When You Got It Bad

To write movies you have to dig movies. Let's face it, if it isn't something you like, chances are you won't be good at it.

The other day I found myself watching a movie when all of the sudden I realized, I have it bad.

The movie is called OCULTO. It is a Spanish Language film produced in 2005. Now I speak Spanish, very poorly I might add, but for the most part I had no idea what any of the characters were saying.

But that didn't cause me not to enjoy the film.

The one thing about OCULTO is that in my estimation it was well written. It must have been. After all I knew exactly what was going on and I understood little of what the characters were saying. I figure that's the mark of a good film. In fact if memory serves me correctly Steven Spielberg once had a quote about watching a movie with the sound off. As I said, unfortunately I can't remember the exact quote but you get the idea.

This in itself however is the beauty of a good film. You can go places and literally not speak the language. In the end I figure this is where the writing comes in. Does it allow you to visit and dwell for 120 minutes in a world you would not ordinarily go? This of course is the mission of all who sit at a word processor, and try to put on paper for the world to see, what is locked in a mind.

As movies good, my language disadvantage prevents me from saying if OCULTO is a great film or not. But because I sat and watched a movie in a language that is not my own, I would say at the very least it is a good film.

Yep, I have it bad - and thank God I do.

- From the letters on the Bent Keyboard.

Who Writes This Shit?!

I write shit. Wait, let me rephrase that…I mean, I write things that may become shit.

Now, that’s better.

You see I sit in a small room and make up conversations, places, and a few action details and then write them down on pieces of paper. You say you know a guy like that in the Mental Ward? Well there’s a big difference between him and me. Maybe not – but that’s not the point.

Anyway, once I write these things down, I pile them into and apple cart and peddle them around Hollywood. All in the hopes that one day someone with a Blackberry and over-developed ego will buy those pages from me, and turn them into a movie.

Yes I know it’s a stab in the dark, but what a joy it is to watch them say “no”. I’ve been told “no” so many different ways, that I often have to rewind the conversation just to make sure “no” meant “no”. Hell I’ve been told “no” more times than a pimple faced high school geek with an over active sex drive.

But still I find myself typing away at my bent keyboard, all the while hoping that one day… one bright sunny day – “no” becomes, “So, how much do you want to Option this for?”

That’s not “yes” by the way, but it isn’t “no”.

Of course when “no” does become “yes”, some guy who calls himself a Director might just turn it all to shit.

See, I told you I write shit.