Spec Script Sale: “Padre” Screen Gems acquires drama spec script “Padre” written by Mike Maples. From Deadline: A priest, trying to atone for his bloody past as a special ops soldier, witnesses the brutal murder of members from his congregation by a malevolent Sheriff and his deputies. Tortured and left for dead in the
“Refraction” by Lisa Mecham April is National Poetry Month and in a nice bit of synergy, Lisa Mecham, one of the writers who participated in the Quest Writing Workshop in Santa Monica in October 2013, just had two poems published. I’d like to feature one of them here today: Refraction Lisa Mecham I’
Movie Trailer: “Blended” Written by Ivan Menchell, Clare Sera After a bad blind date, a man and woman find themselves stuck together at a resort for families, where their attraction grows as their respective kids benefit from the burgeoning relationship. IMDB Release Date: 23 May 2014 (USA) Comment Archive
A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 9 This is the fifth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Last week I provided a daily explanation about why you should make it a habit to be generating story ideas. This week, I’ll give you some tips on how to come up with stories.
Script To Screen: “Celeste & Jesse Forever” A memorable scene from the 2012 movie Celeste & Jesse Forever, written Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. Plot Summary: A divorcing couple tries to maintain their friendship while they both pursue other people. In this scene, a guy Celeste (Rashida Jones) has just met tries to hit on her. INT.
Daily Dialogue — April 9, 2014 Nurse Ratched: Aren’t you ashamed? Billy: No, I’m not. Applause from friends. Nurse Ratched: You know Billy, what worries me is how your mother is going to take this. Billy: Um, um, well, y-y-y-you d-d-d-don’t have to t-t-t-tell
New TV initiative between FOX and the Black List Today from the Black List: Fox Broadcasting Company has partnered with script site The Black List to help discover aspiring television drama writers for current and future FOX productions. The Black List will solicit scripts to be evaluated by its community of industry professionals and readers, sharing with FOX a
Interview: Rajiv Joseph and Scott Rothman (“Draft Day”) — Part 2 Rajiv Joseph and Scott Rothman wrote the script Draft Day which landed at the top of the 2012 Black List. Subsequently Lionsgate produced the movie starring Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner and Dennis Leary, and directed by Ivan Reitman. In March, 2013, I interviewed Rajiv and Scott while they were in
Michael Arndt: “Beginnings: Setting a Story Into Motion” (Part 2) I have been a big fan of screenwriter Michael Arndt ever since I read his script Little Miss Sunshine, then saw the movie. And, of course, there’s Toy Story 3 which Arndt penned. My admiration goes beyond his writing, it extends to how Arndt thinks about writing as clearly
Movie Trailer: “Godzilla” Screenplay by Max Borenstein, story by Dave Callaham The world’s most famous monster is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity’s scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence. IMDB Release Date: 16 May 2014 (USA) Comment Archive
A Story Idea Each Day for a Week — Day 8 This is the fifth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’s another one: You always need more than one in your gun.
Screenwriting 101: Richard Brooks “I can make a movie with half-assed camerawork, or with actors who are not quite up to par, or with composition that misses, and the picture may still work because of good structure. But if the structure is not right, you can have forty great scenes in a movie
Daily Dialogue — April 8, 2014 ADAM: Help! Someone help me! Is someone there? Hey! Oh shit, I’m probably dead. OLDER MAN: You’re not dead ADAM: Who’s there? Who’s there? OLDER MAN: No point in yelling, I already tried. ADAM: Turn on the lights! OLDER MAN: I would if I could ADAM:
Rewriting your script Let’s face it: Rewriting is a bitch. Or a bastard. Pick your gender specific invective. Doesn’t matter. The process is a pain no matter how you shake your fist and swear at it. One big issue I’ve found with writers caught up in the maelstrom of rewriting
Interview: Rajiv Joseph and Scott Rothman (“Draft Day”) — Part 1 Rajiv Joseph and Scott Rothman wrote the script Draft Day which landed at the top of the 2012 Black List. Subsequently Lionsgate produced the movie starring Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner and Dennis Leary, and directed by Ivan Reitman. In March, 2013, I interviewed Rajiv and Scott while they were in
Michael Arndt: “Beginnings: Setting a Story Into Motion” (Part 1) I have been a big fan of screenwriter Michael Arndt ever since I read his script Little Miss Sunshine, then saw the movie. And, of course, there’s Toy Story 3 which Arndt penned. My admiration goes beyond his writing, it extends to how Arndt thinks about writing as clearly
Movie Trailer: “Venus in Fur” Screenplay by Roman Polanski & David Ives, play by David Ives, novel by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch An actress attempts to convince a director how she’s perfect for a role in his upcoming production. IMDB Release Date: 22 April 2014 (Tribeca Film Festival) Comment Archive
A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 7 This is the fifth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’s another one: The story idea is how everyone in Hollywood short-
Daily Dialogue — April 7, 2014 “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” — Jaws (1975), screenplay by Carl Gottlieb and Peter Benchley, novel by Peter Benchley The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Fear, suggested by Gordon. Today’s suggestion by wollem. Trivia: According to writer Carl Gottlieb, the line “You’re gonna need a bigger
Go Into The Story Week In Review: March 31-April 6, 2014 Links to the week’s most notable posts: 31 Movies You Made (2014 Edition) 1001 Movies You Must See (Before You Die) A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 1: Lap dancers accused of kidnapping a strip club boss A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day
Interview: Stephany Folsom Go Into The Story Interview: Stephany Folsom My in-depth interview with the screenwriter currently working on Toy Story 4. I’m a big Stanley Kubrick fan and Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is my favorite satire of all time. So when
Screenwriting News (March 31-April 6, 2014) Diablo Cody sets up drama comedy spec script “Ricki and the Flash” at TriStar Productions, Meryl Streep attached to star, Jonathon Demme attached to direct. Steve Conrad writing sports dramedy “Match Maker” for Chernin Entertainment, Will Ferrell attached to star. Peter Gaffney sells science fiction spec script “Terrestrial” to Lionsgate.
Spec Script Sale: “Ricki and the Flash” TriStar Productions acquires dramedy spec script “Ricki and the Flash” written by Diablo Cody. From THR: The script is described as a funny and touching story of a rock ’n’ roll-loving woman who chased her tattered dream at the price of her family, but gets a last chance to,
A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 6 This is the fifth year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work my through during this series of posts. Here’s another one: Around 1990, writer Stephen Brill came up with this
