Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to post a little thank you to you guys and to wish you all the best for the year ahead. Personally my biggest goal is to make writing my sole source of income and by that I mean that I really hope that this time next year I don't have a crappy "real" job like I do now.
Whatever your goals for the year ahead and however you try to make them happen please bare in mind that you have to work hard and keep going no matter what, that is how you get there.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Write on
Dave The Screenwriter
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Making it in the year 2012
Hi guys,
Thanks for coming to read my end of year blog spectacular. I have missed my blogging activities this year, mostly I just didn't have time (see the story of my six scripts in a year below) but now I'm back and not only that but I'm inspired to blog like a mofo. Basically if you do anything like a mofo then that's good, I think.
It has come to that time of the year where I take stock of the time that has passed and of course make plans and goals for the next 12 months. Some are personal, some are professional, some are desires more than goals, what I'm about to share are my film/writing and sporting goals for 2012, I hope you enjoy this glimpse into my mind at this particular time in my life.
WRITING GOALS
Writing is the biggest part of my life, it's not a job, a chore or a pain in the ass, it's also not a hobby. I love writing and the goal is to make it my career, to make cash from writing, just a little cash, enough to survive and live on... and drink beer with my friends with. Here are my 2012 writing goals.
I want to land a manager at very least in 2012, my writing is up to a very good level right now and I think I can be a valuable client to a manager, not least because I want to work more than anything else, so I'll churn out the projects (and collect lots of pay checks!).
Goal number 2: I have a crazy idea that I'm going to write a book that sell a million copies ... but if I make selling a million copies my goal then I'd be disappointed with 100,000 sales so my target is 1,000 book sales in 2012. The book isn't written yet so I am targeting a release in February (I know, I'm fucking crazy. Heard it all before dudes).
Goal 3: The oblig I'm going to write X amount of scripts this year goal. Last year I set my goal at three and wrote six, this year I have a book to write too and movies to make and a desire to travel more than I have this year, so with that being said my goal for the number of scripts (spec) I will write this year is THREE. THATS RIGHT MOFO, THREE. I am also open to 45 writing assignments!
Goal 4: Kinda crazy and totally out of my control in many ways BUT I'm going to make winning an award a goal for 2012. Now I'll be an author in 2012 as well as a screenwriter so that opens me up to lots of awards. Obviously I'd love to win the PAGE awards or something pretty big like that but any old award will do ... as long as it comes with a statue and a lot of hot chicks.
Goal 5: Purely from writing, various kinds of writing I'm going to make a financial goal for the first time ever... that goal is $10,000 US ... I've never made a financial goal going into a new year before, but the times they are a changing!
That's all, 5 little tiny goals that could change my life in more ways than seven. If in 365 days I have met all of these goals then it'll be a pretty good year... but I'm not done yet.
GOALS THAT DON'T HAVE NOTHIN' TO DO WITH WRITING
Couple of fun ones for the kids out there.
I want to meet at least one of my heroes in 2012... I could type a list of those who would qualify but I would be here all day. Lot's of movie people, lots of sporting people, lots of amazing people ... If I met Martin Scorcese I'd be happy!
Fun Goal number 2 (more of these later)
I want to own a double neck guitar.... I really really really want to own one.
BEFORE I TURN 30 GOALS
Yes, that's not a typo, I'm going to be 30 on April 25 2012 *insert frowny face*. I'm looking on it as a reason to do all the crazy shit that I've always wanted to do but always chicken out of... lets do these things.
THE TAT
Since I was 18 I've been saying that I wanted a tattoo and I think I'm ready to get it done, I want a Gibson Les Paul on my right forearm with Rn F'n R (Rock n Fuckin' Roll) scrawled underneath it (probably in courier new 12pt!). No more being a wimp, just do it.
THE MARATHON
HOLY SHIT I'M GOING TO BE 30 and it feels kinda right that I run a marathon, I"ve never run more than ten miles in my life and even that was a long time ago... however I plan to win a marathon before I turn 30.
RECORD BREAKER.
FUCK THIS, I always wanted to be in the guinness book of records and I've never broken a world record (They don't count most awesome dude in the world)... so by APRIL 25 I will break a world record ... suggestions on which record will be happily laughed at.
UNEMPLOYED!
No, I have no desire to be unemployed, what I do have a desire for is not to work in a shitty job anymore. I want to write for a living, and make movies for a living and if possible to be a full time model of sexiness ... shouldn't be too hard... I have 4 months to make this happen ... this is the most important goal of 2012.
BACK TO THE MOVIES
In January I'm going to make a movie, it's a cheap movie that we are going to shoot in just one day ... a week later the final cut will be finished and a month later you'll be able to buy it on AMAZON and on a special film specific website... I'm serious, this is less of a goal and more of a this is going to happen so get your fucking money ready, it'll cost you $19.99 on Amazon OR JUST $14.99 ON MY WEBSITE!!
All sales will help the making of a new movie.
TOTAL MOVIE MAKING GOAL
Self funded indie specials, I WANT TO MAKE THREE MOVIES, each paying for the next. I have a plan that is top secret but my brother knows it.
INDIE FILM STUDIOS
Yeah, studios. I never understood why it cost so much to make a movie, I never agreed that it was an elite business and I'm hoping to start a studio type business where people can come to our locations, make their movies and we'll be able to help with distrib and marketing etc... also use our equipment and expertise... the only expenses people will have for this is to pay 50% of the budget of their movie... be that $5,000 or $50,000.. This is my big dream goal, the profit from my writing sales and movie sales will go into making this happen.
