This one's for the peeps who might've been wonderin'
And here it comes... the update of all updates -- because I discovered this journal again after GOD only knows how long of.... outright avoiding it, and everything associated with it, for any number of reasons.
Firstly, let us break updates down into a couple categories: "Personal Life" "Career" and "Updated Contact information."
Beginning first with "Personal Life." -- As many of you know, I graduated College on the 12th of May with a fine GPA, all holes filled, and a solid, self-designed degree in creative writing with an emphasis on writing for Film and Television. I can now finally declare with all the pride in the world that I have a writing degree, and am a college graduate, and oh, on top of that, I'm proficient in the German Language -- but you all basically already knew that. So that's wonderful.
I can start with a few updates from about the last year or so since I really.. haven't touched this thing in six eternities. All right. So last year was my last year of college (this year, really, but I use the past tense because ... well, it's over with!) and as we all knew (family, I mean) that I'd soon be moving to California to pursue a career in screenwriting (after having saved up money to make the move go smoother) so the family decided to use my winter/Christmas vacation as an excuse to do one big trip to Europe. It was FANTASTIC. Having not been over there since my father (and thus all of us) was stationed over there ... I haven't had a European vacation when I've been at an age to appreciate it. So going touring at the age of 23 was especially fantastic. We started off by flying into Amsterdam, then since we'd lived there before, we just picked up a car and drove around the whole of Germany, stopping off here, there and everywhere. It was a magnificent chance to speak the language in country, which is something I don't get to do very often. Now, my little brother (who - and this disturbs me - will be graduating high school next year) didn't want to spend the whole of HIS christmas vacation over in Europe so dad and he slipped away on New Years, flying out of Amsterdam again. Mum and I took that opportunity to head to Dublin, Ireland, where we stayed in a fantastic hotel (courtesy of my mother's pickiness, but hey, no complaints on my part! Spoiled little brat that I am, I ate it up!) for a week. That was delightful. Then we went over to London, dingled around there for a couple days, and then went on our pre-booked tour of England, Scotland, and North Wales. Edinburgh is a city nobody should live without seeing, I think! It's fantastic.
So that was that. It was a phenomenal trip and the highlight of that year beyond the graduation, which was fantastic also.
I'd moved in with my aunt so as to save more money by way of her offering not to charge me rent through the last year of school, and I leaped at that chance. I worked throughout that year, but the last semester was really difficult and I took the time off work then because I was taking a deal of higher level, very challenging courses. In total, I'd saved about 15,000$ for my trip to LA by the time I graduated (this isn't saved up in one whole year, it's saved from what i was putting away since I decided to make the move, but got a considerable BUMP when I stopped paying rent). For graduation I was totally stoked to find out my grandparents on my father's side of the family were coming out to party with me -- that doesn't happen often and I hadn't expected them. For those of you who know much about my dad's side of the family you'll understand why I say it, but for those of you who don't: my dad's side of the family has over 8 members who have graduated from or are currently enrolled at West Point United States Military Academy. It's a bit of a legacy and I was the first grandchild or child on that side of the 'line' to NOT go that way. This isn't to say I'm some sort of failure or embarassment to my grandparents on my dad's side, but I'm certainly a little hard for them to comprehend and we've had our... rails and rough spots. But.. they showed up.. and they were more warm and supportive about me and everything I was planning to do than I'd EVER seen them. Were I by myself more of the day I'd have cried for it. The graduation gift they gave to me solidified that I'd be able to make it without stress for a full year... maybe even two in Los Angeles ... and that's a gift nobody can afford to snub their nose at. It's truly amazing. Los Angeles is an intimidating city and it's bloody EXPENSIVE. But... with the help of my family, my money saved, my drive, ambition, and talent... I can conquer! SO HELP MEEE.
I began the voyage to Los Angeles quickly after graduating so that I could get here when the job market was good. This is information I got from my father's friend, John Bowman, who is one of my biggest industry contacts. Writers tend to not be the famous people in Los Angeles, so allow me to illuminate. John Bowman is a many-times executive producer out in Hollywood. Currently he's working on "The Frank Show" which is due to start airing (I don't know on what network) this Fall. He was executive producer on the Murphy Brown show, wrote with Al Franken on Saturday Night Live (and the two of them are good friends), and was the executive producer/writer on the Martin Lawrence Show as well. He's helped me out a lot and we meet frequently to discuss things. He pointed out all of his personal friends in television to me in the Hollywood Creative Reporter (The Entertainment Bible for ANYTHING in LA from Film, to Television, to Radio/Broadcasting) and told me where to send my resumé.
