Most of the hype centered on the two tyro actors who penned the *screenplay*.
It seems that they had been friends for years and in between college
obligati...
Last week there was some grumbling that I didn't answer enough Friday
questions. So this week I'm devoting two days to your questions. More
answered mana...
Daily Mail He said: 'An unusual number of extremely distinguished *
screenwriters* died this year... 'In every category, you're going to miss
some wonderful...
Per the news re WB yesterday, the LA Times reports Disney is piling on:
Warner Bros. has two "Wizard of Oz" remakes in development. Universal has
the Oz-in...
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Auditions are inevitable in the career path of every actor. The acting
skills of the actors are being evalua...
Digital: Scanned: November 12, 1958 Draft by Billy Wilder and I.A.L.
Diamond. Based on “Fanfares of Love” by Robert Thoeren and Michael Logan.
Synopsis: Wh...
(aka A Couple of Dicks) July 31, 2007 Second Draft by Robb Cullen and Mark
Cullen. Synopsis: A comedy about two cops whose adventures include locating
a.
...
Good morning, Effers! The sun always rises on Just Effing! First of all, a
huge thank you to Effer Dan Wasserman, who took the train through the
Chunnel fr...
THE LEGENDS by Dax Shelby & Robert Marc Stevens Two dudes who were the most
popular guys in school 20 years ago are hired by hired by a former classmate
in...
...is best summarised by one of the survivors here.
Death Machines was my favourite, perhaps the most bizarre cinematic
experience I've ever had. If you ev...
Andra Sheffer’s office has walls in two shades of blue and looks west out at
College where the blue roof of the police headquarters matches her decor
nicel...
Hey, folks--
Just wanted to pass on a terrific piece, "*Confessions of a 90210 Addict*,"
from yesterday's *Daily Beast*. This was written by my good frien...
I think I'll pester my friends for some prompts and I'll get some from my
Writers Block book and some days I'll just do drabbles or a scene in *screenplay
...
A number of years ago I spent most Tuesday and Friday nights wearing a skirt
whilst other men in skirts tried to grab, punch, stab and hit me. Sometimes
wi...
If you're not busy working or have other plans for Thursday night, we'd love
to see you at our ScreenPlayLab mixer. Details below...
Hope you had a great t...
Do you have a great idea for a screenplay, but no idea how to go about
executing it? Are you interested in learning how to make a movie, from
initial conce...
For a limited time, the Fans Friends and Followers e-book will be available
for free download. It has already sold thousands of copies.
"Fans, Friends & F...
“Every cell of your body has to be aligned so that you’re making the best
possible image.” Photographer and Oscar-winning filmmaker Louie Psihoyos His
name...
The Lovely Bones centers on a young girl who has been murdered and watches
over her family – and her killer – from heaven. She must weigh her desire
for ve...
Having received no comfort or perspective from "the first rabbi," Larry now
seeks them from his divorce lawyer, whose character's name is "Divorce
La...
************ Are you a screenwriter or entertainment industry professional
with advice and tips to share with readers of About A Screenplay? I welcome
gues...
Well this morning I received confirmation that I passed my MA, along with a
breakdown of my different grades. It was an interesting read for many
reason...
Rudy wrote in a while ago with an interesting question:
*i came across your blog and found it interesting. i was wondering if you
could help answer a quest...
A guest post by Trevor Mayes of ScriptWrecked. Hallowed or Hackneyed? When
it comes to mainstream Hollywood story structure, there tends to be
two schools ...
See if you can get away with cutting bits of explanation, scene setting,
stage cues, and still have it make sense.
Basically, let your dialogue do the wo...
20th Century Fox TV and Fox appear ready to end the long-running hit after
this season, the show's eighth. Studio and network execs declined comment --
but...
After Max's comment below I feel I must clarify... I do think there is a
time when we must stop rewriting. I am sometimes a perfectionist so I want
it to a...
Genre: Period/Detective/Drama
Premise: A morally corrupt detective is assigned to the kidnapping of a
prominent socialite’s son in 1988 New York City.
About...
We've been watching 18 TO LIFE on CBC. Man, that is a funny, funny show.
Brilliantly comic and lovable cast. Extremely well crafted, clever, fresh,
sexy ch...
