Boston Baby!!!!

As far as sports go I am my father's son!!!!

He was known to watch table tennis, lawn bowls and even the caber toss! I have watched a little lawn bowls in my time and during my year long sojourn in the UK watched a fair bit of darts. The soccer (football) world cup was on while we were over there and I was totally all over that!!!!!

My number #1 love will always be AFL (Aussie Rules) and my one regret will be that I'm not that good a player (read: not hard enough!).

Number 2 on the list is far behind AFL but also far ahead of the rest is NFL (Gridiron) and the fact that AFL is February to September and NFL is August to early February means I am set all year round!!!! woo hoo!!!! (note: dates may include preseason games!)

But lately I have been really hitting some other US sports particularly NBA (basketball) and MLB (baseball) and the Boston Celtics and Boston Red Sox respectively.

Yes I am a huge New York Giants fan so it seems reasonable that I would pick from the many New York/Jersey teams but none of them stood out to me!!!!!  The Yankees are the dominant bully much like Collingwood and the others are a bit blah for me!!!

So.... I'm a huge Stephen King fan and he always writes Boston particularly the RedSox and for some reason early in the NBA season a Celtics match was on channel One and I found myself rooting for the Celtics to beat the Bulls and then I started following how they were going on nba.com and then on the run to the playoffs I was even following the score on the Internet and now I'm hooked!!!!!  Although LeBron James and Cavs will probably knock us (already an us!) out!

So.... when the MLB baseball season started I just started following Boston and have started to get know the players and I'm really enjoying it!!!!! A good 2-0 win over Toronto today!

So it made me think what is my top ten for sport and then I thought is there a difference between watching a sport and playing so I'm in the process putting down two top tens.

So expect a forthcoming top ten of my sporting loves!!!!!

Until then hail from Boston!

Another Film Festival for "The Pessimist"

Well over the last few weeks I have been cold calling with my various short scripts and feature script. Now that I have a legitimate credit to my name I am finding producers are much more willing to read my stuff. About 2 thirds reply and half have seen The Pessimist and loved it. This really helps to give the prospective producer an idea of what I am capable of. This teamed with the fact I have co-written another script that has been optioned and I am finding lots of replies but no takers, yet.

I had a phone conversation with a producer in Melbourne last week and he is partially interested in the feature which would be amazing and through a reply from one producer yesterday I found out that one of my shorts (I only have one!) and one of his shorts are screening at The West End Film Festival next Sunday. What a small world. He has heard of the Pessimist and hopes to catch it then and also loves the work from Lav Productions. Still this is a slim chance but I don't think he would be reading my scripts this week if I didn't have this valuable credit to my name.

So I'll keep toiling away and who knows maybe by the end of the year I'll more exciting news than someone read my script.

Still pretty cool to have an idea of mine screening at yet another Film Festival

Until then hail to calling cold!

Funding?

Well I'm putting it out there again!! My balls that is!!!  Figuratively not literally!!!!

The good people at QPIX have different funding programs and one of them is '2010 Short Drama Program' (read: Any short script NOT non-fiction/documentary).

I have several short scripts in the different stages of development. I sent a bunch (4) to an assortment of producers in QLD and received some encouraging feedback by a couple of producers who had heard of "The Pessimist" and were going to read the aforementioned scripts and get back to me. No breath holding for moi. One producer got back to me with a resounding 'yes' I like the characters, dialogue, tone etc of the shorts and will read the feature length soon. Well yes it's great to have someone who has made shorts to like my writing but I've heard it all before!!!!  Will he actually help me get one or more off the ground and become a reality?   WHO KNOWS???

He did however say that "The Entertainer" and "Google EARTH" were good enough to consider applying for funding through QPIX but the deadline is 19th March. So I clicked on the handy link and perused the application information. I have looked at compititions/funding programs before and the things that stuck out about this one.

1. It didn't cost anything!
2. I didn't have to have a producer attached
3. It's based in QLD
4. Each writer can apply with upto 3 scripts.
5. They ACTUALLY make the scripts they choose into award winning shorts!

So I've spent a week tweaking both scripts, writing a 1 paragraph synopsis and a treatment for each. I'll keep tweaking and rejigging until I think they are as good as they could/should be. Then at the end of this week I'll post these two kernals to Brisbane hoping that I have the right ingredients to POP a nice buttery salty bag of popcorn to keep me nourished while I sit in the dark in anticipation.

