Today I submitted a short film script for QPIX's Producer's Lab competition. The 11 page script became the sixth draft of a 17 pager I wrote over a month ago. I re-imagined the 'thematic message' last night, condensed the beginning this morning and rewrote the second and third acts by 2pm. Although I like the script, have mulled over the premise a while and re-drafted rather quickly, this doesn't necessarily add up to a shortlisted short. I didn't get feedback before delivery this afternoon but an equally important factor in the writing world is to meet deadline. I have struggled with this in the past. The usual process has been obsessing over the due date, chipping at it a little everyday until, procrastinating 3 of the last 5 days, completely re-imagining the protagonist's arc in my sleep or on a jog, manicly writing and not sleeping the last 2 days, finishing only two thirds of the script but commending my quickly, re-imagined effort, then going off to malfunction in my day job (overcharging customers, starting three different tasks, underestimating weighty objects, overestimating my 'guns', forgetting to blink, etc)
Indeed, I am weary and over-worked - just the day before I crammed to submit a proposal to 31 Digital. I didn't finish the script :/ due to a surprise (customary) re-imagining of story elements. However, I did have a revelation to submit a package made up of the pilot's synopsis, the show's thematic treatment, character breakdowns and a series outline. I used colour and graphics and everything! Almost proper professional. I think this would actually do a better job at painting the world, showing off the best jokes and selling the concept than a tiresome, black and white 25 page script would. What's more, defining and summarising these chunks in the package helped me realise the characters and the pilot's structure. Now I can finish the damn thing.
This recent writing flurry has genuinely seen me develop RSI. Coupled with balancing (strangely, increasingly hot) plates at work, my wrists feel like they have been bound with coarse rope to a steel drainage pipe in a dark, dank basement for weeks on end. I am kidding. And also about genuinely developing RSI. My bones are just weaker than usual.
I have been re-watching select episodes of Grandma's House and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. I can't tell you whether this was for leisure or study. I don't understand my thought processes of late. Living - being me - has been so surprising, as though I am watching some lazy, ditzy, irrational girl on TV. Speaking of which, I've taken up New Girl again (ouch, Zooey) and have laughed quite considerably. Previously, chiefly, this show amused me. And the first half dozen episodes of the new season were lame - Parents guest-starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Rob Reiner as Jess' divorced mum and dad was wretched. The online summary of the episode Eggs - next in queue - read so stale I nearly skipped it. I am so glad I did watch - writer Kay Cannon crafted some of this show's most hilariously left-centre dialogue and most entertaining scenes in this gem of an episode. Great performances by the cast, too.
An interesting Q&A this week, with a guest panel made up intelligent, well-respected leaders of various faiths. Oh and Josh Thomas (WTF?). Some (of the usual gratingly nuisance) tweets remarked it was a breath of fresh air to shaft the pollies this week and give voice to deep thinkers and universally spiritual matters instead. However, I have to say, there were no surprising questions and answers on the program. That's right, I've got the meaning of life all figured out. No, not really. I only mean it I didn't hear any new perspectives, arguments or proclamations. For example:
- Many religious leaders do believe in evolution and the Big Bang Theory
- You can be a Jewish athiest (of course)
- Muslims don't actually condone the 9/11 terrorist attacks
- Jihad means 'personal struggle' (as opposed to a fundamentalist curse or attack)
- Genesis should be interpreted metaphorically
- Celibacy has been an on-again-off-again vow in the Catholic priesthood
- The Catholic Church will never take responsibility for sexual abuse because of this flaw in their institution or for disgraced attempts at covering up said abuse
Important topics of discussion and for contention, nonetheless. I am particularly sickened hearing more instances of the latter point occuring.
No pressing deadlines. Got my eyes set on SOYA next month. Would like to polish Hostages pilot and other recent projects too. But for now....
C-leepy
