Seer now up

I just uploaded my new tune, "Seer," to my Reverbnation and Myspace pages. You can give it a listen by going here: http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_8843187.

It's inspired by the screenplay I've been working on.

Click on over, give it a listen, let me know what you think!

Post-headache randomocity

If you'll look to your right you'll see a new widget for a web series called Witchy Ways. Click on it and kick in a few bucks to help it get made. Yes, the director/screenwriter/producer is a close friend, but that means I know things about it that make me feel very sure that it'll be something really special. You need to be part of this. You'll be kicking yourself if you don't. Or you could just go to http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1208894240/witchy-ways to contribute. I did.

I sent my latest rewrite of Seer to have it looked over. Finally got as much done on it as I felt like I could. I don't know when I'll hear anything about it--my industry friend has a lot on her plate right now. I'm hopeful, though, that she'll dig it. She liked the earlier draft, though she had some notes. Maybe I made it better, instead of the other thing.

Took most of the day off from work--I developed this thundering headache this morning, and my boss let me leave. I know what it is--I've been having some serious allergy issues over the past fiew days, and the headache usually sets in just before it starts getting better. Like it's the finale or something. Fortunately, I was able to nap and sit around in the dark and it's finally gone. And I do feel better.

Got some musical projects I want to work on while I'm waiting on the word about Seer--check here for news and new lyrics. I have a few more songs I want to add to the Far From The Sun song cycle. You can hear the two I've already done by visiting http://wwww.reverbnation.com/jfranklinevans and listening to the first two tunes--"Hard Rain" and "Far From The Sun." Or you could just go to http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_8483095 to hear "Hard Rain" and go to http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_8424522  for "Far From The Sun." And don't be afraid to let me know that you love them!

Rainy Saturday afternoon randomocity

Just finished another pass through my spec script, Seer. This is after I've added some new scenes, rewrote some dialog, made some minor changes to the plot.

I'm still happy with it, though right now I think it's too long. I have no  idea what to cut, though. I love the characters, and I think it's an interesting story. Hopefully it'll make it's way to the big screen and audiences will feel the same way.

Right now I'm sitting and watching a Project Runway marathon on The Style Network. Believe it or not I dig that show, though I don't watch it anymore. For one thing, I could spend most of the day staring at Heidi Klum. For another, who doesn't dig Tim Gunn? For yet another, fashion design is an art form I know almost nothing about and I'm hoping to learn. I actually think I have, too, a little. I'd never entertain thoughts of becoming a designer, but I am cultivating an appreciation of it.

As the title indicates it's drizzly this afternoon. Not raining very hard, just enough to wet the ground. I actually kinda like it lke this, as long as I'm not driving anywhere--people in this city just freak the fuck OUT when it rains a little bit and they're driving. I could understand it if it's coming down really hard, but we are talking just a little more than a mist.

Atari is doing about the same. He's not getting around all that well, because of the arthritis, but he seems to be feeling okay other than that. He's a little pissed right now because I gave him a bath but he'll get over it.

The plan is for me to be done with this rewrite by Monday, maybe. I want to have it as finished as possible before sending it off to have it read--you have to respect busy people's time and the person who is going to read this for me is doing me a huge favor. Just because she's a close friend that doesn't mean I can take advantage of her and waste her time by sending her crap.

That's my weekend. What are you up to?

Great rewriting

I've said it myself--great writers are, really, great rewriters. A great rewriter can take a mediocre or tired old story and breathe new life into it.

Of course, it helps to have someone you can trust to read over your stuff and give you feedback. Finding someone to really, honestly do that is rare. People worry that they may hurt your feelings if they don't like your stuff, or if they think it could be better, so they just tell you it's great. Finding someone to give constructive, useful feedback is rare. I'm fortunate in that I have somebody who knows what she's doing to look over my draft of Seer and give me some feedback that I can use and that'll improve the story. If you aren't a writer you hav eno idea how exciting that is, because it doesn't happen very often.

Anyways, real-life this week has been brutal and I've been just too worn out when I got home from work to do much more than walk Atari and stare at the TV. It was my week to work late and it's been really busy and I just didn't have anything left in the tank when I got home. Fortunately, that's over for now, so I'll be back on my usual schedule for the next little while.

Plus, I deliberately left my personal schedule free this weekend, after working a little while this morning, to work on it. I've already gotten quite a bit done. Got some more to do, though--adding scenes, reworking some dialog, that sort of thing. It's stufff that needs to be done, though, stuff that'll make it better, and I'm actually enjoying it.

If you're a writer and you find someone like that--someone you can trust, who knows what he or she is doing, and will give you honest, constructive feedback--treasure that person.

I know--better than just about anybody--there just ain't all that many people like that out there.

This is why writers are crazy

So, I'm in a meeting at work. It was about something that, in all probablility, won't involve me, so I sort of tuned out after a few minutes.

Which left my subconcious time to come up with some ideas for my next project, an entirely premature sequel to Seer.

I already had a basic idea for it, and I sort of figured out something one of my characters would have figured out. That character will perform an act of ultimate sacrifice for the one he loves, I've decided. He has a good reason for it, and he feels like it'll help a terrible situation. Plus, he's the type of guy who would do that sort of thing, so this almost has to happen for it to be true-to-character.

