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What to write about

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My biggest problem with this blog thing is the eternal question of what to write about. I can’t write about writing all the time and to be honest my life isn’t that interesting. I think I should’ve blogged while on holiday but who want’s to sit down everyday to write while on holiday. I did a fair amount of writing writing in Australia but I don’t want to write about and I kind of already did.

So, what to write about?

New Apple products? There are tech sites who do a far better job with that, but seriously…Apple Pencil????

New Movies? I’m not a critic. I have strong opinions about movies but I don’t think that they are coherent enough to share on a regular basis.

Books? Same problem, I’m not a critic. I love books and I read quite a few of them but I don’t think my opinions are of any value to anyone other than myself and my students.

Music? …same issue.

Stupid people? This is really tempting but then again, I don’t want to be too mean. This is one of those things though, that when done in moderation might actually be quite fun. I think I posted some rants before and if I have something to rant about I might actually do this. As I said, I’ll try to be not too mean but if someone deserves a rant, he or she will get one.

Life advice? That’d be fun and probably deadly for the people following that advice.

I could go on, but what I’m really trying to say, I’m not qualified to write about pretty much anything, but I want to keep writing which leaves me with a big dilemma.

So I decided to not care anymore. I’m going to share my opinions, ideas and pretty much anything that floats around in my head. You might not like everything but I don’t care and I hope you don’t care too much either.

but lets end with one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century, Groucho Marx:

These are my principles, If you don’t like them, I have others.

Take care and stay tuned for my first opinion/rant piece.

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Featured Screenplay: The Passion of The Geek

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old-typewriter

Not my actual typewriter.

So, I had the idea for a new feature in the site. I call it Featured Screenplay, so what I’ll do is, I’ll share some of my screenplays with some thoughts about them and if you would like to know more about them just let me know.

I’m going to start with my first real endeavor into screenwriting, I started this one a long time ago, even before “Skyscraper”. Back at University, after I completed my first (totally over-written) romantic drama (no, I wont tell that story), I decided to get rid of all that drama crap and write something funny.

I combined some of my experiences (yes, the script was a bit like therapy) and some crap I made up in my spare time and turned it into a fairly personal story that is so completely out there that even I can’t take myself serious anymore. The script is full with half-baked ideas I once had (my unfinished time-travel TV show), strange characters and scenes that are blatantly stolen from classic movies.

I called this magnum opus “The Passion of the Geek” and even though the script has many flaws, I still remember it very fondly. The “hero” of the story is Ben, basically a movie version of me, which gets confusing when Ben has to convince me, yes me Greg, to help him rewrite the movie.

Yes, it’s quite strange.

I break the fourth wall a lot and the script makes fun of certain romantic comedy tropes. I tried to write a movie with jokes for people like me, a lot of meta-jokes and some nice references. It is really important though, that I don’t consider it a spoof movie. I’m not the biggest fan of recent spoof movies and I tried to avoid their biggest mistakes and focused more on timeless pop culture than on recent hits.

“The Passion of the Geek” probably not my most original work (hell, even the title is kind of stolen) but I’d argue that the the script is more than the sum of its parts. Maybe you read it and be the judge of that. I include a little sample here. Feel free to comment and critique it.

EXT. OLD FACTORY, PARTY LOCATION – NIGHT

Amy and Ben are standing in front of the old factory. Full moon above them. It is a really romantic setting. Amy seems a bit uncomfortable with the situation.

AMY

Okay, what is it?

BEN

Long or short version.

AMY

Make it short.

BEN

Short then.

(deep breath)

Amy, it has been a long time since the day we met and I wanted to say this a million times but I never had the guts to. But now, thanks to Olga, I just have to tell you how much I love you.

Ben feels relieved. The weight of the world has just fallen off him.

AMY

Who’s Olga?

BEN

Never mind, forget about Olga. Olga is not important. I just really like you and I hope that you like me too.

Amy is moved by Ben’s honesty and she is sad that she has to disappoint him.

AMY

Listen Ben, you are a really nice guy and I really like you too but I’m sorry, there is someone else.

The echo of the “someone else” travels around the world.

Ben tries to hide his disappointment.

BEN

It’s okay I expected that to happen, but it was important for me to let you know how I feel. Is it too late to play the friendship card?

AMY

No it isn’t. I would love to have a friend like you.

BEN

Friends then?

AMY

Yes Friends.

She smiles and kisses him on the cheek. The image freezes and the picture quality changes.

INT. TV ROOM – NIGHT

The footage of Amy and Ben kissing is shown on a TV. Ben stands next to the TV.

