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But What I Really Want To Do Is Direct

People often ask me what I eventually want to do. It’s a tough question to answer without resorting to platitudes.

It’s an old Hollywood cliché that everyone wants to be a director, so I try to avoid that, even though I graduated from what amounts to a director factory.

What surprises me, though, is that everyone says they are a writer, by dint of having simply typed something out. (Of course, sometimes you can just type something out, if you have a big name, and an admittedly awesome story; then nobody will care that you can’t spell.)

Personally, I used to have a rule that I would not claim to be a writer until I actually sold something. Until that point, I’m just an aspiring writer. Then I did sell a script (in the low three digits) to a company that makes straight-to-DVD movies. Supposedly, they’re shooting in Mexico soon. It’s been “soon” for the last eighteen months.

Somehow, I can’t bring myself to call myself a “writer.”

Despite what the “-er” suffix implies, there’s more to being a real writer than just writing. Someone has to want to read it, too. So far, I’ve only gotten a few friends and a handful of work acquaintances to read my scripts. Not much of a fan base, to be sure.

I think my new rule will be– I can call myself a writer when more people read my script than read my blog. 🙂

[On a personal note, I started playing Half Life 2: Episode Two this weekend. Can I sue them for making a game so obviously based on my nightmares? Seriously, a giant spider that shoots acid? Thanks for that, Valve.

[My wife says I should imagine the spider on roller skates, but I don’t see how that will help. Then there would no way I can outrun it. It’s like giving a tyrannosaurus an F-15.]

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4 Responses

  1. First – I know this is awkward because it’s from way back in the archives.

    Second – I love your blog! Which is evident from the fact that I am way back in the archives.

    Third (and the actual purpose of the post) – I just have to ask if your wife got that idea from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, in which Ron conquers his fear of a giant spider by imagining it on roller skates.

    That’s all for now. I’m going to continue reading this blog like it’s my summer reading now!

  2. Great site. I love your posts. Half-Life is the greatest game in the world. If you have Playstation or Xbox get the Orange Box. But be sure you have a “hard out” (dinner plans, job interview) whenever you play or you won’t be seen for days.

  3. I’m afraid there’s no practical way for me to send it out without losing the whole anonymity thing. Ironic, isn’t it?

  4. Who do you send your script to? If I asked to read one of your scripts, would you send it off? I know I would be interested in reading one, considering I always enjoy your posts.

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