writer rant/ Do No Harm

This is from www.badcb.blogspot.ca:

Feb. 9 Writer rant: The EPL Writer in Residence Omar Mouallem said my Rain script was kind of predictable and the dialogue needed work.  I'm not mad about that, because lots of writers and producers have read it, and they all said that.

I guess I'm kind of mad, because Omar said I should start over.  Okay, I can take criticism, no problem.  I guess I have to write about it, to get over it.  Let's get to the bottom of this.  He said "start over" and I don't feel like I should have to start over.  I have done so many changes and rewrites at the beginning of the script.  In a period of 4 yrs, I would say this is the best 43 pages.

He should take a look at all the changes I made.  I mentioned it before in my other emails/ blog posts of: how the bad guys were supposed to be introduced the next day.  Then I decided to make it sooner, like that night.  This was in 2010.

In 2011, the EPL Writer in Residence Marty Chan read it, and said that first morning scene seemed arbitrary.  So I rewrote it, to straight to the night scene.

Feb. 13 Do No Harm: This show is like the modern version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  It's about a doctor by day Dr. Jason Cole, and by night he becomes Ian Price.  I saw the first two episodes and I thought it was really good.  Today I read in the Globe and Mail's article by John Doyle that the show got cancelled. 

Here's some more info about it:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nbc-cancels-do-no-harm-417513

Me: What?  It got cancelled?  What about Elementary?  That show is the modern version of Sherlock Holmes and it came out in the fall.  It's doing well.  I only saw the pilot of that show, but I thought it was good.

I read the rest of the linked article, and it's not about old characters from novels being brought into modern times, it's about "dual- universe dramas":

"Do No Harm continues the broadcast networks' struggles with dual-universe dramas. Despite positive reviews, NBC canceled underperformer Awake after one season, and Fox axed Lone Star after two episodes. In 2008, NBC canceled Christian Slater's split-personality series My Own Worst Enemy after a handful of airings."

Writing article: I was checking up on The Golden Vanguard.  Their website was being remade and now I'm on the staff page.

I read the article "5 Ways You're Limiting Your Writing" by Jessica McHugh.

1. Ignoring your issues.
2. Writing is an ART, not a business.
3. Going against your gut.
4. Ignoring feedback.
5. Copying your favorite story.

http://thegoldenvanguard.ca/2013/02/10/5-ways-youre-limiting-your-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-103

I then left a comment at the end of the article:

"Hi, I really like your article.  Good advice and I already have taken some of it before like the line 'Trust your gut, and don’t be afraid to cut. But don’t throw those chunks away. Save them–for years, if need be. Just because you drop fat from one story doesn’t mean it won’t be the meat of another.'  (#3 tip). 

That happens a lot to me.  I write a scene and then think: "I like it, but it doesn't fit in this story" and I save it for another story.

I'm going to mention your article on my blog."

quote/ Love's Everlasting Courage

This is from www.badcb.blogspot.ca: 

Feb. 3 Quote: I found this quote while reading the Globe and Mail life section.  There was an essay by James Drummond and he mentions it.

“Read beyond what you want to write.  So if you want to write romance…read science fiction, read classics.  If you aspire to be a literary writer… to be the next John Updike, read Harlequins.” –Yann Martel, Life of Pi author

Romantic comedies: I was at City Centre mall, and I was sitting in the food court reading the newspaper.  I was biding my time before I had to work at Call Centre #6.  I looked up and see the last 20 min. of the movie Chasing Liberty.  It stars Mandy Moore as the daughter of the President, and it's hard for her to date people because of who she is.

 

I did like the ending.  Most romantic comedies are the same.  I remember watching this Saturday Night Live sketch with Meghan Fox talking to a mom.

 

Mom: I like those movies where a guy and girl fall in love.  Then the guy does something bad, but not so bad that he can't redeem himself afterwards.

Fox: Yeah, that's called a romantic comedy.

 

I did like the ending to Chasing Liberty because it reminded me of the other romantic comedy called The Prince and Me.  If you guys don't want to be spoiled by both movies, skip to the next paragraph.

 

In both movies, the couples toward the end have to end things.  A few months have then passed, and they spend time apart.  They then get back together.  I like the reunited feeling.

 

The Duff: I was reading Seventeen magazine while I was at City Centre.  I read an article about the author Kody Keplinger.  She wrote the book The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend.  She got published at 19 yrs old.  Now she's 21 yrs old and she's making a living off writing.  

 

She got the inspiration when she heard of that name.  Then the story came to her.

 

Conflict: I was reading some old notes from the Writer in Residence at the Edmonton Public Library, Marty Chan.  It was in 2011 when he read The Vertex Fighter.  He then read Parts 3 and 4 (30-50 pages) and his notes mentioned that my script tended to shy away from conflict.