Thats pretty much it, except for the personal goals which include learning to play some kickass songs on guitar, buying a new car, extending my blu ray collection, extending my guitar collection, getting some drums and meeting my wife ...
Whatever happens I'm just going to have a fucking great year as best as I can and I hope that you guys do too!
If I can just give you a couple of tips for the year ahead then these will be them:
1, No matter what happens, always look on the bright side of life.
2, Never give up on yourself or your dreams, just work hard.
3, Surround yourself with people who make you smile.
4, Every now and then imagine you have everything you ever wanted and enjoy the feeling.
5, No matter what happens, do whatever it takes to enjoy yourself.
Write on and on and on
Dave The Screenwriter
Thanks for coming to read my end of year blog spectacular. I have missed my blogging activities this year, mostly I just didn't have time (see the story of my six scripts in a year below) but now I'm back and not only that but I'm inspired to blog like a mofo. Basically if you do anything like a mofo then that's good, I think.
It has come to that time of the year where I take stock of the time that has passed and of course make plans and goals for the next 12 months. Some are personal, some are professional, some are desires more than goals, what I'm about to share are my film/writing and sporting goals for 2012, I hope you enjoy this glimpse into my mind at this particular time in my life.
WRITING GOALS
Writing is the biggest part of my life, it's not a job, a chore or a pain in the ass, it's also not a hobby. I love writing and the goal is to make it my career, to make cash from writing, just a little cash, enough to survive and live on... and drink beer with my friends with. Here are my 2012 writing goals.
I want to land a manager at very least in 2012, my writing is up to a very good level right now and I think I can be a valuable client to a manager, not least because I want to work more than anything else, so I'll churn out the projects (and collect lots of pay checks!).
Goal number 2: I have a crazy idea that I'm going to write a book that sell a million copies ... but if I make selling a million copies my goal then I'd be disappointed with 100,000 sales so my target is 1,000 book sales in 2012. The book isn't written yet so I am targeting a release in February (I know, I'm fucking crazy. Heard it all before dudes).
Goal 3: The oblig I'm going to write X amount of scripts this year goal. Last year I set my goal at three and wrote six, this year I have a book to write too and movies to make and a desire to travel more than I have this year, so with that being said my goal for the number of scripts (spec) I will write this year is THREE. THATS RIGHT MOFO, THREE. I am also open to 45 writing assignments!
Goal 4: Kinda crazy and totally out of my control in many ways BUT I'm going to make winning an award a goal for 2012. Now I'll be an author in 2012 as well as a screenwriter so that opens me up to lots of awards. Obviously I'd love to win the PAGE awards or something pretty big like that but any old award will do ... as long as it comes with a statue and a lot of hot chicks.
Goal 5: Purely from writing, various kinds of writing I'm going to make a financial goal for the first time ever... that goal is $10,000 US ... I've never made a financial goal going into a new year before, but the times they are a changing!
That's all, 5 little tiny goals that could change my life in more ways than seven. If in 365 days I have met all of these goals then it'll be a pretty good year... but I'm not done yet.
GOALS THAT DON'T HAVE NOTHIN' TO DO WITH WRITING
Couple of fun ones for the kids out there.
I want to meet at least one of my heroes in 2012... I could type a list of those who would qualify but I would be here all day. Lot's of movie people, lots of sporting people, lots of amazing people ... If I met Martin Scorcese I'd be happy!
Fun Goal number 2 (more of these later)
I want to own a double neck guitar.... I really really really want to own one.
BEFORE I TURN 30 GOALS
Yes, that's not a typo, I'm going to be 30 on April 25 2012 *insert frowny face*. I'm looking on it as a reason to do all the crazy shit that I've always wanted to do but always chicken out of... lets do these things.
THE TAT
Since I was 18 I've been saying that I wanted a tattoo and I think I'm ready to get it done, I want a Gibson Les Paul on my right forearm with Rn F'n R (Rock n Fuckin' Roll) scrawled underneath it (probably in courier new 12pt!). No more being a wimp, just do it.
THE MARATHON
HOLY SHIT I'M GOING TO BE 30 and it feels kinda right that I run a marathon, I"ve never run more than ten miles in my life and even that was a long time ago... however I plan to win a marathon before I turn 30.
RECORD BREAKER.
FUCK THIS, I always wanted to be in the guinness book of records and I've never broken a world record (They don't count most awesome dude in the world)... so by APRIL 25 I will break a world record ... suggestions on which record will be happily laughed at.
UNEMPLOYED!
No, I have no desire to be unemployed, what I do have a desire for is not to work in a shitty job anymore. I want to write for a living, and make movies for a living and if possible to be a full time model of sexiness ... shouldn't be too hard... I have 4 months to make this happen ... this is the most important goal of 2012.
BACK TO THE MOVIES
In January I'm going to make a movie, it's a cheap movie that we are going to shoot in just one day ... a week later the final cut will be finished and a month later you'll be able to buy it on AMAZON and on a special film specific website... I'm serious, this is less of a goal and more of a this is going to happen so get your fucking money ready, it'll cost you $19.99 on Amazon OR JUST $14.99 ON MY WEBSITE!!
All sales will help the making of a new movie.
TOTAL MOVIE MAKING GOAL
Self funded indie specials, I WANT TO MAKE THREE MOVIES, each paying for the next. I have a plan that is top secret but my brother knows it.
INDIE FILM STUDIOS
Yeah, studios. I never understood why it cost so much to make a movie, I never agreed that it was an elite business and I'm hoping to start a studio type business where people can come to our locations, make their movies and we'll be able to help with distrib and marketing etc... also use our equipment and expertise... the only expenses people will have for this is to pay 50% of the budget of their movie... be that $5,000 or $50,000.. This is my big dream goal, the profit from my writing sales and movie sales will go into making this happen.
