Inside the Brain of E.C. Henry

Carrots

Carrots have become one of my favorite things.  Did you know that?  Well, if you didn't you're about to learn a lot more trivia about me that you probably didn't know.  Going to keep this post all positive and just have it be about things I'm "high" on.  So without further ado,

 

E.C. Henry's favorite things:

Food: filet mignon.  Justification: it's a meat that eats like a piece of pastry.

Beer: Budweiser.  Justification.  I like a lot of different beers, but Budweiser is the one I enjoy most often.

Scripture: Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for the good, for those who love God and called according to His commandments."  Justification: It's a great relief to me: God is in control of those who profess Him as Lord.  Christianity is NOT a difficult religion.  

Dessert: Peppridge Farms Raspberry Turnovers.  Justification: If heated in the oven right and coupled with a glass of milk, it ALWAYS hits the spot after dinner. 

Fast Food Chain: Chick-Fil-a.  Justification: Love their BASIC, signature chicken sandwich and their strawberry shake

Movie: "THE PATRIOT" (2000, staring Mel Gibson)  Justification: Builds reverence for those who laid their lives down to get us a country in the first place.  Has a GREAT villain in it, played by Jason Isaac, and the scene with the little daughter crying for her father not to go back to war is a real tear-jerker for me. 

Song: "Straight Shooter" by The Mommas and the Poppas.  Justification: You can thank Quentin Tarantino for that!  BUT that's the song I'm listening to the most right now.

Mixed drink: Whiskey Sour.  Justification: A long time ago I was looking for a mixed drink to be my drink in the bar should I ever get famous and need to hobnob, a whiskey sour was asked for by Mrs. Delauer in "How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days", and that just stuck with me.  Then I tried it--and kinda liked it!  Though I'm really not a hark alcohol drinker.

Actor: Dustin Hoffman.  Justification: Seen enough film with him in it to say the man is a BRILLIANT actor.  Tootsie, Hook, Rain Man, Meet the Fockers. 

All-time babe: Meg Ryan.  Justification: Her performance in "Sleepless in Seattle" won me over.

After all these years, E.C. STILL has "the hots" for me.  (Well, I got her to smile at least!)

Watching NFL football memory: being there at Century Link when the Seahawks beat the Green Bay Packers on the "fail Mary" game.  Justification: Yeah i was there, up in the bleachers surrounded by mostly Packers fans.  When it looked like we'd lost, the ref FINALLY signaled touchdown.  GREAT memories there, the Packer fans were really nice people.  But one confident fan walked off and missed the best play of the game!  

Who's going to catch it?  

High worship song to sing: "I love you, Lord".  Justification: Very simple and repetitious song, but it allows the singer to really pour their heart out in WORSHIP of the Lord, which is what high worship is all about.

Job: Robotics Tech at SCP Global Technologies in Boise, Idaho.  Justification: Was my first really big job with real responsibilty.  Was never a very good tech, however.  Most of my peers were smarter and more savvy then me, but it was fun building robotic assemblies back in the 90s.

Pastor: Bob Kaminkski.  Justification: He was a manager at Boeing who loved the Lord, and LIVED the most important tenant of the faith, which is loving other people.  Bob's gone now, died in 2001 if memory serves me right.  But I will carry the legacy of his life with me for the rest of mine.  For here, in Bob Kaminksi, is a man who loved God and loved others, while functioning at a high level in society.

Worship leader: Rikki Webster.  Justification: Good voice, earnest desire to bring others into worship when she played her guitar.  And when I think of where I heard she came from, my respect for this woman grows all the more.  Our God is a great God!

Hard drink: Belvenie Scotch.  Justification: a great after dinner sipping spirit. 

Script I've penned: "Indians of the Ancient Plains".  Justification: In this script I have the best ending in all the history of the movies.  And it's all for the Lord.  Didn't know I could write BIG until the Lord surprised me and let me write this gem. 

Person I enjoy spending the most time with: my mom, Donna Marie Henrikson.  Justification: She's grounded in the Lord, a charismatic Christian--who speaks in tongues, and like Bob and Rikki; who I mentioned earlier: is good at loving other people. 

Activity to do: write creative stories.  Justification: I'm a writer at heart.  Not very good with people, but when I sit down to write my world expands.  I get to explore things I otherwise never would do.

Vegetable: carrots.  Justification: Someone told me carrots help your eyes--so I started eating them just for that possible benefit.  Then I discovered I just like the taste of them.  It always feeling healing to me. 

Color: baby blue.   Justification: That color elicits a sensation of peace to me.  It's like Heaven's official color! 

Season: spring.  Justification: Reminds me of the AWESOMENESS of God's power; to take that which looks dead and bring new life to it.  My God is the God of springtime--and I praise Him for that.

Politician: Trey Gowdy.  Justification: When he was serving in government he always gave off the impression that he was cutting through the bullshit and going after others in government that were corrupt.  There's something about Trey Gowdy that rubs me right, and gives me hope for the future. 

Member of the Beatles: Ringo.  Justification: He looks like the off-beat and interesting guy.  John Lennon always rubbed me wrong.  Paul was the glam guy.  And I never figured out what George Harrison ever contributed to the mix. 

Ringo Starr: because EVERYONE needs a little "weird" in their life.

Cartoon character: Spiderman.  Justification: Can still remember RUNNING home from school to catch the old series and see who Peter Parker was watching wits with.  Best cast of villains too: the Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, and Electro. 

Day of the week: Friday.  Justification: Was never popular in school, used to look to Friday as my release from bondage.  

Vehicle: my 1990 Toyota SR5.  Justification: This was my "prize" for giving the Artic Strom a year of my life and I did a lot in that truck.  Drove to L.A. in it and smoked a bunch a weed with Jeff Filler, then later this truck carted me around to fast food jobs, college, and then into my life in Idaho.  

