I am on page 45 of my newest screenplay (working title is Elemental Terror) and am looking at various ideas on development. An interesting post I read was over at MovieOutline.com which is called “Rewrite your script” and is full of interesting ideas on doing just that. It also is giving me some ideas on improvements to the existing 45.

Brains!

I really have to outline the entire plot, which is something I haven’t done before for a screenplay. I have a couple books outlined and never written, and most times it seems like words just flow and the ideas pour forth sort of like Niagara Falls. But sometimes there is a drought. Not on this one, but sometimes words don’t come. At that point what works for me is moving on to something else briefly and then revisiting.

That something else might be another writing project, or it might be reading a book on a similar subject or on writing in general. It also can be watching a movie along the same subject line or genre or perhaps even a film on film.

I just watched Chump Change, which wasn’t a great film, but was quirky and interesting enough to hold my attention. The funniest part for me was that the main character wrote a screenplay and then went into rewrite hell as everyone at the studio and anyone even loosely associated with the potential film started giving him notes. His script got progressively worse as he tried to please everyone. (This leads to the old saying that compromise pleases no one.) That seems to be pretty typical from the comments I’ve heard from working writers.

The best part was that for revision number 7 he simply resubmitted the original script and everyone loved it. Oh, the irony.

Anyway, on to outline and thing about where my zombie apocalypse comedy sendoff tribute to B movies is going. But maybe I’ll watch a movie first. (Procrastination is a writers best and worst friend. Time to think, but eventually you gotta start typing again.)

This working thing is really eating into my time.

time to write

I am grateful to have a job, and a job that I enjoy, plus one that pays pretty well. Experience and education do pay off, but I can’t fathom how the heck I managed to have a full time job, go to school at night, write daily, raise my kids as a single dad and still have time to play. It really boggles my mind. I know I used to get up at like 530am so I could write, and I dedicated that time to completing my first novel. That quiet time in the morning with a cup of tea was really a sanctuary from the cacophony of the rest of my life at the time.

I shouldn’t say that I don’t know how I did it. I do know how. It was all about focus. I had a lot of things going on, but I didn’t multi-task. I did one thing at a time and generally had a dedicated time slot to do it. School was on Wednesday nights. Writing was from 530 to 630 or 7am. Work was 7 to 3 generally speaking. Evenings were devoted to my kids.

We all have obstacles in our lives and it’s up to us how we face things. Do we throw up our hands and have the “it is what it is” attitude about our dreams? I think not. Certainly some things are out of our control and they are what they are, but unless we are willing to work hard and devote time (dedicated time slots preferably) we will always wonder “what if?”

I am starting to get up earlier so I can spend a bit of time on my latest screenplay and finishing up the musical. I’ve heard it said many times that if you want something to change, you have to change. If you want to write a book (and we all have a book in us) all you have to do is write a page a day. In a year that’s 365 pages – longer than the average book out there. It’s focus and persistent effort. Time to start walking the walk again.

So how do I mean that? Is it to be a post about training your thoughts, so you can focus better and not stray around the block (and around the web) when you should be concentrating, or will it be about the training I do?

Well, a little bit of both. Today was the orientation session for my new job. I am excited to take this training on EPIC and to get to training other folks. Should be interesting. New stuff for me and I will get to have days where I go home clean. yay for that.

On the other point, I need to get more focused on the writing and net stuff that I do since I will be outta here for 40 plus hours a week.

The best thing I’ve found is to close my browsers and my email. That “forces” me to concentrate on the task at hand, specifically writing articles for our various websites, blog posts here and there, and especially working on the new screenplay. I’ve got over forty pages done now, so I am about at the midway point. Experts all say that a script should be ninety pages – that equates to a page a minute, but you know when you describe a fight scene in a couple sentences, or a car chase, those few sentences could turn into ten minutes on film.

Anyway, concentration and focus. My main focus has to be getting through the EPIC classes and passing the tests to get to be an authorized trainer. After that, six months or more at MUSC and then who knows? Maybe they offer me a job. Maybe I get head-hunted again.

Oh, and I was reading an article on Harvard Business Review on “what to do with your hands while you are teaching?” The whole debate was that some people speak with their hands and some don’t. The article concludes that you should do what comes naturally to you and not be overly concerned. Hand movement doesn’t impact learning ability. So, why write an article that promises to answer the great debate with “whatever.” Seemed a waste of my time. Sort of like this paragraph was to you, except at least my conclusion came quickly. Just goes to show you that just because an article appears on a website with the word Harvard in it, that doesn’t mean diddley.

