29-Nov-2006

It has been a ridiculously long day for no apparent reason, other than the fact that I am back in pilot outline hell.  Okay, okay, I enjoy it, but the whole concept of "structure" is starting to grate on my nerves.  It's hands-down the hardest thing about writing, at least when you're writing in script form (I won't pretend to know much about any other kind).  Character is the most important element, but structure is the most difficult.  I've always found character development to be a bit of a breeze - it's the fun part, where you let yourself spend hours speculating on what type of toothpaste Character A would use, or where Character B lost his virginity, or how Character C consistently takes his off his glasses to eat (and yes, most of this stuff never makes it onto the page).  Character is easier for me, too, because my characters (or at least my main ones) are always based (albeit very loosely) on people I know.  Creepy, but true. 

The pilot hell is not all hell, though.  Yesterday, I had another notes call with Cliffhanger, who is not only mistress of the stroke, stroke, slap, but also of the backhanded compliment, which is a totally different animal.  One of the first things she said to me when we got on the phone was, "I was pleasantly surprised at how well this turned out."  Aka (and here I am translating Cliffhanger's musings), "I was getting really nervous with the beat sheet, because I thought what have I gotten myself into?  But apparently, Melissa, you don't suck as badly as I thought you did.  Ooohh... Meerkat Manor's on.  Those crazy felines.  Just look at them digging in the sand!"  No, no, I kid, I kid.  She gives very specific notes, and offers good fixes (of the non-drug variety), both of which gifts I have found heretofore unique to other writers (which is why other writers are usually the first people from whom I get notes; and damned if I'm not the queen of parentheticals today).  I'm also the queen of bad segues that aren't really segues...       

Take JUST FRIENDS, for example... Why?  Because I watched it again last night, as promised.  This time, Cliffhanger joined me, post-notes call; however, since we can't do anything like normal people, we headed out to Pinkberry first.  In line at Pinkberry (which, for those of you playing at home, is a DESSERT place), we decided we were hungry.  Like, actually hungry.  For real food.  So we got our fro-yo treats, headed back to Cliffhanger's car, and sat, shivering, trying to drum up ways to get CPK without leaving said car (because it was FREEZING).  I ended up calling the Honeybee, getting the restaurant's phone number (and a good deal of flack from the Honeybee herself), then having Cliffhanger call them.  Apparently, CPK has deemed it ridiculous to accept take-out orders after 9:45 PM; however, if you physically go to the restaurant and sit down, you can do so until 10 PM.  Would someone please explain this to me?  I mean, I'm not opposed to sitting across from Cliffhanger and having some completely inappropriate dinner conversation, but geez... WTF, CPK?  WTF?  By the time we arrived home and sat down in front of the television, it was 11 PM.  The Designated Driver voiced her surprise that I wasn't bitching about it being past my bedtime, but, as I always say, one must make sacrifices for Ryan Reynolds. 

I'm making a sacrifice for Oscar Nom tonight, though, by tearing myself away from Tivo to meet him for Thai food in Venice.  Apparently, he's bringing champagne...