Camping spot: Kirkham Hot Springs on the Payette River about 35 miles out of Boise, Idaho.  (I think that's the name of the place) Justification: the routine of relaxing in the hot springs, then jumping into the river.  It's like totally electric.  Everyone should do this at least once!

Vacation destination: Long Beach, Washington.  Justification: I write Thars there.  Long Beach is Dale and Ron's hometown, where their adventure begins.  Going to the DUMPY TOURIST TOWN isn't done on a surface level, for me its a journey into my own mind and creation.  

Sports Achievement: Won a track meet in 8th grade.  Justification: It was the last race I ever ran, it was just me and one other guy--and I beat him!  I remember asking Mr. Patterson how I place in comparison to the others who ran before me, and he just repeated that I won.  Sometimes you just need to hear that, "You won."  

 

Well-p, that's enough of ol' E.C.'s favorites for one post.  Felt good dwelling on the ultra-positive for a while. 

Signing off for now,  

E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: Movies Stuck in Repeat

Every once in a while a movie will come out that you just can't stop talking about.  For me, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" (2019: written and directed by Quentin Tarantino) is that movie.  Imo, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is the BEST movie I've seen since, "Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" (2014: staring Micheal Keaton, directed by Alejandro Inarritu).  I must have watched "Birdman" 20 times now.  Today, as I write this post I've already seen "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" 5 times -- and plan on seeing it AGAIN later tonight at the 6:40 showing in the Bonney Lake Multiplex.  Boy, they're been getting a lot of my money lately.  Thanks a lot, Quentin.  My wallet is lot lighter now on account of you!

Why would anyone want to see a movie THAT many times?  Well-p, that's a fair question.  And I don't do this with many movies.  Most movies that stuck in repeat are movies that I admire the artisticty of.  I think I've watched "Prometheus" 15 times or so now.  I just love all the artistic touches that Ridley Scott put into that film.  I've re-watched "Birdman" for different reasons.  I loved the acting in it and the scenes that actors work their magic in.  Wow, can that Edward Norton ever act.  WOW!  HUGE fan of that stud actor.  Loved what Michael Keaton brought the show as well.  Then their's Zack Galfinakis' goofyness, and the other actors fine performances.  

"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is a lot like "Birdman" -- to me!  Both center around troubled actors trying to work through their issues.  Rigan Thompson  wants to prove to the world that he can make art of substance and meaning, apart from earlier success as a headliner in a super hero movie franchise and playoff of Michael Keaton's own stint as Batman in the 1989 - 1991.  Rick Dalton the flawed protagonist played by Leonardo DiCaprio is an actor too, AND he's trying to prove himself BUT in a much different capacity.  Rick Dalton is a hard drinking actor who wants to continue being a movie star, one who gets to work with top-flight directors like Roman Polanski, whom he admires. 

At it's core "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is a buddy movie.  It centers around the friendship that Rick Dalton has with his stunt double, and best friend, Cliff Booth, as played in Joe Cool fashion by Brad Pitt.  On the horizon of this story is the Manson cult murders at the Polanski residence in August of 1969.  3/4ths of the movie takes place in February of 1969.  While the last 1/4th takes place on day of the murders. Quentin wrote it this way so the audience could see Sharon Tate in her prime, as on the day of her most unfortunate death she was 8 1/2 months pregnant when the Mason's monster butchered her and three of her friends.    

Now that broached the black cloud surrounding this story, let's delve into it a little more.   One of the things I admire most out of this movie, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is fact that writer/director Quentin Tarantino had the BALLS to even attempt to write and shoot a movie like this.  A buddy movie that has the Manson murders looming on the horizon.  Wow, going into this project I would have advised Quentin to steer clear of this subject entirely.  I mean who wants to relive that horrific night.  Certainly not me.  If I had my way I would been the one to throw the lever and electrocute Charles Manson for ordering four of his followers to go there in the first place.  Charles Manson is demonic, creepy person.  He was damn lucky he didn't get the death sentence for his mastermind role in all of this.  So you'd think that a movie that ends with the scene at Polanski residence on the night of the murders would be a real downer movie, but to Quentin's great credit, it is not!  This movie is surprisingly upbeat and funny at times.  Charles Manson is ONLY depicted in one scene, and briefly at that--and yet the main villain in this movie IS a member of the Manson cult.  It's one of runaways living with Manson's followers on an old horse ranch that used to be a place where cowboy TV series were shot, Spawn Ranch.

I marvel at the end product Quentin was able to deliver.  A stylistically fun movie.  This is a "feel" movie, not a plot-heavy movie.  I say this because as a pre-pro/undiscovered screenwriter myself I put a great onus on plot.  That's like the core product that screenwriters are expected to deliver: a story designed to be shot into movie form.  The first time I watched "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" a fellow movie attendee asked me what I thought, and I said it was an "F".  I was disappointed by the over-arching plot, and didn't like the over-bloody ending where Cliff Booth and Rick Dalton rewrite a better history as they take-out three members of the Manson cult who are acting on orders from the maniac benefactor to brutally murder everyone in the Polanski residence. 

But after a 2nd viewing of "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" my opinion totally flipped: "F" to "A".  Now knowing the plot, I was able to relax and enjoy the artistry of this masterpiece.  Racing down the Hollywood hills with Polanski and Sharron Tate as "Hush" by Deep Purple played, or racing around Los Angeles in 1969 with Brad Pitt at the wheel as "Bring a Little Lovin'" by Los Bravos played.  "Out of Time" by the Rolling Stones transitioning the action as Dalton and Booth face the end of their era of friendship, and an unsuspecting Sharon Tate faces the abrupt end of her life as the historical record says will happen.  LOVED the choice of following Cliff Booth to his home at night then going up and over a drive-in movie in process of playing at night and back to where Cliff lives from there.  Creative camera work.  Quentin favors a lot of low shot.  He has a active, non-static camera.  The danger of this technique is that it can take away from your story if overused, but Quentin uses it just enough to spice the story up.  

