tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66914539379610753352024-03-14T06:44:28.292+00:00Is the trigger too tight?Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-14152267663227127042014-04-19T15:05:00.001+01:002014-04-19T15:05:37.716+01:00RetiredNathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-78999880058856670702014-02-11T20:30:00.001+00:002014-02-11T20:30:19.718+00:00ResolutionsNow is the time to put your New Years resolutions into effect. Don't tell anyone, just get started.<div><br></div><div>A year ago, I started to change by choosing to eat a certain way. Ever since then I've been growing as a person and I don't plan on stopping.</div><div><br></div><div>You can do it.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-13183307929273377842014-02-08T17:19:00.001+00:002014-02-08T17:19:18.868+00:00Untitled Chef Project and RoundtableTwo screenplays in one week. Not bad. Two specs scripts as well, yet to be made.<div><br></div><div>Untitled Chef Project - Steven Knight, he of The Detectives writing fame, brings us a story of American/French chef who tries to sort his life out. How? By disappearing after a drug bender in his restaurant in Paris and reappearing as clean and sober in London. What I like about it is the fact that the protagonist is horrible to other people. There is reason, but it is a twisted, selfish one. Quite a fun third act as well.</div><div><br></div><div>Roundtable - by Brian K. Vaughan, he of Runaways comic writing fame. Four modern Knights of the British Realm must unite to fight ancient evil. Who better to defend us than, a Richard Branson surrogate, a faded athlete, a scientist and Sir My Cocaine. It didn't grab me too much, but who am I to judge a script that was sold. Plus, no one pushes the pram a lot. </div><div><br></div><div>A couple of apps that are worth checking out: Blinkist for reading summaries of non fiction books. The other is called Focus@will, a productivity app that plays music that improves your concentration as you work. I just used it for two hours with a five minute break in between.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-2189669071427761812014-01-28T13:18:00.001+00:002014-01-28T13:18:28.323+00:00Little Miss Pac RimTwo more scripts in two weeks.<div><br></div><div>Little Miss Sunshine (shooting script) - KISS. That is the best thing to take away from this script, it is brilliantly simple. I'll keep reading this script over and over.</div><div><br></div><div>Pacific Rim (Early Draft) - I prefer the film and this draft was solely written by Travis Beacham. When I saw the film, I enjoyed it a lot for what it was. It was fun. This script has the beginnings of what will become the script. What I took away from this was that the apparent collaboration after this draft and how it improved it. Making some good into something great.</div><div><br></div><div>As for my writing: the script reading has helped me to approach screenwriting with another mindset and I managed to write a four page scene during lunch. It was not amazing, but a start. I'll print out my first six pages tonight and work on improving them before pressing forward. The biggest focus I have at the moment is how does it look of the screen and how would people react to seeing thse moments.</div><div><br></div><div>I'll probably read another script this week as it is helping me with my approach to writing.</div><div><br></div><div>Good times.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-48168962450576418832014-01-18T21:46:00.001+00:002014-01-18T21:46:32.015+00:00At The Mountains of MadnessHello,<div><br></div><div>Happy new year and all that.</div><div><br></div><div>Not quite sure what to say, aside from the fact that I am finally lifting weights again (after being a sloth) and just read a second screenplay of the year.</div><div><br></div><div>The first was Vlad by Charlie Hunnam. I am by no means a reviewer, but I decided to track a draft down after listening to him on the Nerdist Podcast. The greatest part of the script by Hunnam is the air of the situations, he makes you feel the characters reactions and it struck me as something that should not be taboo.</div><div><br></div><div>Let me explain. In university, one of our lecturers was focused on writing so well that a director could not take credit for your work. I don't agree with this, it should be about making the film the best it can be. Perhaps it feels like overstepping your boundaries as a writer. I can see parallels with Hunnams approach that focuses on the actors behaviour.</div><div><br></div><div>It left me with a questions: do you worry about writing other people's roles to their annoyance?</div><div><br></div><div>I think it should be put out there and if it doesn't work as a project rolls forward, then it should be discarded. If it works, it works, if not, oh well. </div><div><br></div><div>You could write an action scene that will not work and the experts come in and sort.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm clearly no reviewer, because I didn't say what the premise was. Vlad the Impaler origin story.</div><div><br></div><div>At The Mountains of Madness</div><div>I own a massive hardcover book by HP Lovecraft, I barely got through a few of the stories. I wanted to talk about this screenplay to someone, but I don't know who. I didn't think a scary script actually existed, seriously scary. A film I would love to see. It is basically a bunch of sailors and scientists in 1930 going on an expedition to the Antartic and lots of unexplainable things occur and nobody can do anything about it. Just really fucking scary. </div><div><br></div><div>I believe the draft I read was co-written by Guillermo Del Toro and was close to being made with Tom </div><div>Cruise, but it fell through.