jaqofspades: In talking about his high school venture into what was essentially fanfic which he successfully sold at school until called to see the Principal, and also his general lifelong love of horror: “What I don’t understand, Stevie,” she said, “is why you’d write junk like this in the first place. You’re talented. Why do…
Read moretheproofangel: The indecisive novelist
Read moreTerry’s Picks: Women’s Pictures, Underwritten Characters, Stony Brook
nywift: Women’s Pictures: This interesting piece in Vulture makes a strong case for the idea that in modern times, the “women’s pictures” of Hollywood ‘s Golden Age have moved to television. Underwritten Characters: Laugh (or cry) along with Underwritten Female Character: The Movie, a fake trailer for a movie you’ve seen unfortunately too many times….
Read morecorbeezyyy: Who playin jumanji
Read moreBaaaaad Protagonists
Protags work when, even if they are awful, they are RELATABLE. There must be something about them, despite the things they do of which WE CANNOT APPROVE, we UNDERSTAND (and this is the important part) because we have had THE SAME EMOTIONS. It’s tricky, and you have to show it to sell it by demonstrating…
Read morePreparing for a TV Pilot
ladyscreenwriter: For a few of my MFA in Screenwriting applications, I needed to come up with an original TV pilot script. Although I can’t tell you how to come up with your brilliant show idea or where to find your next inspiration, here are a few helpful hints on preparing to write. Your first idea…
Read moreWhen You Open With a Shock
Do: Create interest in your characters first Don’t: Think we will care about your pg 1 bloodbath because it’s so out there and extreme. WE DON’T KNOW THESE CHARACTERS. There is NO CONTEXT therefore IT IS MEANINGLESS which makes it BORING You want a nice hearty handshake from a story’s first page, not a naked…
Read moreWhat makes a script “fresh” and “organic”?
writerlyn: writerlyn: Basil and really good olive oil. Shit I pressed post too soon, but this is too funny to not keep like this. Fresh and Organic are tossed around a lot, but basically all they mean is something GOOD. Basically, make it something they hadn’t seen before. Make us care, without resorting to tired…
Read more–Stokely Carmichael in Stockholm, 1967
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