"Premium Rush" Movie Review

"Premium Rush" movie poster.

"Among the bike couriers in New York City, no one is more determined and reckless than Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an ex-law student more comfortable on his brakeless bike than in a suit. One day, a Chinese foreign student named Nima (Jamie Chung) arranges for him to deliver a vital envelope across the city. Unfortunately, a crooked cop, Det. Robert Monday (Michael Shannon), has a desperate need for that envelope himself and won't take 'No' for an answer. Now, Wilee finds himself relentlessly pursued by Monday and others in a situation becoming more complicated and dangerous by the minute. Together with his friends and rivals, Wilee must discover the secret of this dangerous delivery and make it through a gauntlet that will require all his cunning, daring and courage to survive." Written by Kenneth Chisholm (Source below.)

Dania Ramirez.

Directed and written by David Koepp ("Angels & Demons", "Secret Window") and cowritten by John Kamps ("Ghost Town", "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie"). The movie stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("Inception", "Looper"), Michael Shannon ("Revolutionary Road", "Jonah Hex"), Dania Ramirez ("X-Men: The Last Stand", "The 25th Hour"), Jamie Chung ("Sucker Punch", "The Man With the Iron Fists"), Wole Parks ("As The World Turns", "Law & Order"), and Christopher Place ("My Soul to Take", "Step Up 3D").

When I saw advertisements for this movie a while ago, I was a bit skeptical. Like "how will that be even remotely realistic?", "why isn't Lance Armstrong in this movie?" or "will Joseph Gordon-Levitt take off his shirt since he seems to have built muscles for this role?" But I digress. 

Jamie Chung.

"Premium Rush" isn't your usual action movie. For example: a gun is only fired once, explosions involve a cyclist running into a trash can, and car accidents are more realistic - broken windows and fender benders. 

I liked the setting, New York City is an excellent place. I think they got the frenetic pacing of the city just right. It was very interesting how you saw everything from the biker's perspective, including the GPS navigational system, how they knew which way to go, and how they basically survive delivering other people's stuff for fifty dollars. 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (L) and Michael Shannon.

It was also interesting that they brought these three massive groups of people together and you saw a possibility of what could happen. Those three groups being the police, the bikers, and the chinese underworld. This is a city teeming with people and these groups of people are still so tight-knit. 

This movie rocks, it is very exciting and the characters are fully formed. I still can't give it 5 out of 5, only because there was a very simple solution to the one character's problems. All she had to do was tell her roommate about the issue and they could've gone together and probably would've done it for free. And there was one other problem: the ending was a bit like a Disney film, but I did like seeing the bad guy get his. But still an excellent and short movie, if you're just looking for a fun night in.

I give this movie 4 out of 5 typewriters.

Sources: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1547234/.

Also, this official "training" featurette from the movie provided by ClevverMovies:

Quentin Tarantino on Screenwriting!!!

"For Quentin Tarantino, the script really does come first.

"Tarantino ("Django Unchained") said if he does his job right, the script should speak for itself as [a] work of literature, even if he chose not to make it into a film.“When I’m writing, it’s about the page. It’s not about the movie,” the writer-director said during The Hollywood Reporter’s Director Roundtable. “It’s about the literature of me putting my pen to paper and writing a good page, and making it work completely."

“ 'Now it’s mine to f-up if I go forward with it,” he said. “I always go forward with it. But I want to love that script so much that I’m tempted to stop.”

"Writing "Django Unchained", [which hits theaters Christmas Day], was no different.

“There’s stuff that’s in the script that I know will never ever make the movie, but it just makes the book — the piece of literature — better,” Tarantino said. “It’s a better read. It’s more emotionally satisfying. Then just like you do with an adaptation, you peel a lot of that stuff away.”

"Tarantino joined awards season contenders Ben Affleck ("Argo"), Ang Lee ("Life of Pi"), Tom Hooper ("Les Miserables"), David O. Russell ("Silver Linings Playbook") and Gus Van Sant ("Promised Land") for a roundtable discussion moderated by THR news editor Matthew Belloni and executive editor features Stephen Galloway."

You can see the original posting here.

Tip and Quote of the Week: The Importance of Names

I got this picture here.

The Importance of Character Names

Character names are just as important as coming up with a great title for your script.

They need to be unique both to other scripts, and unique from each other WITHIN your script.

