I Want to Write

The Church Supports the Writers As Well.....

2008-01-04T16:16:00.000+10:00

We know who has the big man on side........

my favourite below...

cheers
Dave

2.13am

2007-12-06T02:16:00.001+10:00

started at page 89 around 3pm after getting work and a quick nap in.....we fought....staggered back to page 88, bloody, bruised but still in the fight.

2.13am - 101 pages.

One more day of time dedicated to writing. Bring it on.

Came into this day with a strange feeling. I hear Pro's talk about being scared of starting a new script because what happens if "it" won't come this time. The blank page just sits there mocking them.

For the first time ever I experienced that feeling (not of being a pro :) ) of dread. It is a truly scary, black abyss, that I had to push myself away from. That is some scary shit.

Time to grab my teddy and hit the sack.

cheers
Dave.

I'm baaaack....

2007-11-15T17:09:00.001+10:00

Hi All,

Hmmm July was last post. Didn’t seem that long. Sorry about that. You would have seen me commenting here and there around the place, so I had not dropped off the edge of the world.

One word to describe my actions. Selfish.

Instead of blogging, I’ve been putting that time into the scripts. In addition to that, I still know both my kids names, wife still tolerates me, dog doesn’t bite me and I’m still employed, so the juggling act is working.

Two scripts going nicely, 90 odd pages on one, and 50 on the other. Got two days coming up of a motel room, no family, hookers or bookies. Just me and Final Death, sorry Final Draft. That was actually a typo…..I think I am approaching these two days like a big tournament. Two days, 40 pages is what I want, take no prisoners. Wonder if I can sell tickets?

Okay, but no grief about writing whilst the strike is on. My own project, own time, etc. I have been following it as closely as I can from over here. That petition that was started. I was actually number 26. My birthday number, so hopefully that is a good sign for the strike.

I would like to say thank you to all the writers who are out picketing. Yes, it is for yourselves but it is also for people like myself and for the future, so thank you.

I wanted to show my support in some way, would love to be there and walk the walk with you all. Unfortunately, a few thousand km’s in between and saving the money for if I ever need to attend a few meetings over there :) One must have hope.

I did come up with one way to show my support and I think it is something that a lot of us aspiring writers based overseas can do. I went to my local store, grabbed some local chocolates(I don’t think they are available in the US, could be wrong though) and have just mailed them off to the WGAW offices asking them to distribute them, along with a letter of support at whatever gate they wish to take it to.

The chocolate I chose was the Cherry Ripe.

Lovely red packaging, I picked the snack bags, and popped them in mail. Thought it worked in well with the whole strike colour theme :) Should be there in a week and I hope the WGAW staff will pass them on.

I’ve given up reading the comments at Craig Mazin’s site for a little while. Anonymous(anonymi? Anonymous squared??) is/are becoming annoying and there are too many comments about the same thing or are just rehashing old points, bashing the same dead horse to a slow second death.

I feel for the under the line crew. I can see their point of view but they are amazing for standing by the writers, in most cases.

To the actors, thank you, and yes, you are next, so its good practice for later and any publicity is good publicity so we should not look a gift horse in the mouth.

I would like to discuss slogans. Some good ones, my personal favourite was the Lost writer’s sign asking if you wanted to find out what was on the island. Great stuff.

Here are a few ideas of my own, feel free to use if you like them:

(insert studio or studio head of choice) has a 0% strike rate.
Husbands: No Soaps means your wife will want to talk to you.
Wives: No scripts means more sports on TV.

Nothing fantastic but use ‘em if you like ‘em.

Till next time, take care and all the best for the strike, again, thankyou for doing it!

Cheers
Dave.

Loved It

2007-07-20T16:12:00.000+10:00

My wife and I watched Hot Fuzz the other night. It's one I've been waiting for as well.

Loved it, had us both laughing from very early on, definitely put off the sleep to catch that one. Well worth it if you like the dry British sense of humour and can Simon Pegg act?! Loved his T2 type persona. Hilarious. I had read reviews where they thought the third act went on too long but I thought it was a great send up at a good length. Each to his own.

On a personal note I have actually just spent two weeks at home working. Wow what an experience! I'll have to do it again soon, back on the road next week but not for too long. Going to book in a writing weekend for myself, I need to if I want to get my main one back on track asap.

Maryan over at Fencing with the Fog is treading water waiting for the Nicholls letter. Hope she makes it, here's something for good luck. Your own Nicol (mc)

Back to the Aquawoman shoot Maryan!! :)

Just been playing with a camcorder to DVD convertor I purchased a few months back. Found this grab from a wedding my family and I attended back in 2001 up in Palm Cove in northern Queensland.

The wedding was over and my daughter (2 and a half at the time) who was flowergirl wanted to go for a walk on the beach. Mum was Matron of honour so Dad was lucky enough to be the one chosen. It is my favourite piece of footage of my daughter and I. Unfortunately, in the conversion from the camcorder to AVI the quality has taken a dive but you'll get the idea.

The thing I love about it is the differences. Me. Smart casual dress(it was beachside wedding so nice and casual and tropical summer, 38 degress and 120% humidity that day I reckon!) black shoes.

Her, special flower girl dress on, flowers in hair, shoes off. Exploring the beach, finding sticks and rocks fascinating as it is all new to her. Life is exciting, I was only allowed to point things out, she wanted to run and grab them all. It is just one of those moments in life that you do treasure. Thought it would be fun to share through the magical powers of youtube. Forgive the shaky cam work, I didn't second someone from NYPD Blue, my brother in law actually just spotted us and took the opportunity to film us, unbeknownst to me until I saw the footage later. I was very thankful he shot it.

Stay well everyone.

cheers
Dave.
PS I think my favourite part of blogging nowadays is putting the tags in.

So, I was in Texas last week…

2007-07-10T13:31:00.000+10:00

For about 30 seconds all up.

It’s not very big.

Texas, Queensland(see the red arrow and smiley face), couple of hundred km’s from where I live(Brisbane). About 500 people, not so good for a screenwriting expo’s I imagine.

Been absolutely flat out, managed to get some writing done on the joint project but none on mine, although with the driving I have been doing lately(racked up 2500km last week) I have had time to run plenty of scenarios through the old think wagon and have come up with a few ideas to improve both screenplays, so that’s good.

Below is another map showing you the area I cover in my job. Feel free to then jump on a world map and compare the size of Queensland and Northern NSW to the US or Europe. It’s a decent size I have to cover. Anything over 1000km, I fly. We all have our limits :)

The red only indicates where I currently have properties, around 60 at present, as more come online I can go wherever I am needed in Queensland or Northern NSW. However, must say I am coming to love Northern NSW from Grafton up to Ballina. That’s a lot coming from a Queenslander :)

I tend to help this process along by downloading and burning onto a CD the CS podcasts, great company when all you are left with is ABC radio and about 4 hours of driving ahead.

I put the question out there a while ago about software for converting and burning mp3’s to a CD, discovered Windows Media does that itself. I knew it ripped but was not aware it converted…..so there you go. Saved me plenty of time.

Along with half the western world got to see Transformers, enjoyed it for what it was, fun to see John Rogers name up there, hope he did not get to shafted in the whole Michael Bay film situation. Michael Bay is an enigma to me…..hmmmmmm I may be making that too complex. I have read things, as we all have about MB, however, I have found a number of his films(not all) enjoyable – for what they are. No, they are not wildly thought provoking, etc. They are however, generally entertaining in that big screen, action, summer blockbuster way.

