Sorry I haven’t updated lately.  I haven’t had much to say lately, especially with regards to theatre.  I’m feeling a bit disconnected.

I’m trying to jump back on track in a slightly different route:  storytelling.

I mentioned this before in another blog, but sometimes I feel like I’m not very creative.  Well, as far as originality is concerned.  I know that many people consider all the great stories to have already been told, and everything we write today is basically just a variation or more complex (or simpler) version of what has already been told, but still…

After I watched Dr. Horrible (you can get it on iTunes), I was inspired to write my own musical story.  I’ve always wanted to, but I’m musically retarded.  On top of that, my work skews towards the epic and dramatic rather than the short and funny.  I’m hoping to change that.

So I got this idea for a story for a short film a la Dr. Horrible.  I’m not going to give it away here just yet — I’d rather get it written and at least in the preliminary stages of production and then blog the process.

I’ve been developing my concepts and storylines, coming up with variations and such to give me some options and directions as to where to go.  I asked open ended questions of friends (e.g. Who is Everyman’s nemesis?, etc), brainstormed backstories and character profiles, and hummed tunes to myself.

I finally settled on a character and situation.  At a certain point in the story, there comes a point where I could take two different paths to two completely different stories.  Actually, it just occurred to me that I could use both — one could be the sequel of the other.

At any rate, I told one of the plot lines to someone else, and they said “That sounds like [insert favorite movie here] except with a different ending.”

Does that matter?
Should it matter?
Am I any less creative because my idea had already been thought of?

Sometimes I wonder.

If you haven’t seen this yet, you need to watch it TODAY (starting on July 21st, they’ll start charging to watch it.  It’s free til then!).

Check it out at www.drhorrible.com.

This is the brainchild of Joss Whedon, creator of such brilliant shows as Buffy, Firefly and Dollhouse.  He was inspired to do this during the writer’s strike earlier this year.   It’s a super-villain musical, starring Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie!) and Nathon Fillion (Mal from Firefly), as well as Felicia Day (I believe she played Vi on one season of Buffy).

Yes, it’s a musical.

Yes, Doogie can sing.

Yes, Nathan can sing.

It’s hilarious.
This is exactly the kind of stuff I want to do.

I haven’t been this excited in years.

Anyway, Acts I and II are out, Act III comes out tomorrow, the servers are likely to crash, but never fear — iTunes is here.  I bought all three episodes for $4, so if you feel inclined to trust me on this, go to the iTunes store and buy it.  It’ll be on the front page of the iTunes store, I promise.

Check it out.  You won’t regret it, especially if you’re already a Whedonite.