11/20/12

Today, I did a lot of thinking. I came up with a new idea for my screenplay about bullying and suicide. Maybe it takes place in a grief counsler/therapy office, and different people who were close to Dani/ were involved in her suicide take turns going into therapy. I really like this idea, but then I thought, maybe this will be better as a play? Theatrically, I could see it working out better than a screenplay. A screenplay would get pretty boring if it took place in one setting. I don't know, it's something to play with.

Reflection: Well, that basically was my reflection. I was inspired by this after basically staring at the script for about 15 minutes, attempting to write something. I'm going to give myself a 100 for the new idea.

11/19/12

I am honestly at a block with all of my work. There isn't much I can do, so i'm going to do a SOC.




With a thousand sweet kisses Ill cover you oohhhhhhhh lover ill cover you yeah yeah yeah guitar wowowowowowowowow I like eggs. I want to go home wait I am home this makes no sense hahahaha i feel weird. I feel weird and people are stupid hahahaahha I think I want another dog. I love dogs. Dogs are good. So much better than cats. Cats are stupid and lazy and blah and if Brett reads this Soc which he will because he's a loser he will yell at me for insulting his favorite species hahaha oh well he's a loser. Boop bopp bop Lalalalla I like chocolate. Chocolate cookies are good. I have them, but they make me fat. Im too fat for life. Im too lazy for life and why do  I just want more chocolate? Goddamit. Lollol Im so weird. I ants I ants. I ants? Wtf am i saying. It sounds lik a movie. I ants. What? No it doesn't Shut up.




Reflection: I think I deserve a 100 for this post. With the whole thing about chocolate, I think I may have found inspiration for my play that I was working on in Crystal's workshop over the summer, which I also haven't touched since August.

11/16/12

Today, I started writing the beginning of Vanilla. Finally writing in chronological order! YAY!

(Lights up on a teenage boy sitting on a floor with a script in front of him. He is tapping his pencil, and keeps staring at the door. He sits in silence for about 5 seconds, until another teenage boy comes storming through the door)

NICKY

I am so….

A.J.

Where have you been? Your locker is right down the hall.

NICKY

 I’m sorry! I was walking down the hallway and I looked down and I realized that I left my script in Bio. So I went there to get it back and Mrs. Harris and I started talking about X Factor last night and…

A.J.

Look Nick, I really don’t care. Let’s just get started.

NICKY

Don’t call me Nick. My name is Nicky. Kind of like my sister, Nikki, you know, your ex-girlfriend, but not Nikki with an I, Nicky with a Y. Short for Nicholas, not Nicole. Nicky. Got it?

A.J.

Um…

NICKY

Good!

(They sit in silence for a few beats)

A.J.

So um, I was thinking with can start the scene with the both of us..

NICKY

Wait! Before you say anything, I had a brilliant idea.

A.J.

What is it?

  

NICKY

So instead of doing the scene from Romeo and Juliet where Romeo and Tybalt, why don’t we do a scene from Rent between Mark and Roger?

A.J.

Um, that’s a musical. I’m pretty sure any scene between them would be a song.

NICKY

And your point is?

Reflection: I think I deserve a 100 for this post. I am happy I finally figured out a way to start the play. I'm not saying this is how I am going to keep it, but at least it's a start. I also needed a clear image of why they are there. When I continue writing, I need to fit in the idea that the assignment is due the next day, so their is a clearer objective.

11/15/12

Today, I continued writing my short play, Vanilla. I wrote from where I left off with the line "That's not the line."

NICKY

You have no right to talk to me like that! I’m just trying to have a good time.

A.J.

A good time? You want to have a good time? We are working on our speech and drama class final! This isn’t SNL!

NICKY

It doesn’t mean we can’t make it fun!

A.J.

I’m not here to have fun! I want to get this done!

NICKY

Ha ha.. You rhymed.

A.J.

Ugh!!!!

(A.J. slams his script onto the ground, gets up, and paces back and forth with his hand to his forehead)

NICKY

Dude, you need to loosen up. Why are you so frustrated? And don’t tell me it’s because I’m annoying, because you were tense the minute I walked in here.  It’s because of Nikki isn’t it. I mean, not me Nicky, my sister Ni…

A.J.

I get it, okay! And it’s not, so don’t assume things alright? You don’t know anything.

Reflection: I think I deserve a 100 for this post. I have been stuck with where I wanted to continue, and I think this is active enough where I can move forward. I also think that writing this gave me an idea with the beginning, because I haven't started that part yet.