Someone in the scribosphere once wrote that the average movie goer is tired from the week at work and wants to escape, hence the reason for dumbing down movies(I could be a little wrong in the wording, it was a while ago). I think they are right for the first part, but I don’t see it as dumbing down so much as just making it entertaining….if you can entertain and educate(that includes making people think about a situation), bloody well done, if all you can do is entertain, then well done!

Finally saw the Da Vinci Code the other week. Neither my wife and I had read the book so we were going in knowing the basic spoiler, but still keen to see this movie. Lasted 20 minutes before we turned it off. I kinda thought it was going downhill when the priest was whipping himself and I was thinking, not as painful as where I’m sitting mate. We could not waste our time waiting to see if Tom Hanks cut his hair or changed his expression, there was sleeping to be done! It really did not entertain us at all and therefore lost us.

Hey, I’ll watch a doco about flies crawling up a wall if you make it interesting and educational.

Going to be home for a number of weeks now so will have a chance to catch up on a number of things, jobs, writing, work, etc. which will also allow me to post a bit more regularly. Stop laughing.

Parents situation is in flux. Dad has moved back home but it is day by day stuff. Must admit, did not think he was going back. Happened once twenty years ago(like I said, huge backstory, but no violence towards each other at all, nothing like that) but I knew then he would go back, but did not expect it this time. Not sure if I am happy he has moved back...hmmmm. Time will tell if it is a good move.

Take care and again congrats to all the people like Fun Joel, Chris etc that have been picking up writing gigs lately, well done!

cheers

Dave

I'll drink to that.....

2007-07-10T12:52:00.000+10:00

July 10, 2007 12:00am
Article from: Daily Telegraph

NEW research, to be revealed at a conference of some of the world's top neuroscientists in Cairns today, has found alcohol does not kill off brain cells as always thought.

For years imbibers have been told a big night on the drink wipes out entire sections of human brain cell function with much the same destructive equivalent as a napalm bombing strike.
According to Queensland Brain Institute director Professor Perry Bartlett, this is not true.

There is no evidence drinking alcohol leads directly to the death of brain cells, he said.
"Some of the best studies, done in Italy, show a bottle of wine a night can reduce the risk of dementia in old age," Professor Bartlett said.

In moderation, alcohol has positive benefits for blood vessel health and stroke prevention. And, as an added bonus, new brain cells are generated every day of our lives.

Research by Professor Bartlett and his team has found we all have an inbuilt repair kit replenishing the more than 100 billion cells - or neurons - in our brain.

What are you waiting for? There's plenty of inspiration to be drunk!

cheers
Dave.

Bad week....

2007-06-08T23:42:00.000+10:00

Two people I love very much.

66 and 67 years of age.

Finally settling into retirement. New house, etc.

46 years of marriage.

All blew apart this week. HUGE backstory.

No-ones fault. Both parties faults. Two people, one sad story.

Old enough to understand they why's etc. but listening to both your parents in emotional pain breaks your heart and drains more energy than I realised.

Going to be a long year.

cheers
Dave.
PS On top of all that my daughter has discovered the Olsen Twin movies...AND she loves to watch them with Dad. I just imagine I've been captured by jihady types and my eyelids are held open with roughly cut wire whilst strapped to the chair. So far I haven't given over any info,but I may crack if there is a long weekend and my daughter wants to have an Olsen twin movie marathon.

The importance of those little lines...just add water

2007-06-04T11:12:00.000+10:00

You know the ones that are smattered amongst the fast flowing dialogue runs in your "best of the best of the bestest" screenplay.

They're the easy ones to dismiss as not important to spend time on when you've got the Mr Sheen out doing those contest winning, agent impressing dialogue/ exposition /structure /whatever polishes.

Couple of words, never more than one line.

Easy to read.

Agents and Evil Development Excutive Overlords might even read these lines.

Aren't they as important as the "no more than four" lines action paragraphs where you map out the emotional journey through the characters actions and inferences in their movements or simply destroy the universe with a wad of gum and a nuclear device sitting on Panadora's box.

Whatever.

Those single lines can be very important.

They can change ......

perspective.

I saw a photo the other day that perfectly illustrates the importance of these lines.

Why a picture? Picture = 1000 words...yadda yadda.

Below is a headshot photo....we've seen them a 1000 times before....this one is Jessica Alba in a bikini top. Photographers and her publicist must dole these out at an alarming rate. They're common, you hardly give them a glance. Not withstanding that JA is an extremely attractive girl but once you've seen that shot (line) a thousand times...whatever.

As I said...seen it a thousand times ...boring.

Then. The twist. A small change to the photo(line) and suddenly everyone is taking notice.

Exhibit A.

Just add water and you have something different that catches peoples eyes.

Thus endeth the lesson for today. Go back and add water to those boring lines. :)

cheers

Dave.

Short of Mine

2007-05-31T22:31:00.000+10:00

Hi All,

A few weeks ago over at Todd’s Tequila Barn, more commonly known as Moviequill we talked about short films. Specifically I mentioned I sometimes write them as a form of useful procrastination, ie I am writing something.

I thought I would post the last one I wrote. I was going to give it to Shane who directed my first short for On the Lot(if he wanted or could use it) but unfortunately he did not make the final cut. Let me say…..HE WAS ROBBED…..no bias here : ) Besides, I think this is more of a sketch rather than a proper short.

Anyway, the short below was just a fun thing I knocked up one afternoon, took a bit over an hour or two, can’t quite remember. Please forgive the character descriptions, like I said, I was just having fun. Yes, I may have been channeling Ellis from Die Hard when I was imagining this character.

I don’t get SNL over here, I think it might be on cable but I don’t have that at home, so if it is similar to any sketch that has been done, purely coincidental.

I saw Spidey 3 last weekend… mmmmmm not the worst movie by a long shot but not as good as I wanted it to be. I was actually pleasantly surprised when I watched Click with Adam Sandler. Not normally a fan of his, have liked a couple of his, but quite liked this one.

Travelling heaps for work, but took the night off to post this rather than belt out emails and whatnot.

Hope you have a giggle, just a bit of fun. By the way, I titled this one Keeping the Faith.

Hope you are all well.

Cheers
Dave.

FADE IN.

INT. ROOM - CONTINUOUS

The meeting is not going well.

ELLIS HARDING -- super-slick-manic-uber-marketing-spin-doctor-guru is planted in his chair, playing with his files on the polished timber of the desk.

HARDING
Those ideas were just to test the water...

Hovering near the fireplace, is hawk-like Catholic CARDINAL CRIOVAC who still manages to look resplendent in his purple cassock, spinning his rosary beads so fast he is in danger of taking off.

CARDINAL
Testing the water?

Across the table from Harding, seated in an oversized wingback chair is HEADPIECE MAN, whose hands and bejewelled-tiara religious headpiece are the only visible parts.

HARDING
Watch it there Cardinal.

Cardinal looks at the spinning rosary and gets it under control.

HARDING (CONT'D)
Too many Hail Mary’s to get through before dinner if you break it.

Harding’s body language doesn’t talk, it shouts.

CARDINAL
Do you think we could we continue?

HARDING
Right then. You guys have thrown me one hell of a challenge.

CARDINAL
One you can’t accomplish?

HARDING
Hell no! You boys are gonna love these next ideas for rebranding the Catholic Church.

CARDINAL
Modernizing...

