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2005 has been the year of the most change for me I think. I had my first full time career job. Left my first full time career job. Got into graduate school for something I have never ever planned on doing before (yay, writing!). Moved to a place I never thought I would move (yay, Hell.A.!). Got an apartment and a car! It's been quite crazy.
I am most thankful to everyone I have met this year. That has been the best part of 2005. My lovely office friends, the new e-pals and especially everyone at AFI. I am also so thankful for everyone I continue to know and have in my life. I am so glad to enter 2006 with all of you!
2006, BRING IT ON.
(Retires to couch, where will ring in New Year unconscious in front of PBS, most like).
suddenly i was @ 07:26 pm
(no feathers)
thursday, december 22, 2005
This Livejournal proudly presents, the entry which took the longest bit of time to write- EVER. Started exactly one week ago, the author was interrupted by the end of a term, a flight, a timezone or two and the lack of internet—but fret no more, here is the entry you’ve all been waiting for. We are delighted to bring to you:The best worst day ever!
It started poorly. I was very, very bothered last night. Some very odd drama entered my life at the end of the day and it really worried me. I can’t tell you how much! Actually, yes I can tell you how much. So much I forced myself unto WiredClover and we chatted together on the phone.
ME: Hi, this I my real name and my voice OMGIHAVENOFRIENDSANDINEEDSOMEONETOTALKTO
The talking helped so much. After hour very long discussion I moved back to cleaning my apartment, only to find the lovely UK-based My_Rain_Face online and unto her also, did I heave my heavy sob story.
IT WAS GREAT.
- By the time all was said, however, it was 6 AM and I had a screening at 9. I laid across my bed- just for a moment, I thought, because I was exhausted. I set two alarms and thought I was golden.
FLASH FORWARD:
I opened my eyes. It was bright out. Mmm.
Wait.
What time is it?
I rolled over and pulled up my cellphone. All that was visible was a text message from Producer: “You still kicking?”
I looked at the time. 9.
Oh my Jesus Christ.
I FLEW from bed, slid into the bathroom, by the time I crashed into the wall I was half undressed and brushing my teeth.
A few seconds later, I realized my check in time wasn’t 9 AM, it was 9:30—by the grace of God, I had a few moments.
I ran about- 10 minutes I was ready. Out the door I burst and tore up the sidewalk, still packing my bag as I hit the alarm on my car.
ZIP. I was off to school, as I pulled up I could see the last lingering bodies go into the screening room. I parked (crooked) then dashed up the stairs, slipped into a seat (noticing my director and editor were suddenly like this X and ditto with my director and Adventure’s old producer [remember, the one who hired a writer outside of AFI?], conspiracy?). One film ran first before ours. When ours came on, I sat on the stairs so I wouldn’t have to crawl over people to get out for the crit. I kept my head bowed and plugged my ears through the whole scene. It was so god awful. Only Canada Lass said anything to me. She found me on the stairs and asked if I was all right, I told her it wasn’t mine and she said, with that weary writer look, “I’ll know what you mean tomorrow.” I gave her a hug as the lights came up.
Up on stage it was awkward. I was holding my stomach tightly, watching everyone’s faces. The short had no story. Everyone repeated the same 9,000 things we had covered in every meeting we had ever had. Adventure made his effort by raising his hand twice and making comments.
The thing ended and I wandered off like a ghost, no one even noticed I moved away to wait for the wrap meeting.
The wrap meeting began at noon. Oh good Christ guys. If you could have been there.
Oh there were limbs in pools of blood by the time we were finished.
First, our editor, the only heterosexual male (pause), crossed over to the dark side and suddenly said he had a great collaboration with our director (though last Tuesday in Narnia he was singing a VERY different tune). My director, I would have felt for her, only I know how she is and how she acts. She puts on shows depending on who she is with, today’s episode was the Wounded Lamb. She makes me so angry.
It worked, A third way into the meeting the moderator turned to us and said, “You failed your director.”
P.S. The Director, at all times, is infallible.
I spoke up to this and explained myself. I did not fail this director, she failed me. I explained not only to I understand my place as a writer (the bottom rung) but I always, always considered this the director’s project. So much so, I took stack after stack of her notes and wrote them for her. Wrote down her words, verbatim as they came from her lips. – Only! To had the script taken from me in the end and written over.
I also said, I don’t mind what happens to the text. I know words must change, I get all of this. Plus, plus, all the issues of my feeling I was never, ever listened to. I don’t make story suggestions on someone else’s ideas for an ego trip, I do them because I am trying to service the story. When I am ignored over and over- it leads to apathy on my part. – And I told the panel I felt like my biggest contribution to the film was buying sharp cheddar for craft service.
I explained myself and the moderator, I think, thinks I am very reasonable, for when she asked, “Did you tell your new group about these feelings?” I said, yes. Our first meeting we went over our own personal strengths and weaknesses and followed up with explaining what happened on our first cycles which we didn’t want to see repeated.
Later, the moderator told the rest of my team they should do as I had done. So, woo!
Words can’t really go into the rest.
There was finger pointing and sentences like this: “I can’t respect you as a person.” “I have never been so disrespected in my life.” “I know about the meetings which happened behind my back.”
Yeah.
This is how the meeting ended.
MOD: Well, this isn’t ever going to be resolved, so we might as well move on.
After the wrap meeting, I met up with Adventure. I detailed for him the bloodshed. I then asked up on the drama from the night before, for he had been involved in it. I was worried about how he felt because, he took some hard hits (which were rightly aimed in some ways, not so rightly in other ways) and we talked about that a bit.
We then decided King Kong was going to be our movie of choice, I told him if he could putz about through my last narrative analysis meeting, I would give him a ride home.
Then I was off to narrative analysis.
Yawn.
These are run by the guy who wrote “Dog Day Afternoon” and “Cool Hand Luke” (was also the president of WGA twice over) and I find him absolutely charming, but he’s a little past his prime. He kept calling this Gandalf action figure in a film today, “Don Quixote,” despite being correct several times.
Anyhow, by this analysis I was spent and nothing much was said. I rebonded with my editor over Narnia, so at least we’re on good terms again.
Finally, I trotted off and found Adventure, we zipped over to Rite Aid, so I could get me SOME MEDS, then I dropped him off, with the intent we were meeting back up around 6 to catch our movie.
It was time for the movie! Kong was playing at Universal Studios, which was some place I had never driven before. I printed out instructions but they ended up being useless. I lived the entire ride in ABJECT TERROR of ending up on the freeway. Conversation couldn’t even happen while I was panicking.
Taking the most backassward and terror-inducing route, we finally found Universal and our cinema- but not before getting a coupon for foodies, playing in a toy store and Adventure buying a box of Harry Potter games.
-- WOO. I just took a nap from 1-3, now it’s almost 5 AM again.
“King Kong.”
I have to be brief because, yeah hi! It’s 5 AM.
Adventure and I settled into our chairs and I told him about my earplugs.
ME: We’ve never really seen a real movie together have we?
