Review.

Michigan's screenwriting program is a hidden gem of the Midwest. I myself would not have known about it if I didn't have friends who already attended Michigan. When I was considering film schools, Michigan came out comparable to NYU and UCLA (at least in regards to screenwriting. Michigan, from what little I experienced as a short on time transfer student, has a great production department as well, and one of my Michigan professors always talked about how Michigan was so much better than his alma mater, USC).

And then the kicker -- Michigan, unlike most of the other schools I was considering, took midyear transfers. Sold and enrolled.

I promise the commercial for Michigan is almost over, but first let me explain the structure of the feature writing classes. Screenwriting I is open to everyone. You are taught structure and format and you write your first script. HALF of you are invited into Screenwriting II. Screenwriting II is a unique class where you're taught to rewrite. You come out with a new draft of your Screenwriting I script. Half of THOSE students are invited into Screenwriting III, a master workshopping class where you write a new script under the mentorship of head of the program. (Side note: I went through all three classes, which makes me feel pretty good about myself. Some people I know when through all three classes and won huge cash awards, which helps me keep my ego in check.)

In a week and a half, V. and I will be presenting Consideration to the Screenwriting II class. Their homework is to take the script, read it, and come back the next weeks with notes. At which point I will sit down at the table, pull out my laptop, and record the tidal wave of notes. Then our homework is to come back the next week to show how we incorporated the notes into our script. It's supposed to get their head in the game for rewriting (which can be a bit of a shock, the first time you're expected to do more than just edit) and it's supposed to give us an opportunity to get input on the script.

I am a little bit nervous about this. One, I know what kind of egos will be a room of 12 screenwriting students who just got into an invitation only class. I know, because I had one of them. Two, because I'm just nervous about showing Consideration to anyone yet.

Maybe that's because I'm not even through the second draft yet, I don't know. But I only wrote one new script since graduation (I was also rewriting other scripts and writing lots of first acts), and I didn't show anyone that until I had written three drafts. And I was going to wait until draft four, but I decided to send it to a friend with my intended changes to see what she thought. That's it.

So to hand off a baby script to a dozen over zealous college students makes me a little nervous. I have a pretty thick skin, but V. has been very patient and maybe I've gotten soft and -- sensitive.

But what really makes me nervous is not the screenwriting students. The head of the screenwriting department teaches that class, so he'll read this draft too. It's the first work of mine that he'll have read in three years. I desperately want to have improved. I'm totally not looking for validation or anything.

I would have liked to wait until draft 3 to show anyone anything, I really would have. But that's not the case, and I am grateful for this opportunity anyway. I'm sure a room of screenwriting students is not unlike a room of executives, so it'll be good practice for getting studio notes in the future. Because I do expect to get a lot of those.

I like car-dancing to Sean Kingston's "Replay"

Today was my first day at the day job. I'm working as a teacher's aide for a second grade classroom. It's crazy and a little overwhelming, but I think I'm going to like it. Everyone I've met so far has been really great. It reminds me of camp in a lot of ways. Our children line up in classrooms before school, once we're inside we say the pledge and sing a patriotic song, and the teacher raised her hand for quiet. It made a good first impression on me.

I had three different Michigan experiences today. The first (and I think the most awesome) was when I saw one of the other second graders (not in my class, sadly) with Michigan 'M' face tattoos on both her cheeks. She is being well trained. The second was a University of Michigan decal on a car. And the third was when I was at Starbucks and I inadvertently saw the wallet of the guy I was behind of in line. He had a Michigan student ID card. (So of course I asked him if he was an alumni and then had to awkwardly defend any assumptions that I was a creeper because I was looking at his wallet.)

Finished Act III of the pilot rewrite. I have until Friday to write Act IV (which requires the most actual rewriting, of course), I'll take a day or two to make minor alterations and polish it up, and by next week it should be read-ready. I also implicated myself into a script swap in about a month with a former screenwriting professor. That's great because it'll give me a hard deadline to work towards. But I'm going to have to jump on that as soon as I'm done with this draft of the pilot, and I haven't even decided which script I want to pursue.

Also, I saw a guy bike riding on route 17 tonight. Anyone from Jersey knows how ridiculously insane that is.

Justification

Screenwriting from Iowa has an excellent post about screenwriting in Michigan that was posted around the time the tax incentives were taking off. We have quite an illustrious literary history.

I'm a real person now!

And no, I have no plans. :)

Acta non verba

I love my desk.

