Post by scottbono on Aug 21, 2015 18:21:58 GMT -6
Greetings folks,
I know I have had an extended absence and have missed the spirited debate, challenges and all-around give-and-take. However, during my absence, I have word assiduously and doggedly at a screenplay whose final draft is, literally days away.
I want to thank so many participating members and am afraid I will leave out most if I tried...something to do with age and the brain. But I do want to thank both Fred and Quincannon, for different reasons but the same outcome.
My writing partner and I spent months and months and...you get the picture...culling thru documents official and unofficial concerning this particular battle but, also the Reno Court. THAT is the topic of the screenplay: Reno's Court of Inquiry.
We had the good fortune (and DNA) to be ably assisted by my sister who is a Lt. Col. in the USAF JAG office and who opened a bunch of doors for us.
Without giving much away, we present the story of the Court, the characters, their testimony, add in some conflict (who told the truth and who who "gilded the lily"...or outright fibbed)...intents, purposes and rationale.
Naturally this is NOT a documentary; it is DRAMA. We try to stay as close to personalities as possible, no names are changed but we enjoyed delightful speculation within the bounds of history.Fun!
As many of you far wiser members know, once you get past who shot whom, the gunfire, smoke and arrows, the fascinating thing is WHY!
Our base is not Custer of the West or Son of the Morning Star or They Died With Their Boots In. And we obtained copies of the full court proceedings, the layout of the town and buildings, personality backgrounds...and began from there.
The basic plot is familiar but we added the twist of each witness testifying and as they spoke, there are flashbacks to that really occurred (the two are not always mutually exclusive).
At the accepted ratio of one page = one minute, the script is 144 minutes long. Producers always re-write ad nauseum but that is their prerogative. Once the script is done (re-writes), more intense research gets done by the pro's. Fine.
Our goal was to tell a well-crafted, believable drama as close to historically correct as possible and still keep it entertaining.
Yes, we accept all well-intentioned critiques. We are mature adults. For those who deign to sit back and lob criticisms from an armchair, we simply suggest they spend the time going thru 450 books, scolarly articles and about 500 hours of transcripts and write yer OWN screenplay! WE had fun, though at the end of the day our brains dribbled out like warm Jello.
The working title is "Tending Owen's Garden" and I am sure it will be mistaken for a home and garden DIY.
Thanks to everyone, learned and dilletante who sparked our imagination.
Regards,
Scott...
I know I have had an extended absence and have missed the spirited debate, challenges and all-around give-and-take. However, during my absence, I have word assiduously and doggedly at a screenplay whose final draft is, literally days away.
I want to thank so many participating members and am afraid I will leave out most if I tried...something to do with age and the brain. But I do want to thank both Fred and Quincannon, for different reasons but the same outcome.
My writing partner and I spent months and months and...you get the picture...culling thru documents official and unofficial concerning this particular battle but, also the Reno Court. THAT is the topic of the screenplay: Reno's Court of Inquiry.
We had the good fortune (and DNA) to be ably assisted by my sister who is a Lt. Col. in the USAF JAG office and who opened a bunch of doors for us.
Without giving much away, we present the story of the Court, the characters, their testimony, add in some conflict (who told the truth and who who "gilded the lily"...or outright fibbed)...intents, purposes and rationale.
Naturally this is NOT a documentary; it is DRAMA. We try to stay as close to personalities as possible, no names are changed but we enjoyed delightful speculation within the bounds of history.Fun!
As many of you far wiser members know, once you get past who shot whom, the gunfire, smoke and arrows, the fascinating thing is WHY!
Our base is not Custer of the West or Son of the Morning Star or They Died With Their Boots In. And we obtained copies of the full court proceedings, the layout of the town and buildings, personality backgrounds...and began from there.
The basic plot is familiar but we added the twist of each witness testifying and as they spoke, there are flashbacks to that really occurred (the two are not always mutually exclusive).
At the accepted ratio of one page = one minute, the script is 144 minutes long. Producers always re-write ad nauseum but that is their prerogative. Once the script is done (re-writes), more intense research gets done by the pro's. Fine.
Our goal was to tell a well-crafted, believable drama as close to historically correct as possible and still keep it entertaining.
Yes, we accept all well-intentioned critiques. We are mature adults. For those who deign to sit back and lob criticisms from an armchair, we simply suggest they spend the time going thru 450 books, scolarly articles and about 500 hours of transcripts and write yer OWN screenplay! WE had fun, though at the end of the day our brains dribbled out like warm Jello.
The working title is "Tending Owen's Garden" and I am sure it will be mistaken for a home and garden DIY.
Thanks to everyone, learned and dilletante who sparked our imagination.
Regards,
Scott...