9 Years of Lola By the Bay and 2022 Year in Review

It all comes down to this. The fanfare of the holiday season is winding down as champagne is slowly but surely being stalked up for the stroke of midnight tonight. Resolutions are being jotted down and vision boards are being crafted together, with the hopes of some of them actually manifesting by this time in a year. 2023 is now less so of a concept and now hours away from becoming our reality.

But before 2022 bows out altogether, I wanted to make sure I had my retrospective for this ninth(?!?!?) year of my website written down and ready to ponder for those who  may have missed any of what happened, or to read and go, “That happened this year?”

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Thoughts About the Process of Adaptation Through Writing

I’ve touched on the subject of adaptations quite a few times in the past, and it’s an act I’m no stranger to either; particularly through my efforts in adapting An Absolute Mind into a screenplay and from adapting “Interview with an Aswang” from a Zoom play into a short film. But there’s this other project of mine that has had its fair share of adaptations as well; a third form of it having taken place recently.

7 Years of Lola By the Bay and 2020 Year in Review

A part of me has always found it perplexing that I chose to start up my website at the end of a year. I sometimes wonder, “Why not have waited one more week until you were in the new year before finally starting it?” Well, seven years later, I look back on that decision and I think it worked out, actually. I get to both acknowledge the formation of this constantly growing website and look back on the past year in one go… and… well…. needless to say, this is quite a year to look back on.

Screenwriter’s Commentary: “Breath of Writing”

Within recent years, I’ve begun acting on another goal of mine as a writer, which is the goal of becoming a screenwriter. Since then, I’ve done quite a bit of it; from spec scripts to my first feature-length screenplay. However, so far, none of this body of writing has materialized into being something that can be experienced onscreen.

Well, that all changes today. In collaboration with Asiatic Productions, I am please to announce that my first screenplay to have been successfully produced as a film, “Breath of Writing,” is now available for viewing.

What Did I Miss?: February 2020

Published Works

Review of A Beginning of the End by Mike Chen – For Goodreads, I provide my take on the sophomore novel of one of the most thoughtful science fiction authors of the present day.

CAAMFest Alum Cathy Yan on the Fantabulous Experience of Directing “Birds of Prey” – For the Center for Asian American Media, I interview this director-to-watch on the making of the latest entry into the DC Extended Universe.

Christina Hodson on Writing the Diverse, Girl Gang Story of “Birds of Prey” – For the Center for Asian American Media, I converse with the woman behind the writing of the story for this latest entry into the DC Extended Universe.

The Missing Episodes of Disney’s ‘Andi Mack’ – For The Nerds of Color, I dive into this oversight on Disney+ in the three months since its launch, and how a recent push for change can inspire a potential, similar outcome.

Review of For Your Consideration: Keanu Reeves by Larissa Zageris and Kitty Curran – For Goodreads, I give a glimpse of my impressions on this surprisingly humorous series of essays about the most un-Hollywood of Hollywood stars.

Films

Breath of Writing (VIVID: Lauren Lola) – In my screenwriting debut and in collaboration with Asiatic Productions, the film explores the struggles I endure on a daily basis as a writer and why I choose to keep going anyway.

What Did I Miss?: November 2019

Published Works

Doug Jung’s Screenwriting Debut Will Be Available on Disney+ – For The Nerds of Color, I dive into an early work from this “Star Trek” screenwriter, ahead of its availability on Disney’s new streaming service.

‘Jojo Rabbit’ Sends a Timely Message via Satire, Fascism, and War – For The Nerds of Color, I provide my non-spoilery thoughts about the latest feature film from director Taika Waititi.

Review of From Rufio to Zuko by Dante Basco – For Goodreads, I give my input on this informative memoir from someone who’s seen and done a lot in the entertainment industry for over three decades.

The Director and Producer of Pixar’s “Float” Discuss Filipino American Representation and Bringing a Personal Story to Life – For the Center for Asian American Media, I go behind-the-scenes of this groundbreaking short film from Pixar Animation Studio by talking to two of the people that made it what it is today.

Review of Cyber Shogun Revolution by Peter Tieryas – For Goodreads, ahead of its 2020 release, I give a rundown on what I make of this latest entry into the United States of Japan series.

Appearances

About Tita | TFAL Podcast – Over two years after its initial release, an audio essay I did for the This Filipino American Life podcast is now available on their YouTube channel.

Outlook on the Oscars (From the POV of a Screenwriter)

We are now one day away from the 91st Annual Academy Awards. We’re one day away, and already leading up to it, so much has been going on. It had a host, and then it didn’t have a host (though, in my not so humble opinion, I don’t think it’s a huge loss, for most of the hosts in recent years have been very unfunny). Four of the categories were set to be aired, and then they were only going to be done during the commercial breaks, but there was enough of an uproar to leave it on the air. The Oscars this year are… somewhat less White than previous years, and the woman who created the campaign that I’m referring to, April Reign, will be attending the ceremony for her first time.

Thoughts About Taking On White Male-Dominant Writing Roles

I am female. I am Filipino American. I am mixed race.

For a majority of history, these identities wouldn’t have applied to writers of very particular fields, but within recent time, that is starting to change.

Reflections on My Hiatus

December is here and my hiatus is officially over. It’s hard to believe I’ve been away so long from blogging on my website already, but then again, the fact that I posted four times during my hiatus definitely shakes the reality of it. Looking back on the past two months, I now see how I chose a pretty good time to step away for a bit, for things have been quite hectic both in the world and in my life.

Happy 2nd Anniversary to “An Absolute Mind”!

As promised, today I’m taking a brief pause from my hiatus to acknowledge and celebrate the fact that it has been two years since the release of my second novel, An Absolute Mind.