Donald L. Vasicek

Author: Donald L. Vasicek

  • “The Zen of Spec Script Versus Shooting Script”

    A shooting script, written from the
    spec script by a screenwriter with
    the director, puts everything in the
    screenplay that needs to be there
    for shooting. Therefore, the lines
    spoken in a foreign language are
    written out in its native language
    for the actors.

    The first time a character in your
    spec script speaks in a foreign
    language, simply put under the
    character’s name in parenthesis,
    (Spanish). Then proceed to write
    the dialogue in English throughout
    the rest of the script.

    Remember, a spec script is written
    to get doors to open. So, the
    screenwriter must make the screenplay
    easy to read, fast to read, and cut-to-the-
    chase so that the reader can move on to
    the next script he or she has to read.
    They don’t want to stumble upon some
    foreign language. They’ll toss the script
    in the slush pile.

    Donald L. Vasicek
    Writer/Filmmaker/Consultant
    http://michaelc.nextmp.net/wordpress
    dvasicek@earthlink.net

  • “Zen Values, July 4th and Writing”

    What do you see when you
    look at yourself in the mirror?
    Exploding fireworks like July
    4th? If so, you’ve celebrated
    July 4th when it wasn’t July 4th.

    Why the fireworks? Does it
    have anything to do with how
    you feel about yourself, your
    life? If it does, then, you might
    want to replace the explosion
    with peace.

    “How can I do that? I’m in debt.
    I hate my job. Gas prices are
    greed at its finest. Peace? What
    am I supposed to do, smile while
    my life dissipates?”

    “That is your choice to make. I
    choose writing.”

    “What does that do for anyone?”

    “It gives one a point of reference,
    a place where one can go to pull
    the weeds out of their life. Writing
    can be metamorphic. It can change
    the way you perceive yourself and
    your life. Try it today. In one hour,
    you will feel something inside of
    you that you have forgotten.

    “Simply, you will remember to be
    happy today. Tomorrow is up to
    you, just don’t forget to be happy
    tomorrow as well.”

    Donald L. Vasicek
    Olympus Films+, LLC
    http://michaelc.nextmp.net/wordpress
    dvasicek@earthlink.net

  • “Annabelle, My Love”

    First, just a slight sound. Sort of I’m frightened,
    but I want to do this. Not in words, but her eyes,
    there a murky green with rounded pupils as large
    as dimes.

    They shed love on me. “Please, help me. Please,
    I want to die.”

    I leaned down to her ear. “Annabelle, I love you.
    I will always be with you.”

    She suddenly felt warm next to my hand on her
    shoulder. Emaciated, six years old, and dying.
    I stroked her. I nodded to Dr. Green.

    She removed a needle from her white smock,
    in one of those large pockets.

    “I love you, Sweety. I’ll always love you. I
    will always be with you.”

    It happened in a short second, or less. Dr.
    Green slipped the tip of the needle into a
    catheter on Annabelle’s right leg, which was
    wrapped in a royal blue cloth. Dr. Green
    pushed her thumb on the butt of the needle
    holder.

    I looked at Annabelle. Her eyes looked at me.
    Then, she died. Her eyes, frozen in death,
    stared at me. No breathing now.

    Her shoulder, skin and bone, some black and
    white hair, quiet and dead now.

    Where was I to go without Annabelle? Home,
    I decided. That’s where she wanted to go, I
    knew. I buried her under the cherry tree in
    the shade, one of her favorite places.

    It is so quiet without Annabelle. Who can I
    turn to now? Annabelle’s eyes instructed me
    to follow the bright star in the East, Venus, I
    believe, someone named it that. She said that
    is where you will find your direction “without me.”

    “Go there. It will give you information you do
    not now have. It will give you information that
    you can utilize.”

    When I looked at Venus the next morning at
    4 a.m., during my run, I saw my life in front
    of me. It was clear.

    Dick Sutphen’s THE LAW OF NEW BEGINNINGS:

    For each of us in our time, there are major life
    turning points. There is a break in the energy
    wave patterns and complete change results.
    Everything is affected this change in flux; some
    things to a lesser degree than others. Examples
    would be: 1. A traumatic situation or tragedy,
    such as the death of a loved one. 2. A religious
    conversion. 3. A point in therapy when
    something clicks and from that time on the
    patient begins to get well. 4. A mother giving
    birth to a baby. The lesson is to learn to take
    advantage of these new beginnings.

    This is Annabelle’s legacy to me.

    I let go of Annabelle. I am writing, something I haven’t
    done to any great extent for eight years
    since I began “The Sand Creek Massacre”
    film project. Although there is a physical void
    without Annabelle, she is with me…always.