Movies You Made A few times in the past, I’ve run a series here on GITS called Movies You Made. Time to do it again. If you have an independently produced short film or feature length film with which you have been involved as a writer, director, actor or producer, please post
The last word on “How can I become a script reader?” I get asked this question frequently. Thanks to this post from The Bitter Script Reader, who knows way more about the subject than me, I don’t have to worry about providing an answer anymore. I’ll just forward the above link. One thing to add as far as spec
GITS Script Reading and Analysis Series: “Drag Me To Hell” Welcome to Week 10 of the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series. This week we will be analyzing the screenplay for the 2009 movie Drag Me To Hell (written by Sam Raimi and Ivan Raimi), your choice for the Horror-Comedy cross genre. You may access the 2007–09–26
Daily Dialogue — November 7, 2011 BOB SLYDELL: Y’see, what we’re trying to do here, we’re just trying to get a feel for how people spend their day. So, if you would, would you just walk us through a typical day for you? PETER: Yeah. BOB SLYDELL: Great. PETER: Well, I generally come
This week on GITS There are so many things going on, I thought it might be helpful to provide an overview of what you can expect this week on GITS: * It’s Week 10 for the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series and the featured screenplay is Drag Me to Hell, your choice for
Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Telling the truth This week is the yang to last week’s yin. Per a suggestion from Teddy P, whereas we focused on lies the last seven days, why not explore the cinematic world of telling the truth? It could be a confession. Coming clean. A revelation. Conveying an essential insight. Whatever shape
Update: You do NOT have to live in L.A. to succeed as a screenwriter Following up on this and this, from THR: Michael Starrbury has been hired to rewrite Fully Automatic, an action movie from Silver Pictures set up at Warner Bros. The project, set up as a spec by Randy Feldman in 2002, centers on two smart-mouthed rookie cops who team up
“The Secrets of Hollywood Agency Mailrooms” Per THR: Is the next David Geffen here? He started in an agency mailroom, as have countless moguls, as THR introduces today’s apprentices. There’s a great story about Barry Diller, former head of production at Paramount and founder of Fox Broadcasting Company. Having spent one semester at UCLA,
Spec Script Sale: “In the Company of Lies” Sentinel Pictures have acquired spy thriller spec script “In the Company of Lies” from writers Chris and Charlie Frazier. From Variety: “Lies” centers on a woman who suspects her husband of having an affair, only to discover he is harboring a much darker secret that threatens her own life. Yet
Written Interview: Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg (“Harold & Kumar”) For all you Harold and Kumar fans, here’s an LAT interview with Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg who have written Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, and A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas along with the upcoming American Reunion. Here
Video Interview: Matthew Weiner (“Mad Men”) Not your typical interview as sister interviews brother: Media Mayhem is a weekly show hosted by Allison Hope Weiner, a lawyer and journalist who’s covered Hollywood for more than fifteen years. The show gives the audience a chance to see what goes on behind the scenes in the media
Daily Dialogue — November 6, 2011 The Blue Fairy: Pinocchio, why didn’t you go to school? [Pinocchio looks up at Jiminy] Jiminy Cricket: Go ahead. Tell her. Pinocchio: I was going to school till I met somebody. The Blue Fairy: Met somebody? Pinocchio: Yeah, two big monsters with big, green eyes! [His nose grows a
Reactions: GITS Meet-Up: L.A. Evidently there were nearly 30 people who showed up for the 1st GITS Meet-Up: L.A. and they not only got to meet & greet each other, they also had the chance to meet Franklin Leonard, creator of the Black List, former studio exec and currently a production executive.
Daily Dialogue theme for next week? As we wrap up a week filled with lies, what shall we do next week? Your suggestions wanted. Remember: The theme needs to be something that can support at least 7 movie examples. And it’s helpful if the dialogue is likely to be available online as a video from
Spec Script Sale: “The Voice” Atmosphere Entertainment acquires drama comedy spec script “The Voice” from veteran actor and now writer Robert Davi. From THR: A man is so impassioned and obsessed with finding the secret to Frank Sinatra’s voice that it brings him to the brink of insanity. Sale Date: October 28, 2011. By
Spec Script Sale: “XOXO” Lionsgate buys thriller spec script “XOXO” from Black Swan writer Mark Heyman. From Variety: An on-the-rise executive, who despite being engaged, enjoys flirting online. He meets an alluring woman on Facebook and the two begin a virtual relationship, but as the line between online temptations and real-life
Spec Script Sale: “Grace of Monaco” Producer Pierre-Ange Le Pogam has acquired drama bio spec script “Grace of Monaco” from writer Aresh Amiel. From THR: In 1962, French leader Charles De Gaulle and Monaco’s Prince Rainier III are at odds over Monaco’s standing as a tax haven. France gives Monaco six months to
Spec Script Sale: “The Chung Factor” Lionsgate acquires comedy spec script “The Chung Factor” from writer Andy Selsor. From The Wrap: The movie is about a nice guy who meets the girl of his dreams after being unlucky in love. But because he’s afraid of screwing up the relationship, he takes advice from an offbeat
Spec Script Sale: “In The Flesh” Summit Entertainment acquires teen ghost spec script “In the Flesh” from writer Kristin Hahn who adapted YA novel “A Certain Slant of Light.” Per Variety: The novel, by Laura Whitcomb, centers on a young woman, dead years 130 on, whose guilt prevents her from going to heaven. She falls in
Saturday Hot Links Time for another installment of Saturday Hot Links, today with a side of raw oysters! This week we honor the greatest 1-hour TV series ever: “The Wire”. First a classic scene with Bunk and McNulty: James Bond #23 announced and given a title. For all you novelists and short
Written Interview: Shane Black (“Iron Man 3”) Interview with Shane Black who is prepping to shoot his second directorial effort Iron Man 3. Interesting what he has to say about the “monkey bar” approach to screenwriting: CBR News: I was at your Q&A earlier today, where you were saying how much you want “Iron Man
Daily Dialogue — November 5, 2011 [pretending to translate] “The game starts now. You have to score one thousand points. If you do that, you take home a tank with a big gun. Each day we will announce the scores from that loudspeaker. The one who has the fewest points will have to wear a sign
GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Drag Me To Hell” We have completed Round 9 of our weekly GITS Script Reading & Analysis series: #1: Gladiator (Action) #2: Bridesmaids (Comedy) #3: Good Will Hunting (Drama) #4: The Silence of the Lambs (Thriller) #5: Toy Story 3 (Family) #6: Pan’s Labyrinth (Fantasy) #7: Blade Runner (Science Fiction) #8: The Thing
Movie Story Type: Ticking Clock Story Type: Ticking Clock In Hollywood movie circles, there are genres like Horror or Science Fiction, cross genres like Action-Thriller or Drama-Comedy, and sub-genres like Romantic Comedy or Mystery Thriller. Then there are story types, a shorthand way to describe a specific narrative conceit that is almost