BUT. Anyway. I started moving down there on the 15th of May, to get to Anaheim (Disneyland) on May 19th for the World Premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Yes. I saw Johnny Depp (and everybody else .. including several unexpected faces!), no, I didn't get his autograph because Buena Vista Entertainment decided to show their lack of respect for the fans -- which I hear Pissed the Deppster off something FIERCE. But the experience was still cool.
THEN. I headed to Los Angeles. Mom and I shopped for an apartment and then furniture, and clothes, and blah blah, all of that. My mother was fairly picky about where she wanted me to live out here. As we both didn't know the area I left the majority of "apartment hunting" up to her, as she knew what my budget was, and she knew whether or not she was more comfortable augmenting my rent because she felt the area was safe, or otherwise. Basically I'd planned on being able to deal with a budget of 800-1000$ per month (which is the 'low' end for the LA area, believe it or not), and I left it up to mom to find somewhere she was comfortable leaving me. Basically Mum decided that since there would be no stopping me from moving to LA she could at least have a part in making sure I was safe once I got out here. We found a place, got my furniture ordered, blah blah.
Trivia about Sara's apartment building: 1. Larry King himself has an apartment here with his wife. 2. A few of the members of Good Charlotte ALSO happen to have an apartment here probably for when they're dinking around in the area. 3. The VIVID Group PORN STARS have an apartment here for the 3 months out of the year that they're filming. Hahaha.
All right. More personal information?: no boys yet. No girls either. Haha. Uhm... mostly I've made a couple of friends, ... met a beautiful Irishman in Westwood and a gorgeous Australian who wanted a little T&A. ... he almost got some, and I felt horrible afterward, but.. all's well. He didn't get everything he wanted. :D I've made a couple of friends, made a TON of connections, and though things appear to be going slowly, after 7 weeks of living here, I've impressed a lot of established people in how far I've come in so short a span of time.
Which brings us to the "Career" portion.
I met with John Bowman on my first week out here and as I mentioned before, he pushed me in the right direction to get my resumé out in the hopes of getting a good job. It takes some serious pushing, phone calling, and aggression, mind you.... and I found out quickly that May isn't actually the best time to come out here. In fact, it's about 2 weeks too late to get on many of the television shows. BUT. Fall *is* one of the two major hiring seasons, the other being Christmas, so I'm looking forward to that thanks to the fact that I DO have enough money to coast doing temp jobs here and there while waiting for a permanent position in production.
As it so happens his assistance DID land me a temporary position on the television show THE UNIT, which airs on CBS. Robert Patrick, Scott Foley, Max Martini, and Dennis Haysbert are all the lead actors on that show, which is based on the book "Inside Delta Force" by Eric Haney. Yep, the great irony? I avoided a military career only to have my first career-move in LA be ... on a military television show! They're a great group of people and I've made a number of connections (I've also met all of the actors, and Robert Patrick or "RP" as we call him, is hilariously awesome and a super cool guy) there and they're helping me to get interviews and possible positions if not on their show when they open up slots, then on other shows they have connections to -- or film productions that they know are hiring in the area. This City is all about networking, really.
So I've done some work on that television show, and in addition, have had a job interview on DEAL OR NO DEAL also. I'm waiting for a job to break, but while so doing? How about the screenwriting side of things?
Thought you'd never ask.
I'm working with a writing partner on a script right now, one that has already got the attention of the producer of HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE with Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnet -- in short, one that's gotten the preliminary attention of someone who can do major theatrical release films, not just indy jobs. Not that there's anything wrong with indy films (New Line Cinema used to be an Indy production company)... but by "indy jobs" I mean general, tiny little jobs that wouldn't stand to make much of a dent in my career. However. Beggers can't be choosers, and I'll take whatever possibility I have of writing something that would then get me into the Screenwriter's Guild of America (SWG). My writing partner is in fact, a many-times published author of nonfiction and journal editorials, and has also been featured on several news networks. I'll not go into detail on what the script is about because this is the internet and people can... steal shit. But! It's a good story and it'll make a great movie, I hope (as any writer would hope).
All this in just 7 weeks! I've also managed to meet Dale Launer... who wrote the classic comedies DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, LOVE POTION #9, and MY COUSIN, VINNY. He's a superb writer and an incredible guy. It's nice to have contacts like that!
So! At the moment I'm just slowly plugging away at getting employed, writing script ideas, and possibly looking at doing some acting/comedy stand-up auditions/open mic's because virtually everyone in this town has told me I ought to do this, and if there's one thing I'll tell you.. it's this:
Sometimes when you aren't thinking about it -- there are things you should try. And chances are, if more than three people NOT RELATED TO YOU, and not your friends... tell you the same thing? You can't go wrong giving it a whirl because they probably are seeing something you may have overlooked.
