Update on Season 3 Progress

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Original text by Kurt Sutter:

I know I'm thick into the season when I look at my blog and realize I haven't posted in weeks. Twitter is spoiling me. It's the lazy man's blog. So I'd figure I'd drop an update.

We just locked picture on 301 and everyone is very excited. Directed by "Shield" alum, Stephen Kay, the network had very few notes -- which is a good sign. The season picks up a few days after the season two finale and the episode is about Jax's emotional journey through the devastation of losing a child.

It's so interesting for me as a writer to explore these emotional avenues now being a father myself. I wrote a script years ago called Delivering Gen which was all about a man's inability to be a father. I remember some parental watch group read the script and pointed out to me and my agent, Nicole Clemens, who was also single at the time, that the baby in the movie is in life-threatening peril more than a dozen times. Our response was, "Really?" We were a little detached. But now that I'm a father, those scenes, those moments are much harder to write. And hopefully, deeper.

I watched Edge of Darkness over the weekend and while Mel was hunting down his daughter's killers, I was listening to Esme' coughing over the baby monitor. She has a cold. I kept pausing the movie, then running up to her room to make sure she was okay. It was a weird interactive experience. But now I know whenever I do write those father revenge scenes, they won't just be fantasy. I know in my gut, that I'd cut someone's fucking heart out if they ever threatened my kids. Truly, without pause. I'd kill with a clear conscience.

Wow. As usual, I've taken a left turn down Dark Drive. So about that update -- 302, directed by another "Shield" alum, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, came out great. I will say there's a scene near the end that rivals the tattoo removal sequence in season one. It makes me giggle. I haven't seen 303 yet. That too, directed by a "Shield" alum, Billy Gierhart. Looking forward to seeing Stephen King in that one. 304 is being shot by one of my favorite directors, and another "Shield" director, Guy Ferland (do you see a pattern?). 305 is being prepped, Gwyneth is helming that one as well. 306 is written. And I'm avoiding writing 307 at this very moment. It's due a week from today.

I tweeted about the new line of merchandise that will be coming out very soon. It's very hip. I think folks are really gonna dig it. We're in the process of putting together some kind of music tour with Bob Thiele and the Forest Rangers. The iPhone app is moving forward, as is the game. Oh, and we're gonna be auctioning off a custom SOA Harley for charity. More on that in the next couple weeks.

I think that's it. Back to Charming.