AD: Well, Narnia.
ME: Oh but that was with other people so I didn’t say anything; these- are my earplugs.
AD: Earplugs!
ME: I’m losing my hearing.
This always sounds so much more serious, I watched his smile drain right off away.
AD: This is awful. The music is too loud in here. I’m going to go ask the turn it down.
ME: Oh you don’t have to- I –
AD: I’ll be right back.
- And Adventure went and made the theatre turn down their speakers!
The beginning was far too long and expository. The writing, dare I say it? Was really clumsy. When I notice clumsy writing, you know something is up. It was like whoever was writing with a hatchet!
JAMIE BELL’S FATHER FIGURE: We found him down here. Two broken arms. Never told me where he was from…
AUDIENCE: AND WE WILL NEVER KNOW.
Because this is a set up which is never paid off.
EXT. CRAZAY ASS GIANT JUNGLE – DAY
Our stalwart heroes press on forth, deeper and deeper in the vines and overgrowth as…
SMASH CUT TO:
Jamie Bell, our pointless deck hand, reading A HEART OF DARKNESS.
JAMIE BELL
(wide-eyed innocence)
Why, sir, why does Morlow keep going?
FATHERLY FIGURE
Excuse me while I begin to pontificate for an inordinately long amount of time, speaking in vague literary terms which happen to match the visuals happening at the same time- even though the logic of this smash cut insert makes absolutely no sense.
P.S. Don’t ever write cut to’s.
It was just too obvious. It wasn’t smart. I wanted the talking and characters to match the amazing nature of the visuals.
The beginning was all this laid back sort of stuff. I wanted punchier dialogue. You have Jack Black, for the love of god. He needs dialogue which is just BAM. There. And it wasn’t here.
Slow and boring and a little without point, the beginning. Why did we need the old father wiseman lover man stuff with Anne? Really. What did it prove in the end? A few of the characters were a bit lost. Jamie Bell! I LOVE him and he was totally wasted. His character, also, seemed to young for Bell. Bell didn’t look young enough to be coddled in the manner he was in the film. He also kept having these bursts of random. ie “I must go to Miss Darrow!”
Since when did he love her?
The best character in the film was Kong. He was beautifully done, both on an animation-type level and just spiritwise. He was a rich, deep and moving figure- definitely the one I felt for the most of the lot.
The love story was wonderful.
I mean, it has to be all kinds of wrong when I am sitting there rooting for Naomi Watts to end up with a 80 ton gorilla over Brody.
ME: OMG CHOOSE THE MONKEY.
Naomi Watts and Adrien Brody were so, so, so very beautiful to look at. Wasn’t she stunning? Didn’t you want to pet Adrien’s sensitive writer’s head?
Still, it was more “cut me a slab of that monkey love.” – From me too! I always go for the sensitive artist.
Once we got the island, god. The action. I can’t stand action normally, but this stuff was amazing- if just for the ingenuity.
ME: Omg. It is a PILE OF DINOSAURS.
The chases would build and build and add more and more. I seriously couldn’t imagine what could possibly happen next and that never happens to me, so I loved it. Every five seconds I was asking, “What could possibly happen next?” and that is just what you want an audience member to ask.
Adventure did have a good point though, the action of a film should build.
AD: I mean, the best action was with the T-rexes and that was a the halfway point.
He has a point. After you’ve seen a pile of cow-a-saurs and three T-rexes SWINGING IN VINES, a giant monkey a top some building isn’t quite as boss as it ought to be. The film is way too long. It was fabulous but 40 minutes could have been lost at the beginning (seriously, I saw this a second time and dosed off during the beginning—more on that viewing later). Overall though, a great and wonderful picture.
Adventure and I stayed with our feet kicked up on the chairs in front of us counting the number of times our names turned up in the credits.
Then we piled out of the theatre with our foodie gift certificate in hand. We knew exactly what we were off to find: ice cream.
We stepped outside and wandered the lot. All the stores were closed. Even the toy one we had visited with the little poodle toys. It was cold out:
ME: Hey! Watch!
(I blow into the air making a vapor cloud)
ME: We can see our breath!
The two of us stood a bit making clouds. Finally, fists shoved into pockets, we decided we better go back to the theatre to the concession stand, if it was still open, and buy some treats there.
We went back into the theatre. The guard there was a little unsure of what we wanted and I sure Adventure just went up and barked “FOOD” at her.
AD: Food.
GUARD: You want to buy food here?
ME: We have a gift certificate!
In the end, there was NO ICE CREAM TO BE HAD because god and fate are cruel at time, but we did end up with Skittles and M&M’s.
The drive home wasn’t nearly as terrifying as the ride there—big empty roads add to ones sense of ease as it was past 11 at least at this point. I got Adventure to his place, sent him out the door, then just as he was about to enter his gate, I rolled down my window.
ME: Hey, could you check to see if I have something in my trunk?
AD: Sure.
(I pop the trunk)
ME: It’s a bag with some packages, it’s a colourful bag. Old Navy or something.
AD: Yeah.
ME: Is there an envelop in there somewhere?
AD: This bag?
ME: Yeah.
AD: Here.
(Ad hands me the bag)
ME: Thanks.
(I dig around in the bag until I come to an envelop with Ad’s name)
ME: Ok, thanks.
(Ad goes to close trunk)
ME: Wait, wait.
(I throw the envelop out the back)
ME: You might as well keep that.
AD: Aww.
ME: In fact, you might as well keep all of it. I don’t need it.
(I throw the bag back out the back)
Oh! If you could have seen his face. He just looked up and though I think he totally knew what was up half way through that exchange, he seemed genuinely touched. He walked around to the side of my car where my window was still open.
AD: I feel so lame, I don’t have anything.
ME: It doesn’t matter. The little one could be useful to you on the plane, the rest you can open whenever. See you tomorrow.
I then flipped my car around and spun right out of there, tickled pink.
I know the title of the entry is the best worst day- emphasis on DAY, but perhaps I would have been better off using the term sequence, for I consider the next morning all part of this same chain of events.
The next morning, it was the last group of cycle projects to play. Canada Lass was going and everyone was prepped to support her because she was yet another trammeled writer. I was sitting alone up front when someone sat next to me and made me jump. It was Adventure in a red hoodie.
AD: There’s nothing more appropriate than wearing a red hoodie the day you open up a bunch of E.T. gifts.
He opened up the gifts! Huzzah and liked the magazine and the record. I told him all about iloveet.com and (whoops, memo to self, do this sometime) said I would forward him the guy’s email address.
The morning continued. We all applauded Canada Lass and the day was over. Oh! Oh! You should have seen me after the last crit session. I don’t think I have hugged more people in my life. On tip-toes I hugged So. Africa who is so much taller than anyone, I hugged Shades and I hugged Bday. I hugged R. and I. Canada Lass three times, Canada Lad once. I hugged Shades’ new director, who I’ve only talked to once and that conversation went, “Oh, do you need a chair?” I hugged y new director, my new producer. I even hugged MY OLD DIRECTOR.
