Usually, I link to some music that I am listening to while I am writing a blog posting. However, I am listening to a full album today. The Who’s 1971 classic Who’s Next. It is a complete album because none of the songs on the album exist as just “filler”. It has one of the best opening songs for an album ever with “Baba O’Riley”. (OK. I linked to one song. However, do yourself a favor and get the whole album.) It is kind of sad that now a day’s many music artists cannot construct an entire album’s worth of songs. The ability for many people to listen to an album as a whole seems to be a fading memory too. Channel surfing in the digital Internet age is too easy and also too arbitrary at the same time.

I am like many people at this time year trying to figure out how to make a fresh start to the year. And how to achieve that break through you desire. I am not going into the details of a few events that happened to me in late November through December of 2009. It was hard enough. The other problem is that I cannot write anything in detail that would provide any noticeable insight or any ultimate wisdom that was acquired. All I can hint at is that my perception of things that I have held on to for a long time may not be actually true. Or they really may be true. It is a conundrum. (Yes. I had to look that word up.) Sometimes when looking at the equation of your life you have to remove yourself from that equation. Sometimes your own ego is a killer in the equation.
I also need to recharge the mental battery a little bit while I am going about things. I have been reading the book. Ignore Everyone and 39 Other Keys to Creativity by Hugh MacLeod. He started by making comics on the back of business cards. He also posts on the site GapingVoid.com. He had one of the biggest downloads with “How to Be Creative” and it form the basis of his book. I got back into checking out his website recently. He is very insightful on how to use the Internet to promote your creative endeavors. It is good to know there are resources out there to look to for support. Even if you are just a “browser”. I recommend this site for anyone trying to be “creative” and needs some insight.

He posted this comment on his FaceBook page.

“What’s the one thing that ALL of the SUCCESSFUL artists I know personally have in common…? They crank the shit out like short order cooks.”

This is a key to me throughout this year. I need to be more prolific in my postings. It is like exercise. You cannot get stronger if you do not keep exercising the muscles. I need to put out more content. Hopefully, it will lead to more opportunities. It is better way than using fast food to expand my horizons.

In the picture is a small notebook I carry around with me through the day at work. I make notes of any thoughts I may have that may help at some point in my writing. I make notes from various podcasts I listen to. There may be books I need to read. Films I should watch. I note websites I need to check out. I have been asked from time to time about how I know some much “weird” shit. I just watch and listen. But more importantly I make notes.
I then need to get to writing out on the notepad on the clipboard to expand out the ideas I noted. And make them appear on the website.

I also need to clean up the home office. But that is another sad story. I wish I had enough money to pay for a “support” staff. I wish I could outsource the petty things I need to accomplish so I can get to the major items on my “to-do writing list”. Sadly, “No man is an island”. However, I have made a good case for a man being a “landfill”.

I have been studying this chart I found that also mimics my own personal evolution (or lack thereof).

(It is a pretty simple explanation.)

I have also been watching movies lately. They have made me think more about making a career change. I want to become a pizza delivery guy. It is refreshing to know that there are women out there who appreciate good prompt service. And they are willing to give a nice tip. Finally, when the transaction is completed they do not have any appearance of regret. Just admiration. Life seems so grand in the movies.

The reality it seems that I have been doing a series of experiments in order to have submissions for “F My Life”. I will spare the details. This is not the forum for them.

I write with music playing in the background. I may come off as a quiet person. I just do not deal well with silence. I usually link to a clip to link to in order to play will you are reading the post. I know I have a wide range of taste when it comes to music. I have been putting this blog off for way too long. However, it does not mean I have not been thinking about this posting. It has been a long time. And that means the music list grew long. So this posting is your choice if you choose to listen.

MUSIC: Dream Theater, Perfect Circle, Sponge, Rollins Band, Husker Du, Pearl Jam, Mastodon, The Headstones, Moist

Now I need to deal with the “Elephant” in my apartment. It begs the question. And given the place’s current condition. How the hell did he find any place to stand? And why can’t he at least be useful while standing there?

The “Elephant” here is my writing. And it needs more on the output side.

I am trying to get back to writing. I have started to carry a small notebook with me during the day. I use to write down ideas. I also use it to make notes about thinks I see and hear during the day. Books, websites, podcasts etc I need to remember to check out. It is basically, a copy of my own Rorschach test of what is going on in my head.

