1 day 'til I can say it's 0 days!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Progress Report
I have changed my plot around a lot...but I'm not going to broadcast it like last time. Yes, I am paranoid about plot-thieves. Actually, funny story:
I sent a script for a TV series (for an already-running show) to the respective agent. You know what happened? I believe I sparked an idea in their heads because the main character, a superhero of sorts, was joking about being Bat Boy or Robin or something...and my script's title was "The Un-Caped Crusaders". Okay, sort of a stretch, but I like to think that I got their creative juices flowing. Actually, the script probably went straight into the trash, as it probably deserved. I was 15 (not to put down teenagers; everyone's different: some are way more mature and talented than I was) and the script had amateur stamped all over it. Anyway, I digress. Where was I?
I've had at least one major brain-storming session after I bought that book about running a community theater. I've been involved with a CT, but have forgotten how many people it takes to put things together...and how much people play double roles behind the scenes. I was once stage manager/understudy/book-holder (a very poor SM, and I'm not being modest. I was young and had loads of help from the president--not of the US, silly. I should say that I was assistant stage manager.) Then there are actors who double as seamstresses/wardrobe people. One terrific gal who has gathered props, organized props, handled props (during rehearsals and runs) and called shows: Miss Donna H. She has to be about one of the most unsung heroes of the theater: the Properties/misc. person. Anyway, the aforementioned book and my own theater experience will hopefully give me some insight as I write my screenplay, which is all about perspective.
Now I'm tired of typing, didn't get to say everything I wanted to say, but OH WELL. Signing off.
I sent a script for a TV series (for an already-running show) to the respective agent. You know what happened? I believe I sparked an idea in their heads because the main character, a superhero of sorts, was joking about being Bat Boy or Robin or something...and my script's title was "The Un-Caped Crusaders". Okay, sort of a stretch, but I like to think that I got their creative juices flowing. Actually, the script probably went straight into the trash, as it probably deserved. I was 15 (not to put down teenagers; everyone's different: some are way more mature and talented than I was) and the script had amateur stamped all over it. Anyway, I digress. Where was I?
I've had at least one major brain-storming session after I bought that book about running a community theater. I've been involved with a CT, but have forgotten how many people it takes to put things together...and how much people play double roles behind the scenes. I was once stage manager/understudy/book-holder (a very poor SM, and I'm not being modest. I was young and had loads of help from the president--not of the US, silly. I should say that I was assistant stage manager.) Then there are actors who double as seamstresses/wardrobe people. One terrific gal who has gathered props, organized props, handled props (during rehearsals and runs) and called shows: Miss Donna H. She has to be about one of the most unsung heroes of the theater: the Properties/misc. person. Anyway, the aforementioned book and my own theater experience will hopefully give me some insight as I write my screenplay, which is all about perspective.
Now I'm tired of typing, didn't get to say everything I wanted to say, but OH WELL. Signing off.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
New Dare
I just accepted a new dare...and I wanted to take them all! If I ever write another script, I am sooooooo using his ideas. Anyway, here's what I took:
-Have a character say: Are you gonna finish that?
--BP if it's the main character.
---DBP if it's said to a random stranger and it's about food.
----TBP if it's not about food.
-Have a character say: Are you gonna finish that?
--BP if it's the main character.
---DBP if it's said to a random stranger and it's about food.
----TBP if it's not about food.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Spam Name of the Day 5/22/07
Grab your fork and grab your spoon, let's sing the Hormel's SPAMming tune!
Name: Jonathan Meade
Monday, May 21, 2007
The dare threads made me!
Okay, since I had a huge lack of people daring me, I went into the dare threads on the forums at www.scriptfrenzy.org. Here are the dares that I stole, plus the ones that were directly directed at me...er, yeah :D
1. Ladders. Lots and lots of ladders, all sizes and shapes that the actors have to maneuver around, over, under and through. I like ladders.
2. Pranks. Practical jokes. Like leaving a whoopee cushion on their seat, or having a bunch of snow be dropped on their head, or someone jumping out at them (from behind one of the ladders, maybe? ;-D)...If it was in real life, we ticked off our director a lot during rehearsal by just talking and singing and laughing really loud...
3. stage managers who are supposed to be in top of prompting, but who choose to do homework/whisper and giggle with the assistant director instead of following along in the script.
4. actors begging to change lines in ways that do not even make sense within the context of the play when they know that altering the text could get us sued, or cost us award eligibility in a festival.
