Michael Comer's Home in Wintergreen For Sale

That's right, it's property number three put up for sale in the past week by Glenmore's ex-Treasurer / Country Club President Michael Comer. See the other two here.MLS 467879 - $348K54 Firtree DriveWintergreen VA 229583 bedrooms /2 baths, 1,330 sq ft cabin, ca. 1979.The listing uses an unfortunate turn of phrase:"Walk to the ski slopes in the winter, enjoy the activities of the summer

Glenmore's Michael Comer Plans to Fight Embezzlement Charges

'For now,' says his lawyer, in today's Daily Progress. Is there a plausible explanation for what the Glenmore Community Association's external auditor discovered?Related: Comer's Wintergreen Home Up For Sale

Glenmore's Michael Comer: The Unanswered Questions

This mugshot is a sad picture, as most mugshots are.The County is abuzz with the disappearance and return of Michael Comer. The "comments" sections are filling up wherever there's a story printed about the accused embezzler, ex-treasurer of the Homeowner's Association (GCA) and ex-President of Glenmore Country Club.After nearly a month's absence, Comer apparently called wife Kandi Kessler from

Glenmore's Michael Comer Now on "Staycation" in His Home, After a Month in the "Unknown"

That's right, missing Glenmore ex-Treasurer, ex-Country Club President Michael Comer has come down from the wilds of Nelson County's Wintergreen Resort (...or the Virgin Islands...or wherever he was) and handed himself over to the Albemarle County Police.Lots of unanswered questions.After spending the night in the regional jail, today he was charged with five counts of embezzlement for allegedly

Glenmore, After Michael Comer: A New Era of Competence and Transparency?

Glenmore Associates, the Developer of the Glenmore subdivision in Keswick, has decided to pursue its own financial audit, according to The Daily Progress. Michael Comer, the missing Treasurer of the Glenmore Community Association, allegedly transferred monies to the Developer.In what seems to be an admirable attempt at transparency and regaining a new sense of confidence by residents in the

Missing Glenmore Treasurer Michael Comer's Home For Sale

The props owned by the missing Glenmore ex-Treasurer / Country Club prez and his wife are newly listed this week. The representation is handled by agents from Real Estate III, where Comer's brother-in-law, Jeff Gaffney, is CEO.The Comer's family residence is at 2930 Milton Village Lane--not in the Glenmore subdivision.MLS 467792 - $1,348,000 - 4 bedrooms/3.5 baths 4,800 sq feet, built in

Sequel To Cannes

If you're based in Dorset or the South West, or heck, even beyond, then why not come along to the networking party that's happening next week? It's organised and hosted by the wonderful Rosie Jones. I'll let her blurb do the talking:

---

Sequel to Cannes is a networking party for industry film professionals and associates which provides opportunities to meet with other independent film professionals and film support agencies in an easy, relaxed atmosphere.

The event takes place on 30 July 2009 at The RNLI Training College in Poole from 7pm – 11pm. Sequel to Cannes will feature:

* Launch of The Sequel to Cannes Screenwriting competition (1st prize £500 sponsored by Creative Dorset)
* Launch and Live demonstration of the new Internationally accessed ‘Location Poole’ Film talent database
* High energy speed networking session; Giving YOU the opportunity to meet with Producers, Writers, Film Support Agencies and Film Industry Artists
* Trailers and screenings of films, made by local award-winning filmmakers
* Live demonstration of the RNLI Sea Survival Tank (Available for hire to film production companies)
* Bar available until late!

The events sponsors, UnLtd, Creative Dorset and the Poole Arts Development Unit will be available during the evening along with organisations such as Location Poole, South West Screen, UK Trade and Investment, The Writers' Guild of Great Britain, The Production Guild, and a member of the Skillset Board. They are all able to offer advice and support on funding, bursaries and training for individual artists or projects.

Tickets are on sale on a pre-booked basis for £16.50 through Lighthouse 08700 668 701 or £25 on the door (cash only).

Full information can be found here.

---

It's been running for three years now, and it's a great night out. Fun, friendly and, um, filmy. See you there!

Higher Priced Homes Sell at Snail's Pace - Newsflash!

