HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY (TOMORROW)

So a lot has happened since I last posted. The Oscars were handed out. I thought Jon Stewart did a decent job. He had to play it safe. The opening segment was funny (with Billy Crystal & Chris Rock in the tent). And, of course, "Crash" was the upset. I thought it was a great movie, but not Oscar-worthy.

To be honest, after seeing all five nominated movies, the picture that should have won the Academy Award is "Munich". It's an incredible, suspenseful political thriller. Don't miss it.
"Crash" was an easy out for Hollywood. "Brokeback", "Munich" and "Capote" pushed too many buttons. "Crash" was in- your face, too, but it pacified the "voters" in my opinion. An African American friend says "Crash" is just "a white man's version of being black".

Hey, Oprah loved it.

So... BIG NEWS regarding the A-list producer who I was waiting on for those notes... he isn't sending them! After six months of waiting... of monthly emails saying "They're on there way soon." He decided he doesn't have the time for the project. My agent said it's a disappointment, but it's good that we can all move forward. Back to square one. That's the movie business... lots of false hopes, false starts and false promises.

My agent submitted my cop script to a new cable channel. I'm in the running for a writing position, she says, out in L.A. -- whatdya think? You have to be optimistic in this racket.
It only takes one true YES to open the door.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I'm Irish Catholic... so I have a question. Since St. Patrick's Day falls on a Friday this year during Lent... can we eat corn beef and cabbage or not? It's not good to drink on an empty stomach. Maybe we can just eat the cabbage and drink more beer?

Luck of the Irish to ya!

OSCARS COUNTDOWN

Less than a week to go. I'm excited. Jon Stewart should be funny (please, please, Jon, be funny. Don't be Chris Rock. You can't sing and dance like Billy Crystal, but BE funny. I know he has the potential and the writers.)

So here are my picks for the Golden statues. I may be wrong, but here goes... "Brokeback Mountain" best picture, Ang Lee best director, Philip Seymour Hoffman best actor, Felicity Huffman best actress (Ok, she won't win... Reese Witherspoon will... but see both movies and tell me which role was more demanding and required "acting". I love Reese, but Felicity Huffman is soooo good in this daring role.) George Clooney best supporting actor ( I love him more than ever!), Rachel Weisz best supporting actress, Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana "Brokeback Mountain" best adapted screenplay, Paul Haggis "Crash" original screenplay, "Wallace & Gromit" best animated feature, Dolly Parton "Travelin' Tru" best song. Dolly lost for "9 to 5" twenty-five years ago. She's long overdue and just the coolest lady.

So those are my picks!

Paul Haggis was on "The Charlie Rose Show" (listen to Charlie on Google Video podcasts now. He's incredible, not to mention his guests) the other night and Haggis explained why he wrote the movie "Crash". He was carjacked by two teens in L.A. several years back and wondered often where they grew up, who raised them, what were they like at home, and he began to to write the script from those seeds. It's like anything in life -- good or bad -- we can learn from the experience and create something to help others. He talked about being broke and down on his luck often as a writer before hitting it very big writing "Million Dollar Baby" and (directing/writing) "Crash". I wonder if he'll thank those two thugs in his acceptance speech?

Some writing news for me. I may go to L.A. in April for a conference (my agent is springing for it, the conference, that is). I heard from the assistant to a studio executive who offered to read my scripts and help "open some doors". A news cameraman friend of mine is married to this assistant's sister... so he put us in touch... helps when a friend looks out for you.

Enjoy the Oscars!

SCRIPT NOTES

Ever hear the expression "The check is in the mail."? That's usually what someone says to you when they owe you money, but can't pay up. If you think it's in the mail, you go away. What about notes? When a producer tells you he will send you notes next week... and the week after that... and after that... when do you figure he's bullshitting?

A-list producer sent me an email in January. Wished me a happy new year and said the notes were coming the following week... we're in February. This all started in September. So yesterday I wrote my agent an email and said basically let's move on. I explained my feelings, blah, blah, blah. She FORWARDED him MY rantl and asked him what's the deal? Good thing I didn't call him "a procrastinating Hollywood asshole", huh?

A-list producer writes back that he's working on a UK funded script in Hollywood... is swamped... but I'm on his mind and so is my script. He doesn't want us to get discouraged and give him UNTIL NEXT WEEK for the notes. Are you laughing yet? My agent writes me and says "What do you think?" Now she knows him well in L.A. and he is an A-list producer with major screen credits... he's no schmuck... do I wait or do I go?

