48 Hour Film Challenge - Why does it have to be so complicated?

We did the pre-drinking scene (why am a so fixated on that?). Went well, but was difficult because it was in the vestibule entrance, me inside and Peter (the Preacher) outside. So we had to get dual coverage: one shot from behind me, focused on him, and another from behind him, focused on me. Bunch of takes on both. I also kept forgetting which way to turn the latch on my own front door - clockwise to open, counter-clockwise to lock.

Somewhere along the way I managed to actually splash a little wine on the cuff of my robe. I don't think you'll be able to notice it. I dabbed it with some bleach. (Isn't film thrilling?)

Now they are getting another complicated shot on the stairs. My noisy, noisy stairs. I'm not watching but it sounds like they've fixed their light issues and getting the scene down.

Next will probably be the roof shots, which will be messy and special effects filled.

Brooklyn, Burning Man, Las Vegas and Back Again

The novel plugs on. WriMos talk of the second week slump. The first week you are excited and happy and thrilled. Week two hits like a wall when you realize how far you have to go. The lack of sleep starts to creep up on you. All the things you put of the first week (cleaning, shopping, etc.) suddenly start to loom larger. Coffee starts to taste funny.

I can't say that has been the case with me. I am well ahead on word count (if slightly behind on schedule to get the novel to it's final chapter by the 30th). Yeah, the house is dusty and I need to do laundry, but I've been there for a lot worse reasons.

But I did hit a wall, but on I knew was coming since day one. The main character as had his life change dramatically in chapter 7 & 8. To help with the transition (both for him and me), I send the five main characters on a road trip. Seemed like a good idea when I was doing the outline.

But getting them from Brooklyn to Burning Man in any concise way while still being interesting was a chore of tight structure. Then Burning Man had to be just as concise but a totally different tone and feel. And I've never been there. I've heard about it, read about it, viewed countless photos. But it is not the sort of event I should be writing about without having experienced it. If I had only known, I would have gone this September. But no one was kind enough to tell me that I'd be writing a novel with one chapter set there. Damn you all!

Anyway, I got through that. Totally switched up my writing style (even my punctuation and how I handle dialogue). I'm quite happy with it. It's light and surreal, full of import and signs. It is what it needed.

Then they took off for Vegas, for a chapter of wacky adventure and for me to ease back into normality. And now Vegas is kicking my ass. I think I'm struggling with writing from four year old memory and wanting to be funnier than I am right now and needing to get my main character back being active instead of just reacting or just observing, as he has for these last two chapters.

Get on with your life, MC! Get on with the story, Chris!

Sidenote: I have just fallen guiltily love... with FreshDirect. Shut-in status here I come!