On The Watchlist

Just an annual reminder that you shouldn’t be relying on the first of January to reflect upon whether or not the circumstances you consent to are in your best interest. This is little more than a knee-jerk reaction to the cultural pressure to convey self-improvement; a vast majority of people posturing for social approval, rather than having their goals stemming from a sincere initiative to make change. So may this “New Year’s Resolution” be your last, as you acknowledge your ability to overcome procrastination, stagnancy, and monotony, as you desire, when you desire.

Writing advice from my uni teachers:

If your dialog feels flat, rewrite the scene pretending the characters cannot at any cost say exactly what they mean. No one says “I’m mad” but they can say it in 100 other ways.

Wrote a chapter but you dislike it? Rewrite it again from memory. That way you’re only remembering the main parts and can fill in extra details. My teacher who was a playwright literally writes every single script twice because of this.

Don’t overuse metaphors, or they lose their potency. Limit yourself.

Before you write your novel, write a page of anything from your characters POV so you can get their voice right. Do this for every main character introduced.

It’s just about finding that balance

“In law a man is guilty when he violates the rights of others. In ethics he is guilty if he only thinks of doing so” - Immanuel Kant

“Lobbying is about foresight. About anticipating your opponent’s moves and devising counter measures. The winner plots one step ahead of the opposition. And plays her trump card just after they play theirs. It’s about making sure you surprise them. And they don’t surprise you.”

Miss Sloane (2016) dir. John Madden

love those book series that are like

1st book: Hero goes on a big adventure, makes a bunch of friends, and saves the day!

Latest book: Hero copes with debilitating PTSD while growing increasingly disenchanted with the moral dubiety of the people and world around them, yet nevertheless still strives towards a heroic ideal.

You see, hear, smell, touch, and feel everything through words. You should even feel your balance and inner sensations just by reading a script.

When putting together a scene on paper..

Be it in a script or in the early stages of notes, describe as much as you can. It’s better to have more to work with later, and you can always narrow it down in the process. Personally, I like to draw scenes out to help submerge myself into a piece. Working with your senses you can help others do the same when they’re looking at or even just reading your film and or writing.

Describe it as if you’ve never thought about the idea. Like you’re walking into a completely foreign place, because that’s what everyone else will be doing when they see your work

The Book of Dogs. An Intimate Study of Man’s Best Friend-Pt 1

Published by Natl. Geographic in 1919, this book includes outstanding 73 natural color portraits of dogs from original paintings by Louis Agassiz Fuertes.