Unfortunately this affected me profoundly, and I nearly burst into tears during this boring business meeting. Now that would have taken some explaining. And probably have resulted in a referral to the company shrink. Heh.

Yeah, I'm all sad about something a person who doesn't actually exist does for another person who doesn't actually exist. And I haven't even started writing it yet--and may not, depending on the feedback I get about the first one.

Damn. Really. I feel, sometimes, when I'm working on this stuff, that I'm losing my frakkin' mind. Which is a Good Thing, I reckon.

Vacation day one randomocity

So, day one of my week off.

Plans are to finish the first draft of Seer and maybe make some music. I'm well on my way with the former--almost at the big finish. The latter? Well, maybe. I might track "numb" (lyrics posted here earlier) or maybe some faux-movie soundtrack stuff.

It's funny--one of my minor characters acted like a total asshole in a scene I wrote earlier and I had to stop writing because I was so pissed at him. Sort of funny, since I made him and everything else up myself! And now I'm killing off a character I really like and I find myself dreading it. Unfortunately I can't change it so that she doesn't die, as that would totally screw up the ending.

Also gonna do a little housework, too. Not my strong suit, as anybody who has been in my place would attest. I'm just not much of a cleaner, and I'm oblivous to all but the biggest messes. Really. I'd hire a maid, but then I wouldn't be able to afford the rent on this place.

It's really a good thing that blogger autosaves, too, since I've never been able to get through entering a blog without it freezing up, making me have to close my browser and then go back into it. You'd think Google would come up with something a little less awkward.

Anyways, that's what I'll be doing, as well as running a few errands--writing, cleaning, dog-walking, music-making, napping.

To me, it's a perfect vacation!

Progress report - Seer

I've reached the end of Act One of the first draft of this little screenplay I'm writing.

It's kind of a big deal--if I was going to give up on it I would not have gotten this far. So, all indications are that I'll tough it out until the end. When I finish it, finally, who knows?

I really like the characters--one in particular. I sort of identify with him. And no, I'm not talking about the serial killer.

Hopefully when it's over all of the characters will come across in shades of gray--nobody is completely good, nobody is completely evil. Just complicated and messed up. Even the serial killer has his redeeming qualities.

Anyways, I'm happy with what I have so far. Of course I'll rewrite it a few times, but that's to me easier than the first draft--it's less difficult to carve away and rework stuff than it is to make it up in the first place.

On an unrelated note, I've been listening to this song, my tune "Walks Like A Man, " a lot lately. If you've never heard my stuff this one is sort of the ultimate tune--it's sort of the type of thing I usually try to do. Heavy, dark, with a little humor of the darkest sort. Click the link, give it a listen, download it if you like it. Play it for your friends. That's why I made it downloadable. Just be sure to tell people where you got it from.

And while you're there you can listen to the other stuff, too--you'll see the list of tunes over to the right. I'd love to hear that you think!

No regrets?

I'm working on this screenplay and one of the situations involved got me to thinking. Which I guess is a Good Thing.

One plot line involves the central character deciding to help another character--who is going to die in the next couple of days--to do something he's wanted to do for years. He'd never met his father--the father had left his mother while she was still pregnant with him. He knew who he is, knows where he is, but had never worked up the nerve to go and say hello to him. The kicker is, the character has no idea he's dying. That's sort of the point.

Anyway, the central character researches this and decides that it may be best to let the guy die without ever meeting his father. I won't go into details but she has a very good reason for this and it'll be obvious to anyone who sees the film. If it gets made. The character decides that it's not always a bad thing to have some unfulfilled desires, unmet goals, plain and simple regrets, when the end comes. She has ample experience with this, which again is sort of the point of the whole thing, but she does run into some controversy over it with other characters.

While it's not always a good idea to associate the morality and ethics of a character with those of the writer, I happen to agree with her. I think regret is a necessary component to a well-lived life--that someone who has no regrets really has no heart.

But maybe I'm wroing. What do you think?

Them dirty low down bronchitis blues

Yes, I have bronchitis, according to the doc-in-a-box I saw yesterday.

Fortunately the antibiotics and cough syrup he put me on seem to be working. I do feel better this morning and I coughed up about a half-gallon of icky crap this morning. I don't quite feel good enough to go to work yet--I think the meds need another day. But I am getting there.

I did make a start on my next project, the screenplay to Seer. So far, so good. So, this time isn't a total waste.

So, I'm gonna spend the day napping, chilling, watching day-time TV, and maybe do a little writing. Oh, and noodling around with a guitar when I start feeling a little more ambitious.

Sunday afternoon randomocity - endings, etc. . . .

I'm at the point in my life where everything seems to be coming to an end at once.

My dad won't be around much longer, for one thing. I'm not as close to him as a lot of people are to their parents, but still, it's a big change.

