This is the prologue from my eBook novel Blaze of Glory (originally titled Once Upon the End, when published by Bloodletting Books in limited edition), which follows with an 8000 word essay warning what not to do in Hollywood. I thought I'd share.
IN THE BEGINNING CAME THE
END
Once upon the time, there was Once Upon the End, a novella written by
an author of little note but great ambition. The novella was published to
moderate acclaim, created a small yet consistent buzz within a small community
of horror fans and authors, and made a few people notice this author who
wouldn’t normally notice him. As a bonus, because the editors were asking for
extras, the author provided a screenplay based on the novella. One long night
at a convention, an agent asked this author a question that he’d never been asked
before—have you considered selling this
as a screenplay? The author remembers taking a sip from a drink before shaking
his head.
Once
Upon the End as a
movie?
He’d written the screenplay, but only as a
sophomoric afterthought. For all he knew, he’d done it all wrong. Yet images
and dialogues from the novella suddenly took shape in the silver screen of his
mind. His sophomoric screenplay took life. Characters were cast. A soundtrack
blared the end sequence to a cacophony of applause.
Looking around the busy party, the agent
spotted someone more important than this green author and made to go. But before
leaving, the agent leaned down and said something that would mold events for
this author over the next five years- “You
really should. There’s humanity in your screenplay that’s rare. Plus, it’s very
visual. Remember when dealing with
Hollywood, visual is good. Visual is
always good.”
So this is my story of Once Upon the End, a novella that became a screenplay that reached
heights I’d never imagined. I’ll detail my successes and mistakes. I’ll list
those who showed interest as well as those who blew it off. This is everyone’s tale. Many have been there
before me, many will come after me, but this is the story of my journey.
But remember, “Once Upon a Time stories”
don’t always have and they lived happily
ever after endings. This tale
might be a tragic one. There are those of you who still hope to see your name
in lights. There are those of you who
look at the system with wide-hopeful eyes. For you this tale may be too scary.
But I urge you to follow my main character, Once Upon the End, as it travels from
nothing to an agent, to directors, producers and their assistants, and to
Wesley Snipes and forest fires and beyond. Experience the highs and lows, the
vulgarity and the hilarity, the happiness and the loss of hope, as Once Upon the End was promised, passed,
courted, and used like a two-for-one whore at a Shriner's convention.
Beware is all I say. Let it not be said that
I didn’t warn you. Consider this the small print on the prescription bottle of
your Hollywood ambition.
So poll your thoughts, interrogate your
dreams and decide if you want to continue reading. And if in the end you decide
to learn the true story of Once Upon the
End travels along the Dantean road to movie production, then we are well
met.
But first, allow me to introduce what was
once Once Upon the End and is now Blaze of Glory. Before you are to know what happened to the
screenplay, you have to experience the end of the world as my characters
did...awash in death, destruction, marijuana smoke, crack-addled grannies,
giant monsters and a garbage man with heroic ambitions.
So sit back.
Grab the popcorn.
Cue the soundtrack.
And enjoy.
Weston Ochse
June 2008
Mexican Border
No comments :
Post a Comment