 

A character says something in this scene, but they don't go and extend it to a bigger conflict.  I thought I did, but I was looking at the big picture.  I set up a conflict in one scene at the beginning of the script where the lead character hides something from a character close to him.  In the middle of the movie, the character finds out and there's a big blow out.  

 

There's another character that hides something from the bad guys, and when the bad guys find out, there's a huge conflict at the end of the movie.

 

Love's Everlasting Courage: In Oct. 2012, I saw the TV movie Love Begins.  I only watched it because Wes Brown was in it.  I didn't really like it because it was boring without much conflict.  Here's the review:

 

http://badcb.blogspot.ca/2012/10/love-begins-bullying-sexual-harassment.html

One week later, I went on Youtube, and saw the sequel.  The only reason again was Wes Brown.  This time, the TV movie improved a bit because there was more conflict and things happening in it.  This story is set in the 18th century.  I guess I will use the quote from above as a way to use this TV movie so I could learn about writing.

 

Clark (Wes Brown) rides a carriage with two horses.  It stops because the wheel is broke.  A snake appears and scares the horses, so they run.  Clark chases after it, and stops the horses.  They go back home. 

 

Clark and Ellen are now married with a 6 yr old daughter named Missy.  The Banker comes and says: "You have to pay back loans to the bank.  You missed more than one payment, we'll seize your land."  Good, some conflict is set up.

 

Ellen becomes a seamstress even though Clark disagrees because men should be working.  His parents are coming to help out.  The grandparents disapprove that Ellen is working.  Ellen thinks of setting up two widowers Sarah and Ben together.

 

There's a drought and it affects farming and their livelihood.  Clark and his dad Lloyd go and find some land to start digging for water.

Ellen coughs to foreshadow she's sick.  They have dinner with Ben and Sarah to get them to know each other.  Ellen later collapses.  The doctor is away so Sarah is a mid-wife and checks on Ellen.  She diagnoses her as having scarlet fever.  Clark tells daughter Missy that her mom is sick.  It could be contagious so has to stay away from mom.

 

There was a good scene where Missy takes a picture of her mom and sleeps with it.

 

Another good scene shows that Wes Brown is a really good actor.  He is crying with his wife.  He comes out with tears in his eyes that shows that Ellen has died.  This should be used for his acting reel.  There is no words as he looks at the grandparents and Missy.  You know she just died.

 

The grandparents decide to stay longer.  The Banker shows up again to ask for money.  Clark is about to punch Banker in the face when he asks for money, when his wife just died.  Reminder of money conflict.

 

The grandparents don't have money.  They think of taking care of Missy while Clark stays.

 

Clark is frustrated that he can't get water.

 

Throw in Missy cooking chicken, and a fire starts.  There's smoke and excitement.  They put out fire with a wet blanket and hits the fire with it.  The house is still standing and they sleep in the barn.

 

The subplot of Ben and Sarah are that they're dating.

 

The conflict of the house being burnt is solved pretty fast.  Ben says: "I'll give you some leftover wood from building my barn.  A whole crew of people volunteer to help.  The house is rebuilt.

 

Grandpa: Instead of looking at the burden of your home, think of it as a blessing.

He continues to give a pep talk to Clark about faith, God, and family to support you.

 

Clark pumps water and water comes.  He's all happy.

 

Throw in some conflict again when Missy eavesdrop on the adults talking.  Clark says it's easy to live with you and I hit water.  Missy runs away thinking she's going to be sent to live with grandparents, when if she stuck around Clark was going to have them stay with him.

 

The Banker shows up and the Grandparents say: "I put up my land as collateral so you can have an extension.

 

They can't find Missy and they start looking for her. Ben joins them.  It will be dark soon, so add some tension here.  Missy is lost and Clark finds the doll she was holding.  He finds her.

 

Ben then proposes to Sarah after what happened with Missy: "Life is short.  Will you marry me?"  She says yes.

It starts raining so you know the crops are going to grow.

 

I felt this TV movie was kind of forgettable.  There's just stuff happens, no antagonist- maybe the Banker.  The characters were likable, but bland.

