Exchanged several emails with Troy today about the proposed documentary. He is pumped. We discussed the business side of things and several upcoming events we need to try and film. Wow. This is moving fast.
Got a great email from Chuck. He sent a URL for CHUD where Patrick can submit Mercy. Something called Sewer Subterranea.
I forwarded it on to Patrick.
One of the things Patrick and I talked about were the character names.
He doesn't like very many of them and I agree. I sent him a list of names today that I do like. My favorite were Angel for Lorain, Cain for Shane, and Peter for Pedro.
I had lunch with Troy today. He mentioned us doing a documentary for the Buccaneers. I think its a great idea.
I need to get with Scott and talk about it.
Patrick and I talked about the script. I didn't have to wait very long.
He has some concerns about the tattooed fingers I've given Shane. He really likes it, but wants to make sure it hasn't been used in any other film. He mentioned Robert Mitchum in Night of the Hunter.
I think we're okay with the tattoos, but I can't be sure. I'll scour the internet.
He mentioned that he was pushing the shoot back to June. I told him I was coming out.
Now I just need to tell my boss.
And Christy.
Heard from Patrick today. He's booked a theater in Tucson to show Mercy for a one week run in late June. That'll qualify it for Spirit Award consideration.
He's gotten four offers from various distributors for Mercy. I think he's holding out for Unearthed Films.
He also heard from Cinema Shock magazine. Looks like they will be reviewing Mercy in their next issue, probably in the summer.
Got another PR email from Patrick on Mercy. It will be screening at the Arizona International Film Festival which runs from April 20-29
I finally broke down and sent an email to Chuck to catch him up on everything. I miss him. He was really excited about Red 71 and mentioned he might be able to come down for part of it.
That would be awesome.
Talked to Patrick about the first draft of Red 71. I couldn't tell if he liked it or not.
This has happened before. Part of being a writer is sending your ego out with everything you write. I don't know how other writer's handle it, but I need praise (preferred) or damnation (better than nothing) about my work. Patrick can be very business like with his feedback. I suppose that's a good trait to have as a producer.
But it can be maddening.
We talked about ways to open the story up and a few elements he wanted to change. As usual, nothing too specific - just gentle nudges. I'm glad we talked. I'm ready to get back to work.
Oh yeah. This is definitely going to be shot. Patrick mentioned May.
Completed the first draft of Red 71 and got it off to Patrick.
Two and half days. 47 pages. Really short.
I had fun with this and went a bit nuts with a couple of the characters. As usual, I'll be a wreck until I hear back from Patrick.
Got a reminder email from ScriptPIMP about their contest. I doubt I get The Foundry ready in time. Sigh.
The package finally arrived. I devoured the short story in just a few minutes.
It sucks. The writing anyway. The core story, like most of Patrick's ideas, is excellent. I just have to figure out how to get it out of there.
I think I'm going to do a direct transcription of the dialog and alter the setting as necessary.
The Foundry is officially on hiatus.
Talked to Patrick again. We reviewed his ideas for Red 71 again and I took my usual notes - red ink scribbles on scraps of paper.
Patrick can be really funny - and most of the time he doesn't realize it. He told me that the script should pretty much write itself because the short story has all the elements he's looking for. But I will need to make a couple of small changes...
Instead of Chicago during prohibition, it needs to be set in the desert southwest in more modern times.
Oh yeah, no cities, just rural locations.
Oh and we need to make it a horror.
I LOVE working with Patrick. His head is as twisted as mine.
Still no package. Arrrgghhh!
Back to The Foundry
Worked like a madman on The Foundry last night. Patrick's new project is coming and I'm still struggling to get the second act rewritten and it needs to be complete by the end of March for entry into this year's contest circuit.
I did take little time to see if I could find out anything about Red 71 or Paul Cain. I scoured the web and found quite a bit about Paul Cain (real name George Sims). He wrote several pulp fiction short stories and novellas. Red 71 seems to be a particular favorite among his fans.
I couldn't locate an online copy of Red 71. Patrick tells me that it's in the public domain so it seems like it should be out there. I did find some excerpts. Just enough to whet my apetite.
Eagerly awaiting the package.
Patrick is the master at monosyllabic communications in email. I've gotten dozens of emails from him that contain less than five words. Today's email was titled "Would like to talk". The actual message was "A good time?"
That's about as wordy as he gets.
I let him know I was available and he called and we chatted for a bit. He told me that he wasn't going to be able to raise funds for Monster this year and apologized. I told him this wasn't completely unexpected and it wasn't a problem. He'd like to try again next year.
He mentioned that to keep the momentum going that he has achieved with Mercy, he needs to shoot something this summer. He thought he could raise 10k or so and had a project in mind.
He told me about a short story written the 1930's by pulp fiction author Paul Cain called Red 71. He told me a bit about the story and offered to let me write it to get a writing credit. Because of the project's low budget he wouldn't be able to offer a WGA signatory deal.
I was intrigued and I want the credit - so I said yes. Besides, I like the way Patrick's mind works.
Of course he needs a rapid turnaround.
He's sending me the short story.
