In the Mix

Happy 39th Birthday Roe v.s. Wade!

2012-01-22T10:56:00.000-08:00

I value birthdays. I think they're important. I know there are millions of people who don't celebrate their birthday or place the value that I do on them. For me birthdays are significant in looking at where we've come, where we are, and where we may be going. That is why I'm proud to acknowledge and celebrate the 39 years since the Supreme Court's decision Roe v.s Wade.

Under Roe v.s. Wade the Court ruled that women have a right to privacy under the due process law of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution and gives a women the right to have an abortion. Since the passing of this law 39 years ago, abortion remains a contentious social issue in American politics. Policymakers on both federal and state levels seek to reverse this decision and in my opinion set back the clock on this right given to women in our nation. Meanwhile advocates of choice have been fiercely fighting to maintain this right for women.

Naral Pro-Choice America, an organization made up of pro-choice men and women who advocate for a women's right to choose labeled 2011 the year where many congressional leaders and anti-abortion organizations waged "War on Women" rights. This can bee seen in the push to cuts federal funds to organizations like Planned Parenthood and the drafting of legislation known as "Personhood" laws, which were taken up in 2010 ballots or in front of state legislatures in 29 states, according to the AP.

In celebrating Roe v.s. Wade's 39th birthday I acknowledge that we've come a great distance on this issue and that is something pro-choice advocates can be proud of. However, birthdays also remind me that with age come new challenges and we need to be prepared to face those as we make our way through another year. Happy 39th Roe! Let's celebrate today, but remember there is a war on women in our nation and pro-choice advocates must unite to protect a women's right to choose.

Playing it SMART in 2012

2011-12-31T11:38:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday break. I've really enjoyed my week off and am slowly getting ready to go back to work. I didn't want to get close out the year without writing a blog entry that helps me put things into perspective for 2012.

This is the time of year when many people make resolutions. Some resolve to loose weight, save more money, to be more productive, or just be happier. One of the problems I find with New Year's resolutions is that they loose their thrust by the end of March. People tend to get back into the usual routine and the resolutions don't yield that sense of urgency as we make it through another year. One of my goals for 2012 is to maintain that sense of urgency .

When I look back at 2011 I can say I made some significant strides in a variety of areas in my life. I started my second master's program with Gonzaga University, began house hunting (and if all goes well Karim and I will close on our first home in a little over a month), and tackled some new projects at work. However, there is one area that didn't get my attention. That would be screenwriting. I won't make excuses for not writing, instead I will accept the fact that I dropped the ball on this front. As this year quickly comes to a close I realize that screenwriting must be a priority that I focus on and am actively working at.

In the past, I've talked about winning contests and screenwriting fellowships or getting an agent. Before any of those things can come to the fruit I want, I just need to write and be consistent. Rather than worry about the crops I want to see, I need to make sure I'm tending to the land and building a solid foundation.

I read a discussion thread in my Independent Filmmakers and Screenwriters group in LinkedIN that put my screenwriting goals in 2012 into perspective for me. I need to play it SMART.

S = Simple
M = Measurable
A= Achievable
R = Realistic
T = Timely

As part of playing it SMART my goals will be to:

1. Read a script a week.
2. Watch a new film a week.
3.Writer a page a day.
4. Spend five hours a week prepping story ideas.

Playing it SMART is not just about making a resolution for the new year, it's about changing the pattern of how I work as a screenwriter. I have four simple goals for 2012. If I stick to these goals I will have read 52 scripts, watched 52 movies, and have written two feature-length scripts. I like the sound of that.

Wishing you a Happy New Year and hoping that you also play it SMART in 2012 whatever your goals in life are.

It's a Wrap: Reflections on my First Semester with Gonzaga

2011-12-16T10:26:00.000-08:00

Today my first semester with Gonzaga is officially wrapped . It feels good to write that sentence. So very good. At the moment, I want to coordinate a flash mob dance routine to celebrate, but instead I will write this blog entry. This semester was rough at times. I had my fair share of ups and downs.

Although my coursework was pretty comprehensive and took over my life for 16 weeks, I can say I feel better as a result of it. I just completed a course entitled the Social Dynamics of Computer Technology. In this course I looked at technology and its social and cultural impact in our daily lives. I have to admit that before this class I didn't really think about how my life has been impacted by technology. Questions like "Who are the winners and losers in technology?" or "Does computer technology drive me or am I driven by technology?," pushed me to be more critical about the role it plays in my life. I also looked deeper at how technology has shaped and influenced all the messages we get on a daily basis. Despite the Utopian ideals that we have come to accept with the Internet and new media technology I was reminded that we must remain critical of the information we receive and the ways in which we receive it.

During my second course I managed to squeak in some time to participate in the 2011 Action on Film (AOF) Screenwriters Invitational. I was the head writer of my group and we were charged with writing a six page comedic script. I was a little nervous about taking this project on, but in the end it worked out. I realized that I can be funny on paper and according to my team of screenwriter (which by the way is a very talented group) I was a good leader that kept my team on task. The short we produced is called This is It, which is now in the judging process. Next year I will find out if my team is a finalist.

The AOF Screenwriters Invitational gave me an opportunity to put my script hat back on. I'm thankful for it because I've really missed writing. During the break I plan get back to it. I'm looking forward to that and catching up with T.V. shows and films I missed. Netflix here I come!! I'm wrapped and ready to unload, watch out folks!!

I wish you all a safe and fun holiday season and the very best in 2012. I'm looking forward to it and hope all of you are too!

Emerging Women in Film Series profiles Caitlin McCarthy

2011-11-17T07:36:00.000-08:00

Hello followers,

I'm glad to be getting back on track with my Emerging Women in Film Series. This week I'm pleased to share my interview with Caitlin McCarthy, an award-winning screenwriter who was recently named by Imagine magazine as a "Women to Watch." They're right. Caitlin inspires me. I am thankful our paths crossed back in 2009 at the Action of Film (AOF) International Film Festival. She's a tenacious, determined, and talented screenwriter who always keeps her eye on the prize.

Caitlin McCarthy

Bio: Caitlin McCarthy received her MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College, which is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best graduate programs in the country. An award-winning screenwriter at international film festivals and labs, Caitlin has two features in development: RESISTANCE with Populus Pictures and director Si Wall; and WONDER DRUG with actor/producer Alysia Reiner. In addition to screenwriting, Caitlin serves as an English teacher at an inner-city public high school.

Interview
Miller: Congratulations are in order for all your hard-earned accomplishments. Achieving success as a screenwriter is no easy task. What have you done to distinguish yourself as a writer?
McCarthy: Thank you for your kind words!
I believe writers have to be of two minds these days: an artist and a businessperson. It's not enough to create scripts. You have to create a name for yourself through an official website; IMDb page (or IMDb resume, if you don’t have produced credits yet); social media; professional organizations like IFP, WIF, and Shooting People; interviews (online, print, and TV); film festivals (don’t just attend – network!); participation in screenwriting labs and pitch summits; you name it.

If you do at least one thing every day to advance your writing career, it will add up over time. When people Google you, they should see YOU first – not some guy or gal with the same name who works as a dentist in Montana. The competition is fierce in film and TV. Make it impossible for someone to say no to you.

Miller: What kind of stories speak to you? Do you have a preferred genre?
McCarthy: I have always had a soft spot for the underdog. My favorite protagonists are the ones who must fight for what they want. I'm not married to one particular genre. In fact, I've purposely gone out of my way to demonstrate my versatility by writing about history, science, sports, romance, and the world of education. I've also branched out from screenplays into teleplays. I love a good challenge and will write about anything and everything that interests me.

Posing with Caitlin at the staged reading of Wonder Drug in NYC.

Miller: How long have you been screenwriting? Do you find that the process easier today than when you first started?
McCarthy: I started writing screenplays in 2002, after meeting Oscar-nominated director Matia Karrell through her cousin, who worked at my school. Matia read my unpublished novel CAPE COD LITE and asked if I could turn it into a screenplay. Whenever you're asked something like that, the answer should always be YES! I ran out to the bookstore that day, bought a “How To” book, and the rest is history.
The screenwriting process was painful at first. I made every mistake you can think of, like telling instead of showing. But over time, I've become a stronger screenwriter. I won't ever say that writing is easy. It's hard work. But it's hard work that I enjoy. If you don’t love it, don’t do it.

Miller: What is your favorite film festival and why?
McCarthy: The Action on Film International Film Festival (AOF) is essential for writers starting out. Its founder Del Weston truly cares about building a "family" of filmmakers. He also gives you the tools to build a presence for yourself. If you’re a nominated writer at the festival, you get a professionally shot interview that can be uploaded to your website and social media pages. A five-minute scene from your script may also selected for interpretation on camera by AOF and shown as a "mini-movie" during the festival. There's also the AOF Writers' Room Invitational, where assigned teams of five writers create an original scene. All scenes are filmed and screened during AOF. The members of the winning group receive awards and prizes at the AOF Black Tie Dinner and Award Show. And then there's the inaugural AOF $100,000 Writers' Challenge, where the "challenge" is to write a winning script that AOF can produce utilizing a $100,000 cash and sponsorship prize package. The package includes cash, equipment, equipment rentals, and sponsor provided services such as post production, music, graphics, deliverables, etc.

How much do these offerings from the AOF cost you? Nothing. You just pay the entry fee for the screenplay competition!

For more information about AOF, check out the blog post I wrote about the festival for "Women and Hollywood" on IndieWire: http://blogs.indiewire.com/womenandhollywood/guest_post_women_filmmakers_and_screenwriters_at_the_action_on_film_film_fe

Standing room only at the staged reading of Wonder Drug in NYC.

Miller: What advice or tip can you share with others that you wish someone would have shared with you earlier in your career?
McCarthy: For starters, don't waste your money on competitions with no return on investment. Writing can be death by a thousand paper cuts, meaning filled with numerous costs that sneak up on you. You must be careful with how you spend your money.

Next, don’t worry about getting an agent or manager right away. You won’t be able to get a good one until you have a project in production. What should you be focused on getting? An entertainment lawyer. The great ones in Los Angeles and New York City are expensive – sometimes $350 an hour. But you’re paying for protection. Do not EVER sign anything without having a legitimate entertainment lawyer review it first. And listen to that lawyer’s advice. Don’t be desperate. It’s better to have no deal than a bad deal.

Lastly, network with fellow writers and support your friends – but watch out for the “vampires” and “frenemies.” Some people will be thrilled for your successes, because they know their turn is coming. But others will try to tear you down once they sense you pulling away from the pack. Develop a thick skin. You’re going to need it for this business.

Miller: What's up next for you?
McCarthy:RESISTANCE is scheduled to start principal photography in 2012. The film is attracting A-List talent in front of and behind the camera. I can’t wait to go public with the details soon.

Producer/Actor Alysia Reiner and I are plotting next steps for WONDER DRUG. Alysia’s amazing! We became friends after she starred with Steve Guttenberg (THREE MEN AND A BABY) in the live staged reading of WONDER DRUG at the 15th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival, co-sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

I'm currently having meetings with top producers about my TV series idea "Free Skate" (www.freeskatetheseries.com). I'm also shopping around my other projects and starting a new script, all while teaching full-time.

No one can ever accuse me of being lazy! My motto is: Work conquers all. I also love the saying: Early to bed, early to rise, work real hard, and advertise.

If you want it, go out and get it. Nothing can stop you but you.

A Fellow Writer Guest Blogs for Maria Shiver

2011-10-29T22:57:00.000-07:00

Anne's book cover

Hello everyone,

Winter is my least favorite of the four seasons because I hate the cold, but it looks this weekend gave me an early taste. Snow at the end of October is not good, not good at all. Sorry but I felt the need to gripe.

On a more positive note I'm thrilled to share some wonderful news about Anne Witkavitch, an award-winning writer and fellow alumna of Western Connecticut State University's Master of Fine Arts Creative and Professional Writing Program.

This past week Anne was featured as a guest blogger for MariaShriver.com. Anne's inspiring post entitled "Practice Patience to Achieve Your Goals." In the post she gives tips and advice that have helped guide her as a writer. The post channeled some positive energy and thoughts for me. It also reminded me that achieving my goals as a writer is not out of reach if I can remember to practice patience. One of the things I love about reading other blogs is that it provides me "food for thought." Sometimes I process the information instantly, but other times I let what I'm reading marinate and I come back to it. With Anne's blog I did both.

I really hope you enjoy reading it too! If you do, make sure you post a comment and share it with a friend via email or your social networks. It's important for us to share the works of others that we find beneficial. I'm all about getting the word out. Stay tuned for an Emerging Women In Film profile later this week. I will be interviewing the talented award-winning screenwriter Caitlin McCarthy. Thanks for reading.

Whew! I My First Course is Completed

2011-10-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

I know it's been a while since my last blog entry. Between work, writing assignments, and group projects I really haven't felt like blogging. I just didn't have the energy although there was plenty to talk about in the world. Since my last entry Steve Jobs has passed away, Herman Cain is now considered a serious contender with his 999 plan, and the Occupy movement that begin on Wall Street continues to grow (Yeah!!).

I'm pleased to report that my first course officially ends tomorrow. A heavy load was lifted when I uploaded my final paper late last night. It felt so good. After I posted my final paper on my personal communications philosophy I then logged onto Blackboard to review student presentations and provide feedback on their work.

When this course began, I was worried about how I was going to be able to manage the course load with work. It wasn't easy, but I did it. I spent some nights staying up late and other days waking up early to catch up on readings and complete writing assignments. I also had a lot of help from the hubby who proofread my papers. I can't thank him enough. He's been a very big support these past eight weeks. Husband your rock!

I've learned a great deal about the fundamentals of communications theory and how it can be applied in research, messaging, and used to problem solve issues in society. In my final group project and paper we were asked to pick an issue in society, apply a communications theory to analyze it, build on that theory and also suggest a solution to solve the issue. Our group project was entitled Operation Reintegration: Applying Communication Theory to Meet the Mental Health Needs of Post-Deployed Military. My partners on this assignment were Libby Weber and Stephen McFadden. They both were phenomenal and brought 110 percent to the work. It was a great collaborative effort.

Now, I get to celebrate and enjoy the weekend. I plan on playing bingo at Foxwoods Saturday morning and then catching up on some reading and assignments for a master's level writing course I'm also taking. No rest for the weary, my next course begins on Monday. The cycle begins all over again, but this time around I have some idea what to expect and will plan accordingly.

Out of the Box is an "Official Selection" at the 2011 Urban Mediamakers Film Festival

2011-09-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

I know I've probably come off slightly overwhelmed and frazzled in my last blog entry. There have been some positive developments on that front. I can report that while the amount of work I need to do for Gonzaga has not slowed down, I'm getting better at my time management and organization. Kudos to me.

In other good news I'm thrilled to share that my short script, "Out of the Box" is an official selection of the 2011 Urban Media Makers Film Festival (UMMF). Founded in November 2001, the mission of the Urban Mediamakers is to promote and support a diverse independent media arts community in the Southeast and worldwide. Their signature event is the Urban Mediamakers Film Festival (UMFF), showcasing independent films from around the world. Check out the screenwriting selections here.

I received the good news this past Friday and thought I wait to until Monday to blog about it. Now I need to figure out how I'm going to get myself to Duluth, Georgia to attend the film festival and network with emerging screenwriters and filmmakers while also getting my coursework for Gonzaga done. I would hate to miss this opportunity, but school has to come first. I will keep you informed on my decision making progress. Thanks for reading.

Getting My Study Groove Back

2011-09-16T08:47:00.000-07:00

Labor day has past, our days are getting shorter, and the trees in new England are beginning to change from a bold green to vibrant yellow, brilliant red, and provocative orange. Kids are also back in school, which may or may not be a relief for parents. Like the kids in my neighborhood I'm also back in school. A few weeks ago I blogged about gearing up for my studies in Gonzaga's online masters program in Communication and Leadership. I am about two weeks into the program and am feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work I need to get done. Be careful for what you wish for, cause you might just get it.

I knew the program was going to be intense and that time management and organization were going to be crucial. I thought I was prepared, however, I really under estimated the amount of time I need to set aside for course readings. My first course is theorizing communications and I'm learning about many of the theories that have been developed in the field over the last 20 years. I'm also learning how to cite in APA style versus MLA and do research on a graduate level through mostly online databases; Google or Wikipedia will not cut it at this level in the game. On a positive note, I do find some of the reading on communication theory engaging and am learning how it applies to my work and life. I also like reading my classmates reflections and responding to their work through the school's online dashboard.

I still feel like I'm racing against the clock to get my assignments done, that's probably because I am. This brings out a more pessimistic side in me. I think I've set my expectations high and am afraid of missing the mark.

In the end, I will get the work done because I have to. I also have to remind myself I'm not doing this alone. I have a great support system named Karim HadjSalem and my mom. Thank you for being so supportive and keeping me grounded. I may not always seem appreciative of what both of you do, but I am. Week three is about to be in full-effect and my number one concern is I'm getting my graduate study groove back. Wish me luck.

Starting My First Week of Classes at Gonzaga

2011-08-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

What a weekend we had. I'm glad hurricane Irene is behind us. I know many areas of the the northeast were hit pretty hard and are dealing with problems such as flooding, no power, and delayed travel. Lucky for me, I don't have to wrestle with these problems. I didn't lose power during the hurricane. Karim and I also managed to drive to and from Wrentham, Massachusetts for a friends birthday party during the day of the hurricane. We also made it back home late that night.

During my drive in this morning I heard stories of people who were seriously impacted by Irene listening to Morning Edition on National Public Radio (NPR). I also went on to facebook and saw posts of folks complaining about no power. Another reminder of how lucky I am not to be dealing with the aftermath of Irene.

While many of my fellow north easterners are cleaning up from this storm, I'm gearing up for my first week of online classes. I actually was able to go online and check out my Blackboard dashboard this past Friday, the dashboard is where I go to get information regarding my classes, view my syllabus, have course discussions, and post my assignments. It is a one-stop shop for my coursework while I'm pursuing this degree.

After I read my syllabus and perused the dashboard, I felt a bit overwhelmed about what my life will be like for the next eight weeks. It is going to be pretty intense balancing my course work with a full-time job. I've been down this road before and know I am up for the task, but it still doesn't stop me from feeling some anxiety. I will have to come to grips with this anxiety and just buckle down and get it down. That is my only option. In order to this I will have to follow a strict schedule and block of times for reading, writing, and more reading and writing.

Usually in the fall I look forward to a few of my favorite television shows kicking-off their season premiere, but the reality is I don't think I will have time to watch many of them, not with all the readings I have. I knew something would have to give so I'm not going to get all emotional about it. I've accepted that for the next eight weeks I will be delving into theories of communication and analyzing the relevance and impact in the field today. Wish me luck and stay tuned.

It's official, I'm Going to Gonzaga

2011-07-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

Education is more than a luxury; it is a responsibility that society owes to itself.--Robin Cook

Last week, I shared news with my social networks via twitter, facebook, and now Google+ that I was accepted to Gonzaga University's masters program in Communication and Leadership. It's time for me to blog about it.

Looks like I'm going to be a bulldog yet again in my life. I was thrilled when I received the call from Jeff Wadley, program manager at Gonzaga University's, School of Professional Studies. Jeff has assisted me throughout my application process and he and his team are awesome. After he told me the good news and I told him how thrilled I was, I took a pause because the real work to prepare to go back to school now begins.

I've been down this road before and I know what it entails. I can't believe it has been two years since I graduated from Western Connecticut State University's Master of Fine Arts Creative and Professional Writing program. Like back then, time management and organization is going to be essential so I don't short change myself, my course work or my job responsibilities. That is going to mean less time watching and trying to catch up of past seasons of my favorite TV shows and films. More time spent reading and writing. My increased travel with work is also going to complicate how I manage and allot time for the work I need to do. It's going to be hectic at times but I believe this degree is going to be worth the work I put into it.

I'll spend the next few weeks tying up loose ends like getting my financial aid together, setting up my online accounts, buying books, introducing myself to Gonzaga's academic staff, and mentally preparing myself for what I believe will be an challenging but worthwhile two years back in school. I'm looking forward to this new chapter in my life and glad to be sharing it with all of you.

Emerging Women in Film Profile Series: Velvet Rhodes

2011-07-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

Official Poster

This month I'm pleased to highlight Velvet Rhodes, a very talented screenwriter, producer, and actor. She's a triple threat who has a passion for screenwriting and filmmaking. Next week, her webisode series Room for Rent will be screened at the 2011 Action on Film International Film Festival in Pasadena, California. Room for Rent also won 'Best Dialogue' for a short screenplay at the 2010 Action on Film Screenwriting Competition.

Bio: Velvet Rhodes is an actress who hails from London, England. Beginning her career in music playing and singing alternative rock music in several bands and then going onto theatre in London, England. As well as music, film and writing, she is an avid painter of fine oil paintings. Acting since the age of 3, acting is her passion and film making is her joy. She recently starred in and produced The Purple Zone, wrote, directed, produced and starred in The Cell Phone and now is in pre-production for Ticket to Ride. She is also in full production for Room for Rent the Series. Rhodes writes, directs, produces, and acts in all of her productions.

Velvet Rhodes

Miller: What is your favorite genre to write and why?

Rhodes: I love comedy. It is far better to try to create laughter than tears. It just always flows for me, when I start writing something, I see the comedy in most life situations. I would like to try some sci-fi, but I think it will always have a comic twist because that is the way I see the world.

Miller: What is one challenge that you've faced and overcome as a screenwriter or filmmaker?

Rhodes: Balancing a full time job with the creative aspects of life, it is an ongoing day to day effort, but it does seem to be working, although sometimes.........incredibly difficult.

Miller: Where did you get the idea for the webisode Room for
Rent the Series? How have you raised money to produce the project?

Rhodes: The ideas are all based upon my experiences with room mates. Many of the characters are people I have actually lived with. All of the funding has come from personal fundraisers at my home and Indiegogo and Kickstarter.

Miller: Congratulations on your recent acceptance to the 2011 Action on Film Festival. When will your webisode Room for Rent The Series be screened?

Rhodes: The episode will screen on July 23, 2011 Saturday at 8:00 pm Academy 5. I was also recently informed by Del Weston , founder of Action on Film, that we ae having The Velvet Rhodes Show at 10:00 pm that night. The AOF is screening Room for Rent Series, The Cell Phone, The Purple Zone, Ticket to Ride and The New Purple Zone as a special event to show all of my shorts. I am absolutely thrilled!!!

Miller: How else are you promoting Room for Rent The Series?

Rhodes: I have an event spot on Facebook, Twitter and personal emails.

Director of photography, David Bacon and sound engineer,
Ben Chan prepare to shoot scene.

Miller: You have a wealth of experience in a variety of areas. How do you balance your roles as screenwriter, producer, actor, etc. in a project?

Rhodes: I love doing it all. I love acting and have written most of these pieces for myslef to act in. Then producing is something I find incredibly easy to do. It is much like cooking, take the ingredients you have to work with and make something fabulous out of nothing. I love directing as well, it is so exciting to see a great performance come into being with a talented actor.

Miller: What other projects are in development for you?

Rhodes: Fire Sign Girls is the next one. It is about three ladies who have astrological knowledge, magical powers, astronomical knowlege, and psychic ability and are a Leo, a Sagittarius, and an Aries who help people. Again another comedy which empowers women.

Ticket To Ride is a comedy about the middle east where the women take over and turn all of the war sites into amusement park rides, the men are so busy selling tickets to tourists (i.e., the wailing wall ride, the gaza strip ride, etc.) that peace is achieved in the Middle-East.............a comedy that empowers women and is very funny.

The Purple Zone is in development as a full length feature, wherein the Goddess takes over and ends all of the wars.