My agent and I decided to wait this out until March. We just got a huge blizzard here in NYC. So when the snow is gone, I should have those damn notes. Yup and the check is in the mail.

Meanwhile, I finished my comedy script and sent that to my agent. She prefers snail mail and a hard copy (I do too). I hope she likes it. If it makes her laugh, I will be happy.

I recommend an awesome book on screenwriting by Max Adams (a woman! name sounds like an old man) and she's a produced screenwriter who has also won numerous writing awards, namely the Nicholl Fellowship, which all screenwriters know is the biggie. Her book is called "The Survivor's Guide to Screenwriting". It is hilarious and will answer all your writing questions. Read it if you can.

So my new goal is to try and read every screenplay that has won an Oscar for Best Writing. Learn from the best, right? Before tackling the old ones, I just read "Brokeback Mountain" in script form (it's nominated this year). It is amazing on the page. Heartwrenching with richly described characters (Ennis's love for his wife and girls, but his love for Jack is stronger and destroying his life.) The script is available to read on a nifty website called www.simplyscripts.com They have everything there! I plan to read "Munich" (164 pages!!) and "Good Night and Good Luck" too. All for free. I love the Internet.

This is a great time to read with snow drifts keeping us prisoners in our apartments this weekend. This is an old school snow storm, people. The kind we remember as kids. So enjoy... and keep reading and writing!

PODCASTS

Just want to recommend the Creative Screenwriting Magazine podcasts available through iTunes. They've had some great in-depth chats with the screenwriters of such movies as
"Capote", "The Family Stone", "Syrianna", "Hostel" and many other popular releases.

Some of the writers are a little full of themselves and seem to like to hear themselves talk -- but I guess when you spend your life in a room alone writing -- the chance to pontificate and articulate is exciting.

The podcasts are conducted by Jeff Goldsmith, a senior editor for Creative Screenwriting Magazine and he does a good job trying to keep the writers on track.

I'm still writing. Getting a new script out this month to L.A. and guess what?? I heard from A-list producer about the sports script! He said "my notes will get to you in a week or so". Guess what? NO NOTES. This is since August! Granted he's finishing a big project for the WB Network, but it's frustrating just the same. I'm beyond annoyed and actually think it's funny now. If I ever get the notes, I will faint. They better be DAMN good.

Catching up on movies. Really liked "TransAmerica" with Felicity Huffman. Wow. She's phenomenal in this role. She will definitely be nominated for an Oscar. The movie is really good too. Also "Walk the Line" was better than I expected it to be. Great sound editing (and I never usually notice that stuff, but the sound/music in that movie are mixed in a creative way.) "Match Point" was worth seeing too. Very suspenseful and disturbing. Scarlett Johansson was terrific.

Oscars are right around the corner -- my equivalent of the Super Bowl! Can't wait for the glam red carpet walks, the show hosted this year by Jon Stewart and the corny Barbara Walters Pre-Oscar Special!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

SCREENWRITING BOOK

We all know there are too many screenwriting books on the market and most are not very helpful -- and most of these authors are unproduced writers who are making their living from selling to other unproduced writers... it's like the blind leading the blind. Okay, not every coach can hit a home run either... but most coaches were once former players... so that experience does come in handy.

Therfore, I highly recommend reading the book "SAVE THE CAT! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need" by Blake Snyder. I got it as a Christmas present and read 3/4 of it in one day -- highlighting away -- it's a practical, how-to on craft, structure, the business and marketing (like don't even start writing that script until you have a catchy, pertinent title and logline!!)

Snyder is a million-dollar writer who wrote Blank Check and Herbie Comes Home for Disney. He also wrote "Stop or My Mom Will Shoot!" but we'll forgive him for that one. Snyder knows the business of making movies -- and it is a business foremost -- and shares his tips, secrets and advice. I found it all worthwhile.

Now that the holidays are over, I hope to catch up on all the new movies out there. I hear Woody Allen's "Match Point" is a great one.

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas is only a week past but I'm still figuring out how to use my new iPod Nano. A guy named Jason at Apple helped over the phone after I spent three hours downloading songs and podcasts only to see an icon of a File Folder and an exclamation point through the LCD screen!
Anyway, the trick is you have to "eject" your iPod before unplugging it from the computer... learn something new everyday.

