It’s 11:00PM on a Friday night. Just got back from work and I’m ready to start writing my next film project. I’m in front of my computer and ready to type away…OK here we go…maybe I should drink some coffee to keep me awake. Wait a minute, coffee upsets my stomach. I’m freaking starving. Maybe head down to la pasadita and get a burrito. That’s what I’ll do right now.
Just got back from la pasadita and their closed. Don't know how to begin the opening scene. I’ll take a break for a while. Maybe I’ll watch “The Social Network” on TV. OK, just watch the first 20 minutes then get back to writing.
20 minutes later…another 20 minutes. Is that chick from the Disney channel going down on the guy who’s going to play Spider man?.…an hour passes by. Dude, Justin Timberlake is a great actor…another hour passes by…. End Credits Roll. Crap I just wasted 2 hours. I need to get back to writing. Screw it, its late. I’ll write the material in the morning.
But wait, I promise to go to the gym with my brother in the morning. OK I’ll go work out with my brother then get back to writing. But I have to walk the dog later. OK I’ll do that first then after that get back to writing. But my buddy just called me and told me about a party in the city. $20 wristbands for all you can drink from 9PM to Midnight. OK, I’ll go to the party and write later.
It’s the next day and I have a bad hangover. And I just remembered that I’m supposed to start work at 1PM today. OK, take some Anacin, YES they still make that, go to work and come back and start writi-OK I GIVE UP I GOT NOTHING.
If you’re still reading this, then you’re more patient than me. This is what happens when you want to write a screenplay or even a blog. These are not distractions; these are excuses for not finishing your screenplay. This is what all writers suffer…WRITER'S BLOCK AAAAAAHHHH.
When I get writers block, I tend to feel like I’m not living up to my expectations. I begin to doubt myself and say things like "maybe I'm not creative as I thought I was". Then depression sinks in. And all I got left is a blank computer screen. Next thing I know I pop open a Jack Daniels and watch noting but reruns of the Jersey Shore. I still don't know what a Snooki is but I have a feeling it smells bad.
But then I remember that advice that Dan Aykroyd gave me. I asked him if he had any advice to give for up and coming filmmakers. While he was handing me his autograph he said, “Ah just keep on writing no matter what. It’s the best job in the world”. Nervously I said, "Fo Sho". Did I say fo sho to a Ghost buster? I sure did. So just keep on writing. Punch the keys on your keyboard and you will be the Man...Dog. That last sentence was brought to you by Sean Connery from the film "Finding Forrester".
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| starting from the Left, me, Dan Aykroyd and childhood friend Eric Christenson. Photo was taken in 2009 |
