The Hollywood Jungle™

Getting To It

2012-01-27T10:52:00.000-08:00

I've come up for air again. A fresh avalanche of freelance writing work has arrived and leaves me half thinking to be careful what I wish for! Of course, I'm happy to have people calling and offering me assignments. Before the day gets too far gone, here are a few thoughts I have about getting to those non-commissioned stories.

You know the stories I'm talking about. The ones taking shape in your richest imagination, the purely imaginary and unique that only you can write. The ones that can only come into existence if you give them your time and attention and which might just decide to pop into someone else's consciousness and manifest that way.

At this particular juncture, I've got seven original short stories in various stages of development. These are "in-work" projects that somehow manage to fall into the orphan category when paying jobs show up or life otherwise commands my immediate attention. I long to get to them with an almost romantic passion and yet...there they sit neglected and unfinished much of the time.

I have come to think of these works in progress as canvasses in my studio. Each represents a window on the world. One or two of them are near completion and a couple more are in that most delicate "inspirational" stage. In my mind's eye, those beginning pieces are covered in a sheet to help them further incubate.

What I've decided to do is make it a daily requirement to visit this imaginary studio every day to review these development projects and make some sort of progress on one or more - even it's only adding some shading, sketching in new character or a more defined subplot.

Over the years two ways of tracking progress on stories in development has emerged.

- A running list of stories I want to write.
- Each story has an inspirational "working title"
- Each title has a brief summary of what the story is about
- Each of these stories also has its own Manila envelope

The reason for the envelope system is that creative ideas often come at the weirdest times. Sometimes in the middle of the night, in the car or even while talking to someone about something else. So I'm compelled to write them down on whatever scrap of paper happens to be at hand and that paper is filed in the appropriate envelope.

Many of these ideas are in my journals so I've also developed a system whereby when a juicy storyline, tidbit or character pops up and lands in the journal, I flag that section with a bold note for later reference and collection.

The deadline, as I've so often said, is a great friend because it provides the boundaries that focus any creative effort. Adhering to the deadline, however, is challenging when there is no outside person or company enforcing it. This is where I see that I need more discipline. Maybe if I imagine that a producer or publishing house wants to see these stories by March 1...It could work! In fact, it could manifest the producer or publishing house!

New Year Book Giveaway

2012-01-17T11:04:00.001-08:00

I was thinking of ways I might give something of myself to my readers and then it hit me, how about giving away a few copies of your book? This seems like a fine idea so I'm hereby offering the first 10 people who contact me, a free copy of my book, SCRIPT: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO THE HOLLYWOOD JUNGLE.

May it guide you as you find your way to writing and selling your screenplays.

To learn more about it, click on the link or the book cover located on the sidebar. It will take you to Amazon.com. All I ask is the first ten is that you send me $5 to cover the cost of shipping (within the U.S.). I'm in the process of writing a collection of children's stories, a project which keeps getting sidelined for other writing jobs.

Favorite Holiday Movies

2012-01-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's January. I've been recovering from a severe infection and have been laying around in bed a lot - thinking about my top pics (among other things:)) So here they are, my favorite holiday movies as of 2012. Better late than never.

Ernest Saves Christmas - Starring Jim Varney - This was the first script I brought to Disney when I was working in story for the Animated Features division. It was called "Twas' the Night Before Christmas" before the live-action execs got hold of it. Bringing this in, is what cemented my career.

Tenth Avenue Angel Margaret O'Brien is a child star many of us didn't hear about growing up. She's wonderful in this timeless story of the transformative power of honesty and unconditional love.

And because the holidays are really about rebirth and second chances...there are quite a few on my list that don't necessarily take place in December or revolve around the holidays...although some of them do.

Angel A - French director Luc Besson's latest triumph (2005) is about a down-on-his-luck petty thief who gets in over his head and is about to commit suicide by jumping into the Seine. Shot entirely in Paris in black & white. This is one of my favorite sequences from the film.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens has, of course, seen hundreds of screen adaptations. Here's the one from 1935.

Home Alone is Christopher Columbus' bow to the holidays but most of us love it because it's about a child empowering himself and getting the best of a pair of bad guys with an ingenious string of traps.

Miracle on 34th Street - A department store Santa teaches us the real meaning of Santa Claus.

The Bishop's Wife - Carey Grant plays a handsome but slightly wayward angel who is seriously tempted to turn in his wings for David Niven's sweet wife. Remade as "The Preacher's Wife".

Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders is one of my all time favorite angel movies. It's set in post-war Berlin and for that reason alone is worth viewing. Most people recognize the story by it's American adaptation City of Angels

It's a Wonderful Life - Jimmy Stewart in director Frank Capra's 1946 Christmas classic is one of the best ever made and his angel sidekick, Clarence, is pretty wonderful too. So good no-one has tried to remake it. George Bailey's speech is remarkably relevant, even today.

Michael - Not strictly a holiday movie, although it does close on Christmas, this one, starring archangel Michael (played by a cigarette smoking, ladies man John Travolta)was written and directed by Nora Ephron who has gone on to write many more of my favorites.

Happy New Year!

Structuring Your Time

2011-12-29T08:24:00.001-08:00

There is endless discussion among writers and teachers of screenwriting about structure and the vital role it plays in making your work a success. But almost nobody talks about structure in the workaday world of the writer. So that's my topic of the day.

When you make the decision to be a writer, you are also stepping into the shoes of an entrepreneur. Congratulations on the courage to go there. This also means the rules that make the business person thrive apply.

So if you're looking for ways to maximize on the 24 hours each new sunrise brings, books like Stephen R. Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People are essential.

One of the most important aspects of living the life of an entrepreneur is time management. Kenneth Blanchard's classic, One Minute Manager, is brilliant on this theme, short and easy reading. I'm not here to preach, only to share what is working for me on the front-line of making a living as a writer.

Today, while do my morning journaling I realized what a hugely significant thing respecting the value of time is to making it. It's been less than a year now that I've been earning my living solely from writing (I earned my living helping evaluate and develop stories for 20 years but I'm not counting that in this context)so what I'm about to share with you is raw data, lifted right out of today's diary. Here's my recipe for successful time management as a writer:

- Get plenty of rest and rise reasonably early. I have years as a story analyst to thank for this habit. You can't miss deadlines or have a foggy brain and keep that gig for long. So I am usually awake and making my morning tea by 6:30 or 7:00 a.m.

If you're a night owl, then the morning regime won't work for you but the rest still will. One of the great things about working as a writer is that you can work whenever you want. Some of my friends, and even myself sometimes, find the wee hours of the morning one of the best times to write or compose.

- Journal before the day gets going. I learned this habit from Julia Cameron's awesome book, The Artist's Way. She calls it "brain drain" and it can be that but I use this time to record my dreams, plan my day, make notes on long and short term projects and work through conflicts.

- Daily toilette (e.g., showering, dressing and doing the odd house chore). Even when I'm not compelled to go out of the house, I always take care of this step. Some people I know actually dress and leave the house only to come back to it in "work-mode." Whatever it takes to take your time seriously.

- Touch the world. For me this means making prospecting calls, going online, writing a blog post, pitching a story, meeting a friend, going to a film or just hitting the library or local cafe.

There is something about a cafe environment that supports writers. Many of the most cutting edge 20th century writers and artists gathered on the left bank but this is a habit that has produced some of the world's greatest literature for hundreds and probably thousands of years.

There is some evidence coffee stimulates the brain but I'm into herbal tea these days and still find the cafe an almost unmatchable support to my writing.

- Expand your world. Meet or talk with someone new, watch an inspiring video, make progress on long-term projects. This is a somewhat ethereal step but it pays huge dividends. Julia Cameron calls it "The Artist Date" and recommends one a week but I have adapted this habit to a daily form that enriches my creative imagination. Sometimes just having the intention brings about a fortunate meeting.

Yesterday was a perfect example. I had a spontaneous brunch with a friend. We ended up talking for several hours about our goals and creative ambitions and how best to realize them. I was just beginning to feel like I needed to stop talking and start "doing something" in the direction of making progress on a certain long-term project when he revealed one of his recent illustrations. It floored me.

I've been searching for an illustrator partner for my current book project and there he was, sitting right in front of me. It doesn't get much better than that. I'm very excited about this collaboration and was so inspired I spent the next several hours working through a difficult passage that had me "blocked" for months.

- Devote time to long-term projects. Long-term projects are things like books you plan to write and publish and conceptualizing a new script. For me, the long-term project is in constant danger of being overlooked - dreamed about but perpetually in "the future."

This can be tricky because spending time in productive imagination workshops (whether you attend someone else's or structure your own) is very much a part of the process. This is incredibly fruitful time but just be sure that it translates to words on the page at some point; an outline, a new scene/sequence, fleshing out the dynamics of a character.

Well, that's all for now. Hope this helps.

Inspirational Thoughts

2011-12-27T07:31:00.000-08:00

The other day I was over at a girlfriend's house, exchanging gifts and catching up and she gave me a lovely recipe for peace and focusing thought in a positive direction. It's simple but powerful - a gentle reminder we always have a choice.

Choose
by Anonymous

Every moment of everyday, choose.
Choose to fear less and love more.
Choose to shout less and listen more.
Choose to eat less and taste more.
Choose to regret less and hope more.
Choose to do less and be more.
Choose to live every day of your life.
Choose to respond with what you really think
and how you really feel instead of
how you think you should respond.
Choose the water over the wine.
Choose the fresh, seasonal fruit over the chocolate
Choose conversation over Facebook or I-pods.
Choose silence, if you want to be heard.
Choose to look at each other longer without
filling the space with unnecessary words.
Choose to accept other people's choices as their own.
Choose forgiveness - especially with yourself.

Shorts for the Holidays

2011-12-23T12:01:00.000-08:00

Reindeer Wrangling on Nowness.com.

If you've been following the blog, then you've already seen this one but it's so perfect for Christmas, I've brought it back for an encore.

The lonely life of a Christmas ornament - a bit dark but imaginative.

The Life of a Bauble on Nowness.com.

Last but not least, Neil Gaiman redo of Pygmalion.

Dear Santa...

2011-12-22T10:15:00.000-08:00

I was watching TV the other day and noticed you have a new 4G smart phone. This got me to thinking that the best way to reach you is through cyberspace. Instead of asking you for a bunch of stuff though, I wanted to congratulate you on all the incredible joy you bring us every Christmas.

This clip, captured by Norad Santa in 2008, is one of my favorites:

The Lapland sleigh is wonderfully whimsical and that fur-lined red pantsuit is a hoot. Just the sight of it makes me smile. I've seen some gorgeous "Santa" dolls all made up in white and gold but they just don't carry the same happy message.

The beard and belly really do make you look jolly too. People are way too obsessed with being thin these days. I saw you in the grocery store without the suit the other day and you definitely had a twinkle in your eye.

Mrs. Claus must've given you a honey do-list and somehow, even with all the other things you're doing, you took care of it personally. That is awesome. You are a shining example of a good man. The fact that the kids love you is a major tell.

Since you're clearly able to access other dimensions, you've probably memorized the wormhole network on the earth plane. Is that how you manage to zip in and out of everybody's house on the same night, all over the world? With that kind of map it's no wonder getting around to billions isn't a problem. Somebody caught you on video - and yet there are still skeptics. Some people won't believe no matter what you do!

A word of warning though. There's a screen over the top of the chimney to keep the critters out so please use the front door this year. You're going to love the treats on the mantle. Williams-Sonoma had some killer sweets on sale. Even the cocoa rocks, with handmade vanilla marshmallows.

So here's what I wanted to ask about. Since you're like the reindeer whisperer, I wonder if you would take a moment to have a word with my Himalayan kitty, Kira. She's been munching down on the Poinsettias and clawing the couch. A couple of words from you should straighten the little stinker right out.

Last, but not least,, since you are so well established in the realms of myth and magic, I'd be grateful if you would say hi to my parents, who have both crossed over. You'll probably find dad busy tidying up the accounting department somewhere behind the pearly gates. Tell him I wish he would give himself permission to paint. He's got real talent. You'll probably find my mom playing a round of golf in Elysian Fields. She always did prefer a private club.

Now I know I've done some naughty things over the years so when you're making your list and checking it twice, keep in mind that I'm really working on being extra nice to everybody these days - even the ones who aren't so nice back. It seems to me that we're all just doing the best we can.

Anyway, thanks for everything Santa. I love your spirit and am grateful for all the happiness you bring to us every single year.

Generating Leads with a Stellar Work Ethic

2011-12-14T08:37:00.000-08:00

Another of the things that brings me work when other people are complaining about the economy and wondering why they're not getting offers is a commitment to a stellar work ethic. Whenever I'm given an opportunity to write for someone, I work to the fullest extent of my ability. No matter what the budget, if you "go the distance" as your standard modus operandi people will notice and recommend you to others. Exceptional work still shines.

Always go "above and beyond" what anyone expects. Work as fast and efficiently as possible and provide this service with an attitude of gratitude. After all, your name goes on the work and if it gets published with a byline, those are bonus points. You're ultimately being paid to advertise your abilities. Now, of course, not everyone will fall in love with you. But that's okay too. Just roll with it.

I've noticed a couple of other things while writing for newspapers and magazines. First, I'm not wild about doing the reporter thing. It's fact-driven and that tends to go against my dreamy, imaginative muse. But working as a reporter is a great way to meet people from all walks of life. You never know where that will take you.

It's also become clear that writing feature stories for magazines runs somewhat parallel to writing feature film scripts (as opposed to TV scripts). The feature allows you to stretch out and work with metaphor. You're drawing on a bigger canvas and that means catching their imagination is part of the deal.

So those are my brilliant thoughts for the day. Here are a couple of links to a few of my recent magazine stories - I've written six more so far this month.

http://lakeway.communitycircular.com/3D-ed2011Sept.html
http://newbraunfels.communitycircular.com/3D-edDec2011.html
http://cedarpark.communitycircular.com/3D-ed2011Sept.html

Dreaming Your Way to Your Dreams

2011-12-13T09:29:00.000-08:00

This doesn't mean sitting around ONLY dreaming of that heart's desire. But one of the most powerful things you can do to go from wishing you were living another life (like writing for a living) to having that life is to cultivate a clear vision of what you wish for in your heart and then hold that vibe as dominant.

It's a little tricky. After all, feeling like a successful writer or owning whatever you feel you must have or achieve when you seem so far away from it can make you feel kind of crazy. That's okay. I'd rather feel crazy and make things happen than live in fear of dreaming big and staying stuck in a life I don't want. Just insist on manifesting it no matter how impossible it may seem in the present.

Step one. Allow yourself to go to that magic dream life and feel the way you'd feel if you had already achieved it. Revisit it as often as you can and take steps towards making it your reality in whatever ways you can. You'll be amazed at how the universe cooperates with that kind of innocence and effort. I've done it many, many times and have not only surprised other people but myself as well.

Just this weekend, I was writing an update on a high profile missing persons case. You may have heard of it. An 18-month year old toddler named Joshua Davis Jr. went missing from his home and he's still missing almost a year later. I interviewed the police but they wouldn't give me the family's contact information. Finally, I found them on Facebook. I finished the story yesterday morning and two hours later I had a phone call from a local TV station. My name is now on the executive editor's desk.

So you never know where your writing is going to lead. All it takes is one or two people to notice and you find yourself with offers on a whole different level. Last night I had a series of fascinating dreams (one of which will go in my next book) but the one I want to share with you is this one.

I dreamed of finding a note left to me by the universe. It read, "Do the business that's in front of you right now and the business you dream of will come to you."
Shades of Jiminy Cricket's song to Pinocchio, "When you wish upon a star..." I loved this as a child and have clung to it all my life.

Now I feel like I've crossed over to being corny but it was on my heart to share this and so I offer it to you with the hope you will find your way out of whatever darkness you find yourself in and live in the light of what you long to achieve.

Writing Your Way to a Writing Job

2011-12-11T13:05:00.001-08:00

It's been a long time since I've had time to sit down and write a blog post. That's because I've been so busy getting paid to write. So when I thought about what to write, I said to myself "Why not just tell them how you went from wishing to make a living writing to making a living writing?"

So here we go. First of all, I've got a couple of decades in story development for the major Hollywood studios under my belt. That helps. During those fertile years, I learned from some of the best in the business about what works in screen stories and I've read thousands and thousands of scripts that taught about what DOESN'T work.

After leaving Universal Studios in 2006, I started writing this blog. It was my way of learning about the blogosphere and I also thought it would be a great discipline. I had originally planned to write one brilliant post every day. That didn't happen but I was pretty consistent with two or three posts a week. That gave me the confidence that comes from just "doing it." Showing up at the page on a regular basis is more than half the battle.

Then I rewrote my book and self-published it. Now I have a product to sell. It has also proven to be a great calling card. It led to my getting hired as a freelancer for a group of Central Texas magazines (which now hire me regularly) and that experience gave me the confidence to interview for a local newspaper. I was hired immediately as a reporter. Not my dream job, but it was a great experience. I met all the leaders in town and that has led to many more offers and some new friends.

So, at the risk of sounding really simplistic and obvious, if you want to write the best thing to do is just start writing. Write a blog, write a letter to your mother, keep a journal (I write in my journal every single day, whether I have anything to say or not), I record my dreams, I write promotional material, short scripts, advertorials and anything else I can. It's all great experience and it's all honing my skills as a writer.

Almost every day I run into people who wish they could make a career out of writing and all I can honestly say to them is "What's stopping you?" No sarcasm. Just ask yourself.

I'm a big fan of self-help books. My own book, SCRIPT: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO THE HOLLYWOOD JUNGLE is a form of one of those. It's great. I highly recommend that you read it. But it won't make you a writer. Only you can do that.

P.S. Writing a bog is also a great way to tell your dream lover you're keeping the light on for them:) All he has to do is show up. That's what I want for Christmas.

Hallelujah from Alaska

2011-12-06T13:46:00.000-08:00

This viral video from a bunch of 5th graders in Alaska, gives new meaning to the words "cue cards." It was made last year but the low-tech simplicity of it is timeless.

I'm also singing hallelujah because I finally have my computer back (it's been in the shop for three weeks). More blog posts to follow.

Inside David Lynch's Creative Process

2011-11-09T09:35:00.000-08:00

David Lynch x Dom Pérignon on Nowness.com.

I've been wildly busy lately. No longer a reporter in Wimberley and so glad to be getting back to the creative process myself. Have moved into a writing position with a local nonprofit. Great people and some wonderful opportunities to write scripts, do voice work and possibly compose music for them.

Dad's Self Portrait

2011-10-20T10:30:00.001-07:00

My father was a man of few words and he had natural talent for painting. Early in our family life, he painted a picture of an oyster shop on Solomon's Island that, to me, has a haunting quality. Later, while spending time on Midway Island during the cold war, he painted this self-portrait. I think it captures his quiet intensity. By this time he had become a Naval commander. This is the way he looked in my dream and the way I will remember him. Wasn't he handsome?

There is a man out there, who I wish would resurface. He knows who he is. We used to see each other around town fairly often. He resembles the way my father looks here and has a similar military bearing. Isn't it funny how the mind works? Although I can make the connection now, the attraction has it's own chemistry that's got nothing to do with psychology.

The Lighter Side

2011-10-18T15:08:00.001-07:00

As we were riding to the cemetery behind the hearse, my sister Karina was crying and we were all somewhat overwhelmed by the impact of losing dad when it suddenly occurred to me that he would wholeheartedly approve of the selected vehicle. My father drove a Cadillac for as long as I can remember. Today, Karina sent me a photo that she took with a caption that captures the moment. Thanks Karina!

The Dashing Lieutenant

2011-10-16T17:54:00.000-07:00

We buried our father today. There was a Navy honor guard in attendance and even though we opted not to have him interred at Arlington National Cemetery at the request of his second wife, I am grateful for their presence.

When I was growing up the Navy life was a very big part of our lives. Dad was XO in a couple of places, he taught military sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, flew fighter planes off aircraft carriers during the war and later super connies in the cold war.

I have inherited his Annapolis Academy class ring, which travelled with him to the Pacific theatre in WWII for three campaigns, through the 26 year marriage to my mother and all the way through until his passing on Wednesday. Dad was 91. It was odd to see him lying lifeless in the casket this afternoon.

A couple of nights ago I dreamed of him as a dashing young lieutenant, in his khakis and hat, sitting around a table with his buddies at the 'O' club. He was on top of his game - so good looking I did a double-take. Was it really him? In my dream, he didn't see me and a wave of sadness rolled over me because I knew I would never see him again. But I am glad to have seen him there in that happy state, telling one of his jokes and making everybody laugh. This is the way I will remember him.