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Like I said not a reviewer. I took a lot from reading these screenplays. Mainly because I over complicate things in my head, making the entire process much harder than it needs to be.</div><div><br></div><div>It also gave me faith that I can write something good.</div><div><br></div><div>I think that is what I get most out of scripts isn't story structure or character development. It is more in the way of the style of writing from each script and finding a new way to approach screenwriting.</div><div><br></div><div>Good shit.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-50750083338689613352013-12-03T13:03:00.001+00:002013-12-03T13:03:36.978+00:00EveYou are on the eve of who you want to be. That is if you are willing.Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-45050676156913176122013-11-23T17:54:00.001+00:002013-11-23T17:54:35.200+00:00The motivational vacuumI don't know why I'm down, but I am. All the work I've done, how ever little it has been. I feel like I just can't be bothered. I've had a busy week and people have been pissing me off.<div><br></div><div>I just couldn't be bothered to do all the little things that have helped me be a better person up to now.</div><div><br></div><div>As I write this I remember the things I have learnt. Trying to find the best version of yourself is like like a Diet Version Prometheus, except I can give up.</div><div><br></div><div>In my life so far, I have seen or heard of people I know, just give up on the dreams. That is the most depressing thing I have ever heard. Wild animals have dreams, usually to eat and have sex. Let's focus on the hunt for food, we all know what happens to lions if they don't capture anything, they die slowly from malnutrition and starvation. Surely giving up on a dream no matter what leads to malnutrition and starvation for your mind and then in turn, your body. </div><div><br></div><div>What I find difficult is that someone I work with has goals, just like me. Yet, she struggles. A common theme in everything. Yet, when she's not doing well, she tries to drag you down, feel bad about yourself, lash out. Because she struggles, she feels everybody else should. I really want to tell her to fuck off, because she is like a tumour to everyone around her. She is a motivation vacuum.</div><div><br></div><div>If you knew this person outside of work, you would avoid them. If you do work with them, you will face big challenges. I don't discourage, I also try to give her support. She on the other hand has no clue, how to support others. She is self involved, she only talks about herself (more than me).</div><div><br></div><div>I can feel she will throw in the towel soon. I can't be like her, I can be like the people who fall into the paradigm of a mundane life. I'm getting back to editing my script.</div><div><br></div><div>I have no motivation right now, other than fear. Fear that I'll end up like them, sucking the colour of life from you.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-11988674139527357672013-11-17T17:49:00.001+00:002013-11-17T17:49:11.816+00:00First Draft RevisitedI forgot about writing in this blog for a short while. That was quite nice, as I don't have much of value to express in this blog, except battle with myself. It doesn't read well. Like a child doing minutes in a psychiatrists office.<div><br></div><div>However, with this time off, I hid the script away. Read some books, saw some films. Give myself time to worry that I was falling back on my ways, losing the muscles. </div><div><br></div><div>Finally looking over the first draft. It's not too bad at the beginning. It's a nice relief, I just know that it will get worse as it goes on. So glad that I get a second or more chances to work on everything.</div><div><br></div><div>It can be made better and it shall be.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-30088254929813385652013-10-21T20:09:00.001+01:002013-10-21T20:09:52.406+01:00First DraftHello, welcome to what readers call a "depressing" blog. I just see it as cutting to the vein of things. I mean core, I mean. <div><br></div><div>Onto the good news. First draft complete. Hanging around screenwriter friends helped me burst thigh the last part. Made me realise that you change according to who you are surrounded by. Thanks people, you inspired me. Not so fucking depressing now is it.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from I am fed up of my job. Well now it's depressing again. Thanks Laura.</div><div><br></div><div>Thinking about the screenplay. I need a few things, to embellish on some details and cut a lot away and figure out the relationships for all the secondary characters. Also the opening is nothing special and a little drawn out. However with some work and a detailed beat sheet, the second draft should be heads and shoulders above the rest.</div><div><br></div><div>I honestly wish I lived closer to my screenwriting friends, because their presence helps me write so much more. No idea if that is the same for them, but it works for me.</div><div><br></div><div>I remember putting my friends through horrible first draft reads, quick tip, do that to your enemies. If you have them, I honestly don't have time for that.