Mind you,
everything is still rockin' in the free world out here
in LA land, but I found my recent attitudes
rather funny in light of all I have stated in the
past. I've always figured that if I kept a detailed
enough journal throughout this journey, that when
I do "make it" - you'll be able to go back and
see it really happen. Everyone says you change - and I
wanna see if I'm "everyone"...and how that happens.
I've actually quite enjoyed re-reading the past 112
entries and watching things unfold. It's quite
extraordinary.
So if you had told
me a few months ago that on Monday, March 12th, 2001 -
I'd have a manager. That I'd be playing comedy clubs
in a matter of months. That I'd be writing a script
for a one-man 4tvs show called "The Trinitrons" that
will be pitched for every meaningful studio and
television exec in this city - AND that my manager
knows these people well enough to
HELP ME WRITE THE DAMN THING
to cater to what they want - wouldn't I be
thrilled?
No, I want a shave
and a haircut more than you could possibly
imagine.
I'm growing as
much hair on my body as humaly possible so we have
more to work with when shooting begins in April. This
is something I would've DREAMED of a year ago.
How cool is it to be growing a beard for a ROLE?! This
is what REAL ACTORS DO!!! Hell yeah. But
that just doesn't help right now. It's hot outside,
and I want all of my hair OFF. I am suuuuuuuuuch
a pussy right now aren't I.
I really just
can't believe myself to tell you the truth. I feel
like I'm the whiny-little hollywood man. I mean I'm
actually bitching because it's 75 out, and I am
growing my hair and beard long. I'm bitching because
I actually have to WORK at writing this script,
and actually LISTEN to other people. Actually, I'm
kind of enjoying that part. Charlotte (manager) and I
had it out last night for 3 hours pounding out
character development on "The Trinitrons". I can't
tell you how hard it is to make 5 different characters
be funny, but NOT BE CLICHE'd - and mesh
together. It's definitely a creative writing
challenge. And what I love about Charlotte is that we
can go at each other like BOXERS defending our side,
and when it's all said and done, still be smart enough
to know who to listen to. We pull NO punches and it
inevitably makes: "The Trinitorns" a better show.
I have to admit though, if she was a guy - I'd
want to kill her.
(Bob just
brought in a STICK from outside to show me. He's tried
so valiantly to live up to J-Dog's
bird
catching
skills,
but so far has managed only snails and
foliage)But
yeah, there's more of an art to arguing with a woman.
Because when it's all done - you can just say: "Hey,
no hard feelings, just trying to argue my side". With
a guy we'd have to both swap gut-punches to feel
better. Very strange. But all-props to her skills in
this arena...she's debating a former talk-show host
and winning most battles. On the other hand,
I was always quite the listener in talk. If you
made sense, I'd always hand it to you. She makes sense
and doesn't talk shit.
Well damn, I sure
do feel better now.
I guess
stress is stress no matter what. We all think there's
an answer, "If only I had this..." - but it just never
works out like that. Every level you get to in life
has different problems. Having the direction I so
sorely wanted a month ago definitely helps, but
I still want to shave and get a haircut. If it
wasn't annoying and difficult - it wouldn't be so
impressive in the end. I gotta keep thinking about how
impressed the audience will be when they see the work
that was put into it. That has always been the theme
to every project I've ever done: an excruciating
amount of work. When people found out that
I didn't have the background tracks to the parody
songs I wrote, or EVEN INSTRUMENTS, yet still
made them - it made a difference. 4tvs in itself shows
a tremendous amount of planning and work...it's just
now it's gone to that next level. A level so
precise, that every aspect of the creation is
painstaking. I think even I'm gonna be impressed
when this gets pulled off.
Good, creative
COMEDY writing has to be hard. It has NOT all
been done before. Those who say that - are writing
cliched, tired scripts. So I'll gladly struggle to
make this NOT fall into that category. It's cool
really, I've never had a challenge consume me to this
extent. Everything I do is designed to help the
creative process right now. It's such a surreal
atmosphere in my head. The whole "writer's block"
thing is not made up. It's quite real, and quite
annoying. And then it all comes out in amazing spurts
of productivity...then you wonder and mope
and...ahem...bitch about a shave and a haircut. You go
from feeling incredibly witty and intelligent, to
horribly cliched and mundane in a matter of moments.
You think you've accomplished something, only to rip
it up and re-write the entire thing. All in an effort
to make sure you get it right. Especially in this
case, because once those TVS are shot, it's all over.
There's no comedic "refining" after it gets in front
of a crowd. This better be funny, 'cause it
AIN'T CHANGIN'.
Speaking of which,
after weeks of tweaking, the short film I did the
music for is finally finished. For the new readers out
there - uhm, I did the music for a short film. LOL.
"Pep Talk" - about a guy who gets dumped and fights
depression by talking to himself. Going as far as
taping people and "making" friends.
It
screamed for a quirky type of stylized
music, and that's definitely a way to
describe my a capella music. The film is
gonna be submitted to a few film festivals
around town. Can't wait to actually hear
my shit in a theater. Quite a thrill.
It'll also probably make its way online on
a few sites in time, so hopefully you guys
can catch it. If not, here's a little
sneak preview edit of the film's
open.
It's written and directed by Marshall
McAuley, and the lead actor is Roger
Offutt.
Alrighty, time to
stop my whining, and get back to writing. And hey - at
least I can GROW HAIR. Sheesh, I forgot
about that (after my divorce all the hair on my chin
fell out...for 2 years), I have NOTHIN' to bitch
about.
