August 2021 #100screenplays

So, I just had my THIRD cancer scare in 18 months. The first two were so weird and random I turned them into standup bits.

The first one was April-July 2020. Odd symptom, obgyn visit, ultrasound, biopsy, and final result: weird, but not cancer. (At the same time, one of our cats got sick and we had to put her down. It was awful. A few months later I turned the whole thing into a comedy bit about mixing up the phone calls from the vet and the gyn.)

The second one was April-July 2021. Really weird symptom, doctor visit, mammogram, ultrasound, and final result: Yep, really weird, but not cancer. (Promptly added to my standup.)

Third one was this week. No symptoms at all. Routine colonoscopy that found three separate issues and ended with a couple of biopsies. Final result: Pre-cancerous but not malignant. Surgeon had a terrible poker face. I swear he thought he found cancer. Or maybe it was because I accidentally wore socks that read "f**k" (left) "off" (right)? I also confessed some stuff to my teenager while I was still coming off the anesthesia. Awkward. Most importantly, I EAT SALAD NOW.

That might be the title to my memoir someday, "I EAT SALAD AND WEAR RUDE SOCKS."

Why am I sharing so much personal stuff? Well, because fellow writers, I see you sitting all the time (like I do) and living on coffee and junk food (like I do) and I CARE ABOUT YOU. 

SCHEDULE YOUR CHECKUPS! Doctor, dentist, routine tests...put yourself on your to do list, mask up, and get it done! 

Recently, my dear screenwriter friend James gave me some great advice: screenwriting is a business that will kick your ass, so you don't need to beat yourself up too. All I could imagine is the scene from "Liar Liar" when someone catches Jim Carrey in the bathroom beating himself up: "What're you doing?" then he says, "I'm kicking my own ass!"

I now have a new, laminated sticky note that says, "DON'T KICK YOUR OWN ASS!" hahaha!

Here's my reading list for August:

1. Kung Fu Panda
2. La La Land
3. Dolemite is My Name
4. Dead Poets Society
5. Dumb and Dumber
6. Last Action Hero
7. Do the Right Thing
8. Legally Blonde
9. The Devil Wears Prada
10. Liar Liar
11. The Distinguished Gentleman

#100Screenplays 2021 reading challenge by the numbers:

Total yet-to be produced scripts: 31

Total produced scripts: 90

2021 Grand total: 121

My thoughts: 

It's been fun to read/re-read these. It may seem like this list is all over the place but look closer. Most of them have something in common: clever dialogue, hilarious subtext, power pairs. 

Keep writing friends,

Where to find scripts:

https://indiefilmhustle.com/free-screenplays-download/

https://www.imsdb.com

https://deadline.com/2021/03/oscars-2021-nominated-screenplays-read-1234714575/