I just have to believe that lightning can strike twice and "The Pessimist" isn't destined to be my only credit as I'm even getting tired of me talking about it!

Well if you would like to read any of the scripts I have written or even better know how I can get funding my email is jlind78@gmail.com

Fingers crossed and I keep you posted!

Until then hail to the moula!

Final Decision!!!

I'm still not easy calling myself a writer!!! I have one, not very impressive credit on IMDB and a couple of scripts floating around like that famous plastic bag on American Beauty but I haven't seen that bag in any other movies lately have you?!!

I'm not a confident person about me, but throughout the writing process it is imperative that other people read your words. The only catch is getting someone to read that fills 2 important boxes.

1. They know what they're talking about!!!

2. The are willing to be brutal and honest!!!

I have my esteemed brother from Stinkbrown and he's a Gonzo Journalist for The Weekly Crisis to bounce ideas off and so far I have received invaluable feedback and he definitely knows what he is talking about! Being close brothers we have similar ideas and in my humble opinion we work well together. We have collaborated on one short script and managed to sell it to a producer who will hopefully start pre-production in the next few months. However he is a very busy writer with his finger in a lot of pies (He is a newly wed!!!! (.Y.)) I am trying not to draw that well dry so I need feedback and so forth from other avenues.

I met a young lady at my younger brother's wedding (he keeps paying out!) late last year who is an accomplished writer/producer/director and was lucky enough to have a bit of a chat and have since exchanged emails and ideas on each others work.

So I did the pushy writer thing and sent all my unsolicited scripts for feedback!!! No expectations but man did she pay off!!!!

The funny thing is I happened to be checking my emails yesterday and noticed there were 9 emails in my spam account so I entered with the intention of clicking on the helpful "Delete All" key but noticed one of the subject headings was 'Short and Feature Scripts'. This email bounty was sitting in my SPAM for exactly 1 month!!!

So after reading and rereading I sent Claire a thank you email and went to work on changing or not, parts of different scripts based on honest/knowledgeable comments/suggestions/opinions made by Claire.

Last night this made me think how helpful some people in the industry can be!! And more to the point how to surround yourself with these people!!

Another issue I faced during the process of reading the ideas was; what do I do if I disagree with an opinion/comment? Well that's easy. If you believe the character/dialogue/scene whatever deserves to be there keep it. But also think about how the story would change without it. If it's a cool scene/character that doesn't further the story then bin it!

NOW I have 2 short scripts that I am happy with, what is the next step? I've been told to shmooze with industry people at Film Fests etc but in Charters Towers it's all booze and no shmooze!!! So I guess I'll go back to what has worked the last 2 times. Cold Call, keep emailing producers and hope that if I get one to actually read the script we can work from there!!!

Anyone interested in reading unsolicited scripts (short and feature) can email me at jlind78@gmail.com

Speaking of Film Festivals, The Pessimist is screening at Byron Bay Film Festival on the 12th of March but still not sure what it is nominated for apart from Best Short. So fingers crossed!!

It's also my fathers 64th birthday today, so happy birthday DAD!!!! So here's a pic of your 3rd grandson Benjamin!!!

Until then hail to my decision!

Top Ten - The Ones

Well here it is, the top ones of my top tens. Let’s get straight into it!!

Top Ten – The Ones

Movies

The Big Lebowski – We cut of your Johnson Lebowski

After many sleepless nights, soul searching and some common sense ‘Lebowski” was my obvious choice for favourite movie of all-time!!! Firstly it isn’t a new movie that has struck my fancy, it is older than my year 6 students and still continues to tickle my funny bones.

It is also apt that a “Coen Brother’s” movie is my #1. They are by far and away my favourite movie makers and I have never been disappointed.

For those of you who haven’t seen it, add this blog to your fav’s, go buy it (don’t rent as this will be a waste of money when you’ll be buying it anyway!!) then return!! This is NOT a movie review but merely a proclamation of my favourite movie of all-time.

