Oscar Happy Dance

Doing an Oscar happy dance. It was David vs. Goliath and David won. That is -- BABY beat AVIATOR. Yay! The rest of the winners were pretty much predictable. Yawn. Actually, this Oscar-cast was fairly dull. There was no big, opening splash. Chris Rock did not rock (except for his Bush comments). Beyonce sang almost every single song. The awards from the audience were awkward. And what was with all those empty seats? Although I didn’t care much for our host, Sean Penn needs to get a sense of humor. But what was up with that horrible skit Rock did at that movie theater? I’m sorry, but that did not show the black community in a good light. And what the hell was Puff Daddy doing there? Get off the stage, you classless thug, you’re annoying! Though I did like his tux that he, no doubt, designed himself.

Loved Renee Zellweger’s dress! But could it take her any longer to walk across stage? I stepped out of the room to refill my drink and when I returned she was still going! I thought Salma Hayek’s dress looked fab, too. Other standouts were Hilary and Cate. Oh, and the other Kate, too.

I'm glad Jamie, Hilary and Morgan won. Jamie's speech about his Grandmother was sweet and made me teary-eyed. I can relate. I have a deceased Grandma who introduced me to the arts and who, I am convinced, is my guardian angel. When I'm feeling blue, which is lately unfortunately, I always hear her voice: "This too shall pass." Well, I'm still waiting, Grandma! But I know, the dark clouds will soon part and I will feel fired up again. I wish Morgan Freeman had spent more time accepting his award. His speech was way too brief. Not very memorable. One of the most memorable moments was Robin Williams spot-on imitation of Jack Nicholson. Now why doesn’t Robin host? Now that would be a good show!

Weekly Recap

• Emailed two prodcos for my horror/thriller.
• Prepared to query three more prodcos, two for my horror/thriller and one for my romcom.
• Assigned my romcom co-writer to research contact info for several actresses' managers.
• Checked my email every other minute for an email from my former classmate re: my horror/thriller. As of one minute ago, nada. A big fat nothing. Guess he thinks he's a bigshot now that's he directed a "movie", if that's what you wanna call the thing.* According to his producer, he's turned into an "asshole", so I'm not surprised I haven't heard from him. Or maybe he's away. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

* I'm beginning to wonder if I'm coming across as a bitter bitch. I'm really not. I just calls 'em like I sees 'em.

Blah

Lately, that’s how I feel day in and day out. I’m so sick of feeling like this. It’s probably because I feel like my writing is never good enough. I have no inspiration lately to write or to do anything. Probably because of the comments I’ve received recently from various people who have read my work. Like the manager who said my comedy is good, but needs two or three more rewrites to be great and doesn’t offer any suggestions on how to improve it. Well, fuck you, buddy. I think it’s great already. It’s the best I can do. You can go fuck yourself if it ain’t good enough for you. Bitch. And my producer friend who says to rewrite all of my dialogue in my horror/thriller. All of my dialogue? Fuck you, motherfucker. This coming from a guy who produced one of the biggest turds I’ve ever seen. Just because I’m a screenwriter doesn’t mean you can piss all over me. Okay? Or maybe I’m just not a good screenwriter. But I’m doing the very best I can. Yet, it never feels like it’s good enough. I’m sick of feeling this way. No wonder I feel so blah.

Oscar Predictions

Don't forget to watch the Academy Awards on Sunday! Here's my predictions on who will win and who I would pick, if I were voting:

Best Original Screenplay: ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
My Vote: THE INCREDIBLES

Best Adapted Screenplay: SIDEWAYS
My Vote: SIDEWAYS

Best Actor: Jamie Foxx
My Vote: Jamie Foxx

Best Actress: Hilary Swank
My Vote: Hilary Swank

Best Supporting Actor: Morgan Freeman
My Vote: Jamie Foxx

Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett
My Vote: Virginia Madsen

Best Director: Martin Scorsese
My Vote: Clint Eastwood

Best Picture: THE AVIATOR
My Vote: MILLION DOLLAR BABY

Silence

That's all I hear as I wait to hear back from my recent queries and submissions. The silence is deafening. The more time goes by the less likely I'll ever hear anything back. I haven't even gotten a reply yet from my classmate about my horror/thriller. No wonder I've been blue. Rejection sucks.

Weekly Recap

• Emailed a producer for my horror/thriller.
• Received word the director who has my comedy script is finally reading it (still not holding my breath).
• Worked on the family comedy outline.
• Received info on how to submit my horror/thriller to a prodco for consideration as a comic to turn into a feature.
• Discovered a producer is already writing my horror/thriller idea as a comic that he intends to make into a movie. Just my motherfucking luck!
• Emailed the manager shopping my horror/thriller re: the above development.
• Finally, emailed the classmate who directed a horror movie re: my horror/thriller.