No energy tonight to go into "other side" insights but it does seem to me that my father died as he lived. Strong, proud and with everything in order. One of the elderly gentlemen who surprised us with his attendance at the funeral and who had known me when I was a little girl and my father for decades said that he probably didn't tell us how sick he was because an officer doesn't "concern the troops." That sounds exactly right. He wouldn't have wanted us to worry.

The night before last, I had another dream in which he collapsed and died right before our eyes. I rushed across the tarmac where he was lying to see after him and said, "Dad are you okay?" and even though he was clearly gone, he opened his eyes and said,"I fine." And you know what? I believe he is - youthful once more - as handsome as he was in my dream - but he sees me now and he's smiling.

Jack's Barbecue

2011-10-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

Things have been non-stop in Tennessee. Went to Nashville with brothers and sisters yesterday. Brought the wrong shoes and was limping along "the district" trying to keep up. Fun though. We finally stopped at Jack's Barbecue for a bite to eat and sat on the back terrace, which is just behind the original Grand Old Opry. There's a whole backstage night life that takes place in the alley. Here we all are - all the sibs anyway.

I think the stranger who took this for us may have had one too many beers or maybe just nearsighted like me! It was a greasy spoon type joint with paper towels on the tables for napkins but you can't beat it authentic atmosphere, beans and location. The barbecue was pretty good too. I think we were all more used to Texas style sauce. I can still hear the sounds of country music from "The Stage", a sawdust-on-the-floor type live music beer hall.

This is a picture of me and my brother Michael, who is wearing my dad's dog tags. After we left here, we walked to the Cumberland River and walked across the footbridge. It was an unforgettable night.

Now it's off to church and the funeral. It will be an all-day affair.

Impressions from the Other Side

2011-10-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

My father passed away Wednesday and now I am in a suburb of Nashville with siblings and extended family for the funeral. It's beautiful here. Last night, we ate at a "Catfish Cabin" type establishment where they had a great blue grass trio and things like alligator tail and fried green tomatoes on the menu.

Before going to sleep, my sister and I were talking about death and what happens after a person passes. Some people don't believe anything happens but I am not one of that group. In fact, I have been having a series of dreams which bring comfort and insight into what is going on with my dad now that he has crossed to the other side. I have some pretty strong feelings about what is happening and see some parallels with what happened with my mother before and after she passed.

I will come back to write about these later. For now, we are in a rush to leave the hotel for a family luncheon and are making plans for a dinner that will bring all six of us "kids" together for the first time in decades. It's going to be interesting, to say the least. Lots of very rich, deep material for writers and artists.

End of Life Scenario

2011-10-08T14:21:00.000-07:00

For the last six weeks or so my father has been fighting for his life from a hospital bed and the sad news is, he's losing the battle. Doctors now say he has only a few days or weeks to live. This is all hitting me like a ton of bricks. The whole extended family, five siblings, step mother, in-laws and non-blood relatives I've never even met are being drawn into a drama that more than rivals anything on the screen.

You would think that adults of a certain age would be mature enough to be even-tempered about such things but that is anything but the case and from everything my friends and colleagues are telling me, that is always how it works. Everyone is doing their best to handle it but feelings that have been hidden or buried for decades come flying out of the proverbial deep. They say that writers should write about what they know. I agree with that but this is too private for public viewing.

I do think the concept of "End of Life Scenario" would make a great film or TV series. It has a built-in dramatic arc and there's no shortage of conflict. Everything from wills and executor ships to grieving spouses and squabbling sibs. In my own case, as a single woman who has never been given away in marriage, it has suddenly become very clear to me that the loss of my father is far more traumatic than I could've anticipated. He is still the primary man in my life. My moral compass, my rock and my protector. When he is gone, there will be a great void.

Maybe this too has a sunny side. Maybe it will make me more willing to accept a husband. I have been a pretty tough customer when it comes to letting a man into the role of partner. Several good men have tried and failed. My father is a shining knight in many ways and I am glad I've had the opportunity to tell him how hard he has made it on any suitor to match his example. But he's also just a man, with human foibles, and that is something that his impending loss brings home as well.

In any case, I thought I'd offer it up, in case some of you are looking for an idea to write about. This is a hot one.

Working on the Road

2011-09-10T05:23:00.000-07:00

It's morning in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. A beautiful, bright sunny day. We will visit dad in the rehab unit after breakfast.

Meanwhile, I have four freelance writing jobs to do for a magazine. One of the great things about writing is you can do it anywhere and as long as you have a phone and an Internet connection, interviews and communication go on like business as usual.

I'm doing a little research online this morning before the day kicks into gear and have scheduled a phone interview with the first client in the afternoon. I can write the article in the evening. The same schedule for Sunday. Morning research followed by an interview and writing session. Deadlines on Monday before noon. Then two more stories due on Wednesday.

For me, the best way to work on assigned material is to just dive in. They are usually not subjects I would choose on my own. Yesterday morning, before getting on the airplane I got up early and wrote a story for the newspaper. It was difficult in the sense that the material was dry and detailed. News stories are often like that. The challenge is to jump in and start writing.

Once I'm over the inertia (and sometimes resistance to the material itself) the writing process takes over and it's about finding ways to make the story interesting. That's why, and you may be wondering, I keep writing on the blog even though things have tended to be on a personal plane. It's all about becoming a great storyteller - no matter what story is being told.

Many great writers have simply said, the best way to learn to write is to write. Write, write, write.

Tennessee Tale

2011-09-09T20:38:00.000-07:00

I flew in to Nashville this evening to visit my father, who is gravely ill. The weather is much more temperate here than in the Austin area. They have had a lot of rain recently and they have the Smoky Mountains. The last time I was here I was 19 and came to sing on an album with singer/songwriter Billy Calary. There was a Bosendorfer grand in the recording studio. It was the most gorgeous sounding piano I have ever heard.

That was a very long time ago. I've only been here a couple hours - still somewhat dazed by the wonder of flight. My youngest brother and I talked and laughed throughout the flight. Is that inappropriate or is there a heady effervescence about life in the face of death? I could not bring myself to be somber. When I am alone, some part wants to weep and another part won't let go.

My mother's death was a wrenching thing that took place slowly over many years but we had time to come to terms with it, to say what needed to be said and when she passed it was peaceful, like a long exhale. Now I see her at home in an earthy paradise with green meadows, bright lavender flowers and a deep blue sky. The sun is shining there and her body is young again.

The loss of my father is different - it's like God is suddenly falling from out of the sky - a thing that should not be. And yet he must fall from that high, remote place and at last become human. It is the way of all gods. In that sense there is joy in the fall.

Now I am swimming in deep water, way out beyond the shore. Past the place where there are footholds. If he falls, will he linger here on earth for a while, for years even, before relinquishing his hold on life and returning again to the sky?

The Clairvoyant Journalist

2011-09-05T13:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, now that I have your attention, I want to tell you a somewhat bizarre story about how I "saw" someone tampering with wires under the hood of my car and how that led me to solve my first real life mystery. Shades of the TV series, MEDIUM. Only it was real and it happens to me all the time.

This morning I got up in the wee hours to write a magazine piece (my working habits are inexplicably odd these days) and after about 8 hours at the computer, decided to go to the paper. But when I got out to the car, it was dead. Well, not dead. There was plenty of juice in the battery. It was as though something had been disconnected. Like a wire had been cut.

It was micro-seconds before my brain connected back to a recent "vision" of someone tinkering with wires under the hood on the driver's side of my car. When I had this "impression" it was in the middle of the night and my gut reaction was fear. I am out in the boonies, after all, and as safe as it seems who knows what kind of creatures are stalking around out there, right?

My platonic male roommates are seldom home either so sometimes it takes nerves of steel when things go bump in the night.

My left-brain kicked in fairly fast, I adjusted my attitude with an inner "nonsense" comment to myself and put it down to a warning to be sure and lock up my vehicle. Now here I was, with a car that seemed to have had the wires snipped or pulled or otherwise disconnected.

A neighbor offered to give me a jump and, sure enough, it wasn't the battery. He said he thought it was probably the ignition.
After he left, I walked back through the "vision" to find the exact place where the trouble had started. I was sure of the area under the hood where the deed had been done and so that's where I focused my search.

In a matter of minutes I discovered two things: a wire cutter had been left under the hood in the little space under the windshield wiper on the driver's side and by following the wires issuing from what appeared to be the ignition switch, I found that the wires had indeed been snipped and were now jury rigged to the fuse box.

Now I'm no mechanic, but it makes no sense to me that the ignition would be wired to the fuse box. I checked with a couple of male friends (they always seem to know these things the same way women know how to bake) and both of them confirmed that wiring something like an ignition to the fuse box is a "band aid" fix for a bigger problem, which was no longer working.

So now I understood that what I had "seen" had most likely happened sometime before I bought the car - more than a month ago. Weird. I'm telling you, this second sight stuff is tricky. Time is all twisted and the message can be scary. Anyway, I began to get excited because I also had the sense I could fix the silly thing. It took me a few minutes to re-cut the wires and make a new connection but after I did, the car started and I am now at work, flexing my biceps with great glee and satisfaction.

If I could only predict the future with more accuracy! One can only hope the car will start again for a day or three so I can get it to a mechanic and get whatever is really going on with it properly repaired.

Lessons in Letting Go

2011-08-31T13:25:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday but celebrating is the furthest thing from my mind. Today is also Ganesha's birthday (the elephant-headed god in the Hindu faith). He is the great remover of obstacles and so if I am wishing for anything today it is for Ganesha's assistance.

Everything right now seems to be telling me to let go. I did see the man I am infatuated with yesterday in the biggest red truck you have ever seen and though that was thrilling for a few moments, once again, we did not connect. A lot of that is my fault because I could've stayed but left. I am at a complete loss as to what to do and have decided it is not my place to do anything anyway. He knows how to find me so if he wants to, he will. And if he's reading this, he may take that as an invitation:)

I'm also learning that even though I work very hard to write great articles for the paper, once I hand them over to the editor, they go through changes beyond my control. Today, for example, a screamingly loud misspelled headline topped my front page piece. It wasn't even my headline but the public doesn't know that so it makes me look like I can't spell. When you're working on the inside of a publication it's easy to see how something like that can happen but it still isn't much comfort. This too is something I have to let go. In the scheme of things, it matters not at all.

There are things we can do to improve our process and the good news is, they've just offered me a full time position and invited me to participate in the production and editorial process. It's a great learning opportunity and I may be able to help catch these types of errors before they turn up on the newsstand.

In other news, the bleak reports my brother has been sending back from Tennessee have been getting better. They found the missing money (in a box, in a storage room, in the assisted living place), the insurance stuff is handled, my father is now in a special skilled nursing rehab unit where he is receiving excellent care and physical therapy. He's weak but determined to get well.

We all do our best and if things aren't always perfect, then so be it. This is why God gave us a sense of humor.

As far as writing is concerned, I'm doing a lot of it on a regular basis - news stories and historical pieces for magazines - but nothing screenplay oriented. I miss being part of the story team behind the movies because it's all about life on a larger-than-life canvas and much of it interpretive and deeply emotional.

A local theatre group has asked me to do a screenwriting workshop for them. I have the idea to do a "real time" round table workshop where we brainstorm and collectively write a script over a long weekend. I threw this idea out and they loved it. So when I catch my breath from moving, stepping up to full time at the paper and things settle down in Tennessee, this will be one of my next projects.

One writerly piece of advice I CAN offer is every medium has its own style and structure which defines the writing in many ways. So whatever medium you are writing in, be sure and follow the rules that apply to it - at least until you get a handle on it. Then you can throw the rules out, to a certain extent, and be creative within known boundaries.

Happy birthday to me.

Family Update

2011-08-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

I am sorry to report that things are not so bright for my father. My brother flew to Tennessee to help him get settled in an assisted living place and has been sending emails out like a regular reporter. Dad is not rebounding as we first believed and, to hear my brother tell it, he's down for the count.

To add insult to injury, even though he's been meticulous about handling his affairs, the assisted living place has just announced they don't take his medical coverage, several hundred thousand dollars have gone missing with the move, the realtor who sold his house let the new buyer move in early and now there's a problem with the closing.

I'm dancing as fast as I can at the newspaper but am thinking now that the best thing for me to do is get the first flight to Tennessee if I'm going to see my father again before he dies.

Meet the Longhorns

2011-08-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I came down the driveway on my way to a style meeting at the newspaper and there was unexpectedly greeted by some of my new neighbors. Meet the longhorns, a rather large, polygamous (and evidently very happy) family that lives at the ranch across the street. Aren't they beautiful? I nearly had an accident getting over to photograph them because I was so mesmerized. This is not the sort of thing you see everyday in L.A. Much to my delight, they didn't move away at all and in fact crowded closer to have a look back at me.

The horse was right there in the middle of them, taking nips at the bull's behind. It was a kind of comical - almost as though the horse was showing off. The bull's response was just to exhale sharply but even that made the horse jump a bit.

This mooing mama was somewhat wary. I told her I thought she was beautiful and just as I pushed the button on the camera she opened her mouth in reply. If you look closely you can see that her nursing calf never took his attention off of breakfast.

There's a lot to be said for life in the slow lane.

Human family update: My father and his wife have successfully made it to Tennessee and he underwent the cardio-version he so badly needed. We believe it was successful and he is now on the mend. My oldest brother is en route to Murfreesboro to help them settle in.

Thank you all for your prayers.

On Being a Wimberleyite

2011-08-22T16:31:00.000-07:00

Actually, I'm at a loss for a blog post title but since I have recently relocated back to the village of Wimberley, this seems as good as any.

Cattle and deer now outnumber human neighbors by a large margin and a tin roof wreaks havoc with cell phone service. There is very little light pollution out at my place so it doesn't take much imagination to drift back on the currents of local memory and get a sense of what it was like living here a hundred or more years ago.

I'm also delving into a bit of historical research on the area and have been indulging in a cable channel bonanza of classic westerns. It's a long way from Los Angeles life and most times that just fine with me. My editor at the paper has also asked me to write a couple of pieces for the bi-annual magazine we put out and I have chosen to do at least one report on former Wimberley writer, J. Frank Dobie.

Dobie is known for being a left-wing radical, credited with saving the Longhorn breed and (what's most fascinating to me) collecting the tales, legends and folklore of the old southwest, Texas in particular. So I've just renewed my library card here and am checking out a pair of books compiled by the late great folklorist and storyteller.

I'm keeping my eye out for a certain red pickup truck too but haven't seen it anywhere since I got here a week ago Sunday. We must stop meeting (or not meeting) this way. No idea how that will happen but I'm thinking about drawing a large sign and keeping it in my car so I can flash it at him when next we cross paths.

That way I have a built-in device to counteract my automatic "flight" syndrome and it might be funny enough to break the ice. But what will it say? Howdy? Perhaps it will come to me. I'm open to ideas.

Meanwhile, my father has been in and out of the hospital and in rapidly deteriorating condition. He's so macho though he refuses to stay long enough for the heart treatment he needs because he insists on making the move to Tennessee right on schedule. My sister and I are praying for the angels to keep him safe until he reaches his destination later this week.

Sometimes, as my etiquette teacher once said, your strengths become your weaknesses. It can be hard to know when the winning formula that has saved you and kept you all your life, is not working in your best interest and has turned against you.

Heavenly Arrivals: A Cautionary Tale

2011-08-13T08:18:00.001-07:00

This anonymously written comedy was mailed to me in-sync with all that’s been going on in my life by a friend lovingly known as “Hermann the German”.

Words from the wise...things are not always as they seem.

I think it would make a great comedy sketch for Saturday Night Live.

Thanks Herm.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
All arrivals in heaven have to go through a bureaucratic examination to determine whether admission will be granted. One room has a clerk who inputs computerized records of what each applicant did on his or her last day of life.

The first applicant of the day explains that his last day was not a good one. "I came home early and found my wife lying naked in bed. She claimed she had just gotten out of the shower. Well, her hair was dry and I checked the shower and it was completely dry too. I knew she was into some hanky-panky and began to look for her lover. I went onto the balcony of our 9th floor apartment and found the SOB clinging to the rail by his finger tips.

I was so angry I began bashing his fingers with a flower pot. He let go and fell, but his fall was broken by some awnings and bushes. On seeing he was still alive I found super human strength to drag our antique cedar chest to the balcony and throw it over. It hit the man and killed him. At this point the stress got to me and I suffered a massive heart attack and died. The clerk thanked him and sent him on to the next office.

The second applicant said his last day was his worst. "I was on the roof of an apartment building working on the AC equipment. I stumbled over my tools and toppled off the building. I managed to grab onto the balcony rail of a 9th floor apartment but some idiot came rushing out on the balcony and bashed my hands with a flower pot.

I fell but hit some awnings and bushes and survived, but as I looked up I saw a huge chest falling toward me. I tried to crawl out of the way but failed and was hit and killed by the chest." The clerk couldn't help but chuckle as he directs the man to the next room.

He is still giggling when his third customer of the day enters. He apologizes and says "I doubt that your last day was as interesting as the fellow in here just before you." "I don't know" replies the man, "picture this, I'm buck naked hiding in this cedar chest....."

Adventures in the News Trade

2011-08-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

I must have set some kind of fast writing record in the last 72 hours. Virtually nothing turned up on the history of Lakeway online or at the library over the weekend. So I booked the earliest interview I could manage and drove over to the Lakeway Heritage Commission in my pretty white 300E and did my level best at investigative journalism. Two and a half hours later, I left armed with some intriguing oral histories, a 200+ page book (which constitutes the ONLY source of written history on the area) and about 48 hours until my deadline.

By 1:30 the next day I had read the pertinent parts of the book, written the cover story and sent it off to the magazine along with about 9 photos. Wow! Rising to that kind of pressure gives me enormous energy. After resting my brain (because research and creative writing also seems to use up a certain wavelength that needs replenishing before you can make another massive withdrawal), I drove over to Wimberley to drop off a few more of my personal things at my new place.

Being the good citizen that I mostly am:) I recently registered to vote and that triggered a summons to jury duty. This, I wonder if they know, has the affect of discouraging people from registering to vote at all because every single time you do it, it's like asking for that judicial "invitation" in the mail. I sent an email to request dismissal due to my move only to get the belated reply that first I would have to prove I had actually moved. By now I only had about a week left to comply. Not the most polite gesture but, like The Godfather, it's an offer you can't refuse.

I set up appointments for two more stories and photo shoots for Wednesday via phone, located the nearest DPS shop and penciled an address change on my schedule. On the way back to Austin from Wimberley my beloved Mercedes began to overheat. It got really bad and caused me to stop numerous times all the way home. Green water was spewing out all over the road and that's about how I was feeling inside as well. This could NOT be happening! But, of course, it could and it was.

Fortunately, I know a magic mechanic halfway between Austin and Dripping Springs. He can wave his wrench over a car and it comes to life. Yesterday morning I refilled the radiator and gently drove over to pay him a surprise visit (he had already gone home when I phoned the day before). My brother followed me over and lent me the use of his old Volvo for the day to drive back to Wimberley for the interviews. Since I was halfway to San Marcos, I made the trip to the DPS there and stood in line for what seemed like an eternity. At length, a rather unhappy looking girl took the world's worst driver's license photo you have EVER laid eyes on.

I pleaded with her to retake it - even as she pushed the computer key that sent it off to wherever those things go and she sliced my old driver's license neatly in half. She could've been a surgeon the cut was so clean and precise but the timing of it made it almost a violent act. She's a woman too. How could she be so cruel? She would never accept such a picture. Or maybe she HAD wanted to be a surgeon...

The DPS stop was the low point of my day. Or so I thought. I had no idea was what waiting just over the next hill. As great as I felt 24 hours earlier, it was like I had just ridden down the mountain at full speed and crashed in a gully. I left San Marcos feeling like a bad school girl with the shameful picture tucked in my wallet. I stopped again in Wimberley, lost all my written notes from the interviews, found them again and then made two hours of frantic phone calling to fill in the blanks.

As I drove home I began to have this gnawing vision of my car having been absolutely crushed by a gigantic truck. I tried to calm myself. It was probably just my imagination doing wild things with my growing sense of anxiety. The mechanic hadn't called. Maybe he was scrambling to reach the insurance company. He was a mage, but not that powerful. He didn't answer the phone but I kept calling until I got him. I told him I'd try to be there before five when he closes, like a bank, without mercy.

