Reality Bussiness Shows Are... Hmmm

OK this new phenomenon, well, relatively new phenomenon has been interesting to watch. What I mean by reality business shows are when "experts" in a field come to a failing business and "turn it around"

Some prime examples include -- Tabatha's Salon Takeover, Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, Mary Queen of Shops -- yes, I admit I'm taken in. I'm interested in what is happening in failing businesses. And these industries (salon, food, and retail) are fascinating, because they are so dominated by marketing and truly connecting with customers, in a very raw and in-your-face way.

But what's fascinating is the ugly way that these experts try to "help" these failing establishments. I'm here to help -- but first.. YOU SUCK!!! YOU ARE TOTALLY INCOMPETENT!!! I wonder if there was some sort of psychological study done before starting these shows. Break down the owner's psyche before building them back up.

What also impresses me is how completely DIRTY these businesses are. I don't know if they look for that, because of the visual aspects of the medium or if it's just really common that if your business is failing, one of the first corners you cut is proper cleaning and hygiene or maybe just a loss of things in the sense of the basics.

It also amazes me that folks with so little experience or capability are able to get loans for these sorts of businesses. I mean, what sort of business plan were they able to present to a loan officer if they don't even know the basics. Maybe it's just so alluring to have this sort of business that bankers just want to invest.

But what's really struck me is how these shows have managed to get meaner and meaner to the business owners. It must be a part of the appeal to the viewers to feel that others are incompetent and that you (the viewer) understand something so basic that the business owner didn't get... They must deserve to be denigrated by the expert that's dressing them down on national TV. Actually International TV...

The Ironies of Returning to Work

What can I say, I made the choice to return from nearly a week on the west coast at nearly 11pm. And, had to get up early today. Of course I was tired all day.

Now, contributing factors include:

1. staying up even later to finish the book I was reading
2. not sleeping on the plane (I was reading a good book)
3. not drinking enough water
4. walking, walking, walking in San Francisco and not getting enough sleep
5. A rough week of sleep made even tougher by the Westin bed -- not comfy
6. insisting on exploring the city until the last possible minutes, rather than relaxing before a day of travel.

So, some personal culpability on the fatigue. As I look around I can see that this is a standard for many colleagues. So, why do we regularly schedule the hell out of our first day back?! We do it to our selves don't we. Anticipate that we'll be hyper productive after a vacation, when all were really doing is wishing we were still on vacation, and totally out of synch with productivity.

Let me know if you have a theory or any observations on how this works for you.

Running Every Minute of It

I have finally gotten back to running. Well, I've been running and walking a fair bit lately, except the last couple of weeks. And then today was so nice I had to step out, and got to use my new toy - a GPS watch that tells you your pace and your distance. That, plus a new sound track had me running an extra quarter mile, compared to my last runs on the trail.

Now that I'm juicing, I'm hoping that my energy and recovery periods will improve. I'll keep you posted. and, let me know if you have any juicing suggestions. I have tried the Kale and Beet juice and I have to admit, it's pretty gut wrenching. It really reminds me of wheat grass. That intense green and slightly poisonous taste. I guess at some point it gets refreshing or energizing, but for now, it's just nasty.

On other fronts, who needs to be told to go to a doctor if you have an erection that lasts more than four hours... seriously, I think maybe a call to the doctor might be in order after a mere hour long erection. I gotta stop paying so much attention to commercials, they are too distracting.

So you think you can Blog

I'm watching yet another reality-esque show, called, So you think you can dance.
It's a fun show and they work pretty hard to be real in their critiques as well as nice about it. The Simon Cowell type judge is actually just tough in my opinion, not freakishly inconsiderate.

And I began to wonder, what would it take to start a reality game called "so you think you can blog." I'm not sure it would really have good production values as, you'd have to find a way to make writing exciting. However, as a passive game, to watch and read might be interesting.

It would pre-suppose that there is such as thing as "good" blogging and that some blogs are better than others. In the same sense that we have awards for books being especially good in some category, this would be the Man Booker Award for blogs. I'm not sure what the application process would looks like, and I'm not sure that there would be a very interesting "worst of" set of blogs. Mostly I've found that blogs that are not great, are simply not great.

I can see it now, film of writer's block and all the crazy things writers do to have something interesting and new to report about their lives... It might work...

On other fronts, in my lowbrow, despicable quadrant, Hulu has a new rumor that they will start to require payment for at least some content in 2010. I'm completely bummed. I'd rather get it on netfilx... sorry hulu, but this is what my xbox elite is for.

Perhaps, I'm just greedy. I mean are we just so certain that everything should be free on-line? Maybe it's for the best, but I wish that they'd admitted that was the plan from the beginning. But that might have scared people off from trying the site, so I guess they did the right thing for the product.

Eating for Tu-mors

OK, so I've recently found out that I'm eating for two. but WAIT... before you break out cigars or champagne, or cards and oneseys... I'm eating for two and one of us is a Tumor.

Fortunately, not cancer, just a tumor. And extra piece of something in my body that just want to hang out, horde my blood, and grow. Eventually we will have a space issue. So this can't be a permanent arrangement, but for now I think I'll call it Hester. It just feels right.

I have to confess, it's not really that recent that I found out. I've had a couple of months to develop a proper sense of humor about it -- believe me, it did take a little bit of spin to get there, but here I am! And, it's strange to be here, in the midst of the minor tragedies common to adulthood, things suddenly got sort of major... and now it's back to relatively minor.


The second opinion, IS on the horizon.



Well, I'm actually avoiding the second opinion, but not without hope. I'm hoping to reduce the difficulty of the next operation by getting fit. The hope is that by getting healthier, if another operation is needed, I'll recover faster and more comfortably.


I'm almost ready... rather, we're almost ready.

The Cultural Anthropology of Catalogs

I am looking through my mail and realizing that I have become a target of catalogs. Catalogs for clothing. New ones seem to come on a regular basis and I... I read them. I love the experience of discovering a new perspective in fashion, a new attitude, portrayed through clothing.

