SteveWrites

Since last week's entry, I've been turning the problem of the stalled novel over and over, trying to figure out why I'm coming up empty only half way through.

I'm still excited about the basic core of the story, and the main characters. But my first draft slowly turned to molasses. It's the goopy mess the first draft turned into that I'm no longer passionate about.

The bottom line: my story is broken. But it can be fixed!

As much as I hate the idea of sidelining 160 pages, I need to clear the decks, focus on the core plot and characters, and re-engineer the project. When I first started writing the draft, I called it my 'discovery' draft. Well, in that respect it was successful; I discovered that I need to spend more time on the structure and architecture of the story before I sit down to write it. Besides, the draft wasn't a complete waste. There are still a handful of nuggets I can dig out of it and use the next time around.

Stay tuned for further updates on the re-structuring process...

Okay, an update on the novel... As much as I hate to admit it, I still have writer's block. Still stuck in the morass of the middle of the story.

Even though I tried to storyboard as much as possible to avoid this, I still stumbled into the swamp of the dreaded middle. I won't bore you with all the self-pitying writer's drivel. Just trying to figure out what kind of radical approach to take to get unstuck: do I do something unexpected and really despicable to my hero to make life even tougher for him? Do I abandon my big ending and just write to see where the story might take me? Do I really let loose and not even worry about the genre I picked for the story?

I don't know yet. But I do know it's time for something radical, to kick me back into gear and get me passionate about my story again.

Meanwhile, back at the Bat-Cave... The short sci-fi/fantasy movie script is done, after only six drafts. Story boarding is almost finished (my loving and patient wife - the real artist in the family - takes my crude caveman sketches and turns them into tiny manga masterpieces). And I am assembling the people and gear ready for production.

I have come to the conclusion that my creativity thrives in working with others, more so than in solitary projects. So, what does that mean for my writing? Would I find it easier, or more frustrating, to co-write with some else? Hmmm...

I finally got inspired to write again. Too bad it wasn't on the novel this time.

A late night discussion after watching one of my favorite 'Doctor Who' episodes resulted in a wild idea for a short film. The episode, entitled 'Blink' involves (believe it or not) killer statues. Someone suggested remaking it with killer garden gnomes. It started as a joke, as so many of these things do. But by the following night I had the first draft of a short film that I think could actually work.

That was a couple of weeks ago. Since then I have re-written it several times. I'm now on the sixth draft. At nine pages, I figure the project will end up about 7 minutes in length. My wife is right now busy storyboarding it for me, since my drawing capabilities are embarrassing, to say the least.

Several months ago I stumbled upon a free open source scriptwriting and pre-production software called Celtx (www.celtx.com). Not only does it format screenplays, stage scripts, AV projects and even comic books; it also allows you to link storyboards, production schedules and reports - including daily call sheets - to the script. This is the first full project I have used it on, and so far, I love it!

I already managed to find some deadly-looking gnomes, and tentatively have three of my four characters already cast, in addition to a possible director of photography, and a location.

Things are moving quickly.

If I can figure out the camera situation, then hopefully we can shot it sometime before Christmas. More news as it happens.

...A new intro video for Oasis Church, here in Pasadena. This is one of the reasons I haven't had time to update the old blog recently. Anyway, here it is, for your audio-visual pleasure!

Oasis Intro 2009/10 from media hog productions on Vimeo.

Next month the world will be treated to writer/director Shane Acker's 'stitch punk' world that is "9". The feature film, produced by Tim Burton (Batman) and Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Nightwatch), is based on this short. Enjoy!

DISTRICT 9 is a movie with brains – the exploding kind. On multiple occasions. After all, it is produced by Peter Jackson, the man who gave the world such splatter classics as BAD TASTE and BRAINDEAD. He was also the storytelling genius behind THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy.

