I've been looking back on my adventure in Hollywood, culling pages from my journal...
It's now March 1994 and I'm just treading water: Sending out the book material to some publishers, exchanging scripts with my online friend, Getting feedback from the producing wonder, Sheri Upbin.
Whatever I sent her she "loved!" Oh, I do note what I sent, some relationship sketches I did with John Rawlins, my former frequent cowriter, as part of the "So You Wanna Get Married" revue that never went anywhere. As for Upbin, we were still deep in the "getting to know you" phase.
Whatever I sent her she "loved!" Oh, I do note what I sent, some relationship sketches I did with John Rawlins, my former frequent cowriter, as part of the "So You Wanna Get Married" revue that never went anywhere. As for Upbin, we were still deep in the "getting to know you" phase.
Attended the WGAE Award dinner which "went very well (drat)." So I guess no one was going to ask us to write the dinner again.
Only a few days later, the Sheri Upbin thing begins to unravel. Donna and Hal (the boyfriend) spoke to Sheri. They all realize Hal is no producer. Sheri wants to direct, so she'll get paid (as opposed to a producer, where she doesn't). Turns out Matt (the other actor) wasn't any good; so the show is on hold. But Hal wants to do "his play" with Donna. Donna wants to some sort of act (maybe with Tom Gilpin of "Style without Substance") and maybe with Sheri. But all that's on hold until after Donna and Hal's wedding.
Only a few days later, the Sheri Upbin thing begins to unravel. Donna and Hal (the boyfriend) spoke to Sheri. They all realize Hal is no producer. Sheri wants to direct, so she'll get paid (as opposed to a producer, where she doesn't). Turns out Matt (the other actor) wasn't any good; so the show is on hold. But Hal wants to do "his play" with Donna. Donna wants to some sort of act (maybe with Tom Gilpin of "Style without Substance") and maybe with Sheri. But all that's on hold until after Donna and Hal's wedding.
Then I speak with Sheri on my own, wanting to touch base and establish contact on my own. Turns out she had the same idea. She's still very "up" about the experience ("considers meeting me a plus-which I desperately want to believe is true") and extends an invitation to submit to her. Then she tells me that even though Donna & Hal and Sheri parted as "friends," she was no fan of Hal. She said Hal said he had no intention of putting money up (which is kinda what a producer does). Sheri says she cut them some slack because of their upcoming nuptials ("a wedding present," she adds). So that all seems to be a quagmire but she's still interested in working with Donna. Or Matt. What?? I'll admit it now, I remember none of this.
I didn't bother writing in the journal again until the end of April. Exchanging scripts with friends. "Three Scrooges" was worked on, and I'm apparently considering sending it to Sheri Upbin. This is the gist of it; submitting scripts and manuscripts to places.
I didn't bother writing in the journal again until the end of April. Exchanging scripts with friends. "Three Scrooges" was worked on, and I'm apparently considering sending it to Sheri Upbin. This is the gist of it; submitting scripts and manuscripts to places.
Flipping through the pages I see family stuff, a friend moving to Florida, a committee member who roped me into a BBS column for the WGA newsletter (I have NO RECOLLECTION of this ever happening!).
Still getting agent Howle to try and submit to SNL and Late Night, but that wasn't going anywhere. Just chasing down leads that dead end.
Come May and I make good on my note to submit "The Three Scrooges" to Sheri Upbin (that apparently went nowhere).
Found a way to submit freelance jokes to Letterman...there exists a backdoor way to "fax" freelance jokes to his show. This was a practice that existed on the "down-lo" and would be effectively ended years later by the WGA.
I attempted to call Kevin Brown but he was off in Canada on a shoot. I write "Good for him." I wonder if I meant it?
Still getting agent Howle to try and submit to SNL and Late Night, but that wasn't going anywhere. Just chasing down leads that dead end.
Come May and I make good on my note to submit "The Three Scrooges" to Sheri Upbin (that apparently went nowhere).
Found a way to submit freelance jokes to Letterman...there exists a backdoor way to "fax" freelance jokes to his show. This was a practice that existed on the "down-lo" and would be effectively ended years later by the WGA.
I attempted to call Kevin Brown but he was off in Canada on a shoot. I write "Good for him." I wonder if I meant it?
Weeks later my application to Late Show is rejected. As is my manuscript by two publishers.
Oh, so the BBS column for the WGA newsletter was nixed by the council, so that's why I don't remember that happening. We were setting up for another Agents Night at the WGAE. My friend liked a script of mine and even offered to show it to his agent (after a rewrite).
I also note my father-in-law had a heart bypass. The operation was a success, but the patient would die in a few weeks' time. I wouldn't write in the journal for a month.
Oh, so the BBS column for the WGA newsletter was nixed by the council, so that's why I don't remember that happening. We were setting up for another Agents Night at the WGAE. My friend liked a script of mine and even offered to show it to his agent (after a rewrite).
I also note my father-in-law had a heart bypass. The operation was a success, but the patient would die in a few weeks' time. I wouldn't write in the journal for a month.
