The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Please God, Let it Be Good

2009-07-05T23:11:00.005-05:00

I'm at the point where I've read my little teen thriller over and over and over and over again. You know how you read a word so many times it starts to not look like a real word anymore? That's the way I see my script now. Does it even make sense anymore? Add more scares ... done. Create more tension ... check. Are the motivations still in check? Consistent? Argh? I don't know!?! Please god, I hope so. I've read this script from cover to cover about 5 or 6 times over the course of three days. I just need to let it rest. I've made some more decent changes, added some scenes, subtracted some scenes, lines ... I'm ready to hand it over again. I'm ready for another conference call on Tuesday. Please, please, please like what I did. I'm not sure what else I can do. I don't want to kill anyone else.

Which One Came First?

2009-07-05T23:06:00.002-05:00

Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch

2009-07-03T21:49:00.001-05:00

I'm so in love with this song and the new album.

Los Angeles - Day Seven

2009-07-03T00:22:00.003-05:00

I'm home. And strangely when I stepped off the plane into the Austin airport, instead of getting a sigh of relief, I got a rush of hot, humid triple temperature heat. Ugh.

Now that I'm home, I'm feeling completely and utterly anxious. I have script notes to wrap up on Love Me, story ideas to spit up for Nickelodeon, a second draft to get crackin' on for Captain Dynamo and a first draft to plow through on Never Date a Teen Idol. Don't get me wrong. I'm psyched to have a full plate and an empty calendar for July. It's been planned as my writing month since May. So if I start saying "no" to lunches, hanging out and get togethers, it's just cause I've got a lot of shit to do before school starts up again. I've got to put my nose to the grind stone. Right? Isn't that the phrase? Something like that.

Los Angeles - Day Six

2009-07-02T00:22:00.003-05:00

Just catching up with lots and lots of friends today. But the highlight ... visiting Ben at work and getting to see the set of True Blood. They'd just wrapped production last week on the lot. So we walked around the Merlotte's bar set. I can't help it. Every time I walk around a set, I get totally giddy.

Los Angeles - Day Five

2009-07-01T11:52:00.002-05:00

It was a day of meetings. All really good. I feel like I'm moving forward in a lot of ways. I feel like doors that were just barely cracked are finally starting to swing open a little wider. It's taken a while, but maybe that's how I roll. One of my meetings described me as a slow and steady success. I hope he's right. I'm trying, I guess.

I caught up with several of my Tribeca friends for a long dinner at Dupar's. It was nice to see familiar faces and listen to their stories in the studio system and otherwise. It's crazy how much I've learned about this business and writing and what success means over the last year. It's been good and I'm trying to take the many lessons and apply them toward my career. Hopefully crossing all fingers and toes, things will pop soon. Hopefully I can report on a few minor successes in the upcoming weeks.

Love Me - More Notes

2009-06-30T01:35:00.003-05:00

It's a shorter list of notes, but more notes nonetheless. So between meetings and friend hook ups here in LA, I'll bust out my trusty macbook and rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. The only thing that kind of sucks about working in Los Angeles ... you go to a coffeeshop, look around and realize every single person in there is working on a script. I went up to the Coffee Bean the other morning to work and felt like a total schmuck so I left, went back to my hotel room and wrote there instead.

Los Angeles - Day Three and Four

2009-06-29T19:24:00.003-05:00

Sunday was a "catch up with friends" day. Clay tagged along to hang out with Ben and Courtney. And then I met up with my ex-UT students. Oh my god, these guys make me laugh until my sides hurt. But the only thing that bummed me out was that they've only been out here a month and already they seem so jaded. Guys, keep your chins up. Make your own friggin' movies! Don't worry what everyone else is doing.

Today ruled. Total A+ day. Van took us around Cartoon Network introducing us to all of the CN animators and artists. And then hopped over to the Disney Lot to get the full tour and meet all of Van's Disney animator friends. Basically I learned that Van knows EVERYBODY. Thanks for being our fearless tour guide, Van!

More fun, friends and meetings tomorrow.

Los Angeles - Day Two

2009-06-28T09:23:00.003-05:00

Every year the Texas Film Commission throws a fancy pants brunch at Spago's with everyone from Austin folks, industry types to Larry Hagman from Dallas. I always get anxious going to these things (parties in general). I usually suck at mingling and meeting new folks. Yesterday I described it as feeling like the little kids at the little kid's table at holiday dinners. But after a while I forced myself to work the crowd and lo and behold I met some cool people. And ate free food at Spago's. Total plus.

