Come Together!

Been working on a particular comedy for awhile now. It was one of my background projects while I was working on other stuff but has become my main focus because I believe it has potential. 'Course it took about 20 rewrites for me to feel that way. LOL!

Comedy is outside of my usual genres which are dramas with comedic undertones, and dark dramas. I can write that stuff with my eyes closed (so says she, who really is humble in real life. Honest!), but I'm finding that straight up comedy is tedious and, quite frankly, really difficult. Make that really really difficult. Actually, it makes me question whether I have the talent to pull it off. I don't know.

Oh well, guess I'll find out!

Anyway, I was stressing (on the inside only) during the process of this script trying to make sure it was as funny as possible while fitting into a structural "comedic box" and found myself losing the story.

Then I decided, fuck it. Just go with it and write what seems to come naturally in the chain of events. If it sucks ass, I can always revert to the previous draft and start again.

Turned out to be a wise decision. A few more rewrites and I think I might have something!

 So, tonight's song is in honor of the feeling that my script is coming together.

Cheers!

AS PER USUAL, CRANK YOUR VOLUME!

ROXY ROLLER

Foxy from the Roxy
Might turn some heads tonight
Flashlight dream
Peaches and cream delight
Roxy Roller
Five-bob job
She gets bubble-gum on her knees
Down between the seats
Sometime she'll pass you the keys
Roxy Roller
Oooh Roxy Roller
Roxy Roller, Roxy
Her daddy, le commissioner
Took far more than his share
So Roxy joined the syndicate
Knowing it wasn't fair
Roxy Roller
Oooh Roxy Roller

So... a dream of mine was to write a follow-up to one of my favorite movies, Quentin Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS, but I never allowed myself the pleasure. One, because I'm nowhere near as talented as the man and two, because... well, just because. 

I've always been intrigued by Mr. Pink's character in RD (played by Steve Bucsemi) because he is the only one who gets away.  I've imagined hundreds of times what becomes/became of him, but I know it is not my story to write.

However, I couldn't  get Mr. Pink out of my mind so I knew I had to just go with it and write something.

Anyway, I've come up with my own original story that only references and doesn't copy Quentin's work. It's called ROXY ROLLER, and the lead is... you guessed it... Roxy Roller, who just happens to be Mr. Pink's daughter.

While fleshing out her character, I put this song on replay and listened to it probably 50 times. I pictured Roxy in my head, got to know her, felt her, then became her, entered her world and perfected her swagger as she strutted down the street, AK-47 in hand.

Holy shit, she can be viscous! But the audience is gonna love her. (I hope!)

 

The whole opening sequence of ROXY ROLLER has no dialogue, just visuals set to the song, Roxy Roller by Sweeney Todd.

BE SURE TO CRANK UP YOUR VOLUME!

Thumbs UP!

My daughter is a huge movie buff and goes to the theater at least once a week, sometimes twice. 

She and I have very similar tastes when it comes to films except  for horror. She loves horror and I am not a fan. Anyway, I lead a pretty busy life and I'm lucky to get out to the theater more than once a month (watch a lot of pay per view, Netflix and rent a lot of movies from itunes) so I use her as my "wing girl".

She scopes out the movies and then calls me with her opinion and lets me know which ones are a must see in the theater. She called me this afternoon after seeing Gangster Squad, and this is what she said:

"Emma Stone really outdid herself. Outstanding acting on everyone's part, throughout. Josh Brolin and Sean Penn were amazing. Can't say a single bad thing about the movie. From acting to the script to directing to the way it was shot. Best movie I've seen in a long time."

(incidentally, she knows more about making movies than your average Jill. She has been on set with me numerous times -- and I always end up making her work. LOL!)

So, this week, I'm going to make a point of trying to get out and see Gangster Squad at the theater! 

Don't waste my time!

I don't waste my time on New Year's resolutions. Besides the fact that they have a negative connotation attached to them, I feel like you're just setting yourself up for failure. Along the lines of, "... I wasn't good enough at xxx last year, so this year I guess I`ll try again."

By thinking you weren't good enough in the first place, you fail before you even start.

Instead of New Year's resolutions, I like to start every January by writing a list of 10 things (of the many) that I love/appreciate about life.

Remember, it's the small daily pleasures that count the most. Take the time to appreciate something that you enjoy everyday and it will all add up. Before you know it, you won't be able to stop yourself from being positive. A positive energy will permeate all of your senses.

Then, when the downfalls in life come -- which they surely will, after all, this is life -- you can rely on your positive "reserves" to get you through it.

 Anyway, here is my list of ten, off the top of my head.

1.) The people I love and love me back.

2.) I live in a climate that has four distinct seasons to enjoy.

3.) The smell of fresh rain.

4.) Laughter.

5.) Music.

6.) Bed sheets that were hung outside on the line to dry.

7.) The sound of children playing.

8.) Wind in my hair.

9.) Flowers. Not in a vase, but planted in a garden.

10.) An extra-extra firm mattress.

11.) Shoes. Although, right now it is boots since winter is upon us.

12.) Hitting every green light when I am driving.

13.) My animals. (Two sharpeis, Kiki-san and Earl, and a Russian blue kitty, Jay-Jay the Jetplane)

 

Oops! Was only going to do 10, so I'll stop. But see how easy it is when you take a moment?

