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Steph Olivieri Bourbon ~ Writing Coach

~ I TEACH emerging female writers in tv/film & novels HOW to create stories to fall in love with✨© Stephanie Bourbon 2022

Steph Olivieri Bourbon ~ Writing Coach

Monthly Archives: August 2010

Dr. House & Nurse Jackie – My Fav Medical Junkies!

30 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Writing (film & television)

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Dr. House, Edie Falco, HOUSE, Hugh Laurie, Nurse Jackie

So I was thinking this morning that if I was really sick and ended up in the hospital I would definitely want both Nurse Jackie and Dr. House taking care of me!

Let’s break it down-yes they are both addicted to meds! Pain meds-opiates, narcotics, the ‘good’ stuff, and have both lied, cheated and stolen to get it. Yet, they seem to be the only ones with a brain in their respective hospitals-All Saint’s in New York and Princeton-Plainsboro in New Jersey.

Why is that? Aren’t drugs supposed to hinder our ability to cope, think, function?

In real life, if you saw a nurse snorting blue pills in the ladies that would be that, and you would probably run out of there spleen in hand and all! Or if your Dr. came into the exam room sat down and swallowed a handful of Vicodin, you probably would leave, or would you?

The great thing about these two characters played by Hugh Laurie and Edie Falco – congrats by the way Edie – is that they are so well crafted that we the audience look past their flaws-being drug addicts.

Both these shows have a brilliant supporting cast to help us really understand and love the more than flawed leads.

I don’t think that Hollywood has glorified drug use at all – I have read some complaints about both shows – and even shown serious problems for both of our heros here – but they have made them lovable.

We tune in every week to see House abuse his staff, his friends and his patients. Why? Because we love the mystery, we want to solve it with him, after all, he is Sherlock Holmes and we are all Watson. In the spring we anxiously await Jackie’s kind and sweet demeanor towards patients, her kids and her staff – except for Coop – who let’s face it, is an idiot. We CARE about both House and Jackie and that is why we return.

This is some brilliant writing in both shows and if you don’t watch either I suggest you do. You won’t be disappointed in anything but your real, sober, health care providers.

What Am I Not Writing (is more like it) I am writing tons!

29 Sunday Aug 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in My journey into Hollywood writing :0)

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People always are asking me, “what are you writing?” then five minutes into it, they are sorry they asked, because unlike a lot of aspiring writers, sorry but it is true, I write ALL the time. I don’t get writer’s block. I don’t procrastinate. I don’t have ideas in my head only-but there are a few there that haven’t quite made it to paper-I am only one person.

This Thursday I was at the Sublime Primetime event at the WGA with some of the Emmy nominated writers. Steven Levitan from Modern Family was there and his advice to new writers-to write.

I have always been the type to “do” and not “try” – I learned that from Yoda-okay someday I will write the blog about how everything in my life relates to some film or tv show-yes it is true.

You want to know what I am writing?

I am doing a lot, so here goes, let me sum it up.

I am currently working on:

Three spec pilots-why three? Isn’t that too many? Are you not focused? – are all probably questions in your mind, but no, not for me. They are three very different shows, and I am working on all of them when I get inspired for each of them. That said, one of them, ‘Ellie From Chicago” my multi-cam buddy camera-which is friggen’ hilarious by the way-is leading the pack right now-mostly because my voice comes out the strongest.

Rewrites on my 4th novel-that is pretty obvious-but as some of you know, I am published under the pen name, Micheline McAllister, and I have a 3rd and 4th novel that aren’t yet signed to any publisher, or agent yet-I am reworking the 4th based on some feedback and time. Time is the best critic for me. I write something fast and then step away and come back. Today I figured out a brilliant way to make my newest book-Slanted Houses-even better. Okay and since it is set in San Francisco-I can write off my trip-double bonus!

Spec TV Shows of existing shows-why? Because you have to, you just have to unless you are lucky enough to know a guy who will see Ryan Murphy in the locker room and pass your script to him. It is part of the rules. What specs? Well I recently switched back to comedy, so I put aside all the brilliant dramas I have written in the past 3 years and have 5 hilarious shows that I am sending out. 1) The New Adventures of Old Christine 2) The Big Bang Theory 3) Two & a half Men  ————and here is where I break the rules and just do shit that I want to because it is so funny in my head. For my 4th and 5th spec show of existing shows I have some out of the box thinking and if you want to know more-get me in the locker room with Ryan Murphy and I’ll send them to you!!