Lot of in car driving scenes in this movie -- and E.C. Henry ate that up!

But my favorite scene in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is the scene between Rick Dalton and Marabella Lancer (played to perfection by Julia Butters).  In it both  actors are on lunch break and reading their books.  Marabella shows interest in Rick's book that's about a cowboy named, "Easy Breezy".  While describing the story to Marabella, Rick Dalton has a person epifany--Easy Breezy is him!  A man who is slowly become more and more obsolete and uneeded.  The main protagonist's flaw is set-up BRILLIANTLY by Quentin Tarnatino early on when he meets a movie-maker who wants him to go to Italy to make "Spagetti Westerns", which Rich thinks hails the downfall of his time as an actor in Hollywood.  Rick Dalton's character flaw is his own insecurity and fear of loss of his own career.  See how that compares to Michael Keaton's Rigan Thompson; the same only different!  Anyway Leonardo DiCapaprio's acting in this scene is flawless.  Mesmerizing.  Maybe the best acting I've ever seen ever.  Why?  Because he HAS TO carry the scene.  There's no action, just Rick Dalton a bit out of sorts as he tries to recover from a hangover and pass the time until it is time to resume shooting the next scene in this western's TV pilot.  It's his looks, hacks, and reaction to Maribella that are on display.  And to Leaonardo DiCaprio's great credit, he absolutely nails not only this scene but also the next two he's in where he first fails on set, then delivers the best acting he's ever done in the next: the highs and lows of the acting profession, I guess.  Anyway, Leo parks and should win an Oscar for his FINE WORK in this movie. 

First comes fun... then comes set-up... then comes delivery.

Being a screenwriter myself and FAVORING the bad guys.  Believing in my heart that it is the bad guy that drives the action in a movie, giving the hero a formidable obstacle to overcome, I MARVEL at Quentin's taste on display here.  Because his main villain is a teenage runaway named "Pussycat".  She is 15-17 year old girl who prostitutes herself out on the streets of Hollywood and severs in the Manson cult.  "Pussycat" (as played by Margret Qually) is what I what I would describe as a "gateway villain"; she is a temptress that Cliff Booth takes note of as he drives around town and keeps running into her on the side of the road looking for a ride.  

In a great creative choice Quentin Tarantino focuses on the girls in Manson cult.  The first time we see them they're happily skipping down the street singing a song together before they forage in the dumpster for good food that's been thrown away.  At first they are blurry but then the camera focuses in on them, and gives the audience a "feel" for what it was like for those in the Manson cult; the girls were like stray cats, rummaging around in the garbage.  Even later when we go to Spawn Ranch, where the cult is staying we see the conditions are run down and that they're just abusing a prone, blind old man to have a place for all of them to stay and base their operations. 

Would you give this girl a ride?  #temptation

It's a very tense scene when Cliff Booth uncovers the truth behind Spawn Ranch. Very creative from a history-based story as well.  Hats off to Quentin again for delivering INTERESTING scenes in a story that is difficult to tell and pull off.

In the end, I just marvel at Quentin's masterpiece.  I didn't think he'd ever top "Reservoir Dogs" which was Quentin's breakthrough movie way back in 1992.  But he did.  He took a very difficult subject matter (the murder of Sharon Tate by the followers in the Manson cult) and crafted a buddy tale in the midst of a changing landscape in Hollywood.  I know for one, I couldn't write a movie like this.  You want a buddy picture that ENDS with Manson murders?!  Count me out, pal.  Yet in the end that's what Quentin did, and in the process he delivers a fun ride and honored the memory of a budding, young actress who was cut short in her life.  

Creatives; you never know what cooks their noddle.  I don't write the same way that Quentin writes.  I prefer a more tradition approach adhering to three act structure, and having a strong, central villain.  But I think Quentin loves people.  He loves to tell their stories and explore what makes people tick.  I think he's a genius and can't wait to see what he comes up with next.  His stories are always unpredictable, yet he delivers on the fun and gives his actors and actresses amble opportunity to shine.  Hopefully come the Oscars in 2020, Quentin and crew will get there share of gold.  Because this movie:

"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is one of the best movies I've ever seen.  

 

The Mountain

Writing is a journey.  A lifelong journey. Having now written 22 spec. scripts, two completed novel manuscripts, and a third that's in-process, I would equate the writing process to hiking up and down mountains.  Hence, the title of this post.

Having completed "The Commune III" for that past three weeks or so I've pretty much been at the top of the mountain.  Re-reading the script doing the minor of working tweaks.  This is the top of the mountain because for intents and purposes this project, "The Commune III" is done!  A writer can ALWAYS go back and improve on past material.  The thing is you can't camp on top of the mountain.  No, eventually it's time to move on to the next project.

My frame of mind is that a writer is a writer for life.  It's what they enjoy doing.  So as a writer lives his or her life, they go through cycles as writing projects ramp up... and later, hopefully ramp down. If you're a healthy writer your writing life should be be like an extended hiking trip in the mountains.  

Right now I'm staring at an old mountain I left back in December of 2018.  The mountain of "Love at Great Cost; A Legend in Thars: Book III".  Not going to wimp out on this mountain.  No, just like all other mountains I've set out on, it's getting climbed all the way up to the top.  

Endurance.  A writer's life is one of endurance.  You gotta keep going.  Never let any of your "mountains" get the best of you either.  Climb them all.  Even if some of them take longer to climb than budgeted for.  All things said, "The Commune III" was a relatively straight forward mountain.  Saw it in late December of 2018.  And had it climbed by the middle of June, 2019.  Other "mountains" that I've endeavored to climb weren't so easy.  Lost my permit to climb on the "Planet of the Apes" script I wrote.  Still got that one in a file, but I don't know if I'll ever be allowed by the owner of that mountain to reach its peak potential.  "The Commune" was a tough mountain to climb because prior to that I had never written in a story that was so vested in the U.S. military.  "A King for God's People", though I had a rough map going in, having based on the life of Israel's king David from the text of the bible, was a challenge because it was my first adaption of previously existing source material -- and since it was based the account written in the word of God I felt I had to be careful and do the story the justice it deserved.    

