The View Up Here

Last night I attended a wonderfully inspiring event at the Writers Guild Theater: Beyond Words - A panel discussion with WGA and Oscar-nominated screenwriters, sponsored by The Writers Guild Foundation , the Writers Guild of America, West , and Variety. I went courtesy of Ithaca College's Pendleton Center (they take good care of me). I took notes - though I didn't see many students taking notes - this is because I've still got a grad student alive and well somewhere in my head. Here are some of the gold nuggets from the panelists: Tate Taylor - (The Help) - Write it long and cut it. Be fearless to write everything, then cut and slash later. "Don't be afraid to take a crap on your computer." (That got a lot of laughs.) You'll figure out what you were going for after the first draft is done. Don't over-think it while you're writing it. Stan Chervin - (Moneyball) - Get your pitch to two sentences so that anyone can see your movie immediately. Aa...

Can't embed the video, so check out this beautiful score by Bear McCreary with incredible timelapse exposures: Temporal Distortion from Randy Halverson on Vimeo . So I'm a little late with this week's blog. I just wasn't feelin' it over the weekend or yesterday. Not much new to add here...except that I am excited at potential prospects for some level of involvement with THIS: Space: 2099 For months, my gut's been telling me Space: 1999 is on the verge of a resurgence. I was right. Stay tuned for more. Meantime, the first draft of my 1999 novel is 99.999% done (want to do another read-through before I submit to my editor), and I have begun the revisions to my sci fi script that I think will make it a solid contender. For what, I don't know yet. I have finally sold the car, albeit for much less than I should have, but I was getting antsy and it was the only offer. So I will have that money by the end of the week, and will then turn my eyes to purchasing a b...

Okay, it's looking like once a week is what you get, folks. This week was quite busy. I had a job interview, but it ended up being for an office P.A. (production assistant) slot. Those jobs are typically held by recent college grads with no debt and who live in a house of 14 people so that they each only pay $250 a month in rent. And the work is grueling, with 12+ hour days (every day), $8.50 an hour, no bennies. It was good to see the inside of a production office, and I did get the connection through a rather big name in TV who I met last year, but they didn't offer it to me, anyway. But hey an interview is an interview, and I did learn a few things. The car issue has become, well, an issue. I've been carless for over a week. I borrowed a friend's car to get to the interview, and then lied through my teeth that I had a car at said interview (P.A.s do a lot of running around and errands, generally called "running"). Good thing I didn't get it, huh?...

And I don't mean World of Warcraft. Okay, people, from the events of this morning, I believe the damn has broken, and I'm getting back with the flow instead of crashing up against solid rock as I have been for two and a half weeks. You'll recall in my last posting the fact that I made a very basic mistake in a cover letter. So, I have learned a few things from that situation. Namely, that I have to stop trying so hard and give myself a chance to just be alive for a while. I know that sounds all corny and, well, California (okay, it also sounds like Ithaca). But really, I've been busily trying to fix everything - my relationship, other people's fucked-up-ness, my own fucked-up-ness, getting the PERFECT job that will lead me down the path of righteousness and wild success. After flying across the country with my cat to start a new life in a new land. Jeebus, that's kind of a lot. For one person. In two weeks. Okay, but here's the kicker. HOW I figured this ...

I haven't quite processed the fact that I live in L.A. Perhaps that will happen when I get a job. For now, though, my apartment is lovely, my roommate is wonderful, and my Spaz kitty is adjusting quite well. Her need to go outside all the time seems to be replaced with sitting in windows for hours every day. I was so worried she wouldn't make the transition, but she's a trooper and I am so grateful that she's with me. Here she is lounging in my room. Notice the sunshine pouring in through the window. I'm mentally and emotionally exhausted, and I ended up with a cold by the time I landed in L.A. Thursday night. My last day in Ithaca wasn't at all what I wanted it to be, but it's all behind me now. Moving forward. Or at least, allowing myself time to rest and get my bearings before I charge full steam ahead.