HARDING
Riiiight...

Makes a note...

HARDING (CONT'D)
So anyway, it’s a hard sell. Your Front of House Managers are ripping your credibility to shreds, your sales are down, donations...down, attendance...down...everything... down.

CARDINAL
Your ability for stating the obvious is staggering in it’s simplicity.

HARDING
I have identified a biggie
(flipping through his reports)
...sex before marriage...any chance?
Both Cardinal and the Headpiece shake vigorously…no!

HARDING (CONT'D)
Pity...
(Thinking)
what about if we just move the goal posts to after the engagement...you’ve got the commitment thing happening but there’s still time to hoof it if she’s bad in ....
(Realizing his audience…finally)
...the pews....bad in the pews...you can call it off.

Still a no.

CARDINAL
Next.

HARDING
Best thing about being down this far? You got nowhere else to go but up! And baby, listen to me, I’ll get you flying in the clouds again!

CARDINAL
Your holiness...

HARDING
Sorry?

CARDINAL
Please address the Pope as your holiness.

HARDING
Sorry Mr Holiness.

CARDINAL
You did say you had a Catholic education?

HARDING
Yeah, but a few years of therapy managed to block most of it.

CARDINAL
Continue.

HARDING
The truth is the whole thing needs a complete ground up rebuild. Okay...okay...look first thing...image.

Points at the Cardinal.

HARDING (CONT'D)
Not even a cracked up street dealer would be caught dead in that.

CARDINAL
We don’t want drug dealers...

HARDING
(eagerly)
I can cross off that whole saviour program then?

CARDINAL
No!

HARDING
Lose the robes. You want modern. Nice suit, no tie, open neck, nice and welcoming. I’m sure we can get some sort of sponsorship thing going. Balance out expenses, etc. I can see it now, the Boss, dressed by Boss. We can probably get some sort of supply deal going with aftershave and perfume companies to supply the holy water. Baptized, christened and ambrosial!

Headpiece is indicating no interest.

HARDING (CONT'D)
You’re knocking back a gift horse there. Kids nowadays, into Buffy, Angel and stuff. Vampire hunting with Red Door or Chanel No. 5. Get some rebates happening and claw back some of those lost profits.

Still no interest.

HARDING (CONT'D)
Give me something Mr Holiness. I mean look...the whole Virgin Mary mess? Branson has the Virgin brand sewn up globally, be a bitch to try and get it off him...

Headpiece and hands indicate he is agitated.

HARDING (CONT'D)
I know, I know, but when your people were playing all cute in the crusades, they should have been patenting and trademarking all of this. I’m just playing catch up here.

CARDINAL
Yes, yes, we’ll take that on board, what about attendances, we are losing worshippers...

HARDING
Losing? The Cardinals baseball team loses, desertion is a better word here. Your market is oversaturated...Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Kabbalah, Judaism, Scientology...

CARDINAL
Scientology?

HARDING
You’re competing against an internationally renowned and revered sci-fi writer’s best work...with what? Old Testament, new testament, slapped together. . It’s got no traction in today’s marketplace. You need a hero...

CARDINAL
We have Jesus...

HARDING
He gets killed...

CARDINAL
He returns...

HARDING
It peters off into ramblings, almost like it was written by different people...

CARDINAL
It was...

HARDING
Proves my point...no focus.

CARDINAL
Move on!

HARDING
You were the ones that said everything was on the table. I’m just giving you the reality of the moment. Take for instance Mr Holiness here. Everyone knows you as the Pope, but then have to address you as Mr Holiness...it confuses the market.

CARDINAL
We don’t care about that, that’s how it has always been.

HARDING
World would be much less populated if doctors had kept that thought going.

CARDINAL
We are not doctors...

HARDING
(Trying to win them over)
Funky scrubs though...

Cardinal throws him a hurry up look...

HARDING (CONT'D)
(Consulting his files)
Okay, I’ll come back to that later. Looking at your numbers over the last 30 years since the decline started, there is a huge spike in numbers that looks promising...

CARDINAL
Continue...

HARDING
Your predecessor, back in the eighties...the numbers go crazy after he was shot.
(Looks at the Pope)
...any chance?

The hand gripping the side of the wingback waves with purpose. CRACK! A wisp of smoke is all that is left of Harding.

CARDINAL
(To the Pope)
Next?

FADE OUT.

THE END.

My thoughts...

2007-04-19T21:05:00.000+10:00

truly go out to the victims and their families caught up in that senseless shooting by an obviously deranged individual. I hope they can find peace someday.

Sincerely,
Dave.

More exposition....

2007-04-18T09:31:00.000+10:00

Gotta make sure that when my friends ask what I have been up to and I reply "killing my babies", I provide further explanation.

cheers
Dave.

ummmmm, some updates, maybe a giggle, could be naked pictures of Jessica Alba.....

2007-04-14T18:38:00.000+10:00

Well, that heading should have the whacko's pouring through the doors....

Just to keep things same as, been busy :)

Now up to about 24000km’s in the car and was able to fly the wife and daughter to Cairns for Easter with the frequent flyer miles, so some perks :)

Been getting into a decent swing with the writing again which is great. Knocked off some pages for the one I am writing with my brother in law….I got to do the scene with the US President when he was singing “Prostitution of the Constitution”, I moved on as he asked for anyone to sing “Impeachment Blues” with him…I enjoyed that scene :) Yes, there was a Banjo, but no other words containing both B & J were included in that scene. That's what the finale is for.

Went on to my feature and have started jumping from scene to scene rather than going linear. It is working really well for me and have added a number of pages. I can still see this bastard blowing out to 140 pages though……then machete time.

Sorry, little rant here…I am f*&^%$g sick of websites that cannot get the bloody basics correct. I am talking about simplicity…..username, tab, password, tab, enter/submit/whateverthef%$k key to then hit, enter.

I am generally smart enough to not need to get a password reminder EVERY fuckin time I login, if people do need that type of help……BAN THEIR IP, THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE INTERNET.

Keep them in parliament where they belong.

Another peeve is that when you tab, it takes you to god knows where on the page….I am not talking about Uncle Erics Easy Euthanasia website, I am talking about some huge –made billions and have retired to raise virgins -- motherf*&^%r sites around the place. Use your f*&^%n brains, put the nerf football in the draw and think about your web design before you knock off after half an hour of work and hit the café latte bench press machine. Sorry for the swearing but it has been really p*&^%$g me off lately.

Okay, Todd(Moviequill) hit me with a tag(last time I help you with any bank questions buddy :) ) regarding 5 things you don’t know about me. I am assuming they should be mildly interesting. No promises though.

Hmmmmmm……. five……if I have mentioned any of these before, I plead the fifth, since I am not living under your constitution, take that as a fifth of bourbon.

1. I have been happily married for over 10 years. You’ll have to check with the wife to see if she has been.

2. I was the U16 Karate champion for my state. Sounds better than I got knocked out in the first round at the Nationals.

3. I once took a job that kept me in Alice Springs for two years, I had 30 minutes to make that decision. Yes, you can fuck up when rushed.

4. I did not get drunk until I was over 18. I will sober up when I am over 70.

5. I was voted President of my college in my first year there. I had only recently turned 18. My biggest achievement for that college, which was an Australian version of Animal House, was starting 20 boat races in a row with my own skull….yes, falling down face first not only became on option, but inevitable, gravity and alcohol don’t mix well Fact: It takes 5 guys to carry you up three flights of stairs, the fifth is to hold your head up so you don’t bang them on the stairs. He is also helpful in opening any doors. Just a heads up. Yes, I have settled down. I now only start my daughters orange juice boat races with straight shots of Ribena.

