Saturday Hot Links
Back with another installment of Saturday Hot Links!
Today: The Dick Cavett, Truman Capote, and Groucho Marx Edition!
We begin with a cool photograph of Alfred Hitchcock… at his bar… with a script.
Did a copying mistake build the human brain?
Samuel L. Jackson criticized NYT film critic A.O. Scott for his less than flattering review of The Avengers saying Scott should be fired. Some film critics respond.
I swear this is not an Onion headline: Dinosaurs ‘gassed’ themselves into extinction, British scientists say. Gassed, as in farts!
Related: That lizard-looking dude featured in the closing credits of The Avengers? Some background on him. And even some more.
More Avengers: The Hulk critiques Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk.
And more: Paramount may have sold Marvel, but it’s still making money of The Avengers.
And even more: Five hidden reasons behind the record-breaking success of The Avengers.
And in this shocking development no one could have anticipated: Disney announces they are going to do The Avengers 2.
Study finds 60% of people can’t go 10 minutes without lying.
100 pieces of advice from movies
Listen to some samples of Howard Shore and Metric’s score for Cosmopolis.
It’s Space Mountain… with the lights on [video].
10 of box-office history’s biggest f*ck yous.
And on the ‘Google Takes Over The World’ front, there’s this.
The three basics of photography [video].
Per Nielsen, 1.5M American families cut the cord in 2011.
A SuperMoon 2012 slideshow.
“Fifty Shades of Grey” rides Hollywood’s S&M wave.
The brain. It makes you think… doesn’t it?
2012 TV pilots: THR’s complete guide.
All the Earth’s water represented as being contained in a single sphere.
The most read books in the world [infographic].
Gavin Palone: The folly of having focus groups judge TV pilots.
Why can’t Disney find a studio chief?
THR’s The Eat Sheet: On 3rd in LA, new Italian eatery Gusto.
The future of media on mobile devices isn’t with applications but with the Web.
Chuck Wendig: 25 Things Writers Should Know About Creating Mystery.
BRIC news: Kevin Spacey the latest A-lister to sign on for a Chinese movie.
First the good news: Sony overtakes Universal for number 1 domestic B.O.
Now the bad news: Sony posts $5.6B loss.
The best finger puppets ever.
The Sundance Channel announces five new nonfiction series.
Real life prep school scandals so crazy they sound like fiction.
Video game sales plunge 42% in April.
Why are there so many movies about guys who won’t grow up?
Some MIT students build a Mario Kart [HT to @DFTVYP].
Joss Whedon’s ‘Firefly’ crew flying high 10 years later.
Study finds psychopaths have distinct brain structures.
‘Jeopardy’ host Alex Trebeck mulling retirement.
Brad Pitt tapped as the new face of Chanel №5.
Seven hidden gems in the 2012 summer movie season.
When did testicles become courageous?
Martin Scorcese honored with Moth storytelling award.
Losing yourself in a fictional character can affect your real life.
When Spock met Hendrix.
Finally in honor of Maurice Sendak who died this week, a series of his quotes.
Screenwriting Master Class tip of the week: We are pleased to offer these exciting online courses in the next month including two brand new classes:
Core VII: Theme: This 2-week online Core class enables writers to develop a clear understanding of theme — what it is, how it functions, and most importantly how to use themes to enrich the quality of your stories.
Dates: May 14-May 27, 2012
Instructor: Scott Myers
Network Hollywood: This is a fantastic opportunity to go behind-the-scenes with agents, managers, producers and screenwriters with exclusive interviews and actual interface time. Plus comprehensive information about the business side of the craft.
Dates: May 21-May 31, 2012
Instructor: Tom Benedek
Prep: From Concept to Outline: This popular 6-week writing workshop takes you through a proven step-by-step process enabling you to break your story before you type FADE IN, giving you the best shot possible at finishing your script… and making it great.
Dates: June 4-July 15, 2012
Instructor: Scott Myers
Creating the Spec Pilot: New Course! Tom Benedek has created SMC’s first television writing course combining lectures, workshop assignments, discussion forums, exclusive interviews with Major Network and Cable TV Writer-Producers-Showrunners including Henry Bromell (Homeland) and Ed Bernero (Criminal Minds).
Dates: June 11-June 17, 2012
Instructor: Tom Benedek
Core VIII: Time: New Course! In this the final of the eight Core classes, you will learn the ins and outs of mysteries of managing time in a script including time ellipses, transitions, flashback, flash forward, montage, series of scenes, and much more.
Dates: June 18-July 1, 2012
Instructor: Scott Myers
As always we look forward to the opportunity to work with you.