FIRST DRAFT OF "THE MOUNTAIN"

Friday I finished the first draft of The Mountain, a supernatural political thriller hopefully to be directed within a foreseeable future by Yorgos Siougas a.k.a as my good friend George, director of short films and TV-series. Based on an idea of his I wrote a short film for him, Is love a Tender Thing, which he directed and shot in early june. It's soon out of post-production and it's first public appearance will be at the Drama International Short Film Festival in september.

So first draft is finished. Which means it has gone to George, the director, and George, the producer. Who happens to be two different persons. I have begun to call the latter by a short form of his last name, Lykairdopoulos, pronounced in a French fashion Luc or if you will Danish fashion Lyk. The two Georges will read (eventually - they are busy people. and yes, I have threatened to lock them inside a toilet until they finish). Then when they come out of the toilet we will meet to discuss what the next steps are. Is the draft good enough to send out as is? If not, what kind of improvement is needed. When it gets send out, to who? The Greek Film Center? Star-actors we want on board from this early stage? Potential co-producers? All-in-all in boils down to this: This script that I have been living in an intense relationship with for the last many days will suddenly not be a part of my daily life. And so what do you do? My theory is all about moving on as quickly as possible. Pick up another project you left behind earlier, throw yourself into a crazy new idea - anything - because even though the finished first draft will come back to you and demand your attention it will never be that intense again - if you have done your work well. You will make some cuts, perhaps re-arrange some scenes, maybe even add a little stuff to clarify certain aspects, but you will not be as deeply immersed in its world again - hopefully. The next guy who will be that is the director. Not you. So move on.

And I believe I have found the next thing. More about that later. Have fun...