...cause you just might get it.
Big thanks to everyone for the kind comments and congratulations! I really appreciate them.
The shock and numbness of acceptance (they love me! they really love me!) has started to fade, only to be replaced by equal parts excitement and abject terror (why do they love me? what the hell's wrong with them?).
My writerly neuroses are rearing their ugly heads again. "Oh my god, what the hell have I got myself into" gibbering and the horrible fear that at any second I'll be unmasked as nothing but a fraud.
But really the only thing you can do is put your head down and work on through the doubt. Keep on trucking, bucko.
So, in no particular order, here is what I'm doing for the next month.
-Quitting my job - Done! Last day's on the 15th
-Moving out of my apartment - In progress. Gave notice and started to pack.
-Find a place to live in Toronto - Anyone need a roomate?
-Buy a plane ticket out there - Hopefully there'll be a seat sale soon.
-Put together some scholarship / grant applications - Oodles of fun.
-Figure out what to take with me - Something tells me my DVD collection won't make it.
Sure I'll be adding to that list as time goes on, but that's all I can think of at the moment.
On the plus side now that I'm going to be in Toronto in September I'm going to attend ink Canada's Canadian Screenwriter Party! Look forward to meeting some of you there!
Showing posts with label CFC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CFC. Show all posts
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Walking on Clouds
That's how I'm feeling right now.
At 9:50 this morning things were looking like an average Tuesday.
Then at 9:53 I get a call from the CFC inviting me to take part in the Prime Time Television Writing Program.
...
Amazing how life can shift so quickly like that.
Obviously I'm still processing. Still feeling more numb than anything.
But hot damn.
I just got into the CFC.
At 9:50 this morning things were looking like an average Tuesday.
Then at 9:53 I get a call from the CFC inviting me to take part in the Prime Time Television Writing Program.
...
Amazing how life can shift so quickly like that.
Obviously I'm still processing. Still feeling more numb than anything.
But hot damn.
I just got into the CFC.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
What have you been up to?
In the last 177 days?
Things I've done:
1. Got promoted to the lofty rank of Development Coordinator.
That's right, monkey's got some say now.
2. Participated in some TV writing workshops. Met some cool people. Learned a lot.
If you get a chance to do a workshop with Chuck Lazer or Esta Spalding, I highly recommend it!
3. Started a writing group with said cool people. So far we're meeting once a week, and everyone submits about every other week.
It is glorious!
4. Finished polishing a new pilot and a spec episode of Dexter.
Not sure they're glorious, but don't think they're steaming piles of donkey shit either.
5. Applied to the Canadian Film Centre's Prime Time Television Writing Program.
Hopefully I'll be in Toronto come September.
6. Attended the CFTPA Prime Time Conference, crashed the VIP reception.
Never seen so many suits in my life. Drank myself stupid with some other creatives.
7. Registered myself for the Banff World Television Festival.
Drunken debauchery, here I come!
8. Came up with three solid ideas (two pilots, one spec) that I'm planning on writing in the near future.
Not sure which I'll be focusing on yet, but we'll see how the beat sheets go...
9. Was approached to Produce a doc about exotic dancers in Vancouver.
Very tempting (for reasons I'd think were obvious), but ultimately had to pass due to scheduling problems...
10. Got a TiVo! And it has changed my life!
Seriously, if you have yet to experience the wonderfulness that is a PVR, you're missing out...
That, in a nutshell, sums up how I've spent the last 177 days. Had a bit of burn out on the blog, but am jumping back on the bandwagon now. Guess we'll see where it leads!
Things I've done:
1. Got promoted to the lofty rank of Development Coordinator.
That's right, monkey's got some say now.
2. Participated in some TV writing workshops. Met some cool people. Learned a lot.
If you get a chance to do a workshop with Chuck Lazer or Esta Spalding, I highly recommend it!
3. Started a writing group with said cool people. So far we're meeting once a week, and everyone submits about every other week.
It is glorious!
4. Finished polishing a new pilot and a spec episode of Dexter.
Not sure they're glorious, but don't think they're steaming piles of donkey shit either.
5. Applied to the Canadian Film Centre's Prime Time Television Writing Program.
Hopefully I'll be in Toronto come September.
6. Attended the CFTPA Prime Time Conference, crashed the VIP reception.
Never seen so many suits in my life. Drank myself stupid with some other creatives.
7. Registered myself for the Banff World Television Festival.
Drunken debauchery, here I come!
8. Came up with three solid ideas (two pilots, one spec) that I'm planning on writing in the near future.
Not sure which I'll be focusing on yet, but we'll see how the beat sheets go...
9. Was approached to Produce a doc about exotic dancers in Vancouver.
Very tempting (for reasons I'd think were obvious), but ultimately had to pass due to scheduling problems...
10. Got a TiVo! And it has changed my life!
Seriously, if you have yet to experience the wonderfulness that is a PVR, you're missing out...
That, in a nutshell, sums up how I've spent the last 177 days. Had a bit of burn out on the blog, but am jumping back on the bandwagon now. Guess we'll see where it leads!
Friday, June 29, 2007
Who am I?
How do you protect something when you don't know what it is?