Well you wanted 5 things about me, so you got five I's.

I wanted to mention a bit of fun I had for Valentines. Got the idea whilst on the road. For my wife's present I went a bought a pillow slip (girls, don’t throw things at the screen just yet), went home and did some internet surfing and photoshoppy type things. Went to printing place in shopping centre that puts photos and stuff on anything. Valentine’s comes around, get wife to sit on the bed with eyes closed.

Open them.

In front of her is said pillowcase with a photo of me with a caption below:

“For when you are lonely” because I travel a lot…cute bugger aren't I....

She gave the aaah look, you know the one where she is thinking, crap, is this all…..

I then said flip it over…..

On the back…picture of George Clooney with a caption:

“For when you are bored”.

Tears, howls of laughter….it worked, best present I have ever come up with. Girls at work seemed think it was a bit of a winner as well. So there you go, latest installment, you can now resume plucking the eyebrows of your dog/cat/antelope.

Cheers
Dave.

PS I am not tagging anyone else, you are safe. You know who you are!

The Clock is ticking........

2007-03-17T09:29:00.000+10:00

I am just wondering how long until this story turns up on L&W SVU? It's a given isn't it?

cheers

Dave.

AA rapist gets jail term after confession
By Tom Baldwin
March 17, 2007 03:30am
Article from:
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A RAPIST who wrote a confession letter to his victim as part of the 12-step Alcoholic Anonymous recovery program was yesterday sentenced to 18 months' jail for the sexual assault he inflicted 23 years ago.
William Beebe received a 10-year sentence, suspended for all but 18 months, for attacking Liz Seccuro, a fellow student at the University of Virginia. The case was reopened in 2005 after Beebe sent her an apology on vanilla-scented paper.
"Dear Elizabeth," it began, "in 1984 I harmed you."
He wanted to tell her how, after dropping out of college, his life had been a misery - an "emotional black hole" - jumping on and off the wagon until he arrived at AA.
From the moment he read the 12-step program, which encouraged alcoholics to list those they have hurt and try to make amends, Beebe had wanted to contact his victim.
"I have always secretly felt, consciously and unconsciously, as though I didn't deserve true unity with another woman after what I did to you," he wrote.
"I did not know how I was going to set about repairing wrongs I believed I could never fully right most especially in the situation with you." He offered her compensation, including paying for therapy sessions.
Ms Seccuro read the letter and following emails with growing unease.
In 1984, she attended a fraternity party and was handed a drink of pale green liquid that left her feeling strange. She remembered Beebe, a student she did not know, dragging her to his room. When she tried to break free and plead for help, another man threw her back into the room, where Beebe tore off her clothes and raped her.
Beebe's account was different. "We started to make out in my room," he wrote. "There was no fight and it was all over in short order."
She remembered resisting before waking up naked, wrapped in a bloody sheet, and then walking to the emergency room. She also dimly recalled other men being involved in a "gang rape" or a "spectator sport".
After receiving the apology and subsequent emails from Beebe, Ms Seccuro contacted the police.
Beebe was arrested in Las Vegas and brought back to Virginia where, facing a life sentence, he denied charges of rape. She began to receive hate mail and suffered a miscarriage.
When Beebe pleaded guilty last year it was to lesser charges of aggravated sexual battery, the result of a plea bargain for his co-operation in the continuing investigation of what police believed was a gang rape.
The Times, Washington, in The Australian

Thinking outside the sqaure for marketing

2007-03-13T06:42:00.000+10:00

I love this one........at present it is the main story on www.news.com.au the signs might be physically outside their market but it is working. Read here for more info on this story.
I expect to read more about this as the weeks progress.

Great show, not dissimilar to Jon Stewart's show but they like to actually turn up and create mayhem. Recently on Dick Cheney's visit here to go hunting with John Howard our PM(JH politely declined that generous offer I believe) the Chaser crew were seen listed on the Secret Service's list of no-gooders :)

cheers
Dave

What's the Protocol?

2007-03-07T23:15:00.000+10:00

When a manager from another department has dropped you in the shit with the clients you are visiting and is complaining to you, whilst you are in front of said clients about said clients and all you want to do is ask a few questions, it's all right to tell him to shutup isn't it? Bit hazy on that myself, but it did work.

Had my performance review last week, I received high marks for playing well with others. I'm already aiming low for next year :)

Little short is going well, holding a 4.5 average at present, when it hits six I'm selling!!!!!!! No, you are not allowed to point out average is being held by all the other film-makers coming and reviewing it, leaving a high score in the hope people associated with that one will reciprocate. My head is happily in the sand on that score......LALALALLALALALALLALALALA

cheers
Dave.

News on screenwriting……..

2007-03-02T13:55:00.000+10:00

Okay so I lied, it’s not necessarily about screenwriting, but a film, a short film, one I may have mentioned before.

IT’S BEEN MADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It gets more interesting as the director Shane Kester has entered it into On the Lot, the new Mark Burnett / Steven Spielberg reality show as his audition piece. http://films.thelot.com/

Gets more interesting….it’s on the web! I only found out late the night before last with an email from Shane.

So, if you want to watch HOUSEWIFE WANTS HIT-MAN(Must have own Gun) go here.

Been watched over a thousand times already, had a great response so far, holding 5 out of 5 stars at present. Lots of nice comments about the writing, story and plot which I am chuffed about(and Shane should be as well).

Shane had other scripts to play with and he had chosen mine to shoot and enter into film festivals, then he gets an email from his father in law telling him about On the Lot and he has 14 days to enter. Easy, when you are based in France(yeah, that France was in all the papers in the 40’s) and he had my 14 page script and his audition piece had to be under 5 minutes. 14 generally doesn't go into 5 too well.

I don’t think Shane will mind me quoting from an email of his:

I'm so pleased that you're pleased. The night I found out about the contest I was pretty weighed down not knowing what to do. I woke up at 4:00 am the next day with an epiphany. Could I cut down HIT-MAN? So I opened it up and cut all non-essential scenes and got it down to 6 pages with it still telling a cohesive story.

As I sat there while the sun was coming up I then had to think of actors and it dawned on me, make the couple older (that's even funnier Dave: I agree!) and use the older English lady that I saw in a play reading, but she was in Australia. My friend Ian recommended Penny and it all fell together so fast and so perfectly. Then after their shoot they gave me Dave, Phil and Dave's info and that fell into place. It was a world-wind production but I can't tell you how amazing it is that it all fell into place.

I'm just glad you're happy. I was fearful that you'd not like what I had to do to it. Script-Doctoring can be painful for the screenwriter, but I must say it was so easy to work your writing into what I needed because it was so solid from the start. I didn't have to mess with plot or story at all because it was already there and that's the hard part.

Shane had to trim over 50% of it, however he did manage to retain my story and a heap of my dialogue. From what I can tell the only change to dialogue was to allow for change to structure(very slight), to allow for shorter exposition and the ages of the actors changing from mid thirties to say late 50’s(early thirties in Penny’s case obviously) and where he did have to change it(and he did I have no argument about that at all), he kept it in the spirit of my intentions anyway. Loved her part, she was great!