I was very close to my destination when the traffic came to a slow crawl and I could see it jammed all the way up the hill just ahead. That very hill was my destination. Maybe there really HAD been an accident and my mechanic didn't have the heart to tell me until I got there. I worried all the way to the top of the hill. Sure enough there had been a terrible crash on my side of the road. Police cars and trucks where everywhere, diverting traffic AWAY from the road to my mechanic's hilltop garage. OMG!

In a moment of panic, I drove around the cones and got just to the corner to turn when a Sheriff's Deputy shouted STOP RIGHT THERE in my direction. Now I knew I hadn't reached the bottom after all. I attempted to explain but the man was madder than a hornet. He demanded to see my driver's license. OMG! I could not believe it. Nobody should ever see that picture. He snatched it away, commanding me NOT to move (as if I was going to do that) and headed off to look me up in his computer. I am already somewhat famous in these parts so he'd find that out soon enough. Oh well.

Meanwhile, I called the mechanic to tell him not to close without me and learned that there had been a fatal accident a short ways up the road. It was no wonder the not-so-peaceful officer was mad at me. They had just peeled the victim's body from the remnants of his economy car which, you guessed it, had been virtually crushed by a giant truck. Let me tell you, being clairvoyant (and occasionally clairaudient) is not always fun or reliable.

Anyway, the deputy seemed to have cooled down somewhat after being in his car. This may very well be the literal truth. The poor man had been out directing traffic in 100+ degree temperatures trying to keep silly drivers like me from bumbling onto what amounted to a gruesome site and possible crime scene. Or maybe he felt sorry for me for having had gotten such scary-looking driver's license photo. He waved me off, promising to mail me a citation and I finally got back to my Mercedes.

The good news is, my car survived intact and is now running like a rocket. It was previously owned by a Mercedes mechanic and we think may have been modified with a cam (whatever that is). Leslie decided to keep it one more day, (he loves my car too) to make sure he fixed what was wrong. I got lost driving around the winding accident detour but was actually feeling grateful by the time I got home an hour or so later.

Emotionally and physically spent, I decided to let my subconscious work out the details of the next two news stories while I slept. I woke up at 3:30 a.m. wrote them without a hitch and had them in on time this morning along with the photos I took in Wimberley yesterday. While taking a nap, my new roommate called wondering where I was. We got that sorted and I plan to move this weekend.

So all's well that ends well. I may avoid checking my mail for a while but it could've been worse. They might have told me I couldn't get a new driver's license photo at all, ever again:)

P.S. I have named my Mercedes "Grace" - after my late aunt and in the spirit of now.

Life Update

2011-08-07T06:12:00.000-07:00

This is my classic Mercedes. I LOVE this car. This must be what if feels like to be an enthusiast. Let's hope I haven't bought a world of trouble. It sure runs great.

Saw a fantastic independent film last week. Mao's Last Dancer. Absolutely brilliant and based on a true story. Tree of Life has finally made it to Central Texas but haven't seen it yet - although I DID take a picture of the 1941 Chevy featured in it for last week's cover story in The Wimberley View. Funny how things work out. It's a small world after all.

Still having fun writing for the paper - although human foibles have begun to peek out from behind the idyllic Wimberley facade. People are the same everywhere whether they live in Hollywood or a small Texas town. They are capable of great and wonderful things and just as often apt to be small and petty. Still happy to be moving to Wimberley this week. I'd rather be disappointed in people there than almost anywhere else.

Covered my first senate subcommittee meeting last week. That was interesting - if you like sitting in a subterranean chamber with a bunch of lawyers, disgruntled citizens and corporate sharks:) Conflict abounds. I much prefer the human interest and arts pieces. The photo to your right is my impression of the capitol dome. A giant eye on speed.

Meanwhile, gave another guest talk at the Austin Art Institute. That always makes me feel like a grown-up.

Today I'm working on a cover story for Lakeway Magazine. It's a "History Of" piece. Trouble is, Lakeway doesn't seem to have much of a history. It wasn't a town until 1974. The Apaches liked to hang out along the Colorado River and a guy named Jack Josey moved up from Houston and bought a ranch. That's about all I've turned up so far.

I wonder how the magazine would feel about a black comedy? What if...

Joe Green moved to the area to get away from the hustle of Houston and bought himself a ranch. He'd planned to raise chickens, corn and cattle but didn't count on the lack of rainfall. Joe shacked up with a beautiful Apache squaw and had a passel of illegitimate kids before she ran off with a Comanche warrior.

A hundred and eighty years later, the population is 9,013 (counting the little ones). There's a lake where Joe's hard-won homestead used to be. The great, great, great grandson of Joe Jr. IIIrd's wife (a gold digger from Dallas) has filed for divorce and half the ranch, what's left of it, plus child support for little Joe.

The closest anybody gets to the simple life is going to the Farmer's Market on Saturdays and watching reruns on TV. Every other Thursday, the Greens and a few other concerned citizens entertain themselves by fighting city hall and complaining about the drought. History? What history?

All with a Judge Roy Bean feel. Somehow I think not, but it WOULD be fun.

I guess I'm feeling a little cynical today:)

Red Pickups, Bison Bones & Second Chances

2011-07-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

I had a clear idea about what I was going to write when I logged in. The perfect words presented themselves but now they're gone. It has to do with a bank deposit at the drive-thru, a red pickup and second chances. I can tell you this...

It's hard to see through tinted glass, especially when you're having trouble believing what you're seeing. I can be very slow on the uptake, in any case but I'm fairly certain that's obvious. If this sounds cryptic - that's because it is.

This evening was spent at the Wimberley City Council Meeting. It's now my job to cover the happenings that relate to city business so all those kinds of meetings are part of my beat. We had an enormous agenda so it went late. I can't believe I'm in this role and yet I'm loving it, really and truly. There's more developing there too. Details to follow...

In other news, I finished that feature article for Cedar Park Magazine. It led me to some incredible archaeological research and an interview with Dr. Michael Collins, the principal researcher on the Wilson-Leonard excavation.

From a writing perspective, the project was a structurally complex exercise - but that was my choice. I wrote it in a non-linear format with a bookend device to hold it together. Check out the next issue of Cedar Park Magazine. The Fascinating History of Cedar Park (by me) is the cover story.

I'm in the process of buying a classic, white 300E Mercedes Benz. She's very pretty and will be the only one of it's kind Wimberley I can almost guarantee. All the driving from Austin to Wimberley is getting old so I'll be moving closer to Wimberley as soon as I find the right space.

It's a great little town. Last night former mayor Steve Klepfer attended the city council meeting to ask the council to name the gate house of the newly dedicated Blue Hole Regional Park after the Way Family. When I asked him about his love for the community he said, "It's only town in America without adult supervision."

Just My Imagination

2011-07-07T21:26:00.000-07:00

Great weekend in Wimberley. I decided to take in the local rodeo the night of July 3 before the big fourth of July parade and took tons of photos. Most of them didn't come out because I don't know this camera very well but it was oddly like Deja vu. Even though I've never been to a rodeo before in my life, relatives on my mother's side of the family are native Texans and one cousin owns a small ranch and hosts a rodeo.

So I had this odd mix of feelings - roaming around amid a bunch of professional cowboys. A sea of white hats and a down-home feel. There was one man there who struck me as someone I knew and it haunted me for the rest of the evening. Was it just my imagination, running away with me? The whole experience was loaded with longing and passion. I went home alone feeling things I haven't felt in ages.

This isn't him (my guy was standing on the sidelines) but I love this shot because the cowboy is so naturally exuberant and in his element. There was something wonderfully pure about the whole event - at least from my perspective. Some part of my childhood came thundering back, made me want to stay and stay even though I was there alone and being there alone was painful - apart from the attractive man on the sidelines and in the midst of such community as an outsider.

I missed the bull-riding but paid the brahma beasts a visit in the pen and found them strangely beautiful too. They seemed to enjoy having their picture taken. One of the cowboys told me they like the attention.The fourth of July parade was so idyllic it was hard to believe a place like Wimberley actually exists in real life. This too produced powerful bittersweet emotions. I found myself hoping I would see that guy again - looking for him in the crowd. It's like he's the symbol of everything I ever hoped for or something.

Anyway, since then I've been working hard on stories for the paper and have just been hired to write a feature for a magazine so I'm super busy but in a great way.

Fourth of July in a Small American Town

2011-07-02T06:54:00.000-07:00

This is one of the big holiday weekends in the United States. Fourth of July is our independence day and this year I'll be covering the event as a reporter in a small Texas town. When you've lived in the massive urban sprawl that is Los Angeles for as long as I have, it's like culture shock to experience the closeness of a village of 2,700.

Wimberley is a place where you can't cross the street with out seeing somebody you know. That can be a good and a bad thing! Sometimes I feel like I'm backstage at Disneyland again. This is the Americana Hollywood tells stories about but it's better because it's real.

A parade starts the day on Monday at about 10 am. Ranch to Market Road 2325 (one of the main roads that lead into the village of Wimberley) will be shut down for the event. They'll march to the town square and then everyone is invited to a jubilee on the green next to Cypress Creek. I'll be there with camera and notebook in hand.

Random Act of Kindness?

2011-06-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how random this was. I think I may know the person who perpetrated this thoughtful thing but I can't be sure. Regardless of whether I know who did it or not, I was the recipient of a loving act of kindness yesterday. What a great feeling.

I was on an access road traveling south along one of Austin's main thoroughfares (they call it MoPac after the train that runs alongside it). Now I've been here long enough to get around pretty well but am still not that familiar with the roadways. My vision is not the best either, if I'm not wearing contacts or glasses, so you can imagine how easy it is for me to get in trouble.

Anyway, I was planning to get on the freeway but the lanes are kind of crazy at the intersection right before the on-ramp. I didn't know it at the time but I was in the wrong lane to pull that off. A car that was behind me, passed on my right (that always gets my attention) and maneuvered into the correct lane for freeway entrance.

By this time I was already asking myself if I was in the right lane. I HAD been here before but I've also made the same mistake before and somehow my brain has it wired wrong. All this was going on in my head when, the car that moved around me into the correct lane, moved back into the right lane and blinked it's tail lights in a syncopated rhythm - a move similar to what truckers do.

He was signaling. That was confirmation for me that sure enough I was in the wrong lane. Ultimately, it gave me time to get in the right lane in time to make a safe passage through the intersection and onto the freeway.

This small action made me feel so loved and cared for it's hard to imagine. Now this has a lot to do with who I am as a person and how I respond to actions that demonstrate caring. It touched me that a person I don't even know would go out of their way to protect me. In fact, it made me feel so good, I sang all the way home:)

I've been listening to a lot of the Robbins-Madanes training materials with the coaching package I purchased and some on-line relationship materials as well and that has heightened my sensitivity. Last week I wrote about a 5-part free training series that spoke deeply to me on issues of trust. I took the post down because the series was temporarily unavailable. It's back up. You can see it here.

Who knows how long the series will be available free online. It's great stuff on human-needs psychology and how to build and repair relationships - all essential material for writers. Whether you're in a relationship or not, I urge you to check it out.

Silly Story Wisdom

2011-06-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think the universe has a sense of humor. I KNOW it has an uncanny sense of timing. This one hits home especially right now on the theme of entering new territory and learning how essential it is to ask the right questions. Here goes:

Bagpipes

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Oklahoma back country.

As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions.

I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.

I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man.

And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

Apparently I'm still lost....
(anonymous)

Writer as Watchdog

2011-06-17T07:24:00.000-07:00

My college professors would be proud. Here I am performing the role of "the fourth estate" (which can be dangerous these days) - following the trail of a story and searching out the truth. Funny thing is, I feel like now I'm wearing a white hat. It's a big responsibility - even in a small little town.

It's investigative journalism on the microcosmic scale and it involves a set of people skills akin to mediator. I love a challenge so in that sense it's fun - AND I get paid to do it. Today I'm on the case...back to the sleepy village of Wimberley to interview parties on a very polarized issue.

Leave it to me to kick up the dust. It will at least sell some papers!

Finding Motivation - Taking Action

2011-06-11T07:12:00.000-07:00

Every accomplishment I have ever claimed has been the result of reaching deep down, making the absolute commitment and taking action. Failure is not an option. Today is one of those days.

I'm sad over the loss of connection with someone I'd hoped to start dating (he knows who he is - he wears a white hat). I have to take responsibility for my tendency to "hide out", to resist attempts to connect. It has to do with low self-image - partly because I've put on some weight and don't feel attractive. Tai Chi and walking are great but they aren't enough to make the ultimate permanent shift.

So today marks the beginning of a commitment to return to my ideal weight and fitness. I'm writing about it here because by making a public announcement, I raise the bar. It's easy to say you want to change. Telling people you've committed to a specific goal is a great support because nobody likes to fail in public.

I've identified my weight loss goal
I've located a coaching program
I've invested in it
Today I'm implementing my plan

This is exciting. Of course I wish I could have the results right now. A powerful motivator for me is looking forward to having the body AND the love I deserve (visualization). Another motivator is knowing I need to BE the person (or type of person) I want to attract - a person of quality, principle, integrity and action. For me, part of that profile includes taking excellent care of my body.

If you're into Tony Robbins (or even if you're not), you might find this video inspirational. It IS possible to be outrageous and fun right here, right now. Caution, not for the cynical or unromantic.

Houston Bound

2011-06-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

Headed out to Houston today with my sister. It's a place I've never been. We'll be back tomorrow afternoon so it's just a short jaunt. If there's time we might stop in San Antonio (another place I've never been). I am, meanwhile, summoning the soul of the White Hat. It's a connection that happens in the weirdest ways.

Somewhere - Themes of 21st Century Angst

2011-06-06T20:54:00.000-07:00

Although I'm inclined to want to talk about this last week, the media has a way of self-censoring. I can't really comment on what it's like writing for a community newspaper (and a magazine that's distributed all over Central Texas) without that coming back around. It IS grist for the creative mill and that's always welcome. I'm having fun.

Tonight I did finally watch Sophia Coppola's latest film Somewhere (which won the Golden Lion in 2010 and is now out on DVD). I loved it. This, from what I've read, is the better of two possible responses. It's minimalist in terms of structure but cheats a little in that there is a discernible beginning, middle and end. Like Sophia's other great film, Lost in Translation, the themes of isolation and alienation in the midst of bustling modern life run deep. To me, her films cut to the heart of what's missing in our lives - a sense of connectedness.

It's also no accident that she chose to shoot at the Chateau Marmont - a chic Hollywood hotel that has been home to many stars and where comedian John Belushi died of a drug overdose. The Marmont is symbolic of the film industry's twin companions, decadence and despair. Somewhere features a world famous actor who suffers both those extremes. What is perhaps unrealistic about it is that the lead character manages to get off the party wagon and take a new road. Thank God for that too because it places the film more firmly in hopeful, impressionist ground.

Critics have described this movie as semi-autobiographical and perhaps it is. Being the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola must loom large in her world view but Somewhere strikes a familiar chord on the emotional level for the everyman and that's the hallmark of a great film. Sophia leaves the camera stationary for long periods. You might call it her signature as an auteur. The characters move in and out of the frame like they did when cinema was in its infancy. Not cinema verite so much as stripped of bells and whistles.

I think big American films have largely lost touch with reality and the portrayal of reality with all the frantic editing and punchy dialogue. By being still and not filling screentime with endless chatter, Sophia captures the fullness of the moment with all of its joy, awkwardness and pain. This gives time itself a kind of weight and presence that most modern films can't claim. There's almost no dialogue, which makes it float like a tone poem with the soundtrack as a touchstone.

A Reporter in the Texas Hill Country

2011-06-01T05:51:00.000-07:00

Today is my first official day writing for Wimberley View, which serves one of Texas' best small towns, the village of Wimberley. I pitched them the idea of an entertainment column and agreed to cover a standard beat as well. My stories and photos will appear in all three of Holly Media's papers: Wimberley View, The Kyle-Buda Eagle and Dripping Springs Century-News. This covers most of the Texas Hill Country - a hilly area along the Balcones fault that's become a magnet for writers, artists, musicians, millionaires and California transplants.

Never Forget

2011-05-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

Being raised a "Navy junior" is an experience many share. From as far back as I can remember, our lives were shaped by the military. We moved every 2-3 years (which was hard as a child but now I'm glad of it) and lived in several of the United States including Hawaii.

At the ripe old age of 5, I remember my father building a float for the Memorial Day parade in Columbus, Ohio where we were stationed. It was a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This made such an impression on me. My little mind couldn't understand why we didn't know who was in there. In fact, there is no body in the tomb. It's so those who've lost someone (MIA) can imagine them in there.

My father (who'll be 91 this June) will be buried one day at Arlington National Cemetery. Those war years as a fighter pilot and the decades of service afterwards training pilots and flying super-connies during the cold war are times he'll never forget. His family won't either. We have many fond memories too. One of my favorites is playing in the surf with a giant airplane inner-tube.

It wasn't until I met my father in Paris in the late spring of 2004 for a Trafalgar Tour that took us to Normandy during the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion that I began to understand how deeply he remembers. As it happens, there was an elderly man on tour with us who'd survived the invasion. As our bus lumbered through the French countryside, we passed allied forces bivouacked, re-enactment style, in the hills and valleys - the Omaha Beach veteran narrated his arrival on the beachhead as his comrades-in-arms fell dead all around him.

We walked on that beach, which is now a kind of sacred park dedicated to the men who fought and died there. My father (who has never been one to share his emotions) did not speak about his war experiences on the bus. But later that day I saw him standing alone in the sea of white crosses overlooking the English Channel in silence. I think he was overwhelmed with memories of the friends he won't see again until he rejoins them on the other side.

My father graduated from Annapolis in 1942 and saw his first tour of duty the year after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He was an Ensign on a destroyer that went down in the Guadalcanal Campaign (aka Iron Bottom Bay). Radar was primitive in those days. They were hit hard amid ship and sunk in a matter of minutes. My father says he and the Captain literally stepped off the bridge into the shark-infested waters. The Captain was never seen again.

My father was a champion swimmer and that's probably how he managed to stay afloat for 18 hours before he and a handful of others were rescued. I know he remembers sitting under a palm tree in a kind of daze and that at night a solo Japanese pilot would fly over the Marines encamped on the island. They called that flier Washing Machine Charlie because the plane sounded like a washing machine and kept them from a good night's sleep. But that's about all I know.

After that harrowing experience, the man who would become my father returned to the U.S. for flight school. The rest, you might say, is history. He met my mother at the Fort Worth Naval Air Station where she was working as a secretary by day and singing in an Andrews Sisters type trio at the USO by night. You can be sure that years later, when our family was stationed near Pearl Harbor, I was taken to visit the USS Arizona - an experience I'll never forget. Today we remember the fallen from all wars, past and present.

This is also one reason why I have a thing for a man in a uniform.

Photo Credit: Thomas D. McAvoy and John Moore for Time/Life.

Impressions of the Cave of Forgotten Dreams

2011-05-27T07:51:00.001-07:00

Spent yesterday with my oldest brother, who is visiting from California, my karate black belt brother and my sister (aka the entire sibling clan). We ran around Austin in search of vegan dishes and unique places and, at the end of the day, landed at the new Violet Crown (a SoHo-esque art house theatre on 2nd street) and saw Werner Herzog's latest documentary, Cave of the Forgotten Dreams.

This film was inspired by an article that appeared in the New Yorker . Judith Thurman's New Yorker story documents the historical significance of the art and some of the conflicting views on its interpretation. It's worth reading before seeing the film (if you can manage that), so rich is the material it represents. I'd like to project this rock art on the walls of my apartment and live with them for a while.

Herzog does a fantastic job of capturing the wonder of Chauvet cave - preserving as much as possible the sense of climbing through a limestone portal and landing 32,000+ years in the past. The cave is severely limited to visitors to protect the integrity of the find, which dates to the Paleolithic Era. Although it contains the oldest known art on earth, Chauvet, like Lascaux and other rock art caves around the world, it was almost certainly used for ritual/rites-of-passage because there is no evidence of anything ever living there except cave bears and wolves.

The movie offers a kind of ecstatic truth that transcends the strictly logical mind. That sort of thing has a deep, resonating emotional appeal for me. And it appears to have a similar effect on the majority of audience members judging by its reception at film festivals and in theatres that still see the value in showing movies that aren't made for the blockbuster mindset. Here's Werner talking to students at AFI.

On Being Prepared - Explained

2011-05-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to clarify that I do not own any guns, nor do I have any interest in owning any guns. They scare me because I don't know how to use them. I posted the following story a couple of days ago as a metaphor but then realized some might misconstrue its meaning out of the context in which I'd intended it - negotiating a deal. It's about being ready for anything.

