The Black Hole

Monday (or was it Tuesday?) Len called me back and we talked for a long time about my script. I told him some things I wanted to do and some I did not -- he told me why if I had A I absolutely had to include B as well. It wasn't just him being arbitrary; there would good story reasons for it. (He repeated the highlights of this conversation today in class, because he thought everyone else would get something out of it as well.)

Tuesday I worked on my story and tried to hash out some kind of outline, because Len recommended that I write out a beat sheet -- the major beats that I want to hit for the 3 Acts -- and then an outline for Act I.

In the evening, Biz class, in which the teacher explained to us the Great Circle Of Money That Is The Film Industry, and why films that made a ton of money really are still in the red, and why gross points don't mean what you think they mean. He started to lose us when he started doing algebra, but I was tired to start with.

Wednesday I worked some more on my story outline and then headed off to USC to watch several episodes of ER to get a feel for the characters. The main thing I got was that Doug Ross stalks Carol Hathaway a lot. (He keeps showing up at her front door uninvited.)

Then I had my yearly exam at the Student Health Center. The only upside of this is that women don't have to turn their heads to the side and cough.

I went to the Computer Center in the basement of Leavey Library and sent e-mail to various people. That killed another 10 minutes.

Finally it was time for Comedy Critical Studies class. We watched two movies for a Capra marathon: It Happened One Night (which, as always, was wonderful: "Here, hold this." Spank!) and Mr. Deeds Goes To Town, which clearly is the genesis for the Coen Bros.' The Hudsucker Proxy. Gary Cooper was cute and all, but the slam-it-home messages of Capra are a little hard to take. When the psychiatrist gets up and shows how Deeds is actually manic-depressive, I thought, Wow, that's true! He is! Which may go to show that I was not overwhelmed.

I came home at 11:30 and sank fast.

Thursday (uh, today) it was raining when I woke up. Once again I forgot that rain does make the average Los Angeles driver more courteous and safety-conscious. It took me an hour and a half to get to school.

I didn't get to pitch in TV class. Which means I have to wait until next week to get feedback, but she wants us to start outlining our stories anyhow.

For lunch I broke down and got a slice of pizza instead of fussing with anything that would require more work, like making a salad. This is the first really bad food I've had in a week and a half. Well, except the occasional brownie.

Thesis class was great. I'm not sure how anybody else felt about it, considering it went until 7. Yes, a class scheduled to end at 4 ended at 7. And Carolann wasn't even there, leading me to quip that if the class ever falls to 4 or fewer members we'll be there all night. But I got a lot out of class, including a great sequence to introduce my main character. Len commented extensively on my outline for Act I, reinforcing some things and introducing new ideas. Of course, some of the new ideas are going to rip things sideways, but it's way more exciting now. I can't wait.

That makes for a great class.

We got out at 7 and I dragged myself home. Darin was waiting for me, but I wasn't much fun: "Hewo honey how you?" Then I slid upstairs, read mail, and played Master of Orion II.

Now it's 10 and Darin set up the VCR so I could tape both the Eastern and Western premieres of ER. However, I am not watching either. I am just way too tired.

Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics

No running today. Yesterday, 3.5 miles. The day before that, 3.5 miles.

According to the scale at the Student Health Center, I have gained 20 pounds in the past year. All those in-between class snackings, I guess. And I weigh more than my home scale says I do. But I'm going to keep with the home scale for now (unless someone can recommend a fairly accurate home one) and then weigh myself on an official medical scale every so often.

Bit off my right thumbnail today in thesis class. It didn't start out that way: for some reason the nail was seriously skewed to one side, so I took my nail file and started filing. Only the file (on one of those cheap nail clippers you buy for 50 cents at Walgreens) just made the edges rougher and rougher...and I put the nail in my mouth to nibble off the rough edges...and it was all over.

So now I have two nails on my right hand that are right where my nails have always been. Dammit.