The Farmer’s Daughter

Growing up in Benton Kentucky, once per year we all gathered around the court house to watch the parade and celebrate Tater Day. Tater Day began as a once a year Farmer’s Market sort of event but grew into…well…think the Academy Awards with pigs and horses. Pacific Grove has a similar event once a year. It’s called Good Ol’ Days.

Parade, Vendors, Old cars, topless firemen competing in assorted challenges and the list goes on.
There’s just something about small town people and small town living that melts all stress away. As a matter of fact, the only time I really feel the stress these days are during those trips back into LA. Last week for instance. I had a 3:00 pitch meeting where I would go in and dazzle the powers that be with my take on Amityville II. So at nine in the AM I hit the road. By 1:00 I was tooling through Ventura County. Although I’d hit some rain I was making splendid time. I’d make the meeting with 30 minutes to spare. I’m a fan of being early.
Of course, shortly after 1:00 I got a call from my manager. Although it was confirmed twice, the meeting was now being postponed. I struggled with wanting to kill and accepting the fact that Mel and I made the choice to live so far away and this is and will always be the downside.
So, I took the first exit and pointed the SUV back toward Northern California. Four hours later I was back in PG.
My Amityville meeting is now Tuesday at 11am…unless it’s postponed, of course.

There is something fun about old dudes throwing down. Something comforting about going out for coffee or soup and the locals knowing your name. Living in a small town has me remembering growing up in one.
Since we’re doing the Kentucky baby shower in a month I’ve been calling the 702 area code more and more.
You know, they talk funny.
Anytime I meet someone new for work they nearly always detect my accent and ask where I’m from. But my accent is nothing like it was. So, here’s a quick tutorial.
How to speak Southern:
One syllable words become…two.
Bear becomes Bay-er.
Man becomes May-un.
Hat becomes Hay-ut.
Two words become one.
Over There becomes Oh’vere.
Highly Unintelligent becomes Stupid.
A proper noun can become several words.
Potatoes becomes Them There Taters.
Was is no longer a singular verb.
We was…They was…etc.
And the days of the week are different due Day becoming Dee.
Monday becomes Mondee.
Tuesdee, Wensdee, Thursdee and so on.
Use these rules and you will be speaking fluent Southern in no time.

Lighthouse Avenue fills up during the Saturday and Sunday of Good Ol’ Days. You can purchase everything from steak on a stick to garments made of hemp.
But small town living can only last so long. The next few weeks promise many trips to LA.
A couple of weeks ago I spoke with producer, Bob Kosberg. He’s sort of known as the pitch king because it’s not uncommon to see his name in the trades having set up some deal or another. He had an interesting idea for a horror flick which he ran by me. I tossed some words on paper and shot off an email. Last week I met with he and Bruce Nash to discuss my take. As it turns out, I’m not without talent. Who knew?
Next week the three of us will be bouncing around LA pitching the little story. Gold Circle and Focus are first. Then the Weinstein Company followed by Disney. We’ll hit Dreamworks and end the pitches with Screen Gems and New Regency.
Intercut throughout I’ll be finishing my Monster movie outline for a producer with his own financing. He’s new to the world of film but he’s amazingly creative and having access to non-studio money means fewer hoops to jump through. He was ready to cut a deal after our first meeting but there was a hitch. He doesn’t have a signatory company. Which means he couldn’t hire me as a WGA writer. Therefore he’s creating the new company while I work on our story. He’s worked in music as well as TV animation and has a couple of Emmys to show for it.
Sometimes success is little more than making the right decision as to where to put your precious time. I feel pretty good about this guy so I’m gonna go with the glass half full for now.
Nicole at ICM sent over a pretty interesting script this week. The director is already attached and the script is pretty good. It’s more action movie than horror…think…Underworld or Van Helsing. I’m meeting with the director next week to discuss his ideas for the script.
All in all, the next couple of weeks promise to be exhausting and exciting.

Say hello to Izzie Rain.
The doctor said she was sucking her thumb but it looks more to me like she’s chugging a Mountain Dew…which seems slightly more in character.
For those who are into the whole proper name thing then they can call her Isadora Rain Farmer, but she’ll be Izzie Rain to her momma and me.
:)