That guy who writes stuff

a little up, a little down

2009-03-09T11:16:00.004-04:00

So I love my grandparents. And not because of the generosity i'm about to speak of. I just love the old folks. Never really led me awry. Sure there's been difference of opinion at time, but overall, we're close. Well 2 days ago, my grandfather, out of the blue decided he was going to pass on to me a huge amount of money. All his life he had been saving the quarters and dimes out of his pockets in this giant glass vase. And now he's given it to me. It has two bulbous portions to it, one smaller, the other forming the larger base of the vase (hey that rhymes!) I only emptied out the top, smaller vase which is about 1/3 of it all. After counting how much that is, it seems as though that camera that I was going after is incredibly closer to being in reach. And yet, another part of me is aprehensive to just jump forward and get this camera. Why? Well, Alden is slightly behind paying me my paycheck from last week and my college loan payment is due this week. That's not considering the time it takes to clear once it's deposited. I have a worry that my job may be in jeapordy. Not so much being fired/let go, but that the company may not be doing to well in these trouble economic times. So should something happen and I can't pay my bills per month, this giant vase of change that I'm rolling for the bank may be something helpful to float me should i have to try and find another job. I don't plan on shooting digits anytime soon, but I would like to get the camera and really get aquainted with it. I think my plan of action, at the moment, will be to conserve the money I've gotten from my grandpa until I can afford to pay for the camera myself and then use that money. I don't know, it's all tricky. Anyone have any suggestions?.....if there is indeed anyone out there who reads this.

PS: It's raining outside. Hard. I love it. I love rain.

- Andrew

What? Funny like a clown funny?

2009-03-03T12:18:00.003-05:00

I've set the date.

No, I'm not proposing to my woman or getting married, or having a kid, or killing myself.

Come to think of it, you can "set the date" for a lot of things. Well, I'm trying to put myself in a professional mentality after a dream I had last night where Me, Eric and the cast/crew of "Digits" held our premiere screening of the film and held a Q&A after it. One of my not-so-weird dreams for once. I woke up this morning and I remembered that rewarding feeling I once had when Indom's stand alone scene screened for an audience of like 500 people and I got that grand ovation. It was one of the best moments of my life. It may sound glory goaled to aim for that "moment." Seasoned writers would scold me for not "writing just to write." I enjoy writing. But I also enjoy seeing my writing enjoyed. I don't know if that immediately disqualifies me from being an "Indie writer" who writes for himself, but this script does speak to me and I think it is great. Or, will be. I'm around 22 pages into it and just can't get enough of writing it. I want to be on set (just as bad as having a premiere) and working with actors as well as being one myself. I just miss all aspects of the film making process. So I've set the date. October 15, 2010. That will be the day I need to have Digits completed by. That gives me a little over a year to finish the script, shoot and edit. To a normie, (you non-film maker peeps) that's a rediculously long time. In actuality though, it's not. It's fair amount considering where I am and where I want to be, but I think it's obtainable. I need to save money for a camera, an adapter and sound equipment. I'm less concerned about lighting equipment at the moment, but I'm sure I'll find a way to make that work. The audio and quality of the shots are very important to getting some legitimacy brought to the project. It helps that I want to shoot in a mockumentry (Arrested Development meets The Office) style because that allows us to have some problems and still cover them up and make it work. At this level, in this economy, with these resources, I'm willing to fight on forward and take those hits because I don't feel it'll hurt the substance of the film or the effects of it.

All I need is an HVX200, a RedRock micro adapter, a vista glide and a nice sound set up. We're looking at roughly $7000. Which may seem like a lot, but we'll see what I can do. The red rock and vista can be left out, but I'm still aiming for them.

October 15, 2010. Digits.

Doing it like the pros. Setting the date. Working towards the date.

Now I just need to find someone to hold me accountable for that date. Some people would hate that pressure. Me? I need it.

- Andrew

That ain't for me, but it is for me....

2009-02-22T10:52:00.002-05:00

I love watching The Soup on E!

