Pixar “color scripts” I swear every time I teach one of my screenwriting classes, I learn something new. For instance in this current “Pixar and the Craft of Screenwriting” course, there’s been some tremendous analysis of Pixar movies. And then there’s this is: Color Scripts. Here’s an example of one
Movies You Made: “Animal” by Ross Peacock From filmmaker Ross Peacock: This is a horror short I wrote and directed, shot on RED in London Here is the short film Animal: A man is on his way home from work late one night when he is set upon by two vicious thugs, but as the moon rises
Movie Trailer: “Being Flynn” “Adapted from Nick Flynn’s 2004 memoir Another Bulls-t Night in Suck City, the new dramatic feature from Academy Award-nominated writer/director Paul Weitz tells the story of a young writer, Nick (portrayed by Paul Dano), who takes a job at a homeless shelter — where one night he
Movie Trailer: “Brave” Screenplay by Brenda Chapman and Irene Mecchi IMDB website. Release date: June 22, 2012. So excited to see this 13th Pixar movie. Finally a female Protagonist and a mother-daughter relationship. Plus it’s the first Pixar movie to traffic specifically in the world of fairy tales and myth. Who
GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” — Characters This week we are analyzing the screenplay for the 2004 movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. You may access the 2003–02–04 version of the script [screenplay by Charlie Kaufman, story by Charlie Kaufman & Michel Gondry & Pierre Bismuth] here. Today we discuss the script’s characters.
Script To Screen: “The Usual Suspects” From The Usual Suspects (written by Christopher McQuarrie), the final sequence in which all is revealed. Setup: Dave Kujan, U.S. customs officer, has just released Verbal Kint. And uh-oh! INT. RABIN’S OFFICE Kujan still stares at the bulletin board. SUDDENLY, Kujan’s face changes. He leans in
Daily Dialogue — November 16, 2011 John McClane: [Getting out a pack of cigarettes] Do you smoke? Hans Gruber: [while mimicing a hostage] Yeah. [McClane hands him the pack of cigarettes] Hans Gruber: Thanks. Now, you don’t work for Nakatomi, and you’re not one of them. John McClane: I’m a cop from New
Which screenwriters would you most like to see interviewed on GITS? I like to interview screenwriters as it’s a small way of promoting them and the craft, and their insights provide wisdom to GITS readers. I have tended to focus on writers who have recently sold spec scripts because I know that is what most of you are about, writing
GITS Q&A: Screenwriter F. Scott Frazier (“The Numbers Station,” “Line of Sight,” “Autobahn”) — Part 2 Since 2010, screenwriter F. Scott Frazier has sold four spec scripts. I asked Scott to do an interview and he kindly agreed. Here is a brief bio Scott sent to provide some idea of his background: I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and have spent my entire life
Movie Trailer: “The Hunger Games” Screenplay by Billy Ray and Gary Ross, based on the novel by Suzanne Collins IMDB website Release date: March 23, 2010 Comment Archive
Movies You Made: “Book Of Misfortune” by Tim Nargi From filmmaker Tim Nargi: The first is a short I wrote and shot with my friends for the “Canon Beyond the Still Contest”. I have toyed around with the idea to make this into a feature version. Crew: Directed by: Tim Nargi Written by: Tim Nargi & Frank Bruno Music
GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” — Structure This week we are analyzing the screenplay for the 2004 movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. You may access the 2003–02–04 version of the script [screenplay by Charlie Kaufman, story by Charlie Kaufman & Michel Gondry & Pierre Bismuth] here. Today we discuss the script’s structure.
Screenwriting 101: Peter Hyams “A man much smarter than I once described this venture [screenwriting] as a horse race without a finish line. Just because you wanna do it doesn’t mean you’re gonna get to do it. However, if you are really talented, you are so separated from the overwhelming majority of
Daily Dialogue — November 15, 2011 KAREN (OS): Jack? He sees Midge looking at him, closes his eyes, sags against the wall. KAREN (OS) (CONT’D): I know you’re up there. INT. FOYER — SAME As Foley steps into the hallway, his ski mask now pulled down over his face. He holds Kenneth’s shotgun in
Suggestion City It occurred to me there are a lot of series here on GITS which could use your suggestions, some for which I solicit requests regularly (Daily Dialogue) and some infrequently. So here is a catch-all post to allow you to suggest away to your heart’s content on several
Earth! A time lapse view of our home from the International Space Station: Seriously, folks, we’re all in this together. For more info, go here. Comment Archive
Q&A: Screenwriter F. Scott Frazier (“The Numbers Station,” “Line of Sight,” “Autobahn”) — Part 1 Since 2010, screenwriter F. Scott Frazier has sold four spec scripts. That’s right four. I asked Scott to do an interview and he kindly agreed. Here is a brief bio Scott sent to provide some idea of his background: I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and have
With Billy Crystal hosting, have the Oscars given up on youth? The LAT’s Steve Zeitchik ponders the recent switch by the Academy Awards from Eddie Murphy [host] / Brett Ratner [producer] to Billy Crytal / Brian Grazer: Yet all the hand-wringing over Crystal’s appeal suggests a different question: What if the Oscars chose the actor not in spite of his
Movies You Made: “Ante Up” by Cornerstone University From Michael Brown: Here is a short film I directed for a class in the spring of 2010. It’s called Ante Up. Ante Up centers around the life of Todd. Todd is a high school math teacher who is great with numbers, but bad with woman. After losing a
GITS Script Reading & Analysis: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” Welcome to Week 11 of the GITS Script Reading & Analysis series. This week we will be analyzing the screenplay for the 2004 movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. You may access the 2003–02–04 version of the script [screenplay by Charlie Kaufman, story by Charlie Kaufman &
On Writing “The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in shock-proof shit-detector.” — Ernest Hemingway
Daily Dialogue — November 14, 2011 Vincent Hanna: What are you, a monk? Neil McCauley: I have a woman. Vincent Hanna: What do you tell her? Neil McCauley: I tell her I’m a salesman. Vincent Hanna: So then, if you spot me coming around that corner… you just gonna walk out on this woman? Not
Pixar and the Craft of Storytelling It’s the last chance to enroll in the new 1-week online class I start teaching tomorrow: “Pixar and the Craft of Storytelling.” I know there are a lot of fans of Pixar out there, but even those of you who may not know that much about their films,
Ricky Gervais: The Difference Between American and British Humour Ricky Gervais weighs in on the differences between American and British humor: It’s often dangerous to generalize, but under threat, I would say that Americans are more “down the line.” They don’t hide their hopes and fears. They applaud ambition and openly reward success. Brits are more comfortable
You want high concept? This is high concept: Russell Brand is attached to star in and produce The President Stole My Girlfriend, a comedy project Warner Bros. has just picked up from writer Matt Portenoy. Producing with Brand is his Branded Films partner Nik Linnen, with the company’s Beau Bauman exec producing. Girlfriend