The great thing about the writing life, going through projects, and reaching the top is the view from the top.  I always feel a great sense of relief when I'm there, cruising.  The hard work is all done.  All that remains is minor tweaks, and enjoying the finished product.  Listening to completed script in Final Draft is a joy.  When you internal editor can't find any more mistakes to fix, and you're just enjoying the finished product.  This is like drinking a beer after a hard day's work.  Satisfying.  

But writers are explorers by nature and no matter how in love you are with the tale you've spun eventually you're meant to start all over and take on your next challenge.  So now I'm going back to the mountain of "Love at Great Cost" and I'm going to scale that third mountain in "The Legend of Thars" range.  Moreso, I'm going to start eyeing bringing all three manuscripts into book form.  YES, that is my next goal!  Then after that the 2nd movie in the "Thars" series.  I've already got the first one done.  Yay!

The longer I'm at this the more I see the need to CELEBRATE MY SUCCESSES!  

This is E.C. Henry after he completes a script or novel.

I know what you're thinking, "E.C. you don't have any 'successes'; you're an undiscovered talent."  Trust me, I face that doubt all the time.  But one thing I do have is completed projects!  The state of the publishing world is a mess, the state of the movie-making industry is frustrating.  I may never get discovered.  But one thing that is my control to do is writing.  And finishing projects.  And that's what I aim to do.   

So yeah, I'll probably listen to "The Commune III" a few more times just for my own personal pleasure.  Always wanna enjoy the view from the top of the mountain.  But even as I stand atop this peak, my eyes are on the horizon. Realizing that I'm going to have to go down into the valley again, and WORK to climb up the mountain of "Love at Great Cost".  The beauty of all is that I'm open to doing such things.  For if you're a true writer.  It's never a one-off kind of thing.  No, the more notches you get in your belt.  The more notches you want to add. 

Writing is a journey.  Writing a climb.  But the view from the top, makes it all worth the while.

 

22 on 50

Came close but I did not finish my 22nd spec. script by my 50th birthday.  Finished it a week and day later... O, and by the way, the diamonds in the cake DO NOT insinuate that I'm gay, I'm not, I'll NEVER be a homosexual.  Just trying to have a little FUN people.  Still open to meeting "Miss Right" but at age 50 now that's looking less and less likely with each passing day.  Still...   

E.C. Henry turned 50 on June 10th!  Thanks so much for the presents!  #Igotnonefromyou!

From my immediate family I DID get sixty bucks in Regal movie theater credits.  Used over half of that taking my dad to see John Wick III over the weekend.  Found that movie to be totally forgettable.  It did have a few nice chase and fight scenes, but there was NOTHING to its story.  Pitiful effort there.  John Wick III is basically a video-game story with no real plot just an endless supply of bad guys for John Wick to have either gun or martial arts fights with. 

This is what it would take for me to watch John Wick 3 again!

Gators and gunsmoke

Is my tagline for "The Commune III".  And that is, as they say, in the books.  Well, mostly.  I finished a 4th draft of it last Tuesday.  Just got to burned out on it to write any more on it.  Will probably do a 5th and even more improve draft of it when I start getting feedback from others on it, but 'till then its back to the epic fantasy novel series starting on Monday, June 24th.  After 6+ months off on it should come in with some fresh eyes, and renewed enthusiasm.  Right now I have one novel manuscript done.  Another close.  And the first movie adaption in the series done.  I've been at this story since 1993 so its time to finish it all. 

Blogwise it's time to update my "Surf City" too.  So that's coming in the near future.  As is an update of my completed literary works with the "Commune III's" logline and registration information for proof of my authorship.    

Sorry for not posting more, line editing always takes a lot out of me.  Still need to burn a CD or two of "The Commune III".  But I've already got it's cover:

Hopefully sometime soon "The Commune III" will get included in a Amateur Offerings batch over on Carson Reeves'  site.  If/when that happens I'll prove a link to it so y'all can read it for yourself if you want to.  OR you can always contact me.   

Besides that not much going on in my life.  Seams like there never is.  Still single.  Still working a crappy day job.  Guess I need to spend more time in God's word, and praying.  This life isn't all there is.  No matter how dry our lives are, they were meaningful enough for Jesus to die on cross for.  

So now it's time to take my "The Commune III" index cards off the corkboard, file it's supporting material in the corresponding file for it, and move on to Thars AND perhaps another script.  When writing l like to take my time and plot things up slowly.  Letting them accumulate over a period of time until they reach a critical mass.  "The Commune III" reached critical mass in late December 2018.  For my next non-Thars script I'm eyeing a coming-of-age cartoon script or a rom-com I've wanted to write for about 3 years.  I'm the happiest when I'm writing rom-com material.  Love exploring the dynamics of two people in love.  Something I never really had.  Big lament in my life, that at this point I just have to accept and move on from.  Still, being a writer allows you to live a bigger life than the everyday people around me.  Writers are a special breed of people.  Believe it, we are!

 

 

Music that E.C. Henry likes: "ME!" by Taylor Swift

Just the other day I went to MTV just to see what was going on.  Remember when they were actually known for showing band's music videos?  Well, these days they don't have anything like that.  They have "Ridiculousness".  Seriously, THAT is a title of a show that plays on MTV in near constant repeat.  #pitiful  I think there's a read dirth in the QUALITY of what's out there in the secular Top 40.  Lotta wrap which mostly what it rhyms with.

BUT there is still ONE artist making good art.  Good ol' Taylor Swift.  And here's her latest:

 

Maybe T.S. can bring back a little romance to the U.S. and the rest of the word.  We need more quality videos like this.  