The Cell Phone is still out there and hopefully will be a comedy series about what people talk about on their cell phones around the world, one week we are in LA the next week in Paris. So, far only one episode is complete.

Ready for the Final Potter Film, But Not in 3-D

2011-07-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

I've been in Baltimore all week. It's been a long week for me. Finally heading home tomorrow. YEAH! I'm looking forward to being home this weekend. I miss my husband and the activities that usually make up my at at home routine. I'm also ready to see J.K. Rowlings' final Potter film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part two. It's still hard for me to digest that this is the last one. I've really enjoyed the series.

The last film has probably been on my mind for about a month. Last week, the hubby and I talked about going to the screening at midnight. I was ready to be a part of Harry Potter mania until I remembered I wasn't going to be home.

I will still be part of the mania in my own way. Karim and I will see it on Friday night when I get back in town. I'm counting the hours. We decided not to see it in 3-D. Karim is not a fan of Hollywood's gimmick to get people back into the theaters and neither am I. I'm sure you noticed that pretty much any high-concept action movie is shown in 3-D these days. I saw Transformers: Dark of the Moon in 3-D last weekend and thought the extra cost for 3-D wasn't justified. Luckily, I used a gift card to my local Rave theater. To date Avatar is the only film that has been a worthwhile 3-D experience with the ticket price.

Today in my media scans I came across an article where Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom, said "he dreaded the 3D version of the last installment.View that article here. The Baltimore Sun blog, Mike Sragow Gets Reel also echoes the 2-D sentiment. The Harry Potter fans Mr. Sragow has talked to prefer to see the film in 2-D. Check out the comments at the end of the blog. Many aren't kind.

If you plan to see the final Potter film I encourage to pass on 3-D, but if youdo still plan to see it in 3-D despite this blog, let me know your opinion of it in the comment section. Have a Potter weekend.

Emerging Women in Film Series: Sarah E.

2011-06-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

Happy spring everyone. I'm not sure about the rest of you, but here in Connecticut spring has only somewhat sprung. While it isn't as hot as I would like it to be. I'm proud to profile Sarah E. who is heating up the film season here in Connecticut with her documentary Swan Day CT. Thanks for your interview Sarah.

Bio: Sarah E. took her first formal screenwriting course when she was 18 years old and a student at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2006, she received a B.A. in Fine Arts from Eastern Connecticut State University; and then spent a month at the New York Film Academy to pursue filmmaking. In April 2008, at the age of 23, she founded her own production company, Hells Bells Productions, LLC.

Miller: Please tell our audience about your documentary Swan Day? How did you get involved? Why did you decide to produce this film?

Sarah: I first got the idea to make "SWAN Day CT" when I was looking at Jennifer Hill’s MySpace page around fall 2009. She is the organizer of the CT chapter of SWAN and she had a few photo albums of the previous two years of the festival. SWAN stands for Support Women Artists Now, so it was this incredible mesh of female-fronted bands, female visual artists, jewelry-makers, sculptors and burlesque dancers. Being a female artist myself, I wanted to get involved, so I started thinking a documentary of the whole process and the show itself would not only spread the word about SWAN, but it would make a very inspiring story. So I contacted Jen, who I had never met before this, and told her about my idea. When submissions for the third annual SWAN opened in January 2010, she and I met for the first time and I brought my camera along with me. We talked a lot about the whole backstory, how SWAN is an international celebration – founded by WomenArts – and how Jen had first gotten involved. At that moment, filming was officially underway. When Jen put the word out to the artists that a documentary was being made, I received a huge response from those who wanted to be a part of it. It meant a lot to me, because as soon as I saw what this festival was all about, I couldn’t NOT be involved. It can still sometimes be very hard to be a woman in the arts, and to have one day a year where we all get together and put on an explosion of music, art and everything in between is something we should all want to get in on – women and men.

Sarah talking with an artist from SWAN Day.

Miller: What was your production timeline from pre-production to post-production?

Sarah: In October 2009, I first contacted Jennifer Hill, as well as WomenArts. I had my first phone conversation with Jennifer Hill in December 2009. She gave me the green light to do the film and we decided to meet the following month. In January 2010, Jen and I met up for the first time, which I filmed. Also that month, she sent out a mass e-mail to the artists in the show that year to let them know a documentary was being filmed, and to contact me if they wanted an interview. In February 2010, I interviewed artist Kerry Kozaczuk, vocalist Rachel Borovik and artist Laura Fitzpatrick. I also filmed Jen’s work with promoting and going through submissions. In March 2010, I interviewed the bands EULA and HannaH’s Field, singer/songwriters Sarah LeMieux and Cori Presutti, performance artist emilyis, and artists Jennifer Klepacki, Marisa Copley and Christina Cirillo. I got footage from the meet and greet, as well as a confrontation between Jennifer Hill and one of the owners of the venue. In April 2010, SWAN took place on the third of the month. I filmed the setup and the entire event, and later that same week, I wrapped up filming with an afterwards with Jennifer Hill. Through May-July 2010, I compiled and sorted through the footage, audio was balanced and put through noise reduction, and editing begins. In August 2010, editing wraps toward the end of the month, and it’s announced that the film is officially complete!

Jennifer Hill working on promoting SWAN Day online.

Miller: How much footage did you shoot and how long did it take you to edit the film?

Sarah: When filming wrapped I had 15 hours of footage, which I edited down to two and a half hours. I first began editing in May 2010 and wrapped in August that year. Both very tedious and very rewarding.

Miller: What was one of the most challenging experiences you have had making this documentary?

Sarah: The most challenging part was cutting all this incredible footage down into a two and a half hour film. I ended up getting much more than I ever expected, because as I found out, getting the show off the ground was much more dramatic than anyone had expected. Through my camera lens, I got to watch first-hand as the venue signed a contract with Jen, only to take away everything they promised her. I watched the owner belittle her on the day of the show, and try to shut the whole thing down. It was blatant sexism, the very thing that we were all trying to put an end to. So it was very difficult at times to just sit there and watch it all unfold. But the main thing I knew I had to show in this film was that these women still managed to put on an awesome show in spite of all that, and that all the drama that was going on was not caused by the artists, but by the male owners who apparently felt intimidated by a group of strong females.

Miller: Have you submitted Swan Day to film festivals? How has the process gone?

Sarah: I’ve been submitting to wide range of different festivals, and I’m thrilled to say that it has been selected to screen at the next International Film Festival Ireland in September this year. It blew me away when they told me it had been accepted, and now I’m eager to hear back from the other festivals. I’ve submitted to Citizen Jane Film Festival, which I would love to get into because they are such an advocate of strong women in the arts. I’ve also submitted to The Indie Gathering, which I’ve submitted to in the past, and I’d love to work with them again. I want to reach as many new audiences as I can, and if I can do that and spread the word about what SWAN represents, then I’ll know I’ve accomplished something.

Miller: How did you go about organizing and coordinating the world premiere screening you have coming up on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at The Lutz Museum in Manchester, CT?

Sarah: I spoke to Alexander Andriulli of the Connecticut Film Industry Mixer and he put me in touch with Christiane O’Brien, the President of the Manchester Arts Association. I told her that I’d been hoping to premiere the film for some time now, and she was immediately able to secure a night with Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester. Once she told me we had a date set, I jumped right into creating a flyer, putting event listings on Facebook and Eventful, sending out mass e-mails, and I even got to promote it in an upcoming episode of “Jaki’s Buzz.” I’m excited and nervous, and I’m hoping for a decent turnout. Jennifer Hill even volunteered to play some music for us that night!

Miller: In addition to film festivals and your upcoming screening, what other vehicles are you using to promote this film and expand the audience for this film?

Sarah: I started a facebook page for the film at www.facebook.com/swandayctfilm, which has developed a strong following. Also, I had submitted to a festival called NewFilmmakers and they provided the film with a page on their website at http://www.newfilmmakersonline.com/, where it is now available to download, watch online, or burn to a DVD, for just $10. Anyone who wants a copy of the film can just visit their site and search for “SWAN Day CT.” Jennifer Hill also has a page for the annual event at www.facebook.com/swandayct.

Miller: What's up next for your production company Hells Bells Productions, LLC?

Sarah: We’ve got quite a few things lined up at the moment. We recently finished editing another film, called “Rides,” that I wrote and directed. We’ve also just finished up the film “Stalemate,” written and directed by Tina Parziale, and “Alien Sensation,” written and directed by Patrick Clark. Patrick and I are also developing a new TV series and a monthly web series, which we plan to release in the next couple months. In addition to the projects above I'm also co-producing a new film festival with Duckie Emory Flemister of Molotov Angel Productions, called the Dreamland Film Festival, scheduled for October this year. So there’s a lot on my plate right now, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I hope everyone will join in on the madness at http://www.hellsbellsproductions.com/ and www.facebook.com/hellsbellsproductions.

Ready to Go Back to School

2011-06-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that it was just two years ago that I received my MFA in Professional Writing from Western Connecticut State University. Time flies. Since graduating from the program I've been slowly but surely working on screenplays and enjoying the free time I've gained back. However, the free time I've come to enjoy is going to get ready for another hiatus. Why? Because I've decided to go back to school.

Even though continuing one's education can be tough at times, I believe the benefits I will receive will make the overall experience worth while. And though I still dream of the day when I option (sell) one of my screenplays or have the money and the connections to self-finance a film (I'm not giving up on that dream either) I have to live in the here and now. Lately, I've been thinking about specific things I can do today that will impact my life tomorrow.

I'm blessed to work in the field of communications. It's work I truly enjoy and not everyone gets to do the work they enjoy. I know a few people who went to college and majored in a degree program but weren't able to find work in their majors upon graduation. After I received my BA, I didn't start out with a job in my field either. I was a teacher's assistant, gymnastics instructor, high school cheerleading coach, and waitress at a country club. Thankfully that changed. I attribute that change to persistance on my part. My work in communications includes jobs in radio, television, film and video as well as public relations (which is what I currently do). The skills I've acquired and enhanced throughout the years have helped me to grow both professionally and personally. I see going back to school as part of my continued professional development.

Currently, I'm looking at a handful of schools and have actually started the application process for one. This will be a new chapter for me and I'm glad to be sharing it with you.

Emerging Women in Film Series: Deborah Correa

2011-05-17T08:39:00.000-07:00

Official poster of Little Black Dress

The next profile in my Emerging Women in Film Series features Deborah Correa. She secured a deal where she sold her short film, Little Black Dress to IndieFlix, a website that showcases independent features. Viewers are able to buy DVDs or rent streaming films to support the work of indie filmmakers. Today is Deborah's official launch date with IndieFlix and I'm excited to share my interview of her with you all. Kudos to Deborah.

Bio: Deborah Correa graduated from Emerson College with a B.F.A. in Writing and Film, where she produced a short documentary about Colombia. This Little Old Town was sold and premiered on PBS’ FRONTLINE/ World. Since graduating, she’s worked on PBS documentaries. Deborah was also accepted, out of hundreds, to participate in the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, where she directed Little Black Dress, which premiered at the LA Shorts Fest and was recently sold to IndieFlix. Deborah is working on developing two features.

Miller: Tell us about your short film Little Black Dress and what inspired you to write this comedy?
Correa: Little Black Dress (LBD) was inspired by a desire to challenge myself to create a commercial, glossy rom-com with a message - on a shoestring budget. I wanted to create a fun fashion-film that resonates with what I see around me, in my friends’ lives and in my own: the desire to be the master of your world with an ideal partner at your side, all the while looking the part. We’re so caught up in fantasizing about our ideal life that we miss the moments and the people that can become our reality. Besides the obvious great fashion and romance films like The Devil Wears Prada and Bridget Jones; I was inspired by the old classics like Bringing up Baby and Philadelphia Story. The elegant restraint in those films is sexier than the overt hyper-romantic content of today; creating that tension on-screen was one of my challenges and one of my favorite moments in LBD.

Camera slate for Little Black Dress

Miller: How long have you been a filmmaker?
Correa: I've been pursuing filmmaking since I was twelve but technically I've been a filmmaker since my freshman year in college.

Miller: Can you share one of your biggest challenges during production?
Correa: One of the biggest challenges during production was learning to focus solely on directing. As a woman and an amazing multi-tasker I kept taking on producing responsibilities, that I should've left up to my team. After the first day or so I realized what I was doing and put blinders on to any other task other than directing and working with the actors and my DP.

Miller: How have you promoted the film? Has it been successful?
Correa: I have gone to every festival where LBD screened; I come prepared and network as much as I can. I also carry copies of LBD with me and hand them out to people I think would be interested in acquiring or promoting it. So far so good, I just sold LBD to IndieFlix!

Miller: Did you plan on trying to find distribution for this film?

Correa: Yes, I did plan on trying to find distribution but I felt like getting LBD out there was the best way to go about finding distribution; whether that be with festivals, community screenings or special screenings. IndieFlix ended up reaching out to me.

Anne Leighton, lead actress and Chris Jarvis, the handsome

stranger enjoy a moment on the dance floor.

Miller: What do you hope to gain from your recent distribution deal?
Correa: I hope to gain exposure along with some revenue and I hope to expand LBD into a feature film and I believe that distribution helps push that along.

Miller: What director has had an influence on your work?
Correa: I love the work of filmmakers like Ken Loach, Paul Greengrass and Andrea Arnold; they all have this very naturalistic, hyper-real social realist directing style. I love the hand-held approach to very human stories. I mean there're so many filmmakers and artists that have influenced me but lately I am really drawn to realism.

Miller: What is your next project?
Correa: Beyond fleshing out LBD for a feature I'm working on a true-story drama about a girl growing up during the troubles in Northern Ireland. Though I'm still in the development stage for both I hope to be moving into pre-production very soon!

To order or view LBD, visit IndieFlix.

My Big D

2011-05-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. --Jim Rohn

Last night, I did something that was long over due. I read a script. You are probably thinking I probably read scripts all the time, after all I am a screenwriter. And while my goal was to read a minimum of a script a week since we rang in 2011, I wasn't following through with the task. I was reading a script about every 6 weeks, if that. I'm happy to report I'm ready to change this pattern.

I had the pleasure of reading Auntie by Deirdre Patterson. Deirdre is a fellow screenwriter in the Connecticut Screenwriters group that meets on the last Wednesday of each month at the West Hartford Public Library. Auntie, her feature length script was a top 10 finalist in the 2010 Emerging Screenwriters Competition.

Before I got to the script I was busy doing my usual tasks like cooking lunch for the next day and then getting myself ready for work. These tasks tend to derail me and by the time it's time for me to read I don't have the energy to upload a script and read it. I could have easily slipped back into that pattern again, but something pressed me to break my pattern last night. I'm glad I finally did. By the time I finished the script it was close to 11 o'clock, not bad. I've stayed up later to watch a favorite show like True Blood or Sons of Anarchy.

Reality check. I'm half-way through 2011 and have not made the progress I outlined for myself in the beginning of the year. Last week, I read an article about discipline and it's link to an individual's success. Long story short, the people who are most success in life have to be disciplined. It isn't enough to have a dream and a plan to achieve that dream. One needs to show the discipline to tackle the hard work that will turn a dream into reality. After I finished reading the article, I let that author's advice sink in. It was hard for to accept the fact that one of the main ingredients I've been missing in my screenwriting is the discipline to do the work. I think I've subconsciously known it, but reading the article made it concrete for me.

Discipline is my big D. I need it in order to write. It's something I have to internalize and make a priority. There in lies my work. I feel like I'm on a path to be more disciplined, however life makes it so easy to get sidetracked. The good thing is I know what I'm working towards, now it is up to me be disciplined to do the work.

Emerging Women in Film Profile Series: Patty Richardson

2011-05-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited about this entry. This is my first profile in a series I will post for the remainder of 2012. I'm looking forward to highlighting, sharing, and promoting the work of emerging women screenwriters, directors, and producers. My hope is that this blog not only acknowledges the hard work of the women I profile, but will also inform readers of the challenges women in film face and despite these challenges the women in this series continue to strive to achieve their goals and pursue their dream. Today's profile features screenwriter/director Patty Richardson.

Patricia Richardson

Bio: Patty Richardson is a licensed physician's assistant (PA). She worked as a PA for fifteen years. She was also a Captain, in the United States Air Force Reserves, for eight years. After realizing an interest in law enforcement, she became a campus safety officer with Union College in Schenectady, New York. Richardson has always had an interest in writing. Four years ago, her work experience converged with an idea she had for a screenplay. She wrote the script for Detour and decided to produce and direct her first feature film. Detour screened at the 2011 Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival. Richardson is also the founder of Lavender Hill Productions and resides in Woodstock, New York.

Miller: Tell me about Detour and why you decided to make this film?

Richardson: I was living in Manhattan and working as a Physician's Assistant, in Surgery. I often took cabs. One day, while sitting in the backseat of a Gypsy Cab (an unlicensed livery vehicle), I thought....What if
he didn't take me, where I wanted to go? The driver could easily pull into a garage, anywhere.... in or out of the city! It could happen quickly, before I realized what was happening! If the car had child proof locks, I wouldn't be able to open the doors! Thus the idea for Detour was born! I then began working on Detour, as a book. I wasn't thinking about a film, at that time. I honestly had no intentions of making a film, until I met Professor Joann Yarrow, from Union College in Schenectady, NY. She inspired me to make the film!

Miller: How did you go from being a physician's assistant to writing, producing, and directing your first feature film?

Richardson: I left New York City and relocated to upstate New York. After having worked as a physican's assistant for 15 years, I had developed an interest in lawenforcement. I decided to accept a job as a campus safety officer, at a local college. It was at that time, that I also realized how much I enjoyed writing dialogue. I then decided to write a film script. I went to the library, "on line" and to bookstores, to learn the format. I spent a year writing the script. I also read every book that I could get my hands on, about filmmaking. Once I finished the script, I enrolled in an acting class, with the intention of networking, with others interested in filmmaking. That's when I met professor Joann Yarrow. She read the script and encouraged me to make the film. Since I was the writer, I felt I knew the story better than anyone else. I couldn't imagine anyone, other than myself.....directing the film! As for producing, Ruth Martin, the lead actress, and Tony Grocki, the film's editor were both instrumental, in helping me to secure locations and additional actors for auditions. I also placed ads on Craig List and contacted local theatre groups in my area. Ironically, we had actors respond from New York City and the Utica/Mohawk county area.

Miller: What were some of your fears as a first time director?
Richardson: I had no experience, just a vision for the story! I knew where I was going, just wasn't 100% clear on how I'd get there! Given my lack of experience, I was fearful that I would not be taken seriously. Detour is my first feature film. Most people begin by making a short film first! What I lacked in experience, however, I believe I made up for it in determination and vision!

Actors: Zeshan Bhatti and Ruth Martin

Miller: Can you share one unexpected challenge during the production of Detour? Richardson: Continuity and scheduling were an issue. We shot off and on part-time, over a period of two years. Hairstyles changed, actors gained & lost weight. I had agreed to use one of the actor's apartment, as an established "on going" location. It would be used throughout the film. We shot one scene, returned a few weeks later to shoot the next scene and the walls of the apartment had been painted over and the furniture changed! I quickly realized, that I would need to shoot the "apartment scenes", in my own apartment.....in order to maintain continuity.

Miller: Can you share two important lessons learned from the production process?
Richardson: I plan to shoot my next film, in a shorter period of time, to avoid any issues involving continuity and availability. Time is a significant factor! Organization and execution are critical, during the production phase of your film! It is also helpful to have a name attached to your film. Investors all ask the same question...."Who's in it?" The shot is in the frame only. The extraneous surroundings, not visible in the shot, don't matter! Example: One of the scenes was to take place in an upscale bedroom, belonging to someone of great wealth. We rented a hotel room, in a high end hotel to shoot the scene. It was a close up of the actors and the bed, one of them was lying in. It could have been shot ANYWHERE!!!! The surroundings of the room were visible to the cast and crew only!

Actors: Ruth Martin, and Lezlie Dana
Crew : Shawn Schaffer and Tony

Miller: What are your hopes for this film?
Richardson: I am currently "four walling" the film. It's a grassroot's approach to self distribution. I'm taking the film from theatre to theatre. Ticket sales are split with the theatre owners! With gas prices as they are, I don't expect to make the money back that I spent making, Detour. My hope is to show the film, to as many people as I can, in an effort to have my work and the talent of the actors and crew seen and appreciated! DVDs are available for purchase, on Detour's website at http://www.detourthefilm.com/.

Miller: What is up next for you?
Richardson: I have four projects that I am currently working on. I plan to start auditions this summer for a dramatic, short film. Once completed, I hope to enter film festivals, in an effort to create buzz for the film!

Promoting Emerging Women Directors in Independent Film

2011-04-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

When Kate Bigelow was the first woman to win an Oscar for best direction I was excited and felt that a chip was made in Hollywood's glass ceiling. but the reality is that women directors, producers, and screenwriters are still a scarce commodity in Hollywood. Less than 10 percent of films with a theatrical release were directed by women.
In the report,The Celluloid Ceiling: Behind-the-Scenes Employment of Women on the Top 250 Films of 2010, Dr. Martha M. Lauzen, Ph.D found that, "In 2010, women comprised 16% of all directors, executive producers, producers, writers, cinematographers, and editors working on the top 250 domestic grossing films. This represents a decline of 1 percentage point from 1998 and is even with 2009 figures."

I'm not writing this blog entry to be a "Debbie downer," it's a reality check. Besides, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the wonderful professional film organizations for women that are committed to recognizing, developing, and actively promoting the unique visions of women in film, while also providing educational and networking opportunities that seek to advance the professional status of women. My short list includes, New York Women in Film and Television; Reel Women; Women in Film and Video; Women Make Movies; and Women in Film (Los Angeles).

While I was at the 2011 Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival I met emerging women filmmakers and screenwriters struggling to crack their own glass ceilings. One of my biggest takeaways from the festival was that it gave women filmmakers a venue for our films and an opportunity to network with one another. I didn't want the connection I made to stop there. I met some really driven women who believe in the power of story and thought to myself that we should have other outlets to highlight our films. As part of my blog, I'm going to profile a women film director. The profile will include a short bio and interview with the director.

I want to promote the women I know who are working their dream in film and look forward to sharing their stories with you. My first interview will be with Patricia Richardson. We met at this year's Los Angeles Women's Festival. She's a driven and motivated woman filmmaker who produced and directed her first feature film. I don't want to tell you to much so you'll have to wait for my profile of her feature film Detour in my a future blog. Stay tuned....

Posts for a Purpose

2011-04-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

In the world of social media, it seems like a lot of people want to get out what's in their head and share it with the world. And while sharing is caring ( the Care Bear's slogan), sometimes people disseminate TMI, too much information. I know we've all seen it in our facebook or twitter threads at some point and have thought to ourselves, should we unfriend this person.

I want to change that dynamic for myself and post for a purpose. I feel like I've already begun that with my facebook and twitter accounts, but even I stray and may over share at times.

Some of you've may have seen my fact of the day, online petitions, and numerous articles that reflect news that interests me. In addition to these main posts I want my status updates to reflect a theme. I realize I can I can cut back on my own, "I'm going to workout," or "This is where I'm at," posts. I may still write these status updates on occassion but my goal is to significantly cut back on that and be more meaningful about what I share with my network of friends, colleagues, and associates.

From Monday through Friday each of my posts will follow a theme. Here they are:

Mondays - I will post my fact of the day
Tuesdays - I will post my inspirational quote of the day
Wednesdays - I will post my "old school" or "throw back" hip-hop video
Thursdays - I will post a tip of the day
Friday's -I will post a "throw back" or "current rock/alternative video

I'm going to take a break on the weekends and make time for the writing and less posting. I'm sure I will still be sucked in at times, but my goal is to social network with more of purpose and encourage people to learn something that may not know.