That's LA for you. Watch for my name in the credits. Within the next two years, so help me, you'll see it. "Written by: Sara Warner."
Count on it.
Spo
Firstly, let us break updates down into a couple categories: "Personal Life" "Career" and "Updated Contact information."
Beginning first with "Personal Life." -- As many of you know, I graduated College on the 12th of May with a fine GPA, all holes filled, and a solid, self-designed degree in creative writing with an emphasis on writing for Film and Television. I can now finally declare with all the pride in the world that I have a writing degree, and am a college graduate, and oh, on top of that, I'm proficient in the German Language -- but you all basically already knew that. So that's wonderful.
I can start with a few updates from about the last year or so since I really.. haven't touched this thing in six eternities. All right. So last year was my last year of college (this year, really, but I use the past tense because ... well, it's over with!) and as we all knew (family, I mean) that I'd soon be moving to California to pursue a career in screenwriting (after having saved up money to make the move go smoother) so the family decided to use my winter/Christmas vacation as an excuse to do one big trip to Europe. It was FANTASTIC. Having not been over there since my father (and thus all of us) was stationed over there ... I haven't had a European vacation when I've been at an age to appreciate it. So going touring at the age of 23 was especially fantastic. We started off by flying into Amsterdam, then since we'd lived there before, we just picked up a car and drove around the whole of Germany, stopping off here, there and everywhere. It was a magnificent chance to speak the language in country, which is something I don't get to do very often. Now, my little brother (who - and this disturbs me - will be graduating high school next year) didn't want to spend the whole of HIS christmas vacation over in Europe so dad and he slipped away on New Years, flying out of Amsterdam again. Mum and I took that opportunity to head to Dublin, Ireland, where we stayed in a fantastic hotel (courtesy of my mother's pickiness, but hey, no complaints on my part! Spoiled little brat that I am, I ate it up!) for a week. That was delightful. Then we went over to London, dingled around there for a couple days, and then went on our pre-booked tour of England, Scotland, and North Wales. Edinburgh is a city nobody should live without seeing, I think! It's fantastic.
So that was that. It was a phenomenal trip and the highlight of that year beyond the graduation, which was fantastic also.
I'd moved in with my aunt so as to save more money by way of her offering not to charge me rent through the last year of school, and I leaped at that chance. I worked throughout that year, but the last semester was really difficult and I took the time off work then because I was taking a deal of higher level, very challenging courses. In total, I'd saved about 15,000$ for my trip to LA by the time I graduated (this isn't saved up in one whole year, it's saved from what i was putting away since I decided to make the move, but got a considerable BUMP when I stopped paying rent). For graduation I was totally stoked to find out my grandparents on my father's side of the family were coming out to party with me -- that doesn't happen often and I hadn't expected them. For those of you who know much about my dad's side of the family you'll understand why I say it, but for those of you who don't: my dad's side of the family has over 8 members who have graduated from or are currently enrolled at West Point United States Military Academy. It's a bit of a legacy and I was the first grandchild or child on that side of the 'line' to NOT go that way. This isn't to say I'm some sort of failure or embarassment to my grandparents on my dad's side, but I'm certainly a little hard for them to comprehend and we've had our... rails and rough spots. But.. they showed up.. and they were more warm and supportive about me and everything I was planning to do than I'd EVER seen them. Were I by myself more of the day I'd have cried for it. The graduation gift they gave to me solidified that I'd be able to make it without stress for a full year... maybe even two in Los Angeles ... and that's a gift nobody can afford to snub their nose at. It's truly amazing. Los Angeles is an intimidating city and it's bloody EXPENSIVE. But... with the help of my family, my money saved, my drive, ambition, and talent... I can conquer! SO HELP MEEE.
I began the voyage to Los Angeles quickly after graduating so that I could get here when the job market was good. This is information I got from my father's friend, John Bowman, who is one of my biggest industry contacts. Writers tend to not be the famous people in Los Angeles, so allow me to illuminate. John Bowman is a many-times executive producer out in Hollywood. Currently he's working on "The Frank Show" which is due to start airing (I don't know on what network) this Fall. He was executive producer on the Murphy Brown show, wrote with Al Franken on Saturday Night Live (and the two of them are good friends), and was the executive producer/writer on the Martin Lawrence Show as well. He's helped me out a lot and we meet frequently to discuss things. He pointed out all of his personal friends in television to me in the Hollywood Creative Reporter (The Entertainment Bible for ANYTHING in LA from Film, to Television, to Radio/Broadcasting) and told me where to send my resumé.
BUT. Anyway. I started moving down there on the 15th of May, to get to Anaheim (Disneyland) on May 19th for the World Premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Yes. I saw Johnny Depp (and everybody else .. including several unexpected faces!), no, I didn't get his autograph because Buena Vista Entertainment decided to show their lack of respect for the fans -- which I hear Pissed the Deppster off something FIERCE. But the experience was still cool.
