book

I decided to write a book. I'm still writing screenplays, but it's time to write a book. It's called A lone. That's all I have to say for now. Good night.

two

I'm rewriting my script.  Making a few necessary changes.
Like making it affordable to shoot for almost nothing.  Which means moving the time period to the 1990's-2000's instead of the 1970's.  I wish I could give it that retro look and recapture my youth, but I don't have a large budget and I didn't just win the largest lottery jackpot in world history.

I'm also changing the primary female character from asian to white.  not only does it make the dynamic more interesting, but it also allows me to cast a friend's daughter who is a talented actor and white.

A film is a community project, and so you look out for the people who have looked out for you.  I hope that strategy pans out for the rest of this endeavor.

Speaking of people who are important to me, a friend of mine who I've know for over 25 years, Jack Gilbert, died this week.  He came out to Hollywood over 20 years ago to chase a dream of writing movies.  I followed him over 10 years later.  A gentle soul in a tough world.  Here's looking at you, Jack.

and so I push on...

but the task remains daunting.  and I worry if I can actually make it happen.

one

a good friend, Brett, said to me as we were drifting in a very warm saltwater pool,
"you should just make your movie".  i had an elucidation, an epiphany, a validation.
"you're right" was my answer.

the following day, i shared this with my screenwriter friend, Kris.
he said, "you should do it.  i'll help you rewrite the screenplay.  i can live vicariously through you".
not sure if i would encourage anyone to do that, but it got me more excited.

maybe i can do this.  i definitely should do this.  after all, my dream was to make a movie and i don't want to be lying on my deathbed never having made one.

so i'm planning on making my movie.  it's a daunting endeavor.  i've never come close to making a full length feature.  some shorts, guerrilla style...make that buying-stuff-from-electronic-stores-and-then-returning-them-within-30-days style.

i have to find a crew.  i didn't exactly cultivate a lot of close contacts in tinsel town.  too busy with my day job.  actually, that's not the reason, but it sounded like a credible excuse.  so in a way, i'm starting from scratch. but good lighting and good sound is about as important as it gets if i want a film that looks like it was made with skill.  and i need an assistant director.  because i need all the help i can get.

i have to find actors.  don't even know where to begin.  and can i find actors that are good enough to bring my characters to life?  probably so.  but where do i find them., hiding in the nooks and crannies of this urban sprawl?

i have to have equipment.  and locations.  and a schedule.  and craft services (hopefully, my mom--the best catering on earth!).  and a budget.

i can't get my arms or head around it all.  but it's do-able.  others have done it, on the cheap by the seat of their pants with only a strong desire to bring their story to life.  so i can do it, too.

just hope i don't come up with too many excuses.

this will be my document of the process.  it may be a long, painful, tediously slow and tortuous road.  but hopefully there will be a movie at the end of it all.

it's already been over three weeks since my friend told me to make my movie myself.

time to get a movie on.