Thats pretty much it, except for the personal goals which include learning to play some kickass songs on guitar, buying a new car, extending my blu ray collection, extending my guitar collection, getting some drums and meeting my wife ...
Whatever happens I'm just going to have a fucking great year as best as I can and I hope that you guys do too!
If I can just give you a couple of tips for the year ahead then these will be them:
1, No matter what happens, always look on the bright side of life.
2, Never give up on yourself or your dreams, just work hard.
3, Surround yourself with people who make you smile.
4, Every now and then imagine you have everything you ever wanted and enjoy the feeling.
5, No matter what happens, do whatever it takes to enjoy yourself.
Write on and on and on
Dave The Screenwriter
Monday, December 19, 2011
The year is 2011
This year began, like others before it on January 1st but for me at least this was probably the only thing about 2011 that would be the same as all of the years that preceded it. The following flow of words will describe the highs and lows and even the in betweens of the year for me, Dave the Screenwriter and optimistic dreamer.
If you've gotten this far then you must be interested in how an "aspiring" screenwriter spends his 12 months and so I will try to enlighten you and entertain a little as we go but I must warn you at this point that there may be many many swear words, tasteless jokes, lots of bitching and some self appreciation along the way. Also the word aspiring is stupid, you either are a screenwriter or you aren't as my hero Kevin Smith was once told by his sister "stop aspiring to be a writer and just be a fucking writer".
The start of the story that is 2011 actually begins in November 2010, I was fortunate enough to be at a pro series event in Hollywood where along with 20 other writers I was brought to Warner Bros, Universal and Paramount to listen to producers, writers, directors and waitresses who all work in the Hollywood system. At the end of the trip we all got to pitch ONE script that we had been prepping for months ... I went instead with an outline for a page 1 rewrite and gave it my best shot. The great thing about not having 100 pages written at that point where I was pitching producers was that I could change my pitch mid sentence to engage the producers, I could make my script fit them because it wasn't written yet (they didn't know that but one producer did say to me that he knew I was still only 90% finished the script!).
At the event I had my script requested four times, which was a great result and thought me that I'm good at pitching, and that having an Irish accent can help you pitch to LA producers who love Irish people! The greatest breakthrough I had though on the whole trip was in my hotel room while speaking to my roommate Gary. We spoke about what kind of scripts we wanted to write and what kind of writers we are, while I was telling Gary that I like dark humor but I'm more of a thriller writer who laces scenes with a light layer of humor a voice in my head started screaming at me "YOU"RE A FRICKIN' COMEDY WRITER ASSHOLE" and so the choice was made, I would be a comedy writer forevermore.
When I got home to Ireland I let December pass me by, I decided that I was going to be a comedy writer and the first comedy script I'd write would be the dark comedy Hit-man script that I had pitched in LA, but I wouldn't write it until I got a copy of Final Draft (that's write I was writing on CeltX up until then, something I regret now that I'm an FD stalwart). Final Draft did arrive shortly after the turn of the year, so did a brand new notebook and a shiny new pen... time to be the writer I was born to be.
So I set about writing and completed the script within a week, read it, liked it, sent it to friends who also liked it for the most part and only suggested minor changes (all of which were made because they were brilliant suggestions *Gardner Grout's in particular had been on my mind before he said anything) Then I sent out the requested copies, pitched some more people and got some more requests... I was certain that this was going to be my year.
As happens with any script you submit in this business it was quite a while before I heard back from anyone but when the comments came back they were pretty much all the same (mostly from managers) they read "This is a great script, really funny at parts with great dialogue, great character and evidence of a very talented writer, BUT the story is too dark for us but please come back to us again with anything else that you have" and there was the problem, I didn't really have ANYTHING else. Sure I had some scripts but they were not what I wanted to send out, they were practices! So I made a decision that I wouldn't pitch for the remainder of the year and for that year I would write like a mofo and round out the year with three new comedy scripts that I could present whenever any said "so, what else you got?" So I began to write what would become a mountainous library of 2011 work (slight exaggeration!).
The first script I decided to write (which was the second I wrote in the year, keep up will you) was an American Pie inspired comedy which I'll describe like this: The three hottest girls in school decide to make a fortune selling their dates to the prom, they get the three nerdiest guys in school to set up an auction site to sell their dates but don't expect the guys to set up their own site selling access to hidden cameras in the girl's rooms. I loved writing that script because I had such a blast writing funny scenes between two polar opposite groups: Hot popular girls and nerdy loser guys. I loved developing the romance between the lead girl and the lead guy and how the fallout of their relationship ruined both plans and how I got to use writing this movie as a excuse to watch REVENGE OF THE NERDS 1&2 as "research". And there it was, I had begun to be the comedy writer that the world needed me to be but although I was happy with the script, really happy with it in fact I was barred from pitching it to anyone until Jan 1st 2012 so I better keep writing.
Next up came a short film, I'd already made two (NEEDS & FATE) and really enjoyed them, I loved working with the actors and I needed to do it again, so I wrote what I felt was a short homage to Reservoir Dogs, called it "Honor Of Thieves" and it was a pretty good shoot but I was not completely happy with the final product so I did not send it out, maybe I'll pst it on YouTube someday.
