BOA in SF

I know. I know. It's been a while. Tonight I went into the city to watch a friend's play as it is featured in Bay One Acts Festival by Three Monkeys at the Eureka Theater. Not saying this because he's my friend, but his was the best play. It's called "Toss of the Hat" by Mike Ricca. It's kinda funny watching it because it totally sounds like him! And what's funnier is that when people hear my stuff, they say that they could totally hear me. I just never thought of it that way, I guess. But his play is about a guy who throws caution to the wind and steps up and asks a girl that he likes, and whom he know she likes him, to be together... despite the fact that she already has a boyfriend of two years. He used the device of breaking the fourth wall, something I love, and can't wait to be able to write that into a play ala Zoot Suit.

Luckily they were selling the play as compiled in a book in the lobby. It must be a sign when all the crumpled bills that emerged from my left front pocket was exactly the amount of the book. Hopefully I'll get him to sign it when I see him at the next random meeting.

Anyways, his play closed program two of the festival. the programs consisted of short 30 - 40 minute plays. on this night, there were 4 plays. The first rocked cuz it involved cutting off a person's finger and tongue... which eventually led to his death on stage. Creepy and disturbing... right up my alley! The third play was amazing because of the heart that the playwright displayed. I was about 20 minutes long and I wished it was longer because I loved the characters.

The one that I surprisingly didn't like was the second play. It was about a man and a woman who are at a theater in NYC to watch an Edward Albee play, but they get there 24 minutes early, so they just sit there talking about there relationship which try to answer the question of why don't they have a baby yet. I didn't like them and I was always trying to figure out where were they going with this. I understood why the playwright was trying to paint their differences, but in the end, I just didn't like and care for either of them. The only really going for it was the very witty banter between them. Snappy. Back and forth. Like a tennis match of heavy hitters - fast. And I realized that at one point, I really really liked this style of conversation. Smart. Quick. But, for some reason, that style started to feel that the lines were just there to make the characters seem witty and smart... instead of just being real. I wrote a whole paragraph on this play because I really learned a lot from it... and about what I like and don't like. Something I hope I can use and know what not to use in my plays.

the mightiest force known to exist

I've been thinking a lot lately about what being an artist means to me. This sprang up from watching AOTS (America is on the Stage) and watching the potential there. I say potential not in a belittling or condescending way, I admire them for what they are DOING, but potential in terms of being able to continue to pursue the creation of art/song/dance/jokes/graphic design/etcetera long after college is done.

For me and the people that I'm on the same spiritual vibration level on (spiritual speak), we're still and will always continue to be Artists. The ones who seek pleasure of getting away from the world of worry, pain, bills, politics, hollywood, by going into a place of rehearsal, being on stage or even putting a scrapbook together - the place where the hands of seconds, minutes, and hours fall in your presence because you are on a higher level that allows you the freedom to be what God/Vishnu/Bathala/Whomever you consider the Mighty Supreme Being to be, and has always intended for you to be - YOU.

If you consider yourself an artist, then you know it is so engrained into your soul that you couldn't erase it if you, or anyone or anything else, even tried. It's that something that won't allow itself to be killed. It's the one thing that even if your physical presence is no longer with us, that creative soul lives on through what you created for us to carry us through. (Shout out to our boy, BJ Alisago!) Something that powerful because at it's core is the mightiest force known to exist on ANY level - love.

Back in the Saddle

The last couple of days of writing has been amazing! I actually forgot what it feels like to get lost in writing the words that come out of my characters mouths. It's actually getting to the point where it feels like I have to "kill some of my babies" because of length. I have this one scene that was so thin before, but now that i've added so much meat to develop and push the story forward, I know that I have to cut some of it. Hopefully, I can find somewhere to put it back into.

But yeah. Just nice to lose total track of time and to see the action just appear in the consciousness.

Green Light

Ya-ta! I got a green light to produce my play "Garden of Dreams" for April 25-27 at Sacramento City College. Unfortunately, there might be some things that might block this dream from happening but I look at this as just another obstacle and a challenge. One of the other challenges happen to be that the play is to happen in Sacramento which is about 150 miles away. I've turned down this opportunity before because taking the advice by one of my mentors, and by a couple of books I've read and playwriting podcasts I've heard, was not to direct my own play. Another obstacle. But you know what, it needs to be done. I'm not even sure if I'll have my original reading cast. Another obstacle.

Given these, I honestly feel like the deck is stacked against me but for the first time in a long time, I am determined more than ever to get this done. Even if it's in a park with puppets... wait, maybe not that far, but close. The other thing working for me is that I have a lot of friends who can help me... i hope.

The other thing that is going to get me through is the example that the artists of Bindlestiff Studio have led. They are about my age, but ever since I started watching their productions, they have done it themselves. They had a support system that I marvel at and more importantly, inspired by.

As time goes on, taking Robert Rodriguez's book, Rebel Without a Crew, as an example, I'll create a journal, maybe a blog on its own, on the process of the production.

Character Dosier

Sister Mary Clarence:...If when you wake up in morning and you couldn't think about anything, but writing, then you're a writer.

After my 9-to-6, I head on over to borders to do some writing. I'm feeling good about this story idea I've had for quite some time. Before I get started, I even do a little writing exercise: A wants something from B, but B wants something from A first. A little tip: when starting this exercise on a laptop, write down the two character names, which is better than A and B, one line on top of the other, copy those two lines, and copy and paste, etc., down the page. And bada bing, before you even have any lines written, you're committed to this little drama because you have outlined two characters that go back and forth WAITING for you to insert the story. I'm a visual person, and when I saw this, I got inspired.

So, I'm writing this little scene and half way through, I realize that in a short play like this, I still don't know what this is about. Not good. And I started to think that in my last couple of short plays, it takes me a while for me to get into not only what is this story about, but what are these characters like?

I stopped in my tracks and, with this question in mind, I started to write my play... but in a very different way that I've written everything else. There are two different philosophies of writing. 1) sit down and start writing. The characters will eventually start talking to each other and to your own wonderment, a story happens and in a very schizophrenic kind of way, these characters start to write their own story while you're just there as a stenographer. 2) start out with writing down what each of these characters are like. write down everything they went through; what their history is; what is their needs; what makes them... them. In doing so, in theory, the characters will start to write your play, but with motivation and forethought.

I believe in both philosophies, especially the first one, because of that artistic sensation of really creating something from nothing. Very organic since you're just letting it happen. But last night, I started writing out the Character Dosier for each of my characters, but in the organic kind of way, I've discovered more themes to the play itself. I was as excited to write this as I was when I just free wrote.

Needless to say, I came out of this writing session with more that I thought I was going into it: stronger individual characters. I'll still be working on this for other characters, but the goal is still the same in the anticipation of seeing what each of them has to say to each other.

Notes from Stories High

Just wanted to post these notes from the latest Bindlestiff Studio's Stories High Reading series for my 10-minute, Leaving My <3 In SF. Even though I don't know who wrote these, I'm very thankful for the time that they put in to write anything down! Thanks! Now, to get the final done soon. Hopefully, I'll be able to have some time to do another reading with the final:

Leaving My Heart in San Francisco

• Ending sorta muddled – don't think Mrs. Ayala is well-developed with son – how did he die? Too serious as a comedy!


• In the story, they talked about the mother having a bag with "something." In discussion, we couldn't figure out if it was a heart or a conclusion.


• Very dark, ha ha. You are a great writer but could be better developed as far as the context/background. I like how you keep us "wondering" though.


• The mother character is very creepy! What do you want the tone of your piece to be?


• Nice and unique payoff with the postcards.


• Script is very funny, touching and original. Pacing of reading is good and should be kept.


• Funny stuff. Didn't think lion heart and chicken shit part was too effective. Can't wait to see it in action.


• I thought this play was very deep. You could feel Cora's pain. Also had humor.


• Funny! Especially the hearts lamb part.


• Strong energy, good performance by mother Ayala, cryptic- she emotes well.


• Unique script, great acting.


• The lady in the pink did really well! I like her accent. AWWWW!! I like this one too!

Yeah! A new idea for a play

This story is about...

Mindy Garcia is the editor of her school’s newspaper who meets a young farm-worker named Fermin Tobera. While helping him recover something from his past, she uncovers the town’s longest secret. At the same time, she unexpectedly falls in love with him. Unfortunately, there’s a big problem: he’s a ghost.

I can't believe it. This idea had just come to me as I started writing out a scene and everything... just happened. I actually have a story: beginning, middle, and end. Characters. And most importantly, an ending. I know how it ends. I really can't believe it. Welps, the next step - write it! Good luck na lang!