November 7th, 2009 . Posted in screenwriting | No Comments »
Tags: barcamp, film making, screenwriting
Attended a NW Films BarCamp session this morning that focused on developing character and story within the confines of film shorts… so we’re talking anywhere from three to 30 minutes I guess. Wow. What a challenge. The group included the full range of practitioners, from newbies to career filmmakers, and it was interesting how the challenges of writing never really seem to change. The challenge is to nail it. To keep it clean. No clutter, no fat, no superfluous exposition. Just get it right.
This is true regardless of genre or form. Poems are the most demanding in terms of precision. But short films aren’t really far behind… or at least they shouldn’t be. Every word has to count. Every word has to contribute to the life of the story being told. But don’t listen to me… here are a few sites with some interesting pointers. BBC Writers Room on Short Films. Some pointers from IndieGoGo.
October 18th, 2009 . Posted in screenwriting | No Comments »
A Twitter comment led me to a blog which led me to another blog which led me somewhere else… sorry I can’t remember the exact path, but ended up at The Village Voice blog reading a piece by “A History of Violence” screenwriter Josh Olson giving his version of why “I will not read your fucking script.” It’s good. I especially like his comment that … “you cannot discourage a writer. If someone can talk you out of being a writer, then you’re not a writer.” I’ve never heard it put any better than that. Check it out.
October 17th, 2009 . Posted in poetry | No Comments »
Tags: nature, poetry
The latest collection by poet Jim Harrison — “In Search of Small Gods” — takes hold of the memories that live in your belly and makes you want to say something but you can’t. Maybe growing up on a farm, with animals and earth’s expressive voice that we call weather, makes it easier to understand the voice of this earthy poet. Here’s a sample I borrowed from Copper Canyon Press.
I Believe
I believe in steep drop-offs, the thunderstorm across the lake
in 1949, cold winds, empty swimming pools,
the overgrown path to the creek, raw garlic,
used tires, taverns, saloons, bars, gallons of red wine,
abandoned farmhouses, stunted lilac groves,
gravel roads that end, brush piles, thickets, girls
not quite gone totally wild, river eddies,
leaky wooden boats, the smell of used engine oil,
turbulent rivers, lakes without cottages lost in the woods,
the primrose growing out of a cow skull, the thousands
of birds I’ve talked to all my life, the dogs
that talked back, the Chihuahuan ravens that follow
me on long walks. The rattler escaping the cold hose,
the fluttering unkown gods that I nearly see
from the left corner of my blind eye, struggling
to stay alive in a world that grinds them underfoot.
– Jim Harrison
October 17th, 2009 . Posted in screenwriting | No Comments »
Tags: friends, self expression, writing groups
If you’ve ever been stuck… blocked… bored… depressed… whatever you want to call it when you need to be working on your screenplay (or anything else) and just can’t make yourself do it, give a writing group a try. I’ve always been a total loner, so it didn’t come easy for me to get started on this, and I actually didn’t think it was going to be anything but a drain when I went to my first “group” — but I was so wrong. Part of the reason this experience has turned out well for me is because I got lucky. My first group session was just my new pal Wendy and me. Neither of us had been in a group setting before, and as a result had no idea what to expect. But we liked each other, and though we are quite different, we meshed… I need her energy and she needs something from me, although I’m not sure yet what it is, but it works. Since our first few months of just the two of us, we have expanded a couple of people (one of whom is an absolute scream — an endless number of amazing funny funny funny stories — Dana you know who you are!) but the key is to keep it small and to be with people you trust and who feed your need. Give it a try.
October 14th, 2009 . Posted in screenwriting | No Comments »
Tags: education, screenwriting
Cynthia Whitcomb is a Portland-based screenwriter and playwright. I know she has sold myriad screenplays and been nominated for emmys and had plays produced and done I don’t know what all… but, I am writing a tribute to Cynthia because of her teaching ability. I have taken two of her screenwriting classes, and I’ve got to say that she is, quite frankly, the shit. (And I mean that in the very best way). She has her detractors… I’ve heard her students express some dissatisfaction with her comments or her opinion or her approach, but none of them would know what to disagree with if they hadn’t learned it from her first.
After a long career as a writer, I think it’s amazing that I could know nothing about how to write a screenplay, then take Cynthia’s class, and come out knowing enough to have a go at it. That is life changing. And I would venture so far as to say that Cynthia Whitcomb helped change my life by showing me how to make a movie happen on paper. So here’s to you, Cynthia.
Find out more about her screenwriting classes: http://www.cynthiawhitcomb.com
August 11th, 2009 . Posted in screenwriting | No Comments »
Tags: pitching, screenwriting, willamette writers
willamette writers conference 2009
The 2009 Willamette Writers Conference ran from Thursday evening (Aug. 6) through Sunday, wrapping around 5:00 pm. It was my second time, and like my first one, this was a great conference. I attended a number of sessions — almost exclusively screenwriting sessions this time — and picked up a bundle of tips and insights. I met some cool people, from all age groups… a young romcom writer who had the speakers mentioning her work, a 30/40-something novelist from Eugene who got multiple manuscript requests, a 50/60-something novelist who I think just sold a book… a wide range of writing types. Plus, there was our whole gang from Cynthia Whitcomb’s screenwriting classes providing each other moral support throughout the event. The range of speakers also was extensive and diverse.
This conference was my first for pitching work. I pitched my new screenplay to 10 different managers/agents/producers. The first one truly was a throw away… it was all over the place. (Fortunately I was pitching a good guy from Paramount who let me down gently… they’re not all like that.) Cynthia says the first pitch is a waffle… you always throw out your first waffle. (She is right about pretty much everything!) But in the end, I have two requests to see my script after I do a re-write… and both people wanted the same type of rewrite, so it must be a good idea. But good or bad, I’m all over it… I really want to submit something — get it into the pipeline — and then turn my attention to my next project. My goal is to be able to take three or four screenplays to next year’s WW conference so I can pitch in a more targeted way, based on what people are looking for.
Here’s a bit of information… for those of you who didn’t attend the session about script readers, and how to get a “recommend” commentary, presenters Will Fendon and Gibran Perrone (both of whom have read for LA studios) were really informative and mentioned that they are starting a reading service here in Portland. I plan to take advantage of their expertise on my rewrite.
god texts the 10 commandments
October 22nd, 2009 . Posted in general commentary | No Comments »Tags: humor, twitter
A Twitter post by@Sirenland, who was RT @WriterDaniel, led me to this entry on McSweeney’s site. It truly made me laugh out loud. Enjoy…
God Texts the 10 Commandments
by Jamie Quatro
1. no 1 b4 me. srsly.
2. dnt wrshp pix/idols
3. no omg’s
4. no wrk on w/end (sat 4 now; sun l8r)
5. pos ok – ur m&d r cool
6. dnt kill ppl
7. :-X only w/ m8
8. dnt steal
9. dnt lie re: bf
10. dnt ogle ur bf’s m8. or ox. or dnkey. myob.
M, pls rite on tabs & giv 2 ppl.
ttyl, JHWH
ps. wwjd?