A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 27 This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: The “Flying Squadron” of Catherine de Medici’s Sex Spies. This story emerged from research I was doing on — of all things — artichokes. While going down the long tail of the Internet,
On Writing “Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.” — Jane Yolen
Daily Dialogue — April 27, 2015 Korben Dallas: You in charge? Fog: (nervously) Yeah. Korben Dallas: How many of them are there? Fog: I..I dunno. Korben trades places with Fog and peaks around the corner. Korben Dallas: Seven on the left, five on the right. Korben shoots across the lineup of Mangalores, then ducks back
May: Classic 50s Movie Month (Update) In December 2013, we had a series called Classic 80s Movies Month in which I invited readers to select noteworthy movies from the decade of the eighties and provide a condensed overview of it. That resulted in this: A list of links to movies you should know about. Then in
Interview: Aaron Guzikowski One of the best movies of 2013 was Prisoners, written by Aaron Guzikowski, directed by Denis Villeneuve, and starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have an hour-long conversation with Aaron about his background as a writer, his work on Prisoners,
Screenwriting News (April 20-April 26, 2015) Ben August adapting action thriller novel “The Swimmer” for Kamala Films, Thunder Road Pictures and Film House Germany. Alev Aydin adapting short film “Controller” for Fox. Kenya Barris and Alex Barnow sell comedy pitch “White Boy Problems” to MGM and New Line. Will Beall writing Robin Hood project for Warner
A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 26 This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: Family gives homeless, dying dog the best days of his life. Butch the Boston terrier had a rough life, but for one week, he knew what it was like to be loved.
Interview (Written): David Goyer The Script Lab interview with David S. Goyer (Blade, Batman Begins, Man of Steel): JB: David, I have heard pieces of how you got into screenwriting, but would you mind giving me the full A-Z? What initially drew you into this medium of storytelling? DSG: I was always interested
Daily Dialogue — April 26, 2015 “Long live the king.” — The Lion King (1994), screenplay by Irene Mecchi and Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton, story by Burny Mattinson & Barry Johnson & Lorna Cook & Thom Enriquez & Andy Gaskill & Gary Trousdale & Jim Capobianco & Kevin Harkey & Jorgen Klubien & Chris Sanders &
Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Stammer The Daily Dialogue theme for next week: Stammer. “You… you… you… you… you’re on the nest?” Sometimes a revelation occurs that just floors a character, so the resulting dialogue is filled with stammering. We could also include characters who stutter, plenty of those in movie history. One question is
Interview (Part 6): Aaron Guzikowski (“Prisoners”) One of the best movies of 2013 was Prisoners, written by Aaron Guzikowski, directed by Denis Villeneuve, and starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have an hour-long conversation with Aaron about his background as a writer, his work on Prisoners,
Deal: “Controller” (Short Video) Hollywood’s mini-wave of short proof-of-concept videos continues with “Controller”. From Deadline: Fox has acquired Controller, a project that Alev Aydin will write based on a concept written by Saman Kesh based on his short film… Pic is a sci-fi rescue film that turns the damsel-
Saturday Hot Links Time for the 183rd installment of Saturday Hot Links. Today: It’s The Who Live At Leeds (1970) Edition. The Winners of the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. Why Do So Many People Want to Be Screenwriters? 7 Biggest Battles at the Summer Box Office. ‘Star Wars: Rogue One’ Plot to
A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 25 This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: The woman who keeps comedians sane. Ildiko Tabori has never stood on a stage trying to make strangers laugh, doesn’t write jokes, and admits that she’s not great at telling
Interview (Written): Salvador Paskowitz (“The Age of Adaline”) A Creative Screenwriting interview with Salvador Paskowitz, co-writer of the movie The Age of Adaline starring Blake Lively and Harrison Ford. Where did the idea for The Age of Adaline come from? It was just a notion that we had. I just thought a woman that could live forever.
Daily Dialogue — April 25, 2015 “Walker, I’m glad you’re not dead. It’s true, I really am. You ought to kill me. Can’t sleep. Haven’t slept. Keep taking pills. Dream about you. How good it must be… being dead.” Point Blank (1967), screenplay by Alexander Jacobs and David Newhouse & Rafe
Protagonist v. Nemesis: Key to Conflict Your choice of a Protagonist is easily one of the most critical decisions you make because of the character’s dominant influence on a story: * The Protagonist usually goes on some sort of physical and/or emotional journey. * That journey creates the spine of the plot. * That journey shapes the
Interview (Part 5): Aaron Guzikowski (“Prisoners”) One of the best movies of 2013 was Prisoners, written by Aaron Guzikowski, directed by Denis Villeneuve, and starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have an hour-long conversation with Aaron about his background as a writer, his work on Prisoners,
Page One Writer’s Conference: May 2, 2015 Attention all you writers within hailing distance of Chicago: On May 2nd, be sure to check out the DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts Page One Writers’ Conference. Here is the list of writers and industry insiders who will be appearing at the event: -Randi Barnes is a film and
Movie Trailer: “Black Mass” Screenplay by Jez Butterworth and Mark Mallouk, book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family
A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 24 This is the sixth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Today’s story: Chinese boy discovers 3,000-year-old sword in a river. A child in east China’s Jiangsu Province had a stroke of luck after lunging into a river and stumbling upon
Great Character: Ruby (“Middle of Nowhere”) The Great Character theme for the month: Women Written by Women. Today: Ruby from the 2012 movie Middle of Nowhere, written and directed by Ava DuVernay. Here is GITS contributor Jason Cuthbert’s post on this Great Character: Before Ava DuVernay became the first Golden Globe-nominated director of African-
Daily Dialogue — April 24, 2015 Donnie Brasco: You think I’m a rat…? Lefty: If you’re a rat… (jams pistol against his own head)… then I’m the biggest mutt in the history of the Mafia. — Donnie Brasco (1997), screenplay by Paul Attanasio, book by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley The Daily Dialogue
May: Classic 50s Movie Month In December 2013, we had a series called Classic 80s Movies Month in which I invited readers to select noteworthy movies from the decade of the eighties and provide a condensed overview of it. That resulted in this: A list of links to movies you should know about. Then in
Interview (Part 4): Aaron Guzikowski (“Prisoners”) One of the best movies of 2013 was Prisoners, written by Aaron Guzikowski, directed by Denis Villeneuve, and starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to have an hour-long conversation with Aaron about his background as a writer, his work on Prisoners,