This last point is important because you don't ever want a character's name to be similar to another's within your own script. So don't re-use names that start with the same letter, or end with the same sound (see: "Sam" and "Steve" or "Jenny" and "Benny"), etc.

"What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
 by any other name would smell as sweet."

- William Shakespeare, 
"Romeo and Juliet"

Sources: http://www.namelymarly.com/name-quotes/ and http://www.screenplay.com/default.aspx.

A former Hollywood Lit Manager, Michael Ferris started ScriptAWish.com as a way to help other writers get their foot in the door and has helped several writers sell their scripts (like Travis Beacham of PACIFIC RIM) and set up projects with producers like Academy Award Winner Arnold Kopelson. The mission of ScriptAWish.com is to help aspiring writers get their scripts into shape and then get their foot in the door. His new venture is a collaboration with several professional screenwriters called StudioGhostwriters.com and is intended to help producers get their movie ideas on paper or their drafts polished for production.

lol I got this picture here.

"Red Dawn" Movie Review

Poster for "Red Dawn".

"A group of teenagers look to save their town from an invasion of North Korean soldiers." (Source below.)

Directed by first time director, usually stunt coordinator, Dan Bradley and written for the screen by Carl Ellsworth ("The Last House on the Left", "Disturbia", "Red Eye") and Jeremy Passmore ("Special"). It is based upon the 1984 screenplay by Kevin Reynolds ( wrote the screenplay for "Fandango" better known for his directing "Waterworld", "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves", "The Count of Monte Cristo", "Tristan + Isolde") and John Milius ("Apocalypse Now", "Dillinger", "Dirty Harry" - uncredited) with the story by Kevin Reynolds.

Screenplay is available here: http://screenplayexplorer.com/?p=1229.

Chris Hemsworth.

Starring Chris Hemsworth ("Thor","The Avengers"), Josh Hutcherson ("Journey to the Center of the Earth", "The Kids Are Alright", "The Hunger Games"), Josh Peck ("Drake and Josh"), Isabel Lucas ("Immortals", "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"), Adrianne Palicki ("Friday Night Lights", "Legion"), and Jeffrey Dean Morgan ("Watchmen", "The Possession", "P. S. I Love You"). Their character names and stories are unimportant. 

I am mostly disappointed in this movie, but I'm not entirely sure how they could've made it better. It seemed pretty doomed from the start. 

I felt like there was information missing. I just wanted to know more about the enemy. I knew they were North Korean and a few Russians, but that was it. I didn't know enough about the lead bad guy to develop that certain amount of respect and dirty admiration you're supposed to hold for the dark antagonist. I knew I wasn't going to find out more about the awesome weapon they had, but that still irritated me. But who needs information in the middle of what could be the next Michael Bay wannabe action film. 

(L to R) Adrianne Palicki, Josh Hutcherson,
Isabel Lucas, Chris Hemsworth, and Josh Peck.

At least you can see the explosions in a Michael Bay movie. You can't even see any action because the director used the dreaded shaky-camera effect. I guess mostly to cover up a bad editing job, which was still apparent in the final product. Why, oh why, do they use that effect! It doesn't do anything for the film and it looks like you're trying to cover up bad effects and editing, but it just makes that more obvious. 

And if you're going to give me an action film that has tragic death scenes, DO NOT kill off the only actor who is shouldering the movie along! Kill off everyone else, but don't kill that guy off! That part was a surprise, but it mostly just ticked me off. I did not pay money to see the only actor doing a good job in the movie get killed off just before the end. 

Jeffrey Dean Morgan (L) and Chris Hemsworth.

And Josh Peck annoyed me to no end. And not just because of his bitchy character. All his acting involved was squinting. No matter what was going on. And Jeffrey Dean Morgan was only in it for fifteen minutes and he was the only one making me laugh. 

This movie was just a series of momentous annoyances to me. The whole thing was just uninspired. Although it has inspired me to see the original. I heard the explosions in it are visible.

I give this movie 2.5 out of 5 typewriters.

"The Time Machine (1960)" Movie Review

Original movie poster for "The Time Machine".