ME: Sorry it was so rough yesterday!
(HUGS)
Then I saw Adventure standing around.
ME: Do you need a ride, young sir?
AD: I do.
I rounded out my last goodbyes then stood anxiously knowing I was leaving in T minus two hours.. Adventure talked to London Lass, who very well probably isn’t really from London, but that’s what her accent sounds like to me then we were off.
I dropped him off at his place for the last time of ’05 and wished him a good holiday. He handed me a card with the name, “Emilio” written across the envelop.
ME: Daw.
Then after a moment I said, “Well, I better finish things off and give your shoulder a hug.” – I leaned over and we gave each other a good hug.
Hugs are difficult to do in cars... when you’re strapped in and parted by stick shifts. My face ended up more in his neck and I was all twisted, but it was a good solid hug. I said, “You are my good friend.” And he said, “It’s better with you here.”
Then he rolled out of the car as I said, “No, it’s better with you here.”
To which the reply came: “It’s better with both of us here.”
The car door fell shut and I pulled away to get home to my cousbian who was coming to take me away.
And that, my friends, is my best worst day ever.
suddenly i was @ 04:16 pm
(no feathers)
thursday, december 15, 2005
Today is a Gemini day. It began in the depths of hellish suckitude, what with waking up late the morning of my screening- you know, for the film I didn’t write (more later!) and is evolving to one of supreme awesomeness as I prep to go on a King Kong sort of adventure with Adventure.Yay!
suddenly i was @ 07:26 pm
(no feathers)
suddenly i was @ 01:04 am
(no feathers)
tuesday, december 13, 2005
Today was the CUTEST day of all time!
I walked into my workshop and knew it was going to be different because the tabletop was decorated with red and green table clothes and covered with all sorts of sweets and pastries. Before each writer’s chair there was a little gift package of chocolates with our names attached, signed from our teacher.
“Morning!” said my teacher popping up from behind the table.
When all 7 of my workshop mates were in and seated, we had such fun. We all turned in our first acts and a few of us read pages: myself, Adventure, So. Africa and Eowyn.
We couldn’t stop laughing at anything. Adventure was excited because Eowyn had a British Guard character.
AD: Let me be the British Guard!
TEACHER: We want a Cockney accent from you this time though.
AD: I’m not sure what that is…
And lo, just because you’re from the island, apparently does not make you any more blessed in creating an accent. I think Adventure’s Cockney was just as bad as what I could do.
Later, he was forced to do his American accent, which is quite literally, possibly the greatest thing I have ever heard in my entire life.
AD: It’s a cross between Forrest Gump and John Wayne.
Always! People’s American accents always go straight to the cowboys.
All the other workshop members (we’re divided up, only 7 writers per workshop), would walk by our door with wide-eyes. Shades stopped in and we would offer food.
US: Come on, come in and have some!
TEACHER: This is the group with the Jewish Mother instructor.
Other teachers.
OTHER TEACHER: Make us look bad!
Even the Assistant Dean!
After we had read all of our pages and laughed and laughed, then our teacher stood up and put in “How The Grinch Stole Christmas,” which apparently never made it to either Wales or South Africa, because Adventure and So. Africa had never seen it! – Unfortunately bother wonderful lads had to sit next to this idiot (points to self) who had to study it in class for her animation undergraduate education and so knew the whole thing verbatim. I couldn’t stop giggling and feeling warm and fuzzy and wonderful!
And the end, we all cleaned up and said goodbye. I love my workshop team so much. SO MUCH. I am so glad we are together for a full year.
suddenly i was @ 09:57 pm
(no feathers)
monday, december 12, 2005
I can’t decide—I just wrote this exact thing in an AIM conversation, if I am the biggest loser to ever slither up onto solid ground or not. Tonight is AFI’s big holiday party. It’s at some club, everyone comes (faculty, students). The invite went out ages ago, I looked at it and thought, “Meh” and never RSVPed.Ug. I am the biggest lamoid. This is the kind of stuff I was trying to beat out of my system. GO OUT. HAVE FUN.
Why am I always so scared?
suddenly i was @ 07:54 pm
(no feathers)
sunday, december 11, 2005
Omg, look at me. I am a party (cg) animal! It’s 4 AM and I just got in.For those who really don’t want to relive my day: Narnia, the long of the short of it. There’s a Pirates II trailer. The little girl is cute. Fin.
Today was a very good day. It began with screenings of projects. I was early and so was standing on the stairs with everyone, when I ran to the bathroom quickly. When I came out, EVERYONE and THEIR DOG and had gone inside.
Damn, said I. For I like to go in early and choose the absolute most perfect seat for myself, yet there I was lingering on the outskirts with only the front corner of seats available.
Suddenly, bamf, alongside appeared Adventure and things weren’t so bad, because at least the company up front would be nice.
Today Canada Lass and Adventure’s Writing Partner’s films showed. Both were good, I thought, especially the latter’s. Very well done. Just lovely. It was about an old stagehand, who in the shadows had memorized all of Shakespeare’s lines in plays and things.
I do love me some Shakespeare mighty powerful.
During the screening, Adventure leaned over and asked if I was going to Narnia hing. I said I didn’t know there was a Narnia thing. So during the break, he darted off and found someone with tickets for me!
ME: Oooh.
After the screenings, Adventure and I shot off to engage in fun-time adventures as we do. First stop was Borders for holiday cards. We spent just ages there, but it was amusing. After wandering for quite a bit alone I walked back over to Adventure who was busy in the bargain section. At first, I thought I might have to pretend I didn’t know him because he was looking at Martha Stewart books- but they were for his mother, so I suppose it was allowed. We looked at “Harold and the Purple Crayon” (who else recalls that book?). I expounded on the innate hotness of Vince Vaughn in GQ, while he looked at women in lingerie in some other mag.
ME: Vince Vaughn. Hottest man—of all time.
AD: I don’t know these women very well… but in time, I will.
What else? I didn’t get anything. I am on the online plan for most of my gift shopping. He ended up with several gifts for his family plus a few bonus items such as: Two-Minute Mysteries and a book on serial killers.
From Borders, we moved off to get gas. I drove the wrong way down a one way street for five seconds. Was thrilling.
I asked if we could go get gas from my normal gas station, because I don’t cope well in new situations when in comes to gas stations. I find it very complicated—pulling into a slot and all that—remembering which side the stupid pump majig is on. He, however, protested and we went to Canada Lass’ place of choice (which was rather choice price-wise, must admit) where I continued to fail at life.
I couldn’t get my card to work, then couldn’t get the gas cord to fit in the car- I mean, Jesus Christ! It’s exasperating being with me and I’m myself!
ME: Why won’t this lock… I can’t---
GAS PUMP: Stops flowing. Stops flowing.
AD: I can hold it.
(We both battle to keep the gas pump within the car)
ME: Why won’t this lock?
AD: How can you tell there’s enough gas inside?
ME: … that’s… why… I’m… trying… to lock this!