5. Character substitutes swearwords with food items
6. I would get him one of those pink plastic megaphones. Its very hard to muster up much self confidence when you are in possession of a pink plastic megaphone and what is a big time director without his elephant of an ego? If he got other megaphones, they would mysteriously and magically disappear in an unfortunate case of a Bermuda Triangle for voice magnifying instruments.
7. Have one character who always shows up late in every scene.
8. Have your MC freak out over something really small (like loosing his/her gloves) and I mean freak out. Tears, screaming, hitting, the works.
LOL! This June is going to be sooooo funny!
1. Ladders. Lots and lots of ladders, all sizes and shapes that the actors have to maneuver around, over, under and through. I like ladders.
2. Pranks. Practical jokes. Like leaving a whoopee cushion on their seat, or having a bunch of snow be dropped on their head, or someone jumping out at them (from behind one of the ladders, maybe? ;-D)...If it was in real life, we ticked off our director a lot during rehearsal by just talking and singing and laughing really loud...
3. stage managers who are supposed to be in top of prompting, but who choose to do homework/whisper and giggle with the assistant director instead of following along in the script.
4. actors begging to change lines in ways that do not even make sense within the context of the play when they know that altering the text could get us sued, or cost us award eligibility in a festival.
5. Character substitutes swearwords with food items
6. I would get him one of those pink plastic megaphones. Its very hard to muster up much self confidence when you are in possession of a pink plastic megaphone and what is a big time director without his elephant of an ego? If he got other megaphones, they would mysteriously and magically disappear in an unfortunate case of a Bermuda Triangle for voice magnifying instruments.
7. Have one character who always shows up late in every scene.
8. Have your MC freak out over something really small (like loosing his/her gloves) and I mean freak out. Tears, screaming, hitting, the works.
LOL! This June is going to be sooooo funny!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
13 Days
13 days 'til I can stop trying to come up with clever ways of saying it's 13 days 'til I can....
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
667 Words A Day
Here's what the schedule looks like for June (as far as word counts go):
1: 667
2: 1,334
3: 2,001
4: 2,668
5: 3,335
6: 4,002
7: 4,669
8: 5,336
9: 6,003
10: 6,670
11: 7,337
12: 8,004
13: 8,671
14: 9,338
15: 10,005
16: 10,682
17: 11,349
18: 12,016
19: 12,683
20: 13,350
21: 14,017
22: 14,684
23: 15,351
24: 16,018
25: 16,685
26: 17,352
27: 18,019
28: 18,686
29: 19,353
30: 20,020
No, I did not do the math; someone else did. But that beside the point. The point is...what is the point? Hmm....
1: 667
2: 1,334
3: 2,001
4: 2,668
5: 3,335
6: 4,002
7: 4,669
8: 5,336
9: 6,003
10: 6,670
11: 7,337
12: 8,004
13: 8,671
14: 9,338
15: 10,005
16: 10,682
17: 11,349
18: 12,016
19: 12,683
20: 13,350
21: 14,017
22: 14,684
23: 15,351
24: 16,018
25: 16,685
26: 17,352
27: 18,019
28: 18,686
29: 19,353
30: 20,020
No, I did not do the math; someone else did. But that beside the point. The point is...what is the point? Hmm....
Still Taking Dares
Please, folks; I'm desperate. I WANT TO BE CHALLANGED...within the context of the play, of course. How would you annoy a stage director? Please, no flying monkeys. It's gotta be realistic. Here are my directors:
1. Obsessed with "The Method"
2. Super superstitious
3. Tyrant
4. Obsessed with Shakespeare
...those are the four main ones, anyway. Any ideas or suggestions...or, dare I say "dares"?...will be accepted here or at www.scriptfrenzy.org until May 30 at 11:59:59 PM.
Thanks in advance :D
Bethywoo/Lizzy/Beth
1. Obsessed with "The Method"
2. Super superstitious
3. Tyrant
4. Obsessed with Shakespeare
...those are the four main ones, anyway. Any ideas or suggestions...or, dare I say "dares"?...will be accepted here or at www.scriptfrenzy.org until May 30 at 11:59:59 PM.
Thanks in advance :D
Bethywoo/Lizzy/Beth
Spam Name of the Day 5/16/07
SPAM! Get your SPAM! We have big ones and small ones, some as big as your head...
Name: Rafa Fedora
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
In the beginning....
I have an idea for an opening! Well, I mean, I posted an opening, but this is more specific. I won't say anything other than this: Think The Phantom of the Opera :evil-laugh-here:
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Plot? Problem!