It's about to get packed up, but the collection of things on it is - well, so amazing. I'm finally using the bud vase I painted in Chicago last year to hold two beautiful pink roses. My worn copy of the Princess Bride, recently returned from another convent, is sitting onto of my hardcopy of my script from screenwriting class. On the cork board leaning against the back of my desk is a sheet of those inch wide stickers with your face on them of me and my best friend up here when we were at a pinball place. 8 mm film hangs from my pencil holder. And I have pictures of the people who are my life are plastered all around.

I'm done with school. It's over. How quickly the year went by. I might wax reminiscent, but another time.

We edited today (I feel like that's a really annoying word to say in real life: "edited." It's because there are three "d/t" sounds in it) and got a rough cut of "Join This Group?" done. We actually didn't watch it all the way through, but the audio - which was what I was concerned about - came out ok. I didn't realize, though, that some of the facilities start closing soon. I'm recording the voice over with the talent tomorrow (we'll see how I do with the equipment all by myself), and we'll layer that on and work on the fine cut Wednesday. My editor is great - she's so familiar with Final Cut.

I went to a showcase of films made for classes over the past semester. It was really cool seeing what some of the other students have been working on. I especially liked the use of locale in one, and I hope that one day - if I have time - I can just wander around and take pictures and let the creative juices flow. In order to choose between a typical location and a unique and interesting location, I need to know where the cool locations are.

I was eavesdropping in feminist film class the other day and heard another girl talk about how our screenwriting program chair had advised her not to move out to LA yet. Among one of the reasons was that when everyone gets out there, they all write the same stories. You can see that here sometimes, people writing the same stories. We have limited resources and are going through similar life issues, which can make it seem dull in this context. But I think there are a lot of opportunities for unique stories using those same resources. It just takes an extra little digging trying to find them.

I realized the other day that I've only stayed awake for one out of class movie this entire semester. I watched all of Vantage Point - barely, I barely made it through the movie. All others I've fallen asleep during.

My Screnzy script - does not exist. I have the six pages I wrote way back when, and that is all. I may be could do it, if I wasn't working long hours this week, working on "Join This Group?", cramming in those last few memorable hours with friends, and suffering from a complete lack of motivation. I hate being this unbusy. It drains my energy and motivation like nothing else.

But I shouldn't whine. I think I'm just annoyed that all my friends are leaving. Really, as much as I wanted to spend as much time with all of them as possible, I should have left as soon as I was finished. Now instead of one good bye for me I have to say good bye multiple times to multiple people. And one of my closest friends is graduating this year, so ever time I walk through the Diag and the sea of 30,000 folding chairs there, I suffer a mini heartbreak. Sometimes I struggle with the balance between letting go and holding on, between running away and carrying useless torches. But you know what? I'm ok with being sad about the end of the year. Because all it really means is that I love this place and these people so gosh darn much.

It was a clue.

Our GSIs are out striking today and tomorrow. Apparently, the undergrads are supposed to support them by not going to class. I don't see how this is a great option for me, so I go to class anyway. I am afraid of getting eaten.

One of my friends asked me if I'd be interested in talking to a reporter about the strike, to which I responded with a definite no. Hey, I can recognize when I'm uneducated about something. I am sympathetic towards strikers in general, but I do think each one should be evaluated on the unique situation. I think, though, the recent writers' strike makes me feel a little guilty when I skirt around the picket circles to enter buildings through another door.

On the up side, it means that three of my four classes tomorrow are canceled, so all I have is screenwriting at 6. And the last half of our second acts are due, so you know I'll probably be pulling another, albeit smaller, sprint.

Speaking of screenwriting, I met with my professor yesterday. He said very nice things about my writing which caused me to immediately call my mother to brag and reassure her that I would not be starving on the streets of LA when I graduate.

LA. Scary as all heck sometimes, but I'm getting more and more excited about it. Or maybe it's just the fact that we got 6 inches of snow the second day of spring and it still hasn't all melted.

Does anyone else revert to middle school flirting tactics sometimes? Maybe it's just me... My two favourites: stealing things/planning pranks and avoidance. I mean, I'm sure guys love it when you tease them incessantly - or just plain out avoid them. That's effective too. : )

I went to take a nap this afternoon, just an hour or two. I woke up four hours later. It was pretty sad. And in my dream, I was murdered. It was freaky and I thought it was real.

I swear I had something real to say in this post. Wish I could remember what.

Watching Garden State. I looove this movie. "Hey guys, don't stay in here all day. I took the batteries out of the carbon monoxide detector - it was beeping all night."

He'll Spring Break Your Legs.