BEN

(to the audience)

That’s what I call crash and burn, I got totally friendzoned but you have to admit that I stayed cool. I could have freaked out, but I stayed cool. But let’s press rewind and watch it again.

He presses rewind and the video rewinds.

BEN

Where I got the video? The Internet where else? But now look how I experienced it.

The TV shows the scene from before.

BEN (IN TV)

I just really like you and I hope you could like me too.

AMY (IN TV)

Listen Ben, you are a really nice guy and I really like you too but I’m sorry, there is someone else.

Her eyes start glowing red. She takes her hand and rams it into Ben’s chest. She rips his heart out. She holds the beating heart in her hand and LAUGHS LIKE A SUPER VILLAIN. Then she throws it on the ground and stomps on it.

BEN

I need a drink.

Ben walks away from the TV.

EXT. OLD FACTORY, PARTY LOCATION – NIGHT

Amy and Ben are walking back into the Building.

AMY

Wanna know something funny? Back when we met, you know the accident and everything?

BEN

Yeah, sure how could I forget.

AMY

I kind of had a crush on you.

BEN

Really?

AMY

Yes.

Amy smiles.

INT. TV ROOM – NIGHT

EVIL AMY on the TV screen kicks Ben in his testicles.

This is one of my favorite scenes and shows the kind of humor the screenplay uses. I hope you liked it.

The current version of “The Passion of the Geek” is 102 pages long and was last revised in October 2016. So if you’re interested in a half-baked strange comedy for total geeks, drop me a line.

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Apple Music

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Apple Music…I like it.

And now for something completely different…Apple Music.

I’m a huge Apple Fanboy so it’s no surprise that I tried the Apple Music Service and I have to admit that I quite like it. Sure, it has its flaws but most new Apple services have some issues at the beginning but two feature I really like are the playlists and some of the radio stations.

For some strange reason “Beats1” doesn’t work but I don’t think the music selection there ist right up my alley but I had a look at some of the genre stations and some hand/genius made playlists that were recommended for my taste and I have to admit that I rarely have to skip a song and if I do, it’s mostly because I heard that song too many times because I own it.

I tried Apple Music on my birthday and the selection was spot on, I only wish, that there was an option to make the playlists endless (no, not repeat) but I guess that’s the problem with curated stuff. Someone has to make an “endless” playlist.

But anyway. I hope that they keep improving the service and that they keep adding music. I decided to stay on and keep using Apple Music.

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The ideas keep coming

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As you may know, I’m in the middle of my new screenplay. Well, middle is a bit of an exaggeration but I have 23 pages which is quite ok. about two thirds of those pages are actual screenplay pages and the rest is outline and notes.

Leuchtturm 1917

But I don’t want to talk about the outlines. I want to talk about my handwritten notes/ideas I wrote in my little black book, no it’s not a moleskin it’s a Leuchtturm 1917 and those little things are just awesome. But I’m getting side tracked it’s not about the notebook you use, it’s about what you use it for and I like to use it for a whole bunch of things.

  • I like to use them for ideas. These ideas can be a few words or a few pages but most of the time there are not fully fleshed out and are just there to make me not forget something I think I might use some day.
  • I also use it to make an outline and by outline I mean the basic structure with some moments, septettes and character beats woven in. The outline and basic Idea for “Down Under” is 11 pages in my notebook and was written in one day.
  • Then there are shower thoughts and by that I mean script related thoughts that might turn into ideas. These is probably the most useful thing I write down and when I browse though my notebooks these short entries usually are the most interesting and sometimes lead to interesting rewrites. “Make Saber older” was one of these and I just had a great one on Monday for “Down Under”.

But it doesn’t matter what you use your notebook for or if you even use one, just make sure you have something at hand to write down what your brain spits out. A lot of it might be garbage but there might be this tiny spark of something that’ll turn into a great idea and you wouldn’t want to forget or miss that one. So write everything down. Use your phone (sometimes i do that as well) or a pice of paper (don’t loose them) or text or email yourself (technically that’s like using your phone) but make sure you write because that’s what it’s all about. The more you write the better the chance that you write something good.

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Inspiration

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Wow, second post within a week. what’s wrong with me, ah yeah, I remember, I got inspired. So let’s ride that wave as long as its there.

Inspiration is one of those things that you can try and hunt down but you might as well wait until it comes along on its own…and I can’t believe that I just wrote that crappy sentence because it kind of sounds right but it’s total bullcrap. Sure, it might seem from time to time that inspiration just hits you out of nowhere but you’re lying to yourself if you think that the hours, days, weeks or whatever that lead up to that moment weren’t as important as the moment itself.

Inspiration light bulb

Screw the light bulb!

