Summer Lovin': The Screenwriting Classes - The Finale

It's been about 3 weeks since classes ended and the grades are out. In my Dramatic TV Series class, I got an A-and in my (Advanced) Developing the Screenplay class, I got an A.

I will admit I was a little bothered with the A-, and yes, I'm one of those people.

But I should be happy, there were several folks in this class who didn't do so hot. But at least the professor liked and believed in my work. Now, the next step is applying to the Master's Program. I have the grades (3.94 to be exact) and the confidence.

I think I can do this.

Could I be a TV Writer? The Screenwriting Classes part 2

Last night, we pitched our movies to a couple agents for feedback. I was nervous, but I did it and... I was told that my movie could be a TV series. The agents thought it would be great as a series because of the concept, characters and the story.

Some of the others in class wasn't so lucky. They either didn't understand their stories or they got lost in their pitches. It was sad to hear, because I know they worked so hard on their projects. But that's how the business is; it's tough and truly real.

However, I got to thinking about my script becoming a series. I could expand more on the mythos of Shadow Boy and fully develop the relationship between the 2 main guys.

I have to say I was stoked to think about this. A gay diverse cast, supernatural elements and romance... Yeah, I think I can do it and do it well.

Summer Lovin': The Screenwriting Classes part 1

My summer classes are coming to a close. It's been fun but really intense, especially in my "The Plot Thickens" Class.

In this class, we had to take our finished scripts from last year and try to "sell" them to the market. We created a query letter, developed a pitch and on Monday we will actually pitch our movies to real agents.

But the big scare was this past Wednesday. Me and other student had to go through a board meeting. This is when production companies take a script apart to see if it's interesting, watchable and marketable. Everyone in the room talks about characters, plot, story and theme.

The guy before me didn't have it so good. His script was good, but the story just didn't come together. And by the end of the discussion, everyone (except me) passed on the movie. My teacher, who owns a production company, said he would pass on it as well.

Then came my script for Shadow Boy. I was nervous, because for 30 minutes I couldn't say anything. I had to listen to all of their views and opinions. In a nutshell, they liked it. However, the straight guys wouldn't see it (gay characters) but the girl and my teacher would. My teacher said it would be a tough sell to major companies, but it could possibly be the next big thing.

He asked me if its a gay movie or a movie with gay characters. I said it's both, leaning more towards a movie with gay characters. None of them are stereotypical (no Glee gays). In fact, the guys in the class didn't realized they were gay until 20 pages in.

I also got notes from the class for Shadow Boy, here are some examples:

The concept behind SHADOW BOY is its greatest strength. Franchises such as TWILIGHT have capitalized on the intersection of the love story with the supernatural thriller, but Victor takes the genre mash-up in a new direction by featuring an extremely unique protagonist—a comic book-obsessed, gay male living in the South—who must also confront magical forces set against him. By telling the story of a unique protagonist in a more or less common setup, SHADOW BOY combines a number of conflicts—social, political, moral—in new ways.

SHADOW BOY is a compelling story with a great combination of primal and supernatural elements (survival and love with powers and shadows). A re-write to enhance the format, the characters (and their specific arcs) and the last act would reinforce this unique concept.

I felt pretty good about my review. My teacher thought of my movie as a popcorn film that could draw multiple crowds. I think I could pull the Glee/Twilight/TrueBlood crowd. Perhaps a panel at Comic Con? 

Anywho, I was happy that I wasn't a "pass". Maybe I can do this writing after all.

What will be my TV Pilot idea for Class? Part 2

So the curse of an overactive brain is the ideas just keep on coming.

I'm trying to start my TV pilot before class and when I thought I had an idea, 2 more popped up.

Last time, you guys like this idea for a show:

• A Former Circuit boy decides to change his life by taking his Grandmother's old house and turning it into a foster home for LGBT youth.

Here are the other 2 ideas

• Two awkward teens struggle to find their place the small southern town of Merrill City, Tenn. One is straight and the other is gay; they are the best of friends.

• The new Assistant Dean joins a department of the most craziest and bizarre characters in Higher Education. Usually, it's the students most universities worry about; but at Mercury University, it's the administrators.

I can't shake these ideas loose. I'm actually feeling both of them. If you like, give me your feedback. Should I stick to the original pilot or try any one of these new ideas.

What will be my TV Pilot idea for Class?

