If you ain't First, you're Last...

The Nerd Herd came in third place in the People's Pilot contest.  Not too bad! http://tvwriter.net/?page_id=320

A small reward for a kick in the proverbial pants, and a nice affirmation for what I am up to lately.  There's still more I can do- I spy other contests where I didn't place, and it makes me want to do better.  I guess that's a good sign.

a long time a-comin'

After a nearly 9 month break from keeping a blog, I was reminded recently that if Googled, people will find your lifeless blog.  And will let you know they read your lifeless blog.  So, with that in mind, I thought that I'd do a little CPR and write a little on a so-far lazy Sunday afternoon.

Writing has been going well enough.  I took three 4-week sessions of Larry Brody's TV Writer class this year.  I came away with something each time.  In fact, my pilot titled "The Nerd Herd" was something I developed in his class.  It's now a finalist in the annual "People's Pilot" contest that the TVWriter.com website runs!  It's really a first confirmation of my writing merit, and I couldn't be happier.  Whether I place or not, I plan to solicit the script through various channels as I did with MechaWest (a project I'm not quite ready to call it quits on), so we'll see how it pans out.   

Just yesterday I finished a first draft of my "The Big Bang Theory" spec.  I think the structure is good, but it still needs shaping (as any first draft would).  This is my first attempt at a multi-camera script, and while I initially avoided it, I'm glad that I'm attempting it.  I'm not a fan of most contemporary laugh-track type episodes, but for an exercise/serious spec that I can submit for a variety I think I'm doing all right.  Three months from start to first draft finish seems like a long time, but since this was done over lunch hours and a few hours each weekend, I think I did all right for a new format.  Not a passion project by any means, but I'm having fun with these characters.

In May, I went to Los Angeles for the first time.  I visited with some new people and old friends.  Venice Beach, the J. Paul Getty Museum and Nickelodeon Studios were my main stops.  I got to visit with Karen Kirkland, the head of the Writing Fellowship there and had a great conversation about L.A., writing and what to do next.  The place had a fantastic energy that I won't soon forget (including celebrity spotting J.K. Simmons preparing to do a voiceover).  I can't wait until the next time. 

Other than that, I'm just plugging away at the day job.  New school year means plenty of room scheduling to do.     

prolific prolific prolific prolific prolific

Has a great lunch with college friend Jason Hall yesterday.  I managed to sound competent in talking about life and writing well enough.  Jason just finished his MFA studies in Playwriting at Ohio University, and was teaching adjunct classes around the area.  It was refreshing to actually have a face-to-face conversation with someone about projects, structure, etc.  I was reminded, though, to keep writing; to pursue germinal ideas and not get lazy.  To join some sort of writing group to keep the conversation going.  When I feel lazy, or when I feel like playing a video game, I need to ask myself if I have fulfilled my obligation to my writing first.  Write a germinal idea, write on this blog, whatever.  There's no excuse not to be moving on this.

Oh, and to keep reading about writing.  Jason recommended great books about general writing and the craft.  I have a few books of my own to tackle as well.

There are no excuses.  And I don't just have one idea.  There's plenty to do.

Put that in your pipe-dream and smoke it!

It's amazing what an unsolicited submission through a Canadian animation production company can do for your demeanor.

I'm surprised that I ran across several of these in my research- companies willing to look at one's unsolicited untried synopsis just through an email submission.  Having it be through email must cut down on tears and rants over the phonelines, to be sure.

Otherwise my recent inquiries have gone unanswered.  I'm sure a few will be a matter of time, but I will have to brace myself and actually get on the phone to them.  Yes, Canada too.

But, the hunt has become a fun thing to do.  And the small glimmer of hope that a call or a quick view of my synopsis will trigger a "ting!" in someone's head to inspire them to request my pilot fills me with a creative energy making me want to keep going.

The second wind at Mile 11.  Except I don't know how long this marathon is.

Bored to tears

Maybe it's the Charlie Parker jazz coming through my speakers, but I am finding it hard to get moving today. Trouble is there's not much to move towards, work-wise in any case. The clock slowly ticks until I can go home, and Facebook, email and tepid research just isn't cutting it today.


I was politely rejected by a production company yesterday, which is all right. But I am daunted by what it's going to take to get my work out there and sell it.

