What you’re about to read is a look at the newly released film, Star Trek Into Darkness, specifically looking at it from the view of a screenwriter. As such, the following review is SPOILER HEAVY. You may want to turn back now. Do not read on if you haven’t seen the film yet, and prefer [...]
We live in a extraordinary age where most people in the world can gain access to knowledge and information easily. You no longer have to necessarily take classes, or go to night courses, to get training for many skills, including writing. Writing classes never hurt and I still recommend them, but much knowledge can be [...]
So it was upon catching Skyfall that I thought it the appropriate time to share this true Hollywood tale of lust. My best pal Robert and I treated some of our still-growing children to an opening day showing what MGM originally titled Bond #23. On the way home afterwards, we fell into the usual post-Bond movie stars discussion [...]
If you want to become a screenwriter you must study history. I mean the history of film. You need to watch all types of films which include the old and new, the good and bad. You need to see comedies, tragedies, dramas, kid flicks and chick flicks. This is the easiest homework you’ve ever been [...]
Location, location, location. It’s important in real estate, in a script’s budget and also in sparking creativity for a writer’s mind. But for me, location isn’t the only thing – it’s the combination of location, people, and inspiration that puts words on the page. Location Finding the best location to write is just as important [...]
I pledged $10 to Zach Braff’s kickstarter campaign this week. I pledged money to his film, despite the fact that lots of independent filmmakers and screenwriters have been moaning about him using his celebrity status to crowd-fund his film, Wish I Was Here. Personally, I think their complaints are misguided and there is a lot we [...]
There’s a debate raging now about whether or not the actors who play the superheroes in hit franchises are worth as much as the brand. Would we accept Chris Pine as Tony Stark or is Robert Downey, Jr. the only actor to pull off Iron Man? Mark Ruffalo was great as Bruce Banner in The [...]
Choosing your next project, be it a spec screenplay, a TV pilot or a television spec, should not only be a creative decision; it should, in a perfect, business-savvy world, represent a strategic decision as well. This is a choice that my clients contemplate on a regular basis, struggling to balance passion with strategy, prolific [...]
Over the past couple of weeks there have been countless articles trumpeting the triumphant return of Shane Black to Hollywood’s A-List, this time as the director of Iron Man 3. Since each article was essentially breaking down the same story regarding the film, they tried valiantly to put their own spin on the backstory of [...]
