paid for) is as a supervisor for UNNAMED LARGE COMPANY. My second job (currently unpaid) is as a writer. My third job (which I would drop in a heartbeat if allowed) is as the President of my HOA.

Last night there was smoke in the laundry room. Guess who gets their doorbell rung in the middle of the 'Lost' finale...

Yup, yours truly. So I schlep downstairs in my Winnie the Pooh slippers to see what's up. Sure enough, burning rubber smell and light smoke in the air. The VP of the HOA had called 911 so the sirens were whirring in the background as I inspected the room. I think we disappointed the firemen. We had no fire, but certainly a problem with one of the washing machines.

This is just the latest 'crisis' in a series of crises in my condo building (which has 18 units and very strange residents). We have bad pipes, electrical problems, water damage, an old elevator and we are technically broke. And, there are so many elderly residents that they prohibit us from raising the association fees to cover our expenses and needed maintenence. The building is 40 years old and shows it.

It's horrible, but I keep hoping a few will either pass on or move soon so we can actually improve our builidng and stop the unnecessary degrading of our property value.

But we are in a kickass location. I just wish I had an extra parking spot in the garage.

Whither 'Lost'?

Season finale is tonight. Of course, this is exciting for me, as I follow this show very closely, and not just because I'm writing a spec.

Some of you have wondered why on Earth I chose to spec Lost. There are two answers to this question.

• I wanted to spec 'House' but my instructor writes for that show and discouraged me from writing it as it is a very difficult show to write (and I think he didn't want to be extra hard on me, since he has such vast knowledge of the show).
  
• I refused to spec CSI, Law and Order or The O.C.

I know there are other shows I could have chosen, but I feel vindicated in my choice since I've been looking over the network pickups this fall. What do these shows have in common:

• Fathom
  
• Invasion
  
• Supernatural
  
• Threshold

They are all new hourlong dramas that deal with 'strange' or alien phenomena and appear to have an arc for an entire season. I don't know if any of them will hold on and make it, but my Lost spec might be interesting to writers of any of these shows.

I'm still writing a 'House' or some other procedural spec though. Gotta cover my bases.

Class tonight

Gearing up for class -- instructor told me in his last set of notes that my latest draft is pretty good. I've made a couple of tweaks to share with him tonight, but then I think I'm ready to go to script.

I've signed up for the summer course, just to keep my momentum going...especially while things are so topsy-turvy at work. I need something to focus on outside of that stress.

They are outsourcing at my workplace and my job is in limbo. Hopefully I'll know more in the next two weeks. This has been a long time coming and finally the hammer is falling. I wouldn't mention it, except it seems to be the overriding concern in my day to day life right now. I've always maintained that in order for this 'screenwriting thing' to work, I'd need to keep my day job. I never really planned on what to do if the day job wasn't there (besides get another one). It has me thinking about all sorts of possibilities, though the most realistic is just to find another foothold until I can get an agent/sell something. I am all about what I will do right now, I have no time to think about how much I suck or how remote the chances are that I'll succeed. Those thoughts are irrelevent. My current predicament has brought into focus what I came out to L.A. to do and I will not fail.

I just hope I don't suck. :-)

Upfront roundup - the final tally

So, there are lots of places where you can find the schedules (try here or here). One thing they may not say is what does this all mean?? In Entertainment Weekly style, I present to you the 'Winners and Losers' list:

Winners

• Jerry Bruckheimer - the man is unstoppable. He already had six shows on the air and now the networks have picked up four more. He's got Aaron Spelling in his sights. (Read more at Hollywood Reporter).
  
• Dramas - There are 19 new hourlong dramas vs. 10 new sitcoms in the network programming mix. For now, drama is where the action is...so to speak.
  
• Jim Belushi - is he not the luckiest guy on the planet?
  
• David Mamet - he actually has a midseason show. Whodathunk that David Mamet would want to break in to TV?
  
• Conservatives - CBS cancelling '60 Minutes Wednesday' may have been for ratings reasons, but conservative bloggers will still feel it a victory to have ousted Dan Rather from yet another home due to the National Guard memo scandal.
  
• Warner Brothers - Clearly they hold the keys to the show production kingdom. While Paramount and 20th Century may be close behind, Warner has more shows on the various schedules than any other production house.
  
• UPN - Yes, I know...this one seems weird. The perenial whipping boy of the upfronts actually had two bits of good news to tout (even though they cancelled 'Enterprise'). One, they renewed Veronica Mars. Two, they managed to get Chris Rock to do a sitcom with them (even if he only does voice overs and produces, it's enough for them). And hey, they still have 'WWE Smackdown!'

Losers

• Tara Reid - her sitcom for Fox didn't get picked up. Of course, IMHO she was a 'loser' before her sitcom was rejected...
  
• David E. Kelley - believe it or not, Kelley had a show rejected. As I read somewhere (sorry can't remember where) there was a time when Kelley didn't even need a pilot, they'd just buy the thing sight unseen. I guess 'Snoops' and that show he did for CBS changed that.
  
• Reality - Okay, there are still a lot of reality shows on, but the networks are only introducing 2 new reality shows ('Three Wishes' and 'The Apprentice: Martha Stewart' on NBC) this season. This is down significantly from the five to seven new shows we were seeing each fall. Thankfully, we are going to get a break from 'The Bachelor' until midseason.
  
• Donald Trump - Another strange one, you are thinking. Let me put it this way: Martha Stewart's Apprentice show is going to crush Trump's. Trump has been fun for three series, but now it's time to watch the 'Domestic Diva' put people through the ringer.
  
• Jeff Zucker - Defamer has been all over how much crow this guy has had to eat this week (last year at upfronts he boasted that 'Joey' and the rest of the NBC schedule would keep the network at #1. They fell to #4 last year. Not only that, he's been taunted by the other network heads too. Advertisers will have to consider the new NBC schedule closely before deciding where to spend their precious ad dollars.

Finally, I'd say writers are big winners. Lots of networks putting lots of faith in new product. It will be interesting to see what of the current crop of programming hits and misses with the public. Get your specs ready. Staffing season may be over, but the fun is just beginning.

