sab | (no subject)

Happens every year, like this, around Passover time. at least, they're having Passover on TV, Dan and Casey are. And Jeremy, and Pharoah's assistant Maggie.

But anyway, they're all in this place, and there's cutbacks, so Dana's looking for other work for Natalie in case the budget doesn't look good, and there's time to eat between shows, but there's running around, and matzoh, and in between, sitting on piles of those "I Survived Draft Day" t-shirts, they're making TV.

I still wanna make TV. How do I make TV?

Office jobs fire me because I come in late, because I oversleep. Once I'm there I'm brilliant, they love me, I have good ideas, I get busy. But I get ushed into uncreative positions (at PBS, I was in charge of the budget actuals) and I get cranky and I oversleep and then they yell at me and then they fire me because I'm not a team player.

I'm SO a team player. I want to be a team player on a TEAM, making TV.

I want a job where they won't fire me because I oversleep, because I know how to do this, what's more I'm good at this, *I* could do Natalie's job, I could certainly do Annabel's job. Every job I've had I've forged new ground, made contacts, made connections, gotten shit done in my inimitable Me way. But it always descends into paperwork and then I oversleep and then they fire me.

So, I say, "I don't like office jobs." What with the hours and the doing things I don't want to/am not equipped to do. Nobody would hire me as an accountant. But I'd account, if it were for the show, I'd account if I were MAKING TV.

So I say, I'll freelance, stay home till I sell a script. But that's the hard route, and the no money till I get there route, and I don't even want to sell a film script for the money, I just want it for the cachet, so I can be brought in elsewhere as a viable writer, so I can write, and not account.

And once you're a writer, they don't care if you oversleep.

I tell 'em, I'll work till midnight if you let me come in at 11 instead of 9, and that's okay if you're a writer but not if you're an accountant.

I've got no money. I've exhausted my contacts, maybe? Maybe not. Got not Movie Magic Screenwriter 2000.

So what do I do, next?

It's my birthday in a couple weeks. I want to make TV. What do I do next?

All I can do over here is not sleep. Ambien and Sports Night, and not sleep.

I need something else in my life. I need TV in my life, and right now, the closest I get is watching Nick at Nite. And it almost works, because it's something, but it's lonely, and it's not.

Like I'm knocking: "let me in!"

Jeremy's praying now, the kiddush, I'm crying now, hot Ambienated tears. let me in It's almost my birthday it's a new year, like Passover, let me in

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, E, I so hear you. A lot of that is me, too. And I wish I knew.

Okay.

Here's the deal: you should be making TV. You know this. I know this. Hell, we all know this.

When I met you, you were making tv. And you have to get back around to that place again. Note I do not say "Get back" alone. You have to get back around to it, it has to come around again and that means finding circumstances, making phone calls, getting to the people that can help you do that again. You know people, oh sab my sab. Tap them. Tap them hard.

It may mean writing a screenplay or a pilot and pushing yourself like crazy and you haven't done that in a while. I do believe though, that if you do it again, it will feel good, really good. You're too smart and talented for Ambien and Nick at Night. You're too good.

See, the deal is, you're like me in some respects: when you want to do it, you do it, you really throw yourself in and make it all happen. Look at the "Save Farscape" campaign. You threw yourself into that, made a film, put a lot of effort into saving something you believed in. All you have to do is focus that effort on you.

Start today by making some phone calls. Just one or two to the old gang at SciFi, the ones that are still there. If they're not there, call them anyway. Find out where they are. Get in touch with my boy Mark over at Nick animation, hell, I'll put you in touch. He's in the office, but he knows people in theatre all over that city. That's a start too.

I love you dear one. You should be making tv. So make it happen. You can. I know you can. I utterly believe in you.

Listen to qowf, for she is wise.

Look, David's back in LA now. So is Ricky. You know these guys, they know you.

You should have a West Wing spec script under your belt by now, and if you don't, what are you waiting for? Finish it already.

Ping Ricky. Call David. Ask them, "What do I need to do to get in the door?" Make a plan, ask for help, advice, names/contacts. What do you have you can show someone?

Hell, talk to Liz, who is already meeting with agents.

I want you to make tv too, my dear. Because my Tivo has nothing on it other than Farscape, Jossverse, and MASH and SN reruns.

O Captain my Captain, you are too brilliant to be in an office, even one where they let you oversleep.

Make a list of what you need to do. Check at least one thing off it each day. Yes, boring. But a plan is necessary.

Listen to QOWF. Call in your contacts and your favors and make some new ones through friends of friends. Find somebody making a film in your area and sign on with them doing script supervisor work or something writing related and that is also interesting. Do not compromise and take a job you hate or you'll end up in accounting and oversleeping.

I love you very much, but I don't understand this problem you have. Perhaps it's because I'm from the Midwest where we just suck it up and do the uncreative job so we have money and try to do what we love in our spare time. I can't imagine letting it slide or getting fired because I'm bored and unengaged or hate my job. I am often astounded watching your life because it's an actual option. It's like actually being Dorothy Parker. I can't even imagine that.

But I really do understand your frustration and the feeling that you're not doing what you SHOULD be doing. I understand that oh so very well.

So go out and do it. You're the one who actually can because you know the right people and have loads and loads of talent. Go out and knock on doors, and if that doesn't work, knock them down. Farscape isn't being made any more, but where are those people? They know you, too. What are they doing next and how can you hook up with some of them?

You have a million and one brilliant ideas, so write something to have in your hand, already. You and I both know that when you're carrying something finished it gives you instant credibility with other creatives.

Who do you know who is making an indie film right now? Who do you know who is actually filming a documentary? Who is shooting a pilot? Who is looking for a pilot? Give somebody a pilot.

You CAN do all these things and get back to doing what you love. People need you and your talent. TV needs you. I want to watch what you make.

Every word she said here, double from me. Especially paragraphs, um, two, three, and four. And the last one. I want to watch what you make, too. Hell, if you make a show, I might just be willing to go back on my solemn vow to be forever monofannish. So go DO it.

-J

Christ, yes. What she said.

PLUS, I'll up the ante:

I'll spend a month (a full 31-day month, mind you) keeping GLATT KOSHER when you sell your next script. Separate dishes, the works. I would do that to see something you wrote. Hell, yes.

SO yeah, everyone else can do the advice; I'll do the tea & sympathy. Birthdays suck. Mine is four days after yours, I think. Let's get drunk together.

love you. real live love.

and yes. you and me and m will make delightful drunks. and you'll be all you hope.

(small ambienated bird. tiny.)

Well, it'll be worth it to see Jood keep kosher.

which is to say, I made my calls today, and at least now with only $350 rent I can work for (?) free, almost, Will Write For Food, or, anyway, I don't need to whine about getting something that'll cover my bills.

I'd do one of those Unpaid Internships, except you need to be in school for those. It's true. I tried.

But anyway, I made my calls today.

And Chicago gals, won't you come out tonight, I love you so dearly and so much and thank you thank you thank you thank you.

But anyway, I made my calls today.

Good good. Because oy, to see Jood keep kosher? Pork rinds! And good good, because we want you to be happy, we do, and I too want to watch the TV you will make, TV with a clever head and a real heart and soul, soul soul, sweet soul.