May 18th, 2005
Great script meeting with Matt yesterday. We both agreed on the problem spots in what we've written so far and brain-stormed some really exciting fixes in my opinion. For the first time in the writing process, I think we may have the makings of a story that's better than just "good."
The trick, however, is translating what we brain-stormed out loud into a workable script on paper. Executing your ideas on paper is rarely as easy as it is in your head.
We'll take stabs at it individually and then re-convene Monday -- shortly before our first official reading of the script.
We're having a little bit of a problem firming up our primary shoot location for the script -- which is a bummer. Our first choice of a spot, unfortunately, can't give us as much time to shoot as we would need. So we're going to our second options now. Either way, it'll all get done!
While Matt and I met, we did a conference call with one of the producers interested in possibly shopping our POW show around for corporate gigs. We all agree that we think the show has the potential to be a popular piece of corporate entertainment but it's going to take a little work and tweaking -- as with anything -- to get it there. We'll see. The first step is just sending these folks a video of one of our performances on stage -- which I plan to do by the end of the week.
Found out yesterday that the WB picked up the new show "Pepper Dennis" with Rebecca Romjin-Stamos (sp?) for the fall. Very cool! I met with the creators of that show when I was out in L.A. earlier this year and was pulling for them to succeed.
During our meeting, we talked about the possibility of them writing a role for me on the show and/or giving me a a job as a writing contributor. We'll see. Obviously, it's all talk until something happens but I wish them all the best regardless. They were nice, cool people and I'm happy to see people like that do well -- whether I'm involved in their project or not.
Today: commercial audition in the afternoon and possibly attending an AFTRA meeting this evening. Tomorrow: a film audition and, hopefully, hooking up with the Ride for Life again. In between all of this...writing, writing and more writing.
Mets beat the Reds again last night. Going for the sweep (sweet revenge for their season-opening loses to Cincinnati) this afternoon. Let's go Mets!
Bob
May 16th, 2005
I'm finishing up my read of Robert McKee's book on script writing and thinking more and more about what Matt and I need to do to tweak our sitcom script. It's a decent draft right now but it definitely needs work.
We have a couple of readings scheduled in the coming weeks that will help us a lot in figuring out what needs to be changed and how. But besides that I think we need to sit down ourselves and really figure out what needs to be done to make the story tighter and less predictable. The battle between the story and the funny in this script is tough. What jokes do you cut to make the story better and vice-versa? That's the dilemma in front of us now.
We videotaped our last performance of POW Friday night so we're going to send copies to a couple of corporate producers who are interested in possibly shopping us around for gigs. We'll see what happens there. Always good to keep your options open and see what's out there...
Went to a luncheon for the Peabody awards this afternoon. The Daily Show got an award for its 2004 election coverage. Very cool. It was great to be included in the show's presence there.
Unfortunately, I had to run out in the middle and do a callback for a TV commercial (I got back just in time to see Jon and company take the stage for the award). Jon was very funny and right on point with his remarks (the guy's very good, if you haven't noticed). He thanked Comedy Central for their support of the show and then made a joke about how the network apparently now provides for semesters abroad for its stars (Dave Chappelle reference). Speaking of...
Saw media reports this morning that Dave Chappelle has told Time magazine that's he's: not crazy and not on drugs. I guess he's just hanging out in South Africa with a friend there. I'm glad to hear that he's O.K. at least.
According to what I read in the morning papers about his Time interview...Dave says the pressure of the new season and all the money he's getting paid to do it got to him -- and the people around him. He says he was getting freaked out (I'm paraphrasing here) because it was getting hard for him to tell if the people around him were being honest with him about his work or just kissing his ass because he was so successful.
If that's indeed the case, it's an interesting point. I would guess one of the things that probably makes it hard for anyone who's reached a major level of success and/or power in life to stay there is you start to have a hard time distinguishing between the people around you who are sycophants ("Yeah, that's great! You're awesome!") and those who are real advisors and confidants (people you can trust to tell you when your ideas are bad or flawed). Anyway...
My weekend activities included Jill and I walking with the Ride for Life on Saturday (as it made its way through Brooklyn), watching the finale of Survivor and catching the movie "Kingdom of Heaven" -- O.K.
Mets lost 2 out of 3 this weekend. Not good. Tonight a new series begins with the Reds. Then it's the Yankees. Should be a fun week (hopefully).
Blob