Okay, due to some "legalities"--meaning I know nothing about the legal issues I was centering the beginning my script around--I need to change my plot :`(
Here's my tentative outline for my new plot.
I. The We Shadows Players' board is meeting, discussing what they should do about their new president, who has spent time in a mental institution.
II. The president comes in, picking up some of his old papers. He is a mess.
III. The vice president makes a motion to dismiss the president.
IV. The president defends himself.
V. We flash back to his first day at the theatre. He's a neat, all-together man.
...I don't want to post too much, but that's the beginning. I think the cast is going to slowly drive him insane, and the board doesn't listen because they're too busy arguing amongst each other.
In the end, the board ends up arguing over what he's told them, and he quietly leaves. Just some ideas, not the complete plot. Any thoughts?
Here's my tentative outline for my new plot.
I. The We Shadows Players' board is meeting, discussing what they should do about their new president, who has spent time in a mental institution.
II. The president comes in, picking up some of his old papers. He is a mess.
III. The vice president makes a motion to dismiss the president.
IV. The president defends himself.
V. We flash back to his first day at the theatre. He's a neat, all-together man.
...I don't want to post too much, but that's the beginning. I think the cast is going to slowly drive him insane, and the board doesn't listen because they're too busy arguing amongst each other.
In the end, the board ends up arguing over what he's told them, and he quietly leaves. Just some ideas, not the complete plot. Any thoughts?
Friday, May 11, 2007
Any good books?
I'm looking for a good book on writing a screenplay. Any good books out there? I have one that a part of the "Everthing You Need to Know About" books, and it's a real stinker. I'm thinking of ordering one through Writer's Digest Book Club, but I can't remember the title. It was by a woman named Carol something-rather. Oh, I bet I'm such a big help.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Dare Me...I DARE you!
How would YOU annoy, harrass, confuse or generally scare a stage director?
I'll be taking the first twelve dares. So far I have:
1. "Ladders. Lots and lots of ladders, all sizes and shapes that the actors have to maneuver around, over, under and through. I like ladders."
2. "Pranks. Practical jokes. Like leaving a whoopee cushion on their seat, or having a bunch of snow be dropped on their head, or someone jumping out at them (from behind one of the ladders, maybe? ;-D)...If it was in real life, we ticked off our director a lot during rehearsal by just talking and singing and laughing really loud..."
Come on! Throw 'em at me!
22 Days
The countdown has begun! All right, it began as soon as the dates were announced. Anyhoo...
22 days 'til the madness begins!
Spam Name of the Day 5/9/07
I get so much spam in my bulk folder, that I decided to take the assumed names of the spammers and post them here for your enjoyment. Who knows? Maybe you'll come up with the best character name ever for your Script Frezy project :D (This isn't a new idea; I got it from Critique Circle.) Anway, drumroll, if you please....
Name: Eula Woodward
(For first names and their meanings, go to: www.behindthename.com)
Name: Eula Woodward
(For first names and their meanings, go to: www.behindthename.com)
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Brief Character Bios
Ernesto Carlson: The Foreigner
Age: Mid 50s
Role: Lane/Merriman
Problem: Can hardly speak English…or so we think
Form of Sabotage: Tries to confuse and upset others by not understanding
Kimberly Harding: The Diva
Age: Mid 20s
Role: Gwendolyn Fairfax
Problem: Cannot keep lines memorized
Form of Sabotage: Is oblivious to the other actors’ trying to get rid of directors. She’s the one who actually says "What does a director do, anyway?"
Chloe Briggs: The Ingenue
Age: Late teens to early 20s
Role: Cecily Cardew
Problem: Lack of self-confidence
Form of Sabotage: Throws tantrums when the director/diva corrects her
Pam Ailes: The Under-miner
Age: Mid 60s
Role: Lady Bracknell
Problem: Huge ego
Form of Sabotage: Tries to make the director/other actors feel like they don’t know what they’re doing
Jake Welenc: The Goof-off
Age: Early 20s
Role: Jack Worthing
Problem: ADHD
Form of Sabotage: Talking during rehearsals; moving about and not listening to director
Michael Chase: Mr. Sticky Fingers
Age: Early 30s
Role: Algernon Moncrieff
Problem: Kleptomania
Form ofSabotage: Stealing props (perhaps not always so subtly to the camera)
Jim "Slim" Meyers
Age: Early 40s
Weight/height: Tall and gangly
Position: President of We Shadows Players Inc.
