in case you hadn't noticed.
Congress approves $4 Billion for Bread, Circuses
(Don't send me your answers. This is just a little way to expand your horizons. Honest.)
Today, August 18, was supposed to be the end of the world. Nostradamus? Somebody else? said it. Black rainbows were supposed to arch across the sky, signaling the End of All Things.
The smog here in LA isn't even particularly bad today.
I guess August 18 isn't over yet around the world for a few more hours, technically. So if I don't post tomorrow, you know what happened.
I had lunch with my friend Edgar at Paramount Studios today. I haven't seen Edgar for over a year. He's still a story editor with the same production company, but he's been doing other things as well--he hooked up with a talented director who'd gone through AFI's Director program and has been producing various shorts for her. They started with spec commercials (for which they got recognizable faces--no one famous, but you'd know these guys if you saw them) and then did a parody of the commodity market ads (you know: Pork! Cotton!) with "Steel". This work got them a video they're submitting to MTV today (unfortunately, it's a video for Detroit Rock City, which tanked).
In short, he's working a 40-hour week and doing the things he really wants to do.
We discussed people we know who aren't doing anything. Writers who aren't writing, mainly. Edgar has about as much patience for them as I do.
He told me about a guy who works at a nearby production company who's evidently incredibly prolific, despite the day job. I don't believe you have to be prolific. But you have to put a little effort in.
(I know, I'm going to get crap for this, but I don't care.)
You can't find time to write? Find a half hour every day. 15 minutes. A few hours on the weekend. If you can't find 15 minutes a day, you don't really want to write. I really believe that.
The one excuse I keep hearing over and over again is, "I want some semblance of a social life." Aha. There's a problem. Writing doesn't lend itself to being social. You have to say "No" to people. You have to sit in the chair. You can hang out with friends and drink and watch TV, or you can write.
I admit, I read something like Stee's entry yesterday, and I get tired. But he's managing to put himself out there to do what he wants to do. And that's what you have to do. You have to make yourself go the extra mile.
You have to make choices. And there's probably not some mythical time in the future when it's going to get easier. We all have 24 hours of "stuff" we could be doing.
Important news for parents! Disney is finally releasing its animation library on DVD, a little at a time. From today's Variety, reprinted without permission:
In a major boost for the DVD format, the Walt Disney Co. has announced it will release nine animated films on DVD.
"Pinocchio," which was the studio's first animated classic to be released as a video in 1985, will debut on DVD Oct. 26.
The releases, planned for October, November and December, are expected to drive sales of DVD players for this Christmas season.
Disney's release of its animated films on video in the 1980s is widely credited with popularizing VCRs, and many observers expect its move to DVD will have a similar effect on that format.
Disney has skedded three pics for release on Nov. 11: "101 Dalmatians," "Hercules" and "Mulan"; while "Lady and the Tramp," "Peter Pan" and "The Lion King II: Simba's Pride" will launch on Nov. 23.
In December, Disney will launch "The Jungle Book" and "The Little Mermaid."
60-day sales window
Buena Vista Home Entertainment will release the nine popular Disney films on DVD as part of what the company calls a "once-in-a-millennium celebration." Each of the titles will be available for a 60-day period, and most of the offerings will then be placed on moratorium for up to 10 years.
I see Christmas gifts!
Just think: when Darin and I have tots, we can load 5 Disney DVDs in the machine and just sit the kid in front of the TV while we take a breather. Of course, that will make us bad parents. Slightly less crazy parents, but bad ones all the same.
Whoops. Spoke too soon. Just saw the Glade Plug-In Air Refresher commercials that has the little man from "The Scream" by Edvard Munch dancing around, excited about the plug-in. The world has come to an end.
The answer to yesterday's question: Turkey suffered a devastating earthquake 2 days ago. The death toll is currently around 3800 (and climbing). Roads are impassable and communications are disrupted. Things are bad.
|
|
|
|
Copyright 1999 Diane Patterson
Send comments and questions to diane@spies.com