When I go walking in the mountains of California I always carry a big stick (like a tree branch) - as a warning to any wild cats or bears. Those animals really are out there and will attack if they're hungry enough or if you stumble on their young. Carrying a big stick communicates. It says "don't mess with me".

Anyway, here's that story...

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A friend of mine (whom I've known for many years) sent me this story via email today. He said it sounded like me. I take that as a compliment. Thanks Hermann:)

On the way to a monthly meeting, a Texas lady was stopped by a highway patrolman. He asked for her drivers license and insurance. The lady took out the required information and handed it to the patrolman. In with the cards he was surprised to see she had a conceal carry permit. He looked at her and asked if she had a weapon in her possession at this time. She responded that she indeed had a .45 automatic in her glove box. Something, body language or the way she said it, made him want to ask if she had any other firearms. She did admit to also having a 9mm Glock in her center console. Now he had to ask one more time if that was all, and she responded once again she did have just one more, a .38 special in her purse. The officer then asked her what she was so afraid of. She looked him right in the eye and said, "Not a damn thing!"

Negotiating the Deal: The Softer Version

2011-05-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

UPDATE May 27, 2011. It's a done deal. Work begins June 1.
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Today I'm negotiating the terms of a writing gig. This is all about being clear. Getting things down in writing and asking for what you want. Basically, it's when a decision has been made to work together. Both sides come to the table. The producer/publisher makes an offer. The writer mulls it over and makes a counter offer. That's where we are now. I'm mid-mull.

I'm taking this step very seriously because I got burned so badly a couple of years ago. I had come to Texas to look after the health and well-being of my mother. As her medical power of attorney, this was not only my deepest desire as her daughter but it was my legal duty. While here, casting about as to how to do what was best for her, a powerful figure in Hollywood asked me to come back to L.A. to help with story development.

Since I had worked with this person before at a major studio, I was confident that they would honor my contract with the Editors Guild. So I drove back to L.A. that weekend to accept the job. That was a huge mistake. I should've gotten a written offer on the table BEFORE leaving. When I got back to L.A., the deal was not what I assumed it would be and there was no opportunity to negotiate. I declined the offer they presented, worked for 1 week and never heard another word. It cost me thousands and set me back months in the caregiving progress I had made with my mother.

So here I am, doing a much smaller deal in terms of money and prestige but I am hammering out the details in advance. This way everyone is clear about two of the biggest parts of any such agreement: time and money. In this, at least, I am less naive than I have been in the past. Without my guild standing behind me with a big club, I need to do my due diligence.

Writers frequently receive substandard treatment because there are so many people out there willing to do the work. Because of this it's easy for producers/publishers to think of us as expendable. Without a contract or other written understanding of the terms of the agreement, lines of communication can get crossed up and opportunities (even relationships) are lost. This is why we need agents and managers, lawyers and contracts.

The pen is mightier than the sword. Here's something to think about. Producers and publishers don't have anything without content. ZIP. NADA. ZERO. So my message to writers is don't work for free - ask for what you want but be willing to negotiate. Ideas and stories, well told, are among the most valuable things in the world.

On Stranger Tides

2011-05-21T07:20:00.000-07:00

Update#2: May 25, 2011. Pirates soon to set sail on television in the form of specials and a limited series on Fox. Deadline Hollywood has the story.
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UPDATE: May 23 2011. The latest installment of Pirates of the Caribbean was number 1 this weekend in the states, raking in 90.1 million domestically and a whopping 256.4 million overseas(which sets an international record for this pre-Memorial Day weekend) bringing the opening tally to $346+ million.
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Since I'm not the only one who has gone batty for pirate lore, here, my lovely readers, is a Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides spoof from some rum soaked mates in Honolulu. Pretty silly stuff but funny in a Wayne's World way. I love the idea of Jack Sparrow in present time. Watch out, it could happen!

All four (of the real) movies where written by the very talented writing team of Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot and a fifth movie script is already in the works. Say what you will, Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the most successful movie franchises in history.

If I'm not mistaken, POC is the only blockbuster franchise that has used the same writing team for the entire franchise. So why isn't anybody interviewing the writers? They'd be dead in the water without great scripts. Turns out, somebody has thought of that. Here's the link. Dated but interesting anyway.

Day of Rest - Update

2011-05-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Especially for my sweet commenter:) Business is booming. Although there's still no word on the travel writing job, since my last day of rest (5 days ago), I pitched that local weekly newspaper, am now working on a freelance story for said paper (who also offered me a steady gig) and had two businesses inquire about hiring me to write content for them.

Oh dear. What shall I do? This is a good problem to have. In fact, it's quite a bit of fun. The thing is, I'm a lot like the character in the Cole Porter song "Don't fence me in" . Even though most would jump at the sure thing, I'm inclined to take my chances on the wide open spaces. And yet, my analytical side isn't going for that either.

So a compromise would seem to be in order. It's so interesting that when you're not working, the world can feel like such a lonely place. Once you're working, people perk up, start asking you for your rates and offering you more work. This is human nature and it makes no sense at all that it should come as a surprise but there you have it. So things are going well. Very well. Thanks for asking.

Now, if I could just get the characters in my short stories to cooperate with as much enthusiasm. The White Hat appears to have ridden off into the sunset and I haven't seen hide nor hair of Mohimbu (a shaman who lives in another story) for weeks. You know what will happen. I'll get so busy my characters will start demanding my attention. That's another problem I definitely won't mind having.

April/May Literary Sales

2011-05-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

The economy may still be floundering but Hollywood keeps on buying books, scripts and pitches for development. This report includes major feature film, independent feature and TV literary sales for the last month. Even at a glance it's obvious that the vast majority are packaged (e.g., have a strong producing/writing and or/directing team attached and in many cases star power). Business as usual.

Out of the 36 projects (and there are more if you count in-house development deals based on internal ideas and pitches and independent sales not reported to the media) roughly 40 percent are based on books or preexisting material and half are comedies balanced out by a mix of biopics, sci-fi, thrillers and reality series.

The Hatfields and McCoys
TV miniseries
History Channel, Thinkfactory Media
EP: Leslie Greif, Nancy Dubuc, Dirk Hoogstra
P: Kevin Costner, Herb Nanas, Darrell Fetty
W: Ted Mann
Historical drama chronicling the legendary family feud. Kevin Costner stars.

Gulliver Quinn
TV pilot
Disney XD, Turtle Rock Productions, Inc.
EP: Jon Heder, Dan Kopelman, Stan Rogow
D: Rob Schrab
W: Dan Kopelman
Comedy pilot about a man in his late 20s who enrolls in 7th grade after living apart from society for 15 years. Jon Heder stars.

Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale
Feature
Columbia Pictures, Material Pictures
Based on the novel, Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale, written by Carolyn Turgeon and published by Three Rivers/Crown on March 1, 2011.

The Future of Us
Feature
Warner Bros. Pictures, Di Novi Pictures
Based on the novel, The Future of Us, written by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler and published by Razorbill on Nov. 21, 2011.

Twittering from the Circus of the Dead
Feature
Mandalay Pictures
Based on the short story, “Twittering from the Circus of the Dead,” written by Joe Hill and published in the collection, The New Dead, by St. Martin's Griffin on Feb. 16, 2010.

Turkey Bowl
Feature
Warner Bros. Pictures, Gary Sanchez Productions, Closest to the Hole Productions
P: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Chris Henchy, Mark Wahlberg
W: Robert Carlock, Scott Silveri
Comedy about two men leading rival teams in an annual football game. Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg to star.

The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust
TV movie
HBO, Tribeca Films
P: Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal
Biopic about the infamous investment advisor who stole millions from his clients. Robert De Niro is in talks to star.

The Hauntrepreneur
Feature
Paramount Pictures, Platinum Dunes
P: Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller
W: Scott Rosenberg
Comedy about a family who hires someone to create a haunted house that will help them adjust to their new town.

The Flintstones
TV series
Fox, 20th Century Fox Television
EP: Seth MacFarlane, Daniel Palladino, Kara Vallow
Modern update on the animated series about the iconic Stone Age family. Series is expected to premiere in 2013.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Feature
20th Century Fox, Chernin Entertainment
Based on the novel, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, written by Ransom Riggs and published by Quirk on June 7, 2011.

Untitled (Cross Creek Pictures/Becky Johnston Project)
Feature
Focus Features, Cross Creek Pictures
P: Brian Oliver, Alisa Tager, Becky Johnston
W: Becky Johnston
Comedy about an unhappy man who fakes his own death in an effort to create a better life for himself.

Alcatraz
TV series
Fox, Warner Bros. Television, Bad Robot
EP: J.J. Abrams, Elizabeth Sarnoff, Bryan Burk
W: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Bryan Wynbrandt, Steven Lilien
Drama about a team of Federal Bureau of Investigation agents investigating the mystery of the sudden reappearance of prisoners who had disappeared decades ago from the famed prison. Sam Neill, Jorge Garcia and Robert Forster to star.

Inside the Machine
Feature
CBS Films, Contrafilm
P: Beau Flynn, Tripp Vinson
W: Marc Maurino
Action thriller about an undercover ATF agent trying to take down a brutal drug cartel being run from inside a maximum security prison.

The Sheriff
TV pilot
Spike, Electus, 5x5 Media
EP: Ben Silverman, Craig Armstrong, Tod Mesirow, Rick Ringbakk
Reality program that follows a top law enforcement officer as he oversees the procedural makeover of struggling sheriff departments.

Sal
Feature
Rabbit Bandini Productions
Based on the book, Sal Mineo: A Biography, written by Michael Gregg Michaud and published by Crown Archetype on Nov. 2, 2010.

Bachelorette
Feature
Gary Sanchez Productions
P: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay
W: Leslye Headland
Comedy about three best friends who are asked to be bridesmaids for a girl they ridiculed in high school.

Modern Love
TV pilot
Lifetime, Sony Pictures Tv, BermanBraun
EP: Jenny Bicks, Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun, Gene Stein, Alan Poul
W: Jenny Bicks
Based on a New York Times column, drama will follow a science editor as he struggles to balance work and family while taking on his new role as a newspaper columnist.

Magic Mike
Feature
Nick Wechsler Productions, 33andOut Productions, Inc.
P: Nick Wechsler, Gregory Jacobs, Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin
W: Reid Carolin
Drama about a veteran male stripper who teaches a young dancer how to hustle both on and off the stage.

On We Go
TV pilot
USA, Universal Cable Productions
EP: Nathan Lane, Douglas McGrath
W: Douglas McGrath
Comedy starring Nathan Lane, about an actor who is cursed by his resemblance to Nathan Lane.

It’s the First Day of School...Forever!
Feature
Gotham Group, Lookout Entertainment, Gemini Girls Productions
Based on the novel, It’s the First Day of School...Forever!, by R.L. Stine and published by Feiwel & Friends on July 5, 2011.

Untitled (Columbia Pictures/Wedding Comedy)
Feature
Columbia Pictures, Unnamed Matt Tolmach Production Company
P: Matt Tolmach
W: Scott Neustadter (pitch), Michael H. Weber (pitch)
Romantic comedy about an American woman who marries a prince while vacationing in Great Britain.

For Better or Worse
TV series
TBS, The Tyler Perry Company, Debmar-Mercury Entertainment
EP: Tyler Perry
Series based on Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married?" with Michael Jai White and Tasha Smith

Snake and Mongoose
Feature
Rhino Films, Storywise Productions
P: Stephen Nemeth, Robin Broidy
W: Alan Paradise
Biopic about the rivalry between legendary drag racers Don "The Snake" Prudhomme and Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen and how they revolutionized the sport in the 1970s.

Around the World in 80 Ways
TV series
History Channel, Original Productions
EP: Thom Beers, Philip Segal, Julian P. Hobbs
Reality series following “Boston Rob” Mariano and monster truck maker Dennis Anderson as they travel the world using 80 unique forms of transportation.

Untitled (Paramount Pictures/Anna Faris Comedy)
Feature
Paramount Pictures, Roth Films
P: Joe Roth, Palak Patel, Anna Faris, Doug Wald
W: Deanna Kizis
Comedy about a young woman whose charming new roommate turns out to be a stalker.

A Visit From the Goon Squad
TV pilot
HBO, Groundswell Productions
EP: Michael London
W: Jennifer Egan (source)
Drama series based on the Pulitzer prize-winning book that follows a diverse group of interconnected people over a span of 30 years, with the changing music scene as a backdrop.

Parker
Feature
Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
P: Taylor Hackford, Steve Chasman, Les Alexander, Sidney Kimmel, Jonathan Mitchell
W: Donald Westlake (source), John McLaughlin
Thriller about a violent anti-hero criminal who will go to any lengths to pull of a heist.

Hot in Cleveland Spin-off
TV pilot
TV Land, Hazy Mills Productions
EP/W: Cedric the Entertainer, Suzanne Martin
Cedric the Entertainer will play a minister in this spin-off of the TV Land comedy series, with his character debuting in a June episode.

How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack
Feature
Sony, ImageMovers
Based on the book, How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack: Defend Yourself When the Lawn Warriors Strike (And They Will), written by Chuck Sambuchino and published by Ten Speed Press on Sept. 7, 2010.

Black is the Color
Feature
20th Century Fox, 21 Laps Entertainment
Based on the novel, Black is the Color, written by Alexandra Bracken and to be published by Disney Hyperion in Summer 2012.

Lust
Feature
Stone Village Pictures
P: Scott Steindorff, Peter Fruchtman, Dylan Russell, Craig Baumgarten, Scott Lastaiti
W: Joe Eszterhas
Erotic thriller about a young married woman who has a dangerous affair with a charming gentleman.

Woody Allen: A Documentary
TV miniseries
PBS, Whyaduck Productions, Insurgent Media, Rat Television
EP: Robert Weide, Brett Ratner, Michael Peyser, Fisher Stevens, Andrew Karsch, Erik Gordon, Susan Lacy
D: Robert Weide
This two-part documentary offers a rare glimpse into the life of the prolific, New York-based writer-director.

Eight O'Clock in the Morning
Feature
Universal Pictures, Strike Entertainment
P: Marc Abraham, Eric Newman
W: Ray Nelson (source), Matt Reeves
Sci-fi thriller about a drifter who discovers that aliens are using mind control to instill apathy and obedience upon the masses.

Jane by Design
TV series
ABC Family, Pariah
EP: Gavin Polone, John Ziffren
W: April Blair
A high school girl leads a double life after she is mistaken for an adult and is employed by a retail company. Erica Dasher and Andie MacDowell star.

Through to You
Feature
Paramount Pictures, The Montecito Picture Company
Based on the novel, Through to You, written by Emily Hainsworth and to be published by Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins in Fall 2012.

Wings of Madness
Feature
WedgeWorks
Based on the book, Wings of Madness: Alberto Santos-Dumont and the Invention of Flight, written by Paul Hoffman and published by Hyperion in 2004.

WGA Writers Report

2011-05-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

WGA News Release - May 18, 2011 - Latest Industry Stats Show Gap Widens for Minority and Women Film & Television Writers.

LOS ANGELES -- The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) has released the Executive Summary of the 2011 Hollywood Writers Report: Recession and Regression. The study examines writers’ employment and earnings by ethnicity, gender, and age from 2008 through 2009 in the motion picture and television industry. As in previous years, diverse writers face significant obstacles to employment in Hollywood.

According to the report’s author Darnell Hunt, Ph.D., director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies and professor of sociology at UCLA,
“From the initial project pitch to project completion, each phase of the production pipeline has the potential to serve as a barrier to or facilitator of increased diversity among industry writers. The WGAW is committed to working with the rest of the industry to ensure that the production pipeline is shaped less by the former and more by the latter. Diversity is not a luxury, not even in tough times. The Hollywood industry, in the final analysis, depends on increasingly diverse audiences and on the stories to which they can relate.”
The full report will be available in late summer. Some of the key findings in the summary include:

•Women writers’ overall employment share declined, driven by a one-point loss in the film sector, where women writers’ share dipped from 18% in 2007 to 17% in 2009.

•Although the employment share for women television writers remained stable (still a very low 28%), the earnings gap in television between male and female writers widened again – an 84% increase from the previous report, issued in 2009.

•While the minority share of television employment rebounded to 2005 levels (still a very low 10% up from 9%), the minority share of film employment declined to the lowest level in a decade (down from 6% to 5%).

•Despite the gain in television employment, the television earnings gap for minorities widened to the largest level in a decade. The television earnings gap for minorities more than doubled since the 2009 report.

•The employment rate remained flat for the largest group of older writers (age 41-50) at 61%; however the employment group for the youngest group of writers (under age 31), declined by four percentage points. TV writers age 51-60 had a decline of 1%, whereas writers age 61-70 actually had an increase of 1%.

To view the 2011 Hollywood Writers Report’s Executive Summary, click here.

Neil Gaiman Talks Dr. Who

2011-05-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite fantasy writers is Neil Gaiman - a novelist who has had numerous books adapted to film. His episode of the BBC's beloved sci-fi adventure series Dr. Who ran over the weekend and has garnered lots of buzz. In it, Gaiman personifies the TARDIS as a beautiful woman. The TARDIS is the Doctor's ship which, due to a glitch in the system, is frozen in the shape of an English police box. It's basically a Pygmalion story (a man who so falls for his creation that it comes to life) and will no doubt change the trajectory of the show.

Here's Neil talking to young writers (they've got a contest going for kids 9-14 in the U.K.) but it pertains to anyone wanting to write for an episodic. What he's describing here is the television writer's need to work with the characters' filters. That is to say, every established series has characters who act in very specific ways for their own personal reasons - however eccentric. If you want to write for a series you really must channel those characters through their filters. The better you are at doing that, the more likely it is you'll get hired.

Then here's Neil again, talking about how one of his favorite scenes ended up on the cutting room floor because, as Gaiman so eloquently puts it, "TV is a response to the limitations of budget and time - both time to shoot and time to tell your tale". I would've loved to have seen the planet of the Rain Gods. Maybe Neil will take that and make it the subject of a whole new book.

Seal Team 6

2011-05-16T07:51:00.001-07:00

Although there is no press release, on May 3 just two days after the May Day slaughter of Osama bin Laden in his secret Pakistan compound, Disney very quietly filed three forms to trademark the name Seal Team 6. Savvy people those mouseketeers. Ever since news came that Seal Team Six took out America's public enemy number 1, Americans have gone crazy with Seal-mania. The Navy moved immediately to name a new Navy destroyer after the late commando Lt. Michael Murphy (aka"The Protector") - who died in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban in 2005. Even Obama's sagging ratings have improved.

It doesn't take too much imagination to figure out that Disney plans to create a video game, a full compliment of toys and most likely a movie, books (a water park?) and apps to exploit the accomplishments of the Navy's elite. Call of Duty: Black Ops is already the most successful video game of all time - so what's the angle? It will most certainly be squeaky clean and will literally contain "no dust" (as the famous memo once proclaimed).

Media Bistro speculates that the newly trademarked name Seal Team 6 may be used in conjunction with Disney's feature animation development project about a group of anthropomorphic seals. Now that sounds exactly right. Whatever storyline they WERE working on is probably being reworked to reflect the heroism of a seal with a protector-esque nickname, saving the world from a terrorist threat (killer sharks? or maybe killer humans?). They could also be a group of performing seals who do amazing feats at a SeaWorld type park who end up saving the day, or maybe an unlucky trainer, from the jaws of a serial killer-whale. Or maybe they'll use Rudyard Kipling's poem Lukannon (from the Jungle Book, which I think they still own the rights to) for a more sobering story. Somehow I think they'll go with something more upbeat.

We'll see. Anyway, that's the skinny from the jungle. Nothing like a landmark current event to create a new Hollywood franchise. The takeaway here is not to be cynical or make moral judgements but to notice the mindset behind this move. Disney has managed to purchase (for very little money I might add) a piece of intellectual real estate that resides in a phrase with worldwide recognition. That's huge and oh so smart. Pirates of the Caribbean operates in the same manner - laying claim to all things pirate from Davy Jones' Locker and The Kraken to Blackbeard and the Dead Man's Chest.

It's an added perk that the phrase contains alliteration. Seal Team Six rolls nicely off the tongue. By the time the entertainment franchise they're working on debuts in the market (it will likely be years from now) what will remain in most people's minds is, first and foremost, recognition and association with heroic, all-American values. This is a lesson in jungle warfare, Hollywood style. To learn more, pick up a copy of my book, Script: A Writer's Guide to the Hollywood Jungle.

