Official Not So Random Thoughts Thread Version 2.2

barelyawake · Post #1121 » by **barelyawake** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 8:23 pm

What can one accomplish when one stops writing on a message board for two months?

Today is my most proud moment in my entire life. I just completed the first draft of a hundred page film script. And I love it -- which is extremely rare when it comes to my art.

We are already discussing Sundance 2012. Filming is planned for Spring of next year.

closg00 · Post #1122 » by **closg00** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 10:22 pm

barelyawake wrote:What can one accomplish when one stops writing on a message board for two months?

Today is my most proud moment in my entire life. I just completed the first draft of a hundred page film script. And I love it -- which is extremely rare when it comes to my art.

We are already discussing Sundance 2012. Filming is planned for Spring of next year.

Great accomplishment Barely, I-too have toyed with screenplays and have scrip writing software. Can you give a synopsis of the plot? What will the budget be on the film?

barelyawake · Post #1123 » by **barelyawake** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:46 pm

Thanks C,

Ummm it's a very David Lynchesque view of a story from my childhood. It's called "The Fort." I wrote the first draft and an actual Hollywood writer (who is a friend of the director) is doing the editing/rewrite. My friend, who is also in the story and owns a music video/commercial studio, is going to direct. I don't want to say much now because the other writer is very worried about theft. There is a show on Fox right now that she wrote, and Fox stole from her. They didn't even change the names.

In terms of cost, we've had two guys lined-up -- one for one million, another for two (based on my cowriter's previous work). Of course, nothing is signed yet, because I just finished the first draft. But, my friend has already put the wheels in motion to shoot next Spring. Once we have a final script (in two months), we will have a better idea how much we can actually raise.

Kinda crazy...

Ed Wood · Post #1124 » by **Ed Wood** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 2:12 am

If you are directly responsible for a David Lynch-esque film being made and distributed to a degree that I can see it Barely, I do hereby swear that I will watch that **** movie and I will wait until your name shows up in the credits and then I will run up to the screen and I will high five that name.

barelyawake · Post #1125 » by **barelyawake** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 5:03 pm

LOL... Well, that's one ticket. Sounds like a ground swell.

Distribution isn't so much a problem these days with IFC and IFC pay per view. I doubt this thing ever makes actual movie theaters. But, honestly, (and this is coming from a guy who wrote an entire book and proceeded to burn it) I think it's really good. If my director friend doesn't screw it up, and this chick gets us the funding she has promised, I think it could do well at Sundance. Lots and lots of ifs. I'm just amazed I finished something this long that I actually like... and haven't deleted, yet...

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #1126 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 3:01 am

barelyawake wrote:What can one accomplish when one stops writing on a message board for two months?

Today is my most proud moment in my entire life. I just completed the first draft of a hundred page film script. And I love it -- which is extremely rare when it comes to my art.

We are already discussing Sundance 2012. Filming is planned for Spring of next year.

Congratulations, barelyawake! That is quite an accomplishment.

I got rid of Internet and most cable this past week--phase one of prioritizing. I had a most productive week.

Your story, ba, is really inspirational and very timely. I'm glad to hear how proud you are and hope your film is a big success!

dobrojim · Post #1127 » by **dobrojim** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 3:23 am

just try to remember your humble friends after you become rich
and famous

barelyawake · Post #1128 » by **barelyawake** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 5:54 pm

Thanks CCJ. Thanks Jim, but I have no delusions of granduer -- though our director certainly sees this as our "break." I'm treating it more like a personal victory, other than something that leads to anything more than one, smallish, indie flick.

Trust me, you'll hear all about the progress...

Scabs304 · Post #1129 » by **Scabs304** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 6:23 pm

I worked for the YMCA for 4 years. Decided it was no longer a place I could work at and be healthy. Angry boss cause I was leaving them dicked me over so I was unemployed for 2 weeks.

On the Thursday I got 4 job offers and started work coaching again at MD Soccerplex and will be a sport director at Bretton Woods. I'm fairly excited to say the least about this coming Summer and the possibilities of actually staying doing what I enjoy doing for a living still. Oh yeah also during the last month I've launched my own business http://www.304biking.com. Life is good now I have to figure out how to really get in gear and be ultraproductive.

closg00 · Post #1130 » by **closg00** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 2:00 am

Scabs304 wrote:I worked for the YMCA for 4 years. Decided it was no longer a place I could work at and be healthy. Angry boss cause I was leaving them dicked me over so I was unemployed for 2 weeks.

On the Thursday I got 4 job offers and started work coaching again at MD Soccerplex and will be a sport director at Bretton Woods. I'm fairly excited to say the least about this coming Summer and the possibilities of actually staying doing what I enjoy doing for a living still. Oh yeah also during the last month I've launched my own business http://www.304biking.com. Life is good now I have to figure out how to really get in gear and be ultraproductive.

2 weeks only?

