It’s ironic how it’s only after I actually finish film school is when I have the time to read filmmaking books. Purchased two new babies today from Kinokuniya. Fuck you Borders for downsizing your film/media writing section. There’s nothing there except for the biography of Robert Rodriguez.

While looking for a book on comedy writing (a topic sorely omitted during the rush and broad topic study of a filmmaking degree), I stumbled across this cute little read from Tony Bill.

They call it an insider’s book for outsiders but honestly, this book will only be interesting to you if you are at least somewhat of an insider. From Bill’s elaboration of filmmaking speak: “pancakes and C47s”. (which if you’re a filmmaker, you should know is fancy speak for a thin wooden plank and some clothe pegs.) To his candid take on why digital is the future of cinema save for the ignorance and inertia of those filmmaking uncles and aunties. It was a pocket sized book that gave me joy for the day.

I appeciated the little bits of information and trivia of like how Samuel Fuller carried a luger that he would fire sometimes in lieu of yelling “Action!”. I thought about making up my own creative way of saying action in the future. A gong perhaps. And if it’s a good take, I’ll yell “Cut. Awesome Take Shooortaayyys!!!” using the iPhone T-Pain autotune app. Ah. I can just picture the reactions of the filmmaking uncles, pure gold I tell ya. Holler back at ya Mr Pang.

And then I actually did get my comedy writing book.

I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a Double Act. This passion has become stronger with the many nights I spend watching Sheldon and Leonard talk sexy, sexy physics on The Big Bang Theory. (+10 for Kaley Cuoco) This got me thinking of what kind of kinda Singaporean, kinda tacktastic Comedic Duo would work.

Any suggestions from you shitty bitties out there would be greatly appreciated. And hopefully this book will inspire some kinda screwed up fictional version of the trio that is the shitbits. Come alive script!