I’m pretty burnt out on the business of writing.

But I am still writing.

Nothing will kill that fire.

So, I’ll use this post to talk about someone I inspire but really it’s the other way around. He’s worked so hard during the past year to make his dream come true and he’s so close he can taste it. I’m so proud of him. He’s doing things with his career as a writer that I don’t have the guts to do.

I’m talking about a young man named Branli. He’s the only Branli in the world and don’t you forget it.

Part cheeky monkey, part science fiction author, you’re going to hear more about him in the coming years because I sense greatness in him.

He’s about to publish his first book entitled Project Horizon. The title alone is intriguing enough to grab me as a reader but for you regular skeptics out there, here’s a quick synopsis.

I swear, if he doesn’t put this out on an e-book, I will hunt him down and pelt him with Skittles.

I’m allow you to steal it because I have no capital with which to build.

Also, I haven’t updated my blog in a bit, so here’s a random thought:

With a little bit of technology, some seed capital and a bit of faith, I can see brick and mortar bookstores staying alive if they can embrace e-books rather than shun them.

I state this because the digital realm must also embrace the brick and mortar stores in a joint effort.

Imagine if you will, the “inbetweeners”. These are the folks who are new recipients of an e-reader, and there are more and more everyday. They’re anxious to convert for any number of reasons, however, they’re still bound (pardon the pun) to paper because it’s all they’ve ever known.

I consider myself one of these people but I still adore bookstores and it saddens me when they fade one by one from my city. I peruse the shelves of the remaining stores, but I don’t buy anything because I’ve committed myself to the new technology to save paper not to mention the storage issues that come with books.

Why can’t I peruse a brick and mortar, hold the the book, touch the book, read a few pages and then press a sensor on the book to send my purchase to my e-reader via the stores in house database?

I’ve suddenly become a new type of customer.

One that stills enjoys the physicality of the books but not the ability to maintain a library. Look over there, I’ve purchased a cup of coffee and now I’m sitting in a comfy chair reading my new e-book I’ve just purchased. It’s a pleasant evening out away from the house to enjoy a past time that’s becoming extinct.

If the digital realm and the brick and mortar bookstore can find a place together, we’d be able to protect this dying tradition. Books will never complete go away, but the industry is ailing. This could save them.

I found out today that my short (currently being edited) is in the hands of an editor that works at Paramount. So no rush dude: Take. Your. Time.

Finding this information out has made it very clear to me that networking pays off. Giving a little blood and sweat (aka free material) can be rewarding and in the interim you make contacts that will hopefully be with you throughout the rest of your career.  I’ve met some pretty awesome people in the last few months and it all started by asking for a loan of twenty five cents.

Forward. Onward. Upward.

Last week, I helped an LACC film student who happens to be an established rapper in Los Angeles by providing material. He’s shooting it this weekend so I’m guessing by the first week of October, one project from my collection of sold material will be produced and tangible. I’m going to consider that a major milestone even if the three minute short ends up less than stellar. I have faith in the director, but not in the fast-paced last-minute schedule to ram this production into the can so quickly. But that’s just me.

I’ll post it here regardless of how good or bad it turns out.

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The agency that had my script FINALLY sent it on to the production company and big surprise the production company said: “no, not for us”. It took a full year and a half for the agency to push that through and that’s because they lost sight of me due to their high overturn of assistants. If you’re ever wondering why Hollywood churns out the same old crap, it’s because new writers starve to death in the corridor waiting to be read.  Needless to say, I’m kind of bitter but not surprised about the process. We’re not allowing anyone hold on to a script that long ever again.  I’d name names but for now I’ll just rage quietly at my desk and throw darts at the agency’s logo.

On the upside, an impending interview is on the horizon. I’m not hopping on one stone hoping to overturn it, however I am excited about it.  More later as it develops.

Also, I had the opportunity to move from the basic hamster cage to the deluxe model downstairs which now includes a kitchen. If only I had some large metal devices to cook food with so I could use that big blocky thing with instant fire taking up space across from the sink.

Before:

After:

Hmmm, let’s see….

Who is Mark Burnett?

He’s only the Godfather of Reality Television.

Of his many credits, these are some of my favorites: Survivor, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Rock N’ Roll Fantasy Camp, and my current favorite: The Voice

The Dog Girl is a fantastic idea about an actor struggling to run a busy dog training/hiking business while simultaneously trying to re-enter Tinseltown.

Our hero is 5’4″ and barely nothin’ on the scales, yet she has the ability to control and rehabilitate dogs any normal person might consider past their prime or too dangerous. Big dogs. Military dogs. Bully breeds. You name it, she’s up to the challenge.

