Double Shot: Wrap Up

The Double Shot Festival was officially completed today around 2:30 p.m. An overall successful festival I'd say. The quality of the writing, in my opinion, was very good this year. Something interesting/redeeming about every script. And the festival itself was well attended. I'm told it was standing room only on Saturday night and it was almost filled to capacity today. Good turnout. Good turnout for new works.

I find that anytime you do something much faster than you would normally do it, you learn lessons much faster as well. Here's what I learned this time:
1. You can't force inspiration. I actually think I learn this lesson every time I write. I will still try and force it. And I will relearn this lesson every time I write.
2. Use the structure you know. Sometimes when you're stuck, the best thing to do is start with a structure you are comfortable with. We learn theory for a reason. Use it.
3. When all else fails, there are always sexual puns. I mean, of course, it helps when you have a theme like "lust" but I mean...any time you can get someone to say "jizz factory", you probably should.

And, as I'm sure you are waiting in anticipation, here's what was left of the food I bought to write:
1. Some pocky.
2. Coca Cola gummies
3. Partial bag of Baked Potato Chips
4. Small amount of dark chocolate covered almonds
And I did not get into the liquor/wine but I seriously thought about it.

With that, another year at Double Shot comes to a close. Thanks to NPA, the Broadway Center, and all the casts, writers, directors, and fine folks to put this shindig on. 

Double Shot: Now it's up to everyone else.

4:41 a.m. - Double Shot Script submitted.
After having just searched through my email (really unnecessarily at almost 5:00 a.m. because I was only searching for my own satisfaction), I can happily confirm that that is a whole 18 minutes earlier than my submission time last year so go me...I guess? Although, I believe the actual "hunker down and write" start time this year, despite not watching a full three hour movie for inspiration like I did last year, was about the same as last year. Oh well. You win some, you lose some and then you go to bed.

And after all of this, the good news is that I didn't fall victim to the sophomore slump...insomuch as I did get a script written and sent. At 5:00 a.m., I don't think you can rightfully tell anything about a script you've just written so...I'm going to leave the speculation about its level of decency until I wake up tomorrow (today).

Thanks for hanging out with me on this coffee induced, sleep deprived, delirious journey for the last ten hours. And special thanks to Emily, Amalia, and Chris who, in the end, inspired me more than scouring Pinterest, listening to a ton of lusty songs, and one completely false started script.

Good luck actors, directors, tech people, etc.
Onward!

Double Shot: A draft! A draft!

Mark it.
2:30 a.m. - a draft is finally done. And it's a draft I don't feel awful about. It's too long currently, so that's my next task.

Maybe I'll get this in by 5:00 a.m. like I did the last time. That would be three hours early. Although, that won't happen if I keep blogging about it. Especially when it's 2:30 a.m. and no one is reading the blog currently anyway.

Sneak peek of the script: it takes place in the abandoned Lusty Lady in downtown Seattle. It's probably not as lusty as you would hope, but I am putting as many of those amazing slogans as I possibly can in there.

Lusty later!

Double Shot: Aha moment!

Sometimes, what is counter intuitive will be the thing that helps you the most.

For example, when everyone converges on your apartment around 12:30am when you are really loathing the thing that you have starting writing. Then, in the midst of some witty banter and light humping, everything becomes clear.

See?

Double Shot: Fingers, Meet Keyboard

I have something on paper now. A little something. A start. But I'm not sure I like this start at all.

I took a shower to maybe help the thoughts along. It didn't really incubate anything like I thought it might. Last year, I showered at 3am when I had already done a couple of drafts of the script. It helped the final script.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

...I probably need to disconnect from the internetz. Yeah.

Double Shot: Everything but the

Still in inspiration searching mode currently. I have a location and some thoughts percolating but I'm trying to round it out. So far, it's really just one character in my head who isn't even a key to the main, to be determined, conflict.

And a wrench in the system: I've lost one of my actors. I mean, to be honest, it's not a big wrench as I don't have a single word of actual script written down yet. The director has offered to step in as the fourth in the cast in case I need him. So, this means I get to decide if I want a three person script or a four. Decisions, decisions.

In other news, it pays to have incredibly intelligent friends.
Text from my friend Jordan: "Have you looked at preraphealite paintings for lust? It's interesting to see how they depict the human form in a way that is both sexual and not."
And that went immediately onto my list of places to look for inspiration.

There has been a bit of a search change though. Actually expansion is a better word for it. The topic has expanded from sexual to money. Because after all, money makes the world go around. (Thanks Liza.)

Edit (10:11): Greed has more to do with money...duh. Although, it'll probably still appear in my play. So...there's that.

Ten hours left. Coffee is happening...NOW.

Double Shot: THE THEME

Double Shot is filled with the seven deadly sins this year. My sin: Lust.

Here's what I've done so far:
1. Looked up the definition of Lust - 1. intense sexual desire or appetite 2. uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite, lecherousness 3. a passionate or overmastering desire or craving 4. ardent enthusiasm; zest, relish
2. Looked up lusty songs on the internet. So far, I like Dance Inside by All American Rejects and Slow Like Honey by Fiona Apple the best.
3. Eaten an entire box of Macaroni and Cheese.

Next up:
1. More lusty songs.
2. Comb through the Pinterest board titled "Writing Inspiration" and hope for some.
3. Look up lusty historical notes and maybe some sonnets.
4. Go the opposite direction of all that.
5. Eat more and start in on the coffee.

And it's only been an hour...