I have long been of the opinion that we, as US Citizens, have more in common than we think, no matter our political affiliations. But how many of us feel trapped by the political system that supposedly represents us? I think we see some of that in the recent Iowa caucuses. What real choices do you have?

Education is essential to climb the economic ladder. It always has been.

You who are on the so called “right to life” side of abortion, do you honestly think that anyone wants abortions? No one is “pro abortion.” But for some reason the same party that wants to make abortion illegal also wants to limit access to birth control, and also wants to reduce or eliminate any health care assistance to children in needy situations. I’ve heard it said that Republicans only care about life until the head crowns and then you are on your own.

But where do we stand on common issues and how do people make choices to support a candidate who only hits on a couple of our core values or thoughts? I am pro-gun and pro-choice. I believe that our personal lives aren’t any of the government’s business, so they should stay out of our bedrooms. Yet somehow that bedroom is the government’s business if a couple is gay or lesbian? How can people reconcile those two opposing points of view?

I want to keep my social security intact. Figure out how to make it work. The amount the average person pays in never makes it back to that person. The problem, as I see it anyway, is that the money paid in is not sequestered but mixed into the government pot and that is where trouble starts. Yet if we would end social security (which somehow is the only form of socialism that people can accept, by pretending it’s not), if we would end it, people would end up elderly broke and destitute. The multi-generational household is, for the most part, gone, whether you view that as good or bad, and we, as a society, have a responsibility to care for the elderly.

But commonality instead of polarization is the theme of this little essay. We all believe we should care for our elders I think. We all feel that an educated nation is the path to prosperity. In some fashion we all believe in the “golden rule” treat others as you would like to be treated, yet that seems to be taken only hypothetically.
We are “family centric” as a nation, although we choose to define family in many different ways. We love the people we love and don’t feel it is right for other people to judge our beliefs. We want to do more to help people, giving them a hand up, and feeling they should be working to improve their lives and pay it forward. We want the planet to be as clean and green as it was when we were young (or better) and we want businesses to be responsible for their actions.

Businesses don’t want to be regulated, but if they don’t act responsibly do they police themselves or look the other way? Some government regulation is good to protect us all. We think OSHA and safety regulations are an encumbrance and add to the cost of business, but most regulations came into being because of serious injuries and accidents in the past.

Over-zealousness in government needs to be eliminated and budgets and spending needs to be looked at dollar for dollar. A balanced budget in any government can be had if all agencies and spending were done by percentages rather than by dollars. (With a percentage thrown in to pay off debt) My household budget is done this way, why can’t the government live within its means?

This has been a rambling post, but the point is that we all should be united in our commonalities and be civil in the debate on the rest. Demonizing “the other” doesn’t gain ground in the long run. Spreading lies and gossip on the internet has become rampant. Spread truth, researched verifiable truth, and if you don’t like what you find to be true maybe look inward and think about why.

No one fits perfectly into the Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or any other party. But we all fit into the system somehow.

Happy Holidays! Are you offended yet?

Jumping with joy on Folly Beach

If you know me well, you know I’m not a Christian. I “celebrate” the Solstice, at least as far as I am glad that we are getting closer to Spring and the longest night is again passing. Yay!

I mostly celebrate being alive and being among people who love me, and that I love. family and friends. I am very grateful for you all, no matter where you live and how often we communicate. Much love!

Deb and I are loving living in South Carolina, but we miss three of our kids. Before you jump to conclusions, it’s not four because Stephanie (AKA Stella) is living here too, and we get to see her often. She’s actually cooking dinner for us right now, and we have plans to go out and see a movie on the 25th. (Another Britt family tradition.) Unfortunately because we are down here we can’t celebrate in our usual fashion, which is taking the kids on a big shopping trip where they can select gifts and spend a set amount, followed by dinner out with no limits on price, appetizers, desserts, whatever. Fun times! Maybe next year…

So Deb and I spent the afternoon walking the beach – upper 60′s low 70′s – and having a seafood platter at the Folly Beach Crab Shack. Yum. Nice to be away from the computer and work.

Speaking of work, we are working together creating web sites – Deb doing design and research and me writing articles for content. We are ranking on Google and selling ads there, so it’ll be an ongoing money maker. Yay again.