Problem: While he congratulates himself on his "steel nerves", they are about driven to dust when one director after another quits for different reasons
Robert "Bob Hitler" Heiter: The Tyrant
Position: Director #:2
Reasons for quitting: Has a heart attack while yelling at actors
Terrie Trace: The Superstitious One
Position: Director #1
Reasons for quitting: Believes the theatre is extremely haunted (things keep mysteriously disappearing...Little does she know that Michael's been lifting them)
Cordell Schidler: The Method Director
Position: Director #3
Reasons for quitting: Has a nervous breakdown and must be hospitalized
In-betweens: Many odd excuses
Dan Bevins: The Perfect Director
Position: Director #7
Reason for quitting: Dies
Danielle Higgns: The gossiping stage manager
Reason for quitting: Mysteriously disappears
Age: Mid 50s
Role: Lane/Merriman
Problem: Can hardly speak English…or so we think
Form of Sabotage: Tries to confuse and upset others by not understanding
Kimberly Harding: The Diva
Age: Mid 20s
Role: Gwendolyn Fairfax
Problem: Cannot keep lines memorized
Form of Sabotage: Is oblivious to the other actors’ trying to get rid of directors. She’s the one who actually says "What does a director do, anyway?"
Chloe Briggs: The Ingenue
Age: Late teens to early 20s
Role: Cecily Cardew
Problem: Lack of self-confidence
Form of Sabotage: Throws tantrums when the director/diva corrects her
Pam Ailes: The Under-miner
Age: Mid 60s
Role: Lady Bracknell
Problem: Huge ego
Form of Sabotage: Tries to make the director/other actors feel like they don’t know what they’re doing
Jake Welenc: The Goof-off
Age: Early 20s
Role: Jack Worthing
Problem: ADHD
Form of Sabotage: Talking during rehearsals; moving about and not listening to director
Michael Chase: Mr. Sticky Fingers
Age: Early 30s
Role: Algernon Moncrieff
Problem: Kleptomania
Form ofSabotage: Stealing props (perhaps not always so subtly to the camera)
Jim "Slim" Meyers
Age: Early 40s
Weight/height: Tall and gangly
Position: President of We Shadows Players Inc.
Problem: While he congratulates himself on his "steel nerves", they are about driven to dust when one director after another quits for different reasons
Robert "Bob Hitler" Heiter: The Tyrant
Position: Director #:2
Reasons for quitting: Has a heart attack while yelling at actors
Terrie Trace: The Superstitious One
Position: Director #1
Reasons for quitting: Believes the theatre is extremely haunted (things keep mysteriously disappearing...Little does she know that Michael's been lifting them)
Cordell Schidler: The Method Director
Position: Director #3
Reasons for quitting: Has a nervous breakdown and must be hospitalized
In-betweens: Many odd excuses
Dan Bevins: The Perfect Director
Position: Director #7
Reason for quitting: Dies
Danielle Higgns: The gossiping stage manager
Reason for quitting: Mysteriously disappears
"The Method" (Outline #1)
I. Open with an inquest for the death of the last director at We Shadows Players Theatre
II. The president of the theatre board is sworn to honesty and accuses the cast members of murder. He talked with the stage manager, who has since gone missing, and thinks he has a fair picture of what happened.
III. He starts narrating, trails off (or is reading a letter—double voice-over). We see into the past and the events that he believed unfolded.
IV. In the end, the president’s testimony is thrown out, on the grounds of the questionability of his sanity.
V. The president goes back to the theatre and watches the actors/actresses put on a terrific performance. But the Foreigner goes off-script, and confesses to the audience what really happened to the last director. Something ridiculous, which he heard the other actors taking credit for. This reveals that he has perfect English. But the audience thinks it’s apart of the tableau and encore him. Liking the attention, he goes with it and bows, winking at an astonished president.
I really don't like the ending. Any ideas?
Brief character sketches soon to follow :D
II. The president of the theatre board is sworn to honesty and accuses the cast members of murder. He talked with the stage manager, who has since gone missing, and thinks he has a fair picture of what happened.
III. He starts narrating, trails off (or is reading a letter—double voice-over). We see into the past and the events that he believed unfolded.
IV. In the end, the president’s testimony is thrown out, on the grounds of the questionability of his sanity.
V. The president goes back to the theatre and watches the actors/actresses put on a terrific performance. But the Foreigner goes off-script, and confesses to the audience what really happened to the last director. Something ridiculous, which he heard the other actors taking credit for. This reveals that he has perfect English. But the audience thinks it’s apart of the tableau and encore him. Liking the attention, he goes with it and bows, winking at an astonished president.
