Script Frenzy Bust

Man, have I been busy. Who'da thunk?

First, I got a great opportunity to pitch a few TV shows. The verdict on that will be given out in the next couple of weeks, and while I don't wish to keep my hopes up, it's always thrilling to imagine one's name popping up on the TV on a somewhat regular basis. Who knows?

Then, I had several screenplay translations happen all at once. That means staring at my computer for hours on end tweaking someone else's words until they sound perfect in a different language than the one they were given birth to, and yet still having the same emotional resonance and impact. I swear, it ain't easy.

As a side note, one the films I translated the screenplay for just opened in Mexico: Ladrón Que Roba A Ladrón (you'd think I could get IMDb to list me on that, as well as Padre Nuestro, and my contributions to Rockaway and The Ten, but all my requests are wonderfully shelved in the "we'll get to it sometime in the next eon" drawer). Anyway, Ladrón... seems to be doing good business in Mexico, and word of mouth is positive. I can't claim credit for writing the film--the script was written in English, I translated it into Spanish and was shot in that language--but I do  like to believe my handiwork is what is heard in the finished film. Props to the writer, but I pat myself in the back.

Things got really going three weeks ago when I got a call to shoot some footage for a presentation. The gig hasn't been particularly hard, but certainly time consuming, mostly because the client has wanted to be involved in every step of the way, thus slowing me down a bit. I don't complain-- they're a wonderful client, to be sure. It's just the nature of the beast.

Then, last week, I was hired to do some more shooting for a website, which is essentially a daily, twelve-hour day gig. Tomorrow I start Day Three. And it looks like I may be involved in the project in the future, if all goes well.

So what does this mean for my writing? Well, that no writing has happened in the past three weeks. Hell, no weekends have taken place in the past three weeks, either. So even though I registered for Script Frenzy (a project to write 100 pages during April) I fell way short of the objective.

Here's to catching up in May!

Catching Up, from South of the Border

It's been... what? Almost a month? Yes it has. I've been swamped.

So, I'm back in Mexico. Because I'm Mexican and my US visa ran out. I still am working on pending projects I had while in New York, but since I can't do anything about my current geographical setbacks for the time being, I'm keeping busy by looking for fun stuff to do while in the homeland.

First things first, I've been pitching TV shows. I don't know if any of them is going to lead to anything, but I'm certainly working hard enough to warrant some sort of result. I'm also pitching myself as a writer or creative producer for any other project that seems to suit my sensibilities and particular talents.

A few years ago, Mexico began to grant first-time filmmakers tax incentives to boost the country's film industry. I'm looking into what exactly I'd need to do that. And for that matter, have begun outlining a new screenplay. It's an idea I had a few years ago while watching an obscure and bizarre little road movie that I thought deserved to be appreciated more than it is. Since I can't remake that film, I've allowed it to inspire the main thrust of this new project. The script is a blueprint for a cheap, on-the-run, off-the-cuff coming-of-age tale. I've expanded its possibilities to possibly pitch as a TV show (see above). But Mexican TV production doesn't focus too much on narrative series, so I'm not getting there yet. Not yet. For the moment, the main elements of the concept remain firmly rooted in the realm of feature films.

I've also joined ScriptFrenzy, an online group that encourages screenwriters to finish 100 pages by the end of April. I'm really behind. but I'll catch up. I always do.

In the meantime, I'm finishing the TV pitches and wrapping up a few screenplay translations.

All in good time.