writer in residence/ Borealis/ article

Jan. 21 Writer in Residence: The new Edmonton Public Library Writer in Residence Omar Mouallem read the first 20 pages of my Rain script.  He said what a lot of other writer in residences said about my script.  I need to work on the dialogue, it was predictable at times, etc. I then scanned the 43 pages of Rain again.  I need to take some time and break from it.  I can also use these notes and think about my The Vertex Fighter script. Jan. 23: I was taking a break from The Vertex Fighter since 2011.  It was a 2 yr break.  A couple of weeks ago, I did get an email from a producer saying that I can send the script in to them as long as I sign a submission release form.  I was biding my time as I waited for Omar to send me Rain feedback.  I was also watching the TV movie Borealis.  I read an article about it in the Edmonton Journal and it had a pic of a cage fight.  As soon as I saw that pic: "I have to read it, I have to watch it."  It's research for my Fighter script. Borealis: This was an average TV movie.  I expected it to be a MMA movie, but it only had a cage fight at the end.  The article did say it was more of a sci-fi movie set in 2045, but I still expected some fighting.  There were a few fist fights here and there.  It was more about the environment, and how in the future we're going to run out of resources and fight each other. I felt the story was kind of busy with a little too many characters, but at least they were all utilized.  There was lots of ethnic diversity like Aboriginal, Asian, Latino, and East Indian. There's a murder mystery, a little action. It's very Canadian with the cast and where it was filmed.  In the International Free Zone, Taq (Patrick Gallagher from Glee) is driving an ATV as the news anchor talks about the free zone.  Taq finds a dead body in this winter land that looks like the Northwest Territories.  It had good exposition with the voice over about how everybody is fighting for gas, oil, and minerals. Vic (Ty Olsson) is the lead character.  He is a manager at this bar.  Bettina (Cristina Rosato) is a prostitute and they're walking around the bar as they argue about who she brings into the bar.  Taq shows the dead body to Vic, no ID. Alison (Michelle Harrison) is a environmental scientist and she points gun at these Russian poachers who killed one of her polar bears.  Now the bad guys are set up in the story.  Alison shoots one of the Russians, and he hits her.  Vic steps in and hits them.  One of the first fist fights here.  Anton (Paulino Nunes) is the Russian leader. Vic: I'm a customs officer.  Hoshi (Mayko Nguyen from Rookie Blue) calls Vic through a TV telephone.  It seems she's the supervisor to him.  The biologist meets Dan (Greyson Holt) who is a professor searching for 18th century in-habitation. Roger (Terry Chen) is a doctor and examines the dead body.  He finds a 6 inch spike that the body was holding.  Raminder (Karan Oberoi) is a military chief and tells Vic: "You found a body on Canadian land, potential murder.  It's my business."  He investigates a little bit. Vic watches a video of himself in his last MMA fight where he gets kicked in the head.  Clive (Bryan Dick) finds out the body is a Norwegian archeologist.  Vic gets the prostitute Bettina to steal the spike that Lt. Raminder had taken from Vic because it was evidence in the dead body. Vic talks to the Russians about the dead body, and they tell him that the pilot committed suicide.  Yeah, right.  The biologist Allison puts a up a video blog about the dead body and the Russians are mad.  Vic tells Allison: "Now you started a war." The other biologist Dan tells Allison about the spike, and that it was stolen from a museum.  The plot thickens. Clive is beaten up to a pulp and he's floating in a room with no gravity.  Cool special effects.  Vic confronts the Russians about it. Allison finds another dead polar bear and a dead body. Bettina: Did you kill a man when you were an MMA fighter? Vic: No. Bettina: You have the money, citizenship to go anywhere, but why do you stay? He doesn't answer. Allison shows dead body to Vic, and the head is gone. Cut to later, a ATV is driving by the Russians.  The Russians think that person is stealing it, so they chase after it.  It's really a holograph without a head. Taq blows up the Russian's dig site.  Now that's some good action. Svetlana (Christine Horne) is the League of Nations liason pays a visit to them.  Vic meets with her. Bettina sees Russians try to break into the bar, and she yells at them to stop.  A soldier named Mason comes over and hits one of the Russians.  Finally, another fist fight. Lt. Raminder steps in.  The Russian leader Anton says: " Instead of filing a complaint to the military, let's settle this in a cage fight.  Mason will fight one of their guys. A Man is hurting himself, so Vic stops him.  It turns out he was on a drug called "Ghost Man." Anton has hired another Russian henchman Sergei (Darren Shahlavi) to work for him.  The Mongolian guy who was on the drug, wakes up and is mad from the drug.  He runs and Sergei gives one kick to him, and he's dead. Vic: The League of Nations is about to sell the only piece of oil left on my land. Hoshi researches Sergei for Vic. Hoshi: He was in the military.  He killed a Norwegian man, and now a Mongolian man. Vic (to Lt. Raminder): The liaison wants to make us look bad, so she can pretend to fix it. The stakes are raised.  The soldier Mason won't back down from the fight.  2 guys have signed a waiver form to fight.  We all know Mason is going to be killed if he fights. Allison tells the Liaison that the Arctic fox died from a bullet shell, and not from natural causes.   Russian (to Vic): If you give me back my spikes that you stole from my site, there is a chance that Mason will still be alive. So Vic breaks Mason's arm so he can't fight Sergei.  Vic did a good thing to save Mason's life. Mason is now safe, but now Vic isn't. Taq: He's younger, stronger, and more skilled.  What if you don't survive? The biologist Dan visits. Dan: I want to talk about the "package." Vic: We'll talk after the fight. Dan: But what if-? Vic: After the fight. The cage fight scene was brutal.  Vic gets hurt.  It was hard to watch him get hurt.  Sergei is scary looking and he was built.  Vic wins the fight when Sergei taps out. Vic walks away, but then Sergei runs from behind him.  Vic then kicks him down.  A Russian guy runs over to Sergei and feels his neck.  He looks at the leader Anton and shakes his head.  He's dead. Vic (to Anton): You are never going to get these spikes. Me: Yeah! Vic: First Russians get all the water, then the oil, then the food. This was a different kind of movie.  This wasn't really a MMA/ fight movie, but there was a different reason given to why there is a cage fight. Jan. 26 Article: Here's the excerpts from the article by Eric Volmers on Jan. 10, 2013. Ty Olsson (lead actor): It's 2 people, no weapons, hand-to-hand.  We were there every take.  The fight sequence itself as really energetic.  You had to commit to it.  You're not hitting, but you're putting the same effort into it.  Then we'd stop and change lenses or camera angles and I would skip rope, do pushups, do (tae kwondo).  So literally for 7 hrs I didn't stop.  It was the only time at a wrap party that I showed up, crawled into a corner and sipped my beer.  My body was shutting down.  I could barely walk. Andrew Wreggit (co-creator): It was the notion of competing for the last great oilfield.  It's based on the idea that just because we are running out, doesn't mean we don't want it anymore.  We'll use it up until it's actually gone before we figure something else out.  It's based on that idea.  There's more than just oil and gas up there.  There's more than just oil and gas up there.  Down the road, we're looking at the Arctic as potentially becoming a temperate climate.  When other parts of the world lose the ability to grow crops for example, all of that stuff will start moving North. Me: The show hasn't been picked up as a series, but there is some info about it. Wreggit: What format it takes, we're not sure at this moment.  We're definitely looking toward the future for this.  It was too much fun to give up on.  I've written some more episodes.  We didn't get too far down the road, but it definitely had a sense of where we would go in a full season.  There were definitely things I was laying in that I hope to follow up on.