"On January 5, 1900, a disheveled looking H.G. Wells (Rod Taylor) - George to his friends - arrives late to his own dinner party. He tells his guests of his travels in his time machine, the work about which his friends knew. They were also unbelieving, and skeptical of any practical use if it did indeed work. George knew that his machine was stationary in geographic position, but he did not account for changes in what happens over time to that location. He also learns that the machine is not impervious and he is not immune to those who do not understand him or the machine's purpose. George tells his friends that he did not find the Utopian society he so wished had developed. He mentions specifically a civilization several thousand years into the future which consists of the subterranean Morlocks and the surface dwelling Eloi, who on first glance lead a carefree life. Despite all these issues, love can still bloom over the spread of millennia." Written by Huggo (Source below.)

Rod Taylor in the time machine.

Also known as "H. G. Wells' The Time Machine", it was directed and produced by George Pal ("7 Faces of Dr. Lao" - 1964, "Tom Thumb" - 1958, "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm" - 1962) with a screenplay written by David Duncan ("Fantastic Voyage" - 1966, "Daniel Boone" - 1964) and based upon the novel by H. G. Wells. It stars Rod Taylor as 'H. George Wells', Alan Young  as both 'David Filby' and 'James Filby', and Yvette Mimieux as 'Weena'.

The script is available to read here: http://sfy.ru/?script=time_machine_1960.

Of course, there is the 2002 version of "The Time Machine" starring Guy Pearce and Jeremy Irons, and directed by Simon Wells, with a screenplay written by John Logan. I saw that movie in the theater when it came out and it was a favorite of mine for a while (and I had a huge crush on Guy Pearce). I plan to see it again, to write a review of it, but also to see if it still holds up. I would also like to read the classic book itself, so those reviews will be forthcoming.

As this is a bit old, I decided I would mention a bit about the cast:

Hey, H. G. Wells predicted cds.
Also, Yvette Mimieux (L) and Rod Taylor.

For anyone who is a fan of Alfred Hitchcock, you may recognize Rod Taylor - he was 'Mitch Brenner' in "The Birds". He was also 'Winston Churchill' in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" that came out in 2009. 

Alan Young won an Emmy in 1951 for "The Alan Young Show" and does voices for animated tv shows, like "Scooby Doo", his most famous character to date being 'Scrooge McDuck'. 

Yvette Mimieux starred as 'Leni Martek' on "The Love Boat" from 1984 - 1986 and was nominated for two Golden Globes - once in 1965 for her role in the tv show "Dr. Kildare" and once again in 1971 for her dramatic turn in the tv show "The Most Deadly Game". 

Playing 'Dr. Philip Hillyer' in this movie, Sebastian Cabot once starred as Kris Kringle in a tv adaptation of "Miracle on 31st Street" in 1973, but is known more for his voice work: did 'Bagheera the Panther' in Disney's "The Jungle Book" and has done a whole slew of narrations, but is usually the narrator of Winnie the Pooh's animated adventures.

Playing 'Anthony Bridewell' in this film, Tom Helmore was 'Gavin Elster' in Hitchcock's "Vertigo" in 1958 and was 'Zachary Wilde' in "Designing Woman".

Does this picture feel like "The Planet of the Apes"
to anyone else?

I just wanted to show that though we as the modern audience most likely don't know these actors or the director, they were really popular in their day and were very esteemed in their profession. This movie was kind of a big deal in its day. Now, granted, the action sequences, music and makeup just aren't going to measure up to today's standards. But for its time, it was top of the line.

Now, about those action sequences, music and makeup..... I thought the makeup for the Morlocks was awesome. They were a bit chubby, but those glowing eyes were really eerie. You can tell that the 2002 version had made homage with their morlocks; they were a bit scarier and more animalistic, but their hair and overall coloring is very similar.

Pretty, pretty princess clothes.

I didn't like the music, because either it was nonexistent or it was overpowering for two very annoying seconds. 

I didn't like the clothes either. H. G. Wells and his friends were dressed appropriately, but the Eloi were in pastel colors which were pretty, but not very realistic. Wouldn't they be dressed in whites or hues of brown? And shouldn't they have been dirty? I can't possibly assume that even though they do nothing else all day that they wash their clothes. They didn't. 

I also have a bone to pick with Wells: If the Eloi were such sheep that they couldn't be bothered to do anything, even defend themselves, why on earth did they keep up the development of their speech? Should they really have been able to speak so well? If they were really like cattle, they should have been using as few words as possible. Just saying.

The Morlocks - look at those eyes!

