a bit of cart-before-the-horse syndrome

Here's something funny that I had totally forgotten: before putting a single real word on paper, we (I) started asking about how we go about being wildly successful! I sent an email to my excellent friend, actor, writer, voice over artist, children's book author, garlic pizza connoisseur, Roger Eschbacher. He gave me some very good advice, much of which is painfully obvious now. Back then, however, we were as green as canned string beans. Basically, what Roger told me was that we would get no where on our own and needed representation - ideally in the form of a literary agent. However, he also planted the seed in our fertile little minds that we could maybe - just maybe - shoot this ourselves. Foreshadowing?

Meanwhile, I just found the email when I thought up the title. I'm so very proud of myself for this little contribution!

Amy to Scott 8-21-06
Anyway, on the assumption that we are setting it in a mountain town, I have a title idea. The town is the fictional Continental Divide, Colorado and the title can be either "Crossing the Divide" or "Over the Divide" - something like that.

And at the risk of sounding like we are a pair of condescending twits, here's what I had to say about our most talented actor buddy, Matt Bachus, joining our party:

I'm sure Matt B. would be happy to participate in any project either of us approach him with. He's just that kind of loyal. Like a big puppy dog.

That's actually just about the kindest thing I've ever written about Matt. That's just the kind of junior high, pigtail pulling type of relationship we have. Exactly the kind of person I want to work with for the rest of our careers!

Along those same adolescent lines, here is my reply to Scott regarding his thoughts:

I can't wait to hear the details your feeble mind is coming up with!

Ah, true love!

OK, so next, Scott comes up with the beginnings of the core family & the opening scene:

Scott to Amy 8-21-06
I LOVE "Crossing the Divide" !!!!!

And so it was said, so it shall be.

I'm thinking the core family is a group of adult siblings, raised by a grandmother (something happened to the parents, not sure what). The grandmother is still alive, holding up remarkably well for having grandchildren in their thirties.

Opening scene is in a hospital emergency room where the siblings, their collective significant others, and the grandmother have all arrived, escorted by the police. The grandmother has just shot one of her grandsons (not a life-threatening injury - perhaps a bullet in the glutious maximum - that's Latin for butt, right?). And it wasn't an accident, either...

Wow - we actually kept a lot of that, although, as you will find out eventually, not quite that much violence.

And then off Scott went on a tangent that, fortunately, didn't last long:

Scott to Amy 8-21-06
The title "Crossing the Divide" is now making me think there needs to be TWO grandmothers. The father's mother and the mother's mother, and both of them had a hand in raising these now-adult siblings. And the two grandmothers have been lifelong enemies in this community. The kids now straddle being loyal to one grandmother or the other, causing a little friction between themselves.

Because what we really needed was yet another character!

Fortunately, that didn't last long and we figured out that the "divide" in question should be over bringing development to this sleepy little town. Half of the citizens want to town to retain its charming, small-town ambiance while the others are welcoming the idea of a burgeoning economy, big resorts, Wal-Marts, etc.