TICK TOCK

I sent two scripts out this week to a talent manager in Los Angeles. I'm seeking a new rep. It's always great to update your best work and get it in the mail (electronically . You never know what agencies are looking for when it comes to genre, but a well-written script usually gets their attention. The two I sent are diverse in tone and style, so we'll see how it goes.

Read "There Will be Blood" which is a compelling screenplay. It's written very tightly from a director's mentality as well as writer's.

Oscars this weekend! I'm not so interested in it this year -- between the strike and some of the movies not being great -- but I did like "Juno". Not sure if it's Oscar worthy as far as best picture, but the script should win. It's inventive and cleverly written by Diablo Cody. I wasn't thrilled with "No Country for Old Men" -- I was until the third act when I think the story lost steam. How could we NOT see Josh Brolin's character killed on screen?? How could that happen off screen when we were so invested in that character for the entire film? It disappointed. And what was with the Tommy Lee Jones character? I didn't find that sheriff added anything to the film overall except a few good lines.

Now "There Will Be Blood" was amazing in every way -- until the very end when Daniel (Daniel Day-Lewis) went hammy in the last scene. The audience I was with started to laugh and it lost it's big dramatic payoff.

But the Oscars are my Super Bowl -- so I'll be tuned in and rooting for the writers!

FISHING IN THE BIG POND

So I started the new year right by writing a little each day. Last year was the first year that I was ever blocked -- it's not that I didn't have ideas and scripts to work on, but that I became discouraged beyond belief and felt it was hopeless. That's what happens when you've been at something you love for a long time and don't see the results you hoped for -- but then you get little nibbles -- little signs from the universe, if you will, that say keep going. And what's the alternative? Writing is my fuel. Without it, I'm spinning my wheels.

So I've been being productive and getting such a high from the process again of just creating -- of writing -- seeing the pages pile up.

Out of the blue this week a friend in L.A. put me in touch with a manager. I'm sending the rep two scripts this week. Amazing how some things come to you when you're not so focused on it.

Glad the WGA strike is over! History! Yeah. We can have the Oscars -- not sure how thrilling they will be this year -- but I'll be watching no matter what.

Back to work.