While it is undeniably violent, D-9 also makes you think. The seemingly straightforward story, of an attempt to forcibly relocate a group of aliens (the tentacled, non-human kind) out of the city of Johannesburg, pulls no punches in forcing its audience to consider a number of contemporary socio-political issues. I could count the number of summer blockbusters on one finger that reference xenophobia, corporate greed, contracted military force and the brutality of abject poverty – and this is it. Names like Soweto, Halliburton and Abu Ghraib spring readily to mind as the movie unfolds. But D-9 never preaches. It simply presents the issues, and leaves the audience to examine their own reactions.

D-9 readily acknowledges its classic sci-fi ancestors, including THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, BLADE RUNNER, ALIEN NATION and even ROBOCOP. It also borrows from other genre films such as BLACK HAWK DOWN and THE FUGITIVE, but it has an immersive style all its own. Jumping from CNN-like breaking news clips, to person-on-the-street opinions, to ‘expert’ commentaries, to security cams to traditional cinematography, the filmmakers have crafted a tense, breathtaking action thriller that engages both your heart and mind.

But be warned – it is not for the squeamish. DISTRICT 9 was filmed amid the squalor of a Johannesburg ghetto. It is a harsh and ugly place, where the poorest of the poor scavenge to stay alive despite influential corporations and gangsters taking advantage of them. While we are reminded of just how brutish we humans can be, a tiny spark of redemption also glows at the heart of the tale.

At church, some of us have been talking about what it means to identify with the poor and oppressed. For me, DISTRICT 9 has added fuel to that discussion. I can spot a good science fiction movie when its themes and comments linger long after the theater lights go up. And D-9 is still running through my mental projector.

Although the fourth season of the 'Doctor Who' reboot is long gone, we do have a handful of specials to look forward to during 2009. The recent DVD release, entitled 'Planet of the Dead' was, quite honestly, a mixed bag. It had some good stuff, but somehow didn't quite live up to my hopes - in my book a special needs to be something... special.

Anyway, here's the trailer for the next special. 'The Waters of Mars' looks quite promising. Roll on September, when we finally get to see this one Stateside!

I've talked with Jesse at church a number of times over the past few months. You know, the usual fluff - "Hey, how's it going..." But last night, for the first time, I had the opportunity to sit down with him and hear about the real Jesse - wow!

I don't want to embarrass him, but I wish that everyone could hear about Jesse's life. For someone still in his early years, his time has been jam packed.

I'm not going to try and tell his story - I could never do it justice. But last night I was hugely challenged and convicted by his simple and unswerving commitment to obey God, no matter how crazy it might seem. To hear Jesse's passionate recollections of hardships and God's faithfulness to an obedient young man is like listening to a chapter right out of the Bible. I was both awed and shamed.

If only we could all take Jesus at his word, be obedient and trust him (especially me), the world would be a better place.

Here endeth the lesson!

Last week I started watching a BBC series from 2005 called “How to Start Your Own Country”. It’s billed as a comedy documentary. The 6 half-hour shows follow Brit journalist/TV/media personality Danny Wallace during his 6-month odyssey to start his very own nation from his apartment in London.

While the show itself is informational, in a humorous guise, it did get me thinking about the whole issue of what it means to be a dual citizen of both a physical nation and of God’s kingdom.

If you watch the series through the ‘lense’ of the Kingdom of God, it brings a whole new dimension to the various issues that King Danny has to deal with: such things as territory; citizenship requirements; immigration policy; laws; appointing ambassadors and setting up embassies to name a few.

Here's the first part of episode 1, just to whet your appetite:

You can find the rest of the series here:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=contentnocontext&view=videos&start=20

I can hardly describe how much I am looking forward to seeing 'District 9' when it hits theaters mid-August!

For one thing, it's produced by Peter Jackson - my movie hero. And it manages to address issues of immigration and apartheid within the context of an alien invasion story. How great is that?!

If it seems hard to wrap your mind around that concept, this video might help. It's a short film made by Neill Blomkamp entitled 'Alive in Joberg'. with Peter Jackson's guidance, Blomkamp is adapting it as 'District 9'.