Indelible Freckles

The Bourne Ultimatum is here. I’ve prepped by watching its predescessor and enjoying it the second - or third? - time around. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing what John Rogers means by nested sequels.

Roger Ebert enjoyed it - and has received a flood of complaints about its visual style.

I was a bit concerned about the ‘herky-jerky hand-held’ camerawork until I remembered The Blair Witch Project. I remember complaints about it inducing nausea and vomiting. It didn’t stop me from being scared out of my wits. As I’ve told anyone who’s asked me whether to watch Blair Witch: if you can get over the shaky-cam, and the contrivance that the characters obsessively shot everything, it’ll scare the bejesus out of you.

I think (and hope) that what’ll save my brain and stomach from Bourne’s visual jazz will be the story. If I’m pulled into it sufficiently, I shouldn’t notice the two-second average shot length. I’ll be too busy sitting on the edge of my seat going, Oh my g-, what th-, wait - don’t -, which’ll be just what I want.

(Fedora-tip to Amit for the heads-up.)

Messrs. Ethan Smith and Kurt Oram, the DOP and Soundie/Editor on Daniel Power’s Hunting the Phoenix, have a website: Tuna Town Productions.

They keep busy. And it looks like they have fun regardless. (Check out their equipment page: Senor Rodriguez’ Ten Minute Film School - eat yer heart out.)

(Deadlines have been met - normal transmission shall resume.)

Been flat out with work this past week. Not even enough time to throw together a Point & Click. I’ve more of the same this coming week.

Meantime, try Phill Barron’s blog on the scriptwriter’s life in the shallow end - ask him about his supercool new laptop.

Okay, it’s been all fine and dandy to be as opinionated as Ianthe of Timaru about various media, but what about what I do?

Good question.

• Five is in the excellent hands of Amit - sliced, diced and packaged for a premiere. I should stop counting that as a pot on the boil now.

• Earlier in the year I finally finished a first draft of a semi-biographical feature script. The producer/director I did it for is currently having a whack at the next draft. It’s been interesting to work through the inevitable tension in the creative process where the producer/director wants authenticity while I’m trying to argue for dramatic impact.

• My long awaited 2007 spec script has really only had its outline tweaked - it even had a one-page pitch done - but I haven’t started writing it yet. I’d like to blame the non-start on some of the following projects - but I’d be lying.

• I was asked to write a low budget thriller a while back. After duly speccing an outline, I mentioned the word “contract” and scared the producer away. Ah well. Still, there’s something about the outline that’s really hooked me: I approached the project from an oblique angle to try and be ‘fresh’ as well as make it interesting to write. I’ve made it my 2007 spec* - and, yes, I’ll give the producer first dibs on it when it’s finished.

• I met with another producer recently about some development work on an half-hour series. I did some work for him last year that was great fun - not only did I get paid, I was writing cool shit. I’ll give with some details

• The T.V. concept got cleaned up and sent out… and has so far flatlined. Oh well. At least it’s a good reminder to not pin so much hope on just one project. I can’t help it, but.

• The T.V. speccing got me going a bit - well, it was avoiding work on one of the above scripts - so I’ve got a couple of ideas to inflict on interested parties. I’m well aware of the odds against but at the very least I’ll be making some noise.

• And finally, despite earlier unsuccessful applications to the Screen Innovation Production Fund, I’m going three for three. What the hell.

So that’s… wow. Seven. It sounds so… productive.

I think I might make this - like my sometimes-monthly Point & Click fillers posts - a sometimes-quarterly update on what’s cookin’. Because I know you’re just busting to read it here first - and I know your need because I’m psychotic canny.

*    And what will this mean for my other ‘long-awaited’ 2007 spec? Good question.

Ooh.  Hoo boy.  Five has gotten it’s first review here.

[Fedora-tip:  Amit.]