I have always had a problem with getting feedback and acknowledgment of my writing works. However, I cannot control that aspect at all. It is an external factor. I can control (or at least attempt to) the internal need to write ideas out. I may not achieve great vast recognition. The problem is when I am not writing then I am denying myself. And this has been going on for way too long.
I going to paraphrase a passage from PJ O’Rourke‘s book Driving Like Crazy. An adventure has two great parts to it. The beginning and when it is all over with at the end. It is the middle part that can and most likely scares the crap out of you. This sums up my website at the moment. I am not sure where it is going to end. I had energy at the beginning. But right now I am in the middle. And needless to say I am bit confused at the moment. I just renewed the site. But part of me was wondering why. I wanted the site to create opportunities. The thing is I wish I was a bit more on the clever side than I am perceived to be. I wish I could create something that I can at least put on a t-shirt and sell. So you are asking is what I am doing all about “merchandising”. I just want to be able to make a living doing something other than the current source of my income. My website is the “door” to that reality.

This is why I need to go back to drawing board. I need to and I am in the process of rethinking my website.

And I need help to do it.

I am looking for someone who is able to reformat the look of the site. I need a completely new template from which to work with. If that means an entirely new program to work with for the site then that is fine with me. I am willing to learn. I just need to find someone who is capable and willing to teach.

I want to take my website to the 2.0 version.

       www.foleywrites.com

I need suggestion. But I also need guidance in how to make them happen. It can be very frustrating sitting alone with a computer manual trying to figure out how to do it. Yelling “What the Fuck?!” at the computer screen has yet to provide any real technical answers.

My first priority is to write.

I need help to implement the writing into a better website presentation.

I guess you do get a chance for a “do over”. Staying the course seems to only apply to bad foreign policy and stimulus packages. But I do not want to go there.

I can create the “Second Act”. And if need be the third, fourth, fifth and so on.

MOVIE SPOILER (DO NOT read on if you have not seen) There is a scene near the end of the latest Star Trek movie. The Young Spock meets up with the future and older Spock. Young Spock has spent the whole movie trying to come to terms to which ideology he is going to live his life by. He is trying to come terms to being half human, half Vulcan and on top of it a member of Star Fleet. The future and older Spock tells him to basically take the whole idea of an all encompassing ideology and “throw it away”. In other words, to have a full life he must learn to “just enjoy the ride” but remember there will always be challenges.

I am not looking for an all encompassing ideology for my writing.

I just need a better idea about it.

And yet a better to present it.

If you can and are willing to help then please contact me.

As I have said in previous posts that I listen to variety of podcasts and music on my MP3 player. In fact, if it ever fell into the wrong hands it could be held against me at the hearing for my mental competency. There is no way a sane person would ever possibly put those together on the same MP3 player. They say, “Variety is the spice of life.” So maybe you should try it on your own MP3 player, IPod or whatever. One the podcasts, I listen to on a regular basis is NPR’s On Point. There are many times that I have no idea about the topic but I will listen to it anyways. It is a chance to broaden my perspective on things. I know many people who need to try something like this. I listen to this show the other day on Randomness. It is about mankind’s perspective on how events happen to them. How mankind tries to predict and control the outcomes to events. It also had some points on picking good movies. This story is takes an approach similar to Freakonomics to the topic. It talks about statistics without going heavy into the math behind them.

My circumstances like many of you are finding out for yourselves are changing. The rhetoric about that is getting worse every day. This being a Presidential election year only makes it worse. I used to feel it was required for a person to be aware of current events. I am beginning to rethink that policy. The problem is the rhetoric is becoming the equivalent of high fructose corn syrup. It may be very filling. But it was no real nutritional value to it. To sum it up, I am totally burned out by the news. My recommendation is watch or read the news in moderation. Better yet watch it at a bar. Homer Simpson said it best. “Better the cause of and solution to most of life’s problems.” Change is always with us. For example, I was looking forward to a vacation at the end of July. However, current economics and logistics are slowly making that slip away for this year. It is disappointing. But I have to accept the honesty of living within my means and capabilities. And I want a life within those means at the same time. So that most likely means staying close to home. And that is not necessarily a bad place to spend some time. There are a few projects I have put off too long. I guess this summer is beginning to look like it is more based on re-creation rather than recreation. This opportunity is the undertone to American society when you think about it.