The Daily Progress is witness to the local version of a national trend: higher-priced houses are having a hard time finding new owners.The story even has a homeseller in Old Trail who has cut his price--more on this below.First, the facts: in Charlottesville and Albemarle, there are 184 properties priced $750K or higher. Add in the Counties of Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Orange and the figure

Wife of Missing Glenmore Treasurer Michael Comer Issues Partial Statement

Kandi Kessler Comer is Director of Golf at Glenmore Country Club.What's missing from the statement? Among other things:*A reward for any information on the whereabouts of the Glenmore Community Association's disgraced ex-Treasurer / ex-Glenmore Country Club President*An acknowledgment that an audit conducted by a third party, Robinson, Cox, and Farmer, identifies Comer as having control over the

Map of Layoffs in Virginia

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello has announced that it will cut three positions, and Region 10, the area's not-for-profit mental health and substance abuse servicer, will do away with 11 jobs after a 10% state budget cut.The map to the right shows layoffs in Virginia since July, 2007. At the Richmond Times-Dispatch data link, company names, number of positions, and so forth, may be accessed.The map

Fed Chair Ben Bernanke Addresses Congress

Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke made his Semiannual Policy Report to the Congress. He opined as how economic conditions are likely to warrant maintaining the federal funds rate at exceptionally low levels for an extended period. The statement discusses monetary and fiscal policies, regulatory reform, transparency and accountability...you know, all the things that should be undergoing serious

18 Virginia Rest Areas Close Today

You might want to keep some of these handy.Due to state budget shortfalls and plummeting revenues, 18 Interstate rest areas will no longer be available for that pit stop. Make sure your next trip doesn't depend on one of the Commonwealth's facilities.

Watergate Hotel Foreclosure Auction

The auction of the famed and historic hotel failed to find a new owner for the once-luxe DC landmark. The auction had attracted 10 international qualified bidders, but none who wanted to pay $25M for the complex, which needs an estimated $100M facelift. Now the bank owns it.

Good Dialogue

What is good dialogue? What does it sound like? How do you know when you've written it? Why do some readers identify good dialogue when others wouldn't know what it was if it slapped them across their face?

Back in November 2005, I did this post, where I said dialogue carries four main functions: exposition, characterisation, subtext and humour. Yes, yes, all very well, but that's the basic functions. Again I ask, what is good dialogue?

Unfortunately, there isn't a straightforward answer. What comes across as good dialogue to some can be regarded as annoying cack to others. EVERY reader/exec/teacher will say subtext is the most important but that can often go unnoticed or ignored. Instead, you may hear that the dialogue was too flat or, the worst insult, too 'on-the-nose', even if the dialogue plays to a neat subtext. This could be your fault, i.e. bad writing, but it's not all the time.

When people say the dialogue is good in a script (or a film), they probably mean it's sharp and witty. It's something that can be clearly identified and it gives people an external reaction: they can laugh. Subtext and internal emotion is generally more subjective. It can be thoughtful or reflective, and the impact of the dialogue can be easily missed.

What writers are known for their great dialogue? Sorkin, Mamet, Tarantino? Sorkin's famed for his witty and intelligent lines, while Mamet is celebrated for his cerebral repartee. Tarantino's dialogue is now vilified as pop culture geek but you can't deny that it can be funny and surprising. Check out the opening sequence of Reservoir Dogs for the 'tipping waitress' scene. A lot of cross-talk and characters but it also gets across the necessary exposition, characterisation, subtext and humour.

So, what is good dialogue? For me, it's neat, focused exchanges on the dramatic issue of the scene. Rhythm and reaction. The particular syntax of a character's voice. Broken sentences or grammar misuse (because no-one speaks perfectly!). Humour, when relevant. A man who nervously stutters a marriage proposal won't necessarily read as good dialogue but his fumbling actions could be the perfect compliment to what he's saying, giving the scene subtext and humour. Therefore, good dialogue.

Tony Jordan gives a nice example. People say as little as they can, whenever they can. Especially to the people who will understand them with only a nod or a gesture. Most of us trade on a visual or verbal shorthand so that we don't have to say more than we need to.

