Keen observations...

The New Year Approaches...

Christmas has passed and the New Year approaches, time to reflect and get the resolution in order ... yikes!

I have one. To do what I love, write, make films, direct and be creative. I am doing it all to an extent now but playing it safe, nuzzled in the corporate world getting other folks ideas on paper, video, and screen. Now it is time to get my stuff out there. I started the process and it feels real good. My gut tells me the timing is right, creativity is screaming, writing is strong, focus and humor are present, head spitting out the ideas, vision is sharp. It all feels great!

To keep the momentum going I'm sending my ideas out for review. The feedback has been positive, gotta' keep working at the dialog tho'. The stories are weaved very well but the dialog needs to be crafted a bit. I'm taking the feedback and squeezing it out onto the page, it has been a lot of fun.

I'm reading everything! Currently reading Michael Ondaatje's book "The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film" it is fantastic. Wonderful for film fans and folks who are visual story- tellers.

Murch says a great thing that I want to share, "As I've gone through life, I've found that your chances for happiness are increased if you wind up doing something that is reflection of what you loved most when you were somewhere between nine and eleven years old."

That's my resolution: to be forever eleven, happy, healthy, creative, studying films, writing screenplays, acting/performing them out with people I trust, admire, have fun with and appreciate.

I'm working on the log line for my screenplay called "Let Go". I gotta' say its freakin' hard!

I know the story inside and out. I lived it for weeks,now I have to sum it up in three sentences or less.  Its kind of like a first date, you want to look good, say all the right things, blow yourself up bigger than you appear but in the end its best to leave the bullshit at home and be yourself. That's my approach for my log line (aka first date) and in a cool way how I approach life, and I guess, if the other doesn't see the "goods" then it wasn't meant to be.

You just got a peek at the Buddha in me ... shanti, shanti.

p.s. No worries, when it is set, I will publish the log line. Would love to hear your thoughts...

The other day I had a visit from "What am I thinking?". You know her, right? She's related to self doubt and fear.

Here these may ring your noggin': "What am I thinking, I am not a writer." Sound familiar? Or, how about: "What am I thinking? I can't make a living writing/working for TV and film..."

You gotta' know her!

Yeeesh, she had me inches away from packing my experience, creativity, ideas, humor, drive, determination and heading south to safe.

Then something really cool happened. I got up the next day, planted my feet on the floor, headed to a location for a shoot I'm producing/directing. Once I walked on to the set I knew yesterday's visit was just that, a brief, humbling, visit. I hope she comes again, she reminded me why I love what I do and why I have to take chances. Know determination, heart, eagerness to be creative, are my other house guests. They will keep "What am I thinking?" future visits to a minimum.

Whew, its complete.

Sure there are tweaks, rewrites and feedback to come but they are all welcomed guests. It felt great to write again, even better to complete a piece of work that is not all that bad! Now let's see where our journey takes us...

My next step is to send the screenplay out to some folks to smooth out the bumps, then I will find a way to pitch the film to an actress who would be ideal for Kate (the lead character).

Should I say who the actress is?

Nah, I don't want to jinx it.

I can say this actress inspired me to finish 'Let Go' (title of screenplay). Your muse? Yes, I guess she could hold that title.

Back to steps ... I've blessed this keenfilm blog as my "open" journal as I go for my dream. Kind of like "Griffin and Sabine", you'll read my strategies, struggles and hopeful successes. I cannot promise grand compositions but I can promise a genuine, insightful look into one's hopes and dreams.

Off we go!

Log lines & dating...

I'm working on the log line for my screenplay called "Let Go". I gotta' say its freakin' hard!

I know the story inside and out. I lived it for weeks,now I have to sum it up in three sentences or less.  Its kind of like a first date, you want to look good, say all the right things, blow yourself up bigger than you appear but in the end its best to leave the bullshit at home and be yourself. That's my approach for my log line (aka first date) and in a cool way how I approach life, and I guess, if the other doesn't see the "goods" then it wasn't meant to be.

You just got a peek at the Buddha in me ... shanti, shanti.

p.s. No worries, when it is set, I will publish the log line. Would love to hear your thoughts...

An unexpected visit...

The other day I had a visit from "What am I thinking?". You know her, right? She's related to self doubt and fear.

Here these may ring your noggin': "What am I thinking, I am not a writer." Sound familiar? Or, how about: "What am I thinking? I can't make a living writing/working for TV and film..."

You gotta' know her!

Yeeesh, she had me inches away from packing my experience, creativity, ideas, humor, drive, determination and heading south to safe.

Then something really cool happened. I got up the next day, planted my feet on the floor, headed to a location for a shoot I'm producing/directing. Once I walked on to the set I knew yesterday's visit was just that, a brief, humbling, visit. I hope she comes again, she reminded me why I love what I do and why I have to take chances. Know determination, heart, eagerness to be creative, are my other house guests. They will keep "What am I thinking?" future visits to a minimum.

Finished screenplay... *gulp*.

Whew, its complete.

Sure there are tweaks, rewrites and feedback to come but they are all welcomed guests. It felt great to write again, even better to complete a piece of work that is not all that bad! Now let's see where our journey takes us...

My next step is to send the screenplay out to some folks to smooth out the bumps, then I will find a way to pitch the film to an actress who would be ideal for Kate (the lead character).

Should I say who the actress is?

Nah, I don't want to jinx it.

I can say this actress inspired me to finish 'Let Go' (title of screenplay). Your muse? Yes, I guess she could hold that title.

Back to steps ... I've blessed this keenfilm blog as my "open" journal as I go for my dream. Kind of like "Griffin and Sabine", you'll read my strategies, struggles and hopeful successes. I cannot promise grand compositions but I can promise a genuine, insightful look into one's hopes and dreams.

Off we go!