After that distraction I had to get back to writing and I was still in love with filming, so I bought a camera, a good camera, it cost me $1,000 it better be frickin' good! I spoke with my brother about making a movie, not a short, not a half our special a full length movie film. We decided to give it a shot and I decided that I had just the story to tell, the script is called WALK ON and is about John, a soccer obsessed dude who loves his team more than his girlfriend until she makes him choose. The script is pretty good, I sent it to my actors, I even auditioned some new people I cast some people I was ready to go and then the person I cast in my lead actress role pulled out just days before the shoot was to begin ... best advice I can give is NEVER WORK WITH YOUR FRIENDS. That collapse of the shoot set me back a small amount of cash and a lot of time, but like I learned in LA, "go with the flow" and you'll be fine.
So I got right into a new script, one that I'd been thinking about for a while, one that I knew there would be a lot of me in, one that I thought was going to be AMAZING. I called it THE WINNER and it's about a writer who is obsessed with Slash from guns n roses and has been working on a biography of the axe man for years (Stop laughing, it's pure coincidence that I'm a huge Slash fan, honest, okay maybe I wrote that part of the character just so that I could meet Slash when he does his cameo at the end!), Anyway Simon (the writer) gets ditched by his girlfriend as he proposes and the next day wins the lottery. Simon is upset but his friend Eddie drives him to forget the bitch by hiring a hot assistant, who he does indeed fall in love with... Clare tries to win him back but he now knows what true love is and there's also a whole thing about a store called Guitars and Strippers which is pretty funny! I did get coverage on this from a few sources, my favorite quote from the coverage was "The Winner is a very funny script, if it was just about being funny then this script would be really successful..." I've ready that quote a million times since I got that coverage back and I've been rewriting that script for a while to the point where I know that in January that it will be the one script I lead with because it's a very funny read apparently and the "characters are great, the dialogue is great and the writing is very very good" (that's another quote! and yes I'm showing it off because I can!)
Sometime around the writing of THE WINNER the Page awards were handing out condolences to losers but I got myself a birth into the second round for THE HIT-MAN which was so cool because I have only ever entered 2 contests, The Nichols fellowship a couple years ago and this years Page awards, I was so happy to make the second round that I started planning what I would do with the prize money, but I didn't make the next cut ... However making the second round was AWESOME!
I should also say at this point that I had taken THE HIT-MAN and submitted it to Amazon Studios early in the year, it was not a comedy script (kinda dark comedy but it appears to be too dark for anyone in Hollywood to take on) and that meant that it is there's until 2013, anyway only about seven people have read it and most have said nice things about it, check it out if you like. http://studios.amazon.com/scripts/8013
After THE WINNER came back with such good reviews I tried to get WALK ON back up and running but again I was halted by people not being available or not wanting to do it anymore and stuff of that nature. So I wrote another script (if you've been counting then you should be on FIVE for the year so far) This one is called MY TWO INTERNET GIRLFRIENDS and is pretty much what you think it is, a guy from Dublin has two girls online that think he's a wealthy doctor who is going to be their knight in shining armour. Of course he isn't a wealthy doctor at all, he's a loser who works in a video store (not that all people who work video store's are losers, just this guy!) His world is thrown in to turmoil when both of his online honeys come to Dublin for a weekend, the same weekend ... he learns the difference between love and lust and how being yourself is better than pretending to be something that you're not.
Good coverage on that script too and the great thing about it is that it could be made on a small budget or a big one, so I have though about us making it ourselves, I have a list of potential actors and actresses who could play the part and all I need is about $100,000 ...
I had been discovering lots of cool film stuff throughout the year and the most interesting to me was the idea of shooting a real time movie, ie the whole thing takes place in one location for an hour and a half and you shoot one big long take, maybe two takes if you want to be fancy! So I thought about it and came up with an idea for a 24 hour shoot, a movie about a guy and a girl who are one a date watching movies at his house when she chokes on a peanut M&M and dies but rather than call an ambulance the guy calls his friend, who convinces him that they have to dispose of the body or spend the rest of their lives in prison. A night of crazy goings on follows and the script is fun, if a little gross out - I'm planning to get everyone together in early Jan 2012 and shoot it, we'll also sell the crap out of it online in order to raise funds for a really good attempt at making MY TWO INTERNET GIRLFRIENDS.
So that was my writing year, more or less. It contained SIX new scripts that did not exist on Jan 1st, it contained TWO failed attempts at making a movie, it contained one short film and a lot of notebooks, it was a great year and now it's almost over my thoughts have turned to the future.
2012 will start with submitting scripts again, calling producers again with my heart beating out of my chest again hoping that I have just what they're looking for at that particular moment. I can't wait! Undoubtably 2012 will bring new scripts into my life, new characters and witty dialogue, maybe even a nude scene or two but whatever it does bring, I'm ready. My year of writing and not submitting is finally nearly over, I've proved to myself that I am the comedy writer I was always fighting against being and I am a good writer, now I just need to find my manager and a producer who wants to work with a good writer. It'll happen in 2012, I 'll have movies out in 2012, I'll write better than ever in 2012, I'll sell in 2012, I'll be ready everyday of 2012, I'll be proactive in my career in 2012 but most importantly in 2012 I'll be turning 30... scary!
Write on and happy holidays guys
If you've gotten this far then you must be interested in how an "aspiring" screenwriter spends his 12 months and so I will try to enlighten you and entertain a little as we go but I must warn you at this point that there may be many many swear words, tasteless jokes, lots of bitching and some self appreciation along the way. Also the word aspiring is stupid, you either are a screenwriter or you aren't as my hero Kevin Smith was once told by his sister "stop aspiring to be a writer and just be a fucking writer".