Check out my latest statust update on my facebook page. Note: If you're not a friend, you won't be able to view this link, so make sure to request if you're interested in checking out my posts for a purpose.

Thanks for reading. I'll be back with another post this weekend. Stay tuned....

Highlights from the 2011 Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival

2011-04-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

Sunset 5 Theater, West Hollywood, CA.

I flew out to Los Angeles on Friday, March 25, 2011. I was looking forward to sunny skies and warmer temperatures, unfortately that wasn't the case. I didn't get the sunny, Beach Boys California weather until my last day there. Instead I got rain and cloudy skies, but I guess it beat whatever was happening on the east coast. Luckily, I wasn't in town for the weather, I was there to attend the 2011 Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival.

For those of you who neglected to read my last blog entry, the 2011 Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival is a non-profit 501c(3) organization established by Diana Means to empower women filmmakers to create diverse roles for women. Each year in March the festival showcases narratives, documentaries, animation and student short films. The festival’s programming reflects Diana’s commitment to educate and inform audiences of social political and health issues impacting women globally.

I was both honored and excited to be a part of a festival that solely focused on films written, produced, and directed by women. I was in the company of some fantastic women filmmakers. Many thanks go out to Diana Means, her volunteers, and the attendees who made this year's fest a worth while event. Below are my "top seven" highlights from this year's festival.

Posing with Richard Riehle after the screening

of Head Over Spurs in Love.

7. The Screening of Head Over Spurs in Love: In this romantic bro comedy, directed by Ana Zins, Joe runs into the love of his life, the one that got away, visiting home for the holiday. The kick is, it's on the eve of his wedding nuptials to the girl he's settling for. Now, Joe has one night to find out if Amy still loves him before he marries Daisy with no regrets. After the screening there was a great Q&A with the director, producer, and cast. Getting a photo with Richard Reihle was an added bonus.
6. The Screening of Atomic Mom:
This feature length documentary produced and directed by M.T. Silvia tells the story of two lives, two mothers, affected by the atom bomb - that of a scientist involved in the post-war development and testing of the bomb and the one on whom it was unleashed. M.T.'s film like many documentaries is a true labor of love. It took her six years to complete this story, of an American Scientist and a Hiroshima Survivor finding peace decades after the bombing, empowers individuals and communities to work toward global unity. The film inspires dialogue about human rights, personal responsibility, and the possibility – and hope – of peace.

5. Networking with Fellow Filmmakers: One of the main reasons filmmakers attend festivals outside of promoting and getting their film in front of an audience is to network with colleagues. It was great to see the film's of other women filmmakers and know hear our universal struggles as women. I met some people who are great visual storytellers. I plan to stay in touch. Ladies you know who you are.

Poster of Finding Jenua outside of the theater.

4. The Screening of Finding Jenua: This is the feature film debut of screenwriter and director Alison Mason. It's a poignant story about love, loss and finding one's place in the world. A drama with mystery that's told in an unconventional way, unraveling like a memory and tying us back together with the simple beauty of human connection. The film will screen next at the 2011 Newport Beach Film Festival. Congratulations to Alison and her cast.
3. Attending the Distribution Workshop Luncheon by Akua Boyenne: It is so easy to forget about the business side in the film business. Classes aren't really taught on it, instead screenwriters and filmmakers are charged with honing their craft and learning the aestitics behind the process. To many artist don't know what to do when they finally get to a point when they're ready to ink a distribution deal. Luckily, we had Akua Boyenne, an entertainment lawyer to school us on the main points and terminology within a theatrical distribution contract. She gave two phenominal workshops on Negotiating The Theatrical Agreenment and Self Distribution- Exploring Alternative Distribution. While I won't need to use the information at this time, it is something I can go back to and always have when I'm ready to start talking distribution for my script idea or film.

2. The Screening of Real-Life Mallory: This was one of my favorite shorts of the festival.It's a powerful short film written and directed by R.L. Maynard that humanely deals with the subject of euthanasia.When Mallory, the lead charater finds out some devasting news about her health, she makes a life changing decisision. She must overcome her friend's denial, anger, and depression at a good-bye dinner. I was drawn into Mallory's story instantly and felt the rollercoaster of emotions the characters were grapling with. I look forward to seeing more films written and directed by Renee.

Renee, Aaliyah, and Cynthia posing for a picture

before the screening of After the Headlines

1. The Screening of After the Headlines: It was great to have After the Headlines in front of a new audience and the Q&A by Diana Means with the other filmmakers in my program was a memorable experience I won't soon forget. A special thank you to Renee, Alison, Cynthia, Shannon, and Patty. You ladies rock!!

I had many positive takeaways from this festival, but my biggest is that women screenwriters and filmmakers need to keep telling the stories we want to tell. There are film festivals and communities that will embrace our stories.There's an audience for the films I want to write despite what industry insiders say. Getting to this stage is hard work and getting your film onto a screen for a general audience is even harder work, but I'm encouraged and reengergized about the creative process. I also have my business lens on too. Time to get back to the work. I'm ready.

Gearing up for the 2011 L.A Women's International Film Festival

2011-03-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

I know I've been mum for a few weeks. I've been struggling to get my writing focus back on track and with the first quarter of the year over in 10 days, I'm thinking about my progress for the remainder of 2011.

On a positive note, I'm looking forward to this Friday, March 25, 2011. On that day I will be flying out to Los Angeles to attend the 2011 Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival, sponsored by the Alliance of Women Filmmakers. The Alliance of Women Filmmakers not only offers a platform for emerging women filmmakers, writers, and directors, it also seeks out films that have both a global and social message, contributing to women causes one film at a time. This film organization is a non-profit 501c(3) organization established by Diana Means to empower women filmmakers to create diverse roles for women.

I'm both thrilled and honored that After the Headlines was selected to be screened at this festival. Just when I thought I was done with the festival circuit I receive an email from Ms. Means congratulating me on my acceptance. After I got over the shock and surprise, I began to smile from the inside out and wrote an email to blast out the news to my network of friends, family, and colleagues.

I wasn't sure if I was going to make this festival at first. My major issue was timing and funds. Luckily, I was able to cash in two free round-trip flights I had with Southwest and got a great rental rate from Travel by Simon. I also need to thank my friend Pauline for letting me crash at her place yet again! A few weeks ago I posted on my facebook In the Mix that I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to go. My fellow colleagues and friends told me that I needed to make it happen. They were right and I am glad I did.

With all festivals there will be opportunity to network and share with other filmmakers and screenwriters that get your creative and financial struggles. I'm looking forward to seeing other films and attending the galas, but a major highlight for me will be the panel workshops: Self Distribution- Exploring Alternative Distribution and Negotiating the Theatrical Agreement by Akua Boyenne.

It is also going to be nice to see After the Headlines on a theater screen again. I didn't think I would have this opportunity to share the film with another audience. This will probably be the last film festival screening for After the Headlines.I enjoyed my short film festival circuit wave, but it is time for me to move onto new projects and get back to writing. If it wasn't for my writing this opportunity and the others that I've had wouldn't been possible. It was my due diligence that brought me hear and I must not forget it. Writers write.

If you are in the Los Angeles area I would love to have you at the 4 p.m. screening block that includes After the Headlines. Other films screening in the block are, Message Received, Emma & Reid, Take Her Picture, and Prom Date. Filmmakers thrive off of people in the audience, so please to be shy, we need your support. You can order tickets by clicking on the following link, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/159084.

Thanks for reading. Stay tune for next blog which will be highlights from the 2011 Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival.

Back to meetings with the Connecticut Screenwriters

2011-02-24T14:01:00.000-08:00

If you follow my blog and diligently read it when I shoot you an email notification, post it on facebook, LinkedIn, and twitter (hint, hint), then it's no surprise that I've been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride when it comes to my screenwriting. While I would have hoped to have the latest revision of my feature script Finding Patience done and at least two other scripts in my writer's pipeline, sadly I do not. Making the time to write and just write is a real challenge for me. Some how life, work, friends, and a bunch of other details manage to get in the way.

Around this time last year I was informed about a Connecticut screenwriting group that met at the West Hartford Public Library. After I found out about the group it still took me about two months before I showed up to a meeting. I believe I went to three meetings. That is the minimum you have to attend before you can submit your script to be in the queue (on the list) for review. I really enjoyed the meetings and being in the presence of other screenwriters who also want to get their script made into a film and make a living as a screenwriter. It was empowering. I learn and improve my own scripts by reading others and listening to the feedback of other screenwriters. I'm not sure why I dropped the ball on attending the meetings. I think some of it had do with gearing up for film festivals, planning a wedding, and realignment at work. I also probably didn't have the motivation.

This is how I feel sometimes when I sit
down to write.

For me it's like coming down with a cold. When I'm getting sick and I know I need to go see a doctor and nip it in the beginning but I don't. When the cold incapacitates me to the point that I can't do anything, then I finally seek help. I've been fighting this screenwriting cold (my lack of ability to sit down and do the damn work) and I've been chipping away at it for a while rather than going to a doctor. I decided that I needed to get back my mojo and felt like going to a meeting with the Connecticut Screenwriters was my doctor's visit. I think I was right. Click on this link to visit their facebook page, Connecticut Screenwriters.

Going to last night's meeting was invigorating. I realized that I've been missing a group to share and reflect with. The way the group works really allows the screenwriter to get in-depth feedback that will help in his/her next revision and the other writers around the table recive lessons learned too. I know I did last night. I will be applying some of the tips I heard to my own script when I go to revise Finding Patience this weekend.

One of the screenwriter in the group has his feature script being reviewed by one of the industry's major agencies. I remember when I first went to the meeting and he won a screenwriting contest and was talking about his coverage (professional feedback on a screenplay). He's been going to the meeting for a year and a half, writing, and is starting to really see the fruits of his labor. I'm looking to make similar inroads but in order to get there I need to write and write a whole bunch. Kurt Sutter, creator of FX's Sons of Anarchy and The Sheild, wrote a kick-ass blog a few weeks ago entitled, Writers Write that also was a reminder of what I'm not doing. I highly recommend giving it a read.

I am glad that the Connecticut Screenwriters meet monthly. I needed to be at last night's meeting and it felt good to be back. Now I have to get this next revision done so I can be ready for the next cue or the one after that.

Making Dinner at Sturbridge Village

2011-02-21T09:22:00.000-08:00

Could you throw away the luxury of our modern day kitchen and cook a meal for one evening with no electricity, gas, or oil heat? No plastic cutting boards, just wood. No stainless steel and non stick pots and pans. Only an open fire, and a fire brick bake oven. Forget about any gadget or cooking instrument that has made your life easier in the past 100 years or so. You're probably saying to yourself, "Who would pay for this and why?"

Well, Karim and I, made up a group of 14 people that embarked on this unique experience of cooking dinner as early New Englanders did back in the 19th century. We can thank his friend Gabe for the evening spent making a country dinner at Old Sturbridge Village, in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Gabe and his wife Sabrina participated before and invited us and some others to join them.

Our small group meet with Joanna, one of our hosts for the evening. She was dressed in traditional clothing that reflected the time period of the 1830s. Her hair was covered with a simple white bonnet and she wore a long dark cape that covered her long skirt and other layers of clothing. Before we headed to the Parsonege house where we would make dinner, we received instructions and safety protocols. The important things to remember was that the only light we had came from candles, so it would be fairly dark and that when we were removing items from the fire that we should always use pot holders, otherwise we were sure to get a burn.

Game table in the center of the room.

The night was cold and the wind was brisk. I distanced myself from most of the group and stayed close to Joanna because I wanted to be the first one in the house. I was relieved when I stepped inside. The fire was going and it cut right through the cold. I was glowing from the inside out. There was a table in the center of the room with games and chairs around the perimeter of the room. I made sure to park myself in the closest chair to the fire. Our two other hosts were there waiting for us, they took are coats as the rest of group filtered into the room. Once we were seated we were told about our menu for the night. It included:

Pounded Cheese
Mulled Cider
Gourd Soup
Roasted Stuffed Chicken (stuffed with mashed potatoes)
Beef Olives (thinly sliced beef with bread stuffing)
Roasted Vegetables
Pink Pears
Dried Apple Cranberry Pie with Raisins
Butter Biscuits
Trifle
Coffee

We would prepare all of these receipts (recipes), as they were called back in this time period. One of the things that I enjoyed about the evening in addition to the cooking is that we got a history lesson about the processes and the formalities for why they did things the way they did. Each guest received a mug and was instructed to write their name on the bottom. After the mulled cider was done, we used our mugs to sip the delicious drink. I really think the mulled cider I had that night was the best hot cider ever.

Buttered biscuits rising by the fire.

We were then broken up into four groups to make dinner. There was a meat, vegetable, appetizer (pounded cheese), and a baking groups. Karim and I partnered with Gabe and Sabrina. With Joanna's assistance I made butter biscuits from scratch and kneaded with my hands. Joanna informed me that utensils like wooden spoons weren't used at this time so I decided to do as they did.

I enjoyed the process so much that I wasn't phased by the fact that we were cooking without modern technology. We had a pan of warmed soap water and a pan of warmed water to wash and rinse the dishes as we went along. Don't get me wrong, it was a lot of work, but the experience itself makes the work enjoyable. I really understand why families had so many kids back then. I would have not wanted to handle all these duties by myself. Even if you had a husband, the work was a lot for just two people.

The best part of the night was when we sat down to eat dinner. It was amazing to see all the food that we prepared by hand. It was fabulous, absolutely delicious! Just thinking about the beef olives makes my mouth water.

Two people from our group working at their station.

In closing, making dinner at Old Sturbridge Village gets two enthusiastic thumbs up. I highly recommend the experience. I warn you that it won't be a cheap night, but you will get what you pay for. It's $85.00 per person and $75.00 if you're a member of Old Sturbridge Village. You'll receive great food, some history of the period, and have cooking up a storm.

For more information or to make reservations, click here Old Sturbridge Village.

It was fun to share this excursion with you. I look forward to my next one. Take care til' then.

August Wilson's Piano Lesson at the Yale New Haven Rep

2011-02-10T07:18:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

I know it has been a while since my last entry and I'm long over do. My motivation to write is in a down period and coming down with a bacterial sinus infection hasn't helped. I'm sluggish, tired, and just want to stay in bed, but rather than cave in to this cold, I'm going to tell you about the production of August Wilson's Piano Lesson at the Yale Repertory Theatre, www.yalerep.org/.

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of checking out Piano Lesson with my mom, Anthony, a co-worker of my mom, and Halima, a friend and fellow theatre enthusiast. I was a little nervous that the weather wasn't going to cooperate, but we ended up with mostly rain, a nice change from our snowy norm. I picked Tandoor restaurant, tandoornewhaven.com/, located at 1226 Chapel St, New Haven, Connecticut for our lunch. It's my mom's favorite Indian restaurant in New Haven. Not only is their food fabulous, but I like the fact that the restaurant looks like an old-school diner from the 1950's.

I wasn't sure what to expect from Piano Lesson, I've seen a couple of August Wilson's other plays and have enjoyed them, but when I heard the play was three and a half hours with an intermission, I had some doubts. It's hard to sit through a two and a half-hour movie at times, and I wasn't sure if the cast would hold my attention for that amount of time. I was wrong, so wrong. Kudos go out the cast of talented actors under the direction of Liesl Tommy. The cast did a superb job and although the play was three plus hours, it didn't feel like it. The characters moved me and their story moved me. I was locked into their world and their struggles and enjoyed every minute of it.

This Pulitzer Prize winning drama premiered at Yale Rep 24 years ago in 1987. It takes place in the city of Pittsburgh, 1936. When you walk into the theatre you will see a beautifully carved piano in the home of Bernice Charles. This piano, it's history, it's importance, and it's value is at the heart of the story. Bernice plans to pass this family heirloom down to her daughter, but Boy Willie, Bernice's brother has his own plans and wants to sell it for cash to by land in Mississippi that their family once worked as slaves. The Piano Lesson is an intimate story of a brother and sister struggle to embrace or deny the epic inheritance.

I know we all have busy schedules, but I would encourage you all to block out three hours of your time to catch this production. It's worth it. Performances runTuesday through Saturday and start at 8 p.m until February 19, 2011. You can also catch a matinee at 2 p.m. on Saturdays. This Saturday has a cast talk back after the 2 p.m. show (I also highly recommend staying for this too.). For tickets call the box office at 203.432.1234 or purchase online at http://www.yalerep.org/

Not Me This Time

2011-01-26T18:40:00.000-08:00

Hello all.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am sure ready for winter to be over. I've had enough of the white stuff. Rather than write an entry about where I'm at (hint, hint), I thought I use this entry to support a fellow artist. An acting colleague of mine name Cinti is taking the bull by the horns and raising funds via Kickstarter to Bring the Music to you. Kickstarter is a new way for filmmakers, producers, and artists to fund creative ideas and ambitious endeavors. Bring the Music is a live weekly comedy, variety, stand-up competition she created in 1999 and hosted in Manhattan for two consecutive years through 2001.

Cinti initially pitch her idea to the Oprah Winfrey Network in Oprah's OWN TV show competition. Although she was not selected, she's not giving up on her idea and dream. I know what that is like. It's not enough to have an idea, an individual has to have the passion to pursue it and needs the support of others. We all have a story to share and Bring the Music is Cinti's. To learn more about Cinti's Bring the Music project by clicking on this link, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/652976123/bring-the-music-the-movie.

As always thanks for reading.

Ten Days Into 2011 and Where I Am At

2011-01-11T07:33:00.000-08:00

This caption echoes how I feel at times.

Hello all,

It has been 10 days since my last entry and although I've got 2011 off with a positive enthusiasm, I actually haven written a word for an old or new screenplay. I'm not proud or pleased to report that. I'm actually disappointed in myself. The one thing I can say is that what I write or don't write falls on me. Since the new year began I've been focused on spec ideas for the Nickelodeon Fellowship, www.nickwriting.com/. The deadline for applications is February 28, 2011 and that is just around the corner.

I picked three shows to watch and have read their synopses on Wikipedia, but after watching the first season of one show, I wonder if I have the chops to write in that style. Comedy isn't my area of expertise, but for this fellowship I need to be able to demonstrate some skill in this area. The night before last, I voiced my struggle with my husband and even mentioned an idea I have for the show, but judging by his response and expression I really need to flesh it out.

What I need to do.

I think I'm so worried about failing at this it is distracting me from even getting started. I really have to get past this because time to get a draft done is running out. I'm going to have to put action behind my words and buckle down and get something on paper this weekend. A bad script is better than no script at all, because you can improve on something bad, but if there is nothing there to work with how do you get past that.

I need to address the ways in which I hold my own self back. I need to prioritize my writing goals and create a schedule that will force me to write something everyday even if it is only one page. In addition to getting some writing done I need to work on the task of developing this schedule and really stick to it. While I wish my blog entry was more exciting, I'm glad to be addressing this issue with all of you. It's important that I'm honest with myself and sharing with you all helps.

Thanks for reading.

My Goal is to Write for 2011

2011-01-01T13:37:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone. I hope all of you have recovered from your New Year's Eve hangovers. For those of you who didn't drink or over indulge in libations, you are already off to a good start.

With a new year people all over the globe are hyped about their new year resolutions. It's time to start over, start fresh, and give 2011 all you've got. The shame is that this invigorating attitude tends not to last. It is gone for most people by March. Come June, people are figuring out how they can make it through the rest of the year. And then by December, everyone is ready to close the door and start it all over again. It becomes a never ending cycle. I'm ready to break that chain.

In previous blogs I've mentioned that I've felt both professional and personal growth over the last couple of year. Well, I'm ready to step up my game and get to that next level. In the past, I've said that I've wanted to get an agent, get accepted into a writing fellowship, win a screen writing competition, get discovered, and eventually make my living as a screenwriter. I know, nice aspirations to have.

For the month of December I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how I'm going to achieve these different goals. I decided to take the hubby's advice and keep my goal simple for 2011. That goal is to write and only write.

While I was thinking about my goals for 2011, a light bulb went off in my head. I realized that everything I want and need to achieve stems from my writing. It's my foundation. If I'm not writing, my ideas aren't becoming complete stories that can win a contest, generate buzz, interest a producer, studio exec, or production company. Although I've been pursuing screen writing for five years, I'm no industry insider. I'm still trying to wedge my foot in the door and only industry insiders get to sell ideas. I think I'm more likely to get hit by a truck than I am to sell an idea. While I wish I had that luxury I accept the fact that I don't. Like a drug dealer, I need a solid product, in my case a finished script. Something that will turn the heads of major players in the game. Right now, I'm slinging trying to get my hustle on, and while I've made some small deals; what I really need is the script that will grab the attention of the major players. Unlike drug dealers, it isn't once sole product for me. I need to write a bunch of scripts. The only way to grow as a writer is to write. I have no character development, no plot, no substance, no story arc if I'm not writing.

For 2011, my major goal on the screen writing front is to write and to write a lot. I can't worry about winning contest if the quality of my scripts are sub par. Practice makes perfect. I have plenty of story ideas that I want to turn into screenplays and fellowships to apply to, so there is no lack of substance. My task to achieve this goal will be to stay on task. I begin now and have a year to actualize this goal. Wish me not luck, but due diligence.

Year End Wrap-up: The Things I Am Grateful For

2010-12-14T07:48:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

I know, it's been a while since my last entry. I'm going to be honest, I just didn't feel like writing or sharing. I was working on a couple of projects and really needed to focus on them and only them. I'm glad to be back and with the year coming to a close, I'm excited about my year-end wrap up.

I'm a lucky girl. I got married thrice and not only did I keep my job during this horrible economy, but I also managed to continue to write (mostly revising older scripts) and promote After the Headlines at a couple of film festivals this year. Of course it wasn't all a win. The GOP took back the House, the financial recovery is as slow as molasses, and I did receive more rejection letters than I would have liked from both film festival and screenwriting competitions. But with all that said, I still have to consider this year momentous. I continue to expand my network of professional colleagues on the screenwriting front and my writing is getting better, that is when I sit down and write. To wrap up the year, below are my top five highlights for 2010.

5. The Kent Film Festival: I was sitting in the Barnes and Noble in Waterbury, CT working on a script when I received a call from Frank Galterio, co-founder of the festival, to let me know that After the Headlines was accepted into Kent. I was thrilled. The fact that he took the time to call me with the news meant a lot. The festival was great. Frank and his wife, Patrice, the Kent Film Festival staff did a phenominal job of making filmmakers feel welcomed and supported. You two ROCK!

4. My Rejection Letters: I'm sure you are all surprised about this. I decided to add it, because the rejection process has helped me to take a hard look at my writing and filmmaking. I 've seen the areas where I need to grow. The standard rejection letter irks me. I really appreciate the film festivals and screenwriting competitions that also provide throughful and encouraging feedback with their thanks but no thanks. It's great to get praise and nothing beats the feeling of acceptance, but as a artist who wants to also make a living as a screenwriter, I need to listen to those who offer hard critisim. I may not like it, but my work will be better off for it if I see the positive in it.

3. My Profile in the Republican American: Once I knew After the Headlines was accepted into the Kent Film Festival, I knew I had to drum up some local publicity. I drafted a press release and sent it out to Connecticut newspapers. Most local papers weren't interested, but I did yield one major result. My local paper, The Republican American responded to my press release with a call back and interest in interviewing me. Timing is everything. I think it helped that the paper just ran a local story on The Kent Film Festival and I capitalized on it. I expected a small write up, but instead was the front cover of the Arts section. Friends, family and people who I haven't talked to in years either emailed me or called to congratulate me. This cover story reminded me that local news is the heartbeat of our cities and towns and that my hardwork can pay off.