2nd Drafts

2nd drafts are important.  NOT as important as getting a 1st draft down, but important nonetheless.   For what's implied when a writer is writing or has written a 2nd draft is that they're taking a complete story they wrote and trying to make it better.  That the biggest purpose of a 2nd draft, making improvements on a 1st draft. 

I completed a 2nd draft of "The Commune III" on May 14th.  Been working on the 3rd draft since then.  Almost done with that too now.  After that's done I think I'll start showing it to people.  

Gators and gunfire

What could be better right?  

That's a comical hook/tagline I just thought up today.  It's not all there yet, but it's getting closer each day I chip away at it...  Back to drafts.

A 2nd draft should be a big relief for any writer.  Why?  Because it means you've already done the hardest part of writing -- writing the story in its entirety from beginning to end.  And that's what's implied when a writer says, "I've got my first draft done."  That means the author has a take on scenes, and goes through them to resolution.  Doesn't have to be great outta the gates.  That's what draftS are for.  

What you're looking to do in a 2nd draft:

1. Identify the spots that pop and make the story special.  As a writer you've gotta believe in that, and be able to find it.  Because if you can't you're in real trouble.  Because you can't expect someone to respond positively to something you've written if you don't see anything special about it yourself. 
2. Use your writer's spidey sense to tell you what areas need to be improved. About 90% of my edits are instinctual.  I just feel something's not right, maximized or belongs there.  I don't do dialog passes.  I do scene heading passes where I clean up shot headings and try to standardize them for a cleaner read. 
3. Smooth out the rough areas of your script. As you get deeper into the draft process you should be doing less of this UNLESS you get feedback from a reader that you agree with that spots something that doesn't that you missed.  ALWAYS be open to someone else's opinion, but also realize that you're the author and should be the one who knows what's best for your baby.  I do a lot of smoothing out the rough edges in a 2nd draft.  And a lot of ties in with #2, using your spidey sense.
4. Apply some rules of structure to your story.  Does it have a beginning, middle and end that has page count their you're good with?  Do you know where your ACT I Breakpoint is?  To me that a big milestone.  Why?  Because prior to that you're setting the world of your story.  The ACT I Breakpoint is where your protagonist is self-aware of the conflict he or she must face, and the rest of the story is seeing how that plays out.  I am not a slave to structure.  I see structure as the bare bones.  But its you put on those bones that matters.
5. Rewrite whatever you feel needs to be written, which will probably be most of your story.  Your 2nd draft should be much cleaner than your 1st draft..  Remember, that's one of the biggest reasons you do that.

Something else you MAY want to do in a 2nd draft or later drafts, but earlier the better, is do different takes of scenes that you don't think aren't working, or add new scenes.   You don't always get it right in your 1st draft -- even if you outline.  I write new stuff in drafts ALL.  THE.  TIME.  You should too.   That's one of the other things that good about drafting --

PLAYING

That's right playing.  Sometimes you need to try new scenes, new characters.  Always be open to that -- especially when you're spidey sense hints that's what you need to do.   The beauty of drafts is it helps you NOT TO LOSE any writing.  You can always go back to an idea once it exists on the page.  I don't do this very often,  but I find it a comfort to know that I have that in back pocket if I wanna play that card.

In the end it's all about you, and what you can deliver on the page.  The good news is, you don't have to be brilliant!  There are good days behind the keyboard and bad ones.  What you need to develop is a regular writing pattern that works for you.  I advice 1-2 hours a day.  

So how do you know when your 2nd draft is done?  

I like to go through and edit EVERYTHING in the 1st draft beginning to end.  Like I said, I don't do dialog passes.  Never have.  Probably never will.  But what I do, is constantly strive for a better piece of artwork.  Too me writing a script is like building a building.  At first the construction scene is quite hectic.  But the closer the building gets to completion, the better it looks.  Ever been on a construction site before?  Very hazardous.  Nails on the ground.  Most of the workers are surly and assholes.  And with many moving parts danger is all over the place.  Hence, hard hats!

The difference between a 2nd draft and 3rd draft is really up to the writer.  Because technically it's all a first draft when people see it for the first time.  What you need to watch out of is that you don't give your work away too early when there's things you as the author should have cleaned up.  Never expect anyone else to do your work for you.  

I call a 2nd draft complete when I've gone over my 1st draft beginning to end and cleaned it up.  What I look for in completed 2nd draft is confidence in my scenes.  Ya gotta get that right.  You can't constantly be rewriting scenes.  At some point you've convince yourself this is scene you need, in the right length.  Spidey sense, writer's style.  

Probably means something's not quite right in your story, Spiderman!

Always be open to the muse and when inspiration strikes.  Move with it and don't be afraid.  Because if you draft, there's your safety net; your earlier draft.  So much of writing is believing you can pull it off.  Works-in-progress are never pretty.  Get help if you get stuck.  Don't beat yourself up if you can't figure something out.  I waited YEARS to write "The Commune" because all I knew initially was I wanted to have a shoot-out, troops vs. flying saucers in a ghost town.  Took me YEARS to figure everything out and have the confidence to feel I could pull the story off.  Same thing with "When the Motorcycle Calls".  Biggest fear for me there was the DETAILS of the bank robbery, because my mind just doesn't work that way; I'm not a robber. 

You should feel a great sense of relief when you write your 2nd draft.  The hard parts done: you have a beginning, a middle and an end in place.  All you're doing now is improvements.  And like I said, when inspiration strikes go for it!  That's the fun part of writing.  Making discoveries.  Being proud of something you created.  Hoping that someday your hard work will be appreciated and entertain someone.  All writers are entertainers at heart.  But re-writing and editing is the grind side of the coin.  But it's not all bad for it is in that where your voice comes out.  You unique way of telling a story.  