writer interview/ contract lesson/ Bobbi Lou Gray

This is from www.badcb.blogspot.ca:

Jan. 14 Writer interview: Here is an imaginary interview where a host is interviewing me at a TV studio.

Host: How long have you been writing the Rain script?

Me: Since 2009.

Host: It has taken 4 yrs to write this script?  Is it done?

Me: No.  It's 43 pages long, and I would say that is the pilot.  That Episode, Part 1 is done.  But Part 2 isn't.

Host: Why is it taking so long for you to write this?

Me: I was living my life.  2009 was the Year of The Vertex Fighter.  I was working full-time and pitching my script The Vertex Fighter.  In 2010, it was the Year of Unemployment.  It's about priorities.  I was unemployed for months, and was constantly looking for a job, you got to understand that.

Host: Yes.

Me: In 2011, the Year of the Office Job Search.  I was working, and looking for an office career and going to job interviews all around town.  The priority is to make even more money.  In 2012, the Year of New Directions, I was working, looking for an office career, and working at part-time temporary jobs.

Host: So working is more important?

Me: I am results-oriented.  I want to and need to make money.  I have been writing a lot.  Don't you read my blog?  I write non-fiction and my life.

Host: What about your script/ fiction?

Me: I did some here and there.

Host: Explain.

Me: Well let's talk about the evolution of the Rain script.  In 2009, there were false starts like the script Garret which is like The Vertex Fighter with the character names are different.  Then there was Daniel, which is like Garret without the MMA.  In Rain, there was someone looking for her.  It changed to someone looking for someone else.

In 2010, there was a sister character, but got deleted because she didn't add to the story.  There was a 3rd bad guy in the crew, but he got deleted.  If you read my drafts, you can see the changes.

Jan. 15 Other script: In 2011, I did complete a 43 page script in a month.  It was for a TV producer and his show.  He needed me to write an episode so I pushed myself and I did.

The Vertex Fighter: I pitched my script to a TV production company, and they said they're interested in reading it.  I haven't did a major work on it since 2011 when I met with Edmonton Public Library Writer in Residence Marty Chan.  I talked to him for an hr and then I went home and wrote and thought about the script for 2 hrs.

Right now I'm working on the script.  I think I will have to delete 2 pages or at least rewrite these 2 pages with Shawn's parents in it.  This is exactly what happened with earlier drafts with Shawn's ex-girlfriend makes an appearance.  They don't really add to the story.

Jan. 16 3.5 floppy disk: Looks like another one of those disks stopped working.  I got this one from like 1994 or 1995.  I'll give Polaroid disk points for lasting this long.  Yeah, well at least it didn't have my script on it.  It has those short stories I have posted on my blog.