Reporting from enemy territory. I'm enjoying a cup of tea, throwing furtive looks around the Panera as my college bag branding me as someone who should be stoned is stuffed safely in the corner of my booth (it's an engineering bag anyway; I got it from work. And yes, I feel like such a poser, and I'm proud of it, in a stick it to the man sort of way). Part of me wants to flaunt my college football affiliation, but I feel like the fact that I saw someone wearing a hat for the opposition made me feel like starting a fight is a sign that I should keep all this on the DL.

I never cared about college rivalries before I transfered.

My nightmare bus ride finally ended last night, about twelve hours after I initially arrived at my departing station. I almost got stranded overnight at afore mentioned scary transfer city, and our driver actually drove past our destination city before getting on the PA system and asking if anyone knew how to get to the bus station because he had faulty directions. Oh geez.

I saw Definitely Maybe last night, which Billy Mernit talks about here. I liked Billy's post, that included questions with the writer/director, but as for the movie... It was enjoyable, and I'd recommend it if you're looking for a good rom com. I didn't laugh as loud or hard as I have in other movies I've seen recently, and I think that I found it unbelievable that the male protagonist could sustain such intense feelings for all three female leads in the given timeline. Maybe that's just me, though. I feel like every movie I see now a days makes me want to cry, no matter how cheesy it is. The trip to the movie theatre also included a picture with Patrick Dempsey advertising for his upcoming movie Made of Honor. Which is, incidentally, a movie that I will gauge my eyes out before seeing. Ok, that's probably not true, but I will protest loudly and fervently on principle if such occasion arises.

I don't get to watch the Oscars tonight. My friend and I thought about TiVoing it and throwing an Oscar party after break (ok, well, really that was all my scheme. He just wanted an excuse to throw a party). I even just bought a great sparkly dress that would have been perfect for the occasion. Oh well, I don't have a good track record with the Oscars. I think I used them as an excuse to get out of something last year, and then fell asleep before all the major awards were announced.

Social Experiments

I swear there was a girl doing one on me in the elevator today. I was riding down from the sixth floor, and she got on somewhere around the fourth, and she stared, not at the numbers above the door like normal people do, no, she stared at me for the majority of the time. It was creepy. I wanted to turn to see if she really was staring at me, but what do you do when you look eyes with someone who's staring at you in an elevator?

I'm working on a short script that will require a look alike. How do you go around trying to find a look alike? I mean, auditions only go so far. Do you just sit around and stare at people? And then, if you finally spot someone who would be *perfect* for the part, how do you approach them? "Umm, hello... My name is Amy. So, I'm not so good at this, I don't do this often, but yeah... I'm a film student, and I think you would be perfect for a part I have - what kind of film? Haha, no I promise I'm not hitting on you, but you would, literally, be perfect for this part. What part is that? Well, you'd be playing Mark Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook. Uh, why are you leaving? Oh, ok. Well, can I give you my email? How are you going to call me, I didn't give you my number. Oh, ok, well, have a good night!"

Yes, I do not see that going too extremely well.

Another great social experiment? When your friends are passed out on their futons and leave their doors wide open, steal their large appliances. Who would pass up a laptop and take a microwave?

No idea. : )

Things should be different

I went into South Quad today to buy some food, and I was shocked and appalled to see this sign on the wall: "Elevators ---> Because we're not West Quad."

They're just jealous that they always lose to us in the snow ball fight.

Not for sensitive eyes

Or the story of how I went blind for 5 hours.

On Labor Day, I didn't really have anything to do besides get ready for classes the next day, so I got up, got a lazy start, hung around my room. about ten minutes after putting my contacts in, I noticed that everything seemed a little... hazy. After about half an hour of wondering if all those horror stories I heard about your contacts slowly causing eye damage were true, I took my contacts out, washed them, and put them back in. It didn't do anything. Not only did it not clear up my vision, but everything was still hazy without my contacts in at all. It was driving me crazy, so I just took them out and went about the rest of my day with very limited vision.

I tried to ignore the fact that my eyes were burning. It wasn't much at first, but by late afternoon when I was out drinking my peppermint mocha frappucino and plotting out my next screenplay on the Diag, I had to close my eyes.

And then I couldn't open them. It was only for a few minutes, but I decided that it was time to give up on the beautiful day and head back inside while I was able to keep my eyes open. When I got back to my room I took a look in the mirror - my eyes were bloodshot like Frankenstein's bride, really. However, I was still able to keep them mostly open at this point, and so went out to meet up with a friend and go hang out at her house (instead of going to the movies like the original plan was. At least I was smart enough to realize that sitting in a dark room with a huge blindingly bright screen shining in your face would not be good for sensitive eyes). But when we got to said friend's house, I sat down, closed my eyes, and that was pretty much when my 5 hours of legal blindness started.