From what his vet tells me Atari won't be around much longer, either. That tumor in his belly will probably rupture any time now and he'll bleed out internally. Every day when I get home from work I hold my breath until I see that he's still alive and kicking. I do take some solace in the fact that his condition shouldn't cause him any pain--when he does go he should do so without pain, though if he's awake when it happens he'll probably be aware that something is going on. When that happens I really don't know what I'll do. I'm really not sure that I'll be able to handle it. He's a huge part of my life and I love him so much it scares me.

On top of all that, the fact that sometime in the next year I'll have to move to Douglasville if I want to keep my job. That's something I'm dreading. I don't want to live within spitting distance of Atlanta. I hate Atlanta. I avoid that place as much as I possibly can. So, of course, I'm going to have to live there. Dammit.

I am happy that my goddaughter's commercial is airing regularly. I'm seeing it at least a couple times a day now. Very cool. Saw it this morning, actually.

And now I feel like I'm getting sick. You know that feeling you always get when you're coming down with something? I've had that since last night. Terrific. And of course I'm out of everything I could take for it.

Oh, well. I was planning to work on my next project a while, today, and I still might, if I have the strength. Need to work on the plot a little more, sort of work it into shape. That'll be fun. So I keep telling myself.

I'll get by. Maybe something new will arise to replace some of the things that are dropping out of my life. Let's hope!

OK, this is officially not funny

I mentioned my next musical project was going to be called Seer. It was going to be a collection of tunes that could be the soundtrack to a film that doesn't exist.

Naturally I had a basic idea for this nonexistant film. I just needed to rough out an outline, get a basic plot, and then start working on the music. It really wasn't necessary to get down into the details, the nuts-and-bolts, since I wasn't planning to actually write the screenplay for the movie itself.

So, while I'm sort of mulling it over, I come up with an opening act that I like a lot. Then, I came up with an ending that I like a lot. That in and of itself is the hardest part, for me--coming up with an ending. There are no words for how much easier it is to write this thing, now that I know before I even sit down to start on it where we're going.

Dammit. I was about to get cooking on this novel, Vampire Blues, too. Now that doesn't interest me as much, though I'm sure it will, again, one day.

I'm still going to do the music for it, even though if this thing manages to get made I doubt it would actually get used on the soundtrack--I just need to have a musical project in the hopper, for some reason. In the mean time, got some more development to do, plot to flesh out, characters to develop, that sort of thing, then it's a matter of sitting down and writing writing writing . . .

Anyways, I'm getting more and more excited about it. Hell, it'll keep me busy and out of trouble, anyway!

Weekends were made for . . . what?

I've actually already accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish this weekend. I gave Atari his bath this morning.

That's all I've got planned. I've got some stuff I want to do--I want to work some more on the new tune, "I Summon Thee . . ." and make some notes for this novel idea I've been thinking about. Beyond that I plan to sleep quite a bit, and maybe start planning a little on my next musical project, Seer.

It's kind of sad, I know, that I"m not out partying or something. No real reason for me not to. But I've been there, done that. It's boring to me, getting drunk and striking out with women I meet in bars. I can stay home, not spend the money, and watch whatever I feel like watching on TV.

I've been meditating a bit about being alone, too, lately. Recent events--namely my surgery--sort of underscored the disadvantages of not having someone there I can trust to help me out. But, still, I'd rather continue to be alone than settle for the companionship of someone I'm not happy with. Been there, done that, too--I'd rather be alone than be involved with someone I'm really not all that interested in. Yes, it'd be nice to have someone, but not someone who will make me miserable and who I will in turn make miserable.

Are there any women out there who meet my impossibly high standards? Yes, actually. I know a couple. But it hasn't worked out, and probably won't. Still, I'm okay with that.

Wow. Guess that was more on my mind than I thought! Anyways, I'm planning on chilling and creating all weekend. To me, in my old age, that is fun!

So, how about you? What are you doing this weekend?

Looking for a special lady

I've been giving some thought to my next project and tonight made some decisions.

It's going to sort of like a symphony--a long song divided up into five shorter songs. Each song will be a movement. The whole thing is a story I'm calling "Seer," about a woman who can see other people's deaths before they happen. The story is about four of the people she encountered and tried to help--she can't change anything about what she sees but she can change the context--maybe make a meaningless death meaningful.

However, to do this I'm gonna need a little help.

While the only actual "song" will be the last one, each movement will involve some narration and some singing by the central character. Which means I need a female vocalist who can also act a little bit. Not much, just a little.

Most of the vocals for the other four movements will be minimal, but the last one will be more traditional. More like something you'd hear on the radio.

I know several women who can sing but I don't think any of them would be a good fit for this project. I need someone with some versatility and someone who would be willing to come to me to do something like this just for fun. Someone who can sing like Evanescence's Amy Lee would be ideal, but for someone who doesn't fit in that category but has a really special voice I can adjust.

It's gonna be a couple months, at least, before I start on this. And it's going to take some time--I've never tried anything like this before so I need to get all my shit together first. The vocals will be the last thing done so that's even more time.

Anyways if you're interested drop me a line--you can comment on this if you want to let me know that you want to give it a shot. I don't normally work with other people so it'll take some getting used to, but it could be fun!

So, what do you say? Want to sing for me?