Jan. 17: I transferred one document to another disk, so I can write on it.  Now this Maxell disk stopped working.  This one is from 2005.

Computer books: I also recycled two computer books.  I had to ask my sister first if I could get rid of them because she did buy them.  One is Windows 95 for Dummies and Using Dos.  Both is from the 90s.  Then I thought about donating books to Africa, because I have read charities about it. 

Does Africa have computers?  Or they're second hand computers.  Look, I'll just recycle them.

I remember this Buffy episode where Cordelia is talking to Giles in the library.

Cordelia: I'm supposed to get books on computers.  Isn't the whole point of computers is so that we don't have to use books?

Me: Yeah.  It reminds me of college where you sometimes have to get books on computers for your computer classes.

Stage 32: I'm learning more about this social media network for filmmakers.  I got an email from them for the "Tip of the Week."  If you're trying to find work, update your location to find work in your area.

Kimberly Faye Greenberg: Stage 32 also sent me this piece about her.  She's a Broadway actress, and she is the creator of the website Broadway Blogspot.  It's a theatrical website for onstage and behind- the- scenes workers.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5200298/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

http://broadwayblogspot.com/

Contract lesson: Here's a blog post called "A Christmas Actor's Story" by Richard Wilson who is an actor/ director/ screenwriter from New Jersey.

It's this story about a actress who signs a contract to go to Denmark to make a film for a month.  She would be getting paid "per diem."  The contract is complicated and lots of questions and uneasy feelings are appearing:

"Does that mean every day that she's there or everyday that they shoot or everyday that she's required to be ready to shoot? What happens if something goes wrong and the shoot does not finish? Does she still get paid? What if the Director were to become ill and is unavailable or something like that? Who is actually writing the check?"

These are good questions.  She hasn't gotten paid in 2 months, and the story doesn't really have an ending until she gets paid.  She is struggling to pay her bills.  The lesson is: "If something is too good to be true, then it probably is."  Also listen to your intuition.

http://www.stage32.com/blog/christmas-actors-story

Jan. 19 Canadian Screen Awards: There used to be a Gemini and Genie award shows for Canadian TV shows and movies.  Now, they will be merged to one award show called the Canadian Screen Awards.  Maybe it will bring more attention to our Canadian projects.

Bobbi Lou Gray: Today I was at Chapters at West Ed mall and I see a sign to meet an author.  I have met a couple there before.  I met Bobbi Lou Gray who was promoting a couple of her books.  One of them is Lunenburg Letters.  It's historical fiction.

The story is of Peter Hess and Katarina Mattern and their families who move to Nova Scotia in 1750.  They start to fall in love, but then are separated.  Here's a more detailed description here:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10454118-lunenburg-letters

Here's her official website:
http://www.bobbilougray.com/index.html
Me: So how long did it take for you to write this book?
BLG: About 5 months.
Me: Wow, that's fast.
BLG: But it took about 40 yrs of research.
Me: Because you were busy living your life?
BLG: Yes.

writer iPad Apps/ Blue Skies Poetry/ Theodora Goss

This is from www.badcb.blogspot.ca: 

Jan. 11 Writer iPad Apps: Emma Taylor sent me this article called "32 iPad Apps that Writers just Love."

#11 is a Kindle and writers have to read.  #16 is QuickVoice recorder.  I think these apps could even be used for school to help you take notes.  Lots of these apps have spell check, proofreading, help organize your writing into chapters.  It organizes your notes and ideas.

#23 is Colorful aquarium.  It's free: "Find relaxation and entertainment in this colorful aquarium. You don’t even have to clean it!"

#28 Index Card: "TV writers love this app for thinking through and organizing scripts. It has an easy to use, attractive interface that makes writing more fun."

http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/2012/32-ipad-apps-that-writers-just-love/

Writer's store: I had signed up for Stage 32, this social media network for film industry people.  They sent me this deal on what's for sale at the Writer's Store.

Syd Field: Here's a dvd from a screenwriter telling how you to write a screenplay.  I can learn how to write by watching Youtube videos.
http://www.writersstore.com/syd-field-screenwriting-workshop/?mr:referralID=9c882b82-5c14-11e2-97b3-001b2166becc

There's a live webinar.  It's $59 for a 75 min show/ class.

http://www.writersstore.com/ten-steps-to-break-into-the-entertainment-industry/?mr:referralID=c2caae74-5c1c-11e2-8751-001b2166c2c0

It also sells office supplies like screenplay fasteners to bind your script together.

http://www.writersstore.com/screenplay-fasteners/?mr:referralID=9c882ba9-5c14-11e2-97b3-001b2166becc

A baseball cap with the word "writer" on it.  That reminds me of Castle where the novelist Castle wears a bullet proof vest with "writer" on it when he's with the police during a sting.  It also reminds me of The Simpsons, where they go to Australia and Marge shows Lisa a cap that says: "Pobody's Nerfect."

http://www.writersstore.com/classic-writer-hat/?mr:referralID=bcc8fcb3-5c1c-11e2-8751-001b2166c2c0

Script pitch: Today I pitched my script to a TV production company.  I haven't done that in a long time.  I was busy working, looking for a job, and going to job interviews.

