Over the last
several years (okay, 12), I have been turning my attention toward writing. It
is my first love and it is way more seductive and thoughtful than acting. Over
these years I have developed, with varying degrees of success, two novels and
several screenplays, most still in some stage of development today. Thing is,
if something is not quite ready for publication/filming but not hopeless enough
to give up on, what do you do???
My friends know
how tenacious I am. If I think or know something is viable but just needs some
spit and polish, I’m all for it. Give me the cleaning cloth and I will gather
the hork. I will polish till the End of Days. BUT…. but…
I have also seen
several drafts of either a novel or screenplay get completely thrown out
because of well-intentioned but aggressive polishing. Tossed away, discarded,
dismissed, deemed unworthy.
… And then
crawled back to on contrite hands and knees as I (or we) realize that there was
much of value in that unpolished story. In fact, that old draft was responsible
for the original green light/great feedback, so why did it get completely
tossed out?
It is a hard
lesson. On the one hand, if we are diligent, if we are open, if we are
committed and dedicated and savvy, why should we rest on old laurels? Shouldn’t
we always be changing and shifting to accommodate the new or the many (other
opinions)? And yet on the other hand, if there is life and energy in
everything, why not also stand behind the original, the seed, the baby?
Why throw it all
out when a little judicious bailing might be more in order?
I’ll tell you
why: because sometimes you just don’t know. Sometimes you have to get rid of
that water in order to value it. Sometimes the bailing works in reverse—throw
it all out, then scoop back in what you need or see now to be essential and
valuable.
I can’t help
wondering if this doesn’t also apply to life choices––friendships,
relationships, work—and not just writing.
Deb:
Barb and I had submitted a project we were working on to two possible
broadcasters. Although they were both interested and in fairness gave it a
great deal of thought, they passed for various reasons. Barb and I had to sit
down and honestly examine what it was that did not resonate with them. We had
to dissect it and not be precious with it. I will say that we are
very good at doing this. We don’t hang onto things if they are not
working. But ... at what point do
you say, “Hey, this is good. I believe in this. I am not going to give up on
it, no matter what people are saying.” It’s hard to know when that time is, isn’t
it? And we still struggle with this every single time we put ourselves out
there. And we have let go many many times.
But
this time we decided that we were not ready to let this particular project go.
As a result, we are making a presentation pilot by the good graces of crew I
have worked with who believe in us and are giving us a full day of shooting,
GRATIS. These are very busy working professionals who are doing this, did I
mention––for free. Because they are artists themselves; they
support projects and people they believe in. Pretty friggin special, isn’t
it? So we are taking the written
page and adding images to it, which is as spelled out as we can get. And this
time if they don’t bite, we will let it go. But not, as you can see, without a
fight.
I
find the real-life version of this easier. In life, I am pretty good at knowing
when to fold up camp or when to set up camp in someone’s heart or mind. With
business, it ain’t so easy. So please wish us luck and stay tuned!
