Thanks to luckylove(and batswing for showing willing), my feed garymurning is now available on LJ. Simply go to garymurning to add the feed to your friends' page.

Oh, and let me know here if you've friended the feed, please -- it doesn't list subscribers, and I'd hate anyone to fall through the net.

After a lot of thought, I've decided to move my blog to MySpace. The only reason for this is convenience; my screenwriting group and film-making network is over there, so it seemed the logical thing to do.

The blog URL is: http://blog.myspace.com/garymurning

If any kind soul (and paying LJ user) fancies setting up an LJ feed, it would be GREATLY appreciated.

I'll still be checking my friends' page and commenting where appropriate -- so you ain't getting rid of me ;-)

Ok, the temperature is actually heading down a little, but your 'Umble Screenwriter is, nevertheless, still sweating his 'nads off -- gulping the syrupy air like it's in short supply (which, let's face it, it is). We had an impressive hill fire a couple of days ago, which hasn't helped the air quality... I swear, the smoke rolled DOWN the hills and settled in our back garden, sniggering and pointing.

But anyway -- I don't know about you, but I'm fed up to the back teeth with this heatwave malarky. Enough, already. Let's talk about something else, and try not to sweat on the soft furnishings.

As already reported, draft one of HE SLEEPS, SMILING is complete. I've just finished a timed read through and it comes in at one and three-quarter hours -- which is a vast relief, since I was convinced I'd ran to over two hours. If it was intended as a cinema production, I'd probably trim it a little, but as it's intended as a two-hour one-off TV drama, this gives me room to do the rewrites I want AND build some of the scenes/story elements. This is good. Already dramatically tense, I know I can now crank this up further -- without tipping it over the edge.

Room to play.

I've also just started researching a new TV project, which I've decided not to talk about in too much detail. It's one of those high concept storylines that, assuming it gets produced, has the potential to make LOST look like the atrophying quasi-Christian nonsense that I, sadly, think it may well be becoming. Even the working title would give too much away (Googling it would tell you all you need to know), so I must remain tight-lipped. I bet you're breathing a sigh of relief, right?

The BBC has had WE LIVE AMONG THE SHADOWS for about ten weeks. Still far too early to read anything into it/get excited. At this stage, to be perfectly frank, I'll be happy with a request to read more work. That in itself would be an achievement.

Of course, a huge cheque would be good, too ;-)

Draft one of the new script, HE SLEEPS, SMILING, is now complete!

More later... once I've recovered ;-)

Typically, nothing much is happening in my little corner of Paradise. The temperature is in the low thirties (celcius ;-)) and the first draft of the new script (HE SLEEPS, SMILING) is almost complete. It looks like coming in at over two hours, so draft two is going to require some judicious pruning. It's highly do-able, however, and it will probably benefit from a little tightening up. Very happy with it.

I've been watching with dismay, as I'm sure most of us have, the sickening events in the Middle East. Man's capacity for rank stupidity and barbarity never ceases to amaze me. What is the the military significance of a civilian convoy? Pitiful.

On a lighter note, Big Brother. Is the vile Jayne utterly deranged? And why on earth are they all being so nice to her?! Horrible, silly woman.

Watched Geisha a week or so ago. A serious let-down, I felt it lacked authenticity and, in the final analysis, was little more than a Hollywood romance. Whilst it was visually quite beautiful, it had little else to offer... I'd even go so far as to say that the 1970's mini-series, Shogun, had a more convincing ring to it.

A little more work, and then a read in the shade, I think.

You can now subscribe to have my blog delivered directly to your email inbox by visiting my website www.garymurning.co.uk

Also, my new screenwriting group, Screenwriting UK, is now up and running at http://groups.myspace.com/screenwritersuk. Know a budding screenwriter? Please tell them about us!

 

For luckylove:

During a spacewalk live on NASA TV moments ago:

Astronaut 1: It's dark down there.

