...starting a long hike up a mountain. You can see the object you want conquer but sometimes the details of the path to get there aren't readily apparent.
crawling across field of broken glass to reach a washboard road where you'll be dragged behind a pickup to arrive at a beach where a tsunami hits to be swept away to a field of broken glass.
Going to war.... The first 30 go easy, then you fight for each page, each row-I swear sometimes the screenplay has a mind of its own, like it purposely places errors for you to struggle with
having a void within you have to keep shoving stuff into - spitting it out - chewing - spitting - more in - digesting then repeating again and again. And don't forget about the formatting.
the boat trips between the islands as a kid. You enjoy the company, the ride and the locations, but are freaked out about those rocks luring just below the surface.
Like going on a first date… You never quite know how it´s going to turn out. Will there be sparks? Are you going to stay the course? Is it boring? Any butterflies deep down in that stomach? Exciting… And sometimes painfully bad...bad...bad... :)
But in the end... Hapy to have done it, to do it and keep on going on those first dates. Methaphorically speaking, of course :)
Can think of nothing more terrifying than first dates. But when its over it's over. When you begin a script, it's never over. You struggle for ideas, characters, and story then you rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. Even when you shelve it as finished you rewrite. It's never over - never until it's sold or...
If I was being topical, writing a new screenplay is like supporting your team at the world cup. Starting out full of optimism and expectations of greatness, then very quickly the reality of a grinding slog kicks in. There's momentary flashes of brilliance that you will harp on about to anyone who will listen, but ultimately you come away saying stubbornly and proud, 'next time will be better'. The whole thing is tough, but you know it's worth it and would do it all again.
Facing the biggest bully you've ever seen and know that you'll get your butt kicked but you go into the fight anyway hoping to at least finish with all your limbs in tact.
Doug, this is the reason I can't understand how it is said you write your Logline first. You know you need the box of chocolates (Logline) but until you start eating you're not sure (or at least I'm never sure), where each thread will lead me. Hence, must wait until I've finished - and then some - before I can comment on the whole box. Thank you Doug.
... the day when construction starts on a new house that you've been dreaming of.
You have the plans, the drawings laid out, and the image of the house when it's finished, but along the way your fighting weather conditions to get things in place, you begin to worry about the fixings that will drive the inside story of your household, and you find yourself kind of regretting even taking the project on at times.
Then, with determination, will, and a refusal to leave the plot of land half empty, you and possibly a partner, finish your beautiful, elegant, household.
....Then you add more stress by then trying to sell it lol.
Embarking on a journey into the unknown, exploring unfamiliar territory, discovering the treasure within you that’s been hidden for so long and bursting at the seams with excitement because now you can share it with the whole world!
My goal is to really focus on one script and grind it out, but it's difficult because it's much easier to have a new idea and start writing that. The really challenge is focusing on one all the through completion.
romping and gamboling with unicorns and fairies in pastel-hued fields near rivers of milk and honey under a purple sky and vibrant rainbow. Then a mean and green ogre invades. He wields a big club studded with adamantine nails and bellows, "YOU SUCK!"
Stepping in to an antique English phone booth thinking it's the Tardis. And after deluding yourself you've come to your sences, trying to phone home. Stepping out of the booth all confuced, you bump into a Bobby who arrests you for 'misuse' of public property. While driving you and his white ass to the police station - he tries to convince you he's really Bobby Brown; writing a screenplay about his life. You find a fake gun on the back seat and try to shoot yourself... before Bobby who took too much Brown crashes full speed into a real phone booth.
taking a deep breath, like a whale, then submersing for hours, weeks, months, a whole universe unto yourself, then finally, you rise, break the surface, spout a stream of story for the world to see, and hope someone catches a glimpse of it, appreciates the beauty...
1 person likes this
(Ok. I'll start)
...starting a long hike up a mountain. You can see the object you want conquer but sometimes the details of the path to get there aren't readily apparent.
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...navigating your way out of a maze made of brambles - much more enjoyable with a map, and without the blindfold.
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playing D&D with yourself
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. . . unravelling a sculpture out of fresh marble :)
6 people like this
crawling across field of broken glass to reach a washboard road where you'll be dragged behind a pickup to arrive at a beach where a tsunami hits to be swept away to a field of broken glass.
4 people like this
...marriage - so what Tony said :)
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Walking through a portal into a new unknown land
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Giving birth to a bunch of people at the same time.
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Jumping off a high dive, and doing a belly-flop
into my personal well of pain....
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living in van down by the river. Oh, wait...
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having a pizza after months of diet... :)
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Wiping your %%s with silk with occasional bouts of scraping your forehead against a cheese grater.
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Hanging out the laundry. Necessary and extremely dull in equal measure. But what a feeling when you’re done... (see also changing duvet cover).
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Watching a movie premier in your mind!
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Listening to the cacophony of voices in your head and treating them as if they're actual people. It's a form of controlled schizophrenia.
2 people like this
...beginning a new voyage.
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Telling a new story that you feel needs to be heard
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letting others see your DNA.
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meeting new friends!