What did he cut out? Heaps of stuff that I had a ton of fun writing but to get it under 5 mins was necessary to lose. Lots of banter between the cops and more detail in the questions from the Hitman. If anyone wants to see for themsleves, drop me a comment, email or send Jessica Alba around nekkid with a request and I’ll shoot off a copy of the original script so you can compare. I know some of you in the scribosphere have already read it a few months ago. Good fun for newbies like myself to see how it was done. Bear in mind I had written the script with American actors in mind, never thinking it would be done with English actors in France! :)

How lucky am I? I get a lead on a guy in France. We know nothing about each other, but he has been able to retain my story whilst dropping over half the pages to get it within the boundaries of the audition. Plus he did it all in 14 days. Editing, the whole bit. He slept for ages afterwards, I can believe it. I thought he did a great job.

I am happy with it, ecstatic in fact(not unrealistic about what it means to me though) and I will try to not go all Sally Field on you. I have a produced short, where the director selected my writing over others, which in my mind is different to making the short yourself. In some small insignificant way, my writing has stood out, which gives me that small boost of confidence we all need from time to time.

Shane has asked me if I have anymore shorts as well, so that is also promising. I’ll respond to him shortly on that one.

I had heard so many horror stories about being rewritten etc but I am happy about how Shane has conducted himself, he has been nothing but easy to get on with and totally giving in crediting my work. He was kind enough to give me sole screenplay credit where many would have given joint after the rewrite. Also, he added to the script by adding one character, I had kept it at only 4) and I am totally jealous of his bushy eyebrow joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big favour to ask here everyone, and as you know I am more into beers than self-promotion, but this is for Shane, not me, so I can live with that. If you like it, after you watch it, please pop a review and a vote as that will help him in trying out for the TV show. I’d work with him again in a drop of a hat. You do have to register to review/vote etc, but it is totally worth it, I have I ever steered you wrong before? Sorry about that whole Enron thing by the way.

Bigger favour, if you like the short and feel so inclined, would love if you could blog about the TV show and ask people to visit Shane’s film (my script, but his film :) ) and vote and review their heart out. They can then proceed onto others, but I have viewed the other 1,789,729 scripts on there to save you the time, and really well, you have better things to do :)

So, I’m no longer a virgin……..I think I need a cigarette. :)

Til next time.
Cheers
Dave.

The F Words

2007-02-02T16:33:00.000+10:00

Floods and Flu.

Not great seperately, they SUCK when together. Stuck in Cairns, can't drive to Townsville, so jumping on a flight tomorrow at lunchtime, 55mins later touchdown.

Had fun yesterday around Tully, when I could not make it through(police with guns can be persuasive, who'd have thought?) coming back to Mission Beach was interesting. Had to follow a semi's backside through the water just to make it. This is the MAIN highway up here as well, not some two bit back road....then again.......... :)

The reason they suck, they are cutting into my planned writing weekend.

Mainlining Panadol so the head is clearing which is a positive.

Take care.
cheers
Dave
PS James, got your email, been without internet for two days now, will respond soon. Good to see the prison sentence was reduced.......I can make up more stories if you like ..... or you could blog about your good news here (http://screenwriting101.blogspot.com/ remember that place) if you like :) Yes, Queenslanders are bastards :)

Australia's New Prime Minister

2007-01-17T17:31:00.000+10:00

Really, do we even have to vote????????

2006……Nice little year….always room for improvement, but a solid performance, I’ll give it a B+.

Onto 2007, the Viagra year of the 21st century. Why Viagra? Well this century is standing on its own now. Can’t keep blaming the 20th for all its problems J

Finally got to see Casino Royale and totally agree with all the positive sentiments out there. I was dubious of Daniel Craig due to the Tomb Raider movie. I enjoyed those movies because I take no sense of reality into them, but I did not actually like Daniel Craig in that role, one of the only ones I had seen him in besides Elizabeth. He did do a great job. The writers and directors also did an absolutely marvellous job. Wife and I even got to see it together…that is a feat let me tell you!

Heading back on the road, two week trip from Cairns to Mackay, as of Monday. Trying one big trip rather than three short ones, might be easier on the kids if they only have one set of goodbyes. Should be fun, I have even managed a weekend in Townsville which is truly exciting. Why? It’s Townsville, there is nothing to do there but write. Not quite true, I lived in Townsville when I was at Uni and had a ball there, but I don’t know anyone there now, so the whole weekend will be one big screenwriting extravaganza…..tickets available outside the motel. Bring your own booze. My aim is 40 pages between Friday night and Sunday night. I’ll let you know how I go.

Being a male I am a visual creature, hence Jessica Alba’s popularity :) Just like all males I read(past, not the present tense) the Playboy pictures for the articles, we ARE that visually focused. Sad, but true.

Since starting screenwriting I have developed a visual image of how a screenplay is written.

When I first started writing I understood what people meant who said anyone can write a first act. It is relatively easy, however, when it goes through pages about 30, through to 120 it gets bloody hard. Again my imagination kicked in and I started imagining a screenplay as something like the following:

My rack of ideas…….

The first act…..easy to carry, and change around…..if it never gets bigger than this….piece of cake.

But as you get into Act two…….and the pile gets higher and harder to manage

things get harder……..you try and take one little plate out of this pile to place somewhere else…

You can easily end up with …………

Of course……you have the professionals like Mamet, Kaufman, Rossio/Elliot, etc

I’ll be happy when I can carry my stack without dropping it.

Can you tell I spent 14 years in hotel management :) Interesting how our life experiences and background influence our perception.

I hope you are all well.

Cheers
Dave.

Smack the Dog

2007-01-05T05:48:00.000+10:00

Hi All,

Remembered that Security Dog used to post on a blog written by a lady from Australia called Honey Smack, so I searched for it, found it and low and behold found some info out about Security Dog.

He is alive and well. He went to LA again, met Alicia Silverstone and from his location on his blogger profile, which was still active, he is back in the UK. So that is good news. Glad to hear he is all good.

Phrase of the week I came up with for my new screenplay "Motherboard humper"........I'll let you have fun trying to figure that one out. Not that hard at all though.

I previously mentioned the short that I wrote which is due to be shot this month over in Europe. What I had not mentioned was I had never pushed my wife to read it, she had never really shown that much interest in my screenwriting, but some friends were over and she mentioned to them that someone was going to shoot my short and they were quite interested. The wife of this couple has a desire to some writing of her own(childrens stories and she has a kick arse high concept story for one as well) so she was very interested, actually asked for a copy. They took it home read it and told me the next day what they thought.

Greatest feedback was from the wife(not mine, wife of the couple)......."I could actually see what was going on in the room". Made me feel bloody fantastic I can tell you. My wife actually asked to read it as well. After finishing it, she looked slightly taken aback, her comment......"that's actually good". High praise indeed from my wife! :) Her next question, so when are you going to finish the big one you are working on, I want to read that. Soon! She has even agreed to me spending more time writing rather than with her. Fine line between having enough time to write(never) and not neglecting one's family.

What else, had a good Xmas season, received Steven Kings On Writing, nearly finished it. Good book, reinforced some of the ideas I have developed and learnt over the past few years. I disagree on one or two minor points, but I put that purely down to my angle being screenwriting and his angle being more for the novelist, which is fine. Have always loved his books so I have enjoyed reading about his process.

For the parents out there, you would have heard that Greg, the yellow Wiggle has left the group due to illness, he kept fainting due to a condition which I can only spell and pronounce whilst drunk. Since it's only 6am on Friday I can truthfully state I am not. Lucky it's not Saturday morning.