Last night was a blast hanging out with Hosack, his wife, his friend Mike and some of Clay's friends. Give 'Em Hell Malone will screen at Comicon in a few weeks. So if you're headed that way, go check it out.

Los Angeles - Day One

2009-06-26T18:34:00.005-05:00

I'm here for the week. Quarter to Noon screening tonight at the Los Angeles Film Festival, visiting with friends and family, meetings, adventures. And maybe getting a little bit of writing done in my downtime.

Girl's Camp - Day Four

2009-06-25T20:54:00.003-05:00

Oh sadness, last day of Girl's Camp for me. We did some reshoots, digitized footage and then the girls started cutting. I'm bummed I won't be there tomorrow to help them find their story in the editing room. It'll be fantastic, I'm sure. So here they are. Smiles, silliness and full of imagination and humor. You guys rule. Make me proud.

Girl's Camp - Day Three

2009-06-24T21:34:00.005-05:00

9:30pm and I'm about to call it a night. Spent a whole day shooting And Sue. We have a few more shots to get and we'll be ready to edit. The girls have been absolutely amazing. Completely focused, professional, sweet and great little actresses. They've definitely brought the funny. I'm bummed to have to leave on Friday and miss their big film premiere. I wish I could see the whole thing all the way through, but I trust they'll be in good hands with Marisol and Cristy. Those girls will help fine tune and polish their little masterpiece. So far this year has been a total blast. Loving every second of it.

New word of the day = Chillax.

Girl's Camp - Day 2

2009-06-23T17:44:00.003-05:00

Boy am I beat! Whew. Long day. I'm in between classes catching up on email and what's happening in the real world. Scripts from students and friends are piling up on my "to do" list. The outline that Toddy just sent back is getting half the attention it needs. I'm hoping I can knock out some stuff on the plane Friday morning.

Today Team "And Sue" storyboarded our slumber party comedy about accepting the odd man out, designed all of the sets and then started shooting. We shot two scenes and called it a day. We have a full day of shooting tomorrow.

What I learned today:

junk means "cool".
jenk means "not cool".
that's so boss has made it back into teen lingo.

All in all I have a pretty wicked awesome group of girls this go around.

P.S. I love my interns! I get into the office tonight and everything I needed done ... done. It's SO nice!

P.P.S. I'm so tired.

Quarter to Noon in Los Angeles, 6/26, 7pm

2009-06-23T08:54:00.004-05:00

Quarter to Noon as part of the Texas Filmmaker's Showcase will screen this Friday at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Details Below:

Special Screening at the Los Angeles Film Festival on Friday June 26, 2009, 7P at The Landmark.

*Tickets are FREE to Festival Passholders/Non-Passholders and should be picked up at The Landmark box office (10850 West Pico @ Westwood Blvd.) the day of or immediately before the screening. Any questions about the Showcase screening please call 800-365-7575 ext.5249 or email here.

Daisy of Love

2009-06-22T22:16:00.006-05:00

Mark and I are riveted! Ridiculous and totally hilarious. And we barely get that station in. Half snow, half picture. But we don't care. It's, um, kinda awesome.

Favorite quote: Hello, like, battlestar dramatica.
Second Favorite quote (from Big Rig): I love her. It's real. That's why I've got tears comin' out of my fuckin' head.

Summer Film Camp for Girls

2009-06-21T21:03:00.002-05:00

Starts tomorrow. Let the silliness begin.

What's in a Name?

2009-06-19T23:12:00.006-05:00

As I jump around from script to script, I sometimes confuse my character names. Coming up with names in movies is always a challenge. I find inspiration in year books, random text, magazines, baby name book, friends. So I was remembering where I get some of my old character names from movies and scripts ...

cicadas
Anna Roberts - I don't know where I got Anna from but Robert is a family name. My brother, my dad, my grandfather and so on. I used it in a short film too. Lucy Roberts.

Brain Brawl
Olivia Reynolds - Derived from college roommate and best friend - Ama Livia Reynolds
Nisha Azhar - My good friend Nisha Patel.
Kimball Everett - I don't know how I came up with this name, but I love it.

jumping off bridges
Grove - A friend from high school named Grove. Her real name was Harriett but she hated her real name so she went by Grove. I always thought it sounded cool.

The Spider in the Bathtub - Feature Family Comedy Script
Bojo Bill Lawrence - Bojo's a friend from college. Now lives in NYC. His real name is Bojo Bill Lawrence. I asked permission to use his real name because, well, it was just too perfect.

