Minus Six Productions

Excerpt. at last.

2008-10-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

(here's that section of SHADOWS i had promised. I hope you enjoy it!):

EXT. POINT PELEE- BEACH- LATER AFTERNOON

Blaring winds shake the leaves of the trees and bushes on this (otherwise) peaceful afternoon. Harsh waves curl over the deserted shoreline. The sun ducks behind a curtain of overcast in the sky above.

(A LEGEND appears at the bottom of the screen):

POINT PELEE; ONTARIO, CANADA
SIX WEEKS LATER

(O.S.): The slow murmur of an engine, quickly killed, followed by the slamming of a car door.

DRIVER (O.S.)
C'mon, Bugsy!

A worn out tennis ball soars over the trees and splashes into the water. The dog (BUGSY) rushes after it, leaping into the water and paddling towards the ball.

From the parking lot, a young man in a beathing suit (DEREK) runs across the beach and crashes into an oncoming wave. He emerges with a gasp and searches for:

DEREK
(shouting)
Bugsy!

The dog swims over, gnawing on the tennis ball. Derek smiles; laughs. He wrestles the ball away from Bugsy as another wave forces them apart.

DEREK
Wow! Rough out today, eh, boy?

Bugsy, apparently startled, quickly treads to the shore and shakes itself dry.

DEREK
Where a goin'?

Bugsy stares at the water for several moments before barking violently.

DEREK
Wattsa matter?

Derek is suddenly tossed by an oncoming wave. He doubles over, his feet flying over his head. He immediately resurfaces, a bit startled, himself.

Bugsy continues barking.

DEREK
Maybe a bit too rough today--

Once again, he is cut off by an incredible wave; however, before it engulfs him he spots something slinking out of the water; onto the beach!

He rolls around for several seconds, unable to regain balance. Eventually, he jerks his head up and shakes the water from his face. Whatever crawled out of the lake has vanished...

...but so has Bugsy!

DEREK
Bugsy!?!

Silence.

He calls his dog again. Nothing answers back, except for the washing tide and the haunting whistle of the wind.

"Midnight Movie Macabre"

2008-10-03T06:28:00.001-07:00

well, yesterday was tremendously interesting...i recieved a response email from Cogeco for a proposal i sent to them in june, for a television series entitled Midnight Movie Macabre, which is practically my take on 'drive-in horror/ sci-fi film showcase' type shows such as the Ghoul, Sir Graves Ghastly, and Dr. Speculo's: Tales From Six Feet Under.

Anyway, I'm taking the weekend to write several episodes from season one, and to compile a project proposal which I will take to Cogeco early next week. If things go well, my feature projects (which I discussed yesterday) will be delayed by about a month, which is demoralizing, considering I had just regained my drive to write 'Shadows'. But, what can you do? I'm very excited about this, because I already have a great hold on the show, and the character-host.

Particularly, I'm happy that this has happened in October. I love this month, I love halloween! This project will keep me focused on horror all month long, and in a campy-tv-show-host sort of way. I'll keep you posted, though, when I find out more about it!

Episode VI: Return of the Screenwriter

2008-10-02T06:39:00.001-07:00

what a corny title for my return to the blog after such a long time. But, what can you do?

I feel I owe the few who check this thing regularly an apology, since I haven't posted anything in nearly two months. So, for those it concerns, 'sorry'. It's been kind of a crazy time. I worked as hard as I could on 'Shadows' but the second draft reminded me (far too much) of recent B-rate films, such as SPECIES, THE RELIC and MIMIC. For those of you who have seen one or all of these films, you can understand the corner I'm backed into, because those movies are simply not good. (RELIC had its moments, but not many of them). So, I took about a month off of 'Shadows' to develop other ideas, in hopes of returning to the unfinished screenplay with fresh ideas.

And that has happened.

After a recent re-read of the screenplay, I recalled the ultimate goal of the film: to re-create the style, atmosphere and character development present in 1950's science fiction films, like CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, THE DEADLY MANTIS, etc. etc. The re-read saved me from scraping the project, which I have already continued to write. With a recycled sense of excitement, I hope to finish the screenplay before the end of the month; before Halloween night.