[image: Making a Good Script Great: A Guide for Writing and Rewriting]
Making a Good Script Great: A Guide for Writing and Rewriting (Paperback)
By Linda Se...
This is a great piece by Moviefone. What are your worst of the worst 25 Rom
Coms? When the Moviefone staff started trying to name the worst romantic
comed...
For the unfamiliar, a "reveal" in screenwriting parlance is the placement of
key, revelatory information in a story. Most times, the last reveal is the
mos...
In a hotel lobby waiting for a car to pick me up and take me to a brief
meeting and then on to the airport to fly to New Zealand where I will see my
fiance...
WELL, LOOKS LIKE not a lot of people wanted to drink out of the other side
of the glass or try to hold their breath, & I guess they like the look of
that y...
by Jaden photo credit: Philippe Put It is always so frustrating to see the
most creative and advanced filmmakers throughout time get snubbed at the
Oscars....
Many of us find ourselves pursuing a writing career because we feel we have
a story to tell. We think that our lives are so special and unique, our
insight...
One of the strongest things about being a part of a writers group (and there
are many) is the support and knowledge you get from your group mates. You
can...
I'm always surprised when someone I'm working with tells me they have
trouble finding ideas for a story. Mark Twain famously wrote, "Truth is
stranger tha...
Basically, it looks like they pretty much thought "Avatar" was a gimmick.
The best-performing gimmick of all time but not a "real film." Whether that
judgm...
I'm pleased to announce Bang2writers Charlie Swinbourne and William Mager
have been at it [creatively] again and produced the rather fabulous internet
seri...
A quick update on what I've been up to:
I'm currently working on several treatments for some upcoming screenplays
projects.
my most recent scripts includin...
In the world of screenwriting, THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES OF ANYTHING.
It's a sad and painful truth. Just when you think you've done everything
right and wo...
“…A Cal Tech seismologist was aware of the natural forces that are working
slowly but inexorably under the earth, out of sight, unnoticed, setting off
reac...
Last night the Winners of the 82nd Academy Awards were announced. A full
list is available to view online.
Here are the nominees and winners (in bold) in ...
This is being sent on behalf of wcmartell@scriptsecrets.net
as part of the mailing list that you joined.
List: Scriptsecrets
URL: http://www.scriptsecrets....
It is a recognized phenomenon that anywhere from a few months to a year
after an Oscars presentation, you can't remember what movie or director won.
This w...
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire - January 16, 2008 first
revised (green) draft script by Geoffrey Fletcher Revisions by Lee Daniels
(Based on...
I post these each year before the awards start to keep myself honest. I
confess that I have missed some of the key movies this year. That comes of
falling ...
I begin with research, research, research, not so much because I am
interested in gathering information but because I want to be free of it. I
look for co...
A few thoughts on the major awards:
The best supporting awards are locks -- *Mo'Nique* and *Christopher Waltz*.
Both deserving.
Best Actor will go to *Jef...
There are a lot of places that offer screenplay workshop to help out new or
struggling screenwriters. Of course, not all of the screenwriting workshops
are...
Written with the screenwriter in mind, this book offers techniques, the
dialogue devices, in sprucing up and spicing up dialogue. There are 67
dialogue d...
Tell him, @alisonbrie. Tell @dannypudi about @donglover sitting by himself
at Shutter Island Friday night. # Diet's effects leveling off. Have to
exercise ...
A reader recently sent me an e-mail with the following questions...
- Do I need to bring my own equipment, logs, etc. or is that something that
is usually ...
All right, I know all you slackers are just loafing around waiting for the
red carpet to start, so I'm posting so that somebody, including me, might
actual...
The First Mermaid (PG-13) A victim of low self-esteem, Thandy Milson
(Scarlett Johansson) is forever unhappy with her self-image. After several
unsuccessfu...
Remember with screen direction, you want the eye to roll down the page, to
make the script a “page turner.” How do you do that? Go vertical. Keep the
reade...
Things have been a little strange so far. I arrived at dinner time on
Thursday - the Birds Eye View launch night. Got myself a lovely vegetarian
dinner fro...
If both plotlines are key to your story, you need to make that clear in the
logline. Otherwise, you risk future readers feeling like you
bait-and-switched ...
WGA Awards host Seth MacFarlane performs "Ya Got Trouble"
Hosted by writer-performer-producer Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy), the West
Coast version of the...