Shorts – because I love writing short stories and I have a few published in graphic novels – shameless self promotion here-THE TROUBLE WITH KATIE ROGERS– and I have sent some to the New Yorker and several chick lit rags.. I just love them.

As well as my blogs, Micheline’s blogs, Letters to agents, statements of interest, emails, messages, Twitter, Facebook-I am writing all the time, every day and someday I will be totally ignored by Hollywood-the music will play before I manage to thank my dog before walking away with my Emmy and groping Leonardo in the hallway.

So that is that. I am writing so many different things at any given time, that it is actually hard to answer, but I am writing. I write because I have to. I don’t write for anyone else. Sure we are told to write specs, but I really enjoy doing it, or I wouldn’t. I write novels as part of my ‘get poor’ fast scheme-because I love them-

Shit I almost forgot about my old spec pilot-The First Year-which I am rewriting as well and my film-The Airport Bar-….and am penning a new comedy that has Jason Segal all over it-anyone know where he showers after a workout?

Keep writing and thanks for asking me, as you can probably tell, unlike most writers-I am anything but shy!!

Hollywood Presidents are Always Awesome!

27 Friday Aug 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Uncategorized

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It is always amazing to me how people in Hollywood can think so clear about politics, but the real politicians seem to forget things like the constitution and or that we are a free country. Here is part of President Andrew Shepherd’s speech from the film ‘The American President’

It’s just a film, but still inspiring!

“You want free speech? Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who’s standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can’t just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the “land of the free”.

**** I love our current commander in chief! Obama is amazing-I just mean the politicians in general, especially all the right winged nut jobs (extremists only-not all Republicans-although it is hard to imagine anyone wanting to be part of a political party that supports such folks, but I digress)  that are so serious about taking away our rights and don’t see America as a free country, unless we comply to the conservative-Christian-hate mongering- that is their way of life******

Another Review-My First Novel

19 Thursday Aug 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Novels

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Welcome To My Life by Micheline McAllister

August 18, 2010 by admin
Filed under Chick Lit Review, Hollywood Lit Review

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welcome to my lifeSamantha Kelly is a 32 year old personal assistant working in Hollywood, hoping for her big break. While working fourteen hour shifts and doing mundane tasks like calming down her bosses wife and picking up dry cleaning for everyone on set, Samantha wonders if she is stalled out. Long shifts, little pay, and no recognition on top of being single and having an untrustworthy best friend has Samantha ready to call in quits in Los Angeles. But when another friend offers Samantha a part in her movie, her life suddenly starts looking better and better. Offered more acting jobs, Samantha soon can afford the nicer things in life, including bigger homes and designer clothes. But while her bank account and fame keep expanding, Samantha’s love life and friendships seem to be depleting. The life of a working celebrity suddenly doesn’t seem so exciting and fabulous. Can Samantha find a way to balance it all?

Welcome to My Life, the debut novel from Micheline McAllister gives an insider’s look on the Hollywood scene. McAllister has worked in the entertainment industry as a personal assistant, actress, writer and artist, and holds nothing back when recounting this tale. I enjoyed reading both sides of the main character- her bleak life as “just” a personal assistant, to the high life of being an overpaid actress. I like the fact that this novel is written from an “insider” because there are a few eye-openers about the industry that had me shocked! My only downside was that Samantha’s character didn’t stick with me after I closed the book; I almost forgot who she was and what her story was. But the duration of the novel is witty, fast-paced, and filled with juicy tidbits that will satisfy chick lit fans.