Seal Photo Credit: Dr. John Gibbens

Day of Rest

2011-05-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

After spending a good three weeks on back-to-back writing assignments, I am finished and, like God, am declaring this a day of rest. I'm happy to announce that on Friday I was short-listed as the possible winner of a travel writing contest (remember those Trazzler blurbs? They like my Edwards Aquifer entry). If I do win, they'll hire me to write a bunch more of those.

Yesterday I was hired to write a series of reviews for Zagat. That'll be fun - and they don't even know how much I love to cook. Imagine, getting paid to do three of things I love most: eat, shop and write. I always felt that way about working as a story analyst/editor in Hollywood - paid to read, write and offer my opinion. Lucky me.

Writing travel pieces for Trazzler and restaurant reviews for Zagat is a long way from working on some of Hollywood's greatest films but any professional, paid writing job is legitimate and I don't consider my work in film to be over. I'm focused now on my own writing. If I return to Hollywood, it will be with my own projects. Most of us do lots of kinds of writing to cobble together a living while working on our passion, whether that's a script or a book or something else.

There is also a serendipity that happens. While working on a piece for one client, I bump into other ideas and information sources. The work feeds "the work", if you know what I mean. For example, over the last week I got the idea to pitch a small weekly newspaper with a uniquely crafted entertainment column. I'm still brainstorming the "uniquely crafted" part:) but that's coming.

So these are meant as words of encouragement for anyone who might be reading this to take pride in even the small writing assignments. The more varied the forms of one's writing, the more valuable and flexible one becomes as an artist. All of it requires focus and discipline even if that focus/discipline differs with each form.

Last but certainly not least, I finally asked my father (who is out of the hospital and feeling much better) if he'd consider creating some drawings for my growing collection of original short stories. My dad is a retired fighter pilot/Navy Commander. He's enormously talented as an artist but seems very hesitant to let his creative self out to play. I told him nobody has to know (oops, let that one out of the bag) and he consented to doodle around based on some inspirational art I sent to him. Now if I know my father, he'll do an outrageously fine job. So this is something to celebrate. And who knows, maybe my dad's art will illustrate my next book. Wouldn't that be cool?

Alexander McQueen's Savage Beauty

2011-05-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

Although it's no news to the fashion community, Alexander McQueen's studio gained worldwide recognition last week when Kate Middleton married Prince William in a gorgeous dress by Sarah Burton from the McQueen house of design. If you're like me, you want to know more about the artist.

Sadly, Alexander McQueen committed suicide last year just a week after his mother's death. Stella McCartney was a friend and colleague of McQueen's and characterizes his work as "dramatic, subversive and just plain beautiful". I'm still doing some background research but McQueen's life story would make a fascinating character study and lend itself exceptionally well to film. Chances are better than good that a book on Lee's life is "in-work".

To commemorate and celebrate his impact on costuming and the fashion industry at large, May 4-July 1 The Costume Institute of New York is hosting a retrospective on Alexander McQueen's 19-year body of work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. According to museum curator Andrew Bolton, "Birds were one of McQueen's greatest inspirations". "This hat (says Bolton in referring to the bejeweled nest-egg hat featured in the following clip) is a poetic manifestation of his poetic nature." Savage Beauty includes 100 looks and 70 accessories up through 2010 when, after McQueen's passing, Sarah Burton took up his work as creative director at the studio.

McQueen: Savage Beauty on Nowness.com.

Who is the real Edgar Wright?

2011-04-30T14:12:00.000-07:00

...and why does he like Benny's pizza?
I can't be certain but believe he's intimately connected to The Legend of the White Hat. Hope now hinges on hearing back from Edgar's elusive friend - a soft-spoken tenor with a propensity for turning up in the middle of the night.

The Dress and Working it in

2011-04-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

One should never try to second-guess oneself. Here I am again, already, with a quick note. I didn't get up at 3 am to watch the royal wedding from Central Texas but have seen some of the highlights. Who could not love Kate's dress (an Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton) ? Wow. That's just how I pictured her - elegantly understated. All cream silk and English lace. It's the "unfairytale" fairytale. The dress also seems to suggest a renaissance in the British Monarchy . That resonates with me, anyway, for Kate & Will's long lasting true love and happiness. May it not JUST be a fairytale. I especially adore Kate's dress because it looks so much like my mother's.

Writing wise, yesterday I interviewed an absolutely brilliant investment advisor for a feature article I'm writing - (link to follow). It's the cover story. Without telling you who it is, he has developed his skills to a level of excellence that's inspiring. We talked about The Art of War (also a movie industry favorite) and tactical strategies in the global investment market. It's was an unexpectedly exciting, upbeat conversation about an "always on" industry, like television, with billions globally on the line - in real-time. It lifted my energy and raises the bar for me to write about him.

Today I'm wrapping research and starting the first draft of that story. Plenty of time to blog and do Tai Chi Chih . It's a beautiful day. I believe Kate and Will play a dynamic role in global consciousness and the collective imagination. Three cheers to for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Best, best wishes! All is well in the kingdom.

The Fairytale of the Century

2011-04-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, the wedding of the century will play out at Westminster Abbey. But I don't have to tell you that. Nobody with a pulse could possibly miss it. The nuptials have fairytale proportions and, following the tragic end to Prince Charles' and Diana's marriage, Kate and Will have their public life cut out for them - so to speak.

Royal Wedding Redux on Nowness.com.

This stop-motion animation short was made using only lightbulbs (the incandescent one is Kate), paper, cardboard and colored cupcake wrappers. Pretty ingenius. Note the symbolism of the fox and the frog bringing up the rear.

On a personal note, I am suddenly very busy with freelance writing assignments all this week and for the next two weeks. Yay! The more the merrier - sort of. One likes to be contracted to write and we all love the paycheck that comes at the end but (and here's the irony) it means putting all my other projects on hold.

Every working writer has this challenge. It's all about balance. So posts may be brief and sporadic going into May. Lots of research and wordsmithery going on. And who knows, when there's a lot of work to do that has a deadline attached to it, other work tends to get done too. Interesting how that works.

The Legend of the White Hat

2011-04-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

The Legend of the White Hat (an original story which I'm developing for a collection of short stories) is no longer available for viewing on the web. Stay tuned.

The Indomitable Spirit

2011-04-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

The film world is full of heroes but Roger Ebert is a real man who has built a career around his work as a film critic and in doing so has enlivened the artistic community with his deep insight and sense of humor. Now, after losing his jaw and his ability to speak to cancer, he talks to us through the Internet, social media, his continued film reviews and a digitized voice named Alex. What awesome courage. Thank you Roger. You continue to set an example for us all.

It occurred to me today, while interviewing a Home Health Care company for a piece I'm writing, that this weekend marks the second anniversary of my mother's death. My eagerness to talk about what's needed most in rehab/recovery or the challenges of aging made me realize there's still a lot of emotion around her death. He may have sensed that. On the other hand, he was multi-tasking, it's a short piece and most of the information I'm using is on his website.

So call me oversensitive...

Life is strange. I was my mother's companion for years and her caregiver as much as I could be until she died. She was nearly deaf and at the end lost her ability to speak as well. I don't mean to be morbid or sad about any of this. Mom also had a sunny disposition, bags of courage and was full of mischief. She is one of my heroes.

Conspiracy For Good Comes of Age

2011-04-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

About six months ago, I wrote a story about Heroes executive producer Tim Kring's transmedia project CONSPIRACY FOR GOOD (read it here). It seemed like a cool idea but either I came across the project at the end or it bombed. There wasn't any action on the website. Today, while catching up on the Tribeca Film Festival, guess what I bumped into?

Executive producer Bob Soderstrom shares how he took Tim Kring's excellent idea to use fictional content and cross-platform storytelling to get audience participation (crowd sourcing) to build out the story, raise money (crowd funding) and produce tangible benefits in people's lives (they built and stocked five libraries in Zambia and provided scholarships for 50 girls).

You can read about Conspiracy for Good by clicking the link. They're calling it Social Benefit Storytelling. It's also the largest ARG ever launched with 40 cast members in five countries using some 20 forms of "coded" media over several months. Could a downsized ARG such as this help problem solve on the local level? Maybe so.

This clip summarizes the story Tim set up and the audience collectively told while utilizing a Beta version of Nokia's visual search and AR technology called Point & Find. It turns out I DID come across the project at the end back in October 2010, after audience participation wrapped and the game ended. Nice to see it worked out so well. It's truly ingenious and points in the direction of the future of film and television. This idea rocks. Check it out.

It turns out Kring's CONSPIRACY FOR GOOD is part of an elaborate developmental phase of a new TV series he's putting together for Fox. He was at this year's SXSW talking about the convergence of technology, global consciousness, philanthropy and storytelling. Sorry I missed that. Tim's new Fox show TOUCH stars Kiefer Sutherland and will feature some of CFG's cross-platform storytelling.

TOUCH Story/Concept

Sutherland plays a widowed airline baggage handler (whose wife died in the 911 terrorist attack) supporting his genius son Jacob, who doesn't speak but mysteriously deciphers numbers and codes in everything he sees (perfect set-up for an ARG - alternate reality game) and thus "predicts" events. Jacob isn't touted as a superhero but a genius (a kid not shut down by limited thinking). It's an exciting multi-media concept that may not be far from reality after all.

In fact, many "sensitives" and fringe scientists think that all events take shape in another dimension before they take place on the earth plane and that ultimately what happens here is a reflection of that activity. So there's a time lag. And that means it's possible to alter these otherwise unknowable impending events and deflect things like terrorist disasters. Aha! Could there be a connection with the 24 Feature also currently in development at Fox? It's too soon to tell.

I was just reading about the intuitive "genius" phenomenon TOUCH is dramatizing last night in Baird Spalding's The Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East (book four, chapter IV). Coincidence? You'd have a hard time convincing me of that. Whatever the case, TOUCH promises to be a terrific, tech-savvy show. Stay tuned!

Simon's Cat - The Movie?

2011-04-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

My favorite animated kitty has been busy. He has a new book out and several new videos. You can tell I haven't visited Simon's Cat in a while because it's way past Christmas but these are fun anyway.

Simon's Cat is destined to be a big Hollywood star. Mark my words. I've been watching Simon Tofield's work (an animator repped by Tandem Films in the U.K.) for a couple of years now. He started out just fiddling around with a Wacom tablet and got millions of hits on Youtube. Now there is a growing collection of shorts, two books and a daily comic strip. In a recent TV ad, Simon's Cat ventured past the garden gate to advertise his latest book.

Simon seems to be looking for stories that can sustain longform. Maybe I should rattle his cage. I've got a great idea for a feature. When I was at Disney, we were looking for ways to take Winnie the Pooh out of the Hundred Acre Woods. For a long time the animators thought taking Pooh into the city would threaten the franchise. Now, all these years later, Winnie the Pooh's first feature is a reality.

There was the direct-to-video Pooh "feature" in 1977 but it stayed well within the boundaries of the books. It looks like Disney still fears straying too far from the woods. The new feature (a traditional, hand-drawn piece in the same style as the beloved A.A. Milne books) is simply called Winnie the Pooh and does not take him anywhere new. WTP was released Friday in the U.K. (read a review here) and will be out in the U.S. July 15.

I don't think Simon's Cat has the same problem (overcoming his famous past as the star of a children's book series). The Simon's Cat franchise was born on the small screen and his only animated sidekicks (that I've seen) are his human father (creator Simon Tofield), a grumbly Porcupine and his obese nemesis, Simon's Sister's Dog. The world is wide open for this little guy - or maybe he could just be HOME ALONE for 70 minutes.

Going Ape

2011-04-15T07:12:00.000-07:00

This behind-the-scenes interview about the upcoming film Rise of the Planet of the Apes is packed with insight about how the producers have approached the subject matter. It's like my friend Chris Vogler once said (and I'm paraphrasing here) "when I need to know something the book generally falls off the shelf in front of me". That has certainly been true in my life as well.

Watch live streaming video from apeswillrise at livestream.com

The script was written and produced by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver . Characterized as a cautionary tale - this prequel to the classic 1968 movie The Planet of the Apes centers around a unique father/son relationship. Caesar is a genetically altered ape (played by Andy Serkis) and his human "father", Will Rodman, is creator of a gene-altering Alzheimer's test drug given to Caesar's mother (played by James Franco). Will rescues the baby ape/man from a tragic incident and raises him in secret.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is directed by Rupert Wyatt (a relatively new director who made a big splash at Sundance with the prison break movie The Escapist a couple of years ago). We also know from the trailer (below) that Rise features a scientific "accident", which sets off a reaction that leads management to decide to exterminate the genetically engineered apes.

From this background information, we can infer that the first act involves Caesar's rescue from the cruel fate of his family and friends and results in his orphaned status. That just fits, don't you think? I'm guessing here but it also makes logical sense that this trauma contributes to Caesar leading the charge when he grows up to escape the tyranny of a corrupt human system. It also appears that this movie, like Avatar, favors the non-intellectual, "animal" POV.

Wyatt's newest film promises to be a thought-provoking character study, a socially relevant actioner and a riveting piece of state-of-the-art film making. The Oscar winning Weta Workshop designed the CG effects and motion capture characters. This also marks the first movie executive-produced by former Fox News Corp.CEO Peter Chernin for his new production shingle Chernin Entertainment.

Improving on Instant Inspiration

2011-04-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

Blocked? Searching for inspiration? You might like the iGoogle Writer's Idea Bank - a random idea generator designed to help writers write. Every day (or each time you refresh) it pitches a new scene with an odd combination of visual cues and invites you to tell the story. You can grab it by clicking the link, but I have a better idea.

While the wild-card characteristic appears to be the operative element in blasting out a writer's block, now that I've seen about a dozen of the instant iGoogle ideas, I'm less impressed than I was at first. It's too exotic. This is still a cool idea though because even with only a smidgen of imagination a story DOES suggest itself.

So what if...the random ideas were categorized by genre and each set-up was a less exotic, more ordinary conflict/dilemma?

Here's a set-up for a thriller:

A man comes home from work to find a cryptic note from his son, a bogus business card and a marked up copy of the classified section of the Sunday Times. Other than these sketchy clues, the boy is gone without a trace. It looks bad.

Here's a set-up for a romantic comedy:

An artist crashes her car, hitting her head on the steering wheel and knocking herself out only to fall for the handsome cop who hauls her off to jail for drunk driving. Opposites attract but the odds of it working out look pretty hopeless.

And, of course, we'd want to allow for hybridizing the genres and situations resulting in an infinite number of story set-ups. But just using these two examples, here's a possible combination.

Here's the combined comedy/thriller:

The man is a detective working a baffling missing persons case. That night while working a beat he arrests and jails the smitten artist whose bump on the head causes clairvoyance, she helps him solve the crime and a romance sparks.

The fact that these COULD happen makes them more inspirational. As long as you're inventing a tool, it may as well be practical.

Insights from the Iowa Writers Workshop

2011-04-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, PBS ran a story on the Iowa Writers Workshop which this year celebrates its 75th year. Thanks Ted for turning me on to it. I especially like what is expressed about not being able to teach writing. This most definitely rings true. At best, one creates the atmosphere in which creative writing flourishes. I also agree that putting everything down to a formula is a dangerous idea. A degree of progress can be made this way - a priming of the pump - but original work comes from within the artist and that can't be taught.

Watch the full episode. See more PBS NewsHour.

Of course, the discipline for novelists and poets differs from that of the screenwriter but there IS a lot of crossover in terms of sales. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 40% of all major movies are based on published books. Something to think about. That said, I'm guest teaching at the Art Institute of Austin again next week to class of undergraduates on the subject of writing for TV & film.

Pale Horse at The Alamo

2011-04-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

It was great fun visiting the Alamo set on Saturday. As promised, here are a few pictures taken from inside the mission compound. The mock-up city of old San Antonio was outside the gates and, for some reason, none of us thought to take a picture of it. Everyone was focused on the three pages for the day - which were shot right in front of the church itself.

I was going to do a slide show (actually I DID create a small slide show on Flickr) but it won't upload to the blog as such because of a conflict in account IDs. Oh well. If you want to see the slide show, click on the link. I'll be adding a bunch more photos later on today. All the actors looked fantastic. There were several extremely well trained horses there and a dog that literally acted on cue. He seemed to be having more fun than anybody!

Every time I go to a movie set it reminds me that nobody would be there if somebody hadn't first had the idea, visualized it in detail and written the script. It all starts with the writer. That takes incredible courage. I know from personal experience with this project and others I've had the privilege of working on, that it takes both unflagging courage AND commitment to see it through. Anyone who does this is already a winner, whether they make a splash at the box office or not. BRAVO!

Behind the Scenes at Austin Film Festival

2011-04-10T07:52:00.001-07:00

The 18th Annual Austin Film Festival isn't until October 20-27 2011 but they're already gearing up for the deluge of submissions. I'll be one of the people behind the scenes, reading the scripts and contributing to the decision about what wins. AFF isn't Hollywood but it's a pretty big network here and connected with some major production entities.

This is a great way for new writers (or veterans) to get exposure to the people who can take your project to the next level. You don't have to be from Texas to enter either. There are two basic categories - drama and comedy (which encompass everything from slapstick to horror) but this year is the first time AFF has a teleplay category. The Austin Film Society has the skinny but it doesn't look like they're interested in TV movies or mini-series at this point in time.

If you're from Texas you may also be interested in the second annual "Where I'm From" short film contest that's being sponsored by Texas Monthly Magazine. Here's the link for more information on that one. Three finalists will screen at the Austin Film Festival in October. Entry deadlines are coming up for both so don't dawdle.

When Yes Means No - Revived

2011-04-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a classic case of saying yes when you mean no. I'm not sure what the moral is or just why it happened at all but it's classic from a woman's perspective. Last weekend I met a singer songwriter. He's really an amazing talent and that's what was most interesting to me. As boyfriend material, not so much, but you never know. Maybe there would be more to it if I gave him a chance.

We exchanged phone numbers and a couple of days ago he invited me over to his place for dinner. That was the first red flag because I was already pretty sure my interest was artistic rather than personal but, as I said, I was willing to be open. So I said yes, even though it meant I'd have to drive into town, find his place, spend an evening in his personal space and then drive myself home again.

That afternoon, however, the guy calls me (sweet as you please) and gives me this incredible story about how all of a sudden he's gotta go to San Antonio to get his guitar fixed. It just can't wait and nobody in Austin can fix it. This is red flag number two. He's clearly lying. How do I know? He doth protest way too much. I'd have felt better if he just told me the truth and said something else had come up.

Truth be told, I was relieved. I was off the hook and I wasn't being exactly honest either. I didn't want to go to his place so why had I agreed to it? I was thinking I'd tell him I was busy the next time he called but the next day (the day before yesterday), he calls. The charm was really thick now. Maybe I'd been too quick to judge. More drama came out about the guitar. Are we still "on" for dinner?

"Sure", I say (letting HIM off the hook and wondering why I'm still not saying what's true for me). "Great", he says but first he's gotta go to get some food. Okay, so maybe he really has been in San Antonio most of the day - give him a break. And after all, he's been kind enough to offer to cook me dinner. So I drive over there, find his place and knock on the door - wishing I could go home already.

He doesn't answer the door but instead yells "Come on in". This is red flag three or four and yet I'm STILL not saying what I really think. Instead, I enter and find the guy busy washing dishes. The guitar that he HAD to take to San Antonio is sitting there as plain as day so out comes another story. He didn't end up going to San Antonio after all (big surprise). By this time I'm not listening.

Dinner is still in the shopping bag and turns out to be one of those dinner-in-a-bag things. It was nice of him to offer anyway, I tell myself. He's a guy, they don't generally make elegant meals unless they're way into the culinary arts or maybe are gay. I'm just saying. The rest of the evening involved him talking about his career and me fending off his advances, which he seemed to think was charming.

Now again, I have to say, he's an amazing talent but it was all I could do to keep from bolting out of there as if my hair was on fire. The bottom line is, this strange "date" was really all my fault. I should never have said yes when I wanted to say no. And to keep on saying it, really makes me wonder about myself but I'm also quite sure there are a lot of women out there who know exactly what I'm talking about.

File this as background research on female behavior. And I'm a female! Go figure. Someday, I sincerely hope, the man in the white hat will come my way. I'm starting to lose hope. One thing's for sure though, I won't be saying yes if I mean no. So maybe this strange date was just a rehearsal after all.

Visit to The Alamo Set

2011-04-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

I'm visiting the set of the 2004 movie The Alamo today. It's located near here - in Dripping Springs off Hamilton Pool Road - a famous watering hole in the Texas Hill Country. My brother-in-law is the head honcho because he's the writer/director. This is the final shoot for a documentary he's putting together. More on that later.