Inspiration is often described as the moment someone switches on a light bulb and I actually quite like that image but it is misleading. Inspiration is not just the moment the light is switched on, it’s everything leading up to that moment. Before I can switch on my light bulb I have to build a house, makes sure the wiring is correct, actually buy a bulb, screw it in (insert you how many … does it need two score in a light bulb jokes) pay the utilities and maybe, maybe if none (especially me) made a mistake, then maybe I can switch the light on.

So what am I trying to say here. Inspiration isn’t a moment, it’s a process. You have to work for it, you have to earn it and sure, life is hard but unfair and they are those people that seem to get inspired all the time without any effort but I have news for you. Either their ideas are crap or they are just screwing with us and pretend that everything comes easy to them. Don’t ask me why they do that, some people are just dicks.

But anyway, if you want to be inspired, you have to work for it. Do interesting and new things, met new and interesting people and make an effort, the longer it takes, the better the idea. Picture it like a mountain, the loner and harder the walk, the better the view.

So, that’s it for today. I have to get back to enjoy the view and write some pages.

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I’m back and this time I mean it…seriously!

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I’m back and I’m writing.

I know I said that before but I truly believe that this time I might last at least a week or so. I feel motivated and full of energy and I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt this good about pretty much everything. Sure, there are the daily quarrels of life but somehow they don’t seem as bad as they usually are. Before you get any ideas about my sudden change in mood, perspective and excitement…. I cracked my next project and I’m writing again.

P1000104

Uluru

I know, you probably had a different thought but I feel really excited about my new (old) idea that I cracked during summer. I traveled to Australia and spent five awesome weeks there. Australia is a beautiful country, everywhere you look you get inspired but even more than the country, I got inspired by the people I met.

I had the honor and pleasure of meeting many awesome people on my trip and even though some of them I only met briefly, I’ll remember each and everyone. It really paid of to do this trip alone because it forced me to open myself up to other people and it was definitely worth it to get out of my comfort zone. “Getting out of my comfort zone”was pretty much the theme of the holiday. I decided to do all the stuff I never thought I would do and I was surprised how well I did and how those experiences changed me.

IMG 3026

Finding Nemo

You knew that I could have a great time camping in the outback and sleeping in a swag? (Well, taking a shower on an outback campsite is still on the list of things I have to do.) How did I not realize how much fun river rafting is? And why on earth have I waited 32 years to start scuba diving?

But, as great as all those things (and countless more) were, they get second place when I think of the people I shared those experiences with or the people I just randomly met on my journey. I would love to name a few of those people but it somehow feels wrong to compile a list and leave a few people off. Everyone was equally important in making this trip memorable and everyone contributed to the wonderful experience I had.

Among all the strangers I met, there are a few I call friends now and every time I think about my journey, I realize that they were the people who made this trip special and they are what truly inspired me. I had a similar experience during my summer in Cambridge and strangely, the people I met in Australia are somehow similar tho those I met in Cambridge, which I think that I must be one of the luckiest people on this planet to meet such great people not once but twice. Maybe I attract those kinds of people but I prefer to think that they found/find me.

So, when I say that I got inspired, I really mean that. Since that summer in Cambridge I always wanted to write an ensemble piece about people traveling and experiencing something together and in Australia I realized, that this is it. If I combine my time in Cambridge and my time in Australia with all the people I had the honor the meet and get to know, I end up with a great story, a story about people who are looking for something. Some are looking for adventure, some love, others are searching themselves but all of them are looking for friendship.

It took me 30 hours to get home from Australia but that was enough time to finish an outline and I’m almost 20 pages into the screenplay and so far, I really like what I’m reading. It’s far from perfect and I have to figure out the exact tone of the script but I’m in love with the characters and that’s what excites me the most.

I hope to be able to share something around christmas, so stay tuned.

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So it’s January again

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It’s January again, but I’m not even trying anymore. This blog thing is not going to work out the way I intended to but on the bright side, 2014 was a quite productive year for me. Saber Rider is coming along great and some other projects got some well deserved attention to. I reworked “The Passion of the Geek” and I’m thinking of taking “Tomorrow” out of the drawer.

Orlindo and I are currently working on an idea for a german movie project. We have some interesting ideas and we’re positive that we can come up with something that “ze Germans” are interested in.

I’ll try to keep you posted on our progress but don’t count on it. 🙂

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Looks Like I did it again….

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Seems like I forget to update the blog…again…but this time I have a good reason.

Actually I have more than one good reason, so let me give you an update.

1. My new flat is almost done and by almost i mean that I have absolutely no idea when it will be done. The only thing I know ist that building your own house/flat is one of the most bizarre things ever and that doesn’t include all the annoying things the contractors do.

