High Hopes

I finished my ninth screenplay, a comedy based in Jacksonville, a couple of months ago. It's called Just My Luck. I contacted some producers and agents. With high hopes I sent out a mailing.

I'd done well in a couple of screenwriting competitions. I had a romantic comedy which was a semi-finalist in the American Accolades Screenwriting Competition and placed in the top 15 percent. Another screenplay, a dark comedy, placed in the top 50 to 20 percent of 778 entries in the American Accolades Screenwriting Competition. It also reached Preliminary Level status in the 2000 Scriptapalooza Screenwriting Competition.

I'd come close to the Grail, so when I came home the other night and there was a message on my answering machine from a production company, I was excited. Maybe this was it.

The message said, "Hello. This message is for Rocky Ramsey regarding your screenplay Just My Luck. Please call Marcia at Calico Films, 555-629-9823."

I recognized the company from a mailing I did a couple of weeks ago.

Finally someone was going to make me an offer on one of my screenplays. Of course I couldn't get to a phone fast enough.

I picked up the receiver and dialed. A woman answered, "Calico Films."

"Yes, may I speak to Marcia please? I'm returning her call."

"May I ask who's calling?"

"Rocky Ramsey."

"Yes, Rocky. This is Marcia. Can you hold please?"

"Sure."

Was she getting someone from the creative team to talk to me? A producer or director perhaps? How many zeros would be on my check?

Marcia said, "Hello, Rocky."

"Yes."

"I just wanted to tell you that the story department decided to pass on your screenplay."

Say what you will, but it's Just My Luck.

Please note that Calico Films is a fictional name for an actual company.

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