There's a great website for reading free scripts. "Syrianna" by Stephan Geghan is available so check it out, along with many classic scripts. http://www.simplyscripts.com/movie.html

I've been writing... finished my romantic comedy called "Olive Juice". Plan to have a friend read it through with a red pencil for corrections/suggestions and then do one more polish. It should land on my agent's desk by late January. I took a break from the priest crime script... it's heavy... and the holidays didn't help. I plan to tackle that script and another in '06! AND... if I ever get those damn notes on the sports script... I'll rewrite that too.

I'm doing freelance editing work to survive at NBC. It floors me every time I walk into the 30 Rock building -- it's atmosphere and broadcast history.

Hope to see the ball drop tonight in Times Square... this will be my third year in a row if I can get by the police barricades... it's awesome to stand on W. 45th Street and witness the celebration of a new year! When the ball drops and the confetti flies and you hear that music blasted through the speakers... and New Yorkers are crying, hugging, kissing... cops hugging their spouses and kids... you can't help but get choked up.

New York City is one helluva place to be for any holiday.

Cheers & Happy 2006!

CHRISTMAS IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER...

Now if only everything else was right around the corner... since there is a NYC transit strike and no way to get anywhere without walking or paying high cabbie fares. New Yorkers are always
scared about the subway/bus system being brought to its knees in such uncertain times... but who would expect our own NYC workers to do it to us? What happened to holiday spirit? Good will to commuters?

Mayor Bloomberg estimates a $400 million dollar loss today due to the strike. $400 million a day?! Wow, somebody is really spending a lot on Christmas shopping this year. It's not me. I actually planned to do some shopping today, but not with this strike... no fun lugging shopping bags through crowded streets!

I'll keep busy working on two scripts and keeping the energy going as the holidays arrive. I haven't heard from my agent or anyone on the West Coast so I assume things are slowing down in L.A. too.

Wishing you all a joyous holiday season and prosperous 2006!
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it.

SUNNY LA... SNOWY NY?

My agent emailed me the other day that one of my cop scripts was liked by a particular cable channel in LA. It's a buddy cop/crime drama. The producers, say says, aren't interested in buying the script but liked my writing style. It seems the channel is developing its own crime drama and in February will put together a staff. She said I might get the chance to come out to sunny California to meet the producers. She said "it's better than a kick in the head", which is her way of saying getting rejected flat out. I agree.

Normally news like this would have me doing cartwheels... but I know this business and a lot of false, well-meant promises are made every day -- deals fall through, producers leave companies, scripts get abandoned, writers get dropped like hot potatoes. So, I'm being realistic about the whole thing. If it happens, and they're willing to pay for me to come out to L.A. to meet, I will do cartwheels. But for now... it's just talk... which is better than a kick in the head.

My friend Patrick invited me to a SAG screening of "Brokeback Mountain" and it was excellent. After the movie was shown, the cast Heath Ledge, Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway and director Ang Lee gave a Q&A. It was amazing! Now my friend Patrick is Chinese and very subtle about everything. I thought we were just going to see a free movie... while we're eating Mexican before the screening, he informs me that Ang Lee and the cast will be there too! I nearly choked on my taco. I'm a big fan of Ang Lee's work (except for The Hulk which I didn't see). He gives a story a chance to unfold and uses beautiful images. With "Brokeback Mountain" he does the same. The story is solid, the characters tragic, and the acting great. To just label this movie "a gay cowboy movie" is a disservice. It's a powerful story about people realizing what they have and not having the courage to embrace it until it's too late.

Christmas is approaching. We had a beautiful snow fall in New York yesterday. The city never looked better. I better get to shopping.

"It took me 15 years to discover that I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time I was too famous." – Robert Benchley.

I heard from my agent yesterday. She said there is a company in LA that provides excellent script notes. If we don't hear from A-list producer by '06, then let's go that route to make the sports script a slam dunk. You pay to get this solid feedback -- two to three hundred dollars (ouch!) -- but I'll look into if it will help the script to get to the next stage.

In case you didn't know, "notes" are very popular in Hollywood. Everyone wants to give you notes on everything. I would hate to date in LA... "Our first date was really good, but here's some notes on how to improve on the second one."

Most writers politely accept these notes and use 30-50% of them. It never hurts to get an objective opinion on your work, but there are so many opinions out there and people looking to make a buck off you. You have to really trust the people you listen to or your script can become a total mess.

