Hey…sorry. I really meant to post. Uhh…yeah… Famous last words, huh?

The past…how many days has it been? I have to look at my calendar.

Holy Crap! Like…SIX DAYS. Has I been here that long?!? Wow… I guess the old adage holds water–time TRUE-ly does fly when you’re havin’ fun.

The past week has been, undoubtedly, one of the most intense experiences in either my creative or working lives. It has also, undoubtedly, been the finest. I am walkin’ on cloud nine.

I have an M.F.’in’ DOOSEY of a post for you in the next day or so. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry… I haven’t posted the blow-by-blow account over the past few days because–well, one, I was working working working on the script and/or in meetings about the script pretty much around the clock. That, and things were so fluid and/or sensitive that I couldn’t really mention them on…well…like…the Internet, and all.

Bad movie-making mojo, ya know.

It’s all done now, and I can talk about it. I need a little time to catch my breath–a day. And I need to get some final script stuff done. AND…I need to get ready for a meeting tomorrow with a talent manager, who comes highly recommended by folks here. We’ll see what happens, I guess. She sounds very nice over the phone.

Anyway, the ONE thing I can say is Rachael Leigh Cook is out. Another actress has signed on–probably a better choice in the end. It’s all part of the grand adventure that has been RUNAWAY BOYS: The Pre-production Experience. Will fill you in with all the news that’s fit to print tomorrow.

Until then, a little teaser. This picture was taken last night by Yours TRUE-ly at the NYC production office. We had been slugging, slugging, slugging so long and so hard for so many days. FINALLY, we all felt comfortable with the movie version of the script…like we really had something we could get behind and feel terrific about.

As an FYI–Aaron..? Cool guy. Not at all like what one would expect from a “star” type. And smart…with good writing and storytelling chops. He’s really pitched in right there with the rest of us, and many of his suggestions have worked their way into the script. …And he even puts up with my constant barrage of super-hero/X-MEN jokes. Although he has threatened to have me banned from the set. Hmmmm…

Anyway, Al had one of the PAs run out and get a big ol’ jug-o-whiskey…Maker’s Mark, no less. And we all grabbed whatever we could–paper cups, coffe mugs–and hoisted a…uh…glass to victory.

The guys in the picture are (L to R): Al, David Viola (our other producer), Jim (a PA), Aaron (some actor), Nate (a PA), and Tim McCann (our director).

I will make certain to post tomorrow. Thanks for bearing with me.

Ill make it ehhh-nee-where!

It’s up to you
New
York
New…Yorrrrrrk!

Once again into the fray

So here I am again, sitting in an airport food court and wolfing down some [insert conglomeration of meat and salad] wrap and waiting to board the flight that will be my next (and final) leg to the Big Apple. The noise in Midway is, itself, a spectacle. The humanity swirling around me is merely the icing on the cake.

I wasn’t surprised that the call came around noon today. There are some last minute tweaks to the script, and the producer asked if I would be there to help make them happen.

“Uhh…I’m not sure, Al. Lemme check my schedule and get back to you.”

Suddenly, I’m ramming my still dirty vacation laundry through the wash and running a few last minute errands like a madman. Then there’s the little matter of a doctor’s appointment for Zach that both Lynn and I needed to attend.

All that, and I still caught my flight at 6:10.

Whew!

Thank God for my brother, Action Jackson. Perish the thought of what my life would be without him. He took off work to get me to the airport. He gave me “the talk”. He gave me a hug as I left. He’s shouldered so much for his adopted TRUE family. And all with a smile. It amazes me.

I gotta tell ya, I couldn’t love the guy more if he was my own flesh and blood. Which, by the way, sometimes I wonder, anyway…

My deep regret this trip is that Debi isn’t here with me. I learned so much last trip. It was the epitome of the movie producing experience. And I get the feeling that this time around is going to best it.

I know that next weekend we will pile into her car and be together for the production experience, but I know that she’s feeling left out. I mean, she can’t help but feel that way. She isn’t getting the hands on—the texture, the depth, the quality, the detail—experience that I am getting. I am trying to carry her spirit (and her interests) with me constantly, but it becomes difficult sometimes to remember, to do.