Now granted, they say to understand the target audience of a television show, pay attention to what the commercials airing between it are selling. And unless I'm looking for bra-strap adjusters or changing my life with Dr. Phil, then this show isn't aimed at me.

And yet, it completely is.

I'm not entirely sure if it's just me, but as a writer, I hate reality television. No, I really do. You have no idea how much I hate it. It's worked fully from the opposite end of the spectrum that I operate. The editing, putting things together to make it look like something that it's not. Furthermore, the producers bait and swap the "contestants" to do or say things to "spice it up a bit." Now I wouldn't have a problem with this normally, but the whole thing is just drama that I don't need. I have friends and co-workers. I don't need to see pretty people's problems when I have my own. Gossip, gossip, gossip. And then, we have the wonderful world that is, The Soup. A show that mocks all of this. I don't know how else to put it. I love this show. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm back to work with Digits before my internet radio podcast with the West Coast today.

Oh, and one last note, I think I'll celebrate film making today by NOT watching the Oscars, and going to see a movie in the cinema instead.

Tis a new year.....

2009-01-25T22:45:00.002-05:00

And well, things started out rough, but I got a call from ESPN asking me to come back. Which is good, because I need a job. This time around, I'll be budgeting myself better. Saving to pay bills if I get laid off, saving for production equipment, and for production of Digits. And maybe even submitting to some festivals as well. We'll see. All I know is, that for all of my "New Years Resolutions" I've surprisingly kept all of them so far. Which, 25 days into the new year is a new record. I haven't had a drop of Coca Cola and have been working hard on my writing. I've been asked to do some acting jobs which I'll prolly persue. I miss acting. So yeah....that's it for now I guess.

Digits coming soon! (like anyone reads this lol)

The numbers are up....

2008-12-18T19:06:00.004-05:00

So it's now my second day of being laid off from work. I took yesterday to relax and get myself situated. Financially as well as just getting some things done like Christmas shopping, cleaning and a whole bunch of other stuff no one cares about.

Anywho, today I multi-slacked. In a sense I mean, I wrote intermitedly. I wrote, i cooked. I wrote, I ate. I wrote, I watched Superbad. I wrote, I ate again.

Long story short, I gained a total of 10 pages on Digits. Pages that further the plot and story and character relationships, but really aren't that funny. At this rate, I'll have a solid first draft by this time next week. But Christmas and a job hunt will no doubt put a strain on that. Either way, I'm thinking I should have draft 1 done by the new year. In total, I'm going to attempt 7 passes on this script.

Rough draft with a focus on Andy's story and comedy situations/set ups.
Revisions with a focus on Eric D's story and comedy situations/set ups.
Revisions with a focus on Lucas' story and comedy situations/set ups.
Revisions with a focus on DTM's story and comedy situations/set ups.
Revision on Andy's story again.
Comedy re-write and make sure humor and theme are intact.
Final polish and such.

I'm aiming for this baby to be done by the end of February at the latest. I really think if we can garner enough money for some equipment we can actually shoot this during this upcoming summer. If not this summer, most definitely next. I've come to the realization that I can't slack off on these things anymore. I have to put my nose to the grind if I want to go anywhere in life. I have talented friends and I would personally enjoy being in the film myself so I know that there's a ticking clock on this more than anything. It's really low-budget at the moment and completley do-able. And I know my friends. They can't get behind something unless they're tagging on during the fun part. Especially Eric. He's a great talent, but I find it hard to get him enthused without something to show him. Either way, I'm hesitant to show any drafts to anyone till I have it where I wanted. Which sucks because I thrive off their enthusiasm and ideas. And they me. So someone has to step up and take the initial hit. Problem is, if my game isn't spot on, then it'll all fall to the wayside and it'll be really hard to get any of them to give it a second look.

So, I guess we'll see.

Slacker!

