Review: Y Tu Mama Tambien

Since The Nuggets were eliminated after round one of the playoffs, I subsequently cancelled my cable and restarted my Netflix  account.

During his last visit, The Scorpio activated Netflix on my Wii and now I’ve been enjoying the constant stream of movies flowing into my TV. See, he’s good for other things besides sex.

I don’t remember what first intrigued me to see Y Tu Mama Tambien.  I was a sophomore in college when it came out, so I’m assuming my interest was film-school related. It was also the time when I decided to switch my major from straight-up Film to Media Studies and Writing. Since I’ve graduated they’ve added an actual “Screenwriting” major (go figure).

The film was nominated for Best Original Screenplay in 2001. Seeing how it was written in Spanish, and subtitled for English audiences, I wonder how literally the captions were translated.  Either way, the dialogue is luscious. It’s rich. It’s full of life. It makes you laugh and cry and gasp and smile. 

The story itself is simple enough: Two high school graduates take a road trip with a seductive older woman who has nothing to lose. It’s also a journey through the heart of Mexico, the dialogue interrupted by strange pockets of narration throughout the movie.

I’ve never used narration in my scripts. I’ve been chastised for using flashbacks, but to me, narration also serves the purpose of a flashback. Its explains details we cannot see. The unknown facts that somehow make the story more relevant.  Although the narration in Y Tu Mama Tambien is stark and seemingly out-of-place, it adds a sense of documentary to the film. It takes self-importance away from each character, as if they are just another element in the bigger picture. Each revelation is dark, letting the audience know some secret that the characters are keeping from each other.  It tells the truth, when the scene is clouded with mystery.

I like it. I don’t know how to do it in my own screenplay though.

This movie brings both incredible joy and incredible sadness. There is a melancholy feel at the end of it. Sometimes there is shock, as if you can’t believe what you are watching, but you still want to see more. It’s funny. It’s crude. Its young. It’s old. It’s traditional. It’s modern. It’s sexy.

And event though the ending is utterly and completely FINAL, I somehow want to see a Y Tu Mama Tambien 2!

New ideas

There’s a few deadlines coming up for some competitions, and I should be polishing Stoner Chicks for submission, but I’ve got some new ideas I want to share.

I saw this article a few months ago (while I was writing Stoner Chicks) and  immediately thought of another Pot Comedy.  First of all, FREE LAND?  You move there, build a house and the only requirement is to share part of your crop (or the cash equivalent) with the rest of the co-op.  So… WHAT IF.. two pot farmers moved there and started building an empire, much to the chagrin of their fellow sharecroppers?

Then I had a dream the other night about an absent-minded Navajo cop running around the reservation trying to find a giant plastic sheep someone had stolen off the top of someone’s business.  I was laughing in my sleep, so I think there’s potential for a comedy.

Don’t quit your dayjob

Elevation:7000 has been universally rejected from every contest and film festival I’ve submitted it to. I’m trying not to think of all those entry fees as wasted money, because I am learning something in the process. I hope.  I did get some actual feedback from the last contest, which was helpful and boosted my confidence slightly. See below:

The set up in your opening five pages is great. You give enough setting detail to authenticate the characters you introduce. Each of them is a clear product of their environment. There is a humor to their situation. This combination makes for intrigue and sustained interest in their unfolding stories. There is also an edge to each of them, which quickly begins to build tension as soon as the story gets going. Your dialogue is also sharp, witty and realistic to your fully-fleshed characters. These people do what they must to survive.

I scored very well in this contest, but I did not move on to the semi-finals.  The second reviewer liked my screenplay even better. Here’s what they said:

I’ve had the opportunity to read quite a few screenplays and I must say that this is the closest anyone has come to a small but powerful, independent feeling story.  The cast of characters was eclectic and interesting.  How their paths crossed, became friends and their stories played out was well done. Your description of the four corners area was well done, especially the area around Cortez, a place that I have been.  Your knowledge of the locals and the reservation life indicated some experience, that you know the area.  One of the best things a screenwriter can do is write about what they know and you seem to have done just that. I consider this a very good screenplay and with a little polish will be a powerful story that a good director would jump at the chance to make

I haven’t submitted Stoner Chicks to any contests yet. I’ve started a third screenplay, which I’m calling Dayworld right now. It’s a Sci-Fi/Vampire movie. The description is on my “Projects” page.

Almost a year later

My new blog

• I’ve been in Denver for almost a year now.
• I started my “new” job last June.  It’s been alternately challenging, boring, stressful, mind-numbing, entertaining and satisfying. I still don’t want to be an Admin Assistant my whole life. 
• LB is about to complete Montessori Preschool. I’ve got her registered for a public Kindergarten this fall. Scary. I’ve also found that most schools charge $300 for full-fay Kindergarten in the Denver area. *sigh* One more year until free schooling, I guess.
• My lease is almost up. I’ve been trying to find something less expensive, because due to the medical bills (from my appendicitis), I can no longer afford my current rental.
• I’ve made the 346 mile round trip (our custody exchange location) 12 times since the big move. With gas prices going up to $3.50 a gallon, it’s almost cheaper to fly.
• I’ve completed 2 scripts, and submitted both to numerous screenplay competitions/film festivals. In a moment of craziness, I even applied to be a recipient of the Nichols Fellowship. No luck yet.
• I’ve dabbled in relationships with Aries Guy, Taurus Boy and The Scorpio. Aries Guy got tired of our casual meetings and found himself a nice Librarian. Taurus Boy has kept in contact, despite my lackadaisical attitude and has proven to be funny, gentlemanlike and a hell of a good time. The Scorpio slips in and out of the shadows, leaving me breathless and satisfied…at least for a while.
•  I’ve got two egg donations lined up for this summer. One here in Denver in the next month, the other in La Jolla, CA beginning August.
• This summer is my last as a 20-something. I plan on filling it with as many celebrations of my dying youth as I can. Namely, concerts, dances, movies, clubs, brewery tours, sun-tanning/skin-baring activities. I hope a trip to Vegas is in there as well.

