The State of HSY 3

Did a Margaret Mitchell and wrote the ending of HSY 3, pre-epilogue. The idea's been floating around in my head now for this awkward, parting of ways. Now if only I could bring myself to write the rest.

HSY 3 kind of reflects the college journey for me, and with my path kind of up in the air right now between schools, I kind of feel like I can't finish HSY 3 until this whole college thing is settled for myself--i.e. the end of freshman year and next summer. I'm also having trouble finding the time to finish all the projects I started. And I really hate to leave projects unfinished.

I'll try my best within the next two weeks to try to wrap up a draft of the College Guide. HSY is on hold for now, but I'll try to write up a scene. That won't be finished by the end of this summer, but it will, I promise, be finished by the end of next year. No excuses, I'm finishing the trilogy. I'll try my best to write it when I have time.

As for Bottoms Up!, I finished the pilot and started writing the second episode. That's going to be put on the side burner for now, but I'll be satisfied with just two episodes written. It's relatively easy to throw together.

I also have ideas for a new project, a short story based on a vampire romance and my intern experiences. I'm absolutely sick of how vampire romances are now a trend, so I wanted to write an off-beat parody of one that is just borderline creeper. The name? Reality Bites (tentative), which will center on a small town girl's experience finding out her BGF (GL word for 'best guy friend') is actually a VGF ('vampire guy friend'). This VGF wants to be more and is convinced this girl is his soulmate, so this girl sends in a letter to her local teen mag, where an intern uncovers it and the diary the girl sent. Oh, sounds scandalous, right? Hopefully I can get a little help writing seeing I don't care to know much about vampires!

In reading-land, I'm on page 307 of Gone With the Wind (named hereafter Gone For the Win (GFTW), which I'm getting through little-by-little. I'm thinking of just buying the book and working to get through it these first couple months of college. I refuse to watch the movie until after. I want to see if the whole bias thing works.

That said, I'm off to go live and see a movie. Happy writing, everyone! I ought to consider doing more of it.

Back in Business

So I've had a design dry spell lately. Adjusting to life on a laptop and sans mouse, I had trouble finding the same spark I did on InDesign before. And then this happened:

Introducing Bottoms Up, formerly the Intern Diaries and my Disney-esque sitcom about two BFFs working in NYC. I really like the design for this. I also find it really sad how I insist on creating templates for every script or story I write. Whatever the case, this design shares some elements with F.Y.I. (namely the fonts and the black--I need to get over that!), but more or less will probably be recycled for something with more meaning someday.

Nonetheless, I forgot how much time you can spend designing a spread--especially before you have a template. I also forgot how much I loved it. :)

I've written half of the Bottoms Up pilot and the script is okay. I gave up on sitcom format and returned to my old stage format that I used for HSY. As of the late, I've been dabbling with both HSY and Bottoms Up. I don't know if I'll have HSY 3 done by the end of the summer, but I'll certainly try. It remains hard to get into but I really do like what I have so far.

Well, that's all. I should consider bed, seeing I have to get up at 8:30 tomorrow. Oh, golly gee whiz! How exciting!

OH P.S. I AM FINISHING THE COLLEGE GUIDE THING. That is a PROMISE, and thus requires all caps. Hold me to it, VW/Miliana/Alex/Lenore/Sara/Whoever else reads this!

Brave News World

Wrote a synopsis of my plans for the pilot. It's basically a play-by-play of the script I plan to write. The only problem, again, is I'm really not funny. That's kind of a problem when you're writing a sitcom, faux-Disney or not. Every piece of dialogue I sampled there will have to be sharper and wittier. All the same, it's a start. Feedback?

THE INTERN DIARIES

Tag: Two BFFs. Two dreams. One summer.
Two BFFs intern at Teen magazine of Terse Publications Co. Pilot, Brave News World

Summary: After an embarrassing and exposing speech at the Intern Party, new interns Amy and Natalie try to make it through their first day without getting fired.