(locks)
6 hours later, we leave the gas place for Target, our favourite old stomping grounds. In the car, Adventure would read the two-minute mysteries. Tip to wannabe sleuths, solving crime while driving is hard.
ME: Uh… I don’t know.
At Target, I kind of needed a lamp he was after a roach motel because he spent the night in terror after finding one in his sink.
Of course, one never goes straight for these items. We looked at chocolates, I got lost in the toy section, he got lost in the video game section. He bought measuring cups with reindeer on them.
AD: These… are amazing.
ME: I think I just gained that much more respect for you.
We even ended up in the underwear section, but that’s where I really had to draw the line. Finally we found everything. Adventure had a meeting in like five seconds, so we took off (but not before I got my disgustingly pink lovely drink from Starbucks- BWAHAHAHA).
After dropping Adventure off, I went home and napped. In theory I had two movies to attend, though I didn’t really think both were happening.
Suddenly my phone rang:
AD: I don’t think I want to go to the other movie… I haven’t had my nap yet and my eyes hurt and my head hurts…
ME: (drools into pillow)
SO! We skipped that first movie and decided we were on for “Narnia” alone.
At that appointed hour (about 10) Adventure called, for I was to pick him up, due to some wonky ticket exchange method he was catching a ride with a few editors and would meet up with me at the theatre.
I pulled myself together and headed off. We were to see Narnia at the El Capitan, which is right on Hollywood, across from the Mann’s Chinese Theatre.
WOW. Getting out to the boulevard is amazing! I live up where it’s quiet and I just assumed CA was dead all the time, but it was so bright out there with decorations I didn’t even need my headlights at night!
Lights, lights, lights and people.
P.S. Every weirdo from every walk of life, from everywhere on Earth ends up on Hollywood Boulevard.
I was so excited because I found the parking garage all by myself and parked. From there I ran up and across the street, when my phone rang.
AD: Where are you?
ME: Across the street!
I zipped around the front of the theatre, to the back alley where the line was, where I found Adventure standing with a small pocket of AFI people, one or two production designers, editors and writers. I stood outside the group and Adventure kept flagging me. “Come here!” So I slipped in a stood next to him.
Together we looked through the little book the ticket came in and talked about the old PBS series. Luckily I was in the company of someone else who had never read the books and also was hoping for mere mediocrity from this movie.
Adventure begin to say something about the story when our very own Self-Acclaimed Genius in the line began to talk back to us…
AD: I wonder what the story is…
GENIUS: Well you know this is based on another tale. One that is 2,000 years old.
AD: Oh, well, that’s going to take a long time tell.
G: No, no. The story isn’t 2,000 years long. That’s how long ago the first story happened…
Oh my GOD (no pun intended). We could have kept that up, but mercifully someone stepped between us and the ecclesiastical weirdo.
Adventure’s writing partner showed up.
AD: Let’s join this conversation.
(bounces up from fence)
And it was rather interesting to see him engage with other males talking about sports.
Some of the guys there (actually, now that I think… I was one of three females- EW. Where are the rest of us?) were plotting a football team.
PARTNER: Football.
AD: No! Soccer.
DUDE: Ah, football proper.
I think Adventure’s accent increased tenfold the more excitable he became and I really haven’t ever seen him so forthright in any conversation.
AD: They’re shite!
So apparently sports really is the key to male bonding.
P.S. I really couldn’t get excited about that conversation. Sports equals boring in my language- BOTH footballs, but don’t tell anyone that, lest I lose friends.
Finally the line began to move inside.
The theatre was AMAZING. It was all decked out with the stone statues of the White Witch’s castle and fantastic coloured lights: blue, green, purple. We all found lovely seats, right in the center. On stage, there was an organist playing music. He played all sorts of things, holiday songs, soundtrack songs. It was so much fun!
Finally, when the movie was ready to go, an announcer came out and welcomed us to the theatre. The organist geared up and began playing again, when suddenly he was lowered into the stage.
The curtains rose and they played on trailer, the Pirates one. Everyone cheered.
The lights came back on a bit- and something of a show began. The theme to Narnia began to play and lights danced around. A backdrop, like the kind you see in ballets, became evident and as the light played off the sheer material- it became obvious there was a lamp post amid the blues and purples. The lamppost became more and more obvious and as the music build it suddenly reached its peak and- BAM!
Snow!
Snow in the theatre!
It was so lovely! All this snow blew down from the top tiers of the theatre and fell onto the audience. All the flakes reflected the coloured lights and it really was, this side of magical.
As the music faded and the snow fell thin, the coloured lights faded away and off and the curtains pulled open to the movie starting.
It was pretty boss.
I’m going to talk about the movie now, scroll if you don’t want to know.
As for the movie itself I thought the first third was brilliant.
Really! I loved it all. The costumes were amazing and I thought the little girl, Lucy, was wonderful. By far the best of the children actors and I think its because she had a genuine sort of feel ala Gertie in E.T., where it seemed like she actually believed all the magic was happening.
The tea party with Mr. Tumnus was by far the best in the entire film. Not only for the wonderful chemistry between he had Lucy (just charming to watch together) but for the creepiness factor.
“I’m kidnapping you.”
Wonderful stuff.
I was completely invested in everything which was happening I think, until Father Christmas showed up.
I mean, maybe that worked on the page, but god is it awkward and embarrassing on screen.
A. It comes across as lazy. As Adventure put it, if I did that in class, I would be reprimanded.
B. I don’t understand how in a fantasy world there can be Christmas, it bugs me. If there is Christmas, aka the Christ Birthday, then why do we have to skirt about the Jesus analogies? It just bugs me. In a fantasy land, I want fantasy. I want no ties to things which are all too human and up for debate.
So yes, after Father Christmas showed up, it was something of a downhill slide. The battle happened way too fast or something. I mean, I just didn’t FEEL the battle. I didn’t feel the preparation and characters seemed to glide through transformations, see: Peter.
He went from <3 o’ gold son to knight in five seconds. When did he learn to ride a unicorn?
That was the other thing. Now I like fantasy as much as the next person, but there's only so much I can take: talking animals, unicorns-- by the time the phoenix showed up I thought to myself, "All we need now is a mermaid to burp up on screen," ... sure enough.
Likewise, I didn’t feel anything when Edmund (p.s. Yay for Shakespeare, he was the evil half-brother in “King Lear”) returned. Aslan may have said we are not to speak of it, but he shouldn’t have been forgiven so quickly. It nullifies the drama and lessens the impact of him nearly killing himself to save his brother.
I remember thinking this with the old BBC series too. FAR too much sibling hugging.
But it really would have been stronger if there was more resistance to forgiveness, especially between the two brothers.
The Jesus analogy creeps me out. I don’t like religion. And don’t get me wrong! I am usually all for religious symbolism. I liked how Rose of Shar’n was the Virgin in “Grapes of Wrath,” but this seemed too on the nose somehow. I felt like I was watching one of those animated Bible cartoons and everything thing which came out of Aslan’s mouth was a paraphrased Bible caption.
