04/27/09 Turning In The Script

I gave Ondie Daniel my screenplay "History of the Vampire" last week. This short script is part of a vampire anthology she is producing. I agreed to contribute a script although I may or may not direct or even have anything to do with it. Although I would love to direct the screenplay, I think it would be more interesting for me to watch someone else interpret my writing. Right now I'm just waiting for feedback in regards to whether or not the screenplay is right for the film she is producing.



I designed the screen-story to be an homage to vampire films while also being a kind of "intro" to vampires. Since I don't particularly have an interest in vampires, vampire films, or this sub-genre of horror to begin with coming up with a story for Daniel's "Untitled Vampire Anthology" was a feat unto itself. The only way I got through it is by loosely basing the story and structure of the story on a thus far abandoned screenplay from almost eight years ago. Although I had very little initial interest the story seemed to write itself as it took me only two days to write the first draft (which came in at just under 30 pages).



Since giving the script to Daniel, we've discussed the possibility of Ron McLellen directing the film. I both like and loathe this idea. I like this idea because by having a seasoned filmmaker on board I can be assured of the high quality and production values but I loathe this idea as McLellen has a knack of dumbing-down his scripts and there is a lot of ambiguous moments in the screenplay that I don't want to be made obvious.



Upon reading the screenplay we discussed a few items mainly that he wants to change the ending so that the two barflies exit the bar and the audience has no doubts that they are vampires because they change into vampires to help a third one who is being attacked by vampire hunters. When I heard him say this I immediately knew that he didn't get the story as everything in the story is ambiguous in regards to the vampires and my point was to show that vampires in the modern age can hide in plane sight even from their own kind. If you reveal the two barflies as vampires then you loose the whole point that I'm trying to make with the story. He also wanted to change a lot of the dialogue since my original had very little and it was meant to be brutal and fast and disturbing. By adding more dialogue you miss the element of the brutality because the characters are being too talkative. The dialogue that is present is very stylized because the less said the better.



Now, I know I'll have to do another re-write of the screenplay which I am prepared to do but based on the input of Daniel and the rest of the producers. After that I will wash my hands free and leave it up to the director to deliver a good story. I'm fully prepared to see a finished product that is barely recognizable from my own. This is one of the reasons why I'm working on this production which is to see how I can work as a writer with other people.



I await Daniel's response to the script before doing anything.

04/09/09 - On the Set of BREAKING THROUGH

Today was the final day of filming on the urban film BREAKING THROUGH which I've been working on and off for over two years. Today we were filming some pick up scenes at Gwinnett Convention Center & Arena (where I work my 9 to 5) in which three of the "strippers/contestants" of the film are having a discussion in the dressing room before taking the stage for the climatic contest scene.

As directed by first time writer & director Edward Harlaque BREAKING THROUGH has many problems that most first time films have which is a mediocre script, mediocre acting, and mediocre technical skills, but what the film does have is dedication from the large cast and heart from the director who has toiled on the project for over two years and refuses to give up. There is great passion on this production which will allow it to get finished and in front of an audience if nothing else.

On this film I helped with lighting and even acted in one scene as a bouncer, so, for me it was fun.

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Just after the shoot ended Harlaque gave me the screenplay for his next film. He plans on trying to get three films out by the end of the year. This is one hell of an ambition considering that the first film needs to get finished but after watching him work on BREAKING THROUGH for two years I have no doubt that he will attempt everything that he says and I admire him for that.