Focusing on the SWF

So there’s a month to go before the Screenwriters’ Festival in Cheltenham and I’ve adjusted my original targets to having three comedy scripts and a feature treatment (with first 10 pages) ready in time for it. Mainly because I have secured agent/producer speed-dating sessions so I need something ‘pullable’.

Also because having a full feature script ready got put-off due to the fact that I got stuck with part of the story. To date, I have two advanced drafts of comedy scripts, a very detailed outline for the other and an outline for the feature, so I should be able to pull it off (or them off, if we keep to the dating analogy – yeah let’s not).

I’m excited about the event for many reasons and not just because I’ll be travelling on a train (woo woo!). I know of a few people who blog, post on forums that it would be nice to actually meet in person but its also given me a deadline to get my longer projects finished (abandoned?) and shown to ‘real’ people. I really hope I come away from it with some decent contacts and direction.

Anyway, I watched Vicky Cristina Barcelona last night. A fantastic film in my eyes. I’ve decided to only talk about films I like as so many other bloggers cover bad ones (and do it better than me). Woody Allen found the perfect character balance in this one and having a fiery Spaniard (Penelope Cruz’s best performance IMO) must have been a dream for Allen to channel drama and comedy through. Everyone was likeable too, despite Cruz’s madness and Javier Bardem’s serial womanising. The story was good too, with plenty of unpredictable twists and quirks too. Anne Hall worshippers will probably hang me but I reckon this was Allen’s best work to date. For me anyway.

Funny old day

Yesterday, I tried and failed to get back into the full swing of writing again after a couple of weeks away. Well, away from actual writing that is as I was doing research and outlining on other projects. It was horrible. I genuine thought I had lost what little ability I thought I had before the break. Nothing was coming out, nothing was funny (and yes, I’m working on a comedy). I got depressed and nearly stalled my car on the way to Sainsbury’s – that’s how bad it got.

Today I woke-up (this post is proof) and suddenly things are flowing again, I even made myself laugh. Of course the trick is to make other people laugh but the main thing is I’m back on it. The thought of ’shit, I’ve rearranged my whole life to be a writer. What the hell am I going to do now that I KNOW I can’t do it?’ is put off for another day. Probably until tomorrow. Perseverance and a decent sleep work wonders.

I also watched Margot at the Wedding yesterday and had one of those WTF? moments. In fact I had a few during the film and more after. There was no wedding and it was quite gripping but it was like you’d just started watching the film half way through and then left before the ending. At bit like this post minus the ‘gripping’ bit.

Short and sweet

Could describe Easter couldn’t it? Especially with all the chocolate I consumed. Anyway, I watched loads of movies – mainly James Bond as the wife hadn’t seen any of the early ones and they were recently on Sky Movies HD. The originals were the best, the character and the tone of each film were unique yet the structures were similar (Bond v Villain’s henchman, Bond v Villain, Bond xxx Girl).

Also watched The Visitor. Very well made film, very enjoyable.

I’m now editing the rushes of the sketch show I filmed recently. Should be available in a week or so.

Got another sketch on Watson’s Wind-Up.

Submitted some sketch samples to a new collective with some big names attached.

Good/Bad Habits

I remember the first time I started to naturally watch films from a writer’s perspective. I felt like that kid from The Sixth Sense – I saw dead people, or people I wanted to kill for lazy structure/dialogue/lifestyles. It was like getting a power that was both a gift and a curse.

More recently I’ve gained this new super-power where by I not only spot holes in scripts but I also fix them in my own mind – or if the wife is watching, I suddenly pause the DVD and tell her what they could of done to fix something she didn’t see broken in the first place (usually this second scenario ends with an awkward silence where my wife manages to pull a face that perfectly says “What the fuck do you think you are doing? Press play now or you’re in a straight jacket by News at Ten”).

I hope this is a sign of progress writing-wise as its certainly a sign of divorce marriage-wise.

Sketch Show Boost

So I met with the producer of our web Sketch Show yesterday and things are really picking up in pace. A new production company is editing the sketches at the moment and, having seen a few of them, I’m very pleased with the outcome. Some need a few tweaks but there is scope for it so we’re happy that this is all going forward and no one thinks its a bag of shite… yet.

This article in the Times is also quite encouraging as it promotes the use of internet comedy as a way of getting noticed by TV producers. It’s a big dream, but you have to have them if you’re going to have any chance of succeeding (I am the new Aristotle!). I’ll be posting them here as soon as we’ve finished those tweaks.

What Not To Watch

I used to watch soaps when I was younger but started to find them a bit depressing and samey after a while. So I was glad to see that they’ve came a long way since then when I opened my TV Guide the other day:

What’s Been Up?