Synopsis: The series starts at a intern party at a restaurant. The restaurant is close to the office in Midtown Manhattan. Close up on Amy Kennedy and Natalie walking into the restaurant. They’re talking about the commute from Long Island and how nervous they are. This is Amy’s dream--to work for Terse Publications. This is Natalie’s dream--to meet celebrities and work in the big city. For Amy, this is a career milestone. For Natalie, this is just a fun way to spruce up her resume. They briefly touch on their ambitions before entering the restaurant.

Inside, they are introduced to the magazine staff and the other interns. Anne Reese, the editor-in-chief, is somewhat intimidating. Alexis Pepper and Pear Barry, Natalie and Amy swear, are making snide remarks about them. Pear, making her way to the bathroom, stands up and shatters glass martini glasses, barely missing Natalie’s chest--a comedic display of her being a klutz (Just missed my heart/I think she almost killed me!) Amy and Natalie share their discomfort, and Amy begins an impassioned speech about why they need to stick with the job, even if it isn’t the best job out there. Unfortunately, Amy gets carried away and the table look to her and overhear her speech. Anne Reese, not amused, more than hints in her toast to the interns that Amy and Natalie are barely hanging onto their jobs. (END TEASER)

Amy and Natalie on the subway ride over to Manhattan record their first Intern Diaries blog. The characters comment on what has happened since the evening (not much) and get out to begin their day. Amy tells a funny story about having to run to four coffee shops to get Anne’s direct demands. The subway stops and the two get out, entering Terse magazine’s offices. The two are astound by the place and step towards the elevator, only to see a big crowd of people. It turns out one of the elevators are broken. Natalie rushes onto an elevator heading down to the lower lobby and basement floors--unfortunately with a swarm of other people. Amy relegates the coffees to her and promises to take the next elevator down. Natalie leaves. Amy waits for the elevator to do a trip down. A swarm of people still remain when it finishes its trip up and Amy assumes they are just waiting for the next elevator up--most of the publications are on higher floors. A boy steps onto the elevator and Amy follows behind. It is just the two of them on the elevator. People stare at her. Amy is unaware she is doing anything wrong.

The elevator ride is at first greeted by an awkward silence until Amy reaches over to hit her floor button. The boy suddenly chirps “Do you know who I am?” Amy innocently responds no. It turns out the boy is Blake Terse IV, whose great-grandfather started the company. Blake holds this information, unable to conceal his surprise that Amy does not know who he is. He asks questions about his family’s history, which Amy responds quickly and correctly to. At this point, he is truly baffled. He hits her floor and watches her get off. Annoyed, he starts towards her editor. She starts towards Natalie.

Natalie, shocked at this interchange, asks Amy if she knows the guy she was with. She again responds no (But he asked me the same thing!). Natalie explains it’s Blake Terse IV and that the rule is no one rides the elevator with him. “Or what?” Amy asks. And then Natalie points...

Amy rushes over to Blake and pleads with him not to tell Anne--that she was obviously mistaken. Blake, happy to have another pawn to control, strikes her a deal, at which she is reluctant to agree to. He wants her to do all his errands around the city--impossible errands, to be exact. "Or what?" She asks. "Or I’ll tell your editor and you’ll get fired." Amy is panicked. She tells Natalie who agrees to help her, knowing her job is on the line too if Anne finds out--guilt by association. (END ACT 1)

The girls start their wild chase, only to prove fruitless. They enter a coffee shop across the street, defeated. There they meet James Ryan, a charming boy their age. James, who has seen this all too many times before, hears out Amy and Natalie’s dilemma. He knows Blake and he knows how to do his tasks. He agrees to help the girls to show Blake--and the Terse family itself--that they can’t control interns because of their name.

Amy and Natalie return to the office triumphant. Amy hands Blake all the items he requested, smiling. A little shocked, he checks the items. They’re all right. “You bested me, Cinderella. I’m impressed.” “My name’s Amy, and it won’t be the last time, Prince Charming.”