A week from today I will be nervously re-re-re-re-re-repacking one or all of my bags, drugging my cat and myself for the long trip, and making sure everything is in order. I do have a busy week ahead of me, but I am feeling more energized than anything. I keep thinking of the palm trees and balmy temps as I sit here wearing layer upon layer, staring at the snow outside the windows. This move is so important - not just because I'm going some place warm, but because I'm at long last pursuing something instead of just running away (oh, the vagaries of youth). I am so grateful that I've been given this opportunity to move forward. I think I might have a buyer for the car (will know by noon), and I've perused online enough to feel confident that I can get something in L.A. in my price range that won't be a complete jalopy. She ain't much to look at, but she'll make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. Thanks to http://lgreport.blogspot.com/ for the p...

The last couple of days I've been wishing fervently that somehow I can bring my Spaz on the plane with me to L.A. Because I'd waited so long to try to make arrangements, the connecting flight to L.A.'s "cat-pacity" (capacity) of carry-on kitties had been reached at 2. I called twice more in case someone with a cat had canceled. Then over the weekend there was an incident that hit home for me - she has to come with me. Last night I prayed to God (which I rarely do, these days) to please make it possible for her to come with me. This morning as I was playing with her, I had a sudden, strong urge to call Delta again. So I did - and lo and behold - Delta's changed their cat-pacity from 2 to 4. So we're in! Spaz will soon be lounging in the sunshine with me, though I wonder how she'll do with the indoor/outdoor kitty to primarily indoor kitty transition. There is a fenced-in backyard where I can take her, but under my supervision, of course. I bough...

No, not as in undocumented worker. So last night at 1:21 a.m. I had a very disturbing experience. In mid-dream, without any connection to the dream or anything else in my waking life, I "heard" a crushing, crashing noise that sounded just like a transformer had blown up. Interestingly, my dream-self and all the other characters in my dream reacted to this sound by falling to the decks, and I was short of breath from the shock of it. The explosion sound didn't seem part of the dream, somehow. Now, I usually dream lucidly, and this was no different, but both my dream-self and my "real" self were astonished at this sound. In other words, I hadn't "created" it as part of the dream I was quite involved with at the time. I woke up with "WTF?" on my lips. My heart was pounding, I turned on the light and went to the window, thinking maybe we were having a freak December thunder storm (it's been raining here on and off for the last few da...

Yesterday's blog post by my friend and fellow blogger Mrs. Thor put it best: Trust the Plan I've written a little sign for myself on my cork board that says just that. It's a difficult thing to do, sometimes, when fears and doubts and Other People's Voices start ringing in our heads. It also sounds vaguely Cylon , complete with Head Baltar and Head Six, although their Plan didn't quite work out for them the way they'd envisioned , did it? But that's how it is with Plans. Sometimes it doesn't work out the way you had originally intended, but it seems it almost always works out in the way it needs to. The trick is to trust in this while you're going along. Recently, I've been asked about my Plan once I get to L.A. Here it is, more or less: 1. Work P.A. jobs and connect with all the folks I know out there to find out where/when other jobs are opening. 2. Pursue project management-type jobs in addition to administrative assistant-type jobs. 3...

Vitamin D supplements only go so far in helping me keep my head above water in these weary, bleary, dreary days of late fall and winter. Here are some other suggestions for surviving in Ithaca or other places that are bereft of sunshine for days and weeks at a time. Of course if you like to freeze your ass off in winter, go skiing or skating or ice fishing or snow shoeing. But if you're like me (poor circulation in my fingers and toes, a crappy knee and an abhorrence of the bitter cold), those aren't really options, now are they? Pandora.com - The music genome project allows you to create "stations" that play the kind of music you want to hear. I rely on this as a free alternative to the music in my iTunes that I've heard a hundred times. Currently I have a number of stations that provide me with everything from ambient trance music to 70s R&B to trip hop to classical. Movies - Go to a theatre, not just Netflix. Yes, it's expensive, but it also gives ...