Easy-peasy! Why don't you try it?

*BTW, if you didn't see writing and making movies on my list, it is because there is no need. That IS a given!*

And on a different note -- HOCKEY IS BACK!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

GO CANUCKS GO.

All the Best!

From me and mine to you and yours, Happy New Year!

I hope 2013 proves prosperous and fruitful for you all.

For me? I've decided that this is the year to "come out of the closet" as far as my writing is concerned. I've spent the last few years learning, experiencing and preparing (not just in writing, but also in producing) so that I could be ready when the time is right.

You've heard the saying, Luck is when preparation meets opportunity? Well, my preparation is done and it's now time to find an opportunity and make me some luck!

Looking forward to the adventure.

The Wizard and the Whip!

A few months back, I was floating around Netflix looking for something new to watch and stumbled upon the BBC series, MERLIN, so I thought I'd give it a try.

I liked it. In fact, I liked it so much, I watched all four seasons (sixty-eight episodes) within four weeks! Season five is broadcasting now.

I totally admit that it can be a little cheesy at times and a couple of the episodes were too far-fetched for me, but all in all,  I find the storyline interesting and I really like the writing. Some great dialogue between the characters, especially Arthur and Merlin. I'm into anything set in the age of King Arthur and his Knights of Camelot. Throw in the magician, Merlin, whom I've researched aplenty and believe he was man and not myth, and you get my undivided attention.

Season five, however, (*SPOILER ALERT*) is proving to be a little disappointing. Every week seems to be the same -- King Arthur's wicked sister Morgana plotting his demise and Merlin, using his hidden magic, manages to save him. And no great dragon! The dragon, KILGHARRAH, is my favorite character and he has disappeared. Bring him back, please bring him back!

At this point, depending on what happens through the rest of the season, I might not tune in for season six. I really hope I change my mind!

Anyway, last night, I went to see the movie, FLIGHT, starring Denzel Washington as airline pilot, Whip Whitaker, alongside Don Cheadle, as his lawyer. I thought the film was based on a true story from events that happened in 2001 when a Canadian pilot pulled a heroic landing, but not so much. While the plane malfunction was similar to the actual event, the storyline is fiction. Still, I quite enjoyed it and Denzel's performance was fantastic! He deserves an Oscar nomination, that's for sure!

I plan to take in the flick, ARGO, next. This one is based on a real event and I just know it is going to be good!

Hickory Dickory Doc...

... this chick was sucking my coc... oops! Inappropriate. Got your attention though, didn't it?

The real subject of this post is docs as in documentaries. I loves me some documentaries. I watch a lot of them. Foreign, independent, mainstream, crime, historical, biographical, you name it.

If it looks interesting then I will give it a try.

Here are just a few of the many I`ve watched in the past couple of weeks:

(spoiler alert! I`ve posted my thoughts which may or may not give away any twists and turns. If you don`t want to be spoiled, just click on the title to go straight to the IMDb page)

In no particular order:

MURDER ON A SUNDAY

This one truly broke my heart! The poor kid, accused and jailed for a crime he didn`t commit.  I actually bow down to his defense team. Fantastic lawyers and I don`t say that lightly. Btw, it`s an Oscar winner from 2001.

SHUT UP LITTLE MAN

I thought it started out pretty funny, but then about halfway through, I realized what an absolute invasion of privacy it was and well, then I felt like a total fucking asshole for watching it. 'Course, I didn't shut it off at that point but watched it to the end which makes me even more of an asshole.

And, now I`ve blogged about it, so I guess I`m a triple-dog asshole.

*hangs head in shame*

BOOKER`S PLACE: A MISSISSIPPI STORY

Dual footage of a documentary on racism in the south in 1965 and footage shot in 2011 by the original filmmaker`s son. I thought it was very well done and am still sort of dumbfounded that people actually referred to the blacks as ``our niggers`` like it was a favor! Guess I`m a little sheltered in that aspect, being from Canada and all, but damn.

Still, I truly enjoyed it.

LIFE WITH MURDER

This one is Canadian and pretty much paints a picture of a true sociopath. As soon as the subject spoke on camera, I knew there was more to him than meets the eye. Even worse, I was right. In the end, he admits to what his true plans were that day without any remorse or emotion.

CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS

What a giant bore-fest! I mean it, too. Snooze-a-rooney. A shame, really. I find ancient civilizations fascinating and I was looking forward to getting some new knowledge about how life really was 20,000 years ago. Instead I got some sleepy orchestra music and silent footage inside the cave. Not what I was expecting at all. However, some people liked it because it sure received a lot of awards, so maybe you will too.

I suppose the paintings were cool.

And on that note...

"A-blee-bleet-blee-That's All Folks!"

Out with the old and in with the new!

Long story, but I've changed my domain name. I'm still me, but just with a dash in the middle!

While I was at it, I decided to go through all the posts I've written here over the past five years and delete some of the older ones.

One thing led to another and before I knew it, I went from close to five hundred posts down to twenty-five or so. Lol! Go figure. Must be that I've matured...

... NOT!

Well, in some things, maybe.

Anyway, I'm still here and I'm still going to keep this blog going. Just not right now! Perhaps tomorrow...

*WINK*

G'nite.