And as I settle in and imagine the person I could be, if only I had these clothes, I begin to wonder. Mostly I wonder about quality. Is this great quality clothing? or great quality photography? It's a tough call. So the first order from a new catalogue needs to be conservative. No matter how excited you may be about the order, attitude, color, whatever, the discipline needs to be there to keep from overindulging in what may prove to be a bad investment.

Sometimes it is hard to resist.

But what does it mean to have this catalogue relationship? How can I assess when catalogues move from being a convenience to being an obsession? Is there a number of catalogues that indicate that I have crossed a line?

ANgry in the AM

Well, I think it's a good metric, that when the world's largest dance mob can't cheer you up, you're in trouble and probably should go back to bed. Check this out... even in my sour mood I had to watch it three times before I left for work this morning.

By my first meeting I was full of joy, and dance mob goodness. I mean really, if over 2o thousand people can get it together that well, I can get something done at work.

Sangria is coming Sangria is coming

That's right folks - Sangria night is right around the corner. After months of the staid and safe "wine tastings" at my place I thought why not flip the switch. So, now all the cool kids are coming out of the wood work and the steady winos are pulling up stakes and skipping the month.

I asked everyone to either bring sangria or a tapa. And everyone except one decided on Tapas! Well. I have been to the mountain and the mountain has Sangria Recipes. And I have chosen... we'll find out tomorrow if I have chosen wisely.

By way of preview the Sangria's of choice are.

1. Sparkling Sangria, basically a Bellini with booze marinated fruit.
2. Strawberry Rose Sangria, think of every Strawberry flavored product you could put in a drink (including strawberries) and add a strawberry flavored Rose wine and well, that's Rose Strawberry Sangria
3. Hottie Sangria. no this is not wishful thinking. thus stuff actually has a jalapeno in it! And then the usual suspects.
4. All In Sangria, I have made up the name because I put in everything I had left after making the other sangria and not finding all the ingredients for the other two recipes I wanted to make.

After making these four Sangrias I have the following advice...

1. It's probably better to have a recipe when you don't know what you're doing.
2. Don't cut up the Jalapeno on the same cutting board as the other fruit.
3. Don't cut up the Jalapeno first.
4. Don't cut up the Jalapeno and then touch your eye, mouth or any other body part with out washing your hands twice.
5. Recipes are really quite a good idea.

On other fronts, Cardio Dance has grown a new head and it is Latino. Yes folks, I have succumbed to Zumba. That spazy, Latin-inspired cardio class with lots of yelling and gyrating. Me likey!

It does it to me every time...

OK. I came home. hungry and a little irritable. And I turned on HBO. What was playing... E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. First off, I have to say that this movie is genius and enduring. I know what's coming and yet I cry like a baby. every time. AND, this movie is appealing on so many levels. It's a buddy movie, a prison break movie, a tragic love story and depending on my mood it can strike me at multiple levels. Genius. The only thing that distracts me now is the similarities between the E.T. sound track and the sound track to Star Wars... Check it out some time. It is almost disorienting. I half expect Han Solo to pop up from behind E.T. with a light saber... E.T. I am your Father.

A little chanel surfing after the movie and I run across. 36 hour Cialis or Cialis for Daily use... uhhh... why not Cialis for every 36 hour use... I love how drug companies tweek formulas so they can get another patent or what not. There have been cases where the drug company changed the coating on a pill and get a new patent -- fascinating. More later.

Purgatorial Meanderings

Last week wasn't Hell. I'll just start with that. However, it was a kind of Purgatory. Day after day of being tested and antagonized, with no real torture, just general misery and angsty elements poking me in the eye with a stick.

On other fronts, I had my first 25 minute jog. I ran with a friend who is training for a marathon and ran 16 miles earlier that day. So he came along to keep me company and encourage. After a five minute walking warm up the running began. I almost had to laugh, because my laughably slow pace resulted in my fellow jogger bounding to keep from walking. This was sort of funny, except that I was full-on jogging...

After the run, we had a look at some statistics. I don't have any bells and whistles for running, but he does. So we had splits and times and all kinds of data to look at. And, what I found out was that my starting pace was a stultifying 14.30 minute mile and I finished close to a 10 minute mile. So from pathetic to presentable in 25 minutes.... not so bad. And I did actually keep the jogging pretense up for the whole time.

After that we went shopping for proper running shoes at one of those stores that video tapes your run before suggesting shoes to try. I found out I have a fairly neutral gait, and that there are shoes that make barney look less purple. Yes I got some extremely purple shoes. with bright yellow nike chevrons. I'm ready for my next run.

I AM up to three work outs a week. But, one of these work outs is a cardio-dance class rather than a run. I like the opportunity to mix it up and shake my booty. And this is an improvement. Also, it's an hour long class. So I'm increasing my work outs to three and adding a half hour. So that's probably a move in the right direction.... I'm just not up to having four workouts a week yet, but I'll get there.... More on purgatory's next time....

Mortal Enemies, and Other Reasons not to Swim in the Ocean

I'm watching the Discovery channel and not feeling quite so mush brained. But, I'm fascinated that they are willing to call the sperm whale the mortal enemy of the giant squid. when no one has ever seen a giant squid in person. But I guess that's the thing with theories. you get to espouse them until someone proves them wrong. Squid attract whales. And then whales wander around with squid in their mouths. And then caught sperm whales have giant squids in their bellies... OK I guess it's not just a theory.

This confuses me... I thought whales ate brill. and teeny things -- the great irony of the sea. well, Brill and giant squid. I think I should be more fearful of whales than I previously suspected. And what about Dolphins. I'm staying away from the sea.

Giant Squids, by the way, eat their 'cousins' cuttle fish. kinda creepy. I wouldn't eat my cousin, unless I was stranded in the Andes.

This weekend went from sleepy to active in the last couple of days. I keep agreeing to do stuff...
Now I'm running tomorrow am. then off to my french toast ritual. And then going to the local farmer's market. and on to furniture shopping in a local store that's going out of business. But the afternoon will be free. And, then on Sunday I'm off to the Antiques Market in a neighboring town.

Run on Saturday... Back to intervals, I'll let you know how it goes.