I like watching some of these old movies. Especially when there is a remake. It's interesting to see the differences; like music is taken more seriously today than it was back then. Makeup and clothes lean towards being more gritty and realistic, whereas back then it was more theatrical. Even the acting is kind of more theatrical back then: some of the gestures they make are a bit too much for a more close up view.

Interesting facts concerning the remake that ties it to the old movie:

- They based the new screenplay written by John Logan on the older version written by David Duncan. 

- Alan Young is in both movies: as the Filby brothers in the 1960 version and in the 2002 version he can be seen as the "Flower Store Worker".

So what three books would you have taken with you, to save a future civilization?

Sources: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054387/plotsummary and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0268695/fullcredits#writers. 

I give this movie 3.5 out of 5 typewriters.

Tip and Quote of the Week: Kill the Widows

Killing Widows

If you have any action lines or dialogue lines that result in widows – that is, one word, dangling lines – rewrite it to take up one less line.

For an easy, quick read, this will make a big difference.

“So the writer who breeds more words than he needs,
is making a chore for the reader who reads.”
- Dr. Suess

Sources: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/editing and http://www.screenplay.com/default.aspx.

A former Hollywood Lit Manager, Michael Ferris started ScriptAWish.com as a way to help other writers get their foot in the door and has helped several writers sell their scripts (like Travis Beacham of PACIFIC RIM) and set up projects with producers like Academy Award Winner Arnold Kopelson. The mission of ScriptAWish.com is to help aspiring writers get their scripts into shape and then get their foot in the door. His new venture is a collaboration with several professional screenwriters called StudioGhostwriters.com and is intended to help producers get their movie ideas on paper or their drafts polished for production.

I got this picture here.

"Skyfall" Movie Review

"Skyfall" movie poster.

"Bond's (Daniel Craig) mission is to keep a computer drive that has a list of British agents from being used against them. He chases the man who has it and they have a brawl on top of a train. Eve (Naomie Harris), an agent sent to assist Bond has them in her cross hairs but hesitates to take the shot because she might hit Bond but M (Judi Dench) orders her to take it. She does, and hits Bond who falls into the river and is believed to be dead. A few months later, the British government is upset with MI6 for losing the list; specifically with M. She is told that she'll be allowed to retire but she refuses to leave till the matter is resolved. So she returns to HQ to work on it but as she arrives, there's an explosion. In the meantime, Bond, who is not dead, has been laying low. When he learns of what happened, he returns. And M tasks him with finding the one who has the information. He eventually learns that the man who has it (Javier Bardem), is someone from M's past and who has it in for her." Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com (Link below.)

Directed by Sam Mendes ("Revolutionary Road", "Road to Perdition", "American Beauty") with a screenplay by Neal Purvis ("Quantum of Solace", "Casino Royale"), Robert Wade ("Return to Sender", "Die Another Day"), and John Logan ("The Last Samurai", "The Aviator", "Rango", "Coriolanus") with characters created by Ian Fleming. The screenplay is apparently available here.

Again, I thank SourceFed for its review:

Naomie Harris as "Eve".

That flashlight thing was a problem for me as well.

There is an amazing cast in this film; not only do we have the leads but also: Ben Whishaw as Q, also in "Cloud Atlas", Berenice Marlohe as Severine, Ralph Fiennes as Gareth Mallory, Rory Kinnear as Tanner, M's personal assistant, and Albert Finney as Kincade, who I last saw as a part of "Big Fish".

Javier Bardem as "Silva".

To paraphrase Philip DeFranco: "A man so evil, he turned Javier Bardem's hair blonde."Bardem was an excellent bad guy, even if his reasoning for doing bad guy things wasn't all there. When he was getting frisky with Bond, I kept wanting to laugh; I was thinking, "I can't blame him - have you seen Daniel Craig!" Though many people I know thought the scene was awkward.

The intro was pretty cool with an awesome song that features the crooning voice of Adele and made me feel like I was going through a weird acid trip. I understand that this is the way most, if not all of the Bond films begin. This is the first time I have actually sat through one of these movies. So bare with me.

Berenice Marlohe as "Severine".

I also liked the nods to past Bond films; I understood what and when those moments were happening, but just couldn't place which exact film it was. Oh, Bond movies, how you have shaped cinema forever.

Ben Whishaw as "Q".

