Normally, I would be depressed after spending a few hours writing 5 pages. I mean, it's not like I'm drawing or anything. I'm putting sentences down on word doc, but I think that's the element I was missing the first time around. Mind you, I spent months coming up with that first draft, but this time around, I'm a bit more meticulous. I like meticulous. It reminds me of drawing. It's nice when creative pursuits mirror each other.
So, Five smack-a-roos... I want to post it on here as an excerpt, but I want to do it in a way that's better than a bloody copy & paste. I wish PDF documents were embeddable. Xanga probably doesn't allow files from Adobe Reader.
As always, I'll keep you posted.
July 13, 2010
Decided to work on the acts separately. Act 1 is complete, but it only reads better. The major issue is length. Hell, it's always an issue with writing. Ask me to edit and I'll add. Overcompensating for being fat (Kevin Smith is so right about that). 41 pages, which is a few pages short of the original, but I think I can shave it down to 30. Basically just break the entire script down in 30 minute increments so it can be manageable. 4 acts instead of 3.
I'm still enjoying the process. I had a nice chat with a lady friend about the story and it turned into a hour-long brainstorming session. I love bouncing ideas off of folk. There are some things that I just don't think about. Different perspectives and all... it really helps. I'm in a bubble, so to speak. Hell, compared to other people, I haven't even lived life yet, so it's good to get insight and opinions that are different from mine. More so with the female perspective, being that the main character is female.
Edit: Make that 39 pages. There was a lot of white space that upped the page number. So I gotta knock off 9 pages.
Maybe I'm updating too much?
July 11, 2010
It's actually turning out good. Little tricks to slim it down worked like a charm. Final Draft automatically had the "Mores" and "Continues" on, so if a character's dialogue goes off the page, it will indicate that they're not finished. Turning that option off knocked it down to 178 pages. The reader(s) can easily follow along without that option. I still need to cut some scenes and trim, but I feel much better about it now.
Skimmed through the screenplay yesterday and, after all this time, I still love it. The only problem is the length and maybe a few character issues (not an easy fix). My major issue is trying to slim it down without losing the heart of it. There's interactions and events that assist in character development, which is something I know is very important when viewing a film. Sadly, after all the editing I did last night and well into the morning, I knocked my 185 pager down to 182. I guess I really have to rewrite certain areas...
Of course, the worst case scenario is rewriting the entire thing.
Not diggin' the current state of Xanga. Then again, I don't blog much on here to really have an opinion. I was thinking about doing a blog dedicated to the development of my screenplays, but I'm not sure if Xanga is the right venue...but I'm going to give it a try. I'm loyal, dammit.
Going to need a little icon for this to separate this from other entries (kinda like the way I did it for my Marvel internship updates).
This will do:
When you see this icon, you'll know I'm going to bore you to tears about my struggles as a screenwriter.
With that said, I purchased a Screenwriter's Market, a very helpful resource. It's amazing how a book can still trump the farthest reaches of the internet. Guess it all depends on what kind of information you're seeking. Anyhoo, after spending time reading it, I realize I seriously need to make some edits to my screenplay and query letters. I have an 183 juggernaut and, in hindsight, I was kinda stupid for thinking it could go places with it. It's a good story, but I need to slim it down. As Kevin Smith likes to say, "I grew up fat, so I overcompensate." Hell, I'm still fat...
There's another thing I need to do in order to get into this screen-writing biz. I need another screenplay. Not sure if it's a sequel or if it needs to be something different for the sake of versatility, but I can't jump into war with one bullet. One-hit wonders are kinda rare these days and most producers want to see if you can produce consistently. I get that, so I want to make sure I stay focused. I don't want to fail. I'm tired of failing.
The bad news is that this will take even more time, but I was pretty damn optimistic and inexperienced, thinking that my one measly screenplay could take me places. There's a fuckin' process. I don't like, but it's something that I have to follow. I want nothing more than to get this movie in theaters with a awesomely assembled cast and crew, but I have to be bloody patient. I was never good with patience. Screen writing is not for the guys that like to jump dick-first into things, so I'm working on it. It takes planning, strategies, and a bunch of other shit I'm not good at yet.