</div><div><br></div><div>There are some moments that I know are going to be hilarious, and some need some work. I also have to work on my fixation with writing in such a gory manner in fight scenes.</div><div><br></div><div>At least I have built a foundation.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-6816599806675143152013-10-05T18:18:00.001+01:002013-10-05T18:18:50.181+01:00GrowingI have lost a stone, written 100 pages, earnt a bit of money and had some good experiences this year. However if you read this blog (that is if you are me in the future who has lost his memory and is trying to piece together who I am by reading it. Yes, I am the only one who will read this!) then I always write about doing little bits of stuff and doing lots of nothing.<div><br></div><div>Now I am starting an experiment to see what happens. There is no hypothesis, except to have interesting experiences in a process of development. I will try to tailor it to make it easy enough for me not to wuss out on.</div><div><br></div><div>I just wrote an 800 word manifesto of the project. I think it starts tomorrow.</div><div><br></div><div>Now future me is thinking "So that explains why I did that thing which cost me my memory"</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-57442748954998760772013-09-29T17:54:00.001+01:002013-09-29T17:54:58.382+01:00Side CharactersI don't know why my brain produces these, but for some reason it creates side characters who have just one scene and disappear. Perhaps it is freeing to do this. Build up a character in a matter of a few actions and lines of dialogue with no expectation or real bearing to the story.<div><br></div><div>Perhaps it is my way of saying in a script to the protagonists that the world doesn't fucking revolve around them, despite it actually revolving around them. Take them down a peg or two.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-50983545448131620362013-09-21T21:24:00.001+01:002013-09-21T21:24:02.900+01:00PTSDIt's been a week and I can't get over what I learnt and experienced. The problem is I now hate my job. For all the inane thigs that didn't bother me, now piss me off. I've seen what is possible and this job is dragging me down. <div><br></div><div>It is clear to me, that it is not possible to obviously find a job in the industry I want, but also to find a way to grow. However, as things go on I have noticed I usually slow down for a bit, then get back on track. The problem is that I do not have a map to guide me in the areas I want to grow. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The only logical next step is to come up with a map to become who I want to be, to figure shit out. Let it be said that the "perfect me" is not an assortment of magazine articles formed into a mesomorph on a conveyor belt in a really nice suit, oh no. It is in fact an abstract avatar as I do not know what the end product might be... In a really nice suit.</div><div><br></div><div>I've figured out the categories and now I have a syllabus to construct. I have signed up at the university of me, where I shall be studying for a bachelors, a masters and then a PhD. Then I can pretty much get a job there as lecturer. Get tenure. All that kind of crap.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-80973058801364215102013-09-21T19:08:00.001+01:002013-09-21T19:08:50.975+01:00Thoughts on film schoolIf I could afford the money to do just a year at film school, I would throw myself into it. I would sacrifice a lot of today's expectations: three meals a day, Internet, TV all that just to learn and grow.<div><br></div><div>We wannabe screenwriters write way too much action for them actors. They'll be happier to find their own interpretation of punching someone that isn't:</div><div><br></div><div>"Earl throws a hookercut onto Steve, a hybrid of uppercut and hook. It lands directly onto his chin"</div><div><br></div><div>They can figure it out for themselves.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>If you're getting used to filmmaking and don't have much time, don't sweat the small stuff. All those fancy angles and shots that you want, will probably not happen, just shoot the fucking thing quickly and move on. </div><div><br></div><div>Everything should be planned out. Rehearse, prepare.</div><div><br></div><div>If you are using a camera that records digitally, then you don't need two takes of the same angle. I tint works, it works.</div><div><br></div><div>The editing phase really is when you get to control the story.</div><div><br></div><div>Sound is king, get the sound right and everything else can kind of suck.</div><div><br></div><div>Have fun.</div><div><br></div><div>Please don't tell actors how to do things and explain the "subtext".</div><div><br></div><div>When I asked the actors to show me how they would do the scene, they did it their own way. Better than I would direct them, so I said "okay, let's do that". Because I could not make them better, but worse and the weather was bound to take a turn. I am not an acting teacher, it would be like stories of script meetings where a person in pr or some other department begins to make inane suggestions.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Man, I wish I could go to film school.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-64363309664165798302013-09-16T19:42:00.001+01:002013-09-16T19:42:06.757+01:00Failure #4I had the chance to direct a scene yesterday. My direction worked in ways and failed in knowing what I wanted exactly, then missing some coverage shots of the area, due to rain.<div><br></div><div>It came together quite smoothly in the editing though.