HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE!!

Everyone send your birthday wishes to my bro george today!

Semi-Helpful Advice for Ending a Play?

The geniuses behind National Novel Writing Month have unleashed a new exciting event to the writing world called Script Frenzy: A challenge to write a (at least 100 page) play, screenplay or teleplay in thirty days (April 2008). According to website, almost 8,000 writers have written over 114,000 pages of work as the plays come to an end. Get excited, Lit Managers! I particularly love the plot machine on the main page.

I was asked to write a guest advice column, one of numerous columns which are all quite interesting...an assortment of approaches to writing diverse in genre, what is valued and in general taste. I enjoyed reading them all. Mine just got posted today on tips to writing an ending for a play. Hopefully I didn't steer anyone down the wrong path.

Congrats to all the writers who participated!

This is the advice I gave

Peter's Summer Movie Preview!

Here's what I think I'll be seeing this summer:
(as interpreted by my gut instinct from EW's Summer Movie Preview)

harold and kumar - prolly seeing it tonight!
India Jones - God yes
Iron Man - not sure
Sex and the City - yes
Made of Honor - fuck no
Speed Racer - I think so
What Happens in Vegas - Maybe if hell freezes over
Chronicles of Narnia - maybe but I probably won't
Incredible Hulk - Yeah, I think, yeah
Wanted - I may be dragged to it
The Happening - waiting for reviews
Get Smart - See "The Happening"
Kung Fu Panda - no
Encounters at the End of the World - Netflix
Brick Lane - never heard of it
The Love Guru - ew
Wall*E - Yeah!!
You don't mess with the Zohan - ummm maybe?
The Mother of Tears - Petey don't do torture porn
The X-Files - The X Files? I think i might.
Hancock - Yes
Dark Knight - Yes
Step Brothers - Probably
The Wackness - Kingsley!! Netflix probably
Gonzo - not that it'll be bad but i probably will not be able to see this
Mamma Mia - if drunk
Journey to teh Center of teh Earth - no
Meet Dave - no
The Longshots - No
Hellboy II - Probably not
American Teen - Maybe
Space Chimps - no
Pineapple Express - YES!
Tropic Thunder - Yikes. Sad. No.
Sisterhood of traveling pants II - The hankies have been picked out and are ready to go
The Mummy - No mummy for me
Crossing Over - oo god cast
Towelhead- maybe yeah . Allan Ball
Accidental husband - nah
Vikcy Cristina Barcelona - signs point to yes
The Rocker - Hmm
Transsiberian - Kingsley! prolly Netflix*
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Whaa?
Traitor - doubt it
The House Bunny- I don't know honestly
Hamlet 2 - Yes

*I should mention the netflix cue hasn't moved in months

i'm strangely excited for this

It just seems so wrong.

It's cold

Girl, it's nippy in the CA today! My nipples could cut diamonds!

This does not excuse my lack of blogging in recent weeks. I think that's more due to the brain juices still being low in volume after a big "thinkin push" the past several months. The juices are regenerating slowly. Thoughts are returning. But they seem to be at inconsistent times and being used for more pressing matters, such as writing and teaching a class about writing. But all is well here in the TriebZone. How so?

• I've bought a bunch of things on iTunes that I'm enjoying. Like the album from Gnarls Barkley and the one from Cut Copy. A friend from NY who happens to work for a large music company generously sent Mark and myself 20 CDs. Am still working my way through them but early favorites are a mix called James Holden at the Controls. Upon the new Tiffany Album he sent us, he added a post-it that says "better than you think." We shall see.
  
• I am strangely vested in American Idol this season. The last time that happened was the Fantasia/Latoya/Hudson Season. I was originally rooting for David "giggles" Archuleta but have now switched alliances towards rocker David "humble but I rock" Cook. I like the Irish woman too very much. At least they're playing some instruments. And this week is Broadway week! Circle of Life! I hope someone sings something from Spring Awakening.
  
• Am working on my second draft on a play and am enjoying taking my time. Being meticulous, adventurous, and keeping internal writerdespair at bay. No time for bullshit in draft two.
  
• Getting a little too obsessed by Facebook Status messages.
• Getting a little annoyed by certain MySpace like behavior on Facebook. And I hate that asshole, the FunWall. Blocked you, sucker!
  
• Still need to get to Vancouver
• Still concerned about neighbor's chronic cough that has been coughing fully and deeply and unproductively for about a year now.
• LOVED Bill Maher's show this week. Not only was he in top form, but Cornel West was a guest, who I think may one of the best persuasive communicators on the planet.
• I'm ready for Pennsylvania to fucking vote already!
• Saw Primary Colors on HBO the other day. I'd totally vote for Emma Thompson.
  
• Creeped out by the color of Salmon and Tuna at Sushit restaurants
• Getting more interested in dry cleaning and shirt laundering these days
• Need to start getting that organic food box again. I miss my Chard!
• got to start the red sauce
  

I think he really liked the speech

bye boom

boom is in the midst of its final performance at Ars Nova as we speak! Wah. It was a fabulous run. I got to witness with the first 12 or 13 performances and have received "Performance Reports" for the rest where Alaina the SM sends updates on the performance, audience, and the fish. The fish have really grown into their role in the whole thing.

But, alas, it comes to a close today. Congrats to all you people who did something with it out there, and thanks to all of you who came to see it!

I think The Hills may have peaked

yes, i said it.

It hasn't been the same since paris.

sunday progress report

• I'm slowly beginning to take something I've written and rip it apart in a joyful "life from destruction" type of writing maneuver. I'm excited. I think the second draft is the most exciting draft for me. It's not as daunting and confidence shattering as the first, but you still get the satisfaction of performing major construction and invention and re-creation. It's like cleaning a dirty room, throwing all the crap out and buying some new furniture. Sort of like that. I cleaned the room yesterday. I'm realizing that Draft 5 should now be called the "am i making it worse?" draft.
• I figured out the opening moment of the play after next! Now, just 100 more pages to go!
• I'm starting to read Art As Experience by John Dewey (yeah it took a while, Jay). I think I'll be reading the book for a while.
• Ready to read little more this Spring. Spring is for reading!
• I think I need to address my Bravo addiction. What is it about the "Creative Elimination" and "People who make Interesting choices because they are wealthy" genres that attract me so?
• I think I need brunch

who just bought Anne Murray's duet album on my iTunes?!?!