Oh, except for when he was up on that rock with Peter, then it was all a paraphrased Lion King caption.
ASLAN: There’s a deeper magic at work here Peter… the Circle of Life.
Since I didn’t feel the battle, I wasn’t relieved when they made it at the end and likewise still found it creepy they were called “Daughter of Eve” and such.
- Though I was happy because if I remember right, Lucy got to rule the East and East starts with E, which is what my name starts with, so it’s like she would be my queen and she was the only one of the children who I actually enjoyed, so yay!
I thought the rapid aging at the end was forced and weird. I suppose it’s in the books as such, but it was just to quick and I didn’t believe they wouldn’t remember what the lamppost was.
LUCY: Yea, it is but a dream within a dream—
ME: No, it’s the marker to the real world, YOU KNOW THE ONE YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER ARE IN!?
Is the atmosphere of Narnia crack ridden? Is that why the children forgot? It really bothered me.
Seriously though, I would have been happy as a clam had they jut stayed children for this movie.
All in all, much better than I thought. The writing was great, nice lines which surprised me. Very much enjoyed the Beavers. Tilda Swinton (the witch), Lucy and Tumnus were a delight full round to watch. Others, like Broadbent, were not used to their fullest in the leastwise.
Costumes fun, music interesting. Jesus parables equal cranky pants.
In sum: this is what I look like in the morning.
I LOVE Mr. Tumnus.
And Edmund has no fanlisting, get on it girls.
Anyone who has more pictures… send them along.
Funny, because she won’t remember this place in an hour.
The secret-not-so-secret real message of the film.
After the film, Adventure and I took off in the rain. It was almost 4 AM!
I drove up the wrong road and we had to take a mad turn into a convenient hotel so we could flip around and get him home.
I would say here, he’s never going to speak to me again I’m so annoying! But we know he did the very next day, which was yesterday- so I will just apply that thought to yesterday.
I’m such an idiot!
suddenly i was @ 03:36 pm
(no feathers)
I: Speaking of totally random things—there’s this short film contest that’s amazing. The prize is 10,000 dollars…
Adventure and my eyes meet.
ME: I know what you’re talking about.
I: Wait, you do?
AD: I, you have competition for that contest.
I: Who?
AD: She and I.
I: Oh no! That’s good competition.
YAYS. The troll movie contest DOES exist!
suddenly i was @ 04:07 am
(no feathers)
saturday, december 10, 2005
I am feeling randomly way depressive. Today wasn’t bad or anything, I even went to a party.I know.
Stop the universe.
But look: I got in before it hit single digits.
I guess tonight is as close to “Swingers” as I have ever been since moving here. – And yeah. It was my goal to live like “Swingers.”
I even got to say, “Double down” a few times this evening.
There are a slew of parties going on. There’s a huge swank one with a dress code which is going on some producer’s roof happening right now. I went to the writers’ pre-party. I. invited a few select people over (Bday, R., Adventure, Canada Lad- two or three others) to his place for “champagne and a fruit platter.”
I debated and debated and tried to find a ride… then as I was contemplating the driving instructions, Adventure called and wanted to know if I was going- and if so, could he get a ride?
Straw meet Camelback.
It’s so much easier to drive to a foreign place when you have a navigator.
To kill time we went to the grocery store, because that’s what we do. I told him 3 dollar sushi is disgusting, because IT IS and I helped him look through an Elle magazine with Scarlet Johanson, because he likes her.
I then confessed how I am worried that my “rep” at AFI is one of abject innocence. It’s totally embarrassing. I don't know why I confessed that thought I have.
Also discussed vomit for an inordinate amount of time. I don’t like vomit.
So after the grocery store, we drove for a really long time, found the pre-party place and I had trauma parking. I detest parking.
I even got a pep talk about being confident.
Beginning:
I can’t believe how successful you’ve been, being how you are.
Middle:
You would be much more successful if you just had confidence.
End:
Even if you got 10,000 times more confident, you wouldn’t come close to being cocky.
Let’s talk about how much I don’t like being told to have more confidence and to quit being hard on myself. If it’s just me I’m hurting and bothering, why does anyone else care? I detest pep talks.
We made it to the party. I love those guys. I think it’s really funny because apparently the three (Bday, R. and I.) are seen as some sort of elite clique, which makes me laugh, because if they are they don’t seem to be at all because they invite me over to eat fruit platters.
ME: Hee.
I started the AFI rumor mill churning, something I never thought would happen.
ME: Blah is leaving AFI.
EVERYONE: You’ve let us all talk about dumb crap all night and here someone is dropping out!?
I thought it was common knowledge. I knew my producer spying would pay off. It’s no surprise. He’s been talking about it for ages. Then Shades came up, this producer is his producer and says:
SHADES: I’m having a crisis.
ME: A crisis?
SHADES: We just lost our producer, he’s dropping out.
So I started that down the way, hope no one minds.
I also saw the most disturbing thing ever. Um. My new producer? Has… videos… on the internet.
…
Yeah. So basically I won’t be able to look at him for the rest of ...
Ever.
It wasn’t even bad- just weird.
P.S. All if anyone is an AFI stalker here, don’t tell V. anything. It will always leak out and before you know it, people at a party are looking you up on the internet.
Found out some really bad shizzat went down with another group of people last night (won’t say who, even in LJ code names). Went to a speakeasy and ate some popcorn… which wasn’t popcorn. There was hallucinating involved… all sorts of bad things and everyone got really screwed up.
What else? Three drinks and Adventure walked into the room and said he was drunk. He was. You know what? I don’t really like drunk people. I was going write, “I detest drunk people,” to keep up the pattern I established early on in this entry, but that seems a bit harsh. They are amusing up to a point. I have spent my fair share of time with them, but yeah. I had my glass of champagne (just a wee little bit), but I kept it under control and got nothing from it. Eat pineapple to temper the effects, if they were to come.
Finally, everyone decided to move on to the other party. I had no desire to go and so parted with drunk Adventure for company.
AD: Let’s cross in the middle of the street.
ME: All right.
(I step off, Adventure stands looking over the curb; tipping like it’s a million miles up. I stick out my hand and help him off the curb. Adventure wanders across the road to the car. I wait for passing vehicle)
AD: Which side do I get in? This one!
(Adventure points to driver’s side)
ME: You’re driving from now on?
AD: I’ll pull out and hit four cars in the process.
ME: I don’t see how that’s too different from what I do.
AD: I learned from you.
ME: Shut up, you jerk.
The ride home was nice.
AD: I’m the funniest person I know!
ME: How many people do you know?
AD: My brothers.
Things became a bit truth serumy by the end. Adventure worries too much. He’s so good in everything he’s concerned with… to quote “Swingers,” “You’re so money, you have no idea how money you are.” Still, it made me feel sad trying to help him out, maybe it was the effect of the champagne I didn’t think had any effect.
I then came home and began to stress over the fact I have nowhere to leave my fish over the break and oh. That’s right. No way home.