We must be nuts! The CS Open--now relocated to the icy cold vastness of
cyberspace--back again? Wasn't the last time punishment enough? Why, yes it
was! Bu...
*Screenwriter and author Janice Day attended the John Yorke Q&A last night -
here's what she had to say...*
I went to the Writers’ Room talk on the BBC Aca...
I'm posting this on behalf of my sister, a high school teacher here in the Bay Area, who participated in the rallies for education today. "If you cut teacher...
[*In lieu of actual content, for the next several weeks I will present, at
least, one review of an upcoming film each week. These are scripts that I've
b...
About a week after I started working as a television writer, a guy who had
been in the business a while was telling me a few stories from his career,
and...
There's a big old pompous article in the Guardian Books Section entitled 10
RULES FOR WRITING inspired by Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules (yeah, Elmore
Leonar...
I recently listened to the director’s commentary on Duplicity, written and
directed by Tony Gilroy. Because of his hyphenated position on this movie,
he is...
Here’s a link to a paper by the very aptly named American academic JAMES
CUTTING which discusses the differences between our perception of film shots
and ...
*AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... *
The 82nd Annual Academy Awards are only a few days away now!
I love this broadcast every year no matter how dragged out it i...
#8) To make sure your script is readable Many screenwriters write in a
vacuum. They have nobody giving them feedback or insight on their scripts,
ever. O...
Applications and submissions for contests or funding or plain ol’ attention
sometimes require a paragraph on the supplicant. Here’s a placeholder I
stumble...
I'm sorry to report that someone has hacked into and stolen all my personal
information - the reason for the delay in posting. It's a real pain but even
we...
Don’t say I hold back on the goodies. If you head over to the Facebook page
of the fantastic Toronto band Metric, you can hear a sneak preview of a song
th...
One of the best things about finally getting my first commissions was the
idea that I could call myself a professional writer. That's a little sad, I
know....
Over the last few years there's been a growing call in the UK drama industry
for a move to a US-style system, where the person in charge of a TV
programme ...
Juliet Landau is a renaissance woman. She acts, writes, directs, produces,
edits and for all I know, dances a mean tango, too.
So when Gary Oldman agreed...
I posted this on my new *Facebook *page, but I figured I'd blog it as well.
It'll be an ever-growing list of FAQ's. It was fun to do. I hope you dig
i...
Whether your script is a low budget film or a Hollywood blockbuster movie,
investors will always ask for a film budget. Film budgeting refers to
managing t...
Phooosh. That's me blowing off the cobwebs.
Um...Is anyone still there?
All of January and most of February went by with me up to my eyeballs in day
job w...
This is a new feature where I catch a flavour of what people are saying
about the industry. Have a look for what people are talking about on Twitter
in the...
(Note: I’m trying a new format where I’m putting the beats right in this
post. Please let me know if you prefer this approach.) Summary: Michael
Clayton, a...
Today’s Beat Sheet was contributed by Master Cat! Jose Silerio: There’s no
other studio that consistently releases movies that are both critical and
box of...
FADE IN: INT. JAIL ROBERT DOWNEY JR. and JUDE LAW go to see MARK STRONG in
JAIL. ROBERT DOWNEY JR. Ah, diabolical Lord Mark Strong. Glad to see you’re
fin...
Working with Director Stephan Franck is what one might call...intimate. The
dude does know what he wants and we are more than happy to oblige!
Seriously, ...
*Scriptchat TOPIC: Who needs Valentine’s when u have #scriptchat love?
Taking the fuzzy handcuffs off for an OPEN FORUM*
*Being Valentine’s Day, we decid...
I know I haven’t posted script notes even after my little treatise — I’ve
been breaking a new project and delving into a collaboration with a director
that...
Image via Wikipedia So like just about everyone else in the known universe,
I went to see Avatar in 3D the other week. While the story was solid enough
and...
Last minute: The Belgian writers group ASA has invited scriptwriter Mark
Burton to talk about his work on "Madagascar" on February 11 in Brussels. A
scree...
Whew… I guess I am one moody son of a bitch. So thanks for all the kind
words from everyone wanting or maybe even — dare I say it? NEEDING a blog
post from...
MINISTER Everything is more complicated than you think. You only see a tenth
of what is true. There are a million little strings attached to every choice
y...
