Hurry up and wait...

Well, there's interest! In fact there are two potential homes for the spec. Both producers would be amazing to work with. It's truly win/win. There are still a lot of factors and hoops to jump through so I'm trying to stay calm. But it's definitely encouraging. It makes suiting up to wait tables every day that much more bareable. After all this time there is a real light at the end of the tunnel. We should "know more next week". Which is what they said last week...and we still don't really know more. But at least there's movement!

I'll keep you posted.

Words I Wish I Had Written: "He that can have patience can have what he will."
(Benjamin Franklin)

Finish Line...first of many....

Well, I've completed the first draft and have spent the weekend going through to 'spruce' it up. Funny thing, sprucing. In my case it means finding more jokes, trimming dialogue, and making some of the longer/chatty scenes more active. Less tell more show. This has been quite a journey. Many ups and downs. Many "I'm a genius" tempered with "I'm clinically retarded". Somewhere in the middle I lie, fingers crossed hoping my shiny moments outweigh my thinner something-better-here-but-I-don't-know-what moments. Ken Levine says you only need one person to be interested in your spec script. From now on I shall call this person: The One.

I'm sending the newest draft to my agent tomorrow and they'll be sending it to producers and show runners and potential "The One's".

I fully intend to have good news next week even if it's only: "No one is interested...YET."

Words I Wish I Had Written: "Scratch a cynic and you'll find a disappointed optimist." (An Optimist)

One down, three to go...

Well, I wrote the Teaser and ACT I of the Pilot today. However, it's not funny. That wouldn't matter except that I'm writing a comedy. I'm praying to The Comedy Gods that when the first draft is up and on it's feet I'll be able to go through and mine for jokes. There'll be jokes to mine for, right?

Someone kill Judd Apatow so I can channel his funny dead spirit into my script. $40 to the man that kills Judd by Friday.


Words I Wish I Had Written: "Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least." (Goethe)

Matrioshka Stage....

I'm in a very interesting stage in the pilot right now. I'm working on the beat sheet, a mere day or two from going to draft (!) and I'm finding that one clever solution to a problem is leading me to a whole new set of problems. Sort of like Matrioshka Dolls (I actually had to google: "dolls that fit inside each other" to find the name). I am thrilled at my new doll (solution) only to find that it's head comes off and theres another one inside it (new problem)!! Only, it's not thrilling the way it was when I was ten and realized I had not one doll but four!

But this is good. Getting stuck in the mud means that new distinctions are being made, specifics are being hammered out and rules, guidelines and relationships are solidifying. It's very tempting to jump ship at this stage. It appears that it's not going to turn out, it appears that the very pilot itself sucks, and it becomes painfully obvious that in order to make it work, it needs to be three hours long.

I will not be seduced by the illusion of "it's not working". I shall make it work. I shall finesse this script until my brain bleeds, when my inner critic starts screaming: "Your premise is smarter than you are!" I'll hold my finger to my lips and say: "Shhhh. Shut your mouth, jack ass." And I'll forge on....

Words I Wish I Had Written: "Seek and Ye Shall Find..." (I think it was Jesus)