I'm entering a few contest soon and submitting a spec script to Nickelodeon for their Writing Program, but I have to get real and produce more work instead of hinging my pipe-dreams onto these few and far between "clothespins of hopeful happiness". Just saying. I know I need to continue to work and work and work at it.

Mantra: "It's never too late".

-or-

"What do they know?"

Why I am not a Salesman...

I had dinner with an old friend the other night. He asked me what I was working on lately and I told him about "MechaWest".


If there was a more incompetent show pitch, then I don't know about it. He listened well enough, but, man, I felt like I was all over the place talking about my story. It was silly, and it reminded me that if and when I ever get the opportunity to pitch my pilot, I better be a world more lucid than I was at dinner.

At least I was enthusiastic.

My dad was, and still is, a salesman of electrical supplies for about 40 years. And a homebody; not a big storyteller. He believes in his products though, and he wouldn't sell anything otherwise.

I need to take a lesson here, and practice, practice, practice. And actually script it out (I used to be an actor afterall). Better yet, my brewery tour guide experience might serve me better; you know, follow the outline and speak to your tour group, taking them on the journey of a lifetime.

And play them with beer samples afterwards. That couldn't hurt, either.

The Insomnia Caper

Woke up at two-thirty in the A.M. with "monkey mind" (you know, all the horrible thoughts that prevent you from going back to sleep. If you make it past 3:48 am, then you're golden, apparently). I went to bed early enough last night due to a headache and now I am fairly functional for my day job.


The blessing is that I finished a new scene for my "MechaWest" pilot in the wee hours this morning. I'm several drafts into this, and wasn't happy with the overall layout or getting to the gist of the adventure at hand. These several scenes help cut to the chase; my only fear is that they may be a bit too long. I'll let it marinate today and move on like I should.

Speaking of which, I am a writer. My only works displayed thus far on DA have been character commissions for the most part. I'm more than a little reluctant to post my drafts of MechaWest, being unfinished and all. I'd really like to find something worthy of display that I can truly call my own. Something in writing. Something.

Already getting ideas, but I have to make my lunch for today. Later!

The truth will set you free

Nine years ago I attended Shakespeare & Company for a month-long intensive training program.  I had enjoyed performing Shakespeare in the past, and the magazine ad that I came across had promised a "connection" of sorts.  As it turns out, the six-day-a-week 14 hour days were exactly what I needed.  I was surrounded by artists that were looking for something, searching for meaning in what they doing.  Most of us had performed Shakespeare to one extent or another, but never this way before.  Absorbing the text and using breath and movement to really embody one of the greatest playwrights in the English language was not a pretentious self-serving exercise, but rather a way to touch the depths as he intended.  For four weeks we were eliminating the bullshit and affectation.  We got to what was true, as everything I felt that I performed before was a lie.  That was how powerful the training was.

I haven't been on stage in a long time.  I haven't auditioned or had the ambition to pursue much of anything in regards to live performance.  I wasn't reading plays.  I wasn't going to see plays.  I slowly but surely was past caring.  I wasn't being cast, and I wasn't doing what it took to be cast.  I was lost.

I wrote a screenplay as an artistic outlet.  I was convinced that it had merit, if not, just a little work.  A friend of mine savaged it, and it was the best artistic gift I had received in a long time.  I was shocked, but not insulted; I knew that his words had merit.  It was a real wake-up call.  I wrote dialogue with the intention that it would form my story and make cinema magic.  What I wrote was mediocre, at best.  I was reaching for something with the hopes that it would substitute for my acting career that ground to a halt.  It didn't, and wouldn't with the way I was going.   

My friend recommended that I read Story by Robert McKee.  I purchased it soon after, and devoured McKee's demands.  Like most other writers, I was writing from the "outside in", not the most effective way of "inside out".  A story told with no desire and artificial conflict was not a story; it was crap.  I was inspired to do better.  I knew that I could.

When Robert McKee himself was wrangled by an old pupil of his to come to my town for his four-day seminar, I had to go, despite the expense.  And that's what I did for the last four days.  Why not?  I worked it out previously with my new job and had the vacation time.  My new new creative endeavor deserved it.

It was inspiring, to say the least- punctual curmudgeon laying out what he thought was important to not just writing, but the art of telling a great story.  It enhanced my understanding of the book and energized my project again.  I felt like I could really do this, with insight and energy.

I brought my book, without realizing McKee would be willing to autograph them.  By Day 2 I had the courage to approach him at a break for his signature.  He was gracious, as he was with all of us.  I told him that his book was "a real slap in the face" for me.  He smiled obligingly while signing his name and catch phrase:

"Write the Truth".

The Freshest Kid in Town

The job is going well enough.  I've been at it a week and just learned how to add pre-approved exam questions for the Nursing Department.  A big weight off of my shoulders. 

It's nice to be relatively interactive with people again.  Despite not having the freedom to put on the headphones and zone out performing menial computer tasks, I like the faculty vibe.  Everyone so far has been very helpful with the variety of tasks that I've had to absorb this last week.  I'm sure that there's more to come, but I feel like I can tackle most everything handed out.

Next week, I have the Robert McKee Seminar.  It hasn't hit me yet, what with all the job and schedule changes, but I am excited to have four days devoted solely to writing.  I plan on looking again at Story to refamiliarize myself with content this weekend (apparently he loosely follows this book as a syllibus). 

I really want to have the energy to devote a bit more time to MechaWest.  I have the website, but no content.  I have the pilot, but no series.  I have the research, but no application.  It never seems like enough, even after a great day of writing and plotting.  When it happens, that is.  Seems like writers that I aspire to be like all have insomnia.  Never had it; probably never will.

In the immediate future, I'd like to:

1.  Get some renderings of Sadie and Maggie.
2.  (Continue to) plot out the series of 8 episodes
3.  Flesh out and outline episode 3 as a possible "pilot" (as it introduces my favorite character- Maggie).
4.  Get a good book on writing for television.

Of Painting and Perverts

We spent the day painting inside. And we're exhausted. I had to get over my fear of heights, as I purchased a 4 foot step-ladder from Home Depot in order to get at the high entryway. Upon reflection, I think the real fear was losing balance and tumbling down the stairs, having no real gripping point. I got over being a baby about it, and covered the wall with "Basketry". Our townhome will kick some ass; one step at a time.


Writing "MechaWest" coming along, slowly but surely. The pilot has gone through it's second draft, but I'm not 100% happy with it. Trouble is that I'm not sure what's lacking right now. But I plan on sending it to someone who can tell me how bad it is in a few weeks That ought to show me that it's bad to have lofty dreams! Why can't I just get a job, hippie? I've been spending more time formulating the first season anyway, and making the first steps in consulting with a historian and a script reader. It makes it all the more real for me.

Fascinated by "To Catch a Predator". Those poor underage solicitors being exploited by Chris Hansen like that! It's a downright shame! Does he have to mention that they all send pictures of their junk over the net? There ought to be a law... 8-O

Not sure what's up for Labor Day. Hopefully, anything but... (labor)

The Path to Glory...?

I live in a blissful ignorance sometimes. My two spec script drafts are as finished as I can get them, at least for right now. I'm pretty happy with both, despite the Venture Bros. script being 40 pages long. This might actually do, as industry "standard" for comedy scripts is 35 (according to Nick, anyway). Besides, it's not about the length so much as it is about character, voice and emulation of the series. I think that I should rest on the fact that I've finished two drafts in two months, and that I will have these read by someone in the future who can comment on them with a critical eye. I can always fiddle around with them and sharpen them as long as the series is still active.

So, with that said, I must move on with MechaWest development. Reading "Wishcraft" has opened some things up for me. Barbara Sher shares much with Jack Canfield on the idea of charting your path. An early exercise gave me the very obvious idea of contacting local animation companies to get some insight on how the industry works from their vantage point. Most of the work lies in commercials and industrials, but one company in particular (with offices in Minneapolis and L.A.) stated that they've had three shows optioned. Whether these were through partnerships or in-house staff I'm not sure, thus the clarity I lack on this matter.

I called and spoke to a laid-back guy at the company, saying that I sent an email earlier in the week and that I was following up. I was actually nervous about calling, and I'm still unclear as to why. I explained myself with as coherrant a manner as I could muster, and the guy said he would look for my email, take my info and give it to someone so that I could have a conversation about the industry. It probably helped that earlier in the day I made about 50 calls to elementary schools for NTC, booking free shows for the fall- I needed to be clear and "sell" myself through this inexplicable nervousness I felt. "No worries, man" the guy explained as we were ending our conversation. There might be possibilities with these artist hipsters after all.