I'm signing up for summer classes in the Cinema School and I'm freaking out. In one course, I will have to create a pilot for a TV series. I'm trying to get stared now, but I'm lost.

I have a lot thoughts, characters and ideas, however I can't decide what to focus on. Here are some of my ideas so far:

• After a failed attempt to set his school on fire, a gay teen is forced to go to an alternative school. Turns out it is an all Gay High School.
•  A Gay Guy's final year in college proves to be full of drama as his love life, secret past and post-college plans collide.
• After her kids are grown and our their own, a mother starts the second leg of her life.
• A Former Circuit boy decides to change his life by taking his Grandmother's old house and turning it into a foster home for LGBT youth.
• A man's boyfriend was murdered by a cult. His lost turns into rage and begins seeking revenge on this group. But on his journey, he learns that his bf was into something far more dark and deadly than he could ever imagine.

Oh this is hard, y'all. What do think? Are these ideas too crazy? Silly? Let me know.

Screenwriting Class Update: The Class is Over

My screenwriting class is over and I'm really bummed about it. I really enjoyed this course and I'm proud to say that my script, Shadow Boy is stronger than before.

In our class, we all had to create a movie script. Out of 8 students, only 4 of us completed their work. I hoped for all of us to finished our scripts, but it wasn't in the cards.

However, I was very pleased with my script and the feedback my professor and classmates.

I will share some highlights:

• My characters were consistent throughout the entire script.
• A created a murder scene that freaked out my class.
• Folks loved my antagonist, Patrick. I enjoyed creating him... He's brilliant, powerful and a psychopathic.
• I was told I was one of the few writers to create a gay themed movie in the Advanced Screenwriting classes.
• One of my lead characters is a supernatural being, but I wouldn't name what kind of being it is. This drove some folks crazy and I loved it.
• Actually, I created a new type of supernatural being using basic mythologies and fairy tales.
• My professor thought my work was marvelous and captivating. He also said my ending was a great payoff.
  

Again, I had a great time in this class and I'm going to make Shadow Boy a real deal (someday).

Screenwriting Class Update

Hello all, I thought I give y'all an update about my cinema school course.

This is week 3 and I tell you, writing a movie script is no joke!

We are reading or rather, acting out the scenes from each others' scripts. It's interesting to see other folks' ideas, but it's hard to hear the critiques.

Well, for me, it's hard to hear.

Now don't get me wrong, I love feedback, but my script is my baby. I'm very passionate about my characters and the worlds I create. So when I receive negative (it's really constructive) feedback about my lead characters or scenes, it stings a little.

I know I have to have a tougher skin and open mind for scriptwriting, but it will take a little bit of time to get used to it. Right now, my script is good. My professor likes my work, but he wants me to speed up the action. I'm a dialogue person. My characters can talk all day, but that's the problem.

So, I'm shredding dialogue and pushing up some action pieces. Since my script is a gay supernatural tale, I need to sale the 'supernatural' piece earlier in the script. I managed to cut some out scenes, but it was really hard to do. I kept going over and over in head about how to keep them in the story. But I knew I had to let it go and keep moving.

I had to realize it's not about me, it's about my script. My script has to come first, my pride and ego has to wait their turn.

So, I'll keep y'all posted.

USC Cinema Summer Program part 2

I'm in the USC Cinema School again this summer. I'm taking Advanced Screenwriting with David Balkan, who is great BTW.

In this course, we are working on a full feature script. I'm using my idea for Shadow Boy, a gay supernatural movie. We have already created a synopsis for our movies and now we are working on our script outlines. And since I know what I want to do for a movie, the outline is coming along. I hope to have my movie in great shape by the end of the course. And maybe... I'll share it with y'all.

There's only 6 of us in the class, but I like the intimacy and creativity of the group. I think we will we turn out great scripts.

So wish me luck, I hope to pull an "A" or at "B" in this course.

I got an A in Scriptwriting!

I finally found out that I got an A in my scriptwriting class. There were only a few of us to do this and I am floored.

I was so nervous about this class, my writing and if I can still hang. I mean, my last and only scriptwriting class was in 1994, so I was a little worried.

But now, I'm ready for more. I'm going to try to get into another class for Spring.

Today begins my New (possble) Career Path

I start my scriptwriting course today. I'm nervous, but really, really excited. I don't know what to expect, however it will be a journey.

A crazy, maybe stressful, kooky journey, but one I will look forward too. I will talk about this more later.

Wish me luck