The pair record another video blog reciting the lessons they learned--that while the internship may be new and exciting, it’s always important to remember what you say and who you’re talking to. While people may not really be above you--we’re human--respect is key to whatever you do. And don’t be afraid, when the going gets rough, to get a little help. After all, you may make a new friend. The pair smile, as James sits beside them. “This is Amy Kennedy, Natalie Madison, and James Ryan. You’re watching the Intern Diaries.” (END ACT 2)

That's Just So Punny.

Made my first attempt at script writing tonight. It was an epic fail. I didn't realize that writing sitcoms required following a stringent formula and being funny. I gave up after a page--30 seconds filmed. The fruits of my labor:

TEASER

Scene A

FADE IN:

EXT. RESTAURANT TERRACE - NIGHT

(MAGAZINE STAFF, EDITOR, INTERN A AND B, BRATTY INTERNS)

A LONG TABLE WITH 10 PLACE MATS ON EACH SIDE IS SET. MARTINI AND WATER GLASSES ARE SCATTERED ALONG THE TABLE. EMPTY APPETIZER PLATES ARE POSITIONED AT THE CENTER OF EACH OF THE THREE PORTIONS OF THE TABLE.

MAGAZINE STAFF SIT AT THE TABLE. INTERN A AND INTERN B NERVOUSLY TAKE A SIP OF WATER AS EDITOR RISES.

INTERN A

Can you believe we’re really doing this?

INTERN B

Interning at Terse Communication’s “Teen” magazine this summer? Yeah, it’s plausible...

INTERN A

(DREAMILY) But it’s real...

INTERN B

I just said that...

INTERN A

Together! BFFs! 

INTERN A

Right. (POINTS TO DRINK) That is a Shirley Temple, right?

INTERN A

It’s as if the journalism gods are noticing us.

INTERN B

Tweedledi over here has been on her cell phone the entire time. They haven’t said a word to us.

The margins for the dialogue I slaved so long over didn't show. Clearly the entire being "witty" concept didn't go very well. I wouldn't watch this sitcom. 

I'll give it another shot tomorrow night when I have character names, but there's no way I can incorporate funny lines on the spot. Good thing I'm not going in to that industry.

Donate any good puns/witty banter ideas here though. It'll be enlightening and delighting. Cue laughter.

Sharing the Wealth

I hate summer. Because high school has ended, I feel my life especially has no purpose. Purpose is on hiatus. 

In the midst of all this free time (I hate free time!), I have started yet another writing project. I'm actually recruiting my friends to act as editors for this one--I actually feel like this project gives back.

Introducing 'They're Just Not That Into You,' the college admissions guide that dares to go there. It's like Degrassi in booklet form. It also has nice design I did last night.

Regardless, it's an exciting project because of the potential it has. This booklet may actually be useful to people. It's also great because I've been able to reach out to my bored senior friends,  who have signed on as editors and writers. Very cool.

I'm writing like an elementary school student tonight, but I don't have much to say. I watched Lady and the Tramp II with my sister and all my grown up, snarky remarks have been used up for the day. Who knew Disney movies had such overt symbolism? 

Writer's Block

So I tried writing the first scene of Act 2 for HSY 3 tonight.

Admittedly, I have been having a lot of trouble writing the play. I have been basing the plot off of my experience of senior year--which, no secret (see my other blog), was honestly the most heartbreaking, angst-filled year in my life. Unlike the movie, which I cannot bear to watch anymore because of its superficiality, I intended HSY 3 to reflect what senior year really is: a wake-up call to many. There will be rejections. Irrational heartbreaks and breakdowns. There will be proms and promises and that bittersweet reality that there is an end. The other two HSYs I didn't have much of a purpose for--they were supposed to be light parodies, but HSY 3, as misplaced as it sounds, is actually pretty dark. Because I'm so attached to the characters too, it's hard to write some of the scenes. 

Which is where tonight kicks off.

I attempted writing the college "acceptance" scene tonight--basically starting out with the cast hanging around their mailboxes and dancing, singing about their impending "love letter from the world." The lights fade and it then switches to Yearbook, where Monique (the Taylor character) has been missing from school because she was rejected from her dream school, Yale. I am debating having her accepted/waitlisted at Cornell because I can't imagine anyone turning down Cornell (yet she is supposed to). Vanessa's trying to console her.

