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Thursday 10 August 2017

'Agents In Odd' - Curtain Call (11/8/2017)

My time studying at Met Film School has proven to be some of the most challenging and rewarding work I have done in quite a while. I am surrounded by great people, staff and students alike, who want me to succeed and, more importantly, get better at my craft. With their help, I've conquered the once insurmountable feat of writing a full feature screenplay, and now have a couple of TV pilots lined up to tackle.


They've also given me an updated and sharpened look into the industry and the steps need to be able to, at the very, stand a fighting chance in the market. I've had to make detailed and careful decisions about what I pursue, in order to maxmise my opportunities and whom I can get involved with. In light of this, as well as my often expressed frustrations with the broadcast animation market here in the UK, I've decided to put Agents In Odd on indefinite hiatus.


This was not an easy choice to make, having grappled with it for some time. Surely, I told myself, I could still find time for it and balance it with my other projects? It couldn't be that hard?

However, between my own growth as a writer, my increasing savviness of the market and the hurdles I've had to deal with in regards to Agents In Odd, it feels like a direction that is no longer viable to pursue in the name of getting work or becoming involved with the right people. A portfolio with varied materials counts for a lot, not just a single pipe dream for a market that jsut isn't where it needs to be, as well as my own clout. The sad truth is all the hours and redrafts poured into this pilot denied me the ability to work on other projects and, more importantly, really refine and improve my skills. You can only paint the same wall so many times before you eventually have to do the rest of the house.

So, where does this leave things? Well, while indefinite, the hiatus is not intended to be a stand-in for a complete scrapping. Some day, I may come back, with a radically different take on the material and be able to finally crack it. When, of course, I cannot say. Could a few months, could be a decade. In the meantime, you can keep up with all my ongoing work at my main blog:
http://abeldiazcinema.blogspot.com/

Thanks to everyone who has read and followed this blog, as well as expressed an interest in the show. It truly, deeply, means a lot to me and I hope you will continue to join me on my oddball journey into the world of arts and entertainment.

Sunday 9 April 2017

'Agents In Odd' - A Short Film (9/4/2017)

So, here's a little reprieve from the hiatus.

An early exercise for my Screenwriting Masters degree, I had to create a short saying something personal. Technical proficiency was not important, nor stylish editing (hence the somewhat grainy picgture and sound), but the ability to tell a cohesive story with a point within a tight time limit. Shot on my Samsung over a weekend, I told a very cut down version of the development of 'Agents In Odd' (known then as 'Very Strange Things').

Here's the 'official' version, at a tight five minutes:
https://vimeo.com/209992379

And here's the extended cut, running 11 minutes longer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObgN0Widk7g

Thursday 23 March 2017

'Agents In Odd' - Change in Plans (24/3/2017)

Once again, progress has slowed (though gotten some good notices) and with my life taking a different direction, it's time for Agents In Odd to take another little rest. As with last year's hiatus, this is not intended as definite, nor a sign of abandonment. I am still very commited to what is, arguably, my most personal and longest running project. Through MI4 and Very Strange Things, Agents has followed me throughout my development as a creative mind and I would never dream of abandoning it.

That said, as I get knee deep into my Masters Degree in Screenwriting, I have to be realistic and explore other options. All the imagination in the world won't matter without decent credits or better business acumen and ability. That's what I hope to get out my time at Met Film School, based out of the famous Ealing Studios.

The game plan, for now, is to study and build opportunies/contacts while there, and begin potential rewrites and even a rethink of both pilot and bible sometime in the summer and/or the autumn. By then, I should have a better idea of where I want to go, what other projects will or won't be happening, and how I can fit Agents in with all of the craziness. That said, I do have one more surprise still to come on here before the hiatus kicks in, so stay tuned...

So, how else can you keep up with me in the meantime? Well, as I've said before, follow me on my Official Facebook, for all news, reviews and updates on my career:
https://www.facebook.com/abeldiazwrites/

Also, follow my Official Blog to learn about my other projects: http://abeldiazcinema.blogspot.co.uk/

Friday 10 February 2017

'Agents In Odd' - Waiting... (11/2/2017)

Yep, exactly that. A whole lot of patience is being called upon.

A whole lot of waiting and seeing now. Wish I could say more and reveal the details, but red tape.

Everyone who has even a remote amount of investment in this, or just some spare goodwill, keep your fingers crossed.

Friday 13 January 2017

'Agents In Odd' - The New Year and more artwork (13/1/2017)

A Belated Happy 2017 to everyone! Hope everyone has made their resolutions and is raring to tackle the many challenges that lie ahead. For me, work has resumed on exploring all sorts of creative and developmental opportunities for 'Agents In Odd' and its new pilot.

Here's some new artwork I had commisioned as part of the new push, a mock up of a scene from 'In Red, There's Doom', courtesy of the ever loyal Luke Ceranic.


I don't think I will ever be able to thank him enough for giving my little series a face.

Saturday 10 December 2016

'Agents In Odd' - Pilot's Third Draft complete (11/12/2016)

The third version of 'In Red, There's Doom' was completed on Friday. I like how it's been shaping up, adding more dimension to the characters, as well as enhancing the mystery of the old house and the bizarre 'red room'.



The game plan, moving forward, is to do a fourth pass circa after New Year, and then perhaps a fifth before even considering doing the pitching rounds again. I learnt a lot from what happened with the various 'Miracles' pilots, and aim to at least avoid making similar errors and really having a fully polished piece to present.

I also did another production vlog on the subject, and what´s ahead, so check that out here.

Saturday 19 November 2016

'Agents In Odd' - Read the former V.S.T Pilot, 'Time of Miracles' (19/11/2016)

Yes, been a while, but rest assured, A.I.O is proceeding very nicely and should have more work down through the new year.

Meanwhile, you can now read the final V.S.T incarnation of the series pilot, The Time of Miracles:
http://savagescribe.deviantart.com/art/Very-Strange-Things-Pilot-2-The-Time-of-Miracles-636077771?q=SavageScribe%2F25145693&qo=0

More details on the how and why on DA.