First things first: Editing. I need to make my first script readable. I still have bloody faith in the damn thing and it needs the proper amount of TLC. There may be a reason why nobody outside this house read it yet. I like to think it's God or cosmic fate or whatever. Fate is holding the right channels back so I can produce a quality product. Damn, I need to stop drinking! I thought about moving on, but my soul is trapped in it---a fairly large soul. Kinda hard to ignore.
I talked about doing this for a while now and I figured it's time to stop being lazy and do it. I knew going in that it wouldn't be an easy task, but like most of the things I do, it's a labor of love. I present to you...
The Greatest Fight Scenes of All Time...so far.
The Matrix - This is one of the few movies I watched without seeing any trailers or hype before hand. Sitting in the theater, I really didn't know what I was getting into. Jesus Christ, this movie was amazing. From the complex plot to the special effects, this movie is an instant classic. One of the many things I love about the Matrix is the fight scenes. The actors had to spend a few months under the guidance of Yuen Woo Ping, one of the best fight choreographer in the movie-making business. Their training paid off and it wasn't long before we started to see a wave of science fiction and martial art colliding on a frequent basis.
Watchmen - For a while, I was the biggest skeptic concerning this film. After reading the graphic novel, I pretty much agreed with the masses of comic geeks and pros, "Don't fuck perfection". However, the Watchmen film actually turned out to be pretty good in my book and one of the things I liked about it, besides Sally Jupiter's killer body, is the bone crunching fights. In the graphic novel, The comedian got roughed up a bit and was thrown to death. It was almost like he just gave up, which is understandable. In the film, the Comedian was fighting for his life, which was visually better. You get to see how dangerous he is and even more so with his attacker.
Ong Bak - This is the start of a brilliant chain reaction of martial art films from Thailand. What happens when you combine Jackie Chan's nimbleness with Bruce Lee's effectiveness? Well, you get Tony Jaa. One of the things that separates him from other fighting gods is the fact that he uses Muay Thai, a martial art that utilizes elbows and knees.
The Protector - Much like Ong Bak, but with more opponents. It's hard to pick a favorite scene in this movie, so I'll just post both. It's America and you should have a choice.
Ong Bak 2 - Set in the ancient times of Thailand, this film is more savage than it's predecessor. They use weapons in this, which is just as good as the hand-to-hand combat, but there's no denying that Tony Jaa is one of the most gifted action stars of our generation.
Undisputed 2 - Michael Jai White is the man, of course. I think he'd make an excellent Black Panther is Marvel decided to do a movie. He's got charisma, he's built, and has a one of the best voices this side of Ron Pearlman. One of the best things about White is that he can kick your ass, too. I practically ignored the first Undisputed movie, but I just had to rent this one. Not only is the fighting good, but it introduced me to the talented Scott Adkins.
Fist of Legend - One of my favorites from Jet Li. I like this one better than his other flicks because there's less flying. Much like the Ong Bak flims, it's hard to pick a favorite fight from this.
Kill Bill - Can't forget about the ladies. I'm the type of guy who likes strong female types. I mean, I was all over Xena Warrior Princess when it was out, so Tarantino's Kill Bill was epic for me. Combining just about everything I liked about those old Shaw Brothers martial art films and Spaghetti Westerns, Kill Bill was just a fuckin' treat to watch.
Chocolate - Imagine a female Tony Jaa... Oh, that's right! We don't have to imagine. Chocolate is about a special needs girls who delivers special ass kickings. It's actually a pretty tragic storyline, but the action is top notch and I really like the fact that it's a girl doing the damage this time around---not just with the fighting, but the stunts as well. JeeJa Yanin. Remember that name.
Yes Madam - Probably one of the best female cop movie ever---evvvveeerrrrr! Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock kicked some serious ass in this flick, old school style.
I'd be a dick if I said I watched every action movie, so if I missed anything and you want to contribute, post what I missed into the comments. Educate me.
Took me two days to draw and color this. It's a sample for a t-shirt design. Yes, it is inspired by Gir from Invader Zim. There's similarities, but they are waaayyyy different, especially the body. Anyhoooo, the theme behind this is open for interpretation. An assembly line of drones, but one stands out among the others. When you're a drone, you're not allowed to be different.
Considering this was the first "Superhero movie" I watched without reading the comic beforehand, I was thoroughly entertained. Hit-Girl was awesome, as predicted. Overall, the whole movie was an enjoyable punch to the head. It was grueling, bloody, brutal, with just the right amount of comedy.