2nd Base

No this is not the beginning of a big romance. I finally showed up for a softball game, and played second base. I am still not comprehensively fit -- this is apparent in the very slow beginning to my sprint... uh run...ish - to first base. And I really should have stretched a bit before I started jumping around like that.

I also have to give notice that I will have a very interesting bruise on my shin tomorrow, because sometimes, just "getting in front of the ball" isn't enough. it has to hit you before it will stop.

After this Softball "experience" I've decided that it is highly unlikely that I will run/jog anything tomorrow. I think it's time for an extra day, to end the week. And on Friday or Saturday I'll jump back into the program -- Week 6 Here I Come

Afterward we went to Taste of Peoria. A mini version of Taste of Chicago on a Wednesday night.
I have no idea why this event is on a Wednesday. It's not like there's a crime issue in Peoria. It was, nonetheless, very well attended. Go Central Illinois!

This Sunday I'm going antiquing. It's been quite an adventure learning how people in semi-rural/semi-urban locations fill their time. It's different, and - in many ways - horizon expanding.
I'll let you know how the antique fair goes...

A BUG flew into my Mouth...

And other things I think while running.

Another bug in my mouth. geesh. Do I need to take off my makeup before I go running.
Bug... is that carb or protein... I think it's protein, mostly.

What was that?! oh, a bunny. that's not scary. I'm just running through the woods on purpose. And, I'm pretty sure I can't run any faster. So I hope it's a bunny.

The butterflies are pretty. That's a butterfly right? or is that a dragonfly? It's moving to quickly to tell.

Is my left leg moving differently than my right?

this is hard.

I have to keep going.

I made it 18 minutes, how much longer do I have to go. I'm not sure I can do it. I have to do it. 1 minute and 15 seconds. I can do that.... am I going up hill? will it still count if I turn around and go down hill for the last minute.... ahhhhh flat straightaway. I like that....

done!

Really I did it.
I ran for 20 minutes in a row! I didn't think I could do that. And, I did it! I really did. I didn't run a ten-minute mile pace, but I could tell that I was running a lot faster and more strongly at the end than at the beginning. And I clearly lost about five pounds of sweat on the way. hopefully some of it becomes really gone. I also am not as hungry when I'm doing this more regularly.

I didn't run as hard as I might have, because I really wasn't sure about running for 20 minutes straight, so I was holding back a little. And I think it was about right. But this makes me more confident to run faster when I go back to intervals on my next run. I'm going down to 18 minutes total with two three minute walks. I will try to go a little faster.

I'm also officially in the second half of the running program. This is very cool. I'm really glad this run was so long. It really makes me feel like I can do it all!

Tomorrow I play softball. I think that will be a good thing and fun and active.

Hopping Down the Bunny Trail

So, I have reached the fifth week of the nine week running program. It's exciting to be on the cusp of the second half of the program. This time as I ran down the "big hill" I realized that I really could open up and run down hill pretty quickly. And just when I got to the bottom of the hill, I had to turn around. And, then I realized that I needed to run BACK UP THE HILL. This is terrible. After the big expansive steps running down hill, I became a shuffler, with my head down. Then when I looked up, down the hill came a co-worker who is training for an iron man. Yes -- an honest to God Iron Man race. And I have no doubt he'll do it. I, on the other hand, am only hoping to be able to do a three mile run. So I shuffled up as he waved and ran by like a gazelle. fabulous.

On other fronts, I think the habit is starting to form. I remember, the days. In my twenties. when I used to work out a LOT. and was clearly Addicted to working out. I had certain responses to working out. I'm starting to have sense memories of those days. It's actually kind of exciting to think that that level of fitness is not Completely out of reach. is it?

Then I looked at the next run of my program. I run for EIGHT MINUTES IN A ROW... TWICE.... it's crazy. This is from a program that hasn't had me run more than five minutes at a time. So I have some concerns about my ability to rise to the challenge, but I think that at long as I keep myself in check I will make it through the whole time frame.

One potato, Two Potato, Couch Potato More...

First off, how is it that Bravo now has a cooking show where viewers call in with a score. Has smell-o-vision become a reality? I gotta get me some of that! And, what's the deal with reality TV in general. Everyone is getting so nice and helpful... that's just wrong.

On other fronts, my running program has been progressing again. I'm on the back end of my fourth week on the nine week program. That's kind of really when we're getting to half running and half walking. Until now it's been more walking than running. Does this mean I am now officially a runner?

The big change is that week four began last week and began with my first outdoor run -- off treadmill. It was a great run. You'll note that I mention that week four started last week and I'm just past the middle a week later... So a little off schedule...

Then I traveled and got distracted with the end of my vacation. I had a delay, a break, got a little off track... And then on Tuesday, I decided that I would start running again, on the treadmill. But I was hungry, so I had a little dinner first. About half way through the first run segment I started feeling bad. And a minute into my second running segment, I was in a world of HURT. And I made the executive decision. Stop running, this sucks! I was about to faint/puke/keel over/ other wise express some sort of bodily rebellion. And I walked/cooled down to get to about 15 minutes of activity, but it clearly was not a full run. So I'd need to make it up. I was surprised, because I have a history of being very resilient to food effects during exercise. I think I'm getting old...

So Tonight, I decided to try again. Once again, I was too hungry to run without eating. So I got a hamburger. I'm not always that bright. I had some issues, and regretted the heavy food. But, it was easy to keep it within my capabilities, since I was on the road, not a treadmill. In the end, the run was good and I was really proud to have done it. I've still got a way to go, but I'm getting there and that's cool.

I'm officially a convert -- see you on the road.

Revenge of the Spiders and Bugs and Bees Oh My!

So I'm back from my semi-hiatus/vacation. I spent time in Chicago, the suburbs, and The Bluffs of Minnesota. where there was a lot less access to the Internet than I expected. so... I wrote long hand. I am NOT going to be so industrious as to transcribe all of the stuff I wrote. I doubt anyone expected that.

I also have a long draft, e-mail that I could send over to catch up. But I'm not feeling it all these days later. I WILL, however, post a review of my Hotel in Chicago. OK, not great.

