Short Films from 140 Characters

I want to do something fun. I want to do something creative. I want to do something fun and creative with YOU! 

Write a story using 140 characters (this should be fairly easy for my Twitter pros). Post it in comments section. Maybe me some of my film friends can pick a few of the 140 character stories and turn them into super short films.

Examples:

“Hello?”, she spoke into the darkness of a dead-end alley. He emerges from the darkness. She places $20 on the ground. He tosses her a Popeyes bag. She nods and runs off.

He had searched for her since he found out she existed. He waits at the entrance to the terminal. A woman whose face was much like his own exits. Their eyes connect. “Mom?”

She liked him. Loved him as a friend. Loved him as a brother. Loved him. Seeing him with her. She hated him. The prosecutor chimed in, “No further questions your honor.”

I look forward to reading everyone's stories!

Walking with My Thoughts

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what is had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." -- Henry David Thoreau

I took an unintentional hiatus from my blog. My programmed reminder pops up every Thursday taunting me, asking why I haven't written a post in forever. I've had a lot on my mind, wasting creative space. 

I've been working out a lot recently. In an attempt to remain engaged I've tried different classes at the gym and taking extended walks around my neighborhood. Today, since I had the time, I decided to go hiking. I haven't been hiking in YEARS. Seriously, since I was a girl scout. I was a girl scout drop out so I'm sure I missed out on loads of hiking adventures. I discovered Patuxent River Park, which is relatively close to where I live. I wanted to walk a minimum of 7 miles and they were open basically rain or shine. 

Some wonderful human being left a walking stick at the start of the trail. I debated about taking it with me. I'm so happy I did! I avoided busting my butt on more than one occasion because of this thing. 

I walked about 9 and a half miles with only my thoughts. One of the safety rules was no headsets. I didn't want to play my music on speaker because I thought it would disrupt the animals. The deer and I still ended up giving each other multiple heart-attacks throughout the day. 

Whenever I take the time to commune with nature I end up crying. Literally, every time. I go to the beach and the moment my feet touch the ocean, I'm crying. Half a mile into the hike, I'm crying. My thoughts on this are that we come from nature and that's why it feels good to release and left go when we go back. The smell of the ocean, the crunch of the leaves under my feet, it all makes me feel free. The air is different when you're out in the woods or next to open water. Everything you breathe in is cleaner, clearer. I obsess over silliness and mundane bullshit and just being outside in my own solitude helped me re-evaluate what I'm taking in. I'm re-evaluating what I focus my energy on. 

Walking through the woods alone was refreshing. I considered every thought. Felt everyemotion (fear, anxiety, sadness). I became confused at one fork on the trail and pondered whether or not to go back. I thought, what was the point of starting if you never plan on finishing? Why waste the time? I have to face all of this and continue on. I related that to my writing and other creative works I have collecting cobwebs and dust in my mind and on my shelves. If I want to be a writer I have to push forward. I started this journey, it needs to be completed. My heart affected my art. I've faced it and now I'm ready to move forward.  

Fallen trees are great for holding your phone while you take a selfie.

I came out in the end, all smiles and ready to write. I'll go hiking again sooner than later. I will not wait another 4 months before I write another blog post. Fresh air. Fresh mind. Fresh start. 

My New Creative Space

I started my new job last week and I found it difficult to maintain some of the positive habits I had picked up during my brief period of unemployment like going to the gym and writing for my blog. I also didn't have any real space to work in my room. My room always looks like a bomb exploded and it's hard for me to focus and work on my creative endeavors. I felt so tired that I wasn't even in the mood to try to organize my space.

I needed help and ideas on how to organize all my things into the small space I have been given. I went straight to the best source for inspiration, Pinterest. On Pinterest I found a photo that completely inspired me to clear out my space and switch things around. I converted my closet to a small office space. My clothes have been moved and I have big plans for them once my wallet catches up to my brilliant ideas. I'm excited about working in my new space. It actually came out a lot better than I expected.

My Converted Closet

I would have a wider shot but then you'd be forced to see the rest of my work in progress. It's like having my own creative nook. I now have a clean space with less distractions. The distractions I do have make me smile and keep me motivated.

Do you have a creative space? If so, please share it. I'd love to get more inspiration for the next time I shift my room around.

Screenwriting Deadlines are Fast Approaching!

There are a few contests and fellowships that have caught my eye this year. I'm giving my script another revision in preparation to submit it. The deadlines are fast approaching! I wanted to share them here just in case there are any contest you aren't familiar with but might be interested in entering. 

Bahamas International Film Festival - Screenwriters Residency Program

Deadlines:

Final Deadline is July 22, 2015

This program is sponsored by ScreenCraft and Buffalo 8 Productions. It's open to Feature Length Screenplays or TV Pilot Screenplays. Six writers will be chosen to spend 4 days developing their screenplay or teleplay during the Bahamas International Film Festival in December. Mentors of the program include Vince Gerardis (Producer from HBO's Game of Thrones) and Dan Guando (Executive Vice President of Acquisitions, Production, and Development at The Weinstein Company). Who wouldn't want to spend four amazing days in the sun getting mentored, networking, and developing their craft. SIGN ME UP!