I think I'm headed into a new season (aside from winter, that is). I feel like I'm working toward a more forward-thinking, inspired phase rather than a sad, sentimental longing for what's passed. Because, you know... I have to admit, these warm temps and sunshine really help. I've always known I have a severe sensitivity to the lack of sun and Vit. D. I had started to slump into the bleak, depressed state that always comes over me in late fall (and lasts for six months). Thankfully, this superlative high pressure system with temps in the 50s and 60s and bright sun this week has been the shot in the arm I really needed to remind me of what I'm working towards. Eyes on the prize and all that. I long to be in sunny southern Cali. Imagine never having seasonal depression again! So I'm headed to Rochester this afternoon to attend an alumni networking event at R.I.T. (where I did my MFA in film). I'm going with resumes and business cards in hand, and I'll ...

Today I wrapped up the temp job of fame and ill repute. Augustus Gloop who hit on me last week made sure to give me the cool farewell of "best of luck to ya" while not looking up from his book. A few of the folks stopped to say thanks and wish me good luck (for real) in L.A. on their way out. And of course my candy-loving pal and I said a sad farewell. I accomplished this by paging him as Barry White. Yes, that's right. Well, when's the last time your co-worker called your desk to play Barry White over the phone? Henceforth, my chocolate-craving former coworker will be known as Barry White in these blog pages. Thanks, Barry, for making my boring days of waiting for the phone to ring much less boring, and for making me smile when I was grumpy. I didn't end up getting that temp gig at the insane asylum, so tomorrow I'm back to my freewheeling writer life on Funemployment. Tutoring, editing, writing, looking for freelance work. Back to dreaming and planning for ...

Greetings, Programs! I realize I've already satisfied my quota for today, but I'm motivated to write more. Imagine! As anyone who's known me for more than ten minutes can tell you, I'm a huge fan of the Tron films. Tron: Legacy was, for me, both a flash back to my teenage self watching light cycles race on the Grid for the first time, and a reminder of why I chose to write and make films in the first place. The man who envisioned and directed T:L, Joseph Kosinski, is actually the subject of this post (ah, eventually she gets to the point). Now, there already exists in the blogosphere some excellent investigations into who Joseph Kosinski is , mainly because when he was attached to T:L, few knew the name readily. Check out the link I just posted to see the work he did pre-T:L, which was his first feature film. So what's next for JoKo? Oblivion! I mean the film, "Oblivion," about a lone soldier (Tom Cruise) on a bleak, post-apocalyptic future Earth, repair...

As you know, I'm gearing up for my big move to L.A. on January 5, 2012. Big news on that front: I've just confirmed an apartment - different from the one I was going to take - that will keep me in Burbank and cost a fraction of what the other place would've cost me. I'll have a roommate, a friend of TL's who also works at Disney. Really looking forward to it! I'm so grateful this worked out, because I was stressing over the high rent of the other place. Next big hurdle (other than getting a job, OBVIOUSLY) will be getting a car. Well, actually the next hurdle is selling my current car at a decent profit so I can afford to buy a car in L.A. Speaking of which: FOR SALE: 1998 Nissan Sentra, 134,000 miles, in great mechanical condition, some cosmetic sadness here and there, just inspected, 4 snow tires with a couple seasons left in 'em AND 4 new all-season radials. Automatic, 4-door, maroon color, Ithaca Sufferjets and Bluestockings bumper stickers. It d...

After returning from my recon mission to L.A., I slid into a definite slump. Feeling scared and alone and unsure of myself. Ithaca's weather didn't help, I guarantee you that. It was overwhelming to return to the life here that I am in the process of closing out, knowing that I still have much to do before I move to L.A. on January 5th. I haven't blogged about this before, but part of this move is about separating from my husband. We've been married for six and a half years, but it's time for both of us to move on. I won't get into specifics and dirty laundry, because I am not into public drama, but I will say that while I am grieving the end of this chapter in my life, I am bursting out of my skin with anticipation for the next chapter. The one I'm creating on my own, rooted in my dreams and my desires. Here's what's amazing about all this: I'm making this very big move, knowing that I might fail, but also knowing that I may succeed beyond my w...