I was a bit amazed that Greg left actually, because really, Jeff falls asleep all the time, so what's teh problem with a little fainting by Greg? My next thought was if Greg left, perhaps Jeff will be pushed out and replaced with a younger less narcoleptic version. So, in honour of that studio inspired possibility, I offer you my top ten(in spirit of my previous post) jobs Jeff could do if he is shunted out of the Wiggles:

Top 10 jobs Jeff the Wiggle could do if he ever leaves the group.

10. Replace Homer at the nuclear power plant.
9. Fill in for the security guards at all those high security places that have armed terrorists outside.
8. Customer Complaints at any major bank.
7. George Michaels chaffeur
6. George Michaels psychiatrist(well George is obviously not listening to anyone so why stay awake during the sessions)
5. Mets(or insert the team you love to hate) catcher.
4. Assistant to Naomi Campbell – would you like to be awake doing that job?
3. Replace Letterman, because what else would he do for the other 23 hours?
2. Jessica Simpson’s study buddy…the ONLY way.
1. President of the United States, at least Jeff admits he goes to sleep on the job.

Have fun!
cheers
Dave..

Top Ten Thing to Do

2007-01-02T15:19:00.000+10:00

Gotta love butchering the English language.

Anywho.....for those of you who want to procrastinate but keep it within the realms of writing, perhaps calling it warm up laps or something similar. Soliloquy Squats?? :)

Head here

Letterman has a top ten contest running each week by the looks of it. You can win a mousepad. Week after week I am just blown away by TV budgets!

Scribospherean who has the most mousemats at the end of the year wins. Wins what? You already have a small collection of mousepads what else do you want? Okay you can have Jessica Alba's phone number* as well.

Best of luck!
cheers
Dave.

*No undertaking is given that the actual phone number given in the prize will be answered by anyone, let alone Jessica Alba. Roseanne Barr is a possibility. So is Dick Cheney, be warned, you may be shot.

Don't Know if Anyone is Interested?

2006-12-27T23:00:00.000+10:00

Do any still remember Warrens little group screenplay experiement last year around September?

I had misplaced these files but found them tonight. I had actually written two versions of my part of it. I had two different ideas as to where things coudl go. I chatted iwht Warren about it and we went with the first one, but there was still a few things I liked about the second one. It could possibly have opened up more possibilities, not that we needed any more! Everyone seemed to be having a great time doing it. Just thought I would post it for nostalgia sakes more than anything else.

It is embarrassing reading them again, there are so many things I would change, amazing what a difference a year makes.

Hope you enjoy.

cheers
Dave.

Attempt I

INT. HAMILTON’S OFFICE - DAY - CONTINUOUS

TRENT HAMILTON, Senator from the Northeast, so the nameplate on his desk says. Overweight, built to drive a desk, drinks too much, too often. Chairman of the Oversight Committee for Alternative Lifeforms. Not many other people have heard of it either.

HAMILTON is standing behind his desk, SYLVIA is off to one side.

HAMILTON

(quavering voice)

You can’t threaten me, I’m Chairman of the Committee that lets you live here, I ca..can have you terminated.

He waves his letter opener at her as if it were a mystical wand that will keep the danger away.

SYLVIA

Senator, that’s not a knife.

Sylvia whips out a large bladed knife and thrusts it into HAMILTON’S chest. A smile crosses her lips as she sees the shock on the Senator’s face as he slides to the floor. Hamilton’s finger falls away from a button located discreetly on the edge of his desk.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)

Where do you keep my records you DNA deficient dipshit? (Pulls the protruding knife upwards slowly)I want them to know who killed your pathetic ass. (Gently pushes the knife downwards)You wanted our technology, our DNA, but you wont let us breed on your planet, or live in peace? (Twists the knife to a horizontal position) What? Homicidal alien got your tongue?

Hamilton tries to speak, but no words come out.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)

Well some of us have had a gutful, or in my case, three gutfuls.

The knife is slashed horizontally, spilling Hamilton’s insides onto the floor.Sylvia moves to the filing cabinet where she places the knife on the edge, where the blood slowly drips to the floor. We see files marked “Senator Hamilton , Chairman, Congressional Oversight Committee in Alternative Lifeforms” Sylvia bypasses these.

She finds the section she is looking for.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)

Anogarabe, no, Venarath, no, that’s Will’s planet..where’s Quartarian?...hmmmm?

Sylvia removes Will’s file, studying it intently.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)

Maybe there is a way? (Smiling) Sorry Will.

Sylvia removes Will’s file, continues searching.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)

Got it!

Removes her file.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)

Baby, that ring is mine. (Admiring her left hand)It will look so good against my purple scales.

The door to the Senators office explodes inwards sending glass and wood flying. Black clad, heavily armed agents storm the room.

TEAM LEADER

Don’t move! Freeze!

In one continuous motion, Sylvia drops the files, grabs the knife and hurls it across the office, impaling the figure next to the TEAM LEADER, as she dives into the bathroom and bullets pepper the wall and door, as it slams shut.

INT. HAMILTON’S BATHROOM

Her back is to the wall, she is breathing heavy. The Team Leader is shouting for her to come out.

SYLVIA

(Getting angry)

They want to control my life, give me no choices, all for the privilege of just living on this fucking planet?

Sylvia stands, reaching over with her right hand she grips her upper lips and starts ripping, her face, neck, upper torso, everything, until we are left staring at this perfect alien specimen. Her purple metallic like scales shimmer, as the fluorescent light pulses above her.

SYLVIA (CONT'D)

Time to meet the real Sylvia boys.

INT. HAMILTON’S OFFICE

TEAM LEADER

Ready, on three. One, two..

The door explodes out towards the assault group, knocking them to the floor, senseless.For a split second, Sylvia is framed in the doorway, surveying her work, she is relishing this freedom.

Sylvia moves slowly through the downed team, collecting two machine guns, two pistols, and extra magazines for both. These, and the blood spattered files are tossed into a nearby bag.

SYLVIA

Ready for the engagement party Will? ________________________________________________________

Attempt II

INT. HAMILTON’S OFFICE - DAY - CONTINUOUS

TRENT HAMILTON, Senator from the Northeast, overweight, ruddy complexion, built to drive a desk and drinks too much, too often. Chairperson of the Oversight Committee for Alternative Lifeforms. Not many other people have heard of it either.

HAMILTON and Will are sitting on either side of the desk.

HAMILTON

So McCarthy, what the hell went wrong?

WILL

It was just a bad run, it happens from time to time. We’ll be...Hamilton thumping the tabletop.

HAMILTON

Not on my watch! You fuck up again, and I’ll nail your ass so bad, you’ll be begging for Bubba to take over.

WILL

That was just a training run, that’s what we have them for. Have we ever not completed a mission?

HAMILTON

No, and there better not be a first time either. Here is the final information you need.

He throws a file across the desk, we can see it is labeled Committee for Alternative Lifeforms, Operation Sharp Forge, Top Secret is stamped across it.Will is looking decidedly unimpressed, pissed is definitely the word.

WILL
Glad you didn’t leave it until the last minute.

HAMILTON

The committee can’t afford exposure on this one, it is too big, we could not possibly cover any fallout.

Through clenched teeth.....

WILL

Whatever.

HAMILTON

We own your ass, remember! You came to us for help. So, when we say jump, you just ask how high?