I was in Chicago as a tourist, with a friend. In the suburbs for a high-school class reunion. And went to Minnesota to a family reunion.

While in the wilds of southeastern Minnesota, I was out with a bunch of my family members, communing with nature, singing and generally hanging with the more Hippie branch of my peeps. When a force of the world found me and decided that singing was not something I should be doing. It sounds highly unlikely, but I WAS, in fact, stung/bitten/pinched on the inside of my lower lip. At first I was stunned and jumping around like a crazy person. Then I decided it was my cue to mellow out on the song part of the afternoon. Later I had a pretty serious, self-guided, anxiety experience. I'm used to cuts and things inside of my mouth healing very quickly. When the bite/sting/pinch wasn't getting better over several days, which included several doses of Benadryl, I was sure that I had been bitten by a brown spider and would permanently have a hole in my lip. I would never be able to use any topical creams on it, because you can't eat the strong stuff. And I'd never kiss anyone ever again... I'm such a drama queen once I get worked up.

Long story short. it got pretty swollen, I accidentally bit most of it off (gross I know) and the next day it pretty much healed itself.

Back in the Saddle Again.

I went to the theater today... FINALLY. I have been out of the movie theater for almost two weeks. That's two weeks too long. It felt good to settle into the stadium seating, open up the burger I sneaked in, and lean back in a nearly empty theater. Listen to the excessively loud warning to turn off cell phones, and wonder if my phone is on vibrate-- do I need to dig it out of my bag? Will anyone hear it if it goes off?

Then I settled in for the new Transformer's movie. I had heard it called an art film by other bloggers and have to say that I understood the perspective. It is indulgent in the story line and a very "Hollywood" ending. With a sub-title like revenge of the fallen, I was foolishly expecting a revenge. This is a bit like the deception of log lines or trailers, you can taunt the viewer with any sort of expectation, but after they have paid to sit in the seat, all bets are off. It's too bad, I was expecting a real down swing for a doubly triumphant third movie, and instead they read like a Saturday Morning Cartoon... I guess they had proper inspiration to go that way... Perhaps, like Saturday Morning Cartoons the iterations will be endless, predictable and full of action. I mean sequels!

So I am nearing the end of the biography. I have actually run out of back story and am getting to screen story. This is good. it actually has produced an interesting "prequel" of sorts. I really feel like I have motivated and fleshed out characters so far. However, I need to write another biography. That of the son. While the father and son are close. I think I should write the story of their lives together from each perspective so that I can walk away with a clear sense of prespective and purpose.

What's interesting is that my hero son keeps getting overshadowed by the story of his father. I guess that this is because I'm writing the father's story first. I didn't want the father as the main character, and yet here he is, in the middle of the story's guts. I suspect, though that I had to write the father's story first - because it builds to the sons story. So once I finish with the father's story then I need to get the son's down and probably the girl friday's story as well.

The Proof is in the Putting

The interesting thing about actually trying to be disciplined in developing a screen play is that you don't really get away with BS-ing yourself. It's amazing how much I gloss over in the log line, the pitch, the outline, the treatment the summary. I can't get away with the gloss over in the biography of the character. And I realized as I had another stuck in a story moment this evening, that this kind of exercise is exactly what left me floundering to start writing my first script. There was so much I hadn't decided about my characters, that finding the right experiences and decisions seemed impossible. Because they could be like this person or like that person. But now, creating the bio of my main character's father, I'm already seeing that it has to be one story all the way through.

So my response to that short coming was to write a story that didn't dwell on the characters but rather focused on the action. And this was the weakness of that script - as I re-read it and think about editing and changes, additions to the story line. It becomes clear because I'm taking more time to think about the story before the camera's showed up and I wrote FADE IN.

In other news, I am now certain that comedy is not the way to go to be in the top grossing movies. it's the age old conundrum that most people have the same fears and hang ups and worries, but not everybody is going to laugh at the same things.

So it's not surprising that the top movies of all time *adjusted dollars include such master works as Jaws and The Exorcist. (I mean pretty much everyone is afraid of sharks and green pea soup!) You have to get to the 30th film before you get a comedy - Shrek 2 if you can believe it. A case of the sequel surpassing the original. And even then I don't really consider Shrek a comedy as much as a family comedy. If you will indulge my particular slant that family comedies don't count in the same way because they get the "kid bump" Take your kids to see a movie and you don't want to pull out your hair... go twice...

Then you have to get to number 39 and "Beverly Hills Cop" for the first true comedy. Ahh Eddie Murphy, how the mighty have fallen.. though I must admit I did go see "Imagine That" It was cute. But, it's a good thing movies are cheap around here or I would have complained.

Employment and Work: Money and Art

I have long been a regular Joe in corporate America. But I've also long been working on writing. I wonder how much I give myself by having this other job, and how much I lose. I definitely lose momentum, when I have it, and then need to move on to go get paid. How to professional writers do it? marry well? suffer for their art? just keep trying like me?

Well the book I've been working with, with this script has helped me see how my previous writing process was comprehensive, but could be improved. As I look at other movies, I've seen where the basics proposed in this book, could have improved a mediocre movie, and how it could improve scripts I have already written. Don't get me wrong, this isn't the first class or book... I've read quite a few, but hadn't read a screenwriting book for some time, and it is re-orienting me to the craft.

What I'm realizing is that most screen writing groups focus on the process of writing a script and sharing it. But not on how you think about developing a script, and improving it before you put pen to paper.  So, I have and continue to delay in writing the new script. However, I have proceeded with exercises that have opened my eyes as to decisions that need to be made and interactions and complexities that I would have needed to untangle if I had just started writing.  

I believe that I have moved from the quick moving education to the slow moving education.  That is, the first 20 percent of what you learn covers 80 percent of the challenge. It's committing to the next bit that I believe will differentiate the dilettante/hobbyist from the professional.  