As one agent recently said, "write from the inside out and not the outside in" -- most movies today are written from the outside in. No inner voice, no passion, just writing by the numbers... namely Box Office numbers.

So on that note... bye.

Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!

It doesn't seem like December already but it is. A friend just emailed me about a pre-Christmas lunch, so soon the craziness begins with shopping (yes, I'm a procrastinator), visiting with family and friends who come to NYC, and then planning for Christmas and New Year's. My best day is always January 2 when it's all over! I do enjoy the holidays, but you have to admit life gets a little out of control from Nov. 20-Jan 2nd.

I haven't posted lately because there isn't much to post. I'm working on my scripts, but haven't heard much from my agent of late (and don't even ask about the A-list producer dude). It's like the quiet before the storm. I get anxious because I like to be proactive and feel I'm moving forward, and I have in many ways this past year, but as writers we have to depend on others to keep the pace and that's frustrating.

I recently read "Conversations with Anne Rice" which was published over ten years ago. It was so enlightening about the writing process, whether it's screenwriting or fiction. She explained how for years she'd send in her manuscripts to her publisher (this was post her "Interview with a Vampire" success!) and some copy editor would revise and rewrite her work! Write all over the page and change Anne Rice's tone, style and complete thoughts! It made her nuts to the point where she sent the marked up script back once and said "Remove everything that I didn't write!". You go, Anne! Now they don't dare rewrite her. They may suggest, but they can't scribble all over her pages.

Anyway, it just goes to show that with writing you are always being judged, critiqued or rewritten whether it's a book or a movie script. It's all part of the writing game.

"The pen is the tongue of the mind."
M. Cervantes

My agent emailed to say A-list producer is going to call me now instead. Wow, I better get my act together, reread my script and have my questions in order. It's been three months and I've moved on to other projects -- but everything has to be fresh for when he calls. We've spoken once already (in August) and he was very insightful and easy to talk with, so I think the call will be helpful in rewriting the sports script... however, I hope he emails notes too so I don't have to take them over the phone.

I shot the TV interview with playwright Bill C. Davis www.billcdavis.com and it went very well. Mark Molaro was the host and did a great job. Bill is a fascinating Broadway playwright with lots to say on areas of sexuality, religion, politics and artistry. Once the interview is edited, I'll let you know where it will air. In the future, Bill might also post it on his website.

One thing Bill said that was interesting is how "plays aren't written -- they're rewritten" -- and workshopped until it takes on a life of its own. I think it's the same in many areas of writing -- screenwriting in particular because you tend to write your version and then revise it for a committee of readers (your agent, the producer, the director, the actors). So really that first version is your baby before everybody else gets their eyes and hands on it... I heard an actor say once that he loved the auditioning process because it's the only time when the performance was all his.... before the director and producer makes you "act" their way.

Because I'm an editor by trade, I'm used to adjusting material, taking suggestions and making revisions . For most writers, myself included, it's hard to take criticism and to tackle those rewrites again and again. Hemingway said "all first drafts are shit" for a reason. But it's still daunting -- afterall, we're the ones who face that blank page, create the characters, the dialogue, the plot, revise the script a million times... and then someone reads it and decides if it's good or it's terrible. It's all so subjective, but yet as a writer you write for those subjective eyes and pray that, hopefully, they will get it.

We writers are brave souls. It takes a lot of confidence, perserverance, and sweat to stay in this game. So easy to say screw it and throw in the towel. But then you get that idea... that vision of a story... or character in your head... and you sit back down at the desk.

Or you wait for that subjective A-list producer to call.

What no wife/husband of a writer can ever understand is that a writer is working when he or she is staring out of the window".
Burton Rascoe

Okay, let me start by saying NO, I haven't gotten the A-list producer's notes yet. 3 months and waiting... but my agent says it's worth the wait... as I said to my friend Barbara recently via email "Is he chiseling them on stone? What's taking so damn long?" BUT, he's an A-list producer with many projects... and I'm low on the food chain. I'm like a kid on Christmas morning... anxiously waiting!

Madonna's new CD "Confessions on a Dance Floor" is amazing! Madonna is back! Yippee! Ms. Ritchie, please stick to music/dance, not acting -- this CD is great for working out or just getting you motivated (to write maybe). Highly recommend it! Madonna still has it. Not bad for 47 years old, huh? Watch this one to rise up the charts like a rocket.

