Is that your final answer?

Yes. Handed it in. Good thing a million dollars isn't riding on this one!

Finished for the term, but not for the project. Sent it to my Mom, we'll see how she likes it.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!!!!!!

Words, words, words, I'm so sick of words...

Anybody get the reference?

Anywho -- worked on the screenplay all day yesterday...made some progress-- need to make oh so much more. I think I'm starting to think of these characters as real people (a little late in the game, yes, but a good improvement)...What actually makes SENSE for them, given their wants, needs and loves. Hopefully this will round out the story and make fuller characters...

Thought I had kicked my sore throat, but I can feel it coming back again! Orange Juice...?

Ready ready ready to write

This blog is short, because I am working on my screenplay.

I just mapped out each of the three main characters' arcs, so I know how they should be reacting in each scene. We'll see if that helps.

:-P

Does anyone else get REAAAAALLLY annoyed that Blogger doesn't seem to be able to tell you when you have a comment update? Am I stupid? Am I missing the "This will make your life easier" button on the site? I still don't understand why Reader in Google can't just send you an e-mail saying someone's updated their page either? My mind is scattered enough as it is...I SHOULD be able to remember to click to the Reader portion, but honestly -- I can't.

I am going to investigate the "My Account" tab more thoroughly, and probably regret posting this message.

C'est la vie.

Blargh. Blog.

Soooo. Two weeks into last week I had a terrible cold and spent most of my time sleeping or hacking up a lung. This past week I progressively got better and started picking up the pieces of my schoolwork. I have to be honest that this screenplay has fallen by the wayside these past few weeks, by no fault of its own.

I also decided to work on America's Got Talent this weekend. Again, poor screenplay.

I HAVE made some edits though, (the same ones twice because my computer decided to delete the first set :-P >:( )

I am excited to furiously attack this screenplay (in a loving, make-over kind of way) pretty much non-stop in hopes that it will come out gorgeous.

We shall see. And I really do bemoan my lack of diligence in this.

:(

Onward, ever onward.

Oh boyoboyoboyoboy.

Have not made much progress from the first draft except thinking about the characters and which scenes should be either re-worked to accomplish something or nixed completely. I have already read through the script and made my own notes for changes...the next step is to just hammer those out.

Going to be a busy week of re-writes...and a philosophy exam.

:)

T-minus...

...how many hours? Don't actually want to think about it. I am now about to attempt to put the finishing touches on my first draft -- also known as making sure it makes SOME sense and then making sure there's a nicely tied bow on it, or some brightly colored wrapping. Or something.

Anyway, still wondering if the tone of this film is even, and what I can do to raise the stakes all around for all involved, at all times.

Also hoping beyond hope that they miraculously have Screenwriter in the labs once again, although I'm doubtful (I know, what happened to the hope?). Otherwise, I will be stalking anyone who happens to have it on their laptop. You've been warned.

I hope you all have already tied up your bows and packaged your screenplays in brightly colored paper and are now resting on your laurels, having already sent your files to Matt and are smiling pityingly at my post. I do. And I hope you are dreaming sweet dreams now, too.

I'll see you tomorrow :)

Yay!

Six and half hours later...

...I am almost 30 pages from where I started earlier. Yay! Also realized something else about myself. I work so much faster if I already have it thought out by writing it out by hand first. At least for dialog. I wish I had realized this six and a half hours ago.

Good news is, I just need to wrap up the resolution and decide where our reunited couple is going to live out their happily ever after. I have ideas that they go back to Hollywood, but I think I will have to make Izzy and David have an even greater falling out than just Izzy not coming to the premiere of their film (and that she won't kiss him). And figure out how she'll still work in that town after doing something so audacious. I know this isn't very detailed, but if anyone has suggestions, do shout out.

Robert has basically just stood up to his nay-saying buddies and Izzy has asked for forgiveness and said she just wants to be with Robert regardless of where they live. A little old lady on the street just recognized Izzy, and Izzy and Robert watch the movie and Robert decides his wife really is talented and he's been trying to hold her back.

Very sappy stuff, people.

One month later...

Once again things that are "urgent" have taken precedence over things that are important. This leaves me still trying to get to the end of my first draft and also with no solid idea for senior project. At least I've learned my lesson. I hope.

Currently in my story, Izzy has started the new film with the Dreamy David Sheffield and is spending far too much time with him. Robert and Emma have appeared together in the New York society pages, and David and Izzy in the Hollywood tabloids. All seems fine and good on this front, until Robert sees the paper with David and Izzy. He will now turn up unexpectedly in Hollywood where the false climax will occur.

Tap tap-typing away.

Hope you all are far, far ahead of me.

Here's to blogs...

So that last post really helped me get over my writer's block, and seven pages later, I am keeping on at a steady rate (or so it seems). I am realizing now, that apart from driving around in a limo with Izzy - Marjorie hasn't had any play out in Hollywood. Does she need to be a part of this? How should I put her back in the story? Or should I keep on ignoring her presence?

Ack. Let's go see if Izzy will get a part in the movie.

;)

Wining and dining...