With that said, why in the fuck would you bring your children to see it? Honestly, I had to sit in a theater littered with brats ranging from 4 to 8. Most didn't even know what was going on, which gave them full license to talk during the entire film. One kid had to update his Dad constantly, even telling the dumb bastard that certain parts weren't funny. Sure, one of the highlights of the film was an 12 year-old costumed vigilante, so I can almost see the logic of having the kids tag along. However, there are film ratings (who would have known?) and Kick-Ass had a big red "R" next to it on the marquee. Anyone with a brain would know there might be some stuff a 4 year-old shouldn't see. The title of the movie is a dead-give-away, for Christ sake.
Hey, I'm actually lenient on ratings. Back when I was little, my brother and I use to watch Terminator, Predator, Conan the Barbarian (a shit-load of Schwarzenegger movies), Blood Sport, Aliens, A Nightmare on Elm Street, etc. The big difference is we were quiet during the whole thing. The rated R viewings was a unwritten privilege, so to speak. Content really wasn't too big of an issue with my folks. If we were lucky enough to see True Lies or Die Hard, we made sure to keep our mouths shut and enjoy it. These brats... I can't really blame them for being loud. It's the fuckin' parents...
If you know your kid can't shut up in a big ass theater---even with a gun pointed to his head, leave him home. Whatever happened to babysitters? Usually, when a couple wants to have some alone time, hit up the Italian Bistro, watch a movie, or have some uninterrupted marathon sex, a babysitter would step in to free up time. 3 hours is all it would take. Cough up an additional $20 and you'll make everybody happy.
At the same time, the loud-ass kids weren't too much of a problem. I was able to enjoy the movie. It could have been a better experience, though. On a scale from 1 to 10---on the "Kenny is Pissed Off" scale, I say the experience was a 4.5. I had the unfortunate luck of experiencing a level 10 cluster-fuck, so this was "meh". The movie itself... Well, I rate mine with letters, so I'll give it a B+. I'll definitely pick up the DVD, so I can watch it child-free.
This makes me even more determined to write a book on movie theater etiquette.
Being a poor bastard, I can't buy DVD collections of television shows anymore. I loved it back when I had a steady job because I pretty much collected all of the DC Animated shows like Batman TAS, Superman, Justice League, and so on. One show that I really, really want to own is Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Hulu.com actually had three seasons up for a while and stopped, which left me a crack-addict. Logo, the gay channel, actually came to the rescue and airs Buffy episodes regularly. Only problem is that they don't show them in order----at least not completely. It would be easier to watch if I could just pop in a DVD. I pretty much watched all five seasons of Angel on TV, so backtracking with Buffy has been my favorite geek activity lately.
Castle is actually one of the best shows on television...lately. Definitely on my top 5. I'd watch Nathan Fillion in anything, but the show is actually fun to watch. Their two part story "Tick, tick, tick..." and "Boom!" was the best I've seen from the show.
Looks like Marvel finally snagged a Captain America, but I think they made a bad choice. Chris Evans is a cool guy---probably the only thing that made Fantastic Four work, but he's not Cap. I mean, when I picture Cap, he's a leader of men. A guy with a commanding voice---the kind of shit that would give a coward courage. Evans doesn't seem like the right fit. The director was hellbent on getting an America for the role, which makes sense, but when you have a guy like Sam Worthington sitting around, it's not really wise to have limitations. I kinda knew that the casting was going to be screwy because they started off with John Krasinski from the Office. Very weird.
I hope Chris Evans works out because I hate to see The Avengers movie fail.
Animation's been on the brain lately. After seeing the behind the scene footage of a Birdy Decode, I seriously need to make stuff move with my drawings. One thing I can say (and this should be in a separate post altogether) is that I need to teach myself. Sure, the work can be tedious, but I think I have a better shot at doing this solo. I think it sucks that I went to an art school for animation and hardly know squat.
Normally, I would be depressed after spending a few hours writing 5 pages. I mean, it's not like I'm drawing or anything. I'm putting sentences down on word doc, but I think that's the element I was missing the first time around. Mind you, I spent months coming up with that first draft, but this time around, I'm a bit more meticulous. I like meticulous. It reminds me of drawing. It's nice when creative pursuits mirror each other.
