My Resolutions for 2013

Computer, coffee, conscience - all systems go. Let's begin: 1. Meditate, reflect and relax my spirit for at least 20 minutes each morning and evening. Sprinkle the resulting good karma liberally at work and play.  2. Appreciate, support and make love to my wife every day. (Proceed immediately to #6 to find the strength.) 3. Unless absolutely unavoidable, get to bed by or before 10pm. Every. Single. Night. 4. Consult...

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Write Now #2: Embrace the Business Side of Writing

Here's a story we've all heard before. As a rule, we writers spend as much time as possible drinking coffee, pondering the human experience, and desperately trying to funnel the end product into a story idea or two. In the process, we sometimes forget to eat, sleep, pay our bills, or wear pants, to the occasional amusement (and semi-regular hand-wringing) of those with whom we share beds and/or bathroom space. But, we remind them, there is good...

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Write Now #1: Find Stories Wherever You Are

"It's over," Rachel yells as she drops her fork loudly. "Why can't you get that?" Embarrassed, Steven scans the restaurant then glares back at her in a weak attempt to preserve what little dignity he has left. "Keep your voice down," he hisses back. "This isn't the time or place." "It's never the time or place," she counters. Steven rises abruptly. "I'm going to the bathroom," he declares. "You'd better still be here when I get back." He...

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The Job Hunt, Pt 2: Film School Was Totally Worth It

Nicholas Humphries, director and instructor at VFS And, boom! That's how quickly two months fly by. Really? Sixty-six days since my last post? And I call myself a writer. Speaking of writing, here's how that has been going lately: Much better than expected. I'd love to be able to say the two restaurant jobs I secured since last I blogged have shut me in a dank, overworked, computerless prison where creativity deigns to tap me on the shoulder...

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The Job Hunt, Pt. 1: You Are Not Alone

Shhhh, be vewy, vewy quiet. It's job huntin' season. It’s two a.m. and I’m awakened from a dream in which I take home the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay by my cat, meowing to be let out. I am tempted to throw a shoe, roll over and ignore him (as is my usual custom), when a solitary word suddenly projects itself on the movie screen of my mind and sends me to the side of the bed in a cold sweat: Rent. I search frantically for my Oscar, but...

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My First IMDb Credit: Musical Score for "Away"

My first official IMDb credit for the musical score to Carlos Martinez's "Away", produced by Grace Smith in association with Vancouver Film School. Listed September 6, 2012. Exciting and surreal. Not quite the same as an Oscar and one day (hopefully) I'll look back and say, "Yeah, I guess that was a big deal?" But for now, it's a big milestone. Gonna go make me a peanut butter and honey sandwich to celebrat...

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We Graduated! Now What?

Also published on Vancouver Film School's Blog (Friday, September 14, 2012) We did it! A year ago, a few hundred of us assembled at Scotiabank Theatre for orientation, ready to learn, to prove ourselves, and ultimately, to conquer the world. On August 17, we graduated in a blaze of glory and gushy goodbyes. Now I'm sitting here in my underwear, scrolling through the classifieds, desperately looking for any place showing even...

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Advice to a Struggling New Writing Student

Also published on Vancouver Film School's Blog (Friday, July 13, 2012) Not long ago, my academic advisor, Sir Ryan Jarman, asked me if I’d be willing to talk to a new writing student. This guy (let’s call him Bill) was only into his year-long program about a month and was questioning whether he’d made the right decision or whether he should just bolt while he could rake back some of the (admittedly hefty) tuition he’d forked out. Fair...

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Goodbye and Good Luck, Roy Hayter!

 VFS's Film Production graduation ceremonies are always a treat, never mind a great opportunity to network with tomorrow's filmmakers. Today, the 141 class held theirs (Vancity Theatre in downtown Vancouver). Great, innovative stuff from the students in that group. I've been to three of these now over the past year, and the films just keep getting better and better! It was also Roy Hayter's last day, and he left the graduating class with a...

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From Dream to Reality: Shooting "Reinventing Leonard"

Another milestone hit and reason to celebrate: After seven months of development, re-writes and pre-production, Christian Antonio Mejia Acosta, Annie Klein and I got down to business yesterday and began day one of production on "Double-Booked"! The first film in a series called Reinventing Leonard, "Double-Booked" is the story of a 63-year old curmudgeon and book fanatic forced by circumstances to confront the modern world. With...

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That Home Stretch Kind of Feeling

In February of 2005, I spontaneously decided to interview my grandmother. We had just played three games of crib and she'd skunked me without mercy, all five feet, two inches of her. Of course she apologized each time as we drank tea and ate shortbreak in her Coquitlam apartment, in one of many magical moments I enjoyed with her. She was 87.  None of us knew she'd get sick and be gone one short month later. Lynn Sternberger & Evan Elberson...

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Invitation to Support Filming of "Reinventing Leonard" (June 2-4, 2012)

Directed & Produced by Christian Antonio Mejia Acosta | Screenplay by Paul Donnett "Reinventing Leonard" - Film & contributor info @ Indiegogo At the beginning of June, I'll be working with a group of international students (led by director-producer Christian Mejia Acosta) to film our original comedy, Reinventing Leonard. This short film takes us through a maddening day in the life of 63 year-old Leonard as circumstances force him...

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My Top 20 All-Time Favourite Actors (Female)

These are my personal choices based on a combinatin of: how much I simply enjoy their performances, regardless of what I think of the movies they've starred in; the quality and uniqueness of their acting style; and how well I connect with them personally. The movies listed are the ones I dig the most. Enjoy! 1. Meryl Streep No idea where to begin. Sure, she's the queen of the screen now, but I remember when she was an unknown. (Yikes!) Since...

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My Top 20 All-Time Favourite Actors (Male)

These are my personal choices based on a combination of: how much I simply enjoy their performances, regardless of what I think of the movies themselves; the quality and distinctness of their acting style; and how much I connect with them personally. The movies I listed are the ones I dig the most. Enjoy! 1. Al Pacino Not everything he touches turns to gold...but almost! For decades of amazing style, likability and sheer volume of great...

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