Hello World!

Peace to you

A lots happened so much that I haven't been focused so hard on staying alive in this here town (San Francisco) it has consumed almost all energy nevertheless...

As I wrote to my friends recently:

"Despite the breakup, divorce, the move to San Francisco the unemployment, the desperate job search in the middle of the worst recession since the 30's, moving house 6 times etc Praise be to He who made it so! I've just manage to finish my proofing of the second draft. 2 pages clipped in the process despite several more scenes added, rounded and massaged & many lines trimmed, tucked and corrected in a thousand different ways. I feel it to be way more coherent in a way the 1st was never meant to be. Despite that, there'll be mistakes that I just cannot see despite having gone through it several times over.

I hand it over to you, in trust, to read as readers whose opinions I value and trust. It must be read, despite my reservations, for it to continue on. I know this is a burden on you all, let me know if you can't. But believe me, it is now that I'm eager for feedback, besides myself, it has indeed been written for others. It's been a mountain of work these past 2 years, I've been able to work on it on and off.

If you are able, then as soon as you can will earn my eternal thanks, prayers and credits in the final product and a sincere future gift, Godwilling.

I have been advised off paid coverage, so you are my substitute and confidants in this.

From the feedback I receive and from a table read, I intend to make submissions to 3rd parties/producers/competitions I don't know, the need for it to be as mistake free as possible, no doubt is obvious.

I request you please don't send this on to anyone else without letting me know in advance as it's still not 100% proofed.

There is also an opening title sequence where the narrator has the tedious task of explaining the rules of chess to animation and montage to an audience that knows nothing about chess which I am not including currently. Interested in your opinion if you think the potential audience will require it or not perhaps so...

Your Brother in the Art,

Matthew Mahdi Bin Daoud Thistle"

If you'd like to join them in having a read then contact me!

I intend to ramp this up as I have a clearer idea of 3rd party perceived quality etc

In the Remembrance of the One, (Exalted Be He!)

Peace!

Matt

On the quiet I have a finished second draft running at 115 pages... !  Praise be to He who made it so..  A mammoth two week effort to make the deadline for the Kairos screenplay competition for spiritually uplifting screenplays in November, helped me get 75 + pages of those, as did Summer's willingness to support me during.... Alas I wouldn't have qualified as it was a Christian Bible centric... not withstanding the fact that it wasn't finished!

Considerably more pleased with it now, it's in much better shape, a more credible B-Story, romantic interest, enhancements in portraying chess mental gymnastics, tighter, condensed but she still needs polishing.... Nonetheless, feedback from being read remains the most compelling need.  So I'll be seeding it out soon once proofed, Godwilling.

In a few days I'm also decamping to the Bay area for work slash new opportunities and hopefully more like minded humans not too mention the Muslim spiritual community.  A far cry from South Eastern New Mexico, amongst the cowboys, thorns, potash miners & the Guadeloupe's!!

As curios it has been, time to decamp...  your good wishes and prayers as always are a blessing.

Saalams!

By the passing time

 Peace!

Well a semester teaching the fundamentals of Video Production has since passed & I have over 6 films all under 5 minutes being gathered for an archival DVD. They all stepped up beyond the call the duty that 2 sessions of 3 hours each week demanded, and I don't know who got the better of the benefit! I learnt much & continue to imbibe.

That has meant time for the 2nd draft rewrite has indeed been in short supply but begun it has, rest assured, and take my time I will!  Much is left to be done, two characters have been removed. One replaced by a female & the b-story will, Godwilling, be more that it was.

19 Hours of summer chemistry tutoring has taken over my afternoons, as well as the garnering of a photographic portfolio in the mornings & the rest: a short film project is urgent but the final story has not yet been decided.. leaving weekends and sharp discipline to accomplish a 2nd draft for the The 64 Squares.

More than luck is demanded, earned taufiq above all is the blessing sought.

And here the quiet update ends.

Peace to you...

Employment: Update

Peace,

To keep the peace & now with a green card I must provide, despite one's high falutin' creative aspirations. The Power that Be Has stepped in  & organized 2 part time roles at the local University, NMSU, one of which is extremely handy as a Production Manager in the Video Production unit & have access at all hours to all of it's considerable equipment. Will be teaching some students also I believe, specifics are hard to be had. Just organizing the mess is first priority & has taken up all my time last week.

Will also be teaching chemistry 8 hours to nursing students. That'll 

RE: The 64 Squares, a direction for a 2nd draft has been achieved, with a new opposite sex B-Story & deletion of several other characters that weren't working (Kill your babies!) & deeper portrayal of forces of motivation. Time to complete? Allahu 'Alim.

I face a vertical cliff of technical & S/W information I have to be on top of ASAP@ the studio, so when that lets up Godwilling. Sounds ominous I know, but don't worry 

Out in the Wild

Well its about time for objective eyes!... the cut of the 1st read through of the 153 behemoth came in at 122 pages sent it off to a few trusted friends & acquaintances. Yikes!

I've hustling for work in around my spare time too finish this, hence the lag.

Anyhow a picture of an official 1st draft & Praise Be to He who Made it so

Peace!

Things have been a little delayed with Eid & my father returning to Australia but the draft is at pg. 124 while I'm at page 90 cleaning up the first 153 page iteration! That's 33 pages of cuts!  Finally, its getting down to something more digestible minus two subplots & pared down characters.

About one more day of work before I send it off, wincing, to be read by eyes other than my own!

Wish me luck!

Will let you know how it goes shortly. Godwilling

Matt

Peace to thee on the last day of Ramadan 2007,

A post fajr & small announcement that I have had a 153 page completed arc 1st draft for 2 weeks now!

Never thought I'd see the day!

Of course it is too long & one  major subplot is going already, full steam ahead after Ramadan before I'll let it be read.

Hoping for further shavings & general tightening down to about 130 as a maximum God willing.

Salams!