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• Rewrite pt II... rhythm... rain... music

  Wednesday, Jul 25, 2007 7:02PM / Standard Entry

  While most parts of England were being washed away... I had a busy week...  Been twirling my hair to knots working on the rewrite of my screenplay (think I'll come out of this rewrite with dreadlocks...)  i can't complain too much about the speed/slow process though, since I'm slow and not-so-bright, so I expect things to take longer for me to absorb and understand... 
  
  For a short while, I was stuck somewhere in my rewrite (dunno Act I, II or III, as I don't go by these structures...)  But it wasn't so much about *where* I was stuck, it was more like I couldn't figure out the *rhythm* or the *pace* of the scrīpt...  something was off...
  
  Rhythm plays a huge part in my writings, I listen to lots of music when I write (I assume it's the case for most writers, right Dax?)  I tend to listen to music/sound that would give me the similar rhythm as the scrīpt that I'd be working on at that moment, it inspires and frees my mind, (I remember I was writing a scrīpt during when I was listening to Brian Eno and Aphex Twins non-stop... and then there was a time when I was listening to Death Cab For Cutie on repeat for about 4 months...)  Most importantly, music helps me to find the right rhythm for the scrīpt.   For me, the pace of the story is vital - when the audience finds out what... how long it takes for something to reveal...  how long I linger on a gesture... on a character's emotion... on a scene...  since I'm a slow person, I tend to like things in a slower and quieter pace... but it could be a danger as it could easily lose the audience's attention... so I need to pay extra attention to that especially during the rewrite (it's one thing to create things in a slow pace, it's another to deliberately bore the audience...)  
  
  I usually go for a stroll when I'm stuck, I'd leave my phone and internet behind, grab my ipod and just walk around my hood.  The one good thing about London is that there are lots of green around me, it gives me peace and quiet when I walk around (I doubt if it's possible to do that in HK, esp. near Central...) I'd find a piece of music that would inspire me for the particular scrīpt and I just stroll aimlessly...  About 4 days ago, I was walking down an alley and it just hit me about why the rhythm for this scrīpt was off... it wasn't so much about when things were revealed... it's one of the secondary characters... a) she needs to be deepened, currently she's too one-dimensional, and b) her absence and presence is off-balance (I tracked her journey from my 3x5 note cards)... suddenly a light bulb "ding" in my head... I'm sure most writers would have spotted that long time ago... but again, for a not-so-bright writer like myself... I'd consider that I doctored this problem relatively quickly...  whew~  I was psyched and thought about a few things immediately to add/subtract from the scrīpt...
  
  But I couldn't delve into it just yet, as I had to go to Cornwall for a literary festival over the weekend because my uke band had to perform for 2 nights there.  I was psyched about Cornwall though because we got to camp out in the middle of the woods and be surrounded by books and music... I knew it'd be a mallow and peaceful weekend, and I expected to have some peaceful time to think about my scrīpt too... So on Friday, we hopped onto a big van and drove to Cornwall at the crack of dawn, and half way through, rain started pouring down on the highway... that's when the torrential rain hit England... but we drove through it for a couple of hours, and when we got to Cornwall, it was sunny and warm with mist here and there... we were really lucky to have avoided the horrendous rainstorm for the weekend.  Long story short... we set up our tents, ate, drank, and played in front of a large crowd... hung out on Sat... chilled in the woods, did some reading, thinking, drinking, playing more uke, and performed again at night in a large tent... life without cellphone reception and internet could be a wonderful thing... even though I brought my computer thinking I might do some writings... I ended up not opening it once... and instead just wrote in my moleskin notebook... 
  
  Now that I'm back to civilization, and with my latest revelation about my scrīpt, I'm psyched to jump back into writing more this week... hopefully I'll make some nice progress... meanwhile here are some pictures from the weekend:
  
  
  first night performing in one of the large tents
  
  
  love the "boat bar"
  
  
  
  this is my favorite - a gigantic beaver sculpture... all kids went crazy in front of it...
  
  
  
  
  

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• NYC threatens first amendment and filmmaking...

  Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 6:42PM / Standard Entry

  Got this email from my friend, it's quite disturbing... so if you're filmmakers/photographers from the big apple, you should look into this.  Read the original NY Times article, the link is at the bottom.
  
  ===============================================================
  Friends,
   
  Introduced quietly just before Memorial Day weekend, the regulations could severely impede the ability of even casual photographers and filmmakers to operate in New York City: A group of two or more people who want to use a camera in a single public location for more than a half hour (including setup and breakdown time) could be required to get a city permit and $1 million in liability insurance. According to the NY Civil Liberties Union, “these regulations violate the First Amendment right to photograph in public places, and open the door to selective and discriminatory enforcement.” See links for more information below.
   