Analyzing the TV schedules

All of the networks have been announcing their fall schedules this week. Lee Goldberg has links for the new schedules.

One major trend I noticed was a lack of major new reality programming. NBC has one new reality show and everyone else seems to be holding reality for summer or midseason. As a result, there are a lot of new scripted programs on the schedules. Obviously this is great news for writers as the possibility of some of these shows being successful is higher now that they aren't competing quite as much with reality fare.

I'm particularly heartened that there are a lot of 'Lost-inspired' shows on everyone's schedules. My Lost spec may actually be of some use, if I can get an agent and if any of these shows are good enough to make it. Of course, I'm still going to spec a procedural to cover my bases.

My screenwriting bookshelf

Someday maybe we'll talk about my other bookshelves (the sci-fi bookshelf, fantasy bookshelf, mystery bookshelf, non-fiction, etc) but today I'll just give you a quick run down of the books I refer to most often when I am writing and need words of wisdom, technical help or just need to procrastinate.

Of course, there are two or three which should be on every screenwriter's bookshelf:

• Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri
  
• Screenwriting 434 by Lew Hunter
  
• Making a Good Script Great by Linda Seger

I suppose if you want the true basics, you can read Aristotle's Poetics but that's up to you. It makes you sound smart to your non-writing friends if you can quote Aristotle.

Books I read for inspiration:

• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
  
• Breakfast with Sharks by Michael Lent
  
• The Right to Write by Julia Cameron

Books I refer to for advice (but not as much as the first 3):

• Creating Unforgetable Characters by Linda Seger
  
• The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler
  
• Writing Screenplays that Sell by Michael Hauge

Books I haven't really used in the last year, but I still have on my shelf:

• Screenplay by Syd Field
  
• Screenwriting: The Art, Craft, and Business of Film and Televison by Richard Walter
  
• Write Screenplays that Sell by Hal Ackerman
  
• Writing Scripts Hollywood Will Love by Katherine Atwell Herbert

Recent purchases/reads:

• 10 Minutes to the Pitch by Chris Abbott
  
• Screenplay by Disney by Jason Surrell
  
• Successful Television Writing by Lee Goldberg

I'm going to pick up Alex's book Crafty Screenwriting next chance I get. I'm always picking it up in the bookstore, but I'd like to finish it this year, so I'll just buy the damn thing already.

Now you know why I never get anything written -- I'm reading too many books!

Quick hits

Who am I voting for in the L.A. Mayoral race? Hell if I know.

All I know is I'm choosing between bad and probably just as bad but hasn't been mayor for the last four years. Some people think that Hahn has been useless the last 4 years and V-ray can't be worse. I say the devil you know is probably better than the one you don't. Still, I'm conflicted.

TV Network upfronts this week. So far, I'm not impressed with NBC's schedule. Thursday goes completely unchanged and they bench their best sitcom until midseason or so. Worse, they move "The West Wing" (which, admittedly, I think should have ended this year since I've hated it for the last 3 years and refuse to watch it now) opposite Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which I think is just folly.

Tomorrow, I get to hold my head in my hands and wonder what Andy Dick had to do to keep "Less than Perfect" on the air. I shudder to think about the possibilities, and since this is a family site and not Defamer I'll keep those horrific thoughts to myself.

Welcome to the blogosphere, Lord Vader!

Please take time to visit everyone's favorite Sith Lord Darth Vader. He's a struggling blogger, and I think we should all give him some support. Especially with that whole 'left for dead' moment with Obi-Wan. Bastard.

And no...

...I do not have the bitTorrent for Project Greenlight.

Although, I'd recommend looking here. I know of no free sites, because, like you I googled it and have not yet found it. Keep looking.

But feel free to come back and talk about screenwriting anytime!

Stop looking for Chinese Windsocks!

I don't know why, but people keep googling for 'chinese windsocks' and end up here. I mean, I like you all and it's pretty cool that you stop by, but people, my post about the Chinese invading the U.S. sock industry is not what you are looking for. Of course, now that I put 'Chinese Windsocks' in my title, I'm sure you'll be coming by in droves.

Want a chinese windsock? Try here.

Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!

More on the Lost spec

Thanks all for the great feedback and advice. It's nice to know that there are at least a few folks willing to drop a line. :-)

So, the good news: my assignment is just a 10 page outline, which is due at the end of May. I'll have a good week or so after the last episode of the season airs to work out any conflicts.

The thing I have to keep reminding myself, especially with this show, is that it is VERY serialized. One episode usually leads into the next. They haven't really done anything that stands by itself. The key is to show in my writing that I a) understand the characters and the show and b) can write a decent story. I agree that I should get rid of any blatant contradictions or repetitions, but if I have Charlie playing his guitar (which is a big part of my spec, for example as I am basing it around that character), it is not important to scratch that stuff from my story. In fact, on further reflection, I feel that some of what was used in last night's episode reinforces pieces of the story I'm writing.

As for actually writing the spec, I'll be doing that over the summer after I complete the outline. UCLA Extension offers a 'writing the script' course which follows right after the outline writing course, so I plan to enroll in it. I know there is debate as to whether classes are really that valuable, but the #1 reason I'm taking the classes is for discipline. If I know I have an assignment due, I'll actually get it done. There's nothing like a deadline to motivate a procrastinator -- even if it is at the last minute. :-)

When TV attacks

So, as you may have read here before, I'm writing a spec episode of Lost. Tonight's episode threw some monkeywrenches into my spec idea. I won't bore you with details, but here's what I have to decide. Do I:

• continue writing the spec as is and ignore new minor elements revealed in the show that are incredibly similar to things I've already outlined.
  
• alter my episode to incorporate or expound on these things.
  
• radically change my story to avoid any sense that I am 'ripping off' what has already been written.
  

My sense is that anyone reading my spec will have knowledge of the show but will (hopefully) not be a rabid fan who can spot the minor inconsistencies or similarities my spec has to these last few episodes. I started writing around episode 18 for cryin' out loud! How am I supposed to know what turn might happen around episode 22??

And I really don't want to start over...option 1 or 2 are looking good. What to do?

