A fantasy screenplay, in more ways than one

From A Dribble of Ink: So you're a beginning screenwriter and you have this favorite novel and you think it'd be fun to turn it into a movie. But then you think: naaah, they won't give me the rights and, even if they did, who'd buy a screenplay from me?

Think again.

Labels: Eldon Thompson, fantasy, screenwriting, Terry Brooks, The Elfstones of Shannara

 

The big question for screenwriters

From The Telegraph (UK): Ellin Stein asks: "The big question is why anyone would want to pursue a screenwriting career when they could earn decent money and a lot more respect writing for TV drama." The answer, we suspect, is that most writers would be happy with either.

Labels: screenwriting, TV writing

 

A tale of two screenplays

From The Los Angeles Times: Two skilfully-written screenplays with high-profile talent attached (Michael Mann and Leonardo DiCaprio in one instance, Peter Jackson in the other) circulate in Hollywood. One gets greenlighted, the other's still looking. Why?

Labels: Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Mann, Peter Jackson, screenwriting

 

How to introduce a character

From johnaugust.com: Every once in awhile screenwriter John (Charlie's Angels, Big Fish) August hauls off and uses his popular blog to offer a craft lesson. As one of his respondents says, "This is what film school should be like." Here he talks about how (and when) to provide a telling introduction of a character.

Labels: character, Charlie's Angel, John August, screenwriting

 

Horror doesn't have to be horrible

From Written in Canada: The writers of the new TV series Blood Ties, and the creator of the Gingersnaps movie franchise, argue that horror doesn't have to equal schlock.

Labels: Blood Ties, film, Gingersnaps, horror, movies, screenwriting, TV, TV writing

 

Writers' case against WGA heats up

From LA Weekly: Is the Writers Guild of America withholding millions in dollars from its own members? A whistelblower gives new legs to the case.

Labels: film, screenwriting, WGA, Writers Guild of America

 

Want to direct your own screenplay? Keep it personal

From Screentalk: What you really want to do is direct? Jonathan Kasdan (son of Lawrence) suggests writing a screenplay so autobiographical they can't think of anyone else.

Labels: film, Jonathan Kasdan, screenwriting

 

Frank Miller has "300" reasons to hate Hollywood

From The Los Angeles Time: Despite the recent success of 300 and Sin City, comic book god Frank Miller has had a stormy relationship with Hollywood. So now the inevitable has happened: he's becoming a director.

Labels: 300, comic books, Frank Miller, Will Eisner