2008-12-12T09:38:00.003-05:00

So I haven't updated since mid-October, and for good reason. I ended up taking that over time work because our economy is piss poor at the moment and my job is most likely coming to an end. I can't lie, I'm semi-excited at the idea of collecting un-employment. While I don't want to be a lazy slacker, I love the idea of being able to pay my bills and have time to work on my screenplays. I've permanently shelved Indom as the current draft of it is sufficient for what it is at the moment. It's decent, but not as epic as I want it to be.
Digits is coming along rather nicely. It's still very rough at the moment and I dare not show it to anyone without doing some revisions, but I find myself doing it in a "Superbad meets Arrested Development/The Office" style. Which I think the more realistic you can convince someone that the material it is, the funnier it can be and the more things you can get away with. That is, after all, what it's all about, "suspension of disbelief" - right? Well that's my rational and I'm sticking to it. In addition to Digits, I find myself brainstorming "The Villain". I think I really shouldn't write this one just yet and just keep my head stirring on what and how to handle it. It's really new ground, for me at least, to try and see things from a Villain's POV. But then again, this Villain wants to be a hero and all that. We'll see, right now I'm just playing around with concepts and ideas on how to make it truly epic. The Road Goes Both Ways is always promising in my mind, but the daunting idea of researching drug sales, police procedures, court cases, the law in general, and the actions of activist groups are quite daunting. That script, while I think could be my most socially concious and reachable yet, can wait. I love it, but I can wait on it. It's not that I'm not passionate about it, it's just not the most driving force in my mind right now. Trust me, after all the racism that was conjured up by Obama winning the election, plenty of ideas and concepts crept into my little skull. I think this is a script that I can't create from my mind, but rather, need to experience more from life and understand it before I can truly capture it on paper.

So for now, the focus is on Digits. And getting a job so I can start buying equipment. I'm really not interested in playing this "let me get your coffee so you can berate me" bullshit. I know whenever I "make it" (whatever that means) as a professional screen writer, I won't change who I am. I know I'm one of the most rational, level headed and non-aggressive towards people, person around. I plan to stay that way.

What to do, what to do.....

2008-10-08T11:57:00.001-04:00

So I've been offered overtime at my job. I've met a young lady whom I'm quite fond of. My friends are jumping off at the hinges to do little projects (mock music videos, improv skits) on a high school A/V budget for fun and all that. I still have no health care (how's that economy in Canada......? lol) And yet, I cannot for the life of me find time to work on things. And of course, now is when my motivation gets high to work on stuff. I'm pumped about doing the final things to "The Indomitable Spirit" and so unbelievably jazzed about "The Villain" and "Digits" that I'm like joy gasming at the thought of their potential. But alas, I have no time to work on them. I slept for 12 hours last night because I'm so run down. It's insane.

The Villain

2008-09-23T10:44:00.001-04:00

So, let's get an update on where I stand shall we?

Indom - I know now how to make it work. I realized I'm not intertwining character relationships the way I could be. In addition I discovered how to make the antagonist stronger and more understandable in his cause. Which will, in turn, drive the story more. And it will give more depth, and re-define the main character in a way that I like a lot more. Not to mention it will add a bit more drama and explain why other people do things and even more so - make the ending that much more believable.

In a nutshell: It can work. And so much better.

On the Produced Indom Front: I'm working on the DVD cases and such right now. I'm trying to get it out to the cast and crew as fast as I can, but I want to make sure it's quality and that takes time. Another thing it takes is Money. Which i'm quickly running out of.

Job Situation: Still working at ESPN for $10 an hour and no health coverage. Just interviewed for a internship in NYC yesterday - which pays $20 a day. Which means it would cover the cost of travel into the city. So if I get the Creative Development Internship there, I'll most likely cut back on karate, put in the extra hours at ESPN for 4 days, go to the internship 1 day a week and then get a part time job on the weekend at like Best Buy or something.

And beyond all this - there's a glimmer of inspiration twinkling in my eye. "The Villain" is a story idea I'm developing right now that I really think would be both commercially in demand and at the same time quite awesome to make and watch. It would be a lot of fun. It's got that comic book style to it, with colorful characters so I'm talking to my sequential artist friends, headed under Matt Walters, and trying to see if we can do some kind of graphic novel out of it and then I can use that to get some attention for a screenplay. I'm super-passionate about this puppy, more so than I ever was on Indom. It's just so awesome....in my head. When I can finally find free time to work on it I will. This is priority 2 right now. #1 is paying bills and getting health care. 2 is Villain. 3 is Indom. 4 is girls. Haha.