The start of the story that is 2011 actually begins in November 2010, I was fortunate enough to be at a pro series event in Hollywood where along with 20 other writers I was brought to Warner Bros, Universal and Paramount to listen to producers, writers, directors and waitresses who all work in the Hollywood system. At the end of the trip we all got to pitch ONE script that we had been prepping for months ... I went instead with an outline for a page 1 rewrite and gave it my best shot. The great thing about not having 100 pages written at that point where I was pitching producers was that I could change my pitch mid sentence to engage the producers, I could make my script fit them because it wasn't written yet (they didn't know that but one producer did say to me that he knew I was still only 90% finished the script!).
At the event I had my script requested four times, which was a great result and thought me that I'm good at pitching, and that having an Irish accent can help you pitch to LA producers who love Irish people! The greatest breakthrough I had though on the whole trip was in my hotel room while speaking to my roommate Gary. We spoke about what kind of scripts we wanted to write and what kind of writers we are, while I was telling Gary that I like dark humor but I'm more of a thriller writer who laces scenes with a light layer of humor a voice in my head started screaming at me "YOU"RE A FRICKIN' COMEDY WRITER ASSHOLE" and so the choice was made, I would be a comedy writer forevermore.
When I got home to Ireland I let December pass me by, I decided that I was going to be a comedy writer and the first comedy script I'd write would be the dark comedy Hit-man script that I had pitched in LA, but I wouldn't write it until I got a copy of Final Draft (that's write I was writing on CeltX up until then, something I regret now that I'm an FD stalwart). Final Draft did arrive shortly after the turn of the year, so did a brand new notebook and a shiny new pen... time to be the writer I was born to be.
So I set about writing and completed the script within a week, read it, liked it, sent it to friends who also liked it for the most part and only suggested minor changes (all of which were made because they were brilliant suggestions *Gardner Grout's in particular had been on my mind before he said anything) Then I sent out the requested copies, pitched some more people and got some more requests... I was certain that this was going to be my year.
As happens with any script you submit in this business it was quite a while before I heard back from anyone but when the comments came back they were pretty much all the same (mostly from managers) they read "This is a great script, really funny at parts with great dialogue, great character and evidence of a very talented writer, BUT the story is too dark for us but please come back to us again with anything else that you have" and there was the problem, I didn't really have ANYTHING else. Sure I had some scripts but they were not what I wanted to send out, they were practices! So I made a decision that I wouldn't pitch for the remainder of the year and for that year I would write like a mofo and round out the year with three new comedy scripts that I could present whenever any said "so, what else you got?" So I began to write what would become a mountainous library of 2011 work (slight exaggeration!).
The first script I decided to write (which was the second I wrote in the year, keep up will you) was an American Pie inspired comedy which I'll describe like this: The three hottest girls in school decide to make a fortune selling their dates to the prom, they get the three nerdiest guys in school to set up an auction site to sell their dates but don't expect the guys to set up their own site selling access to hidden cameras in the girl's rooms. I loved writing that script because I had such a blast writing funny scenes between two polar opposite groups: Hot popular girls and nerdy loser guys. I loved developing the romance between the lead girl and the lead guy and how the fallout of their relationship ruined both plans and how I got to use writing this movie as a excuse to watch REVENGE OF THE NERDS 1&2 as "research". And there it was, I had begun to be the comedy writer that the world needed me to be but although I was happy with the script, really happy with it in fact I was barred from pitching it to anyone until Jan 1st 2012 so I better keep writing.
Next up came a short film, I'd already made two (NEEDS & FATE) and really enjoyed them, I loved working with the actors and I needed to do it again, so I wrote what I felt was a short homage to Reservoir Dogs, called it "Honor Of Thieves" and it was a pretty good shoot but I was not completely happy with the final product so I did not send it out, maybe I'll pst it on YouTube someday.
After that distraction I had to get back to writing and I was still in love with filming, so I bought a camera, a good camera, it cost me $1,000 it better be frickin' good! I spoke with my brother about making a movie, not a short, not a half our special a full length movie film. We decided to give it a shot and I decided that I had just the story to tell, the script is called WALK ON and is about John, a soccer obsessed dude who loves his team more than his girlfriend until she makes him choose. The script is pretty good, I sent it to my actors, I even auditioned some new people I cast some people I was ready to go and then the person I cast in my lead actress role pulled out just days before the shoot was to begin ... best advice I can give is NEVER WORK WITH YOUR FRIENDS. That collapse of the shoot set me back a small amount of cash and a lot of time, but like I learned in LA, "go with the flow" and you'll be fine.
So I got right into a new script, one that I'd been thinking about for a while, one that I knew there would be a lot of me in, one that I thought was going to be AMAZING. I called it THE WINNER and it's about a writer who is obsessed with Slash from guns n roses and has been working on a biography of the axe man for years (Stop laughing, it's pure coincidence that I'm a huge Slash fan, honest, okay maybe I wrote that part of the character just so that I could meet Slash when he does his cameo at the end!), Anyway Simon (the writer) gets ditched by his girlfriend as he proposes and the next day wins the lottery. Simon is upset but his friend Eddie drives him to forget the bitch by hiring a hot assistant, who he does indeed fall in love with... Clare tries to win him back but he now knows what true love is and there's also a whole thing about a store called Guitars and Strippers which is pretty funny! I did get coverage on this from a few sources, my favorite quote from the coverage was "The Winner is a very funny script, if it was just about being funny then this script would be really successful..." I've ready that quote a million times since I got that coverage back and I've been rewriting that script for a while to the point where I know that in January that it will be the one script I lead with because it's a very funny read apparently and the "characters are great, the dialogue is great and the writing is very very good" (that's another quote! and yes I'm showing it off because I can!)