A practice run at a show-pitch is what I may aim for. You know, for when I do the real thing.

Charting the course

Reading "Wishcraft" is a real trip. As a book determined to help you realize your goals, it sure could stand for an update. No references to email or the internet, as it was written in 1979. It reminds me of Sagan's "Dragons of Eden" (there's a fascinating new game that is able to mimic physics- it's called 'Pong'...). The message still rings true regardless.

I am in the process of making a flow chart to realize my dream of producing "MechaWest" (or more likely having "MechaWest" produced). I've come up with some great ideas and clarifications in how that could be realized, and the negativity is being swept away. The part about creating the series and having it produced still demands a connection. There's actually more to it than getting an agent who will get me a producer who then will get me my show produced; that's one branch still floating around on its own. I don't know why this is all so challenging to lay out, but perhaps my right and left brains are squabbling over how to do it. I'm close, but it's no cigar just yet. When it becomes coherrant, I'll make it pretty and place it on the official MechaWest Mosaic Board.

Going to have a glass of wine with my wife now.

Dreary Day 2: Cruise Control

Once again it's raining. I'll be able to break the day by going out and buying a few things. Errands, as it were.

I'm also finishing the first draft of my spec script today- right on schedule. It's not looking bad, but comedy is, well, subjective. What's funny to me may not be funny to James Urbanik and Doc Hammer. However, if I can clean it up, I just may have something. Clean, clean, clean...

My paycheck from the State was a litle larger than expected, due to the three paychecks in July instead of the usual two- meaning that health and dental deductions were skipped this time. Not a lot of money, but enough of a cushion to have a little fun. Or Taco Bell. Or, sometimes both.

Looking forward to seeing my friends tomorrow. Isolation isn't working for me, so any excuse to get out of the suburbs and connect with old friends is valuable.

dreary day doldrums

It's raining out this morning. Which is good, as it takes away the task of watering the perenial garden today, but it increases my feeling of isolation. I've also noticed that I still cling a bit to some arrested development, though I'm not committed to it. For instance, I've been avoiding researching trade publications and industry information in regards to writing. I'm just working on spec script number 2 and will take the next step soon, perhaps in coming up with a third one.

But (the big "but") I've officially registered for the Robert McKee "Story" Seminar coming to St. Paul this fall. I'm excited about it, and I really feel that it's going to open things up for me; creatively, that is. I doubt I'll become wealthy and famous here. An auditorium full of wanna-be writers ain't going to make or break anyone or anything. However, I should get some business cards just for the sake of it.

Today, I plan to write a draft of Act 1 of my spec script. I've been waddling through the fleshed-out draft all this week, and still don't have a few specifics, so I'm going to forge ahead anyway.

Back in the Saddle

It's been awhile, but I've decided to start blogging again. I'm planning on redesigning my blogspot site and making it all very different. Glad that when I first deleted it Google saved it "just in case".

Looking at what lights me up lately, it sure ain't theatre. When asked about it, I've had to say on more than one occasion that I have a "love/hate relationship with theatre". Well, now we're separated and trying to live without one another. Plus I'm seeing someone else for the time being- the muse named "writing".

I haven't felt this fulfilled creatively in a long time. Amy pushed me to finish my first spec script to submit to the ABC Writing Program. I wasn't sure that I'd finish with a decent piece to mail to them, but with Amy's eye and great questions I redrafted and came up with a (I feel) competent 61 page spec script of "Dexter". I plan to go back, tweak it and get clarity on some elements in it's design, but overall I'm happy with where it's at in this stage of it's evolution.

Next up, a comedy script. Although I think "Dexter" is at heart a "dark comedy", I think I need something more blantantly comedic. I have a rough outline of something I've been marinating for awhile, so that will be spec script number two. More later on that one.

Locomotive Breath

I got rid of the headshot/resume that was linked to this site. It didn't make much sense in keeping it any longer.

I'm thinking about taking a film production class or two. If this writing thing sticks in my head and the notion to keep going is overwhelming, I should invest some time and money into furthering my education.

With that, I'm also thinking about starting a production company of sorts. Nothing major; I just want to register my business name with the state and county, and buy a website name. When things start moving, that is. I feel like they want to, anyway.