Procrastination

I am an expert procrastinator. That much is certain. Instead of writing I surf the web. I guess, if I have one addiction, it's the internet. There, I said it. Yes, I'm addicted to the internet. It's the ultimate means to procrastinate. If I could get paid to procrastinate, I'd be a millionaire by now living in the Hollywood Hills. Heck, I'm procrastinating right now by writing this entry. Oh well, it's what I do best. Procrastinate.

Weekly Recap

Not much to report this week:

• Finished the ending of my latest horror/thriller and worked on the synopsis.
• Touched base with a manager who is shopping my horror/thriller.
• Spoke to my producer friend who read my horror/thriller and said the dialogue needs work.
• A manager passed on my comedy who thought it was funny, but too tricky to find it a home.

Hit The Road Jack

And don't ever come back, no more, no more, no more ...

Finally saw RAY tonight. At a $2 movie theater with stadium seating, thank you very much. I don't understand why there isn't a bigger push for this movie to win Best Picture. To me, as a biopic, this movie blows THE AVIATOR out of the water. This is an excellent film. If it were up to me, Best Picture would be RAY vs. MILLION DOLLAR BABY, not BABY vs. AVIATOR. And there's no question Jamie Foxx will win Best Actor. In fact, I actually forgot it was Foxx playing Charles and thought it was Ray Charles himself. That's how convincing Foxx is. It's amazing. He was obviously channeling this guy. So why is there such a big push for THE AVIATOR to win Best Picture? I don't understand. Is it all politcal because Marty Scorsese directed it and Miramax produced? I don't get it. Don't get me wrong, THE AVIATOR is a good picture, but RAY and MILLION DOLLAR BABY have much more emotional punch. Actually, RAY inspired me to go and buy Ray Charles' greatest hits. So hit the road Jack and don't ever come back, no more, no more, no more.

Ouch

Finally spoke to my producer friend who read my horror/thriller. Basically, he said he read through it and put it down. Another words, he didn't get through it in one read. Not even sure he finished it. Either he doesn't like my writing or he doesn't respect the art of screenwriting/screenwriters. Not sure which.

On this script he thought the plotting and structure were much better than previous scripts of mine that he's read, but he thought the dialogue was killer. As in, not good. Stilted. Apparently, that was the one and only stumbling block. He suggested I put aside whatever I'm writing now and read 6 or 7 pro scripts that I have not seen the movie for, or scripts that have recently sold. He offered to send me a few scripts that sold and are in development. I think I may take him up on his offer. And I will certainly take a look at all of my dialogue, though I don't think it's all that bad. He suggested I rewrite all of the dialogue. Ouch.

The good news is he seemed to like the concept and thought it could be shot for very little money. When he read page one he got excited because he knows someone looking for an Asian-style horror and the first page in my script takes place in Asia. However, it veers off in a different direction after that. He said I should rewrite it to set it in Asia. Not sure if he was serious or not, so I don't think I'm going do that.

It's All Who You Know

It's true what they say. The best access to the industry is who you know. In an earlier post I mentioned I would love to get my comedy script to Hugh Jackman via a director friend, especially now that Jackman formed a partnership with these two producers who, I thought, would be a perfect fit for my script, until I learned they will be developing musicals for Jackman. However, a friend of a friend, it turns out, is very good friends with Jackman's producing partner. So this could lead to a possible job interview, and if that works out, who knows what else down the road. Keep your fingers crossed.

Something's Gotta Give

Something positive has got to happen with my screenwriting endeavors this year. Or else. Or else what, I don't know. Just something's gotta give. I'm sick of telling people I'm an "aspiring" screenwriter. I want to say I'm a working screenwriter. I can just imagine some people rolling their eyes behind my back and thinking, "God, when is he going to give it up already?" Believe me, I've thought about throwing in the towel many times before and getting a regular job like everybody else. But how can I now? I've invested too much time and energy into it to give up now. Besides, what else would I do? I haven't a clue. I can't stop now, so I forge ahead and hope and pray something good will happen. If I keep at it long enough, something's gotta give, right?

On the waiting front, my producer friend emailed me yesterday that he read my horror/thriller and to call him. I guess that means he doesn't like it, otherwise, he would've called me, right? Oh well, at least he read it and got back to me. Can't wait to hear his comments. He didn't like my comedy or my romcom, so I'm sure it will be rather painful.

Hide & Seek

I saw this movie over the weekend, starring Robert DeNiro and Dakota Fanning. Didn't think I was going to like it, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. Even though I guessed the twist, I still really enjoyed it. In fact, I'd like to see it again to see if the twist really holds up. Let me tell you, that Dakota Fanning is really something. What a great, little actress!

