Gone Hollywood

I have finished with the latest version of my screenplay, titled The Moon Illusion. I say the "latest version," because when it comes to screenplays, additional revision is always possible. The story concerns a NASA psychologist who falls for the woman he hires to take care of his troubled daughter. Naturally, it's set in the Clear Lake area, and although it is primarily a romantic comedy, it has some darker elements related to the main character dealing with the death of his wife.

I have no big illusions about selling the screenplay, although I intend to give it my best shot. I would be happy if an independent company took interest, and I am resigned to the possibility that any production company will maim my script beyond recognition. That's just the way it goes sometimes. I would just love to see my characters on screen.

This is the longest fictional piece I've written, since I mostly focus on short fiction, and it was an amazing experience to live with the characters for so long. I finally understand what many writers mean when they talk about characters coming to life and taking the story in new directions. I would not go so far as to pretend the writer is not in control, but it is a very mysterious process and an almost mystical event when your characters seem to "take over" and the story ends up going in directions you hadn't planned.

I've also started marketing my short horror-comedy script, titled "Electric Chainsaw Slaughterhouse," even though I had planned to make that one on my own. I decided I was juggling too many writing projects and graduate studies to really focus on making a decent short video film, and I know enough about the process to know it's a lot of work with not much payoff. I'd be glad to let someone else make it, though, using my script.

For now, more coffee and on with new writing projects.