More on the Secret Project

So hey, remember back in early March when I mentioned that my friend Jake and I were trying to write a screenplay? No? Whaddaya mean, no? How could you have forgotten?

Well, I just thought I would give an update. We're just about done with the first draft, we just have to put the last couple scenes down on the page. It's at about 110 pages right now, and it's probably going to wind up just around 120 which I guess is the standard for a feature length script.

It really feels like we've been working on this thing for goddamn ever. I expected it would, as I have no previous experience writing screenplays and Jake has never written anything this long before. We've also been getting together to work on it for a few hours every week or two, and most of that time has been spent goofing around rather than actually writing. It's also pretty hard to write something as a team. Jake is the only one with a copy of the screenwriting program, so while he can work on it in his free time I have to meet with him to add anything. It's been a slow process.

What's weird is that it seems like everytime I read an interview with a screenwriter, they're saying something like "I wrote it in a single draft in four days." I suppose it's possible, but I'm always a little skeptical. I mean, Jake and I are just writing a silly comedy, and it took weeks and weeks to figure out a cohesive plot. We only just now figured out how it's going to end. I can't imagine writing something that long in a matter of days, let alone something that's good.

Our plans for the script are still pretty limited. I don't really have any expectations of selling it or having it made into an actual movie. I wouldn't know what to do if I did. We still plan on submitting it to the screenwriting fellowship thing put on by IFP and the McKnight Foundation, but a close look at the rules revealed a slight hitch. In order for a screenplay to be considered, the author(s) need to meet the criteria. They need to either (a) have already had a feature-length screenplay optioned for production, (b) have at least three feature-length screenplays copyrighted or registered with the Writers Guild of America, or (c) have a degree in screenwriting from an accredited institution. Jake has the screenwriting degree, but I currently have none of these.

The easiest way for me to meet the criteria would be to hammer out three quick screenplays (a la the writers who can write one in 4 days) and register them with the WGA. It costs $20 to register something, so that's $60 dropped on junk that I would just crap out as quickly as possible. In the face of a $25,000 prize that's nothing, but I do not have super high hopes for winning (I don't even know if they would consider a comedy in any esteem). The other option would be to have Jake submit it by himself. He would still split the money with me if we won, but I would receive no credit for my work. I think I'd rather pay the $60 to register three quick screenplays.

The application deadline isn't until February, so we still have a lot of time to work on the second draft and figure out how we will apply. And who knows, maybe we can figure out some improbable way to sell it to someone for a big pile of cash.