Sunday, August 18, 2019

Week 465: Hype Evening Subsided

Weekly Written Review 

The week after the infamous "Evening" and no response yet. That means next week I'll have to follow up. I really want him to reach out to me but I have to do what I have to do. Aside from that, I'm just keeping it moving as usual. I'm making great strides on my newest script and on Saturday my writing partner and I had a fantastic rewrite intensive for C&B. We got some great feedback from two wonderful readers and we're making important changes. One was an actual film producer so we're able to receive professional notes. Less than two weeks away from our table read. Exciting times.


Sunday, August 11, 2019

* Driving and brainstorming CLN...

* Free food at India Sweets and Spices

* Hank & Arielle picnic


Monday, August 12, 2019

* Creative Beach Day. It wasn't very creative but it was nice.


Tuesday, August 13, 2019

* Meeting with Joshua. I'm not interested in online marketing but it was nice catching up with him since our G-Blok days.

* Writing CLN...

* Switch time with Lu and At... Mario Tennis Aces.


Wednesday, August 14, 2019

* Writing CLN...

* Screening: Brittany Runs a Marathon


Thursday, August 15, 2019

* Basketball...My body knows I missed last week. I was the dominant scorer on my team for the first two games yet that wasn't enough. We played hard but I needed a few points from others. Some people on my team couldn't score. Went home with 3 loses.

* Writers meeting with Michael


Friday, August 16, 2019

* (No tennis)

* Writing CLN...

* Kitten footage


Saturday, August 17, 2019

* CLN rewriting intensive


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Week 464: An Evening with Jimmy Kimmel

Weekly Written Review 

On Tuesday, July 23rd, I received an email from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation about an upcoming TV show screening entitled, "Why Women Kill". The email also advertised an afterparty. I was sold. An afterparty in Beverly Hills will probably also have free food. Let's go! I was really looking forward to it. Fast forward to this week Monday. I got an email about an event entitled, An Evening with Jimmy Kimmel. It was further described as a Q&A with Jimmy Kimmel. This was a no brainer. I canceled the first event to attend Jimmy's event last night at the Roosevelt Hotel.

Coincidentally, last week I had a meeting with someone that works at Netflix and Jimmy Kimmel's name came up. Less than a week later, an opportunity to connect with him was brought to life. I started to align a game plan in my head. I had very little details about the event but that didn't stop me from developing a plot. All I knew is that there was going to be a Q&A with Jimmy and I anticipated the audience would get a chance to ask him questions. Immediately after confirming my attendance I started imagining my approach.

Wednesday arrived with a level of uneasiness. I wasn't nervous. I don't get nervous. I describe it as uneasy. I wanted to get some writing in for my screenplay but I figured in my best interest to relax and plan to leave early. Before I left, I played some Bob Marley and added his song Soul Rebel to my reggae worship playlist. My meditation strategy was in full effect. Just before departing, I recited, "Lord give me strength, Lord Give me Courage," multiple times from different angles rotating and pivoting.

On my way to the bus, I pulled out my note pad and started writing down my questions for Jimmy. I didn't want to directly solicit him so I developed a question in the form of asking for advice. It's a 3 part system.

Part 1: Thank the panel and thank Jimmy for being a voice for the people and his great work in late-night over the years.

Part 2: Brace my question as a request for advice.

Part 3: Then tell Jimmy how equally passionate I am about late-night. Mention my screenplay and ask how does a person like myself get the opportunity to share my story with him. I was even ready to provide an elevator pitch if necessary.

I arrived at the event 39mins early and there was already a line outside the Roosevelt.  Finally, we got in and the set up was legit. Red carpet and media on one side and the event room on the other. Marla Gibbs and Tommy Davidson were present. The event started and Anthony Anderson was introduced as the host. Shortly afterward he introduced Jimmy Kimmel and interviewed him. The first half was all about Jimmy and the history of the show. Jimmy Kimmel Live is also celebrating it's 28 Emmy nomination and 17 years on television. Plus he just signed on for 3 more years. The second half of the event was celebrating Norman Lear's Live In Front of a Studio Audience (All In the Family and The Jefferson's) Norman was introduced and the 3 of them continued chatting.

The event passed and there was no audience Q&A. That was disappointing but I kept my eyes glued on Jimmy. While most people started making their way for free food, security began escorting Jimmy and a few VIP's somewhere else. I was near his line. As he passed me, I stepped right behind him and walked along with them. I thought someone was going to stop me but nobody did. We just kept on walking. It seemed like we walked forever until we ended up in a private VIP room. 

Now I'm in an exclusive area, a few feet away from Jimmy Kimmel. This is 100 times better than I imagined. I patiently waited for the opportunity to talk to him. I wasn't sure how at first. I really wanted someone to introduce me. I thought about asking Guillermo because we worked together last year but he looked like he was having too much fun. Anthony Anderson was in the room and I approached him. Unfortunately, he rubbed me off. He didn't provide me any contact info. He took my flier and tried to school me about not having a card with my email address on it. I told him my email address and he said, one of his peoples are going to contact me but I highly doubt that.

Getting introduced to Jimmy would've been cool, I was kind of leaning towards that. Quickly I shook that thought off. I'm in the room with the main source and so I got to make it happen. There's no excuse to miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity like this. After Jimmy finished eating, he stood up and I approached. I waved my hand he said, "Hi." First I congratulated him and told him I was one of his students. He immediately turned to the person on his right and said, "Finally someone is one of my students."  I told him that I worked with Guillermo on a shoot last year and showed him the photo of us. He looked at the photo and mentioned how much of a great time it looked like we were having.  I saw this as an opportunity to go deeper. Next, I stepped in closer and said, "I know you're no here to listen to anyone's pitch but I have a very unique personal story I would like to share with you." I told him I have a screenplay that's essentially a love story to late-night television and he's the missing link. Energetically he responded, "I'm the missing link? Who else?" I mentioned Conan and Oprah, then I told him more about my story in Tampa. That reminded him of his radio days in that city, so he started sharing a Tampa story to me and a guy next to him. In my mind, I was hoping he wasn't telling me this story to rub me. When he was done, he asked how did I work with Guillermo. I told him through his casting director. He responded, "Send your stuff to the casting director, she'll get it to me and I'll take a look at it."

I emailed that casting director after my shoot last May and she never got a response back. I couldn't just rely on that person. I asked him, "Just in case I can't get a hold her the casting director, is there someone else I can contact." He immediately said yes and told his publicist right next to him to take my info. She actually gave me her phone and I put my email in. I wasn't sure what she was going to do with it. When I gave her back the phone she kept getting distracted by others. I made sure to check with her. She fiddled with her phone then got distracted again. I reminded her again, then she explained that she didn't understand why the email isn't going through. She was trying to send me a quick email but it needed a subject first. I told her and I got the email safely. 

I was riding high at this point but I wasn't satisfied. I wanted to connect with more of Jimmy's people just in case they fell through. My eyes were peeled open for more possibilities. Rewind back to when the event ended, I crossed paths with his band director, Cleto. I congratulated him and his team. He said, "Thank you." I crossed paths with him again in VIP room and decided to initiate a friendly conversation with him. I asked if does any producing. He said no, but he's considering looking into producing when he's done with Jimmy's show. He walked away with a plate full of food and I looked on. A few mins later, I decided to go for it. I approached him very apologetically and said some of the same things I told Jimmy. The only difference is, I asked him to look at my project to possibly pass on to Jimmy if he likes it. Cleto was very open and welcoming to everything I said. He gave me his email address and told me, "No problem. You never know."  He believed in looking out for each other.

Now, I have 3 email address but I still wanted more. Later I started paying attention to the people with Jimmy Kimmel Live badges around their necks.  I approached his young man and we talked for a while. Turns out he's also on Jimmy Kimme's publicist team. I took his email just in case.

I ended up departing with the last group of people in that room. They told it was time to go. Only in my last two conversations is when I was asked, "Who invited you?" I told them the truth and they said, "Sometimes that'ss what you got to do."

Over a week later and I'm still really shocked and impressed with what I did. I shared the story with only a select few. Yet, this story is still incomplete. The upcoming weeks will truly determine the greatness of this Hollywood story. 


Sunday, August 4, 2019

* Driving Elbert around...

* Watching 3Below and Pose...


Monday, August 5, 2019

* Attempted to watch a screening of Fleabag but we were late. We people-watched instead and sent to Lowe's

* Watching more 3Below

* Writing CLN...


Tuesday, August 6, 2019

* Recycling...

* Writing CLN...


Wednesday,  August 7, 2019

* Writing CNL

* Reading my writing partner's script

* An Evening With Jimmy Kimmel


Thursday, August 8, 2019

* Audition...

* Kitten footage

* Blogging about Wednesday...


Friday, August 9, 2019

* Tennis...

* Writing CLN...

* Switch Time...Mario Tennis Aces


Saturday, August 10, 2019

* Soul of a Nation at The Board

* Coffee Bean...

* Playing Mario Tennis

* CLN brainstorming meeting

* Watching Kubo and the Two Strings


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Week 463: A Director's State of Mind

Weekly Written Review 

When you have a good product you just know it. My writing partner and I completed a really good script and this week we placed a director and producers hat on our heads. We don't know what we're doing but we're going to figure something out. We don't know many people but reaching out to the few that we know and I'm taking advantage of my recourses that are available to me. So far so good with Bumble Bizz. Where there's a will there's a-way. We can do this.


Sunday, July 28, 2019

* Bonham-Clyde shoot day 2 


Monday, July 29, 2019

* 1st day of writing CLN (Working on the intro)

* Rocketman screening


Tuesday, July 30, 2019

* VO dubb audition

* Treated myself to Street Fighter 30th Anniversary edition from Best Buy

* Writing a little. Just touching up the intro scene

* Meeting with Amanda from Netflix. It went better than I thought.


Wednesday, July 31, 2019

* Listened to a screenplay webinar

* Updating my script for my new contact. I figured out how to get rid of the leftover grammatical issues.

* Kitten footage


Thursday, August 1, 2019

* Basketball...not a fun day. No wins and bad energy players.

* Copy editing CB...

* UPMC  Health plan audition. They asked what was last on my playlist and I talked about Bob Marley for a moment then left. That was it.


Friday, August 2, 2019

* Tennis

* Pacman Museum treat


Saturday, August 3, 2019

* WGA registering CB

* Blogging

* Making Contacts...

* Rewatching Trollhunters with At...


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Week 462: It Doesn't Mean Anything Confirmed - Bumble Bizzing

Weekly Written Review 

I got to work as an actor this week. It's the first time I did some real acting since I was in Colorado last May. While I was waiting, there was a moment in which I asked myself, "Why am I here?" I immediately answered (in my mind) for the exposure. Granted, exposure is good and needed. Following that moment, I physically and spiritually confirmed that acting is borning. I've documented that acting isn't exciting in the past, it's especially dull when my head is flowing with an abundance of ideas that I need to type out.

In other news, "It doesn't mean anything has been confirmed." Meaning, I found out my autobiographical screenplay won't be advancing past the semi-finals. Less than a week, this was my response to the competition:

-------------------------------

ScreenCraft,

Particularly, I don't believe in the competition circuits. I've had my share of disappointments over the years and I've concluded a long time ago that I'll more than likely never achieve any success in a competition. I entered my screenplay in this competition mostly for the heck of it. At the very least, I thought I would gain some momentum and send a message to the universe. To my surprise, my screenplay made it to the semi-finals. As shocking as that was, I wasn't convinced that it meant anything. This email isn't intended to be perceived as bitter or negative. I'm actually quite appreciative and thankful for the experience. I just never believed in it. 

