Why Is Life Worth Living?

"Well, all right, why is life worth living? That's a very good question. Well, there are certain things I guess that make it worthwhile. Uh, like what? Okay. Um, for me... oh, I would say... what, Groucho Marx, to name one thing... and Willie Mays, and... the second movement of the Jupiter Symphony, and... Louie Armstrong's recording of 'Potatohead Blues'... Swedish movies, naturally... 'Sentimental Education' by Flaubert... Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra... those incredible apples and pears by Cezanne... the crabs at Sam Wo's... Tracy's face..."

First Spec.

I am exceptionally green to the world of television writing. For example: I am working on my first spec. script. Also, I'm in my first year of college and I do not live in Los Angeles...YET! (I will be moving there after college).

ANYWAY, when I actually decided that writing was something I really wanted to pursue I immediately began writing comedy sketches. I wrote 2 that have not seen the light of day and most likely never will, but I could care less, because what I felt while writing them, rewriting them, finishing them and reading them was that of nothing i've ever felt before. I believe it was an epiphany. I had finally found what I truly loved and wanted to pursue. I was wandering through high school and a year after high school not knowing what I wanted to do. All of my friends were so dead set and careers that sounded like hell to me. I felt so accomplished after writing those 2 comedy sketches and I knew at that moment that I had to keep working at this.

I have studied the process of writing for television front and back ONE MILLION TIMES! And in a fairly short period of time too. I know i'm obviously not a professional, but I am serious about doing this, so i'm not just fucking around. So, on this first spec. that i'm writing i'm really taking my time and doing my best on it. 

It is a spec. COMMUNITY, which to most people may sound insane. And yes... it is insane. COMMUNITY is such a brilliant, solid show and I could never write anything worthy of actually being an episode, but i'm doing it anyway. I've already gone through about 3 rewrites. I sent my first "finished" draft to Amanda, The Aspiring TV Writer and Screenwriter to get notes. She provides notes for a VERY reasonable price and the notes that she gave me were extremely helpful. I can't emphasize how helpful she was. I was such a cocky little amateur writer thinking "Hell yeah I got my first spec. done and it's perfect and she's going to read it and think it's incredible and tell me i'm the absolute greatest writer on the west coast." HAH! The reality is I had some MAJOR problems.

Britta, Annie and Shirley weren't really doing anything throughout the script. They were just there to comment on other characters stories. Amanda pointed out that they need to be involved in the other characters stories, or go and do something specific on their own. Characters need to actually be doing something, in other words THEY NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF GOAL, OR MOTIVATION.

Im not going to explain the plot of my spec. COMMUNITY in this post. Maybe in a later post.... like WHEN I GET SOME FOLLOWERS!

So, I'm going through a major rewrite of my spec. right now. I'm really doing some major changes to basically the entire plot and script. And I know that rewriting is a part of writing. 

WRITING IS REWRITING. 

I love that saying, because it is so true. I truly know that now.

WIW (Why I Watch) - Battleground

In case you didn't know, Netflix are not the only streaming company offering orignal content anymore. Hulu has joined the gang.

Battleground is Hulu's first original show. It is a sitcom in the style of 'The Office' that follows the campagin of a Wisconsin state senator who is running for the United States Senate. The show catches the romantic and political situations of the candidates young staff members.

Battleground is great, because it contains elements of smart comedy and silly comedy. The dramatic elements are enticing as well. You really get an adequate understanding of who these characters are and what they're specifically bringing to the show. Every character deals with they're own problems that really suck you in and make you relate to them, then they'll make you laugh your ass off. I find myself relating to the personalities of almost every character, yet i'm a dummy when it comes to politics.

There are a great deal of important decisions being made in almost every episode. Usually each character has opposing opinions on the situation, which makes for a great argument, great comedy and the audience on their toes to find out who's side of the story will follow through to the decision making. 

I'm not going to go on about comparisons to 'The Office' or Netflix's 'Lilyhammer'. Yes, it is a REAL SHOW on THE INTERNET. The future is here ladies and gents - get used to it and just watch the show.

JD Walsh (creator and writer) is incredible and is doing a great job with the show.

Watch Battleground... You won't regret it.

LINKS!

Hollywood Reporter - The Complete Guide to TV Pilots 2012
The link is self explanatory. Lots of great information on ALL of pilots we'll be expecting soon.

DoneDealPro.com
I'm sure everybody knows about this, but I just discovered it. It's a screenwriting/Television Writing forum. A good place to get some quick answers if you're stumped.

JohnAugust.com
I just discovered John August's blog and Podcast. I am now VERY addicted. I highly recommend.

Quick Review - The Hunger Games

Some of my thoughts while watching The Hunger Games:

1) "Where was Wes Bentley's video camera and plastic bag?"

2) "Which one is Hitler?"

aaaannndddd

3) "HOLY SHIT, OH FUCK AJHGDAJFHG!"

That being said, The Hunger Games was a FANTASTIC film. It's totally badass, has plenty of great twists and the characters are greatly outrageous, yet relatable.

21 Jump Street - story set-up

After watching Doctor Who for 6 hours this afternoon I decided to get up off my butt and go do something. I ended up sitting back down onto my butt and seeing 21 Jump Street.

The other day I was reading a post from The Bitter Script Reader about this film. The post revolved around the amazing job that the writer (Michael Bacall) did setting up the story in the first ten pages of the screenplay and after seeing the film tonight - I can't agree more.

The first 10 pages of a screenplay are CRUCIAL - we all know this. It's extremely important that the story is up and moving by the time that script is at pg. 11. By the tenth minute in the film the audience should have a clear vision of:

- Who the characters are

- What they're doing

- Why they're doing it

- Where they fall into the central story

It's important that when writing a screenplay you leave clues for the audience to fill in the blanks. It makes the audiences get more of an experience. Rather than just getting information shoved into their ears, they can put the pieces together like a puzzle. I definitely felt this way when watching 21 Jump Street. It felt like the first 10 minutes of the film was the quickest and most entertaining puzzle I've ever assembled. 

20-30 pages are not needed to fully set up the premise. If you can set up a premise in 10 minutes and do it well, then you're golden for another 100 pages to tell your story. You don't want to take 40 pages just for background then only have 60 pages to actually tell the story. Background is important, but it should be brief - leave as much room for story development as possible.

Anyways, I loved the film. Great screenplay by Michael Bacall - many unique approaches going on throughout. Very funny. Channing Tatum surprised me as a good comedy actor.

Go see it! Laugh and understand the premise at the same time!

This blog is...

Well, first and foremost this blog will be what my blog title is, but ill explain it in simpler terms.
I am an aspiring television writer. I am pursuing television writing. I will post updates throughout my voyage. I.E. What I am currently working on, random yet relevant thoughts/ideas, accomplishments, opinions etc. You get the idea.
If you have followed the blog of another aspiring television writer - this blog will be very similar...

BUT...
I will also be posting movie reviews, "Why I Watch" segments, television reviews, relevant news and other things of that nature.

AND...
I'm also a huge nerd.
I Love: video games, comic books, books, electronics, music, graphic novels, anything scifi, anything fantasy, but more specifically, I love Doctor Who... A LOT. I'll try not to post too much Doctor Who related things.

I'm not treating this as a personal life blog. Just something to get my ideas and opinions across and to get my work noticed.

I promise I won't be just like the rest of them. :D

Thank You
Michael Jones