Charlie Daniels wrote the title song for the film. It sounds like a hit to me. Chuck Untersee(my brother-in-law) does gorgeous work so the movie will definitely be something to see when it's done.

I'll have some original photos from the location later on today or tomorrow. The one you see here is from R. Denny's site. The shoot starts at sunset but set-up is starting right now. It's gonna be HOT! It's springtime in Texas but for a California girl, it's plenty warm already. I'm wearing a hat and sundress. My sister tells me all the men look alike in jeans, boots and cowboy hats. When you're here a while you start to see the sense in the cowboy costume.

FYI: The Alamo movie set is the largest and most expensive set built in America to date (it recreates San Antonio circa 1836). The set is on private land so today's invitation is a rare opportunity. But first it's Tai Chi in the park with my black-belt brother Michael. Gotta go.

The King's Speech - Script Notes

2011-04-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

As promised. I wrote these notes without seeing the movie. They're based solely on the script. I have shortened them as much as possible to make them readable on a blog. I'm really looking forward to seeing the Oscar winning film now (not that I wasn't before) and also hearing Alexandre Desplat's score - as the screenplay reads very musically.

The King’s Speech
By David Seidler
Story Notes: Susan Marx
Draft Date: January 20, 2010

LOGLINE: How the unlikely second son of King George V became King and overcame his profound stuttering with the help of an unconventional therapist.

INTRODUCTORY NOTES:
Seidler used to stutter himself so this is a labor of love that stems from personal experience. Seidler confided in a taped interview that he based Logue’s method for dealing with this type of stuttering on “the talking cure” (Freudian psychology). This form of treatment was not in vogue at the time and Seidler pays homage to this fact by all but excluding the mechanical approach that featured so prominently in George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. All the buzz about this film will also likely give David Cronenberg's film 'The Talking Cure' (aka A Dangerous Method) a boost when it comes out next year.

This is written with noticeably sparse description. There is never more than a brief paragraph introducing a new scene set-up and who is in it. All the detail about camera moves, lighting and effects are left up to the director. This type of clean draft is one of the hallmarks of a pro. Unless the writer is also the director or the story absolutely demands it, the script shouldn't contain camera direction.

STORY:
On the surface, The King's Speech is about a man who finds his voice but at its heart, it's a story about the forging of a friendship. Part of the reason Seidler succeeds as well as he does is owing to the keen focus on the teacher/student relationship. He sidesteps the larger-than-life characters as well as the political maelstrom brewing in Europe. This is a pretty neat trick, all by itself.

The writer manages the world stage in which the story is set by having secondary characters comment on Germany's rearmament and Wallis Simpson's questionable character. This creates awareness without diverting attention from the central relationship. In addition, Seidler places excerpts of archival radio broadcasts of Hitler's mesmerizing speaking ability in strategic spots. These set the stage for the impending war and turn up the heat for Bertie to stop stuttering. The contrast is very loud.

The central conceit is that Bertie stutters because he has been and continues to be emotionally abused by his birth family. This is never overtly stated - nor is it necessarily true. This is not an authorized biography after all, even if it is triumphantly satisfying and convincing. Seidler communicates this idea through the juxtaposition of scenes where Bertie stutters with dad and sibling but not with wife and family. He's also fine when he can't hear himself talk but falls to ribbons when he's speaking into a microphone and amplified in a stadium. It sounds, to my ear, almost like musical counterpoint. Later on, Lionel confronts Bertie with his bullying brother and by his explosive reaction we know Lionel is right on the money.

Repetition, juxtaposition and mirror images are used throughout to draw parallels, point up differences and knit themes together. For example, one scene introduces a motif (if you will) which is picked up later in another scene by another character – this creates a sense of momentum and inevitability. Also, by juxtaposing Bertie and Lionel in their private domestic settings, the writer establishes their common ground as family men. These sequences are mirror images as well which strengthens the impression of the men as equals.

When Bertie and Lionel have a falling out – they are no longer seen in parallel circumstances. Lionel hears of Bertie’s imminent coronation via radio at home while Bertie sits ensconced in meetings at the palace. This abrupt shift underscores the gulf that has opened up between them. Lionel is now perceived as a mere commoner and Bertie, a larger-than-life king. Lionel is later turned away at the door as a stranger and the next time we see him he is all but lost in the crowd as Bertie rides by in a Rolls. They share a glance but at this point in time they are only similar in their alienation.

After Bertie accepts the role of king and reconciles with Lionel, Lionel literally moves into quarters at the palace. They are seen in royal apartments from this point on. This places them firmly on an equal footing in terms of on-screen perception. They have an exclusive, professional relationship not even Cosmo Lang can put asunder and from here, their relationship climbs to the pinnacle of enduring friendship. Lionel, we're told at the end, died not long after the king.

STRUCTURE:
Linear (no flashbacks or non-chronological scenes). This is arguably a script written in five acts but for the sake of simplicity I'm looking at it in three. The writer brackets the main story (which takes place in 1935-9) with a blend of archival footage and staged period scenes to establish historical context. These scenes are set apart from the main story by several years on both ends. Archival broadcasts and newsreels are sprinkled into the body of the script to create a consistent look and to impart expository information.

ACT ONE: Opens in 1925 with archival footage of Bertie blowing it badly in front of the world when he gives a stuttering speech at Wembley Stadium. Bertie dies a thousand deaths right there. His monumental failure makes him instantly sympathetic. His father (King George V) orders him to master his problem.

About a decade later, Bertie is at the end of his wits with the last in a long line of traditional (as in "mechanical") speech therapists. Bertie literally spits the marbles out of his mouth - making it clear that he's finished. Elizabeth sneaks out to meet Lionel and strikes a deal. The set-up is complete at the end of page 10.

Next we see Lionel at home with his family and a parallel sequence mirrors domestic bliss with Bertie and his. The two men finally meet and lock horns. Lionel insists on equality AND that means sharing personal stuff. Bertie is aghast. This establishes the tone of their working relationship. Bertie has a temper and that unspools in fits and starts as the story continues. Bertie exits with a record of his own voice convinced he and Lionel are both failures but after an intimidating meeting with his father, Bertie listens to the record and is surprised that he speaks eloquently. Lionel’s method might work.

ACT TWO: Speech therapy begins with vocalizing. What follows is a veritable symphony of two & 5-7 page sequences that move almost in lock-step tempo. Bertie takes his unconventional speech lessons in secret - both balking at and cooperating with the use of ditties and dances to distract him from what makes him stammer. Meanwhile the palace intrigue develops until King George V dies and Bertie's brother takes the throne. King Edward’s affair with married socialite Wallis Simpson is a scandal. Even Scotland Yard is against her.

These background tensions come to a climax on Pp. 56-60 when Bertie shares his frustration with Lionel and curses a blue streak without a single stutter. This gives birth to the even more outrageous therapy of having Bertie curse when he's blocked. But this is all too close to the truth and Bertie fires Lionel upon mention of his being the next king. Facing pressure from all sides about taking up with an adulterous woman who is already once divorced and cheating on her second spouse, Edward abdicates the throne and act two comes to a close as Bertie agrees to become the next king only to butcher his acceptance speech before the Accession Council.

ACT THREE: Bertie arrives at Lionel’s door with hat in hand (at least figuratively). Lionel, by this time, is also sorry and the two are back together as a team in earnest. They need to work on the coronation speech but feathers are ruffled and that takes precedence. The longest sequence, is the one that follows in which Cosmo Lang defrocks Lionel as an actor without credentials. Bertie is incredulous but Lionel stands his ground and Bertie has a breakthrough. The coronation follows but is only two pages long and is, in fact, archival footage watched from the royal apartments! All’s well that ends well.

Story moves forward to 1939. Lionel and Bertie are now at ease in each other’s company and rehearse with the full compliment of unconventional methods including, cursing, singing ditties and waltzing about like lunatics. The moment of truth is a long walk down a seemingly endless narrow corridor that mirrors the tunnel to Wembley Stadium in the opening. Bertie hesitates long enough for us to fear he's not going to make it but he gives a rousing speech to the world on the eve of Hitler’s invasion of Poland. Bertie pulls Lionel into a bear hug and the final wall comes down between them.

The closing bracket involves a montage of archival war footage with staged period scenes sprinkled into the mix. Elizabeth surveys damage to the palace. In the end, we see the funeral of King George VI with Churchill placing a victory wreath on the coffin. Superimpose the words that King George VI was known as the good king.

CHARACTERIZATION: As convincing as they are, as written the secondary cast lacks much in the way of shading or depth. What you see on the screen is what the actors bring to it. The one-dimensional treatment of everyone except Lionel, Bertie and Elizabeth was obviously a conscious decision on Seidler’s part because developing any of them would draw attention away from the main theme.

King George V embodies the brusque, commanding naval officer who rules by intimidation. He does not pity Bertie, he expects more of him. In one back-handed comment he tells Bertie that he's more fit to be king than his brother. That's all the emotional tenderness the old man can muster. It paralyzes Bertie.

Prince David/King Edward VIII is depicted as dashing, totally self-involved and consumed by his appetites. He is cruel in the intentional way he ignores Bertie. He's more-or-less vilified in the script. We’re led to believe England would fall to ruin under his reign. Seidler does not waffle on this point and severely limits Edward's screen time, in spite of his pivotal role, drawing him in hard but shallow silhouette.

Wallis Simpson is only seen at Balmoral after Edward ascends to the throne. The camera films only her bare back for much of this sequence before she fouls the air with her Harpie mouth. That’s all he wrote for her here but it’s quite effective in tandem with the many disparaging things that are said about Simpson in her absence.

Sir Winston Churchill makes a few characteristic remarks and appearances but that’s about all for him.

Archbishop Cosmo Lang receives the darkest treatment as a politically motivated figurehead who likes to throw his weight around in secret. We have the sense you tangle with him at your peril. His character is covertly hostile. Lang takes liberties with the media that embarrass Bertie and tries to dispose of Lionel altogether but it comes to nothing. In this way he functions as Bertie's foil.

Elizabeth – is an extension of Bertie. As such, she has a lot of screen time. Almost every time we see him, there she is too. Elizabeth will do anything to help her husband even if it means hiring a commoner and pulling the rug out from under Wallis Simpson. There is a past here that has been deleted from the shooting draft. Nevertheless, seeing Wallis dictating to Edward makes Elizabeth nearly come unhinged. She is a lady but a force to be reckoned with and when her claws come out we want to cheer. Elizabeth, like her ancestor Lady Macbeth will rule as monarch after her husband’s death.

Lionel Logue – An Australian (hence his impertinence), an actor and a family man who ekes out a living treating veterans with PTSD with rather eccentric methods. He has a “feel” for it. Lionel is a man with the strength of his convictions and we sense he has a better grasp of the situation than anyone thanks to his repeated use of Shakespeare. It's unclear how much the audience will absorb these nuances but three well chosen excerpts foreshadow events and establish Logue as a man of great insight. These include Richard III, which draws an inverted parallel with Bertie's situation. Logue also gives Bertie Hamlet's famous lines to read into the record. “To be or not to be” - truly sums up Bertie’s dilemma. Lastly, Lionel playfully quotes Caliban from The Tempest, which mirrors Bertie’s public perception as a defective monster that proves himself otherwise.

Bertie – Seidler draws him as a good and gentle man trapped in a classic double bind conflict. On the one hand he’s cowed by his bullying father and cruel older brother. He wants to react but feels locked into his sense of duty and royal protocol. He tells Lionel that royals don’t laugh or tell jokes but we know this is hogwash because his dad and brother do both when no-one is looking. What this amounts to is that Bertie doesn’t allow himself to be human. This is the crux of his speech “defect”. Bertie detests his stammering and yet cannot bring himself to speak out. He is a man divided against himself. Beneath his meek demeanor, however, is rage. This is the energy that saves him. Bertie’s character thus traces an arc from coward to king, which he takes in explosive bursts that catapult him forward as he rises to the challenges Lionel continually lays at this feet. Eventually Bertie gains enough ground to surmount the steepest test put before him (even greater than the opening) and triumphs.

Dialogue:
You can tell Seidler has a long history in television. His dialogue is crisp and economical. He establishes character through the manner of speech as much as the content and furthers the story while managing to be brief and sound realistic all at the same time. If only people actually talked this way – right to the point by way of something else - life would be so much simpler! For example, in speaking to Winston Churchill about Wallis Simpson, Elizabeth reminds him that she’s related to Lady Macbeth. By this remark we understand Elizabeth is not a woman to toy with.
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The Weinstein Company has to be jumping up and down with joy. Not only did this win the Academy Awards for Best picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay the production budget was only 15 million and the R-rated version has already hauled in more than $373 million worldwide since December. That in itself sets some kind of record. However, today, The King's Speech was re-released in a PG-13 version in the U.S. in 1,011 theatres. It has also been lauded as being an accurate depiction of how to overcome this type of stutter and thus sets an example for people (the majority of whom are children) who suffer with this problem. Can you say "cash cow"?

Change of Plans

2011-03-28T17:31:00.001-07:00

Instead of doing an analysis of the first quarter literary sales as promised in an earlier post* (bore, bore, bore) I've decided to do a short set of notes on the film script The King's Speech - which I'll post here. Of course, it will be more an analysis of the structure and characters because I don't expect to improve on the brilliant work of the writer, David Seidler, who won this year's Oscar for best original screenplay.

Here's an interview with Seidler on the eve of his Oscar nomination. It's a bit long but very insightful. He is, since winning, the oldest writer to have ever taken the Oscar proving (in Seidler's own words) that just because you're older doesn't mean you can't still be a pain and have something worthwhile to say. And prove it he did. Warner Bros. has just hired him to rewrite the Nick Schenk (Gran Torino) scripted feature The Judge as well as Games of 1940.

* After going over a list of about 50 new development projects bought in the mainstream Hollywood community during the first quarter 2011, it was immediately obvious that the bulk of them are comedies with a few dramas, biopics and thrillers thrown in for good measure. Not a big surprise - if you look at how the film community has historically dealt with similar times.

The Rebound

2011-03-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I finished reading Women Who Run with the Wolves and feel totally enriched by it. One of the last stories Clarissa Pinkola Estes shares in it is The Handless Maiden - an archetypal tale of loss and recovery that another Jungian analyst (Robert A. Johnson) identifies as the feminine version of The Fisher King. It hit home with me. I literally dreamed of confronting the ghost of my confusion.

Here's The Handless Maiden blurb (in contemporary terms):

A naive young woman makes a deal with the devil for a life of ease (marries the wrong guy or other unwise choice) only to have her hands chopped off for not complying with the soul-sucking arrangement (she is crippled emotionally). Too wounded to stay but to hurt to function in the world she wanders into a transformative place where she marries a guy who loves her unconditionally but can't be with him/reap her reward until she sharpens her senses.
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As myths that have survived through millenia in various forms, The Handless Maiden and The Fisher King speak in symbolic language that's hard to understand in today's world. Estes and Johnson readily provide these insights. The loss of hands, for example, symbolizes an inability to use the old ego-structures that got her into trouble in the first place. So she is really better off without them. Later in the story, the good guy she ends up with gives her a pair of silver hands, which symbolize a newfound ability to reach into the subconscious.

You can see how this "fairy tale" is dealing with some very grown up issues and most of us can relate. The blurb (brief story summary) you see above is my interpretation based on the Jungian analysis. My post-Handless Maiden dream gave me the idea that "the rebound" is arguably the concept of the decade. If the times dictate the tales, then there's plenty of room for more movies that show us how to come back triumphantly from devastating loss.

The trouble with most versions of this ancient story is that they focus on the wounding and the wandering but no longer contain what Estes' suspects was once a matrilineal prescription for recovery that originated with the goddess traditions. And there's the rub. Estes does say that in maiming stories like this one, the protagonist must perform a series of tasks before he/she is made whole again.

Can you write THAT story? A friend of mine asked me and it got me to thinking. Can I? Maybe I NEED to. As far as screenplays go, here's how it will happen. Somebody in a position of power at the studio level will see the potential this story has to resonate with the masses and they'll adapt the fairy tale or look for something like it or based on it.

This story is pretty abstract in it's purely fairy tale form. It's full of mythic characters like a recurring devil (a Christianized version of the predator), ghosts, spirit guardians and animated trees. These symbols may be why it has been overlooked for so long. That and the fact that female-driven stories are only JUST beginning to find their footing. It doesn't fit the animated feature bill but with the spate of live-action fairy tale adaptations these days, somebody ought to take a look.

The Fisher King was adapted to film in 1991 by Richard LaGravanese and directed by Terry Gilliam. It sets the story in modern day New York and casts the fisher king as a suicidally depressed DJ(Jeff Bridges) who finds redemption by helping a delusional homeless man (Robin Williams) search for the Holy Grail. I know, it sounds pretty "out there" but in fact, The Fisher King is part of the Grail legend.

In any case, the movie was eccentric in the extreme (as you might expect from Gilliam) and even though it was nominated for a best screenplay Oscar, it is not my favorite LaGravanese film. He shines most brilliantly in his depiction of female characters. Whatever your thoughts on the film, it wasn't the mainstream, PG-rated come-back film I'm suggesting Handless Maiden could be in the right, er, hands. LaGravanese may very well be the scribe to do it.

Image Credits: Woodblock print and photo by Jaclyn Atkinson and The Fisher King movie poster from TriStar.

On Losing Everything

2011-03-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

One good TedTalk deserves another...this from the soul of an artist.

First Quarter Lit Sales - Film and telephones

2011-03-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

Coming soon...an analysis of how literary sales in the Hollywood film community seem to be trending in the first quarter. The initial list is a compilation of Baseline's published research. As I go through and do my own research and analysis, I'm looking to gain some insight into lit sales in television as well. So coming soon...

Auditioning for some voice over work and just read a short hypnosis script. It's definitely hypnotic and so simple - counting backwards from ten and describing a descent into sleep. There's a voice in my head saying "don't try this at home". And yet...

After savagely ripping my new phone from it's packing and then struggling to pry the back off to put the battery in...I started counting backwards from ten and saying to myself I'm getting closer...very soon I'll have a phone. And sure enough, seven, six, five, four, three, a last effort and success. It works! Except...

Now it's charging and has locked me out. So I am grateful for the phone. I now have a phone and phone number to call my own again. Let's hope setting up messaging is more intuitive than powering up...

A little goes a long way

2011-03-23T06:31:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when we have big plans, like writing a great script or book or learning how to improvise on the piano, our minds fixate on the enormity of the work involved and we don't begin. For me, one of the most powerful secrets is simply to do a little every day. Taking small actions has massive impact on our creative lives.

My jazz teacher taught me that even if you only practise 10 minutes a day, you will make progress. Far better to do 10 minutes a day than 3 hours one day and nothing for a week. The daily work has something to do with building neurological pathways but it is also about developing the habit of artistic productivity.

A lot of writers practise writing 3-5 pages a day. It's very simple. Just drop the anxiety (that's probably the hardest part) and do 3-5 every day. In one month you'll have 90-150 pages. You'll have the bones of that big project. And with all that excess energy, you can make progress on other projects.

We can help others the same way - by just doing something instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity. I say this, even though my own daily volunteering is proving impractical. It's about finding a balance. Here's a great TedTalk on just doing it. I think you'll like it.

P.S. Yesterday a friend of mine gave me another gem of an idea. Here it is. Think of what you wish to accomplish or bring into your life. Imagine it in detail. That part is fun but it may take a little effort. Now write the universe a thank you letter for granting this wish. This is actually a very practical and clever exercise. It gently shifts our attention away from what we imagine are obstacles and places our energy squarely on the goal. By staying in "gratitude" we maintain the positive vibration of it and draw it to ourselves. Thanks Jan for this lovely pearl of wisdom.

Helping Japan Online

2011-03-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

Do you want to help those affected by the tsunami in Japan? It's easier than you think. The other day I got on FreeRice to play the game that gives rice to the hungry. The United Nations is behind this - so don't be afraid to get involved. FreeRice is fun and they've added art history, foreign language, grammar, geography, chemistry and math questions to the vocabulary game to keep it interesting. For every right answer the World Food Program donates 10 grains of rice and now they're on Facebook and Twitter. What a great way to feed the hungry and teach our children that love is the ultimate answer.

