The Ride of Your Life

I love this interview with Patti Smith.  She gives great advice for creative people.  AND she compares life to a rollercoaster ride, (one of my all-time favorite scenes from the movie Parenthood) I’ve included the Parenthood clip below Patti’s interview for your enjoyment.  Have a great day! Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Patti Smith: “Be concerned with doing good work, make the right choices and protect your work.” “It’s... Read More

Movie As A Mirror For Your Holidays

Connie Britton & Ed Burns in Fitzgerald Family Christmas This Thanksgiving week holiday, I’ve watched Skyfall, Lincoln, Funny People,  The Five Year Engagement, Being John Malkovich and Fitzgerald Family Christmas.  I wonder what this collection of movies says about me. I love movies. I love watching movies. I love reading about how movies are made. I follow Edward Burns (Writer/Director of Fitzgerald Family Christmas) on twitter.  I... Read More

Best Present Evaaaaah

I met the faaaaabulous artist Maureen Womack last night, live in person -she’s visiting Colorado from Texas (although it feels like we’ve known each other forever). She said she had a “little something” for me, I had NO IDEA she created this beautiful painting just for me!!! It’s so beautiful, if you look closely you can see my face in the painting and beautiful words like Be still. Listen. Give your life meaning. This... Read More

Interview with Brad Feld- VC, Entrepreneur & Marathon Man

Here’s my interview with Brad Feld, nationally recognized speaker on the topics of venture capital investing and entrepreneurship who writes widely read and well respected blogs at www.Feld.com and www.askthevc.com He also happens to be one of the most generous, intelligent and thoughtful dudes I’ve ever met. Brad shares his story of success and gives tips for finding work/life balance.  And my favorite story about when things go wrong; “At... Read More

It’s Never Too Late to Try Your Hardest

This is the 10th blog post in my screenwriting series, it all started here Day 21 – 19,092 words down  I’m packing for the Sundance Film Festival! I can only imagine how disappointed I would be with myself if I hadn’t taken on this challenge and I was going back to Sundance without accomplishing much of anything this year. I am so friggin’ happy that I finished the first draft of my very first screenplay. One more look at... Read More

The Unbearable Heaviness of Editing

This is the 9th blog post in my screenwriting series, it all started here   Day 20 -  I printed out the screenplay yesterday.  I took a picture and texted it to my sister and a couple of friends.  It felt pretty cool.  Scary – but cool. They all asked to read it.  I told them I needed time.  I wasn’t ready for feedback yet. As a writer, I’ve come to know my own quirky, creative process and the incredible vulnerability I feel... Read More

The End – Roll Credits?

This is the 8th blog post in my screenwriting series, it all started here   Day 19 -  I finished the first draft!!!! I am printing it out as we speak, er, as I write this!  It’s short in the word count department, but the beginning and the end of my story met in the middle and the pieces are in place. It’s definitely a first draft.  A really rough first draft. I know that there are huge plot holes, (ha ha, plot holes, instead... Read More

Procrastination

This is the 7th blog post in my screenwriting series, it all started here   Day 18 -  Wednesday 9:32am I’m having trouble getting moving on the screenplay this morning.  Usually I’m done or almost done by now.  I haven’t even opened Final Draft yet.  I don’t want to. Why?  Don’t feel like it.  It’s snowing outside and I just want to sit by the fire and watch movies all day.  I say to myself, “Sandy,... Read More

Edward Burns Reads My Blog :-)

This is the 6th blog post in my screenwriting series, it all started here Day 16 – I got a tweet from one of my favorite writer/director/filmmakers, Edward Burns yesterday. It made my day.  I had just been whining about how maybe I shouldn’t have gotten back onto Twitter and Facebook (I took a 3 month Social Media Sabbatical) because sometimes it just sucks the energy right out of me.  And then I get this note from Ed.  Or Burnsie.... Read More

Shitty First Drafts & The Hierarchy of Goals

This is the 5th blog post in my screenwriting series, it all started here Paula does a spit take Day 14: Word count= 13,378 (That’s 478 more than my schedule!) I’m starting to worry that I won’t be done with the story by the time I’ve hit my word count. I have the opposite of writer’s block.  I have too MUCH to write. That’s a really nice feeling.  The story is moving along, however boring it seems.  I’m not sure... Read More