Writers on how they write: Michael Ondaatje The Wall Street Journal had a great article last Friday: “How to Write a Great Novel”, reflections by 11 novelists on how they approach writing. Since the article is subscription only, I’ll feature one writer per day here, highlighting their process with a key excerpt from the article. Today’
Great Scene: “There’s Something About Mary” Ah, the infamous hair gel scene. So back in 1998, I was at CAA when my agent pulled me into his office: “You have to see this!” Grinning wildly, he informs us it’s a rough cut clip from the new movie the Farrelly brothers are working on. He turns
Daily dialogue — November 13, 2009 “Are you hungry? I haven’t eaten anything since later this afternoon.” — Aaron (Shane Carruth), Primer (2004), written and directed by Shane Carruth Comment Archive
Question: How to find a writing partner? Another question via email: I am a programmer living in the San Diego area. I’ve taken quite a few classes at UCLA extension and have been working on a couple of screenplays that I never seem to finish. Great ideas but difficult to execute. I would like to find
Q&A: Mystery Man (on Film) Revealed! You know him (but not really), you love him (even though he is a mystery) — it’s Mystery Man (on Film). MM agreed to do a Q&A. Without further ado, here he is! Mystery Man Revealed! (sort of, an interview) SM: First the handle: Mystery Man on Film.
Writers on how they write: Kazuo Ishiguro The Wall Street Journal had a great article last Friday: “How to Write a Great Novel”, reflections by 11 novelists on how they approach writing. Since the article is subscription only, I’ll feature one writer per day here, highlighting their process with a key excerpt from the article. Today’
Reader Question: How to actually sit down and do it? I received this question via email: Thanks for you blog- I have found many useful screenwriting goodies on there. However, I spend too much time reading about writing instead of writing. I find writing my screenplay so painful. Its like pulling teeth and I have to force myself to sit
“The Diablo Code” Per today’s Screenwriting 101 which features Diablo Codya, a H/T to Mystery Man for this from EmpireOnline.com: The Diablo Cod: A compilation of Diablo Cody-speak from Juno, The United States of Tara, and Jennifer’s Body. Here are a few of my favorites: CSI, to go
Pitch sale: “Untitled Apocalypse Project” Fox buys “Untitled Apocalypse Project” from writers Jeremy Passmore and Andre Fabrizio: The project is based on an original idea about a group of people who survive the end of the world and the mystery surrounding how they got to that position. The apocalypse and all that follows is going
Writers on how they write: Hilary Mantel The Wall Street Journal had a great article last Friday: “How to Write a Great Novel”, reflections by 11 novelists on how they approach writing. Since the article is subscription only, I’ll feature one writer per day here, highlighting their process with a key excerpt from the article. Today’
Screenwriting 101: Diablo Cody “I didn’t really look at it as teen-speak but more like weirdo language! Ellen Page just presents it in such a saucy way too and I’m kind of immature myself and although this sounds kind of cheesy, being on the internet a lot, as I am, I’
Question: What about story and ‘tone poem’ movies? Open forum question from popularculture — Totally PC: I always wondered about films such as Frances Ford Coppola produced film Koyaanisqasti; with the 1988 produced Powaqqatsi with George Lucas. With the final Steven Soderbergh, 2002 produced Naqoyqatsi. The cinematic films neither carry dialogue nor a vocal narrative: their tone being set
Writers on how they write: Orhan Pamuk The Wall Street Journal had a great article last Friday: “How to Write a Great Novel”, reflections by 11 novelists on how they approach writing. Since the article is subscription only, I’ll feature one writer per day here, highlighting their process with a key excerpt from the article. Today’
Hollywood Tales “(Sharon Stone) was so despised by co-workers that on one of her films, crew members took turns urinating in her bathtub.” — from Basic Instinct screenwriter Joe Eszterhas’ book “Hollywood Animal” Comment Archive
Daily dialogue — November 10, 2009 “The moment I saw you, Mrs. Grodin, the very first instant, I knew my life as I had understood it was… I’d been up since sunrise. My second night in the car, I was completely lost. I must have walked ten miles to a clearing, to your garden. To
Question: Why is Transformers 2 the #1 B.O. movie of 2009? Open forum question from Emily Blake: Why is Transformers 2 the number 1 film of the year? Those folks who have been following GITS since the summer have probably seen this — which does a pretty thorough job laying out my basic response to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. If that
P.O.V.: The next Paranormal Experience? What about another new movie in the vein of Paranormal Experience: P.O.V.? The plot synopsis provided on the movie’s website: A story of deceit, murder and digital tape used to record the ordinary life of Steve for the purposes of his online blog. From our point of
Writers on how they write: Nicholson Baker The Wall Street Journal had a great article last Friday: “How to Write a Great Novel”, reflections by 11 novelists on how they approach writing. Since the article is subscription only, I’ll feature one writer per day here, highlighting their process with a key excerpt from the article. Today’
On writing “Think of the novels you have loved most. Do you remember a character who lived with page after page, perhaps hoping the book would never end? What do you remember most clearly, the characters or the plot? Now think of the movies you’ve seen that affected you the most.
Question: How to create unforgettable characters? Open forum question from Mahmoud: I think I have question that I don’t know if you answered it or not. But here goes. How to make powerful unforgettable characters? I know this question is kinda tough, but help us in giving ways to get into the character, you making
Awesome webcomic at xkcd.com Awesome comic at xkcd. It’s like every screenwriting guru’s screenplay paradigm on acid. Comment Archive
Video interview: Orson Welles The Internet never ceases to amaze me. Below is an excerpt from an interview with Orson Welles. I’ve never seen it before today, never even knew of its existence until I started bumping around the web. Two things about the interview. First, Welles reveals that the idea of ‘home’
Daily dialogue — November 8, 2009 “My temperature runs a couple of degrees high, around a hundred. I don’t mind. It’s the engine or something.” — Matty Walker (Kathleen Turner), Body Heat (1981), written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan Comment Archive
Reader Question: What does a good treatment look like? Open forum question from Lalithra Fernando: What do you think a good treatment looks like? I posted something about the distinction between a treatment and an outline here, so that might be worth checking that out. If your question is about what makes an effective treatment, that’s simple: Tell
Remembering “The Wire” Even though the final episode aired on March 9, 2008, I still miss “The Wire” — best damn show ever on TV. So here you go with a choice video: “The Wire: 5 Seasons in 5 Minutes.” Comment Archive
