My writing life...

Yesterday I sat down and rewrote the beginning of my script. I also re-outlined over the weekend so I know where I want to go through midpoint. I already wrote the ending which really helps. And we are in pre-pre-pre production for the short film. Story boarder has the script, makeup just sent it back with a quote: $6,000 for makeup, and initial casting has begun.

It’s neat to see where my characters are at the end and start them with nothing. The goal is now to get my characters from page one and mold them into these completely different individuals as the third act begins. It’s great to see who they are now, and who they will be at the end. It’s a different way to approach my script as I’ve never written the ending before the beginning.

I played the first act in my head while laying down last night and discovered that I didn’t like how it played. I went so far as pitching the new beginning to Dale and after I gave him the first sentence I thought to myself, this isn't going to work. It went something like this... "Okay, you open on a deserted city. Rain is pounding the ground and we see several figures moving through the dark. A military helicopter rumbles past us overhead and dissapears behind the buildings in the distance... We realize the figures are Special Force Agents in full gear protecting civilians as they move to a pick up zone... uh... ummmm... I'll call you back."

So I layed down on the couch and in my head I sat in the theater and watched what I had written. The action is great, and it moves quite quickly from page one to the act break. But, it was very on-the-nose. Forced rather creative. My original start of the script was a lot better. It really was ambitious and creative and the arena of events really made it unique.

So I’m going to rewrite the first 10 pages once again in order to give it the same feel as the original. But it’s a toss up to do that, or continue writing pages from where I left off. Sometimes rewriting gives me the inertia to propel the next pages of the script. Sometimes (mostly) it holds me back. But I need to get it out before I write because its already in my head. Maybe I’ll treat myself to a rewrite after doing 10 or so MORE pages as I reach the midpoint.

Wish me luck.