Jeff Bridges is one of the all-time great actors of any generation and this is one of best roles. On face value he is a stoner who likes bowling and white Russians (the drink NOT the mail order kind!). But he is so much more and is surrounded by some of celluloid’s greatest characters/character actors. John Goodman is sublime as the damaged returned war vet (see Deerhunter) Walter and Steve Buscemi as his milquetoast whipping boy Donny “Shut the fu$% up”. Sprinkle in a Chili Pepper, some crazy dream/drunk sequences and a witty as hell script and you got yourself a number 1. I have recommend this to several of the uninitiated and ALL have this movie firmly in their top ten if not their number 1. Even after repeat (dozens) viewings I still find hidden gems in the dialogue, mannerisms or plot. This is NOT just a comedy but a very clever script.

Book

It – Stephen King

I knew a Stephen King book was going to be #1 but picking out the stand out has been harder than I imagined. I originally choose The Shining then The Stand and eventually stuck with It. I remember reading this in my formative (teenage) years and being impressed by the epic scale and ability to really create such diverse relatable characters. People hear Stephen King and automatically think horror. But I have been defending him and his writing for a long time and the obvious comments like Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and Misery come to mind (mainly because they were so well adapted for the screen). But even with his obvious horror novels, character is always key and something many writers could do well remembering.

The book is so much better than the telemovie and is a must read for any bookworm.

Song

Under The Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Anyone who knows me could have guessed the Peppers would make the number 1 slot but picking one out of such an impressive catalogue of hits and great songs wasn’t so obvious. Well or so it seemed!!! Some of the front runners were, in no particular order; Wet Sand, Give it away, Californication, Can’t Stop, Dani California, Venice Queen, Suck My Kiss, The Greeting Song, Hard to Concentrate, Don’t Forget Me, Snow and Breaking the Girl. Yes there are many other popular and fantastic songs which is why this was so hard.

But I kept coming back to the song that started it all back in early high school. Sometimes I have a bad habit of not liking something as much as I should because it’s too popular but "Under the Bridge" is so popular because it is so good!!! And every great song has a great story and the fact that Under the Bridge was a tack on, throw it in track makes me like it even more. It had to work to be even included on the now famous “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” album. Kiedis wrote the remarkable, haunting lyrics but couldn't find the melody (earlier it was much quicker). So Frusciante (another genius of his kind) asked if he could play a slower riff and the rest is history.

Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner

Sometimes I feel like my only friend

Is the city I live in, the city of angels

Lonely as I am, together we cry

I drive on her streets 'cause she's my companion

I walk through her hills cause she knows who I am

She sees my good deeds and she kisses the winded

I never worried, now that is a lie

I don't ever wanna feel like I did that day

Take me to the place I love, take me all the way

I don't ever wanna feel like I did that day

Take me to the place I love, take me all the way

It's hard to believe that there's nobody out there

It's hard to believe that I'm all alone

At least I have her love, the city she loves me

Lonely as I am, together we cry

I don't ever wanna feel like I did that day

Take me to the place I love, take me all the way

I don't ever wanna feel like I did that day

Take me to the place I love, take me all the way

Under the bridge downtown

Is where I drew some blood

Under the bridge downtown

I could not get enough

Under the bridge downtown

Forgot about my love

Under the bridge downtown

I gave my life away

T.V Series

Seinfeld – "What do you think Junior? You think these hands - they've been soaking in Ivory Liquid?"

This was always going to be #1 and after spending the summer watching re-runs it will always be number 1. Proof would be in how hard it is to pick one quote to showcase.

To be able to stay at the top of their game for 9 seasons and how no dud episodes is a testimony to the brilliance of the show. My favourite character in high school was Kramer but it is by and far George Lewis Costanza. Not only have I been likened to him but he gets the best lines and delivers angst to show up a red headed emo kid.

I love this show and if I had to spend eternity on an island, I would be content with 9 of the best!!!!

I hope this has been a didactic and entertaining blog and if only one person can experience one of the above mentioned #1's then my job is done!

Until then hail to the Dude!

It's been awhile!!!!

I promise the next installment will be the Number 1's!!!

Well what have I been up to?

I spent the summer (Australian) in Brisbane hangin with wifey and Ben!!!!! I pretty good 6 weeks off I must admit!!

6 weeks??? Yes being a teacher has its perks!!! (Rich not being one of them!)

I did manage to read 2 books and a large chunk of another.