This is starting to become that part of my life on the E! True Hollywood Story or VH1 Behind the Music where the celebrity goes "It was a hard time. Couldn't find a job and if I could find jobs I'd have been working 3 of them."

Hopefully something will open up soon that won't make me miserable my whole life.

- Andrew

Hey! Wait a minute....

2008-08-22T16:38:00.000-04:00

So for whatever reason today I had a moment of clarity. An epiphany if you will.

I realized what I haven't done any screenwriting that I enjoyed or that I thought was good in so long. I've been so worried that I had to please everyone with what I was writing that I stopped having fun with it. I just let myself dictate what I thought everyone else wanted to see that I never thought "what do I want to see?" and just have fun writing it.

I think I'm going to get a lot of writing done this weekend with this new mentality on my shoulders. I'm just going to write and have fun. I'll have to trust that the craft is embedded in my head by now.

....if not, that's why they made re-writes.

haha

Well I'm glad.....

2008-08-20T13:48:00.000-04:00

...my momma raised me right. But we’ll get to that in a second.

“Now here I am sitting here by myself, uh, talking to myself. That’s, that’s chaos theory.”

Nice to know nobody reads my blog. Oh well, I’ll continue to post and maybe it’ll catch attention someday and people will read back this far.

So alright, I’m working in the offices today. Screening tapes as usual. And one of the higher up PA’s comes in and is checking log numbers for some of the tapes and one of the clients comes in and proceeds to say “It’s not a big thing, but my lunch order was messed up. The rice that came with the chicken was white, and I asked for brown. It’s not a big deal. I don’t know if you messed up or if they messed up, but yeah. I got white rice and I wanted brown. Like I said, it’s not a big thing, just an FYI.”

……

are you kidding me? My buddy got called out because some rice was white and not brown? I see that kind of stuff about Hollywood types in movies, but damn. I never thought it was true. I always figured it was an exaggeration.

Anyway, my script Indomitable Spirit has a VERY good chance of being handed to a pop culture icon at the moment and see if he’d like to help me get it made. Which means all that stuff about “putting it on the shelf” is being “dusted off” already. I don’t think there’s any dust on it. I have to act on this now. So I have to get back to work on that.

In addition to that, a major job offer has come through the vines to me that has nothing to do with writing or film, other than being near film students again. But it pays really good. Do I try and get out of debt or chase the dream? That’s the kind of decision that shows who u really are if you ask me….

Outcome....

2008-08-15T10:19:00.000-04:00

So the final result has come to this - "Indiana.....let it go."

I'm shelving Indom for the time being. The damn thing is just so problematic that it's hindering all the other projects I want to get going on. Not to mention, some people pointed out a couple great points:

1) It's not my grand master peice as I think it to be. It's a personal treasure to me, but a "bleh" to everyone else. It's "my" story, so to speak. So that's why I'm so attached to it.
2) It has not much different from any other film of it's genre. There's nothing special about it. I need to find something special.
3) I'll grow more as a writer and make it something valuable after I hone in my craft from working on other projects.

And all that was staring me in my face, I just wasn't looking at it. It took a bunch of people to grab my head and twist it forward.

Ok ok, so metaphors aside, I'm working on "The Road Goes Both Ways" right now and although it's only 7 pages in, I'm not bored with any of the scenes. Which, I think, is a good sign. I'm doing the whole "drop the audience 1/2 way into the story" thing and we'll see if that works.

Just as a side question; does anyone read this blog or am I just voicing to myself. You can leave an anonymous comment if you like, I'm just curious.

- Andrew

A social experiment.....

2008-08-07T11:30:00.000-04:00

So I'm on Facebook the other day, and I stick up one of those Photoshopped pictures of my head on an Abercrombie and Fitch model......problem with that is, I'm damn good with Photoshop. And this was one of my lesser composites. Regardless, in one day's time I got 5 responses from random good looking girls in my social network.

