Proud

We had our "graduation" party last night, and showed the "teaser" scenes we shot 2 weekends ago. My scene led off the night, so I was able to relax and enjoy the other 7. The quality of writing and care that went into those teasers was apparent to everyone there. Congratulations to all involved - writers, directors, crew, editors and the CFC staff. A very fun night of shaking hands and (after agents and producers had departed) dancing ensued.

Can I just say how dang proud I am to have had the opportunity to work and learn alongside this group of writers? And hopefully this is only the beginning. I truly believe I saw the future of Canadian (and American) television on that screen.

We still have several meetings this week, but as of Friday we are kicked out of the nest and will have to find ways to keep supporting each other without the structure of the CFC. I know we will make that happen.

But first I will take a much-needed break in Florida for a week, to wipe the slate clean, recuperate and recharge. I'll get to see my dad and sister, and a spring training game or two! While on the beach, I'll re-examine my 5 year plan to see what I want to change. Then I'll come back refreshed and ready to implement my game plan!

100 Drafts

That's how many drafts Michael Arndt says he wrote of Little Miss Sunshine, winner of the Best Dramatic Screenplay award last night. Not bad for his first produced screenplay.

Of course it helps that he had connections to turn to when he was done, but one of my favourite screenwriting aphorisms is: "a great script is the final argument."

So here's to you, all you screenwriters tapping away in your basements, attics, bachelor studios. Maybe just one more draft, eh?

Coffee Maker at NSI FEX

I won't be able to make the NSI FilmExchange this year, but Coffee Maker will be there at a late night show!

The lovely Danishka Esterhazy is curating the William F. White Sofa Cinema next week. Coffee Maker will be one of 8 short films screened, in a program called Beautiful Lost Souls. It will be in good company with shorts from Sean Garrity, Coral Aiken, Cecilia Araneda, Mike Reisacher, and others.

Details:
Thursday March 1, 11 p.m.
Industry Room
Hotel Fort Garry, Suite 925

Why I Do This

I have to admit that at 8 p.m. Friday night, I wasn't sure that I wanted to make TV shows. We'd spent the day grabbing props and moving furniture and painting flats. I'd found out that afternoon that I'd lost one of my leads, and went home to spend a restless night of bad dreams.

But 12 hours later, my fake bathroom had walls, my fake office was decorated and being lit for fake night; and in our first rehearsal, I knew both actors were going to be great. The rush of production kicked in, everyone bunkered down and we met our 5-hour shoot schedule.

I owe a life-debt to the producer Tara Boire, the production manager Adili Yahel, and Steve-the-film-student who stayed super-late Friday night to create a bathroom out of wood and paint and vinyl and sweat! It will all be worth it when you see the final product, I promise.

My actors were outstanding. A special kudos to Lachlan Murdoch, who got a call at 4 p.m. Friday asking if he could fill in the next morning. He jumped right into the character and really pulled it off! And Jennifer Foster brought the perfect balance to her role of Sarah. I hope both of them get lots more work once the strike is over!

Lachlan Murdoch as Travis

I wasn't sure what it would be like to have someone else directing my words, but the director Dylan Smith was generously open to input, inviting me to feel like it was truly a collaborative effort.

Given the major time constraints, every aspect exceeded my expectations. Thanks so much to the rest of the crew - true pros. Congrats to Angie-the-makeup-artist who made my post-brawl actor look so authentic that a guy in the men’s room asked him if he was ok!

Then after we struck the set, my editor Lisa kindly picked up me and the tape and whisked us up to the CFC editing studios to watch the rushes!

And looking at the footage, in the high of seeing the results, it was suddenly all worth it. I can honestly say, there truly is nothing like it for me. The closest thing I can compare it to is friends who have given birth saying they barely remember the pain. I've always doubted this, but by last night, the exhaustion and terror of Friday night was fading into a pleasant prideful glow of accomplishment and teamwork.

Lisa got to work and I went to take a nap on the couch. I've never had someone edit my story before either, and it was somewhat surreal to hear her Assembling the Assembly Cut. As I drifted in and out of sleep, I could hear Sarah, the mom in the story, calling for Travis, her son, reminding me of my bad dream from the night before -- searching for Travis and finding only an actor who looked about 40...

12 hours after the first rehearsal, and 24 hours after my dark moment of doubt, I was watching the assembly and letting the emotions of the piece wash over me. Heavenly feeling - my vision was now Reality. At least the screen version of reality, which is apparently going to continue to be my passion. Lisa had continued everyone else's work of really capturing what I was going for when I set up this slice of my show.

Jennifer Foster as Sarah

And now I can use the energy and emotions from this tangible creation to finish rewriting my pilot - second draft due tomorrow! Better get to work, since the idea behind the trailer is for someone from the industry to become intrigued enough to ask to see more about this world and these characters. And with television, unlike a short film, I can show them more, and give them an opportunity to let us show What Happens Next...

Transitions

(the view from my new balcony)

Moved into a new apartment over the past week. 11 floors up, centrally located and loving it. I'm a light person, so living in a basement has been tough, though I was and am grateful to have a place to land when I arrived in Toronto, a poor country mouse from Winnipeg, all those months ago...

I'd still love to bring a series back to Winnipeg when I have that power, but in order to continue developing the contacts I'm making at the CFC, it makes the most sense to stay here. It will be fun to discover the city, as I haven't had much opportunity to over the past few months! Haven't been to a single symphony or opera performance, or into a single museum.

But all that will probably still have to wait for another four weeks or so while I finish the program.

In those four weeks, my to-do list includes:
- continue to refine and pitch my pilot for my original series Town and Gown - I'm having a table read tomorrow (yay! Actors!) and meeting with a professional story editor on Friday, so will do at least 2 more drafts
- cast and shoot a "teaser" for the series - a 3-4 minute scene that showcases the series -- and my writing! We'll show them at a special event at the end of the program.
- continue to write my spec scripts, which are L Word (awesome lesbian soap opera) and Ben 10 (brilliant animated kids' show) - diversity, always!
- keep researching producers and broadcasters to figure out who's doing what
- keep talking with agents and see if I can find a good fit
- figure out what to do when I get out!

We had to write a five year business plan, so I have a game plan mapped out in terms of who to contact when, and what I should be working on - I have 2 feature scripts I need to finish as well to round out my portfolio!