So, someone is saying goodbye to a mate: "I'll see you later. I've got to buy some smokes before I head home." If these two are good mates, you could remove the unnecessary words so that the dialogue becomes more sharp and realistic. "See you later. Got to buy some smokes." But you can reduce it more. [HOLDS UP EMPTY FAG PACKET] "See you later." And even further. [HOLDS UP EMPTY FAG PACKET] "Later." It's a very ordinary line but it's the most effective use of dialogue for the character and the scene.

There's a great line of dialogue in Men in Black. Neat, sharp and very effective. ** SPOILERS ABOUT TOMMY LEE JONES'S CHARACTER ** Will Smith has been recruited into MIB and is teasing Tommy Lee Jones about his stiff nature. He then discovers that Tommy Lee had a wife, and Tommy Lee brings her up on computer to take a mournful look at her. He can't be with her anymore because his life is devoted to MIB. Will Smith says: "Better to have loved and lost than to never loved at all, right?" Tommy Lee says: "Try it." Shoving the cliché back in his face with two words that say so much: the man's heart is broken because he can't be with his wife. Subtext, characterisation, exposition.

Other good use of dialogue: imaginative swearing/insults (In The Loop, Glengarry Glen Ross), cute/sweet but not sickly (Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, Juno), a different use of slang or language (Brick, Heathers) or realistic/humorous (You Can Count On Me, Lonesome Jim) where the story may not be a comedy but the very nature of the characters' dialogue and behaviour gives it amusing qualities.

How about you? Any particular dialogue that delights or makes you cringe? Not specific lines per se but the actual style, or the writer...?

Michael Comer Update: Glenmore Community Association Announces $666K Missing Along With Ex-Treasurer

The mark of the Beast hits Keswick's Glenmore Community Association in the form of missing funds. Treasurer Michael Comer disappeared about three weeks ago on the day he was due to meet with auditors to discuss accounting irregularities.NBC29 reports that Association Prez Trevor Joscelyne opines, "The impression may be that Mike was trying to borrow from the association to help out Glenmore

Price Increase: 935 Monticello Avenue, Belmont

The future of Belmont is the above-the-fold story in today's Daily Progress. And price reductions are now a daily occurence in this market.But here's an interesting Belmont story: 935 Monticello has had a price increase. After failing to sell for a couple years, and languishing at $149.9K for months, it's up more than $100K to $257K. MLS 461713.Nothing has changed--wait a second, except that

Price Reductions...Everywhere

The real estate website Trulia reports that sellers have cut $27.1 Billion off their asking prices. As the slow Spring selling season draws to a close, price reductions are proliferating in this area.Below are just a few recent price reductions pulled from Trulia. You may search the area's properties, if listed on Trulia, by "Price Reduction" by selecting this in the menu on the left side of

Story Vault: Radio

Whatever you do, DO NOT MISS Michelle Lipton's indispensable breakdown of the Radio 4 commissioning process. Also, check out BBC Radio 4's website for their commissioning guide. You may want to think about writing radio plays, especially as the screenwriting opportunities dry up during the recession. To tie in with Michelle's excellent link, here's a post I did about radio from September 2005.

---

Many UK writers and comedians make their name on radio before they make that all-important transition to television, the theatre or even the big screen. It’s a route that it not often considered by new writers but should be given some serious thought because of the many opportunities and dramatic possibilities that exist within the format.

In the UK, BBC radio drama is the place to go if you want to get one of your plays on-air. BBC Radio 4 has the majority of slots: the afternoon play, the Friday play, the Saturday play, classic serial, woman’s hour drama, afternoon reading, book at bedtime, book of the week and of course, The Archers (long running soap). And on Radio 3, there’s the Sunday play at 8pm as well as The Wire (every first Thursday of the month, 10.15pm) which aims to push the boundaries of drama using first-time writers. Then there’s BBC7 and the BBC World Service.

That’s a lot of slots. A lot of plays. A lot of writers. A lot of opportunities. So how do you get your idea commissioned? Basically, the BBC split the year into two commissioning rounds, one in September/October, the other in March/April. They accept and develop ideas during these periods to give themselves enough plays to cover their demanding schedule throughout the year. However, it is extremely unlikely to get an idea approved as a writer alone. It is preferable, nay essential, that you attach yourself to either an in-house producer or an independent production company that specialises in radio plays. That way your idea has more clout and more chance of actually getting commissioned.