Will stands up, shrugs slightly, his mouth suddenly opens, and then continues to open impossibly further. His human face is pushed aside as his alien face morphs out through his mouth, pushing his human face back like a cowboy hat resting on the back of his head.He places his face inches away from HAMILTON’S.

His scales are coated from the residue inside the human face, it is dripping down his face, and onto his extremely sharp teeth that seem to have appeared from somewhere deep within his mouth. Hamilton is both mesmerized and terrified.

WILL

Listen you DNA deficient dipshit. You’ve got our technology, you have our DNA, you got what you wanted! We want to live in peace, not fight your goddamn battles!

Will is so close now, residue is dripping onto Hamilton.

WILL (CONT'D)

This is it. The last one! After this, you can find yourself another doughboy to plow.

HAMILTON

(feeling cocky)

You can’t, we have an agreement.

Will sits back down, and gets all comfortable in his chair, crossing his legs. His human face is still hanging off the back of his head like a grotesque human cowboy hat.

WILL

Want to test that agreement in a court of law here in the good old US of A? Be my guest. I better make sure my face is all right for the camera’s. There might be one or two TV crews interested in chatting to me.

HAMILTON

We would tell the Agnorians where you all are.

WILL

I realize that. That is why your lovely wife is on her way to somewhere safe.

HAMILTON

Geez is that the best you got? I was going to divorce the silly bitch anyway.

WILL

That silly bitch has the gold and cash you had stashed. and, you can close that Swiss bank account now.

HAMILTON

You filthy bastard! I’ll..

WILL

Venarathian actually, but you can have it all back, once we’ve finished this job, and are settled somewhere safe. You just make everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, understand, it’s time for us to disappear. We are only doing this last job because it is something that has to be done.

Will stands, and moves to leave the room, he stops and faces Hamilton.

WILL (CONT'D)

All we want is some peace, why is that so hard for you to understand.

Will exits the room, he pulls out a mobile, dials a number and yanks his face back over his head, adjusting it with one hand as he waits for the call to connect.

WILL (CONT'D)

Coates? Can you get some more of that adhesive ready... Don’t ask. ______________________________________________

Merry Christmas from DownUnder

2006-12-24T16:18:00.000+10:00

Well ‘tis the season to be jolly. What do we have to be jolly about? Lots. We’re still alive and kicking :)

I was watching something the other day with my son, and from this I fully realised the situation where one little letter can change the entire meaning of what you are attempting to get across to readers of your scripts. Exhibit A below:

Wag the Dog, written by Mamet, well-known political thriller. On IMDB this is the synopsis.
When the president of the United States is about to get caught in a sex scandal 14 days from the election it is time to create a war. Perception and reality, life and death all flow from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Now…….

Follow me……

As we…….

Add…………

A ……

Solitary ……

S.

You now get……..

Tiny error, huge change. Just thought that was worth exploring, plus it allowed me to really practice those full stops.

Next I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Below are some individual thank you’s for various scribosphereans:

In no particular order....

1. Billy Mernit(The Sultan of Swoon): Congratulations on your book deal Billy, thank you for all your insightful writing over the last year. It is always entertaining, interesting and educational to read. Plus you post photos of JA, so really that is just cream on the cream.

2. Jessica Alba: For being Jessica Alba and accepting the lead in Billy Mernit’s adaptation of his novel. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Billy you did manage to write in more of those bikini scenes didn’t you?

3. Craig Mazin: Thanks for the articles on your site about the WGA etc. It gets any of us hopefuls thinking about where the fence post sits before we (hopefully ) become members. Also, thanks for the Artful Forum, especially the Ask a Pro section….amazing and fantastic!

4. Bill”Mad Pulp Bastard” Cunningham: For the rants and information throughout the year. Always educational and always fun. The way I look at it, if I use the tips to reduce costs in the shoot, then it leaves more money for the fun bits! Merry Xmas Bill! Hopefully that thing will come off( and I am not talking about a body part)

5. John Rogers: For being able to accurately record and explain middle America and other countries thoughts on the responsibilities of our leaders, even though not enshrined in law, certainly in morality and ethics. Well done!

6. John August: For the endless amount of information and guidance he provides, plus the Death Star quote for SUV. That has given me numerous laughs, my wife hates you though.

7. Alex Epstein: Crafty Alex, another book out about TV. His blog is also a must read. Always some good information coming through and he is always willing to give advice to schmucks like me.

8. Jane Espenson: Wow, just wow. Amazing addition to the scribosphere this year. Between Ken Levine and Jane, what else could someone like me ask for? (Yes, Jessica Alba, but that has to wait)

9. Dennis(Dead Things on Sticks): Bill’s sparing partner and I love the debates. Two passionate and informed gentlemen waging an old fashioned war of the words. Great stuff. They even agree sometimes.

10. Ken Levine: Like Jane E, Wow. We all know how much we love his blog. Nothing else to say except a big sincere thank you.

11. Mac: Little known Mac. Thanks for those Aussie newsletters. I appreciate the time you take on them. Even got a lead off one :) Hopefully I will have the DVD of my short in my hand in February some time.

12. Todd: A kindred spirit. Battling plotholes and crappy dialogue. We’ll make it! :)

13. Warren: Warren has been quiet this year, but I am always thankful for his amazing blog. All the best for the new year to him.

14. Patrick Rodio: Patrick has been gracious enough to share his success and lessons(no matter how painful they were)with us to show us how hard it is, but all it does is make us more hungry. Best of luck for all your ventures in the new year.

15. Ted Elliot and Terry Rosio for Wordplayer and all those great movies. Saying anything else is really a waste of the alphabet.

16. Maryan for Fencing with the Fog: While all us other wannabes are slacking off, Maryan keeps blogging with much more grace and clear thinking than I could ever muster with all the best drugs available. Always a pleasure to read her blog and I wish her all the success.

17. Clarkblog: Damn good read that I wish I could get to more often.

18. Red Right Hand-Mat: Fantastic TV blog Shawn has got there. I hope he goes far, his knowledge and passion shines through.

19. Shawna: a big thank you to Shawn for her continuing updates on what show’s are happening, etc. Helps immensely in sorting the wheat from the chaff when the winds blow the shows Downunder.

20. Charlie & Dave: The B Dudes. A charming saga this year to follow. The Siege may end, but other stories will rise to replace it I’m sure!

21. Phil Morton: Looking forward to receiving Phil’s CD, it will be great I’m sure. His blog has been very helpful to me over the past few years. Thanks for that Phil!

22. Lee Goldberg: Love Lee’s blog more so just for his sense of humour and interesting articles and stories he shares. I love how he does show how hard the work is though.

23. Josh Friedman: For making Snakes and sweatpants cool. No small feat. Thanks for the laughs Josh.

24. Scott the Reader: Fantastic blog that is a must read. Scott, for all the tips which are too large to recall, a huge thank you. I am truly looking forward to using his notes service.

25. Fun Joel: Another big thank you to Fun Joel for all his great posts this year. Another blog I read often.

26. Bill Martell: Bought Bill’s book on writing action movies earlier this year, and he has the same knack as Phil Morton. They can break down complex ideas into easily understood terms and processes. Great book, helped a lot, going to re-read soon. Thanks for your blog and daily tips Bill, invaluable!

27. Danny in the UK: Showing that a Pom has brains and is a top bloke as well. Best wishes for the next 12 months.

28. Ras: She has been on a great ride this year, and hopefully next year will be her special year where she cracks it. Thanks for sharing!