....So in addition to doing a couple sit ups this morning and eating Subway for lunch today, I'm going to try something out.

I'm always curious for honest feedback on my screenplay ideas but it's the hardest thing to muscle out of someone cuz people are so damn sensative these days. Not me, I want to be torn down. It'll help me grow and I'm very self-aware of that.

So what I did was post a note asking a few questions and instructed my friends to post their answers in the Honesty Box so they could give me feedback and not worry about me getting upset to them.

We'll see how this goes....

- Andrew

My Process

2008-07-28T11:54:00.001-04:00

The thing most people think about writing is that you just sit down and "do it." I'm not sure how it is for other writers, but it ain't that simple for me. I have to be "in the zone." There's just something about being in the right frame of mind. I can't be over-juiced on caffeine or smoking a cigarette. I need a desk, a warm sun with a cool breeze and a soundtrack that carries the emotional weight of the genre I'm aiming for at that time.

"Writing" at work makes me create the most boring things of all time. Pretty much because I'm writing bored. As of today, I'm implementing a new self imposed rule to say "no" to hanging out with friends at every waking free second and start getting my personal work done.

The hardest thing about personal projects is no boundaries. People rebel and complain abotu them - I love them. I need something to shoot for or work within. The oppertunity to write whatever I want creates too many oppertunities to go in different directions. It's like a "Choose your own adventure" book. And if you take the wrong page, then you fall down the well as Jimmy raises the rope and takes the treasure for himself. At the same time, I'm so picky. I like writing for film because it opens up the canvas a bit more than theater. I don't like the limitation of a few set peices. I have nothing but utmost respect for the people that can do that, it's damn impressive. Me? I don't want to even challenge myself with that. Although, it may just help me focus on characters, which are the root of all good stories.

As you can see, I even procrastinate by blogging instead of writing.

Boo.

- Andrew

"That Guy who writes some stuff....."

2008-07-16T10:05:00.001-04:00

So I changed my title to something more "witty". Or at least I hope it's funnier and grabs attention. I don't know what I was thinking when I came up with "Confessions of a Screenwriter."

I plead temporary dramatics your honor. I've since sobered up.

Anyways, I've sent out my first set of query letters for "The Indomitable Spirit." Much to my surprise (sarcasm), no one is "accepting new clients at this time." Now, whether or not that's a fancy way to say "screw off little film school boy" or they're actually not accepting new clients right now is something that remains to be seen. Me? I'm leaning towards the former.

Thus why I took the first letter I got back and framed it. Amateur? Certainly. Spiteful? You betcha. Wasteful? Eh.....I don't think so.

Whether I'm a millionaire Hollywood big shot driving around in a Batmobile one day, or if I'm fighting to get into a soup kitchen at 3 a.m. dressed like the squeegee guy by the bus station, this letter is proof that I tried. That's not always enough, I know. But I could never forgive myself for not trying. I'll do the starbucks jobs to pay the bills. But man.....if I wasn't writing I think I'd go out of my mind. I have to find some way to get my hero complex out of me and complain about the habits of society, right?

Look at me, the big query.....

2008-06-19T20:02:00.001-04:00

I just realized how obnoxiously cliche my title is.

"Confessions of a Screenwriter". Sounds like an HBO special.

Anywho, so yesterday I mass mailed a bunch of agents with my query letters. Hopefully someone bites.

Cuz I want fame and fortune and beautiful ladies to lick my toes right!?

Far from it. I've shown that scene to audiences. Once in a venue of 500 some odd general audience people who came to a student showcase from the local area. They cheered, applauded and laughed (as hoped). Everyone else that's watched it has said the same thing, "What the crap? We don't get to see him beat up the blond kid?"

Which means I've got characters their responding to. Sure, it's the age old archetypes, but they're in a fresh new environment. Used for the some objective, but through new means. Which is what I've always tried to do.

And my response to them is always "how do you know he beats the crap out of the blonde guy?"

Hopefully someone will think this in the "big time" and want to go forward on the project.

