“Too Many Men in Tights? 5 Reasons the Superhero Summer Has Been a Bust” From The Wrap: Dropping more than 65 percent in its second weekend from an inauspicious $52.3 million premiere, Warner’s DC Comics-based “Green Lantern” proved that moviegoers’ appetites for superhero fare has mortal limits. (Though Warner is already developing a sequel.) “Thor” fared much better, but it’s
How I Write A Script, Part 2: Brainstorming [NOTE: This series is one of the most frequently visited on the site, so once a year, I like to put a spotlight on it because evidently, some people like it]. Another installment in the 10-part series “How I Write A Script.” PART 2: BRAINSTORMING Once I find a
Hollywood Tales “Lindsay Doran (producer), James Schamus (co-producer), Ang Lee (director) and I had met previously this month to discuss the latest draft of the script, which is what we’re all here to work through… Lindsay goes round the table and introduces everyone — making it clear that I am present
A Tale of Two Attitudes You might have missed an interesting set of posts over the weekend. First there was this: Justin Samuels is suing Creative Artists Agency and William Morris Endeavor — two of Hollywood’s top talent agencies — for eight million dollars. The scribe says that he has been unable to obtain professional screenwriting
Movie Trailer: “Brave” Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In Brave, a new tale joins the lore when the courageous Merida (Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and the fiercest of beasts. Merida is a skilled
How I Write A Script, Part 1: Story Concept [NOTE: This series is one of the most frequently visited on the site, so once a year, I like to put a spotlight on it because evidently, some people like it]. “How do you write a script?” I get asked that question a lot. So here it is, “The Not
Popcorn Fiction: “Secrets and Laws” by Matthew David Brozik Monday means another short story from the excellent website Popcorn Fiction, hosted by screenwriter-novelist Derek Haas: Happy Monday and welcome back to another week of Popcorn Fiction. I’m thrilled to bring back one of my favorite popcorn fiction writers — author Matthew David Brozik — with a new short story
On writing “I write to find out what I didn’t know I knew, to find out what I didn’t know I felt.” — Robert Anderson
Daily Dialogue — June 27, 2011 Benjamin: Oh my God! Mrs. Robinson: Pardon? Benjamin: Oh no, Mrs. Robinson. Oh no. Mrs. Robinson: What’s wrong? Benjamin: Mrs. Robinson, you didn’t… I mean, you didn’t expect… Mrs. Robinson: What? Benjamin: I mean, you didn’t really think I’d do something like that. Mrs. Robinson:
Feature: Screenwriter-Actor Brit Marling NYT with a feature on up-and-coming screenwriter-actor Brit Marling: For two years, she read how-to screenplay-writing books while working on scripts with her two roommates. In the mornings she wrote upstairs with her friend (and ex-boyfriend) Mike Cahill; in the afternoon she went downstairs
“Staffing Season Highlights: Who Got Hottest Jobs, Which Shows Attracted Most Writers” Staffing season is pretty much wrapped up now and Deadline provides analysis on who signed up with what shows. An excerpt: Of the new series, comedies New Girl on Fox, Two Broke Girls on CBS and Apartment 23 on ABC were sought after by writers this year. Joining New Girl
Audio Interview: Terence Winter (“Boardwalk Empire”) Via Script magazine, a podcast interview with “Boardwalk Empire” creator and executive producer TV writer Terence Winter. Comment Archive
Video Interview: Shane Black, Christopher McQuarrie, Daniel Petrie, Jr. and Ted Tally From a terrific new series on the Austin PBS TV station KLRU, here is a roundtable discussion about suspense writing with screenwriters Shane Black (Lethal Weapon), Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects), Daniel Petrie, Jr. (The Big Easy) and Ted Tally (The Silence of the Lambs). A HT to The Black
Daily Dialogue — June 26, 2011 [voiceover in police custody, as Norman is thinking] It’s sad, when a mother has to speak the words that condemn her own son. But I couldn’t allow them to believe that I would commit murder. They’ll put him away now, as I should have years ago. He
Screenwriter wannabe sues CAA and WME for $8M! Funniest thing I’ve read in like… forever. Check it out here: Justin Samuels is suing Creative Artists Agency and William Morris Endeavor — two of Hollywood’s top talent agencies — for eight million dollars. The scribe says that he has been unable to obtain professional screenwriting work because of those
“Everything is a Remix”: Part 3 The act of creation is surrounded by a fog of myths. Myths that creativity comes via inspiration. That original creations break the mold, that they’re the products of geniuses, and appear as quickly as electricity can heat a filament. But creativity isn’t magic: it happens by applying ordinary
R.I.P.: David Rayfiel (1923–2011) Screenwriter David Rayfiel died on June 22nd. From the NYT: David Rayfiel, a screenwriter who in a long creative relationship with the director Sydney Pollack and Robert Redford collaborated on many of their most successful films, including “Three Days of the Condor,” “Out of Africa” and “The Way We Were,
Written Interview: Steve Levitan (“Modern Family”) and Dan Harmon (“Community”) This is an excellent interview via The Wrap with two of TV’s most influential comedy show runners: Steve Levitan (“Modern Family”) and Dan Harmon (“Community”). An excerpt: In this era of fragmenting audiences and declining shares for the broadcast networks, do you have a sense of the audience you’
“Rhett & Link: Commercial Kings” I’ve met these guys and they are absolutely terrific people as well as wonderful comic talents. They have a new TV series launching tonight on IFC: If you’re not familiar with Rhett & Link, here are a few of their local commercials: Here’s some background on the
“What sells a script? Hollywood exec weighs in” The good folks over at Scripped.com had a recent Q&A with an anonymous studio exec. An excerpt: Q: How would I go about selling a movie idea to a studio? There are some things that will help sell a movie to a studio (in no particular order)
“Story Notes From Hell” I can’t remember who Tweeted the link to Story Notes From Hell — thank you, Tweep, whoever you are — but this looks like a fun little site: Collection of story notes screenwriters received from Hollywood studio executives. And general anecdotes from the trenches of screenwriting. A few examples: I was
Steal this scene! My good friend Kurt Brown sent me this link from HuffPo: A woman has reportedly died from the shock of coming to life at her own funeral. Fagilyu Mukhametzyanov, 49, was wrongly declared dead by doctors, but she actually died after hearing people pray for her soul in Kazan, Russia,
Big-budget screenplay vs. low-budget screenplay From PopEater.com: Director Jonathan Demme is a pretty big deal in Hollywood. In the 1990s he was an even bigger deal when he consistently pumped out awards bait like ‘Silence of the Lambs,’ ‘Philadelphia’ and ‘Beloved.’ These days he prefers to focus on independent flicks and self-financed documentaries
Writing Mantra: Writing as a Protagonist’s journey Most stories involve a Protagonist going on a journey. Whether it’s physical, spiritual, geographical, symbolic or all of the above, a writer almost always puts their story’s central character on a psychological road trip from hell. And in a mysterious sort of synergy, a writer goes through their