I can’t wait to hear about the outcome on this project.

It’s always a great feeling when your work has helped someone else, regardless of how it may affect my future as a writer.

1) My friend Gary, a fellow Triggerstreet member that I’ve known via the impersonal tubes of the internet for several years, has been SWEEPING the floor over at Amazon Studios. He’s won three prizes by now (I think) and there’s no stopping him. Actually, I can’t talk much about him either because I don’t want to blow his strategy other than to say how proud I am to know someone as awesome as he is.

I’ve lost out on the opportunity to enter any of these contests at Amazon because my material is either commissioned or already optioned. I have real world (as opposed to contest world) problems but I don’t know, I’d love to have some of that cash they’re giving out. If I could only find the time to write something for that contest that doesn’t interfere with my day job or my paid writing gigs.

2) I think that the reality show treatment I wrote last month is about to be pitched. The actor who commissioned it from me is almost done with her sizzle reel so it’s only a matter of time before we see how well the concept goes over.

3) I’ve had the distinct pleasure of meeting (via phone at this point) Thom Bierdz. I’m not a soap fiend, but you may remember him as Phillip Chancellor from the Young and the Restless. Many people might not be aware of this but he’s an author, an artist and he runs an international art contest for various mediums. An actor friend here in LA hooked us up because he needed some extra help marketing the contest. What can I say? I’m a bendy spoon for the likes of hunks like Thom.  If you want to enter this year’s contest please visit his site: http://www.americanartawards.com/2011callforentries.html

4) Another distinct pleasure has been percolating since my arrival to the apartment complex I rave (negatively) about. This complex is full of artists of one kind of or another and I’ve finally had a chance to meet and possible work with Percy Carey, the author of Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm. He’s such the gentlemen, and I hope my style of material is on his wavelength, because I’d love to work with him. We’ll see. That’s still percolating.

5) The last bit of news I have is about a job opportunity in NY. I applied and I’m waiting on an official date for my interview. It’s for a start up company that will arrive on the scene like Goliath looking for a Youtube/Hulu/Netflix sandwich.  But that’s all I can say about that.

So that’s June. It feels like a lot is going on, but when you cram it all in a box, there’s still room for more.

I’ve become accustomed to my tiny space such that I want to trick it out. There’s a closet specifically built for a murphy bed, so I may return it to its original state and install one in there.  The question remains; should I use the closet for a full size bed or a twin and put shelves next to it? Space is at a premium in this 250 sq ft cage so I have to be prudent.

I can’t stand clutter so if I can close it away behind a door, I’m happy. That said, my place is a mess, but that makes my brain askew too. I sit here typing and I see a clump of things next to my desk that need to be put away, yet there they are, taunting me. It’s an odd tug of war.

As for writing updates, the sold screenplay was delivered to the production company and any day now I’m expecting some notes.  I feel as if I have moved upward into a different stage of being a screenwriter and I have a solid feeling of accomplishment.

Also, one of my scripts hasn’t been kicked off the island in what I’ve come to lovingly describe  as Survivor: Agency Edition.

Here’s the scenario:

1. You  submit your screenplay to a Production Company A
2. However, Production Company A only takes screenplays from Agency X
3. You then submit your screenplay to Agency X.
4. If Agency X hasn’t lost your submission (this happened to me), you get sent paperwork clearing them of any liability, CYA paperwork etc.
5. You sign the paperwork and…
6. wait….
7. and wait….
8. and wait……..
9. and… you get the idea….
10. Coverage is being made by readers (you hope) on your script so that the agency can decide on whether to pass it on to Production Company A
11. The coverage is acceptable and your script gets pitched to Production Company A …
12. And this is where I’m at. Stage 11.

What happens next?  Who knows?  As Willy Wonka/Gene Wilder once said: “The suspense is terrible… I hope it’ll last.”

The dichotomy of having a great manager who gives excellent feedback and a personal disagreement of notes given on a project is causing me to have lockjaw of the keyboard. In other words; “I don’t wanna do it and you can’t make me.”

My manager single handedly helped improve a different project based on her notes and even though I disagreed with some of them, I incorporated the notes and the end product was better.

So am I just feeling the same rebellious authoritarian control impediment I have with my work, or do I really disagree with the notes?  As someone who has work starting to make the rounds out there, I am really struggling with this.

When do you know?

When do you trust yourself, your work  and disagree with a note?

Tell me. When does this happen?

Quickly, before I faint from locking my knees.