I didn’t update my journal for 2 weeks. And that update was barely ¾ of a page. Kevin and Joel called. They both loved the script so far (again). They, however, want me to “punch up” those scene descriptions (cue ominous foreshadowing music). The plan is now to give the script to Pee-Wee with a check attached as a show of “massive support.” I promise to finish it up for the weekend. Otherwise it was a matter of doing the public access show and seeing my comedy group on “The Joe Franklin Show” doing my sketch “Abbott and Othello.”
A few days later I note that my latest draft of “Pee-Wee’s Big Christmas” was mailed off, with all the pithy new scene descriptions. Hollywood sounded delighted. “It now stands at 100 pages. I threw out a ton of stuff, added some more, reworked the train scene (it’s now cinematic), moved O’Kiley up, pulled his exposition speeches to the beginning. Edited just about every scene by a couple of lines and punched up that scene description stuff.” Kevin and the gang really want to push it and perhaps, go over Kimberly’s head. I could only add that I hoped it was truly finished. Yet I was still thinking up gags and running scenes in my head. Now the idea of being part of the creative team was pulling at me. But “that seems unlikely.”
Once they got the script, copies were made and distributed. They sent one to Kimberly with a note strongly suggesting she read it pronto. It’s mid-November now, so they were pushing for a read before the holidays. And Kevin tells me he’s coming into New York City the following meet. We’ll make plans to meet up. Style Without Substance was performing in a sketch festival at the West Bank theater.
Once they got the script, copies were made and distributed. They sent one to Kimberly with a note strongly suggesting she read it pronto. It’s mid-November now, so they were pushing for a read before the holidays. And Kevin tells me he’s coming into New York City the following meet. We’ll make plans to meet up. Style Without Substance was performing in a sketch festival at the West Bank theater.
We did that, I recorded a week and a half later. We met up Wednesday, Nov 21st, 1990 at the West Bank. Met his girlfriend (Brenda? Linda?) and a friend (Steve? Stan?). A cartoonist and his girlfriend. This night just sizzled with A-list talent.
Style killed that night. “Far away the best of the 4 group/teams on that night.” I didn’t write it down but I remember Kevin spit-balling an idea about a show or movie about a comedy troupe trying to make it. Or, a game show with different troupes performing for a prize. He was ahead of his time, that Kevin Brown.
He also mentioned again that Joel loved the script.
A week later, he calls. He now had read the script and loved it. BUT I might have to tone down my “funny” scene descriptions. Apparently Kevin doesn’t go for tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating, somewhat mocking humor. I’m making fun of my own script (sez he). That’s not good (sez he anon). There are too many people reading it who might not get it.
Style killed that night. “Far away the best of the 4 group/teams on that night.” I didn’t write it down but I remember Kevin spit-balling an idea about a show or movie about a comedy troupe trying to make it. Or, a game show with different troupes performing for a prize. He was ahead of his time, that Kevin Brown.
He also mentioned again that Joel loved the script.
A week later, he calls. He now had read the script and loved it. BUT I might have to tone down my “funny” scene descriptions. Apparently Kevin doesn’t go for tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating, somewhat mocking humor. I’m making fun of my own script (sez he). That’s not good (sez he anon). There are too many people reading it who might not get it.
From memory, I believe the first page looked something like this (remember, all this stuff is still on Atari floppy discs):
EXT. CITY – DAY
So here it is, the first scene of my first big time script. I have to do this right. Okay. A bustling metropolis in winter, teeming will life and prepping for Christmas. Nailed it with atmosphere to spare!
Something like that.
Anyway, Kevin will let me know if it’s a problem (foreshadowing). All valid points. Too bad nobody told me in time. For now, they just have to get Kimberly the executive to lock this down.
EXT. CITY – DAY
So here it is, the first scene of my first big time script. I have to do this right. Okay. A bustling metropolis in winter, teeming will life and prepping for Christmas. Nailed it with atmosphere to spare!
Something like that.
Anyway, Kevin will let me know if it’s a problem (foreshadowing). All valid points. Too bad nobody told me in time. For now, they just have to get Kimberly the executive to lock this down.