Ninja James and the Beast Boy - Short Film
Mrs. Burchette - My evil, evil 3rd grade teacher who told me I had cow eyes.

Love Me - Teen Thriller Script
Sylvia Potter - A high school friend named Sylvia. Nothing terribly significant. Just thumbing through an old yearbook and thought, you never hear Sylvia, really.

The Edmonton Children - Horror Script
Claire James - Best friend growing up and best friend still, Clare Aronow.

I've used the name Harry ... a lot. Just noticed that. I don't know any Harry's. Weird.

Love Me - New Draft, New Twists, New Turns

2009-06-19T09:44:00.003-05:00

I've spent the week writing, rewriting, tweaking, finessing, changing a word here, moving a phrase there. Trying to shave every inch to get those pages down. I didn't realize what an art shaving pages was until last year. But after a week of looking at and rewriting the script I was ready to hand it over. I hesitated a few times before pressing SEND. Make sure it's the right draft. Yep. Ok, make sure that change is still there. Yep. And that other change? Yep. Deep breath. Ok.

So now I wait, hold my breath and see if they like the changes.

The major note I had to work on was weaving in a new twist. The thing about writing thrillers (and I've only written one so far, mind you) is that everything affects everything. So you have to read every square inch over and over and over again to make sure every dot is connected and every "t" is crossed. But man is it fun trying to manipulate ... is it him? is it her? or is it the other guy? is it two of them? is it any of them? You just have to read it ... hopefully all the way to the end to find out.

Jake Ryan, Definitely Jake Ryan

2009-06-17T21:53:00.007-05:00

I was having a debate the other day over which character you would date from teen movies. That's like so easy. Jake Ryan, definitely Jake Ryan. No question. He's dreamy, sweet, and he makes sweater vests look cool.

Intern Explosion

2009-06-16T19:38:00.003-05:00

I'm exploding with interns. Don't ask me how I acquired so many. I've even been handing out interns to other A&L folks. I only really needed one, but I just have a hard time saying no. So my office is getting a little cozy. In fact I feel like the population at Arts and Labor has doubled this summer. But my interns have been awesome little worker bees.

Intern Marisol - Spring 2009 UT student of mine. She's badass. Quiet but she gets shit done!
Intern John - Spring 2009 UT student of mine. John = Tech Whiz. Yay!
Intern Andrew - Fall 2009 future student of mine. Totally crazy, totally witty and totally Hi-larious.
Intern Lucas - Austin High Graduate back home for the summer. He helped on Quarter to Noon over a year ago, and he's back.

Love Me

2009-06-15T23:26:00.003-05:00

Love Me is close, close, close! After a great phone meeting this morning I'm feeling confident about the script and where it's going and all the notes I've been working on. It never hurts to hear kind words every so often to keep you going. It's hard not to get your hopes up on things because more often than not, they come crashing down with a big, fat THUD. And trust me, I've heard that thud many, many times before. But it's still nice to think good thoughts. And continue to dream.

One thing that's been funny/confusing lately. It seems like outside of Austin, maybe outside Texas, or maybe just in Los Angeles, people don't think of me as a director. Just a writer. It's weird.

You know I'm a director too.

Really?

Yeah, no really. I've been directing for about 10 years now.

Huh. I did not know that.

Yep.

The Candler Boys

2009-06-15T23:16:00.003-05:00

Filmmaking runs in the Candler family blood. Every holiday, my brother makes a movie with my nephews and nieces. Too cute!

Star Wars

Indiana Jones

D-Town

2009-06-14T21:43:00.003-05:00

1) The Twisted Root = Fried Pickles, Fried Green Beans, Fried Onions, Fried Sweet Potatoes
2) Almost the entire slice of Chocolate Torte Cake. And bites of Nutella Cake, Cinnabon Cake and Rum Cake.
3) The atrocity that is ... Land of the Lost
4) Playing, Rock Band 2 and thinking ... maybe being in a band in college was actually a lot of fun and maybe I should do it again at the age of 34 ... nah ... too old.
5) Witnessing The Room but falling asleep before I was able to finish it. It's real. It's really real.
6) Spending $60 on Teen Movie DVDs at the biggest Half Price Books I've ever seen. At least I can write it off as a business expense.
7) Watching Twilight again. And then listening to the commentary with Mandy. Yes, Mandy, R-Patz is hot and funny. I get it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK OSBORN

2009-06-13T11:03:00.000-05:00

I love you, like, SO MUCH.

Me and PC Bean

2009-06-12T09:29:00.000-05:00

I love you PC Bean!!!! You're the best cat EVA!!!