I hope I am doing her justice. I pray I am. I pray for strength to continue to carry the torch for both of us. For I remember, I’m not just a screenwriter. WE’RE producers. Hence, DeBill Pictures. We’re a team.

Okay, I am babbling. But so much is coming into my mind right now. Things like:

• I’m scared.
• But I know I can do this.
• I love my family.
• I can’t say enough how much I appreciate their sacrifice as I simply drop everything and go live my dream.
• Will the movie turn out?
• Will it be good?
• What about money?
• I pray that everything will be okay.
• I pray my family will be safe.
• I thank God for this opportunity.
• But why the hell ain’t the wi-fi working here?

That’s about it.

I brought a real camera this time. If I think of it (no guarantees…you know who you’re dealing with), I wanna document the journey over the coming days (and possibly weeks). Also, I am guessing I will keep everyone apprised of the progress of this little RUNAWAY adventure.

‘Nite, all.

Funny you should ask, TRUE LIFERS.

Here is the latest. We start shooting on the 24th of this month in Catskill, NY. Even as I type, there are legions of RUNAWAY BOYS, LLC production foot soldiers scurrying around the town preparing for the shoot. The city, as I understand it, is pretty much throwing open their doors to us, which is exceedingly cool. They’re giving us access to some great locations, and even, I believe, donating use of an abandoned gymnasium for us to use as our makeshift studio and production HQ.

The director went up there today, and both the line producer and the production coordinator are up there. Sets are being built, etc., etc., etc. Pretty cool.

There will be a week of rehearsal in NYC next week. And who will be our stars, you might ask? Well, I am happy to tell you that I can actually…well…tell you! Finally!

Michael, the male lead, will be played by Aaron Stanford. Those of you who are arthouse movie freaks remember him making googly eyes over Sigourney Weaver–and making out with Bebe Newirth–in the indie hit TADPOLE. Those of you who are comic freaks will remember him as Pyro in X-MEN 2. He’s done a few other movies, as well, and is one of the VERY notable rising stars in H’wood today. We are fortunate to have him.

Carly, our female lead, will be Rachel Leigh Cook. For those of you who have had your heads stuck in the sand over the past five years, two notable films she’s been in are SHE’S ALL THAT and JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS. She has, however, been in tons more. Even better? She’s a Minnesota girl! I think that’s cool.

The other roles are either cast or being finalized, but I’m not in a position to spill the beans about all that yet.

My past couple of weeks, as you know, has been doing a re-write based on notes I got while I was in NYC. That is done and got mixed reviews by the others involved in the production. We’re going for one more revision push this weekend, where hopefully we will land on a version that pleases everyone–or at least everyone can be reasonably happy with. Unfirtunately, there is a little matter of differing tastes in our little crew, so I am not certain we are going to please all of the people all of the time. In the end, I hope we can simply land somewhere that will help make us a kick ass movie.

Okay…so that’s it for now. I will keep you posted as I know more. I am, like, two hours late on getting some notes over to the producer in NYC. Gotta buzz.

I’ve noticed something. Yeah, yeah…I know. Goody for me.

I’m not the brightest bulb on the tree, mind you, so the fact that this has just dawned on my now comes as no surprise to me. It does, however, resonate. A little, but distinct “click!” that echoes through my mind, like the hoof…uh…falls of Paul Revere’s horse on cobblestone. “He’s finally got it! He’s finally got it!”

This morning I realized that-aside from the rigors of everyday life—the main reason why I don’t post here on a regular basis lately is that I am trying too hard to be clever.

Ever since I got back on Monday, I have had news and such to report here. Every time I sit in front of this keyboard, however, I clam up. I tell myself that I need some cool hook, some interesting angle, something that’s gonna knock your socks off. Of course, what ends up happening is my eyes go kinda burry, and my brain starts to feel fuzzy. A minute later, the only thing I’m good for is a nice, long nap.

Or…I just surf the Internet. Damn you, wi-fi technology.

