Posturing? I Don’t Think So

UGH… why are some people on FB so annoying?

I’m a writer and most of you who read my post know this about me, you know that I have also been trying to break into television writing since 2005-with my age working against me, so I have also been working on novels (My first love-I have two published under Micheline McAllister) and a screenplay.

Finally this summer after pretty much giving up on TV writing for now-or putting it aside, I was offered a job to pen a new series with a friend of mine. It’s a dream come true, but there is heavy NDA so I can’t announce what it is, all I can say is that I am writing.

This fall I also received massive notes/suggestions from a studio that had my screenplay last year-they were kind enough to read it and give me notes-that is a huge compliment-so I am re visiting that script and making changes.

As well I am finishing a novel I started last year-well I just finished it.

And working on my own pilot

I am not posturing or anything. This is what I am working on so I will continue to have work. I have met so many new writers that work on one thing only and then either don’t get work or when the job ends they have nothing else to showcase themselves.

Now this brings me to the title of my post-I occasionally  post on FB that I am home writing, or adding a new character or simply that I love being a writer. I have been so happy since the end of October to have a job as a writer that I can’t even begin to explain it, and after 6 years I think I deserve this chance, that I busted my hump to get.

I also can hardly believe it, I am a TV writer, no matter what happens with the show, I was paid to write and develop a TV show-that is a big deal in my world, so I posted from time to time about being excited about writing.

This jerk deleted me the other day and sent me a nasty message saying that he was so sick of all my posts about writing and he wanted to just say, “where is all this work?” (I am putting it a lot nicer than he did)

So I offered to let him read anything he wanted. He challenged me and basically said that I wasn’t writing anything, I offered and then he accused me of posturing and said, “I don’t want a list-YAWN” show me what you have done. Um? Hello isn’t offering to show someone work doing just that?

In any case, I was not posturing on my FB page or to him. I do try to be positive and write things about hoping to get an Oscar, or that I am so excited to be a writer cuz I love my job and maybe that is irritating to some. I believe that people who don’t write also have no idea how hard it is to sell one’s screenplay or novel or pilot, or even get people in the business to read your work. Just because I am not on the best seller list (on a book I finished 2 weeks ago-come on be realistic) and my screenplay is in rewrites, it doesn’t mean I am not writing them.

I really think that some people get on FB just to be miserable and bring others down. Yesterday this person was still going on and on about how annoying he thinks I am-and he admitted that his life isn’t good now so maybe he is just being a dick..ya think?

In any case, I would never posture-I’m a writer and so I write. Right now I am lucky enough to be getting paid for writing-but even on the times that is not the case, writers write-that’s what we do, there is no posturing about it.

As well, why would I posture about always being broke, not even owning a bed at my age, and always being scared? Yeah I’m trying to impress everyone with my super exotic life as a struggling writer-get real.

Ghost Protocol? INCREDIBLE

Tags

Brad Bird, Ghost Protocol, Incredibles, Jeremy Renner, M:I4, Mission Impossible, Tom Cruise

Brad Bird and Tom Cruise have a great film out this week-Mission Impossible 4-Ghost Protocol, no it’s not just great, it’s incredible.

The Incredibles director Brad Bird-who tons of us in animation have either worked with, studied with or just learned from, makes his live action debut with a 4th installment of the Mission Impossible series staring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt.

The film had Brad all over it. If you know his films, his storyboard style or anything about him, you will know when you see it. The shots are “so him.” It’s amazing.

I have been a fan of Tom Cruise since I was pretty young, in fact I got my first fake ID to get into Risky Business because then you had to be 16 and I was not, so I made a deal with my mother-who refused to buy me a ticket, instead said she wouldn’t stop me if I figured out how to do it. So being tall and filled out for my age-I went to one of the local high schools and registered as a senior-got my senior class ID and that was it.

Ever since then I have seen every Tom Cruise film the day it comes out, with one exception, Valkyrie-which just didn’t appeal to me. (Sorry Tom, I am sure you were brilliant as always). What used to be a young girl’s crush on an actor quickly turned into respect for a brilliant actor and all around amazing person. I have watched Cruise’s career and he is just impressing me more and more as we go. I really hope to work with him someday in the near future.

But enough about Cruise, let’s talk about Ghost Protocol.

From the minutes it opens it is non stop action, and it reminded me of the first one, which until now was my fav. I love John Woo and J.J. Abrams, but I didn’t love MI2 & MI3 as much as this one.

