It’s settled…
I’m definitely moving to Arizona…
Probably Scottsdale. Turns out that a good percentage of those working in the business already live out there and commute to Los Angeles day to day or they head out to Scottsdale to chill on the weekends.
But that’s just the icing on the cake… The real reason I’ll try to move out there before the end of the year is because of Arizona’s new law that allows you to carry a concealed weapon.
If you read the very bottom of the article, it says…
“Critics worry it will lead to more shootings as people with less training have more access to guns.”
Cool. I’ve always thought I was born a hundred years too late so here’s my chance to get back to basics. Not only that but WOW… Arizona just fuckin’ does what it wants to and fuck everyone else.
You gotta love that even if you don’t agree with it…
Or not.
But seriously… Last month I had reason to hold up in Scottsdale for a few days and I couldn’t believe how many people out there are in the business. And NOT the usual people I happen to meet in Los Angeles either. Definitely higher up on the totem pole than the usual burrito eating wiseguy.
So where are we at?
I apologize to those of you who keep sending me emails literally begging for something new on the site. It’s been a year since my brother took his life and I just couldn’t help but relive the events just before and after which pretty much made me more of a hermit than usual.
I’ve also had some strange shit happen to me since that fateful day that has made me really reevaluate EVERYTHING going on in my life. The good news (at least for me) is that I’m still alive and kickin’. Not writing as much as I would like but that should be changing very soon.
For those of you that have asked me about my spec that I mentioned awhile back… Good to go. Although it’s still going to take a year or two to go into production, all that is solid now.
I’m glad I went through the old marketing experience again… I feel like that experience really let me feel the current pulse of Hollyweird i.e., nobody can make a decision. Everybody wants to know what everybody else is doing before they do it too. Unfortunately, Hollywood continues to reboot and remake movies in rabid fashion instead of doing something original except of course for the very few fairly original concepts that somehow manage to sneak through.
Distribution is still a problem… Getting a little better here and there but I find it interesting that a lot those who worked for the Yari Film Group ended up at The Film Department and are still having problems getting off the ground.
But something tells me that things might be getting back to NORMAL if the Weinstein brothers can manage to get Miramax back even though insiders who no longer work for the dynamic duo say that they’ve been seriously reevaluating the way they make and buy movies. And even if that is true, another something tells me that Harvey is gonna fucking do what Harvey wants to do even IF Ron Burkle is the actual owner.
And I like that… Without the REAL Miramax, Hollywood sucks even more than usual… At least to ME.
Good news for Ultra low budget indie filmmakers… $250k is the new $2.5 Mil but as usual… The only the only thing certain in filmmaking is the script.
Is anyone else out there besides me excited about the new futures market where you’ll be able to wager whether certain movies will do better or worse than expected? I mean hell… Just the fact that this idea has the MPAA up in arms makes it really attractive to me. Not to mention the fact that I’ve been predicting weekend box office for a very long time with a fairly high success rate over the years so why not make some additional cash on this ability? Kinda reminds me of handicapping the horses but a whole hell of a lot easier since I’m already doing the research.
Just remember… In a lot of cases, STAR POWER IS DOWN. I like that too. In many MANY cases, those actors that were commanding up to $5 Mil a pic just can’t do that in today’s economy. I just wish it would hit some of those sitting up high on the per pic rollercoaster. Many of these actors are quite simply afraid to make a movie right now on the off chance that it dies at the box office because if it dies, so does their box office pull and so does their per pic take.
So in a lot of ways, the economy is having a very interesting effect on the BIZ. Most of which I like but only time will tell.
I guess a lot of you might be doing your last minute polishes for the Nicholl… One of the few screenwriting competitions actually worth entering. Good luck!
Back to it.
