Blog 12 U Smile I Smile

11/1/2011 10:25PM

There have been two unintended side effects of realizing life just ain’t that long. The first is obvious: do what you can and affect who you can with the time you have. My creativity level is through the roof and I’m writing more than ever. The novel is in a holding pattern as I pass the first draft around to more people and get the ball rolling on publication (so if you work at a publisher or have connections, shoot an email to mikeyzilla@gmail.com -- we should talk. I’m a snappy talker.) Furthermore, and since Ernie Cline already let this cat out of the bag on his blog in response to the Kotaku article, I am putting the finishing touches on the script to Aliens: Colonial Marines. To say it’s an honor to be writing an in-canon sequel to Aliens in the most popular medium on the planet, the sequel many of us have waited almost as long as I’ve been alive on this Earth, is the understatement of the century. I appreciate all of the support from everyone, but I’m so incredibly blessed as a writer in numerous mediums, I can only bask in the awe of what my life has become. I know we all come from different backgrounds with different beliefs, but before my stroke I freely admit there was stagnation within me. My drive just wasn’t there. I went through something monumental, something life affirming, something that fills me a reason to be here. In short, it’s the worst thing that has ever happened to me and it’s also the best. I love living, guys, life is cool. Guys. Guys. Life is cool.

Before I get to a fairly monumental announcement, I should share the second side effect of the cloggy little bastard making its way into my brain: I have a non-ironic appreciation of Justin Bieber music now. Weird, no? This could be for a number of hilarious reasons, but I don’t really care. It’s stupidly happy and dumb and sometimes that’s all you need to feel a little better. Also, playing Battlefield 3 with the J-Biebs blaring in the background is a fantastic diversion over voice com.

There is one final note about a much more monumental inspiration in my life as a writer, an actual inspiration, not a silly one, before I talk about my big step. For anyone that knows me, there is no question that I am a huge fan of Joss Whedon and his writing. I was blown away when my boy J-Weeds (I see what I did there) was announced, not only as the guy directing The Avengers, homeboy was writing it as well. Even if you’re not a fan, I hope you appreciate that he sacrificed so much of his time and energy working with a system that never really wanted him that much—and his reward was having seemingly total control over one of the largest studio movies ever Assembled (NAILED IT.)

But that wasn’t really the inspiring part.

The inspiring part was after he finished shooting the movie, instead of taking a vacation, he decided to shoot another movie. And not just any movie, he shot a modern take on Much Ado About Nothing in black and white with all of his friends in the span of two weeks. Which is crazy, except that five days later his new production company announced that he had written a second, unrelated movie to be produced under his new production company. Joss, ironic-usage-of-the-term-bro, take a break so some of the rest of us can write something. I feel like I’m going to turn around next week and Whedon will have announced that he will be writing an adaptation of the Wendy’s Value Menu. In seriousness, if he ever happens to gander this small blog in the corner of the strokier internet, Joss: you were the reason I wanted to become a writer when I was in High School and I never looked back. From the completely shitty first screenplays I wrote in college through games, comics, and beyond, your mark and inspiration have always been there. With an earnest platonic appreciation of your words and voluptuous forehead, thank you so much.

Finally, here’s what I decided the other day. Next year, I’m taking two weeks, not to waste away in a hospital room, but to shoot a movie. I’m currently writing it in my off time. It’s a horror movie, but the idea was so off-the-wall I simply couldn’t ignore it. I wish I could say more right now but that would ruin so much of what makes this special to me. It’s a horror movie unlike anything I’ve ever seen and hopefully announcing it will hold me on the path I truly want to be on. As developments happen, I’ll keep everyone posted, but for now I just want to say that I’m done with the slow down, it’s time to push myself as far as I can go.

Can’t Stop the Signal, yo.