Songs in the Key of F9

Ok, I just got an apple, an iMac to be precise, and there are some learning pains. The function keys aren't quite in the "right" place and the functions aren't always quite what I expect. What I do expect is that since I have an iPod and iPhone, that all of these things will work together. That will be cool, right?  Now they have a special service you need to buy called mobile me to get these things to "really" work in harmony.  The sales pitch is something like, " Well you can get these things to talk to each other, but it's soooo much easier if you get mobile me." This is the part where I think something like. Didn't I just buy these (let's face it) high priced items so they would talk to each other and have high usability and stuff? Why are you gouging me so they can perform "optimally" after I've purchased your brand over and over again.... Ahhhh there in lies the marketing attraction...

I can see them now, looking at how to make more money in the down economy.

INT. APPLE BOARD ROOM -- DAY

A modern room with Apple logo. Has massive conference table with a suit in every chair. MARKETER #1 leans forward conspiratorially

MARKETER #1

Well, they've already spent thousands of dollars on an iPhone, iPod, and iMac. Significantly cheaper alternatives exist, that have been avoided. This is a consumer that WANTS to give us money.

Am I right or am I right...

Heads nod around the table

MARKETER #2 

You know what, I think he's right.  let's ask for $99. our consumers will try anything for $99.

OK, I have to be honest. I did NOT buy the mobile me stuff. But I might use AMEX points to do it... I'll keep you posted.

Research and Reality

As I begin to research my science topics in earnest, I am presented with a question. Do I follow the fiction created by other sci-fi writers, or update to current scientific terminology.  The truth that's been revealed is that the lexicon of literature and the lexicon of reality are two different things.  I suspect that the trade off, is using the more up-to-date language will leave an air of reality to the fiction, while using the old language would make for easy short hand.

Research has been a more interesting and engaging phase than I had originally predicted. I am starting to work my way through a number of exercises espoused by Syd Fields and finding them very useful. In fact, I can see now in movies where certain exercises were not engaged.  I'll pick on a current release - The Proposal.  This was not a bad movie. I enjoyed. However, it was apparent to me that the final film did not have the influence of a fully fleshed out biography for the male assistant, Andrew Paxton.  We see his childhood home and there isn't a single book in it. He never offers any explanation as to why he wants to be an editor. All the while his father is angry that he's not following in his foot steps.  These are oversights that would have flowed effortlessly from the script and into the story had he had a fully developed back story.

It wasn't until I made this ever so clever observation about this movie that I bought into the need for a bio/backstory for characters.  So... In for a dime in for a dollar. I started with the main character's father and I'm moving from there.

A Week Later...

So I am about to finish the first of nine weeks of a "running program". It's actually quite popular and called, Couch Potato to 5K. This is a way to get from basic walking endurance to jogging for 30 minutes and finishing 3 miles. Who am I kidding, that's a 10 minute mile - that's running. 

I'm actually starting this program for the second time, as the first try was stalled out by life. It takes a few tries to create new habits and make healthy choices in reality. If only it were as easy as in the movies - you have a momentous week and suddenly you are a different person. This is more about seeing a goal and breaking it out into reasonable, achievable changes and inching forward...  And so I inch along... Hopefully at 10 minutes a mile... eventually...

Even though it's a lot of walking, the first week is just over 2 miles in 31 minutes. That's not too bad is it -- just about a 15 minute mile. A little extra effort would put me over the top -- shall I take that as a challenge?

As I develop the arc of various characters, I have become more keenly aware of the strange reality of movies. That change is trusted as permanent the power of the suspension of disbelief. Or maybe the joy of the suspension of disbelief. But that suspension yields a powerful opportunity to go on a journey and believe in change. I think that is one of the exciting things about what characters do in movies and even theater. And how the audience interacts with that character on their journey.

 

Michael versus Farrah

I don't really want to blog about Michael and Farrah, except to acknowledge they are gone.

They represent archetypes of my youth and left their imprint on the whole of my consciousness.

Ignoring the rancid drama of recent years, the success of each of these phenomenons is indisputable.

Syntax and Sin Tax

OK, I'm not sure what's happening but I've been drinking on a regular basis. This is really nothing to get startled about because I have been drinking a half a bottle of beer at a time. It's just wasteful. Don't you think? It doesn't help with writing, but it does go well with certain foods, like tacos on the back deck.

I have had an interesting evolution since being out of the office for a couple weeks due to a minor surgery. I have rested, achieved a certain kind of perspective, and mellowed out. I think I called it a passive optimism. This is good. Ultimately, I'm more focused on feeling good lately which has led to my partial beer drinking and other things that actually are good for me... like eating more fruit, hydrating, and "working out" (please take note of the quotation marks, these are air quotes, interpret as you will)

As I consider the hero(es) of my next script, it has become obvious that I haven't been sure if the hero is all hero all the time, or a reluctant hero. And I think that, finally, I have come to the conclusion that I have one of each. It won't manifest as anything like it, but consider the dynamic between Luke Skywalker and Han Solo.  

Luke: "I'm all hero all the time, just get me off this planet."  

Han Solo: "Who me? A hero? Just give me the money, alright?" 

In this case it is looking like father and son, or maybe boy and girl. I don't think it will play as interestingly if they are both reluctant heroes. There is less to play off of.  I might even add to that dynamic... Obiwan Kenobi: Failed Heroic Archetype - a Hero's Hero if you will.

No, I'm not sure that's how you spell kenobi.

Now I must digress into the need for research in a scifi script. I have to admit that it's fun to make things up in the wholly creative way that is allowed in scifi. However, you have to be careful to make things up that show you understand the current scientific thinking on the topic or you get called wrong by scientists. I know this because my parents are all scientists -- all three (gotta love a blended family). 

And, the science has to make sense - I know this because I have sat in more than one theater in which fellow viewers blurt out their incredulity at the inconsistent turn the science has taken. That is to say that it needs to be cohesive unto itself  within the work and a construct out of science as we know and expect it in the future. 

If you are making a bigger leap than that, it needs extensive support and explanation. I think this is why so many scifi works start with an extensive voice over and/or text to get the fiction straight in the heads of the viewers. 

I have been watching my scifi marathon and I still don't have a conclusion on the voice over or not to voice over conundrum, but a decision is coming soon...  watch this space... closely...

