Wait A Minute - Stills

Back in 2003 we were in production of a no-budget epic I wrote called WAIT A MINUTE. My wife and I were self-producing, and I directed and was DP, also.

Things were going pretty smoothly, and then I pulled the plug. The main concern I had was that we were wasting our time. It had a crap budget, and looked like a crap budget, and even if we finished it, NO ONE would EVER distribute it. NO ONE. It was just this scrappy little movie that would never sell.

Plus, the actors were nailing it. They all rocked. If Philly has anything, they've got a kick-ass pool of talent.

It was my own fault for ushering it into production without a real budget, but as I learned from my other past projects, it would'nt have gone anywhere. Some stills I took in '03:

2007 Thus Far

Not many flicks have completely blown me away. I'm waiting to see stuff like Sunshine & Rescue Dawn, and upcoming films like Jesse James, There Will Be Blood, The Darjeeling Limited, Michael Clayton, No Country For Old Men, Trade, Crossing Over, 3:10 to Yuma, And Gone Baby Gone that will likely make their way onto a Top 1o list.

Best of the year so far? Scott Frank's The Lookout. Very well made all around.

Stardust was fun, but it wouldn't end up on an end of the year Top 10. Also thoroughly enjoyed Knocked Up & Superbad.

300 was barely okay. The Simpsons was funny but pretty much like a long episode - not that that's a bad thing. Pirates 3 was decent but 2 was better. Shrek 3 had moments but didn't need to be made. Saw the original recently and thought it was still great.

In the Land Of Women was interesting, I'd give it a C+. We also saw I Could Never Be Your Woman starring Michelle Pfeiffer & Paul Rudd (it's been retitled All That Really Matters and comes out in November) and that had some fun stuff, but again, didn't rock me.

Worst of the year so far is still Hostel 2.

What are your faves/non faves of the year so far?

Super

Superbad - Go see it. It's a hilarious ride. The writing is sharp, and the actors really carry it. Great performances all around. Smart, fun, and pretty damn real.

And the good news it, I didn't unknowingly rip it off when I wrote Laid. One thing I worrried about was doing that as I finished my script, but they are pretty different so I'm not concerned about that anymore.

I was gonna start a new script tonight, tentatively called Rollin' Thunda but decided to go back and punch up some Laid. The Agent is reading it this weekend, and I'll get his thoughts.

Check out Superbad though. I liked it a lot. Knocked Up was probably a better movie overall, but Superbad has some truly classic scenes & dialogue. Damn funny stuff.

Done

It's sloppy. I gotta go in and pull some teeth, whiten some others, break out the floss, but for the most part, stick a fork in it. It's done.

Gonna take a few passes at it, hunt for typos, funny up some scenes, then move along to the agent, see what he thinks.

It's done!

Final Lap!

Almost there! Page 88. If I don't crash, I should have it done on Saturday night. It should land in the mid 90s, right about where I want it.

Ah, The 70s.

Blasted through Page 70 last night, tonight I'm aiming for 80. It's almost done. And it's feeling great.

Below is a scene (I can only cut & paste it, please forgive it's appearance) from LAID. I was trying to think of one to post, and I thought this one would be good. Our hero, Joe, has a flashback to when he lost his virginity:

INT. CARAVAN - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
Joe and GLORIA, 17, are getting hot and heavy. He tosses a condom wrapper aside.

GLORIA

Is it on?

JOE

Fits like a glove.

She looks down between his legs.

GLORIA

Doesn’t it get any bigger?

JOE

I think that’s gonna be about it.

GLORIA

It’ll be fine. Just put it in.

Joe nods and concentrates, trying to insert himself.

GLORIA

I don’t feel anything.

JOE

I’m still searching. Wait, here you go.

GLORIA

Hey. Not up the ass, please. I’m not an up-the-ass girl.

JOE

No problem. I’m not an up-the-ass guy.

GLORIA

Good to know. Here. I’ll help you.

She reaches down between his legs, pulls him closer. She BELCHES loudly into his face.

JOE

Wow.

GLORIA

Sorry about that. Kinda did that in your face. Must’ve been those peppers I had at dinner.

JOE

Yeah, I thought it smelled like peppers.

GLORIA

Here we are.

JOE

Oh, God. Oh, my God!

GLORIA

Feel nice?

JOE

Shit yeah! Oh, boy. Gloria. Oh, Gloria.

GLORIA

No, no! Wait, Joe! Don’t come yet! I want to get it, too!

JOE

Yes! Oh, yeah! I’m coming! I’m coming!

GLORIA

God dammit!

He shudders and pulls away, exhausted, with a huge smile.

JOE

Nice. Did you get an orgasm, too?

GLORIA

Fuck off.

60s

Laid is into the 60s now. Kinda hard to put an exact number on it, I have another file with notes, scenes, etc, that I will cut & paste soon which will add to the total.

The end is finished, and I feel real good about it.

On my main file I'm at 64, and will get some more done tonight. I'll try to post a scene or 2. trying to figure out which ones though. Many are filled with extreme raunch. I mean, I don't want to offend EVERYONE.

LAID

Oh, man. This is a good one. My goal is to have this baby finished ASAP. It's so damn funny, it's raunchy, it's cool. I'm just happy as a pig in poop when I'm writing it.

I'm talking about Laid, and it's about, well, getting laid. I'm concentrating all firepower on it until it's done, then my agent will send it out and it WILL SELL. I have no doubt.

I'll update my progress throughout the week. I'm on Page 55, and am aiming for the mid-90s, maybe lower 100s before I slice & dice it.

Mist

This could be a fun fright flick. It's directed by Frank Darabont, and stars Thomas Jane (see Stander - awesome flick) and William Sadler, and based on the Stephen King story.

What's THE scariest flick you've ever seen?

My top choices would be:

1. Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (70s version, really cool movie).

2. Nosferatu (70s version, directed by Werner Herzog & starring Klaus Kinski).

3. The first Nightmare On Elm Street

4. The Thing (1982)

5. Alien

6. Halloween

7. Friday the 13th

8. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (70s version)

9. Wolf Creek