Rating: 3.5/5

Review of My 2nd Novel :0)

19 Thursday Aug 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Novels

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Chick lit Plus, Micheline McAllister, Welcome to My Life

http://chicklitplus.com/love-you-love-your-work-lets-do-lunch-by-micheline-mcallister/

Love You Love Your Work Let’s Do Lunch! by Micheline McAllister

August 19, 2010 by admin
Filed under Chick Lit Review, Hollywood Lit Review

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love you love your work lets do lunchAshling Donovan decides to move from Des Moines to Los Angeles in hopes of becoming a successful teleplay writer. After moving in with her boyfriend, Ashling sets her sights on securing a job. But when said boyfriend unexpectedly breaks up with her for a Myspace girl, Ashling is desperate for a job, a home, and money. When she shows up to interview as a PA, Ashling is seized with an opportunity, a lie, that could change her life. Overnight, Ashling becomes a widely known head writer, creator of a new show, and her own personal assistant, all in one. But will the truth about her double life identity be discovered- and ruin her Hollywood reputation?

Love You, Love Your Work, Let’s Do Lunch! is Micheline McAllister’s second novel, and just as filled with juicy Hollywood secrets as the first. It was comical to read how people in LA will fall all over themselves trying to name drop, and what some people will do to get ahead. I highly enjoyed reading Ashling’s tale from an Iowa nobody to a big name in Hollywood, all because of a well crafted lie. I did think a couple times that there was no possible way someone could make up being a well respected writer, but in the land of celebrities, I guess almost anything is possible. I think chick lit readers will find humor in this novel, appreciate good writing, and be able to escape in the heroine’s double life.

Rating: 4/5

HOUSE is a Perfect Character, and Show

16 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Just For Fun

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Dr. House, Gregory House, HOUSE

Why do we love HOUSE so much? You have this man, a doctor, who is rude to everyone, pops pills, has hardly any friends, and is basically a curmuggen, but we tune in every week for more. Why? Because we love him!

Gregory House is quite possibly the only perfect character in television. Sure all television characters are flawed, but he is flawed in so many ways, on so many levels-with hardly any growth happening, that we have all fallen in love with him. We care about him and his loneliness-even though he has brought it on himself.

My theory on the why of this is simple-elemetary Watson-Sherlock Holmes. Dr. House is Sherlock Holmes with a few modern day twists and turns along the way. If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, you will love HOUSE. The characters follow the same basic character traits as in the stories and the episodes, all procedurals, follow a very Holmesy style of clues, no one being smart enough until finally with bouncing ideas off Watson-er I mean, Wilson, Holmes/HOUSE solves the puzzle.

It is truly brilliant and honestly, there aren’t many shows that even come close to being this well executed. I can’t wait for next season to start!

A Meeting is a Meeting & Blog Talk Radio is a Radio Show

16 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Uncategorized

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Okay, first off all, it is TALK RADIO, and that sucks. Secondly you have to be on your computer. Aren’t we on enough?

The reason I bring this up is that someone recently said that a writing group was moving into the 21st century when they canceled the group in favor of some radio talk show, and it is sad that they don’t even see the difference between meeting in person in a group with fellow writers and then having to listen to a radio show, which is completely different.

I really love this woman’s energy, but this has really stumped me. It is so cold and so impersonal and makes no sense.

Another thing is that anyone can listen, so it is really not a personal experience.

And what the hell is wrong with personal contact? Why is shutting everyone out of your life better?

I also keep seeing things like ‘power lunch’ meeting and then it is damn blog talk radio. Lunch is lunch and radio is radio.

Look I try to be positive and see the best in things, but this is really hurting networking, which is still VERY important, if not the MOST IMPORTANT thing a writer can do. It is also important in many other careers, so why cut off all contact?

I have many friends that do pod casts, and I think that is okay and even blog talk radio is okay, if someone wants a lecture, but for a group meeting, it isn’t the same thing at all.

What is next? Harvard going to cancel all classes for blog talk radio?

Princeton and Yale going to only have blog talk radio? No more teachers, books, classrooms, personal contact?

Maybe all the countries in the world should have blog talk radio instead of summits. In fact why ever meet anyone ever in person ever again?

UGH.. I am so depressed by this take over and it is mostly because people don’t seem to understand that they are doing a pod cast and or a radio show, not running a group.

Sad sad sad.

Sorry I have been away.

10 Tuesday Aug 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Uncategorized

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Hey everyone, thanks for swinging by. I have been working about 20 hours a day to finish a film and continue working on a short, but I have lots of GREAT blogs coming up! Should start tomorrow!

I hope you will come back. THANKS xoxo

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