So the time has come. I am officially in Hollywood now. Working not yet. But one step at a time, right? It has been an exciting week. The drive was an absolute experience that I suggest everyone do at least once. The journey took a total of four days but I probably could have made it in three.
Day one, Orlando to Orange, Texas. Definitely the worst and hardest leg of the tour. It rained for seven out of the thirteen hours I drove that day. The best state had to of been Louisiana. You pretty much drive through the bijou and on a long tumultuous bridge for at least a half hour. Pretty cool. I listened to Stephen King's "On Writing" for 8 out of the 13 hours that day. It was really just nice to hear how the Legend himself works and operates. He writes and/or reads for 5-6 hours a day, no more, no less, no matter what. Christmas, Thanksgiving, his own Birthday. If he has an idea he does not let it escape his brain until it is on paper and I can not agree with him more. Drugs, alcohol, even getting hit by a fucking car could not stop the abominable force that is Stephen King.
Anyway, day 2 was a game changer. Feeling glum and not up to it, the Badlands of Texas changed my outlook on the journey, maybe even on life. The speed limit is 80. Let me repeat that, the speed limit is 80. I blew past a state trooper on the highway going 87 and did not get the cherries in the rearview. Ha. But just cruisin' through that desert with nothing but some good tunes and my own thoughts was a mind blowing experience. The twelve hours it took me to get to El Paso seemed to blow by just like the tumbleweeds.
Day 3, El Paso to Phoenix was a short trek but a memorable one. First off El Paso is pretty weird. On the highway you can literally look into Mexico and see how different it is than the US. Mudhuts, slums, all right on the other side of the expressway. New Mexico on the other hand is a cross between desert and grasslands. Tall, yellow, grass lines the 10W but only for about 150 miles. Til you hit Arizona. The bold and beautiful Arizona. No shit, I have never seen sights so beautiful and so intimidating in my entire life. Tall canyons, red rocks, lonely highway. I stopped in Tombstone, pretty much just to say that I did. I wanted a cowboy hat, but they didn't have any at the generic gas station closest to the highway. The final leg from Phoenix to LA was probably the most exciting. Probably nerves, but I just have been waiting to get to the land of opportunity for so long that I was just so relieved to be here.
I officially arrived. LA. Hollywood. On my fourth day here I got to go to the FOX studios lot. My gracious host happens to be an important force at New Regency Studios, based at Fox, who got me on the lot. As we pulled into the garage, BAM right to my left. Dr. House. Fucking Hugh Laurie is pulling out of the Galaxy garage at Fox, directly in front of the Die Hard, Nakatomi Towers, in his Maybach Mercedes eyeballing the shit out of me because I stared at him while he was trying to pull out. Wow. Where the hell am I? Anyway, I got to eat lunch at Moe's Tavern. Then I had a sit down with the President of Production at New Regency Films. One of the most informative and important twenty minutes of my life/career. It felt like a job interview at first, but then not at all. We talked about how he got into the business. How his connections helped him get to the top and how he wanted to help me but he also has everyone in his family asking for help as well. He did however give me the greenlight to submit scripts to his studio. And I mean could anyone really ask for anything more, from being in LA for less than a week? People slave and write for years and never see the inside of a studio lot. I am truly blessed for everyone that has helped me get this far and I will fight to get as far as humanly possible.
So I am currently re-writing Tissue(s) for submission because it is a fantastic premise, but I just did not write it correctly the first time around. Too much prose. Paper thin characters. An unlikeable Protagonist. I am determined to change these things during this next week. For I will re-write the script from scratch, keeping the meat and cutting the fat. Wish me luck. And again, thanks to everyone who has helped me get this far, especially my dearest fiance, MK. It is for us that I am trying so hard, but it as also been hardest on her. She's my everything.
So that has been the last week or so of my life. I will keep writing on here if anyone is interested about trying to make it in the Businesses of all Businesses.
-Cjevy
Day one, Orlando to Orange, Texas. Definitely the worst and hardest leg of the tour. It rained for seven out of the thirteen hours I drove that day. The best state had to of been Louisiana. You pretty much drive through the bijou and on a long tumultuous bridge for at least a half hour. Pretty cool. I listened to Stephen King's "On Writing" for 8 out of the 13 hours that day. It was really just nice to hear how the Legend himself works and operates. He writes and/or reads for 5-6 hours a day, no more, no less, no matter what. Christmas, Thanksgiving, his own Birthday. If he has an idea he does not let it escape his brain until it is on paper and I can not agree with him more. Drugs, alcohol, even getting hit by a fucking car could not stop the abominable force that is Stephen King.
Anyway, day 2 was a game changer. Feeling glum and not up to it, the Badlands of Texas changed my outlook on the journey, maybe even on life. The speed limit is 80. Let me repeat that, the speed limit is 80. I blew past a state trooper on the highway going 87 and did not get the cherries in the rearview. Ha. But just cruisin' through that desert with nothing but some good tunes and my own thoughts was a mind blowing experience. The twelve hours it took me to get to El Paso seemed to blow by just like the tumbleweeds.
Day 3, El Paso to Phoenix was a short trek but a memorable one. First off El Paso is pretty weird. On the highway you can literally look into Mexico and see how different it is than the US. Mudhuts, slums, all right on the other side of the expressway. New Mexico on the other hand is a cross between desert and grasslands. Tall, yellow, grass lines the 10W but only for about 150 miles. Til you hit Arizona. The bold and beautiful Arizona. No shit, I have never seen sights so beautiful and so intimidating in my entire life. Tall canyons, red rocks, lonely highway. I stopped in Tombstone, pretty much just to say that I did. I wanted a cowboy hat, but they didn't have any at the generic gas station closest to the highway. The final leg from Phoenix to LA was probably the most exciting. Probably nerves, but I just have been waiting to get to the land of opportunity for so long that I was just so relieved to be here.
I officially arrived. LA. Hollywood. On my fourth day here I got to go to the FOX studios lot. My gracious host happens to be an important force at New Regency Studios, based at Fox, who got me on the lot. As we pulled into the garage, BAM right to my left. Dr. House. Fucking Hugh Laurie is pulling out of the Galaxy garage at Fox, directly in front of the Die Hard, Nakatomi Towers, in his Maybach Mercedes eyeballing the shit out of me because I stared at him while he was trying to pull out. Wow. Where the hell am I? Anyway, I got to eat lunch at Moe's Tavern. Then I had a sit down with the President of Production at New Regency Films. One of the most informative and important twenty minutes of my life/career. It felt like a job interview at first, but then not at all. We talked about how he got into the business. How his connections helped him get to the top and how he wanted to help me but he also has everyone in his family asking for help as well. He did however give me the greenlight to submit scripts to his studio. And I mean could anyone really ask for anything more, from being in LA for less than a week? People slave and write for years and never see the inside of a studio lot. I am truly blessed for everyone that has helped me get this far and I will fight to get as far as humanly possible.
So I am currently re-writing Tissue(s) for submission because it is a fantastic premise, but I just did not write it correctly the first time around. Too much prose. Paper thin characters. An unlikeable Protagonist. I am determined to change these things during this next week. For I will re-write the script from scratch, keeping the meat and cutting the fat. Wish me luck. And again, thanks to everyone who has helped me get this far, especially my dearest fiance, MK. It is for us that I am trying so hard, but it as also been hardest on her. She's my everything.
So that has been the last week or so of my life. I will keep writing on here if anyone is interested about trying to make it in the Businesses of all Businesses.
-Cjevy
Keep at it bro, reach for it all. All your friends are behind you. You have too much passion, knowledge, and creativity to be just another guy with a script. Keep posting about your journey I love it.
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