I could send a submission and sign a release form, but I wanted to save on time, paper, and postage.  I emailed them first with my script pitch.  They could either say they're not taking any projects right now or they will say: "Yes, send it in."

Blue Skies Poetry: I was going through my old emails and I found this from 2008.  It turns I had written about them here:
http://badcb.blogspot.ca/2012/08/magazine-consultant-script-reader-i-got_7395.html

I had submitted them 3 of my poems "Vegas", "Downtown Streets", and "Party in Downtown" which you can all read here:

http://badcb.blogspot.ca/search?q=vegas+poem
http://badcb.blogspot.ca/2008/10/downtown-streets-poem-by-tracy-au.html

http://badcb.blogspot.ca/2008/10/party-in-downtown-poem-by-tracy-au.html

Blue Skies are selling t-shirts that say: "Keep Calm and Write Poetry" for $25:

www.blueskiespoetry.ca

Euphoria poetry contest: I found this 2007 email where I sent those poems to this poetry contest. I emailed the person asking if there are still annual contests.  I half-expected that the email won't send.  It did send.   

When I Google it, I got this:

2008 winner:
http://lyrielle.tripod.com/tonigiarnese.html

Poetry Foundation website.  This looks like a nice and professional website:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/240836

A 2007 post about this:

http://theprojects.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=publishing&action=display&thread=1781

Jan. 12 Disks: My friend Sherry emailed me back when I was talking about 3.5 floppy disks.

Sherry: ever considered creating some CD discs of your stuff? magnetism can destroy a 3.5 but not a cd disc

Linked In: I joined some more writer groups on Linked In.  I was in two of them before and I kept getting all these daily emails from them.  The thing is, you can adjust your settings so you can get them either once a week or not at all.

It's kind of inspirational and motivational to read about other writer's opinions on how to create characters and beat writer's block.

Jan. 14 Writer blogs: Hannah Howard sent me this article called "35 Blogs for those that Aspire to Become Writers."  The first section was "Steps to Becoming a Writer."

http://www.longhornleads.com/blog/2013/35-blogs-for-those-that-aspire-to-become-writers/

Theodora Goss: I clicked on the first link and it lead me to this writer called Theodora Goss.  Her post is called "Becoming the Writer."  She says this:

"I have a theory: anything that we do on the outside has to have happened first on the inside. Before I could go to graduate school, I had to become the sort of person who could go to graduate school. I’ve always found that the internal change precedes the external one. When I tried to go to graduate school before I was ready, it didn’t work.

I think the same thing happens with a novel: in order to write a particular novel, you have to become the sort of person who can write that novel. And of course the process of writing the novel changes you as well. But you have to become the writer. The novel comes out of the writer that you are, and if you’re not ready, the novel won’t work."

http://theodoragoss.com/2012/11/02/becoming-the-writer/

Me: I have to agree with her on that.  You have to prepare yourself mentally, intellectually, and emotionally for things.  When I was in high school, I always thought it would be so cool if I was producing a TV show while I was still in school.

However, it's not until I graduate out of a 2 yr college writing program, and then was pitching my script to TV companies, did I learn that there is still a lot to learn about writing.

It's a good thing I started young, writing TV scripts since I was 14 yrs old and actively learning from watching TV, but there is a lot to learn.

Law school: It kind of reminds me of law school.  No, I didn't attend.  lol.  I heard that to get into law school, you have to have a Bachelor's degree first in something else.  It's to make sure the student is then older and more mature.  If the student is 18 and did 4 yrs of a Bachelor's, then they are at least 22 yrs old.

Can you imagine an 18 yr old entering law school?  Maybe if this person is a prodigy.

Get Him to the Greek/ The Wizard of Oz/ Devil

This is from www.badcb.blogspot.ca: 

 

Get Him to the Greek movie review

By Tracy Au

This is a buddy-comedy- road trip movie.  It stars rock star Aldous Snow (Russel Brand) and record company worker Aaron Green (Jonah Hill).  Aaron has to take Aldous to perform at the Greek Theater in LA.  They are both good comedy actors with chemistry and really bring the story to a high level.

 

The character foil of Aldous and his offbeat ramblings and Aaron’s straight-laced personality balance each other.

 

Rapper/ music producer P. Diddy plays a record company executive Sergio which isn’t too much of a stretch.  He does make fun of himself with “Chocolate Daddy.”  The story is fast-paced with a countdown to the show in three days.  The conflict is that Aldous wants to keep partying, drinking, and doing drugs as Aaron tries to get him onto the flight, and to perform.