  This Thursday members of the film/photography/activist/etc communities will come together to brainstorm ideas for creative actions to take place before the close of the public comment period on August 3rd. On Sunday, arts organization Not An Alternative will host a day of props production to produce visuals for a demonstration against the regulations.
  
  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
  Thursday, July 19, 7pm – 9pm
  Brainstorm and Planning Session 
  
  The Change You Want To See Gallery and Convergence Stage
  http://www.thechangeyouwanttosee.org
  84 Havemeyer St., at Metropolitan Ave
  Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211
  Directions: http://www.hopstop.com
  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
  SAVE THE DATE:
  Friday, July 27th, 6:30 pm
  Rally for the 1st Amendment
  Union Square
   
  People are invited to turn out to make a statement about New York City's laws and regulations regarding filming, shouting, biking, parading, and dancing. 
  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
   
  FOR MORE INFORMATION:
  Original NYTimes article:    http://tinyurl.com/2scoog
  PDF of the proposed changes:  http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/downloads/pdf/moftb_permit_regs.pdf 
  NYCLU Response: http://www.nyclu.org/nyc_photo_permits_pr_062807.html
  
  
  

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• One breath + one clarinet + one saxo =

  Sunday, Jul 15, 2007 8:52PM / Standard Entry

  Rashaan Roland Kirk...  love DA man.  if you wanna know how long one breath can last, check this out.  make sure you watch till the end...
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0JJmwq7KXQ
  
  
  and yes, still staring at my note cards...
  
  
  
  
  

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• Writing/Rewriting

  Sunday, Jul 8, 2007 6:27PM / Standard Entry

  Just got back to London and am welcoming the jetlag stage since I'm always sleep deprived (can't seem to sleep more than 6 hrs these years...) slept a lot yesterday (in my own bed!) and woke up at the wee hours this morning...  I love getting up early cause it's the best time for me to write, so I pulled out my computer and started thinking how to tackle the rewriting of my scrīpt.  And after reading Dax's fabulous blogs, I thought I'd right a bit about writing/rewriting as well.
  
  People often asked me about writing a scrīpt or directing a film... I always feel uncomfortable answering these "how to" questions.  a) I honestly don't think that I'm qualified to talk about screenwriting/filmmaking... mostly because I'm a paranoid, inferior worryhead, so I always think that my work is shit; and b) because my approach is relatively unconventional, so I don't want to corrupt any souls out there; and c) I think this craft is very personal, it depends on the individual (i.e. there is no one/right way of doing this.)  So instead of giving an 101, I'd rather just talk about my method (more like habits,) my challenges, difficulties, fears and frustrations, AND my demons.
  
  Nowadays, people are so familiar with those scrīptwriting terms, "act 1, act 2, act 3," "twist" and "payoff" etc... many screenwriting books talk about them and thus demystify the art of filmmaking/scrīptwriting.  On the one hand, I think it's great that more people are now familiar with the craft, and can start writing their own stuff, that's always exciting.  On the other hand, these terms and structures inevitably regulate the form (or the art) of scrīptwriting, and thus "normalize" the outcome, if that makes any sense at all.  Most of the time when I watch a hollywood film these days (I don't mean to target only hollywood films, but they're the most accessible when it comes to showing a clear structure/form,) I get bored because I know exactly at what point what needs to happen.  It becomes predictable because most hollywood films follow a structure and are plot driven, so I'd be watching a scene knowing that a problem has to come up now in order to push forward to Act II, or a problem needs to be solved now as we're in Act III etc.  
  
  At school, I was ingrained with these structures - "3 acts", "5 acts", "8 sequences", "12 sequences."  The thing is, I'm shit at Math ever since I was born, so I couldn't really understand them and definitely can't sit in front of the computer calculating these numbers.  I've tried...  I wrote two detailed treatments for two scrīpts but ended up giving up on both.   One because I lost all interest in the story since I've written such a detailed treatment, the other one I got stuck in "act II" somewhere for the longest time, as I realized that there is no way for the story to get to where I needed it to go, in an "organic" manner...  I probably could have finished them if I was adamant and stubborn enough, but I just wasn't interested no more.  More importantly, it was then when I realized that I'm not a plot-driven writer, but instead a character-driven writer.  
  
  Treatment is an important device for writers (whether you're plot driven or character driven,) it's like the white lines on a track field, so you know where you're going.  So most of my writer friends would spend weeks and months writing and polishing a treatment before they start their screenplay.  But for some reasons, I don't work well with it.  My brain doesn't function that way (as proven by the two examples mentioned above.)  So what I do is that I'd write the first draft first, then I'd go back and summarize what I've written by writing a treatment.  It helps me to get on with my rewrite.  
  
