Where She Continues on Hunting

"The feature belongs to those who believe in the beauty 

of their dreams." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

I had an interview earlier this week, which felt good indeed, but it wasn't what I had expected. It was researching over the phone. Yeah, I wouldn't have mind it, if it was research using different means, but as I was sitting there, observing (part of the interview was to observe and see if it was right for me), it just didn't feel right.

I want to be able to use my talents and be happy doing my work. It's not that I'm picky. Believe me I'm not. I just need to keep on looking. I know I'm going to find something. I know so.

I can only look forward.

Till next time,

Eva

It was Harder than I Thought

"That priceless galaxy of misinformation called the mind..."

~ Djuna Barnes

For one of my very last assignments, I was suppose to write my very first pitch.  I read the material (all of it!) and browsed online to get a better idea. Mind you, I really thought  it wasn't going to be hard at all when I first read about the assignment.

But once I was sitting, staring at the white word doc, I had nothing. I didn't know how to begin or what to write! My mind was empty. I'll be sincere, I started to panic. This is material I should be able to pitch to that one person who wants to hear about my story, and I couldn't write anything down.

I wrote my story. I know how it begins and ends. This story has been part of my life for the past year, and I couldn't write a pitch. One thing was certain, I couldn't give up. So I did what anyone else would do.

I procrastinated.

Yes, I played SIMS on Facebook (addicting so don't play it!) and texted my boyfriend while chatting with my sister who was in school. Anything to avoid the frustration I was feeling. That is, until I came back to my senses and said, "Eva, get your butt back on track and write that pitch! Shame on you."

And I did. I started to write my pitch as I listened to one particular song that I believe fits well with my story. And wouldn't you know it? It worked. I was able to complete my first pitch. Yeah, it took me a few hours (okay, most of the day), but I did it.  I felt accomplished. I was finally able to get back on track, and I now know I need to practice writing pitches.

Because it turns out that writing a pitch is harder than I thought.

Till next time,

Eva

Just Because the Pearl is Small it doesn't Mean it has No Value

"And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, 

you risk even more." ~Erica Jong

A few weeks ago, I was finished with a job contract as a Quality Assurance Specialist (QA). You know, the one that edits, researches, writes, and goes over the surveys that are done by mystery shoppers. I did enjoy the position, but they couldn't keep me.  So now, here I am looking for a new job and it's hard.

Well, with the way the economy is at the moment, that's no surprise.

Now on the upside, I have been able to land a few interviews. Usually, I have the skills they need (you know, the writing, editing, researching, and marketing techniques). Unfortunately, I don't have the experience they desire.

I understand that when a company is hiring, they want someone with the experience--even though they say education matters too--but don't consider those that don't have it. Unless there's an extreme need. Now, I'm not saying this is always true because it's not.

Now my question is, how are we suppose to acquire the experience the companies need, if no one is willing to take a gamble on us "inexperience" job seekers?

Ah, yes. No one ever said finding a job was easy, but I do hope someone will be willing to take a gamble on me.

To all my fellow job seekers out there, good luck! And remember, don't give up.

Till next time.

About Finishing Act I and Creating a Great Screenplay

I had a crazy adventure this month with my working on Act I.  I will admit it was a bit frightening staring at a blank page for what seemed like hours with my: trying to figure out what should come first, whether I needed to begin my story with Voice Over (V.O) or a flashback.

Yes, they might be minor things to worry about, but at the beginning of the month they were very important to me, and made me feel like I was a complete and total wreck!

This is when I started to remember how many had recommended writing warm-ups before focusing on any project. Yeah, I've done warm-ups before but not on a daily basis. So what I ended up doing was used these warm-ups as a daily road map, to help me get to my goal, which of course I would come up with as I wrote for ten minutes.

Once Act I was completed, I couldn't help but feel proud of myself for I had accomplished something very important.

On Monday we will begin writing Act II and I'm really anxious. Everyone knows Act II is what keeps and truly makes the story.

A great screenplay has a great beginning. An AWESOME middle. And a memorable ending.

In fact as I'm writing this, my heart is raising. I'm nervous, excited, and ready for this new challenge.


Till Next Time

I'm Finally Getting it, you Know Writing....

Today I decided to watch a movie from Netflix, and I've been meaning to watch Revenge of the Bridesmaid, so that's what I did. Mine you, I wanted to just watch a movie and not think about the writing format, you know, what a script should have: inciting incident, key incident, plot point I, midpoint, plot point II.

Yeah, I didn't want to think about that. All I wanted to do was watch a movie and enjoy it. But something happened. Something exciting!

I enjoyed the movie. Frankly I would see it again, but that's not the point...

What's truly important is that as I watched the movie, I was able to spot all the small scenes, and dialogue, that made the movie flow, that made it transition from one point to another. I knew where the inciting and key incident where. I also figured out what plot point 1&2 dealt with, and of course what scene made the midpoint.

By the end of the movie I was all giddy!

I finally can spot these important things without really thinking about them.

Hard work does pay off! And also reading a bunch of scripts.

Till next time

Writing Warm-Ups are Actually Helpful, so I've Heard...

So this week we had to start working on the first 8-10 pages of Act I. Now remember, a script should be 120 pages, that is 120 minutes, but now, most are less than 120, and the few that are over 120 are exceptions i.e Lord of the Rings. Remember this when you write your script...

Hey, that's just how Hollywood rolls.

I will admit, I was a bit hesitant, nervous, and of course, I plainly stared at the screen for the first few days. You know, the usual.

But the one thing that I would constantly do was think: How am I going to start this? Do I want a flashback? Do I want to start with v.o? How do I want to start my story?! [insert pulling hair here.]


A complete headache!

Then I remembered...

A few months back I read Plot and Structure by Scott Bell, and he said that one should always start the day with a 10-minute writing warm-up, you know, to get things going.   Now his warm-up seems generic(to me), so what I did was changed it a bit to fit around my 8-10 pages with something like:

Today I want to start with....

and the following day:

Today I want to describe this scene with_____________ because _________

And the day after with:

Today for this particular scene I want to express __________ and want Emma to be seen as _______


Believe me, this warm-up helped me when an hour or two later, I had to sit down and start typing my script.


It's like I knew what I wanted and all I had to do was fill the pages with words.

So far I think this was a good start. Now, I just hope it gets better.

Oh, and try morning, afternoon, or evening writing warm-ups before writing your story, or continuing where you left off. Who knows what might it help you with... and remember tweak it a bit to fit your needs.

Till next time.