It seems that we Canadians spend a lot of time worrying about the erosion and Americanization of our culture. Our fears are reflected in the regulations governing the film and television industry (Canadian content, funding criteria). The powers that be set us a goal. They want us to produce "Canadian stories."
Uhm...say what now?
What's a Canadian story? Are there any stories unique to us? What's it mean to be Canadian? I still haven't figured it out. It reminds me of my time at the University of British Columbia studying Political Science. As part of my undergrad I took a couple of Canadian politics courses, much of which were devoted to the question of "What does it mean to be Canadian?"
People kept throwing thoughts out for consideration.
"Canadians are peaceful!"
"Canadians are socially aware!"
"Canadians are tolerant!"
All true, but none really capture the imagination to provide the be-all-end-all definition of what it means to be Canadian. In fact, the closest we ever came to said definition was "Well...we're definitely not American."
Whenever one of my classmates said that I was always disappointed. Defining yourselves as something you're not just seems so...negative. I felt even worse about it once I started focusing more and more on my writing for one simple reason.
Good stories are universal. They should reach across differences and be able to move an audience regardless of their cultural background. After all, we're all human beings sharing one delicate little ball called Earth.
I think that by putting such an emphasis on developing "Canadian Stories" that sometimes we lose sight of that.
And it's something that I'm just as guilty of as Telefilm or anyone else. I'm in the process of putting together an application for the Canadian Film Centre's Prime Time Television Writing program (yeah, yeah...a year in advance...I'm a keener) and find that I'm obsessing about whether or not my spec project's are going to be "Canadian" enough.
Ultimately I think I'm just going to say "screw it" and tell the best damn story I can, Canadian or not. Here's to aiming to be universal, being everything to everyone.
Hell, if that's not Canadian what is?
It seems that we Canadians spend a lot of time worrying about the erosion and Americanization of our culture. Our fears are reflected in the regulations governing the film and television industry (Canadian content, funding criteria). The powers that be set us a goal. They want us to produce "Canadian stories."
Uhm...say what now?
What's a Canadian story? Are there any stories unique to us? What's it mean to be Canadian? I still haven't figured it out. It reminds me of my time at the University of British Columbia studying Political Science. As part of my undergrad I took a couple of Canadian politics courses, much of which were devoted to the question of "What does it mean to be Canadian?"
People kept throwing thoughts out for consideration.
"Canadians are peaceful!"
"Canadians are socially aware!"
"Canadians are tolerant!"
All true, but none really capture the imagination to provide the be-all-end-all definition of what it means to be Canadian. In fact, the closest we ever came to said definition was "Well...we're definitely not American."
Whenever one of my classmates said that I was always disappointed. Defining yourselves as something you're not just seems so...negative. I felt even worse about it once I started focusing more and more on my writing for one simple reason.
Good stories are universal. They should reach across differences and be able to move an audience regardless of their cultural background. After all, we're all human beings sharing one delicate little ball called Earth.
I think that by putting such an emphasis on developing "Canadian Stories" that sometimes we lose sight of that.
And it's something that I'm just as guilty of as Telefilm or anyone else. I'm in the process of putting together an application for the Canadian Film Centre's Prime Time Television Writing program (yeah, yeah...a year in advance...I'm a keener) and find that I'm obsessing about whether or not my spec project's are going to be "Canadian" enough.
Ultimately I think I'm just going to say "screw it" and tell the best damn story I can, Canadian or not. Here's to aiming to be universal, being everything to everyone.
Hell, if that's not Canadian what is?
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
The Beat Down
Anyone that wants to gain insight into what my life is like just needs to go and rent The Devil Wears Prada. Anyways, work's been brutal. Stress and dissatisfaction are piling up. It's been hard to not let things beat me down, but I'm doing my best.
A few quick hits...
Ghost Rider was a piece of poop, but it was a piece of poop that made me want to ride motorcycles.
Gave The Best Years another try. It's gotten a lot better than it was, but it's still really, really stale.
Was confused when I saw a spot for Heartland on TNT. Then I realized that it wasn't the same show that the CBC announced.
Still disappointed that I couldn't make it to Banff (or as I like to call it Mecca) this year. As a consolation prize I managed to snag an invite to the CFC screening party here in Vancouver. Shorts weren't exactly short, but I met some cool people.
Been looking for some television writing classes out here on the West Coast (or over the intertubes), but haven't had any luck. If anyone has a recommendation drop me a line!
And now it's off to bed...
A few quick hits...
Ghost Rider was a piece of poop, but it was a piece of poop that made me want to ride motorcycles.
Gave The Best Years another try. It's gotten a lot better than it was, but it's still really, really stale.
Was confused when I saw a spot for Heartland on TNT. Then I realized that it wasn't the same show that the CBC announced.
Still disappointed that I couldn't make it to Banff (or as I like to call it Mecca) this year. As a consolation prize I managed to snag an invite to the CFC screening party here in Vancouver. Shorts weren't exactly short, but I met some cool people.
Been looking for some television writing classes out here on the West Coast (or over the intertubes), but haven't had any luck. If anyone has a recommendation drop me a line!
And now it's off to bed...
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