Tag: writers journey

Good morning, fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly Hollywood blog. Last week, I shared marching orders (aka assignments) that I received from Richard Lawson based on a table read in his class for the first ten pages of a screenplay I recently resurrected and dusted off. I also mentioned that I made wonderful progress with his assignments. Today, I want to share a cool update on one of them.

One of his assignments was to get clear on the casting for these characters. (If you can see people playing these characters, then you can understand how to write them better.) This assignment came about because Richard asked me who I saw playing these Latin characters, and I couldn’t name any actors. I said that while it’s easy for me to envision white actors in specific roles when I write, I struggle to do the same with Latin actors. I said, “I need to find my people because they are out there.” So, I researched different Latin actors I could see playing the protagonist and antagonist. I then created a folder on my Google Drive to house some of their photos and links to interviews and scenes that capture the essence of these characters. I have since continued this process for three more Latin characters in the script.

Equipped with this reality, I read through Act One again and was able to see and hear these characters better. This newfound clarity brought even more tangibility to them, and I made some tweaks to the dialogue. As I mentioned above, I can visualize white actors in specific roles, so being able to do the research and visualize Latin people was thrilling, exciting, and empowering. They are out there, indeed, and they incredibly talented, vibrant, and important to the fabric of art and creation. I’m reminded of a series I wrote many years ago and how excited I was to visualize Latin actors for those roles. This assignment helped me flex my brain again to rediscover the pool of Latin talent out there.

The other powerful lesson in doing this assignment was that “I know what I know.” These characters have been with me for such a long time that when I found the actor that was perfect for the role, I didn’t need to look any further. I didn’t need to second-guess or ponder further. I didn’t need to go down the rabbit hole of doubt and confusion. Once I found the actor, I knew they were perfect for the character. Done. Finished. Move on. My impulses, instincts, and intellect are correct. I can feel it. Each photo, interview, and scene that I pulled up confirmed my decisions.

Here are the Latin actors I see playing characters in my feature film: Ismael Cruz Córdova, Ryan Guzman, Iñaki Godoy, JD Pardo, and Justina Machado. What an incredible, powerful list of Latin talent. I will continue reading through the rest of the script and make changes to dialogue as I go.

And going through this process, I couldn’t help but think about all the Latin talent that has inspired me (and continue to inspire me.) I guess the following is my homage and shout-out to them, and this is by no means an exhaustive list. Shout-out to incredible, visceral actors like Justina Machado, Edward James Olmos, Jimmy Smits, Zoe Saldaña, Victor Rasuk, Lauren Velez, Rosie Perez, and Marlene Forte. Incredible showrunners, executive producers, and writers like Gloria Calderón Kellett, Tanya Saracho, Steven Canals, Linda Yvette Chávez, Marvin Lemus, and David Hinojosa. Exciting directors like Aristotle Bam and Kristian Mercado Figueroa. Dynamic, exciting authors like Xochitl Gonzalez. Unapologetic and hilarious drag queen icon Bianca Del Rio. Shout-out to the Latin artists I listened to who dominated the Freestyle music scene like Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Lisette Melendez, Corina, Noel, TKA, and 2 in a Room.

See you next week!

Good morning, fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly Hollywood blog. I took the week off, and I am excited to get back to it with you all. I have received my marching orders from a couple of people and have been moving along with them. The first set of marching orders came from Richard Lawson, and the second from my Slamdance Screenplay Clinic reader.

On July 23rd, I held a table read in class at the Richard Lawson Studios for the first ten pages of a screenplay that I recently resurrected and dusted off. It felt wonderful to hear my words read out loud by the talented actors I selected. I received a great assessment from Richard that covered the artistic and business aspects of my script. At the end of his assessment, he gave me an assignment to complete in the next three weeks, and I have since made wonderful progress with it:

1) He wanted me to get clear on the casting for these characters. (If you can see people playing these characters, then you can understand how to write them better.) This assignment came about because Richard asked me who I saw playing these Latin characters, and I couldn’t name any actors. I said that while it’s easy for me to envision white actors in specific roles when I write, I struggle to do the same with Latin actors. I said, “I need to find my people because they are out there.” So, I researched different Latin actors that I could see playing the protagonist and antagonist. I then created a folder on my Google Drive to house some of their photos and links to interviews/scenes that capture the essence of these characters. I will continue this process for two more Latin characters in the script. I will also watch more films featuring Latin actors and creatives to continue expanding my awareness. The other reason he wanted me to identify actors for these roles is so I can pitch the script to them and obtain LOIs (letters of intent). These letters are important and valuable because they prove a project’s marketability and they help to secure funding from investors.