Sometime around the writing of THE WINNER the Page awards were handing out condolences to losers but I got myself a birth into the second round for THE HIT-MAN which was so cool because I have only ever entered 2 contests, The Nichols fellowship a couple years ago and this years Page awards, I was so happy to make the second round that I started planning what I would do with the prize money, but I didn't make the next cut ... However making the second round was AWESOME!
I should also say at this point that I had taken THE HIT-MAN and submitted it to Amazon Studios early in the year, it was not a comedy script (kinda dark comedy but it appears to be too dark for anyone in Hollywood to take on) and that meant that it is there's until 2013, anyway only about seven people have read it and most have said nice things about it, check it out if you like. http://studios.amazon.com/scripts/8013
After THE WINNER came back with such good reviews I tried to get WALK ON back up and running but again I was halted by people not being available or not wanting to do it anymore and stuff of that nature. So I wrote another script (if you've been counting then you should be on FIVE for the year so far) This one is called MY TWO INTERNET GIRLFRIENDS and is pretty much what you think it is, a guy from Dublin has two girls online that think he's a wealthy doctor who is going to be their knight in shining armour. Of course he isn't a wealthy doctor at all, he's a loser who works in a video store (not that all people who work video store's are losers, just this guy!) His world is thrown in to turmoil when both of his online honeys come to Dublin for a weekend, the same weekend ... he learns the difference between love and lust and how being yourself is better than pretending to be something that you're not.
Good coverage on that script too and the great thing about it is that it could be made on a small budget or a big one, so I have though about us making it ourselves, I have a list of potential actors and actresses who could play the part and all I need is about $100,000 ...
I had been discovering lots of cool film stuff throughout the year and the most interesting to me was the idea of shooting a real time movie, ie the whole thing takes place in one location for an hour and a half and you shoot one big long take, maybe two takes if you want to be fancy! So I thought about it and came up with an idea for a 24 hour shoot, a movie about a guy and a girl who are one a date watching movies at his house when she chokes on a peanut M&M and dies but rather than call an ambulance the guy calls his friend, who convinces him that they have to dispose of the body or spend the rest of their lives in prison. A night of crazy goings on follows and the script is fun, if a little gross out - I'm planning to get everyone together in early Jan 2012 and shoot it, we'll also sell the crap out of it online in order to raise funds for a really good attempt at making MY TWO INTERNET GIRLFRIENDS.
So that was my writing year, more or less. It contained SIX new scripts that did not exist on Jan 1st, it contained TWO failed attempts at making a movie, it contained one short film and a lot of notebooks, it was a great year and now it's almost over my thoughts have turned to the future.
2012 will start with submitting scripts again, calling producers again with my heart beating out of my chest again hoping that I have just what they're looking for at that particular moment. I can't wait! Undoubtably 2012 will bring new scripts into my life, new characters and witty dialogue, maybe even a nude scene or two but whatever it does bring, I'm ready. My year of writing and not submitting is finally nearly over, I've proved to myself that I am the comedy writer I was always fighting against being and I am a good writer, now I just need to find my manager and a producer who wants to work with a good writer. It'll happen in 2012, I 'll have movies out in 2012, I'll write better than ever in 2012, I'll sell in 2012, I'll be ready everyday of 2012, I'll be proactive in my career in 2012 but most importantly in 2012 I'll be turning 30... scary!
Write on and happy holidays guys
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Men CAN multi task
As I'm getting to a crucial point in my screenplay I will make this a short post but one that I think will be important for many.
As I lay in bed this morning plotting the paths of my two central characters through the midpoint I got to thinking about how much more work I could churn out, then I realized that it's still only half way through March and I've already done more this year that some will in the entire 12 months. Now I'm not being arrogant or vein or anything like that, I just get a lot done in a short amount of time. Since January 1st (4th really due to celebrations of the new year) I have written a full feature length project, written/directed/edited and submitted a short film, outlined two feature length documentaries (which will be shot over the summer), outlined and am currently writing a second feature length spec (which I will shoot over the next 3-4 months) ... and I have a whole social life thing going on too!
I'm one of those people that always has to be doing something, I don't really watch mind numbing TV, I only watch a few shows (Boardwalk Empire, Curb your enthusiasm and Dexter) and sports! I listen to music while I write, I read one or two scripts a day, and several blogs. I keep active on several internet sites, I have friends around the world that I communicate with everyday and I have a couple of businesses that I help run. Oh and a job, I have a job too.
So how do I get all the film work I get done done? Simple, I never stop working, right now as I type this I'm thinking about the scenes I'm writing straight after this post is complete, I'm thinking about how by the end of the day I should be entering the third act and I'm listening to an itunes mix that includes Velvet Revolver, James Brown, John Lee Hooker, Rory Gallagher, Bon Jovi, Foo fighters and Guns N Roses.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that multi tasking is essential to getting the work done, and don't tell me that men can't multi task, look at all the stuff I'm doing!! I haven't even mentioned that I'm always planning the next step, the project that will happen once the current one ends.
So I say to you dear reader of my blog, don't write a script - write a script, a tv pilot, a radio show, a play, a book, a comic, a graphic novel, a song, an advert, a speech... anything at all just keep your mind occupied. Soon you'll find that everything you do will become revolved around writing and you'll be a better writer because your focus will be writing that one script that will make this a career and not just a dream.
I hope that made as much sense to you as it made to me !
Write On!