Book 1: Clan of the Alphane Moon by Philip Kindred Dick

I really appreciated the humour of this book!!!! Reminded me of Catch 22

Book 2: Amsterdam - Ian McEwan

Some pretty very insightful stuff although a little didactic at times!!!

Book 3 (chunk): Under the Dome by Stephen King

Currently about 620 pages in with 250 to go!!!

I am really enjoying the unpredictable but a little worried it is going to be some weird alien ending that doesn't match the humanised story.

Back at school teaching year 6 and having one of the better years teaching I can remember.

Most importantly having the absolute best home life with a wonderful wife and the most amazing little dude/son I could ever have hoped for!!

I also managed to write 2 short scripts and start a feature. I'll more indepth about them later!

Until then hail to the summer!

Potential Vs Reality.

Upon seeing the results of the National Draft in the AFL last week I thought back to that well used joke that has a father getting his son to ask family members questions. The punchline was "Potentially we have a million dollars however in Reality we have......."

I smiled to myself when all of these prospective young guns were called The next (Ablett, Lockett, Buckley, Lindsay) First of all we should take into account these kids were generally born in 1993!!!!! Let that soak in like a fine liqueur into a spongecake and take these kids as potential quality players of the AFL. No one is going to be the next Wayne Carey!!! And trying to emulate him is only to take from your focus as playing a cog in the team's machine.

Although I must admit I do get sucked a little and wonder what our 1st draft recruit Ben (great name!) Cunnington (I hope I don't get too excited during a game and mispronounce that!!) is capable of and which youngsters are capable of stepping up straight away and producing. Another Jack Zeibell or Liam Anthony would definitely easy the blow of losing a Adam Simpson and another inevitable lacklustre season from Daniel Wells.

I will not guarantee anything especially at this time of year but the potential of the mighty Kangaroos is exciting and I am really looking forward to a cracker season next year!!!! We are jam packed with younger players and my honest opinion is that we should be looking at a Grand Final berth in the next 4 years.

I might blog about the New York Giants soon but frankly there hasn't been much to talk about. A solid start to the season (5-0) and a sputter in the middle (1-5). Lets hope the final 5 games will provide some relief!!!!! Although the prospect of Steve Smith cracking 90 receptions would be sweet!!!!! He should have 1000 yards in the next 2 games!!

Until then hail to the Shinboners!

Taking the next step!?

After reading another riveting installment/blog from the eponymous StinkBrown it got me thinking.

It skirted around the importance of knowing your limitations and then pounced on the importance of how to bend those limitations to your will.

Now I certainly know my limitations and I'm well aware there are some whoppers!!! By day I am a mild mannered (depending on the class!!) teacher who goes home to his beautiful wife and amazing son. So truthfully life couldn't really get much better than that. Sure we could all use more cash but even the rich dudes need more and then pi$$ it up at the casino Kerry Packer style.

However I do have some ambitions and as is well versed writing of the film script variety is one of them!! I don't want to harp on about it but I was fortunate enough to have an idea of my made in an award winner short film The Pessimist. This was a boost to the confidence of a poorly teacher but it has just spurred me on to succeed at a higher level. Where am I going this well hang on and you will see.....

I have completed a fully drafted feature length script that I stand behind and say "I would go to the cinemas to see that!!" The only question is? What next? I have it at a point where I need an outside eye to appraise it and tell me where the deficiencies are and I'll try to craft it a little more.

Earlier this year my brother and I wrote a short script titled "Soap". We bounced it back and forth a few times and hit a road where we needed an outside eye to guide us. We were lucky enough to have two producers look at it for a few weeks but other jobs came up and we were happy to have any help. Then a month later we teamed up with a director/producer partnership working under the Thunderstorm Productions blanket. After selling the rights to them we back and forth ed several times with Matt Pearson and in my humble opinion crafted a well metered story about a man who suffers from OCD. I personally found this collaboration invigorating and appreciated having a talented eye work with my words.

So.... back on track I am wondering what step is needed next for my feature. I am at a point where I NEED a talented eye to guide me in the right direction and ultimately towards production. Unfortunately the Aussie film industry is nigh on impossible to move onto that next step. So I'll keep toiling away but I'm well aware that this might just be a pipe dream and leave the real writing to Stinko!!

Until then hail to my limitations!