2. Screening After the Headlines at Casey: When the story about After the Headlines hit the papers, I wasn't expecting the buzz that I received. I didn't mention it to many people. I was suprised when a colleague stopped by with a copy of the article. Throughout that day, I received a bunch of emails and people stopping by my office to congratulate me. They also told me they wanted to see the film. About two, myabe three weeks later, their was a screening for the film. It was attended by all the staff in the office. I was taken back by that. It was a moving moment for me. The comments I received from folks was so supportive and encouraging. That day, I was reminded of the power my writing can have on an audience and that I need to continue to work on my dream of being a filmmaker and screenwriter.

1. Attending the 2010 Action on Film Festival: In 2009, I was estactic when my script After the Headlines was nominated for 'Best Dramatic Scene.' I was completely caught off-guard when I won the award. This year I felt extremely privilege to return to the fabulous city of Pasadena to once again attend the Action on Film Festival (AOF), http://www.aoffest.com/. Not only was my short film an official selection, but it was also nominated for 'Best Produced Screenplay.' My short script Out of the Box was also nominated for 'Best Short' and 'Best Written Word.' I didn't win 'Best Produced Screenplay,' but I did walk away with an award for first runner-up in the 'Best Short' category and also took home the '2010 Hollywood Scriptwriter Written Word Award.' I had a great time at both awards show. Outside of the film screenings, I deepened my connections with fellow screenwriters, attended some really good seminars and expanded my network with other professionals in the film industry. I have to shout out Del Weston, founder of (AOF), Josh Neufeld, (AOF) film festival director, and the AOF film festival staff. This team of people give 110 percent to the screenwriters and filmmakers who attend the festival. I'm privileged to be a part of this festival family.

Thoseare my highlights for 2010. A big thank you also goes out to my family and friends who continue to support my creative efforts. Thanks for the proofreading, feedback, and tough words when I need it. I look forward to capitlizing on more opportunities in 2011 and will lay out my plan in my New Year blog entry. Next year, I want you all to be a part of my goal planning. I also want to cover more topics outside of film and get you more into the mix of things I'm doing or pursuing.

Signing off for now. Happy Holidays and best wishes for 2011. Thanks for reading!

Revise, Revise, Revise

2010-11-12T19:39:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

This weekend my task is to revise my feature length script Finding Patience for the six or seventh time. I'm not quite sure, but every time I revise a script it feels like a never ending process. That's probably because it is in some respects. I will keep this entry fairly short because I need to get cracking on it asap if I'm to finish act two and three of the script and have it emailed to my mentor come hell or high water Sunday night or maybe even early Monday morning.

The devil is definitely in the details. Lately, I've been procrastinating. I know it isn't helpful to my writing process. I use procrastination as a creative crutch, but if I am to be the writer I know I can and need to be I have to break free of it. This blog entry is my kick in the butt to get to work.

It's not easy to go back to a script and analyze what went wrong. It isn't easy to find pick out the exact page where your protagonist lost her way and her story arc hits a wall. Keeping a story engaging is hard work. In a few short hours I will be up to the challenge of figuring all that out. I'm going to do my best to push through.

I've heard a lot of screenwriters say that it's the rewriting process that shapes and enhances a story. Screenwriting is a craft that must be honed. While I know this to be true it is still hard to embrace the practice, but I will try. I have the coverage as my guide and and very much want and need to get through this next revision. So for me my mantra is revise, revise, and revise. No excuses.

I will check in on Monday and let you know how the weekend turns out.

Rallying to Restore Sanity: My Personal Take aways

2010-11-01T09:58:00.000-07:00

I am proud to say that Karim and I woke up at 4:27 a.m. (we were actually supposed to be up at 3:30 a.m., but I messed up with the alarm), brushed our teeth, got dressed quickly, and hit the road for Washington D.C to be apart of the Stewart/Colbert Rallies to Restore Sanity/Fear.

We made pretty good time and didn't hit traffic until we were in Baltimore, Maryland on route 295 going into to D.C. When were arrived in our nation's capitol, www.clubquarters.com/loc_washingtonDC.aspx

we checked into Club Quarters, and then met up with Gorman, a friend of Karim's who also was looking forward to attending the rally.

It was a great day for a rally. The tempature was on the warm side for the end of October. When we hit the mall and saw hundreds of people heading toward the front of the mall where the stage was set up, I was taken back. The John Stewart show demo tends to be geared toward males, ages 18 to 35, but what I found at the rally was people of all ages, ethnicities, and religions in attendance. I also have to mention that the rally was family friendly. Lots of people brought there kids with them which included infants, toddlers, and even a few tweeners and teens. Seeing the families together put a smile on my face.

Karim and I leaving the mall.

I did my best to nudge my way through folks and get as close as I could. I didn't do to bad. Karim and I made it to the media trucks which put us in view of the screens (when I was on my toes). From where we were, we actually had fairly decent sound. It wasn't perfect, but we did get to hear and see most of the show. However, we did lose Gorman in the crowd. Sorry Gorman. It was a tight fit, so if you don't like close quarters, you might have freaked out.

I'm glad Karim and I got as close as we did, because I'm not sure how much of the rally we would have seen or heard if we were any further back. I do wish that more attention would have been paid to the audio/visual needs of the crowd, but from what I've read online, I don't even think the folks who planned the event expected a crowed of 200,000 people. The event was also put together in less than a month, so when I put that lens on, they did a pretty good job.

Two signs I tried to capture. Not the best photo but you can still read it.

Outside of the rally, I think people were really happy to get together to share their common ground and say, "We are fed up!" While Stewart and Colbert rally didn't talk politics, it was clear that many in the crowd came to share their opinions about the status quo on politics and what they believe is at stake for our nation. Colbert showed a great clip of how our media outlets play into the fear tactics that seem to be entrenched in our politics.

The event wasn't perfect, but not much is in life. I do believe some of the goals of the rally for attendees were met even if they didn't get to hear the whole show. I'm so glad that I was a part of this event. Like Stewart, Colbert, and the thousands of Americans in attendence I want to see sanity restored in our nation's political discourse. Stewart and Colbert have illustrated that there are a lot of people across the nation willing to come together and say "We won't be silenced or overlooked."

I thought this signed deserved to be captured.

I know there is going to be a political shake up tomorrow. I won't be happy with the GOP taking back the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate, but I also know that there are a lot of voters like me who are watching closely and are ready to rally for change and to restore sanity when it's warranted.

Aaliyah Miller Writer and Filmmaker AOF 2010

2010-10-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

Incantation: Don’t Miss the Magic

2010-10-09T19:58:00.000-07:00

During the summer I alluded to rehearsals for a show I was performing in. Well, d-day finally arrived and this past Friday, October 8, 2010, Incantation opened for audiences in the greater New Haven area. I literally jumped back in for opening night, having been on a 10-day hiatus from rehearsals due to my pre-planned honeymoon with Karim in Panama.

Lyric Hall, a small theater restored by John Cavaliere, owner of the Lyric Antiques and Conservation, located at 827 Whalley Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut is the home for the production. Incantation is a choreopoem that is a litany for relationships in present time. It was written and produced by Gerene Freeman and directed by Edi Jackson, both residents of New Haven.

The play builds on the issues, conflicts and concerns surrounding the central characters, five black women who have experienced heartbreak, yet still linger onto hope. The cast of local actors includes Ebony Benton, Parris Marie Cannon, Porsche A. Edmundson, Tyler Hyde, Tangier Pritchette, Malish Stanley and Peaches Winston.

If you live in the New Haven area the cast and I would love to get your support. This blog entry is my personal plea to get you to come check us out. Local artists need local support to survive. Tickets are only $15. To purchase tickets contact Gerene Freedman at 203.507.5940. The next show will be Friday, October 14, 2010 at 8 p.m.

Look out for the article on Incantation in the New Haven Independent's online newspaper this Monday. I will add the link when the story posts.

For more additional show dates and more information, visit the Incantation fan page on facebook , where you can also see photos of the cast.

Greetings from Panama

2010-09-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

Hola... I mean hello...actually I mean both,

To be honest I wish I could type this blog entry in Spanish. I'm enjoying the honeymoon that much. I attended my blog entry to be a rant about how unhappy I was that Bridal Trousseau did none of the alternations on-time and that I had to get my dress the day before the ceremony, but due to all the stuff that I needed to get done last minute, I never got to that entry. Right now, none of that matters.

Map of Panama

Today is my third day on the beautifully picturesque island of Panama. For the first couple of days Karim and I did nada. I needed to rest and recuperate. The day after the wedding I began to lose my voice and as I boarded the plane at Logan airport, I was as squeaky as Mickey Mouse, just not as cute. I'm proud to report that Mucinex, green tea, Ricola, and Allegra-D have helped me recover. I am at about 85 percent, I almost sound like my old self.

Karim and I visited the Panama Canal and got a personal tour of the city by Marta. She was really cool and bi-lingual, although you will find that most Panamanians who work in tourism are. I learned a lot about the canal and history of the city from her. She was a walking encyclopedia. I also made a point to share some facts about the U.S with her over a great Panamanian lunch.

Panama Canal 1914

I should clear up a few things. The Coronado Golf and Beach Resort is actually 75 minutes from the hotel. The road signs aren't that great either, which is why it took us nearly three hours to find the place. It didn't help that we picked up our car rental on empty, luckily Karim and I found a gas station right outside of the airport. I will say this, even though many of the folks didn't speak English, they really did their best to assist us. Kindness to strangers is universal.

The official inaugural voyage on the Panama Canal.

Tomorrow we plan to hang out at the resort, rest up and then hit another excursion. I believe we are going to their tropical rain forest to hike and zip-line through the trees. Can't wait!!!! By the way, Panama uses the U.S. currency, so another plus to vacationing here is that you don't have to worry about changing money, but there are tolls.

Stay tune for my honeymoon top-ten which will include photos from the trip, not stock shots from the net. Sorry but I forgot to bring a USB. Ciao!

Intolerance: My Emerging Issue

2010-09-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Today's entry isn't going to be about screenwriting or film making. I'm going to tackle a different subject today. Lately, I've been disturbed by the media coverage of the Islamic community center near Ground Zero. I know this may seem like old news, especially with the media now focused on pastor Terry Jones, who plans to burn Korans on the anniversary of 911. While these two stories are separate issues, I don't believe the fact that these events are happening a few weeks a part is an accident.

If you've checked out my facebook page, you know where I stand on the issue of the Islamic community center, but just in case you aren't on facebook, I support the building of the center. One of the reasons I support it is because it's for everyone, people of all religions will be welcomed and even those who atheist and agnostic. Opponents of the mosque have made the argument that this building disrespects the memories of those who have perished in the Twin Towers. It's been called insensitive and those on the right have jumped at the opportunity to make this issue political for their benefit. Here is some questions to the opponents of the center. What about the Muslims who also died in the attacks? Did you know that the Twin Towers had a mosque already in one of the buildings? What about the families of the Muslim victims on 911?

According to the polls, most Americans don't support the building of this center. I think that is a real shame. It's not just about the center, it is an issue of freedom of religion and civil rights. I feel like my country is at a very negative crossroads. The intolerance that is building in our nation is disturbing. The fact that politicians and right-wing pundits on Fox are capitalizing on intolerance. I wonder if this movement will spread like the wild fires in Colorado.

I'm going to switch gears again and tell you about a recent experience I had at the Clam Digger, a fried seafood restaurant that recently opened in my hometown. My mom and I decided to check it out because they were running special deals for the grand opening.

I was at the counter and had given the man my order. I think this man was the manager and maybe even the owner but I'm not sure. After I had given him my order he asked for my name. Now most people make assumptions about the spelling of my name and 9 out of 10 times those assumptions are wrong. I was getting ready to encounter one of those times. He proceeds to spell my name and after he gets to the second letter, I try to tell him he's wrong. I get ready to give him the correct spelling and then he tells me he will spell my name the way he wants to. I let it go. My mom comes up to see what's going on and then the guy tells me I have a wacky name. He must have figured that my mom was my mom and proceeded to ask her why she gave me a wacky name? I couldn't believe what had just happened. I could have made a scene, lord knows I had a few choice words, but I decided to let it go.

Obviously, I really haven't let it go. That's why I'm blogging about it. I guess names like Mary, Michael, John, Steve, Joanne, Beth, Nicole aren't wacky. I love my name and I'm glad my mother gave me this wacky name. It means, to ascend or to rise up in Hebrew and Arabic. I know I live in a diverse country, but diversity is not at the hearts and minds of all our fellow citizens. My incident at the Clam Digger is proof of that. The United States has come a long way, but we still have a long way to go in respecting people of different ethnicities, colors, religions, and sexual orientation. Intolerance is my emerging issue. I'm going to do my best fight it, because intolerance only breeds intolerance. Thanks for reading and I welcome your comments.

Wonder Drug: The Power of Words

2010-08-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday evening I had the privilege of attending Caitlin McCarthy's staged reading of select scenes from her feature screenplay in development Wonder Drug. As much as I would like to be out there attending festivals, staged readings, and other networking opportunities for screenwriters, I don't always get that opportunity, so it was a thrill to be in the audience for Wonder Drug.

Caitlin's screenplay Wonder Drug is a scientific drama about DES (diethylstilbestrol), the world's first drug disaster. Before I get into talking about the reading I have to mention that this screenplay has nominations in over 20 international film festival screenwriting competion and labs, most notably: Action on Film International Film Festival Winner, "Most Likely To Be Produced" Screenplay Award; the Hamptons Screenwriters Lab Participant; Woods Hole Film Festival Winner, Best Science Screenplay; and Illinois International Film Festival Screenplay Competition Winner. You can check out the full list of screenplay honors at: www.facebook.com/wonderdrugthemovie.

Before attending this screening I was not familiar with DES (diethylstilbestrol), a toxic and carcenogenic synthetic estrogen that was prescribed to millions of women from 1938 until 1971 in the United States; and until the mid-1980s in parts of Latin America, Europe, Australia, and the Third World. The currently proven effects of exposure include a rare vaginal cancer in DES daughters; greater risk of breast cancer in DES mothers; abnormal reproductive organs; infertility; and high risk pregnancies.

How could something like this happen in the United States? Those questions were answered for me at the staged reading and in the Q&A that followed. The selected scenes that Caitlin presented weave together three stories of a Big Pharma executive, a feminist doctor, and thirthysomething newlywed who were impacted by DES over three decades. Under the direction of Tom Gilroy, Spring Forward, the cast does a phenominal job of illustrating the distastrous effects that DES had in their lives.

Caitlin's script Wonder Drug is inspired by true stories, she brings her personal connection as a DES daughter to the script. This isn't just another story, it's her story along with countless other women who have been exposed to DES since 1938.

Wonder Drug is currently in development. I look forward to when Caitlin and her producers get this story to the big screen because it is a story that needs to be told. We need to question pharmaceuticals companies that test drugs like DES and the FDA who goes on to approve them. What happened with the Wonder Drug DES is still happening today. Just think back to when Viox was recalled. This story needs to be told and shared with the world.

In closing, I want you all to know that not one drug company has ever apologized or accepted responsibility for the DES tragedy. Nevertheless, they have paid out millions in out-of-court settlements. Caitlin, thanks for sharing your work with me and others, it is not lost.

Finding My Focus

2010-08-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

Have I found my focus? No, but I am getting closer to it. Last night, I was supposed to buckle down and get to my treatments for Finding Patience and Ego Tripping. Instead, I ended up watching the latest episode of True Blood. I must say it was a great episode, but I realize I probably should have not watched it. Howevery, it was so much easier for me to break fasting with an episode of True Blood, rather than dig deep to find the writer in me. I know, I've got to get my priorities together.

It wasn't a complete lost, at around 10 p.m. guilt began to set in and I decided to at least grow through my file folders of scripts, script notes, and articles on screenwriting. As I was reading through some of the papers I came across coverage for Finding Patience. The coverage was of the first 20 pages of my script. The contest I submitted to wanted to see your first 20 pages and if the story pulled them in then they would look at the full script. I did not make the cut. Ironically they also had a checklist of 20 things your script should have to make their cut. I only had four out of the 20. On first glance I was sort of depressed by this, but then I picked up the screenplay and began to read it. I would stop and look at the check marks I didn't have and then go back to the script. I stopped on page 10 and realized I had missed the mark in the setup of my screenplay.

It was around 10:30 and I realized that it was time for me to go to bed. I would have to be up in a few hours to eat an breakfast before the sunrise. I didn't want to go to bed, but if I was going to function tomorrow I needed to. I put the script down, realizing that I had a small break through. I saw the flaws in my writing. I have to revise it because it can be better. My job is to make it better.

I wish it didn't take me all night to come to that conclusion, but at least I did get to it. I My train has left the station, but the speed is very slow at the moment. I have faith it is going to pick up, but for now I've got to pace myself and not lose track of my goals.

Coming Down from a Festival High and Getting Back to Work

2010-08-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

Last week, I was in a celebratory mood. I was still getting a lot of kudos from colleagues, friends, and family for my recent screenwriting awards at the 2010 Action on Film Festival. Since my return I've been slowly coming down from the accolades and trying to get back my focus. It hasn't been easy. The shift from promoting and networking to getting back to the core of my writing is hard.

I know the hubby would tell me I need to stop putting so much on my plate. For once I won't argue with him, cause he's right. I need to do a better job at prioritizing my work.

I've had a lot of time to think about where I want my screenwriting to go. Am I really going to try and make this my career? The answer is yes, With that said, I need to exert a deeper dedication to the written word. At the end of the day it is about the writing. Writers write. I realize I have to do a lot more writing and I don't just mean my blogging either. I have to put in long hours to cultivate the characters and stories that are in my head.

I have a tall agenda to achieve if I am to stay on track. The journey will not be easy, but despite all the other things I have going on in my life, writing has to be and stay my focal point. If it doesn't, the only one I can blame for my lack of writing is myself. The pressure is on.

The 2010 Action on Film (AOF) Fest: My Top 10 Highlights

2010-08-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

Although I've been back in Connecticut for two days, I'm still trying to adjust to the jet lag while also jumping back into the thick of things I left a little over a week ago. The adjustment is tough, but I'm hanging in there.

I'm really excited about this blog entry. Part of this feeling is because I have yet to come down from my high of taking home two honors at the AOF Writer's Award Dinner. The 2010 Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival was a great experience for the screenwriter and filmmaker in me. I'm not just saying that because I won an award either. Instead of going on about how wonderful the festival was, I've decided to condense my memorable moments into a top ten list. To be more specific, I'm going to give you my top 10 highlights for this year's phenomenal AOF Festival.

My Top Ten:

10. Getting to AOF and receiving a warm welcome from the staff, Del, and Josh. The AOF team knows how to make you feel at home. "You may be independent, but at the AOF you're never alone."

9. It's nice to get to a festival and see familiar faces. AOF is festival where you connect with old friends and have an opportunity to network with a plethora of directors, producers, screenwriters, and actors from across the globe. Shout out to, Ron, Bob, Matt, Michelle, Steve, Caitlin, Laura, Dominic, Stan, Kely, Pascal, Michael G., and Raymond. All of you made my second year at AOF a memorable one.

8. I love getting a goodie bag. The AOF goodie bag included an official program, AOF t-shirt, perfume samples, other promotional items as well as screening postcards for most of the films screening at the festival.

7. Attending the Free Sunday Brunch Symposium and Speakers Series on Sunday, July 25, 2010 at El Portal Restaurant from 11am to 1pm. The fantastic seminar had a panel of incredible filmmakers and industry leaders who are making a difference in the field of film, video, and technology. Speakers included, Mike Flannagan of Video Symphony; Raymond Forchion, award-winning actor, writer and producer; Matt Sconce, director and 2010 AOF nominee for 'Best Horror;' Kely McClung, veteran actor, writer, producer and director; Matt Furman, screenwriter and co-founder of Triskelion Films, a production company with the goal to make CG Movies affordable to any filmmaker; and last but not least, Stan Harrington, a multi-award winning producer, writer, and director; he manages the World Famous Stella Adler Theater.

6. Attending the screening of Confessions of a Thug, a Hip-Hop musical that follows the life of a drug dealer. The film was produced by Raymond Forchion and starred writer/director Daron Fordham. I really enjoyed the Q&A with Raymond and Daron.

5. Meeting Mark Ruffalo after the screening of Stan Harrington's film Small Days, written by Tim Mc'Neil. Mark was sitting in front of me at the screening and I didn't even realize it until after the film. Mark hung out with the cast of with his colleague's from Small Days and even made an appearance at the after party.

4. Attending the screening of my short film After the Headlines. While my audience was small, it was full of heart and made up of fellow screenwriters and filmmakers who gave me their word that they would come check on the film. Thank you for a fabulous Q&A after the screening. Shout out to, Ron, Pascal, Bob, and Claire.

3. Getting nominated for 'Best Produced Screenplay and attending the 2010 AOF Film Awards Dinner. Although I didn't win I was honored to be in the company of extraordinary screenwriters, filmmakers, producers, and actors. It was a great way to spend my last night in Pasadena.

2. Attending the Writers Dinner for a second year in a row. The fact that I was once again nominated was big kudos for me. Events like this one are one of the few acknowlegements I get as a writer so it means the world to me.

1. My number one highlight from this year's AOF Festival is winning the Hollywood Scriptwriter 2010 Written Word Award and also being first runner-up for Best Short. Throughout the year I get my share of rejections, so to come home with two awards illustrates that I continue to make progress as a screenwriter.

As you can see, I did a lot in the week. It was a real privilege to return for a second year. I'm looking forward to the AOF in 2011. I guess that means I've got my work cut out for me. Back to the writing. Thanks for reading.

And the Winner is....Out of the Box

2010-07-29T02:22:00.000-07:00

In my last blog entry I said let the fun begin. The fun times at the 2010 Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival, www.aoffest.com did unfold and part of me is really sad that the screenings, seminars, and networking is finally coming to an end.

I still can't believe that my week here is almost over. Tomorrow night will be final night for the 2010 AOF, time really does fly by when you are having fun.

Yesterday evening I had the privilege of attending the 2010 AOF writer's awards dinner. My short script, Out of the box was nominated for 'Best Short' and the 'Hollywood Scriptwriter 2010 Written Word Award,' (and I wasn't aware of the latter). Being nominated for a second year was a great honor in itself. I know a lot of the writers in this fest and the competition is tough.

To my surprise I was awarded first runner-up for 'Best Short' and won the 'Hollywood Scriptwriter 2010 Written Word Award.' When my name was announced as runner-up I couldn't believe it. I walked to the podium and graciously accepted the honor. This time I didn't cry, but when I heard my name announced as the winner for the 'Hollywood Screenwriter 2010 Written Word Award' the tears began to swell and I cried tears of joy. I did recover a lot quicker than last year and managed to get a coherent thank speech out.

Even though the awards ceremony is a few hours ago, I still feel elated. Part of me is still in shock. Moments like these are few and far between. A night like last night, is a night that all screenwriters dream of. We endure so many rejections. It has taken me fives years to get here and I still don't believe I've cracked the service of my screenwriting iceberg. My journey and career are just beginning.

The script that won tonight was conceptualized five years ago with Lawrence J. King, the co-writer. We initially came up with the story for a BET screenwriting competition looking for scripts that were about HIV/AIDS. The winning short would be produced by BET. Lawrence and I submitted, but were not chosen. The script follows the lives of five African American women who are HIV positive. Their lives intersect as they cope with untimely demise of a group member, which in turn forces them to face their own personal demons. I continued to submit Out of the Box to a ton of contests and when I got coverage I would revise it to make the script better. I've been doing this for four years.

Last night, was a pay-off and testament to the many rewrites I've done throughout the years. I feel validated and believe my stories are worth telling. I don't expect to win every contest. Rejection is part of the process, but I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The Action on Film International Film Festival has been my light. One day a producer or production company will option my script or offer me a job on spec. Until then, my job is to keep writing.

