Writing, Acting and Life

Hello Friends,

In addition to keeping up with my quest to finish a movie a day for the entire year, I've pursued a few other more...worthy...goals this year. If you've read some of my previous posts, you already know that I've worked on an independent short film this summer entitled The Victim. (Our website is nearly finished--I think--and when it is I'll include the link). I wrote the initial script for this years ago and finally with the help of some really talented friends we finished the primary filming last week. (We still have a couple of shots we'd like to get but they are a simple matter of getting the right people together at the same time--it will happen!)

Emotionally, I'm torn about the filming part being done. I loved acting again. I loved playing the part of Michael Jones--a wandering serial killer on the hunt for his next victim--however, he really was a dark and twisted character to play.....and well, I'm actually a pretty nice guy. In a few scenes I had to become quite vicious (with actors who are my friends) and after one long filming session I got home, took a shower and puked. Yes, it was after one of the hottest days of the summer, and yes, I was probably a bit dehydrated, but still, the combination of immersing myself into that role and doing what I did was not an easy task. While I'm glad that part of the filming is over, I find myself wishing our next project was ready to shoot--(I suppose a part of me forgot just how much I love acting)--but we still have the editing to complete now and I still need to polish the next script. Still, I'm hopeful that my acting skills (whatever they may or may not be) will come in handy the next time I'm writing a truly dreadful villain because I think I may have glimpsed a new way into getting into the heads of these types of characters.

I'll just make sure to write those scenes on an empty stomach.

In addition to the short film, I've returned to novel writing--my first creative love. After spending much of the last year rewriting large sections of my latest novel, I'm back to submitting to agents again. Both exciting and terrifying and often times a whole lot of waiting. Understandable waiting--but still, waiting. And wondering. And yes, on occasion, daydreaming. But only for a little while, because too much daydreaming leads to not enough writing. And I have been writing--however, I think it's time for me to choose ONE project and focus my attention fully on it. The lead contender is a futuristic fantasy with some comedic characters and a lot of action. I think after all this darkness it would be nice to work on something...lighter.

I'll keep you all up to date (and yes, I promise I will catch up on my Year of Movies posts soon--and hopefully with a bit more detail on each movie) on The Victim and on my search for an agent.

Have a great day, All.

Welcome Back

Hey, I'm back.

I'm going to try and use this blog more often this year. Last year really got away from me. A combination of health issues and a new computer kept me offline and away from this blog since my last post (almost eight months ago).

I'm feeling much, much better now. Over last summer, I injured the tendons in the bottom of my feet. Suffice it to say, that hurt.

And then, just when I was starting to feel better, I started to get a pain in my right side, just under the ribcage. Initially, I thought I'd banged into something, but the pain never seemed to completely go away. Finally, when the pain got so bad I couldn't lie on that side any more (and with some prodding from my wife who had had enough of seeing me suffer), I went to see a doctor.

Turns out, my gall bladder needed to come out.

October 30th, I had it taken out.

I feel SOOOOOO much better now.

I began eating a healthier diet and in the process, I lost 25 pounds. I started exercising every day (since 12/31/09) , and I'm looking better now than I have in years. I have more energy (despite getting less sleep), and I'm a happier person living with much less pain.

And I'm writing again.

Last year, I edited The Legend and the Fall again--and in the process, I found out that it still needs a bit more tweaking. Not much more--but there are still a few chapters that need work.

However, before tackling another round of edits on that book, I'm taking a mini-break to work on a very low budget indi movie with a couple of my friends. I've always loved movies, have always wanted to work on movies, and now, I have the time and the opportunity to follow a dream. Hopefully, something good will happen when we begin filming it later this year.

Also--since I'm such an avid collector of movies, I've decided to watch at least one movie every day for the entire year. So far, three weeks into the new year, I've kept up with that goal. In fact, I'm averaging slightly better than one a day. It's during my movie watching that I also keep to my other goal -- (the exercising every day). I do a variety of stretching and strength-training exercises while the movies play out. Last weekend, I impressed my wife with some house cleaning while watching a movie. (She has stated that she doesn't mind if I watch all these movies as long as I keep up my share of the house cleaning. That's only fair!)

Ahhh. I just checked the time. I need to get a little writing done on the movie script before heading off to bed.

Have a great weekend, all.

Welcome Back...

Hey. Welcome to 2009. A bit late, I know. Sorry about that. I don't know what happened to the time. Where does it go? Can we get it back? No? Huh...

I really don't have a great excuse for being gone for so long. Life happened. I guess that sums it up fairly well. Too vague? Ummm...okay. Specifically, I spent a lot of time with the family and they got used to hanging out with me more. They're spoiled! After spending most of my free time last November working on the Nano book, (and thank you wonderful wife for allowing me to use all that free time for writing) I thought it only fair to spend time (especially around the holidays) with the family. I love my family, so I've enjoyed the extra time with them as well.

But now...I'm looking to find a happy medium. Time with the family AND time for writing.

Yeah....we'll see how well that turns out!

In addition to hanging out with the family, I've also worked to reorganize our unfinished 'basement.' My office is now nicely tucked into one corner and I'm surrounded by my books, both fiction and non-fiction. I like my new digs - and I'm looking forward to spending more time here writing. With my office moved out of the family room, it opens up that space and makes for more play space for the kids. I've learned something about their toys--the two-year-old's toys are big, the five-year-old's toys has many pieces. In short, all their stuff takes up a lot of room (and rather than having toys scattered all over the house, I'm working towards locating their toys in two rooms - the family room and their bedroom. We'll see if that 'plan' works!)

As for the writing front, I have worked towards improving my writing by reading. I've read Stephen King's book, "On Writing", Donald Maass's book, "Writing the Breakout Novel", Les Edgerton's book, "Hooked: write fiction that grabs readers at page one and never lets them go", and I'm currently reading Jessica Page Morrell's "Between the Lines: master the subtle elements of fiction writing" and Nancy Kress's "Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint." I've picked up a lot of great ideas along the way--ideas hopefully that will improve my writing and reduce the number of rejections I receive this year.

Ahhh, the children are demanding my attention now. Must go.

Have a great day, all.