A SNIPPET:

(ZAC crosses CSR. Vanessa doesn’t notice him and continues talking)

Vanessa: I know, Monique, but you have to come back some time. (pause) You’re not a failure. You got into Cornell. (pause) But that is a real Ivy... (pause) Waitlisted at Duke? I... 

Zac: Vanessa...? 

V: (panicked) I have to go, Monique. I’ll call you back, I promise! (hangs up and quickly hides phone behind back, innocently) Oh, hi Zac! 

Z: Hi? Were you talking on your cell phone during class? 

V: N-n-no. Of course not. That’d be breaking school policy. 

Z: Monique got into Cornell? 

V: She got rejected or waitlisted everywhere else...well, except for the Raimont-Clair scholarship she got at-- 

Z: But Cornell’s great... 

V: I know, but she hates it there. She said it had the highest suicide rate for a reason and she...she had her heart set on Yale... 

Z: And they...? 

V: (softly) They rejected her, Zac. 

I also tried to muster a conversation about Zac and Vanessa's colleges. Vanessa's path is very limited because a) admissions and b) money. I have yet to establish these Central High Eagles are in the greatest recession ever. Looking back, there are a lot of plot lines I'm mishandling. I have too many conflicts at once.

CONFLICTS:

• Deferral vs. Rejection: Vanessa lies to Zac about being rejected so he'll still apply at the school. What's supposed to happen: Ashley, who has learned Vanessa has been rejected, informs Zac, making him angry at Vanessa.
• Prom Group Betrayal: Zac's prom group is deliberately filled by co-coordinator Ashley to Vanessa cannot come. Vanessa instead goes with newspaper group, breaking up the prospect of Zac and Vanessa going to prom together. What's supposed to happen: Ashley tells Vanessa the group is full on behalf of Zac, leaving Vanessa angry Zac couldn't tell her himself. Zac eventually gives up his group to go with Vanessa because all that matters is spending the evening with her.
• Your Dreams vs. Other's Dreams: Zac agonizes over choosing the school Vanessa is going to over his dream school, Duke. Lucas has trouble deciding whether he should continue to follow his sister's footsteps and go to NYU or make his own path. What's supposed to happen: Zac makes the painful choice...and it's harder than he thinks.
• The Greatest Recession: Money becomes an object. Lost money in the stocks/parents losing jobs causes dreams to be deferred for some students. These characters struggle with making the best decision and most of all, telling everyone. Accepted does not mean you can always go. What's supposed to happen: These characters make the painful choice but get what they deserve years down the road.
• Inequality in the College System: Whether it's favoring athletes, minorities, or alumni's children, the college system is one built off connections and advantages. HSY 3 uses the acceptances of its characters to highlight the system's flaws. What's supposed to happen: The characters who were dealt a fate a little short of what they deserved end up better in the long run.
• The Worst Prom Ever: High school isn't all fairy tales. A play off of work v. play, do you sacrifice your evening for the benefit of others?
• Senior Superlatives: Ashley wants Zac and her to get together and win most of the categories. Will Zac truly give up Vanessa though and will her plan work? 
• Being a Leader: Like college, Lucas is unsure whether to act on his feelings for Vanessa or stay in the sidelines. 

And there's probably tons of other problems I'm missing. Basically, I had divided the play up into acts dealing with different problems, but as of the late, it's become a big mess. There's a lot of scenes I wanted to do that I passed the proper timeline for doing. My plan now is to read the first act, edit, and reflect. I wanted to have this done by June 19, but I'm not sure how possible that is now. 

This is more serious/an emotional project for me. I didn't think writing about a Disney movie could be this hard but it's probably because when writing it, I'm tapping into my own personal wounds that haven't quite healed themselves.

Talk about writing playing a psychologist.

My life, the Disney show...

