Entered a contest

With the script. Not thinking I'd win but who knows?

Draft 4 is done and copyrighted.

I asked around and I've found copyrighting a script is a good way to protect your work.

Nearing the end

Frantly it's might not be up to snuff compared to other Hollywood scripts but I think I might try to get it looked at and take it from there.

Working on Draft #4

At this time I'm working on adding some plot to the screenplay. Basically Matthew attends church and has questions as to why God/Jesus would let this happen to him.

Deep in thought

I'm been listening to a lot of music lately. Just searching for a spark, pop or something. But then it hit me. The perfect song if I wanted to change the character of Matthew to a kid who quickly made peace with the fact he had a stroke at the age of nine to a bitter, angry, violent person. The song is Riot by Three Days Grace.

If you feel so empty
So used up, so let down
If you feel so angry
So ripped off so stepped on
You're not the only one
Refusing to back down
You're not the only one
So get up

Let's start a riot, a riot
Let's start a riot
Let's start a riot, a riot
Let's start a riot

If you feel so filthy
So dirty so fucked up
If you feel so walked on
So painful so pissed off
You're not the only one
Refusing to go down
You're not the only one
So get up

Let's start a riot, a riot
Let's start a riot
Let's start a riot, a riot
Let's start a riot

If you feel so empty
So used up, so let down
If you feel so angry
Just get up

Let's start a riot, a riot
Let's start a riot
Let's start a riot, a riot
Let's start a riot

The song has meaning to me. Of course that's not always the way I felt after the stroke but I had my moments when I was mad as fuck.

Starting the 3rd draft

Last night I started draft number 3. I wanted to tackle main things like building relationships with 2 pivotal characters. I wrote three more pages and it's looking up.

Draft 3!

Since I don't have a time frame to work with and there's nothing that says the 2nd draft is finished, I decided to end said draft and move to #3 which will be more relationship oriented between characters.

More depth

The more I write the better I fel about the appearance of the script. Hopefully there will come a time when I'm satisfied enough with it.

New day

I added a little depth to the ending. Things are pretty slow at the moment writing-wise.

Sunday, sunday, SUNDAY!

I spent Sunday just adding a few things and changing the ending from a happy one to a not so happy one.

Writing...

I took a few days off from writing but I'm back with it. Just adding stuff to the story.

Touched on a big point in the script.

Early on the doctors of Matthew told his mother to get in contact with his family because things didn't look good. But she never gave in to that suggestion. Just hoping and praying he'd pull through, which he eventually did.

At a snails pace

Editing and revising is going slow now because I want things to get as good as possible. It could be the never-ending task but what the hell?

Afternoon writing.

With a cup of coffee by my side I went about to develop character relationships and the tention that may come.

Coffee & Tunes

Adding more depth to the characters and their relationships tonight. Looking to be a pretty good story.

Tuesday revision

Although my writing is slower than the first draft I'm concentrating by adding bit and pieces to the story.

2nd draft continues

This process will go a lot slower because unlike when you're first writing the corrections or additions are far more sporatic.

Started the second draft

I'm still taking it easy. Not rushing or anything. But during my days off I had a few ideas to give the characters and writing a bit more depth.

Draft 1 complete

I wrote the final pages this afternoon on draft 1 of Retard. What a feeling.

A day or two more at most.

I'm on page 87 and nearing the end of the script. I figure I'll wrap it up soon.

Sunday

Hopefully it will be the last Sunday for the first draft. I'm on page 84 and I'll probably finish around 92-95 pages. I recall the first script I wrote. It never flowed as well as this one did. But then again that screenplay was all thought up unlike this one which is based on real life experiences.

Early work today

I knocked out four pages today. Although I prefer writing at night I sometimes can do well in the afternoon. Who knew?

Knocked out a few pages

Coming toward the home stretch on my first draft of retard. It's going to be a good feeling.

Thursday night.

Wrote a few more pages. Finished about 75% of the script.

I have a bad cold/allergies

But I'm still writing. Hit page 70.

Busy day

With my folks in Vegas for a week I'm writing and trying to get laid. Writing is the top priority. I wrote three pages today. Even though I usually take Sunday's off from writing I might write tomorrow.