I am reliably informed that the radio process is similar to the stage in that it completely respects the writer during the development and production of the play. Not a word changes without the writer’s say so. Great, isn’t it? Last year, I attempted my first radio play but while I got the structure and format correct, the story was basically a bad soap opera because of my misguided preconceptions of the limitations of radio drama.

In truth, there are no limitations to radio drama. While obviously an audio format, it is also very much a visual medium where the audience’s imagination can fill in the blank canvas left between the words and sounds of the drama. After listening to a handful of radio plays, I also realised you can be quite bold, distinctive and adventurous in your style and choice of story. And after reading a few radio scripts, I was reassured that the art of screenwriting is very much in tandem with the demands of the radio play.

With this newfound sense of knowledge and enthusiasm, I am going to try to see if I can get a few radio commissions under my belt. I met a BBC in-house radio producer the other day (at Bafta, woooooh) who’s willing to help me bring my ideas to fruition. It’s new territory for me because I’ve been focusing so much on screenplays but it’s also an exciting opportunity because it offers a writer the chance to be truly creative, original and distinctive with what they have to say. So maybe now’s the time to switch off the TV for a while and turn on the radio instead.

---

Graph: Median Home Prices Charlottesville MLS 2001 - 2009

Below is a graph of median prices for all types of sales in the entire Charlottesville MLS from 2001 - 2009. "All" means exactly that, a combination: condos, detached houses, estates, townhouses, in the City and Counties covered by CAAR.Click on graph for larger image in new window.The prices (rounded on the graph) come from the Virginia Association of Realtors. The graph is courtesy of SLR,

CAAR's Mid-Year Market Report 2009

Yesterday, we posted graphs showing declining sales in the City, the County, the MSA, and the Region.

Today, The Daily Progress has a summary of the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtor's Second Quarter 2009 report. The article is entitled "Area's Mid-Year Home Sales Reflect Continued Struggle." And it again answers the question posed by last year's article, from July 11, 2008: "Is

Graphs: Declining Real Estate Sales in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Central Virginia

Real Estate sales have been declining in Central Virginia since 2005, even with upticks during Spring selling season. Inventory, however, remains consistently high; and pricing is just starting to enter the double digits in declines.

A picture can be worth more than a thousand words--a truism several readers recently embraced by submitting the following graphs. These are pictorial

Origin on IMDb

Well, will you look at that? Origin, the short film I wrote & directed this year (for those of you new to the blog), has got its own page on IMDb. The film is a supernatural drama/mystery about a woman who tries to keep her family together when her son falls ill after he's bitten by a mysterious creature. It stars Katy Carmichael, Lee Ross and Jack Blumenau.

And hey, if IMDb says I'm a producer and director now, then who am I to argue? I think the page has been created because of IMDb's links with Withoutabox, the film festival submission site, which I've recently joined. I'm doing my best to update all the credits and have sent IMDb a full list of the Associate Producers. A few names have started to appear so everyone should get their credit in due course.

I'm currently in the final stages of post-production. Sound/music mix next week, then the grade/DI the week after. Then it should be done! Good times. If you haven't checked out the website and trailer, then what are you waiting for?

Meanwhile, I'm in the middle of writing my second episode of EastEnders, which won't go out until Friday 13th November, 2009. It's an exciting episode, with lots of juicy story lines going on, so I'm getting stuck in as much as I can. I should get notes on my first draft this week (always a nervous wait) and then we'll see how everything is shaping up.

Have you been watching Torchwood this week? It's been great, hasn't it? And TV's James Moran continues to demonstrate his rising excellence by penning last night's humdinger. Viewing figures actually went up from the previous night, and they only do that when the story engages the audience to stick around until the end. Fantastic stuff from the blogging/Twitter legend. He's setting the bar high for us to follow. Let's hope we can keep up.

Whatever Happened To...These Properties in the Rugby Road Area?