On January 5th, I'm headed back to L.A. to make dreams come true and further refine my driving skills. I spent two glorious weeks there, couch surfing, doing as much as possible, taking meetings, connecting with fellow R.I.T. SOFA alums, hanging out with Ithaca College's L.A. Pendleton program, hiking up to the Hollywood sign, lounging on Zuma beach, and yes, drinking mai tais in a tiki bar. Folks, I cannot describe the feeling (and I call myself a writer). A sense of belonging as I've never felt it before, at least since my childhood home. A feeling of well-being, of potential, of creative drive and inspiration. I spent a morning on the Warner Bros. lot, and I was moved to tears several times, knowing in the depth of my being that I needed to be a part of that world. I spent an evening at Disney Animation with my new friend TL, who is one of those soul sisters I will treasure throughout my life. There, at Disney, I saw people who engaged in their creative work, and t...

Today’s my fifth day in L.A.. I’ve spent most of my time going back and forth along 134 between Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Burbank and Glendale. The Steves at Ithaca College’s L.A. center were instrumental in helping me feel at home here, as have been Kristen Elizabeth and Katy Whiskey, both former students of mine who are living the dream here. I’ve also made a new friend, a project manager at Disney Animation Studios, who, as it turns out, is a fellow nerd girl, and a talented Shakespearean actor. She invited me to see the end-of-summer show for the Disney Animation employees’ arts classes, which were part of their professional development – only instead of taking a class to improve the skills they already used, they were encouraged to take something that was outside their comfort area. There was sculpture, digital photography, water color, creative writing, and five monologues from Shakespeare. My new friend played Viola from Twelfth Night (my favorite of the comedies I’ve seen or...

Hey y'all. I'm in L.A. right now, and I promise to write about that soon, but first I want to express my thoughts about the Rod Serling Conference at Ithaca College held Sept. 9-10, for which I served as Academic Coordinator. The week leading up to the conference was a bit nutty, as you'd expect, made even nuttier by the fact that the Northeast had just been slammed by a tropical storm (I forget who) that left flooding, evacuations, power outtages and destruction in its wake. Thankfully, the Ithaca, NY area was spared, but many of our attendees and presenters had to carefully pick their routes among roadways and airports not underwater. A few people did have to back out at the last minute, which was very unfortunate. Still, we were ready to go Friday morning, and as if to honor the mood of the Twilight Zone, the fog was intense and didn't let up until close to noon. Our presenters were wonderful, and the overall quality of work presented was by far the most academic o...

First of all, how the hell did it get to be September? I hate to admit it, but it does feel like late summer. There's that heavy, pregnant feeling, a bit sluggish, things slowing down just a bit, harvest ready to gather. I can feel this as clearly as I can feel my own heartbeat. It has always been one of my favorite times of year, but this year it has a sad tinge to it. This summer has been so awesome for me that I really don't want to see it slip away. Nevertheless, it is September. The harvest this year: two important events. The Rod Serling Conference at Ithaca College is next weekend (registration is still open!). Working as the Academic Coordinator has been an honor and a wonderful learning experience for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the Serling family and my colleagues at I.C. on this celebration of the work and life of Mr. Serling. The other event is my 2-week recon mission to Los Angeles. I'll head out on the 20th and stay through Oct. 4. ...

Having spent the last several days in the Land of My Birth, hanging out with my best friend JEB, my nephew and his family, my brother, and of course swimming in my beloved sister Atlantic, I am more ready than ever to jump into my new life - whatever that may look like. Here's to LA-LA land, and a couple bottles of the Good Pinot Grigio .