Thirteen years ago, Rory and I made our first airplane trip together — from Kansas City to Craigsville Beach on Cape Cod.
As we arrive home tonight from Kentucky — on what is easily Rory’s 30+ flight as an ‘in-cabin pet,’ I never take for granted his zen presence and sunny predisposition that make him an easy, breezy traveller.
Four hundred years ago — okay, more like 12 — I attended a writing conference at Craigsville Beach on Cape Cod.
One of our assignments was to come up with a new scenario for a movie using only the items found in our hotel room as inspiration.
Now, my hotel was rather rustic (translation: cheap). The wallpaper had tiny geese flying in vee’s across a yellow, late evening sky. It was ugly, but I used it.
My idea: What if two birdwatchers — one a noted expert, the other a novice — accidentally kill a rare bird that they are admiring? Horrified, they try to cover up the accident in a variety of ways, all of which go terribly awry.
Hilarity ensues.
I pictured Dudley Moore as the lead. (It was 12 years ago.) I thought it was a pretty funny idea, but maybe too niche-y for Hollywood.
I mean, who would do a movie about birdwatching?
Fast-forward to 2011. Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson are starring in the new movie The Big Year. Take a look at the trailer:
What you can’t really tell from this clip is that these three men are avid birdwatchers…competing at a prestigious birdwatching event!
See? Someone actually made a film about birdwatching, and even they think it’s too niche-y to use in the marketing.
Birds part deux
Four hundred years ago — okay, more like 12 — I attended a writing conference at Craigsville Beach on Cape Cod.
One of our assignments was to come up with a new scenario for a movie using only the items found in our hotel room as inspiration.
My idea: What if two birdwatchers — one a noted expert, the other a novice — accidentally kill a rare bird that they are admiring? Horrified, they try to cover up the accident in a variety of ways, all of which go terribly awry.
Hilarity ensues.
I pictured Dudley Moore as the lead. (It was 12 years ago.) I thought it was a pretty funny idea, but maybe too niche-y for Hollywood.
I mean, who would do a movie about birdwatching?
Fast-forward to 2011. Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson are starring in the new movie The Big Year. Take a look at the trailer:
What you can’t really tell from this clip is that these three men are avid birdwatchers…competing at a prestigious birdwatching event!
See? Someone actually made a film about birdwatching, and even they think it’s too niche-y to use in the marketing.
I was so ahead of my time.
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Tagged ahead of my time, animals, beach hotel, bird watchers, bird watching, birds, Cape Cod, celebrities, commentary, Craigsville Beach, Dudley Moore, endanger species, entertainment, geese, geese flying in vee, geese wallpaper, hilarity ensues, hotel, hotel room, Humor, Jack Black, life, movie comedy, Movies, Owen Wilson, screenplay, Steve Martin, The Big Year movie, The Big Year movie trailer, Travel, video, writing, writing assignment, writing conference, writing scenario