Friday, August 21, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
At Long Last, I Have Typed "The End" on EXTRADITION
From treatment to execution, I've been working on this script for the better part of the year. Last night, I typed "the end" on the first draft.
But by no means is it done. The script is a big, sprawling mess. In many ways, I wrote this script very out of character... I ordinarily write quickly, and bang out short, punchy drafts. On this one, however, I got indulgent, letting the scenes play, letting the characters talk. I walked in intending to write something like THE TRANSPORTER or TAKEN, and along the way it morphed into THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY. I was definitely channeling Eastwood for the lead (if Clint Eastwood knew krav maga, that is), and I wanted each scene to be its own thing.
What I love about GB&U - what I love about a lot of Italian cinema, actually - is that each scene could easily play as its own little mini-movie. Look at Tuco shopping for a gun. Or Tuco's scene with his brother, Pablo (my second favorite of the whole movie). Or Blondie in the hotel that gets bombarded. Or Angel Eyes showing up at that dude's farm. Or the entire graveyard sequence. They're all classic moments that have more character and drama in one scene than more entire movies I see. I'm not claiming EXTRADITION is that good, I'm just sayin' it's an influence.
I'm embarrassed to put the actual page count out there... suffice to say, it's a goddamn phone book of a script. Luckily, I edit very quickly -- it's a skill developed from the day job. I'm hoping to hand it in within the next week or so.
After that, it's wrapping up the edit on FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER, diving into a page-one rewrite of DESERT RUN and, when that's done, the second draft of EXTRADITION. And when I turn in that draft...? I have a couple of ideas for specs, but I've been thinking about another novel for a while. I feel like it's almost time to finally write AUTOMATIC.
But by no means is it done. The script is a big, sprawling mess. In many ways, I wrote this script very out of character... I ordinarily write quickly, and bang out short, punchy drafts. On this one, however, I got indulgent, letting the scenes play, letting the characters talk. I walked in intending to write something like THE TRANSPORTER or TAKEN, and along the way it morphed into THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY. I was definitely channeling Eastwood for the lead (if Clint Eastwood knew krav maga, that is), and I wanted each scene to be its own thing.
What I love about GB&U - what I love about a lot of Italian cinema, actually - is that each scene could easily play as its own little mini-movie. Look at Tuco shopping for a gun. Or Tuco's scene with his brother, Pablo (my second favorite of the whole movie). Or Blondie in the hotel that gets bombarded. Or Angel Eyes showing up at that dude's farm. Or the entire graveyard sequence. They're all classic moments that have more character and drama in one scene than more entire movies I see. I'm not claiming EXTRADITION is that good, I'm just sayin' it's an influence.
I'm embarrassed to put the actual page count out there... suffice to say, it's a goddamn phone book of a script. Luckily, I edit very quickly -- it's a skill developed from the day job. I'm hoping to hand it in within the next week or so.
After that, it's wrapping up the edit on FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER, diving into a page-one rewrite of DESERT RUN and, when that's done, the second draft of EXTRADITION. And when I turn in that draft...? I have a couple of ideas for specs, but I've been thinking about another novel for a while. I feel like it's almost time to finally write AUTOMATIC.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
A Healthy Lifestyle = Agony
I went to Arizona and spent the entire week eating like a hobbit. When I came back, I bounced down the stairs to the tarmac. Airport security had to roll me over to my bike and heave me up. The motorcycle sagged in the middle as I drove home.
Determined to reverse the damage I'd done to myself, I hit the gym with a vengeance on Monday, including a full upper-body circuit. The next day, I wanted to die. But I went back anyway, and concentrated on lower body and cardio.
Later in the week it was time to go back to upper body, but I was still in pain. I dropped a couple of Tylenol and got to it. I was fine until I got to the bench press. I didn't put much weight on at all, but it didn't matter... I brought the bar down, bounced it off my chest, and my right shoulder said, "Nope."
My brain replied, "What do you mean, 'Nope?'" To which my shoulder said, "Nope means I'm done. It's not going up. Sorry, you're going to have to do it without me. I'm sitting this one out."
I managed to heave it up to the lower hooks. But I was done. I kept it to cardio for a couple of days.
On Monday, I was back. Again, full upper body circuit, this time feeling fine. Lower body and cardio last night, which means it'll be upper body tonight. After last week's experience, I woke up this morning gauging how everything felt. I'm a little stiff, but nothing some stretching and push-ups didn't solve. The body is sore, but fine.
And I've been dropping the simple carbs, eating fruits 'n' veggies, lotsa chicken and fish. It wouldn't make much sense to beat the shit out of myself at the gym if I'm just gonna go home and eat a cheesecake and pizza, y'know?
I smoked two packs a day for thirteen years. Easily the stupidest thing I've ever done. I quit several years ago, but I still get these weird coughing jags every once in a while. Plus, I also had a couple of bleak years during which I subsisted on ramen noodles and fast food dollar menus, none of which did me any good.
I want to repair the damage, and I see the time spent and the pain as my due penance. (Yeah, I was raised Catholic). I'm just glad I have the opportunity to live better. But man... in the meanwhile, it ain't easy.
Determined to reverse the damage I'd done to myself, I hit the gym with a vengeance on Monday, including a full upper-body circuit. The next day, I wanted to die. But I went back anyway, and concentrated on lower body and cardio.
Later in the week it was time to go back to upper body, but I was still in pain. I dropped a couple of Tylenol and got to it. I was fine until I got to the bench press. I didn't put much weight on at all, but it didn't matter... I brought the bar down, bounced it off my chest, and my right shoulder said, "Nope."
My brain replied, "What do you mean, 'Nope?'" To which my shoulder said, "Nope means I'm done. It's not going up. Sorry, you're going to have to do it without me. I'm sitting this one out."
I managed to heave it up to the lower hooks. But I was done. I kept it to cardio for a couple of days.
On Monday, I was back. Again, full upper body circuit, this time feeling fine. Lower body and cardio last night, which means it'll be upper body tonight. After last week's experience, I woke up this morning gauging how everything felt. I'm a little stiff, but nothing some stretching and push-ups didn't solve. The body is sore, but fine.
And I've been dropping the simple carbs, eating fruits 'n' veggies, lotsa chicken and fish. It wouldn't make much sense to beat the shit out of myself at the gym if I'm just gonna go home and eat a cheesecake and pizza, y'know?
I smoked two packs a day for thirteen years. Easily the stupidest thing I've ever done. I quit several years ago, but I still get these weird coughing jags every once in a while. Plus, I also had a couple of bleak years during which I subsisted on ramen noodles and fast food dollar menus, none of which did me any good.
I want to repair the damage, and I see the time spent and the pain as my due penance. (Yeah, I was raised Catholic). I'm just glad I have the opportunity to live better. But man... in the meanwhile, it ain't easy.
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