11/14/12

Today, I started brainstorming for my screenplay. I've abandon it for a little while, and I really am set on having this filmed and done by the end of the year. I need to do serious re-writes, but I have no idea how to start it. I have plot points I still want to use, which include

-Back to school
-Journal
-Funeral
-"Drunk"
-Flashbacks

The things I know I have to take out are:
-Opening
-Teacher
-Locker cleaning


I have decided to cut the teacher character out, as long as the small friend rolls. They don't serve much of purpose. I may even cut the mother out. I realized I want to focus on the best friend's point of view, and how he handle's the bullies after it happens. I want to use the fact that the bullies feel bad as a plot point. I was even thinking about having Dani still be alive, and that the suicide didn't go through.




Reflection: I think I deserve a 100 for this post. This was the first time I really sat down and thought about the things I have to do to change the screenplay. Obviously I have to do much more research, because I lacked that during the first write.

11/13/12

Today, I worked on the character profiles for my short play. I honestly just need to get everything I know about the characters written somewhere


Nicky

-Very hyper
-Twin to Nikki
-Doesn't have a care in the world
-Blunt and open
-Immatue
-Possibly gay?
-Nosy-


A.J.

-Boring
-Serious
-Want's to get work done
-Annoyed by Nicky
-Dating Nikki, Nicky's twin
-Doesn't seem to be upset by the breakup



Reflection: I think I deserve a 100 for this post. I had most of this in my head already, but getting it out and having it written down somewhere will be good for future reference. I will most likely be re-opening this post and adding stuff to the list periodically.

11/12/12

During Hurricane Sandy, I began to write my first short play. The usual pattern with a writer is to start small and progress, but I think I may have skipped a step, so I am going to work on this for a little while, and hopefully have a reading within the next 2 weeks. 

By the way, the lines represent a break. These are random lines that I want to use in the beginning and end of the play.

NICKY

Don’t call me Nick. My name is Nicky. Kind of like my sister, Nikki, you know, your ex girlfriend, but not Nikki with an I, Nicky with a Y. Short for Nicholas, not Nicole. Nicky. Got it?

A.J.

Um…

NICKY

Good!

.___________________________________________________________________________________

NICKY

Oh and I’m sorry about you and Nikki, by the way. You guys made a really cute couple.

A.J.

Um, thanks?

NICKY

You’re welcome. (Pause) She told me what happened by the way. You know, why you guys broke up.

A.J.

Oh, really because she never told me.

NICKY

Yep. She said you were way too boring for her, never wanted to go out and have fun. She would ask you to take her out, but you just liked to stay in your basement and play World of Warcraft. (Pause) So is it true?

A.J.

Is what true?

NICKY

Are you really that vanilla?

A.J.

Vanilla?

NICKY

You know, vanilla? Boring? Unexciting? Bland? Insipid? Dull? Plain Jane? Debbie Downer? Tidy Widy? Plain White Tee?

(Takes long dramatic breath)

As interesting as a…

A.J.

I got it.

NICKY

I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have brought it up.

(There is a slight pause. A.J. opens his mouth to answer)

I mean, it’s not your fault your such a hermit, right?

A.J.

Can we just focus on the script please?

NICKY

Surely, Kermit the Hermit.

(Looks down at the scarf on the ground next to him)

Oh look! Nikki left her scarf here!

(NICKY  puts on the scarf and attempts to do a model pose, but fails miserably.)

(In a fake British accent) How do I look?

A.J.

You look like an ass.

NICKY

Am I a good looking ass?

     (A.J. throws script onto the ground and groans)

What’s the prob Bob?

A.J.

You! You’re the “Prob” (Puts air quotes around “Prob”) Is everything a joke to you?

NICKY

Well, I…

A.J.

Don’t answer that. Just sit down, shut up, and let’s go through the script. Okay?

(NICKY does a “zip my lips” motion)

A.J.

 (Exhales) Thank you. Now let’s start from where we left off on page 5.

(A.J. starts shuffling through the script, while NICKY just stares at it in confusion. He throws the script onto the floor, and stands up.)

NICKY

You know what? I’m not sorry. Screw you.

A.J.

That’s not the line!

___________________________________________________________________________________

A.J.

Arnold Jefferson.

NICKY

Huh?

A.J.

My first name is Arnold and my middle name is Jefferson.

(A.J. smiles and walks out of the room, closing the door behind him. NICKY is silent for a few beats.)

NICKY

Arnold Jefferson?!?!?!

(NICKY dies of laughter as the lights go down.)

Reflection: I think I deserve a 100 for this post. I spent my entire week without power working on this by candlelight and notebook. Being stuck in your house in the dark really gets the creative juices flowing. I really like the direction with this. It is a much lighter story than the screenplay, and hopefully this may be something than can be produced in the near future.