2) Get more specific with the type of dance and music that exists in this world. (When you write, play the music of the world because it will help the rhythm, feelings, emotions, and passion of how you write. It will inform your protagonist. It will irritate your antagonist.) I became more specific with the type of dance and music that exists in this world. I always heard the music and had a sense of the dance style that existed in this world; it was just about including it more specifically into the script. I reached out to a friend for help on a scene that I wanted to make more specific in terms of the dance steps that the protagonist executes. She offered great suggestions, and as I read through them, I realized that they were more for ballet, whereas I wanted jazz funk dance moves. I did additional research to include these specific steps within this particular scene. In terms of the music, I created a playlist of the songs that exist in this world, and I played that music when doing a few rewrites.

3) Raise the stakes a little more in those first ten pages. (We’re looking for the hook. What hooks us and makes us lean forward? What’s the hook, and is it strong enough to pull us forward with this journey?) I raised the stakes within the first ten pages of the script by setting up the impending peril a little more clearly. I also raised the stakes on page 11 where the inciting incident occurs.

4) Finally, he wanted me to keep putting myself out there and meeting people so that I didn’t stay out of sight and out of mind. (Find those Latin filmmaker groups and Latin writer groups. Get out of the comfort of your bubble and get out there.) I did a quick and simple Google search on Latin writer and filmmaker groups in LA. I plan to review each suggestion to see what each group offers. I also receive emails from NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers), and I will be more diligent about exploring the various events that they host. The Black List (while not Latin-specific) hosts a writers’ happy hour once a month that I would like to look into as well. Also, in my last blog entry, I mentioned settling on a writers’ group that is currently on summer hiatus. I look forward to sitting in as a guest when they resume sessions in September.

The second set of marching orders came from my Slamdance Screenplay Clinic reader. In my last blog entry, I mentioned pulling the trigger and paying for a consultation on my latest feature film script. Within six days of making payment, I received six pages of wonderful coverage from my reader. They feel that my script is a good and important piece. They provided macro and micro notes to add more layers, conflicts, and struggles, as well as to clarify a few story and character logistics. We are meeting on August 17th via Zoom to go over their notes and any questions I have. To prepare for this meeting, I have been reading through their notes over and over again, organizing them, and highlighting and bolding sections so I know what I want to address. I am excited for our Zoom meeting. I know that this investment I made will be so worth it! And…their notes feel doable!

See you next week!

Good morning, fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly Hollywood blog.

Last week, I filled out the online form to get the ball rolling for a Slamdance Screenplay Clinic consultation—and today, we’re talking about putting my money where my mouth is to make it officially happen. That’s right. It’s official. I pulled the trigger and secured my spot! I am so excited. This consultation aligns perfectly with my mid-year audit and my directive of “closing the deal” to secure top-tier literary representation. It’s a wonderful opportunity to talk to the exact reader who gave me the initial feedback on my latest feature film script, expand on their notes in real time, and brainstorm ideas on how to tackle the next draft. Having that professional, outside perspective will be invaluable, helping to move my script—and my career—forward exponentially.

The process has been quick and pretty straightforward, from filling out the online form, to receiving a response from my reader, to making the payment. My reader aims to have full coverage ready for me by August 6th. At that time, we will coordinate to meet over Zoom for an hour. I look forward to it, particularly because my reader assured me that the consultation will be constructive, positive, and empowering. Keep reading below 🙂

I also mentioned last week that I settled on one writers’ group and will be sitting in soon as a guest. Unfortunately, they are on summer hiatus and will return in September. In the meantime, I am exploring another writers’ group to see if I can fit them into my schedule. Keep reading below 🙂

See you next week!

Above photo from: https://www.pngkey.com/maxpic/u2e6e6r5w7q8w7i1/

Good morning, fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly Hollywood blog.

Last week, I mentioned that I performed a mid-year audit of my DOIN (Declaration of Independence, aka business plan), and the review boiled down to one simple question: “Okay, now what?” The answer? Finish it. Close the deal on my 2026 sub-goals. These sub-goals—both long-term and short-term—will get me closer to achieving my primary goal of securing top-tier literary representation, and I’ve already continued the journey of moving them forward. Keep reading below 🙂

For example, during the mid-year audit, I noted: “Sub-goal: Research different writers’ groups. Build communities with them. Great. I’ve done the research. Now, I just need to join one.” I have since settled on one writers’ group and will be sitting in soon as a guest.

Another area I focused on was connection: “Sub-goal: Support and build my relationship map. While I have done that in the first half of the year, I now see that I need to make more of an effort in terms of in-person connection.” To put this into action, I’ve already reached out to a few people and mentioned that I would love to catch up with them.