Get more information about the residency program and fees at screencraft.org/bahamas

Slamdance Screenplay Competition

Deadlines: 

Final Deadline is July 21, 2015

Withoutabox Extended Deadline is July 28, 2015

Slamdance is a film festival dedicated to finding truly independent artists and showcasing their work. They provide script analysis for every writer who submits to their competition. They accept Feature/Horror screenplays, short screenplays, and original teleplays. In addition to the cash prize, the top three winners in each category will win festival passes for all screenings and parties at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. 

Get more information about this competition and fees at showcase.slamdance.com/Screenplay-Competition

Women in Film and Video of Washington, DC Spotlight on Screenwriters Catalog 

Deadlines:

Final Deadline is August 1, 2015

The Spotlight on Screenwriters Catalog is the brainchild of Monica Lee Bellais with the help of Women in Film and Video (WIFV).  She compiles the screenplays of WIFV members and sends a catalog of synopses to producers. If producers are interested they contact Monica and she will send along the full length screenplay. The one catch is that you have to be a member of Women in Film and Video. 

Get more information about the catalog, joining WIFV and fees at www.wifv.org

BlueCat Screenplay Competition

Deadlines: 

Early Deadline is September 1, 2015

Regular Deadline is October 15, 2015

Final Deadline is November 15, 2015

BlueCat Screenplay Competition is open to Feature Length and Short Screenplays. This is a great competition if you are just starting to submit your work. They provide script analysis for every script that enters! The entry fees are totally worth it for this perk alone. 

Get more information about the competition and fees at www.bluecatscreenplay.com

If you're looking for additional contests and festivals check out www.withoutabox.com.

Adventures in "FUNemployment"

I started writing this blog post before I received a job offer yesterday. I had resigned myself to being a freelancer until I found a new position. It came faster than I expected. I'll still share some of my thoughts since I took the time to write them down.


I reached out to one of my friends about quitting my job and part of his reply was "Yay for funemployment". I thought this term was funny even though the situation was a bit scary for me. Thanks Mark! I have to admit it was weird waking up on Monday without a sense of dread and angst about going to work. This was the first time since college that I didn't have a full time job. I left one uncertain situation that I had no control over to a new uncertain situation that I felt I could guide in the direction I wanted it to go.

For the last two weeks I have been able to relax, brainstorm, and get excited about my new creative endeavors. Completing screenplays and staying consistent with my blog are big priorities now. I spent time during the day with my writing partner Joy. We mostly write at night and we learned we're much more focused and productive before 9pm (Duh!). I went to my first ever casting call on Saturday (read about that here), which was also a fun new experience.

My period of unemployment was more like a creative break. It was exciting to have the time but now I'm more excited to start my new job. This is the opportunity I have been waiting for. I'm ready to shine!

New Experience: Casting Call in Richmond, VA

My first experiences in acting were acting out stories from my own imagination when I was a child. I played out each different role, bringing to life all the characters running around in my head. I was in drama club in high school and I took theater classes in college. That was basically the acting experience I had. I've flirted with the idea of taking acting classes and my close friend and associate Joy Cheriel Brown is always encouraging me to go to classes with her.

Joy is a screenwriter and aspiring actress. She's attended acting classes in DC and New York. She's basically the entire reason I ended up going to the open casting call in Richmond. She's attended open casting calls before. House of Cards has casting calls in the DC area a lot and she attended one last year.

She forward me the email regarding the casting call and I was hesitant because I wasn't sure I wanted to sit through the drive to Richmond. Of course now I'm happy I did because it was a really awesome experience.

After travelling through ridiculous amounts of rain we make it to Richmond around noon. The line winded through a few city blocks. Joy told me this was a big deal and now I saw she wasn't kidding.

This was an open call for a film entitled "Loving" scheduled to start filming in Virginia later this year. They were looking for extras of all ages, races, body types, etc. The process was that we stood in line and the closer we got to the front they would pull you aside for a possible speaking role in the film. I'm glad that Joy and I were together because it made standing in line for 2 hours bearable. We did meet a few cool people while we waited. There were a few people from Pennsylvania and I met some students from the theater department at Virginia Commonwealth University.

We made it to the portion of the line where they were pulling people aside to read sides for possible speaking roles. They chose the woman in front of me and then to my surprise they looked at me and said "Are you an actress?" I answered no. "Do you want to be an actress?" I exclaimed, Yes! I was given sides and waited in another line that led inside to the wonderfully air conditioned audition room. They took my photo. I performed the sides, took a little direction, and performed them again and that was it. After all of the waiting it all went by fairly quickly in the end.

Before heading back on the road we stopped at the closest food place to where we parked. We decided to eat there and it was a good decision. There weren't any seats left so we ended up sharing a table with a stranger. Well, "Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet." We met Jamaal who had also been attending the audition. He recently had a speaking role in House of Cards and another gig in a PBS series. It just so happened that the couple sitting next to us worked in film in North Carolina before moving to Virginia. We all had a great time chatting and getting to know one another.

This Richmond trip was a refreshing change to my Saturday routine. Even if Joy and I aren't called to work on this film, it was a great experience. I might take Joy up on her next offer to attend an acting class.