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-42472673859665468922013-09-16T19:40:00.001+01:002013-09-16T19:40:00.304+01:00WowI am exhausted from a weekend of film school. Almost 18 hours of non-stop work, and I loved every second of it.<div><br></div><div>It was actually the best weekend of my life, I learnt so much that gives me enough confidence to become a filmmaker. I am floored by what the actors could do with what seemed like a very simplistic script. </div><div><br></div><div>I wish I had the money to go back to film school next week and start a one year course.</div><div><br></div><div>There is so much I could write about the experience. So much.</div><div><br></div><div>It would be pathetic to go back to my job and not do anything with this new training, wouldn't it?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-74285013172944087112013-09-08T16:10:00.001+01:002013-09-08T16:10:27.406+01:00Failure 3The failure to act. To endure procrastination in the works or other people. To not progress, to grow stagnant.<div><br></div><div>That is my chief failure. That is everyone's chief failure.</div><div><br></div><div>I always know what I am going to do, but I never act upon it. A shame for the sperm and the egg that "won".</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-38557808100490384232013-09-07T09:54:00.001+01:002013-09-07T09:54:52.538+01:00II, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I.<div><br></div><div><br></div><div>That is the entirety of the blog, no need to read anymore.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-77382224223133569652013-09-01T16:33:00.001+01:002013-09-01T16:33:15.197+01:00The Larry David MethodPretty sick of writing scripts for today. Slowly getting to another point in my life where it is time to change... Again. Because changing is fun, and I'm a little bitch with change, so it proves interesting and provides material where I can write characters in funny situations and pretend I came up with it. This is known as The Larry David Method.<div><br></div><div>The Larry David Method is the writer's version of the Stanislavsky acting method. You go out, fuck up in abundance, feel stupid. Go home, laugh at yourself, and then try to sell someone fucking up in the same way as you did.</div><div><br></div><div>I think more people would read this (not that I care) if I put more pictures in it.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UVaJLGt1WVg/UiNeONM8ZtI/AAAAAAAAACg/3ixFyJph_wU/s640/blogger-image-1184657490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UVaJLGt1WVg/UiNeONM8ZtI/AAAAAAAAACg/3ixFyJph_wU/s640/blogger-image-1184657490.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-16460549218536048922013-09-01T15:59:00.001+01:002013-09-01T15:59:38.642+01:00First Draft<div>Lars</div><div>(Breathlessly)</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks.</div><div>Lars looks around and notices a RECEPTIONIST in her forties and another fifty something man JULIAN. </div><div><br></div><div>Receptionist </div><div>Does it smell?</div><div><br></div><div>Lars</div><div>Yes.</div><div><br></div><div>Receptionist</div><div>God's green earth! Do you see what I mean? Some people need to sort out their diet.</div><div><br></div><div>Receptionist pulls a can of air freshener from beneath her desk and walks around it and out of the reception and closes the door.</div><div><br></div><div>We can see through a tiny pane of the door and hear the "SHUHHHH!" of the air freshner and it sprays out white gas.</div><div><br></div><div>Receptionist (CONT’D)</div><div>(Muffled)</div><div>It bloody stinks out here!</div><div><br></div><div>Receptionist opens the door and walks back to her desk.</div><div><br></div><div>Receptionist (CONT’D)</div><div>How are we supposed to make a good impression to clients if they walk into a cloud of that?! I swear Julian, this is going to cost so much in aerosols. You need to talk to security.</div><div><br></div><div>Julian</div><div>I did. The building is responsible for the toilets, not the companies. As such anyone on any floor can use any toilet on every floor. We can't stop them. Some people are so boring they play toilet bingo, trying to use the facilities on every floor.</div><div><br></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div>Just working through my first draft as of Monday. I was so happy to be done with the treatment that came to 26 pages. The funny thing is I didn't include the end sequence, because that would've took 26 pages. </div><div><br></div><div>As I continue, I don't need to look at my treatment as I know the piece intimately now, and just look back at it now and then. Spending all this time on it, writing on index cards and all other things, I must've written 90 pages on it, before I even started.</div><div><br></div><div>However, now I have started and it is good to be back. Writing screenplays feels good. It's not perfect, but it's the first draft. </div><div><br></div><div>The beginning of the piece was the hardest, I just hit a wall straight away. Now I am almost knee deep in it and have hits my stride as the screenplay is going in the direction it is supposed to. A lot of foreshadowing at the moment. </div><div><br></div><div>I 'm at page 34 at the moment. I have about another hour of writing left in me today. The thing I am struggling with is finding the main character's voice and the fact that he seems to be a victim or witness to things, rather than an instigator. I know events change this in the screenplay, but I get the feeling if someone read this, they would chuck it away quickly.