REJECTIONS & fond memories of my Viewmaster

I’m proud to say that I’ve just been rejected by Woman’s Day. Yes, life will go on… I tell myself. I’ve just brushed away a tear.

This year, besides the screenwriting, I’ve opened myself up to doing all sorts of writing. Why limit myself to only one source of rejection when I can have them all!

Actually, I'm okay with rejection as long as I still believe that someday it will lead to success. Every time I get a rejection notice from a production company, magazine, or any other publication, I embrace it because I truly believe that every “rejection” is that much closer to an acceptance or an ‘option’ ( in screenplay world.)

Plus, it proves that I’m actually doing something. You can’t get rejected if you didn’t show up at the party, now, can you? For a while I was hanging rejection slips on the fridge, but now I just kind of file them away. I’m doing an experiment to see how many rejections it takes to get to the center of the Hollywood game.

According to my online research, on “how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop", Mr. Tootsie Roll Owl suggests that one can reach the center with 'three licks and a bite.'

Now, I don’t know how that relates to making it in Hollywood or writing, but frankly, it scares me because “3 licks and a bite” kind of sounds like it could relate to success in Hollywood, but I don’t think I’m willing to go there…

Although I’m almost certain that some people in Hollywood have succeeded utilizing Mr. Owl’s advice...

Other recent rejections I’m proud to state:
JANE Magazine
The New York Times
Goldie Hawn – unless I become my own studio tomorrow or sign up some A-list talent ( none of which is likely as of this moment.)
South Pacific Pictures – New Zealand ( I obviously need to write in more Maori characters, but I still like ‘em…)

My favorite excuses for Passing on a script:

1. Great writing, but your movie’s just too small for our current slate.

(Now, really, aren’t all movies the same size? I mean the aspect ratio of all theatrical motion picture screens are the same size. Are they saying that MY MOVIE would be only be distributed via Viewmasters? That might actually make it stand out!)
Bring back the viewmasters!

2. SOME INANE READER AT A BIG AGENCY THAT SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS ONLY BECAUSE I'M A NICE MIDWESTERNER AT HEART. said:
"I just thought the main character was way too pathetic. I couldn't relate to him..." Nor could I tell you the middle or the ending of the story because frankly, I didn't get that far, as my coverage so blatantly suggests...

( We are all pathetic. Think of how many pathetic characters there are! Two words for you: WOODY ALLEN. ‘Nuf said.)

I'll just stick with my old Viewmaster. I still have all the old cartridges in the round, cardboard canister. Maybe I can finance the movie myself and distribute directly to Viewmaster... Now, that would be a concept.