Astronaut 2: Is it? I've got my eyes closed.

Not exactly the pinnacle of space humour, but it made me smile.

It's true. For as long as I can remember, I've been someone who has delighted in that little (32" widescreen, so little by today's standards) box in the corner of the room. I cut my teeth in the late '60s on Jackson Five cartoons, Basil Brush, Pinky and Perky and, naturally, Doctor Who. My disablity meant that toddling/running about the house causing havoc was out of the question. I played, I had parents who loved and nurtured me, I had playmates and family. But I had my telly, too, and I loved it.

Even then, however, my life had balance -- as I believe it has today. I loved music and quickly learned that books could offer a richer, more personal version of what television gave me. I liked stories, whatever form they took (most of my favourite songs have a narrative to them), and I understood on some level that individual stories served different purposes -- this one was just for "fun" and this one was intended to "teach" me something. Television taught me many things (back in the day of three channels, it wasn't unusual to find Little Me watching Open University programmes), but, primarily, it was and still is about entertainment, for me, at least.

More to the point, it was and is about convenient escapism.

It's all too easy to condemn this ubiquitous medium as low-brow -- as a mind-numbing, virus-like disease turning our society into something less than it should be with its reality shows and banal soaps, and, yes, there is much that I hate about current programming... but does it deserve this? I tend to think not.

Good drama, debate, documentaries by the boat-load, more sport than you can shake a javelin at... and, of course, all of this will get even better once the BBC starts producing my work ;-) Something for everyone.

I do, however, think it is capable of far greater things -- in the realm of drama, in particular -- and this is something I may return to in a future post.

If there's nothing good on telly.

I think the ninety minute script is going to run to a hundred and twenty minutes, which I'm happy with -- even though it will mean "fixing" its three-act structure a little, once the first draft is done. The first eighty minutes are nailed down, and its bloody intense... I love it (but, then, I would). It has a serious subtext, a study of powerlessness and what can happen when the tables are turned, but above all it's character-driven, psychologically rich entertainment.

I'm still a little exhausted and behind with everything (except the writing). With the heat we're currently having to endure, I'm being sure to rest when I'm not writing. I have only limited energy at best, and this just ain't best ;-) This time tomorrow, I WILL be a puddle.

So if I've missed anything important, throw a spitball or something at me.

Thought for the day: Cherie Blair -- you wouldn't want to leave the light on, now, would you?

I will not ever eat anything containing Birdseye chilis ever ever EVER again.

I should write this a thousand times, or get it tattooed somewhere -- or, better still, see if I can get some funky little implant that gives me an electric shock every time I even THINK of partaking. It's time to admit to myself that whilst I might look youthful and vibrant, my stomach is old and fucked. I have to learn to treat it with care, talk to it kindly -- stroke it on occasion, even. Shoveling Stuff That Burns into it is, verily, not the act of a Wise Man.

But since when have I been a wise man?

Never mind. Whilst the gastro-intestinal landscape may be a little war torn, my room is, at least, well on its way to being finished. I just need curtains and a new light, than it's done. I'm extremely happy with the way it looks. So much brighter. Nice to be working in there, again, too...

... although, that said, I've taken a few days off to recharge. I'm well ahead of schedule and don't want to rush it when it's going so well. That would be almost as foolish as eating more chili ;-)

I watched Walk the Line on DVD on Thursday evening. Wonderful. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Even Reese Witherspoon impressed, which surprised me (not a fan of hers).

Oh, and if anyone even CONSIDERS a Burning Ring of Fire joke, I'm going to have to smack them one!

;-)

I haven't worked with this degree of intensity in a long while. Novel-writing doesn't allow it, simply because it's more of a marathon than a sprint, but a screenplay almost demands it -- especially one like this, which is brooding and psychologically complex. If I "lived" a novel-length project with this degree of intensity and involvement, I'd be dead by the end of it! A scenario my detractors would no doubt applaude :-D

There are a few folk out there that I need to email/catch up with. And I will, very soon. I promise. Tonight has been set aside for the England v Sweden match, however, so I'm afraid you'll have to wait just a little bit longer ;-)

Also, before I forget, I'm thinking of posting the script for HE SLEEPS, SMILING behind a filter. Let me know if you'd like to be on the list.

