“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” - Howard Thurman
I promised myself I'd be better about updating my blog, but it just didn't happen. But here I am now, 1 in the morning, unable to sleep, watching my cat sleep on top of my desk, wondering if he'll ever eventually fall off.
10 things you may not know about ATB:
1. The barn dance scene came out a lot differently than I had planned. I actually built two sets but the first just didn't look right. Overall, I still didn't feel like the lighting was right and that still bugs me. Plus that scene was supposed to be way longer and I regret shortening it.
2. Avery was supposed to pull out a harmonica and play it instead of a guitar in my writing. Didn't happen for obvious reasons.
3. Avery's first wife's name is Cambry (Cam-bree) if you didn't catch it from part 6. I chose that name because I wanted to name her something that reminded me of someone I liked because I feared I'd hate her as I wrote about her and I didn't want that. I wanted to be able to care about her character and empathize. She's named after a 1st grader from my student teaching.
4. The first kiss turned out totally different than what I had written. That scene was actually one of the first I had written for Arranged to Be, a year or so ago that I always liked. It was supposed to happen at an event, but not on the beach. The part about Violet getting upset about the nickname A.J. held true though. But I really don't like the way that scene ended up happening. Filming it was incredibly frustrating and I lost a lot of what I wanted to portray.
5. As much as I like the story of Just One, I feel like ATB is much better in terms of development and filming. Guess that just comes with time and practice though.
6. I had a totally different song planned for the first kiss. I had been planning to use "Heaven" by Fire Theft for a long, long time. But it didn't work with the scene I set up.
7. The sunrise was a painting I found and probably used illegally since I didn't credit it, but I can't remember where I found it. I do remember it was listed at at least $10k.
8. I removed all of the sidewalk pieces from Avery's house because I've always hated those things, but now random people just show up and go inside the house or swim in the pool as if they lived there and I have to delete new people every time I enter the lot.
9. I had planned for Violet to be a singer, not a professional, but just someone who enjoyed singing as a way to escape from life. If I ever write the book, she probably will be.
10. I've pretty much outlined the rest of the series and what each part will be about, but I'm having trouble starting part 7.
There ya go. Maybe next time I'll do one about Just One if I can think of things. Thanks to every single body for your interest in my work. I really am flattered beyond belief that others get into it as much as I am.