If not, there's always the next screenplay. But I really love this project and i could care less how much money I get from it. I just want to see it happen, hook people to love it.......and then make the sequels (which i already know what would happen and they would kick ass for sure lol)

- I'm out

Andrew

Well now.....

2008-06-14T11:42:00.000-04:00

Just like to point out how frustrated I am at "people."

Look, I've always been a fan of superheroes, mainly because I like to write and writers love heroes. The idea of a "super"hero is just fantastic.

The problem with movies being made about these wonderful characters is that suddenly everyone thinks they're a scholar on the mythos and that one is better than another.

Personally, I'm a Batman fan. But truth be told, I love them all. Do I really have to choose? The only thing I don't like is when they're changed too much for film. I understand the reason for a lot of changes while adapting to a different medium, but some things are changed just to be changed. I say, go with what the fans want. Why? Because they know / understand the source material for a reason. They don't dress up as their favorite character because they're all the same, but rather because of what makes them different. Hollywood needs to wake up and embrace what the fans love. That's what's going to really hook the general audiences onto these heroes.

- Andrew

Pen is to paper as finger is to keyboard

2008-06-12T19:28:00.000-04:00

OK, that title sounds very sexual innuendo-ish.

Oh well, lol. Me? I've been working on some of the screenplays that I'm "signed on for." The quotations are because I'm doing this for no money chances are. I'm working with Robb Greene on his Extraction feature film screenplay. He's really got some good ideas and knows his stuff when it comes to the Zombie Genre and he will be the one to turn it on it's head and cause a stir. I'm glad he asked me to be a part of that.

In addition to that, I'm also reading and noting Mike Bailey's "Desertion" script. It's another feature but it's a Western based in Condition, Tennessee. The best part about it is that you are completley expecting the same old western ending because.....well, it's a western. But the ending is in a word "badass" and innovative. There's some structural and character issues that will have to get worked out, but overall, it's a great screenplay.

NOW, on top of that, I'm torn between working on Indom Draft 3, Digits Draft 1, The Road Goes Both Ways Draft one and Gurilla Warefare. Digits will be fun, Indom i'm excited about, Road I know I can say a lot with, and Gurilla is gonna be a fun little project. Gurilla is a completley off the wall spec script in the vein of sci-fi original TV movies. Man.....me and Matt Rainwater had quite the graduation night knocking out the beat sheet to this puppy and the sheer craziness of it gets me pumped. I have so many of them that I want to work on, but sadly have no time and can't choose which one to focus on.

I think Road will be this weekend. I just really want to get this idea out of my head and down on paper. Especially with all the racism accusations in the world (especially politics right now).

If anyone actually reads this - comment and let me know what you think I should work on next.

- Andrew

And......I'm off!

2008-06-10T17:18:00.000-04:00

Pulling out by a nose, he's running.....and running....and still going now.......

Welcome to my world. My name is Andrew Kosarko. I'm a recent graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design's Film and Television Department.

My area of focus was in Screenwriting (d-oh!). I have to admit, I love it though. Waking up every morning to courier font just gets my goosebumps a-poppin. Problem is, everyone and their sister and their cousin twice removed think they can write a story as good as anyone else. That's not to say that you, your sister and your 2nd cousin might not be naturally talented, but come on now, put a little faith in those that have studied the hell out of this department.

Like me. :D

In my graduating class I saw dozens of "directors" shoot their senior projects from a first draft.
A FIRST DRAFT ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?
Look, some people can hit the nail on the head, but this whole "you are special" crap really makes for lazy people who just jump the gun on their own artwork. That would be why so many of those films don't ever go anywhere. And when they are amazing films (Like my friend Andrew Osbourne's "Letters Across Borders") they are completely disregarded by the college. But I digress. All this relates back to my original topic of graduation. I would like to thank the college so much in preparing me to get a job (teaching me format, programs, structure - etc) but completley leaving out that whole "this is the entry level job you should be looking for and here's who to ask / where to find it.

For now, I'm going to keep writing my screenplays because it's what I love doing and won't stop doing it.

Tomorrow becomes mail Indomitable Spirit stuff out to agents day.

- Andrew