The big thing is I need to figure out how to improve and grow this website. I have been looking at the stats meter on both my website and my blog. Sadly, I wish I was getting more traffic and feedback for both of them. I have been trying to figure out how to gap the divide between myself and the readers. And please DO NOT think that I am mad at anyone who takes the time to read and go through my site. I am just trying to figure what is hitting and what is missing. I am going paraphrase Stephen King who said, “First Draft the door is closed”. The door is open for everything else after that.” In a way it means in the beginning tell no one but then you have to show everything to some degree.

I have also posted my latest script entry from MoviePoet.com. It was my April entry. The script could not contain any dialogue or narration. This means the story had to be told using only visual action. My script is entitled “Last Call”. And here are the comments on it. As I have said before my writing is very much a work in progress. It is very much a learning process that keeps going. I have to said, I became somewhat disappointed on the results for this entry. I need to get back to the “grindstone” and rework this script. I wished I had come across much better than I did. Please Do Not be offended by the following term. I call this being “artistically autistic”. I am trying to create or in this case write something. However, I came up short or failed in trying to communicate this “idea” in my writing. And typo errors seem to be like ants. You never seem to be able to kill them all. In the end, I have still have to keep that chair in front of the “grindstone” or in this case the computer. Hopefully, my May entry of an adaptation of an Edgar Allan Poe short story does better. June entry may be tough for me. It has to be a family friendly script. I am definitely not a “G-rated” person.

Finally, I have to pass this along when it comes down randomness. Check your Junk E-mail folder carefully before you delete the contents of the folder. I found a pleasant surprise in it last night. I do not want to go into details about it at this point. I feel that if I talk too much about it then I will over analyze it. And that can lead to it becoming “cursed”. I am trying to get into the “Zen” of it. In other words, I am going to try to “go with the flow” on this one. Let it be what it is. And hopefully see what it may be become. I hate (I really do) to be vague but I am trying to manage the expectations of it by not getting wrapped up in the hype.

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.

Although I have really been liking this song from Robert Plant and Allison Krauss

I have been trying to rework my website’s format. The new format is slowly taking shape. I am slowly plugging my way through learning to use DreamweaverMX as my new editing program. I never realized that designing a simple link button would be such a pain in the ass. But that was nothing compared to my over the weekend adventures in home furnace repairs. My Catholicism is very dusty and rusty and I could not remember if there is a patron saint for home furnaces. But I did make it through the dilemma. Luckily there are professionals to call for such things.

I have added one new script and the rewrite of one to the site in the Screenplay section. Both were from entries to MoviePoet.com. It is also a site I need to refocus on contributing to.

Any suggestions on how to clean up the site are more than welcomed.

For now it is back to the “grindstone”.

(Just go with it.)

Back up. That is my reminder for you. Back up those critical files. I have a good reason for making this public service announcement. I was going to work on my website over the weekend. The computer that has my website decided to change my plan. In figurative terms, “it took a shit on me.” And I did not make a copy of any of the files. The program I was using was also on that computer. So now I am trying to get use to a new program (Dreamweaver) for the website. This means I am back to “square one”. So it will be a while for the main site to be updated. The blog part will be updated when possible for now.

I have two new short screenplays that I will post on the site as soon as possible. They were part of the MoviePoet.com assignments.

But this computer problem did lead me to “pray”. And it did not involve a “big white phone.” Regardless of what the computer decided to do.

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.”

The month of September was the first time I enter one. The month’s theme was the following: “One is the Loneliest Number” There were a couple of stipulations on what your script had to have. It could have only one person in it. There were to be no dead bodies in it. You could not use off-screen voices. And you could only have one actor in it.

Here is my entry for it entitled “Focus”. (NOTE: Requires Adobe Reader to view it) This is the script as it was submitted. I have changed nothing in it. I got the results of the voting on it today. This is the type of feedback I need more of.

Screenwriting has been often referred to as being the “art of problem solving”. You create the problem such as character, plot, etc. And then it is up to you to find the solution to it. Screenwriting not only has to tell the story but it must also show the story. It is a visual medium. There are so many things going on the screen at once. The actor(s). The cinematography. The music. The action. The dialogue itself. And how all of these things happen at once. It really requires more the viewer to be more than a passive witness to it. But back to the writing portion. Five pages of script may not seem to be that hard to write. It does not take as long as you think it might to write five pages plus. The hardest part about writing is the fact that you have to edit and rewrite constantly. The hardest part about being “creative” is that what ideas I have never come out in completed form. They have to be shaped out. In this case, they have to written down and rewritten over and over. There is no magic formula. It is never the same process twice to get a solution. You have to make sure everything is being used to “efficiency” in the script. This is very true in a short screenplay. The hardest part of the creative process is that is never over with. As the feedback of my entry pointed out. I am not at the place I think I was on the “learning curve.” My education process is pretty much a matter of “D.I.Y.” versus “trial and error”. It at least does not require taking on more student loans.

