Holy crap, I'm one! That's some crazy-ass shite. This very blog has been on the airwaves (internet waves?) for 1 whole year.
What do I do? Throw myself a party? Pour myself a cold one? Grab a crack-whore? They're always good for a laugh.
Well, it's been an interesting year. Ups & downs, all that stuff. Workwise, well I still have a job so I guess that's good. Family-wise things have never been better. And script-wise? Well, I'm still plugging away, and with the new manager and option this year, things are looking good for the future.
Unless the option doesn't go anywhere.
Unless the manager can't get any scripts sold/packaged.
Either way, at this time next year, whether I'm wiping my ass with a $20 because I've sold a million dollar script or still hard at work inspecting these god-damn motherfucking houses, well, I'll be right here, blogging like a dork, eagerly awaiting your comments.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
I'll show you the life of the mind
Random quote above, has nothing to do with my post.
I thought Kenny Rogers was gonna bitch slap Todd Jones. I'm still thinking Detroit in 6. Wish the Phils were in it though.
I checked out Thank you For Smoking finally. It was good. Didn't blow me away but it was very well done. Eckhart ruled. Lots of catcthing up to do with DVD watching. We've got The King, Inside Man, Art School Confidential and Friends With Money to watch next...if only there weren't so many decent TV shows on this year! Still loving Jericho, Weeds & The Office. The 9 is good but I see it getting canceled (the ratings are dropping like a stone. Same with the fine Studio 60). And I'm still on-board with Lost. The season has gotten off to a good start. Oh, and Help Me Help you is actually pretty funny.
Check out Sam's Town by The Killers. At first listen I wasn't too thrilled by it, but after repeated plays it's growing on me.
As for my script-writing - I'm all over the place. I thought I had pinned down my next script to actually focus on, and I kinda have, but I've come up with 2 more kick-ass ideas sicne my last post, and habve decided to go back and work on a drama I started last year....which you guys can help me with - The title. Here's the jist of it - it's a dark family drama, dealing with drug abuse & murder. My original title was Pearl River, but I don't want it to be seen as a Mystic River rip so I'm not 100% on it. Alternate titles are The People Down The Street and The Rest Of Us.
Thoughts? How do you feel about these titles? Have any other title ideas?
I thought Kenny Rogers was gonna bitch slap Todd Jones. I'm still thinking Detroit in 6. Wish the Phils were in it though.
I checked out Thank you For Smoking finally. It was good. Didn't blow me away but it was very well done. Eckhart ruled. Lots of catcthing up to do with DVD watching. We've got The King, Inside Man, Art School Confidential and Friends With Money to watch next...if only there weren't so many decent TV shows on this year! Still loving Jericho, Weeds & The Office. The 9 is good but I see it getting canceled (the ratings are dropping like a stone. Same with the fine Studio 60). And I'm still on-board with Lost. The season has gotten off to a good start. Oh, and Help Me Help you is actually pretty funny.
Check out Sam's Town by The Killers. At first listen I wasn't too thrilled by it, but after repeated plays it's growing on me.
As for my script-writing - I'm all over the place. I thought I had pinned down my next script to actually focus on, and I kinda have, but I've come up with 2 more kick-ass ideas sicne my last post, and habve decided to go back and work on a drama I started last year....which you guys can help me with - The title. Here's the jist of it - it's a dark family drama, dealing with drug abuse & murder. My original title was Pearl River, but I don't want it to be seen as a Mystic River rip so I'm not 100% on it. Alternate titles are The People Down The Street and The Rest Of Us.
Thoughts? How do you feel about these titles? Have any other title ideas?
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Finally.......
Phew, I'm finally back & writing. Okay, it hasn't been too long, but it's been over a month since I've been able to focus one actually get a script moving forward. Staring at the screen and adding a sentence every other night doesn't quite get the job done.
I've been talking about the variety of scripts I'm working on, without working on much. I've got 4 right now on my plate (I've mentioned them before - Titan, The Stand-In, Westville and Open House).
Open House is the one I'll be finishing first. I'm going to try to complete it by 10/31. I'm a bit further with Westville but my thoughts of Open House are keeping me inspired to write it and get it out there. It'll pretty much shake up the real estate community if it ever got made. Let's just say it doesn't show them (real estate agents) in a nice light. And most of them deserve it. I've only met a handful that are actually smart, decent people. And the others? Well, they won't like Open House, and that's fine by me.
