Just getting started

[Chuck58]

Good to hear ScriptNurse.  No need for someone to be told "great job" if it means disappointment in the end.  So far this site is an amazing resource.  Thank you.


Gallow humor.  Yes an absolutely necessary coping mechanism for those in the field.  Retired at 43?  And here I am trying to figure out what I'm going to be when I grow up....at 43.  I'll be flippin' burgers at 70.

So I was reading The Onion today.  A stats graph for how people are coping with hard economic times. 12% falling back on their Archaeology degree (that stung).

My State public employee retirement has lost 30% of its worth. And, I'm not worried. If the agency loses it all, the State still has to pay *ahem* we who served. Now, if the State of New Mexico goes bankrupt, we're in trouble - I guess. I'm not sure how that would work.

[StewBrain]

Good to hear ScriptNurse.  No need for someone to be told "great job" if it means disappointment in the end.  So far this site is an amazing resource.  Thank you.


Gallow humor.  Yes an absolutely necessary coping mechanism for those in the field.  Retired at 43?  And here I am trying to figure out what I'm going to be when I grow up....at 43.  I'll be flippin' burgers at 70.

So I was reading The Onion today.  A stats graph for how people are coping with hard economic times. 12% falling back on their Archaeology degree (that stung).

[Chuck58]

Hello chuck58,

My nephew, brother-in-law, two childhood friends are police officers and my uncle is a retired sheriff.  I at one time persued a career as a crime scene investigator.  Very interesting work but you have to develop a sense of humor (of sorts), if you plan on dealing with dead people a couple times a month.  Wasn't for me.

It's called gallows humor, very sick in a way and I know it shocks people. I mean, how can a bunch of cops stand around at a murder scene (fatal accident, whatever) and be laughing? It's that or end up a drunk, which too many cops do, or worse.

In addition to the humor, I worked out - still do - 4 or 5 times a week. Exercise is an excellent stress reliever. I took the job right out of the Army, for no other reason than the 20 year retirement. From the time I knew what retirement meant, I knew God put me here to retire. I hated the job, but loved retiring at 43, in 1988.

[ScriptNurse]

Welcome!

One thing I can assure you ... everyone here will do their best to be helpful. You will get (I believe) honest advice and you won't be coddled. We pretty much call it like it is ... nicely ... so that if it's good stuff, you'll know it when you see it ... and if it's, well ... not your best work, we'll try and let you know in the hope that you can learn from all of us. I try to tell you what the agent or producer won't say to your face. My goal is to help everyone here become a better "wordsmith."

[StewBrain]

Hello chuck58,

My nephew, brother-in-law, two childhood friends are police officers and my uncle is a retired sheriff.  I at one time persued a career as a crime scene investigator.  Very interesting work but you have to develop a sense of humor (of sorts), if you plan on dealing with dead people a couple times a month.  Wasn't for me.

[Chuck58]

Welcome, StewBrain. Retired police officer here.

I can appreciate your comment, "I've finally decided to do....etc."

I've been hooked on writing since 3rd grade, but never had the guts to pursue it as a career until I retired and had a secure monthly income. Besides, I did enough report writing as a cop that the last thing I wanted to do after work was sit in front of a typewriter.

You'll find a wealth of information about screenplay writing on this site. It's been an enormous help. Now, if they'd just invent a program that would let you type in the basic story line and it would do the rest.........

[StewBrain]

Hello everyone.  I have been interested in movie making since I was a little kid.  Star Wars came out when I was 12 (perfect timing).  Prior to that at about age 10, I made a cowboy movie with an 8mm movie camera.  That was the extent of the film career.

I have a degree in Anthropology/geology, compose music, sculpt, draw, etc.  I'm a professional truck driver and have been behind the wheel of everything from a school bus to a cement mixer to a front end loader.  I guess you could say that I know a little about a lot of things.

I've finally decided to do what I thought I ought to be doing.  Getting my crazy ideas down on paper.  The concepts for a few short films have been floating around in my head for years.

This site has been very helpful in the short time I've been here.  Nice to see the wide range of experience gathering together.

I'll be around.