2010 Action on Film (AOF) Festival: Let the Fun Begin

2010-07-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

I have safely arrived in the Pasadena area. My flight arrived late last night around 11:30 p.m. I headed over to Budget to get my car rental and then off to Sierra Madre (a small suburban town outside of Pasadena). I'm actually staying in Sierra Madre, with my friend and fellow screenwriter Pauline Gray. I made all the necessary calls to the hubby and my mom as well as updated my status on Facebook and twitter.

I feel well rested and an ready for the day. This morning I power-walked for about 45 minutes while going over my lines for Incantation (my next theatrical project). In about 15 minutes I plan to finally head to Pasadena and register for the 2010 Action on Film Festival. I'm really excited and looking forward to potential networking opportunities. I've already started building relationships with some of the filmmakers in attendance via twitter.

I'm really looking forward to being out here for a week. If you read my last blog, you know why. If you haven't read my last blog, then give it a read. When some exciting and memorable things happen I will be sure to blog about it after I take a moment to process. In the meantime, check out my twitter handle at dirtywater22 and the After the Headlines Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/After-the-Headlines/195595142834?ref=search for updates on the 2010 AOFFest.

Thanks for your support and reading this entry. Stay tuned....

The 2010 Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival: A Screenwriter's Retreat

2010-07-22T08:53:00.000-07:00

I'm just one day away from flying out to Pasadena. The anticipation for this trip has been building for me and I'm ready to get away. I need to. I have a lot on my plate right now. I'm in rehearsals for a production entitled Incantation (I will have a blog about the show when I return), planning a wedding celebration (since I'm already married), and also getting ready for the 2010 Action on Film (AOF) International Festival, http://www.aoffest.com/. While part of this trip is business, I also see part of this trip as a personal retreat from the world as I know i

Preparing for AOF has required a lot of time and I don't have much of it these days. I've had to order two movie-sized posters for the film to display at my screening and relabel post cards to promote the film. I've also been constantly posting on my social networks, handling my traveling accomindations, and a bunch of other little tasks I can't remember at the moment. I'm glad that I was able to use my Delta reward points for my flight. Boy did those come in handy. Also, due to my tweets I linked up with a travel agent who got me a great deal on a car rental. I also want to shout out Pauline Gray, who is letting me crash with her once again. Thanks sista.
A lot goes into making a film and when you get accepted into a film festival, you continue to have to put in time, money, and sweat to promote the hell out of your film. If this seems like I'm complaining, I don't mean to come off like that. I just want people to realize that when you make a film, the amount of energy you put into can seem never ending.
I'm so excited to have another opportunity to promote After the Headlines. After all it is nominated for 'Best Produced Screenplay." My short script Out of the Box is also nominated for 'Best Short' in the screenwritng category. Both nominations are real blessings, but while I'm out in Pasadena I also need to take stock of where I'm at and where I want to be two or three years down the road. I've been at a stand still with my writing and I think this trip will give me the mojo I need to recharge my engine. I plan to read scripts when I'm not at screenings and also will set time aside to work on the treatment for the feature length script of After the Headlines. I am long over due. Who knows maybe I will get lucky and get some ideas for other stories. At this point I am game for anything and open to the possibilities that will flow my way.
My trip out to Pasadena is definitely business, but it is also a personal retreat for the screenwriter in me and I can really use that time for myself.

Media Advisory: Connecticut Screenwriter’s Short Film, Receives ‘Best Produced Screenplay’ Nomination at the 2010 Action on Film International Film Festival

2010-07-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

Media Advisory For Immediate Release

Connecticut Screenwriter’s Short Film, Receives ‘Best Produced
Screenplay’ Nomination at the 2010 Action on Film International Film Festival

JULY 15, 2010, WATERBURY, CT – Aaliyah Miller, a resident of Waterbury, Connecticut, short film, After the Headlines has been chosen as an official selection for the 2010 Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival. In addition to being an official selection, the film is also nominated for ‘Best Produced Screenplay.’

Miller’s film was selected from thousands of entries and follows Clara Dumont, a guilt-ridden mother who struggles to stop blaming herself for the death of daughter Alexis. The poignant script takes the reader on Clara’s emotional journey of as she seeks personal redemption.

“I’m ecstatic about this year’s acceptance and nomination. I consider it a real privilege to be back for a second time.” says Miller. Last year, the script was nominated and won “Best Dramatic Scene.”

After the Headlines was also screened at the 2010 Kent Film Festival, Kent, Connecticut, a premiere film festival for independent filmmakers looking to showcase their work. The film has received the Accolade “Award of Merit” and the Skyfest Film Festival "Certificate of Excellence."

The film will be screened at the Academy Theater, 1003 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, California in the four p.m. film block on July 26, 2010.

A premier showcase for the world’s independent filmmakers and screenwriters, AOF provides industry professionals and audiences with an opportunity to discover new and innovative films. The festival runs from July 23 to 30, 2010, in Pasadena, California. The complete list of films and scripts can be found at http://www.aoffest.com/.

MovieMaker Magazine names AOF one of, “The Top 25 Festivals Worth the Fees for 2010. AOF will award nominated filmmakers and screenwriters more than $75, 000 in cash and prizes.

Great News from Action on Film (AOF)

2010-07-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

I know my last entry had a tone of frustration. Since then the level of stress I was feeling has subsiding a bit. I feel better having got some things off my chest. It wasn't just what I wrote, I also received some really encouraging feedback from a fellow screenwriter as well as words of encouragement from others who read this blog. Thank you.

I'm please to report, actually I'm more than pleased, I'm completely ecstatic. This morning, I received the earth shattering news (earth shattering for me) that After the Headlines received a nomination from for Best Produced Screenplay at the 2010 Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival, www.aoffest.com. I was happy when After the Headlines was accepting into the festival but getting nominated really sweetens the deal. I am really looking forward to the trip out to Pasadena in a couple of weeks.

Out of the Box, a short screenplay about five women of color living with HIV/AIDS was nominated for 'Best Short' in the screenwriter's category. I co-wrote the original script with Lawrence King, founder of Dark Embrace Films about five years ago and have been making revisions to the script over the years. It is true when writers say a story is never finished. The amount of revisions I have to my other scripts is a constant reminder.

I really needed some good news and I got it. I have a little bit more pep in my step. I actually have the energy to want to write and I need to capitalize on it. I want to shout out to the folks at AOF for opening a door for me. They gave me my first shot last year and I will never forget that. Getting accepted and winning made me believe that the impossible is possible. Screenwriting and film making are tough careers to pursue, so when you get into a festival and get nominated for an award it's a big deal.

I'm really thankful for this great news and plan to make the most of the opportunity. For me, part of making the most of this opportunity means getting back to the writing. I'm ready.

Wedding Unbliss

2010-07-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been tired. Too tired to do things I should be doing and when I am working on something, I'm hustling to get it done. I'm in reactive mode instead of proactive mode. It's not a good place to be because, my creative output is low. I really don't like feeling this way, but since I control my destiny, this is my own doing, I'm not sure how I got so off track.

When I talk to folks, people are asking how I'm coming along with the wedding. I smile, and tell them things are moving along and they are. I finally have the invitations mailed out. Getting that task done was like lifting a boulder off of my back. I had my first fitting of my wedding gown, my mom and two of my bridesmaids, Catherine and Matie joined me. It went well. I felt good in my dress. I continue to check off tasks on the to-do list which is great, but the wedding celebration bliss I expected to be feeling isn't here at the moment. It's more like a Wedding Unbliss.

I don't know if it is because I'm in a creative funk and that funk is trickling into other areas of my life. Is it that I have to much on my plate and I can't enjoy the moment? I have questions, but no firmative answers. It helps to get this off my chest. Now I need to think of ways to rejuvenate the feeling of wedding bliss and enjoy the moment. Suggestions welcomed. Thanks for reading.

Black Obsidian Media Group is Back with ResurGENTs

2010-07-06T09:27:00.000-07:00

I know I've been a little laggy lately. My apologies, between changes at work and tasks for the wedding I'm spent. I was very happy that I finally had a chance to relax and rejuvenate this holiday weekend. I have to shout out Jackie and Everett for a great weekend in Waltham, Massachusetts. The low-key time with friends is just what I needed although I did manage to squeeze in a little work here and there.

I'm glad to be back blogging. I'm long over due. This entry is for my theater lovers, especially those who frequent the Off Off Broadway circuit. This entry is for you.

Last year, I blogged about the production of Black Man Rising, the award-winning New York Production took audiences by storm. Winner of four AUDELCO Awards, for "Excellence in Theatre," inclucing Best Director, Patricia R. Floyd, Best Choreography, Juson Williams, Outstanding Ensemble Performance and Dramatic Production of the Year. The production was produced by the Black Obsidian Media Group, a group of talented writers, actors, and directors pushing the envelop for Black theater.

The team is back with ResurGENTs: The Reappearance of Hope, written by Lawrence Floyd and Damian Sanders. ResurGENTs is a part of the 2010 Midtown International Theatre Festival, http://www.midtownfestival.org/. The play is a new millennium Choreopoem that explores the rise of the Black Man in the geo-political era of President Barack Obama. Through poetry, monologues, singing, and dancing, five Black men speak about life, love, and freedom. They take us on a spiritual journey from the present to slavery, in his relationships as well as his politics. “There is nothing new about Life and Love and Freedom. We make them original.” ResurGENTs is a resurrected love song.

Helmed once again by Patricia R. Floyd and Juson Williams, ResurGENTs features a talented cast including Neil Dawson*, Leopold Lowe*, Lawrence Saint-Victor, Samuel Smith, Roderick Warner and Juson Williams.* (*Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association).

Make sure you check out ResurGENTs! Make your reservations now for as low as $18.00. Purchase your tickets with a credit card online at http://www.midtownfestival.org/ or call toll-free: 866-811-4111. Group discounts are also available. Contact Jajmi Robinson at 646.554.5528.

Performance dates are: 2010 Midtown International Theatre Festival- July 12th @ 8:30pm, July 17th @ 7:30pm, July 22nd , July 23rd and July 31st @ 6:00pm and August 1st @ 1:00pm.

I hope to see you in the audience.

Rejection Isn't Always a Bad Thing

2010-06-16T17:52:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

This week I've been thinking about what I was going to blog. I want to make sure I stay on track and write a blog entry a week.

When I got home I checked my email. As I was scanning through my junk mail I came across an email from the Central Florida Film Festival. My gut told me it was a rejection, but I had to look at it anyways.

I was right. After the Headlines wasn't accepted. However, it wasn't the standard rejection email thanking me for submitting and telling me the competition was so strong this year. Bob Cook, the festival director, http://bobcookfilmdirector.blogspot.com/, was matter-of-fact on why After the Headlines wasn't chosen by the five judge panel. I won't go into the details, but I will say that I found this rejection letter to be inspiring. I know, that has to sound weird. Mr. Cook told me not to take the critique personal. He reminded me that film is art and art is subjective. I really appreciated his words. I found them comforting even though I know this is another rejection to add to the list.

Mr. Cook also reminded me that filmmakers need to have a thick skin. He's right. He closed his email hoping that his comments will help me be a better filmmaker. I can honestly say that they will. There is always room for improvement. Like Diddy says, "Can't stop, won't stop."

This was probably the best rejection letter I have received thus far. Mr. Cook let me know what didn't work for the judges and when I make another film I will keep his comments in mind. While I'm not happy After the Headlines was rejected, I learned that rejection isn't always a bad thing. There is a lesson to be learned from it. My lesson is to keep writing.

It's Important to Read the Fine Print

2010-06-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

This Sunday I was thrilled. I had finally finished editing my audition tape for Oprah's Next TV Star. I had spent Memorial Day weekend shooting footage of a trip to the Finger Lakes I took with my sister Dawn. My idea for the video was to do the standard introduction but then also showcase my skills with a camera and being on camera. I took a look at some of the interviews online and thought my idea was different and would help it stand out.

I submitted the video at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday night. I was all set to do my social media blast. I created an event in facebook and posted the link, but when I clicked on the link I noticed the video wasn't up. I go check my email and see an email from the contest staff at Own. I click on it and read the message. My video was rejected. I was at a loss for words. How can this be? The email advised that I take a look at the rules and regulations. I go to the page with the rules and regulations and start reading again. Half-way down the page I see that there must be no mention of alcohol or showing of alcohol along with no products and a bunch of other stuff. I thought to myself, "How did I miss this the first time?"

My whole concept for the video was to highlight my road trip to the Finger Lakes, which is a wine producing area in upstate New York. The video is about our trip but is completely centered around wine and the wine trail we visited. I realized I made a major miscalculaton on my part. I think I must have been so excited about my idea that I neglected to read the fine print.

Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfI0OqXvWSM. I would love to get your feed and see what you think. I've decided to scrap redoing the tap and submitting it. I just don't have the time to develop another concept, shoot, and edit it myself. The editing was the hardest part. Kudos to all the editors out there, I have an even greater appreciation for the work you do. Editing is really is an artform. Another reason I'm not submitting is because I don't want to be on a reality show competing against others for a show on Oprah's new network. I actually have a few colleagues pursuing the opportunity. I gladly will throw them my votes.

Even though I'm no longer pursuing Oprah's competition, I have another competition on my plate. My photo has been accepted in MovieHatch for the Times Square "Your Face in Lights" Contest. I can use your support, better yet I NEED YOUR VOTE. To vote click on this link: http://www.moviehatch.com/index.php?option=com_moviehatch&task=TimesSquare&Itemid=104&f=7e587f1688cbeaea3a1ed1a8922dd497

The lesson that was reiterated to me is always read the fine print. I could have saved myself a lot of time and effort. I''m not going to let the video footage I shot go to waste, instead I'm going to reedit it and make it the highlight video I want audiences to see. When it is done I will make sure to share it. Thanks for reading and thanks for your vote.

After the Headlines is an official selection at the 2010 Action on Film International Film Festival

2010-06-03T10:36:00.000-07:00

GREAT NEWS!!! After the Headlines is an official selection of the 2010 Action on Film AOF International Film Festival. This film festival is listed as one of the top '25 Film Festivals Worth Their Fees' by Movie Maker Magazine. I'm really excited to be a part of the film festival for a second year. Last year, I attended AOF because After the Headlines was nominated for "Best Dramatic Scene." If you're a regular follower of In the Mix, you already know that I won. One year later, the film is being shown. I call that progress.

Right now, I'm looking for a small contingent of folks from the cast, crew, fans, and supporters of the film to come out to Pasadena with me. AOF is an awesome film festival that has a great track record for the filmmakers and screenwriters that submit their work. I think it would be a great networking opportunity for those interested in careers in entertainment and would love to have a strong presense at the festival. If I end up going it alone, that is okay too.

Times are still very financially tough for most Americans and that has to be taken into consideration when I think about my cast, crew, fans, and supporters. I work with people who love to make film, but the reality of independent cinema is that it doesn't pay. Instead it costs. I'm a screenwriter and filmmaker because I'm passionate about the process and really enjoy doing it, whether it pays or not. Of course I still want to make a living at it. Getting into festivals costs me, but it also provides me with an opportunity to get my film in front of audiences and network with professional in the film industry. That's priceless.

I want to thank all of you who have supported me this far. I really appreciate it. It makes a big differenc in my grassroots efforts as a screenwriter and filmmaker. Make sure you check out the AOF film festival website at http://www.aoffest.com/. You can check out last year's winners, film trailers, interviews, and see my writing scene performed by actors. I had to plug it. Thanks for reading.

Getting away for the Holiday Weekend

2010-05-26T07:38:00.000-07:00

I know, I am long over due for an entry. I needed a break. I still think I need more of break and then I remember that my time is limited and it is time for me to get myself back in gear. I hit a slump. It happens. I'm not sure what lead me to my recent slump, but I think it has to do with a feeling of stagnation. I haven't felt like my progress needle has been moving forward.

I think I'm over this slumpy period. Last night, I finally worked on a script. It was a revision to a short I've revised at least 20 times, but since I've been reading John Truby's, The Anatomy of Story, I have a deeper appreciation for all the elements that go into making a good story. Writing is simple, but writing good can be complicated, especially if you miss a beat. I feel like some of my stories have missed the beat and then they miss the mark. It felt good to look at my dialogue and analyze my characters actions and motivations. I ended up cutting back on some of my character's dialogue and tried to simplify the language because some of it didn't ring conversational to me.

Now, I need to take this rekindled energy and focus on the specs spcripts and new feature script I was supposed during the month of April an May. It's time for me to get cracking. I'm long over due for some first drafts.

I'm glad that Memorial weekend is approaching. I actually can't wait. My mind and body are in need of a break. Lately, I've been stressed with my lack of progress, wedding details, and life in general. My answer to to the stress is a road trip with my sister Dawn.

Dawn and I are going to head to the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York. It will be nice to get a way and spend time with her. I don't get to see her as much as I would like. We will check out the vineyards, some musuems, and hit up the Waterloo Outlet. I'm going to bring my laptop for some late night writing. I get my best ideas at night. I'm also going to bring a camera to document some of the road trip. I plan to edit the footage for my wild card submission for a host position on Oprah's new Own network. It's a long shot, but I'm all about long shots.

Have a good weekend and thanks for reading.

My Highlights from Kent

2010-04-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

The Kent Film Festival. Where to begin? Let me start off by thanking Patrice and Frank Galterio and the Kent Film Festival staff. They ran an awesome festival that felt good from when I went to their offices to grab my festival passes and goodie bag until the last film was screened. Frank and Patrice make you feel like family, for the weekend I was part of their filmmaking family.

This past weekend I enjoyed some good films, talked with fellow filmmakers from all over the country, and had a few celebrity spottings, but at Kent even if you are a celebrity, you don't bring that Hollywood vibe with you. Kent is to chill and laid back for A-list egos. There are many memorable moments, but if I typed them all, this blog would go on for to long. Besides I figure you, like me, have lots to do in your day and reading this blog may not be your first choice. In lue of that, below are my highlights from the 2010 Kent Film Festival. The order is fashioned like Letterman's "Top Ten."

10. Getting a goodie bag: The Kent goodie bag came with, a festival program, festival promotional items, a gallery magazine, a peace stick to promote a peace day event in the fall, and samples of make-up (which was my personal fav). I almost forgot to mention that the goodie bag has the festival and is reusable. I'll be showing it off next time I go to the supermarket.

9. Filmmaking Workshops: This year, Kent hosted a documentary workshop with director Sandra Cosentino and producer/director Joseph Consentino. I missed this one because it ran the same time as my screening of After the Headlines. The festival also had a workshop on the the Red One, a revolutionary new camera that provides a 35mm scope on a digital budget. Adrian Correia, a cinematographer that uses Red one is his work led the workshop. It was a bit technical for me but I still had some great take-a-ways.

8. The Screening of Company Retreat: Company Retreat is a mockumentary written by actor/writer/director Campbell Scott (currently on TNT's Damages). Before the screening they had a meet and greet with Campbell and afterwards there was a Q&A. I made sure to introduce myself before I asked my question.

7. Seeing Baghdad Diary: This powerful documentary follows taxi drive Fadil Kadom's and NBC cameraman Craig White's story of what life was like leading up to the war with Iraq as well as the aftermath, videotaped by each of them, you get a keen sense of the personal risks each men took. You also the Iraq war from a humanistic, not political perspective.

6. Seeing Bakhtiari Alphabet: This documentary took me to Iran, where I learned about the Bakhiari people, a nomadic tribe that has seasonal migration. The director of this film is a fellow Connecticut who happens to live in Bethelem, CT. She is just a few towns away from Waterbury. The film took her eight years to complete. Now I call that dedication.

5.The Networking Parties: These special events allowed filmmakers, screenwriters, directors, and producers to talk shop, float around our business card, and really get to know people on both a professiona and personal level.

4. Spending Saturday with Karim: It was great to have the hubby by my side on Saturday. He was with me all day Saturday and it was a very long day. I take comfort in knowing that he supports my film and writing endeavors. Making films is a lot of hard work. Karim has had my back from the beginning of this process.

3. Patrice and Frank Galterio: This husband and wife team are the co-founders and directors of the Kent Film Festival. They go out of their way to make every filmmaker feel welcomed and supported. They gave After the Headlines it's premiere, of course they were going to make the list.

2. Seeing Mow Crew: Karim and I checked out this feature at the Saturday night screening. I believe Taylor Toole, the writer/director won best film (check Kent's website to be sure). An honor that is well deserved. The musically driven story follows a young landscapper from Martha's Vineyard, who struggles to maintain his lifestyle and relationship after he and his girlfirend are offered an unexpected music recording contract in Los Angeles. I got a copy of the soundtrack and have been playing it since I got in the Q&A after the screening.

1. The Screening of After the Headlines: I don't mean to be an ego maniac, but the best highlight of the festival was when I sat down with the audience to watch the film. It was nice knowing I had friends and family in the audience. I'm glad Jaye Maynard, the lead actress in the film was able to be there. I received a lot of local press leading up to the screening which was also nice.

In closing, I just want to say I had this feeling like "I arrived." I know it is going to take a lot more work to stay around. It's time for me to get back to the foundation of filmmaking, the writing. I had a great time at Kent and hope to back again next year, even if I don't have a film to screen.

My Last Day at Kent

2010-04-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

I'm a little sad about this entry. Today is the final day of the 2010Kent Film Festival and it's a rainy day. The rain puts me in a somber mood.

Despite that, I would like to thank all the folks who trucked it all the way up to Kent to check out the screening of After the Headlines. I'm honored to have your support. It is was a small group of people, but I know the folks who were there really wanted to be there and that means the world to me. Indie screenwriters and filmmakers make the films they want to make, we tell the stories that we know the studio system isn't interested in. For the most part our films aren't high-concept, which just means that have a simple plot set-up and can be mass-marketed to large audiences. Basically, keep it simple stupid.

Yesterday, I had the chance to check out some really good shorts and feature length films. I was really impressed by the other films in my short block. I also attended a workshop that was on the Red camera. That was pretty informative. I can't really rehash all the things I learned in the workshop, but I definitely want to consider using a DP (director of photography) that has experience with the Red. The picture is pretty amazing and it's digital, no tapes! Over the last year I heard production people talk about how great it is, but I saw it first hand. It's a pretty sweet camera if you have the budget for it.

Today, I'm looking forward to checking out the documentary Bakhtari Alphabet, by Bethlehem's Cima Sedigh and Reza Ghadyani. The film chronicles the season migration of the Bakhtiari tribe through Southwestern Iran. The film took eight years to make. I learned that the most documentaries take an average of seven years to make. I wasn't aware of that, which gives me a greater appreciation of documentary films. All directors endure the trials and tribulations of filmmaking, but documentarians really have a heavy weight to carry, because the chances of finding commercial success is even smaller.

I'm also looking forward to seeing another short block of films that includes a film called Outcomes: LGBQT. Outcomes is a documentary that draws from a series of interviews with an array of LGBTQ people who have come out of the closet.

It's time for me to get ready and head back up to Kent. Next entry, will be my personal highlights for the film festival. Stay tuned....

Gearing up for Kent

2010-04-23T09:06:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Kent Film Festival officially kicked off yesterday. I wasn't able to make the first night of the fest because my allergies were kicking my butt. I also think my travel for work this week also had me spent. I had a night to recuperate and am ready to go.

Wednesday night, I attended Campbell Scott's screening of his film Company Retreat. Scott wrote, produced, and directed the mockumentary film that looks at the world of reality television. The film is definitely quirky and has a lot of funny parts, but the ending threw me for a loop. After the film there was a great Q&A with Scott. He explained how he came up with the film's ending, which I still sorta don't get, but that's okay. Scott is a veteran actor that has been in a bunch a really good films, he is also a resident of the area. You can currently see him on TNT's hit series Damages. It was interesting for me to learn that he also has a passion for storytelling wearing the screenwriter and director's hat. I mustered up the courage to ask him a question about how he balances taking paying gigs and doing projects he wants to do, regardless of it's successful in the eyes of Hollywood marketers. In short, his answer was that you have to find balance. His acting projects are his bread and butter, but he writes and directs projects because he really wants to do them.

