INT. TUMBLR - DAY

My life in screenplay format.


If my life were a movie on the page. This is what it would look like.

Mirrors

So last week, Aaron Sorkin broke his nose because he was standing too close to a mirror going over some dialogue and totally head-butted himself. 

I thought two things when I read this 1) That’s intense 2) I talk to myself in the mirror too!! 

Now, this is a borderline crazy person thing to admit, but I think some of my best writing has come out of talking in the mirror. I talk as multiple people too. I think there’s something honest about looking at a human face and not a computer screen where you’re channeling something authentic. 

I’m not sure how many writers do this, but I did it for years before I even realized it was a writing technique. I just thought I was a crazy person getting their thoughts out in a mirror. 

It’s bizarre. It’s a strange way to escape, but some how I find myself being able to forget who I am by staring at who I am.

Not sure if it works for everyone, but you should try it. Go away from the computer and take a tape recorder or a pen and paper nearby in case anything is brilliant but mostly - just talk.

Writing session yesterday:

Had a long-distance skype meeting with my co-writer yesterday. What does this look like?

Well, we reread our script, praise ourselves for how funny our lines are. Then rip it apart for what it’s lacking (which is suddenly plot, characters, and more funny lines) 

I made mac and cheese while my writing partner obsessed about whether or not she was going to get a book in the mail.

I opened a bud light lime at 2:30 in the afternoon to drink with my mac and cheese.

My cowriter chased a UPS truck down the street. 

Then, we gossiped about our friends getting married, stating they couldn’t possibly be happily married. 

Then, we re-read our notes and wrote words and gave each other assignments to look at. 

Then we watched videos of Lil B and made up new words. Then we discussed a trip to Vegas in December . 

Then, I wrote. 

I’m very disciplined and trained, but sometimes, you need those ADD sessions to get your head through it.  

Will Gluck's new sitcom picked up by ABC

I had a slightly similar idea for a pilot to this - although it would’ve been set during college. It’s a fun idea that How I Met your Mother played with. I love that Casey Wilson is penning this. I like who’s involved - just wish, dammit, I had written mine. Just shows you - anyone can have the same idea you have. 

Something Borrowed

So I’ve been reading Something Borrowed for the past month or so. I finally finished it (mostly on a plane) and then immediately yesterday watched the film version. Now, without a doubt, I think the book is better - but there are a few great things about the film (even though it is clunky and has easily a few major script mistakes)

  • Kate Hudson is perfect. The character is obnoxious and over the top - but yet, there is something subdued about Hudson’s performance being a bomb waiting to explode and having a great balance of scene-stealing and yet, not being the lead. I thought she was pretty much brilliant. It’s not her Penny Lane performance, it is underrated and for the most part, will go unnoticed in a slew of her rom-coms.
  • John Krasinski - Yes, he was probably the most fun part of the script - just with us one-liners and he has a great moment as Ethan confessing his love to Rachel (which doesn’t happen in the book and yet, the movie seems to do this better) - However, it’s a shame to see Ethan hardly used as just a voice of reason to Rachel in the entire movie - just yelling at her to do something with her life. In the novel, that’s basically her ranting and thoughts and in the movie - they sort of have to change that - but it still feels unnatural.
  • Rachel and Darcy’s relationship. This is the part that fascinated and made me love the novel the most. The film treads lightly with this and sort of captures it, but never to the degree in the novel. Rachel and Darcy have a very typical - passive/aggressive best friend dynamic that I think every woman will relate to and experience in her life. Rachel never stood up to her best friend and thus, never got what she wanted - (until the end when she is too late and hurts her) - Darcy is complex still - and almost tragic, not having much except for that fact that she is fun. The two best friends are childhood best friends and it’s hard to say if they would still be friends if they met today. They’ve known each other their whole lives - using each other as a ‘measuring stick’ and reference for their entire lives. When they lose each other in the end, it is deep and tragic - more tragic that not getting the love of your life in some ways.
  • The film’s last scene with Rachel and Darcy feels wrong to me - mainly because the novel ending is perfect with that fact that Rachel is waiting for Darcy’s call. Longing for communication - even if it is to be screamed at - She’s still trying to measure their relationship and we can all relate to that. 

The story reminds me a little bit of a part that Diablo Cody touched on in Jennifer’s Body with ‘Sand-box Love” - falling in love with your best friend when you’re younger and the complexity of being a woman and being the best friend with a woman. It’s competitive but innocent. My favorite part in the novel is when Rachel says she wishes she could undo what she did to Darcy in a moment during their adult-sleepover because she wishes she could give those ‘little girls another chance.’ 

I could go on and on analyzing the book and the film - in it’s major moments and small moments. The film is a small version of the great novel - but still has those moments of what the novel is doing. I just wanted to show - you can take something as cheap as a ‘chick flick’ or ‘chick lit’ and see how deep it actually is. 

Writings

I’m going to attempt to keep writing in this blog - I am an active screenwriter and it only seems appropriate to record some of my writings, thoughts, ideas and method in this blog. 

As of right now I am over half way into my second feature. I’ve set a hard deadline for myself to get the first draft finished by September 30th. 

I am also currently doing heavy research on two other screenplays in particular and of course, trying to get my first feature screenplay read and produced. 

I won’t reveal much about my plot and character as I’m trying to protect myself, but I will reveal the process, ideas, themes and whatever vague part of my script I can reveal. 

Hopefully we can make this interactive for writers interested in film, screenwriting, poetry, ideas, women in film and just, thoughts.