IMDB turns 20 I often joke with friends and students that I wish I could have an IMDB chip implanted in my brain, mostly because I’m constantly coming up with movie references in my conversations, lectures, and blog posts that require me to visit that website. Why can’t I just blink
Perfect movies? I was talking with one of my students yesterday and she mentioned how she had cajoled a few of her friends to watch The Apartment for the first time (the student has seen it on numerous occasions). She said her friends told her, “Why didn’t you tell us about
“MacArthur Genius Grants Announced, The Wire’s David Simon a Winner” This is awesome news: The 2010 Class of MacArthur Genius Grant Winners have been announced and include, among others, quantum physicists, musicians, teachers, and David Simon, the creator of The Wire. “While I think storytelling is a meaningful way to spend your life . . . it does feel a little bit secondary
Writing Mantra: “Minimum words, maximum impact” I know the source of this mantra. It was one of my online screenwriting students. During a weekly live-chat session. I was going on and on about the importance of writing tight, taut, lean scene description, make it easy on the eye, clean on the page, really getting on
Hollywood Tales “The biggest change when Spielberg got involved [with Schindler’s List] was the liquidation-of-the-ghetto sequence, which in my original script was about two or three pages and which finally ended up being about thirty pages. Spielberg said, ‘I want to follow everybody we’ve met up to
Daily Dialogue — September 28, 2010 “We won’t really die. We’ll be immortal.” — Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), Fight Club (1999), screenplay by Jim Uhls, based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is character’s first lines suggested by Judith. Trivia: Three detectives in the film are named
“It’s Kind of a Funny Story”: Homage to John Hughes? I saw the trailer for It’s Kind of a Funny Story this weekend. Looks great. Per the NYT: The spirit of John Hughes seems to be making a resurgence this fall. Last week, the Film Society of Lincoln Center paid its respects to the director, who died last year,
“UTA Signs ‘King’s Speech’ Writer” Wait. You do not have to be a 22 year-old recent film school grad to get noticed in Hollywood? Per Deadline: After the Tom Hooper-directed Colin Firth-Geoffrey Rush film The King’s Speech came out of Toronto with strong Oscar buzz, United Talent Agency swooped in to
Film reporters Jim Horn and Steve Zeitchik: The fate of fall films This is a nice overview from the LAT’s movie blog “24 Frames”: The season’s most important film festivals are behind us, as are the end-of-summer doldrums. That means the best of the fall and holiday movies are now set to arrive — a smashup derby of highbrow
Writing Mantra: “The only way out is through” Imagine the process of writing a story as being a journey. Perhaps as you embark on your adventure, you have a map — an outline or beat sheet. Or maybe you don’t, plunging into your story in order to find it along the way. In either case, it’s almost
Popcorn Fiction: “(and yourself)” by Benjamin Meyer New short fiction at screenwriter Derek Haas’ website Popcorn Fiction: A man prepares a last supper for his clone in this excellent sci-fi tale from filmmaker Benjamin Meyer. About the Author: Benjamin Meyer is a film and television editor and an award-winning short filmmaker. Which is to say,
Daily Dialogue — September 27, 2010 “My name is Dalton Russell. Pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully and I never repeat myself. I’ve told you my name: that’s the Who. The Where could most readily be described as a prison cell. But there’s a vast difference
“Festivals Grow Up, Even as Screens Grow Small” Cannes. Sundance. Toronto. Venice. Telluride. Tribeca. Anyone familiar with the movie business will see those cities lined up and think of one thing: film festivals. How did they come to be? And why is the so-called “festival circuit” important? And in light of changes in technology and consumer habits,
“NYFF ’10 | 10 Quotes From The Packed “Social Network” Press Conference” From IndieWire, 10 quotes from key people involved in the making of The Social Network: Aaron Sorkin on his general disdain for the internet, how he overcame it to make this film, and the universe themes of “The Social Network”:“My feelings about the internet are actually irrelevant to anyone’
Chris Sparling (“Buried”) Following up on today’s video interview with Chris Sparling, here is a guest post he did at Moviesblog.MTV.com. Some excerpts: With the limited release of “Buried” only days away (and the nationwide release less than three weeks away), I am incredibly proud of what this film has
Video Interview: Chris Sparling (“Buried”) Today’s video interview is with screenwriter Chris Sparling whose movie Buried is released nationwide on October 8. Part 1 Part 2
Daily Dialogue — September 26, 2010 “Little pigs, little pigs, let me come in. Not by the hair of your chiny-chin-chin? Well then I’ll huff and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in. [chops hole in door with axe] Here’s Johnny!” — Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), The Shining (1980), screenplay
Spec Script Sale: “Family Getaway” Spec Script Deal: “Family Getaway” Thanks to David at The Tiny Protagonist for giving me a heads-up on re this spec sale. Per THR, Warner Bros. buys action spec “Family Getaway from newcomers Jeremiah Friedman and Nick Palmer: In the story — akin to a Jason Bourne movie crossed with
Steve Martin Tweets, Vol. 2 The latest series of Tweets from Steve Martin: If you are driving, do not read these Tweets. Dangerous. Please throw your phone out the window. If you are not driving, go to nearby window, and throw phone onto your car roof. This would be just for fun. Here is a
Profile: Steven Spielberg (Part 5) Our friend Trevor Hogg is back at FlickeringMyth with another profile, this one on Steven Spielberg. Here is an excerpt from Part 5: Venturing into the realm of science fiction writer Phillip K. Dick, Steven Spielberg produced a cinematic adaptation of Minority Report (2002). In the near future, mutated psychics
Written Interview: Vince Gilligan (“Breaking Bad”) Here’s an interesting interview for two reasons. First it’s with Vince Gilligan whose series “Breaking Bad” is one of the best shows on TV. Second the interview is on scriptphd.com, hosted by scientist and creative writer Jovana J. Grbi?, so there is a science focus in some
Daily Dialogue — September 25, 2010 Withnail: Why has my head gone numb? I must have some booze. I DEMAND TO HAVE SOME BOOZE! [Withnail grabs lighter fluid] I: I wouldn’t drink that if I was you. Withnail: Why not? I: Because I don’t advise it. Even the wankers on the site wouldn’t
A great tool for character development Erik Erikson was a developmental psychologist and psychiatrist. I use his life-stages often when working with a story’s characters, tracking where they might be in their psychological and emotional development. Here are the eight life-stages: 1. Hope: Basic Trust vs. Mistrust — Infant stage. Does the child believe
Spec Script Sale: “Unlocked” Warner Bros. buys spec action-thriller “Unlocked” from writer Peter O’Brien: The plot revolves around a female CIA interrogator who becomes unwillingly involved in a devastating biological attack on London after being tricked into allowing a terrorist to divulge information to the enemy. Peter O’Brien wrote the screenplay