I think I overdid it yesterday... well, this past week, I guess. Thirty minutes' worth of a ninety minute script in the bag in just over a week and my head now feels like a pumpkin at Hallowe'en.

Tell me something interesting -- something that might help fill the cranial void. Please.

It looks as though some kind of major incident, or the threat of one, is taking place in Middlesbrough town centre. My parents called about half and hour ago saying that parts of town were being evacuated and sealed off. Given their description of events, I told them to leave town immediately. Fortunately; they just got out of the car park before that was locked down, too.

From what they saw on the way out of town, it looks like the centre is being completely evacuated.

Nothing on the news, yet. Police helicopter went overhead a few moments ago.

And now we have thunder. The Universe has a sick sense of humour.

I haven't been updating as much as I would like to just recently. The main reason for this, perhaps predictably, is the almost perpetual distraction of HE SLEEPS, SMILING. It's a wonderful project to work on; lots of shades and character complexity. I can't really comment in any meaningful way on whether or not it is "good", but it's doing everything I want it to do and as premature as this might be, I really feel as if I've found a niche that, with time and the right support, I can really make my own.

On top of this, the weather has taken a surprising turn for the better, so I've been trying to make the most of it (although today finds me hiding from the heat in the living room with the fan inches away and the football on!)

In other news: I've finally picked my new carpet! It was a lot easier than I'd expected, once I set my mind to it. A pale, biscuit-coloured wool twist (think undercooked digestive biscuit and you're getting there). I wanted something plain, but which was also hard-wearing and didn't show up my wheel marks. Pretty much exactly what I was looking for.

This coming week's main task is finding suitable wallpaper. Two lots. One for above the dado, the other.... oh, work it out ;-) Should be fun.

Might take pictures when it's done.

Almost forgot. I don't seem to be getting LJ notification emails through. If I've missed any replies or comments, please give me a shout.

Unbelievable. They arrived when they said, were nice chaps, didn't damage anything and were gone in under an hour.

Yes, my wardrobes are now fitted and it's safe to say it was worth getting up early for.

Now I just have to pick wallpaper...

... and carpet...

... oh boy.

He Sleeps, Smiling is now underway. I had planned on getting all my notes and research in place first, but I'm afraid it did what the exciting projects always do -- grabbing me by the lapels and spitting "WRITE ME, MUTHAFUCKA!" in my face. So I'm doing as I'm told, happy in the knowledge that any research can be done if and when required.

Getting my wardrobes fitted on Wednesday -- so we'll finally be able to start getting the room decorated and put back together. I'll be a little odd, I'm sure, once again having a fully-functioning bedroom/office. I'll get used it ;-)

Isn't that always the way? No story ideas for days, and then two come along at once.

It looks like If I Never is going to have to wait. I was talking to my father on Friday evening and we got onto the subject of a TV script I wrote many moons ago (late 1980s). The script, though never produced, attracted interest. Rewrites were read but... well, long story short, it was a good idea, but I just didn't have to the writing "maturity" that this kind of story requires. So, bouncing the idea around with Dad again, I quickly saw just how vital it still was. The weaknesses of the original were obvious and ways of dealing with them came thick and fast.

I'm treating it as a wholly new piece, without refering to the original scripts, and I'm EXTREMELY fired up.

REQUEST: For this piece, I need to work in fairytale elements -- the dark, traditional variety, not the sanitised modern varients. I'm especially looking for tales relating to abducted/murdered children. Plenty to choose from there, I know, but what I ideally want are less well-known tales. I'm scouring the Net, naturally, but if you have a particular favourite you'd like to share, be my guest ;-)