Studio Panic

Looking over Box Office estimates for this weekend, I'd say there are a few studio heads sweating on Monday morning. This was the 11th straight "down weekend" (meaning, less was made than the same weekend last year). Kingdom of Heaven and House of Wax both underperformed. Everyone will be scratching their heads and asking 'what's going on here?'

I'll tell ya what's going on. No one wants to see these movies. When I heard about these films months ago I thought, 'yeah, the Crusades film would be interesting as a rental, but do I really NEED to see this movie? And really, since Paris has already offered her, um, assets inadvertantly gratis, do I REALLY want to pay to see them?' Both answers were no.

Now, let's look at next weekend: J-Lo and Fonda (pass, even if my future boyfriend Michael Vartan is in it) and Will Ferrell with Robert Duvall (YES and we get Ditka thrown in to boot!!). Weekend after...well, if you don't know what comes out May 19 you are living in a hole and I can't help you. Let's just say, summer will really start then and I already have my tickets bought. My only anguish is I must wait until Saturday morning at 11:00 to see the Sith. This is so wrong for me, as I am not afraid to wave my geek flag proudly at midnight Wednesday showings and have for the first two Star Wars prequels. If you even attempt to e-mail me a spoiler I will come knocking on your door with a Wookie and a good blaster to mess you up.

Diz-knee land

I've been here the last couple of days working on the Disneyland 50th anniversary celebration. The hours are odd (it is 3 AM and I am only 3 hours into my shift) and long, but it is always fun to be in the middle of a frenzy of activity. Right now I'm in the Media Center, where media types work on their radio/tv/print pieces and eat. I'm like a "den mother", making sure things are working (especially computers) and running errands. Feels good to be in the park and away from my desk.

Class was good Tuesday night. I have most of my scenes figured out and I can start writing the outline for the first act (with summaries of each scene). When I'm finished, it will be nine or ten pages. The teaser and Act I should be about three.

I'd like to have it done in two weeks so I can get started writing the spec. Momentum is on my side and rolling. Life is good.

Sorry I've been MIA for a week. Life intrudes often -- we've been painting our condo, entertaining family, writing, living...I promise when I'm done with this press event thing I'll give you my take on "Hitchhiker's Guide"...

A little less conversation, a little more action please

Got my revised 2-page outline ready for class tonight, but I'm still feeling like a slacker. I need to seriously do some actual writing soon. Lately I've been just sitting around doodling in notebooks, acting all conteplative, while I'm actually thinking about who will win "American Idol" this time.

One thing I've been pondering about lately: when did sitcoms get so bad? I find most sitcoms on TV intolerable for more than a minute or two and once 'Raymond' and 'Arrested Development' finish their runs, I'm not sure what is left to watch. How did we arrive at this place that sitcoms suck and suck very very much? Where is a Taxi or a Cheers (early seasons) or even a Roseanne? Oh yeah, Nick at Nite...

Latest TV and Film News

Not that I'm a great resource for breaking news, but since I'll be talking about remakes, sequels and TV to Film adaptations in my Film Friday later this week, I thought I'd just point out that Wil Ferrell is going to be in the "Land of the Lost" movie.

Ah yes, you can smell the fresh ideas like last month's milk...

Erased

Since I'm taking a TV writing class, I'm watching and recording a fair amount of TV shows. I had to go to Orlando last week for work, which made it more critical to have my DVR in working order. I had about 80 hours of programming saved on the harddrive.

Hard drive crashed today. Wiped out all programs, before I could watch the programs I recorded from this week. House, Lost, Alias, 24, Project Greenlight, even Low Carb and Lovin' It! (My favorite Food Network show) are all gone. I've now lost two weeks of House and Alias I hadn't seen and God knows that I'm in trouble trying to write my Lost spec without my episodes at hand to refer to.

I'm in mouring. It's a dark day in the Benson household. Dish Network will pay for this tragedy!

I'm home

Just got home about an hour ago. I like traveling, but hate the actual travel part, especially on planes. Anyway, looking forward to getting things caught up tomorrow...

Out of pocket

I hope to keep you updated this week on all my writings and goings on. It may be a little more spotty than usual though as I'll be in Orlando on business. In fact, my flight leaves in 3 hours and I haven't packed.

My happy news for the day is my class instructor mostly liked my spec outline. I have some character issues to work out, but I think the story is pretty much there. I hate that I'm going to miss class this week.

Thanks to everyone for the really great comments!! I feel so special, and not in that short bus kind of way, either.

Last thing: I saw "The Amityville Horror" last night. How crazy is it if the best thing about the movie is Ryan Reynolds? That dude is RIPPED. It really helps to see terrible movies at the Arclight 21+ screening. Good movies get better and bad movies become watchable with a couple of alcoholic beverages at your side.

Is this thing on?

So, I had my TV class last night. It's good, it gets my brain working, even at 7 PM. Trying to think of clever plot points is very difficult when you close in on 10 PM, but my instructor's insistence on juice and cookies does help us get through the midway point in the class and down the home stretch.

There are 20 people in the class, so it can get exhausting listening to everyone pitch their stories and the rest of the class dissecting it, trying to find what will make the story really intriguing or at least workable. Fortunately, we'll be splitting into discussion groups in the next week or two so I'll only have to focus on maybe four or five other stories instead of 20.

But, it was weird last night. I felt like I was talking to myself a lot. When I was in the UCLA Professional Program last year, it was not only commonplace, but required that you get involved in other people's projects, help throw out suggestions and ideas. Most of the people in the room last night have either written very little or no scripts at all, and as I threw out ideas to people about their stories or posed dilemmas or questions about what they had pitched, I felt the silence in the room as if people were thinking "who is this FREAK who thinks she has all these wonderful ideas? How DARE she criticize my story or suggest something completely off base from my idea?" I'm certainly not trying to best someone's ideas, but the whole point of these classes is that you throw out an idea, and maybe someone builds on your suggestion or finds another way to take it, which is even better. You WANT someone to come up with a better idea than you did. Still, I couldn't help feeling I had a huge target on my chest and I should really just shut up.

Am I wrong to try to help people? Am I being too pushy? I just don't know.

Deconstructing other TV shows/films

If you want to learn to write good structure, one of the best ways is to write a narrative beat sheet for a TV show or film to understand that structure. Basically, you sum up a scene or "events" in a series of statements. For example:

• Jack sends Kate to get Sawyer's alcohol
  
• Kate finds Sawyer and takes what alcohol he has before dashing back through the jungle.
  
• In the jungle, Kate finds Claire having contractions and calls for help.
  
• Jin finds Kate and Claire; Kate asks him to go get Jack and bring him back.
  

It isn't about recording the dialogue (unless it is an event unto itself) or how people feel. It is about recording the events and how one event leads to another. By deconstructing TV episodes or films you start to get a feel for the rhythms of structure. If you pay closer attention, you can start to find the inciting incident, the mid-point, the end of each Act, etc as you pick apart the story into a series of "beats" or events.

I just finished my homework assignment for this week, which was to do exactly this for the show I plan to spec. It was on my mind, so I thought why not share?

Learn to Pitch

If you read the same blogs I do, you probably already read about Chris Abbott's new book which she will be signing at the Barnes & Noble at The Grove on Wednesday April 13 at 7:30 PM. What is particularly cool is that Abbott will be giving people the chance to pitch projects and then with advice from the book, assist their pitches and let them pitch again. Sounds like a fun time!

(Hat tip: A Writer's Life (Lee Goldberg))

The picture

I wasn't sure about putting an actual photograph of myself on my blogger profile. For one thing, it is out of date. I won't say how long out of date but more than three years, less than eight. As soon as I get around to it I'll put a more recent photo up. That was the only one I had on a pre-existing website that I could point to.

So I'm no longer in my twenties (I'm 30). You take what you can get.

On another topic, progress made on the spec today. I think I have most of my story figured out. The trick is trying not to rehash what has already been covered in the show, but not going too far afield with my own ideas. There's a definite trick to it. Why oh why didn't I think about doing an episode of CSI or something? Those don't expose you to tinkering with existing characters. Those types of shows (procedurals) in the vein of CSI, Law & Order, etc. barely develop their main character's stories at all. Standalone episodes are easy to write. Insert crime of the moment "ripped from the headlines". Rinse. Repeat. I would choose something episodic, something harder to pull off.

This makes me a glutton for punishment. And an idiot.

*sigh* Good to know I never change much.

Hullo new readers!

I see I got added to a couple of blogrolls recently (Thanks Alex at Complications Ensue!) Welcome new visitors. This site is mostly about screenwriting and my journey to become a paid, working screenwriter or TV writer. There are a lot of politics related links and yes, they are conservative politics in nature. I don't hide from my political beliefs and I'm not ashamed, though Hollywood would deem me to be poison, I aim to prove that I am as capable of producing terrible product as they are (actually, I'm out to prove that I can write stuff people want to see). So, even if you don't agree with my politics, stick around as I love to converse with writers of all shapes and sizes. I think we are all a strange breed anyway so why discount each other because we see the world differently? Isn't that what it's all about, describing the world as we see it? The fun is in the differences...

And yes, I'm obviously procrastinating from my real writing. Thanks for noticing.

Registered!

I finally WGA registered my first screenplay "China Joe" and my first TV pilot script which I cowrote called "Sistercritics/My Shadow and Me" (we can't decided on a title).

You can't mess with my work now!! I'm registered!

And now, back to writing new stuff.

So you wanna be a screenwriter?

Are you insane?

Reasons NOT to be a screenwriter:

• Screenwriters are not showered with attention and loving praise. Typically writers are a "necessary evil" in the film/tv biz.
  
• Sure you might get paid a lot for one script -- after you've written 12 that were rejected.
  
• Unless you can say "I don't mind writing for direct to video" and mean it, you should not be a screenwriter.
  
• You'd better like coffee. Or insomnia.
  
• Be prepared for producers, directors, actors and everyone else to find ways to take your carefully crafted story and destroy it.
  
• Worse, they might make it better. That's a humbling experience, I'm sure.
  
• oh, and the main reason, not to be a screenwriter: it actually requires you to write. Bonus points for writing well. Double word score if you can put together a story with interesting characters with a unique voice that demands the audience's attention.
  

Now, if none of that puts you off the idea of writing a screenplay, just remember, there are thousands more like you who are just as insane trying to sell something that they too have poured sweat and blood into for days on end while they try to juggle a day job or maybe even a kid or two.

Somehow I've decided to ignore my own advice and keep pressing on. I'm watching episodes of "Lost" over and over again in preparation for writing my spec. I'm still trying to get past page 65 in my current screenplay, which may be put on indefinite hold while I write the spec.

Why do I want to do this? Oh yeah, because I can't NOT do it... OCD is a bitch.

Lagged

Okay, so, too much death in the air this last week. It was really bringing down my mood. Writing has dwindled. BUT good news! My new UCLA class started last night - writing hour long TV dramas - so I have a fresh writing project, a spec script for an existing show. I'm going to be writing a spec for "Lost" one of my fave new shows, and over the next 10 weeks I'll share my progress with you.

Right now, all I have is a nebulous idea. My assignment next week is to write a paragraph on the central idea for my script.

Update: ACF/LA Press Club Panel

Cathy's World has an article up on the panel with links to other blogs with reports on it - some with actual quotes (I wish I had remembered to bring pen/paper). Really great stuff.

This was a fantastic event. Can't wait for another. (Hopefully I won't feel as sick as I did on Saturday next time)

Mass Market, Smart Writers

I attended the American Cinema Foundation and L.A. Press Club Mass Market, Smart Content Panel held at AFI (that's a lot of sponsors). The worst part of the story was I felt pretty nauseous about halfway through the panel. I actually had to duck out and get some fresh air, just so I could keep going. No idea why I felt so sick. It was pretty warm and stuffy in the theater...could have been a catalyst. Anyway, enough of my personal issues...on to the panel itself.