Now, I don’t say this to beat myself up, so don’t worry. I am merely telling you this as a matter of course—to recognize the 800-pound gorilla in the middle of the proverbial room. Now that we’ve acknowledged the fellow, now I can tell you the next thing I said to myself this morning.

“Self,” I said, I did. “This ain’t some namby-pamby frou-frou weblog! No sirree! Clever banter! We don’t need no stinkin’ clever banter! This here is TRUE LIFE!”

Uff da. You betcha.

Okay, seriously, I looked back at the little bio page I set up all these months ago. When I read through it, I remembered that I never said anything about being clever or cool or whatever. I only said this little TRUE LIFE thing was a tool to help define “who I am”. Well, I realize that I am not a clever or cool little ditty.

At least that’s TRUE some of the time. Sometimes, I am goofy and funny and whatnot. Other times, I am downright businesslike and/or boring. There are times when I am utterly uninspired. There are times when a shopping list is the most challenging thing I can commit to paper.

And sometimes, I got it going.

So…now you’re sitting there and going “Uh…huh…?”

All I’m trying to say (and why say it in 25 words or less, when you can say it in 250 words or more?) is that I get today that TRUE life, real and TRUE life, is like that. If you live with someone else, as I have had the pleasure of doing for the past glorious 18 years, you realize that it ain’t all wine and roses. As John Cusack’s character in HIGH FIDELITY pointed out, it’s not the pretty, sexy, satiny lingerie. It’s the faded, stretched out of shape, cotton panties hanging over the tub.

…And that’s what makes it great. ‘Cause, as Cusack’s character further acknowledged, the satiny, sexy stuff is the fantasy. It’s the cute problems, like you each bought one another the same Christmas gift.

And, like Cusack’s character, I get tired of the fantasy.

I am not the world’s best writer. Hell, in my book, I’m not even that good. I’m just some guy that’s been getting a couple of good breaks and has been a little lucky. I mean, yeah…I’m okay. But not stellar…not consistently so, that is.

Yet.

I do believe I will be someday—consistently stellar at this writing thing. But I am not there yet. That, my friend, is going to take practice. Lots of it.

And that is why TRUE LIFE is here in the first place. I dreamed of a place where I could put it out there—not just the satiny stuff, but the cotton undies, too—and just let it be. Get it out of my head and into the ether, so I could release it.

That’s what I am doing today. That, I realize, is what I want to do every day.

Gudda-gump! Gudda-gump! Gudda-gump! Gudda-gump!

“He’s finally getting it! He’s finally getting it…!”

Stay tuned for some RUNAWAY BOYS updates. Not pretty, but pretty informative.

Thankfully. Take my craaaazy mind off all this other stuff. I am, as you might have noticed, one of those guys who tends to think himself into jail if left to my own devices too long.

Today, it’s ushering at church for the 9:45 and 11:00 services. Yes, I will have to talk about RB stuff to my fellow parishioners, but the conversation will be tempered because I will be busy getting the place set up (and re-set between services), making certain I have servers (always a scare…must check before service starts. Trust me…), etc., etc., etc.

After that, it’s getting my darling daughter ready to go on tour tomorrow. Every year, our high school church choir performs JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, and every year they take their show on the road to some far off and (usually) exciting place in the the US. This year, they’re going to visit the Rocky Mountains and perform around the Denver/Boulder area. Fun!Fun!Fun, huh? So…if you’re in the Boulder area, let me know! I’ll hook ya up.

This year is extra special for Syd because she has the trademark “really big part”. She sings most of the narrator’s part. She’s pretty psyched to get our there and strut her stuff. She is feeling so much more confident in her abilities since her and Action Jackson have been doing voice lessons together.

Anyway…today’s all about laundry. And, likely, some about mowing. And definitely a little about grocery shopping (can you say “no food in the house?” Don’t worry…we can). Now that the hubub is subsiding a little, it will feel good to get back to this more “regular” stuff.

Well, I gotta run! Hop into the shower and get ready for church! Time’s a wastin’, and there ain’t no shortage of things to do today! Come on, come on! Up off that recliner! Let’s go!