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dancing in the street
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accidentally going to an AA meeting when you were looking for book club
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trying to write something better than the last screenplay I've wrote.
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reading that great novel you just can't put down.
3 people like this
finally feeling like I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.
2 people like this
...plunging blindly down the rabbit hole.
2 people like this
Going to war.... The first 30 go easy, then you fight for each page, each row-I swear sometimes the screenplay has a mind of its own, like it purposely places errors for you to struggle with
2 people like this
having a void within you have to keep shoving stuff into - spitting it out - chewing - spitting - more in - digesting then repeating again and again. And don't forget about the formatting.
3 people like this
Being GOD. Creating life and death, joy and misery.
2 people like this
the boat trips between the islands as a kid. You enjoy the company, the ride and the locations, but are freaked out about those rocks luring just below the surface.
1 person likes this
"If I were writing a script I wouldn’t have been able to do what happened naturally in each of these shows ...” -- James DuBose
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Like going on a first date… You never quite know how it´s going to turn out. Will there be sparks? Are you going to stay the course? Is it boring? Any butterflies deep down in that stomach? Exciting… And sometimes painfully bad...bad...bad... :)
But in the end... Hapy to have done it, to do it and keep on going on those first dates. Methaphorically speaking, of course :)
Can think of nothing more terrifying than first dates. But when its over it's over. When you begin a script, it's never over. You struggle for ideas, characters, and story then you rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. Even when you shelve it as finished you rewrite. It's never over - never until it's sold or...
2 people like this
If I was being topical, writing a new screenplay is like supporting your team at the world cup. Starting out full of optimism and expectations of greatness, then very quickly the reality of a grinding slog kicks in. There's momentary flashes of brilliance that you will harp on about to anyone who will listen, but ultimately you come away saying stubbornly and proud, 'next time will be better'. The whole thing is tough, but you know it's worth it and would do it all again.
2 people like this
...a box of chocolates, you never know what you'll get.
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Facing the biggest bully you've ever seen and know that you'll get your butt kicked but you go into the fight anyway hoping to at least finish with all your limbs in tact.
Callum, I think you've described the feeling we all share.
Doug, this is the reason I can't understand how it is said you write your Logline first. You know you need the box of chocolates (Logline) but until you start eating you're not sure (or at least I'm never sure), where each thread will lead me. Hence, must wait until I've finished - and then some - before I can comment on the whole box. Thank you Doug.
Going on an adventure where your journey is the best reward and you are happy, regardless of whether you arrive at the destination or not.
Starting or finishing?
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... the day when construction starts on a new house that you've been dreaming of.
You have the plans, the drawings laid out, and the image of the house when it's finished, but along the way your fighting weather conditions to get things in place, you begin to worry about the fixings that will drive the inside story of your household, and you find yourself kind of regretting even taking the project on at times.
Then, with determination, will, and a refusal to leave the plot of land half empty, you and possibly a partner, finish your beautiful, elegant, household.
....Then you add more stress by then trying to sell it lol.
1 person likes this
Embarking on a journey into the unknown, exploring unfamiliar territory, discovering the treasure within you that’s been hidden for so long and bursting at the seams with excitement because now you can share it with the whole world!
1 person likes this
...taking a break from my current script.
My goal is to really focus on one script and grind it out, but it's difficult because it's much easier to have a new idea and start writing that. The really challenge is focusing on one all the through completion.
2 people like this
romping and gamboling with unicorns and fairies in pastel-hued fields near rivers of milk and honey under a purple sky and vibrant rainbow. Then a mean and green ogre invades. He wields a big club studded with adamantine nails and bellows, "YOU SUCK!"
Stanley N. Lozowski Not sure if this was intended for me. I don't write any music. I very much enjoy music however.
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Writing a new screenplay is getting a monkey off your back.
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Is a three month period where all you ask yourself is "...what happens next..."
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....one of the most enjoyable experiences in the world.
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riding a roller-coaster you've never ridden before.
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Crumbled characters of a grandiose sensationalized self unless its a rue story. Perhaps there is still some of that in those as well.
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It's like "Dr. Who" meets "ET" meets Mr. Brown.
Stepping in to an antique English phone booth thinking it's the Tardis. And after deluding yourself you've come to your sences, trying to phone home. Stepping out of the booth all confuced, you bump into a Bobby who arrests you for 'misuse' of public property. While driving you and his white ass to the police station - he tries to convince you he's really Bobby Brown; writing a screenplay about his life. You find a fake gun on the back seat and try to shoot yourself... before Bobby who took too much Brown crashes full speed into a real phone booth.
2 people like this
slapping myself silly to stop the following distractions.
*. Netflix / Cable InstantWatch
*. Twitter / Facebook
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like eating a potato chip. No writer can do just one.
boofing in the Devil's Triangle while ralphing many, many times during a FFFFFFFourth of July Beach Week.
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When i get to the end - torture - like watching the news channels this week
taking a deep breath, like a whale, then submersing for hours, weeks, months, a whole universe unto yourself, then finally, you rise, break the surface, spout a stream of story for the world to see, and hope someone catches a glimpse of it, appreciates the beauty...