I couldn't help but feel a bit chagrined towards critics throughout many of scenes featuring dialogue, because they complained that "The Avengers" was full of quips, yet many are raving that this may be one of the best Bond films to date and all the dialogue was was quips. I don't understand you critic people.

I enjoyed this film and particularly loved the ending and explosions and am actually considering watching more Bond movies. 

I give this movie 4 out of 5 typewriters.

Sources: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF8KcpeOPKc.

"Wreck-It Ralph" Movie Review

"Wreck-It Ralph" movie poster.

Vanellope von Schweetz
- voiced by Sarah Silverman.

"Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) longs to be as beloved as his game's perfect Good Guy, Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer). Problem is, nobody loves a Bad Guy. But they do love heroes... so when a modern, first-person shooter game arrives featuring tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch), Ralph sees it as his ticket to heroism and happiness. He sneaks into the game with a simple plan -- win a medal -- but soon wrecks everything, and accidentally unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens every game in the arcade. Ralph's only hope? Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), a young troublemaking "glitch" from a candy-coated cart racing game who might just be the one to teach Ralph what it means to be a Good Guy. But will he realize he is good enough to become a hero before it's "Game Over" for the entire arcade?" Written by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (Link below.)

Once again I have SourceFed to thank for their recommendation of this film. I probably would've seen it anyway, because I really do love animated films and anything remotely artsy, but it's nice to have their spin on things.

Directed by Rich Moore ("Futurama", "The Simpsons"), the screenplay was written by Phil Johnston and Jennifer Lee and based upon the story created by Rich Moore, Phil Johnston ("Cedar Rapids") and Jim Reardon ("Wall-e", "The Simpsons"). Old school gamers, children and anyone else will enjoy this computer generated artistic feast for the eyes.

Sergeant Calhoun - voiced by Jane Lynch.

Disney was in a slump for a while. But now, I think they may actually start being on a roll again with their films. I must say that I really enjoyed this movie. My friends and I loved it. It was beautifully animated with an amazing vocal cast and a cute message to the story. I don't usually like Sarah Silverman, but it was a very good choice for the role. The rest of the cast matched their roles perfectly. It was also nice to see all of the cameos of game characters that are so much a part of society that even I knew who they were, or at least which game they were in.

I give this movie 5 typewriters.

Sources: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1772341/ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwwVVErmWC4.

Tip and Quote of the Week: TV Spec Writing

TV Spec Writing

Never spec an episode of a cancelled, low rated, or old show.

Keep it fresh.

Spec shows that are well rated and will obviously be around for several more seasons are how you get the most bang for your buck when writing a spec episode.

You worked hard on it -- why not make sure it's a solid and sought after read for more than just a few months.

"A stage play requires very different craft from a book,
fiction or otherwise, and ditto from a screenplay."

-Dirk Benedict

Sources: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/screenplay.html#Qt2XAKBwUuITJCDb.99 and http://www.screenplay.com/default.aspx.

A former Hollywood Lit Manager, Michael Ferris started ScriptAWish.com as a way to help other writers get their foot in the door and has helped several writers sell their scripts (like Travis Beacham of PACIFIC RIM) and set up projects with producers like Academy Award Winner Arnold Kopelson. The mission of ScriptAWish.com is to help aspiring writers get their scripts into shape and then get their foot in the door. His new venture is a collaboration with several professional screenwriters called StudioGhostwriters.com and is intended to help producers get their movie ideas on paper or their drafts polished for production.

http://www.tv-calling.com/drama-spec-script-2012-what-is-hot-and-what-is-not/

Tip and Quote of the Week: The First Five Pages

The First Five Pages

Your first five pages will make or break your script. That cool, awesome, amazing little detail or set piece you've imagined for your script?

Put it up front.

You never know if anyone will read past the first five if it isn't compelling.

Likewise, if you're creating a new TV series, don't save your best stuff for the show bible or season two. All that's going to be read is the pilot -- so put your heart, soul, and kitchen sink into it.

"To me, movies and music go hand in hand. When I'm writing
a script, one of the first things I do is find the music
I'm going to play for the opening sequence."

-Quentin Tarantino

Sources: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/script.html and http://www.screenplay.com/default.aspx.

