The Writing Plan

I met up with my writing partner last night. We have been working on three scripts in various stages of completion since early summer. We had last been working on a high concept comedy, but we have decided to do an overhaul on my After Alice dramedy first. We also plan to finish the comedy script before the year is out. I am really pleased with the plan. Now the trick is sticking with the plan. *fingers crossed*

IDA's "25 Best Documentaries"

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the International Documentary Association (IDA) has announced a list of the 25 best documentaries... (read more)

The complete list of IDA's "25 Best Documentaries" is included below:

1. "Hoop Dreams," directed by Steve James, Peter Gilbert and Frederick Marx
2. "The Thin Blue Line," directed by Errol Morris
3. "Bowling for Columbine," directed by Michael Moore
4. "Spellbound," directed by Jeffery Blitz
5. "Harlan County USA," directed by Barbara Kopple
6. "An Inconvenient Truth," directed by Davis Guggenheim
7. "Crumb," directed by Terry Zwigoff's Crumb
8. "Gimme Shelter," directed by Albert and David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin
9. "The Fog of War," directed by Errol Morris
10. "Roger and Me," directed by Michael Moore
11. "Super Size Me," directed by Morgan Spurlock
12. "Don't Look Back," directed by DA Pennebaker
13. "Salesman," directed by Albert and David Maysles
14. "Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance," directed by Godfrey Reggio
15. "Sherman's March," directed by Ross McElwee
16. "Grey Gardens," directed by Albert and David Maysles, Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer
17. "Capturing the Friedmans," directed by Andrew Jarecki
18. "Born into Brothels," directed by Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski
19. "Titticut Follies," directed by Frederick Wiseman
20. "Buena Vista Social Club," directed by Wim Wenders
21. "Fahrenheit 9/11," directed by Michael Moore
22. "Winged Migration," directed by Jacques Perrin
23. "Grizzly Man," directed by Werner Herzog
24. "Night and Fog," directed by Alain Resnais
25. "Woodstock," directed by Michael Wadleigh

Off the Shelf

I mentioned taking some time to read. I did read some great fiction, but I also read "Digital Moviemaking" by Scott Billups. The book is full of technical information which took me a while to get through. Billups comes across as a bit of a prick, but the book is very helpful. I am using the information as part of the decision making process for buying a camera. I have read enough pros and cons about every make and model to make my head spin. I am trying to sort through it right now.

Next on my list is a book by Steven D. Katz called "Shot By Shot".

Giving Up the Ghost?

No. My blog isn't dead and neither am I (sorry to disappoint some of you). I had some down time after writing a first draft of my third feature. I haven't been very focused on writing or blogging, but life is for living! In any case, I am back.

I have been doing research for my documentary. My time has been consumed by studying both my subject matter and the art of documentary making. Whether or not I will be a success is yet to be seen, but I am excited to give it a try. It has been keeping me busy. There is a lot to learn.

I haven't tossed writing by the wayside though. There is yet another delay in finishing up my current spec., but I am holding out hope of having a final draft before the year is done. I am also thinking about working on some rewrites for After Alice, my first script.

Lastly, I joined an online screenwriting group. It is nice to have a supportive group of fellow struggling amateurs to get feedback from. And reading their scripts keeps me focused.