The evening left me pretty low.
I still have all of the “Narnia” night to relate to you. I will get to it later.
And just to continue the rest of the driving conversation.
ME: Um. Yeah. That would be a world of no.
AD: A world! How about a universe? A universe of no. 350 degrees of wow. That’s what they say in Miami.
(big announcer voice)
And today it’s going to be a wonderful 350 degrees… of WOW.
suddenly i was @ 05:18 am
(no feathers)
thursday, december 8, 2005
What a wonderful evening and night!We had a screening of Billy Wilder’s “The Apartment” at The Alex Theatre.
How many people have watched “The Apartment” here? Raise your hands.
I’ve have watched it some three times in the past week for different classes.
It is mastery. I mean, absolute genius. Every time I watch it I love it more. It is so smart. So smart. I can’t believe a human mind could have constructed that film!
If you want to do something for kicks (and come to know the types of things you do in AFI classes) play the set-up, pay-off game with “The Apartment.” Notice everything that is set-up and how it is paid off.
It will BLOW your mind.
Anyhow, so we went to see that film. I got lost on the way (not really, I stopped a block early and panicked). Then I parked by a meter which didn’t need money- a fact I missed until I asked a girl for change for a dollar and was treated like a homeless person. I then tore around a corner, only to be teased by my producer’s other director.
DIR: We’re not going anywhere!
He’s so funny.
During the film, Adventure came and set next to me and nap-snapped through the first half, even though I just told him to lean over and fall asleep. By the end, however, he was wide-wide awake and dancing around.
Afterward everyone was going to a bar next door. I don’t really drink and neither does Adventure- though he did utter my few favourite words ever to be strung together:
AD: I want some ice cream.
So while all our peers loaded into the bar for drinks, we set off to find icecreams. Only just in front of the bar though, we ran into So. Africa. We talked and talked and convinced him to join us.
And thus began, the icecream adventure of 05.
We walked up for blocks, then down for blocks. No ice cream.
Adventure had a phone call which was rather funny with his writing partner though:
AD: I’m with the two coolest people at AFI. – What? Ok, a hint: one has killed more people than you could possibly imagine, the other could never hurt anything.
I think I was the one who killed.
Ha! No, I was the one who couldn’t hurt anything, neither could So. Africa- not in a million, million years, but he’s script has mass sci-fi slaughter in it.
I called my CalArts pal who lives in Glendale for assistance. She gave us directions. We walked to So. Africa’s car and took to the street. Got lost. Twice.
SA: Is that the freeway?
ME: This is how I got into my accident!
AD: Can you pull over?
SA: Can I turn from here? Oh, don’t care I’m not from this country.
(Flips giant turn from middle lane)
I also told So. Africa he could turn right on red.
ME: You can turn.
SA: I know. It’s just against my nature.
ME: Go, go, go!
SA: You’re corrupting me!
AD: (laughs) Sorry, but the idea of [my name] corrupting anyone!
Eventually we found a parking garage, where So. Africa was arrow challenged.
SA: I’m going totally the wrong way!
-- OMG. I totally fell asleep at my desk writing this journal entry and didn’t wake up until 7 AM! --
So yes. It’s a day later now. To finish what I was saying; we found a parking garage which led to a mall which was closing down, but for some strange reason, was still open. We wandered inside and being the writers that we are began to map out the plot points of our adventure, beginning with the lady at the front.
LADY: I think the icecream stores are closed…
ME (whisper): She’s the mentor!
We finally found A icecream place, which indeed, was closed.
SA: Second Act break, right here.
ME: Darkest before the dawn.
AD: How does this movie end?
ME: With icecream, we must go on.
We piled back to the front where we met our mentor again.
US: Where is icecream?
MENTOR: It’s midnight! Most icecream stores are closed, don’t you know this?
SA: Oh, we’re not from here.
MENTOR: Oh, you’re from Canada?
SA: Um, South Africa.
AD: I’m British.
ME: … I have no excuse.
I love Canadians with British and English-South-African accents.
So off from the mall we decided the grocery store was the only choice. I think poor So. Africa was beginning to fatigue at this point. You know how it is. I think it takes a special sort of person to adventure, not everyone understands the sheer and utter joy of making everything exceedingly complicated at every turn.
Case in point.
ME: GASP. Can we go back to my car?
SA/AD: Why?
ME: I forgot my wallet.
So. Africa, was kind enough to spot for me. We took our time in the grocery store. Adventure had to take a while to find a flavor appropriate icecream (allergic to chocolate) and So. Africa had never had Ben & Jerry’s before. I got icecream with dinosaur shaped things on the inside.
Adventure then wandered off and found Harry Potter glasses while I went up and asked the security guard for spoon.
MAN OVER INTERCOM: Chuck, we need you up front for some spoons.
Finally! We were all together with icecream, we piled back into the car, drove back passed the bar (where everyone had left from at this point!) parked next to my car and proceeded to enjoy icecream while chatting.
ME: We must look really funny on the security cameras. They’re going to come out here and try and bust us for drugs and we’ll just have icecream.
After a good long conversation, Adventure and I left So. Africa so I could get him back over to his place. It was a nice little ride home, I said goodnight and thus ended the icecream caper of 2005! – at 1:30 AM!
Now tonight I have many plans. I spent the afternoon doing typical Adventure adventures (Borders, Target). Originally we had moviepasses to see a flick at 7 tonight, but then he helped me get a ticket to some special Narnia screening (my ticket came in a booklet, it’s sort of awesome)- and we decided seeing two movies back to back is a bit much. – I think we’re just going to Narnia. Still, fun. I’ll let you know how it goes!
suddenly i was @ 07:41 pm
(no feathers)
tuesday, december 6, 2005
Ha, I fell asleep on the floor and woke up at 8 PM, but totally thought it was 8 AM.ME: Well I guess I will have breakfast.
Then I went and had breakfast!
Dur. Now I am watching “Knights of the So. Bronx” with Ted Dansen and feeling slightly stupid for wanting to continue to watch it. Oh, sleep deprivation! What you do to a weakened mind, you wicked, wicked mistress.
Today was fun. My feature pages were shite. You know, you can only do so much, you know? There was no rhythm, no pay off, I missed dramatic beats. It was bad. Oh. And I had a terrific typo. So bad but I knew they were bad and there really wasn’t anything to be done. It’s too hard to write two things in two days, back to back with no sleep. The feature pages suffered because they happened to be second.
Anyhow. Today, I was late. Why was I late you ask? Because, dude, you were up early enough, you never went to bed! Well, I was late because at 9 AM I thought, “Well, I best put cellophane on this cake I made.”
I ripped off a bit of plastic and put it on my BEAUTIFUL dark chocolate cake with its smooth, smooth top of chocolate frosting I had melted and then cooled all night long.
Suddenly, I sensed a disturbance in the force.
I lifted the cellophane.
…
AND THE ENTIRE SURFACE TOP OF THE CAKE DESTROYING ITS FLAWLESS SURFACE I HAD SPENT AN HOUR CREATING LAST NIGHT.
