Inside the Brain of E.C. Henry

What's Wrong with the Pre-pro Screenwriters of Today?

Ever meet a pre-pro screenwriter you actually DID LIKE!  Yikes, that's a hurtfull question to examine IF you're an aspiring pre-pro screenwriter like I am. 

So IF this is potentially damning subject why am I bothering broaching it?  Well-p, I feel I have to AFTER meeting many a pre-pro screenwriter at events sponsored through such groups and associations at such places as: The Screenwriting Expo in Los Angeles, The Northwest Screenwriters Guild, The Pacific Northwest Writers Association; and varrious pre-pro screenwriters blogs -- which will not be mentioned because I'm not a jerk -- I've derived a decided negative opinion about a vast majority of pre-pro screenwriters that I've come in contact with.

O-kay, E.C., I play along with you for a second.  You seam like a nice enough guy (I am, hehe) What is it about these people that you've found bothersome?

Let's start off with the unfriendly/mean factor.  The most striking/damning realism about most pre-screenwriters of today is how unfriendly and mean they are.  Now, writers tend to be introspective/contemplative types.  So it should suprise anyone if they come across as being a little shy, and lay back in social venues.  BUT I've found most pre-pro screenwriters aren't very nice nor friendly when you do get around to taliking to them. 

I'm not sure why many pre-pro screenwriters I've meet see fit to be mean and unfriendly towards me.  MAYBE it's because they see me and other pre-pro as the competition...?  Competition?!  Ha!  That's now that's a  joke, because it's not like some production company, agent, director, established tallent (actor/actresses) are going to line two pre-pro screenwriters scipts up side-to-side and pick to produce the one they like the best.  My point is: pre-pro screenwriters really aren't competing against each other becuase our opportunites our there are so few.  BUT maybe --  if you're an IDIOT -- you see  EVERY pre-pro screenwriter out there as your competion -- which must be viewed with hastened suspision.

Why be mean, jellybean?!  What does anyone stand to gain by being mean to towards anyone?   Nothing.  But maybe that's PART of the problem with the pre-pro screenwriters of today; if they don't see you as someone who can advance their career they treat you like... 

Is that how you feel about me, Homes?  I'm just a waste because I'm not able to produce your script!?  So that justifies you treating me poorly?  Shit ain't right, Homes!  Karma, baby.  What you've done onto others, will be done onto you. 

Another reason that most pre-pro writers may come accross to me as being mean, and unfriendly people is because they're not saved.  Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?  Loving the Lord and being connected spiritually to God makes a BIG DIFFERENCE in how you treat others. 

So what am I saying?  Most pre-pro screenwriters I've met don't know Jesus.  YES, I think that's a very fair assesment. 

 

Switching gears, though being on the same subject, I think a lot of pre-pro screenwriters problem is that their's is a short, shelf-life.  What's meant by that, is that a lot of people TRY screenwriting.  Maybe have a story or two in them, but don't have the inner foratude to pull it off.  Breaking-in is hard -- if not impossible in today's economy.  Honestly, how often does anyone read about a pre-pro screenwriter who broke in, and made a sale?  If you're not born into it, good luck, Skippy.  Talent has nothing do with it.  Knowing the right people and being connected has everything to do with it.   AND I think at some point EVERY wanna-be, pre-pro screenwriter comes to that sobering realization. 

In a directly related subject, I'm also finding that many blogspots that pre-pro screenwriters have started have been abandoned.  Why?  Probably because of dashed dreams and life.  It's very hard to break in as pre-pro screenwriter who isn't a sibbling of Steven Speilberg or someone of like ilk. 

It's been said that pre-pro screenwriters SHOULD form support groups -- and I'm all for that.  I just wish I could find LIKEABLE people who are writers.  I've found SOME -- don't get me wrong -- but the vast majority of pre-screenwriters I've met aren't people I wanna get to know, or spend any time with whatsoever.  And that has me perplexed.

Personally, I vow NOT to be that guy.  I want to be someone that people want to be around -- especially my fellow writers. 

Maybe antother factor which affects writers being excellent to each other is the accentric nature of the writer.   Let's face it; writers think differently than your average, everyday, Joe.  One foot's on Earth.  The other's in la-la land dreaming up stories, tweaking ideas, exlporing possibilites.  THUS you're dealing with a person who's not entirely there.  STILL, that's NO EXCUSE for being a dick! 

There is one pre-pro screenwriter who I will NEVER come to terms with.  Met him on one of those "suppport sites" and this shit-head had the gall to delete something I said simply because he didn't agree with it.   Can you believe that?  Sensorship on a "support site" that's supposed to be fostering an environment of open, free thinking?  Don't go to that site anymore.  Not angry with the site, just the guy who sensored me.  NEVER want to speak to that guy or have anything to do with that guy ever again.  Yes, you can piss E.C. Henry off to the point were he doesn't want anything to do with you ever again, but it takes a lot to get to that point.