Song of the Week (tie) - Knights Of Cydonia (Muse) & Alone, Jealous & Stoned (Secret Machines)
I've been talking about the variety of scripts I'm working on, without working on much. I've got 4 right now on my plate (I've mentioned them before - Titan, The Stand-In, Westville and Open House).
Open House is the one I'll be finishing first. I'm going to try to complete it by 10/31. I'm a bit further with Westville but my thoughts of Open House are keeping me inspired to write it and get it out there. It'll pretty much shake up the real estate community if it ever got made. Let's just say it doesn't show them (real estate agents) in a nice light. And most of them deserve it. I've only met a handful that are actually smart, decent people. And the others? Well, they won't like Open House, and that's fine by me.
Song of the Week (tie) - Knights Of Cydonia (Muse) & Alone, Jealous & Stoned (Secret Machines)
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Detroit in 6
The A's never had a chance. And neither does the National League. If the Cards get to the World Series, and I think they will since the Mets' pitching blows (if only Glavine could pitch every night, he rocks!) then they're the only team that could make it sorta interesting, although I think Detroit would take them in 6 games. If the Mets do happen to make it, then Detroit will win in 5 games.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Random Shizzle
TV - Lost had a nice premiere, good start to Season 3. The Nine was decent, but I wouldn't go seeking it out if it wasn't on after Lost. I'm still on-board for Jericho, I'm curious to see where they go with it. Smith is cancelled, which surpised me. So much for nurturing shows with possibility.
The Office is still the best thing on TV. The Call Of Duty stuff was priceless.
MUSIC - Listening to the new Killers cd, plus the new Youth Group album (which is amazing). Might check out the Secret Machines Saturday night.
MOVIES - Only thing I've seen is Open Season. Nothing new but not an awful movie, had some moments, one of which including shit pellets flying out of Ashton Kutcher's deer-ass.
WRITING - Currently awaiting the next step for my TV Pilot Cricket Hill. My feature script FOOD FIGHT was read recently by a pretty damn big producer of comedies, so we're awaiting his thoughts.
As for new scripts, I'm working on my real estate comedy called Open House, plus my comedy Westville, and I recently started my first drama in a long time - it's a high school drama called Titan. If I had to compare it to anything, you'd think Elephant (similiar one word title, although the name of the high school football team in my script is the Titans). Plus, although Elephant was an interesting movie, it didn't capture one ounce of what a real high school is.
Now I'm gonna crank up some tunes and hit the Final Draft......
Late!
The Office is still the best thing on TV. The Call Of Duty stuff was priceless.
MUSIC - Listening to the new Killers cd, plus the new Youth Group album (which is amazing). Might check out the Secret Machines Saturday night.
MOVIES - Only thing I've seen is Open Season. Nothing new but not an awful movie, had some moments, one of which including shit pellets flying out of Ashton Kutcher's deer-ass.
WRITING - Currently awaiting the next step for my TV Pilot Cricket Hill. My feature script FOOD FIGHT was read recently by a pretty damn big producer of comedies, so we're awaiting his thoughts.
As for new scripts, I'm working on my real estate comedy called Open House, plus my comedy Westville, and I recently started my first drama in a long time - it's a high school drama called Titan. If I had to compare it to anything, you'd think Elephant (similiar one word title, although the name of the high school football team in my script is the Titans). Plus, although Elephant was an interesting movie, it didn't capture one ounce of what a real high school is.
Now I'm gonna crank up some tunes and hit the Final Draft......
Late!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Stealing Home By Aaron Coffman
Aaron Coffman was kind enough to send me his short film, Stealing Home. I've been following his blog for a while now, and always thought through his stills & trailer that this movie looked pretty good. But, of course, the entire film could have sucked balls.
Well, it didn't. At all.
My review Of Stealing Home:
If I could describe it in one word I'd say "excellent." This is a fine, fine film. And I say film because, well, it was actually made on FILM. And it's a beautiful thing to see. God, I miss it. My last handful of projects have all been DV, and while DV is okay to use it simply does not compare. There is a beauty and quality to film that can't be topped.
