Writing

For my money, Final Draft has always led the way in providing an intuitive screen writing environment. Their product seems to always manage to get the balance right between new features and unobtrusive implementation. Its done the basics of formating correctly for many years, and now even helps with WGA registration, printing sides, and collaboration.

Whilst the move to OS X was initially rocky, the current version is a solid, reliable work-horse that I couldn’t live without.

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Xesque was originally written for Artist One, a local San Francisco based start-up production company. Sadly, like many spec scripts, it was never to be brought to life on the big (or even small screen).

The option has now lapsed. So perhaps it may now serve at least as an example or entertaining read.

The story is a pretty blatant rip-off of an early Professor Xavier (of X-men fame) comic strip. Here we first encounter a show-down between two individuals with super psychic powers. The idea was to start a series exploring what it would be like if normal people suddenly found themselves with super/mutant abilities. The last thing they’d probably do is dress in spandex, or otherwise draw attention to themselves.

The following is a short extract from the screenplay itself, the full version can be downloaded in PDF format here: Read the rest of this entry »

[Republished from GOING USA's November/December 2004 issue]

Fresh H1-B visa in my passport, I am delivered to SFO by Qantas. In a jet-lagged haze, I stare at a bank of cotton-wool cloud resting on the nearby hillside all the way to luggage claim. I drift through passport control and gathered my bags on autopilot. The smiling face of my agency rep snaps me into some near reality for as long as it takes to get into a waiting car. The short trip up the 101 and into down town San Francisco is in hyper-real, slow motion, as I make a poor effort at sustaining polite conversation with my driver.

Download the full PDF version here. (2.6MB)