Hi Stacey

Hi, Stacey–

Just got to the cafe and “Kiss the Rain” by Billie Myers was playing. I don’t necessarily take this as a “sign” because, like, a sign of what? But I will say, I love that song. I remember crooning it around my room in elementary and middle school. And I haven’t heard it in assuredly years So, for some reason, I thought I’d write.

My to-do items for the day are: making my schedule and goal list for the week, finishing an interview about my international debut, writing in my blog, writing in this blog (apparently), organizing my notecards for a soft pitch tomorrow, and honing those few other ideas I mentioned last correspondence–should my original idea not be a fit for the company.

At 2:30 I’ll talk to my mom on the phone and after I might take a brief siesta by the pool. Then I have to tidy up my weekend clutter explosions, fold the laundry, and hopefully finish Being John Malkovich.

So, re: those ideas from last correspondence… I’ve been thinking about “our” idea more. I’m wondering if the inciting incident shouldn’t be the girl finding out an AI copied a song she wrote. What if the inciting incident is the girl finding out a pop star stole her song, and then at the midpoint it’s revealed (twist!) the pop star used AI! And it’s the AI who stole from the girl. Or, rather, the AI kinda thinks she is the girl… I like this version a bit better than what I first imagined. Less Her more Companion-ish. I’ll keep brainstorming though…

Something I’ve always struggled with about working in the entertainment industry is knowing how hard or not hard to work. My whole life I’ve kinda followed an invisible rule to show up as “done” or “polished” as possible when presenting my art. The pros are, hopefully I make myself an easy hire or a strong candidate. I go above and beyond, I’ll absolutely meet deadlines, my brain is interesting–I try to prove.

The main con to showing up over-prepared is that if I’ve prepared in the wrong direction, well, I just wasted a huge chunk of my time. I used to pretty much always believe the pros won over the potential con. But not anymore. Not in the past few years, since it’s become evident my field is not not a pyramid scheme with writers at the bottom. (I’m sure I’ve written you about this, right, Stacey?)

For example, if I had a general meeting set, I used to research the production company and try to watch their most recent movie, or two. If it was a TV meeting, I might binge a whole season in a day, even if I didn’t like it, for research. Now, my manager sets a meeting, even with incredibly cool people, and I google the company once for ten minutes before setting the time and once more ten minutes before I hop on the Zoom. I’m not sure if my research ever mattered, but it really doesn’t seem to now. Most folks can’t offer me anything, or even, as they used to, the promise of something in the future. It’s beyond dried up in the biz, so we’re sort of just gabbing for the 1/1000 chance we ever collab.

Which brings me to my pitch prep today. Me five years ago would probably spend the whole day breaking all three of my ideas. And I am tempted to do exactly that today! Being a perfectionist is an addiction! But, no, I’ll just write down the longlines and the general arc and IF these execs want more later, later will come.

Let me know if you have anything to add to “our” idea. We should probably come up with a working title, at least. For now how about A Song By Stacey?

xoxo

Alice