The script - The story is about a mother & son trying to connect after a divorce. The script itself is good, Aaron uses minimal dialogue throughout, but what's most important is what's NOT being said. What these characters are feeling is the focus, and he really captured that. I went through a divorce myself, although I was 9 (months) old when it happened in my situation, the point is the aftermath is brutal, terrifying, and life shattering. Although this movie takes place after the divorce, you can see it's lasting effect on the son.
Sound - Was decent. A few minor sound problems, nothing that took me out of the film.
Direction - Perfect. The shots were solid, and not wasted. What I really liked was how Aaron kept the camera moving. Too many movies rely on boring/uninteresting static shots. But he wasn't moving it just the the hell of it either. The performances were top notch. Very natural. And the kid who played the son, Grady, (Mark Asser) was great, I've worked with plenty of kids who were not, let's just say, camera-ready. This kid was natural and he seemed to really nail the character and the emotions. Dad was good in a small role, and Mom (Libby Bibb) was excellent. All around, a well-casted movie. And this type of movie needed a solid cast who understood the material. They nailed it. Kudos to Aaron for getting these performances.
Cinematography - Well, like I said, I loved the look of it. But the lighting (both interiors & exteriors) also looked great. The colors really stood out, and the framing was perfect.
Pacing - Just a note that this flew by. It's a little over 15 minutes long, but I've seen plenty of shorts that feel like 3 hours. Not this. Like I said, not a shot was wasted.
Love to see a feature of this. I think the possibility is there, expanding the story/characters, etc. There's a ton of material here. It's nice & refreshing to see a filmmaker out there with some actual talent, even if he is from St. Louis.
Congrats, Aaron. Keep us posted!
Check out Aaron's website/blog here.
Check out Aaron's myspace page here.
Well, it didn't. At all.
My review Of Stealing Home:
If I could describe it in one word I'd say "excellent." This is a fine, fine film. And I say film because, well, it was actually made on FILM. And it's a beautiful thing to see. God, I miss it. My last handful of projects have all been DV, and while DV is okay to use it simply does not compare. There is a beauty and quality to film that can't be topped.
The script - The story is about a mother & son trying to connect after a divorce. The script itself is good, Aaron uses minimal dialogue throughout, but what's most important is what's NOT being said. What these characters are feeling is the focus, and he really captured that. I went through a divorce myself, although I was 9 (months) old when it happened in my situation, the point is the aftermath is brutal, terrifying, and life shattering. Although this movie takes place after the divorce, you can see it's lasting effect on the son.
Sound - Was decent. A few minor sound problems, nothing that took me out of the film.
Direction - Perfect. The shots were solid, and not wasted. What I really liked was how Aaron kept the camera moving. Too many movies rely on boring/uninteresting static shots. But he wasn't moving it just the the hell of it either. The performances were top notch. Very natural. And the kid who played the son, Grady, (Mark Asser) was great, I've worked with plenty of kids who were not, let's just say, camera-ready. This kid was natural and he seemed to really nail the character and the emotions. Dad was good in a small role, and Mom (Libby Bibb) was excellent. All around, a well-casted movie. And this type of movie needed a solid cast who understood the material. They nailed it. Kudos to Aaron for getting these performances.
Cinematography - Well, like I said, I loved the look of it. But the lighting (both interiors & exteriors) also looked great. The colors really stood out, and the framing was perfect.
Pacing - Just a note that this flew by. It's a little over 15 minutes long, but I've seen plenty of shorts that feel like 3 hours. Not this. Like I said, not a shot was wasted.
Love to see a feature of this. I think the possibility is there, expanding the story/characters, etc. There's a ton of material here. It's nice & refreshing to see a filmmaker out there with some actual talent, even if he is from St. Louis.
Congrats, Aaron. Keep us posted!
Check out Aaron's website/blog here.
Check out Aaron's myspace page here.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Murph!
Eddie's back. Always loved Eddie Murphy, although of late he's been stuck in Doolittle/Haunted Mansion/Day Care type of crap. BUT, those movies made some moola, and I'm sure he made them for his kids, so you can't really blame the guy. Good news though, he's back in the type of role he shines in, a kick-ass looking comedy called NORBIT. Last awesome role he had was Bowfinger, one of my favorite comedies ever. Check out the Norbit traler from the movie's website. Funny shit!
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