Kevin's Alternative History Blog

Hello

I'm just home from a long day. As someone who likes to chill out a lot, it turns out the next couple of months is going to include a lot of busy weekends. All good weekends though. So no complaining from me. I just wonder how this will affect this blog (Oh no! Think of the reduction in quality blogs!) and my short scripts.

I'm going to add an update here. I have started writing a feature version of my black comedy short "Interview with the Brides". I really like the idea. I have pitched the idea to a few people and have gotten a good response. That's great to get, but also most importantly I am excited to write this comedy. So while I continue onto number 28 of the 55 Genres shorts, I will be writing an "Interview with the Brides" feature.

And the podcast recordings continue.

And these weekly blogs

It'll be fine!

So today's blog is on my next genre short:

Alternative History.

(New Mexico cutting into Colorado like that is really annoying me)

Inglorious Basterds, The Man in the High Castle, Lego Movie. All examples of alternative history.

Hey, google tells me Lego Movie is an example so I'm going to go with it.

I got some good suggestions from Twitter people on what I could do:

Australia remains a penal colony.

The farmers of the Roswell Incident really do find an alien ship in 1947.

Miscommunication leads to the Manhattan Project unveiling their new, devastating atomic bum.

All good and equally thrilling, dramatic ideas. I was initially certain that I would make this a comedy script but now I'm wavering. I'll have to spend a few more days during the week just letting the genre sit in my mind and see what comes up. I don't think I will focus on someone famous, I don't really have an interest in writing about Hitler being attending the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. I do think I will focus on a lighter side of history. Maybe an invention or creation of something.

I actually had thought of a spoof comedy alternative history involving cavemen and cavewomen. The concept would be that since the world has been dominated by patriarchal societies, this system was born from a caveman and cavewoman dividing up responsibilities. Taking care of their young, hunting, gathering, cooking, etc. In the alternative history of this scene (that I made up as actual history) the man is "tricking" the woman into going out hunting while he cleans the hut. He thinks he has saved himself a dangerous trip out amongst the sabretooth tigers. This leads to the cavewoman of today and the future inventing weapons and gym routines to become more dominant. After all, she is the one fending off threats. And then add scenes throughout history in a Matriarchal society. All the way up to big dumb action movies with Stephanie Seagal and the hot blonde singer called Jimmy Joe.

That's one...very terrible idea.

Speaking of alternative history. A little alternative history about me.

About 11 years ago, I applied for a film course in a college of further education. I went for the interview but was rejected. I could have gone back to a carpentry job and started an apprenticeship but I was annoyed with myself that I had answered "I loved movies" when asked "Why do you want to do this course?". This was because I had just learned the little phrase "Show don't tell" from my first steps into screenwriting.

Because I was annoyed with myself, I went back to carpentry but instead of taking up an apprenticeship, I drove to a town 40 mins away which had an arts center and asked could I volunteer. I spent a year volunteering there in my spare time. Setting up stages for plays and the outdoor film screenings. That was where I first saw Singing In The Rain and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. After a year volunteering I applied again for the film course.

Again I was asked "Why do you want to do this course?" but this time I was able to answer with how I had volunteered at an arts center. Showing I loved to work in a creative role instead of just telling them I love movies.

I got accepted. Left the carpentry work. Joined the course. Met my fiancée and asked her out on the last day of the course year. Yay! She had just moved to the city the same year I had joined the course. So most definitely, if I had gotten accepted on my first attempt, or not bothered wanting to show not tell, I wouldn't have met her. Oh and as for writing, she's always been so supportive which I had never gotten before that so without her I probably would have given it up long before any blog has started.

So in an alternative universe, I am still single and a carpenter. I've no more interest in scriptwriting.

My Tinder bio is probably this:

"I like to strip when I work because I go at it hammer and thongs"

My pun game is still pretty good though.

Thanks for reading

Kevin