And here is something really cool: Just two days after completing my mid-year audit, I received written feedback from a professional script reader. I had entered my latest feature film script into the Slamdance Screenplay Competition, and the submission included short coverage. Even though it was labeled as “short coverage,” it was incredibly comprehensive, positive, encouraging, and—most importantly—doable.

Reading their notes made me instinctively feel compelled to take advantage of their Screenplay Clinic. which offers a one-on-one consultation with one of their readers:

“The Slamdance Screenplay Clinic offers writers the opportunity to develop and discuss their work at length with industry experts who are committed to helping storytellers grow. We offer a range of services, including expanded coverage, polish editing, structural analysis, and good old-fashioned brainstorming.”

I’ve already filled out their online form to get the ball rolling. This consultation aligns perfectly with my mid-year audit and my directive of “closing the deal” to secure top-tier literary representation. It’s a wonderful opportunity to talk to the exact reader who gave me the initial feedback, expand on their notes in real time, and brainstorm ideas on how to tackle the next draft. Having that professional, outside perspective will be invaluable, helping to move my script—and my career—forward exponentially. Keep reading below 🙂

It feels great to take more actions on these sub-goals and continue closing the deal.

See you next week!

Good morning, fellow artists! Welcome to another exciting edition of my weekly Hollywood blog.

We are officially at the halfway mark of the year! I celebrated last week by immersing myself in Madonna’s new album, Confessions II. By the way, it’s an amazing album—exhilarating, pulsating, boundary-pushing, personal, and emotional. Forty-plus years in the game and she still has IT.

As I promised last week, I performed another audit of my DOIN after I celebrated. With this mid-year review, I looked at the goals I accomplished in the first half of the year, as well as the ones that need to be recalibrated or completely thrown out for Q3 and Q4.

In a previous blog post, I introduced the The Multi-Hyphenate’s Dictionary. In it, definition number 8 stated: Audit [aw-dit] (noun) A new addition to my vocabulary defined as the act of honestly assessing my progress each quarter, which actually means peeking through my fingers in absolute terror as I scroll through my DOIN. Just kidding.

Just kidding indeed, as I objectively went through my business plan. Keep reading below 🙂

I read my raison d’être (reason for existence, purpose) and it still resonates deeply. I read my postulates, and they still ring true and excite me. My primary goal for 2026 remains intact and is still my target (which is to secure top-tier literary representation.) I also read through my sub-goals and the separate administration plans under each one. These sub-goals—both long-term and short-term—are exactly what will get me closer to achieving that primary target.

I was incredibly happy to see how many action items I’ve already checked off in my administration plans. Seeing that progress brought a tremendous sense of satisfaction and pride. However, the biggest takeaway from this audit, and my core focus for the rest of 2026, is the need to “close the deal” on these sub-goals. I have checked off a lot of individual action items, but there is now a collective sense of, “Okay, now what? Finish it.” Let’s look at a few examples below:

Sub-goal: Research different writers’ groups. Build communities with them. Great. I’ve done the research. Now, I just need to join one.

Sub-goal: Build a website to promote my talents as an artist. Great. I’ve built the website. Now, I need to drive traffic to it.

Sub-goal: Create a writer’s reel to highlight the evidence. Great. I’ve done that. I’ve put together a reel of some of my past writing works. Now, I need to write and shoot new evidence of my current writing abilities.

Sub-goal: Support and build my relationship map. While I have done that in the first half of the year, I now see that I need to make more of an effort in terms of in-person connection. I recently told my career administration partner that one of the things I most admire about him is his ability to build and nourish his relationship map with in-person lunch and coffee meetings. He excels in the valuable face-to-face arena, and those connections continue to provide him with wonderful opportunities.

Then there are the goals that require a shift in strategy.

One sub-goal that needs to be recalibrated is: Finish the second draft of “The Third Act” feature film script with Kelly Tighe. Check. After its successful pitch at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and the enthusiastic “goldmine” response it received, the team is pivoting to making “The Third Act” a TV series. The goal is to sell the series to a major streaming company and go into production.

Another sub-goal that needs to be recalibrated, but not quite thrown out yet, is: Use social media to gain traction and attention from top-tier literary agents. In a recent assessment in class and a conversation with my career administration partner, using social media boiled down to a simple question, “To what purpose?” I haven’t figured out a compelling purpose or reason yet to use social media on a consistent, daily basis to share my voice as a writer. What’s my way in? What’s my angle?

Looking at this directive of “closing the deal” in order to complete a sub-goal and put a confident, solid check mark next to it, I added some new action items and highlighted them in bright green so they stand out as a reminder within my DOIN document. As the days progress, I will continue adding more targeted action items to finish what I started. Keep reading below 🙂

See you next week!