Week 474: Back to CO - Pre Production Status

Weekly Written Review 

Just before leaving my last trip to Colorado in May, I found out I might get an invite back in the fall. Here I am. That last trip completed shifted my creative gears. I returned a full-blown writer and I acquired two writing partners. In approximately four months, I completed two and a half screenplays. I started working on the third one upon my arrival and so far so good.  I hope to complete the first draft soon.

A new movie is being made and I heard there's a possibility of more in 2020. This what you call a working vacation. I get to relax in a new environment and play in front of the camera. I'm sure the new film is going to be great but I quickly realized there's a higher purpose for this trip. This trip reminded me of all the resources at my disposal, amazingly talented people, our common struggles and achievements.

One particular conversation with my Snake Outta Compton cast member Joston Theney assisted in redirecting my thought process. While talking about my recent scripts, he told me to shoot it myself. He's preaching to the choir because I've done that with my web series and other endeavors but after another conversation with him, a click switched. I decided I'll be making my directorial debut in 2020 with a new script. Joston encouraged me to write a contained screenplay that I can shoot and direct myself.  I didn't truly envision myself directing the scripts I recently wrote. So his words inspired me to write a new script that I can direct and produce myself next year.  That sounded like a good plan for next year but that plan changed by Saturday. On Saturday, October 19, 2019, I made the biggest decision of my quest. I decided to produce my autobiographical screenplay myself. Truthfully, it was just a matter of time before I made this decision. Adding up the Jimmy Kimmel disappointment and screenplay contest declines helped me get to this point. This is essentially an impossible mission that I have to make possible. The reality is, I've been here before. The Motown Maurice Show (2010) was impossible but I made it happen. My web series was impossible but I found away. Now I'm about to produce, act and direct in my own autobiographical screenplay. Initially, I wasn't confident about directing it has to be me.

I'm officially in pre-production of my own movie. Actually, my mindset is in pre-production. I have to finish writing my current screenplay first but I'm done wearing the screenwriting hat for a while after that. It makes sense to do it by myself. Over the years, the genesis of my biggest ideas are often dependent upon studio support. It seems impossible by myself. I did my best to attract studios and production companies. Now, I don't even want them involved anymore. I've already started recruiting. The most important puzzle pieces have been in front of my eyes all along. I just had to make the decision. I'm convicted. There's no stopping me now. I'm a new person ready to make the impossible possible.

My current state fully reminds me of my journey to my first late-night show in 2010. I didn't think I could do without sponsorship and this and that. One day something clicked and I decided to take on the "By Any Means Necessary" mentality. I made that happen and I'm going to do it again in 2020.


Sunday, October 13, 2019

* Tennis with Hugo at Rancho Cienega. I should've won the first set but I couldn't close. He beat me in a tiebreaker. The final match score was 3 to 1. I'm content with that. It should've been closer but I had a lot of good moments.

* Updating CLN and my autobio


Monday, October 14, 2019

* Road trip to Colorado. 7am departure and we arrived around 7:30pm.

* First stop Hanks, next stop Roosters. I haven't had that much chicken in a long time.

* Slept in an Air B&B for one night. The next day we moved into a cabin for the remainder of the trip.

* Someone on Inktip requested my autobio script. Probably because we're familiar with each other. I sent it to him the next day and never heard from him again.


Tuesday, October 15, 2019

* Cabin check-in

* Movie fittings, table read...

* Script sent to Tim


Wednesday, October 16, 2019

* Finally back to writing RAD

* Inspiring talk with Joston


Thursday, October 17, 2019

* JH 1st workday

* Executive producer marketing. I reached out to a high school friend. You never know.

* Writing  RAD late at night


Friday, October 18, 2019

* Writing RAD...

* A full vision of my upcoming reunion developed in my mind today. After 9 months of planning, I finally know how to make it a very special event.


Saturday, October 19, 2019

* JH 2nd workday. It was a long night. They made me arrive early and I only did one quick scene. All is good. I took my laptop with me and I completed a scene in RAD.

* I started recruiting today. I'm officially in pre-production. I've already got two potential cast members and a sound guy.


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice