So, last night, I sat at Bauhaus, enjoying the noise of people, the sunset, and the smell of second hand smoke… and worked on my FIRST intellectual property! Well it hasn't been paid for… so its not mine yet. But my soon to be, first intellectual property.

I recently commissioned my friend Nick Livanos to write small sketches that I could produce and direct to hone and prove my directing skills. I can't believe it! I am becoming a producer!! …. I'm kinda of scared because I don't know what the hell I am doing..!

plus..

this week's forecast is: suckage. This week I am done with film. I want nothing to do with it. I am burnt out. The potential of it has been sapped out of me.

I'm just waiting for another movie to re-inspire me.

So, I forced myself to sit down and write at Bauhaus. It was almost an excuse just to get out of the house. I sat down and forced myself to turn onto page one of Nick's first script: Asparagus.

Honestly, his material is foreign. I don't immediately click with it. He is a comedy guy… and I am a dark, brooding drama girl. I found myself laughing out loud at some of his lines… knowing Nick, this was his classic style. At the same time, I was totally disconnected. I can't do this! Am I being set up to fail?? How will I connect with the material enough to make it work? But I kept reading. I made myself question the intention of every line of dialogue. Three pages was taking 30 min. to get through. What could the character want? What could be the stakes? What are the possible the tactics? Who are the characters? Who are they really?

I forced myself to get really specific.

Then, what is the image list I can come up with? How can I set the scene?

The character just found out that she is pregnant… she feels trapped… close ups? make her feel trapped?

Then inspiration!

Is that really why she is trapped? Because the world is closing in?

NO! its because she is getting bigger. She is pregnant.

Let the frame go wide. Vulnerably, show it all. Lets be anti-indie. Lets go on sticks. Completely still. Lets show her struggle in the small space. Lets make the space dry and awkward.

Now I was getting into the material. Now it seemed not flat, but just smarter than me. I need to outwit this script. Delve into more than what is on the page.

I started to see that the underlying conflict in comedies is actually drama. I can do this?? Maybe my seeming weakness is a strength!

I am going to turn this on its head! .. in an unexpected way, I hope that it is going to be twice as good because it will be twice as deep.

Nick's comedy leanings meeting my dramatics.

I hope that I can also turned myself on my head. I have been finding that there is comedy in my life's drama. Sometimes, everything seems so dark and angsty, but its really kind of silly and funny. Almost hilarious.

Like, when I am feeling totally bad ass.. walkin down the street……. and then trip on a crack in the side walk and totally biff it. ..Or when I walk down the street the other morning, kind of feeling emotionally trashed.. red-eyed from allergies.. running on too little of sleep… I thought, I'm sure I still am kicking!! I'm sure I'm only feeling like crap on the inside and don't look like shit on the outside..

and then random-homeless-mcdonald's-burger-man asks me.. "Are you okay?" In a seriously concerned tone.

It turns my mood. Makes me laugh… even though, it is at myself.

Of course life couldn't make you feel that cool for too long!

I'm kinda glad that life reminds all of us how silly we are. Puts us in our place.

So I collapse into those moments.

So for Sahale:

Turning Comedy into Drama:

Read each line.

What does it mean? What could the character really be saying?

Does anybody really say what they mean?

Read into the scene.

What does the character want? Why can't they have it? What are the tactics they use to get it?

Seems like there isn't anything getting in their way? Then you have misinterpreted the scene.

Read into the backstory.

Who are these characters? How can their background raise the stakes? What about the scene is not being said? Thing with imagery and coverage. Make the situation the characters find themselves in completely smash and destroy their pristine life just off camera.

Know that people are only funny because there is some honesty and truth there.

Honesty is a lot of the key to comedy. Identify with the characters and infuse them with your honest POV. Mimicking what I think is funny will probably be the furthest from truly funny I can get.

Turning Drama into Comedy:

Stop over analyzing.

You want to be the best at everything, but sometimes… you can't learn vicariously, you just have to do. Don't worry if you make mistakes.

Don't project issues into the future.

Don't depend on the future being brighter and don't make mountains out of mole hills if they aren't yet. Don't take something small and carry it as a future burden and don't generalize all situations because something small may have turned into something bigger in the past.

Learn about yourself and self improve once you have the time.

Try and figure out what and who you are. Be honest and vulnerable about your weaknesses and don't feel ashamed of them.. Transform them into strengths, because… honestly.. isn't that sort of behavior attractive in other people?

Know that most people who are making it are faking it.

Everyone has insecurities.. looks stupid… is a human being. Knowing that, allow yourself to be as well.

Enjoy EVERY good moment.

You'll be glad you stored them up for the rainy days.