Cathy Seipp moderated a panel of grade A TV writers: Tim Minear (exec. producer for "Angel", "Firefly", "Wonderfalls" and the new series "The Inside", to air on Fox), Paul Feig (producer of "Freaks and Geeks", director for "Arrested Development"), Rob Long (exec. producer of "Cheers", "George & Leo", and other short-lived sitcoms), and Scott Kaufer (exec. producer of "Boston Legal", "Gilmore Girls" and writer for "Arli$$" and "The Chris Isaak Show").

These are smart guys.

They all talked about cancellation. Rob has had five sitcoms cancelled and told a sad tale of how he got cancelled on the way to a meeting to discuss what the next 12 episodes were supposed to be. Paul mentioned the sadness of knowing there are 7 million viewers for your show, but you still get cancelled (Freaks and Geeks had a very loyal following and the DVD sales have been phenomenal). Tim has had his share of cancellations too, but all of them agreed that the sadness and anger doesn't come from being cancelled, it comes from HOW they are cancelled or when. Network execs are always looking for the insta-hit and if a show doesn't perform or take off within a matter of two or three weeks, it could be well on its way to oblivion.

How do they deal with censors? Smoking appears to be the big TV no-no these days. Tim had a character on "Wonderfalls" last year who smoked, but this year they nixed a character smoking in his new show. They all agreed that the Janet Jackson debacle has made the networks very nervous. Everyone wishes they could work for HBO (of course), but when it comes to the networks the censors are ever vigilant. Tim's new show deals with serial killers. Ironically, the censors are ultra concerned about sex, but Tim can get away with all sorts of violent scenes including blood and gore. Paul mentioned that he did feel a responsibility to portray his characters positively. When "Freaks and Geeks" was developed and written, most of the characters smoked. When it came time to actually shoot the actors, Paul and others realized that these are real kids who are "cool" without smoking. If they smoked, it would send a signal to teens that it was cool. He noted that TV is a powerful medium and sometimes what looks good on the page just doesn't translate, especially when it comes time to instruct actors -- kid actors who are really just kids.

Demographics: How do they address the issue of desired demographics for shows and the seeming gap of characters who are outside the 18-49 demo? All of the panelists acknowledged that there is pressure to attract the 18-49 demo and also to fulfill diversity recommendations. Scott shrugged about this, since "Boston Legal" has few lead characters in this age range (Shatner is in his 70's, Candice Bergen is almost 60, and James Spader is 45). Somehow his show is still successful. For him, it comes down to the smart writing, the appeal of the show and the strong lead-in ("Desperate Housewives", a double edged sword he noted). As for the others, Rob Long said if you are building a family for a sitcom, all of the ages are going to be covered. He did have one network request that he ethnically mix a family once. He declined, as that was not the point of the show. Tim had an African-American female on his show in a lead role and the network fired her and she was replaced with a white actress. The network requested he put a new African-American character on the show, which he did. Overall, they do not write to diversity and they try not to write to stereotypes (like making the only black character on the show the villain).

Product placement: The last two years have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of product placement in TV shows. Are the writers impacted by this change? Scott pointed out that "Boston Legal" has run into this, with ABC scrubbing the mention of Fox News in an episode and that they cannot reference "Viagra" directly but rather "little blue pills" as apparently this kind of product placement can upset other sponsors like Cialis. Apparently some shows are more impacted than others, but it is an issue they face as they either try to include references to brands (even candy bars can raise ire) or brands are pushed on them from the network (Alias and 24 always feature Ford vehicles as Ford is major sponsor for both shows).

Residuals: With the boom in DVD sales and the use of Tivo the marketplace is changing. Certainly they all wish the WGA would get a new agreement in place to increase the amount of money writers make from DVD sales (currently it is about 2 to 4 cents per DVD sold). No one could predict three years ago that shows which had a short life span like "Firefly", "Freaks and Geeks" and "Wonderfalls" would sell well on DVD, but each of theses shows has done very well in this format. The future is unknown on where the new technology will lead for how content is treated, but the old standard of syndication may not be new standard in this day. "Arrested Development" has critical praise but a very small audience. Under the old model it probably wouldn't make it to syndication. It does however make it to DVD where it sells. All the writers agree that how a network chooses to launch a show can make the difference between life and death, but if they launch is good and there still is no audience, they have no one to blame but themselves (I take it this doesn't really happen THAT much as it appears that in the case of most of the shows these writers have developed or written the networks mangled the launching, scheduling or promotion).

Overall the panel was funny and entertaining. Cathy did a great job moderating and most of the audience questions were intelligent and relevant. I wish I hadn't felt so horrible that I missed a few minutes here and there throughout.

Television is tough to break into, but features are even more of a crapshoot. At least with TV there are lots of shows that are developed every year, a few that make it to the air, and most of those get cancelled and the cycle starts again. Cathy started the panel by noting that a lot of films these days are garbage, but there is a lot of great smart entertainment on TV.

I think she is absolutely right.

Interesting writer's panel Sat 3/19

Found it at the American Cinema Foundation website (Hat tip: The Corner) Here's the description:

7:00 pm, Reception follows
MASS MARKET, SMART CONTENT

How some successful television writers manage to keep their distinct viewpoints.

Moderator: Cathy Seipp, Independent Women's Forum, National Review Online

Tim Minear (executive producer: "The Inside", "Wonderfalls", "Angel", "Firefly")

Paul Feig (creator and executive producer: "Freaks & Geeks"; director: "Arrested Development"; director and writer, the feature film "I Am David"; author of the essay collection "Kick Me: Adventures In Adolescence")

Rob Long (co-creator and co-executive producer: "Men, Women & Dogs", "Love & Money", "George & Leo". Co-executive producer: "Cheers". Author: "Conversations With My Agent". Columnist: National Review. Radio commentator: KCRW)

Scott Kaufer (co-executive producer: "Boston Legal". writer: "Gilmore Girls", "Chris Isaak Show", "Beggars & Choosers". Editor-in-chief: California magazine)

Admission to both events is free but seating is limited. Please RSVP to acinema@cinemafoundation.com or (310) 286.9420. www.cinemafoundation.com

I'm really excited to listen to Paul Feig and Tim Minear speak. Actually, all of these guys are great writers (and Cathy Seipp is awesome. I've read her blog for awhile, so it will be cool to see her in person).