But, all this time spent on other projects has not gone to waste. I was able to develop six entire outlines and, when 'Shadows' is finished, I will immediately start work on another screenplay. In a post-'Shadows' future, you will hear me discussing one of the following projects: "Eclipse", "Detroit", "The Vengeful Dead", "Sunset Macabre", "2112" (a novel), or "Life's a Pitch..."

So that's what's in store. Now that I have re-affirmed my fondness for the current project, I will do my best to post updates as often as I can. Thanks for reading, and (some of you) for voting, the Minus Six blog.

Coming Soon

2008-08-11T06:41:00.000-07:00

the second draft is just about finished. As far as I know, later this week I will be on set for the production of "Wilma's Got a Thing for the Walkin' Dead" so it may put a bit of a hold on the final draft of "Shadows" but we're not planning on filming for too too long...so it shouldn't be a problem. The excerpt will be up shortly, as well, as I have finally written the scene...I'm just polishing it up and considering whether or not I'm going to post it before the final draft of the entire screenplay is written. But, I think I've held it off a bit too long, so most likely I'll toss it up beforehand.

As far as other projects are concerned, I think I'm going to try and find one of the better short screenplays I've written and post that as well, however, that won't be for another week or so. I'm doing my best to stay focused and on top of the current project, and it hasn't been going too bad. I feel pretty confident in the ongoing second draft, so further rewrites won't take long.

Anyways, keep checking for the excerpt. I'll have it up soon.

Finishing Up...(almost)...

2008-08-08T06:34:00.000-07:00

I have to confess: since I got home from the States I haven't written much, and I know I keep saying I'm gunna toss an excerpt up soon...but it'll get there. I know the scene I have to write, and all I have to do is write it. And then it'll be up.

I'm optimistic, though. I really want to have the final draft finished before the 20th, and if I put a few days of heavy writing in this week/ next week I think I'll be fine.

Back from the States

2008-08-04T03:22:00.001-07:00

Well, there was a problem with my labtop in the States. (Not so much a problem as it was my own idocy)...i forgot my power cord. Anyways, long story short, I couldn't write anything for three days. This pushes my deadline for SHADOWS back several days. However, for anyone interested in the exceprt, I have decided upon a scene to post and will do so very shortly, (most likely before sunday). So keep checking out the blog...

Getting Close...

2008-07-31T14:49:00.000-07:00

With the final few days (possibly a week) left of writing SHADOWS, I've been neglecting the blog...haha, not that many people are checking it out anyways. But, it's just about finished, and soon (very soon) there will be an excerpt from the screenplay up here. Cutting the first draft down has been hellacious, but I assure you that now it's coming along quite nicely.

In other project news: for those of you who know anything about the short 'WILMA'S GOT A THING FOR THE WALKIN' DEAD' you may be happy to know that we're about to start crunch time for production, which will be throughout the middle of next month. The co-writer/ director and I (Greg Maxwell) along with our producer (Pete Maxwell) will be going over everything to ensure that the short is, for lack of a better word, phenomenal. I have intense confidence in the project and am very excited to see it drift into production/ post-production. To specify, however, this is *not* a Minus Six film...I was involved in the writing and will be avidly involved in production, but not from a producer's stand-point.

'Shadows' + other projects

2008-07-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

well, today was a pretty bunk day for writing; didn't get anything done, and have fallen behind on my goal. Whatever, tomorrow is another sunny day and I'll hafta work double to get to where I want to be. Once I've finished the third draft I've decided to post a couple scenes, just so anyone who's interested (as few of you as there may be) can grab a glimpse of the story.

As far as other projects are concerned, I suppose I may write a short story within the next week or so, as a sorta concept has invaded my thoughts and won't leave. Well, let's just wait and see what happens, I guess...

'Shadows'

2008-07-24T20:42:00.000-07:00

As I am a spec screenwriter above all else, I am currently working through my second draft of my most recent project: 'Shadows'. The film is themed after 1950's creature films and follows a Detective as he unravels the clues to uncover a deadly mystery...