Yesterday I donated 3,000 grains of rice just by taking a few moments to play. You'll see a FreeRice banner ad on the sidebar. Click on that or right here to visit their site. This morning, I got a thank you from the WFP Japan representative - which I've included below. Guess who's going back to donate more rice? I encourage everyone to do the same. It may not seem like much but if everybody donates a few thousand grains a day, we can end world hunger.

Dear Susan -

I grew up in Japan. I’m accustomed to earthquakes. But nothing could have prepared me for this one. It was the first time I saw buildings in Tokyo actually sway back and forth. I watched live TV coverage as the tsunami swept away entire communities. It was like a horror film, but these are real people – thousands are dead, thousands more are missing. In one city, nearly half of the population is still missing. And now we're gripped with the fear of radiation from nuclear power plants. It's a real-life nightmare.

In the past, Japan has helped the World Food Programme respond to some of the worst disasters around the world. Now, when my country is coping with its own tragedy, I feel proud to stand united with Japan to help people in need. I’m deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from all over the world. Thanks to the generosity of friends like you, in just 36 hours we raised all the funds we require for our operation in Japan. Thank you.

Amid the devastation left behind by the earthquake and tsunami, transporting goods is an enormous challenge, but families remain in desperate need of emergency supplies and WFP is providing its expertise to make sure those supplies are delivered quickly. As the lead logistics agency for the United Nations in emergency operations, WFP has decades of experience in delivering food and other relief items in the most difficult environments.

It will take a long time to recover from this disaster. But, between the heroic rescue efforts coordinated by the Japanese government and the incredible support of the international community, I know we’ll get there.

Thank you for the role that you are playing.

Sincerely,

Yuko Yasuda
Japan Spokesperson
World Food Programme

Image Credit: The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai from his series Thirty Six Views of Mount Fuji - woodblock prints in the Ukiyo-e style, circa 1825. The line drawing is a self-portrait and more than likely, also a woodblock. Hokusai is one of the first Japanese artists to work in Manga.

2011 SXSW Winners & Deals

2011-03-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

The Jury and Audience Award-winners of the 2011 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival were announced last night in Austin. Here's the list of 2011 SXSW Film Festival Award Winners. This is followed by the names of the films that won distribution and development deals with Hollywood.

FEATURE FILM JURY AWARDS

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
Grand Jury Winner: Dragonslayer
Director: Tristan Patterson

Best Editing: Where Soldiers Come From
Editors: Kyle Henry & Heather Courtney

Best Cinematography: Dragonslayer
Director of Photography: Eric Koretz

Best Score/Music: The City Dark
Music by: The Fishermen Three, Ben Fries

NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
Grand Jury Winner: Natural Selection
Director: Robbie Pickering

Breakthrough Performances:
Evan Ross – 96 Minutes
Rachael Harris – Natural Selection
Matt O’Leary – Natural Selection

Best Screenplay: Natural Selection
Writer: Robbie Pickering

Best Editing: Natural Selection
Editor: Michelle Tesoro

Best Cinematography: A Year in Mooring
Director of Photography: Elliot Davis

Best Score/Music: Natural Selection
Music by: iZLER, Curt Schneider

FEATURE FILM AUDIENCE AWARDS

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Winner: Kumaré
Director: Vikram Gandhi

NARRATIVE FEATURE
Winner: Natural Selection
Director: Robbie Pickering

SPOTLIGHT PREMIERES
Winner:
Becoming Santa
Director: Jeff Myers

EMERGING VISIONS
Winner: Weekend
Director: Andrew Haigh

SHORT FILM JURY AWARDS
NARRATIVE SHORTS
Winner: Pioneer
Director: David Lowery

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Winner: Mothersbane
Director: Jason Jakaitis

ANIMATED SHORTS
Winner: THE WONDER HOSPITAL
Director: Beomsik Shimbe Shim

MUSIC VIDEOS
Winner: Hollerado, "Americanarama"
Director: Greg Jardin

TEXAS SHORTS
Winner: 8
Director: Julie Gould & Daniel Laabs

Congratulations to everyone. There were some other "winners" at the film festival as well, namely, the movies and documentaries that won distribution deals with Hollywood. All three deals were competitive in the sense that there were numerous bids on them. The Divide represents the highest amount ever paid for a SXSW film.

The Divide - A Canadian film directed by Oscar Gens and written by Karl Mueller and Eron Sheean. This is a genre thriller produced by Ross Dinerstein and Darryn Welch. Anchor Bay paid in the low seven figures for U.S. distribution. The film is a post-apocalyptic Lord of the Flies that takes place in the basement of an abandoned building. Michael Biehn and Milo Ventimiglia star.

Undefeated - A coming-of-age vérité documentary centering on three underprivileged student-athletes from inner-city Memphis and a volunteer coach who struggles to provide them with the discipline, resources and inspiration they'll need to not only overcome their bleak surroundings, but win the first playoff game in the high school's 110-year history. The Weinstein Company scooped this one up and also paid in the low seven figures for distribution and remake rights.

Conan O'Brien Can't Stop - the Rodman Flender directed concert tour film. Shot after the Late Night Show Host wars and between TV deals, Conan's "Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour" is an intimate portrait of the artist at his improvisational best. WME brokered a multi-faceted global distribution deal on this one.

The Voice

2011-03-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

It has been several weeks now since I started volunteering to play piano at the assisted-living place. The management limits use of the grand piano to Wednesday afternoons (I have no idea why) so most of the time I'm in the Alzheimer's unit playing on a spinet that faces the wall and needs tuning.

The twangy sound the old spinet produces doesn't bother me as much as not being able to see my audience and enduring my own missed notes and lags in timing. For a musician, being out of practice is like stuttering - it hurts. But after playing everyday, a few hours a day, the music is coming back like a second language and the residents are coming and sitting beside the piano and facing me:}

Truth is, I'm a singer. While finding my way again on the keyboard I've been singing, sotto voce, in a very high voice to myself. To make a longish story short, now people are asking me to sing. This is a delight and a relief. Now I can just relax and accompany myself singing. The residents like listening to these songs in the high soprano range. It seems to soothe them.

There's truly something magical about the voice. Everybody's is unique. That's why the sound of a lover's voice is so moving - especially when it is whispered in your ear. It's deeply, soulfully intimate, reaching a place inside nothing else can. My mother used to sing me to sleep as a child. I feel like what I'm doing there is similar - comforting them, reaching them, lifting their spirits.

A writer's voice is much like a singer's. You don't get to decide if you're a coloratura or a basso profundo. You just are what you are. That doesn't mean you're born knowing it. In fact, it's common to fumble around out of your range for a while before you find "your voice". Like maybe every time you come to the page. But you'll know it when you do find it because then things just spin right out and people start asking for more.

Okay then. Off to bed. Sweet dreams.

Photo Credit: Michael Sowa "His Master's Voice"

SXSWi Digital Lounge

2011-03-12T13:56:00.000-08:00

Spent the better part of the morning and early afternoon going into Austin for the Freeze Mob event and meeting the people sponsoring the Maple Leaf Digital Lounge. A great group out of Toronto with partners from L.A. and Austin. In spite of meticulous planning on my part, things had a weird way of getting tangled.

First, found the back window of the car smashed out this morning. Nothing stolen. The irony is, the car wasn't locked. Turns out the vandals "hit" our entire apartment complex so it was luck of the draw. Now I'm driving a car that looks like it just escaped the barrio. Thrilling. It does, however, make me grateful I'm not actually from the barrio though so there's something to be grateful for afterall.

Second, a comedy of errors ensued in which my brother and I got separated and I missed the freezemob altogether. Total SNAFU. Finally found my sibling (who was clearly miffed about the mix-up but not talking about it) and had to beg for a few moments to check out the digital lounge. Don't know what a digital lounge is? I didn't either and you won't find the definition in the urban dictionary.

I have the genteel and brilliantly articulate consultant Chris Rollyson to thank for communicating the way a "lounge" works and the Maple Leaf Digital Lounge in particular. A digital lounge is a place to get online, recharge your batteries, chill, and network. It turns out that Chris was the Web 2.O media consultant for this event, helping MLDL achieve a digital presence for SXSW with little lead time and a mostly volunteer staff. To read more about Rollyson's process go here.

MLDL was all about creating a home-away-from-home for Canadians at SXSW, demoing Canadian digital products and creating a space for cross-boundary venture capitalist deals with groups like C100 - a Silicon Valley non-profit well worth learning more about. Chatted with the charming event planner Deb Lewis of City Events. She and Jeff Musson were the kingpins behind organizing this premiere digital lounge. Jeff was the point person behind the Flashmob campaign that initially snagged my interest on Craigslist.

Being a story person, my favorite digital product on display was Kim Stevens' Tokii - a digital negotiating tool for people in romantic relationship. You sign up for free and sign up your significant other. Through the online "trading post" you can communicate clearly about what you want and offer something in return that they want. Trades show up via text/email.

I can see how this could make a great springboard for a comedy feature. Tokii is coming out with their paid product (CouplesPlay) next year. Okay, so I'm all signed up. Now all I need is a partner. Paging the man in the white hat.

Photo Credit: MLDL Event Mobi Quara Code - This is a mobile app (that's actually not an app) from EventMobi.

SXSWi Flash Freeze Mob

2011-03-10T14:49:00.000-08:00

There's a flashmob forming for SXSWi. To sign up click here (this link will probably deactivate after the event). This will be a freeze mob in front of the Austin Convention Center at the Trinity Street entrance at 12:05 on March 12. It's part of SXSW Interactive. They're giving participants free T-shirts and an invite to a digital lounge afterwards at Paradise Cafe. Thing is, we'll need to meet beforehand at another place, nearby.

The preliminary meet is at (Paradise Cafe at 401 E. Sixth Street - corner of Trinity & Sixth) between 9:30-11:30 am. This allows a two-hour window for picking up the T-shirt and more instructions. Think about the pose you'd like to take. You'll hold it for four minutes!

This event is being produced by a Canadian group called Maple Leaf Digital Lounge. They're here promoting their company during SXSW Interactive in partnership with the L.A. based group DigitalLa. If you want to participate here's the link.

Photo Credits: Paradise Cafe by Anonymous (from Paradise Cafe)

Working out of the Wound

2011-03-07T15:05:00.000-08:00

There's a phrase that kind of says it all, don't you think? It is often said that artists produce their best material (whatever form it takes) when working out of the wound. Lately, that place that has been hurt has been throbbing with a pain that cannot be ignored. My friends tell me this is a good thing and I know what they say is true. When we are vulnerable, exposed and bleeding even to ourselves, we are in a state of grace.

This may seem counter-intuitive. Feeling the depth of one's own pain is something most of us shy away from. We certainly don't want others to see it. So we cover it up instead of speaking or singing or painting or making love from that place. But it is also mysteriously and miraculously the source of our strength and how we can show up most powerfully for others. In this regard, a friend recently suggested I read Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.

So today I found a copy. It is written by a woman for women seeking to connect with their instinctive nature but author Sam Keen (Fire in the Belly) "recommends it for men who dare to run with women who run with wolves". So you men out there, if you want to support your woman, it may behoove you to pick up a copy as well.

Estes opens the book almost like an invocation. She calls this llamar o tocar a la puerta which translates as "to play upon the instrument of the name in order to open a door". Isn't that wonderful? By naming that which is longed for and articulating that which is in disarray, we realign ourselves to that which is ours by right of nature. I am already enthralled as it explores this strange, still rather taboo territory through the study of ancient stories, myths and fairytales.

In fact, the interior landscape is not taboo at all - even if society has denied women access to it (out of ignorance) over the millenia. Estes is a Jungian analyst and cantadora (keeper of the old stories) and she uses both, in this book, to examine the female psyche - where we get stuck and how we can reclaim our power. Estes is also actively involved in post-traumatic stress counselling for victims of violence and their families.

WWRWTW takes its name from Estes' encounters with multi-cultural fairytale and folklore and the Mexican story of La Loba (the wolf woman) in particular. The wild woman archetype is reflected in cultures around the world. Here are some of her names: Rio Abajo Rio, La Mujer Grande, Luz del abismo, O Erdoben, Rozsomak, Na'ashje'ii Asdzaa (the spider woman). She is also called Humana del Niebla (the mist being), Amaterasu Omikami (the numina who brings all light) and Dakini (the dancing force which has clear-seeing within women).

The book lends tremendous insight into some of the most classic, enduring fairytale and folklore out there, including Bluebeard and Vasalisa (aka Baba Yaga). Now that I'm into it, I recommend it to all writers for insight into the literature and for understanding character from a depth pyschology perspective. Estes brings light into a dark corner that is long overdue.

Art Credits: Bluebeard by Gustave Dore and Vasilisa the Beautiful by Ivan Bilibin

Improv at SXSW

2011-03-06T08:08:00.000-08:00

UPDATED: March 10, 2011This coming weekend, at SXSW Interactive, a group called Maple Leaf Digital Lounge (out of Canada) is staging a flash freeze mob on March 12, 2011. I'll be there. You can participate too if you live in Austin. Here's the link as it appeared on Craigslist (the SXSW event links in this paragraph won't be up forever so there's no guarantee they'll still be working whenever you happen to read this).

A flash mob (according to Urban Dictionary) is: A group of people who appear from out of nowhere to perfom predetermined actions designed to amuse and confuse surrounding people. The group performs...for a short amount of time before quickly dispersing. Flashmobs communicate via email, text and/or Internet groups.

The more I look around the more it's obvious that flashmobs aren't new. Guess that makes me one of the last to know. The sponsors won't reveal what we'll be doing until the day of, but here are a couple of clips. If you ask me, this concept deserves serious development attention. A longer script would help - or coordinated flashmobs in succession that tell a story - plus a denouement would make it long enough for a 30 minute time slot.

Although this freeze mob is not affiliated with ImprovEverywhere Charlie Todd is credited with inventing the idea. He had a series development deal with NBC in 2007 but the pilot didn't get picked up. Improv Everywhere has a live show component that tours the country and can be hired for "experiements" on college campuses or other events. For more information go to The Urban Prankster Network.

Brainstorms, Gunfighters & Floosies (updated)

2011-03-04T16:22:00.001-08:00

Spent the better part of the past week writing a pair of articles. Two cover stories for two new local magazines. Here's the cover story for the first edition of Lakeway Magazine. And here's the cover story for the first edition of Cedar Park Magazine. It was fun and challenging both because of the time constraints and the journalistic format. There's nothing like a deadline to get your juices going.

For the first story, I rode the Austin Steam Train as part of my research. As it happens, the Hill Country Flyer stops in Burnet and the Burnet Gunfighters Association puts on a wild west show, for which it recruits ladies on the train as volunteer floosies. Well that was irresistible. The photo at the top of the post shows our unique cast of floosies and gunfighters on the outdoor stage in Burnet last Saturday. I'm the floosie in pink standing next to the gunfighter who played the bounty hunter. My new friend Sylvia Price is the floosie in black, holding the noose.

Since then, I completed both articles and a colleague took me to lunch today and convinced me that I need to offer my own screenwriting workshop. This is not something I had planned, in fact I've resisted the notion when people ask me about it, but Austin doesn't have many veteran movie people here working on the ground in development. I'm leaning towards an improvisational approach.

Photo Credit: Cast and Volunteers of the Shoot-out at the IXL Saloon with the Burnet Gunfighters, Bertram Station, and The Austin Steam Train (minus the steam engine - they're using a diesel until the 1916 engine comes out of overhaul status - still great fun) by Sylvia Price's husand, Steve.

How to feel up when you're down:}

2011-02-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

UPDATE February 24: Took my own advice and as of 7 pm tonight am hired for a new freelance writing gig. Yay, definitely feeling up now.

Also happened on this web series written, directed by and starring former unknown, itinerant actor Jeremy Redleaf called Odd Job Nation. Redleaf is on record saying that he was tired of sitting around waiting for the phone to ring so he created his own show. It's a hilarious, Wayne's World take on what it's like to suddenly lose a good job and try to find work in the great recession. Hello Craigslist.

Odd Job Nation won the 2010 Streamy Award for best new web series and Redleaf has since signed a development deal with Fox. From what I hear, he's also fielding several other offers as well. When you watch the clips (the first two), I think you'll understand why.

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All writers and artists are, in a sense, warriors. This is particularly true in the often covertly hostile Hollywood environment. But what I’m talking about here doesn’t have to do with survival strategies, power lunches and contracts. Nothing so exotic. It’s the subtle battle that goes on everyday within our own minds.

Unless working exclusively as a reporter (which has more to do with ferreting out facts and finding angles) or researching something technical, we live more in the right side of the brain than the logical left where the values are abstract and intuitive. And yet we also live in the "real" world. For most of us that means produce an income or work for someone else. The romance of the starving artist is a myth in the sense that starving isn't romantic and it's not a requirement to be a legitimate artist.

People may accuse us of “not working” or worse, we accuse ourselves. The work I do isn't good enough or it's taking too long to come together. I wonder what so and so will think. And how do I remind myself that the pile of rewrites in the trash is evidence that progress is being made? That the dreams I'm having are helping write the second act and have just introduced a new character? This is true even when the issue isn't whether or not I have enough money to pay the bills or buy a new car.

Ironically enough, when success does come, if it's big enough it can be overwhelming. High profile working artists tend to be seen as superhuman, not the everyman who triumphs over his own inertia on a daily basis. Success can be surprisingly disorienting. Which is not to say that when you're down success isn't the best medicine. It just may not be accessible this red hot minute.

Feeling up when your down has to do with finding a balance. No matter where we are in the cycle there is potential trouble, conflict. Chris Vogler (The Writer's Journey) has talked to me about "suiting up". By this he means wearing the armor of the intelligent artist. Being a warrior - alert and on guard – ready to thrust, parry, regroup and start again. I know he meant this on a spiritual level also.

So how do we stay fit, as it were, as artists and feel up when we're down?

- Get into action. For me, physical action works the fastest and is the most reliable. I'm a walker but I also love to dance.

- Go out for a run, meet up with a supportive friend. Watch a great film or listen to something awesome that inspires you. The important thing is to MOVE.

- Do something as an artist immediately that brings completion and, if at all possible, get paid for it. The physiological holds enormous power but there's nothing like translating creativity into cash.

The “enemy” (whatever it is that's blocking progress) is illusory. In this case anyway, we win or lose by what we do in those moments of uncertainty or despair. This movement, this getting into action is a psychic weapon that should be in everyone's armamenterium (isn't THAT a great word?). When in doubt, jump for joy! Do something outrageous. Enter a contest. Win a contest! But for heaven’s sake don’t just sit there. And on that happy note, I'm off for a walk.

Telephones, trips, hearts and estrus

2011-02-21T08:01:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: It turns out the land line here was muted so all calls have been forwarding to my brother's cell phone. Wonderful. So that's fixed. Just an hour or so ago I learned that my father has been hospitalized. It's his heart. Say a little prayer.

Just got back from playing piano and singing for the folks in the Alzheimer's unit at Emeritus. They have a much less crowded entertainment schedule, as you might imagine. As my brother suggested, they'll love you for it but won't remember a thing. This makes it the perfect place to practise:) But seriously, my heart goes out to them - many of whom rarely see their families.

The Alzheimer's patients are very receptive to music. So from now on I'm serenading them every day at around 11:00. You couldn't ask for a more appreciative audience. Of course most of them are in their own worlds and disconnected from the present but they seem to "wake up" a little bit when I'm playing. Could music, or certain sounds (such as Sanskrit chants) hold the key to curing disease? I wonder.

My Himalayan has gone into heat. OMG! She keeps me up all night, yowling. It's like another entity has taken over my kitty. My sister (who lives in Fredricksburg) says one of their cows is also "in season". She moos like a banshee and yesterday they found that she'd jumped the fence to be with the neighbor's bull! Ah, love.

Meanwhile, still trip-writing for Trazzler. It's a great exercise for any writer to work with such specific guidelines - even if the result is just a 120 word blurb. Here's my latest creation. Of course the waterways aren't burbling yet and the flowers are nowhere near blooming...that's where imagination comes in.

Radiohead releases Lotus Flower

2011-02-19T06:59:00.000-08:00

Twitter is all aflutter this morning about the new single and video "Lotus Flower" -featuring Radiohead's lead singer Thom Yorke. Love the music. Thom looks a little freaky doing this weird dance but then I realized that I sometimes dance the female, hula/belly-dancing version of this when inspired by a song and nobody is looking:) It's pantomime.

I think it was the generally unkempt Bojangles angle that seemed contrived. But Yorke's staggery moves felt authentic the second time through. He telegraphs the tune beautifully in the raw. As it turns out, this seemingly drunken dance was choreographed by none other than Wayne McGregor, resident director of the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden.