</div><div><br></div><div>I should finish the draft somewhat soon. Then in two weeks, off to film school to learn the basics of filmmaking.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-48630135069211901952013-08-26T15:58:00.001+01:002013-08-26T15:58:20.013+01:00Mission: Success<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9AhEYJCWNxQ/UhttCpEUVUI/AAAAAAAAACQ/EBbBtbSXqK8/s640/blogger-image-1756725676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9AhEYJCWNxQ/UhttCpEUVUI/AAAAAAAAACQ/EBbBtbSXqK8/s640/blogger-image-1756725676.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Huzzah! The treatment has been completed. Onto the screenplay. Huzzah!</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-39654978169752734092013-08-25T17:53:00.001+01:002013-08-25T17:53:25.846+01:00Trying to write: A hamster wheelBack when I was writing the second draft of my dissertation at University, I had one big problem. My laptop would always overheat after a while and if I didn't keep saving, then I would lose a stack of lines, if not pages of information. Then I would usually walk off and let it cool down for a while.<div><br></div><div>I was in an abusive relationship with my laptop. The amount of porn that it succumbed to allowed a virus to get through my Kaspersky antivirus and after a while, despite plenty of ventilation: it would shut down on me. </div><div><br></div><div>The only source doing something is writing, to be shut down literally is hard. When you have no choice, you get back to it and keep on writing. It was like rewriting a sentence five times in a row, but you're never disappointed with it, you have a really shit editor who just goes that's shit, but it works. I had no choice, it was either keep doing it, give up or write it down on paper. The thought never crossed my mind to write it down on paper.</div><div><br></div><div>Probably because I can type things out faster than write it and it messes with my flow. I am starting to notice that because I did this, it makes me write things out many, many times. Such as I am now. I will say I am close to finishing my treatment for the screenplay. </div><div><br></div><div>What this does allow me, despite the cons, is I have a more intimate knowledge of the characters and the source material. A way of layering the piece, not matter how good. It allows me to see who were originally just extras, to extras with lines, to side characters.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite all this, I feel like a glutton in not achieving anything. I hold myself back by too much preparation as I have nothing to show for my actions.</div><div><br></div><div>Perhaps a bit more writing the treatment and tomorrow and I can officially start writing the script (for the third time). </div><div><br></div><div>Well, at least I know how the story goes now.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-51708377808125622262013-08-10T20:02:00.001+01:002013-08-10T20:02:55.772+01:00Breaking the story<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AkvyIaXPBJI/UgaOXIpZjjI/AAAAAAAAACA/XDOeFGHuIJo/s640/blogger-image--689997663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AkvyIaXPBJI/UgaOXIpZjjI/AAAAAAAAACA/XDOeFGHuIJo/s640/blogger-image--689997663.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Argh! Forcing my Saturday into a day of prepping the final draft of my treatment for my screenplay. I know, I know, "Bitch, why are you procrastinating?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Aha.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am not procrastinating. I am breaking the story. Getting things down in order, prior to making an extremely detailed treatment in preparation for the screenplay itself. This may lo overdrawn, but I prefer to do it rather than doing nothing, and I feel I am making progress and adding in little details into the story even now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The trouble is with all this planning is you forget that it has to be cinematic. It needs to be worthy of being projected onto a giant screen in a big room, with many seats that only a few people are sat in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I watched the hobbit film for the first time last night. Two things struck me: why is this not more fun and I truly am missing out on the effect a cinema would allow me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anyway, I feel like I'm nearing the mid to end point of the project. Thank fuck, I think the biggest difficulty will be making the dialogue sing. It's not something that plenty of rewrites cannot achieve. I am starting to feel I need a break from this project anyway. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I have decided to make my first real cut. Something that feels tacked on. By the time the script is done, it'll probably be around 120 pages anyway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Another day of writing tomorrow and By the end of it starting the treatment. If I could finish this by the end of the month, I would be so happy.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-62380855711003771632013-07-14T18:42:00.001+01:002013-07-14T18:42:19.516+01:00Pad and pen lives againHonestly, I did not want to write a blog post. My writing keeps hitting road blocks because I do not know the whip of the moments. The solution is pad and pen. The most rudimentary tool for storytelling is the brain. I can only fully exploit this if I have ink and parchment, it provides a pathway for my mind to evolve an idea and seamlessly come up with new ideas to a story in a stream of consciousness way, without losing where I am going.