Friday Night Fights

Today is my script we saw the main character Matthew throw a punch at Kyle, his nemesis. Also we see Matthew going to the hospital a year later after having his second stroke.

Fooling around day

I'm writing and messing around with a few ideas for a scene. Granted, this is the first draft but I'm not pressed for time.

Adding day

Today I spent writing of course, but also adding to the script I had already written. Adding to character development, etc.

Moving forward

I'm on page 50. Typically screenplays are a minute per page so 90 pages is an hour and a half. I'm over half way there.

Therapy

I had to actually do some research because I couldn't remember all the therapists had me to to learn to walk again. Of course I'd like the script to be as accurate as possible.

Almost have way

The character is now undergoing physical and speech therapy just like I did. Weeeee!

Wednesday night writing

In the screenplay the main character Matthew is given a CAT scan and started physical therapy. Only now is the doctor, a neurologist able to shed some light on the situation.

More tests for Matthew

Matthew is my main character and he is undergoing tests in the hospital. The same tests I had to endure.

Friday night

Wrote several pages tonight covering more tests that I had done doing that time in my life.

Neurology appt.

I wrote early yesterday so I could catch up on sleep. My appointment is at 9:30 today. Just a check up. I am however going to bring a couple questions up. Like are there any case studies I can take part in the may hypothetically help my condition. How do you feel about stem cell research? Is that an option?

Early writing day

I wanted to mix it up today. All last night I kept getting up with ideas so while they were fresh in my head I wrote.

Monday 5/5

I took Sunday off. Figured that way I won't get burned out or anything. It seemed to help. Wrote several pages tonight.

Reach turning point #1

At least it looks to be a turning point. Reliving my past is so fun. God I love life.

Good thing I don't have a deadline.

Or I'd get fired. It seems more often then not when I write something I'll rewrite it with something I think is better. Wish I was one of those writer's who rewrites after the script is finished. At this rate I'll be here forever. FOREVER!

Late night

My younger brother is home from college and I had him read aloud the script so far. Damn if it doesn't sound 100% better. When I'm just writing often I second guess myself. For instance, I've rewritten the opening scene three times but hopefully that's the last time I do that.

Coffee night

I'm writing my first action sequence so this might be a slow writing part but if memory serves it will be good.

Early night

Ordinarily I'd stay up late. I do my best writing at night, but I'm walking up early tomorrow so I'm cutting the night short.

Enjoying my coffee

I've never been a writer how could write a draft without making changes along the way. Some can but I can't I get inspiration at a moments notice. I've even been known to get up in the middle of the night if I wake with an idea. I didn't write much at all yesterday but I made up for it today coming to the characters first real turning point in the story.

Breakthru

Well, it's a breakthru for the character at the very least. Something that makes the story move forward and the character grow. I guess making coffee tonight really did the trick.

April 21st

Writing today my main characters are coming along well. You'd think it would be easier to write about my past but my memory isn't as good as it used to be. Need to spicen things up a bit. Of course the script won't get written in a day, week or even a month but I can't give up.

Even I'm human

I went to bed rather early with the intention of getting up early to write and I did. I got up, made cofee and got ready to type then I realized something...I do my best work at night! That being said I think I'll catch a few more winks and try a little later.

Retard the Blog part deux

Oddly enough I remember a lot of the day I had the stroke (April 16, 1984) and while the script won't be verbatim of what happened then, there will be a lot of similarities. Only through experience can I draw a greater picture. You would think if I remember so much it would be easier to write. It isn't. I have to research the medical side of things to make it more accurate.

First blog for Retard screenplay

I've been writing a screenplay off and on a few months and yesterday my buddy, Monte brought up the idea of writing a blog to coincide with the screenplay. I thought it was a pretty good idea so here we go!

Without giving a way too much, the script Retard isn't what it sounds like. The character had a stroke at a young age and was forced to face general stereotypes like being called a retard by people who didn't know the whole story and were too stupid to ask.

The story, is loosely based on myself, having had a stroke at the age of nine.