Weekly Recap

(Edited at 12:48am)

• Called the agent who was to supposed to read my comedy. Apparently, he never got it, so I resent it.
• Mailed a query letter to a producer for my comedy.
• Composed and mailed six query letters to producers for my horror/thriller.
• Composed an email I want to send to a classmate from school who directed a horror movie for my horror/thriller, but I chickened out on sending it just yet.
• Posted my horror/thriller logline and synopsis on Inktip.com for a free seven day trial (some of the hits were from the management company that passed on it last week).
• Emailed my romcom to my Hollywood reader for review.
• My romcom co-writer sent a query letter by courier to billionaire/producer Mark Cuban.
• Worked on the ending of my latest horror/thriller.
• Worked on an outline for a family comedy I am co-writing with the writer of Showtime's MY HORRIBLE YEAR.
• Revised my horror/thriller after receiving some great notes from a peer.

The Emperor's New Hump

Check out the link below about how the NY Times killed a story just before the election about President Bush wearing a hidden mike during the debates. That's cheating, not to mention illegal. One word comes to mind: Impeachment. You think that's too harsh? Come on, if this were Clinton, the Repubs would be all over him for this! Why is there no investigation? Well? I wanna know! Bush clearly cheated during the debates. Remember those uncomfortably long pauses before and during his answers? And do you remember his outburst when he said,"Now let me finish!" when no one was addressing him? Hello, earpiece! Ten bucks says Karl Rove was on the other end of it. Bush is clearly a walking, talking puppet. As if we didn't already know that. But this is proof positive. Now would somebody please do something about it, so the American people, and the World, for that matter, don't have to suffer another four years of this joker?

The Emperor's New Hump

Whoop Dee Doo

I feel so bad, the co-writer of my romcom is so stoked about sending billionaire Mark Cuban a query letter (by courier, mind you; see below). However, I could care less, really. Unless, of course, Cuban requests our screenplay, then I’ll show a little excitement. Until then, I don’t mean to be like a dead horse, but I’ve been marketing my work a lot. Just because you send a letter out don’t mean diddly squat. If they request your script, it still don’t mean diddly squat. Only when there’s a check in the mail does it mean anything.

My co-writer has been talking about sending Cuban a letter for probably a year now, God bless ‘em, and he finally followed through on it. About fricken’ time! Unfortunately, he hasn’t been too involved in screenwriting since we wrote our script together, yikes, like two years ago already. He has his excuses, er, reasons. Whatever. If you want to be a screenwriter, you have to put 150% into it. I’ve told him that. Or else it ain’t gonna happen. But it always falls on deaf ears. And there’s no guarantees it’s going to happen when you devote your life to it, either. But like I said, it ain’t gonna happen at all unless you eat, breathe, shit screenwriting. Period.

Waiting Some More

I'm also very patiently waiting to hear from a well-known director friend who will, hopefully, read my comedy script someday. I think I gave it to him, oh, I don't know, back in September. Followed up once since then. But he's been very busy doing post on his upcoming film, so I understand he doesn't have time for a newbie like me. He's a real life film director, after all. However, I am hoping when he reads it he will like it enough to pass it on, at my suggestion, to his friend Hugh Jackman, whom I would love to star in it. Even better, Jackman recently formed a partnership with two producers (Neil Meron & Craig Zadan) whom I think would be a perfect match for this particular comedy. Hey, I can dream, can't I?

I'm a little intimidated by my director friend reading one of my scripts, though. I will never forget the first time I stepped foot in his NY apartment .... I saw several scripts laying about with ICM on the cover. So I asked him,"reading anything good?". His reply: "No, they're all crap." Mind you, these are scripts sent to him by his agent at ICM. Scripts that made it through the gates of Hollywood and were sent to a director for his consideration! Gulp. Please cross your fingers that he doesn't think my comedy script is crapola, too.

Breakfast With The President

From my friend Jim:

One morning Dick Cheney and George W. Bush were having brunch at a restaurant.

The attractive waitress asks Cheney what he would like and he replies, "I'll have a bowl of oatmeal and some fruit."

"And what can I get for you, sir?" she asks George W. He replies, "How about a quickie?"

"Why, Mr. President," the waitress says, "How rude. . you're starting to act like Mr. Clinton and you haven't even been in office for your second term yet!

As the waitress storms away, Cheney leans over to Bush and whispers, "It's pronounced 'quiche.'"

Flashes

That's how scenes come to me when I am working on an outline for a script. While walking, riding the subway, etc. Currently working on the second half of an outline for a family comedy script I am co-writing with another very talented writer, and that's how my brain, or something in the Cosmos, unveils the direction of the script to me. It's not me coming up with this stuff, it's a higher power. I just have to turn on the switch and focus.