What happened to these City properties, which this blog looked at in April?Sold1841 Fendall Avenue, sold 6/26 $490K. Asking: $500K. Previous owner paid $900K in 12/08.Still Available 1833 Fendall Avenue - MLS 464447 - Price Reduced $100K: Now $645K from $697K (late April) from $742K (mid April). Owner paid $227K in '97.809 Winston Terrace - MLS 461693 - $795K. Paid $515K in 5/06.Foreclosure

1605 Keith Valley Road - Bank Buys For $570K, Resells for $300K

We looked at 1605 Keith Valley Road, in Meadowbrook Heights, after it was featured in the "On the Block" column of The Hook and the price dropped. It went for $300K in March '09.Related: What Did That House Sell For?

Whatever Happened To...These Listings With March Open Houses?

A March 2009 post looked at five listings:Sold:3009 Indigo Road, Crozet, Parkside Village. Asking: $360k; Selling: $358K. Previously sold in October 2004 for $355,967K.No longer on the MLS:But there's no "sold" data in County or City records:763 Belvedere Blvd, MLS 449160 in the troubled Belvedere Development, had at that point been on the market for 400+ days, after Church Hill Homes, a

128 Goodman St. Sells: $135K / 24% Below Asking of $575K

128 Goodman Street, an over/under duplex w/ backyard cottage in Belmont, was previously owned by an investor/landlord, sold for $440K. Assessed: $362.9K.Related Reading:What Did It Sell For?

751 Park Street Sells: $168K / 22% Below Asking of $769K

751 Park Street, a historic house near downtown, was on and off the market for one year, and sold for $601K.Related Reading:What Did That House Sell For?

120 Overlook Drive - FDIC Owned - Make Offer

...And you can have this 4,000 sq ft, 5 bedroom, 3 bath house w/in-law suite and storage, ca. 1965, on 2 1/2 acres just south of town, with "quick negotiations" and a $75.00 document fee.MLS 467436, $285K. FDIC repo'd in late April for $267K. In 2007, tax man assessed at $412K; now it's at $375K.Overlook Dr. is off Teel Rd, which connects to 29 just south of the I-64 interchange.

Missing Glenmore Development Associate Michael Comer - Update

There's no update on Comer's whereabouts, but there's some more info in the press. Sadly, this is going to end badly, no matter what the details turn out to be.Hawes Spencer at The Hook writes about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance, and The DP has more commentary from the Nelson County Sheriff.From The Hook:The case of the missing hiker is quickly becoming the case of the missing

What Did That House Sell For? Where's the Data?

There are currently 1,304 properties listed for sale in the City of Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle. In Fluvanna, Greene, and Nelson Counties (the rest of the Charlottesville MSA) there are 884 properties, for a total of 2,188. (This does not include "proposed" or unbuilt properties that appear on the MLS.) In all of Central Virginia, there are 3,587 properties available.This is

Michael Comer, Glenmore Country Club Prez and Developer, Still Missing

The 45 year-old Albemarle County man, whose disappearance was reported Wednesday, July 1, 7:30 pm by his wife, is still missing.The family met with Nelson County Sheriff's Department on Sunday, July 5.Police initially searched the hiking trails near his second home at Wintergreen Resort in Nelson County, but called off the search by Thursday night, July 2.At this point, investigators consider

VP Biden: We "Misread the Economy"

VP Joe Biden admits to ABC's George Stephanopolous that the Obama Admin was too optimistic about rising unemployment rates when the Economic Stimulus package was concocted and passed. So will there be another stimulus? Watch the video here.

William Akers: Notes

Daniel Gritten won the ticket to attend the William Akers' talk on screenwriting last week. Daniel has written for radio, theatre and film. He currently has a screenplay in development with Milkwood Pictures.

I asked him to jot a few notes on the Aker's talk. Here's his report:-

---

William Akers Talk: Fatal Errors Beginning (and Experienced) Writers Make

William Akers has one ambition for your screenplay: to make it so good that the bored, busy, impatient, frazzled Script Reader finishes reading it. Too modest an ambition? Any one who has ever critiqued scripts will tell you not. During his recent London seminar, Akers described how beginning writers might achieve this.