2. Work is murder. I don’t know why but this year has been particularly stressful, especially the last couple of weeks. I’m really looking forwards to the end of the school year.

3. Saber Rider is coming along great. The last rewrite was a blast and I really think we cracked it. Sure, there are some minor kinks here and there but we have a fun movie that makes (for the most part) sense. In the end we started to change a few things and realized that we didn’t need to stick too close to the source and instead decided top deliver our version of Saber Rider. We don’t know how people will react but we strongly believe that we did the right thing. Certain things made no sense, or still make no sense in the series (ist just for kids, you know) and by bringing it to the big screen we just had to address some of these issues.

Yes, thats why I didn’t post and to be honest I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel yet. Someday I’ll have to move and the next rewrite or the next project awaits and hopefully works is not going away either. But I keep you up to date.

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A NEW SCREENPLAY FORMAT

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John August & Craig Mazin of Scriptnotes are developing (or at least talking about) a new format for screenplays. They are not talking about a new file extension, they want to change they way screenplays look, feel and are read. I find the whole idea intriguing and I want to offer my two cents.

When trying to do something new, I always think about what exactly I want. So what do I want from a screenplay format.
– more control over how the screenplay looks
– easier way to convey movement and camera directions
– better way to handle a location changes within a scene or sequence
– more options when it comes to dialogue

Generally speaking, I want screenplays to be easier to write/format, to look prettier and I want ways to be less vague about my intentions without using to much words. I know parts of this are just being a good writer, but if the format helps who am I to say no to that.

Since most screenplays are read on a computer or a tablet, it is with considering adding a dynamic element to the format. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want the format to turn into a design exercise but giving the reader options on how to read/experience the story could be fun. Maybe there’s a way to require an input before revealing something “worth revealing”. Or, page changes could indicate how something ist cut. ist it a “FADE IN” -the next page fades in; Hard CUT…you get the idea.

Or we just skip all that and focus on the words. Keep ist simple. This part of the screen/page is reserved to what we see, that part deals with the dialogue and other sounds and a third part is for comments and notes.

There are thousands of possibilities how this could turn out and I’m really interested in the outcome. Let’s hope it works out and maybe it will change the industry.

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Rewriting Saber Rider

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We got some interesting feedback. Some good, some not so good but in general we got what we were expecting.

We ordered two paid reads on the blcklst (the Blacklist) and received two very different reviews (so different that even the blcklst) thinks something is off). Even though they are very different the review pointed the same things out, one of the readers just thought our story has more potential and liked our execution better than the other one.

We are aware that “Saber Rider” is a hard sell but we are certain that (if executed correctly, including a lot of rewrites) it has the potential to be awesome and very lucrative.

So, what do we do now? Well, I have no idea. I agree with some of the weaknesses discussed but I strongly disagree with some other points both readers made. So how do I choose what to do and what to ignore? Sure, there’s “kill your darlings” but that can’t be the only answer. It’s probably one of these “the truth is in the middle” scenarios.

There was one point both readers raised and even though we deliberately decided not to go that route in the beginning it’s probably time to accept that we have to adhere to some conventions of the genre and fulfill some of the expectations the audience (or the reader) has. So we decided to rework the Saber Rider character. We had an interesting (but controversial) idea and I will implement the changes in the next couple of weeks.

Iain Glen

Ian Glen as Saber Rider?

So, what is that idea? We decided to age Saber. I had the Idea while surfing the “interweb” and I came across a picture of Iain Glen, Jorah Mormont in Game of Thrones.
For some reason I started to see him as an older Saber. So why would an older Saber be a good idea? Well, we think that an older Saber adds some depth to the character, his backstory gets more interesting and we can introduce him as a veteran of the first war who still has some unresolved issues that haunt him. We envision him as someone who lost his way but gets an opportunity to either loose of completely or get back on the horse and become the man we know and love. Some fans might not like the idea of an older (we are talking mid 50ies) Saber Rider but we hope that once Colt starts cracking jokes about Sabers age (which happens about 2 seconds after they meet for the first time) they’ll accept out version of the character.

An older Saber also adds some depth to Fireball. Saber knew Fireballs father with could lead/leads to some tension but also allows for some interesting character developments. As for April and Jesse, well they met Saber at the Academy. He trained them which makes it more natural that she trusts him and Jesse has even more reasons not to like him. But one question remains, why didn’t Saber have the great career he deserved? I don’t want to spoil too much but he suffers from survivors guilt.

Now I have definitely said enough. I need to get back to writing now. Check back in a few weeks.