THEN. I headed to Los Angeles. Mom and I shopped for an apartment and then furniture, and clothes, and blah blah, all of that. My mother was fairly picky about where she wanted me to live out here. As we both didn't know the area I left the majority of "apartment hunting" up to her, as she knew what my budget was, and she knew whether or not she was more comfortable augmenting my rent because she felt the area was safe, or otherwise. Basically I'd planned on being able to deal with a budget of 800-1000$ per month (which is the 'low' end for the LA area, believe it or not), and I left it up to mom to find somewhere she was comfortable leaving me. Basically Mum decided that since there would be no stopping me from moving to LA she could at least have a part in making sure I was safe once I got out here. We found a place, got my furniture ordered, blah blah.
Trivia about Sara's apartment building: 1. Larry King himself has an apartment here with his wife. 2. A few of the members of Good Charlotte ALSO happen to have an apartment here probably for when they're dinking around in the area. 3. The VIVID Group PORN STARS have an apartment here for the 3 months out of the year that they're filming. Hahaha.
All right. More personal information?: no boys yet. No girls either. Haha. Uhm... mostly I've made a couple of friends, ... met a beautiful Irishman in Westwood and a gorgeous Australian who wanted a little T&A. ... he almost got some, and I felt horrible afterward, but.. all's well. He didn't get everything he wanted. :D I've made a couple of friends, made a TON of connections, and though things appear to be going slowly, after 7 weeks of living here, I've impressed a lot of established people in how far I've come in so short a span of time.
Which brings us to the "Career" portion.
I met with John Bowman on my first week out here and as I mentioned before, he pushed me in the right direction to get my resumé out in the hopes of getting a good job. It takes some serious pushing, phone calling, and aggression, mind you.... and I found out quickly that May isn't actually the best time to come out here. In fact, it's about 2 weeks too late to get on many of the television shows. BUT. Fall *is* one of the two major hiring seasons, the other being Christmas, so I'm looking forward to that thanks to the fact that I DO have enough money to coast doing temp jobs here and there while waiting for a permanent position in production.
As it so happens his assistance DID land me a temporary position on the television show THE UNIT, which airs on CBS. Robert Patrick, Scott Foley, Max Martini, and Dennis Haysbert are all the lead actors on that show, which is based on the book "Inside Delta Force" by Eric Haney. Yep, the great irony? I avoided a military career only to have my first career-move in LA be ... on a military television show! They're a great group of people and I've made a number of connections (I've also met all of the actors, and Robert Patrick or "RP" as we call him, is hilariously awesome and a super cool guy) there and they're helping me to get interviews and possible positions if not on their show when they open up slots, then on other shows they have connections to -- or film productions that they know are hiring in the area. This City is all about networking, really.
So I've done some work on that television show, and in addition, have had a job interview on DEAL OR NO DEAL also. I'm waiting for a job to break, but while so doing? How about the screenwriting side of things?
Thought you'd never ask.
I'm working with a writing partner on a script right now, one that has already got the attention of the producer of HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE with Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnet -- in short, one that's gotten the preliminary attention of someone who can do major theatrical release films, not just indy jobs. Not that there's anything wrong with indy films (New Line Cinema used to be an Indy production company)... but by "indy jobs" I mean general, tiny little jobs that wouldn't stand to make much of a dent in my career. However. Beggers can't be choosers, and I'll take whatever possibility I have of writing something that would then get me into the Screenwriter's Guild of America (SWG). My writing partner is in fact, a many-times published author of nonfiction and journal editorials, and has also been featured on several news networks. I'll not go into detail on what the script is about because this is the internet and people can... steal shit. But! It's a good story and it'll make a great movie, I hope (as any writer would hope).
All this in just 7 weeks! I've also managed to meet Dale Launer... who wrote the classic comedies DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, LOVE POTION #9, and MY COUSIN, VINNY. He's a superb writer and an incredible guy. It's nice to have contacts like that!
So! At the moment I'm just slowly plugging away at getting employed, writing script ideas, and possibly looking at doing some acting/comedy stand-up auditions/open mic's because virtually everyone in this town has told me I ought to do this, and if there's one thing I'll tell you.. it's this:
Sometimes when you aren't thinking about it -- there are things you should try. And chances are, if more than three people NOT RELATED TO YOU, and not your friends... tell you the same thing? You can't go wrong giving it a whirl because they probably are seeing something you may have overlooked.
That's LA for you. Watch for my name in the credits. Within the next two years, so help me, you'll see it. "Written by: Sara Warner."
Count on it.
Spo