On that note, strike a pose!

"The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shock-proof shit detector."
Ernest Hemingway

I'm still working on my crime drama script. It's been a really busy week away from the computer (making a living here and there editing), so I haven't been as dedicated to writing as I'd like. Next week my schedule looks clear and I'll have no excuses. Aren't writers always looking for excuses not to write? Cleaning, shopping, bathing the dog, Christmas shopping... but sooner or later, the work has to get done with butt in the chair.

I'm helping a Canadian fellow put together a "demo" for a talk show. Mark's super intelligent and a great interviewer. This would be a NYC arts and culture-type program. It's coming along great. We shoot our first interview Sunday with playwright Bill C. Davis (Broadway's "Mass Appeal", "Avow"), who incidentally was my playwrighting professor at Marist College. He's a bright, animated guy (who is running for the U.S. Congress in Connecticut in '06 with the Green Party). The interview should be really great. I may have a website soon for you to watch the edited DVD once it's done (good program about the playwrighting process).

My good friend Hillit Dayan is soon returning to the USA after spending over two years in England (attending grad school in London). I can't wait to see her and catch up. It will be interesting too to get her take on the USA from abroad. I can only imagine.

I walked by Rockefeller Plaza today and noticed the Christmas tree is already up (just not lit yet). The tourists are arriving in droves around St. Patrick's and Saks. Gotta love NY this time of year (even if it means getting shoved around by the massive crowds on the streets)!

Peace, everybody.

GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT

"Writing -- is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair."
Mary Heaton Vorse

So I contacted my agent about not receiving "the notes" yet from the A-list producer.
I was gentle about it implying maybe he's too busy and we "should move on". She replied by email to tell me basically to chill out and shut up. Not that harsh, of course, but her take: his notes are FREE -- and in the screenwriting market worth a LOT of money (some consultants charge thousands to give you notes on a script). Right there she said the wait is worth it. Then she proceeded to say once I apply those notes into the script and he carries THAT script into a major Hollywood talent agency -- THAT big agency has clients under contract that need projects -- and they will trust A-list producer to supply that work for their A-list star, director, studio, etc. She said forget TV -- we're going for the gold with this one. Feature film it is.

I said what about the holiday lull fast approaching? Things are going to slow down soon. Life is passing us by. Agent says "Fuck the lull. '06 here we come!"

That gave me a much needed laugh and a kick in the pants. My agent is terrific. She pulls no punches and tells me like it is. Remember in the Mary Tyler Moore Show in that classic scene where Lou Grant says to Mary "You got spunk, kid." And she smiles proudly. Then he growls "I hate spunk!". Funny scene. If you haven't seen the old MTM shows, rent the DVD on Netflix. MTM and her cast were brilliant and it's all set in a newsroom (which I can relate to). So bottom line, in an agent... you want spunk!

So, no more complaining! I'll keep writing my other scripts and wait for those damn notes to arrive come hell or high water.

Then the really hard work begins.

Over and out.

NOVEMBER ALREADY?

"Writing is a dog's life, but the only life worth living."
Gustave Flaubert

I've been working on the detective story. It's coming along scene by scene, page by page. It's basically, as I've said before, about a cynical detective who rediscovers his faith when he investigates the murder of a Catholic priest.

Speaking of religion and newfound faith... I watched author Anne Rice on "The Charlie Rose Show" last night on PBS and it was an amazing interview with the legendary writer. She has written a new novel called "CHRIST THE LORD: Out of Egypt". And here is the description of the novel by the publisher: Having completed the two cycles of legend to which she has devoted her career so far, Anne Rice gives us now her most ambitious and courageous book, a novel about the life of of Christ the Lord based on the gospels and on the most respected New Testament scholarship. The book's power derives from the passion its author brings to the writing, and the way in which she summons up the voice, the presence, the words of Jesus who tells the story. In stores November 1.

Anyway, Rice went on to tell Charlie that she was an atheist for nearly 30 years. Her late husband was an atheist. However, she said she rediscovered her faith while he was still alive, returned to her Catholic faith and told her husband they needed to get married in the church. He agreed without a fuss. Since his death, Rice has devoted herself to extensive historical research (her forte) on the life of Jesus. She says this new novel will be a trilogy. The story is told until Jesus turns eight. Charlie asked Rice, after all her research, what was the most important message she derived from Jesus... her answer? "To love one another". And the biggest impact on her life since writing the book and revisiting her faith? She treats people better and with more compassion.

