They Shot my Movie!

I'm just back from probably the biggest day of my screenwriting career. I was on the set watching my movie being shot.

Yes, even though they bought my script and they've made changes along the way — it's a collaborative process — it still feels like my story.

I was apprehensive when I arrived. I wanted to be excited, but was worried that the final product would be so different from what I had originally imagined that it might be depressing instead of inspiring. I shouldn't have worried.

Imagination Come to Life

All I can say is OH MY GOD!! It's the coolest thing on earth to have the characters you created on paper walk up, shake your hand, and tell you they love the script. It's surreal to have the folks who have inhabited your imagination suddenly 3D and getting coffee with you at craft services.

It's not just the actors, there are the sets too. I had guessed they would fabricate pumpkins for a "giant pumpkin movie" but it was the little stuff that caught me off guard. The product labels on products I had come up with and the banners with the town's name.

The last piece that stopped me in my tracks was all the people working on this. There were trucks full of equipment, folks (aka crew) running around doing all kinds of things I only half understood. It was hard to grasp that all these people were getting paid to work on an idea I thought sounded kind of funny.

In fact, the Canadian producer came up and told me and another producer, "If you didn't write this and you didn't sell it, I wouldn't have a job. Thanks!" I didn't know what to say, but looking back I should have given him a big smooch and said, "Right back at you!!"

I could go on all day. But in short, it was an event that effected me more than I ever anticipated. I spent the whole day keeping myself from shouting "THIS IS SO AMAZINGLY COOL!!!"

Maybe this is old hat for other writers with lots of produced scripts, but I can't imagine that every happening in to me.

Keep Your Butt in the Chair

It's hard to keep writing day after day, without sometimes feeling defeated.

When you're in the middle of Act II, with half the book or script left to write, it's hard to image there will ever be an audience for this half-formed story (a/k/a piece of crap).

I don't think we're human if we don't wonder every once in a while, "What in the heck am I doing?! Maybe I should brush up on my waitressing skills."

Negative Talk

In my coaching class, our instructor says we should replace the negative thoughts with positive thoughts. For example:

Negative Thought: I need my writing to be loved.

Positive Replacement: I need what I am writing to be strong.

Negative Thought: Since I can't possibly make a living from writing, there is no reason to write.

Positive Replacement: I write to find out.

Creative Replacement

I'm all for replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, but when I get down, my negative thoughts aren't so rational. It takes some creative thinking to work around them.

Negative: Your character likes ice cream. How can you consider yourself a writer if you haven't gotten into his head and tried every flavor at Baskin and Robins. Better hurry up. Keys are on the table.

Positive: My character now likes broccoli.

Negative: Hundreds of people are shocked by their electronic equipment each year. It's time to step away from the computer and do something safe.

Positive: I'm ready to live on the edge.

Negative: The story would be a lot more interesting if you replaced the bike chase with stampeding rhinos. In fact, replacing all the characters with jungle animals might be that new story twist you need.

Positive: That's stupid. (OK, that's not really a positive statement, but it works.)

Lets face it. The hardest part about writing is keeping your butt in the chair, and sometimes it takes more creativity than willpower.

di

Doing the Happy Dance!

I'm taking a break from doing the "happy dance". Just got an email from a producer to set up a time for me to come up and see them shoot Growing the Big One in Vancouver, B.C.

If everything goes well, next week at this time I'll be watching actors saying and doing things I dreamed up. (That's if it hasn't been rewritten completely.) It's a surreal thought.

Getting the story to the People

Writing a script is different from writing a book or an article for a number of reasons. The biggest difference for me is that once you've finished a short story, someone reads it and the communication is complete. It might have only been one person, but they enjoyed your story in the form it was intended.

Scripts, however, require producers, actors and a slew of other people to complete the process — communicate the story to the audience in it's correct form. It's frustrating because you may be a great storyteller, but so much of the process is out of your control.

Next week through my story will take on life. I'm actually going to see people walking and talking and doing things I've only imaged. Then, sometime in 2010, those actors will be walking and talking on screens in front of an audience.

I'm so excited. I will FINALLY have finished telling a story.

di

The Art of Interviewing, Pounce on your Prey

I'm lucky. I have a family that taught me the art of interviewing people. OK, it's more like pouncing, but it serves the same purpose.

My family can't help themselves. If they see someone they don't know, they will immediately start grilling them (nicely) for random information.

No one is immune. Trust me, if my family doesn't know you . . . they will.

Getting to Know You

It's my theory that my family thinks strangers are fascinating in the same way an unread book or an unwrapped Christmas present is fascinating.

We've lived in the same small town for four generations. We don't just know people, we know their entire stories — histories, extended families and every detail worth gossiping about. Although interesting, their stories are well read and dog-eared. But strangers . . . ooo wee, they hold the promise of all kinds of new entertainment. No that "reality TV" kind of entertainment, the real stuff.

Who to Pounce On

My family (mom, dad, brother and sister) will pounce on anyone standing still and capable of speaking — preferably in a service industry because they kind of have to talk to you.

For example, if my sister and I were to walk into a store and a clerk asked if we wanted to try on some pants, we might respond with, "No. But these are great pants. Do people steal a lot of them?" Within minutes we'd be up to questions like, "Heck yeah, I'd carry a gun 24/7 if I had a boyfriend like that too. But how do you get past the metal detectors?"

The secret

You would be amazed at what people will tell my family. They will talk about their divorces, freaky things that happened at work, family scandals, weird hobbies . . . the list is endless. And why? The secret to a good interview is that my family cares! They truly want to know every new and unique detail, and the people know it. (If they have any doubts, my mom's invitation to dinner usually takes care of it.)

Maybe you won't ever have to interview anyone to flesh out a character or get details for your story. But if you do, I suggest my family's approach — POUNCE and enjoy!!