I'm 100% confident that I will find a way to get my screenplay made. It's just a matter of time. 

Even though it was for a short period of time, I appreciate ScreenCraft for considering my story. 

Continued success. 

Peace and many blessings. 

Motown

--------------------------------------

In today's last set of news, I took the advice from someone I played tennis with recently and established my Bumble Bizz account. I must say it has been beneficial to the quest. I also sent my mom belated bday gifts with some treats from Amazon this week.

The end.


Sunday, July 21, 2019

* Driving...

* Brainstorming new screenplay

* Shaved close for the first time in a long time

* Audition video sent


Monday, July 22, 2019

* Dhar Mann shoot

* I gave myself a close shave for the first time this year. I think...


Tuesday, July 23, 2019

* Started reading my writing partner's script

* Post office was closed...systems were down. Found a nearby mailman. Sent for a donation and fulfilled a promise since January.

* Watched the Love, Antosha documentary screening


Wednesday, July 24, 2019

* Starting writing the treatment for CLN

* Didn't advance any further to the ScreenCraft comedy contest. I made it to the semi-finals much further than I expected.


Thursday, July 25, 2019

* Basketball. Wasn't able to play full court today because kids were using the other half. Didn't win any games until my last game. 

* 6 Month mark until the reunion

* Dinner with Dhar Mann


Friday, July 26, 2019

* Tennis...

* Cat food run at Food 4 Less

* Got a little development writing in, not much.

* Night run for hangers with At...then Ihop


Saturday, July 27, 2019

* 1st reunion email sent out

* Blogging...

* Bonham-Clyde shoot


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

Week 461: 1st Draft Completed

Weekly Written Review 

This week I shifted my writing abilities to BEAST mode. Last week I was 43-pages into my latest script. This week I got to 80-pages. Hence the first draft was complete. It's a strong first draft. My writing partner loves it and we've begun planning the next stages. Starting a screenplay is such a daunting task but the journey is so rewarding. I don't want to prematurely jump to conclusion and say I like the writing process but, I'll say it's growing on me.

The idea of taking a break after completing a screenplay sounds pleasant but I got work to get done. I'll take a break during Christmas or much later than that. I got ideas to write. I took a break from 2017 to 2018. Two years without an intensive creative drive. I still got stuff done during that time period but nothing compared to the creative the development I'm pursuing now. So by saying that, I can comfortably say, I'm loving my new process. I didn't say that earlier because it's going to take time before I ever confess my love for writing. On the other hand, I've always loved the creative process which of course have always included writing. I know. I'm conflicted :-) 


Sunday, July 14, 2019

* Apocolypse Town screening

* Trader Joes

* Writing...CB

* Conversation with a nephew for the first time. I had to tell him he's the better person despite his...

* Started watching season 3 of Stranger Things and Snowfall this week


Monday, July 15, 2019

* Writing...CB

* MaTown Bday...


Tuesday, July 16, 2019

* Writing...CB

* Kitten footage


Wednesday, July 17, 2019

* Writing...CB

* Writing...CB...first draft completed. A few days ago, I was on page 43, and today I completed my screenplay with 80 pages.


Thursday, July 18, 2019

* Basketball...

* Kitten footage


Friday, July 19, 2019

* Basketball...

* On way to get some ice cream with At...we came up with a brilliant movie title. The next day we confirmed the development.

* Tennis...the courts were closed for construction. Me and two new guys played at a court nearby. The courts weren't the best but we made the most of it.


Saturday, July 20, 2019

* New script, confirmation

* Reunion work

* Watching on Cat and Dogs

* Surprise money from the government

* Haircut


As the quest continues...

The future of Late Night

Motown Maurice

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