Playlist

I'm gearing up for ScriptFrenzy by creating a playlist of songs that match the tone I want for The Gentleman's Lady. Here are a few so you get a feel for what I want the end product to feel like:

Monsters by Matchbox Romance
Shadow of the Day by Linkin Park
By Myself by Linkin Park
Those Nights by Skillet
Hero by Skillet
Blood Theme from Dexter (Showtime Series)

I've written out the five acts for each episode (I have blue notecards and a medium-sized bulletin board), and I've written out a character sheet. I've also got dozens of notes somewhere in a black and white journal that I need to find before Thursday...

I'm thinking about making a production notebook to help me visualize some things - actors I would consider for the roles, swatches of fabrics w/ the designs for the costumes, etc. I think it would really help as long as I don't get bogged down in completing it while writing.

This is pretty exciting...I'm still freaked out about trying to write a screenplay format, but Stu has a nifty program on his Mac that lays it all out for you so hopefully it won't be too much of a hassle. We'll see!

I guess what I really wanted to talk about is something I can't quite define yet. So I'll just stick with my lists and let it come to me.

April

So...I'm gonna be SUPER busy next month! I realized the other day that I had unknowingly decided on two different projects to complete in April, both of which are rather time consuming!!! :P Also I might have a wedding.

Here's what I'm doing:

1. Runaway Runway - I've participated in/attended Runaway Runway for 2 years now...3rd time's the charm, right?! I think I have a solid idea, one that could have a chance at winning. Now I just need to collect my materials and start sewing!

2. Script Frenzy 2010 - I'm writing a two-parter pilot episode for a T.V. series I've had in the works for about 4 years. I've made a playlist, several outlines, and I'm going to start working on some beat sheets and an outline before April hits. Soon!!

3. Wedding on the 30th (possibly)!

Whew. That's a lot of creating/practicing/time...but it's gonna be awesome!!! I'll be done with Runaway Runway on the 25th, and then to finish ScriptFrenzy before the wedding...wheeee!

The adrenaline is already coursing.

Beautiful, Betty

So I'm extremely upset about Ugly Betty being cancelled. One of the best shows on television and they make a rookie (though often happening) mistake to move it to the Friday night death slot (9 pm). IF ABC had been smart, they would have checked DVR ratings, Netflix ratings, and Hulu ratings. The information is there. The Nielsen scale is an outmoded, incomplete look at who is watching what and, I feel, is partially responsible for all the CRAP that has been on TV.

/end rant.

What makes me so sad is that I watched one of the last episodes of Ugly Betty and it was so beautiful that it almost made me cry.

I don't agree with a lot of their lifestyles, but watching a secular show, I have to concede that they aren't under the same law that I am. Therefore, I love the people and really wish I could reach out to similar individuals in real life.

For example: One of the characters on the show is Betty's nephew, Justin. You assume he is gay because of his love of theater, fashion, and celebrities like Martha Stewart, but in the 4th season his gay mentor finds out he likes a girl in his theater class. While trying to be supportive and offering encouragement, Marc (mentor) tells Justin what a real kiss is like (since Justin is worried about his performance in the play his theater class is putting on - he's having to kiss the girl he's crushing on):

"When you kiss that special person...it's like everything else goes gray and you are the only two that exist." It's a beautiful little moment as Marc remembers and Justin hopes for this occurrence...

Later on the kiss happens and although it looked so innocent and wonderful, Justin didn't quite think it would be like that. Not what he was expecting, really. He sees his other friend (who also has a crush on the girl) making out with the girl later and then they argue and discover that it wasn't what either of them thought. Then THEY end up kissing and...the camera swirls around them as everything around them fades to gray...

It was so touching to watch that moment and see that all people want is someone to love them. I get that. I understand and empathize with gays and lesbians because it's so simple: deep down, all anybody wants is someone to love who loves them in return.

Betty is also going through some romantic upheaval and although the episode leaves you a little sad and wondering what in the world can happen in 4 more episodes...it was such a beautiful episode that I felt happy.

Only to remember that this amazing show is being canceled. :(

Movies

It's been a long time since I've been wowed by a movie. Last week I saw two that made me want to watch them repeatedly and discuss them and think about them and dissect them and generally dive into them and turn them inside out.

The first one is one I should have seen a long time ago. Until last week, I had never seen The Breakfast Club. I know, right?! I was born in the 80's, I was old enough to see the aftermath of the 80's, and I know a tolerable amount about 80's culture. I love Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Back to the Future, and other 80's movies...so why did I never see The Breakfast Club?

I watched it twice last week. I'm fascinated with high school stories (which is one reason the Buffy series holds my attention despite its sometimes cheesiness) because I never really experienced a "real" high school. 1 year of MK school and 1 year of a small "Christian" high school didn't really prepare me for the stories of public school. I just never understood. The Breakfast Club is a fascinating look at teenagers, the 80's, and public high school. It has some really foul language (it's rated R because of it) but it stars some of the "brat pack" (Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, & Molly Ringwald) and...of course...my favorite character is the "bad boy," John Bender. People like that just...draw me. I'm not really sure why. Maybe because I was, to all appearances, a "goody two-shoes" in high school. Who knows. Anyway, he's Stu's favorite character too and we had a great conversation about why we liked him so much. The main reason seemed to be that Stu and I both respect people who feel comfortable being themselves, which is something we've both struggled (and in some ways, continue to struggle) with. Anyway, it was really interesting and not at ALL what I was expecting from a cult classic. It made me cry and laugh and I think it's pertinent at any point in history. Teenagers who are growing into adults are very similar, for all our outcry of being individuals with no similarities to anyone.

The second movie I watched was in indie movie. Usually, I'm hesitant to watch independent movies because it seems as if they can't do special effects because of their budget so they just deal with sexual things. Which, honestly, I don't care to watch. Phoebe in Wonderland surprised me.

It has a great cast - Elle Fanning (little sister to Dakota and a brilliant young actress in her own right), and Patricia Clarkson (one of the most graceful and beautiful people I've seen on film) as well as Bill Pullman! I won't ruin it for you, but to watch the story unfold is magical. I highly recommend it. It's available on Netflix as instant play. Phoebe in Wonderland is a beautiful story about a little girl, her role as Alice in the school play, and a family's ways of dealing with a difficult child.

I've also seen Atlantis this week (it was alright, but nothing can beat the old Disney classics), as well as old favorites like Good Night & Good Luck (2005 historical drama, SO WELL DONE), Harvey (LOVE IT!), and Penelope (a gorgeous fairytale).

We finished Ugly Betty Season 1 this week and have started Star Trek: Next Generation Season 2 as well.

Whew.

I'm media'd out. For tonight. XD

ScriptFrenzy or Bust

The writing bug is biting again.

I'm resting from editing Violet's Monster: Volume I right now so I'm going to indulge my habit and enter ScriptFrenzy 2010! My plan is to take a T.V. show idea I've had for about 4 years and finally write the 2-parter pilot episode. I might post snippets here throughout April and then send it out to anyone who wants to read it.

Be warned: It's violent. Tragic. Horrifying.

And it's about love.

I'm pretty excited about it.

I'm also still enjoying photography, courtesy of Stu's amazing new camera and his great sharing skills. :P (He shares! So unlike some males I know *cough DAD cough*) I might post some here but a lot of what I shoot will go on Facebook.

I'm seriously thinking about taking photos and making a portfolio to get hired somewhere as a professional photographer. How cool would that be?!

Or I could just write scripts for television...

Or write childrens' books...

Or...

Yeah. My dreams are carrying me away tonight. But they're nice thoughts.

Yay for ScriptFrenzy and the incredible adrenaline rush the thought of it brings! 100 pages, 30 days. Here I come!

Creativity, Inspiration, and Artistic Ability

I'm meeting a friend at Barnes & Noble today but since I don't drive/have a car, I hitched a ride with Stu a couple hours early. I brought my knitting, some drawing materials, my secrets journal, and the computer.

So here I have a whole day to craft.

I've drawn a few sketches, played some solitaire, and mostly puttered around the internet with a vague idea of writing something. Sigh.

