Andy Is Dead - Time To Write

     Andy Whitfield is dead.  The fast rising star of the hit cable show Spartacus died; handsome, talented, well loved and on the rise, he is dead.  He died this past Sunday, September 11 of cancer.  The story says that he had been battling the disease for 18 months and that he was doing well with his treatment but he didn't make it.  Thirty-nine and out.

Andy Whitfield from Spartacus - Photo from Fan Site

     As I read the story, the brief story of his short rise and fatal fall, I was wondering why, there wasn't more to read about a guy who made a hit out of a series that was so steeped in sex and violence that only an incredible performer with charisma and talent to burn could lift it out from and above the genre that it surely would have fallen to had he not been a part of the production.  Nothing negative about the show because like many other viewers; I like it.  I'm just saying how great I think he was for that role and what a fantastic job he did in it.
     Instantly, I was inspired to write because I'm not dead.  I don't have cancer, I'm not sick and the few problems I do have, most people would wish for.  So, hearing of the passing of this life cut short, I was instantly inspired to write and not just to write, but to write something incredible.  I wanted to write something beautiful and haunting, something moving and profound.  I wanted to write something better than I've ever written before.
     I was working on a project and it is good, it is very good, different, artistic, painful and funny in a pathetic way.  After reading about Whitfield, I wanted it to be better.  Why?  Because it would seem that I might have time to make it better, so I should.

Writer Christopher Canole and I at AOF 2009

     Funny thing, I hear from writers all the time about problems they are having with their script or this character or some bullshit story arc.  I never hear anyone say, 'Fuck, I better get my shit together and write that script because I'm dying!'  I've never, ever heard that once even after having worked on seven features, multiple shorts, four television series and a slew of other projects.  I've heard the complaints and the excuses, but I've never heard anyone ever say that they should write something well and write it now because if they didn't, they might not get the chance.
     So, with full knowledge that the end is near, at least, closer than I'd like, I am writing and I hope that what I write will be good, no not good, great.  If it is good and not great then I hope I get a little more time to make it so.  Andy is Dead - Time to Write.