Breakthrough(s)/Switchback(s)
Better Views From Up On High
I’ve pined for a breakthrough. Something to re-invigorate. In the weeks prior to my anniversary in late May, I felt a strong pull to get away from the emotional dependence on writing. In spite of the strong flow of story (evidenced by the stacks of sketches on the desk) my sense was that the emotional acumen toward putting those works into the world in adequate costume was shaken. Perhaps the dog’s dying. Perhaps the mounting sense of “what for?” Something wasn’t right, or, nothing was.
Without the elaborating on the exact anatomy of success, I landed a contract to write a screenplay. The producer was someone on the east coast, an engineer for an aviation company brokered to me by a connection I made many, many years ago and which I had lost faith in. He had been harboring an idea that over the years he felt compelled to write. Trouble for him was, he wasn’t a writer and that’s where I came in. Negotiation. Contract. Story formation.
Today I can say that I’ve written 1/3rd of the first draft and am prepared to submit for my second paid installment.
Certainly an engineer at an aviation company isn’t the entree to the business I needed to make this professionally. That came a few days later. David Lyons of Lyon’s Entertainment hired me to write — on spec, meaning no money up front — a feature film to accompany their simultaneous release of a book and documentary. No money up front. A percentage of the WGA minimum when the screenplay sells. Different than the last job but in the long run, this is the connected break I’ve been pining for. A real company. Real connections with producers. Relationships in the business. Turns out the person who brokered the ghost writing job connected me to this job and I have a sense, could be a connection for so many more.
I have not reached that mountain top. I’ve made it to a switchback and I continue to climb.
I want to say, faith restored. If the mission is to continue writing then this chapter has been a terrific success. Around this switchback, Lisa and I talk about this part of my life much more freely. We share success. Plan for more.
There’s another switchback on the horizon. I can just feel it.
Posted: July 10th, 2010 under Collected Writings.