I really don't like the ending. Any ideas?
Brief character sketches soon to follow :D
"The Method" (Plot Synop)
"A community theater is quickly losing directors for their early fall production of The Importance of Being Earnest. The heroes/villains of my screenplay are the actors, who have posed the question 'What if we got rid of the director?' or, as the Diva puts it: 'What does a director DO anyway?' There are the typical theatre stereotypes: The Diva, The Ingenue and The Under-Miner (yes, we all have one), plus a Jack with an attention disorder and an Algernon with sticky fingers, not to mention a foreigner who pretends he can barely speak English and a grumpy veteran actress. All of them are determined to use their strengths and weaknesses to get the production to themselves. Can the new president of the theater board figure out what's going on before the curtain goes up?"
Okay, I've made a few changes, but you can see that in my first outline XD
Okay, I've made a few changes, but you can see that in my first outline XD
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Script Frenzy
I am a H.A.C.K. and a Scripto-Frenzic!
Look for me, Bethywoo, at www.scriptfrenzy.org!
In awhile, I'll post my plot synopsis. But until then, check out the site. Who knows? Maybe YOU'll get sucked into the frenzy :D
P.S. This means I will be taking a short break from my play "Pride and Prejudice"
Look for me, Bethywoo, at www.scriptfrenzy.org!
In awhile, I'll post my plot synopsis. But until then, check out the site. Who knows? Maybe YOU'll get sucked into the frenzy :D
P.S. This means I will be taking a short break from my play "Pride and Prejudice"
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Draft 2
Dear Sir, the agrument subsisting between yourself and my late father always gave me much uneasiness; and since I have had the misfortune of losing him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach. As a clergyman I feel it my duty to establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence, and hope that you will not reject the offered olive branch. If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, May the eighteenth by four o’clock. I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend, William Collins.
Fire away.
Dear Sir,
...the disagreement subsisting between
yourself and my late honored father always gives me much uneasiness; and since I
have had the great misfortune of losing him, I have frequently wished to heal the
breach. My mind however was made up on the subject, for having received
my ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the
patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, whose bounty and benevolence has preferred
me to the valuable rectory of this parish. As a clergyman I feel it my duty to establish
the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence. I flatter myself
that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable, and that the
circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly
overlooked on your side and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch. If you
should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the
satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, May the eighteenth by four
o’clock. I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters,
your well-wisher and friend, William Collins.
(re-write to follow)
yourself and my late honored father always gives me much uneasiness; and since I
have had the great misfortune of losing him, I have frequently wished to heal the
breach. My mind however was made up on the subject, for having received
my ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the
patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, whose bounty and benevolence has preferred
me to the valuable rectory of this parish. As a clergyman I feel it my duty to establish
the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence. I flatter myself
that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable, and that the
circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly
overlooked on your side and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch. If you
should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the
satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, May the eighteenth by four
o’clock. I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters,
your well-wisher and friend, William Collins.
(re-write to follow)
Dearest Jane,
…I have now been one week at the Collinses', and have no new news to report to you. Mr. Collins is as he ever was, and Charlotte—Charlotte seems content with her situation. She often encourages Mr. Collins to tend to his garden, or visit Lady Catherine, leaving the house entirely to herself. In fact, I am to understand that Mr. Collins spends a great deal of his time in the parlor, while Charlotte prefers to spend her time in the library. A whole day may go by without them saying more than a two words to each other.
Colonel Fitzwilliam and I have become fast friends. He is
nothing like Mr. Darcy. The difference is—
Okay, time to be ruthless...Well, what are you waiting for?
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
It is a truth universally acknowledged...
...that a single thespian with a "great" play must be in want of a director.
(Or, better put: I have a play and I want to see it performed.)
You may have surmised that I am a Jane Austen fanatic. If you haven't heard, and I "know how you like news", you will pleased to hear the following announcement:
COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU!
Jane Austen's
Pride & Prejudice
Adapted for the stage by Beth *insert my last name here*
Well, I can dream, can't I? I will be posting excerpts from the script on this blog in the months to come, and request your help in--modernizing the dialogue. A ghastly feat, but it must be done. Do take into mind, however, that these excerpts are rough drafts and are not in propter format. I look forward to hearing from you!
Cheers,
Lizzy
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