Dave TheScreenwriter
Saturday, March 12, 2011
I'm Back!
Hello dear reader,
Apologies for the long gap since my last post, I have in actual fact been hugely busy and I had to let something slip, that something was my blog. In the couple of weeks I have been away I have learned many things and I will pass some of them onto you right now.
First thing I learned was that if you don't ask then you don't get. I remember my dad telling me that years ago when I was just a shy little boy, turns out he was right. This past week I contacted one of the biggest sporting organizations in the world and asked them if I could possibly have access to their stadium and offices for the purpose of shooting a couple of scenes for my impending debut feature film. The response I got was positive and they were engaging, they wanted to know more and asked what they could do to help, they still have not said yes but I'm hoping that they will in the next week or two.
So I got the "lets ask everything I can ask for" bug. So the people I'm buying my camera from have been asked for a hefty discount, every company I have every heard off have now been asked for a donation to www.indiegogo.com/3projects1year ... I'm asking and when you ask you'll find that very few people will say a straight out no, most will ask what else they can do to help.
I've also been reaching out to the film community at large, I got a great opportunity to write a Guest Post for the brilliant Film Courage with Karen Worden and David Branin, which is a site that I habve loved and respected for a while now... ever since fellow PSA Jeanne Bowerman was a guest on the show (I always support fellow PSA appearances and events, they're usually open me up to something very cool!) http://filmcourage.com/content/cheapskate-one-man-crew is where you can find my slightly rushed post but I think it has some merits.
I've been writing a lot too, I got the script for my feature off to a flying start with 36 pages rolling in over 2 days ... I had done a lot of prep before that but still 36 in 2 days is impressive even for me! I've also been writing concepts, I've had a glut of good concept ideas and they simply had to be written out and developed... right now if I was idle I'd have six features ready to go, I could start writing them now if I so chose!
And finally the last thing I want to say for today is that I learned that people want to work with talented hard working people, I've had requests from people to keep them in mind when I have projects rolling and I was blown away by that more than anything else.
Ok I have to get back to writing now but I leave you with this very obvious but also somewhat profound statement: The more you work the more you will achieve!
Write On!
Dave The Screenwriter.
PS don't forget that you can always email me about anything at all ... dthescreenwriter@aol.com
Apologies for the long gap since my last post, I have in actual fact been hugely busy and I had to let something slip, that something was my blog. In the couple of weeks I have been away I have learned many things and I will pass some of them onto you right now.
First thing I learned was that if you don't ask then you don't get. I remember my dad telling me that years ago when I was just a shy little boy, turns out he was right. This past week I contacted one of the biggest sporting organizations in the world and asked them if I could possibly have access to their stadium and offices for the purpose of shooting a couple of scenes for my impending debut feature film. The response I got was positive and they were engaging, they wanted to know more and asked what they could do to help, they still have not said yes but I'm hoping that they will in the next week or two.
So I got the "lets ask everything I can ask for" bug. So the people I'm buying my camera from have been asked for a hefty discount, every company I have every heard off have now been asked for a donation to www.indiegogo.com/3projects1year ... I'm asking and when you ask you'll find that very few people will say a straight out no, most will ask what else they can do to help.
I've also been reaching out to the film community at large, I got a great opportunity to write a Guest Post for the brilliant Film Courage with Karen Worden and David Branin, which is a site that I habve loved and respected for a while now... ever since fellow PSA Jeanne Bowerman was a guest on the show (I always support fellow PSA appearances and events, they're usually open me up to something very cool!) http://filmcourage.com/content/cheapskate-one-man-crew is where you can find my slightly rushed post but I think it has some merits.
I've been writing a lot too, I got the script for my feature off to a flying start with 36 pages rolling in over 2 days ... I had done a lot of prep before that but still 36 in 2 days is impressive even for me! I've also been writing concepts, I've had a glut of good concept ideas and they simply had to be written out and developed... right now if I was idle I'd have six features ready to go, I could start writing them now if I so chose!
And finally the last thing I want to say for today is that I learned that people want to work with talented hard working people, I've had requests from people to keep them in mind when I have projects rolling and I was blown away by that more than anything else.
Ok I have to get back to writing now but I leave you with this very obvious but also somewhat profound statement: The more you work the more you will achieve!
Write On!
Dave The Screenwriter.
PS don't forget that you can always email me about anything at all ... dthescreenwriter@aol.com
Saturday, February 26, 2011
FOCUS
This morning as I hit the treadmill for a jog and listened to a mixture of rock tracks I noticed that I was doing something that I should blog about, no not exercising, that sucks I recommend it to nobody! I was planning, and what I was planning was my film (which I have not written yet, simply outlined) being screened at Sundance! Why Sundance? Well all of my favorite directors have a history with Sundance and I want to be part of that list, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Kevin Smith, Dave TheScreenwriter... that list sounds good to me.
Now before any says "oh, you were daydreaming", I wasn't I was actually planning the shoot, organizing the timing of the post, trying to figure out who will play the sexy journalist and where I'll shoot the break up scene. When I had finished with the treadmill I hit the net to find out the late deadline for submissions to Sundance(Sept 26th) and then figured out that due to my current geographical difficulties I would have to finish the final cut by September 10th... which is 7 months away.
So 7 months to write, cast, rehearse, film and cut a feature length movie? Crazy? Watch me do it! You see you may have noticed that I'm kinda driven, focused, determined, obsessed or whatever you want to call it... If I can shoot an eight minute short in one day just nine days after it was written then I can pull of the Sundance miracle! BUT I need help, funding is the problem with getting these things done fast look to the side of this page and you will get more info on my funding proposal or just click on this link http://www.indiegogo.com/3projects1year?a=88034&i=addr .