Lotus Flower is one of the crown jewels of Radiohead's latest album, The King of Limbs. Still, I think my favorite Radiohead video so far is "House of Cards" because it's a torchy love song (which is something I personally love doing) done in 21st century pop/rock style. The ghostly digital images reflect the electric, illusory aspect of romance and, indeed, all of life.

Going Vegan at Casa de Luz

2011-02-18T08:26:00.000-08:00

My latest Trazzler trip, sans photo.

Tucked behind a painted adobe arch and wrought-iron gates adjacent to Zilker Park, Casa de Luz (house of light) is a thriving community of health-oriented individuals devoted to sharing the macrobiotic way of life. Stroll down the bamboo-lined garden path and commune with nature and friends in the simplicity of the humble Japanese tea house at no cost. Rent one of four other unique private spaces for your own enlightening functions. Take a tai-chi class or treat yourself to a massage from a menu of bodywork services. Shop for handmade cards, trinkets and soaps in the restaurant foyer and feast on organic, gluten-free fare in the suffused naturally-lit dining area. You can even volunteer to help prepare a mindful meal in exchange for your supper.

Singing for the Seniors

2011-02-16T11:56:00.000-08:00

UPDATED: I am of the habit of writing my blog in rough, publishing and THEN editing. Not the preferred method for journalism but since this is a blog I take liberties like that. It's a way to get myself to write more freely, more often and without fear. I can only hope that readers enjoy the flexibility of it and enjoy seeing a first draft move into revisions.

In this case, there's nothing for it but to lose the whole first draft. Sometimes you've just got to begin again. There was a scheduling mix-up at Emeritus* (an assisted-living community in south Austin) and I won't be singing for the seniors there until the first Wednesday in March. Aww. I had gotten geared up for it too. They have two beautiful grand pianos. So it looks like scales and chord progressions on the electric keyboard until then.

My father sent me the most beautiful valentine. Thank you dad, if you're reading this. I love you too and am so proud of you. My father is a WWII hero - a flying ace and many more amazing things. At 91, he's still as sharp as a tack and works out every day but he has always preferred to communicate by example. If I get lucky, maybe he'll do some pen and ink drawings for my jungle-myth story. We have just learned that he and his wife plan to move into an Emeritus-like community in Tennessee in June.

* Emeritus is an upscale private facility - not a state-run nursing home - although it does have an Alzheimer's unit.

Climbing Mount Bonnell at Covert Park

2011-02-15T11:26:00.000-08:00

Here's another of my Trazzler trips. My original photo finally made its appearance. I've included it below. The one you see to the right is from the Austin Parks Foundation. You should be able to vote for my story (it's entered in the Texas Freelance Writing Contest) by clicking here right now. It's not really voting but "they" look to see if viewers "save" the trip. It creates a ranking. So if you love me, save my trips! Okay, here we go...

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Named after one of the unsung heroes of the Texas Revolution, Captain Joseph Bonnell, this popular in-town getaway at 3800 Mt. Bonnell Drive, is the highest peak in Austin - rewarding visitors with stunning views of the lake and surrounding Hill Country. Climbing the 104 limestone steps to reach the top may leave you breathless but don’t sweat the small stuff. Pause in the shade of centuries-old oak trees. Inhale the invigorating fragrance of wildflowers. Exhale at the lookout and feel your anxieties sail away as you gain a new perspective. Better still, pack a picnic for a romantic sunset supper and cuddle under the stars. Local legend has it that lovers who make three trips to Mount Bonnell together will marry.

Photo Credit: That would be me.

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This was a fun place to visit and there were several couples up there, lips locked and oblivious to the vistas that stretch out for miles in all directions. It turns out there is some confusion around which Bonnell the park was originally named after. The historical plaque on-site has George Bonnell as the inspiration for naming Mount Bonnell. He was a New Yorker who became publisher of the Texas Sentinel in 1840 - the same year Joseph Bonnell died, while on sick-leave in Pennsylvania.

George was a prominent citizen in the region a decade before Austin was officially established as a city (1850) but he also, for reasons unknown, "had it in" for General Sam Houston to the point of publishing slanderous articles about him in his newspaper. Recent, very compelling evidence points to Joseph Bonnell (an infantry Lieutenant from Fort Jessup) as the man behind the mountain. As the story goes, Joseph Bonnell single-handedly negotiated a treaty with the Caddo Indians just prior to the Battle of San Jacinto - a feat probably only he could have handled.

The reason Joseph was able to put down the Caddo uprising peaceably is even more interesting. Sometime earlier Lt. Bonnell witnessed the signing of Caddo Indian lands to the U.S. government. He suspected foul-play and later filed a law suit against the government agent who had deceived the Caddo by including provisions in the treaty for private gain. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court. Bonnell defended the Caddo and won. This got General Houston's attention big time. In fact, he made Lt. Bonnell his aide-de-camp and later promoted him to Captain.

West Point (Capt. Bonnell's Alma mater) is presently undertaking a renovation of Covert Park to bring this landmark spot back to its former glory. One may assume they will also change the on-site dedication (or at least augment it) to reflect the fact that Mount Bonnell was more likely named for Captain Bonnell.

There IS still some debate on this issue. It's hard to correct the history books nearly 200 years later but this is exactly what West Point, The Texas State Legislature and the Bob Bullock Museum seem set on doing. The correct thing to do as a reporter is to mention the debate and emphasize the which way the facts lean. That's what I'm doing here, with you. But as far as writing for Trazzler goes, and especially with all the documents that have come to light over the last 5 years, I'm making a judgement call and going with the captain.

When working on newsy copy (even for soft, breezy little travel blurbs like the ones I'm writing for Trazzler), the work of a writer is split between being a captivating storyteller and responsible reporter. Fact-checking is essential. The ultimate responsibility usually falls on the editor, who must pass muster on everything that is published. However, the first responsibility rests with the writer (and no editor wants to work with someone who can't get their facts straight) so it pays to do your research well and choose your sources with care. And who knows, you might just strike gold and uncover a story (like George Bonnell's public disdain for Houston) in the process.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons - This certificate was awarded by the Texas State Legislature just this last March 5, 2010 in honor of Texas Independence Day and to belatedly but officially recognize Captain Bonnell's contribution to the Republic of Texas.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T13:33:00.001-08:00

To the man
in the white hat
who is out there
somewhere
waiting to take me home.

Photo Credit: Estelle Hanania

Exploring Edwards Aquifer at Zilker Park

2011-02-13T12:18:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: 2/15/2011 - Successfully added the correct picture to the Trazzler site so all can read this dazzling tale of adventure and admire the focused photography. There's a learning curve for everything!

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Here's a contest entry I wrote yesterday for Trazzler.com, a small travel start-up with co-founders Adam Rugel (its CEO) and Biz Stone from Twitter. I have a byline on this one and two others. This IS a contest entry but it's also a great writing exercise. You might call it "the art of the blurb". It's finely-tuned, travel storytelling for the one-minute mind. To vote for my story, go here and click SAVE.

For some reason the nice crisp photo you see here looks blurry on the Trazzler site. Bummer. But the photo isn't part of the contest so technically it doesn't matter. Of course, it matters to me. Oh well. This is how we learn. You can still vote for me to win here. What follows is the story-within-the-story (aka the backstory).

I had borrowed my brother's cameraphone but went through all kinds of @#*! trying to email the cell phone picture you see above to my email. It was lost in space. After half a dozen failed tries and almost as many hours, the thing finally landed on my brother's Facebook page. It was a last ditch effort - and it worked.

By this time, my brainy and tech-savvy 14-year-old nephew was on the case. In a matter of minutes he sent me the original picture in two different formats. So that was cool but it now seems that I accidentally uploaded the picture of the picture instead of the picture. Or something like that. The next one will go smoother.

So here it is...the amazing story of the birth of Edwards Aquifer...

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Beloved and beautiful, Zilker Park boasts 378 acres of city-owned recreational space bordering the south western shores of Town Lake. There's a lot to do here but the "Splash" exhibit, housed in the old bathhouse, makes a refreshingly cool stop on a hot day if you don't want to get your hair wet. Meander through a labyrinthine limestone cavern past aquariums nestled in rock. Learn the inner alchemy of one of the largest artesian water-filled rock formations in the world - also home to the 900 foot spring-fed Barton Springs Pool and two endangered species of salamander. Take in a hawk-eye-view of the protected Edwards recharge zone and play in the interactive steam punk science lab while listening to ambient sounds of a Texas rainstorm. Admission is free.

Photo Credit: C'est moi.

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It's trickier than you might think to write these pieces. In the above case, they have a maximum word count of 140 words and have given directions for a particular style (a gerund in the title, lots of active verbs, characteristics of the physical location and as much "sensual" detail as possible (sights, sounds, smells, etc.).

I was assigned similar stories in college so this is deja vu. The standing homework was to go out every week with a video camera (broadcast writing/Communications at Pepperdine), find three or four local stories and write and edit them for the campus TV station. I was on a music scholarship so most of my "free time" was spent in rehearsals for opera and choir. Somehow I managed to do all that AND work as sound engineer for Smothers Theatre too. Ah youth...

Threshhold of a dream

2011-02-10T08:44:00.001-08:00

I've been keeping a dream journal off and on since my late teens. What started as an amateurish field study, scribbled down randomly in response to intensely charged images or characters in the dream space, evolved into a discipline and is now a habit and cherished writing tool. Dreams are nothing if not inspirational.

You can hardly mention dreams in the context of writing and film without paying homage to Christopher Nolan's movie, Inception. The WGA gave Nolan their best original screenplay nod. He's also likely to take the best original screenplay Oscar this year. If you haven't seen Inception, you MUST.

Inception is not the subject of this post but its immense popularity and ability to captivate the collective imagination are telegraphing an important development fact - especially in the context of other popular films in the last few years. There is intense interest in alternative realities, vortexes, inter-dimensional experiences and the nature of reality itself. And that interest is registering on a global scale. That means there will be more of them - which means the door is open to these types of stories.

No matter where you go with this idea, dreams are a tremendous creative tool, full of highly original ideas and insights all told in a wonderfully bendy, out-of-whack, illogical sequence. I keep a dream journal by the bed, along with a pen. If you don't remember much at first, that's okay. Just start describing whatever wispy image is still there and the spirit of the dream will cooperate with you and yield more. It's like drawing water from a well. We prime the pump with one memory and tease out more detail and more memory, little by little.

Last night, for example, I was at the doorway of another world - one very foreign to me - yet one I'm eager to explore. We (for there were three of us) somehow found or stumbled on the entrance, which was hidden by a wall that was both there and not there at the same time. The air took on the texture and color of sepia tone film stock and our bodies were shifting at the subatomic particle level. That is to say, we were physically there but the molecular structure was altered and moving us into the realm of invisibility.

There was a priestess of purity there (not a classic archetype, more like a well-groomed former hippie with a degree of enlightenment) offering incense and waving it over three plain music box size black boxes. Then came a stirring of wind. No words were spoken. At this point, some experienced "travelers" came through reverently but in a rush and vanished into the vortex behind the wall. Matt Damon was among them.

As you can see, my dreams have a cinematic flair and a sense of humor. It's no coincidence that this semi-sacred dream sequence fills in some of the blanks of a fantasy/adventure that's currently in-work. What a gift. These dreams (there have been several lately on the same theme) are like pieces of a puzzle - working as they do with their own logic, memory and imagination. It's unlikely I would've articulated the symbols so beautifully in my waking state.
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Photo Credits:

Inception Architecture: from Richard Slusher - Infographic winner of the Inception design contest at Fastcodesign. The characters are color coded to show their presence at different levels of the subconscious. The concentric rings laid out on the curve of time depict how the perception of time slows in deepening layers. This is the dream world according to Nolan. I love these graphics for their clear cut visual representation of the story structure, character placement and linear timeline.

Celtic Symbol for Purity: From Aon-Celtic. Just one of many beautiful designs by international artist Cari Buziak.

WGA Awards "Write it Gay"

2011-02-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

What did I tell ya? Check this out from the WGA Awards.

A little bawdy for my taste but bang on, if you'll excuse the pun. Time to find your inner lesbian, gay man, bisexual or transsexual - unless, of course, you're already gay:} The Huffington Post has dedicated an entire page to gay marriage.

DreamWorks TV has also just announced signing Debra Messing to topline the up-and-coming NBC pilot SMASH a dramatic ensemble written around the mounting of a Broadway musical. The core of the show features a gay composer and a straight female lyricist who is uncertain about doing a show about Marilyn Monroe in the first place. This is a natural for Messing, who played the straight female roommate in the hit sitcom Will & Grace.

From an analytical standpoint, the bottom line here is not so much the gay factor as it is the way of the "jungle mindset" - which is made up of a complex mix of marketing factors. In this case it looks like one part herd mentality (everyone else is doing it so we better do it too). One part altruism (monitoring the pulse of change and leading the charge of social reform when the timing is right). One part playfulness (toying with taboo before it loses the stigma).

This movement is also part of a much larger trend, perhaps even cosmic in scale, to embrace diversity and accept cultures and beliefs foreign to our own. It is ultimately about expanding consciousness but it is not traveled without conflict. And conflict, as we all know, is what drives every story. Look for more stories that challenge old paradigms and beat with a heart of compassion.

The Bridge between A and B

2011-02-03T06:59:00.000-08:00

I'm in a rush this morning but wanted to share a writing insight. While working on a collection of short stories for my next book, the work is very different from adaptation or non-fiction (which, for me, was all about finding the structure).

Fiction writing is very much about making space for the muse. Working and not-working. One day, the animal story speaks. The next day, the mythic one reveals a bit more of its design. There's a lot of waiting, wringing of hands and proverbial wall climbing. Sometimes it's an exercise in coaxing out a few pages.

The best part is when the writing comes from an intuitive place. Then it's like taking dictation. What I've noticed lately is the A/B plots are developing separately in my subconscious mind. The work right now is in the bridge between them. In some sense, this is the heart of all writing. We stay in the "gap" and the storytelling is all about finding and navigating the bridge between them.

One LGBT Story Deserves Another

2011-01-29T10:07:00.000-08:00

While speaking to a group of students in the digital media program at the Austin Art Institute, we broached the subject of the need for writers to stay tuned to the media/box office about what's hot and what's topical because this is an excellent way to get a read on what the execs are hoping to find and buy. As a case in point, I told them that now that The Kids are All Right has won a couple of Golden Globes and been nominated for no less than four Oscars, there will be more gay and lesbian relationship movies.

The worldwide box office cume is strong too, considering the budget was only 4 million and it was in limited release. I'm willing to bet the DVD sell-thru and rentals will add considerably to that number before all is said and done. Chances are somebody (probably more than one somebody) is pitching some LGBT ideas as we speak. Of course, we have had some great gay/lesbian films in the recent past and a few successful TV series. As the saying goes, timing is everything.

Gay marriage is being revisited afresh now that there's a new crop of legislators on Capitol Hill. And President Obama is going to have to stop waffling on the subject as well. The New York Times carried this story, yesterday. This morning, while tuning in to Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood blog, there it was...the first public evidence of another alternative lifestyle movie in the making. Sony Pictures is polling the public about coming out and living gay. Here's the clip.

Whatever your views are on gay marriage, you have to admit that this is a story arena that has only begun to be explored. It's fertile ground for development.

Austin Art Institute

2011-01-25T10:28:00.000-08:00

A professor of humanities fine arts has invited me to speak at one of his classes at the Austin Art Institute this Thursday morning. He read my book SCRIPT over the holidays and it addresses many areas he's actively involved in teaching. The topic of my Thursday talk will be on pitching and the forms pitches take in the Hollywood environment. Should be fun.

I'll also be guest teaching at A.C.C. in the next couple of weeks on the subject of writing for film and television in general. These are likely to take the form of a Q&A between myself and groups of developing screenwriters in Austin. There's a huge amount of talent here and some 150 colleges and universities in the area. No kidding.

Meanwhile, the Oscar Nominations were announced today. Much buzz on every available news outlet. I generally defer to the coverage on Deadline Hollywood. Columnist Pete Hammond makes sense of the nominations. Click here for the complete list. This year's Oscars air February 27, 2011. The Academy is also now accepting applications for the 38th Student Academy Awards. Go here to get an application. Deadline for entry is April 1, 2011. Good luck!

Reading Habits Revisited

2011-01-22T17:28:00.000-08:00

I finally read The Aphorisms of Patanjali (Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood) last weekend and was astounded at its depth and directness. Not that it had depth or directness but that it was accessible to my western way of thinking. It wasn't the hard read some part of me feared at all. Today I read R.K. Narayan's narration of a shortened, prose version of The Ramayana. What a delight - even as only an overview of the epic. Come for the literature. Stay for the world class storytelling.

Here in the United States I'm betting a lot of people haven't read The Ramayana. More have most likely read Patanjali because it's yoga. Whatever the case, you're in for a treat. I'm sure Narayan's text played a big part in the pure pleasure of my read. Also, while roaming the aisles of Half Price Books another abbreviated treasure popped out by Prabhavananda/Isherwood. This one, a translation of the Bhagavad-Gita - The Song of God. Had to go for that. I have never read that before either. Heavens. Aldous Huxley wrote the introduction and sets up a comparative literature framework, which appeals to the analyst in me. So that's what's on for tomorrow.

The only thing really missing from this grouping is Peter Brooks' film version of The Mahabharata. It was so long I never sat through the whole 9 hour version. Parabola's video library has a 3hour edited version. I found a six-hour version at the local library this afternoon.

Just before leaving Half-Price books, a dusty cloth covered copy of Margaret Mead's Coming of Age in Samoa found it's way into my basket. I plucked it out, put it back with an apologetic glance and made a mental note for the next wave of reading/research.

Afterthoughts: A few days ago I asked my brother how his experience was of rereading the Bible (which he is doing at my father's request). Here's what I came away with - our conversation was cut short as he had previous appointments:

- He had gone straight to the New Testament (my birth family is Christian). The gospels, in fact. I find that rather surprising, seeing as how Christianity is based on the Old Testament, Jesus was a Jew and some of the best stories transpire in it. But then, he had already studied it long and hard in college and for years afterward.

- He was also experiencing a lot of negativity from his own mind. Wishing to honor my father, but not wishing to read. My brother is a seeker who does not ascribe to any religion. He lives by a moral, ethical code but believes only in the scientific.

As I made the call and was attempting to interview him - I asked him if he thought of reading it as literature. He had just come to that conclusion. So that's perfect.

There's a great little book by Northrup Frye called The Educated Imagination. In it Frye argues for a foundation in the classics, especially the scriptures of all nations, and he does so without religion. Here are a few salient quotes from Educated Imagination.

"The myths and images of literature ... enter into and give form to all the structures we build out of words."

"A great work of literature is ... a place in which the whole cultural history of the nation that produced it comes into focus."

"The poet's job is not to tell you what happened, but what happens: not what did take place, but the kind of thing that always takes place."

"The end of literary teaching is not simply the admiration of literature; it's ... more like the transfer of imaginative energy from literature to the student."

Morning Meditation

2011-01-20T09:49:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: February 14, 2011 - People are calling in from all over the world to participate in this "conference call" fire lab. The call in number changed today to accommodate more people. The pooja and fire lab begin at 6:45 am PST in February. Here's the new call-in number (760) 569-7676 access code 157550. Namaste.

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There's a quantum leap between meditating alone and with a group. I guess most people feel that. But still. Holy smokes! This morning I participated in a group meditation via conference call. Chants were sung. Prayers were read. I was imagining, as often as I could, the fire ritual in holographic form.

Yes, dad. A fire ritual. I promise not to astral travel. At least not yet. But what an energizing, joyful way to start the day. I put together the dough for homemade bread in record time. It was like having an extra set of arms.

File this as elevated social networking. More evolved than Facebook. Sorry Mark Zuckerberg. Of course the scene wouldn't be complete without Kira channeling Simon's Cat in the middle of the whole thing. Nothing like having an erratic fur ball leaping and tumbling through your morning meditation.

Today I'm giving myself the writing exercise of isolating characters and story elements like plot, location, structure and theme as totally individual entities. Maybe this will help crystallize them. The human/animal relationship is central to this particular piece.

Some random thoughts about doing a book of recipes from the jungle too. I've been collecting and refining them forever. My homemade white bread is, in fact, the official bread of a private school in France. Isn't that cool?

Definitely recommend a morning fire ritual. If you're open to raising your own vibration and that of the planet Check this out. The Pillai Center in San Diego is offering this FREE for the remainder of January and throughout February 2011. It lasts about 50 minutes from start to finish.