Last weekend I took a trip to Chicago, which was great. Nothing purely touristy, but I got to see all the new places old friends are now living–which was perfect. I was very pleased to see folks doing well and pursuing projects. My brother even took me to his job, working for a foundation called … Read more
June 11, 2015 Number 4 Bus The bus, running west on Santa Monica Boulevard as dusk gives way to night, is fullish, with people standing in the aisles despite an empty seat here or there–there’s reticence to ask a stranger for access, or to sit adjacent to someone who has an air of inebriation, or … Read more
Two weekends ago was a “writing cave” weekend—basically an 11-hour day and a 13-hour day of polishing a draft and application materials of Lovers in Their Right Mind to submit to the the Film Independent Screenwriters Lab. Wish us luck! Last weekend was more fun because my next deadline–for Pole Cats–is not until May 1st, which … Read more
Only a few days ago, the weekend was looking weekend-y. To be sure, a meeting with my writing partner and some writing–we have a March 30 deadline to get our script to readers–but also a possible hike, a Skype date with friends, a yoga class or two were on the docket. Then, on Wednesday, HBO … Read more
It took me a year or so to understand that, along with Federal Taxes and State Taxes, as a screenwriter… I also have to file City Business Taxes! What? It’s true. If you file a Schedule C (which you probably do if you receive a 1099 form)* and you live in Los Angeles (or some … Read more
So I thought I was tapping the screen to start filming, and then tapping it again to stop it. In reality, you have to HOLD your finger DOWN because filming happens only when your finger is the screen. This is why my takes have been so SHORT! Here is my first vine using my new … Read more
[wpvideo SpOthc1X] HAPPY NEW YEAR! I woke up this morning and thought, “I should learn how to make a Vine. For those who might not be familiar, a Vine is a 6-second (or less) video made with a mobile phone application called “Vine.” Although I have a couple of friends who play around with it, … Read more
Ran across this article about how the changing numbers and production models have affected the output some famous filmmakers who were working a lot when I was in my twenties. It quotes a speech given by Steven Soderbergh that isn’t that new but that I hadn’t seen in detail: In 2003, 455 films were released. … Read more
Here’s a secret that’s not really a secret: It’s my birthday tomorrow. I pulled the info down from my Facebook page, not because I don’t want people to know, exactly, but because I feel not ready for it, like there were things I wanted to accomplish that I haven’t yet. Because when I think “accomplishment,” … Read more
So, there was a blank on my AFM registration form for “company.” Irritatingly, it was not an optional blank, but one that you had to fill in order to proceed to the next step. I decided it was the universe telling me to pull the trigger on a name I have been playing with in … Read more