I know that I'll be standing in Park city come Sundance next year, (submission accepted or not I'll be there!) and I know I'll be in Cannes this year (yeah I made the decision) and I'll be standing at both of these festivals with my head held high, knowing that I belong. The reason I know I'll be there and belong is that for a long time it has been my focus, my goal to make myself a valuable part of the movie industry and now that focus and drive is paying off.
So fix yourself a goal, focus on it, drive towards it, become obsessed and stride to where you truly belong. A big factor in being a film professional is focus, it has to be the one thing you have to do and everything you do should be for the end goal... focus, focus, focus.
Don't forget that you can email me for any reason especially if you want to ask for a certain topic to be covered in a blog post.
Write On!
Dave The Screenwriter
Now before any says "oh, you were daydreaming", I wasn't I was actually planning the shoot, organizing the timing of the post, trying to figure out who will play the sexy journalist and where I'll shoot the break up scene. When I had finished with the treadmill I hit the net to find out the late deadline for submissions to Sundance(Sept 26th) and then figured out that due to my current geographical difficulties I would have to finish the final cut by September 10th... which is 7 months away.
So 7 months to write, cast, rehearse, film and cut a feature length movie? Crazy? Watch me do it! You see you may have noticed that I'm kinda driven, focused, determined, obsessed or whatever you want to call it... If I can shoot an eight minute short in one day just nine days after it was written then I can pull of the Sundance miracle! BUT I need help, funding is the problem with getting these things done fast look to the side of this page and you will get more info on my funding proposal or just click on this link http://www.indiegogo.com/3projects1year?a=88034&i=addr .
I know that I'll be standing in Park city come Sundance next year, (submission accepted or not I'll be there!) and I know I'll be in Cannes this year (yeah I made the decision) and I'll be standing at both of these festivals with my head held high, knowing that I belong. The reason I know I'll be there and belong is that for a long time it has been my focus, my goal to make myself a valuable part of the movie industry and now that focus and drive is paying off.
So fix yourself a goal, focus on it, drive towards it, become obsessed and stride to where you truly belong. A big factor in being a film professional is focus, it has to be the one thing you have to do and everything you do should be for the end goal... focus, focus, focus.
Don't forget that you can email me for any reason especially if you want to ask for a certain topic to be covered in a blog post.
Write On!
Dave The Screenwriter
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Screenwriting... activate!
Are you waiting for something to happen or are you MAKING it happen? People have said to me in the past that it's not as easy as making your mind up and suddenly it's done. Well that may be true but does anyone really think that simply calling yourself a screenwriter is all it takes to have a successful screenwriting career?
Personally I work on many projects at a time, I call people, attend evens, write a blog, connect with groups via Facebook, twitter and email. If you are simply writing then you're only doing half the job. As I write this I'm contemplating bringing my latest short film to the Cannes Film Festival and finalizing the edit of that film and trying to promote http://www.indiegogo.com/3projects1year ... to me that feels like three full time jobs, did you notice that I didn't mention writing in that?
Writing is something that I simply do, I couldn't live without it and without it I wouldn't be doing any of the other things I'm doing. Oh and just to let in in on a secret, I have a "real" job too! I've told you before about how I extended my waking hours to include more writing time but now I find that my writing time has become "Film project time" that could be writing, editing, contacting, pitching or learning (Yes, even the great Dave the screenwriter still tries to learn something new EVERYDAY).
And so the point of this mini blog entry: Screenwriting is just the start, the beginning of something much bigger that includes much more work. Of course you can disregard that if you never want anyone to read your scripts! I love the work, I love the industry, I love the people I know within the industry. I dream about the big room at Paramount, the Jack Wolf building at Universal, the large Bugs Bunny outside the Warner Bros. If you don't like the work, the people, the industry or the way it all fits together then maybe you are not a writer... maybe you're a producer!!
Write on!
Dave The Screenwriter
Oh and please check this out and help us if you can http://www.indiegogo.com/3projects1year thanks!
And another thing ... email me about anything dthescreenwriter@aol.com
Personally I work on many projects at a time, I call people, attend evens, write a blog, connect with groups via Facebook, twitter and email. If you are simply writing then you're only doing half the job. As I write this I'm contemplating bringing my latest short film to the Cannes Film Festival and finalizing the edit of that film and trying to promote http://www.indiegogo.com/3projects1year ... to me that feels like three full time jobs, did you notice that I didn't mention writing in that?
Writing is something that I simply do, I couldn't live without it and without it I wouldn't be doing any of the other things I'm doing. Oh and just to let in in on a secret, I have a "real" job too! I've told you before about how I extended my waking hours to include more writing time but now I find that my writing time has become "Film project time" that could be writing, editing, contacting, pitching or learning (Yes, even the great Dave the screenwriter still tries to learn something new EVERYDAY).
And so the point of this mini blog entry: Screenwriting is just the start, the beginning of something much bigger that includes much more work. Of course you can disregard that if you never want anyone to read your scripts! I love the work, I love the industry, I love the people I know within the industry. I dream about the big room at Paramount, the Jack Wolf building at Universal, the large Bugs Bunny outside the Warner Bros. If you don't like the work, the people, the industry or the way it all fits together then maybe you are not a writer... maybe you're a producer!!
Write on!
Dave The Screenwriter
Oh and please check this out and help us if you can http://www.indiegogo.com/3projects1year thanks!
And another thing ... email me about anything dthescreenwriter@aol.com
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