I look forward to the point in my career when I have the opportunity to work like Mr. Scoot. But for now, I'm in the building stage. I take pride in the fact that I made After the Headlines not because I knew it was going to bring me fame and fortune (it hasn't, I'm still in the negative) but because I really wanted to tell this story. Making films is about telling the stories we want to tell as artists.

I'm really looking forward to checking out the other films at Kent and meeting other filmmakers. I feel like this just may be a weekend that changes the rest of my life Don't forget you still have time to get tickets to the screening of After the Headlines. The film is in block 9 at the Town Hall and starts at 11:15 a.m. I couldn't end this blog without plugging my film. Thanks for reading.

The Republican American: Behind the Scenes

2010-04-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

I'm thrilled to share the link to the local story on After the Headlines in the Republican American. Click on the link for the article. Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for the down low on the 2010 Kent Film Festival.

http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2010/04/21/entertainment/movies/478672.txt

Getting Local Press for After the Headlines

2010-04-16T17:20:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

I planned to write this entry much earlier in the week, but I just couldn't seem to find the time and focus (a problem I seem to have, but if you read this blog on the regular you already know that). If I would have written my entry on Thursday like I planned, the title would have be Seven Days and Counting.

The 2010 Kent Film Festival, http://kentfilmfestival.org/ is just six days away, five if you count the private benefit screening of Company Retreat”, written and directed by acclaimed actor/director Campbell Scott. The screening will take place on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at the Kent Community House, the evening before the start of the 5th annual Kent Film Festival, a celebration of aspiring independent filmmakers.

I'm really looking forward to attending the festival and the screening for After the Headlines.It's my first film festival for After the Headlines, and the fact that it's taking place in Connecticut makes the honor of being accepted that much sweeter. There is still time to get tickets, just visit, http://kentfilmfestival.org/tickets.html. After the Headlines is in block 9. The screening begins at 11:15 am. This means you have plenty of time to party it up on Friday night and still make the screening. Just kidding, but it would be nice to see you there.

Earlier in the week, I sent out media advisories to Connecticut newspapers. The list includes the New Haven Register, the Hartford Courant, the Connecticut Post, the New Haven and Hartford Advocate, Torrington's Register Citizen, and my local paper the Republican American. I lucked out and received a call back from Brynn Mandel, a reporter with the Republican American. I had my interview earlier this afternoon. It went well. I felt honored sharing the story of why I wrote the script to telling her about the filmmaking process and what it means to me to be showing the film at Kent. I also was photographed for the story, which was icing on the cake.

Like the Kent Film Festival, the Republican American is another first for me and the film. I'm glad to be getting local press coverage. The truth is I'm ecstatic! It makes me feel like if I can make it here, I can make it anywhere. Next up, look out for the website (thanks to the hubby, he built the framework and I just need to fill in the blanks). My goal is to have the site ready by the end of this weekend. It will be another tool in my arsenal to promote the hell out of this film.

The feature story should be in Wednesday's paper. I will post it as soon as it hits the web. Thanks for listening.

I'm tired, But That Is No Excuse

2010-04-09T20:03:00.000-07:00

This week I was pretty tired. I still am. My fatigue has definitely hindered my writing process this week. I did not write a word outside of my sporadic morning pages. I'm pretty disappointed in myself. No forward movement on my spec script and I'm almost half-way through the month. Not good and all. I need to get my buns in gear.

I'm looking for divine inspiration, but I know that isn't the answer. I've not put in the work. The divine inspiration will come when I get to writing. Even if I think it's crappy I need to get it on paper and then on the computer screen. On a more positive note, I have some new writing exercises to try.

Tomorrow afternoon I have a video shoot with some alumuni of foster care. Their interviews will eventually be edited to short clips for the web. I'm looking forward to capturing their stories. I'm hoping that it will energize me so when I come home I can capture my own.

I let you know if I make progress.

Becoming the Writer I Know I Can Be

2010-04-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

If you have a talent, use it in every which way possible. Don’t hoard it. Don’t dole it out like a miser. Spend it lavishly like a millionaire intent on going broke. - Brendan Francis

I thought I'd start of my entry with this quote. I read it today on the Daily Screenwriter, http://screenwriterdaily.blogspot.com/2010/04/screenwriting-just-screenwriting.html, a blog with motivational advice from Michael David Jensen, who currently serves as the executive producer and director of the groundbreaking documentary MAKING BETTER DOCTORS (http://www.makingbetterdoctors.com/). I think this quote really fits me today. It's a reminder that I have to do the work and when I do the work I need to put it out there.

It's been easy for me to rest on my previous accolades and make excuses for why I'm not writing. However, there are no good execuses, because if I'm going to master this craft, I have do what all writers do and that is set time aside to write. I finally feel like I'm in a place to get that work done.

Last week, I drove to the city to attend a panel with comedic writers who work on the following shows, SNL, Jimmy Fallon, and The John Stuart Show. The all male panel discussion took place at Fordham University. It was informative, funny, and best of all free advice from writers working in the business. I left the panel discussion knowing I wasn't going to be developing writing samples for shows like SNL and the John Stewart show. Although I enjoy watching them, that is not where my heart is as a writer. I still want to focus on stories about women with a focus on young adults.

I had one really good take away that I received from the panel. It is that no matter what my writing interests are, I need to write and write a lot. If I'm going to pitch the showrunner or executive producers of shows like True Jackson, 10 Things I Hate About You, or Nurse Jackie (hint, hint), I need to show them that I know their shows and have an arsonal of scripts to prove it.

I also attended a meeting for Connecticut Screenwriters at the West Hartford Public Library last Wednesday. The meeting provided me with an opportunity to meet a new group of writers who also have a passion for storytelling and film. I'm looking forward to meeting with this group on the last Wednesday of each month. It will be another tool for me to capitalize on.

The next two months I will be building my writing arsenal. At the end of the month, I will have another spec written and that will also be a goal for May. In order to become the writer I know I can be I must write.

Onward and Upward: Trying to Stay Focused

2010-03-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

I'm long overdue for a blog entry. My apologies on my lack of earnestness, but the last two weeks have not been very productive for me. I think it's because my head is in a lot of places and I haven't buckled down and focused on the writing. The stories that are in my head have not made it to paper or onto my computer screen. Trying to move onward and upward has not been an easy task for me.

I hope to change that this week. Writers write and since I haven't been doing that, I don't feel much like a writer. I don't want this blog to come off completely negative, because I do have some things I'm looking forward too. I'm estactic that After the Headlines will have its premiere at the Kent Film Festival, http://www.kentfilmfestival.org/, April 22 to 25, 2001. I give myself goosebumps knowing that the film will be screened at Kent. I feel so honored. It's my first and hopefully not my last film festival. I plan to do a grassroots publicity blitz, which will require sending out press releases to local media and hitting up local business to see if they will let me display the poster (which I still have to get made). There is no rest for the wary.

Trying to stay focused is a continual struggle for me, but I will need to overcome it in order to move forward. If I don't do the work, I will not have a product to pitch and promote and I need more scripts to get out there in the world. Yesterday, I went to the local library and picked up John Truby's, The Anatomy of Story. I hope this book will help center me and give me some tools to master my art of storytelling. I know I can't expect the book to fix my focus problem, but I do hope that it will point me in the right direction. I'm also reading QBQ: The Question Behind the Question. This book has been assigned for me to read on the work front. It's about practicing personal accountability at work and in life. I can use that too.

Onward and upward folks. Thanks for listening.

A Glass Ceiling Cracked, But the Reality Remains

2010-03-08T07:07:00.000-08:00

The Oscar hoopla is finally over. The feat to win a Oscar is no easy task. Some of the industry's best can go a lifetime and still never get the honor, so kudos to all the winners. I didn't watch much of the Oscars, but what from what I did see, I did notice there were a lot of firsts last night. The one I will focus my blog on today is the Best Director award that went to Kathryn Bigelow.

Bigelow cracked the glass ceiling last night when she won the award of Best Director for The Hurt Locker. She is the first woman in Oscar history to receive this honor. While Bigelow is the first woman to win the Best Directoring Oscar, she is only the fourth woman ever nominated. With the impact that women have had in the industry throughout the years I find it hard to believe that until last night a woman has not won the Best Director award. That was probably wishful thinking on my part, because when I looked at the hard stats, it becomes very clear that women writers, directors, and producers have not gained that much ground in the last 30 years.

Women make up 51%of the U.S. population and that number does not crossover to jobs in the film industry for women. According to Martha M Lauzen, of the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, women accounted for seven percent of the directors and eight percent of writers who made the top 250 grossing American films in 2009. A new study released by University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, which was conducted by professor Stacy. L Smith found that actresses nabbed only 29.9% of the 4,379 speaking parts in the 100 top-grossing films of 2007.

I'm not trying to take away from Bigelow's momentous moment, because it is a great accomplishment, but as I think of the role of women in society, I think we do ourselves an injustice when we don't acknowledge the inequities that we face as women. Once we acknowledge the problem, we must actively work to change it.
Hollywood is just one of the many industry's where women face an uphill battle in the fight fore equal pay, recognition, and the opportunity to be given a chance. I think it's an important field because the visual stories we view can change our perception of the world around us. Sometimes for better, sometime for worse. Last night was a Hollywood first, I just hope it doesn't take the industry another 80 years before a woman is recognized in this area again. There are women writer, directors, and producers putting in the work and making great films.

Bigelow has done many interviews, but the following statement has stuck with me the most, "Don't give up on your dream - I mean it quite literally. Be tenacious, but work on the stories you truly, truly believe in."

I'm going to heed her advice, because at the end of the day, whether you are a woman or a man, it is about having a good story.

Media Release: Waterbury, CT Screenwriter to be Honored with the Sir Edmond Hillary Award

2010-02-23T11:39:00.000-08:00

Media Advisory For Immediate Release

Waterbury, CT Screenwriter to be Honored with the Sir Edmond Hillary Award at the 2010 Mountain Film Festival Awards Ceremony

February 19, 2010, WATERBURY, CT – Aaliyah Miller, a life-long Waterbury, CT resident will receive the Sir Edmond Hillary Award for her screenplay, Finding Patience. The screenplay follows Hatima Miles, an edgy, tenacious public defender, who becomes her most challenging case when she searches for the foster sister from whom she was separated in childhood.

“I’m ecstatic about receiving this award. I consider it a validation of my work as a screenwriter,” says Miller.

Aaliyah will receive the honor at The 2010 Mountain Film Festival being held on February 26, 2010 in Mammoth Lakes, California. The event will be held at the Westin Monache Resort.

Awards are presented in all the main categories along with cash prizes for top films and filmmakers. The Mountain Film Festival truly celebrates and honors the indie filmmaker and screenwriter.

With a mission to entertain, enlighten, and enrich through film, the festival recognizes and awards some of the world’s finest and cutting-edge independent feature films, shorts, documentaries, foreign films, student films, mountain films, adventure sports films, animation, music videos, and features an annual screenplay competition. Film of all genres are accepted, by they encourage films with an emphasis on mountain culture, action sports, and environmental issues.

For more information on the Mountain Film Festival and the award winners visit their site at www.mammothfilm.com. To learn more about Aaliyah Miller and her script Finding Patience, contact her at 203.232.3712 or email her at amiller_12@hotmail.com.

The Kent Film Festival: My Sundance

2010-02-18T08:57:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was in the Barnes and Nobles in Waterbury, trying to crank out an outline for my spec script. In the midst of my mind block I get a call. I look at that phone and don't recognize the number so I let it got to my voice mail. The phone rings again and this time I decide to answer it. It was a good thing I did, on the other end of the phone was a coordinator from the Kent Film Festival, http://www.kentfilmfestival.org/about.html, congratulating me on my acceptance into the festival. It took a couple of seconds for it to register and for me to respond to the good news. But once I realized his call was for real I was elated (it was a kodak moment).

Since I let so much time pass between that phone call and this entry, I cannot remember the man's name who called, but I do remember him telling me that he likes to personally call accepted filmmakers when he likes their film. My reply to him was, "You made my night." He really did. The last few weeks have been tough because I've been working on my spec script for the Nickelodeon Fellowship. At the time, I had a little less than a month to get it done and I wasn't even on my first draft. I proud to report that is no longer the case. I finished the draft at 2:30 am early Tuesday morning. I'm so happy we had snow and I got an hour and a half delay for work. Writing against the clock, but I'm writing.

Let me get back to the festival. I've submitted to numerous festivals and to date most of my email notices have been rejections, that is, when they have the courtesy to send me a rejection letter. Many festivals don't. I thank the staff at the Portland Women's Festival, the Vail Film Festival, the Ashland Independent Film Festival, the Women's International Film Festival, the Austin Film Festival, the Sunnyside Film Festival, and the Phoneix Film Festival for respecting my time and hardwork.

I know rejection is part of the game, but when happens to you, it still not easy to accept. The good news from the Kent Film Festival really lifted my spirits. I see Kent as my Sundance. The Kent Film Festival is in my home state and will hopefully give After the Headlines some more exposure. I'm looking forward to attending the festival, participating in the workshops, and expanding my network in the Connecticut film community. It may be the only festival I get into this year, I truly hope not, but I have to be prepared for that.

I am grateful that I did meet one of my goals for After the Headlines in 2010. While I look forward to Kent and the magic happening for me, I will keep on working on my other goals. Thanks for reading.

After the Headlines: Correction and the Trailer

2010-01-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

I have a correction to make on After The Headlines. It looks like it didn't receive the Sir Edmond Hillary Award from the folks at the 2010 Mountain Film Festival, that honor goes to my feature script Finding Patience. It's a minor setback, but I still feel pretty good because my work is still being honored. I will take my blessings were I can get them.

The folks at the Mountain Film Festival sent me two congratulatory emails, one said for a film, the other for a script, but when I went to the website to check the award winner postings, I saw that After the Headlines wasn't there. See for yourself, http://www.mammothfilm.com/Festival/2010ScreenplayWinners/tabid/388/Default.aspx. A win is still a win, so I'm keeping my head up.

I have submitted to a few more film festivals that range from my backyard to nationally known festivals. I will continue to plug away. Next up on my plate is getting a website for After the Headlines. I'm working with my editor on that project. Right now, I'm researching websites for films to see what's out there. I also welcome recommendations if you have any.

In closing, I would like to share the link to the trailer for the film. I've posted it on youtube and my fan page for After the Headlines. I would appreciate it if you click on the link and leave a comment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4YV9lHsIt4

Thanks for reading and stay tuned.

After the Headlines: Making Progress Early in 2010

2010-01-21T08:05:00.000-08:00

You can't see it, but I have a really big smile on my face. I've been smiling from the inside out because a couple of days ago I received some exciting and promising news for After the Headlines. After the Headlines has been chosen to receive the Sir Edmond Hillary Award Winner at the 2010 Mountain Film Festival, http://www.mammothfilm.com//! I've been invited to attend the annual awards dinner and filmmaker ceremony to accept the award and celebrate my achievement. The 2010 Awards Ceremony and Filmmakers Dinner is scheduled to take place at the luxurious Westin Monache Resort in beautiful Mammoth Lakes, California on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 7:30 pm.
I haven't had this kind of high since I won the award for "Best Dramatic Scene" at the 2009 Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival, http://www.aoffest.com/.

My script Finding Patience is also an award winner at the 2010 Mountain Film Festival. I feel honored and a bit taken back to be receiving both awards. The email notifications from the Mountain Film Festival staff couldn't have come at a better time. I just finished the mailing of the film to cast and crew and last night, I posted the trailer on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4YV9lHsIt4&feature=autofb and my After the Headlines fan page on facebook, http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/After-the-Headlines/195595142834?ref=ts.

I know I'm not going to get into every festival I submit to. I've already received a few rejections, which also humbles me. That's why I'm celebrating these two awards. I really believe I'm making progress and that will help sustain me as I continue to write and develop new ideas for the screen, big or small.

I'm extremely happy to be sharing this good news. Thanks for reading!

After the Headlines: In the Mail

2010-01-12T13:28:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased to report that the official copy of After the Headlines is in the mail to cast and crew. I put a bunch of tapes in the mail yesterday and today and will hopefully finish tomorrow. I feel a great sense of accomplishment now that the film is finished, packaged, and out the door. It's nice to say,"post-production on the film is a wrap," and mean it. A big thank you go out to the cast, crew, and supporters that made the production of this film possible.

Although the film is done, the journey is far from over. I've submitted After the Headlines to a bunch of festivals. I've already received some rejections, so I've learned to expect the worse and hope for the best. If it does manage to make it into some festivals I will count my blessings. Before I forget, let me plug the After the Headlines fan page on facebook, visit, http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/After-the-Headlines/195595142834?ref=ts.

I'm proud that I followed through on my goal. There were many moments when I was ready to throw in the towel, but I'm so glad I didn't. I can say with pride that I wrote and directed a short film. Is it the best film ever made? No. Could I have done better? Yes, but I'm still proud of what I accomplished. Many people don't even get this far.

Last May, I had the privilege of meeting Mira Nair, a director known for films like, Amelia, The Namesake, and Monsoon Wedding. Check her IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0619762/. She encouraged our small group to get the work done. No matter who goood or bad, finish your plays, scripts, and films. There are lessons to be learned in the process. She was right.

I've learned a lot from writing, producing, and directing After the Headlines. I believe my foundation is stronger because of the experience. Now, I can shift back to the writing. Thanks for reading.

A New Year, A New Attitude

2010-01-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

It's cliche, but Happy New Year. At the moment I'm not that happy, I would be in a much better place if the temperature was about 20 degrees higher. I dread winter season. When it is close to 0 or below I lose my motivation to do just but anything. The one upside I have is the cold winters offer me the great opportunity to write. Now, I just have to take advantage of it.

This morning I wrote my am journal entry also known as my "morning pages." By the end of the entry I realized that 2010 is my year to step up my game both personally and professional. For me stepping up my game means continuing to be diligent, more focused on my writing, receptive to correct criticism (this is a life long goal), and seeking opportunities to challenge myself and raise the bar. It's not too long of a list, but when I think about all the tasks I will do to accomplish this, I feel the ton of bricks I'm actually carrying. It's a lot of work, but in order for me to grow I have to dig deep.

I also have to remember to be kind to those who love and support my efforts. It is easy for me to take out my stress on those who are closest to me. I don't know why it is easier to yell at the ones you love versus a stranger, but I realize I will need to do a better job of checking my attitude at the door when it comes to my family and friends.

Right now, everything feels fresh. I have a new attitude for the new year, but the freshness I feel today along with my positive attitude needs to be sustained a week, a month, and a year from now if I plan to make progress. I know I will face setbacks, rejection, and have moments when I want to throw in the towel, but when despair sets in, I have to remind myself of this blog entry and the laundry list of things I want to accomplish in 2010.

This evening I start with a three-hour stint of reading and writing at the Silas Bronson Library. 2010 is a new year, I'm coming to the table with a new attitude, and I must take new actions to move myself forward.

Taking Stock During the Holidays

2009-12-23T08:01:00.000-08:00

It's been a while, yes I know. Things in my life have been a little hectic. I should have joined the circus, because for the last couple of months it seems like I've doing a lot of juggling. I'm still adjusting to married life, which is different, yet the same. Although I don't celebrate Christmas, not in an official sense, like going to church, but I do appreciate the holiday season. After Christmas, I will take some extra days off of work to catch up on the personal life stuff. This will be my perid of "taking stock." At the end of the year I like to look at where I am, versus where I was a year ago.

2009 was a good year for me. I've grown in so many ways and finally feel like I'm making progress as a screenwriter. I say that despite the fact that I received my rejection email from the ABC/Disney Screenwriting Fellowship yesterday. I'm bummed out by it, but I realize that the program is highly competitive. I will have another chance to apply next summer, God willing. Next up, is the Nickelodeon Screenwriting Fellowship. This fellowship is also highly competitive, so I have to come with my A game, which means I'm really going to have to delve into writing mode and pump out a couple of spec in the new year. It is going to be grueling, but it will have to be done.

After the Headlines (ATH) is almost done. I'm really in the home stretch. I picked up the final mix of the film and trailer Monday night. I'm just waiting for some changes to the DVD case cover and then I can get copies made for cast, crew, friends, and supporters. I'm glad to be done with this part of the production. I really didn't envision it taking this long, but that's what happens when funds are low, and one has to take a piece meal approach to the project. I learned an important lesson. Don't start the project until Ihave the funds in place and map out every potential set back. ATH has been submitted to about 30 film festivals and counting. In 2010, I hope to promote the film at some of them. However, time will tell.

Plans for the wedding celebration slated for September 24, 2010 will beging to kick into high gear. I have a wedding dress, a lovely wedding dress. Thanks mom, (she bought it for me). This weekend I will meet with my bridesmaids to select their dresses.

Earlier this week, I found out that Maria Karolidis, a former classmate and highschool friend passed away. She was 31 years-old. Life on this planet can be cut short at a moments notice. Some of us may have signs, but some of us may be completely caught off guard when death offers the final curtain call. Everyday I wake I count my blessing, because as crazy as this world is, I know I'm privilege to be living in it. That sounds weird, but I think it's true.

As I continue to move forward I realize the imporatnace of "taking stock" in my life. The process allows me to see what I have achieved as well as remind of what still needs to be done. I wish all of my readers and followers the very best this holiday season and in 2010. Don't forget to take stock in what is important to you.

In Awe After Or: My Take Away

2009-11-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted an entry. Life has been crazy. I've been juggling work, getting married, and moving Karim into my mom's place. I know what you're thinking, still at moms. Yes, in spite of the claims that the recession is over, I don't buy it. Karim are taking advantage of the opportunity to save, but that's another blog.
Lately, I haven't felt the need to blog, not until now. I'm going to do my best to keep this short and to the point (which is sometimes hard for me).
Last night, I saw the play Or, produced by Women's Project, written by Liz Duffy Adams and directed by Wendy McClellan. I was really looking forward to the production for two reasons. The first is that I can't even remember the last time I saw a play in the city. Needless to say, I was long over due. The second was that I was supporting women in theater.
Back in September, Halima Flynn, a colleague, fellow thespian and theater director told me about a meeting called 50/50 by 2020. The 50/50 by 2020 is a collaborative of professional women writers, directors, and actors proactively looking for parity in relationship to our male counterparts in the business of theater. After attending the meeting I felt energized and knew I needed to be a part of this cause. I personally believe that this movement will not just affect women in theater; it will have an impact for women across the board. I took my first step in actively supporting this movement by joining Women's Project as a professional member and attending the production of Or.
Or, is a fantastic play. I think I'm going to try and see it again before the extended run ends on December 13, 2009.
The production casts Kelly Hutchinson (Desire Under The Elms), Andy Paris (Laramie Project), and Maggie Siff (Sons of Anarchy, Mad Men). Although each actor gives a strong performance, I have to give it to Kelly and Andy for the backstage jostling to play multiple characters. Good acting, direction, and writing are fused together to give the audience a thought provoking comedy that shows the talent and complexity of Aphra Behn (Maggie Siff) a former spy who wants to get into show biz. If she can only write her play without interruptions from her love life—celebrity Nell Gwynne, King Charles II, and double-agent William Scott, among others. While war rages and Aphra and her friends celebrate free love, cross-dressing and pastoral lyricism, the 1660s start to look like the 1960s.