Style points matter.  Your voice matters.  Work harder than you think you should.  I do.  I work MY ASS OFF at my writing.  If anyone tells you differently, you tell them from me that can kiss my ass!  Because I know how hard I try.  Now you do the same.  Draft away until you've created something special that you're proud of.  As a writer that should ALWAYS be your endgame: finishing a writing project that you are proud of.

When you're done drafting your story needs to be on par with this:

A 2nd draft is just part of the process of getting there.  

Tarantino or J.J. Abrams: Who Assembled the Better Trailer?

Or...

 

Which one is the better trailer?  Which movie looks cooler?

E.C. Henry votes: Tarantino, baby!  I think the trailer for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is AWESOME!  Brilliant.  Not sold at all on "Star Wars: Episode 9".  Thumbs down on that one.  

First 10 pages of "The Commune III" from E.C. Henry

Here's a link to the first 10 pages of "The Commune III", the 3rd installment in "The Commune" series of scripts that I've written:

Click on this to go to Sendspace page

Genre: dark sci-fi

The first 10 pages is mostly a shoot-out.  

Would love to hear your reaction to it.  I'm currently working on the 2nd draft of it.  Right now it's 113 pages long, but that's subject to change.  

 

Sincerely, 

 

2019 Spring Fresh Blooms

It's no secret spring is my favorite time of the year.  Nothing like seeing fresh "blooms" like the ones featured in this post's opening image to lift the spirits of the weary soul.

So glad to be leaving winter behind.  This year, in Western Washington (where I live), we had a harder than normal winter.  Spring came a little later that I'm used to from past years but at least it's here now.  Yay!

Sorry I haven't been posting on my Typepad site as often as I should, but things are moving in my life.  Biggest development/boom being my faith.  I'm praying and drawing closer to the Lord.  Better yet, I feel as though lately I'm acting more through a spirit of love than at any time I can ever remember--except for maybe when I was first "saved" wayyy back in 1990/91.  Wssshew, that was a long time ago!  

Haven't spiritually matured like I should.  Heck with nearly 30 years in the faith, I should be titan my now, but alas I'm not.  Have NEVER spoken in tongues as of yet, and haven't received the gift of prophesy either.  But these are GIFTS of the Spirit.  Stuff that: the Holy Spirit, Jesus, or the Holy Father; imparts--as THEY so will.  

Something in me has changed, and I need to keep at it, because that change is for the better.  It is a change of love.  The kind of unconditional love that God has for His creation.  Don't claim to have mastered this kind of "love" yet, but I feel like I'm actually doing it now; I can love people unconditionally.  Love and freedom in the Spirit are were I'm at now.  I wanna be more like God and reflect the loving side of His nature.  

On the way to work, I'm listening to BBR(?) more and more.  Anyway, it's a really God-centered stations that plays HYMNS and has a lot of pastors sermons on it.  It's NOT Christian Contemporary either; rather, it's programming centered more on the WORSHIP of God, as opposed to a Christian's self-help center.  

It's all about Jesus.  About trusting and growing in Him.  Nailing my sin the cross and letting Him use me as He sees fit.  

I've had head knowledge about this way of living FOR-EVER!  But somehow life here on Earth drew me away from really putting my roots down, and growing in the true manner of the Christ-centered faith.  

Don't claim to understand all the mysteries in the bible.  But what I have experienced lately is a greater indwelling of love.  Christians are made to be fountains from which springs up life giving water.  I wanna be like that.  To be a source of life.

Christians are meant to be LIFE-GIVING fountains.

Besides may rebirth of sorts in the faith, I've also got a new job!  This job is actually HELPING my faith.  Why?  Because it's in a machine shop, manufacturing environment where I have to use several different kinds of forklifts to move product around very big and heavy items in tight tolerances.  Gotta be an ACE on the forklift here, and my skill level isn't there yet. 

Yeah, the job I'm at now requires that I use this for some loads and unloads!

Already had to unload one truck using this style forklift.  A lot of my company final products require a high weight rated forklift to more them around.  Hopefully in the upcoming weeks I'll get opportunity to work on my skill with this other style of forklifts.  Had to more a competed unit through the manufacturing hallway using a forklift rated just under this last week.  We're talking 4" clearances load to machine shop stuff.  Gotta be REAL CAREFUL.  So you know I'll be praying a lot at this job for forklifting skills and safety from on-high.  

LOVE the guys I get to work with.  Probably the best group of men I've every had around me.  So I'm real encouraged by that.

Writing-wise I'm on the 2nd draft of "The Commune: III" now.  Basic story is framed in.   Now I've gotta improve everything--except the 1st 10 pages which are rock sold thanks to: Scriptshadow 10-page, attention grabbing screenwriting challenge back in January.  At first I rebuffed this challenge, but then I said, "What the heck" and went for it.  Truth of the matter is I already had a rough draft carved out from an unused opening that at one point I thought I'd use for "The Commune II".  That opening really didn't fit the story for "The Commune II", but with the challenge, and the some encouragement from Scriptshadow regular, Brian McHale-Doyle; I shaped it up and submitted it.  No, my entry wasn't chosen my Carson Reeves, the head guy at Scriptshadow, BUT it did serve a purpose.  It got the ball rolling on this dark sci-fi script.  The more I settle into the new job, the more writing and editing I hope to do.  When "The Commune III" is done, I'm going back to Thars with renewed energy.  Sometimes you just need a break from the grind.  And no matter how much you love your story, all writing eventually becomes a grind.  Somewhere in Solomon's writings he says something to extent, "... the excessive devotion to books in wearying."   Been there, lived through that, many, many times.

O-kay, so I've laid out my new blooms this spring: spiritually, in the working here-and-now, and also in my writing world.  Would love to know what's "new" in your life.  So feel free to comment in comments section.  Hope your life is blooming like these:

Till we talk again,

Yours truly,

E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA

 

Dark Sci-fi

I'm pleased to announce that yours truly is hard at work writing, "The Commune III."  Already got "The Commune" and "The Commune II" done.  So why do a third?  

