Hey Brett,

I don't aspire to do what you are doing but I  find it damn interesting.

My advice to you, about your list, is most likely to be as useful as the old chocolate teapot, but as a complete outsider here's my gueses.

1) it seems to me the most important thing is credibility, not on SS etc but within the system. So which one of these gets you there faster? Do you know?

2) repetitive script syndrome - I doubt that is a problem when breaking in. Wrong? Once in you can start to vary your writing but keep your focus on getting there first. A strong portfolio of similar product seems good to me.

3) producer - god I have no idea, I assume it depends on the producer and quality of idea. Is it something that could open a door to the next offer? It seems many people are used in this business, so you need to have faith in who asks.

In my business, one mantra I like is this " go for the right client and the business will follow, don't chase the business itself". Does this make sense? If applied here it would be the case of get in with the right people and the opportunities will follow, rather than chase a specific opportunity. It's usually about people.

I wish you all the best and keep us posted.

All the best.

I'd take the spec assignment, Brett. It's a completely different process than writing on your own, which would be good for you to learn. So long as the idea works.

Otherwise, I'd go with your second option. It's important to try new things and can be very enjoyable as well.

Another day, another Remnant revision. I do hope we're getting close with this draft as time is running out and I'm starting to be all Remnanted out.

Well, now a short brake, then back to website building and Hackintosh configuration.

Quoted from James McClung I'd take the spec assignment, Brett. It's a completely different process than writing on your own, which would be good for you to learn. So long as the idea works. Otherwise, I'd go with your second option. It's important to try new things and can be very enjoyable as well.

Hey James,

I'm kinda leaning towards a combo of options two and three.
Find something to get me excited about the spec rewrite.
It's an on the run espionage thriller, and I get the choose the "thing" they're after.
Meanwhile, research and beat out my story structure for the big ensemble drama.

Then in between spec drafts and what have you, I can work on my stuff.

It would also serve as a multi tasking lesson for me.
I've done that once before, but it was a feature and a short I was writing concurrently.

Regards,
E.D.

Piping up to note that I still exist and check in every once in awhile. Been strapped for time, but I still find time to write, of course. I'm presently swinging between two stories. One is the long-long-long awaited fourth part to my Fempiror saga that I have been talking about for probably five years now. Since I rewrote the first three scripts as three books and made the same fourth story promise, I figure I should actually write it. Now, whether it turns out as a single story or several remains to be seen...

My distraction through this (since I often have  a story distraction of some kind while writing the big stuff) is an idea for a series where a group of people from different times and places on the verge of suicide are abducted by a machine known only as The Maze to sort out their own personal problems through solving the problems of complete strangers and/or societies throughout the universe. Creation of something big is always satisfying, and this is one idea that I'm rather jazzed about and can't wait to flesh out. It's on a far larger and more epic scale than Fempiror, and provides a very engaging distraction from my well-established world.

So, I didn't get that short ready for Halloween this year, too much going on. I will have it ready for next Halloween though maybe...

On a better note, it looks like two more of my short scripts are getting produced...

so I decided to take another one of my short scripts (one that has done well in contests, but hasn't been produced yet ) and turn it into a feature since a lot of producers seem to be looking for some kind of horror.

It won't be a blood and guts horror. I don't care for those.

I want to leave a lasting impression with this one. Something that messes with the mind. Hopefully, I will be able to do this. We'll see.

Cindy

I've already begun writing the pilot issue of the new Voice Over magazine. Even bought some software for it and all!

I have to say, since quitting Facebook, it's been so much easier to sit down, brainstorm, and actually put words to paper.

I have two features in the developmental stages (one is a rewrite; the other is a drama). I'm in no rush to start or finish either. As excited as I am to actually write them, I prefer taking my time with both.

Right now I'm focusing my attention on a short script --  a modernized version of The Tell-Tale Heart set in a high school. I haven't started the script yet, but I have a pretty good outline to work with that should make the actual writing process much easier.

The relaunch issue of Voice Over is final on content. Now I only need to make the various versions and then sort out the release and website with Don.

A producer I met at Sherwood Oaks asked me to polish a script for a commercial.
I flipped the original narrative structure of the classic angry jilted husband.
Here's the finished product. It's a contest entry for a Super Bowl Sunday TV spot.
It's called, "Chip Slapped".

http://www.crashthesuperbowl.com/#/gallery/?video=14602

Not exactly the first thing I ever expected to see with some of my dialogue on a screen.
But hey, you never know who will see this!

E.D.

I've finally been able to get focused on just one story.

Some guy wanted to do "24/7" as a 20-minute film for his Senior thesis. I wasn't happy with how it was. More than that, I'd have to cut about two-thirds of the story out to make that work. Since I've been planning a re-write since I wrote it anyway, I asked if he'd be willing to wait until I completed it in feature form (barring it doesn't take forever, which it doesn't look like it will). He's cool with that. Luckily for me, he's in his Junior year. According to the timeline he gave me, I've got about six months. Maybe a little less.

Fingers crossed that the script comes out how I want.

Brett, you never know what strange turns a script will take and where the film will take you.


I entered one for the Doritos comp in -08. The winners seem to always be the ones with a WTF ending or something unexpected.

Quoted from Grandma Bear Brett, you never know what strange turns a script will take and where the film will take you. I entered one for the Doritos comp in -08. The winners seem to always be the ones with a WTF ending or something unexpected.

LOL! A row of blonde beauties in yours. Why am I not surprised?
I like that both of ours have some public domain classic music behind them.

Well, I don't think the whiny jilted husband is that outrageous. But...
I had to give him a sweet sadomasochistic turn after getting snack slapped.

E.D.

It's a good one, don't take me wrong. I was just mentioning what I have seen of the comp. Including the one that won $1M.

All the sound and music have to come from the Doritos downloadable files. No other music or sound fx are allowed. I'm sure that has to do with them airing it on TV. They don't want any disputes about copyright and such.

As far as writing goes, I'm in a serious funk. I don't seem to be able to write anything. I need someone to give me an assignment!!  

Guy walks into a 7-11 and buys an orange juice when pseudo-Ukranian eco-terrorists hold the store hostage to get their hero, Jack Palance's name restored to his Ukranian birth name.

There you go, Pia. You've got four days. =)