Some Assembly Required

I would like to start with an observation here. Do you ever find that when you are in a “hole” and asked for help? The first thing you are handed is a shovel and told to dig yourself out. It is kind of like when you are drowning and the lifeguard reminds you of the importance of staying hydrated during heavy physical exertion. It is just the wrong time for a lecture. And the wrong “tools” for the job.

I bring this up because we live in a time where it seems like most of the people want to buy themselves out of a “jam”. No one wants to work themselves out of it. Work smarter. They seem to throw money at the problem. The problem exists in the plan. It is not necessarily in the funding. But trying telling that to government officials and those in public education. For your safety avoid them when at all possible. Money does not insure quality. Watch Basic Instinct.

I was trying to find an affordable copy of Final Draft program. I realize that I needed a screenwriting tool. I learned a hard lesson in some of my screenwriting reviews. Format counts. I did not realize that a margin or indent than may be off by 1/8 of inch would be a problem. But remember “close” counts in horseshoes,hand grenades,thermonuclear war and the time I missed the tree and peed on my friend’s shoe. I could use the dreaded credit card thus digging into that “hole” just a little more. I was reading my reviews last week. I came across a recommendation for using a free scriptwriting program called Celtx. I was a little hesitant at first. I was thinking if it free than I was getting a low grade version that would wind up frustrating me. And so far, it has not been bad. I am slowly working my way through with it.

I wrote a short script using it. This script was just a short project just to get some ideas out. It is just one scene. Let me say a few things first. I was trying to write something. So I took some inspiration from by surroundings. I am trying to be a better writer. I do own an apartment building. And there four people living there. I am interested in what makes people coexist with each other. I also like stories with a cross section of people in it who under normal circumstances would never be together. I also like attempting to write (and I hope I do) interesting dialogue. I have known people who talk like this. I swear. I also like trying to find balance between comedy and drama. I think they can be interlaced. If you ever have a chance watched a MASH episode on DVD but turn the “laugh track” off. You will see what I mean. I am not sure if this scripted scene will lead to something. As I said I was just trying to write something.

Here is the link for the latest script. And feel free to send me a review.

I have also been re-reading Robert Rodriguez’s “10 Minute Film School”. Learning and Re-learning is a never ending cycle.

This posting is longer than most of my past points. So be it.

I was able to write another script for the October contest at MoviePoet. This month the script had to contain somewhere in it the props of a button, a coin and a ring. It took me a bit but I began to think about the idea of two people at a vending machine and went from there. I came up with the script I entitled “Lousy Coffee” . I did better in the voting this month on the script. However, comparing the two scripts is like trying to make the comparison between a mouse and rocket science. There may be a metaphor here but all I can think of is Mighty Mouse cartoons. But back to the script here are the results and the comments on my latest script. I did get nailed again on formatting. I will be using a demo version Final Draft for now. It only allows me to write about ten pages. And when you convert to PDF files they come watermarked that you are using the demo version. It just signaling that I am a bit poor. But I use Zamzar for that function right now. As per usually I need to take a lot extra steps for a simple task. Maybe Santa will be nice to me and get me a copy of the software. Oh Yeah! It’s me. I am getting coal. But     being a homeowner I find coal to be useful in regards to heating costs. Maybe Santa should be rewritten to be like a Don Corleone. Then maybe I can get an offer I can’t refuse. (Did I just leave myself open to trouble with that last statement?)

I just want to say a few things about my latest script. I am learning a whole new language style of writing. There are going to be some “growing pains” with it. I may be writing fiction. However, I am trying very hard to make my characters seem to be real people. I do not think that there always has to be conflict between two people. The sense of conflict can be implied from the current circumstances they find themselves in. I think strangers can meet, have a moment and move on. I think people sometimes seek a listener and that the conversation does not have to provide any resolution.

I read a lot of various stories and articles on people just to expand my thinking about what people may be thinking. Such books like Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner or The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood by David Simon. It also comes from just doing simple people watching. But for some reason this tends to “creep” people out. In may be just a result of the people you find around the Buffalo, NY area. I went to a pub one day for lunch. Before I get to my talk here just let me say you should try this sandwich. Grilled Canadian bacon with pepperjack cheese on rye bread. I found myself have a talk over a couple of pints with an 85 year old man and his 60 year son. It was amazing to hear the stories and observations they told. And I never meet them before. In fact, I did not get their names until I left. This has happened to me a lot of times with a lot of different people. I once learned about other ethnic groups being the only white person at one temp job I had. I am not sure where I heard this quote from or if it is even a quote to begin with. It may be just a cliché saying. “Everyone has a story to tell.” I think the problem is people have a hard time finding someone willing to listen. And to listen without prejudice. But to create real characters you need to write them without judging them. I am not sure if this makes sense. So I may have to rewrite this point.

Here are two other examples of just observing people. I was having breakfast at a restaurant. I was just reading a book with my meal. I did not realize I was seated next to a young couple. They were in their late teens or maybe earlier 20’s. She was asking those goofy questions you ask in the early stages of a relationship. (NOTE I was not trying to listen in.) Here was her question. “If they were making a movie of your life which actor would play you?” I did not hear his answer nor will I try to guess one. My answer would be. The idea of a movie about my life would be totally ridiculous. Therefore, my role would be played by Chuck Norris. Because the facts on him are awesome. Plus I just watched the classic Lone Wolf McQuade. My other one, I will not go into detail on. All I could think was, “More people live in glass houses than you may think.”