Spec Script Sale: Untitled Dean Devlin and Paul Guyot project Skydance Productions spends big to acquire an untitled disaster spec script from writers Dean Devlin and Paul Guyot. From Deadline: Devlin returns to the global destruction sandbox he played in when he and then-partner Roland Emmerich sold their Independence Day spec for millions, a guaranteed Fox green light and
The Toughest Scene I Wrote: “Perks of Being a Wallflower” Writer-Director Stephen Chbosky All hail Vulture for this: Over the next few weeks, Vulture is talking to the screenwriters behind 2012′s most acclaimed movies about the scenes they found most difficult to crack. What pivotal sequences underwent the biggest transformations on their way from script to screen? In this article, Perks of
Movie Trailer: “Möbius” A FSB officer fall in love with his agent, an American woman who works as a trader in a Russian bank. Written by Eric Rochant IMDB site Release Date: 27 February 2013 (Belgium)
Rewriting Your Script, Part 4: Themes Since dozens of writers used Go On Your Own Quest to pound out a first draft of their original screenplay, I decided to start off the New Year with a week-long series on rewriting, to honor their commitment and effort, and to encourage them [and everyone else] on their
The Business of Screenwriting: Movies don’t owe anybody a living This is actually a lesson I learned before I became a screenwriter. After I graduated with an M.Div. from Yale and turned my back on an academic career — although I didn’t know it at the time, only thought I was taking a year off before I went on
Daily Dialogue — January 10, 2013 “Hey, remember me, Benny Blanco from the Bronx?” — Carlito’s Way (1993), screenplay by David Koepp, based on novels by Edwin Torres The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is gangster deaths, suggested by Phil Hopersberger. Today’s suggestion by domremy03. Trivia: Directors John McKenzie and Abel Ferrara were considered
Dispatch from The Quest: Emma Millions This marks Emma’s final Dispatch from The Quest: The Quest is over. The first drafts are done. We have all typed FADE OUT. So it’s time for some thoughts on the experience of being on The Quest. Actually, it’s still somewhat hard to believe I was even
Interview: Michael Werwie (2012 Nicholl Winner, 2012 Black List) — Part 3 Michael Werwie’s original screenplay “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile” not only won the young screenwriter a 2012 Nicholl fellowship, it also landed on the 2012 Black List, garnering 31 votes, the 7th highest total of any script on the list this year. Michael was kind enough to agree
Warner Bros. gets in touch with its inner Pixar? Last year, I had the privilege of interviewing Mary Coleman, head of the story department at Pixar. Here is a quote about Hollywood’s fascination with the company: It’s funny because I get calls from producers down in Hollywood asking for the secret recipe. And I always say it’
Movie Trailer: “Girls Against Boys” Two bartenders get their revenge against men who have mistreated them. Written by Austin Chick. IMDB site Release Date: 1 February 2013 (USA)
Rewriting Your Script, Part 3: Characters Since dozens of writers used Go On Your Own Quest to pound out a first draft of their original screenplay, I decided to start off the New Year with a week-long series on rewriting, to honor their commitment and effort, and to encourage them [and everyone else] on their
Script To Screen: “Philadelphia” The 1993 movie Philadelphia was written by Ron Nyswaner and was nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Setup: When a man with AIDS is fired by a conservative law firm because of his condition, he hires a homophobic small time lawyer as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit.
Daily Dialogue — January 9, 2013 “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.” — The Godfather (1972), screenplay by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, novel by Mario Puzo The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is gangster deaths, suggested by Phil Hopersberger who also is responsible for today’s movie moment. Trivia: George Lucas put together the
Dispatch from The Quest: Brandon Cohen This marks Brandon’s final Dispatch from The Quest: The Quest…is a wrap! But let’s be clear, it isn’t really. The completion of the Quest was kinda like the conclusion of the first part of a three part trilogy. The “Fellowship of the Ring,” if you will,
Update: The Quest initiative I am pleased to announce that of the six writers I selected for the public version of The Quest initiative — Brandon Cohen, Jordan Earls, Emma Millions, Ben Odgren, Rob Pilkington, and Scott Reynolds — I will be moving forward with all of them. To recap: Last year, I started a private
Interview: Michael Werwie (2012 Nicholl Winner, 2012 Black List) — Part 2 Michael Werwie’s original screenplay “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile” not only won the young screenwriter a 2012 Nicholl fellowship, it also landed on the 2012 Black List, garnering 31 votes, the 7th highest total of any script on the list this year. Michael was kind enough to agree
Indiewire: 2012 Box Office Wrap-Up Cynics among us may quibble over the various typifications of movies [for example, why This is 40 is considered a Hit while Paranorman is typified as a Recouper]. But there is a lot to learn from analyzing this list, supplied by IndieWire. Check out these numbers: As a screenwriter, I’
Movie Trailer: “Side Effects” A woman turns to prescription medication as a way of handling her anxiety concerning her husband’s upcoming release from prison. Written by Scott Z. Burns IMDB site Release Date: 8 February 2013 (USA)
Rewriting Your Script, Part 2: A Clean Read Since dozens of writers used Go On Your Own Quest to pound out a first draft of their original screenplay, I decided to start off the New Year with a week-long series on rewriting, to honor their commitment and effort, and to encourage them [and everyone else] on their
Screenwriting 101: Eric Heisserer “You know you’re in the presence of a screenwriter in command of their craft when the narrative is terse and full of ample white space.” — Eric Heisserer (@HIGHzurrer)
Daily Dialogue — January 8, 2013 INT. FLORIST’S BACK ROOM — CONTINUOUS ACTION The back room is empty. Doug enters, comes to the center of the room. He sees a SMALL DOOR, slightly open, lifts his gun. DOUG: (calling out) Fergie, come on out. The door opens and Fergie comes through in his sweatpants, holding a
Wrangling your story Some call it breaking a story. Others cracking a story. I prefer wrangling a story. Whatever you call it, you have to do it… figure out the story. What goes where. Who does what to whom. And for most writers, the ideal time to do that work is before you
Interview: Michael Werwie (2012 Nicholl Winner, 2012 Black List) — Part 1 Michael Werwie’s original screenplay “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile” not only won the young screenwriter a 2012 Nicholl fellowship, it also landed on the 2012 Black List, garnering 31 votes, the 7th highest total of any script on the list this year. Michael was kind enough to agree
Clip: “The Blue Umbrella” Pixar unveils 34 seconds of its upcoming animated short The Blue Umbrella: The short will accompany Monsters University which opens 21 June 2013.
The Toughest Scene I Wrote: “Wreck-It Ralph” Writers Jennifer Lee and Phil Johnston All hail Vulture for this: Over the next few weeks, Vulture is talking to the screenwriters behind 2012′s most acclaimed movies about the scenes they found most difficult to crack. What pivotal sequences underwent the biggest transformations on their way from script to screen? In this article, Wreck-It
