Well folks, the time has finally come. Ian and I are starting a fresh, new life and we couldn't be happier. After months of stress, job hunting, and empty bank accounts, we've made the massive decision to move away. Yes, I have "moved away" before, I left my hometown of Summerside and moved an hour away to Charlottetown. I loved living there, it was a whole different world than Summerside. It was "the big city" for me as I had grown up in Summerside, a much smaller, quieter, less cultural city. There I was, loving life in what I thought was the biggest place I'd ever live. Then, between student loan mix ups and our economy (job cuts) failing, things turned to hell. Ian was working, but I couldn't seem to find anything.
After a couple of months, we made the tough (and humiliating) decision to move in with my mother and step-father (in Summerside). Neither of us wanted to do so, but we were left with no choice, we just simply couldn't afford to live otherwise. We've been here a little over a month now, and I have yet to find a job. Ian is working, but not near full time hours, and I have been searching for a job since we got here, I have had only one interview and haven't heard a thing back. Both of us quickly became stressed out and knew we needed to come up with a new plan.
There have been numerous (250+) job cuts on PEI recently, in a small province, that makes finding a job near impossible. Our economy is garbage and there is nothing to be had. After much discussion and planning, we made a choice. We knew we needed to move off island, the question was...how! How were we going to save enough money to move to another province, get an apartment, and survive...without jobs in said province? It was the dilemma of year. Initially, we were discussing moving to Toronto. We figured, it is a massive city with a lot of opportunities, and we could easily save enough money to live in a cheap hostel while we found jobs and an apartment. However, after a little more though, we realized that we did not know anyone in Toronto, no friends and no family. We'd be alone in this huge city that neither of us had been to before. Sure, its been done...but it just was too much of a risk for us. We started to lose hope. I found myself laying in bed until 6am just thinking about how neither of us will be landing full time jobs in the near future and how we must find an apartment by September. I was lost, depressed, cranky and stressed.
Then, one of the most amazing people I know, stepped back into my life and agreed to help us!! I was starting to think the world was against us, but I now realize there are still good people out there. Let me explain. I messaged my good friend Katie, who currently lives in Ottawa. I explained my situation and "vented" to her about everything that has been going on. Then, I had to swallow my pride and ask the question I did not want to ask anyone...I asked her if she had room to let us crash there for 2 weeks MAX while we found jobs and an apartment. To my surprise, she said YES and said we can stay as long as it takes to find what we need to get settled. I could not believe it!! I was in awe. I mean, I always knew she was a really good friend and would always be there for me, but this was just unreal. I still have not thanked her enough.
Now, I must explain that I did not choose Ottawa for that one purpose. I have a decent amount of lovely family members there, and 3 of my close friends (Katie included) live there. I know the city really well as I have been going there since I was a kid. It is a really clean, upbeat, beautiful city and deep down I have always wanted to live there. I am beyond excited for this, as is Ian. I am leaving PEI on July 3rd, 2012 and have no plans on returning (other than to visit family and friends). Ian will not be joining me in Ottawa until 2 weeks later, for financial reasons, but I think we can survive 2 weeks apart in order to have a fresh start.
Bring on the jobs, education, and city life!! And Katie, my dear, dear Katie....Thank you again!! You are saving us!!!
-Drea
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
A writers dream
First of all, I want to apologize for such a long period between posts. I am not going to lie to you, I haven't been busy...I've just had nothing important to write about. Things haven't been going the best for me as of late, I am unemployed and the city I live in doesn't seem to have any job openings. I can't even manage to get an interview at A&W. However, despite that, I am trying to not let it get me down too much, and I have been working on a side project that I am really excited about.
This side project is my ultimate dream!! As an (untrained) writer, I have big dreams for myself but those dreams seem so unreachable most of the time. Well, I decided to take matters into my own hands and do something I've wanted to do for years.
I am writing a screenplay! Yep, that's right...a movie!! I've had a few different ideas I've been tossing around for years, and I have finally taken the steps to get the ball rolling. I have a contact in California who is helping me through the process and is a distinguished screenwriter and editor. Writing a screenplay is not an easy job. At first, I figured "how hard could it be? I am a good writer!!". Well, writing dialogue in such a way that you can portray every ounce of feeling and emotion, while still progressing in the story....is difficult. It is much easier to sit down and write a short story or a short novel. When writing a screenplay, you aren't writing things like "Sally was frightened for her life walking down the narrow ally after work. She has seen far too many bodies to feel safe anymore." That doesn't work for a screenplay. Instead, I have to write her exact thoughts while walking alone down the dark ally-way, I have to write it in such a way that the actress has an easy way to portray the fear Sally is feeling.
But, despite the massive challenge I have taken on and the tediousness of writing 2 pages and having to go back and re-write them 10 times to make it fit together nicely...I love it! I have 3 ideas I am going to run with and all I can do is hope and pray that someone...somewhere, decides they like it and want to buy it. I've been reading The Screenwriters Bible and it has SO much amazing information. It is by far the best book I have ever purchased! One piece of interesting information I loved reading was this....according to this book (used by the writer of The Kings Speech, Social Network..etc) 70% or more of screenplays are bought for no less than $100,000...and that 70% are never even made into movies! Naturally, my ultimate dream is to see my screenplay be made into a movie (even a low budget film). However, I would be happy to just sell a screenplay for a good amount and hopefully use that to promote myself a little more.
Anyway, that is what I have been working on lately. I am not going to reveal what the screenplay is about because there are some legal issues and likeness rights business to take care of before anything is revealed...but, I will post soon with some more information!
-Drea
This side project is my ultimate dream!! As an (untrained) writer, I have big dreams for myself but those dreams seem so unreachable most of the time. Well, I decided to take matters into my own hands and do something I've wanted to do for years.
I am writing a screenplay! Yep, that's right...a movie!! I've had a few different ideas I've been tossing around for years, and I have finally taken the steps to get the ball rolling. I have a contact in California who is helping me through the process and is a distinguished screenwriter and editor. Writing a screenplay is not an easy job. At first, I figured "how hard could it be? I am a good writer!!". Well, writing dialogue in such a way that you can portray every ounce of feeling and emotion, while still progressing in the story....is difficult. It is much easier to sit down and write a short story or a short novel. When writing a screenplay, you aren't writing things like "Sally was frightened for her life walking down the narrow ally after work. She has seen far too many bodies to feel safe anymore." That doesn't work for a screenplay. Instead, I have to write her exact thoughts while walking alone down the dark ally-way, I have to write it in such a way that the actress has an easy way to portray the fear Sally is feeling.
But, despite the massive challenge I have taken on and the tediousness of writing 2 pages and having to go back and re-write them 10 times to make it fit together nicely...I love it! I have 3 ideas I am going to run with and all I can do is hope and pray that someone...somewhere, decides they like it and want to buy it. I've been reading The Screenwriters Bible and it has SO much amazing information. It is by far the best book I have ever purchased! One piece of interesting information I loved reading was this....according to this book (used by the writer of The Kings Speech, Social Network..etc) 70% or more of screenplays are bought for no less than $100,000...and that 70% are never even made into movies! Naturally, my ultimate dream is to see my screenplay be made into a movie (even a low budget film). However, I would be happy to just sell a screenplay for a good amount and hopefully use that to promote myself a little more.
Anyway, that is what I have been working on lately. I am not going to reveal what the screenplay is about because there are some legal issues and likeness rights business to take care of before anything is revealed...but, I will post soon with some more information!
-Drea
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