Anyway, call or e-mail if you are interested in the event (and it is only a few blocks from my condo!)

Film Friday for 3/11

It's Film Friday here at 'Shouting'. I'm late on this by over a week, but hey, you ain't payin' for this roundup anyway. Time to look at the latest batch of deals done in H'wood, particularly if it is a sequel, a TV show being made into a film or a remake of a previous film. Remember our motto: No good film goes with out a remake, and no bad film goes without a sequel. On to the deals for February...

I'm going to have to add a category for Adaptations of books/graphic novels. Problem is, so many of the current deals are for these properties, that's going to be a long post. For the time being, we'll stick with our usual highlights of films to be remade, TV shows to be made into films and sequels/prequels.

First, on the obscure front, will be a remake of a 1987 Norwegian film, Pathfinder. Here's an odd point: Ken Watanabe is set to star (He is the Japanese co-star to Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai), but the film is apparently about Native Americans and Vikings!?!

Next comes a remake based on a documentary (so I guess they are using it as a basis for a biopic), Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story about boxing.

Casino Royale is being batted around again as the next Bond film. This was of course made in the 60s with Peter Sellars, Woody Allen and others.

The Family Jewels - Remake of the 1965 Jerry Lewis film.

One Missed Call - Remake of a Japanese film. Japanese horror/suspense is still hot!

Peter and the Starcatchers - Technically a book first, it is a prequel to "Peter Pan" written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Looks like it will be CGI.

Puss in Boots - Spinoff from "Shrek 2" of the 'adored' character.

Star Trek IX - No idea who will be in it, but gosh darnit it is time for another Star Trek movie!

If you are looking for the hottest new script purchased or the latest novel/graphic novel optioned, you should always go to Done Deals for the latest.

Life butts in

This has generally been an awesome week for my writing pursuits. I made some new contacts, added great websites to my blogroll, made some significant progress on the current project, and signed up for a new class next month. Things seem to be going well, but...

Stuff at work has been weighing on me this week. I'm still dealing with HOA issues. And the plumbers had a problem which soaked and probably destroyed most of the better suits in my closet. I currently have several fans and a couple of dehumidifiers running non-stop to try to clean up the mess.

Just reminds me that there is a yin and yang. Somehow, I'm still smiling. Weary, but smiling.

A Jar Jar moment

Hey! Meesa Jar Jar Binks. Nice lady lessme tALKa to all meesa new friends on dis wongabanga thinga. Jar Jar no spakelike nicey lady buta meesa try banga hard. Yousa read nice lady postings, okeyday? Moiee-moiee! Meesa goooooo now. Nicey lady! Acka! Pleeeesa stopa dis chokey JaJa! Whyse? Whyse yous choka da Binkss?

Ack. Ack.

[Ahem.]

I'd like to apologize for that outburst. We new return you to rare posting and normal writer behaviour...whatever that is.

Keeping writer's hours

I'm just getting started. Granted, I won't be working too long because my eyes are already so strained from staring at my computer all day during my paid gig. Still, must get to page 60 tonight. I've still got 10 pages to go to hit this week's goal (I'm on page 58). Then I had the discussion with my sister regarding the rewrite. I want to try to get it in shape to enter in a couple of contests that have May and June deadlines. That requires finishing the script in the next three weeks, getting people to read it and rip it apart, then spend a month rewriting, getting another read with more notes, polish and submit.

It's going to be tight. I'm psyched.

As to the TV spec, if anyone knows anyone at Fox TV that has access to a script for House, MD drop me a line. I have an idea for that show, but I don't have their show format and it is such a new show it cannot be found online yet, not even at Drew's Script-orama.

Attack of the secondary characters

So, I'm on page 58. Things are breezing along, which is really rare for me. I hit a scene I was loving to death, so much so it went on a page too long and I had to immediately go cut it back. But then I discovered, to my horror, that one of my secondary characters is trying to TAKE OVER MY STORY!! I don't know how that happened but that little s.o.b. Manny is trying to steal Dennis's story right out from underneath him. I'm not sure how to beat him back and bring Dennis to more prominance. This always happen to me. I get a kick out of one of my secondary characters and before you know it, that person is far more interesting than the main character.

Maybe I should put my main character in the background on purpose. If I did that, maybe I'd get the balance correct for a change!!

Now must go shave 'angry Manny' scene. Progress halted.

UPDATE: I wish I could claim to be the first to 'live blog' a screenplay (thanks for the link, Rick, I've missed you!), but alas, that honor probably goes to this guy. Still, I don't mind expanding my horizons and who knows, maybe I'm number two. I can live with that.

I still haven't solved my Manny dilemma. Old coot. He's getting in my way. If he's not careful, I might just kill him off. No, can't do that...really screws up the story. *sigh*

How to Succeed in Screenwriting without Quitting Your Day Job

I hope someday to be able to write a book with that title. Of coure, it will actually require me to be successful at screenwriting...and keeping said job.

Right, now I can only discern one major success point. Actually writing. I have spent countless hours reading about writing, thinking about writing, and maybe even writing about writing, but the act of firing up Final Draft and pounding out pages is the only way I know to get any closer to the success end of the scale. Does my writing suck? Heck yes it does!! But I know that if I keep writing and rewriting eventually it won't suck as much, and someone might actually think it doesn't suck except just a tiny bit. It will be a momentous day if someone tells me I don't suck. That would be cool.

Right now, I'll deal with the suckage and just try to get through it. Page 56. This week's goal: Page 68. Twelve pages. Nothin' but net. And I got some sweet sweet 'angry Manny' scenes to write...

Welcome to halfway

Page 55 and feeling groovy. Yeah, I might actually finish this thing. Of course, it is horrible and needs about 3 rewrites, but hey, it's the first draft that is the hardest, right?

Right??

Then, on to the TV spec. Outline is coming together nicely...

Choose your own adventure screenwriting

I loved those books as a kid. If you were a child of the 80's as I was, you may have memories of "if you look in the box, turn to page 28" and then when you went to page 28, a horrible death awaited you. Or not. Anyway...