Glad you asked.  Well, for starters I did leave "The Commune II" open to a follow-up script...  

2nd I got a new idea to explore.  Yep, "The Commune III" will be decidedly different that either "The Commune" or its sequel.  

Besides, I actually like the genre I'm working in: dark sci-fi.  

So what is dark sci-fi?  Hmmm... Well, I guess that's up to SOME debate, but from my way of looking at things:

Dark Sci-fi Movies: Movies made with a sci-fi twist that has some edge and horror to it.

There, that wasn't so hard.  Movies that E.C. Henry is familiar with, likes, and would place in the dark sci-fi genre:

• "Planet of the Apes" (1968)
• "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" (1970)
• "Alien" (1979)
• "Blade Runner" (1982)
• "The Matrix" (1999)
• "Minority Report" (2004)
• "Prometheus" (2012)
• "Predator" (1987)
• "The Terminator" (1982)

Lots of space accented movies here, but that's not a pre-requisite for this sub-genre.  Rather what you're looking for is feel, and a specific range of special affects.  The "feel" is one of heightened horrific expectation.  Taylor discovers that Landon had his brain operated on by Dr. Zaius.  That's kinda dark.  In "Minority Report," that Steven Speilberg directs a trio of pre-cogs are kept in water and maintained by a keeper so they can be watched for their "visions" of crimes in the local area about to happen.  Then there's the sequence where Tom Cruise's characters gets someone eyes put in his skull so he can avoid retina scans that are done in pubic.  More dark stuff.  How about in "Predator" when occasionally you get to see in inferred like the alien does.  Now THAT'S a cool affect, especially for it's time.  

Part of the reason I feel the need to differentiate dark sci-fi from the rest of it because so much sci-fi out there lacks real edge.  Take almost any "Star Trek" movie.  Definitely sci-fi, but also soft sci-fi, where the emphasis is on the journey and exploration, as opposed to delving into darker subjects like all of mankind being reduced to being functioning power source battery to keep AI machines running: the greater arcing story of "The Matrix".  Some people even consider "Guardians of the Galaxy" sci-fi.  Try holding that one up to Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" and see how it holds up!

So why exclude "Aliens" and "Terminator: Judegment Day"?  I loved "Aliens".  It is one of my favorite movies of all-time.  I just think will all the emphasis on the crew, that it took away from the alien and their affects.  Same with "Terminator: Judgement Day".  That movie had more of emphasis on John Connor winning offer Arnold Swartzeneggor's character than on the greater story of the new bred of Terminator coming after John.  Again.  LOVED "Terminator: Judgement Day" it just has a different affect its trying for.  

High concept is a hallmark of dark sci-fi.  In dark sci-fi movies big central questions are raised. (And it doesn't get any bigger than a 36 point font, that was a joke by the way) Where do we come from?  Are we perverting science to achieve horrific results.  Can we trust technology?  

I know what I like and I know I like it.  I like movies with edge and ones that can put you on the edge of your seat.  

Hopefully when I'm done with it "The Commune III" will be a stand-alone movie WORTHY of being mention amoungst the likes of "Planet of the Apes" (1968), or "The Matrix" or "Prometheus".  I always aim high no matter what I'm writing.  As of March 7th I've got 71+ pages written on "The Commune III"'s first draft.  Just trying to lay down a story from beginning to end.  It's far from perfect right now.  But it's got an awesome 1st seen, pre-dawn shoot out.  And I've got lot of pockets of thrills and chills after that.  This will probably be a three drafter.  Will probably take three drafts before I have this ready to show.  Hopefully I can finish the first draft this weekend, that's my goal.  Gunna take a lot.  But I think I wrote twenty pages yesterday.  Another 16 or so today.  For me this RECORD output.  Not a draft that I would show Steven Speilberg, but his time will come.   He-he-he.    

To me that's where the real writing is.  It's in your first draft.  Can you finish the sucker?  Seriously that's most of the battle right there.  Editing is a grind and it's importance cannot be overlooked, but you gotta start somewhere and real writers write firsts drafts where previously there was nothing.   After editing Thars for so long, I really needed this.  Needed to prove to myself that I can still do this kind of stuff; write new material.  

So I'm writing dark sci-fi, and having a lot of fun with it.  Still waiting to hear from this job when my start day will be.  Got a killer job that just waiting on a background check...

 

Reading Movie Scripts

With the recent "slowdown" in my life (a.k.a. not having a job) I have more time to do other things.  Recently I've been reading more works-in-progress of my fellow scribes.  Doing this more as a favor to them, than anything else, but still this exercise got me thinking about how to read a movie script. 

I stipulate movie script because when you talk about scripts you really need to delineate what you're talking about.  I write FEATURE-LENGTH MOVIE scripts.  Not a lot of interest in writing episodic television or outright plays.  Rather, my interest lies in writing SCREENPLAYS, whose intent is them being made into movies that get released to the theaters.  Just so we're clear.

But in reading my peers work, it got me thinking: what goes into reading and evaluating a screenplay?  

Well, after reading some of my fellow scribes work recently, and many others in days gone by I've learned a lot.  Lots of stuff that might even benefit you, a potential reader of screenplays. 

ONE screenplay at a time.  I think this guy went a little overboard with my advice.

My biggest fault in reading ANYONE else's work is the FACT that I'm a screenwriting myself AND editing a novel to boot!!  (See sidebar for additional progress concerning that)  And you know what that means?  I'm almost in CONSTANT rewrite mode.  What "rewrite mode" means is that your mind is CONSTANTLY looking for errors, formatting, spelling, redundancies, and ways of making text sound better in a pre-existing work-in-progress.  Believe it or not, that's how my mind is conditioned to work now.  I say conditioned because I don't think this is normal, definitely not the way I started out.  Looking for errors is not the best way to enter a "new read".  So when I do read other people's work, I know I need to mentally switch gears; to pick-up someone else's work and evaluate it with an open mind.