I knitted a fourth pair of slippers last night which I am currently wearing. They're sky blue and I have an urge to applique a sunflower on the tops of them. I need a big needle with a hole big enough for yarn, so I guess it's a trip to the craft store sometime next week.

Spring break is next week. Nothing much going on...I'll be home alone for a few days and I intend to soak up the solitude and just breathe for a while. I've got a dollhouse to finish, some mini projects, and an outline/beat sheet to write for my ScriptFrenzy episodes.

I've been inundated with creativity lately.

The weird part of it is, it really has to do with my menstrual cycle. It's gross, I know, but here's how it works - when Aunt Flo visits, I get the urge to create things. I knit, I draw, I write, I go crazy for a week just creating stuff. It's an urge that I can't even control. And for some reason, I always draw much better when I'm on my period.

Is that weird?!

So I've modded a shirt, knitted four pair of slippers, made some miniatures, painted the dollhouse, and written a poem so far and I have three more days to go. I always wonder what will strike my fancy next as I make a mad dash through the week.

What does that mean for me? Will this always be my most productive time? What happens after menopause? Why do I feel this huge urge to make things? It's weird. I've thought about it a lot and I have no answer to these questions. Sometimes I'm in so much pain (like the first 2-3 days) that I just have to lay down all day, and then I feel like I waste time when I could be productive (that is crazy, I know, because there is absolutely no way I can do anything when I'm in so much pain!!!).

It's such a strange phenomenon that I can't help remarking on it. Does anyone else feel this way? Maybe it's God's way of comforting me while I endure the week-long horror of shedding my uteral lining. :P Ugh.

Whatever it is, I'm ready to complete something today and I don't know what it is. Probably more knitting. 1 more pair of slippers to join my collection. One more drawing to put in m portfolio. Maybe a short story I can work on getting published? Who knows.

All I know is that my muse is tugging me away from the computer. And that's a good thing.

Pictures

I'm on my third pair of slippers! :)

I'm calling these "Blueberry" slippers b/c of the color.

I'm wearing my 2nd pair right now and they are SO. COMFY.



I took some pictures of the first two pairs and they're on my facebook if you care to look.


Also, I realized just how much I'd missed taking pictures. Stu's new camera is AWESOME so I have been borrowing it to take pictures of my dollhouse, my knitting projects, and Parker. I've also begged Stu to do a photoshoot of me and the harp for promotional photos. Yay!

There's just something about taking pictures that feels right. I love feeling the weight of the camera in my hand and I love looking through the lens or at the screen to bring things into focus and to make a beautiful picture. It...rounds out some things and brings stuff into perspective for me.

I'm once again considering doing something artsy as a career. What if I was a photographer? Beth Riesgraf is a professional photographer, and look what a cool acting job she has!! Although I wouldn't become a photographer to end up on a T.V. show, it's a cool thought. And I'd enjoy my photography job a lot.

My mom and dad are both photographers, and their dream for when they retire is to open a studio where dad takes still life pictures/nature pictures and Mom takes portraits. Doesn't that sound wonderful?

I'm definitely going to be taking pictures more often from now on - Stu, I want your camera!

Mary Janes

I really want a red pair of Mary Janes. I love those shoes.

In lieu of going out and purchasing a pair, I found a super super easy knitting pattern and have knitted one of my new black Mary Jane slippers! I'll put up pictures once I've completed the pair, but the first one turned out GREAT!!! I'm so excited! It doesn't take a lot of yarn and takes maybe an hour to make one slipper. There are all sorts of decorating ideas zipping through my head and I have just the yarn in mind to make myself a second pair!

I'm thinking of doing a picture tutorial since the directions were a little confusing. Do you knit? Would you like a knitting tutorial or a pair of slippers courtesy of my box full of yarn??

These are the days that I feel complete.

When I have a craft project finished and I can sit back and see the results.

Ah.

Bliss.

Summer Goals

I made a list today of things I want to complete by the end of summer...there's a whole beautiful season coming up where I can STAY INSIDE and craft instead of melting in the heat! :P Although I dislike summer weather, I appreciate all that summer brings - ice cream, lemonade, baseball games, waterslides, etc. But I prefer to stay inside and read for the most part.