I'm kinda playing out one of those books on my computer right now, except mine reads "If Sean leaves the dental practice and starts his own, go to page 44. If Sean stays with the practice and something else happens at the dinner table yet to be defined by the writer, delete the last 5 pages."

I hate not knowing what to write. And I blame my outline. It sucks. I need to go back and rethink the structure.

Argh!

Creative corner

New feature here on the blog (we'll see how this goes over with the 5 of you who continue to visit). I'll post a scenario, you come up with the spicy creative dialogue!

Dinner scene: Mother, Father, 2 kids. One of the kids has a secret. Mom does too.

So, are the secrets related? Not? How will the family react? Age of the kids?

I'll post my scenes later. For now, think on it. Get your creative juices flowing...

Writing update

It's been awhile since I've updated anyone on my current projects, so here's the latest:

China Joe: Awaiting a rewrite. I think Joe's going to become a more active character thanks to great notes I've gotten on the first draft. Biggest problem I had with this script was that my main character is too passive. The secondary characters were really moving the story forward, rather than him. That will change in the second draft (and the screenplay will be better for it). Logline (for those who don't know what I'm talking about): A Chinese man travels to Juneau, Alaska during the gold rush and faces prejudice and hardships (action/western) Yeah, I'm working on fixing the logline since it sounds lame. Sue me.

Arch Rivals: I'm on page 43. I had only written the first act of this and it had stalled but I'm picking it back up and working on it. This is my primary writing project right now. Logline: After his partner retires, a middle-aged dentist faces new competition in the form of his partner's grandson who takes over the dental practice in a small town. (Comedy)

Untitled Winery Prison Story: On hold. My sister and I are still banging out the second act. Logline: A controversial rehabilitation program is started in a California prison as prisoners become wine makers and must fight to win respect for themselves and their wine. (Yeah yeah the loglines suck. I'm working on it!)

The Rosemont: This is the horror film, which I'm giddy about, but I still don't have a 3rd act, so on the shelf it goes while I work on finishing Arch Rivals. This is the scary condo building story.

Untitled sitcom: Sister is currently focused on her own project so this collaboration will have to wait until she finishes her short film.

That's it for now. Too many irons in the fire. I'm hoping at least one of these ideas doesn't suck.

Shouting into the Rain

It is windy, but this rain is un-freakin'-believable. I've lived in Florida with hurricanes off the coast. I've lived in the Midwest with tornadoes randomly striking. I've never been through this much rain! Fortunately, I am safe from mudslides (I hope). Time to check the patios to see if we are flooded yet...

The Dead Zone

January and February are notorious for being "dumping months" for films. Films that are terrible or won't attract a large audience are slated to be released this month and then die a slow death.

But something strange is happening this year.

Some of the films being released are still terrible or at least not worthy of summer or Christmas marketing dollars, but people are going to see them. Some of these movies aren't just making money, they are making A LOT of money. Let's look at some examples:

Hitch: It's been out 2 weeks and has made $94 million. This is a new record for romantic comedies released for Valentine's day. Of course, it was pricey for a romcom, but it is still in the profit zone at this point.

Are We There Yet?: By rights, this film should have made $10 million and disappeared into the ether. Instead this juvenille Ice Cube helmed comedy has made $71 million and counting. The cost? $32 million. I see an Are We There Yet Again? in the future with that kind of bank rolling in (and still rolling in!)

Boogeyman, White Noise, Darkness and Hide and Seek: Varying levels of profit for these four horror films, but each has made a profit, and that's the point of this. These films are making money!

Of course, there's always the exception. I'm sure the studio thought Elektra could do no wrong -- hot chick, action movie, dead release schedule. However, people could smell the stinker from miles away and stayed away. This weekend Son of the Mask was released and made about $10 million. It cost $84 million, so this one proves the point too. There is no saving a truly horrible film, no matter what time of year you release it.

But here's my point. There's clearly an audience out there to see even halfway decent films (and even some terrible ones). Shouldn't Hollywood get its act together and start taking advantage of this? A few films have this year and I'm sure some of the success was a shocker.

Now The Dead Zone that is post-Labor Day pre-Halloween...that's going to need some work.

The Chris Rock Conspiracy

So, you've probably read in the last few days the 'furor' over some of Chris Rock's raunchy comedy. You've heard the Academy is "concerned" or "worried" what he might say during the Oscars. And today, Rock has said that he won't drop the F-bomb at the rate of people thanking their agents at the awards show.

Don't pay attention to any of it.

Let me tell you something, Gil Cates and the Academy know exactly what they are doing. No one was talking about the Oscars. Nobody. Until this news started hitting early in the week, barely anyone thought about the Oscars. Why is that? Well, let's take a look at the nominees:

The Aviator $83.6 million made to date
Ray $74.7 million made to date
Sideways $53.9 million made to date
Million Dollar Baby $46.9 million made to date
Finding Neverland $42.5 million made to date

The Best Picture winner last year, Return of the King made $377 million dollars. These five pictures have grossed $303 million. COMBINED. Hardly anyone has seen any one of these films! None of them have broken $100 million, the first sign that a large number of people have seen your movie. Now, does box office equate to quality? Not necessarily (just look at some of the films that have made $200 million or more in the last few years). But, box office does translate to popularity of some degree. People watched the Oscars last year and the year Titanic won Best Picture and lots of other awards because they had actually seen the movie. They had something to root for. Who watches a show when they haven't even seen what's nominated.

Enter our friend, controversy.

How do you get people to watch something when they have no personal stake in the proceedings? You create controversy. They way they chose to gin it up this year was to a) tap Chris Rock as host and then b) remind people how "risky" a choice this was for the Academy. Gil Cates, the producer of the Oscars, is sitting back laughing himself silly while people worry whether Rock will "slip up" during the show or "offend people". That's the only way Cates can assure ABC that there will be any audience for this show.

So, if you were going to watch the Oscars anyway, ignore all of this. If you weren't going to watch it, do you really think any of this controversy should really change your mind? Do you really think he'll do anything that could land him a brand spanking new indecency fine of 500 grand?

I don't think so.

A needed Oscar category

Ran across this item today. Groups representing the stuntmen on films want the Academy to create an award for 'Best Stunt Coordinator.'

