90 pages

That's the goal. Another 90 pages. Last full length feature script I wrote was in July. It was Bobby's Closet. And I know that will need another re-write before it actually gets shot next year. Also in the middle of a Monster Cops episode and Redd re-writes, but those are less than 30 pages.

I'm about to embark on another feature length script, this one is my no-budget venture. Bobby's Closet has a budget of about 63,000 depending on what camera package I'm going to use. This new script is one we can start shooting as soon as I finish writing it and whenever I can get the new camera in.

As I've written before, alot of the writing process doesn't actually involve any physical writing. The real and first writing starts in your head. My brain has been scrambling around all the ideas and plot lines trying to piece it together like a puzzle. I'm putting pressure on myself to make this one truly great, but when am I not?

When my brain is doing all the writing it's important for me to create an atmosphere that is optimal for inspiration and creative thinking. That means everything around me has to help feed my mind. Sights, sounds, even smells and flavors. I've got an apple pie flavored candle burning, it matches the holiday feel lately and I find it rather relaxing. I've been drinking alot of coffee, not only to feed my caffeine headache, but also because something about the flavor helps my brain. I always try to keep the house clean, because I'm sort of a neat freak of course, but also because I can't think if there is a mess around me.

This brings me to what I've been listening to and watching.

Movie scores always help. I always write to music. Here's part of my huge movie score playlist. The tracks I keep repeating over and over. The sounds that help bring me to where I need to be to write.

- Beowulf Slays the Beast by Alan Silvestri from Beowulf
- Chiun Walks On Water by Craig Safan from Remo Williams The Adventure Begins
- Enterprising Young Men by Michael Giacchino from Star Trek
- A Dark Knight by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard from The Dark Knight
- Panda Po by Hans Zimmer from Kung Fu Panda
- Overture by Michael Kamen from Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves
- August's Rhapsody by Mark Mancina from August Rush
- Roll Tide by Hans Zimmer from Crimson Tide
- My Day So Far by John Powell from Jumper
- Escape From Torture by Jerry Goldsmith from Rambo: First Blood Part II

There's plenty more but these are the tracks I keep gravitating to.

I've been digesting and re-digesting much TV as well. My wife just got into DEXTER and has decided to get me into it as well. Already watched the first season. It's a really great show and luckily it's been helping my creative atmosphere. Good writing, great performances. It's a show that has alot of episodes that write the same way I think.

Been re-watching alot of HOUSE episodes as well, since it's sort of a detective movie I'm writing I need my Sherlock Holmes fix, and HOUSE is the closest to a modern day Sherlock Holmes we'll get nowadays (Love the guy, but Robert Downey Jr. doesn't count.).

I've read a few rants about the show recently. Some people have lost interest because they feel they show may have jumped the shark a few times. Me personally I don't care. As long as the characters stay true to themselves, keep the mysteries coming, and let House continue to be a wise ass medical detective, I'm perfectly fine with jumping whatever type of shark they want.


Slipping in the occasional THE WEST WING episode as well as SEINFELD to round out the comedy.



Ooh, my music player just went into Kung Fu Panda, SUCH A GREAT SCORE!!!!

Anyhoo.

And of course watching Movies always helps. Can't go wrong with PIXAR. THE INCREDIBLES and TOY STORY 2. Pixar in general is one of the great movie making and story telling companies in existence. They really know how to make a really great movie and know how to capture the essence of amazing cinema.

ROUNDERS is always one of my favorites, such a cool and smooth flick. I put it right up there with GOODFELLAS as far as voice over flicks are concerned. Great direction and performances and Damon does so well with the narration. Love the way it's written, such slick dialogue. Also, I'll watch anything with Famke Jansen in it.

Just re-watched THE PAPER, a highly underrated Ron Howard movie and one of David Koepp's best scripts. Every bit of that movie was entertaining. I love ticking clock movies and this one gets almost every beat right. A pre-cursor to SPORTS NIGHT and THE WEST WING, filled with walk and talk, wit, intellect, and street smarts, funny as hell. Captures the chaos of a newspaper news room. Great cast, and man, do I miss watching Michael Keaton take control of the screen.