I haven't read the new book, but I certainly plan to. If it's as captivating as her interview, it's a must-read for the holiday season. So the Vampire Lady of New Orleans, who now resides in California, is devoting her professional and personal life to Jesus Christ.

Who says miracles don't happen in modern times?

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

"Writing is a profession in which you have to keep proving your talent to people who have none."
Jules Renard

I love that quote!

I'm reading Spike Lee's new book titled "Spike Lee: That's My Story and I'm Sticking to It". It's very interesting about how he struggled as an African American filmmaker in the 70s and early 80s (he was broke, broke, broke!) and people kept telling Spike that black directors wouldn't work, nobody would pay to see black movies, and that he would never make it in Hollywood. He proved everybody wrong -- makes a movie a year now -- and although he's a rather shy guy by nature (outspoken on issues, but reserved by nature), he believed in his ability and talent to perservere and make it. Good lesson for all of us when we get discouraged!

Be a pioneer in your own world.

Well, heard from the A-list producer dude! After weeks of waiting, he sent me an email today telling me to WAIT some more... until the middle of this week for those notes I've been longing for regarding the sports drama. So, I waited weeks just to hear wait some more... hey, that's the business, folks... so I'll keep working on other projects in the meantime.

A special note of respect for Rosa Parks who died this week. Besides being a pioneer for civil rights in America, she is now the first woman to be lying in honor at the U.S. Capitol. Wow. Even in passing, this woman is a pioneer.

Write on, everybody!

POUNDING THE KEYS

I spent the week working on the new script titled DEADLY SACRAMENTS. It's about the murder of a priest. It looks like an open and shut case until the detective assigned to the case unravels more than what appears to meet the eye. I'm on page 39... and it's coming along. I wrote an earlier draft of this a few years ago, but I'm changing a great deal of it... a lot has happened in the world and in the Catholic Church since my first draft.

Anyway, the important thing is to keep writing. Talking with a writer friend of mine and we compared some tips for making our scripts better. Namely, we discussed how to make every scene more cinematic (visual). You've heard "show don't tell" in writing scripts, but it's so important to remember that for every scene. People go to the movies to see things "move", a story take action, and character is action. We aren't what we say in life, but what we do.

Also trimming dialogue. Screenplays aren't stage plays or novels. The less amount of dialogue the better -- let subtext build suspense (reading between the lines). I find over the years my scripts have gotten cleaner, leaner and read better on the page. I try to keep the eye moving along with the mind.

Still nada from the A-list producer. So, it's Friday and I took the bull by the horns and sent him an e-mail just to stay on his radar. I hope to get the notes for the sports script soon, but now I'm into this crime thriller... so either way, I'm writing.

By the way, if you ever need an experienced guy who provides great services to writers (info, published books on screenwriting, script evauations, classes) check out Skip Press. He's offered me some helpful advice the past few years. He's a published author and has SOLD scripts (which is good when consulting with someone on your own script). His website is www.skippress.com and tell him Janet sent you. He's got an awesome screenwriters' network, too! Check it out.

Enjoy the weekend.

NO WORD YET...

I didn't get the notes from the A-list producer this past week as I had hoped. I really didn't expect to -- the word is he's swamped at WB. Expect them next week. I'm working on another script, but I really hate to start one script and then have to abandon it when the notes do arrive for the sports script which is titled "Top of the Seventh". The other script I'm tinkering with is a supernatural thriller about a detective and a dead priest.

Hey, it seems I have the same blog title as another blogger in LA. His blog was online first and he has one great blog... so check it out at www.screenwritinglife.com. My address is still the same thescreenwritinglife.blogspot.com and I changed the title to "The NY Screenwriting Life". There is an LA life and a NY life, which I think we can all benefit from in learning the difference, which hopefully our blogs will prove.

I spent Thursday at the Apple Store in SoHo. I played with every gadget they had on display (the new iPod Video is frikkin' amazing). But just when you buy something from Apple lately, they come out with something better a month later. These new iPods are like Oprah. They just keep getting thinner. It's hard to keep up with all the technologies out there (many writing programs, too.) I personally use Final Draft... only because several years ago I responded to a contest online about screenwriting and WON Final Draft version 6. It makes writing very easy (formatting scripts).

