Dispatch From The Quest: Meet Scott Reynolds
Over the course of the 24 weeks I will be working with the writers in “The Quest,” I will be posting ‘dispatches’ from them to the GITS community. There are several reasons for this, the main one being educational: Hopefully you will learn something of value for your own understanding of the craft from the experiences of the Questers.
I should also add they are a great group of people, so I expect you will enjoy getting to know them.
Today I would like to introduce Scott Reynolds:
Scott C. Reynolds is a writer and comedian living in Brooklyn, NY. After writing a regular column on McSweeney’s Internet Tendency about the dangers of pursuing one’s dream job, he put his money where his mattress is and left behind a 15 year software career to pursue a life in comedy. When he isn’t working feverishly on a screenplay, he can be found writing and performing sketch comedy and improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade theatre, and telling jokes to strangers elsewhere in New York. Follow him on Twitter: @scottadhoc
Here is Scott’s first dispatch from his Quest experience:
The concept of the Quest is compelling to a big nerd such as myself. It is itself the Hero’s Journey, which, when you think of it, is super meta. But nonetheless, I’m armed with my MacBook, (which, for the record, is less mighty than the pen, but still holds a slight edge over the sword. Especially a MacBook Air, which doubles as a sword. Well. Dagger, really.) and ready to slay the 100 page dragon. Metaphors!
Like any good Hero’s Journey, this one started with our protagonist in a state of disunity. I was in my ordinary world, foot perched on a rock, looking at the twin suns of my planet, and thinking wistfully of rushing off to join the ranks of real live screenwriters. But that goal seemed impossibly far away, and I realized in May that, despite my big plans at the beginning of the year, I hadn’t made the tiniest bit of progress in that regard.
A couple of things happened that set me on this current adventure. The first was thinking I was going to die in a falling elevator as I went down to get ice cream to soothe the pain of the Bruins losing to the Capitals in a close Game 7. I know. I buried the lead. The hockey thing was the bigger shock.
The elevator thing turned out fine (unless I’m screenwriting from beyond the grave, White Noise style), but it left me thinking that if I could die for any stupid reason at any stupid time, I’d rather it be after I’d spent a day pursuing my dreams rather than my employer’s. So I quit my job.
That was all fine and good, but the next part was more elusive. I was doing sketch and improv at the UCB, and dabbling in stand-up, all of which is great, but the screenwriting path didn’t seem to be materializing. That’s when Scott’s (Myers) call to action came across our hero Scott’s (this guy right here) desk. The Quest seemed exactly what I was looking for. I quickly came to realize that a screenwriter (this guy, at least) needs structure just like his screenplay. I was excited for the adventure.
Our story doesn’t end there, though, because like all reluctant heroes, I almost refused the call. I was so in my head during the logline process, unsure of every idea I generated, that I almost didn’t submit at all. Indeed, I think I sent my submission in on the very last day, finally having wrestled myself to the ground and convinced myself that I probably wouldn’t die by sending an email. Though you never know. Some of these Japanese horror movies have me questioning how close my computer is to my bed.
At any rate, I’m off on the journey now, along with five other people who are smart, funny, and creative. I’m excited to be on this Quest with them, under the watchful eye of Scott (the other one), and can’t wait to present everyone with the dragon’s head. And maybe some gold. Or just the gold, I guess, if I can steal it without killing a dragon. They’re pretty majestic creatures, and I’m sure PETA would be all over me.
If you have any questions or comments for Scott, feel free to post them in comments.
Tomorrow: Another Dispatch From The Quest.
For background on “Go Into The Story: The Quest,” go here and here.
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