This should give you some sense of what I'm working on. Ticking Clock, Voice Overs, Ensemble Casts, and a Detective Story. Throw in a murder, smart comedy, and a few thrills and you've got whatever the heck it is my brain is trying to piece together.

Of course still working on props and script for REDD. Got most of Redd's weapons established and I'm back on the Werewolf in a few weeks. The top of that pic you'll see the double barrel shotgun I built. I wanted Redd to have a primary weapon and I wanted it to be a big ass gun. I figured a double barrel sawed off would look great with her outfit. The other guns are props from Monster Cops I've had to re-paint and fix, note the tape job on that bottom handgun.

I think I should probably eat at some point this week.

Fuck Me Gently With a Chainsaw

Yes, yes, the title alludes to that classic high school murder flick HEATHERS. Great movie. Written by Daniel Waters. Where the hell is Daniel Waters? Dan, if you're out there drop me a line bud. Miss you dearly we need good writers desperately.

Apparently Heather's maybe resurrected as a TV show. As much as I'm sick to death of all the adaptations, remakes, and reboots, if Heather's has to come back I might prefer it as a TV series. Especially if you don't hold back on the murder, cussing, and dark humor the movie so gleefully celebrated. Slap this badgirl on HBO or Showtime and you'll have a decent series ala Sopranos, Sex In The City, or The Wire.

I have to admit I've become more of a TV hound than a movie goer. I don't watch too many flicks in theaters nowadays. Having worked in the movie theater industry for so long, I have become an elitist. I know how a movie should be shown, how it should be watched, and how a theater should be run.

For the past few years I've seen the decline of the movie theater experience, what with horribe cell phone etiquette, people who talk more than watch, and movie theater management that doesn't do anything about it. And after you pay for overpriced tickets to struggle through the incompetence you end up watching a fairly horrible and unoriginal movie.

Now it's not all bad, there have been some really great films to come out in the last few years, but many of them I choose to experience in my own home theater, away from the crowds. Which is a shame, because I use to love those crowds. I miss those old late night screenings, the excited crowd anticipating a great movie experience. If I were in Austin at the Drafthouse, or at any number of specialty theaters that still know how to show a movie and the crowds still know how to enjoy a flick I would be fine. But a normal friday night at the local cineplex with the kiddies on their phones, and folks who walk in late, not the makings of a great cinematic experience.

In the past 10 years I've found alot of the really great writing and great cinematic storytelling to be found on TV. The West Wing, Sopranos, Lost, The Wire, Heroes, House, The Office, Arrested Development, and many many other shows have evolved from normal TV dramatics to real heartfelt, thought provoking story telling.

If your someone I've talked to before about The West Wing, I've most likely talked about my favorite episode (I think I may have blogged about it as well.) The final episode of the second season. It's called Two Cathedrals. Such a well written episode, and an ending I thought I would only really see in a movie. Lost is another great example. The series has several great episodes, but the pilot alone rivals many big budget summer blockbusters.

I'll always love the movies. But the really great movie style stories are no longer just limited to the cinema. There are really great stories and visions yet to be expressed both in the theaters and on tv, and now also online through web series, and even through video games.

Maybe one of these days I'll find my way back to the theater. Right now I've got netflix and a decent home movie theater to tide me over.

So much to look forward to. House returns this Monday. Yes, I am excited. I think they have a real opportunity to throw House into some comical/dramatic situations ala One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest.

And as much of a tightwad I am about money, I'm anxious to shell out some bucks for some upcoming DVD releases.  One of my horror fav's from the 80's is finally heading for DVD. NIGHT OF THE CREEPS.

 Also the long awaited Halloween movie TRICK R TREAT heads to DVD as well.











Still working on BOBBY'S CLOSET, in the fundraising / preproduction stage.  Also I'm planning on shooting a VAMPIRE movie in September. Oh how I'd love to have this Vamp Flick ready to go before November. We'll see.

Until then, I'm awaiting the wide angle lens I purchased, and am already working on the score for said Untitled Vampire Movie.  I'm seeing pumpkins hitting the store shelves, the weather seems to be cooling down, and the local Halloween store is already open.  I'm determined to make this a good Halloween, which I will wholly celebrate by making a movie.

More later on the Vamp flick and Bobby's Closet.