Lucky-you. Congrats on your launch.

barelyawake · Post #1131 » by **barelyawake** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 5:22 pm

Congrats Scabs.

verbal8 · Post #1132 » by **verbal8** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 5:28 pm

congrats scabs

willbcocks · Post #1133 » by **willbcocks** » Tue Jun 14, 2011 10:37 pm

Two weeks before I depart for my first assignment, Manila, I got my second assignment: Guangzhou (Canton), China. That assignment starts in 2013.

And I got married on the 2nd. It's been a busy month.

Scabs304 · Post #1134 » by **Scabs304** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 3:00 am

willbcocks wrote:Two weeks before I depart for my first assignment, Manila, I got my second assignment: Guangzhou (Canton), China. That assignment starts in 2013.

And I got married on the 2nd. It's been a busy month.

Congrats man. Hope you enjoy all the world has to offer.

Post #1135 » by **montestewart** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:57 am

barelyawake wrote: I just completed the first draft of a hundred page film script.

Scabs304 wrote:Oh yeah also during the last month I've launched my own business http://www.304biking.com.

willbcocks wrote:And I got married on the 2nd.

Congratulations everyone. Pretty happy crew.

Nivek · Post #1136 » by **Nivek** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:39 pm

Congrats on the screenplay BA. Screenwriting is one of my hobbies. I optioned a crummy horror screenplay a few years ago, but the producer couldn't generate financing and the project died. I'm actually pretty happy it did -- working with the guy (and the director he'd hired) was a horror story in itself. Constant demands for rewrites, but with notes that weren't helpful, provided little direction, or just made no sense at all. It sounds like you're going to be involved in the filming, which is way cool.

Writing is a good thing to do when you're younger and you don't have wife and kids. I have a zillion ideas, and I'm constantly getting more. What I don't have is much time to write. So, mega kudos for getting this far with it.

Congratulations on the marriage Will. Shortly after I got married, my wife asked my grandfather for the secret to a lasting marriage. He'd been married 55 years at that point. "Is it love?" she asked. Nope, he said. The secret is commitment. He said you'll have your good years and your bad. The key to making it last is to decide that the two of you are a team and that you'll stay together, period. He said love (romantic love) comes and goes, but that your word and your commitment can be eternal. [/soapbox]

Scabs -- of all the people I expected to start a business, I wouldn't have thought of you. But, the bike thing looks perfect for you. Good luck with it.

barelyawake · Post #1137 » by **barelyawake** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:59 pm

Thanks Nivek. Here's how bad I am with names, I can't remember your old name even after having read it for years. Don't feel bad. There's a running joke among my friends because I have forgotten my best friend's wife's name several times.

Well, I just had a conversation with the Hollywood chick who is helping me do the rewrite. Only problem I have is she is big on "structure" (act one has to end on page blah blah) and I'm more "punk". But, she loves the script. And she just told me that it's extremely hard to find financing these days for 1-5 million dollar projects. You have to make a 15 million dollar movie, that will hit at least some movie screens, for anyone to back your project. Better yet, she has several contacts to do just that. She has the whole thing planned out -- starting with Sundance. So, wow... Never had any idea that was the scope of this thing. I'll believe it when I see it. But, like I said, I love the script. I can't tell you how rare that is, in terms of my "art." And everyone I've shared it with (only a handful of close friends, many of whom are characters in the movie itself) love it too.

And your damn right I'll be involved in the filming. I'm going to kick my friend in the ass if the dailies aren't hitting my vision. The script is filled with symbolism and I'm already walking him through why each element HAS to be there.

We shall see. Like I said, thanks for the support. I'll be posting more in the months to come...

daSwami · Post #1138 » by **daSwami** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:19 pm

barelyawake wrote:What can one accomplish when one stops writing on a message board for two months?

Today is my most proud moment in my entire life. I just completed the first draft of a hundred page film script. And I love it -- which is extremely rare when it comes to my art.

We are already discussing Sundance 2012. Filming is planned for Spring of next year.

Congrats Barely. I know how difficult it is to finish projects like this. I've got multiple creative "things" I'm working on, all of which being somewhere between "just started" and "almost finished." Procrastination is a big problem for me, as I tend to passively wait for those rare bursts of inspiration to provide the energy I need (or think i need) to pick up where i left off. So I have much respect for anyone who actually has the persistence to finish something.

And I don't want to be too much of a debbie downer, but I believe the deadline for submitting a film to Sundance is usually in August or September. Which means you'd have to have a finished product (an actual screen-ready film) finished by then. Your Hollywood friend must be thinking about the 2013 Festival, especially if the script isn't finalized yet.

barelyawake · Post #1139 » by **barelyawake** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:41 pm

Thanks Swami. And yep, she meant 13. Here's what a fish outta water I am, I thought Sundance was in December -- though I knew submissions were September. So, yeah, 2013. As I said man, I'll believe it when it happens. But, can't stop smiling currently.

Post #1140 » by **Rafael122** » Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:27 pm

Congrats to BA, Scabs and Bill!

BTW, I normally don't pimp stuff, but you guys should stop by the Nats board every once in awhile. Nats are playing good baseball right now, winning their last 6 games.

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