Alright, so I feel stuck. I don't know what order to have things happen once she gets to Hollywood. The first things that happen. I'm considering writing later scenes and coming back to her arrival. The main thing is -- which makes more sense: for her to sign all the contracts and then be wined and dined or vice versa? Or does it even matter? I guess not. I can always re-arrange them later for the flow of the story. Would she even be wined and dined? She's not exactly a star yet...but I feel like there would be a sense of her "succeeding" before she realizes it's all a bubble to get her to sign the papers....

At this point I'm just rambling. Please stop me with suggestions. Let's get this Hollywood machine moving.

One crank of the camera at a time.

:-P

Ever onward...

Thinking about scenes/sketching them out at the minute. Debating how Izzy should be traveling to California - train, plane or automobile? Definitley not the latter.

I am now seeing that I have to have Robert and Izzy make up at some point or else we won't have their relationship last -- maybe Robert realizes that he has to love her anyway or else lose her completely? Maybe he should say something before she goes? Because once things are good - she'll just say "I told you so" and when things go bad, she won't want to talk to him, because he'll say "I told you so" back (not in so many words, obviously). Think, think, think.

Realizing that I really don't know too much about Hollywood in the 30s...much of what I know already is from watching films. Will be doing quick Google searches as I go, methinks.

Meh.

Hope y'all are getting on better than I.

Past week...

So I turned in my first act - though I think I might have made her decision-making process too abrupt. Ah, well. Next stop - mid-point. I am currently going through my notes to remind myself what exactly that is...and which is the best route to get there.

Onward!

Choices...

So, I've written about 6 pages in Word today -- translation, like 3 or 4 in Screenwriter. Can't wait to get to a computer with Screenwriter and see the notes from Matt. Alas, right now I am trying to work on it whilst I wonder if the first 15 pages need to be completely re-written. Ack!

Realizing that there really are innumerable ways to write a scene and that's it's just who your characters are that dictate which options make sense. I still think I need to be doing more character work.

In the pages I've written so far today, there seems to be a lot of tension between Robert and Izzy -- maybe because they were the argument scenes? Haha. But really, I am finding it difficult to write scenes that have subtextual meaning/importance for the story as a whole. Which is of course, the whole point.

:-P

Working away...

Hope the rest of the class is having tons o' fun.

Posting...

Last night I was discussing the scene in my story where Robert proposes to Izzy in Central Park late at night when the stars are out. I was asking for a general consensus as to whether or not they could actually see the stars in Manhattan in 1932. Everyone agreed that it would be believable. What was not so believable to them, however was them walking through Central Park at night, because it would be dark and dangerous (and potentially illegal). Oh well.

Right now, that seems to be the least of my worries. I am currently trying to implement the changes/insertions that I spoke about in my last post. And dreading when I'll have to put all of the story back into Screenwriter from Word. :-P

I think I mainly need to fill in these guys' backstories, and things will get better from there.

Enjoy the beautiful day! Go write in the sunshine!!

Progress report...

Wrapped principal photography on production workshop!

Now to dive back into the screenplay. Went over the opening I turned in on Friday and made notes about typos, plot holes, etc. I think I need to add in more actual scenes where we learn about Robert and Izzy as individuals which will establish their characters and inform their decisions later on. I think I need to lock this couple together so we want to see them together in the end, otherwise no one will want to keep watching.

I realized I brought something up about Marjorie's sister that was never addressed later on, so I should either put that storyline in completely or pull it. I think right now I may have unwittingly written quite close to the end of the first act without setting everything up first.

Right now I am really annoyed at the typo where I wrote "you're" not "your" as it should be. :-P

Think...think...think

So how about David Sheffield and Gwen Golden? Nevermind that David Sheffield wrote The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps...

Thinking about what year to place the story in -- I was thinking 1932 which was apparently the height (or rather the lowest point) of the Great Depression - wondering how that all could factor into it - might give her more incentive to make a Hollywood deal so that it wouldn't be a struggle to support her family? That being said - how do Robert and Emma still have cash - are they just that secure?

Putting all this drama in, I'm trying to figure out how to show them actually having fun to begin with - their meet-cute and all. I find myself turning back to Dunne's story -- and am trying to spin a different direction.

Any suggestions are always greatly appreciated.

A rose by any other name...

So I just decided that the character Gwen should have a last name -- eastablishing her as a Star in the 30s in the film. Right off the top of my head I thought - Gwen Donovan - and was quite pleased with myself that it had a nice ring to it. I decided to Google the name - just in case.

Turns out, Gwen Donovan was an actress in the 1940s. Most of her roles were uncredited, but Gwen's a dicey character in my film and I don't want any libel issues, especially with the 1930s being so very close to the 40s. So I guess I'll leave dear Gwen Donovan alone.

*Puts on thinking cap*

Gwen...sadly, "Stefani" is the only other one that comes to mind...

Un question.

Does anyone know how to get comments that are posted to your blog sent directly to your e-mail?

Where, oh where has my time gone?

We are currently counting down the days to our Production Workshop shoot -- 2 to be precise. Saturday and Sunday (and also part of Friday) will find me directing actors and crew all day. I am attempting to work on my sequence, but this has proven difficult in the final days of pre-production.

All I can say is, there's going to be some great, energetic opening scenes...let's hope :)