Okay, back to my thoughts. I gotta get this outline done.

Speaking of Waiting

I am waiting to hear from a manager who really likes my horror/thriller and is shopping it around, slowly but surely. He's just starting out on his own, so we'll see. He previously worked for big-wig Rick Nicita at CAA, so hopefully he has some good contacts? I can only hope.

Also, waiting to hear back from two friends who have my horror/thriller. One is a producer and the other is a manager. Though, something tells me Mr. Manager isn't going to dig my horror/thriller. A few weeks ago, I emailed him after the Golden Globes because I spotted him standing near actress Emmy Rossum during the live coverage on E!. So I used that opportunity to ask him by email if he reps Emmy and was that him I saw, and by the way, did you read my script yet? He replies back yes that was him and yes he reps Emmy Rossum .... but nothing about my script. :( Of course, it probably didn't help that I called his client Emily instead of Emmy when I first emailed him. He quickly corrected me. But I'm not too concerned because he mistakenly referred to my comedy script in a previous email exchange by the wrong title.

So I continue to wait, until I work up the nerve to follow up.

And In Other News

I sent my query letter out to a producer for my comedy today. Applause, please. Thank you.

And my co-writer on my romantic comedy sent a letter to billionaire Mark Cuban today ... by courier. Yes, that's right -- by fricken courier. Cost: $16.50. Of which I have to pay half. How retarded is that? Mr. Cuban is not going to know it came by courier. His assistant will receive it and open it for him. Hell, chances are, Cuban won't even be in his office when it arrives by courier, anyway. What a waste of money (sorry, Dallas Paul, if you ever read this, but you know how I feel about it).

Let's Get Physical

Break out those leg warmers (actually, no, don't!), I worked out today and yesterday! Today for 45 minutes and yesterday for 1/2 hour. How do you like them apples? That's why, when there's something I don't like to do, like workout or write (yes, write), I make a small committment of time like 15-20 minutes, because then it doesn't seem so daunting. And I usually end up doing more time. Try it, it works!

Okay, I didn't weigh myself today, but I think I weigh 193 lbs. I'm going to keep track of my weight loss here. Let's see if I can actually lose some weight. Not that I need to lose that much. I just want to lose five, ten pounds.

The Waiting Game

So I bit the bullet and called Mr. Agent tonight. I knew he wouldn't take my call because it's pilot season and he's always very busy then. Sure enough, he didn't take the call, so I asked for Mr. Agent II who actually was supposed to read my comedy script referred to by Mr. Agent. Well, Mr. Agent II was working from home, so I left a message I was following up on a script I sent just before Christmas. A few minutes later his assistant calls back to ask me if I could resend my script because it doesn't sound familiar ... Doesn't sound familiar? So, you mean, I waited all this time, worried and fretted for nothing?! ... Okay, fine, of course I'll resend the script.

This has been going on now for six months. Actually, no, for over two years. Let me back up a little bit: Mr. Agent repped the first draft of my comedy script two years ago. He put it on the market, but it didn't sell. Since then, I've rewritten it into a much funnier script. So I sent it to Mr. Agent six months ago. Followed up a month later. He says he doesn't like to read rewrites, it's like watching a movie for a second time. But he said to remind him before the holidays to have someone else in his office read it with "fresh eyes". Fine. In the meantime, do you wanna read my horror/thriller? Sure, I'll read it ASAP. A month later he says horror/thrillers aren't really "his thing". But if Mr. Agent II likes my comedy, he'll read my horror/thriller, too. Okay. So I send my comedy to Mr. Agent II just before Christmas, and here I am .... So, now, I have to wait, yet, another month to follow up! By then, I'll almost be a year older!

So Sue Me

I don't like to workout. But I have no excuse, I have a gym right in my building. Two floors down. I've been avoiding it for months now. Months. Everyday I write in my daily calendar -- walk/gym. Today I wrote down only 20 minutes. Just to start. That's not bad. Twenty minutes. But now it's 7:15pm and I still have to make dinner and I should be writing and "American Idol" is coming on, and then "The Amazing Race" and then "Queer Eye". Okay, so, my only time to workout is NOW. Okay, okay, I'm going. But only for 20 minutes and that's IT!

I Blog, You Blog, We All Blog

I never saw the appeal of blogging until a friend inspired me to do one (hi, PJ!). So, now, here I am -- blogging. Why, I'm not sure. Do I have anything interesting to say? Not really. At least I don't think so. And who's reading my blog anyway? I certainly don't read blogs. So who actually reads these things? Bored housewives? Or is that Desperate Housewives? ;) Office drones (like me) trying to kill time? Or am I just blogging to myself (wouldn't be the first time I blogged myself)? Blog, blog, blog, blog.