Oh right.. I’m broke

What tribe do you belong to?

There was a great post over at Big Sky Astrology about advertising your personal “brand” to the world. They used the famous Dolly Parton quote: “Find out who you are and then do it on purpose.”  I think a lot of people who like astrology are really just looking for answers; such as who they are, what they are meant to do, and how they should do it. The fear of the unknown and the Pandora’s box conundrum we humans seem to be cursed with, are direct motivations for our interest in religion, psychology, philosophy and yes, Astrology.

So how are you unique, and what can you offer the world? What’s your own personal brand of awesome? I loved everything about this article, and highly recommend it to anyone who needs a dose of self-confidence.

Most everyone knows what their (sun) sign is. Even those who outright loathe astrology will probably have this knowledge unwillingly thrown at them at some point. Once you get a little further into the study of Astrology, you will learn about the other planets, and the “houses” each one inhabits.

My sun is in Pisces (have I mentioned this?) and in the eleventh house. Whatever house your sun resides in, is the area of your life that is most important to your personal identity. You are constantly modifying, adjusting and comparing yourself in this aspect of life. The eleventh house is the house of friends, community and group interaction. It’s also considered the house of luck in ancient astrology.

Not giving up

I finished my Stoner Chick Flick.  Did the read-through. Wasn’t as painful as I expected, but now I’m deep into the rewrite and it’s been torture. I’m working on suffocating my feelings of self-doubt, but after rejections keep pouring in, its hard not to think “Why am I wasting my fucking time?”

Screenwriting Goal #1: Kill all feelings of self-doubt.

Also, when faced with editing your own work, you pretty much are forced to deal with every element of self-loathing imaginable. I mean, its YOU on that page. The characters are speaking words from YOUR lips. All my screenwriting books tell me to separate myself from my work, so its easier to see what needs to be fixed. I guess if I were more professional, then this wouldn’t be such an issue.  Must work on this.

Screenwriting Goal #2: Self-Loathing will do nothing to help you .(unless you are Charlie Kaufman..fucking assshole!)

I’ve been trying to inspire myself and lighten the editing process by going to see  Oscar Nominated films. Nothing better than a really great movie to cheer me up   I liked The Social Network despite the searing lack of decent female characters, but I guess that wasn’t the point of the movie. And me getting stuck in my bitterness on females in the hollywood industry is NOT going to help my own writing. In fact, the bitterness in my first draft was viciously apparent after I re-read some of the scenes.

Screenwriting Goal #3: Clear mind of all bitterness when writing.

As the snow comes careening from the clouds over Denver, I drink an Easy Street Wheat and try to get through this rewrite. Taxes have come in, and I can pay off some medical bills finally. The rest I’m going to use on submission fees for the upcoming contest deadlines, because god dammit I’m NOT giving up.

Sick Gratification

It was a rough week on planet earth. Between the newest installment of American violence, and my previous entry (which I could probably rename the “shit” post), the overall tone of humanity was pretty low. I’m glad to say I’m better now.  My life could be 1000 time worse; my daughter could have been shot down in front of a fucking Safeway  in broad daylight.

I’ve always cared too much about other’s opinions. It’s part of being a Pisces. The gratification I get from absorbing the world around me almost borders on addictive. As a teenager, I was involved in both school and community theater. The seesaw highs and lows of the theater world were like crack to me.  My favorite moments were as follows:

1. Seeing if my name was on the Cast List
2. Director notes after rehearsal
3. Review in the local paper

The similarities? All involved confirmation/opinion from an outside sources.  This either exhibits extremely low self-esteem and a high need for others’ approval, or… Pisces syndrome. 

When I won the role of Dorothy in my community theater, they had posted the cast list on a Friday night. I’ll admit that over the weekend I snuck back to the list numerous times, just to see my name there at  the top. Just to feel that high again. Pathetic? obsessive? Meth-head-like? Yes. It is what it is.

I didn’t always get the part. I’ve been rejected before. But the  acceptance and winnings of my past have far outweighed the losing. Why else would I continue to punish myself? Euphoric bliss will always tempt you to try again.

Vail Film Festival is out. Like my 16-year-old self, I’ve been back to the website a few times to re-check the list, just in case I’d missed my name. HA HA. And I didn’t experience disappointment each time, just the sweet anticipation of  maybe it could be…

I’m on page 88 of my Stoner Chick Flick.  There’s a new contest deadline coming up and I plan on submitting my 1st Screenplay to them. Even if you don’t win the contest, they give notes to every submission I’m also going to submit to the Austin Film Festival, Phoenix and New Mexico Film fests as well.

And I’m trying to avoid guilt, but with all these submission fees, on top of the medical bills from my appendix, things are tight right now. I’ve turned down dinners, movies, office lunches, and pretty much every request for toys, candy, happy meals LB has asked for.

I’ve become somewhat of a hermit, trying to save gas money. Toy Story 3 and Memory have become the nightly entertainment for my kid. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow, but I’m thinking about cancelling to avoid the $30 co-pay. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that no other outstanding costs rear their ugly heads this month, or I may be begging the Montessori school to postpone my child’s tuition payment.