And speaking of work, I just passed my physical and got my ID and parking pass to work for MUSC, Medical University of South Carolina. Yeah, I am going to be teaching doctors software after MUSC pays to get me certified as an EPIC trainer. Finally I can say, yes, my training is epic! and it will be factual in two different ways. Go me. Go me. Go me.

Deb’s business is going very well. She’s doing the graphic design, web design stuff and has a few great customers that are ongoing, and then the regular influx of new customers for sign jobs, website design, logos, etc. Those are one-off customers who may repeat, and they help fill in the gaps.

Stella is working at The Bakehouse Charleston, as a barrista. Good baked goods, tasty coffee.

A star on the beach. (my baby girl Stella)

On the entertainment front we just got done stage managing IT’s a wonderful life. Next up, perhaps A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.. maybe… it’s a musical, and that’s what we love.

That’s it for now..

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If you’ve seen the movie “The Butterfly Effect” with Ashton Kutcher (formerly known as Mr. Demi Moore) you may have some idea of what the ripple effect is about. I thought the movie was interesting. It demonstrated that everything you do has impact on other things that happen in the world and maybe beyond..

And speaking of “beyond this world” I just finished reading “Shatner Rules” the newest book by James T. Kirk William Shatner. In it he talks a lot about his number one rule which is SAY YES. You just never know where this rule will take you. Here’s the ripple

Shatner records a album in 1968. A trippy spoken word album that people mock.  He said yes to recording it. —> Ben Folds listens to the album and thinks it is wildly experimental. He contacts Shatner and they work on Priceline commercials together.. TV producer David Kelley sees the commercials and casts Shatner as Denny Crane in “The Practice.” Bill says yes to the role. That role led to him getting cast in Boston Legal, which led to him getting 2 Emmy Awards. All from a crazy spoken word album in 1968. The power of YES!

This also ties in with today. The last day for “It’s a Wonderful Life” at Footlight Players. A show about how one man’s life positively effects the small town he lives in. It doesn’t explore the negative effects, but let’s face it, it’s designed to be an uplifting christmas story.. and it is. Very emotional and I’m glad the run is almost over. Some shows you get sad and emotional when they are done, and some shows, even though you’ve enjoyed them, you are glad to get back to your life and you are glad they are over.

I’ve really enjoyed getting to know some new folks, make new friends/acquaintances etc etc, but this show honestly has been more stressful than most to me. Maybe it’s because of being the stage manager and the responsibilities that come along with that. Maybe it’s because the whole angels and all might make people feel better, but it’s fiction. Maybe it’s just the overall feeling of today I’ve got to do X,Y and Z, but Z isn’t bringing in income and income has been scarce lately. Life is about much more than income, and fellowship and art, creativity and friendship are much more fulfilling than anything else, but without much income choices are limited.

I am very grateful for the new 6 month training contract at MUSC, and I am looking forward to having regular income again, so I guess things come full circle on this post. Moving to a new city has been a challenge and will continue to be a challenge, but things are always getting better and with a larger local social circle and more income they are continuing to improve.

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Bought a ROKU for that special someone? They will love it. (The 1080 HD gaming version is also down to 88 bucks – a bargain)
 

Last night we decided to get out of the house and go visit Holy City Brewing. Fun trip. Holy City is a local micro-brewery, and when I say micro-brewery I mean it. This is basically a part time four man operation in North Charleston. They started the business this year after experimenting with some home brewing and cobbled systems. If you visit their website you can check out their first rig that was made with aluminum beer barrels and bicycle parts. Yeah, you read that right.

So we drove up 26 and got off at exit 215 and drove down Dorchester Road. About a mile down Dorchester (4155 Dorchester to be exact) we saw a sign for the brewery. But there wasn’t a window or door sign on the front building, so we had to enter this sort of post-modern industrial park. We’re seeing car repair, boat parts laying around, and lots of non-retail sorta stuff.

The fermenting/aging tanks

But then in the back we see this flapping Stars and Stripes and finally a Holy City sign. We’ve arrived. Now the place is not fancy in any sense of the word, but you can see these guys are pursuing their passion and starting their business. Yeah, it’s the back end of a warehouse, but so what? It works. I don’t think anyone in a tuxedo is coming back here anyway.

So we walk in and the first thing we see are the fermenting tanks. I may have this terminology wrong, feel free to correct me.