Submitted my idea to Adult Swim two weeks ago. I am letting fate take it where it goes, and have already begun a new (similar) project. About a third of the way through my first draft of a pilot episode. I expect nothing to take fruition, as I am content in laying out inspired action onto the (electronic) page.

Amy and I are aming to go up to Duluth again to run in Grandma's Marathon. Ample time to train, and the rain is slowly melting the snow away today. For safe, non-icy outdoor running.

Good Vibrations

I am excited by writing lately. Which is definitely a good thing, considering I have more time during the day now that my overtime option has been taken away by Human Resources. It's concerning, but I'm not scared. I take solace knowing that I'm doing everything responsible to ensure my financial security, as well as immersing myself in the Wealth Beyond Reason material that Amy picked up not long ago. It is fascinating, and relieving to feel more at peace with everything going on. And she's been a great support in not condemning me in my current situation.

So I feel pretty good considering my part-time status. I feel like I am headed on a path now that feels right, and not so forced as doing theatre felt. And there's nothing wrong with feeling right. Dammit.

Still training for the marathon, despite recent setbacks of flu and colds. I have yet to run 5 miles, but that might be coming tomorrow at the gym. A schedule of where I'd like to be should follow soon.

Also ordered "Story" by Robert McKee on Vinson's recommendation. I can't wait to delve into that. I might feel like a real writer for a change. It's a pretty big book though. And hardcover...

I got the sick

I went home after working an hour and a half today. I've had an upset stomach since Friday, and the usual side effects took place. Today was pretty bad as well, and every half hour until about 1:00 pm resulted in an excruciating stomach ache. A flu symptom perhaps, but I made the right call in leaving work- the first time in my nearly 6 months there. At least I'm not vomiting; I'll take a stomach ache any day over puking.

I did get to catch up on a lot of On Demand, though. Some paranormal fun like alien abductions and vampires. Oh, and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) was in the mix. A CLASSIC.

Writing is going well too. Everyday so far without fail. Lately, I've been plodding through a first draft of Wendigo! for a potential half-hour puppet theatre piece. It's coming along well enough and shaping into something tangible. Bunraku and shadow puppets will tell the story. It's a simple telling of the legend so far, but I'm having fun putting it together.

Which continues the question for me: "What the hell am I doing with theatre?" Ugh. I hate it. So challenging, but it's that whole purging thing. If I don't do it, it'll bother me that I didn't. Argh. My stigma, of course, is that if I complete the purge, it'll cost me $500.

Better to ache than to purge...?

3:48 Psychosis

It's odd what comes out of the brain in the early morning hours, and then into the laptop. A couple of goofy sketches that will probably go nowhere, but they serve the purpose of my writing exercises. One is very Monty Python inspired, the other more Kids in the Hall. Undeveloped, but they give me a chuckle.

I feel fat lately. It's been almost 5 months since I've run any distance whatsoever.

The Cymbeline reading was fun. I hope to do another one soon, or perhaps even a play.

I am tired of the "come see my play" notices I get through email and Facebook. It makes me jealous and crabby. I mean, I want to see your show, but Christ it reminds me of my own inadequate theatre career that I haven't put to permanent rest. Meaning, I haven't found that other thing I love to do. The thought makes me tired and crabby.

Not entirely unhappy, but crabby.

Still writing. I am actually finding it rewarding to be creating something from scratch that has no real bearing on something I will submit, ever have read or published. There's no pressure to have any deadline, just add to something, write down a dream and call it a day.

Speaking of which... I slept in yesterday (no work as it was Veteran's Day). I was having that dream about acting where I don't know my lines and I can't ever remember having a rehearsal. But I am waiting in the wings of the State Theatre in Eau Claire, getting ready to come on as some flamboyant character in a 2 man play, apparently as part of a short play festival. I think I must have been the oldest one there, as the group that went before me on the messy stage were giggling highschool girls. My acting partner went on and started the scene.

I decided not to experience the terror of whatever might come out of my mouth and woke up. A little bit of lucidity- enough to wake up, in any case. Apparently, there's an African tribe that teaches one to control their dreams. Now that would be a day-starter...

Yesterday off was good. A cleaner garage, two job applications mailed/submitted and a smattering of video games made for a good day.

Oh, and writing. I keep adding to a story about a theatre tech guy who makes himself homeless and stays at the theatre where he works. Not great prose, but it serves my 30 day exercise. No expectations or pressure- it flows pretty well once I get going.