I was having a drink with my partner in Idol Films discussing a meeting he just had about a script of mine. The background of this is very tortuous. I had a Hollywood deal on it but nothing happened other than they would renew the option and keep promising that it would be made soon. They had the script re-written as an American story instead of keeping it in it's original English version. The assumption was that an American story would get more traction in Hollywood than an English film. Somehow though they got bogged down in the process and we decided to start again, and take it out of their hands and put it into the hands of those who will keep it English.
So the question of my directing came to pass in this meeting. And since I now have experience directing, one would imagine that at least it would not be dismissed as an outrageous suggestion. But no. I am, for some reason, still not seen as a director because, I guess, I have been a writer so long it is hard for people to imagine me directing.
Guys fresh out of film school get handed money to make dumb features because they're young and fresh, and somehow not considered to be anything other than directors. So it's easier for them not to be dismissed because the label just does not fit.
I am not trying to direct because I feel that the Director's job is more desirable than the writers. On the contrary, the Director's job is a horrible job. But the market has changed and writers have to be writer directors. There's nothing a producer likes more now than a young director with a hot script they are passionate about making.
They are less interested in hot scripts without directors. And when they have one, they find it difficult to get hold of directors who just do other people's scripts, or at least directors considered bankable!
So what can i do to survive? One would imagine that having a writer who steps up and says, what about me, should be a help. Even better, a writer who has gone out and got directing and producing and editing and not just sat around hoping for the best.
What's the lesson here? Well, patience is not a virtue. You have to get stuck in early regardless of what others may say. Perseverance is no use, as it can simply be the endless repetition of pointless action in a market that has radically changed. And experience counts for nothing.
What I am going to do about getting older, I have no idea! Perhaps I can't overcome that problem and I am stuck. All suggestions bar suicide, sitting on my sofa watching TV, or retirement homes, are welcome. I could dye my hair, except young women rather like it as it is and it's a great draw. A bit of plastic surgery to smooth out my neck perhaps, and a bit of lift around my sometimes grim looking mouth could help. Certainly lose weight! I'm looking paunchy at the moment... how many hours in the day are there?
Of course I am considerably more energetic and fitter than any of the guys sitting in judgement. And genetically I come from very long lived stock. So I think I am just going to tell people I'm twenty years younger than I am and that I've lived a rock n' roll life style... hmm those tattoos are looking more and more attractive.