One of the big words you’ll hear bandied about in LA when talking about main characters is “likeability.” “I don’t like him enough.” “I can’t track him.” “We need a ‘save the cat’ moment here.” This problem was very well s[...]
Posts Tagged ‘Screenwriting’
June 8th, 2011 - 5:43 pm § in Screenwriting
How To Rewrite
I finished two scripts this quarter and will be moving into some major rewriting this summer. My excellent screenwriting teacher gave us a lecture on it in our final screenwriting class that I found very valuable. I’ve found rewriting difficult because I often started by going through page one[...]
10 Problems With Student Scripts
After my first year at film school I have spent a lot of time with short screenplays. I’ve written around 20 or so at this point, and have dealt with almost all of these difficulties in my own writing. In the last few years I’ve seen a lot of short films, and these are the [...][...]
May 13th, 2010 - 11:16 pm § in Opportunities for Filmmakers
The Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards
Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards: DEADLINE JUNE 1st – NO ENTRY FEE – ONLY FOR UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA STUDENTS The Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards is one of the most prestigious writing competitions in America, only available to University of California students. From the Website: Some of th[...]
April 20th, 2010 - 5:57 pm § in Opportunities for Filmmakers
The Nicholls Fellowship in Screenwriting
The Nicholls Fellowship in Screenwriting – EARLY BIRD APRIL 1st 2010, REGULAR ENTRY MAY 1st 2010 – Application Fee Early Bird $30, Regular $45 This is the creme de la creme of screenwriting competitions. Five $30,000 fellowships are awarded to writers who have earned less than $5,000 wri[...]
March 28th, 2010 - 8:11 pm § in Film School, Screenwriting
Spring Schedule
Spring quarter is upon us. As a 410, or first year MFA Directing Student, this is the first quarter where I have the opportunity to choose some electives. There are many opportunities within the directing, producing, and screenwriting programs. Our pre-selected courses for the spring are as follows:[...]
August 9th, 2009 - 7:17 am § in Screenwriting
Nancy Miller on Writing
Nancy Miller is the showrunner for Saving Grace. She has some valuable information on writing and succeeding in this strange business. She says as writers, directors, actors, etc. you need three things; 1. Talent 2. Craft 3. Tenacity Solid advice. Here’s the whole interview. I highly recomme[...]
July 29th, 2009 - 11:20 pm § in Screenwriting
Sundance Screenwriters Lab
My screenplay “Old Money” hast made it into the second round! I now have until August 15th to rewrite it. I had originally set it aside to work on another project, but now rereading it I am pleasantly surprised by what I found. There are the usual typos and small events that do not pay [[...]
July 15th, 2009 - 9:33 pm § in Filmmaking, Screenwriting
Writing Transitions: The Narrative Jump Cut
In my continuing study of Raging Bull I came across the Wikipedia article on Jake Lamotta and a bit of narrative brilliance. This is the “Early Life” section of the article: “LaMotta was born in New York City, specifically the Toodles McGee section of The Bronx, near the Pelham Par[...]
July 15th, 2009 - 12:57 am § in Filmmaking, Screenwriting
Scorcese Establishes a Scene
I was just terribly impressed by an establishing shot from an early scene in Raging Bull (1980), directed by Martin Scorcese and written by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin. The scene: EXT. SHOREHAVEN POOL – DAY (1942-43) The Shorehaven Pool, spic-and-span in the summer sun is the closest thing[...]