If you want to check out another past entry from another contest then click here for Customer Service Representative: Nick. It was based on a theme too. The script had to be based on the idea of “In a Nick of Time.” (Requires Adobe Reader too) It did place in the top ten of contest once. Winning like that felt good. However, there never was any real feedback. That would have probably have been better in the long term. But it was what it was.

I did enter MoviePoet’s October challenge. I know right now I am going to be hit on format again. As for the November challenge I do not know if I can come up with an idea. But I have a month. The theme for the month is just not my favorite topic.

I do not have kids. (You are not the only one who is relieved.) I find kids to be fun. But then they start leaking and crying. After that the magic fades away for me. However, I have been known to “have fun” with kids from time to time. I had a friend who’s son was being toilet trained at the time. I was trying to get the kid to say the phrase, “Drop the chulupa.” every time he had to go #2. It did not work. Which is probably good for me. Because his mom was quite prepared to kick my ass if he did. That’s what she told me. (I will not bring up the “Magazine Incident”) Why have kids if you can’t have fun with them? But as stated in another post of mine my Sense of Humor has always been treated with a bit of suspicion. Why do I hang around such people? Simple. Penance. Lots of penance. But I am not going to let that stop me. And here is my latest thought for having “fun with kids”. My friends recently had a baby girl who is now about three months old. And this would be her first Halloween coming up. I have an idea for a unique costume. It’s so simple too. Take one three month old baby. Put a “Baby on Board” t-shirt on her. And four suction cups. One for each limb. Then go trick or treating. Go up to house and stick her on the window of the front storm door. In this case stick her on pretty good. She is called “Fidget Midget” for a reason. Ring the doorbell and yell “Trick or Treat!” And wait for the people who answer the door reaction. Videotape it and it will be an instant YouTube hit. Department of Social Services may have a different opinion but who cares. They can’t take a joke. I can.

If you think this is bad then do not read this posting. It is a comparison of being a Buffalo Bills fan to religion. Once again let me say it is not for the sensitive.

And the main site the Screenplay section should now be working. There will be new postings soon. It is all very much a work in progress. If anyone knows how to fix the “WTF” moments in Front Page please e-mail me.

I have no trouble with writing ideas. I have trouble with organizing these ideas. And anyone who has seen my apartment can testify that I have “organizational difficulties”. How have I been trying to deal with this? I try to keep inspiring readings nearby. So I have been going back to Stephen King’s memoir, On Writing. He states that if you do not have the time to read then you do not have the tools needed to write. So I find myself doing a lot of reading. I have been especially reading the books of Robert Parker’s Spenser detective novels. This is the character that was the basis for the Spenser For Hire TV series. I find the books to be a classic detective writing. It is different from today’s TV series of detectives. Most of the crime shows on TV now seem to be based on super teams, scientific processes, and computer graphic re-enactments. The CSI approach. Not that it is a bad thing necessarily. But the approach is too repetitive on many TV shows. The Fox show Bones seems to find a balance between character and procedures in the crime fighting drama. However, back to Spenser novels. It features something missing in many detective shows that lone private investigator that has a personal code of honor. He goes after the criminals using more of the “gut instinct” method. The books are easy reading page turners. Robert Parker language in his writing conveys a lot without being very wordy. I have also been watching episodes of the show Homicide: Life on the Streets this was the show based on the book (an excellent one too) by David Simon. This series was based more on character rather than car chases and gunplay. I came across this clip. It features from the show Detectives Pembleton and Bayliss in a midst of one their many philosophical arguments. It is good dialogue.

The whole point of this is I am trying to write better. I read and watch the things that influence me. It may look like “wasting time”. But for a writer it is more like going “back to school”. I know my writings on this blog and the website postings tend to be more based on personal observations. The screenplays are in the “on the drawing” board per say. I promise I am working on them. I am making a lot of notes. The “ideas” are there. They just happen to be “under construction”. AKA rewrites and even more editing.

Here is a song titled “Armor and Sword” by the band Rush that kind of sums things up in a way.