Here, then, are the things I want to do (some of these I've done before, some I have not) and the links to tutorials, pictures, or blogs so you can see what my finished projects might (or might not) look like.

1. Make Mary Jane felted/knitted slippers! http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=12662.0 Aren't they ADORABLE?! http://www.needletrax.com/knittingzone/felting.htm <-- These are the felted ones.

2. Finish my dollhouse! I've actually begun working on this again - I bought some cream and blue paints and finished painting the kitchen and re-painted the bedroom. I've got to touch up the bathroom but then I'm done with the inside, besides decorating!! I've got the two extra rooms to finish and I need to finish putting the stone on the actual frame of the house. Such fun!

3. I designed a skirt that I REALLY want to make - the waistband is a tie, and the rest is a crazy quilt of different fabrics, laces, buttons, appliques, and ribbons! It will be fabulous when paired with my slippers!

4. I found a recipe for making paper out of: DRYER LINT. ?!?!?! Although it looks rather pretty...I've already started saving up a pile of lint! http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Make-Paper-Out-Of-Lint/

5. Sculpt a doll for my dollhouse! I came up with a way to sculpt some dollhouse dolls that will save some clay and make the dolls bendable (wire frame!). This is what occupies my mind at any given moment. :P

6. Create a big piece of art to hang on the wall - I need something to brighten up the living room. Or the music room. Or...well, anywhere!!! We only have a few pictures, and fewer framed! So I want to get a big canvas (40% off thanks to my Hobby Lobby coupon!!) and just...experiment. Magazine clippings, paint, fabric, whatever...just something interesting!

7. Write & Illustrate a picture book - maybe The Girl Who Lost Her Voice will finally get a chance to become a book - on dryer lint pages?! Who knows!!


Those are my creative goals for the summer - along with the usual practice music, exercise, look for agents, edit Violet's Monster, etc. :P

What are you doing this summer?

Snippets

Last night's dreams were quite strange...I blame thin crust pizza and garlic dip.

Snippet #1:

I was walking upstairs in our old log cabin and went into my brothers' room where Andrew proceeded to ask me: "Are you trying to have a tubby stomach?" I explained that I was exercising and changing my diet and that I had a thyroid problem - so take that, jerk! Then I went into their bathroom (afraid it was going to be gross, which it was) to check myself in the mirror but it was too small so I just saw my face.

Snippet #2: I was modding clothing and had drawn several designs when an old friend showed up and proclaimed, "I have some of these shirts! I'll give them to you, you've got to make these!"

Snippet #3: Stu and I were on a mission (I guess we're secret agents now?!) at a hospital so we had to leave Stu's new camera in the car and he kept peeking out windows and saw someone trying to get into our car - I said, "Oh, don't worry, that's just _____________" and it was one of our old friends. I have no idea why they were trying to get in our car.

That's all I can remember, but they were very real-feeling.

El Fin - Or, Not Quite!

So...close...

I am two pages from completing the third draft of Violet's Monster: Volume I, only a day late! I just wanted to take a break and write about it for a while instead of writing it.

Writing this book has proven a daunting task. Even though I've written three drafts, I still feel like the drafts are complete crap. The idea, though, is still valuable, I believe, so I'm still going to keep trying. I predicted 9 or 10 drafts for this story, if not more, and I'm thinking more and more that I was correct in that assumption!

Violet's Monster: Volume 1 is about fear. Facing your fears, growing up and realizing adults still experience fear, and recognizing that sometimes, fear is what helps you know what kind of person you really are - it tests you in a way that a peaceful existence can't.

Fear of failure hasn't stopped me from writing Violet's Monster: Voluem I - but I'm still scared. What if people hate it? What if I can't write? What if I keep writing my whole life and never get to share my work with anyone? That shouldn't keep my from my dream. I want to share my imagination with the world, and I won't let fear keep me from trying to accomplish that.

Anyway, wish me luck as I take a few days' break and then get back into editing. I don't hate editing as much as I thought I would, but it's coming tougher these days as I don't have a flow of music to help me out.

Suggestions?

Also, if you want to read this draft (quite a bit different from the 2nd draft), message me your e-mail and I'll send you a copy. I need all the revision notes I can get!