Why I didn't write today and other procrastinations

I didn't write today. Well, I'm writing right now, but it's the shallow, perfunctory kind of writing. I am going to list all of the things I have been meaning to do but haven't because this seems to be a new skill of mine. I have had kind of a downer week, mostly because the people I depend on to be even keel have been falling apart. So let's try this exercise in a fit of over zealous reverse psychology. "Things I have been meaning to do"

1. Get out of bed the first time the alarm rings, rather than after several snoozes lasting an hour more, at some point, I'm just torturing myself and should just get another hour of good sleep (written after midnight on a school night)
2. Take a flying lesson. I did give myself the whole month to get this done, but I'm just not on the path. I have excuses, but I'm not here to write excuses, I'm here to make a list.
3. Write the summary, one-pager of my next screen play. I have distracted myself with all sorts of things, but mostly I need to decide how this bad boy is going to end, before I start writing -- and I am truly itching to write.
4. Buy a desk and chair. I even know what I want to buy, but somehow feel uncertain in these economic times, and right after buying a bunch of crap last month.
5. Stop buying crap. I know that doesn't exactly flow with the others, but it is something I have been meaning to do... but haven't.
6. Find a class associated with film making to take. Get perspectives on Super 8, 16MM and digital. What is the deal? Something like that. I found some interesting work shops in Toronto, and if I weren't forced to take all my vacation this summer, I would do it this year. Besides, it's been way too long since I've been to Canada.
7. Re-sign up for eHarmony. I know this sounds off, but I've got to start dating again, and I live in a somewhat isolated community.\
8. Move to NYC or LA or possibly DC. I don't think I need to explain this one...
9. Start a company
10. Learn to program C or another object based program...This I can do at the local community college. easy peasy...
11. Find out how to start a non-profit.
12. shorten my list of things I haven't done.

So, there it is. My list of things. Things I think would be really good for me. Now to start getting these things done! I'll keep you posted.

Return to the Path

I ventured away from the path this week. This is the promise that I write everyday, either in my blog or working on something. Instead I slept, and watched parts of my movie list, and updated netflix. I came very close to cleaning the refrigerator, when I decided to sit down and write this stream of consciousness.

As I was wandering the earth like Cane from Kungfu, I stumbled across a most excellent examination of sci fi. This was by Vanda at Toadberry. S/he makes connections between scifi and westerns, film noir and comparisons among scifi films that are helpful when thinking of a scifi film. It's made me realize that I hadn't decided if this was a film set in a bright shiny future or a dark and deceptive future - or both, with clear use of this distinction. It's a well written bit of thought on the matter.

Now I return to writing and it perpetuates itself. Truly, it makes me want to write more once I start. This is like so many other things that are, ultimately, good for me. Just keep writing...

Starting Well - Action or Science

I am sitting up in bed, bleary and getting ready for another day. But am wondering a fundamental question - one that I will have to look at carefully as I review these movies - "Does a successful Sci-fi movie tend to open with an action sequence or science sequence." Ultimately, I'm looking for an idea to combine both in my third stab at an opening sequence This is leading me down a Montage path that I'm not entirely happy about. But it might be right. I've just got to work again on getting further down the path on a couple more plot questions and then start writing writing writing... I'm not quite frustrated yet with my writing, but I'm nearing a point of just having to decide. This isn't terrible, and I think that sitting down with these movies over the weekend with do me no end of good. Let's hope it does just as much for the script.

Does anyone know of a sci-fi film that successfully opens with both science and action?

Mundane Sells the Man

I think that one frequently overlooked element of making characters interesting and real, is looking at the most mundane issues and habits and having them show up in our characters. The hero that's afraid of snakes, or the lawyer with a nervous nose... is this what really sells the individual, their flaws? I suspect that's what really makes them approachable and interesting, and maybe even let's us think we could fill the hero's shoes from time to time (...or heroine).

I am going to cut my post short today, so that I can get back to research and work on my script. The past few days have been really inspirational and I've had some great break throughs. I'm about half way through the story - which is a lot better than I've been for the last year, stuck at the end of the first act. I will keep moving on this and working on how to get to the end... I just need the flash, the picture that will become the final visual and I think it will fall into place a lot more quickly.

The Trouble with Timelines

The trouble with a personal timeline is, that I'm the only one tracking if I'm doing things "on time" or not. So my goal of having a step outline by now is not really gelling. It's not writers block though. I've had a number of interesting breakthroughs that definitely have me working on a story rather than a concept. It's only writers block if I'm cleaning the refridgerator to avoid writing. I'm really enjoying the creative/brainstorming process related to the story. Usually most of the step outline pops into my head fully formed. This, however, has been a really interesting and productive way to get moving without waiting for lighting to strike. I'm starting to see the process of brainstorming all the best moments and bits and then stepping back and stringing them together on note cards. I'm still not sure that will be a step for me when the time comes... I'll keep you posted.

I suspect that one of the greatest natural challenges with sci-fi is finding the story. You think of some really interesting future or fantastic vision and you translate it into a reality. But that's not enough to make it a story and still really far from a script. And it's really hard to get satisfaction when something ubiquitous like the government or the setting is your antagonist. You have to create a story. A true story that benefits from the setting, and makes your characters squirm with misery, ache with challenge, and, usually ring with triumph at some point... But I digress.

I have written half of the three paragraph version of the story. and then had another amazing brainstorming session where I'm struggling because my ending, as it is right now, is really made for TV and just not good enough yet. This is where I need to start watching my viewing list. A Video stop may be in order very soon. No waiting for Netflix... I'm going straight to Hollywood Video this time.

TV Versus Movie Versus Log Line

OK, so I have given you all the list of movies I plan to watch for my sci-fi immersion. However, in the midst of a Star Trek: The Next Generation marathon, I noted the structure of the show was a lot more like a movie than I thought. Is it enough or as good to watch good made for TV movies or just good TV shows to get a sense for the expectations of the genre.

In contrast to some other genres, Sci-fi seems to prefer the small screen over movies. I don't know if it's the audience or the nature of the quality of sci-fi in general, but it seems like most great sci-fi films are notable for something other than the science fiction.

