About 10 days ago (Damn, feels A LOT longer!?), I answered a post on Inktip for a Canadian writer, and sent in my script as a writing sample, and got a contract (thanks Steven at the guild for all the great advice!) to write a one hour action movie for TV. It still makes me giggle, as A) I've never written for TV before B) the audience is all male, blue collar, beer drinking, fight loving, sports lovers. C) They start shooting in Nov. Which is when we deliver the effects for Avatar, and I'm already working 70 hour weeks without the writing gig. But when it rains...
And what the hell, you can sleep when you're dead, which, at this rate, might come sooner than I think.
But I'm having a blast. Despite the fact that I'm writing this on spec and as a writer for hire (read free till they use it, and I own nothing) this has been an invaluable experience for me as a writer. Quick story changes, working with notes from the producer/network, trying to write what they want to see, in a style in which they want to have it in.
And for the first time, I'm working with a "consultant" (not exactly writing partner, as I still write everything, and the producer has said there is no credit available for him, but of course, i'll split my dosh with him if we get paid) to help me out. He's a marial arts expert and a fight correographer. As well as an ex-prison guard and ex-cop. ha! How awesome this that?! So, he's agreed to help me, and it's been awesome to work with him, bounce ideas around and get some cool action scenes from him. I think knowing exactly what our arrangement was from the get-go, and who was doing what, playing on each other strengths, has really made this work. We're both having a laugh.
And I love action movies. Seriously, I will nearly every time, pick an action movie over any others to go see. And I love writing action. You can let your imagination run so crazy, and do lots of dumb ass sh*t. It's fun. And my producer has told me that there can't be enough action. Our audience doesn't want a lot of chit chat or any of that drama nonscence. Fair enough.
But the story isn't quite locked down, although I have complete the first 45 page draft. We're not quite sure exactly how to play our main character. It reminds me of many Fox movies I've worked on. It's not decided until it's done. And it's not done until we run out of time. That's cool. I can stay open. And write like the ever changing wind.
I'm planning some time off when it's all over (Dec??) to calmly work in my garden.
Since I've started this blog, I've learned a ton about writing. About pitching, notes, persistence and humility. Humor is mandatory to survive in this crazy ass business. And the belief that no matter what, this is what I am meant to be doing. This is my path of trying to get a "written by" screen credit.
