Martyred for writing

I think I actually enjoy writing.
I read a few articles about writing where respected authors moan about going through the process. Some feel that the end result is the only good thing, others don't even like that despite having written masterpieces.
Of course a script is not a finished product until it is filmed, which means it can forever be process, you could indefinately be on a journey and Ulysees can forever have more brave tales. And so Jerusalem twists and reforms itself anew.
When you have a cool idea or even better, manage to implement that cool idea in to a serviceable form, it spurs you on and dialogue and narrative spill out before you uncontrollably and soon you have a whole new scenario you hadn't intended. Which means you have to retro fit everything else you've written to accommodate this new direction.
That's the point I'm at now. The bulk of my screenplay works, but I've recently set about retooling the first act (which is so much better now) and subsequently have to modify the later stages to fit in with this new start. There is a problem of balancing tone. We start out with quite a light hearted set up which gives way to quite violent action later. The audience needs to be eased into the later stages of the script and at the moment everything just seems to 'kick off' without warning. Some good scenes are going to have to sacrificed to keep things smooth.


I have to keep reminding myself that I'm trying to make a simple yet effective straight forward thriller/action movie. I want to write something that I can then feasibly then go and make. But when I watch films like 'Martyrs' I immediately think I should change direction and create something of such staggering beauty and vileness, something that will leave an indelible mark on film making as that film does. I of course have to learn to walk before I can run and walking's an Olympic sport so it can't be that bad. If I can make a decent genre script then I'll tackle something greater, but for now I'll content myself with smuggling a few 'mondo' moments in to a seemingly standard story.
One final problem I can anticipate is never knowing when I'm done.


EDIT: If you intend on watching 'Martyrs' make sure you know nothing more than what is contained in the teaser I linked to. This film goes places that are unexpected.