If you have the time I highly recommend checking Or out. For more information, visit their website at http://www.womensproject.org/on_our_stage.htm or become a facebook fan at http://www.facebook.com/WomensProject?ref=ts.

Keeping My Dream Alive

2009-11-04T06:57:00.000-08:00

I can't believe November is here. It all seems to quick for me. I'm not ready to face the fact that there is less then two months to the end of the 2009. Yikes! Every year I tend to get a little frantic as the end of the year approaches. I think it's because I begin to look at the year retrospectively and analyze my progress or lack there of. Even though I'm at a stand still now, the second half of this year has been good to me. I earned my MFA in Professional Writing from Western Connecticut State University, got engaged (By the way, I will be married this Friday, officially off the market), and my short screenplay, After the Headlines, managed to get recognition by the Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival (www.aoffest.com) and recently, The Urban Mediamakers Film Festival (www.urbanmediamakers.com ).

I'm very proud of the achievements I've listed above, but for the past two months I've been at a standstill with my screenwriting. When I came back from the AOF in July, I was suppose to start the feature length script of After the Headlines. Some how I got distracted with other things in my life (I accept that is my fault). When I went to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico I had every intention of coming back with the treatment done, I started, but it is still not finished.

The responsibility falls on me. I have to step up to the plate and be consistent. While I'm always ready to step up to the plate I lack consistency. It's not just my screenwriting either, my journal entries also suffer from my consistency issue. I need to find a way to be better organized and goal focused when it comes to writing. It's an area that I realize is a weak point for me. It's easy to make accuses but I don't have that luxury. If I'm to keep my dream alive, I have to write and write everyday.

I know that success doesn't come easy. It takes tons of effort, heart, and due diligence. I'm old enough to know that an "overnight success" is not real. It's an ideal that we've been made to believe exists in our society, but it doesn't. Those who obtain success have given all of themselves to obtain their dreams. A lot of folks equate success with money and fame. While it's part of the equation, true success comes from doing what you love.

I love the feeling I have when I finish a script. I have a sense of accomplishment. I could use that these days. Right now, I'm caught in the mix of trying to take myself to the next level, which requires me to get my scripts in the hands of agents. I don't think I've accomplished enough for the next level.

I hold the answers to the issues I've raised in this blog. In order to keep my dreams alive, I have to write. My writing has to speak for itself and in order for it to speak, I have to write.

Showing Up

2009-10-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

Last night, I had the privilege of attending the Silk City Flick Fest's opening night gala. I still have a sense of shock and feel honored that they accepted my short film, After the Headlines.

Today, I read The Daily Screenwriter, by Michael David Jensen. The Daily Screenwriter is a daily motivational blog where Jensen offers insight on things writers can do or should be doing to step things up in there creative process. Today's daily reflection was, "Success Means Showing up."

Considering I've been at a stand still on the writing front, I really needed to read that. My work starts with putting down words on a page or typing them on a screen. I can't expect to get very far if I'm not showing up with an attention to write. That is what I've been lacking lately. The same point was echoed to me by a producer I met last night. I won't put the producer on blast, but he is an industry veteran who has worked on classic films like The Stepford Wives (the original), Kramer vs Kramer and a bunch of others I can't remember. The list alone could fill up my blog. I told him a little bit about myself and my ambitions as a screenwriter. I also mentioned that I don't think Hollywood will want my stories. His retort was, "Are you a good writer?" I hesitated, I think he took that as a no. He then asked me, "If I wanted to be a good writer? I said, "Yes!!" His reply, "Well if you write a good story, then your job is done. Hollywood wants good stories. Your job is to become a good screenwriter.

We talked a little more, actually a lot more. He gave me the verbal kick in the tush that I needed. He reminded me that I'm too young to be so jaded and that writers are always writing. I say that, because although I'm heading to Mexico for a vacation, I won't be taking a vacation from my writing. I think that is a good thing.

A lesson I already knew was reinforced. As many times as I've heard it before I needed to hear it again and read it again today. Last nights opportunity would have not presented itself if I didn't show up at the gala for the Silk City Flick Fest. There is something to be said about showing up and doing the work. The reason I'm even a filmmaker at the 2009 Silk City Flick Fest is because I sat down and wrote a story. I need to get back to that. It starts now.

After the Headlines Screens at Silk City Flick Fest

2009-10-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

I have some good news and I have some not so good news. I'll start with the good news first, After the Headlines (ATH)will be screened at the 2009 Silk City Flick Fest (October 8-11, 2009), www.silkcityflickfest.com, on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Manchester Community College, 4:45 p.m., its first film festival. I would like to shout out all the folks who are hard at work to open the film festival this Thursday. Thanks for giving a Connecticut screenwriter and filmmaker a shot. Many thanks.

Are you wondering what the bad news is? Maybe I shouldn't say bad, it's more like unfortunate. I will not be able to be at the screening this weekend. I'm going on a family vacation, which was booked long before I submitted the film to the festival. My plane ticket is nonrefundable, so the show must go on without me. I'm disappointed, but my hope is this will be the beginning for the film. I continue to submit to a plethora a film festivals, but alas, there are no guarantees in this business. Time will tell on that front.

In the meantime, I've let cast, crew, and ATH supporters know the good/bad, I mean, unfortunate news. I hope some folks will make it to my screening. I'm looking forward to opening night festivities at Silk City Flick Fest. I will have my postcards in had and will be ready to network.

I hope to have a trailer to post by November. Yes, it is still on my to-do list, my constantly expanding to-do list. I really need to get the ball rolling on that. I have a bunch of things I really need to be doing, but I won't go there in this blog. For those of you who, who have supported me in the past and plan to see attend this weekend's screening, this is an early thank you. I appreciate all the continued support.

Remember, the best way to predict the future is to create it!!!

Back to Basics

2009-09-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

Stagnation, it happens, sometimes I put to much on my plate and then I have to take a few steps back and look at the whole scene, as if I were watching a film. I ask myself, "Where did I go wrong?" or "What do I need to change?" For a few weeks I've been writing about how I need to get more focused and back into my writing, unfortunately I'm still lagging on that front, but I'm ready for a change. If I want to progress I have to change.

Since August, I've been talking about writing the feature length script of After the Headlines, which won't get written until I write the treatment and then an outline. After some failed attempts, I realize I have to do the first two in order to make it through a first draft. I'm not one of those blessed writers who can take it off the top of their head and crank out a script in a few weeks. I tend to self-edit as I write and that typically halts me in between the second and third act. The outline comes in handy at this point, because when I'm about to go off-track, I have my outline to remind of my original intentions.

I've gotten as far as pulling out the articles and carrying them around. No that isn't helping me write, but it reminds me that I have a project to start. Tonight I'm finally going to take some initiative and reread the articles that will be the basis of my story. I will also look over some articles related to mental-health needs. I try to forget that this work is important, but then I read some articles from screenwriters making a living at their passion, I am reminded not to skip over the basics if I want to lay down the right foundation. Since a screenplay is the blueprint for directors and actors, it's in my best interest to take the time to flesh out my story (beginning, middle, and end). I only cheat myself when I don't do the work.

So for the next few weeks, I will not think about contests or queries. From where I'm sitting, I have a lot to do before I hit that stage. It's time for me to step up to the plate and write, it's all about getting back to the basics.

Contest Frenzy and Other Things

2009-09-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

I wish I could report that I've gotten some screenwriting done, unfornately that is not the case, but I'm back to writing my morning journal entries and I've been finally tackling the mess that is my office. Over the weekend, I finally organized my receipts. I had a pile on the floor that went back to the month of January. It was made up of gas, grocery stores, retail, dry cleaning, AAA, and a bunch of other places. I still have to finish organizing my receipts from the production of After the Headlines. At least I have them all in one place, the production binder. It's a start.

One of the reasons I have haven't written down a word is because I've been busy looking for screenwriting contests for Finding Patience (I've done a mini revision) and film festivals for After the Headlines. Every couple of days I get an email blast from the folks at Withoutabox, a website that lists film festivals across the globe, http://www.withoutabox.com/ about potential festivals I should enter. A lot of times I pass, but lately I've been getting film festivals geared toward short films and even a couple geared toward female filmmakers. I believe that to be my niche and trying to work that angle.

The business of writing and trying to get discovered is just as much work as the writing itself, maybe even more. When I think about it, I have three jobs, there's my public relations gig (the bread and butter), the screenwriting gig (my part-time passion), and now the publicist gig(promoting myself and one of the reasons I write this blog). I wear a few other hats like actor, consultant, and mentor. It all depends on the time of day, day of the week, and the project I'm interested in.

In closing, I do have some good news to report, After the Headlines will be screened at the Silk City Flick Festival http://www.silkcityflickfest.com/, coming to Manchester, Connecticut, October 8 to 11, 2009. It's my first festival and hopefully not my last with all the entries I've mailed out this last month. If you live in Connecticut, please check out some of the films and support local filmmakers like myself. We really would appreciate it.

I have lots to do, some where in there I will find time to write, but right now I'm focused on the promotional stuff. The writing will come, it always does.

My Anticipation for the Second Season of SOA

2009-09-07T13:52:00.000-07:00

I'm going to take a break from writing about me, truth be told, this has been a weekend of more procrastination than progress. I shouldn't make excuses, but it is so hard to stay inside and write when the weather is so nice. There weren't be many more of these days in Connecticut. Truth be told, I have probably spent as much time watching TV late at night as I've spent enjoying the weather.

Watching television is very easy for me to do, it becomes that much easier when I anticipate the return of one of my favorite shows. Earlier in the summer it was the second season of True Blood, but now with that getting ready to wrap up on September 13, 2009, I have switched gears. The labor day weekend may mark the end of summer, but for me, it also marks the beginning of season two of Sons of Anarchy (SOA). FX's promos and trailers have been my fix, keeping my level of anticipation up for most of the summer. Now, the moment I've been waiting for is almost here. Tomorrow night at 1o p.m. I'm going to be glued to my television ready to see where Kurt Sutter will take us in the second season.

I really like Sons of Anarchy (SOA), so much so, that I decided to write a spec script as my MFA thesis project. I have watched season one about 5 times, analyzing the characters and story lines. I wasn't an instant fan of the show. I didn't get into it until about half-way through season one, but then I was hooked. It probably had something to do with the sexy lead, Charlie Hunnam (Jax Teller). SOA's cast also includes, Ron Pearlman, Kim Coates, and Katey Sagal.

I also want to shout out my fellow fans at the Sons of Anarchy forum, http://www.sonsofanarchyforums.net/. These die hard fans have kept and continue to build interest in the show, while also providing some entertaining conversations. It's nice to have a place to go when I just want to talk SOA. The next 13 weeks will keep us busy, but for now I continue my countdown to the premiere of the second of season of SOA.

To find out what you've been missing visit, www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/soa.

Letting Go, Moving Forward

2009-09-01T06:55:00.000-07:00

I'm not ready for summer to be over. I know we still have til' September 21, but with evenings in the 40s I have to accept the fact that the summer season is slowly slipping away. My body sure let me know this weekend. All the rain on Saturday, sent my allergies on attack and my body is currently battling a sinus affection. The fact that I'm also fasting makes it a little tougher, but I'm hanging in there.

As we approach the fall, I'm reminded that there is a little over four months left to this year. I start to think about all the good and bad things that have taken place within the year. I'm in that reflective phase. So far I feel like I've made some good strides in 09, especially as a screenwriter. I finished After the Headline (still working on packaging the film for cast & crew), achieved my first film festival win at the 2009 Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival, attended a Script Writer's Review Sponsored by Nickelodeon, graduated Western Connecticut State University (West Conn)with my MFA in Professional Writing, and am engaged. Not, bad, but then again I try to be an over achiever.

On a sadder note, I did lose some people in my life this year. My grandmother passed and although we weren't close, it's sad to lose the last living matriarch between both my parents. That generation is gone and I only have photos and stories to refer to. I also lost a close friend this year. I won't get into the details, because that can take a blog in itself. It's hard for me to accept that I'm no longer a part of this person's life, considering we were friends since high school .

Letting go of things, people, and places, has always been hard for me. The fact that I'm an emotional junkie makes it that much harder, however, if I'm going to continue to make progress in my personal and personal goals, some people fade out of the picture that is my life. It's never an easy transition, but a must if I'm going to continue to move forward.

My work continues, I'm looking forward to forging a new relationship with a female student in West Conn's MFA program as I mentor her in the Reading in the Primary Genre course this semester. I see the work as an opportunity for both of us to grow as screenwriters. In helping others, I help myself. I also have a few scripts that I need to start cranking out, and maybe if the stars are aligned, I'll get into one of the festivals I submitted to.

Letting go, to move forward is easier said than done, but at the end of the day, it is the move I need to make.

Getting Back to the Writing

2009-08-21T18:29:00.000-07:00

I can't believe summer is halfway over, even though its been 90 degrees most days this week, I still feel like Connecticut hasn't had much of a summer. The weather this summer has been a wash, luckily my life is not. Some really good things have happened to me and I consider myself blessed.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a screening for After the Headlines at Western Connecticut State University. That was a major accomplishment for me. Right now, I'm submitting the film to some festivals. To date, I think I've submitted to about seven. I will probably add one or two more by the fall. I have no idea if I will get in, but I'm crossing my fingers. In my mind it's a potential opportunity that is worth a shot. For a few of the festivals, I've submitted in the student category. I've gotten a few confirmations that the film has been received. Now the waiting game begins, but it will be months before I now. I'm trying not to focus on that, instead I need to get back to my core. My writing.

It was nice to attend a film festival, but that would have not been possible if I didn't take the time to focus and write the story that was in my head. It's time for me to reconnect with the writer in me. With all of the things going on in my life, I've neglected my core, but I still yearn to sit down with pen and paper.

This weekend I will attend the Pilot Pen and audition for a short film. I'm looking forward to both back activities. It will be a nice change of pace for me. But come tomorrow morning, back to my morning pages and when I return from my tennis match on Sunday, my goal is to finishing my weekly reading, which includes two scripts, and then I will write. Even if it is just random thoughts of characters and scenes I will write.

2009 Connecticut Film Industry Mixer Interview

2009-08-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Earlier this summer I had the privilege to participate in the 2009 Connecticut Film Industry Mixer. The link attached is my interview, where I talk about After the Headlines, my passion, and Western Connecticut State University's MFA program among other things.

Here is the link: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=62105318

One thing I can say, is that I need to work on my ums.

Mr Reflection for This Week

2009-08-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

I've had a pretty good week. I want to say thank you again to all the folks who came to the first screening of After the Headlines (ATH) on Tuesday at Western Connecticut State University's student theater. PJ Moretti gave me a wonderful introduction. I was really nervous about showing the film and I'm sure it came across as I introduced the premise of the film and told the audience why I wanted to direct it. I know I said one to many ums. I'll try to work on that. After the introduction, I left the theater. I didn't want to watch and audience watch my film. I probably should have stayed, but I had seen it many of times. I think part of me was worried that people were going to hate it. I was wrong.

Grant it, ATH isn't the next Citizen Kane, I'll have to work up to that. Do I think the film could be better? Yes, but I will stop being so critical of myself (which I have been), because I can say I got it finished. Back in May, I had the great opportunity to meet Mira Nair, director of films such as The Namesake, Mississippi Masala, and Amelia (to be released this fall). She told our group that you have to push on and be proud of your script, film, or whatever work you produce, because most people don't do that. She also made the point that it is easy for others to be critical of films, plays, songs, or scripts, but if the artist gets it done, good or bad, they should be commended for finishing something they start.

To be honest ATH still isn't finished. I need to create a trailer, create a special features menu for the DVD, finish the artwork for the DVD, and the DVD case cover. When that is all done I can make copies for the cast and crew.

Due to my win at AOF, I have an agent who is interested in the feature version of the script. I need to get cracking on that, because it is going to be a lot more work. I'm shifting the voice from the mother to the daughter. That shift is going to require additional research on my part and I will have to give the story an enhanced plot. This will be my major writing project for the months of August and September.

In addition, I will continue to look for festival to submit the film in. Right now, I think I'm up to five. I won't worry about getting in to the festival, because that's not in my control. I have to look ahead and build on the good work I've done. The creative process doesn't end it just continues. Thanks for reading:)

And the the winner is....After the Headlines

2009-07-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Some of you may have read the tweets, others may have seen my facebook thread, but for those of you who haven't I'm hear to share that After the Headlines won the award for 'Best Dramatic Scene' at the 2009 Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival, http://www.aoffest.com/. I think I mentioned before that AOF was my first acceptance into a major film festival.

The way they gave the award was pretty cool. They read the names and titles of the nominees and the winner would come to the podium once they heard their script being read out loud. It was exciting to hear my name among the nominees and I felt like a winner for being in the company of the festivals best screenwriters, but when I heard the words from my script being read, I almost didn't believe it. I ran to the podium and was handed a mic to give a thank you speech. Tears of joy ran down my face and I cried as I accepted my award! I sort of wish I didn't break down in tears, but people came up to me after and said I was cute and that they were moved by my speech. I was somewhat relieved, but still embarrassed. I forget how emotional I can get when I'm happy or sad.

I thanked the AOF Festival coordinators, Del Weston (AOF creator), Josh Neufeld (AOF Festival director), and John Hogan (AOF Festival senior director). John presented me my framed certificate. I gave him a big hug as he whispered another congratulations in my ear. It was my first Oscar like moment and I'm so grateful to have been apart of this festival. If you're a screenwriter, actor, or director and you do the numbers game, you get used to rejection. The fact is, you get more of those than acceptance letters. It's a necessary evil in the business of entertainment. I've learned to develop a thick skin and to brush off the rejections as part of my screenwriter's journey. I think that's what makes my win feel so sweet. I'm going to enjoy it whle it lasts. I don't know when I will be here again. Thanks AOF!!!!!

Although this win feels great, I know I still have my work cut out for me as a writer. I have to continue to hone my craft. I can't allow myself to think that because After the Headlines won the AOF award for 'Best Dramatic Scene' that my work is done. I know it's not. AOF has given me a great opportunity to further myself and I plan to capitalize on it. I'm so glad I came out to Pasadena to attend this festival. The AOF staff go out of their way to make the filmmakers and screenwriters they accept feel at home. I'm glad to be part of the AOF family. The pressure is on....I can't wait to submit again next year.

An Update from the Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival

2009-07-28T08:20:00.000-07:00

I've been really enjoying the California sun since I arrived in Seirra Madre and have been attending the Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival, http://aoffest.com/. I think I enjoy the weather even more as I hear about the on and off rain back east. A big thank you goes out to Pauline for letting me crash at her place.

I flew in late Friday night and missed the showing of my taped scene from After the Headlines. I'm a little bummed by that because it would have been cool to see the audiences reaction to the scene. Before they screen the films, screenwriters who have been nominated have a scene from their script performed by actors and recorded for the audience. After the Headlines has been nominated for 'Best Dramatic Scene.'

So far, I've been enjoying (AOF) International Film Festival. I've seen some interesting short and feature length films. Not all of them have been to my liking, but I have to credit all the filmmakers who have been accepted.

Last night, the screening series I attended kicked-off with a writer's scene, then Secret, a music video directed by Alex Gimenez, and Eyeborg, a feature film directed by Richard Clabaugh. Both projects were pretty impressive. Secret was a video of a Swedish rock band and Eyeborg, was a dystopic film that examines a future where everyone is under constant surveillance by mobile robot cameras known as Eyeborgs. An agent (Adrian Paul) begins to suspect a plot to assassinate the president.

When I think about the numbers of screenwriters and filmmakers out there and the chances of finding success based on the Hollywood studio system, it is enough to make you say, "Why bother?" The odds are so stacked against me. However, I continue to write and recently finished post on After the Headlines because I believe I have a calling for this work. The AOF fest and filmmakers Gimenze and Clabaugh reaffirmed that you can get a film good story out there on your own. It won't be easy, but it can be done, with the help of friends who are willing to take a chance.

Clabaugh made Eyeborg in his home state of North Carolina and got friends and family members to invest in the film. The film took about 3 years to complete, but he did it without the help of a Hollywood studio. That is amazing to me, because most industry people will tell you indie films can't be made that way today. Eyeborg needs distribution and that is what film festivals like AOF are about for directors and producers. I think the film will find an audience and will be on Netflix, Blockbuster online, or in a Redbox in due time.

Even if a bad film gets made, it's a miracle, especially considering the state of financial affairs in this country and in the global market. As I think about my upcoming screening for After the Headlines, I can tell you that I think I could have made a better film, but attending AOF has allowed me to appreciate my gift as a screenwriter. I'm proud to say I finished a film, because film making is not an easy feat.

Gearing up for the Action on Film Festival

2009-07-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

In two days, I'll be flying out to Pasadena, California to attend the Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival. Part of me still can't believe that After the Headlines was selected for 'Best Dramatic' scene. It feels surreal, probably because I've submitted to countless screenwriting competitions and film festivals. Getting in is a make-good to the rejection letters I've received earlier. I'm a person who saves the rejection letters and emails, I do it because I looking at them every so often reminds me that I still have a long way in becoming a viable screenwriter in the industry.

The acceptance into AOF reaffirms that I'm getting better as a writer, I'm making progress. AOF is my first acceptance into a major film festival. In 2006, Moonshine, an indie feature I worked on as a production coordinator was accepted into Sundance. Theo, an actor from the film and I flew out to Park City to attend the screening and enjoy the thrill of the moment. It was great to be part of the magic of Sundance, but it wasn't my moment. I regret not staying long enough to go to other screenings, panel discussions, and workshops.

This time it is different. I'm the contender, an even if I don't win my category, the fact that I'm at the festival is a personal win for me. I will be in Pasadena for the whole festival. Unfortunately, I won't be able to see the scene from After the Headlines acted out. I'll be in transit, hopefully I can get a copy. I think all the networking I'll get to do and the films I'll get to see will make up for it (as a nominee I get a free all-access pass, but it doesn't include the VIP parties).

Even though I'm all about AOF, I realize my work as a screenwriter and filmmaker continues. This week I've been working with Jeff, the editor and Mike, audio engineer on finishing the final cut for After the Headlines. They're helping me enhance what I've shot. It's amazing what goes on behind the scenes in post-production. Kudos to those who do this work for a living, it's a real art form. When I get back from California, there will be a screening for the film on August 4, 2009 at Western Connecticut State University (thanks Brian) Student Theatre. The program begins at 7 p.m.

I really feel like I'm in a good place and this opportunity can open other doors for me. It hasn't been an easy road to get this far, but I see the fruit on the trees and that makes all the difference for me. I will try to post a blog when out west. Thanks for reading and take care til then.

For Immediate Release: After the Headlines Becomes Official Selection for the 2009 Action on Film International Film Festival

2009-07-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release: Contact: Aaliyah Miller
(203) 232-3712 or amiller_12@hotmail.com

Waterbury Screenwriter’s Script After the Headlines Becomes Official Selection for the 2009 Action on Film International Film Festival

JULY 21, 2009, WATERBURY, CT – After the Headlines, a short screenplay written by Aaliyah Miller, resident of Waterbury, Connecticut, has been chosen as an official selection for the 2009 AOF International Film Festival. Her screenplay was selected from thousands of entries. The 2009 Action on Film (AOF) International Film Festival announced their line-up of film and scripts selected from a record number of submissions submitted nationally and internationally.

AOF Screenwriter's Series' is the only festival to take the written word submissions and create short scenes that will be showcased at the festival on the big screens at various theatres in Pasadena. After the Headlines is one of more than 50 scripts nominated.

The screenplay follows Clara Dumont, a guilt-ridden mother who struggles to stop blaming herself for the death of daughter Alexis. The poignant script takes the reader on Clara’s emotional journey as she seeks personal redemption.

