Wendago

“Riddle” finally went out. Lots of interest from producers who sent it on to the studios. Lots of passes from studios. They passed either because it was too dark or because of the ending. But I have numerous meetings set up.
Yesterday I met with Dana Shelbourne and Susan Levin from Silver Pictures about a script called the “Blue Nowhere”. It’s a great script. Very similar in structure to Riddle. Many of the same elements of the computer world. It went well. Said they were going to talk to Keven McCormick, the exec from Warners.
McCormick was a fan of “Riddle Me This”. There’s still a decent shot he or a smaller production company could pick up Riddle.
Today I have a meeting with Kevin Lake of Icon Productions to discuss “Lock Box”. It’s not a very good script. In my opinion, it would require a page one rewrite. Not sure if they want to do that. Not sure if I want to do that. Whatever I decide, I’ll shoot him straight.
Those were the only two scripts to consider for rewrite, but I have several meetings throughout the rest of this and next week.
Back to the spec. What an ulcer inducing experience. Next time I send out a spec I’m going to Disneyland. No way will I hang around here waiting on phone calls.
It’s hot. Summer has finally hit. Fortunately it hit around a month or so shy of its cooling off. I look forward to sweaters and winter.

Sent yet another draft of the ending to “Riddle Me This” to Nicole on Thursday. That would be the second draft since I last popped into this journal.

It’s been nearly a month so let’s play catch up.
I didnt get The Mask II. I’m told they passed on all three pitches. So, thats the end of that.
Made yet another pass through “Riddle Me This”. Lockett is now the killer. It works. I suppose it works far better than any other pass, although I was reluctant to take a happy ending and turn it into something darker. Both Dean and Mark read it and again signed off on it, but then they signed off on it drafts ago.
I spoke with Nicole. She was excited but seemed perhaps a little surprised that I’d made a pass without checking with her first. They got the copy Friday morning so I’m hoping to hear from her Monday with her thoughts, although I’m not holding my breath. Please, God, let it go out this time. I don’t think my sanity can handle another rewrite of the ending.
As for “Full Moon Dick”. Sci-fi East and West read it some three weeks ago and we are awaiting word from the lady at the top. We are also waiting to hear from Bruce Campbell. He’d agreed to read it without an up front offer, which I’m told is a good thing. He and Sci-fi would be a great combo.
Dean has taken a job working on Damon Wayans show “My Wife and Kids” as writer/producer. He structured an impossible deal. He’s only required to work on 11 episodes with an option to leave before the back nine if he desires. “Full Moon Dick” was also listed in first position thus if it goes forward and he so chooses then he can leave “My Wife and Kids” in order to run FMD.
My insurance was cancelled on the 1st. I made 14K and I needed to have made 17K. Doesnt matter what I made the year before, you gotta qualify every year. Bummer.
Riesner’s been sending Mel Love letters again. Old bastard would have me killed if he knew who to call. We’ve had lunch a few times this month and he started pulling out his WGA checks again. The old fart loves to boast about how much money he’s got and I don’t. But don’t get any of this wrong…we’re pretty fond of each other.
Jim Isaac is up for two movies: “Final Destination II” and a movie called “Wrong Turn”. Sort of a remake of Deliverance with teens. Both sets of producers went to New Line last week for a screening of Jason X in order to check out Jimmy’s latest work.
David Handman (Jason X’s editor and friend) says he took a horrible job. Worse than his “Carnival of Souls” job. He took it for the money but would really like to move on to better stuff.

Well, our trip to Varant was a joke. What a bozo company. Well, I take that back. The newbies or lowbies at the company take their jobs way too seriously. The joker assigned to take us around was clearly a hall monitor in his high school. He wouldn’t let us anywhere near Star Wars Galaxies. And made us turn our backs constantly. But we out ran his stamina…we stayed and stayed and stayed. Finally he made some excuse and pawned us off to some other lowbie. Fortunatly she was impressed that we wrote movies and took us anywhere we wanted. We ended up talking to a few of the producers and that was freaking fun.

Still no word on the Mask II. The meeting to make a decision on a writer has been pushed back a number of times.
I’ve made at least two passes through the ending of “Riddle me This”. The Reader liked it but hated the ending. Sigh. Then Nicole sent it to a Producer friend of hers at Sony. He didn’t like it. He doesn’t like serial killer flicks because Se7en did it so well. I suppose he doesn’t like gangster flicks because Godfather did it so well. He also hated the ending.
I’ve thrown three other possible endings out to Nicole. She hasn’t sparked to any of them yet. I’ll keep thinking. I trust her judgement.
From what friends are telling me, Nicole is a very unique agent. She’s very hands-on. Most agents wouldn’t take the time to actually read a script. But she’s already read a dozen different drafts of Riddle. I can see the pros and cons but right now I’m sticking to the pros.
Dean and I go to San Diego to meet with Verant tomorrow. The company that makes the game EverQuest.