Editing

I think I will call the 6th novel "House of Helios" as one of two or three or novels in the Heliotropic book of fairy tales....I need to edit a LOT more but waiting a year has made me much more able to edit it. I think from now on anything I write, no matter how much I want to ship it immediately, needs to age like fine wine...(or liquid turds) and then be cleansed. But the core story of Novel 6 is ...good. Really good. It also needs a lot of work.

[Script] Sentinel Chronicles - November Project - Act 1 - Scene 2

Scene: Benjamin and Andrew are talking to each other before he goes while Andrew packs.

ANDREW: It's been a great visit dad.

BENJAMIN: It's too short.

Andrew: It's always too short.

Benjamin: Every year gets worse.  The roids just keep taking more and more.

Andrew: We're gonna turn it around.

Benjamin: You just keep coming back to me, do you understand?

Andrew: I understand Dad.  I will.

Benjamin: A father shouldn't live longer than his son.

Andrew: I know Dad.  I gotta go.

(They hug)

[Script] Sentinel Chronicles - November Project - Act 1 - Scene 1

Scene: Admiral Dweebnar and General ThickDexter are talking via conference call.  Dweebnar is in a ridiculously posh office with slick high tech screens outlining tactical and strategic displays behind him, eating and drinking something posh while the General sits in a concrete bunker, obviously worn by combat with a worn battleflag behind him.

ADMIRAL: What is it Thickdexter?

GENERAL: This. Place. Is. Hell.

ADMIRAL: You knew that when we sent you there.  It's part of the conditions of your resignation.

GENERAL: I accepted this assignment with certain conditions....

ADMIRAL: I know that.

GENERAL: I've had hardship....

ADMIRAL: (sighs)

GENERAL: The men, the men here, think of the men, how they suffer, we're suffering together

ADMIRAL: I'll - (interrupted)

GENERAL: I know where the bodies are buried. We need that package.

ADMIRAL: (beat) I'll send someone.  Our best pilot.  Now stop calling me.

[Poem] The Grass Is Mean - Part 1

By Emmit Other and Melobytes.com
(Inspired from the writings of my Forefathers)

Yard work kept me busy part of the time.
Part of the Time
Part
Part of the Time

I mowed the lawn
Mowed it
Moved the Lawn

Put down the fall fertilizer
Sprayed for weeds
Trimmed back the blackberry bush
Trimmed the pear tree.
Peaaaaaaar Tree

I mowed the lawn
Mowed it
Moved the Lawn

The tomato plants are still in full bloom
I don't think they will last much longer

I mowed the lawn
Mowed it

Moved the Lawn

Status Update

Slowly getting back in the swing of things.  I'm starting with the blog posts and then will begin adding weekly posts in preparation for Heliotrope and NaNoWrMo for Fruitloop and Frankenstein.  One step at a time as it were.  Missed the Broadleaf Writer's conference my friend ran last week.  Otherwise, looking forward to a trip to Atlanta for a play written by Rob Mosca.

Fun times.

[Script] Sentinel Chronicles - Project November - Roles

Admiral Dweebnar - Just the latest in a long line of assholes screwing over humanity with incompetence as he commands the human resistance.

General Thickdexter - Exiled to a remote arctic outpost for fucking up and getting good men killed.  Wants his creature comforts.

Captain Andrew Chopop - One of the most skilled remaining human pilots left alive.  For now.

Benjamin Chopop - Andrew's father.

Commander Curt Medley - Andrew's short lived co pilot.

Bregsaw Grindface - Leader of the bandits who shoot down Andrew's plane.

Commander Teak Ogone - Tank Commander.

Ltn Angie Lyons - Tank Gunner

Sgt Apri Cotter - Tank EW Officer

Gunny - Tank Driver/ Engineer

Captain Muerte Poderosa - Special Forces Badass sent to rescue the Tank Crew.

[Script] Sentinel Chronicles - Project November - Outline

So I have been helping my friend Jay Welin write his baby "The Sentinel Chronicles" for almost 6-7 years.  He controls the story, but I help him flesh it out.  Film is a collaborative art and with the exception of my own works where I have written AND produced, a lot of times what I write isn't...the same...as my first draft, but I thought this time around I'd offer some transparency into the process.

Here is the outline we're starting with for what he's filming in November.

Act 1 - Set Up

Scene 1 - As credits roll, two officers discuss how he was supposed to receive a cushy assignment from the front lines, and he owed him, and their vital supplies were cut, and the other officer caves and agrees to send 'vitally important supplies'

Scene 2 - Our hero the pilot has that endearing scene with his father.

Scene 3 - One of the two officers informs Pilot that he has a vital mission to deliver supplies.

Scene 4 - Plane is soaring over the plains.  Witty banter between pilot and co pilot.

Scene 5 - Bandits crackerjack back and forth like Jawas about to get R2 and launch a missile at our Plane.  Crash.

Act 2 - Man Down!

Scene 1 - Our man drags himself out of the wreckage.

Scene 2 - Tank Crew of 3 women and the single man.  Witty banter. Characters established.

Scene 3 - Bad Ass receives an unvocalized call.  Changes direction.

Scene 4 - Man drags himself across the plains, gets radio confirmation from Tank.  He is saved!

Scene 5 - Firefight with bandits.  Tank Commander killed.  Pilot gets in tank.  Goin home!

Scene 6 - Bad ass hears gun fight.  Picks up pace.

Scene 7 - Tank busts a tread. Witty and panicked banter.

Scene 8 - Bandits attack! Tanks crew fires back.

Scene 9 - Bad ass begins killing bandits.   Crew misintripts actions; thinks he's a roid and gets in the tank.

Scene 10 - Bad ass starts to vocalize that he is here to help.  Tank crew can't here.  Turns tank gun and obliterates a shocked bad ass.

Act 3 - On their own!

Scene 1 - Crew welds the treads in fire fight.

Scene 2 - Tank is on the role! Runs over a few bandits. Crush.

Scene 3 - Mine! Tank is blown to hell.  Blackness.

Scene 4 - Bad ass isn't dead! Picks them up and saves them, grumbling.

Scene 5 - Hospital.  One tank and pilot alive.  Mourning.

Scene 6 - Supplies was luxury goods for commanders buddy.  Pilot goes fruitloops.  Bad ass punches Commander.

"You'll pay for this!"

"No I won't.  I quit."