Wow.  It's been an interesting few weeks.  As you may know, we just sworn in a new President.  Needless to say, I got a little too caught up in the whole entire week's worth of news. I was just getting over the flu.

But I've been writing again!  It's interesting; I may have actually found another direction to take this--from a pretty interesting scene I wrote.  It could be in the final script or be a part of a short or web series.  I'm really enjoying the process--until tomorrow!

Ive been under the weather all week. No writing. I am feeling better. Be writing soon. Until next time!

I've wanted to start my own production company for years now.  But like some other things, I kept putting it off.  I have a friend who is a lawyer who specializes in the entertainment industry.  He works with artists, actors, musicians and puts together contracts for Broadway shows.  He recommended LegalZoom and today I did it.  Pinch and Ouch Productions Inc.

I worked on my script again this evening.  Even tough no one has read my blog yet (I think) there's still this feeling that I am answering to others.  The sense of accountability is definitely a motivator.

​Until tomorrow.

Another day--more writing done!  Still hesitant--I need to remember this is still just a story!  Just need to write it like one.  Until tomorrow.

Ok-another day another bit more of the script!  Still feel like it's going in fits and starts.  A friend of mine who has written and directed multiple projects has an axiom that he tries to live by.  Getting anything down on a piece of paper every day, wheather I feel like it or not is the path to success. 

Peace out!

Well, as I promised, I am writing--checking in on my progress for today.  I've done a fair amount of writing, but writing a screenplay is different.  I think the best thing to do is to write as if a novel, then go back and trim--one of the first things I noticed when I first picked up a film script was "where the hell are the words??"

Coming from a theater background, there were words.  Lots of them.  Being a verbose (to say the least) kind of a guy, I loved words.  Reveled in the--hell I'd take a bath with them if I could.  

Film is different--fewer words.  Much more behavior.  Plays fill blank moments with....you guessed it.  Words.  Movies are much more about filling in the silence with listening.  Processing.  Thinking.  Then reacting to that with the best possible thing needed to say at that moment--which happens to be your next line.  But I always say, it's easier to cut then try to add after the fact.  We'll see how that theory holds up as I work on this.

I'm already using "voices"--meaning people I've known in my dialoge--different characters have been derived from people I've known in the past.  Hopefully, their "voice" comes through in what I'm writing.

​Until tomorrow.....

A new chapter.  Working on a horror film.  I must admit I went a little crazy--bought a DSLR, some lenses, lights, signed up for Cetlx and bought me a drone!

I have a title, idea, outline and even enough for a trailer.

Now comes the hard part--the rest of it.

First things first--getting the script done.

Every night I will check in with updates on my progress.

Oh and I am working at NBC--30 Rockefeller Center.

​Let the movie making begin! 

So it's been a few days since I've posted.

Today was a day of reflection.

About turning over some old behaviors (I hope).

Feeling discomfort in the present so long term I can better reach my long term goals.

Anyone who has known me for more than 5 minutes would describe me as a "shoot first ask questions later" kind of guy.

I think part old/conditioning + faulty wiring (my brain) = impulsive decisions.

There was a long term study done with school aged kids.

They were brought into a room, which had a chair, a table.....

And a cookie.

Just one cookie.

They were told that they cold eat the cookie now...

or wait for 15 min and at that point, they could have a whole bag.

Now, the wait time may not be exactly 15 min, or maybe it wasn't the whole bag, but you get the gist of this.....

The researchers were trying to find out if success was partially linked to delaying gratification.

So, they kept track on these kids, through high school, college and beyond...

And guess what?

The ones who could wait for that bag of cookies...

Here's a link  to the article....

http://www.livescience.com/15821-cookie-test-control.html


And an excerpt....

Want a cookie?

More than 600 children took part in the marshmallow experiment nearly 40 years ago, conceived of by psychologist Walter Mischel of Stanford University and his colleagues.

"Sometimes experimenters had not even finished talking about the experiment when the kids already ate the marshmallow or cookie," said cognitive neuroscientist B.J. Casey at Weill Cornell Medical College, who has taken part in follow-up studies on this work. "Other 4-year-olds were able to wait by sitting on their hands and turning away, or creating imaginary friends to distract them."

Since Mischel's daughters attended nursery school with many of these children in the study, he began noticing that whether or not the kids delayed gratification appeared linked with many other factors in their lives. Kids who succumbed quickly to temptation often had lower SAT scores, a higher body-mass index and a slightly increased risk of substance abuse later on.

Casey refers to those who quickly gave in as low-delayers and those who can delay gratification high-delayers.

"Now, you're not doomed to a bad life if you're in the low-delay group — those results are the average across the whole group, and not true for everyone within," Casey stressed. "Personally, I think we need both low-delayers and high-delayers. High-delayers are more methodical, while low-delayers are more drawn to interesting new or alluring things. If you need explorers, low-delayers might be where to look."



So--

This doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the way I  am wired.....

I wouldn't change my life.

However,

It doesn't mean that I couldn't learn to delay whatever gratification I'm seeking for JUST a bit longer.

Which brings me back to my title.

Gotta take care of some debt.

Not a huge amount.

But it's time.

This means putting into practice behaviors that are not my strong suit.

Hell--I just plain don't like them.

That's ok.

Just have to remember that  whatever discomfort I'm feeling is finite.

It will end.

Sometimes to get that whole bag of cookies means I'll have to say no to the one sitting right there within arm's reach.

Wish me luck!

Until tomorrow...