So…though the past few days haven’t exactly been a nonstop par-tay, they have been quite festive. Moments of revelry, courtesy of my loving circle of friends who want to be congratulatory.

Fifteen minutes ago, however, I am sitting in my neighbors’ living room (a.k.a., “the den of sin”…I’ll explain another day) and just finished my fourth beer for the evening. I am about to get up and head home. Suddenly, I realize something.

All this celebration, and I’m not at the finish line yet. Basically, I’ve been whooping it up just because I got on the playing field! It’s a wonderful but sobering thought. Brings me back to a bit of poetry I posted a while ago:

So far to go
So good to be traveling

But…it’s still sobering. Turns out, there really is only one way to do something. You gotta do it. The thing that I have to do know is be TRUE to my word…to myself, to my friends and colleagues, to the world, to God.

Wow. I just wrote that expecting that I would be frightened by it. I am not, though. I am excited by it. So much to do. So much I may GET to do. I’m pretty fortunate. …And grateful.

Anyway, this probably reads like I’ve had a few. Time to go to bed.

I apologize to the people who know me that I haven’t been able to get to yet with this news. It is, however, ten till six in the morning, and I just can’t sleep. This blog entry has been playing on my mind incessantly over the past three hours, and I finally just got up about an hour ago (sent a few e-mails, upgraded iTunes, etc.) to get this off my chest.

I tried to do this last night, but the fine food, the martini, and the pinot noir were far too effectively working their magic. I could no more hit the enter button than I could build a Saturn V rocket. It didn’t take much for Lynn to convince me to “back away from the computer, sir.”

So…here is the news that I have been threatening you with for tha past few weeks. Are you ready?

For those of you who are not familiar with this term (i.e., must not have HBO, eh?), it means that the project is now fully funded and ready to go into production. Our producers called me yesterday at 2:30 in the afternoon to deliver the news. The call was pretty much a bunch of hooting and hollering, but I believe that’s the basic gist of what the call was about.

There is still much to be decided and worked out, but the producers tell me that they’re targeting to shoot the movie in August around the New York area. Yikes! Which means…guess where I will be spending MY August?!? Also, Debi and I will likely be flying to NYC for a few days (or more) for meetings with the producers, director, and cast (Oh, yeah! I can’t forget about that!) to read over the script and talk through changes. In the meantime, I have been given marching orders to re-read the script (I haven’t even glanced at the thing for 6-9 months) and start thinking about potential changes I would like to make and also to “age up” the Michael character a bit… Why age him up, you ask?

Well…that’s the other cool part. I can’t name names quite yet because things aren’t exactly set in stone yet, but we have, it seems, made offers to two “big name” actors to play Michael and the female lead, Carly. So far, prospects seem to look pretty good, but we’ll see. Anyway…the guy who will probably play Michael is a little older than we had anticipated the actor being, and he’s not entirely comfortable with playing a 17 year old. Which is fine…we purposely wrote the script to be flexible, so…tap, tap, tap I will go. Anyway, more on the actor front as it develops (probably over the next couple of weeks).

Okay…I am exhausted just writing this far. Must…stop…getting…tired…….

First Lynn’s chemo news, then the meeting Wed., now this. Lord, please…give it a rest for today, at least. For now, I’m…ah…good, you know? I said it about a hundred times yesterday…if I have many more weeks like this, I am going to fall over dead of a coronary!

There are so many people to whom I owe this moment. I will do my best to get around to everyone, but to those of you who comprised the “village” that raised the particular “child” (you know who you are)…thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can only hope to somehow, someday repay the debt of gratitude I feel to each of you. Thanks for your patience and love and support. I love you, one and all.

We started the car. We revved it up. We backed it out of the driveway. And now we’ve officially put it in “drive”. I know this is only the beginning. I know that there are plenty of headaches and heartaches and bumpy roads ahead. But today…having the thing in “drive” feels pretty darned good. Wow. Wow…

If I have too many great weeks like this, I think I will probably shake apart!