A former Hollywood Lit Manager, Michael Ferris started ScriptAWish.com as a way to help other writers get their foot in the door and has helped several writers sell their scripts (like Travis Beacham of PACIFIC RIM) and set up projects with producers like Academy Award Winner Arnold Kopelson. The mission of ScriptAWish.com is to help aspiring writers get their scripts into shape and then get their foot in the door. His new venture is a collaboration with several professional screenwriters called StudioGhostwriters.com and is intended to help producers get their movie ideas on paper or their drafts polished for production.

"Cloud Atlas" Movie Review

"Cloud Atlas" movie poster.

"Everything is connected: an 1849 diary of an ocean voyage across the Pacific; letters from a composer to his friend; a thriller about a murder at a nuclear power plant; a farce about a publisher in a nursing home; a rebellious clone in futuristic Korea; and the tale of a tribe living in post-apocalyptic Hawaii, far in the future." Written by Anonymous (Sources below.)

Tom Hanks (L) and Halle Barry.

Based upon the novel by David Mitchell, and written for the screen as well as directed by Tom Tykwer ("Run Lola Run", "Perfume: The Story of A Murderer"), Lana Wachowski ("Speed Racer", "V for Vendetta", "The Matrix Trilogy"), and Andy Wachowski ("Bound", "Assassins"), this movie is a visual feast for the eyes. Also starring some of my favorite actors, Tom Hanks, Halle Barry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Keith David, James D'Arcy, Susan Sarandon, Hugh Grant, David Gyasi, Ben Whishaw, and Xun Zhou. The producers were real slick for this movie: they convinced ten actors to play all of the parts in this film. "Oh, yes, this will make you look great and the budget for this movie won't be too much, but mostly it'll make you look great, Ms. Barry." 

I wasn't sure about this movie at first, but this review from SourceFed helped inspire me to see the film:

Jim Sturgess (L - playing the most badass
boyfriend EVER!) and Doona Bae.

I'm still not sure if I completely understood all that was going on in the movie, but I have the book and a review will be forthcoming. 

I feel bad for the film having to go against the Superstorm Sandy when it came out. I think most people in the Northeast of the states couldn't make it out to the theatre, what with worrying about drowning and the electricity going out. 

If this movie doesn't garner some kind of makeup or special effects awards, or possibly costume design awards, that proves the Oscars are rigged. Now that's a big statement and there are other awards out there, too, but Oscars are big and they make some stupid decisions sometimes. And this was probably one of the more visually enticing films out this year. And possibly one of the best story-wise as well.

Hugo Weaving.

I found it really funny that some of the men played a few of the women and I didn't even realize it. Except for Hugo Weaving, who makes one of the ugliest and tallest women I've ever seen, but he certainly rocked it. I could always tell when it was Tom Hanks, his nose really gives him away. But otherwise the actors were really hidden in their roles, so makeup was amazing.

I really enjoyed this movie. It was beautiful and tragic and awesome. Also, very graphic, I wouldn't recommend this film for anyone under the age of fifteen. "Our lives are not our own."

I give this movie 5 typewriters.

Screenplay is available here: http://www.downloadprovider.me/search/cloud-atlas-screenplay-pdf.html?aff.id=1627.

An example of what the makeup was like in "Cloud Atlas",
featuring Halle Barry in the top row and Tom Hanks in the bottom row.
Found picture here.

Sources: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/plotsummary and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/.

Tip and Quote of the Week: Shorter is Sweeter

Shorter is Sweeter

If any 4 lines of action in a paragraph can be rewritten to only take up 3 lines, do it. If any 3 lines can be 2, do it.

Don’t be precious with your words – a quick read is paramount. Tell us only what we need to know to move the story forward, or enrich our view of the characters – nothing else.

"You use simple brushstrokes in a screenplay for things over which
you would take much greater pains in a novel."

-Richard Russo

Sources: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/screenplay.html#Qt2XAKBwUuITJCDb.99 and http://www.screenplay.com/default.aspx.

A former Hollywood Lit Manager, Michael Ferris started ScriptAWish.com as a way to help other writers get their foot in the door and has helped several writers sell their scripts (like Travis Beacham of PACIFIC RIM) and set up projects with producers like Academy Award Winner Arnold Kopelson. The mission of ScriptAWish.com is to help aspiring writers get their scripts into shape and then get their foot in the door. His new venture is a collaboration with several professional screenwriters called StudioGhostwriters.com and is intended to help producers get their movie ideas on paper or their drafts polished for production.

