Turning My Life Into a TV Show

June 15, 2017June 15, 2017 valmanwillLeave a comment

Season One Cover Art — Concept art photographed/edited by Alison Ostler. Modeled by Hailey Stephens*

If you didn’t already know, my latest project that I’ve been writing is a teen drama/comedy television show called “Identity Crisis”. The show is mostly based around my own life. My experiences, my friends, my crushes, my heart aches and my hilarities.

Synopsis: After a messy break-up with her overly religious boyfriend, Elle seeks revenge by trying to fit in with a group of burnouts. After spending time with her new friends however… she begins to wonder who “the bad kids” really are.

Season 2 Cover Art — Concept art photographed by Alison Ostler. Modeled by Hailey Stephens*

I didn’t write it just to be self absorbed. (Even though yeah sort of). I wrote it because I had a lot of old crazy memories that I didn’t know what to do with. I guess I’ve never been much of a conventional diary person. The idea to make an autobiographical TV show was always a consideration. Even when I was personally living major plot points of the now-series, I remember thinking… Wow… this could make a good soap opera. I actually came up with names for a couple of the main characters at the time (“Ronnie Johnson” and “Adam Levenski”). So yeah, I’ve been kicking around the idea for a while now.

Season 3 cover art — Concept art photographed/edited by Alison Ostler. Modeled by Hailey Stephens*

Here’s a short sample from the pilot episode, if you’re interested in checking it out. (Disclaimer: mild language and drug use)

Identity Crisis EP1_ACT1

I’ve been writing the show since August 2016. I’m currently working on season 5 of the six season set (each with 10 individual episodes). I have a small circle of readers who have been asking for the novelization or production of Identity Crisis. But unfortunately, because the show is based on real people and events it would need to be further fictionalized before I would release it publicly. If there’s enough interest in it, I will add the revision to my project line-up.

For a quick overview of each season you can also check out the main description page here:

Identity Crisis

*Fun fact! Hailey is wearing my authentic high school clothes in the photos. During the shoot I couldn’t stop talking about how weird it was to see a teen dressed up like “teen-me” and Hailey kept laughing at what I used to wear a decade ago.

If I ever DID make the show, let me tell you who I would want to do all the music. My friend Chris is insanely talented, his voice makes my heart weep with joy. Listen to this song. And then you know what? Go and listen to all of his other songs! You will not be sorry. Be prepared to fall in love.

Embarrassing Story: Almost Getting Myself Abducted

June 8, 2017June 7, 2017 valmanwill1 Comment

Car Dummy

I have always been very day-dreamy and a little air-headed. One day in high school a boy that I sorta-kinda-maybe-liked said hi to me after school. I was OUT TO LUNCH. I completely checked out of my own brain. I started imagining our wedding and how many kids we were going to have and what we would name them.

My mom was coming to pick me up in her super generic-looking Honda. So when I walked out to the front of the school I got into the first white car I saw…

I buckled myself in. Keep in mind that I’m a high-schooler and way too old for this kind of mistake. I started to rummage through my backpack when suddenly… I noticed that my mom was listening to some weeeeird music. It was like Bulgarian opera of some kind? Which is not on my mother’s usual playlist. I slowly glanced over at the hand resting on the shifter, which just happened to be attached to the hairiest arm I’ve ever seen. I looked up in horror at the large Duck-Dynasty-lookin’-dude in the driver’s seat, who could no longer hold in his gut-busting laughter.

I fumblingly undid the seat-belt, grabbed my stuff, tripped on the way out and skidded my face on the grass. All the kids out front laughed and pointed at my lifeless body on the lawn. My mom watched in disappointment from the car directly behind my unintended Uber. I awkwardly picked myself up and got into the correct ride. As we drove away I saw my almost-abductor still cry-laughing about it all.

So there you go. Always double check the car you’re about to strap yourself into.

Hey teachers & parents! Wanna know how to help the zoned-out-daydreamers in your classroom? MusicExplorers offers a variety of original musicals specifically designed for core curriculum integration. Their website also has a ton of cool lesson plans for free! They are definitely worth checking out!

http://music-explorers.com/

My Emo Pregnancy

June 1, 2017June 1, 2017 valmanwill5 Comments

I think the best way to describe being pregnant is like being a Sim with every one of your health bars in the red. You’re always hungry, you’re always tired and you always have to pee. I remember once sitting on the toilet and wishing I could eat a sandwich and take a nap at the same time.

But last year I had an easy pregnancy… well I mean besides Exorcist-puking so hard that you pee yourself and your husband nicknames you “Puddles” for the next several weeks.

The only other thing about it was that I was SUPER emotional. I cried over everything that could be even kind of sentimental. It got so completely ridiculous in fact that I decided to take a Snapchat every single time I started crying. Below is my photo series from last year’s pregnancy I hope you enjoy the ridiculousness of my tears

Being pregnant with Jack was the most amazing, maturing and in-touch moments of my life. In fact he still makes me cry all the time… “You can put the remote in the dishwasher all by yourself?” *sobs*

Want more mom mis-adventures? My friend Chaun has a really great blog and she also wrote a post about the weird things she cried over when she was pregnant. Check out all of her funny stories & content!

http://www.22footprints.com/