Considering that I use this blog to warm-up for writing, and I haven’t blogged for a week, you might think nothing has been happening of late (for about a week). Well you might be wrong! I’ve hit that classic ‘can’t reveal too much’ stage, which is annoying as I want to tell my avid fan (not plural on purpose) about what’s been happening.

I can reveal that some of my sketches are being filmed in October now, hopefully in time to submit with others for the Comedy Lab 2009. I’ve also got two other ideas for the lab and I’m determined to submit them as going through the full process does make me a better writer – as well as a greyer one.

I’ve also been listening to a lot of podcasts of late, particularly the Creative Screenwriting Q&A’s that Chris Regan mentions in his podcast (plug). It’s amazing how people approach writing differently, which shows you should do whatever works for you. It was also frustrating to hear how easy writing Juno seemed to be for Diablo Cody. Two months! No removed scenes!!! To be fair I can only admire that. I’m genuinely not an envious person, people feel that hard to believe but success is inspiration to me.

So that’s a mini-update for now. There will be more shortly, did my fan miss me?

Dark Knight Sheds Light on Acting

One comment I get on my writing (amongst a lot of other things) is that I can sometimes direct from the page. In other words, I literally tell the cameraman where to point his thingy and describe exactly when an actor should blink. Apparently, this doesn’t make you many friends with directors and actors who want to express themselves… blah… blah.

Well, I guess there was no better example of the validity of these comments than in Dark Knight, which I saw last night. Like WALL-E, this was another much-hyped film although I thought this one was closer to delivering. There was a lot more made of Heath Ledger’s turn as the Joker so I was ready for him to not live up to the almost unattainable expectations that had been set, especially as I’m not really that sentimental.

However, my expectations of Ledger’s Joker was emphatically surpassed. He brought a whole new life into a character that has already been portrayed well on many occasions. He was terrifying and funny, and brilliantly to watch. His facial tics, posture and presence had clearly been though-out and was perfect for the role. I can’t think of a better performance of a villain. Apparently, Ledger locked himself into a hotel room for a month before shooting to get into character – so he probably knew the character better than the writer and would of hated any directions from the page(!).

I’ve almost been in mourning today, thinking about the loss of Ledger’s undoubtable ability. For all the actors today that are labelled as ‘great’, how many actually perform signficantly different roles in other films? A Knight’s Tale, Brokeback Mountain and Dark Knight all had Heath Ledger in them, but only by name.

So I think I’ll keep my directions to a minimum now (he said, wiping a tear away from his right cheek).

Not a Bunch of WALL-E’s

Pixar Studios are not only the finest animators but possibly the finest film-makers at present too. Toy Story(s), Bug’s Life, Monsters Inc., Nemo, Incredibles, Ratatouille and now WALL-E. Just look at their hit to miss ratio, can anyone boast better stats?

I went to see WALL-E last night and have to say that the hype doesn’t do it any favours. Its a good film, the adults maybe laughed more than the kids, visually it was amazing. The hype made the expectations almost unachievable though and WALL-E does look, act and sound a lot like Number 5 from Short Circuit (I wonder if he’s still alive?). I enjoyed it, but not as much as Toy Story, Nemo and Monsters Inc. (I do like toys and seafood).

The success of Pixar is that they not only produce visually amazing films but they have strong stories too. Also, the use of comedy helps it attract interest from all ages. WALL-E probably had the most adult-related messages and themes (Global Warming, litter, obesity = American’s) of their films but generally there is something for everyone. Although, Brits will notice Frank Spencer in the romantic musical footage WALL-E regularly watches. Seriously its hard to watch as a touching scene when you are thinking ‘when is he going to say, “Ooh Betty, I’ve done a woopsy in the corner.”‘

Another reason for their success is the fact that the stars of their films are not human in form but are so in nature. This means all races can identify with the characters giving the films greater appeal.

It’s a great setup they have, I can only admire and congratulate them. Through gritted-teeth, obviously.

Targets In Sight

So far I’ve been getting my movie education by watching at least one film everyday to make sure I’m up to scratch with all the famous ones as well as the ones in the genres I like (which is most to be fair).

More importantly there a few things coming up that I can talk about. First of all, I’m working on some radio comedy this week. Then, I’ve got three comedy feature film ideas I’m outlining over the summer (various deadlines). There is also the Sketch Show pilot that has finally been drafted and is now at production phase. And there are also a few meetings coming up with people who have various projects and actually want to speak to me (?). Any of you fellow writers can contact me too, now that I’m doing the rounds!

Finally, Watson’s Wind-Up has got another series so I’ll be sharpening my pen for that.

There we go – I’ve talked!