 

It is a wild adventure as Aaron has to keep Sergio from finding out how hard it is to keep an eye on Aldous.  The party scenes are the best because it’s funny, ridiculous, and crazy.

 

There’s an emotional backbone to the story as Aldous wants to see his dad, see his ex-girlfriend whom he has a child with and Aaron’s long distance relationship with his girlfriend.

 

This is also an uplifting movie when Aaron tells Aldous: “You make people happy doing what you love to do.  That’s awesome.”

 

The highlights are the stars that make cameos like Harry Potter star Tom Felton, Aziz Ansari, and Pharrel. 

 

 

 

The Wizard of Oz movie review

By Tracy Au

I have seen countless parodies of this movie, and this proves that a 1939 movie still has a major influence on pop culture today.  It starts off in a brown and white world where Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog Toto gets caught up in a tornado.  The house she is in is blown into a magical land that is in color.  

 

She goes on an exciting adventure where she meets interesting people like Glinda the Good Witch (Billie Burke).  She tells Dorothy to go see the Wizard of Oz (Frank Morgan) if she wants to go home.  She meets the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and the Tin Man (Jack Haley) to get what they want.  A brain for Scarecrow, courage for the Lion, and a heart for the Tin Man.

 

The Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) puts obstacles in front of them as she wants Dorothy’s red slippers.  

 

It has an imaginative plot, amazing sets and costumes, good special effects for a movie produced in the 1930s.  It has a happy and creative ending.

 

If you like old movies, musicals, fantasy, and adventure, you’ll enjoy this one.

 

MADtv: Here's the parody of the alternate ending to The Wizard of Oz.  However, it is offensive because it's kind of sexual, and crude language.  Viewer discretion is advised.

 

Nicole Parker plays Dorothy and she does a very good voice and accent.  Stephanie Weir plays Glinda the Good Witch, and her voice is exactly like the actress in the movie.

 

I did find this Youtube comment funny: 

 

RockMegaBarbie: Glida was a Soiciopath! She may act sweet & charming but she knows she saw Dorothy only as a mere Opening to gain more Power! Giving Dorothy the Slippers not to help her, but to Simply Anger the Witch & make her chase after Dorothy while Glinda sat back, relaxed & let Dorothy do her dirty work! Dorothy unknowingly made Glinda the Greatest source of Power in Oz. As the Wizard unkowingly just made the Scarecrow Glinda's political Puppet to Control! Now thats what I call EVIL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6exm2Hi28Xw

 

Devil movie review

By Tracy Au

The story is by Sixth Sense writer M. Night Shyamalan and the screenplay is by Brian Nelson.  It is a scary movie with the creepy supernatural feeling.  It has good filming and editing.  

 

Detective Bowden (Chris Messina) has a dark past about how he is still trying to get over the pain and anger of his wife and son being killed in a hit and run.  He and his partner Markovitz (Joshua Peace) are then called to investigate a suicide.  It leads to a business building and the elevator with five strangers who are trapped in there.  

 

They are the Mechanic (Logan Marshall- Green), an Old Woman (Jenny O’Hara), a Young Woman (Bojana Novakovic), Security Guard (Bokeem Woodbine), and a Salesman (Geoffry Arend.)

 

As Bowden tries to solve the suicide and help the five people, one of them is murdered.  The security guard Ramirez (Jacob Vargas) believes that one of them is the devil after he sees the elevator security camera footage.  It turns into a compelling and suspenseful murder mystery.  The entire time you’re watching it, you are trying to figure out who is going to get killed next and who the devil is amongst them.

 

The characters are delved into more instead of them being stock characters.  There is a deeper reason why these five people are trapped together.  There is a surprise plot twist towards the end.  The ending was good and bittersweet.

 

Roadie books/ Journey in Distribution/ Jane Espenson

 This is from www.badcb.blogspot.ca:

Dec. 27 Roadie books: On Dec. 15, 2012, I was reading the Edmonton Journal, and there was an article about Faith Farthing's house.  She has her own editing business called FinalEyes Communications and Publishing business Roadie Books. 

http://www.facebook.com/FinalEyesRoadie

New directions: The Year of New Directions continues.  One email talked about my office job search.  Here's the one about the writing.

TV production: I passed out my resume to every TV production company in Edmonton.  I finished after a month.  Then I applied to radio stations.

I did job interviews at TV companies and met with producers.  I was on Linked In to connect with them.

The Golden Vanguard: I had my movie reviews published on their website this year.

Edmonton Journal: Yesterday I had a blurb about eating at the Old Spaghetti Factory published in the Edmonton Journal's food section.  In the newspaper, they were asking readers for their favorite meals, movies, and books of 2012.  I showed it to my family and told it to my friends on Facebook. 

