Becoming A Screenwriter For Hire

The Athletic Nerd Screenwriting Blog

This week, I’ll be meeting with 17 West Producer/Director Eric Gamache to go over ideas for one of our newest projects.

The story details will remain a secret for now but I will tell you it is dark and involves an island that looks something like this:

17 West Productions Location Scout Short Film

It will become my first screenplay adapted from someone else’s idea.

This frightens me.

However, I’m actually excited to tackle someone else’s story.

There is a certain level of comfort when you are working on your own concepts and developing your own scripts.

I think screenwriting isn’t as fun if you don’t step out of your comfort zone every now and then. 

How else are you going to keep things fresh and interesting?

You’ve got to challenge yourself.

So I’ll be taking notes and listening intently to my “client” during the meeting.  I want to make sure I truly understand what he wants and what kind of story he wants to tell.

I’m curious to see how it turns out in the end.

We’ve spent the last few weeks tweaking another project and the results have been amazing.  It’s a fantastic working relationship.

This new idea has all the makings of something fun and entertaining.

I’m looking forward to getting started.

Going The Distance… Whatever It Takes

Going The Distance...  Whatever It Takes

Every once in a while, a movie comes along that you can truly relate to.  A movie that deals with issues and challenges you have faced or are currently trying to overcome.

Going The Distance is such a movie for me.

Going the Distance movie 2010

Over a year ago, I met the girl who would one day become my best friend.  Someone who understood me for who I am.  I still can’t believe I found her.

But there was a problem…

2 hours separated us.

We knew right away that our relationship was too important and exciting to throw away so we challenged ourselves to make the distance work.

Even though statistics show that long distance can’t work we knew we would beat the odds.

And we did.  For a year we traveled back and forth and saw each other as much as possible.

I’m happy to report we now live together.

You can see how Going The Distance was an easy pick for a Saturday matinee.  The movie isn’t the greatest romantic comedy ever made but it definitely has some funny moments.  For us, it was great to see so many similarities on screen.

After being in a long distance relationship, I can definitely say that it becomes exhausting missing someone so much.  Nights go by and you wish you could just live in the same city already!  This was a big issue that Drew Barrymore and Justin Long faced in the film.

The movie itself had a bunch of lines that caused us to smile at each other as we realized we definitely made it work and continue to make it work everyday.

This is another reason why I love movies. They make you take stock of what you have and what you want.  They connect to you on personal levels allowing you to truly relate to the story in unique ways.

The filmmakers never knew that we would sit in a theater on a windy Saturday afternoon and reflect on a wonderful year.  That’s what fascinates me about storytelling.

Hopefully, my writing will connect to audiences someday.  I’m going to keep working until it does.  Until that time, I’m thankful for what I have and who I found one year ago.  I’m happy that we did whatever it took to make it work.

I’m lucky.

Rainy Sundays: My Life

Rainy Sundays Movie Picks My Life

My life is a fantastic movie to watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

This week’s pick is a film that scares me every time I see it.  Truthfully, I’m almost afraid to watch it because it makes me think about my own life and how precious every day is.  At the same time, the film also makes me thankful for what I have and reminds me to embrace each day to the fullest.

Movies to watch on a lazy day My Life

My Life is the story of a man dealing with cancer and struggling to tie up all the loose ends in his life.  At the same time he also struggles to stay alive long enough to watch the birth of his son.

Michael Keaton and Nicole Kidman are both outstanding in it and I couldn’t recommend it more.

Especially if you are looking for a movie to watch on a lazy day.

17W Short Film: 4 Stops

4 Stops Short Film 17 West Productions

4 Stops

One man riding a subway has a limited time to talk to a beautiful woman without being creepy. Can he achieve the impossible?

You can check out some feedback we got at the WILDsound festival below:

Gareth Edwards’ MONSTERS Is Inspiring!

 Monsters Is Inspiring Gareth Edwards'

I came across two posts over at SLASH FILM today about how director Gareth Edwards made the upcoming alien invasion story:

Monsters

Click here to read a complete write up on the film.

Click here to learn more about how the director pulled it off.

The film is due in theaters this fall and it’s hands down one of my most anticipated movies of the year.  The fact that the majority of the film was done with a minimal budget and edited on equipment I have access to is inspiring. 

All I want to do is get back to cutting my latest short film, The Climb.

I want to be in my office with Final Cut Pro opened up and really create something entertaining.  Monsters also has me pumped up for my new feature length screenplay that I’m planning on starting this fall.

I love the feeling of being inspired. 

I was already excited about the film but then I saw the video embedded below and it pushed me over the top.

Not only that, the artwork and posters for the film are truly unbelievable.  Check out the poster below!  So simple.  So awesome.

I can’t wait to see Monsters on the big screen.

Gareth Edwards Indie Alien Invasion Monsters 2010

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