Based on his book, Your Screenplay Sucks! 100 Ways to Make it Great, Akers provided a checklist for the screenwriter to improve their own work. The aim is not to beat the Reader, but to help the Reader. Help them visualise your scene, help them hear your characters, help them avoid distraction. In focussing on the mechanics of the industry and the importance of holding the Reader’s interest beyond page 10, Akers’ advice is more applicable to those polishing their screenplay than those staring at a blank sheet of paper. There are no dogmatic principles of story structure or mythic archetypes. Rather, in his cool Southern drawl, Akers relayed practical screenwriting nuggets gleaned from 20+ years of making a living in the ‘Entertainment Business’.

Here’s a couple of insights that chimed with me:

Names

Names are a common cause of grief for all writers. Akers was hot on names. A common mistake writers make is giving characters names that rhyme:

Donny
Sonny
Lonny

The audience laughed, but go back and look at your screenplay. Apparently, it is a common pitfall. As indeed are alliterative names:

Jim
John
Jane

Avoid these mistakes, and use names of differing length. Thinking of the harried Reader, it must be easier to keep distinctions clear when reading “Hieronymus” and “Mike” than when reading “Tom” and “Tim”. Akers directs writers to IMDb, find a cast list which you then mix up, and combine first and last names. Simple, effective advice.

Scene Description

Akers notes that writers tend to ignore scene description. It’s not fun. It’s not sexy. But it is important. Your aim is to make sure the Reader understands what you want them to understand. As an example:

Bob picks up the body.

Akers assumed that ‘body’ meant the character was dead. But the writer just wanted the character unconscious. As the reader, Akers had to go back and re-read to understand what was going on. The words that go on the page are important. Just as important are the words that don’t make it. He advises the use of active verbs only; go through your screenplay cutting ‘to be’ and ‘is’. Also falling to the red pen are all ‘stands/walks/begins’, all adverbs and ‘seems/appears’.

Akers also drew attention to what he described as ‘Image Order’.

Andrew Jackson was captured and wounded by British soldiers.

Was Jackson handcuffed, then shot? No, the other way around. So help the Reader create the mental pictures in the right order.


Perhaps all this seems obvious, but groaning slush piles suggest otherwise. Akers’ advice (available via his website, where his book is also available) is an immensely practical tool for those difficult rewriting days. Take his advice, if not for your own sake, then for the sake of the poor Reader.

---

Thanks, Daniel!

Homeowners Challenging Property Taxes

It's a nationwide phenomenon. From the NYTimes:Homeowners across the country are challenging their property tax bills in droves as the value of their homes drop, threatening local governments with another big drain on their budgets.The requests are coming in record numbers, from owners of $10 million estates and one-bedroom bungalows.The revenue losses are coming as homeowners prod towns for new

UVIMCO Gains in May

The UVA Investment Management Company gained about $154.3M in May, to push the endowment just over $4B. Last year at this time, the endowment was worth over $5B.UVIMCO will release its Q2 report in about a month. The stock market has been going up lately (until Friday July 3; unemployment figures) basically on the idea of "less bad is better than horrible" (to paraphrase Barry Ritholtz). But

Computer Glitch Inflated MLS Home Sales Data

In California a "computer glitch" resulted in sales being inaccurately reported. From the WSJ:The California Realtors have reported that San Diego sales in April were up about 63% from a year earlier. Mr. Kleinhenz said that is expected to be revised downward to a gain of about 20%.For May, the group reported an 89% increase in sales in San Diego; that will be slashed to about 6.5%, the

Unemployment Hits 9.5%

Below is a chart from Calculated Risk indicating percentages of job losses in Post WWII Recessions. Bad news.Click for larger image in new window.The chart below shows numbers used for the recent "Bank Stress Tests," which were supposed to measure the "health" of the nation's largest banks. The actual numbers have already exceeded the "Worst Case Scenario" numbers. There will be more pain for

It's July 1. 2009 is Half Over. So Where Are We?

It may be hard to believe the year is half way over-- but it is. So not only are the June sales contracts and numbers something to look forward to, but the CAAR Market Report will be available around July 15th.Meanwhile, here's a local and national look at what's going on in RE and with what the NYT is now (apparently officially) calling "The Great Recession."Local NumbersBelow are the "sold"