29. Let Me In – Sal: Another person sharing their amazing ride. Thanks for all the stories Sal, intriguing and thoroughly interesting. Best of luck for 2007.

30. Do Cats eat Bats: Steve, knocking on Hollywoods door with a few successes, fingers crossed 2007 is his year. Certainly deserves it, he has a sharp mind.

31. The Constipated Writer-JD: Battling through a self funded feature Generator, I hope it goes well for him.

32. Writer Gurl: Moving to LA soon, I don’t think she is there yet. Another sharp mind who I think will crack it one day. Best of luck Rose!

33. Assistant Atlas: The “Deep Throat” of Hollywood. Great fun read, and educational about the goings on of the bricks and mortar industries of Hollywood. Hope his new media plans pan out for him. Thanks for the stories Atlas.

34. How to Write Screenplays Badly: Bloody funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the laughs guys!

35. Development Hell: Christine, IT guru and screenwriting wiz. Thanks for sharing your processes and here’s to a great 2007!

36. Security Dog: You’ve dropped off the earth, but I hope you are well. Top bloke from all correspondence I had with him. Merry Christmas I hope you are having a great time wherever you have landed.

There are heaps more people I would like to thank, but running out of time to get this posted before Xmas eve. Be assured if I have left a comment on your blog I probably visit as often as I can and I am either entertained or educated. Not a bad deal, so thanks for that.

To all, I hope you have a great Xmas and a fantastic New Year, may your plot holes be small, studio notes non-existent and your budget huge.

Talk to you again soon.

Cheers
Dave.
PS I have no illusions that most of these people do not read this blog. Just my own way of publicly thanking them for their input into my education as a screenwriter. They are all valued.

What happened?

2006-12-11T09:16:00.000+10:00

Don't know about you guys, but well, I'm stumped. The world is no longer balanced and I think my Christmas is ruined.

I received only two pieces of spam over the weekend!?

How the hell am I supposed to stock up on viagra for if this continues?

Moving on from this threat to world stability(I am sure Koffi has set up some sort of commission to deal with this problem, guessing it will be as effective as that marvellous Oil for Food program)

Onto more important things. I have been downloading the podcasts from CS web over the last few months(same ones as Maryanne and thousands of others), but I have not listened to them much, as normally if I am at the computer(dont have mp3 player in car) I am actually working(try to keep that to minimum) or working on screenplays and therefore don't want to concentrate on the excellant podcasts, too distracting.

Anyway, I have been trying to find a convertor that allows you to convert an MP3 to a form that will allow them to be played on a CD for when I am in the car during those long road kill laced trips I am taking lately. Anyone know of any? I have tried a few but they dont seem to be doing what I want. Would love some help.

By the way, BEST name for a road I have seen in my travels.....SPLIT SOLITARY ROAD...love it. How do you split solitary? Best town name....SOUTH KOLAN....its motto has to be "When you've had the shits with the world, move to South Kolan. Yeah, I know, but I had to, just push through it.

My own thought of the day: "The easiest money you will ever make is doing a job you love"

Hope everyone is well. Chat to you later.
cheers
Dave.

2006-12-04T21:24:00.000+10:00

Greetings fellow blogosapiens.

I hope you have been well and all your spelling errors small and your set-pieces huge and expensive.

With my the big-action-kill-all-who-breath screenplay, I have been wrestling with the villain. He is a sort of ex-pat terrorist, the other terrorists weren’t sort of focused enough for this guy, bombing schools was just too namby pamby for him.

The problem was coming up with a character that contained a flaw that would ultimately lead to his downfall. We all know he is going to fail as soon as the movie starts, he just has to be as interesting as possible during the process :)

I was speaking to an owner of a hotel last week who was, well, to put it bluntly, being a dick. All I was trying to do was help him and he didn’t want to listen. We finished the call, and BINGO! It struck me, here is my character, he has the perfect flaw, he is intelligent but can be too wrapped in his own ideas, so he doesn’t see Miss Venezuela for all the other countries in the pageant (that is a lot better visual than trees and forests :) ) So was very excited to make that breakthrough. So, someone who is actually pissing me off, now gets to die in a horrible way, sort of.

Moving onto other things, my wife and I have been watching Studio 60 and loving it. Like a lot of fellow bloggers, we are on the in as far as understanding how TV shows work(about as in as Pluto is to the sun). So having a little knowledge gleaned from people like Ken Levine, Lee Goldberg, etc. it has been fun to watch. I sort of understand what some people have been complaining about, but did not agree with them until the last episode B12.

With all the writers in Hollywood(and wanting to get in) they could only come up with one as a replacement? Ken Levine was unavailable :) ???? It could have been Aaron Sorkins chance to have a dig at Hollywood and bring in some more mature writers en masse with a wealth of experience made up and ratings could have gone go up.

Also, the Sarah Poulsen character not being able to tell a joke? What was that? Okay, like Ken was discussing the other day, not all good comedic actors can make up their own material, that is totally understandable, however, not being able to memorize and deliver lines? Me thinks that would fall into the sacking category for an actor? Am I wrong? Okay, unless they look like Eva Mendes crossed with Jessica Alba(only the good bits, that begs the question…..are there ANY bad bits there?)

In my work I’ve cracked 11000kms since I hit the road in early September, and my frequent flyer miles are up enough I can fly my wife and daughter to Cairns to see her family. Leaving me and the little man at home to eat ice cream and watch the Wiggles. In case you missed the bad news, Greg is leaving the Wiggles due to poor health. That update is a convenient message to all parents of young children. I still want to see a death match between the Wiggles and the Hooley Dooleys, the Wiggles would walk over them.

Started typing this on the plane and finishing up in the hotel room with the West Wing playing in the background. Time to hit the sack. Have fun all blogosapiens!

Cheers
Dave

Borat: Minister for Tourism and all things that keep him out of the country

2006-11-19T10:07:00.000+10:00

Borat, the man that has taken the world by storm and caused Kazakhstan to be trendier than Kahbala(sp?).

What the hell is that government thinking banning the movie and spending millions on another movie(I heard $40million) to showcase the history, etc of what a great country Kazakhstan is.

You idiots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EMBRACE BORAT!

Don't push him away and try educate people. Anyone worth educating already knows he is simply playing a character. Don't get so defensive about it.

EMBRACE BORAT!

Don't push, pull, make him an honourary minister, with a title something like I have named this post. Take him in, use him, turn the joke around.....use the millions of dollars of free publicity to do some good for your country. Let tourists come and see what a wonderful country it is.

Use your frickin brains to take advantage of the situation.

Arrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhh I hate when people dont think outside the square, but rather keep the square lodged fairly tight between their wallet and their hanky.

Just about at end of my first pass of 57 properties over two states. When you guys in the US think of states they are rather small, just have a look at Queensland. From where I live to the furtherest property is nearly 2000km. Furtherest I drive is about 7 hours away, other than that, I hop on a plane. No way I am driving that far, the risk gets to high. Already sussing out life insurance, my wife wants to put it up over a million.....I am not going that high, that particular risk gets way too high for my liking :)

One of the benefits of working from home, the printers they supply :)

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF05a/18972-238444-410636-12004-f51-1140785.html about 22ppm for printing......much nicer! Plus unlimited supply of paper as I buy my own stationery and get reimbursed. Remember it's not stealing if it is tax deductible.

Hope everyone is well.
cheers
Dave.