  Instead of writing a treatment beforehand, I do do other things to prepare myself.  Like Dax, I have my traditions before starting a project... a trip to Papyrus (since my beloved Staples ain't here in Blighty!) to pick out my brand new Moleskine notebook.  And me too, I'm a Pilot pen junkie, preferably black and purple for special notes.  Then for months on end, whatever I see, whatever I read, whatever triggers me, I'd put it in that notebook, as random as it maybe, sometimes it could be just one word, but they're all in there.  And honestly, I might hardly look at them during my writing, I completely agree with Dax though, that they'd help me, in a subconscious way.
  
  For the first draft, I like the feeling of *not knowing* where the screenplay is going (well, I do know to a certain extent, but I have no idea how to get there.)  In a way, I'm experiencing the journey with the characters, I'm not "the creator", I'm not ahead of the game... after writing each scene, since I don't know where the next scene would be, then I'd ask where would I go if I were so-and-so...  It gives me a great deal of freedom and I feel true to the characters.  I don't recommend people to do what I do though, because as you can imagine, it takes a lot longer to write if you do it this way, because after each scene, it requires a whole lot of pacing back and forth (at least a whole day if not two, or three, or four even, to figure out where your character wants to go...)  But for me, it's the only way I could continue and stay true... if I know about the next scene ahead, I'd end up writing the current scene somewhat false, rushing the character through to get to the next scene... if that makes any sense...  So because of this weird writing method, I don't even know where Act I, II or III is... I just... umm... write...   But of course, I ain't no Jack Kerouac, so most of my first draft is just a long babbles, just shit... that's why I don't send my first draft to people (except two really good friends who know me real well!)
  
  Though I have to say, this new scrīpt that I just wrote, I did have a rough treatment before writing it because I needed to show it to the financiers etc...  However during the writing of the first draft, I hardly looked at it (for the exact reason I mentioned above) and the draft was quite different from the treatment.  BUT I had to say, the good thing was that I knew about a few essential steps, so it helped me quite a bit during my writing.  Maybe that's why it took me about 2 weeks to finish my first draft, the fastest I've ever written...  I'm still learning too, so I think I might have found a new way for writing... maybe it's the fusion of the two... we'll see.   
  
  Then after the first draft, it's time for the 3x5 note cards to shine.  It's time to summarize the scrīpt, in a treatment form and in the note card form.  The latter helps because I can put them all on my wall and move them around when I need to.  It's then when I realize what is lacking, which character needs to be developed more etc...   Having said that, I just cleaned up the wall next to my desk and pulled out my note cards as it's time for me to embark on the journey of rewriting (oh joy...)
  
  I'll write more about this as I go on...  Man, this is a long blog... Dax, it's all your fault... =)
  
  

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• What time is it there?

  Thursday, Jul 5, 2007 5:05PM / Standard Entry

  10:43 am GMT... in about 19 hours, I'll be home back in London...
  
  It's sad to think that my HK trip is about to end, as I'm getting ready to board the plane tonight.  I had such a great time, thanks to T, Pat, Stephen, Mark, Boon... and the great people whom I met,  Sam, Angela, Kevan (!!) and Oki.  I'm glad too that I had time to catch up with my old friends, Eva and Irene, thanks to these two who got me to experience my first 12-hr karaoke marathon!  I've come to the conclusion that the theme song for上海灘  ("Shanghai Beach" I guess would be the English translation... the old TVB series w/ Chow Yun Fat) is the best thing to sing in the k-room!  Plus last night's k-time with Kevan and Angela... I guess this trip turned out to be quite karaoke oriented.  Considered that I normally don't sing, that's alot...   And I got to hang out with Eugenia, which was awesome, as usual.  Gonna miss her so when I go back to Blighty!
  
  I think I finished doing what I needed to do here - prepped and shot some b-roll (thanks to Panasonic and David,) met some great people regarding my feature project, did a preliminary local budget, finished discussing the music for T's short... and even did an interview at Diesel w/ Jto, Derek, Kim and T.  So all in all, it's been a very productive trip.
  
  As much as I wanna go home, see my family and friends and sleep in my own bed, I always feel sad when I have to leave HK... partly because I don't wanna part with my friends here, and partly because this city feeds me loads of inspiration...  though I think I've had enough of the humidity and heat... I'm somewhat looking forward to the London chill...
  
  My social life will end the minute I arrive London, I have to hide and start rewriting my scrīpt.  For me, it's the most important part of screenwriting and I often find myself stuck even more during my rewrite... I need to detach myself from what I've written and to look at it somewhat "objectively", so that I could be open and do changes if need be...  Basically, it's the time when I have to "kill my darlings"... (Dax, would you agree?)  Anyway, I'm sure I'll blog more about this later once I get that going...
  
  In the meantime, I'm just thinking how much I'm gonna miss everyone here, the AnD office and admin bear...  hopefully, I'll get to come back soon and start my feature... fingers crossed!
  
  p.s.
  Pat - you and me... "Zombie"!
  
  
  

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