Script Frenzy 2010 is under way and I’ve started working on my script Concussion. I banged off 6 of the 100 pages in just over two hours. So if you figure about 3.3 pages per day to get me passed the finish line by April 30 I am already ahead of the game. Buffers are a good thing, but I won’t be happy until I’m finished. I do tend to be a fast starter though, but I am hoping I can keep this pace up — One word at a time.
I have some assistance though…
I got a new copy of Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’ in the mail today. I seem to have misplaced my last copy and have a feeling it went to charity with a few hundred other books. Also, Carol Browne left a prosperity Buddha on my desk. These things should help. As does Quiet Riot’s – Bang Your Head (Metal Health), part of the inspiration for my script:
I’ve decided to participate in this year’s Script Frenzy. I considered it last year, even signed up for the site but did not follow through. Why? I’m not entirely sure. I have a funny feeling that obsessive World of Warcraft playing fed by a heaping helping of self doubt and fear had a big part in it. My WoW account has long since been cancelled and I am doing a lot of work to overcome those other difficulties so perhaps this year I might just make it.
What’s Script Frenzy?
According to the web siteScript Frenzy challenges creative writers to “write 100 pages of original scripted material in the 30 days of April. (Screenplays, stage plays, TV shows, short films, and graphic novels are all welcome.)” It costs nothing to participate and there are no huge prizes other than “Happiness. Creative juices. Pride. Laughter. Bragging rights. A brand-new script.”
Why am I doing it?
Why not? I very much enjoyed participating in Movember by growing a ridiculous looking moustache and rounding up donations to a good cause. I met a lot of cool people doing that. This could be a similar experience.
There’s not a lot of pressure to participate other than that you put on yourself. That I like. I haven’t paid for anything and I’m doing what I’m doing for fun and for free.
After you sign up for the site you are asked to fill out some information about your potential screenplay and yourself. You can choose a home region to connect with other writers who are participating near you. Here’s a link to my Script Frenzy profile. Why don’t you sign up too so we can laugh at each other’s horrific screenplays? OK, maybe they’ll be awesome. Does it really matter? Not really.
My screenplay, taken from an idea I had last year, is called Concussion. It’s about “a slacker is given a gift that could do the world a lot of good; knowledge of the afterlife & the ability to communicate with the dead. He uses it selfishly and things backfire on him” — sort of The Sixth Sense meets Slackers.
To write I am using a free piece of screenwriting software called Celtx. It’s pretty robust and does pretty much everything you expect from the other expensive screenwriting packages like Final Draft and Movie Magic Screenwriter. I did pay a whopping $9.95 USD (plus 5% GST) for the Writers Pack add-on for Celtx. I wanted the distraction reducing Full Screen Mode as well as the Advanced Session Timer that not only keeps track of my progress but allows me to tweet it using a built in #scriptfrenzy hashtag. I’m not sure I will use the Plot View but I got it just in case. I’ll buy the Art Packs later when I actually shoot one of these screenplays of mine.
I’ve also installed a cool widget on the sidebar of this site to track my progress throughout the month. Also, if I’m not completely spent after writing for practice, work and this project I plan on tossing up a few blog posts about my experience.
This could be fun. I’m already working on my outline using the late Blake Snyder’s beat sheet from the Save the Cat tools page. I can’t wait to see how this story turns out.
On January 18, 2010 it will be exactly 12 years since I quit smoking. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but to me, and my family, it’s a really big deal. I had tried to quit many times and always went back to it. I was smoking over a pack a day at the end and sometimes even go up in the middle of the night to smoke.
It certainly sucked being chained to something like that, but no more. I am grateful everyday that I don’t smoke anymore. I think that’s a part of what has helped me to stay stopped. I had plenty of my own reasons to quit smoking, health being the most obvious. But, I couldn’t quit for good until I decided that what I really wanted for me and no one else. Sorry Mom.
Anyway quitnow.ca, along with the BC Lung Association, is running a little contest that may give you that extra little push toward quitting yourself:
Quitting smoking is easier with support from on-line contest
November 23, 2009 – QuitNow & WIN, the contest that successfully convinced more than 7,000 British Columbians to sign up to quit smoking last year, is back.
The contest encourages smokers to turn to a buddy for encouragement, register online for support, and have the chance to win prizes totaling more than $20,000, provided by corporate sponsor McNeil Consumer Healthcare Canada.
My cat just had his belly shaved two days ago and seems to have more hair on it than my upper lip after 13 days:
My nose hairs are longer. At least my finger is not in there.
Speaking of fingers. My friend, film and television director Ron Oliver, pointed out to me today that early detection via a prostate exam goes a long way toward saving lives. He went on to say that I should let my readers know that a finger up the ass does not make you gay.
Ron is gay.
I’m just sayin’.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Just get the exam. Doctors are gentle. At least the one who did mine was.
Speaking of Movember, I am going to be running a little contest! Thanks to Arbitrage Clothing in New York one lucky person will be sporting a pair of official Movember Cuff Links designed by Movember founder, Adam Garone (on twitter), and Arbitrage Clothing founder and designer, Alan Chan (on twitter and who I will be interviewing here on this blog within the next week or so). There are four beautiful designs to choose from on the Arbitrage web store each costing $65 USD, $20 of which goes directly to the Movember charity. Shipping and returns are free. Yes, they do ship internationally to Australia, Canada, UK, New Zealand, Ireland, etc.
Here’s what a pair of these bad boys looks like:
And they look pretty smart when performing their intended function as well:
Nice huh? You know you want ‘em.
If you really do want these links send an email to movember@mikebrowne.com with the subject line ‘Movember Cuff Links’ with your name, email and full mailing address (I promise not to spam you) and send me a picture of you with a mo’ along with your permission to post it with your first name, last initial, town/city and state/province. If you have a web site, send me the link to that too, but is not required. I will post the most creative mo’ pictures I get. ONE (1) entry per person.
I don’t care if you Photoshop a mo’ on your face because the ladies are going to have to as this contest is open to them too. At least I would hope they would have to. Yeesh.
All entries must be received by midnight of Friday, November 27, 2009 and I will draw and make the announcement on this blog on Saturday, November 28th, 2009. I will ship these anywhere in the world, just make sure you give me your proper address so you can be sure to get them.
November 23, 2009 – QuitNow & WIN, the contest that successfully convinced more than 7,000 British Columbians to sign up to quit smoking last year, is back.