The shots were amazing-in that storywise every shot told the story, even if you were watching it without sound you would feel what the director, Bird, wanted you too. He is a master storyboard artist and visually knows his stuff.

On a character level. Ethan is Ethan and you always love to watch him in these spy flicks, but there is depth there, especially if you saw MI3, you know the past. Jeremy Renner, (The Town, The Hurt Locker) is brilliant-as he always is and really rounds out Hunt’s team.

Simon Pegg, (Star Trek, Shaun of the Dead), is a comedian at heart and this is well executed in this film with his witty banter and general comic demeanor in these millions of lives at stake situations.

Now onto the bit in the film that had my heart pounding-the STUNTS. I never thought Tom Cruise would be able to top the opening to MI2 where he is swinging and jumping on the side of a mountain in the western US, but he did. In this film he is 132 stories up on the world’s tallest building with nothing but gloves and his strength to help him climb up 11 stories and break through glass. It’s intense to say the least. I am telling you my palms were sweaty and I was wishing the scene would just end because it was so uncomfortable watching it. Seriously amazing shit-pardon my French, but it was!

From the way it was shot to the way Cruise handled it-and yes he does his own stunts!! (I would love to know how much that insurance policy costs.) Say what you want about him and his religious beliefs and or jumping on Oprah’s couch, but you have to respect this level of commitment. It’s just incredible!

So your mission should you choose to except it is to go see Ghost Protocol this weekend, bring your family, tell everyone cuz it is one fun ride with emotional moments woven throughout just enough to make you care about the team. Some old faces make cameos as well.

This is a photo of Tom waving at onlookers as he was shooting the scene on the world’s tallest building!

The Irish Stereotypical Insult on GLEE

Now that many more people are reading my blog I am a little nervous about saying anything negative about anyone in the TV writing world, but as a half Irish woman, I can’t stand it any longer. You already know what I am going to say don’t you? You must, you have a brain, you have to know. Rory Flanagan!!! Oh. My. God!! The character is stereotypical insult!

(Damien McGinty won the Glee Project and a 7 episode role on Glee)

It was funny in the first time we saw him because he was trying to sleep with Britney, but now it’s just ridiculous.

NO self respecting Irishman would have the fecking Irish flag in their locker, or tons of photos of their family AND the worst offender, a fecking Shamrock? Are you kidding me?

It’s so insulting every single week that I just don’t understand it. This kid, Damien McGinty is from DERRY for Christ’s sake! There are so many great story possibilities and you don’t have to be all IRA serious, but anything would do. Seriously, the story almost writes itself. Foreign exchange? With Northern Ireland? Really? But I could accept that if all the other Irish cliches weren’t all over the place.

Last night was the last straw. Sam asked Rory to teach him how to speak like Sean Connery!!! Oh. My. God….. I have no problem with Sam doing that, but why in God’s green earth did Rory not say something?

Does this staff writer Matthew not have Google?

I love Glee and I love Damien, but come on, give the guy something to work with and please don’t ever have him eating Lucky Charms, or signing Irish folk tunes.

All About Jennifer Grisanti! Why We Love & Need Her!

Do you know Jen? If not, you need to. She is amazing. I met Jen via FB a couple years back when I was submitting to every fellowship and writing a spec every 10 weeks or so, and original stuff. Though at the time I couldn’t afford to take her workshop and or didn’t make it into WOTV, Jen has been a constant source of inspiration and teaching for me.

I was at an event at the Paley center and Jen sat in front of me and to my surprise she turned around and said hello-she knew who I was, just from all our communication on FB. I love that about Jen she really takes the time to get to know people.

Since then I have taken two of her weekend workshops that literally changed the way I write.

I am now working on a new show in development and as writer, so I don’t have the time to take her 10 week workshop coming up this spring. *see below

Today I was reading her monthly newsletter and she announced this brilliant new idea.

PREMIUM STORY SUBSCRIPTION

In January 2012, I will be starting a new Premium Story Subscription. This subscription was designed to get you into a daily writing practice. It is $22.95 a month.

• Monthly, One 15-minute story pitch -or- review of a 1-2 page pitch document.
• Monthly, Up to 5 story questions.
• Weekly writing tips (via Constant Contact email). These will reflect tips from meetings, watching TV & Film.
• Monthly, review 2-3 log lines. These could be log lines for your script, log lines for your characters or log lines for your life.
• Weekly writing exercises to keep you in a daily practice.
• Monthly top podcast tips on writing (via Constant Contact)
• 10% off all products
• 10% off all Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc. privately produced events
• “A Day In The Life Of A Consultant” password-protected area within blog, updated with 3-5 entries per week. These entries will reflect story and business tips.
• Access to a forum with other members, including a section where members and clients can post “Situations Needed”. This is for producers looking for content and for writers looking for gigs.