And then we look to one side and see the bar and a pool table.

We step up and order a tasting. Now the tastings here cost five bucks and you get samples of whatever they have on tap. No refills, no sitting around really. This isn’t Cheers, and they don’t have a full license to sell more than tastings and growlers on premises, and they’re only open from 4-6 on Mondays and Tuesdays, and 4 to 7 on WTF. A tour is a must, if only to see where they started and where they are now.

Taste test. Dee Lish

Oh, and the future is being delivered soon. They have new tanks coming in which will about double their capacity. Holy City can be purchased on tap at a bunch of bars around Charleston and the vicinity.

We (Deb and I) tasted five different beers last night – a Holy City Pilsner, a Pluff Mud Porter, a Bowens Island Oyster Stout, a Pecan Dream and a Vienna Lager. I liked all of them. Deb’s not a beer drinker, but she also liked (a bit) the porter and found the Pecan Dream “nutty”

An alternative place to quench your thirst?

One thing we liked was seeing the dog dishes on the floor. At least we assumed they were dog dishes. Perhaps some of the patrons like drinking on the floor better than at the bar.. If you’re interested in home brewing you can check out this book
at amazon or this website, or check out the kit below..

it was good to have a night out. It was a night out, they were to remember…for a long time. (woops, sorry, Rocky Horror slipped in there.) We finished off the evening picking up some sushi and salads from Earth Fare and watched a little telly (roku) when we got home.

CHARLESTON, SC. (BNS) – A strong winter storm dumped more than ten hours of sunshine in some parts of Charleston today. It is expected to leave the area sometime around dusk this evening, but making a return early in the morning.

The National Weather Service says James Island was hit hard with temperatures occasionally reaching 70 degrees and much higher in the direct rays of Sol. Beachgoers were cautioned to apply sunblock during the peak of the ray storm.

The sunshine started early in the day today and temperatures are expected to continue in the low seventies for the remainder of the week, although that is expected to dip once the stars start showing. In related news light clouds accompanied the sunshine, but didn’t impact the dark star-filled skies much. It could rain at some point in the future, but likely not soon.

Forecasters predict ongoing sunshine with a chance of a nice breeze. Waves are expected to crash regularly on the mostly empty beaches in Folly.

Local residents were overheard commenting, “That sure feels nice on my face.”

Copyright 2011 Britt News Services. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed unless you link back to this site giving credit where credit is due.

We are a couple weeks into the ROKU era, and still really enjoying it. The video streaming service from Netflix is the bomb. Totally engaged with watching episodes of Breaking Bad… so much so that we are staying up way too late at night because it’s pulled us in. No commercials is the clincher.

It was also the breaker for HuluPlus. I got the free one week trial from Hulu Plus, but when I started to watch old television shows  (Huluplus lure is streaming free television episodes, and that they are “fresh”) to my surprise there were commercials on it.

I did not expect that. I thought it was going to be like Netflix and stream commercial free. Granted the shows are newer on Huluplus – for example you can catch shows from just last week’s tv line-up – but if I’m paying for the service, why the commercials? I guess they figure to get you hooked, but the free trial isn’t long enough for that, and we’ve got enough netflix to last us years.

Since we’re not really big television watchers we are suddenly dicovering all these cool shows that people have talked about and they are all streaming commercial free. Do you like those marathons of “Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Well, how about commercial free instead of interrupted? There are hundreds of series with thousands of episodes. I never watched Twin Peaks, but that’s on the list now. As are a ton of other shows.

And that’s not even taking into account the streaming movies, which is what Netflix is known for. It’s nice to know that even though my life doesn’t revolve around tv and movies, they fit into my schedule now, rather than the other way around.

I liked the Huluplus and at only 7.99 a month, it could be another alternative in the future, but for now I’ll just stick with Netflix for my video streaming service and enjoy the commercial free television shows that it provides. Oh, also Angry Birds are included with the upgraded unit which includes gaming capabilities with wireless controllers similar to the Nintendo Wii

Whether you want to believe it or not, sometimes men have insight on problems that women have. I’ve heard women sometimes just want a sympathetic ear when airing problems, while men are asking for solutions. Who knows if that is true? Not me..

in the meantime.. here’s yet another website that is featuring some of my (uncredited) writing.

Are you interested in DMX controller information as a DJ or a theatrical operation? I’m trying to learn a bit about it myself..