Best of Luck With All Your Future Endeavors

I bumped into IQCrash in the Artful Writer chat room this Spring. We didn't know one another well, but we had crossed paths a few times before. We compared our outstanding procrastination skills. We chatted about our concern with the upcoming Nicholl Fellowship deadline. I decided to make a bet with him. Now, let me say here that I don't usually bet with strange men I meet on the internet, but it just seemed like the thing to do at the time. In the end, I won. I rushed my script to completion and sent it out.

I had struggled for nearly two years starting scripts that I never finished. The victory for me was jumping the hurdle and writing FADE OUT. It needed some work, but I was out of time. I had missed the Nicholl deadline last year and was terribly disappointed with myself. I decided to send it this year, because I needed to create some sense of accomplishment for myself.

Yesterday I received my "Regrettably, AFTER ALICE was not one of the 254 entries selected as a Quarterfinalist..." letter. It came as no surprise. Even as I read it I smiled a little, because I have no regrets.

The Coreys

Having hit puberty in the 1980s I was, of course, a fan of "the Coreys". In fact, I had a mega-crush on Corey Haim. I watched Lost Boys dozens of times. I loved Stand By Me, Licensed to Drive, Dream a Little Dream, and Goonies.

It was sad to see two talented guys lose everything to drugs. They are poster children for all the evils of being a child star. They both were quality actors, especially Feldman, and I have often wondered why they have not been able to pull off a Barrymoresque comeback. They deserve a second chance.

When I saw the advertisement for The Two Coreys I had to tune in for the nostalgia. I expected it to be just another reality television nightmare - and it pretty much was. The show was less than dynamic, but it did make me laugh a few times. The basis of the show seems to be Haim fighting with Feldman's uptight, insecure, immature, b*tchy wife. I am not sure that I will bother to tune in again, but it was fun to reminisce.

Feldman doesn't look too worse for the wear. Haim hasn't fared as well, but there is still a spark of the mischievous boy he once was when he smiles. Who knows? Maybe, against all odds, they will find their way back.

I'm It!

I was tagged by One Slack Martian to post 8 things about myself. It is times like now that I wish I was more interesting. Oh well.

Here it goes -

1. I spent almost 6 years living on the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan (1993-1999).

2. Edith Wharton is my favorite author.

3. I have moved 12 times in the past 15 years. And 24 times in the past 31 years. (CORRECTION: I was thinking about it last night and I have actually moved 27 times in the past 31 years.)

4. I have had plastic surgery (Yes, my boobs are real).

5. I met my writing partner in a chat room.

6. During the past 5 years my husband has lived in Puerto Rico, Guatemala, India, Guyana, Barbados, etc. He is currently living and working in Angola.

7. I am in the beginning stages of making a documentary.

8. I listen to The Essential Billy Joel more than any other CD.

New Spec

I had intended to take the summer off. I was burnt out from writing. It wasn't fun anymore. I needed a break. Plus, my kids are off for the summer, so my time is limited anyway.

I really enjoyed the break!

But, I am back to writing. It is sooner than I had planned, but the timing feels right. I am having a great time working on my new spec. Writing is fun again!

Hear Me Roar

I was blog surfing today and came across a link at Kid Sis in Hollywood to a wonderful article by Lynda Obst:

Chicks With Flicks

In this—the season of Knocked Up and Entourage—Hollywood has a little woman problem. One producer’s lament for a lost Camelot.

More Movie Watching

Saturday I took my oldest (15) and my youngest (7) to the theater to see Ratatouille. It was a strange concept for a movie, but it was mostly enjoyable. Both my kids got rather bored at times. At one point I found my 7 year old sitting upside down in his seat. Personally, I had a hard time getting over the fact that they were rats. There is a scene where the main character and a zillion other rats scamper and scurry into a river. It made my skin crawl. It isn't one of my favorite animated movies, but overall it was pretty good.

I caught one of my favorite old films on television a couple of days ago. Ladies They Talk About is an early Barbara Stanwyck gem. Lillian Roth sings beautifully in the film.

I also caught half of A Few Good Men. I had almost forgot how wonderful a movie it is. I feel quite certain that Jack Nicholson is the greatest actor ever. It is sad to see him aging so rapidly now. There will never be another like him.

Writing About Not Writing

Yeah, I am still not writing. I am beginning to miss staring blankly into Final Draft, wracking my brain, and brooding. That said, I am really enjoying the break.

I have used some of this extra free time to watch movies. I have been to the theater more often than usual this summer. I saw Shrek 3 twice. It isn't as good as the first two, but it is decent. The kids enjoyed it. My ten year old daughter especially like the inclusion of the princesses from other fairy tales. We liked Surf's Up. We also liked Evan Almighty. It had its share of flaws, but it was a good family film. As for rental movies, I have been watching the Indiana Jones films. I never tire of them!