In a joint statement that the groups plan to release next week, they wrote: "Stunt performers are the only faction of the movie industry that must literally risk their lives for the sake of their art. ... The talent and expertise that is required of a stunt coordinator to be both creative and safe is enormous and highly deserving of academy recognition."

I have to agree. If costumes, makeup, sound and visual effects can be nominated, why not stuntmen and women who work hard to a) make us believe the stunt is dangerous and yet are able to do it safely and b) make us believe it is the actor or actress actually performing the stunt. That is hard work, and it deserves to be recognized. Of course, the Academy is blowing them off.

Film Friday for 1/28

If it is Friday and the end of the month, it isn't just FILM FRIDAY here at 'Shouting' but FANTASTIC FILM FRIDAY!! That means we look at the latest batch of deals done in H'wood, particuarly if it is a sequel, a TV show being made into a film or a remake of a previous film. Remember our motto: No good film goes with out a remake, and no bad film goes without a sequel. On to the deals...

January is a fairly slow month for dealmaking, since the bigshots are still too hung over from their New Year's parties and too busy lurking around Sundance looking to scoop up work that they wouldn't greenlight themselves but someone else managed to make on little to no money. Still, some projects of note:

Harry and the Butler - A remake of a 1962 Danish film (boy, at least they went obscure on this one). Anthony Hopkins and Morgan Freeman will star.

Tron - remake of the 1982 film.

Spider-Man 3 - yet another franchise film. Sam Raimi, director of the first two, will direct this one also (so there's hope).

Toy Story 3 - Provided that they can find anyone in town who dares to risk never working at Pixar.

Yours, Mine and Ours - Remake of 1968 Lucille Ball/Henry Fonda film starring Dennis Quaid this time.

Not too bad this month. Of course, there were lots of novels snatched up this month for film treatments (the most well known probably being "The Corrections" by Johnathan Franzen).

Your viewing assignment this weekend, should you choose to see a film will be to see Hotel Rwanda if it is playing at a theater near year. I will be seeing Sideways so I can comment with some semblance of authority on whether Paul Giamatti was dissed for an Oscar nomination.

This man is a genius!

A man finds the perfect way to enjoy escaping from an avalanche. He drank 60 bottles of beers and peed his way out. This so sounds like something the McKenzie brothers would do...

Oscar Nominations are In!

I'll be commenting in detail later. I still have two of the "Best Picture" noms to see. Get the whole list at Oscar.com.

Let me just say, Hotel Rwanda and The Passion were two of the best films I saw last year and they were both left out of the Best Picture category.

A grim reminder

Thailand may look like a destroyed island paradise, but remember there are predators aplenty there. Numerous stories are reporting the disappearance of a tsunami survivor, a 12 year old Swedish boy. They fear he may have been kidnapped by the child trafficking industry.

And in countries where as many as 1 on 4 people may have been killed by the natural disaster, the U.N. feels that overseas adoption of orphaned children may not be appropriate and will most likely be blocked. God forbid many of these children be given an opportunity at a better life in Western countries with families who desperately want children. Instead, we'll let them continue to live without families in orphanages. Let's hope they don't fall prey to the traffickers.

Surprise!

In case I didn't mention it (not sure if I did), my sister and I own a condo here in L.A. (hence, the HOA thing). Well, our parents showed up on our doorstep on Sunday, unannounced. It was a fantastic surprise.

I'm mostly looking forward to my dad assisting with getting the heat fixed (it was 40 degrees last night -- brrr!)

In case it isn't obvious, there may not be much activity this week, due to the holiday. I'm going to try to stay active until Wednesday night, but we'll see. You can always catch up with me later. I understand.

I am now the president

...of our Homeowners Association.

What have I done?

Excuses

Work has been really busy lately. And we still don't have heat in our condo after 3 weeks. More electricians should be coming soon.

Sorry I haven't been able to update more. I'll try to get back to a normal schedule in a week.

Until then, check out some of the other blogs on my blogroll. They are all there because they are some of the best bloggers in the world.

Of course, don't take my word for it...

Blogging vacation

I won't be blogging much the rest of the week, as I am getting Lasik surgery today and I will be restricted in even USING a computer for the next couple of days!

I'm looking forward to seeing the world without glasses for the first time in 22 years...

There will be lots to discuss when I return. The work is not done.

Socks in the news

No, not the Boston Red Sox, but rather socks. Like, what you wear on your feet. Think I'm kidding? Read this.

Signaling that it plans to get tough with China, the Bush administration said Friday that it would curb imports of socks from that Asian nation because they posed a "significant" threat to the U.S. sock industry.

James Jochum, assistant secretary of commerce, said a 4,200% surge in imports from China of wool, synthetic-fiber and cotton socks over the last three years threatened U.S. makers, contributing to a 15% decrease in their production and employment. Over that time, the average wholesale price of Chinese-made socks dropped by more than half to $5.11 from $11.54, he said.

"This administration, when it is presented with a strong factual case, will not hesitate to enforce our trade laws," Jochum said.

Do not mess with the U.S. sock industry!!

If it can happen for the Boston Red Sox...

...go Cubbies in 2005!

...and we all breathed freely again.

My sister got a new job (did I mention she left the last one a month ago?) and I am now much relieved.

Back to normal life.

Superman Dead?

Drudge Report breaks news that Christopher Reeve has died suddenly today. If the report is true, the family will make a statement on Monday. I certainly hope it is not true, but I am sure that if it is, Reeve walks in heaven, once more.

Everyone will mention Superman and Somewhere in Time as his most well known performances. I personally loved him in The Remains of the Day. Not a huge role for him, but he is wonderful in the film (which is rather timely, now that I think about it) playing a Senator who goes to England and tries to convince British aristocracy that they should not follow the appeasement of Neville Chamberlain, but rather stay vigilant of Hitler and beware his motives.

I will continue to hope against hope that this report is untrue, though I note sadly that it is unlikely Drudge would break the news if it wasn't...

My home town makes the L.A. Times

Wow. My hometown of Morton, Illinois is written up in the Los Angeles Times. I'm too stunned to comment. Here's the link.