Just wrapped a scene up (minus the song) for HSY 3. I am one scene from the end of the first act and loathing myself for my procrastination. I intend to finish writing the first act without songs tonight. End of story.

But before that story continues, I thought I ought to take a moment to highlight the most important writing discovery of the day for future reference.

Two ingredients to this discovery: watching far too much Sonny with a Chance for my 18 year old good and my summer internship. In my infinite amounts of spare time (aka during my 30 minute jog), I was trying to brainstorm ideas for the Greatest Story Ever (here on referred to as the GSE) or HSY 3. Whenever I thought of a melodramatic, romantic exchange between Zac and Vanessa, my mind went instead to my newest idea. Maybe it was because my brother suggested I ought to be a script writer for Disney or the fact that I realized every character on their channel fell into these preset archetypes, but I figured I could make a show about my intern experience. Obviously interning at a popular magazine with your BFF is perfect fodder for a Disney Channel original series. I even thought of puns for episode titles ("Babysitting Blues," where intern A must watching editor A's crazy nephew, "Operation Desert Storm," where intern B is stuck in the office when a bad storm hits with love interest/rival). It's all genius.

The concept is the following:

THE INTERN DIARIES (or some clever pun title)

Two BFFs get an internship at their dream magazine.

CHARACTERS:

• Intern A: (or Alyssa) The cute, smart one. Driven, a little too adorable and innocent for her own good. Wants the best for people, but sometimes at the cost of herself. A little imbalanced--perfectionist, fashionista, overachiever--tends to take on more than she can handle for the other people in her life. 
  
• Intern B: (or Miliana) The balanced, sweet one. Reliable and always calm. Can handle just about everything, but when things get out of her control, she runs into some trouble. Willing to do anything and super-friendly and smart. Fun-loving but when something's wrong, has trouble speaking up--at least frankly. Gossips a little too much sometimes. ;)
  

NOTE: Unlike OTHER Disney shows, both A and B act as voices of reason at different time. Also, neither is in the main character mold or BFF mold--they play both. Their friendship and its ups and downs is the main focus of the show.

• Intern A's Parents: Reluctantly support Intern A's internship. Running gag: Call office the cardboard box. Ignorant parent mold.
• Intern B's Parents: Logical, try to talk sense of Intern A's parents. Their unusual friendship can often act as a sideplot. Advisor mold.
• Editor: One of the intern coordinators. A little quirky. Doesn't check email as much as she should but she means well. Nice, but a little flaky and often assigned A and B weird tasks.
• Editor-in-Chief: Busy beyond belief but when she has a moment, offers great advice. Intimidates A and B--they think the EIC doesn't like them, but deep down, it is shown she does.
• Bratty Interns A and B: Rich, self-obsessed coworkers of A and B. Foil of their friendship. Basically the narcissistic girl mold.
• Ethnic Intern: A comedic, fun coworker and friend of A and B. An example of Disney's token whatever characters but with an actual purpose in this show.
• Nerdy Intern: Friends with Ethnic intern. Kind of comic relief. Friend with A and B.
• Love Interest: Son of parents who own publishing company. Rich, egotistical, self-important future womanizer male mold. Tends to hang around the office too much. A hates him, B secretly likes him, he secretly likes A. Ingredients for Disney typical love triangle.
• Coffee Guy: Guy A and B's age that works at the nearby coffee shop. Offers advice for A and B to get out of their predicaments. Humble, nice, the right guy for A/B. Cinderella type. Advisor mold.

You get it. It's so easy as a writer when you get an idea to just run with it. You could easily expand on this and do it here. But I'm done for now. HSY calls.

Sorry, Little L! You can guest star, like Selena Gomez is in the next episode of Sonny with a Chance. Obviously that's how that works.

 

UPDATE:  (1:10 AM) Just finished Act 1 of HSY minus songs. Hooray!

Welcome to Writingland

Hi all,

I started this blog to keep track of all my summer writing and as more or less a way to make myself complete my current writing projects. I will post up new stuff as I go. Comment, Lenore, Sara, etc. 

Infinite xoxo's,

Alyssa