My manager is a stickler for formatting. When she first read one of my scripts, she left me a five minute voicemail on my cell asking me why on earth did I capitalize a VERB?! Never cap a verb! she told me. I thought it looked good on paper, she didn't. I don't cap verbs anymore. She also told me my font on my title page looked "amatuerish" and asked me to change it before she proceeded in submitting the script to studios/producers. I did. I now use Times Roman 14 pt. for the title and under that my name in 12 pt. Makes for a very clean page. No "Written by" or any of that stuff. Just title and writer's name. Period. Because fortunately, when you have an agent, they put your script in a cover with the agent's name and contact info. And actually, these days Hollywood is mostly reading scripts as PDFs and online.

So glad to see screenwriter Shane Black back at work... and on the screen. For those who don't know Shane Black, he wrote "Lethal Weapon" when he was like 22. He became the hottest writer in Hollywood during the 80's. Made millions and millions, $4 million on one script! A record breaker (still is, I believe). He got rich, overwhelmed, over-rated and his movies in the 90s tanked "The Last Boy Scout" and "The Long Kiss Goodbye". Shane Black disappeared. His career was dead. Fastforward ten years... and he's back writing and now directing "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Val Kilmer. It's getting mixed reviews, but I guarantee it will be worth seeing (if not for the chemistry of Kilmer and Downey alone). Shane Black says he wouldn't of been able to get the movie made without powerhouse producer Joel Silver (who launched "Lethal Weapon" with him). Today, nobody would take a meeting with Black, return his calls, his scripts didn't matter anymore. Execs in LA are too young to remember Shane Black's mojo at the time. He's got to prove himself all over again like every writer.

I guess if you make $4 million and write a bad movie people get jealous and resentful. Umm... what about all the actors and actresses who get paid between $12 to $20 million and make lousy movies not worth $10 at Loews?? They move on. People forget (except maybe Demi Moore's Striptease and G.I. Jane). Anyway, welcome back, Shane Black!!

Have a great weekend! And thanks for your comments, everybody!

HOLDING ON

Heard from my agent yesterday regarding the A-list producer I'm waiting to get notes from on the sports script. He's swamped with projects for the WB, but will send notes by the end of this week. My agent said to be patient... she wasn't making excuses for him... that this is the way the business goes. The fact that he hasn't "passed" on the project is encouraging. His notes will probably make the script more marketable since he knows what the studios want... he's produced major films like "Starksy & Hutch", etc.

NYC is beautiful this time of year. It's 50 degrees today, sunny and crisp. A perfect fall day. I plan to spend most of it at the Apple Store in SoHo learning Final Cut Pro and other editing programs. I edit for a living ( a writer has to eat!) and I want to keep up with the latest technology... going to the Apple store also gives me an excuse to play with all their latest toys (IPod Nana, IPOD Video, ITunes, etc.)

I have a crime script out with a studio and hope to hear from them soon. Not overly optimistic because I did online research on the company and it seems they're inundated with cop scripts. Oh well. Worth a try.

Meanwhile, working on another script outline. My agent says to keep keepin' on... just keep writing and let her worry about the marketing of the material. I like that idea.

THE WAITING GAME

Today I'm waiting to hear from an A-list producer in Hollywood who has taken a liking to my sports drama script.

A-lister thinks it's "too Lifetime-y" at the moment, so I have to make changes. What's wrong with Lifetime? I guess only a woman would ask that question, huh? Anyway, my agent/manager says it's worth waiting for his notes. I rewrote the script in August for him (after a productive phone call from the producer). I think the script is strong as is, but I'm not an A-list producer. And since he might take the script into the studio under his arm (with name attached), I better listen... and perform.

So I wait... patiently... impatiently. My freelance editing gig is drying up soon (money), so I'm getting a little anxious about finances, especially with the holidays looming around the corner. I can't tell my family I'm broke because I'm a struggling writer... been at the game too long to use that old excuse.

I'm applying for some jobs... reluctantly... because if I get a full-time job, the writing goes on a side burner. I've been almost unemployed for a year and one thing I've come to see is that writing for the movies involves lots of waiting. Waiting for the phone to ring, waiting to hear from your agent, waiting for the producer/director/actor to read the script, waiting for notes, waiting to MAKE A DAMN LIVING!!

Okay. Rant done. Plan to walk around Manhattan today (beautiful fall day), see a movie or two, and then come home and check my emails and phone messages.

Waiting in NY.