8.29.2009

Bended, But Unbroken

Received the email I expected last night: we did not advance to the Semi-Finals for the Nicholl Fellowship.

Je suis desolee.

But I -- we -- will survive. It hurts, no doubt about it. I don't think we ever realize how much we are invested in something until it doesn't come to pass. I wanted this, and I try not to want very much... Except to have faith in the writing, to believe that we are good enough to do this professionally.

My faith is shaken but not lost.

Happy little planner that I am, I do not know what to do next. No doubt, however, something will come along.
Posted by Bobbi at 10:37 AM
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3 comments:

Joseph said...

I'm sorry, B (and J)...I can't believe it. That script was so original, written so brilliantly.

"I don't think we ever realize how much we are invested in something until it doesn't come to pass."

That's true....I think there's probably some sense of that investment all along, but you don't get the full effect until something definite happens. It's difficult to gauge your feelings when doing something creative because most of the time, there's no audience throughout almost the entire process...just for a small period of time at the end, a fraction of one percent of the total time spent. So you're working in the dark for most of that, and until the moment comes when someone is going to actually read it, you don't really feel just how much is riding on it.

"I wanted this, and I try not to want very much...Except to have faith in the writing, to believe that we are good enough to do this professionally."

No doubt. I'm pretty sure I could speak for everyone and they wouldn't mind...but just speaking for me, it was incredibly obvious from the first few chapters of TLBV on. I know it's got to hurt...but (if you were) don't look at it as an implication that it wasn't good enough. I mean, look at the movies this summer: GI Joe, Transformers 2, The Hangover, District 9, Inglorious Bastards...to call it terrible would be kind. Meanwhile, there are thousands of scripts this year that are mindblowing that never got the chance....

I was watching this interview with Dominic West (one of the leads in The Wire) earlier today. I'm on season 4. It's 5 series. It's now regarded as one of the best shows TV ever produced...but at the time, no one ever watched it. The creator had to fight tooth and nail with HBO almost every episode of every season to save it. The Sopranos wasn't bad....but this show was a million times better, as was Carnivale, as was Deadwood. The Wire survived, but the later 2 didn't, even though they were phenomenal. The Bachelor is still on all these years later...the smart, incredibly well-written shows are not. It's hard to get something though that's original, something smart, something well-written. It shouldn't be. Hollywood should be *clamoring* for that.

I guess what I'm saying is: don't believe for a second that this was because you don't have it, that it wasn't good enough. WE (those who have read it) sure as hell don't. This material is so good, so challenging...and while the creative side of this business is wonderful, the business side of it is ugly.

It will get made. Keep fighting, bending ears, making plans. It's far too good not to.

8/29/2009 07:18:00 PM
Jenny said...

Oh no.. I'm sorry honey.

8/30/2009 06:04:00 PM
Panamamama said...

I'm so sorry.

9/01/2009 09:49:00 AM

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