Oh! If you could have heard the expletives. I have never said, “shit” more times in a row. I was so, so angry. So angry, I pulled out my chocolate, remelted on the spot and went at recreating the cake.
The end result was decent enough. NOT the cake I loved so much, but whatever. – But! Having no cover on the cakes, I needed a new system to protect and carry the cakes. I had no tupperwear, cellophane as out… so what was the obvious answer?
Emptying my sock drawer and putting cake into it, of course.
I darted into class about 6 minutes late. I sit next to I. I fell into my seat and told him, “It’s your fault I’m tardy.” For it was!
The whole cake idea came about from last week when I. said our one class lasted too long…
I: You know what needs to happen? Someone needs to come in and say “Guess what I have in my trunk? Cake. Let’s eat some.” You, [points to me] bring cake.
It was a joke, but the more I thought about it, the more awesome and funny I thought it would be to actually make cake.
So I continued this morning talking to I.
I: What do you mean?
ME: It’s a secret. I don’t want to ruin the surprise.
I: What… do you mean…
ME: Well last week you said it would be fun if someone said, “Guess what I have in my trunk?” Because then you would say, “What?” and then some could say, “Cake. Let’s eat some.”
[pause]
ME: Guess what I have in my trunk?
I.’s eyes went huge.
I: You made cake!?
ME: I made two cakes.
I: I can’t believe you made cake! I … actually, I can believe you would make cake. You would make cake!
The whole table was so excited!
The class was actually wonderful. I had some great parts. In Adventure’s script I was the quirky girl who is the not-quite-but-a-little love interest. I have been waiting ages for her to crop up! She’s really cute. The in I.’s script about Mary Shelley, I got to play Mary (usually I play her sister, but our normal Mary was out today) but it was great because there was super banter with Percy Shelley <- played by Adventure.
ME (as Mary): You are a great literary mind, Mr. Shelley, surely…
AD (as Percy): Percy.
ME (as Mary): Percy.
Snort.
Lunch came and I wandered up the hill to sit. I was alone until I was joined by Canada Lad. Then more writers began to collect. Word, like it always does, had spread like wild fire.
EVERYONE: Where’s the Writers’ cake?
I. and I went to my car and pulled out my drawers of cake. Oh! Everyone was so excited! We put out the cakes on the table in class. I bought plates and forks as well. Oh if you could hear people as they came in! When Adventure came in, I pulled out a package of Twizzlers, because he’s allergic to cakes and such- and no one could be left out!
Even my teacher!
TEACHER: [my name], did you make both of these?
ME: Yes.
TEACHER: Extra, extra points! … Now I would start class, but I need chocolate cake first.
It was so much fun and I was so happy and excited to give things to the writers. I just love them so much and they deserve cake all the time! It’s also nice to know I have made a difference and people know who I am.
Even cleaning up, Adventure helped because he’s kind, but he kept looking at the raspberry filling then looking up to me and saying, “It’s like professional in there!”
Anyhow, it was all together a great and wonderful time, even though I was sleepy and even though I didn’t do my best with my pages.
suddenly i was @ 11:08 pm
Anyhow, now back to finishing up editing. I hope people like cakes!
suddenly i was @ 05:13 am
I just got back from the editing analysis of our project film.
What a joke.
What a joke!
It was so bad, so nebulous and -- bad.
The sex scene? I almost vomited. The woman's breasts were so large and she was heaving up and down... it was like watching a nightmarish porn clip found someone in the depths of the internet. The fake roach looked fake. Nothing made sense.
Yeah.
I did feel totally vindicated when things I have been fighting since AUGUST came up. The first day, FIRST TIME I met my director and she gave me her story, before we even had a producer, I looked at the page and said: This is just a run through, but initially, if I was to write this, I would cut the fantasy sequences.
And GOD have we been battling them ever since.
Our mentor said we didn't need them. Two development meetings said we didn't need them. The writer, producer, cinematographer and editor for MONTHS say we don't need them- now the editing analysis, what's the first thing they say?
We don't need them.
On the plus side, the shots are beautiful. Even the editing is fine. Such a shame. Such talent to waste.
I didn't want to even go today because I look/feel horrific. Not only is my body dying- does anyone else, when they get really tired:
A. Break out
B. Have their back constantly threat to go out
C. Develop heart burn every five seconds
Because I do. - but I look god awful (dark eyes, unkept hair)- but I really wanted to go for our editor. He's such a great guy and I really wanted him to know he had team members there for him. He rocks.
Anyhow. Now it's time to read for my feature.
suddenly i was @ 02:33 am
monday, december 5, 2005
Only after the all-nighter from hell, when one is about to have another all nighter because they had to pull an all-nighter from hell- does one have GODDAMN EDIT ANALYSIS for her FIRST cycle project.
Edit Analysis is this boss critique session where our editor is graded. It's not required, but one puts on a good face if one goes. It shows you're supporting your editor and... well. It's just polite. I have the upmost respect for our editor so the ONLY reason I would go would be out of respect for his time and effort. I couldn't give a rat's ass about this project and frankly, am a little embarrassed to show my face anywhere near it.
suddenly i was @ 07:26 pm
It's so hard to do anything at 4 AM AND my throat hurts.
Goes back to proofreading.
5 AM: WEE! Halfway there!
5:10 AM: SCORE. Goethe quotations in the screenplay. Licks finger and touches thigh, SSSST. Oooh, I am on literary sleep-deprived FY-ar.
5:13 AM: I have that stupid, "It's peanut butter jelly time" song stuck on repeat in my head.
5:25 AM: Who wrote this? "A diagnoses made easily enough, of course, but one they would readily refute had they examined the boy after the death of his poor mother." I mean, really. Shoot me in the foot. Deletes!
6:35 AM: OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG. I think my application is in the process of crashing! WHEN THE HELL IS THE LAST TIME I SAVED?!
6:36 AM: Jesus H. Christ.
6:37 AM: GODDAMNITTOHELL.
6:45 AM: Mutters.
6:48 AM: Ok, what the FORK. It has died again. I am officially PISSED TO ALL HELL.
7:04 AM: In humans it's called "spontaneous combustion." With files? "Spontaneous Corruption." How bizarre and weird. At least the file stayed open long enough for me to copy and paste to a new document. Bastid Final Draft.
7:34 AM: YAY. I wrote a soap opera. Collapses to floor.
suddenly i was @ 07:22 pm
sunday, december 4, 2005
So I am writing this script still and despite what everyone in my group says, this new one (which they haven't seen) SUCKS ASS and I really, really, really, really think it will behoove us to go back to our original story idea. This one isn't working out and I don't think it's going to work out before 9 AM tomorrow.Whatever. I am a little pissy tonight and have been at the computer for about 9/10 hours now.
Also, just now I made the hugest belch in the universe. Huge! Suddenly I remembered my window was open:
ME: Oh god, I hope there's no one outside.