I have been asked to leave other "support" groups.  One group even sought to put me on a sort of trial.  Sometimes it was even my own extravagence, and not watching my mouth, which cost me.  I'm not a perfect person.  And I have been justifiably blameable at times.  I haven't always treated others with the respect I think they're do as fellow pre-pro writers.   A lot of my problems have arrisen because I've taken it upon myself to dress up in costuming to draw attention to myself.  And when you do that, rest assured some people out there aren't going to like it. 

 

When all's been said, I must admit that I think the state of today's pre-pro screenwriters is quite sad indeed.  Most of the pre-pro screenwriter's problems are self-inflicted.  Others are frustration factors with an industry that is closed-off to finding and producing peices of work that don't originate for the camps of the entittled.  Still, I, E.C. Henry press on.  Hoping to meet other writers of like mind that I can bond with.  I, E.C. Henry, am not a dick!  I'm not just out here for myself.  I actually DO want to meet and bond with my fellow writers.  I am willing to help people out -- to a point. 

I just haven't found the right setting or people to bond with yet.  And that bothers me...

 

 

Through What Lens Do You View Life?

Are you a cynic?  Someone who is skeptical of everything.  A doubter.  Someone who has lost faith in humanity.  Burdened by the onslaught of news which depicts the on-going decay of our world. 

Or on the opposite side of the spectrum, are you a follower?  Someone who never thinks about the deeper things of life.  The kind of person who just likes to turn on the boob-tube and just zone out.  TV on, brain off. 

Are you an optomist?  Someone who always seams to find the positive in everything.  Glass half full all the way for you, sir or madame. Or perhaps you're a conspiratist?  The kind of person who perpetually is in the belief that here is some dark, sinister agenda at work in this world.  And that we're not getting the real truth from the media.  

Well, whatever beliefs, lifestyles or patterns you follow, I believe they are of paramount improtance to your enernal security.   

In real life E.C. Henry DOES wear glasses.  But as pertains to his "outlook on life" E.C. Henry tries to look through the lens of faith, whose cornerstone belief is that God raised Jesus from the dead, and that he, Jesus is my savior.  And with that in mind EVERYTHING I do MUST be looked through the eyes of faith and weighed against what God has written and left a treasured legacy for us in the form of the bible.

So how does one do that when one has a sin nature, and seemingly the whole word is divided on points of faith?  Simple.  Read the bible -- daily!     

 The bible is of utmost importance.  Why?  Well-p, because the bible is the means that  God intends for us people down here on earth to come to know Him through faith.  Why faith?  Because we don't see God.  God has so chosen to cause all of us to exist in a world of free choice where we can either come to know and love Him, or we can exercise our free choice to reject Him.  But it is through reading the bible that we get definative examples of what pleases God and what doesn't. 

In this life I've found I'm most happiest when my spiritual life is strong.  When I'm close with God, praying daily, and reading His word: the bible.  Reading the bible and praying changes your outlook on life.  The more I learn about God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the more I've come to love Him.  Even dry portions of the Old Testiment there are great nuggets to be found, discoveries of who God is, that are of great value. 

So how bout you?  Do you have a differing opinion about what lens one should use when viewing life?  Mine is faith.  Everything I view needs to go through Jesus.  He is the Holy One of Israel.  The propitation for my sins.  The unblemished lamb, who was sacrificed for my attonement.  He's the one who conquered death, and is the resurection and the life.  No one comes to the Father, but through Jesus (John 14:6).  Powerful stuff.  Stuff I don't think should be neglected nor discarded.  Stuff that I think should be openly discussed in society today.  YES, it's that important!

 
 

 

A Day in the Life

 
Today is Saturday, March 11, 2011.  And I, E.C. Henry, am coming off a hectic couple of days of work.  YES, I've got this Saturday and Sunday off -- thank God -- but working 17 + hours Thursday, and 12 +, yesterday: Friday, March 10; took a lot out of me.

My PLAN for the weekend is to use my tiredness to my advantage.  Goals:

1. Write a lot on the new script I'm working on.  I'm at about page 104 now.  Got a bunch more scenes to write.  Have an outline and a bunch of notes to draw upon too. 
2. Write an in-depth blog post for this blog.
3. Do my taxes.  What you haven't done them yet?!
4. Buy my brother a replacement blower motor for his house's heatting system.  Did some looking up of this on-line earlier this week and that's going to run me about $620.  Lot of money, yes; but my brother's worth it -- and he can't afford it himself.  Right thing to do kind of deal here.
5. Enjoy 2 special meals: my mom's seafood linguine tonight.  Then maybe go out to "Famous Daves BBQ" for some ribs.

