(THE ARTIST'S LIFE) "End of a Dream"

I grew up the outcast.  The only boy of seven children, being a fat kid, chronic illness, knowing from an early age I was attracted only to members of my own sex - it was like from leaving the womb I would know what it was like to, ultimately, be alone.  It was one of the reasons I turned to writing at the age of eight, creating worlds I didn't myself live in, where the misfit both wins and even finds true love in the end.  Later, as an adult when I got into acting and stand-up, I learned that humor broke down a whole lot of barriers in people, and making others laugh became not my music but a grand symphony.  Those were fun times, even if brief because I knew writing was my first love.

But I've recently realized there comes a time when the dream must come to an end.  When you simply must wake up, and accept a life like that of Salieri in the film version of Amadeus - who, the first time he hears Mozart play, knows himself to be "forever mediocre."

I thought "Candyland" was a great idea, and could ultimately kick-ass as a real television series - but while the readership is loyal as hell, it's remained small; as much traffic as has been driven to a blog with over 7,600 pageviews in just a few months, it's the donations that were needed to keep things going that haven't been there.  That buzz has been slow to build, but sadly too slow; time has run out, and I simply don't have the resources to continue the series anymore.

So like many potentially-good series that have had to come to an abrupt end, I am sorry to say that I have to pull the plug on "Candyland".  The two grand needed simply didn't come in; not enough buzz, or support from those who may have even tried reading it.  So, with apologies and pleas for forgiveness to those who HAVE been reading, know that it was a blast to receive your support and comments, praise and such endearing love for the characters in the story ... but "Candyland" does, at least for now, end with episode 12.  I hope you have liked what you've read of it.

But more importantly, the lesson I've learned here is that - as I said - you must realize when the dream must end and the reality must begin.  It's simply ... not fun writing anymore, after this.  And while I hope one day it will come back - and did appreciate and love it while I had it - I just wanted now to bow out gracefully, and give my dearest thanks to all who've shown their support ... whether retweeting or favoriting, reposting or sharing, or even donating money to try and help keep the dream alive; it really made that little eight-year-old putting pen to paper in me smile.  And please know, while I may be forgotten ... you never will.

God Bless!

Don

dsareboot@gmail.com
P.S. If you'd still like to try and help save this series - keep the dream alive - please feel free to do so; am giving it a couple of days to see what can be done, but in the event you feel you CAN donate to this writer's dream, please go directly to the "Candyland" blog and use the "Donate" button on the left there.  THANK YOU.

(The Artist's Life) "An Actor's Writer?" - Part 2

No sacrilege meant, but it's true: "In the beginning was the Word ..."

Yet the more I work to break down doors, the more I "get" that I may never understand how - or if - Los Angeles works for a writer just trying to be seen.  Even if the simple truth is that every film, every television series, every project shot there begins with words.  And where would words be without the writer to compose them ... even as, somehow, it still feels like the writer is not appreciated enough?

To all who've read, praised, and supported "Candyland" - you're the BEST; after a few years toiling in Los Angeles, your feedback, attention and support for my series-in-book-form has been amazing!  But it's actually my second project using the City of Angels and the pursuit of fame as a backdrop (I guess maybe I am an "actor's writer," as I can't seem to stop writing about actors), and for those who've commented about the narrative format of "Candyland" and asked of my ability to do it scripted ... 

Below is the predecessor, and the project that forever remains #1 in my heart: "Hollywood Boys", the story of five guys who come from all over the country to make it in Los Angeles, season one (13 episodes) chronicling their first two years in L.A. and - in the season finale - coming full circle back to scene one of the pilot ... when all five guys have indeed "made it," but one of them (the viewer doesn't know who, until episode 13) has been shot to death at a big Hollywood premiere.

The Dream was always that the pilot, subsequent scripts and bible for "Hollywood Boys" would - at the least - lead to an entry position on the writing staff of a television series (as was suggested to me once, actually) ... but in truth, those actors who've read the pilot have made comments like "I can't believe this isn't on television already" or "This is how it really is; it NEEDS to be seen!" - so if nothing else I wanted to present it here, for anyone to read, in  the hopes its merits/potential are recognized.  Its audacity and dark humor were directly influenced by Showtime's "Shameless" and you can read the entire first episode, introducing the guys, here:

"HOLLYWOOD BOYS" Pilot

Questions or comments?  Don: 213-235-6995

I've battled a lot in life - who hasn't? - but still #1 on my Bucket List remains undone: being a working writer in Los Angeles.  I know in L.A. it's pretty much "All for one ... and every man for himself," but with all those I tried to help while there, actors especially, I am just hoping to put the karmic vibe out one last time, wondering if some of it may bounce back in the end via an actor or writer or producer who may see this, and realize that "paying it forward" for something you think worthy of your time brings back memories of where YOU came from as a struggling-to-be-seen artist, too.