December 31, 2009. The last day of the decade, and, oh what a decade! But this blog does not concern the trials and tribulations of the past but of the promises of the future. Currently, I have two writing projects that are very close to fruition and that’s what I intend this journal to be about. Hopefully it will be more of a Captain’s Log of a creative journey. With a lot of luck, we will all arrive at our destination without the ship sinking and the crew having to resort to cannibalism (although that might make better reading).
My first project is the world premiere of a musical, “Wild Space A Go Go.” Libretto by me, J.P. Linde, music by Kurt Misar and lyrics provided by Brad Beaver. The project has been at least three years in the making and will finally be produced at The Embers nightclub in Portland Oregon, opening on April 23rd 2010. Valory J. Lawrence has been hired to direct, Dan Murphy will be doing the choreography and Chris Whitten will be designing the sets and lights. One set of auditions was conducted on the first week of December with another set scheduled for January 9th and 16th. Overall, it has been quite the creative undertaking with its own set of creative challenges. Rehearsals are scheduled to start sometime in March and what makes that a statement of any interest is that the writer may not be physically a part of it. This is not by choice, mind you. Nor it is based on any decision by the creative team. The writer of the libretto might not be directly involved in the all important creative process because he will be in Los Angeles, California involved in the production of his screenplay, “The Touristers.”
The following is a logline for “The Touristers.”
Leading a caravan of RVs, filled with a riotous assortment of tourists, is not the relaxing moneymaking scheme, middle-aged gym teacher Marion C. Carlson hankers for. His rebellious, high-spirited teen daughter and his mutinous "Touristers" turn out to be the least of his worries. South of the border, Carlson incurs the wrath of a bloodthirsty tribe of outlaw bikers and circling the wagons may be a classic western case of way too little, much too late.
As it stands right now, money has been raised for the film and a creative team is mostly in place. Pre Production is scheduled for the second week of March with cameras rolling sometime in April. Matt Zettell is on board to direct and Keiko Nakahara will be our DP. The film is Executive Produced by Willie Bolin Jr and Dianna Liner. The screenplay is co-written by Willie Bolin Jr and myself and is based on my story. I will also be co-producing and my contract calls for me to be in Southern CA for pre, production and post.
So, as you can see, there is at least the hint of creative promise for 2010. If all goes as scheduled, my creative plate will be heaping and might even be worth reading about on a daily basis. If not, the crash and burn of one or both projects should keep you all entertained coming back for more.
I hope to keep you all informed on a daily basis and will post any photos from both projects as they progress.