Now when someone hands you a script to read the first thing you need to do is look at its story.  The story in its totality.  Only way to do this is read it all the way through.  E.C. Henry suggests doing this in ONE SITTING and getting a first impression. 

If you're not familiar with screenwriting and its various conventions, that is going to be a tall order.  It takes time to get used to the difference between novel form vs. the form in a screenplay.  If you hand someone a screenplay that is not used them, it can be quite an eye-opener for them.  My dad NEVER got used to screenwriting form.  He tried, but he was so conditioned to what his experience was in reading spy books for leisure that he never could read one of my stories on his own and think it had any chance of ever getting made.  21 screenplays down, and nothing to show for it; maybe he's right...  OR maybe he's just set in his ways and is ONLY capable of evaluating the finished product: a movie on the screen.  EVERYBODY has an opinion about a movie they just watched, right?

• What a waste of time!
• It was good, but I was also looking at my watch wondering when it would end.
• Loved it!  Was totally wrapped up in it.  Wish it would never end!
• I thought it was going somewhere at first, but then I kinda lost interest. 

  All valid responses to watching a movie.  All valid responses to reading a movie script.  And that's where I'll begin where you start to evaluate a movie script.

Put me to sleep!  A valid response to a screenplay that bores you.

First off, let's acknowledge the obvious.  A feature-length screenplay is intended to made into a movie base on the content of what's in that screenplay.  A screenplay is supposed to have visuals that can be filmed.  And dialog that can be spoken by actors.  

In giving a full read to a screenplay, give it the same latitude you would going to a movie at the theater.    

I am an advocate of a full read BEFORE you evaluate the merits of it.  For me this requires that I mentally switch gears.  Being a READER of screenplay is different than being a WRITER of a screenplay.  When I go to the movies the experience is almost always better when I know very little about the given movie going in.  One of the biggest advantages of reading a writer's screenplay that hasn't been made into a movie, over going to the movies, is the FACT that you haven't seen the trailer the screenplay, thus you're more apt to be surprised by what you experience when reading a screenplay.  The ability to surprise is a big aspect of the movie going AND screenplay reading experience.  So in that regard sometimes reading a good screenplay is better than actually going to the movies, because in the hands of someone who knows what the fuck their doing the reader gets to use their imagination to see a movie unfold before them.  And that's a cool thing.

Okay, so if you're of the mind to read movie scripts and give feedback to a writer who is trying to see how he or she did, what should you do?  Well-p, being the pretentious prick I am, I'll tell.  OR, rather, I'll tell you how SUGGEST you approach this task.

When reading a movie script this is what E.C. Henry suggests you do:

1. Read the entire script beginning to end and make your first impression a complete one.  Go in with an open mind and see if the writer can perform the most important of all tasks which will always be--ENTERTAINING YOU!  
2. Jot down your impressions of that first read.  A) We're you entertained at all?  B) Could you see this screenplay as an actual movie?  C) What movies did the screenplay you just read remind you of?  
3. If you want to continue and help this writer further go though and a more detailed 2nd reading. In this 2nd reading look for what you think the writer did right and wrong.  A) What points in the screenplay did you think were especially good?  What points in the screenplay did your interest wane.  This is plot based analysis.  Which is more important than line-by-line analysis of the script.  Because IF the story is especially bad and lack what's the point of going line by line through the sucker, when you like it needs improvement at the plot point level.  At this point you can also tell the writer what characters you liked, and which ones you thought sucked.  Personally I like BLUNTNESS at this point, as I think writer's most benefit from an honest opinion.  Don't be overly harsh just for the sake of being hard, just be HONEST.  Telling a writer what you honestly thought is the best thing you can do, even if you have a hard time articulating your thoughts.     
4. Line-by-line analysis. This is where you warn writers of their typos and formatting errors.  This is actually some of the least important feedback you can give a writer, but sometimes it's necessary.  Not all creatives have a trained inner-critic, or have taken the time to study the form.  So if you feel the need to remind a given writer or the technical errors and typos on the page, do so.  It's just typos are easy fixes.  Formatting errors indicate that the given writer is new to the medium, set in their ways, or just plain a bad writer.  

One thing to remember as the giver of notes: ALL FEEDBACK is valuable!  Even if you're new to screenwriting and have a hard time understanding the story, a good writer will take what you've given and apply it as he or she sees fit.  I've gotten a lot notes from people and ignored a lot of it, but many times their feedback helps me.  Gives me an audience's perspective of what works and what doesn't.  

So how am I at practicing what I preach?  Well, as a reader of screenplays I, E.C. Henry, am a bit of a hard-ass.  I'll honestly tell you what you did wrong, and honestly tell you what I thought you did right.  I have little to no problem forming my own opinion, and the only thing that will keep me from giving it to a given writer is their willingness to be open to it.  When I read a movie script, I EXPECT that the writer has written something that is worthy of being filmed as is. The ONLY way you get a pass from that kind of judgement is if you state at the onset something to the extent that you're new to screenwriting and just see how you did; and if that's the case I'm probably not going to read your stuff anyway, because when you had me your script I'm expecting something worthy of being filmed--NOT a homework assignment!!

So read away!  The screenwriters of the world need readers who give them feedback in any form.  Irregardless of how deep of feedback you're capable of giving.  Most writers spend a lot of time on their stories.  And at a certain point they can't improve their story apart from some form of critical feedback.  After a while slaving away on a project a writer looses their objectivity.  You can go over your own material so many times before it drives you mad!  

As a screenwriter, I for one, value ANYONE who takes the time to evaluate my work, and helps me push it to a higher level that increases its chance of getting made.  Screenplays, you see, are not made to remain that way.  Screenplays are like eggs that give birth to higher form of entertainment: a feature film. 

Sincerely,

E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA