Odd Job Chronicles

To Write, Rewrite, and Reward (Ice Cream)

Written by Tony LaScala Monday, February 13, 2012, 4:17 PM

Good Day Odd-Jobbers,

In order to write, you must write. It’s the ultimate cliché, but it always rings true. Like going to the gym: the hardest part is stopping with the excuses, admitting you have a developed idea, and putting pen to paper. I’ve said my goodbyes to Old Screenplay, and it’s on its way to apply for fellowships, enter competitions, the works. It’s new screenplay time.

Shit.

There’s so much work to do when you start a new script. Where I usually fail is the moment after the initial burst of inspiration ends. You get an idea for a character, a situation, setting, etc. You’re excited about it. You jot down a bunch of notes, maybe for a few hours.

“OMFG this is gonna be amazing!” You may say to yourself while sipping on gin and juice, laid back, with your mind on your inciting incident and your inciting incident on your mind. (Brace yourselves, they get worse).

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Work On Your Dream

Written by Tony LaScala Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 9:59 AM

Ahoy Ahoy fellow Odd-Jobbers,

The new year is a time to forget old crappy friends who don’t return your Foster The People CD and then lie and say you never gave it to them and also claim they don’t have any money after ordering at Chipotle, when we all know they just got paid for that stupid Geico commercial… (Sorry, went off on a tangent there. You know who you are former friend! I’ll call you this week. Star Wars marathon?)

Aside from new and old friends, the New Year is also a time for New Years Resolutions. Most of us have the typical resolution to lose weight, read more books, or call our mothers more. I have one more resolution for you to fit into your busy Odd-Jobbing schedule: Work on your dream.

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The Life of an Odd-Jobber

Written by Tony LaScala Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 9:52 AM

Salutations Odd-Jobbers,

I work at a pet boarding facility taking care of Los Angelinos pets when they go on vacation. I shoot wedding and special event videography. Teach soccer to kids after school. I’m a house sitter, high school motivational speaker, actor, stand-up comedian, caterer, and amateur roofer. Anything to make my rent and spend random free moments of my life working on my passion: Writing screenplays and teleplays.

Here’s one of the great things about living in Los Angeles: Odd-Jobbers here know how to do things in film and they’re willing to do almost anything to get an opportunity to showcase it. Hell, half of the people who live here aren’t even from here. They moved here specifically to get into film. I did. Soon I’ll be the scribe who brings you the next Princess Bride. But, until then, I’m an Odd-Jobber who can’t afford a cast and crew of top-notch union filmsters to bring his Indie darling to life.

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