Most recently watch feature film is Happy-go-lucky. This was nominated for a golden globe. I'm not sure why. It is called an effervescent comedy by Netflix. I mean, that's a pretty bold statement to make about a movie, that a mostly found a study in contrasts that makes you think that pretty much everyone in England has anger issues.

Beware the Netflix movie description. Even of movies that have been nominated for a major award like a Golden Globe. It makes me re-think the concept of a log line. Let's face it a log line isn't really about the movie, it's about getting people interested in reading a script or plunking down $10 to see a movie and then (here's the kicker) you don't have to ever really defend that the log line has anything to do with the movie itself.

Triangles and Ensembles

Yesterday, I had a friend in town from the big city and we met a third friend out at a local festival. The three of us had lunch and then walked around the fest and art exhibits. What was interesting to me was the way the triangle worked. Two of us would walk ahead and then one would walk back and then the three of us would converge. In scripted life, it seems that triangles are fairly equal. You never forget that George Costanza is in the room when Jerry and Elaine have a conversation on Seinfeld. However, this joining and parting and rejoining is very interesting to me. I think it offers a lot of passive action that is rarely used in movies and T.V. except possibly soap operas, which I think are a breed unto themselves.

This balance required on T.V. where does it come from? I know there is some balance in threes and fours that helps story along and offers different balance than you can achieve with two people. When it's two people they tend to be more counterbalance and contrary like our main characters on Moonlighting or Remington Steel. Whereas the balance on ensemble shows allows for people to evolve and shift, and still keep a balance and keep it interesting. Think Sex in the City or ensemble shows like ER.

I think there are other issues with respect to balance in a specific scene, relating to the influence of cost. You don't want to have someone in a scene and have them have no real contribution to the plot or story or scene. That's waste and would tend to be edited out in re-writes etc. This all makes me wonder - what other kinds of influences are due to cost, even in this age of $100M movies?

June Restaurant in Peoria, Illinois

June Restaurant is a charming and wonderful spot to eat at if you've got the money. I think dinner for two with five drinks, three courses, dessert, and a big city tip ran about $200. Be ready. The menu is constantly changing and the food as fresh and organic as possible - and it makes a difference. I have to say that the appetizers made the meal on my visit. I really should have requested a meal sized lamb meatball and gnocchi. I suspect they would be happy to accommodate such a request.

The Menu gets a little pretentious, just ask what they really mean by mentholated mint and everything will be fine. But be aware that mostly the extra description is really about flavors in the dish, not big amounts of ingredients. For example, the English Peas in my dish, there were maybe ten peas. It's about what it added to the dish, not a true side.

I must warn you though, that if you are a steak lover - go to a steakhouse! Come to June to eat fish and vegetables and duck and other rarities in the Midwestern diet. That's where they excel. And, that's what you should be in the mood for. The courses are small so you can actually enjoy three courses and still have room for dessert... or at least be interested in dessert.

The flour less chocolate cake was phenomenal and you can tell the ice cream must be made from real ingredients in the kitchen. Just delicious.

When being seated there are two rooms that are options. There is the main room, from which you can actually see the kitchen in action. This is fun and you may want to consider the ease of view when selecting a table. There is also, however, a back room with just three tables. This is a great space for a quieter or romantic dinner - or just to be able to speak a little more easily as the music is softer back there.

Overall, this was probably some of the best food I've had in Central Illinois.

Rub It and Then Smell It

Yes, I know, it sounds wrong. Terribly terribly wrong. In point of fact it was a perfectly normal part of conversation over dinner at a very nice restaurant. It was in reference to mint leaves on top of a mojito. It was perfectly OK to touch the mint leaves, crush them between the fingers, smell them appreciatively and then eagerly coo "Oooh rub it and then smell it". It was perfectly OK... in context.

This got me thinking about the dramatic power of context. The strength of action, atmosphere and attitude. As I review the dinner conversation, it was rife with comments that in a different context, might have gotten us thrown out or at least a finger wag from the manager. And yet, there were no comments or looks or anything. Our attitude was one of innocent celebration and that was all that was really seen or heard.

I know that dialogue is a key skill for the screen writer and some shows, e.g. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, set themselves apart with their dialogue quirks. And there are always incredibly quotable lines that you don't want to lose, e.g. Go Ahead Make My Day... However what you remember at the end of the day tend to be images and story. Without this backbone, I wonder, would a quirky dialogue style or fabulous one-liner make its way into our memory? Can anyone think of examples where dialogue or a one-liner overtakes the importance of story telling?

The Vagaries of the Rom Com and Web Series Support

OK, I met a writer from England and stumbled on this abbreviation. "Romcom" for Romantic Comedy. I'm still not sure I like it, but it will probably catch on. Or maybe it's already caught on and I'm just behind the times. I have recently been distracted by an old concept of mine. I'm not sure if it's really ready to be written or just a way for me to procrastinate from writing more of the sci-fi piece I've been working on. I still have a rough outline due this weekend. I think I need to keep this deadline.

I recently received a mass request to help a crew that wanted to make a 10 to 20 episode web series. No Pay. With episodes from 1 to 10 minutes. I've seen these and they tend to feel like series pilots to me, or the cuts are too small and I lose interest.

A great example of this is Stream with Whoopi Goldberg and a couple of other less well known faces. It's available on hulu. This series seems to have good potential to be a regular T.V. series. I'm not enough in the know to know if a web series has ever made the leap to TV - or if you'd even want a web series to do that. It seems like a great compromise between doing a short and something a little longer. Still really just a one beat story, but break it up and challenge each scene to have a really strong hook. These things tend to seem a little overly amped in terms of pace and can get a little gimmicky as a result.

I wonder what the real upside to a writer would be, except that query letters could reference your "amazing" web series. It would be something that had been produced, but it's a little sketchy that they have no budget for a script. This reeks of student project. Or recent grad. Though, in point of fact, if you had a concept that was good enough - you'd own it if someone else got interested.

Can anyone think of a good reason to do something like this for free?

