Completed The First Draft Of The Year

Hey, guys. Look at me being on time again. I hope everyone had a progressive week so they can push on into the new week. Based on the title, you can clearly tell that I had one.

So, yeah. I completed the first draft of my drama feature, That Summer On The Ranch. I would tell y'all what it's about, but that cannot happen. No offense, I can't be giving away ideas for someone else (leaving me mad as shit). Not this nigga here. I put a lot of effort into writing films that's not being made and that's not like anything else out there. And it's not very hard when you’re a black writer because we all know they keep us in a box (slave, gang member, homeless, stupid, bank robber, ghetto, broke, shot and killed black man, you know all this). I just refuse to write a movie based around any of that, even if it was for a million dollars (*Travis Scott auto tuned voice, * "straight up"...). Well, I have one script with gang members (they're an antagonist), but you actually learn why they are a part of the gang in the first place, and it wasn't because they wanted to. It was because they thought it was the only option they had given the cards life handed them. So, instead of labeling a young black man as a "dangerous gang member," you realize that it was just a lost soul, a kid that was searching for love and was looking for it in the wrong place. But, these movies don't shed light on that kind of shit. Now yes, some kids literally don't give a fuck and have no goals or ambitions, but every kid in a gang is not like that. Back to That Summer On The Ranch, what I will say is that it's an actual adult film. A contrast to my first two feature scripts that are teen movies (don't want to be put in a box, right?). Another difference is the first two feature scripts are inspiring, empowering, thought-provoking, compassionate, humorous. This feature is dark, disturbing, raw, tear-jerking, angering, eye-opening. It sheds an ugly truth on the real world we live in and all evil that's within it. And amongst the most unlikely people. That's all I'll say on that, you know.

I'm just so proud of this achievement. It seems like I was just on like page 20 or 30. Same when I was on 40 and 50. My writing went as fast as some of this month has gone. But, that's what happens when you’re in the flow. It's nice not to have a whole bunch of different things to juggle (school, job, career, my maniac depressive self). And as I've said, this mindset of simply writing rather than aiming for ten pages a day has really helped me. I'm not thinking about numbers, I'm just writing and that's how it should be. I know there's going to be many revisions (I have many notes for myself) to be had, but this is definitely the best rough draft I've ever done. Writing from 2013 up to now has really helped me progress. This span of honing my craft, writing and rewriting, the trials and eras, the studying and applying helped me find my writing voice. I definitely understand the importance of patience, persistence, and believing in the process. I would never have reached this point if it wasn't for those components. I never thought I'd reached this level as writer, but I must say, it feels good. I sent some samples of my script to this film producer the other day (pray for me on that one), I just had so much confidence and belief in the material I sent him. I felt like a professional screenwriter in that moment. And to think, as good as I've gotten as a 24-year-old screenwriter. I will be even better going forward. I tell you what, I see this nigga sticking around a while. There's a lot to say and a lot of untold black stories (of all realms) to be written. I can't wait for my start, I know it's coming. As my bishop said today at church, "just a matter of time."

Well, short and sweet this week, guys. I hope you still enjoyed the read. I just wanted to share one achievement. I mean, I tend to spaz about shit that's not going in the right direction. Again, I hope everyone is progressing well and I'll catch you guys next Sunday.