OUTSIDE: (the voices of a huge group of people)
This is why I don't have a boyfriend, I'll tell you what.
Sigh, anyhow.
LAST QUESTION.
suddenly i was @ 09:40 pm
YAY.
It's also impossible to explain to people this fix.
ME: I can't write this because I'm not feeling the love.
PERSON: You don't like the story?
ME: No... I just can't write it.
PERSON: You don't have to pull from the book-
ME: No, it's not that, I'm just stuck.
UG.
Also, my group wants this script to be nearly silent, which is ok- I love silence. The last one I wrote for this group had practically no dialogue. This story, however, asks for it. The characters want to speak. I keep pulling back, pulling back- but it begs to be more dialogue driven.
Hi, I've been at the computer for EIGHT HOURS STRAIGHT right now.
I think I am going to go on a walk to ... move. Then I will come back to this.
suddenly i was @ 05:55 pm
saturday, december 3, 2005
WEE. It’s seven AM on a Saturday and I am ready TO WRITE, YO. Hurrah for passing out on the floor. It makes me wake up early.ME: Hi, can you help me? Is this it?
And he has written back.
AND I DON’T WANT TO READ IT.
I am so embarrassed for writing the email.
Cries.
Let’s see what it says.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Ok, so the inflatable thing isn’t the inflatable thing, it’s a bootleg of the original thing and apparently it’s quite rare! HARF.
Ug, don’t want all the other things the bootleg comes with… do you think the seller could only send me that thing?
suddenly i was @ 09:45 am
thursday, december 1, 2005
Today was such a pretty day. I woke up at the butt crack of dawn to get to a special pre-release screening of “Memoirs of a Geisha.” It was fun because it was class… at the Arclight. All of my AFI class was there, shuffling around at 8:30 AM getting our reservations. Bday and I ended up getting seats near each other, which was great even though in the end, everyone totally disregarded the assigned seats (we didn’t, because we had been assigned the best seats in the house, go us). For the social mingle, I talked a little with Shades but when we were joined by Porn Guy, I took myself over to a wall and just stood watching and listening to everyone. I was stuttering when I tried to talk this morning anyhow, so it was all right. A producer, V. saw me a moment. She was wearing a “I <3 E.T.” shirt (I’m telling you, it’s the It film of AFI) so I sent her after Adventure to share with him. Right before the film began, Adventure wandered over and was wearing a tie.“In the morning you’re making ‘Citizen Kane,’ by the afternoon it’s ‘Porky’s 5.’”
After the screening and Q&A I found Adventure and stood alongside him and Canada Lad, deciding if we should all get lunch. In the end a small group consisting of myself, Adventure, Canada Lad, New Producer, V. and the guy who cried during “First Prize Winner” all got lunch at the Arclight. That was lovely and fun. I love talking to people, even though I was stuttering all day long today.
Lunch wrapped (hooray for the two producers who could count money, writers are hopeless!) and we headed off, Adventure needed a ride so I offered. First we walked to his bank to get rent money as we walked there we talked about his script. He’s stuck in a sort of planning mode. I like asking questions about stories. I don’t know if anyone has experienced my critiquing questioning tactics- jigglykat a little bit I think, but I can spin questions for ages and I LOVE doing it. I like hearing people talk about their characters and stories and I like being part of the process of helping out.
ME: How does his being there change her? How does she change? How are you going to show that change? What type of movies have similar changes? Why did you say those films? Why is it important she change in that way? Does he know she changed?
As we were going along, I thought I really wanted to walk off lunch and was rather enjoying the conversation so I asked if Adventure wanted to come along on a walk with me and I would continue to help as I could.
So we stopped at my place (looked at picture of the POODLES) then took off on my favourite loop. Most of the walk was shop talk, though by the end we were trying to coordinate some Sundance trip, because I absolutely must have Sundance day with raedances and know, also, there are several people (particularly the internationals) here who really want to visit the festival.
After the walk I gave Adventure a ride home and as we were trying his project writing partner called and Adventure told him over the phone he had fixed his script all up from my help! I was so happy I was actually a help to someone. I told Adventure if he ever needed another script walk, I was always game and then I think I became employed to help Americanize dialogue, though that’s silly, because he’s doing just fine.
And that was my day! I came home, wrote a thousand emails and hung Luna Moths on my wall. I wrote a bit myself, just now I ate dinner and now I am going to write some more.
Ra-ra!
suddenly i was @ 11:10 pm
So at about 6 I got a call from Adventure who needed a ride to school. At 6:20, I left my apartment for his and by 6:40 I was there.
On the ride over, suddenly in the middle of banter, he asks: “Do you want to make a troll movie with me?”
To which I responded, “Troll?”
He went on to explain, apparently there’s some contest where the first prize is 10,000 dollars for the best film made using Trolls. You know the toys.
I laughed SO HARD. And I only laughed more as the conversation went on:
ME: So, what is it can it just be--?
AD: I think it can be anything, music video, whatever. So if we have time, I say let’s submit several entries.
ME: Let’s do one in each genre, one film noir, one music video…
The thought of a Troll music video makes me want to pee my pants it’s so funny. I think, however, the idea we liked the most was the Troll with an identity crisis idea.
TROLL: Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter? That’s not me. That’s not who I am. I come from an upper middle class family and earned my bachelors in three years. Those drooling idiots you see in the movies? No. I am a very intelligent individual, not some bum from Alabama. Not that I have anything against Alabama because that’s catering to another stereotype and that’s not what I do.
What makes this thing even better is I think we totally have to do the voices ourselves. It’s so brilliantly meant to be god-awful wonderful!
I am so glad my 100 G film edumacation has given me the confidence to do this project.
I did do one awful thing earlier today. I don’t even know if I can confess to this. It’s so bad! I can only type out in teletype form, because really. No other words than those that which were spoken can serve so well.
AD: Hey, would you like to go see “Pride and Prejudice” later?
ME: Sure!
AAACK! What just happened there?
In other news, I had this magic buffer thing happen to my nails. They are so shiny it’s amazing.
ME: Normally I would try to reserve this for a girlfriend, but since you’re here, look at this- I had this nail thing done and look how shiny my nails are!
AD: Wow, how did you do that?
ME: Some lady with a cart did it, no polish or anything.
AD: That’s like inhumanly shiny.
See the levels I must drag others?
And ooh! I have TWO whole invites to do stuff this weekend: one to join Bday, R. and I. In Laguna Beach to write and one to go to some giant poker game where I would be the only female.
I am really tempted by the first, I was about to say yes, but then I realized, how am I going to work? I don’t have a laptop. So I think I’m rainchecking. And the poker game… even though I always have this amazing beginner’s luck in those games, I don’t think I fancy playing with real money- I’ll stick to valueless chips and gummy bears.
I have to get along now. Tomorrow at the butt crack of dawn I am going to some premiere of “Memoirs of a Geisha” which looks pretty but grossly lame at the same time.
P.S. Lauren Bacall and the hottest line of all time. BITES FIST.
suddenly i was @ 01:28 am