For My Viewing Pleasure

I need to come up with my list of sci-fi films to watch prior to writing this script... The rule of thumb I've hears is 8 good and 2 bad. I was struggling to get a list together and then found the list of the 50 best and worst sci-fi flims by IMDB. So my viewing list is below.

• Blade Runner
• Equilibrium
• Star Wars Episode IV
• Twelve Monkeys
• Terminator 2
• Donnie Darko
• Children of Men
• Matrix
• Serenity

Ok that's more than eight, but I was on a roll.

Two Terrible Films...

• Magus
• Zaat

These really sound bad... I will let you know how bad they truly are.

Today is the Last Day of the Life You've Lived

Well, today is the last day before I go back to work full-time. I've been out on medical leave after some relatively minor surgery. And, I am definitely not fully back to 100%, but I'm going to start working full time tomorrow. I have already been working part-time for a week and that has been a good transition. Yesterday, however, was the first part-time day I had at work - rather than from home. It was hard. I was very tired by the end of the day. But that means I slept pretty well last night.

I finally set up a wine tasting at my house. It's nice to have plan to have people over, get them drunk, and watch what they do -- but we're all friends here. In truth, it will just be nice to have people around. After a few weeks of relative isolation, it's so very nice to think that the house will be full of people. Too bad I have to get all the food together - but that's what high-end deli's are for right?

So many have been fascinated by stories/movies/tv focused on terrorism for the last several years. This has been a long time coming, but I think we are moving away from those stories. We are tired of being afraid. This is exciting and scary for a writer. I've said it often, it's always easiest to write about fear. But this fear fatigue is exciting because I think that escapism will follow. That intense creativity will be appealing to mass audiences. A great atmosphere for movies like Star Trek and Terminator 2. Star Trek is already showing it's ability to appeal to both the die hard sci-fi geek and the mainstream person just looking for a couple hours of entertainment. I hope this is good timing then, for the next script being sci-fi.

I need to finalize a first draft of my step outline this weekend. I think the story is coming together and it's time for a little discipline, deadline, and doing! We'll see how it goes - I do have a wedding I might attend this weekend if I'm not destroyed by working full time. But, that's the deadline so...

The Aviatrix and the Storage Center

Driving through town I realized that I have been more open to unique life activities as of late. I think it's a sign that I'm looking for a story I can understand and embrace.

First, I'm looking into learning to fly a plane. No I'm not going to pitch the next "Wings" TV show. But, it was a strange experience going to a small, regional air field. I talked to a "Mom and Pop" aviation company that taught as well as provided flight services. The "Pop" was half asleep with a chubby and extremely cute baby on his lap. It was so contrary to what I was expecting. I don't think it was the economy - I think it was just a different world. I am looking to schedule my first flight this June.

Second, the storage center. I have long had some fascination with storage lockers. I recently read about storage locker auctions. These auctions have increased in frequency and level of value in recent months. I guess a lot of people store things, but that more and more people are just sort of walking away from their lives. I have been thinking seriously of trying to interview someone who owns or works at a storage center.

The great thing about both of these experiences is how visual and unique they are. I think that many people could be made interested in stories related to these experiences.

The Path to Screenwriting Glory

I have started down the path suggested by an article. Do five scripts to develop your skill sets. Each should be a different genre and starting with horror is probably best. Horror is easiest to start for two reasons. First, Horror movies have the strongest use of formulas. and Second, Most people find the same sorts of things horrific - this is why comedy is so difficult in comparison.

So I started with a horror movie. I didn't really watch horror movies prior to this exercise. I found Bravo's 100 most suspenseful moments in cinema, and started watching the list of movies. The movies included a number of horror classics like, "Friday the 13th" and other films I had never heard of like, "The Devil's Backbone" (which, by the way, is a fantastic horror/drama). After getting a full dose of horror, I went ahead and wrote my first script. I based it on the short story - Hansel and Gretel. What this most showed me was how to be brave as a writer. It is a little unsettling to write such terrible things and put your name on the page. But I got good feedback from fellow neophytes and realized, that someone has to write it for it to happen on screen, and horror makes money just like drama.

Next I wrote a mystery/thriller. This was actually the first script I began, but I struggled with it, because I didn't yet buy into the need to decide the major events of the story before beginning. So the beginning never got to the middle, and I couldn't make decisions. After I wrote the horror movie, I was able to make decisions and put together an outline pretty quickly. It was just learning to trust that the outline would get me there, but wouldn't limit me from exploring ideas along the way. So, while the outline evolved as I wrote, I knew how to get to the end and that made all the difference.

The third script was a melodrama based in Texas. This flowed from me very quickly. And as I progressed through the writing and on-going development of this script, I came to realize the power of research. I needed more research to really get the movie going, and I had to let go of making the script an ensemble piece. I started with a vision of an ensemble piece, but ended up with a single story dominating the pages. I realized that ensemble pieces were more difficult for a reason. They are about theme more than story. And I had a single dominant story to tell, not a theme to share. So I am still re-writing with the idea to revitalize the central story and reduce the confusion of the number of characters.

The fourth script is in it's middle stages of outline. It's been difficult to develop, because the thing that makes the concept powerful doesn't really provide the antagonism. I've come to associate the genre with film noir and am exploring the sci-fi angle as the macguffin.

I have an outlook to the fifth script as well, a romantic comedy... Then what happens, I wonder. I will have fulfilled the five script path and then will I be good enough to make a better showing in competitions. I suspect that will be the next action. And, I will need to continue re-writes of my older pieces to apply learnings to improve the previous work. I suspect there will be a great deal to do to them at that point.

I have gone back, from time to time, to look at my old scripts and see so much that could be improved, but I'm not really ready to do final re-writes. In between I've begun a documentary-esque film short. My hope is that a short will, at some point, be filmed.

Scripting the Truth

I selected Scripted Truth as my Blog title, because all of the "Clever" and terribly "Unique" titles I came up with were already taken. It's humbling to find out how cliche your attempts at originality are. But I think this title is good for me. I have lots to talk about but it's all, ultimately, a personal script isn't it.