We Lost Patrick Swazye, Thanks for the Memories

We lost Patrick Swayze today. He finally lost his battle to cancer.

People in Hollywood say he was a fabulous guy — as a person and to work with. I'm sure he was. But I, like the most everyone else, only knew Patrick Swayze through his movies.

My memories of him will be fond ones.

-- Sitting in the theater with my girlfriends, clutching our popcorn, as we watch Johnny Castle teach Baby the "moves" in Dirty Dancing. Then as the credits rolled deciding we probably needed to see it again the next night too.

-- Endless arguments with my little sister why Patrick Swayze is sexier than Ralph Macchio in The Outsiders. I mean, get serious, look at them?!

-- Wondering why I'm watching Point Break every time it's on TV. I've literally lost count how many times I've watched Bohdi paddle out to his final wave.

-- Reading about how many people took pottery classes after watching Ghost. I didn't take pottery classes, but my husband does make pottery. Coincidence? I think not.

I don't know what constitutes a great life. But if you leave people with a lot of fabulous memories, that's gotta be way up there.

di

The Movie Is a Go!

Big day!

Just heard my movie starts shooting on the 28th of September. Was also told that Shannen Doherty will be playing one of the leads, Emma. No one said I was supposed to keep that a secret, so there you go.

I should probably know Ms. Doherty from her work on 90210, but I always think of her in Heathers. That was a great flick. If you haven't seen it (or haven't for a while) you should catch it.

In Growing the Big One, however, Shannen won't be part of a vicious high school click, but a fish out of water — or more specifically an urbanite trying to grow giant pumpkins.

Hope I get a chance to see a piece of the shoot.

Check's in the Mail?

I got an email from my agent yesterday and it sounds like I may be getting a check soon for my script Growing the Big One (knock on wood). Money is always good, but more important, a check means the movie is getting ready to film.

First Deals

Little did I know when I was selling this script, producers don't give you the money until they start filming. Or at least that's how it works when it's your first deal — and you want to have this made in the WORST way and will a agree to all kinds of stuff.

In my case they've paid me some option money to hold the script until they're ready to shoot. But if it falls through, they won't pay me for the script. Sort of like leasing a house with an option to buy. Kind of makes sense, but it's kind of nerve wracking for the poor Shmoe who just wants to sell the house.

Seeing is Believing

On the bright side, it looks like the day is finally approaching (again I'm knocking on wood. I'm knocking on wood so much these days my husband must think I've developed some obsessive-compulsive disorder). I'd love to have a check in my hands and know the cameras are rolling, but I'll believe it when I see it.

di

Killer Log Lines

I wish I could give you the recipe for a killer log lines — those one liners that make agents want to snap up your book or your script. But they take real work. They're practically harder to write than the manuscript.

Last night at my writer's group, we were grappling over one writer's log line. One thing was obvious, I'm going to have to get someone to write my log lines for me. I'm too close to my story. It takes real objectivity to write a log line.

Good log line

A good log line looks like this. For the movie Pretty Woman, the log line was something like, "A businessman falls in love with a hooker he hires to be his date for the the weekend."

Bad log line

The bad, writerly version for Pretty Woman would have looked something like this: "A wealthy businessman picks up a hooker, who has aspirations of bigger things, and asks her to be his girlfriend for a few days days. During those few days she starts finding out that there's more to him than a cut throat tycoon. He discover the "pretty woman" side of her too. But the businessman's creepy friend nearly blows this perfect relationship out of the water before it starts. Laughs ensue in this tale of self discovery as businessman and hooker fall in love in true Cinderella style."

Hire a Professional

I'm considering hiring a professional — I'm only halfway joking here. Wouldn't it be great to hire someone from an ad agency, someone who's great with short copy? Preferably the guy from Nike who came up with Just Do It!

Have a great weekend everyone!

di

One Day Screenwriting Seminar in Seattle

Just saw on Facebook this morning that Warren Etheredge is having a one day seminar on September 19 in Seattle on September 19, from 9-5 p.m.

The cost is $100.00 and Warren describes it at follows:

LANGUAGE FOR FILM, is a 1-day intensive during which we'll examine the six major components of production — screenwriting, directing, shooting, acting, editing and composing — by reviewing clips to dissect the intricacies and artistry of each of these professions. After seven hours, you'll fully understand the principles of film theory and the challenges of filmmaking. Most importantly, as the class title implies, you'll have the vocabulary to best express your impressions of others' efforts and your own grand visions.

I haven't been to this class before, but know Warren and know that he was part of the founding faculty of TheFilmSchool, which includes Tom Skerritt and Stewart Stern. Warren has been an active part of the the Seattle film scene for quite a while.

I'm a writing gal myself . . . not much into the directing and shooting and all that stuff. So I probably won't catch this one. But if you do go, please let us know what you thought.

What Stories are Hot?

My writing class starts soon, and the first night I'm always asked by students, "What kinds of stories sell?"

The answer . . . it depends on who you ask.

Books

Producers, agents and publishers will give you a list of what's hot and what's not. I just read a list today on an agent's blog. The following she said are "dead":

• chick lit

• literary fiction

• books over 100,000 words

Scripts

A producer told me recently she didn't want to see any fantasies, westerns, mysteries, or stories with female leads because they didn't do well.

What's Doing Well?

I just jumped on the web to see what in the heck is selling. I appears that if you're serious about selling, write cookbooks. They outsell all other books except religious works.

Since my idea of making a meal is popping open a can of Diet Coke and heating up a Lean Cuisine, I won't be cranking one of those out soon. So, what do you do?

A Little of Both

Do your marketing homework and write from the heart. Every editor and producer I've talked to has also said, "Cream rises," and "We'll know it when we see it".

I hope they didn't mean "cookbook".