I’m weighed down at work and busy in post-production on my documentary, so I’m continuing to turn over blogging duties to Adam Levenberg. I’ve received a few...
Writing can be confusing at times because the way things were done at one
time are not always the best way to do them, it is just all they had back
then....
The blog.
The feeling usually comes on at some odd moment spurred by some odd impetus
or provocation -- some totally random encounter with the name of a
l...
A few days after my blog on the ageism settlement, the New York Times has
weighed in. …a deeper look at the settlement and its terms indicates that
the def...
Call in and pitch your story to Executive Story Editor at William Morris
Endeavor Entertainment, Christopher Lockhart, where he looks for potential
project...
Question: A big producer with good credits likes one of my ideas. She
doesn’t have a discretionary fund, but she does have a deal with a big
studio. Sh...
Hello, you delightful shooting star. 2009, you say? I'd best jot down some
thoughts on how it was for me, before it becomes all too tiny in the ol'
rear-vi...
It’s a term that is used ad nauseam by movie execs, and is discussed so
freely by TV producers that you’d think it was the name of their last-born
child. “...
FADE IN:
I was working on a character driven drama screenplay (with comedic touches
of course) and sensed there was something missing from it. After being ...
A little something special, which will disappear in a puff of electrons
tomorrow… We will not drink to blindness, dear We will drink to open eyes
That’s my...
Just a quick note to wish all of you HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
If you're not quite in the mood yet, here's a little something that might
help...
http://www.youtube....
You just can't get a job done unless you have the right tools. This is true
in life as well as in the movie screenwriting business. When you lack the
prope...
Jeannette Wolfe (ProSeries 20) had her Sci Fi screenplay “Quantum Shift”
optioned by Producer Corey Lomax with Psych Ward Productions. They are
currently ...
As screenwriters, we're constantly told to "think in film" — to imagine each
scene unfolding in our mind as if it's being played out on the big screen.
To ...
My friend John DiDonna teaches a playwriting class back in Orlando and he
asked me to elaborate on one of my recent Facebook/Twitter updates about
getting ...
Hey guys,
I’m back for one last post – links to 101 of my best articles!
Who needs film school?
-MM
-----------------------------------------------
...
I have watched this trailer a dozen times since its release. The first few
times gave me genuine goosebumps. It’s one of the best trailers I’ve ever
seen...
My wife, Julieanne, and I, moving back to Lexington in December of 2005,
immediately became immersed (one might say, “enmeshed”) with Actors Guild of
Lexin...
If I updated my sidebar links at all (been years, I'd guess) I would
definitely be included this new one in my "Research Tools" category (and/or
in "Stir t...
Story Maps #2: The First Trial/ First Casualty!
www.actfourscreenplays.com Ever notice how there's always a dramatic setback
40 minutes into your favorit...
I’m enjoying “Flash Forward” so far. Of course, I wonder how long they can
sustain the premise, especially since I understand they’re planning to reach
th...
My short story, "Unconditional," is now up on Derek Haas' very cool short
story website, www.popcornfiction.com. Previous contributors include Brian
Helgel...
From the LDI Casting eMail: MISTAKEN IDENTITY Starring: Seth MacFarland,
Nora Dunn, Joel David Moore OPEN CASTING CALL! LDI Casting is seeking actors
for ...
*SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2009...IT'S THE GRAND UNVEILING OF THE NEW BLOG! *
**
*This is all still a bit of a work-in-progress, so please let me know if you
fi...
If the idea for a screenplay has been eating away at you for a while, but
you lack the money to buy an expensive software program for your computer --
do n...
For anyone feeling rejected, Nikki Finke posts this terrific essay
(originally published in the Village Voice) from screenwriter Josh Olson (”A
History Of ...
The August Spec Market Roundup is done and will be published in the BOSI newsletter on Friday. In the meantime, here are the usual teaser stats:8 specs...
Good morning, Wavers! Well, it's the dawn of a new day, and the Rouge Wave
is moving to a new URL as of today at 2pm. Any Wavers who have RSS feeds on
TRW ...
Dammit.
Leave my fucking childhood alone, Hollywood.
I loved this film in my 12th year of life and felt supercool because none of
my friends really knew i...