Okay, so I've procrastinated long enough on the writing.  Time to put in a couple hours and see how it goes.  Like I mentioned earlier, my current job has me working A LOT of hours so the writing has suffered considerably.  BUT writer's are dogged creatures.  Time to get back up on that horse...  Talk you again soon.  O!  And just jor clarification purposes that into picture is what I had for breakfast/lunch today.  Cream of Asperagus soup is one of E.C. Henry's favorite meals these days.  Weird, huh?

 

 

Guilty Music Pleasure: "Nothing's Gonna to Stop Us Now" by Starship

 
Gang,

I have a confession to make.  I recently made a mix of songs that I seldomly listen to on my Ipod, and now suddenly find myself actually LIKING the song, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us" by Starship.

Don't remember liking this song when I was in HIGH SCHOOL!  About that time in my life I was more of a metal head.  Deff Leopard was big in my life then.  So during my senior year at Orting High, in April of 1987, "Nothing's Gonna to Stop Us" by Starhip, which peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts, wasn't really on my radar.    

But in retrospect the 80's had a lot of cool music.  Here's a little video link to the song...

    

 "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us" by Starship was featured in the 1987 movie, "Mannequin" which stars Andrew McCarthy and Kim Cattrall.   AND this song well so well thought of that it was actually up for best song of the year at the 1988 Ocars.  But "(I've Had) the Time of My Life" featured in the movie, "Dirty Dancing" won. 

Anyway off IMBD here's "Mannequin's" plot summary:

Jonathan Switcher (Andrew McCarthy) is a young artist. He just doesn't seem to last in any job he does. But when he builds a mannequin, he makes it so perfect, he falls in love with it. It is the first thing he has made that makes him feel like a real artist. The mannequin ends up in the window of a big department store. When he saves the life of an old lady who happens to be the owner of that store, he is rewarded by getting a job at the store as stock boy. Later the mannequin comes to life as Emmy (Kim Cattrall), who was an ancient Egyptian living in the year 2514BC. The two redesign the window display to make it most eye catching in town. The store competitors are not happy and will do anything to stop them!

I'm sorry, but the first think I think of when I saw the Starship video for "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us" and fused that with the high concept envoked in "Mannequin" (Yes, romantic comedy's can have high concepts damn it!) My first thought -- and over-rulling thought I might add is that dude just fell in love with his blow up doll!  Yikes!!  Shit aint right, Homes.

BUT... In JUST LISTENING to the song now.  And being a wannabe ladies man myself with a newfound bend towards things romantic I'm finding that upon closer inspection of the song "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" has a lot of good stuff working for it, which undboubtably helped it's popularity in '87.

Things E.C. Henry likes about the song, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us":

1. It's theme: A man's perspective on how great and unconquerable his newfound love is.  
2. Chords of magic are strewn in love
3.  Committed love
4. Expressing to the opposite sex that you love them
5. Capturing the awe and fascination of being in love with a member of the opposite sex

Lyrically, and singing along with this song -- if you're so pre-disposed to doing -- you'll quickly find that "Nothing's Going to Stop Us" is rather upbeat and positive, as opposed to say another romatic ballad such as "It Must Have Been Love" by Roxette, which though powerful, is a downer.

Here's some lyrical snipits from "Nothing's Going to Stop Us" by Starship that I'd like to use to build my case for why this song is so good and likable:

"Lookin' in your eyes I see a paradise/ This world that I've found is too good to be true,"
"And we can build this dream togehter / Stand strong forever"  This is the magic.  The call to a dream.  A guy who sees potential with a woman -- not a blow-up doll, mind you -- to have something special.

"And If this world runs out of lovers / We'll still have each other, "Let 'em say we're crazy / What do they know? / Put your arms around me, baby/ Don't ever let go / Let the world around us just fall apart / Baby, we can make it if we're heart-to-heart," "Take you to the good times/ See you through the bad times," "Whatever it takes is what I'm going to do" Commitment.  Rallys a couples love with the belief that they're called to higher purpose together and that they will prevail in what they set their minds and hearts to do. 

"I'm so glad I found you/ I'm not going to loose you" Cherishing the love you've found.  The love this guy has found -- hopefully NOT with a blow-up doll -- has some deep value.  It means everything.  And your love should.

"Standin' here beside ya/ Want so much to give you / This love in my heart that I'm feelin' for you" This is latent romatic desire expressed.  Normally people in real life aren't this bold.  But that's what romantic music is for.  Helping guys say what they feel, that normally can be pretty hard for them to do.   

"All that I need is you / All that I ever need /All that I want to do / Is hold you forever, forever and ever" This guy is so captivated by this girl, that he thinks she's all he need -- for life!  Ever felt THAT strongly about a member of the opposite sex?  I haven't, but I hope ALL members of my viewship have.      

I think the draw of romantic music is one's pre-dispostion to wanting to be romantic yourself.  So now I pose the question, would you like to feel so strongly about a member of the opposite sex that if you had him or her that together you would be invincible?   THAT'S the utimate draw of "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship as I see it.