Unk
Comments
17 Responses to “It’s settled…”
Leave a Reply
-
Find It
-
Recently Written
-
Categories
-
Screenwriting Stuff
- Screenwriting Affirmations
- Script Secrets
- Word Play
- Screenwriter's Utopia
- StoryLink
- Screenwriting Expo
- Celtx
- Cinergy
- Zhura
- Scripped
- Plotbot
- Script Buddy
- StorYBook
- FreeThesaurus.net
- Mobysaurus
- Open Office
- Open Office Screenplay Template
- Abiword
- U.S. Copyright Form CO
- U.S. Copyright Form CO Instructions
- WGA West Registration
- WGA East Registration
- ScriptGirl
- Simply Scripts
-
Scribosphere
- Ann Wesley Hardin
- Bamboo Killers
- Brook Brannon
- Burbanked
- DanielMedley.com
- Fencing With The Fog
- Film Utopia
- FILMMAKING STUFF
- Go Into The Story
- Holy Embers Of Dreams
- I Write With Pictures
- If It Ain’t On The Page
- Johnny Atlas Writes
- Living The Romantic Comedy
- ME
- My Excellent Adventures
- My Next One Will Be Better
- Mystery Man On Film
- Nicolle C. Jones
- Our Man In Los Angeles
- Pro Screenplays
- Revealing Of The Soul
- Screamwriter
- Screenwriting For Hollywood
- Screenwriting Manifesto
- Script Doctor Eric
- Script Notes
- Sex In A Sub
- Shouting Into The Wind
- The Moviequill
- The Scherer Joy Of Writing
- The Screenwriter’s League
- The Unemployment Cafe
- Uninflected Images Juxtaposed
- Writer Joshua James
- Writing On Spec
-
Most Popular Posts
-
Monthly Archives
- June 2010
- April 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
-
Movies
-
-
Be careful with the gun thing, my bro in law is on probation for having his gun out at the wrong time.. not doing anything with it – just having it out – and he had a permit to carry concealed and everything. I am looking for where to move in Los Angeles – have considered Az.. but seems SO far.. like a 5 hour drive to the city and so far from the ocean.. do you have friends out there? Scotsdale is posh!
Good to read another post from ya.
Leaving? Who will we have to say so many critical/honest things about the industry in the most amusing way possible? :)
We’ll miss you out here, man. Have fun in AZ.
Though I’ll probably comment on other things later, the problem with the Nichol is reflected by how many recommends I get from people who actually want to make the movie.
I will never ever send money to another contest.
Perhaps experienced film makers should read at every level.
Unk,
Welcome back! Good to hear your ‘voice’ again.
Keep Writing!
@Unk: Welcome back. If you’re serious about the move, best of luck to you. I too, noticed the changes as of late in the business and hope it has a lasting positive impact. Most importantly, not investing so much money in talent that gets paid so much. After all, if the actors want to make more money, they should make more pictures. If they can’t get more gigs, then they should improve their skills. Yeah, I said it.
Regarding concealed carry, I’m not sure I am comfortable with not having a CCW permit, but that’s just me and my two cents. I have no qualms about will-issue states that require courses be taken and such. Even at that point, it doesn’t prepare the permit holder for the actual situations they are expecting to protect themselves in. But, I still appreciate the consideration to have permits (unlike CA, or LA in particular *cough*).
@Corey Tess: Hence “Concealed” permit. Having “his gun out at the wrong time” is likely any place outside of the home or shooting range. He should have known that.
Personally I ain’t down with firearms myself, strictly a personal choice, no judgment on anyone else, of course … but I’m happy for you!
As far as film making, I’m moving along. We’re about to go into casting for one short and I’ve got another Producer who wants to film a second short. I’ve finally gotten back around to writing and have found some interesting showcases for Independent films in LA.
I’ve also come up with a novel query method I’m about to put into play.
I’m prepping for some pitches at Expo and hopefully things will go as well as they did when the FRICKING STRIKE HIT!!!
I have had a lot of time to theorize though and I know my writing is the better for it. Besides, Orci\Kurtzmann raised the bar with their successes so writers have to really bring their A-Game in 2010. It’s finally going away from “clever” with the branding craze as there is already a skeleton to be built up.
It would be great to see Yari come back. They’ve dropped some really great flicks. I’m kind of torn about the new “Speculation” thing but it could be good. I too am usually right on with Box Office for any movie I care about.
Though with the “star” vehicles coming out in the last few years you can almost guarantee around $12M per 1000 screens.
CoreyTess,
Be careful? LOL. I don’t carry a gun.
Script Doctor Eric,
I don’t live in Los Angeles now either so I doubt much will change.
Christian,
I hear ya… I just know that for most of the folks out there, this seems to be the ONE that they wait on every year so I do wish everyone good luck with it.
Mike,
Still kickin’ it around.
Mr. A,
Agreed on the actors. As for concealed weapons… They don’t bother me because I’m not a criminal and just as I trust in most of mankind on a multitude of other things, so too do I trust most of mankind when it comes to temptation… i.e., the THREAT of some citizen possibly carrying a weapon and blowing your ass away just might keep you from being stupid when the temptation is too overwhelming.
