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Disney ABC Writing Program Rejection letter

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Ashtari-Larki, Ollie

show details 3:59 PM (46 minutes ago)

December 22, 2009

Dear Applicant:

Thank you for applying to the 2010 Disney ABC Writing Program.

The response to the program has surpassed our expectations and the quantity of worthy submissions has far exceeded the limited number of available positions.  As a result, we sincerely regret we are unable to accept you into the 2010 Program.

Please note that none of the materials you submitted will be returned and that the terms of the submission agreement remain in effect.

We appreciate your interest and hope that you will apply again.  We wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors.

Disney ABC Writing Program

Ugh, there’s nothing worse than a subject that reads: “Rejection letter”

 

Moving on

Just got my letter from The Guy Hanks and Marvin Miller program it said I didn’t make the fifteen selected for the program. There were over 200 applicants. This program actually mailed me criticism of my spec. I have a hard time at first with criticism so I read it one time, put it away for a little while then come back when I’m ready to actually use it.

The NBC program had something like 900 applicants and I was one of 17 finalist (or that’s what I was told). I used the same spec. I guess every program has different people who might read your spec so all you can do is pray that the right person gets it. The right person meaning someone who loves my spec and finds it absolutely marvelous.

So now I’m moving on, or trying to.  I think I might hit the library for some motivational reading…

 

Big Bang

I’ve been contemplating writing a new spec, this really means I’ve been watching every episode I can and occasionally writing ideas down. The new spec will be Big Bang Theory, it will be a challenge because I’ve never done this style before. I think that’s why I don’t dive right in.

My sister highly recommended the show saying she had a lot of friends in college like the characters in the show. I noticed while watching an episode from season 2 yesterday that I actually know some people like this as well.

In an ideal world where I could write whatever I pleased I would write an episode of Big Bang in which Penny (the waitress love interest) would actually have been hiding her genius the whole time just to get in bed with Sheldon (the extreme nerd too awkward to consider dating).  Here’s the sweet midpoint; when Penny sleeps with Sheldon, she actually steals all of his work, claims it is hers, then is awarded a Professor job (we’ll call it that).  After Sheldon finds this out, he of course will get angry with Penny who will then kill him. After that, the next scene will be the gang chilling in Leonard and Sheldon’s apartment eating Indian food like they always do.

Not sure how a studio audience would react.

I really do want something more for Penny’s character though, I find myself hating her but it’s because she’s such the typical female role.-guess I can change that.

 

I felt like job hunting

WRITER FOR CHILDREN’S ANIMATION FILM (SFV/LA)

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Writer for children’s animation film wanted. There will be money but the terms need to be discussed. Experienced screenplay writers only. This is an excellent opportunity to get in on the ground level of a production company that is being developed into a franchise. Will explain more of what’s going on when you respond and I answer.

I look at Craigslist more than a person should, but when I start to job hunt and find these ads I feel like giving up completely, even though I know full and well I shouldn’t be looking at these. The most troubling thing is that people are feeding off of hopes and dreams. I know it happens everywhere, a person sees struggling actors, writers, comedians, models, etc. then they see a way to make money off of these hopefuls. I just wish these hunters would find another line of work. More troubling is the idea that these “Producers” actually have convinced themselves that they are helping struggling newbies and that their “services” are worth money.

You might be thinking, “Whoa, maybe this ad is legit though?”

and I say, “Oh, well, I never thought about it that way.”

 

Turkey Day

I hope everyone had a maaaavelous (Billy Crystal)  Thanksgiving!

I know I did, it was so great I didn’t even have time to blog!

I hung out with the family, tried on my mom’s wedding dress, and I didn’t even miss eating turkey.

now I must sleep.

 

Where Do Ideas Come From?

I get asked this question a lot from my readers. Perhaps you’re feeling “dry” or “parched for ideas” or “thirsty for knowledge” or “need a quencher for your want of new things”…

I get a lot of ideas when other people are talking. I know that sounds bad like I don’t listen but it’s the truth.

It’s like I need that springboard to kick start my idea pooper.

Another thing I do is drive. When I drive I often get ideas. I’ve decided to buy a recorder so I can be like that guy from Twin Peaks who talks about pie or whatever.

Where do you get your ideas?

 

Going Green….With Envy!!!

I hate coming out to my already on TV and seeing all these PSAs about going green! “turn off the water while brushing your teeth” says a teenage girl.

Um, how old are you? whatever happened to respect? Maybe I’d listen to your ramblings about saving energy if you were older than me. Maybe it’s the fact that starlets are the ones preaching about throwing away trash and not throwing out your used baby diapers from your car windows.  Maybe I’m just jealous because I’m not as rich and beautiful. I think,

“Maybe I would recycle…if I had the money to drive to the store to buy a can crusher and recycling bin or maybe I would turn the water off while I brushed my teeth if I actually had teeth, or maybe if I had the money for a private jet I wouldn’t ride around in my boat tossing oil out into the ocean. “

In conclusion, if you really want the public to recycle and go green, maybe you should think first about making the public rich and beautiful, then maybe we’ll have the time to not destroy the earth.

 

I hate Mondays…

“But it’s Thursday!” you say.

Well, I was just quoting one of my favorite characters, Garfield.  And I had this fabulous idea for a dinner party. The theme is, “I hate Mondays”, we will eat lasagna and perhaps read Garfield comic strips.

Speaking of comics, I’m reminded of my imaginary friend, Dompo. Dompo was my best imaginary friend when I was about 3 or 4 til about age 7. I would talk to him when I sat on the toilet. He looked exactly like one of the kids from Family Circus, so much for imagination. When I realized I didn’t have any female imaginary friends I made myself create girls and they were just characters stolen from Punky Brewster.

 

Amish heaters…

I just saw this infomercial for Amish heaters. The main selling point is that Amish people make them.

The second selling point is that they save you money.

The third selling point is that you get the heater free! (After spending 300 bucks on the wood frame)

Couple of things about this paid program I find very special;

“Turn your home office into an executive suite!” as if adding this electric heater would do this

In the ad they show a box with a heater inside being placed on an Amish horse-drawn carriage, one box at a time. Does this mean the horse and carriage go to the post office in Pennsylvania, and then the box is put on a plane. Or does this mean the horse and carriage will show up at my apartment in LA?

I think the images of Amish looking actors constructing heaters is supposed to make you feel better about your purchase, as if they’re saying, “You never know who constructs your everyday space heater from Wal-Mart, could be a kid, could be a devil worshipper, could be a black guy…but Amish heaters are made by these hard-working white, God-fearing Americans.”

On a side note, while watching this ad Andrew came in the room and screamed, “We need one!”

 

Here I am

Let’s pretend this whole Break thing never happened.

Cool, now that you’re off my nuts about that I bet you’re wondering what I’ve been up to.

Here’s a summary of my life since July.

I got a job waiting tables because I couldn’t justify not working.

I was a finalist in NBC’s Writers on the Verge, didn’t get it. This was probably the high point of my year. It also caused a low point since I didn’t get it, still had to wait tables and think of something else to do with my writing.

I am sort of in a sketch troupe.

I moved into a new apartment with Andrew.

I lost some weight.

I got my hair cut.

I got caught up with Flight of the Conchords. (new favorite)

I guess that’s it.

Next entry will be way better…I hope.