She is amazing! She is constantly helping new writers. She will be at the TV writers’ summit and she has workshops, books and tips every day on FB to help us all grow. Jen is the most giving person I know in Hollywood of her time.

Here is her website

http://jengrisanticonsultancy.com/

You need to stop what you are doing immediately and go to it.

STORYWISE SEMINARS-she has a few at different levels. I would love to take level 2 or 3 soon, but like I said I am on a show-we have strict NDA, so I can’t get her help on this one, but will for sure in the future. She knows her stuff!

STORYWISE TV SPEC AND PILOT TELESEMINAR

Monday, March 5th, 2012

STORYWISE 10-WEEK SPEC AND PILOT
TELESEMINAR

This 10-week teleseminar begins on Monday,
March 5, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. PST and goes through
Monday May 14, 2012. There is a one week break
in between the two sessions.

The below applies to the full 10-week teleseminar.

LEVEL 1
SERVICE FEE – $400.00
At this level, you will receive 10 weeks of story
instruction about writing a TV spec and pilot script.
You will get to pitch your TV spec and pilot script.
You will receive feedback on your pitches. This
level does not include direct feedback on your
scripts.

Love You, Love Your Work, Let’s Do Lunch!

A few years ago a friend of mine, fellow novelist approached me about doing the NaNoWriMo, write a novel in a month. Back then it was 70,000 words requirement. Well the two of us set out and did it. My second novel-Love You, Love Your Work, Let’s Do Lunch! was published just a few months later.

This is a fun, silly, chick-lit about writing the TV show in Hollywood.

I write my chick-lit under the nom de plume, Micheline McAllister.

I would love it if you would pick it up. I also have my first novel about being a personal assistant and then an actress in Hollywood, Welcome to My Life, for sale.

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Your-Work-Lets-Lunch/dp/1424172624/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323707843&sr=1-2

 

Have no idea why I can’t get the link to work, so please go to Amazon or Barnes and Noble and type in the title. 🙂

THANKS

TV WRITERS’ SUMMIT COMING UP!

 

  

TV Writers’ Summit

Starring Ellen Sandler, Jen Grisanti, Troy DeVolld and Chad Gervich

 

The only conference in the world specifically for TV writers,

whether you’re writing a scripted comedy or drama, or reality series. 

 

The most successful writers in the world today write for television: Mad Men. Dexter. True Blood. Modern Family. Walking Dead. American Horror Story. 30 Rock. NCIS. Boardwalk Empire. The Simpsons. Storage Wars. Sons of Anarchy. The list goes on and on.

 

Whether you’re writing a scripted series for a network (CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox), premium cable (HBO, Showtime) or online (Hulu, Funny-or-Die, etc.), or developing a reality series for A&E, Bravo, History or TLC, television is where today’s top writers and producers are finding their greatest success both creatively and financially.

 

The TV Writers’ Summit brings together the four top speakers in the world on the art and craft of television writing – Chad Gervich, Ellen Sandler, Troy DeVolld and Jen Grisanti. Over two intense days, these four amazing teachers will provide you an unmatched depth and understanding of writing, story and producing all genres of TV (whether you’re writing a Comedy, Drama or working on a Reality idea) that is ideal for TV writers, producers and creative executives. Troy, Jen, Chad and Ellen will each teach half-day classes followed by a half-hour Q&A session in which you’ll be able to follow-up with any questions you may have. The speakers having taken the time and care to share their outlines with each other to make sure they provide you the best, most engaging material possible without overlap.

 

  

The Details

 

What:   TV Writers’ Summit

            starring Jen Grisanti, Ellen Sandler, Chad Gervich & Troy DeVolld

 

When:   February 11-12, 2011 (Saturday & Sunday)

 

Times:   8:30am to 6:30pm each day

 

Where:  Theatre
Westin Hotel
5400 West Century Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045

Fee:      $395

 

For Information or to Register: www.TVWritersSummit.com

 

Need A Hotel? If you’re coming from out of town and need a hotel, we’ve made arrangements

with the Westin Hotel to offer our participants a rate of only $99/night (normally $139-$179!).

Please e-mail us for details at losangeles@tvwriterssummit.com