Draft One – 11.5 pages

I haven’t posted in this category for a long time. So I’ll refresh you on what it’s here for. “Zone 63” is the working title of one of the feature length screenplays that I’m writing. I say one of because lately I’ve had this bizarre flood of film ideas through which a number of other projects have come into being and required some attention. In other words I got completely distracted by this head, constantly spinning like a blender, that I have. Curse or gift it’s all mine so one must make the best of it.

Thankfully, I have a wife who loves me and looks out for me. A few weeks ago Carol bought me a book by The Artist’s Way author Julia Cameron who’s work she truly enjoys. The book, called Walking in This World, of course, sat unopened on the arm of the sofa for a week. As Carol is reading and doing the exercises in the book herself she came across a chapter that she felt pertinent to my current dilemma. She bookmarked it brought the book into my office and said, “you should read this.” I didn’t. For a week or so this book sat nagging me on my desk as I felt worse and worse. Yesterday, completely at sea and unable to see any horizon for all the fog in my head I picked it up.

The gist of what I read was “Easy does it, but do it” and “finish something”. I have been taking on too much at one time trying to keep way too many plates in the air. By focusing on one project at a time through to completion my creative energy is much more concentrated and I no longer feel stumped. I can quit playing games both actually and figuratively and get back to business.

What a relief. It’s strange how just getting back to basics can help one get back on track. I’m glad I could even find the track again after that little detour.

So “Zone 63” is trucking along. The screenplay’s major event is just about to happen and after it does, due to the way I’m writing, I’ll have an entire short film to actually shoot to use as a marketing and fund raising tool prior to the start of principle photography on the rest of the feature. But, first things first. I will finish this draft of the screenplay before I get sidetracked again.

A few pages today and hopefully more every other day until I’m done. I actually had fun being creative today. Hooray!! I’ll keep the updates coming as they happen. Yes, it will be far more often.

Thanks Mrs Browne. You rock!