Pretend this is me, screenwriting.

Hello! :) I can’t believe I survived actually went to the Austin Film Festival. The whole experience was so awesome, it really was like a dream. :)

Seems like only yesterday or last week or last month or whatever, I was freaking out over going to a film seminar in DC. Well, I’ve been to Austin and it’s so much like Portland, OR, it’s weird awesome! :)

And I must mention the amazing, awesome people I met there. Starting with Scott Rosenberg, who mentioned the amazingly suspenseful scene in Se7en. That movie really resonates with me, all around. Between that awesome scene, the actors, the writing, AND the seven deadly sins theme, you got a winner!!!!

Anyhow, if you haven’t seen the film, shame on you don’t watch this scene:

Yes, it all comes to a head (no pun intended) in that scene. Awesome!

I also gave Scott a copy of this book! :)

The print cover doesn’t look quite like that, but I hope it will. Someday. I’m working on that.

So … the next day, I got up bright and early to see Craig Mazin, who’s a big screenwriter. From Brooklyn, no less. Awesome! My protagonist, Sam McRae, is originally from Brooklyn. Just saying.

Here’s his blog, The Artful Writer, which I have on the blogroll of my blog for writers.

And then the day became entirely surreal even more awesome when I met Chris Carter, who created The X-Files and so many other shows, but The X-Files really meant something to me. And when he said that misfits were his favorite protagonists, that was SO awesome. So … when everyone was crowding around him for photo ops and questions, but then he started to leave, I clumped hastily hustled to intercept him. I extended my good hand and thanked him for The X-Files, “like you’ve never heard that one before.” Ha ha ha …

And then, even more astoundingly wonderfully, I got to walk down an alley with Frank Darabont, and talk about Raymond Chandler and how much we both loved his work, etc., etc. And, of course, I mentioned about my books and my script and so on, etc.

I’d go into much more detail, but I’ve got a gamey (sp?) hand, so … it’s hard to go on, you know?

Later, I met Michael Brandt, who wrote the screenplay for 3:10 to Yuma. Awesome! And I gave him a copy of the book shown above.

Furthermore, I met Bruce Feirstein, who seems like a really righteous dude. He seemed impressed when I told him about my NY Times bestseller and making the quarterfinals cut in Scriptapalooza. He even said he’d download my book! I hope he wasn’t just being nice likes it! :)

So then on Sunday, I went to a crowdsourcing panel, where I learned everything I’d done wrong on my own campaign.

But am I deterred? No. I learn from my failures. Especially the spectacular failures.

I realize my mistake was not going back to the grassroots marketing — phase one approach first. Make individual contacts.

Then, I looked at this post and it hit me.

Do they give stupidity awards? :)

I’d be most remiss if I didn’t mention Bad Parents. Click there to “like” the movie on Facebook, as I have done. :)

I’d also like to give a shout out to Junk and Ramon Isao. Nice to meet you, Ramon! :)

Plus I met David Ross, an actor/filmmaking guy chap bloke who hails originally from England, so naturally we I got to talking about my trip across the pond. And I told him The Story of Paul.

The awesome Paul at THE Brentwood Library.

It was especially great, because David is British, so he knows what the fuck a quizmaster is and I didn’t have to explain that part, like I do with idiot Americans.

So … what else? I met Billie Jean Van Knight, who was nice enough to give me a card. “Writings from a mind like a steel sieve.” I hear that! :)

Plus, I also met Audrey Gordon from Oasis Media Group, who gave me her card. Thank you, Audrey! Very kind. :D

I also wanted to mention the two people I met at The Lucky Lounge on Saturday night during the really loud pitch session. They didn’t have cards and, unfortunately, I have a mind like a steel sieve on drugs. Plus my brain is constantly torturing me. But I choose to be happy, so it makes all the difference. :)

So … good luck to the one who, like me, submitted a teleplay to the Scriptapalooza contest! :) Small world, huh?

BTW, I faithfully went to The Hideout Theatre for my daily cappuccino and espresso fix. The place reminded me so much of the kind of coffee shop you’d see in Portland, OR, I half expected to see my funny sister walk in the door any second. And, true to the name, the place has two of my favorite things: espresso drinks and movies! Awesome. :)

So … hello to the guy behind the counter who served the coffee! :) *waving*

And, as you can see if you click here, I did the teaser on Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar last night.

Somehow, this quote seemed most appropriate:

“There is a fine line between passion and gas.”

Jeff Goldblum born October 22, 1952

And here’s a great video from a band I love that came up in the search. They’re awesome and so very British! :)

PS: The truth is out there. ;)

PPS: I’m sorry I didn’t get any photos of the film festival. I was so busy trying to smile my shit-eating grin and talk to people, while my hand was being tortured hurting, that I kind of forgot to take any. :(

PPPS: More to come about the Amazon Studios presentation in the next post, after I’ve recovered my strength later.

PPPPS: For those reading this for the first time, yeah, I really do have five blogs. And, yes, it’s crazy, but I do it. This is how I roll. :) Surprise! :D