Josh,
I think everyone misunderstands what I mean… I own firearms but I don’t carry them around unless I travel and even then, I don’t carry them on me. I just have one handy because you just never know who or what you might happen upon as you travel the highways and byways of America. Trust me — I know and those kinds of people are easier to deal with when you have a gun in your hand. Believe it or not. I’m not moving to AZ so I can carry a concealed weapon… LOL. I’m moving there because they ALLOW IT. I happen to think that there will be some criminals that will think twice before robbing a convenience store or jack a car if the possibility exists that someone just might blow their ass away. I have this insight because I lived with criminals all throughout my childhood. True criminals. Some sophisticated — some not. Even the stupid ones wouldn’t want to take the chance that some citizen MIGHT pull a weapon on them.
In fact, from what I hear — many potential criminals residing in Arizona are gearing up for a move to another state near you… LOL.
Christian,
I don’t seem to have a problem with getting a spec read… It’s the shit they hit you with afterwards… LOL. It’s like they didn’t even read what they did in fact read because instead of saying something like, “Hey, I liked your script…” — it’s always something NON-COMMITTAL these days because of the economy.
These people are in the business but they are so fucking worried about losing their jobs that they no longer trust their own story gut. So instead, they try to figure out how they (meaning YOU) can turn your script into some other TYPE of story that’s had some success at the box office.
I’d rather read a book than play that game… But that’s just me.
Unk
Arizona is becoming the new Hollywood. Pretty soon all you gay elitist liberals are gonna bring your lattes and your yoga and nothing will be the same. That’s the real reason they carry the guns.
Hey, I totally agree. I got lucky with my shorts. I found people who can read the work put in. The first one amazingly, got a scene added but will be filmed as is.
I think that’s why I write some movies without a care of how they may be butchered, though it is a good thing when the producer says, “I like your story….just like this.”
Not that it’ll happen a lot. But people should learn to tame their fear and trust in people whose story interested you. Especially when the writer is knowledgeable. And in your case…..
Admittedly, I’ve had someone try to get a story that no one could have written. It was totally unreasonable and illogical.
But anyway, I’m going to do a pitch or two at the Expo this weekend. Fingers crossed!
Emily… Damn woman. You’re turning me ON!
Unk
Agreed on all counts, Unk.
What’s comical to me, is I spent most of my life in Los Angeles, feeling left out by the no issue on a CCW (in a place you might actually need it), then I move to Kentucky, a will-issue state and I have no need. Granted, I can legally carry in my glove box.
Call me whatever you want, but it boils down to the trite statement… I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. Or simply… I’d rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
Now, back to the actors… imagine spending less on them within a given budget and freeing up that money for other departments or simply to stay within budget. Wouldn’t that be a sight.
@Unk – Revised comment: We’ll “virtually” miss you. :)
Sorry for the emoticon – hard habit to break.
Soon they will end up in one of my scripts. I can feel it.
Mr. A,
I’d love to see even a microcosm of that money freed up for other things… It’s actually beginning to happen.
Script Doctor Eric… I read a script as a favor a little over a year ago that had that same emoticon in it.
I guess it’s the new way to create an ASIDE for the reader…
FUCK
A
DUCK.
Unk
Just know that when people say its hot from may until the end of September they mean IT’S FUCKING HOT. Like over 110 no joke. I moved here a year an a half ago, the heat I can get use to, but the scorpions they suck!
Anyway, we have been able to open carry for a while, pistol in holster. It was weird at first, but the guys doing it are the ones you want doing it.
One of the biggest rookie mistakes that beginning filmmakers make is that they try to stuff everything into their movie and end up with a six hour monster. Problem is, most beginning filmmakers don’t have the experience or the skills to pull something like this off and they end up with a muddled disaster.
I have people threaten me with a deadly weapon every day. It’s their car six feed from my rear bumper @ 60MPH in commute traffic! Driving is the most dangerous thing I do.
I’d like to make a short of a convenience store armed robbery thwarted by citizens caring concealed weapons.
There’d be two versions.
The first is the NRA version where the good citizens pulling their Colts and intimidate the thugs into surrendering peacefully.
The second is a free-for-all where everybody starts shooting everyone else and ending with Granny pulling out her .44 magnum and blowing away the clerk who was just pointing his finger at one thug.
I think, if you’re going to carry a gun, it shouldn’t be concealed. Wear it proudly on your hip! That’s a law I could support.