"The Men Who Built America" Review So Far

(From L to R) Adam Jonas Segaller as Andrew Carnegie, Tim Getman as John D. Rockefeller,

??? as Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Eric Rolland as J. P. Morgan.

"John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford and J.P. Morgan rose from obscurity and in the process built modern America. Their names hang on street signs, are etched into buildings and are a part of the fabric of history. These men created the American Dream and were the engine of capitalism as they transformed everything they touched in building the oil, rail, steel, shipping, automobile and finance industries. Their paths crossed repeatedly as they elected presidents, set economic policies and influenced major events of the 50 most formative years this country has ever known. From the Civil War to the Great Depression and World War I, they led the way.

"Using state of the art computer generated imagery that incorporates 12 million historical negatives, many made available for the first time by the Library of Congress, this series will bring back to life the world they knew and the one they created. The event series will show how these men took a failed experiment in democracy and created the greatest superpower the world has ever seen. We see how their historic achievements came to create the America of today." (Source below.)

Adam Jonas Sellagar as Andrew Carnegie.

Adam Jonas Sellagar as

Andrew Carnegie.

In this blog entry I would like to talk about my favorite channel, the History Channel's, new television series: "The Men Who Built America".

It is a fascinating account of a few of the richest men in America's history, shaping this country as we now know it. It begins roughly 1865, after the assassination of President Lincoln and weaves its way through the industrial age. The narrator even starts the series by stating, “For the first time in the country’s short existence the man most capable of leading America is not a politician.” First the railroad, then oil, then steel shape this country into a global superpower.

Eric Rolland as J. P. Morgan.

It includes the personal history and business practices of Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, Thomas Scott, Andrew Carnegie, J. P. Morgan, George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Nikola Tesla. Next week, though not on Tuesday but on Sunday at 8 p.m., they shall be introducing Henry Ford, who revolutionized the moving assembly line to create his famously inexpensive 'horseless carriage'.

The man I am most impressed with so far is Morgan, though he is the most ruthless. Although Rockefeller might have him beat, as he nearly single-handedly started the Great Depression by capsizing the railroad industry. They all strike out against their competitors, usually each other, before buying the smaller companies out and they are absolutely horrible to their workers. Though there is something to admire in their tenacity.

The program also shows how the robber barons of yore have compelling similarities to the businessmen of today. They interview the likes of Donald Trump, Steve Wozniak, Mark Cuban, Alan Greenspan, and Jack Welch, amongst others, discussing business practices and how businessmen think and act. They also interview such historians as H. W. Brands, David Nasaw, and Jill Jones.

??? as Henry Ford.

So far I'm enjoying it immensely. The costumes and music is very well done. What little acting there is, is great; they made nearly all the actors look exactly like the tycoons. I can't wait until next week's episode and marathon where I can re-watch the men at their work. The main thing though is how the government will have to step in when the industrialists treat their workers worse than pack-mules. How I wish that would happen more often today.

Sources: http://www.history.com/shows/men-who-built-america/articles/about-men-who-built-america and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2167393/fullcredits#cast.

Tip and Quote of the Week: Write A Great Opening Scene

Write A Great Opening Scene

It's tough with today's spec market.

Help yourself out with a great opening scene.

It doesn't matter if it's a drama or a comedy or a thriller: have the opening be gripping, or intriguing, or mysterious, or exciting, or all four.

A great opening scene will get you a lot of leeway when it comes to how long an industry player will sit down to read your script. If you keep the scenes consistently great, you might achieve that rarity of all rarities – an agent who reads a script from cover to cover.

"There's nothing more important in making movies than the screenplay."

-Richard Attenborough

Sources: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/screenplay.html#Qt2XAKBwUuITJCDb.99 and http://www.screenplay.com/default.aspx.

A former Hollywood Lit Manager, Michael Ferris started ScriptAWish.com as a way to help other writers get their foot in the door and has helped several writers sell their scripts (like Travis Beacham of PACIFIC RIM) and set up projects with producers like Academy Award Winner Arnold Kopelson. The mission of ScriptAWish.com is to help aspiring writers get their scripts into shape and then get their foot in the door. His new venture is a collaboration with several professional screenwriters called StudioGhostwriters.com and is intended to help producers get their movie ideas on paper or their drafts polished for production.