July 2010

Wow. I am SOOOO behind.

It’s nearly the end of 2010 and I’m still playing catch up. Let’s knock out JULY. As our story left off, I had returned from Australia and was about to move into my little house up the street from Mel.

July 2: Still going back and forth with our Aboriginal Consultant for the Dark Things story. While the content is strong I had some concerns that it will go slower than normal. So Kerri and I discuss taking an existing spec and tweaking it for Australia.

In the meantime, I was packing up my office where I had secretly lived since August of ’09.

July 6: Christa invites Patrick and I to the 2001 Maniacs premiere on the 15th.

I sent Thunder to Kerri and our producer, Mike Lake, as a possible Australian feature.

I started moving into the new place.

July 7: We decided to rewrite Thunder so that it takes place in both Oz and the States. Australian film goes through a government system and in order to take certain bonuses and benefits there are story and location factors to take into consideration. But we can’t to just tell an Aussie story as we’ll need American box office to pay for the production, so we decided to appeal to both. Easier said than done but I is a gooder writer than most. To some degree the model would be Croc Dundee. Aussie story with ‘merican crossover. I talked with Dean about it. He loved the idea.

July 8: Kerri and Mike loved Thunder. I sent WOLFBANE as well.

In the two bedroom house, Izzie ended up with the master bath. Mel suggested the master closet for Izzie’s bed. If you are thinking ‘arry Potter then I’m okay with that. The room would have her work desk and computer desk and book shelves while the walk in closet would be her little fortress of sleep.

Later we would put big fantasy stickers all over the walls. But Izzie LOVED it.

At the end of the day on the 8th we were shown the DRIVE ANGRY trailer to be unveiled at comic-con. It is interesting to pour your heart and soul into something then watch as it is handed to others to market. We cross fingers.

July 11: We added RIDDLE ME THIS to the possible Australian package.

July 13: Patrick read the newly tweaked “THE WANTING” based on a real life ghost story that happened to young Melanie when she was a kid. We would include it along with PARASITE in the Australian package.

My father sent me a piece of artwork for the new place. Of course the package was booby trapped.

Behold the prize. It’s velvet. And it’s lights. It’s art that glows. I think it may be older than me.

July 15: 2001 Maniacs. Christa was fun. Saw so many horror nuts there. Kane, Tyler and Renea, Mike Mendez…and later I learned my buddy Matt Thompson was there but never saw him. And while I don’t think Brian Collins was there but his title sequence was amazing.

Speaking of Brian. Let’s take a moment to talk about HORROR MOVIE A DAY. Brian watches a different horror movie every single day, then he writes a review of it. We’re talking everything from the horros that pulled in a 100 million to the horror that that makes you slightly more stupid for watching. Brian doesn’t hold back or pull punches in his reviews. If you know horror, understand the subtleties and magic of horror then don’t be surprised if you are constantly laughing so hard during the reviews that you cry. I do.

July 16: After hosting my website since 01, Gearworx informed me they would be closing their doors.

So the house was coming along nicely. I was still awaiting delivery of all the LA crap that has been in storage for 5 years. Bed, couches…kitchen stuff…all my Stephen King books…beyond that…I can’t recall.

Mel threw her iPhone in the ocean and switched to the Droid. She took much pride in taking cool photos and having incredible non-AT&T reliable service.

July 18: Jace Anderson and Adam Gierasch 1yr.

July 20: I signed four copies of a Certificate of Engament for an adaptation of the video game Heavenly Sword I wrote back in Nov of 09. While I was paid commencement back in 09 and even though I delivered in 09, I was still waiting on delivery payment. (I’m writing this on Dec 8 of 2010…I finally received delivery payment four days ago.)

TWC has been dethroned as the slowest to pay. This is a good thing considering we’re now back in bed with them for the HELLRAISER adventure.

And then all my crap showed up from LA. UGH. Did we really put IKEA furniture in storage for 5 years at 150 bucks a month? Suddenly my particular level of stupid reached an all time high. And I had to leave for Comicon so there would be no time to deal with the mounds and mounds of boxes.

July 21: I cut two full days out of ComicCon. I fly in on Wednesday and fly out Sunday morning and I love it! Next year I might fly in on Thursday and fly out on Saturday.

Comicon highlights. FJ and Irene.

Reactions to Drive Angry are humbling, overwhelming. I meet Bruce Jones. Thomas Jane and I bury the hatchet (of course, it won’t last). Horror writer’s panel. Already covered the con in real time back in July…so will move on.

Back home and off to the movies.

Our Millennium brothers and our old pals and LG planned their box office attack.

The rest of the month was mostly unpacking. Goodwill. Garbage and lots of dusting.

Here we see Dean Lorey in his natural habit. Clear encased Carbonite. We bought this a million years ago during one drunken evening at The Grove. It now sits on my self next to a Skywalker Sound mug, some Play-Doh and a box of condoms.

I found an ancient box stuffed with old D&D books and character sheets. Stacks of campaigns packs. I took a nostalgic moment to mentally hug all the geeks in the world.

The first screenplay I wrote for money.

Finally. I was all moved in. I even had/have a guest iMac for would be visitors with net surfing needs.

I love the new place. Izzie and I can pop out back for evening marshmallows. It’s right up the street from Mel so if either of us have an issue, help is literally a block away.

And that brings July to an end.

It’s December as I write this. The 8th to be exact. Patrick called me at 1:40 Tuesday morning having just locked picture on Drive Angry. It is done. That chapter is complete. At least until press and release. Thanks to all who have hung with us through the ups and the down.

I’ll try to slam thru August, September, October, November and December during the break.