<div><br></div><div>I have discovered new moments. That build up the story, to make it stronger and more unique. The process has given me things such as character motivation and weakness and strengths. I have learnt more about the universe of this story, by reflecting on death and the role it has. A minor detail that won't be examined in the story, but it has helped.</div><div><br></div><div>Slow progress is still progress and 25 minutes a day forces me to never allow failure. It will be three weeks since I started and it can be hard, but once you get started: it gets easier.</div>Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-41818684207269721872013-06-28T23:17:00.001+01:002013-06-28T23:17:54.293+01:00The lost art of not losingI thought I wouldn't write about the whole blackmail thing I'm doing into writing more. I will make this one post and hopefully that will be it until next year.<br />
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The first week is almost up and I have two more days of writing. So far I have done fourteen pages. Not bad. I have really sucked some days and done well other days.<br />
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Yesterday I wrote a paragraph. I think Tuesday, I got four pages down.<br />
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I left it really late tonight. This second draft won't be anything special. I'm still working out the story and the structure.<br />
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When I write I either embellish the dialogue and spare the description or vice versa. It is liberating to know that it does not have to be perfect, it just has to have something that can become better or cut.<br />
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The third draft will get a treatment, and then I can make it tight and just refine it for a couple more drafts until I am happy with it and then throw it around to some mates and colleagues to get feedback.<br />
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I talked to my mate who is an aspiring proper writer (Novelist) last Sunday. I figured the next project after this will be a play, a nice little play with no real reason to exist. Then go off and write a web series with my mate Will. At least I will be have plenty of stuff to write for this year.<br />
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The pressure of losing money makes me want to just get the writing done. I should have done something like this since I left university. Allowing my skills to dull and just waste away what I could do.<br />
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There is a story about a Wing Chun practioner who was well known in Hong Kong. I will not be factually correct in this, but he stopped for a few years, maybe, five. One day he came back to train, thinking it would be easy. This was a man who put the time in, would sweat from training for hours, blood and cuts on his knuckles and leg cramps from the strict stance Yee Gee Kim Yeung Ma, that would build up power. He struggled, he forgot that training even for a few minutes a day will keep your sense sharp.<br />
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Thinking about an action is sometimes good enough for remembering your skills. Leave it for too long and you'll be working your arse off to get back to where you were, rather than working to get further.<br />
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The one thing I love more about writing at the moment is that I wouldn't care about getting paid for it. I'd hate to lose money for not writing though, that is a great motivator.<br />
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I won't lie, I will fucking hate some days and love others. Six months time, I will be hammering in nails into the table with my forehead. It won't work, because the nails will be the wrong way round.<br />
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<br />Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6691453937961075335.post-42305304788699224212013-06-23T12:14:00.000+01:002013-06-23T12:14:12.538+01:00I have made a huge mistakeMuch like Gob Bluth. I too have made a huge mistake.<br />
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I've just thrown $1300.00 on the line. Why to make myself write.<br />
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I have signed up to Stickk.com to building a habit to write for 25 minutes every day. For a <u>year</u>.<br />
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Every week, my referee will have the choice of saying whether I did my 25 minutes each day. Otherwise 25 minutes will go to an anti-charity of my choice. It's a bad one, something that I am on the opposite end of the spectrum in opinion.<br />
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I regret my actions which is good. Now I have to force myself to do it every day, rather than just do nothing like I have this past week.<br />
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This might be the only way to write consistently though.<br />
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Bold actions lead to interesting results. I have said how writing can be hard. Now I don't have a choice. I will not fail. I cannot fail.<br />
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<br />Nathehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16659605212788452994noreply@blogger.com0