FIRST — The best news… I am certain Lynn will post this on her CaringBridge site, but I will go ahead and announce here… SHE’S DONE WITH CHEMO! On Tuesday, she had a bit of a reaction to one of her chemo drugs while we were at the office. The nurses started scurrying around to make things all better, and she eventually settled down. Fifteen minutes later, her doctor popped in to take a peek, and did his stand with his feet squarely apart and holding his chin poses, which I have come to realize is the pose he strikes when his wheels are turning right before he makes some important decision. Sure enough…I was right.

“That’s it,” he said. His take was that she was only going to be on chemo for two more weeks, and both her tumor markers and her CTscan looked good. …And she FEELS BETTER! All that seems to add up to remission, so he felt comfortable about saving any trouble with respect to future reactions (which would get worse every time and could become life-threatening) and put her on her chemo holiday (which we hope is an indefinitie one) now.

Yikes! Needless to say, though Lynn is feeling the effects of this round of chemo as we speak, we are pretty damned excited.

SECOND — Had my meeting with my author hero yesterday. Will make a longer post about it after I get his reaction to the script and, and I can be a litle more forthcoming about things. I was, however, ruined for the entire day yesterday after our meeting. My extremities felt like jelly.

THIRD — I wish I could share with you the e-mail I just got from my producers for RUNAWAY BOYS. Again…jelly extremities. All good. The way things are going, I should be able to clue you in soon. If everything works out the way it looks like it’s going to, the news willbe worth waiting for.

Okay… Breeeeeeeath, Bill. Breeeeeeeeeeaaaaaattthhhhhhhh….

For those of you who remember, THE OFFICIAL PREPPY HANDBOOK defines the acronym “OOC” as “out of control.” Upon reflection over recent hours, I realize that’s how I am feeling. The emotional high and rush of adrenaline, which has been virtually non-stop for the past several days–getting the script ready, the chemo news, the chemo fallout, the meeting, the great RB news–is finally abating. Digging into mounds of laundry will do that to a guy, I guess.

Anyway, it’s a good thing because I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed. A little bit like I was hyper-ventilating and couldn’t stop. And there have been a couple of “Oh! I forgot about that” wake up calls today. All of which adds up to on thing: calm down and use your planner, Bill.

Hence, Bill closes out this post and opens his planner to June 10. Planning and solitude, baby. Planning and solitude…

In my e-mail this morning:

congratulations on finishing the script, Bill.  I  look forward to reading it..   How would wednesday morning work,say at eleven a.m?   if not then thursday morning would work as well.   i will be out of town on tuesday and friday.  i am at xxx , two doors from j.j.  as for the xxx reading, it is a very good idea, but you would have to clear that with xxx, for she’s putting together the day’s activities.

every good wish,

xxx
The message I sent back was…umm…not just yes, HELL YES!

My body trembles as I write this post. Not more than two hours ago, one of the three artistic heroes in my life invited me to his house, so I can hand him a copy of the script I adapted from his novel. How cool is that?

I am, to say the least, psyched beyond reason. I am also, I must admit, scared out of my freakin’ gourd! My worst fear: that I will get there, and the only thing I will be able to vomit forth is, “Meeeun-gunngh! Jeee-buzzz-mummm-gumm-shoooojoooo. Gnyech…gnawwwwwwwwww….”

This probably sounds psycho, but I have dreamed about this meeting. A number of times. Some of them go well, others…not so well. Fortunately, we have some context by which to become acquainted in person. Also, we’ve corresponded via e-mail a fair amount over recent months, so it’s not like we are utter and complete strangers, I suppose.

On a side note, the author has been terrific about asking after Lynn every time we correspond. He even mentioned that his wife and he check her CaringBridge journal from time to time. They have been very concerned about her and obviously keeping her in their thoughts…which I also think is exceedingly cool.

Anyway, so the guy is finally going to read it. Yikes! Once I get the official thumbs up from him, I will be able to stop being so secretive about what the book is and clue you all in (though I have, I suppose, left my share of clues here and there, if you have been paying attention).

It’s all very exciting. Today, it feels good to be me.