“I’m ecstatic about my acceptance into Action on Film International Festival. I consider it a real privilege,” says Miller. “MovieMaker Magazine 2009 names AOF “One of the Top 25 Festivals worth the Fees.”

A premier showcase for the world’s independent filmmakers and screenwriters, AOF provides industry professionals and audiences with an opportunity to discover new and innovative films. AOF will award nominated filmmakers and screenwriters more than
$75, 000 in cash and prizes. The festival runs from July 24 to 31, 2009, in Pasadena, California. The complete list of films and scripts can be found at http://www.aoffest.com/about.html

Man in the Mirror: My Thoughts on Michael

2009-07-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

I did not think I would be writing a blog entry about Michael Jackson (MJ), but with his public viewing on CNN all day, the many facebook (fb) postings, and the tweets, MJ is on my mind and has been for a few days. I know it probably may seem like a cliche at this point, but that is not my purpose.

I'm a fan of MJ, have been since childhood. I remember when I could do the Thriller and Beat It routine from beginning to end. I don't think I can move that quick these days. Although I'm a fan of his music, I did have some personal grievances with him, like his transition from being what I defined as a black man to the way he looked at the end. They way I feel about what Michael did to himself throughout the years doesn't matter, or does it?

He was a profound individual. Many words, both exemplary and not so have described the King of Pop. However, when I think of all the pressing issues in the world, I wonder if so much media attention should have been paid to him. Do I really need to be writing a blog on MJ? But then I have to admit that Michael is a global phenomenon. Like Princess Diana, he touched the lives of individual in a multitude of ways. Michael's music will be his legacy and future generations will be inspired my his musical genius.

Despite the greatness Michael encompassed, I feel it was also a curse. The very thing that made him a celebrity to the world, destroyed him in the end. Like many celebrities, MJ showed us that all the glitters isn't gold. I believe that is the true tragedy in his death. MJ's tribute today, reminded me of his goodness, his skill, his lost innocence, and the ability to touch so many people through his music. I'm a believer in the power of words and MJ was a great illustration of how one can use words to change the world. Unfortunately, it is not enough just to say powerful and meaningful phrases in a song. I believe it was Ghandi who said, "We have to be the change, we want to become." I wonder if Michael knew of that quote when he sang the song, Man in the Mirror.

Man in the Mirror is one of my favorite MJ songs. Below are my favorite verses in the song.

I've been a victim of A selfish kinda love It's time that I realize There are some with no home Not a nickel to loan Could it be really pretending that they're not alone A willow deeply scarred Somebody's broken heart And a washed out dream (Washed out dream) They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see 'Cause they got no place to be That's why I'm starting with me I'm starting with the man in the mirror I'm asking him to change his ways And no message could have been any clearer If you wanna make the world a better place Take a look at yourself and then make a change

MJ's life and death will mean many things to many people. Whatever his legacy is to be, I take comfort in the fact that he wanted to make people happy through music. He made mistakes along the way, but most of us have also make mistakes in life. So many of us dream and don't end up achieving the goals we set for ourselves. I think Michael achieved many of his dreams and goals, that is not easily done in this world. I pay tribute to that accomplishment. After the media on Michael fades, I will still be working on me and trying to change the girl, I mean woman in the mirror.

In loving memory of Michael Jackson, rest in peace.

My Reflections After a Long and Hectic Weekend

2009-07-01T12:48:00.001-07:00

Last week was like a flash of lightening for me. I was on the go until Sunday afternoon when the youth conference I worked concluded. The American Black Film Festival was great (wish I could have experienced more), but my main reason for being there was to attend the Nickelodeon Script Writer's Review and that alone made the 1.5 days in Miami, Florida a worthwhile trip. I'm pleased to report that the youth conference was also a good event. The lack of sleep paid off in the end.

The highlight of the weekend was the evening performance from Young Legends. Young Legends is a group of foster care youth with my agency's Bridgeport Division who write, dance. produce, and perform songs that reflect their thoughts and feelings on growing up in foster care. The four songs they sang were profound and inspirational.

I find Young Legends so inspiring because they are wonderful storytellers. They let me and an audience of about 100 people into their world. While their tales are heartbreaking at times, the fact that can "spit it out" aka rap in a confident manner illustrates that they will not let their hardships and struggles hold them down. They still see their opportunities. I admire their perseverance.

I began with this story about the Young Legends because reinforces how much effort is needed to maintain in this crazy and sometimes unfair world. I think most of us want to be successful and have good lives, but how do were get there if the odds are always stacked against us? For me I can say it takes countless hours or work, staying consistent, believing in yourself, and having a strong support system. In achieving my goals and dreams, I've always had a support system. It's been my mom, sis, family, friends, my finance, and some of my coworkers. When one group may have their doubts another is there to say yeah you can do this.

I think the support is so crucial to success. Keen advice and having people around you who look out for your best interest is also needed. I can't help but think of Michael Jackson. As talented as he was, who really had his best interest at heart. I think that is one of the tragedies in his death as well as other celebrities. It is so easy to slip and if you don't have the supports in order to catch you, the world can be a very mean and lonely place.

As I strive for my goals, I realize I still have such a long way to go in cracking the door or opportunity as a screenwriter. The competition is fierce. It's not just about being good. My writing needs to be exceptional. That's a lot of pressure, but in the grand scheme of things I know I can deal with it. Young Legends reminds me that people in this world have other pressures in life, some gut wrenching hardships that they may or may not be overcome. Their stories are just as important as the celebrity deaths that have bombarded mainstream media lately. More so, because they are still here among the living.

Celebrating my Birthday

2009-06-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Today's my birthday. I'm happy to report that I made it through another year. We live in a crazy world, where life can change in an instant (for better or worse). The older I get, the luckier I feel to have the blessing making it through another year on this earth.

This year, I decided I not to go all out. 31 just doesn't seem like I need to party like it's 1999. Maybe that will change for next year.

This weekend, I celebrated my birthday with Natalie Roy (her birthday was June 21st) at the Portuguese restaurant O'Porto, located in Hartford. The food was good, but our service was not. We had one waitress for 17 people, yes, hot mess! Later that night we found out the restaurant also had a party of 60, which is probably why our food took so long to come out, but I feel like the management should have been better prepared and informed of us the issue first hand. Since they did not, I have to say I won't be returning. Despite the lackluster service I still had a good time. It just goes to show you can make lemonade out of lemons.

Although I planned for a low-key birthday, my birthday week is anything but that . On Friday, I received word that my script After the Headlines was selected in the Action on Film (AOF), International Film Festival (as part of their screenwriters series), http://www.aoffest.com/. AOF has been tauted as one of the 25 best US film festivals worth the fees according to MovieMaker Magazine. The Festival runs from July 24 to July 31, 2009. Scenes from my screenplay have been filmed and will be played at the festival. I want to be there. Now I have to figure out how I'm going to work it into my already packed schedule. I need to find out when they are actually screening the scenes and try to get the time off from work.

On Thursday of this week I will be in Miami, Florida at the Nickelodeon Script Writer's Review. The review is part of the 13th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), http://www.abff.com/, a premiere festival for Black filmmakers, writers, producers, and directors. Major sponsors include Allstate and HBO, Inc. The festival offers a variety of panel discussions, workshops, gala screenings, and networking opportunities. I will only be there for a day and half, but I hope to cash in on the networking opportunities. I feel so privileged to be a part of this event.

My writing is finally starting to take me places, I couldn't ask for a better birthday gift. It's proof that I just have to keep on writing. While I haven't written anything new or revised anything old in the last few weeks, I know I have to get back to the work. It's the time I spend alone creating stories, that makes the above opportunities possible. I can't forget that, I won't. Thanks for reading and the well wishes on my birthday:)

Black Man Rising is Back in NYC for an Encore

2009-06-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

Around this time last year I was asked to support a small Off Broadway production called Black Man Rising, the stellar play is written by James Chapman. When Lawrence Floyd, a fellow acting colleague, who was cast in the show asked me to contribute I wasn't familiar with the plot, theme or other cast members in the show. Lawrence is a professional actor who is serious about honing his craft, I knew he wouldn't be part of a half-ass production, so I was happy to donate. As a gift I received to complimentary tickets to the show.

I asked my girlfriend Catherine to attend with me. It was a hot and sticky New York City day and the air conditioning (AC) in the theatre's hallway wasn't working. There was a long line of people waiting to see the play. We all were profusely sweating. It was a long wait because another performance was wrapping up in the same theatre. I was a bit peeved, but told myself "I should be used to this, ish happens all the time in theatre world." It was a relief to get into the theatre because the AC was working. It was a packed house, not one empty seat. Production staff had to bring in a few extra chairs to squeeze some folks in.

Like many Off Broadway theatres, it was a small black-box stage. There was no set, just a few blocks. It was plain, but the stage didn't need the immaculate set dressings that come with big budgets and wealthy investors. The actors brought the drama and engaged me from the first line spoken and had me on the edge of my seat until the end of the play. Kudos go out to the director who let each actor shine in his own unique way, yet bring sustenance to their role. I don't want to give the story away, but Black Man Rising is a dynamic play that looks at the lives of Black men and puts you in the middle of their struggles, heartbreak, and triumphs. It's a history lesson on the Black man; you see where he has been and follow him on a journey to where is going.

The play was a hit and received great acclaim and won four awards from the Audience Development Committee, Inc. (AUDELCO). AUDELCO was established in 1973 by the late Vivian Robinson to honor excellence in New York African American Theatre through presentation of Vivian Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition Awards. Black Man Rising reinforces why I love theatre and do what I can to be a part of it whether I'm on the stage or behind the scenes.

It is with pleasure and excitement that I report that the production is back in NYC for a second run beginning July 22, 2009 and ending August 1, 2009. Tickets are only $18, that's a steal. To purchase tickets got to http://www.theatremania.com/ and for more information on Black Man Rising, visit the website at http://www.blackmanrisingtheshow.com/. After the NYC the production wraps, the production will move to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for the National Black Theatre Festival.

This play will be talked about for years to come, so don't miss the movement, be a part of it.

Engaging News

2009-06-08T06:16:00.000-07:00

I made it through the hectic and eventful weekend. I'm still recovering, but I feel good about my participation in the 4th Annual Connecticut Film Mixer and the Cab and Lunch Actors Showcase. Both events had a solid turnout. The wonderful, warm weather was an added bonus for me after a week of mostly cloudy skies and rain.

Before I get into my take aways from the events, I feel the need to share some good news in my personal life. I think most of you probably know do to my posts on facebook and twitter, but for those of you who aren't part of the social networking world, Karim and I got engaged! Even though I've been off the market for five years this June, it's now official. I'm really off. No date has been set and details still have to worked out, but I can assure you it will be low-cost and small, but still nice. I'm past the days of when I envisioned the fairy tail wedding. For one fairy tales aren't real, and I refuse to go into debt over the special day. Our day will be special, it just won't cost Karim and I fortune....lol.

Back to my weekend events.

At the mixer I kept myself busy at the registration table making sure registration volunteers were handling guests needs. They did an awesome job managing the tight space we had to work in. I didn't get a chance to be part of the various networking opportunities, but occasionally I walked around and peeked my head into a few panels and other events like the fashion show and open mic for actors. Maybe next year I'll sign up and perform a monologue. The highlight of the event came for me at the end of the night. I was one of the VIP interviews. I was interviewed by Denise Johnson, a multifaceted actress. Denise and I have worked together on a few projects throughout the years. I think the fact that we know each other helped with the interview. She asked me some really good questions about my projects and where I want to go with them. Somewhere down the road I will probably get a copy of that interview. I will definitely share the interview when I get it.

The Cab and Lunch Actors Showcase came and went quickly. I was running late, city traffic on a Sunday caught me of guard and made me about 15 minutes late. Luckily, I didn't miss too much, and Terri, my scene partner filled me in on what I did miss. We had a good audience, and their where some casting people in it. This was my first showcase. Personally, I think I could have had a stronger performance. However, I can't harp on it and just need to move on and move on I shall.

Next up is finishing After the Headlines and gearing up for the first official screening on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at Western Connecticut State University. I will have more details in another posting. I'm so thrilled about it, despite the fact that I need to finish the post on it. I'll be meeting with the editor in a couple of weeks to see his edits. Yeah! I have much to do between now and August 4. It's going to be a busy summer, I just hope I don't miss the magic of the season.

Next Weekend

2009-05-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

Although I should be thinking about this weekend and how nice it will be for the sun to finally come out, instead my head is all about my planned activities for next weekend. Having graduated last weekend (note the pic:)), you would think I'm ready to relax and try to catch up on my sleep, no, not me. Next weekend, I have two significant projects on my plate. The first is the 4th Annual Connecticut Film Industry Mixer, June 6, 2009, 5 to 10 p.m at the Holiday Inn in Danbury (tickets are currently on sale via the website at http://www.filmindustrymixer.com/). This networking event offers producers, directors, actors, musicians, photographers, and other artists from the state the opportunity to network with their peers as well as promote the film and entertainment industry within Connecticut. The industry mixer is in partnership with the Connecticut Film Festival, http://www.ctfilmfest.com/, June 2-7, 2009.

I will be the staff manager for the event. My job will be to assist registration staff, photographers, panel moderators, interviewers, and act as a liaison between Neal Thomassen, the event coordinator and the hotel staff at the Holiday Inn. It's a lot to juggle, I didn't realize how much until recently, but I figure I can handle it. I have my production and event planning experience to be thankful for. It's funny how things eventually connect for you down the road. My goal is to keep myself organized and those around me just as organized. I'm looking forward to working with and meeting fellow Connecticut artists and professionals.

My second event puts me back on the stage performing. I'm extremely excited about my participation in the Cab and Lunch Actor's Showcase at the Players Theatre on June 6, 2009 at 1 p.m. For more details and to rsvp, visit the website at http://nycsas.ning.com/. The event is being coordinated by Sheree Kren, who I must compliment for running a tight ship. She is invested in helping actors who are serious about stepping up their game. As a nonunion actress I feel that this is a great opportunity for me to be scene by agents and casting directors.

I will perform a two-minute scene from the 10 minute short play The Next Mrs. Jacob Anderson, written by Ann Wuehler. My character's name is Lisa, I'm the other woman. My scene partner, Terri Greene, plays the current Mrs. Jacob Anderson. In our scene, Terri confronts me at the local farmers market. I won't give out any more details. Come check me out in action!!!

Having the opportunity to get back on the stage feels good. My last performance was in Theatre 4's (http://www.t4ct.com/) fall production of Anton in Show Business. That play was both challenging and a lot of fun. I miss the cast. I would love to do another play, but I think I need to fall back and enjoy the time, really enjoy it.

So while I'm all about what's going on next weekend I have to remember to let myself have time to myself as well as my friends and family. It's hard because I still have so much to do, so many goals to accomplish and the next steps in between are constantly changing. Some how I'll manage, I always do. Thanks for reading.

Graduation: Looking to the Future

2009-05-19T06:25:00.000-07:00

The sun is finally out, I just hope it stays for more than a day. I'm feeling good. On May 22, 2009 I will be graduating. Yes! I can't believe I made it through the MFA program. I take it back, I can believe it, considering all the hard work that has been put in, but it still feels surreal to me. For those I haven't told, I received an A on my thesis project! I need to give special thanks to Catherine, John, and Karim, for helping me review my thesis.

While I'm happy with the present, I can't help but think about the future. What's next?

I have a few answers to the question. Number one, I've been accepted to the American Black Film Festival's Script Writer's Review, sponsored by Nickelodeon. The event takes place in Miami on June 25 and 26. While I have a conflict with work, I'm crossing my fingers that I will be able to work it out so I can attend. So far it looks promising. Number two, On June 6, 2009 from 5 to 10 pm I'll be working at the Fourth Annual Connecticut Film Industry Mixer. The event is being coordinated by Neal Thomassean. See his facebook page for more details. Number three, the next day, June 7, at 1 pm I will be performing in the Cab and Lunch Scene Actors Showcase sponsored by Red Rock Productions http://www.nyccasting.ning.com/. This Sunday, I auditioned with Terri, my scene partner. I couldn't believe we were chosen. It felt really good when Sheree Rainbolt Kren, the casting director for the showcase told us we were in and that we were good actresses. The compliment made my day. Number 4, I'm going to finish post on After the Headlines. That short film is my baby, it's far from perfect, but I put a lot into it and want to see it completed and then submit it some film festivals. Right now, I'm waiting on Jeff Um, my fabulous editor friend and colleague to finish the cut. I also have to shout him out because he did me a big favor when he agreed to edit the film. If you are looking for a top notch EFX and graphics professional for commercial television and film projects, I highly recommend him. Check out his reel at http://www.umjeff.com/.

I realize that this Friday will be a day of achievement for me, but I can't stop here. Last week, I listened to President Obama's speech to the graduating class of Arizona State University. He is a great orator. So many things he said stuck with me, but I think the most important message he gave was that we cannot be complacent with our achievements, there is always work to be done and we must always push ourselves to do better and not only for ourselves but for those who come behind us.

This chapter in my life is coming to a close, but where I go from here and how I impact the world remains to be seen. I'm still writing that story. I know it won't be an easy journey, but I look forward to the ride and the challenges that are before me.

I'll close with a verse from Ice Cube's, Today was a Good Day. While I'm no G from South Central L.A. I feel that today is a good day:

Today was like one of those fly dreams

Didn't even see a berry flashing those high beams

No helicopter looking for a murder

Two in the morning got the fat burger

Even saw the lights of the Goodyear blimp And it read ice cubes a pimp

Drunk as hell but no throwing up

Half way home and my pager still blowing up

Today I didn't even have to use my a.k.

I got to say it was a good day.

Thanks for reading:)

Thesis Done: Next Up

2009-05-06T06:28:00.000-07:00

On Monday I handed in my thesis. I had a great feeling of accomplishment as I drove to Western Connecticut State University to drop it off. This past semester challenged me in many ways, now I just hope the thesis committee accepts my two spec scripts. I wrote a spec for Nickelodeon's True Jackson VP and the other was for FX's Sons of Anarchy (SOA). I really struggled with the SOA script, but thanks to the help of my David and Leslie, my thesis advisers, and Karim I came up with a story. Next up, I plan to submit them to teleplay competitions and some network fellowships.

Last night I watched the final season of the L Word. I finally can catch up on some of my favorite shows. I have to agree with my sister Dawn and say that I was somewhat disappointed by the ending. Oh, well. I also saw the film American Violet. Loved it and highly recommend it. It's going to be nice to once again hang out with my friends, see movies, and watch television on a regular basis. The watching TV thing I will probably curb because although my thesis is done, my work isn't finished. I still have scripts to revises and new ideas to develop. Remember After the Headline (ATF), it's the short film I shot in the fall, I need want to finish the post and get it into some film festivals.

I had my doubts about finishing ATF. I get into these moods where I get down on myself for not doing the perfect job. A few weeks ago I had the privilege to meet the director Mira Nair, she reminded me that it's not about making the perfect film, it's about completing the project. Directing is a craft that is improved by each effort if you learn from your mistakes. I won't give up on the film, I only fail if I do. For now, I eagerly await the edited footage from the editor and in the meantime, focus on my next steps.

I hope I walk on May 22, 2009. I have to continue to hone the skills I gained in my MFA, seek opportunities, and network like my career depends on it, because it does. It will be nice to unwind for two weeks, do some spring cleaning and get myself organized. It's a must if I am to handle the next items of business on my "to do" list.

My Thesis: The Last Lap

2009-04-20T16:47:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Right now I should be tackling yet another rewrite of my Sons of Anarchy (SOA) spec script. I took a look at it during my lunch and finally made it through to the end. It was grueling. I can't believe all the typos and missed words I had....hot mess. And although I know I'm in my last lap, for some reason I feel the need to pass the baton, however, no one is on the receiving end. I'm tired. Tired of reading, rewriting, reading some more, and so on and so on.

Despite the fatigue I feel at the moment, I can truly say I'm amazed that I'm here. I started the Western Connecticut's Professional Writing MFA program two and a half years ago and the end is almost near. I go through periods of excitement and then moments of blah (my current momentis blah). I think I'm a little blah right now because I know writing is work. Like most things in life, in order to excel at it, one has to stay at it and not become complacent.

A couple of weeks ago I stayed home and cranked out my first draft of SOA. It totally drained me but I did it, even though it took me a lot longer than I anticipated. I was freaking myself out over my treatment, the characters, and the story's arc amongst other things. I finally finished rereading my first draft and realize that I still have a lot of work to do to streamline the story. Am I dreading the work, yes, but it is still work I have to do. Not only does my degree depend on it, it's about my future as a screenwriter. I have to have the will and tenacity to follow through my projects.

This helped to pick me up. Now, I have to ground myself. I'm in the final stages, racing against the clock. My last lap has begun. I hope to finish strong.

Could of, Would of, Should of,

2009-04-06T21:34:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

I should be sleeping. I have to be up in less than 6 hours, but since my weekend lock down also known as ass in chair or for the PC crowd AIC, I'm suffering from bouts of insomnia. I want to sleep by just can't. I guess that happens when you write for 8 hours at a time (with little sleep in between) after a day and a half of writer's block. Well, at least I got my first draft done. That is a major accomplishment.

That's not what I really wanted to talk about. I'll save it for another blog entitled, "The Reward is in the Work."

Last Thursday, I was walking home from work like I usually do at around 5.pm. and I was making my way through some folks that had just got off the city bus. I little girl caught me eyes. She was being pushed in a stroller and was crying up a storm. I know it's common to see kids crying with their parents, but there was something sadly different about this case. The little girl, who I say was either two or three was being really stubborn and holding her feet so her mom couldn't push her. The mother was no doubt frustrated, I probably would be to. But the mother's reaction to her child set me back. The mother told the daughter to "stop acting like a fucking asshole." My apologizes for the foul language, but I feel I need to write to get that image out there.

I'm not sure how old the mother was, but my guess is that she wasn't over 30. When I heard her comment to her daughter I stopped, I couldn't believe what I heard. It's bad enough when adults talk that way to one another, but to hear a parent talk that way to a child, a small toddler, threw me for a loop. I thought to myself what chance does that kid have if that's how she is being spoken to at such an early age. It doesn't take a scientist to know that human beings are creatures of habit and that we learn from those around us. If our settings are negative, more than likely our behaviors will be as well.

For the smokers out there who don't what their kids to smoke, studies show that kids with parents who smoke are more likely to try it then kids who have parents who don't smoke. It's not be because they don't know the facts about smoking being unhealthy, they will try smoking because the have seen their parents smoke and it is an accepted behavior. Our young people really pick up on the good and bad things we do. That's really scary. I feel for the parents out there.

This episode is still on my mind at 12:58 a.m. because when I heard the mother's words to her daughter I wanted to say something and I didn't. I took the stand that it is not my problem and kept walking. I've played the episode back in my mind at least a dozen times, I think I should have said something. I could have said, "Excuse me, but I don't think you should use that language with you daughter." I know, I would be getting cursed out next, but at least she would have had someone tell her that her behavior with her daughter was wrong. I would have taken a stand for the sake of the child. Maybe it could have been the first step of acknowledging her anger management issues. I realize I pose a lot of what ifs, but I can't help but think I could have done something more.

Our society tends to look the other way on a lot of issues. It's not our problem or that's not my business. It's not our business that Madonna got rejected from her Malawi adoption or that Jennifer Aniston broke up with John Mayer, but we still read it. I'm sure we've all seen the TV segments on The Today Show, or Good Morning American, when they show people committing crimes and 8 out of 10 people do nothing and go about their day. We are so desensitized by the crazy and hectic world around us.

I know I can't save the world, but I believe I can make a difference in the lives of individuals. Next time, I see something wrong and if it doesn't show the potential to put my life in danger, I don't want to have the regret of saying could of, would of, should of.

Night or should I say morning.