Dec. 29: I've been very productive because there's nothing on TV and not much job postings.  I turned to my TV production.  I started reading my Great American Screenwriter email newsletters.

Movie Magic Screenwriter 6: This costs $250.  It has templates like Final Draft.  This page compares it to Final Draft, and it talks about how Movie Magic is different.

http://www.screenplay.com/p-29-movie-magic-screenwriter-6.aspx

Final Draft Software: This is a cool software program to help write your script.  I use Microsoft Word.  There's even a "Text to Speech" component where you can hear the computer read your script out loud with different male and female voices.  That's so cool.  It's for $169.  I'll stick with Microsoft Word and paper and pen.
http://www.writersstore.com/final-draft-screenwriting-software?source=g-fd-international?cid=1820&gclid=CJa96ZvbwLQCFYN_Qgod-yMAGw

Indiegogo: I recently discovered this from reading that newsletter.  This is where you can raise money for your campaign.  There's no fee or application process.  It's kind of like Kickstarter, but that is for creative projects.  I wrote about it on my blog before.

This seems like an interesting and good site.  It says" You can raise money for anything, including for-profit ventures, creative ideas or personal needs."  It's located in San Francisco.  There's a picture of a sunglasses frame that says: "Go fund yourself."  lol.
http://www.indiegogo.com/

http://thevertexfighter.blogspot.ca/2012/05/kickstarter-job-interview-goal.html

Journey in Distribution: In the newsletter, there was this long article by Signe Olynyk about distribution and what she went through when she was getting her film Below Zero made.

She discusses the difference between a sales agent and a distributor.  A sales agent is the middle man who is supposed to connect you with the distributor.  A distributor "are companies with the means to get your film into the world.  They often work with Sales Agents or Aggregators, and sell the rights they have to your film to VOD, DVD, cable, etc for a percentage."

http://thevertexfighter.blogspot.ca/2012/12/a-filmmakers-harvest-journey-in.html

Flashback: I'm kind of putting the cart before the horse right now.  I'm not in production right now for my The Vertex Fighter, but it's good to know some things in this industry.  It's kind of like that time when I went to the U of A for this "Salary negotiation" seminar in 2011.  I was going to all these job interviews, and I should learn something about salary negotiation because money is discussed during the interviews.

Videoblocks.com: Also I got this newsletter about this website called Videoblocks.com.  It "is the first subscription-based resource for downloading royalty-free stock footage, motion backgrounds, production music, sound effects, After Effects templates and more."

I saw some of the footage, and they're really good high production value.  This could inspire me to write something.
http://www.videoblocks.com/

Stage 32: From the newsletters, I discovered Stage 32.  It's a social networking site for people in the TV or theater industry.  It's a pretty good website if you want to connect with other people in the industry for your projects.  However, I'm going to stick with Linked In and my TV contacts there.

http://www.stage32.com/blog
Jane Espenson: I was on Stage 32, and it lead me to Jane Espenson's website.  She's a Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel writer.  She's now writing for Once Upon a Time.  I thought it was cool. 

On her Aug. 11,2010 post:

"One of the specific questions I'm asked is 'do you ever change the show to appeal to the audience, now that you have such immediate access to what they do and don't want.' The answer I give to this is that I consider myself to be the audience I'm writing for. I write what I would want to see. Often, people are surprised by this. Not only am I saying I ignore all those fans who are desperately telling me what they want, but I'm also saying I'm writing for one very specific person who may not be at all representative of who is actually watching. Well, when you say it that way, it does sound crazy."

The post delves into it more.  I would agree with her.  I will admit at times I have written something, and then I would ask myself: "Would you want to watch this?"  I would say no.  If I don't want to watch it, then who else would?

http://www.janeespenson.com/

Pitching videos: I then found this old email where I did watch these videos on how to pitch your script.
http://www.sceneplay.net/pitch-fests-geof-troy/

Then I searched my blog and it turns out I did write about them before back in Sept. 2012:

http://thevertexfighter.blogspot.ca/search?q=sceneplay

Dec. 31 Published: I got published in the Edmonton Journal twice.  On Dec. 26, 2012, in the Food section, they published my blurb of the best meal I had this year.  It was at the Old Spaghetti Factory.

I also said the best movie of 2012 was Snow White and the Huntsman on Dec. 28, 2012.

Jan. 3 Song: I was going through my notes and I had written down "Bonecracker" by Shocore.  It's a heavy metal song.  I think it could be used for The Vertex Fighter during a fight scene.

I first heard this song back in 2001.  It was on an episode of Smallville called "Leech."  Shawn Ashmore (Ice man from X-Men movies) guest-starred in the ep.  He gets in a fight with a jock.

I don't like heavy metal, but I like this song.  You can dance to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fyh2sM2ZGv0