ScriptGirl Report 08.15.09
New ScriptGirl Swag! www.cafepress.com/scriptgirl Follow me on twitter!
http://twitter.com/scriptgirl
From: scriptgirl411
View...
I watched Smart People a while back. Thought it was sometimes charming and sometimes impenetrable. Mainly because it was so hard to get what Sarah Jessica Pa...
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
FRIEDMAN-CON TO FINALLY SPLIT WITH COMIC-CON, COMPETE FOR SCI-FI FANS'
HEARTS AND MINDS AND MONEY
After years of s...
I just received the following email:Hi David,My name is Warren and I run a screenwriting website called screenwriting-for-hollywood.com.I came across your si...
*Before I start, this post - and every post on here, and anything I say on
Twitter, or anywhere else - is entirely MY opinion. Nothing to do with the
peopl...
THE man who wrote the script for Martin Scorsese’s classic films Taxi Driver
and Raging Bull, will be the star guest at a brand new annual festival in
Nott...
If it's summer, it must be time for another home run from the folks at
Pixar. And this year is no exception, with the release of "Up." Initially, I
was ske...
I am aware that it’s been a while between blogs here. Just wanted to say
that it’s going to be a little longer. I’m too busy with more pressing
stuff. H...
By Raisy Roo I’m a firm believer that if you have a great story that’s
professionally written, it will be discovered, one way or another - but it
doesn’t h...
Blogging? What's that?
All my thoughts are formed in 140 characters or less these days.
Yes, you can now follow me on Twitter @awrymag. Aren't you just the...
A few people have asked me if I am going to the You-Know-Whats. (N00bs:
that's how we refer to a certain awards show around here. Otherwise I get a
tic. Th...
Once again, the name of my two day master class in screenwriting comes from
a famous quote.
Jack Warner, studio chief of Warner Brothers, said in the 1940'...
[image: kryptonite.jpg]
First of all, let's settle down. There is no concrete news here, except that
the director of *The Matrix* and *Speed Racer* have bee...
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Glenn M. Benest sent a message to the members of Secrets of Screenwriting
Group.
--------------------
Subject: CO...
This one is from fellow screenwriting instructor Michael Barlow:
The best notes are the ones that make you feel stupid for not having thought
of them first.
I keep coming back to this but I really have to bid the blog goodbye. It's
been a
great ride and I want to thank all the regulars who have been so stalw...
Dear Gentle Readers,
As you have probably noticed, the frequency of these posts has declined in
the recent months. I have been telling myself that I wil...
I haven’t posted anything in a while so I thought I’d offer a couple of
(three) scene comp entries for you to have a look at. I find scene
challenges a lot...
So happy to hear that the map exercise was helpful to some. Here’s another
sparky spark - get things going - or breathe new life trick. Pick up
someth...
My first white paper was also called ‘Fish Where The Fish Are’. That was
back in 2006. This one by Chris Brogan is as well. And it’s awesome. I’m
tagging i...
A common complaint of many films is that while they are stunning visually,
they somehow lack heart. Often it is hard to describe exactly what is
missing, l...
I thought I should put a quick post up here. I’m going to be taking a break
from posting for a little while. However, I will continue to answer any
quest...
Stumble It! Good article by TERRENCE RAFFERTY from the always excellent, NY
Times. Enjoy! ThatActionGuy.com *** When the strange, arresting, thoroughly
fri...
“I am afraid my idea will get stolen if I pitch it to a producer/agent -
should I be worried?” No. When I first moved to LA in the early 90’s I was
also un...
Coverage can be valuable to a writer if you can keep it in perspective. The
reality is, every script in history has had at least one detractor. It’s
simply...
it's a thrill being back on the lido. it is a beautiful festival.
perfectly run. always putting the films first. the audiences are generous
and true ci...
"The 39 Clues","1000 Steps To World Domination", "Alabama Moon", "All
Creatures Great And Small", "All Saints Day" (aka "Boondock Saints 2"), "The
Amazing ...
Several days ago, instead of the usual update on the nuts-and-bolts contract
negotiations, Writers Guild members received a fascinating bulletin from
fine...
LENS MAGICBy Terry RossioThis really happened.In 1993, my best friend from
high school, Scott Brown, planned a Caribbean summer sailing trip for his
family...
A Hero is often considered to be someone who was born with extraordinary
talents and abilities. But are heroes really superior beings? I think not.
In my o...