Long story short, be careful to not wear contaminated contacts. They cause double eye infections. Diane had to lead me around by the arm in CVS on our way to the pharmaceutical counter, my sunglasses on, my eyes tearing and my nose running like I was having an emotional breakdown. Two rounds of eye drops and a sound only version of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" later, I could open my eyes enough to walk home by myself. I bet everyone was wondering, though, who that pompous girl was to think it was cool to wear her sunglasses at night.

I don't actually like *coffee,* but that's ok

I got my football tickets! I was starting to worry that they weren't going to get here in time. They're so pretty. I just need to buy more things that match with blue and maize.

My brother today told me we were going to learn to drive at the same time. Heck no! Now I'm determined to get this taken care of.

I saw Heroes the other night. I didn't find it impressive as people say, but there was a cute moment when this guy got this book for this girl about mutation or something, all on his own, without her asking. And then, I was watching Gilmore Girls, and Lorelei's car dies, and she doesn't want a new one she wants her old one, so Luke goes online, finds a car that's hers exactly, goes to the guy who owns it, tests drives it, and figures out the way to switch engines. And this is all after her and Luke have broken up. Without her asking him to do this. Guys should take notes. Because that's when we know you really like us. : P

My parents got me Cinnamon Roll Poptarts. A-maz-ing.

I'm going through social withdrawal. The only time I managed to leave the house all day today was when we went out to dinner because it was raining all day long. : ( I am *yearning* to be back at school, where it's like camp, and you're surrounded by people 24/7 and your friends are always within walking distance. But Heather's coming to visit tomorrow, and we're going to see Shakespeare in the Park and go to the top of the Empire State Building and watch lots of movies. I'm excited.

I'm also excited about these football tickets, have I mentioned that?

This is the youngest I'll ever be

You can get a lot of free ice cream in Ann Arbor on your birthday.

Click my heels three times...

I am crawling out of my skin to get to Michigan. I am so ready for school, for having friends around, to just have a routine, busy full days, doing things I like, hanging out with people I like. But that's not all. I'm in the process of moving again, and it's making me crazy. In the past year, I've moved from Anderson to Jersey, Jersey to England, back from England again, and now on to Michigan. Four major moves in the past twelve months. Half the reason I'm considering staying in Ann Arbor over the summer is because I don't want to go through moving again. Every time I've moved some where in the past year, I've known it's not going to be for long. And I am *so* excited about Michigan, not because of all the fun times and the academics (taking a semester out of school will make a nerd out of anyone) or because we have a kick butt football team (because I would feel this way no matter which school I would be starting out this year), but because I know I'm going to be there for a while. I can settle finally. It can sorta become home.

Writers are God's most pretentious creatures.

I remember, last year during NaNo, I blogged a ridiculous amount, often bemoaning the duress of the month. I don't know the last time I did a substantial blog of anything other than song lyrics. I'll just say I've been expending all my creative energy on my other masterpieces.

That, and real life.

I'm going to school again in January, and I'm so psyched! It's a little surreal; I never thought, really, that I would be going where I've decided. On the other hand, once I decided, months ago, that it was where I wanted to go, I knew if it was in the smallest way feasible, I'd be there. I'm stubbornly persistent sometimes. Sometimes it works. Hopefully, this time the major will stick, now that I've decided to abandon all those programs I was in so I would have a day job to support my writing and just chosen instead a program that will facilitate my dreams of being a starving artist. My job is too important for it to be anything other than what I really want to be doing with my life.

In preparation for the program, and because of various contacts I've been making, I'm soaking myself in as much screenwriting literature and advice as possible. It's a little overwhelming sometimes, but I'm learning lots already, and it's just making me more excited for January, when I can actually start taking classes and applying what I know and learning more. I have a couple of script ideas spinning around, but right now I feel guilty working on them.

Because of NaNo.

Right now I'm at about 31,000 words with less than a week to go. With my average speed of 1,000 words a half hour and the fact that I don't' do much of anything now that I'm back in America, it isn't impossible to finish by midnight, Novemeber 30th. I'm having a hard time focusing. I picked a subject that was too serious, and I'm not having nearly as much fun writing it as I did last year. On the other hand, I'm sorta glad I stuck with this subject, because I was going to have to write it sometime, since it was just one of those ideas that kept sticking with me. However, it's so much flater than I thought it would be, and it definitely needs a lot of strucutral and plot work because it's anywhere near the work of literary genius I thought it would be. And it doesn't help that I'd much rather be reading about screenplay writing than writing my NaNo. But I suppose part of NaNo is the procrastination (not like I'm not a master of that already).

Right now, it's time for a game of Boggle with my family. Those three thousand words I need to write? Totally can do it later, no problem...